Living in Chicago for the past 6 years, I am used to excellent food and dining experiences. I read some of the bad reviews about Elements, and felt I needed to chime in. Went there last night before a show as well as some of the other reviewers have. My parents who are foodies and have dined all over the US and outside of the US also recommended this place. Our experience was amazing. First, the environment. While it is in a non-traditional location, the openness and modern decor of the restaurant is refreshing. The open fire oven makes it feel warm. We sat in one of the "booths" by the windows, and they were so comfortable. The service and waiter we had were awesome. Robert was very knowledgeable about the food and gave us fantastic recommendations for our dinner choices. We did get there early, but we also like to take our time to dine, so those who need a rush may not want to go here based on others' reviews. Now the most important part: THE FOOD IS FANTASTIC. We started with a 6 selection cheese and meat plate. We trusted Robert to make these selections, and he did not disappoint. We had the duck speck, salami tartufo, and pate ciccioli. I am unable to remember the cheeses we had, but I do remember they are all pennsylvania cheeses and were delicious. I had the brussel sprouts for a salad, and the veal cheek. My partner had the greens salad and filet, which he absolutely loved. I am going to stick to reviewing my dishes. The brussel sprouts were fantastic. Surprisingly tart, they were mixed with bacon and grapes and had a drier ricotta that almost tasted like feta. It was perhaps one of the best brussel sprouts dishes I've ever tasted. And onto the the veal cheek. I love veal, and until last night, the best veal I've had was at a restaurant in Florence. This veal was unbelievably tender, and melted like butter in the mouth. I honestly didn't want the dish to end. Unfortunately, because all of the meat is local, Robert told us this dish will be gone in about two weeks. So if you go here, please PLEASE order the veal. You won't regret it. We finished the meal with the chocolate mousse and pecan pie and some coffee. They were both very good, but honestly, I just couldn't stop thinking about the veal I had just eaten, so they didn't get as much of my attention. All in all, it's probably one of the best meals I've had in Pittsburgh (before moving to Chicago, I lived in Pgh for 4 years and grew up in the area.) All the food is amazingly fresh, and you can definitely tell. It is absolutely Chicago-worthy, and would do very well there. If you want to enjoy a leisure meal and savor all of the flavors, I think you will absolutely be glad you made the choice to dine here. I'm looking forward to my next visit.
How would this review be described in terms of sentiment?
pick from the following. a). negative; b). positive;
b).