Elina's

Elina's in Chicago had been on my must-visit list for a while, so I finally made it there for a Saturday night dinner. The experience began on a high note when we snagged seats at the bar without a reservation. We kicked off the evening by sharing a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, which paired beautifully with the meal.

To start, we ordered the Caesar Salad, Fritto Misto (Calamari), and the complimentary bread basket with salami and pickled eggplant. These appetizers were a perfect introduction to the flavors at Elina's—the salad was crisp and fresh, the calamari was savory, and the bread, along with its toppings, was simply phenomenal.

For the main course, we opted for the special of the day: Meatballs, Rigatoni Alla Vodka, and Angel Hair Scampi. Each dish brought something unique to the table. The meatballs were hearty, the vodka sauce on the rigatoni was rich and creamy, and the angel hair pasta had a light, fresh taste that was a delightful contrast.

Elina's more than lived up to the hype. I was impressed by the menu's variety, which offered modern twists on classic dishes while maintaining authentic flavors. The restaurant's atmosphere was also spot-on for a lively Saturday evening in Chicago.