Ellabess

Ellabess is going to close its doors but have no fear they WILL REOPEN WITH A DIFFERENT CONCEPT THIS SPRING ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE (
) as well as Eater (
)
My favorite dishes were the dry-​aged burger vermont with cheddar, grilled onions, and fries that had lemon salt, smoked paprika and chopped herbs on it. Also chatham bay cod and roasted duck breast were both sublime. Very disappointed this concept is closing but hopefully they come back with something even better.

I really give this restaurant 3.5 stars, but Unilocal only likes whole numbers. Went for NYE and had a good time. Servers were attentive and food was filling and flavorful. The cocktails were creative concoctions.
They started us out with homemade wheat rolls and whipped herb butter. Decided on the cod fritters as an appetizer… they were an interesting mix of cod and hush puppy. We planned to order the lamb shank for our entrees but it wasn’t available (a letdown)…they offered to prepare the lamb chops from the prix-​fixe menu instead, but we opted instead for pork chop surf and turf and the trout. Both dishes had good flavors, but beware that the pork chop is served medium rare as in PINK… I only eat pork well done. The trout was prepared perfectly with a tangy lemon sauce on a bed of diced, pan-​fried potatoes. For dessert we opted for the s’mores, which definitely did not live up to the quality of the previous dishes… it was literally a quarter of a stale graham cracker with a soft marshmallow (not toasted) and a smidgen of chocolate sauce. The hot chocolate that is served with this dish was the only redeeming part of it. Total bill was about $ 100.
The owner has since done away with the 90s hip hop that many Unilocalers commented about, and opted for country, which really doesn’t go well with the modern ambiance of this place or the city it’s in… I’d recommend that he bring back the 90s tunes.
Even though it wasn’t perfect, I would recommend it.

writing reviews is exhausting.
let me explain … you have to think of some clever, creative «way in» and find yet another way to say «yummy» (um, scrumptious, anyone?) that hasn’t been covered in one of your 321 323 other reviews … all to an audience that takes the ratings — that’s, useful, funny and cool for easy reference — so seriously you’d think they were performing heart surgery or something.
WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT!!!
but, i digress. this is 95% about ellabess and 5% about me, dammit … and my dinner there wasn’t too shabby. in fact, it was pretty fucking scrumptious (see what i did there?) if i don’t say so myself.
located in a magical place where little italy meets nolita meets almost chinatown, EB claims that their décor «isn’t finished,» but with its light, airy aesthetic and floor-​to-​ceiling windows … methinks that’s just the overachieving little asian girl speaking up in all of us.
so, yeah — the food’s everything you expect it to be. an american menu with a twist that’s prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. squash with poached egg, roasted cauliflower with lime and tomatillo, roasted duck breast with lemon marmalade, braised beef shortribs with celery root … yup, every plate was finished in-​full and scraped clean.
service is also friendly and surprisingly … unpretentious! meaning, they didn’t judge me when i came in, sweating profusely (seeing as how i basically ran from the EV) and happily placed a glass of cold water in front of me.
come one, come all. and, please, FUC my review while you’re at it.

Such a beautiful restaurant, tasty food but unfortunately lacking in service. We went on a Monday night, which was pretty empty, save for a handful of tables and a large brewery hosted dinner. We told them we were in a hurry to get to concert, and it still took 40 minutes for the food to come out.
The chicken was incredibly moist, with a delicious kombucha squash risotto. Veggies, were really tasty and fresh — spinach, brussel sprouts and cauliflower. In a half empty restaurant on a Monday night, the slowest night of the week you would think that they could get us some roasted chicken and vegetables in a jiffy. However, they did end up comping our chicken.
Seems like it would be a good date spot, although a bit expensive for the neighborhood and food that you are getting.

By far one of the best meals I have ever had in New York. This restaurant is locate in the Nolitan Hotel in Soho Manhattan. I enjoyed every dish we ordered. I also left inspired for my menu writing in my career. Kelly our sever, provided world class service and truly should receive recognition for his efforts and accomplishments with customers at the Ellabess. I actually look forward to having him as my server in the future.

Das Ellabess ist ein einladenes Restaurant in Nolita. Die HP ist sehr informativ, ich kann das Fried Chicken sowie den Burger empfehlen. Weine waren ebenfalls ok. Hatte die Empfehlung unter den sehenswerten Neueröffnungen einer New Yorker HP gefunden und war nicht enttäuscht. Service war klasse, Stimmung chillig, die Fensterpläte bieten Aussicht auf die lustigen Menschen auf der Straße.
Beachte: Unbedingt vorher reservieren!

Service is beyond slow but the food is good. Apparently they have a fabulous happy hour at the bar before 7. Seafood is really delicious especially the monk fish with pork belly and the striped bass. Tried a bit of the fried chicken, definitely their spotlight dish. I just wish I could looooove this place but they really need to hire more staff.

This place is amazing. I have been to Ellabess twice in the last couple of months and have been blown away each time. I will say that my most recent experience was better than the first — I just enjoyed the meals more this time.
The rolls they bring to the table are soft and fluffy, which is a nice start. The broccoli soup was incredible — broccoli flavor was bold and although it was a wee bit too salty, still delicious. I had the delicata squash as an appetizer, which was my favorite dish at Ellabess yet. The squash was cooked perfectly and the addition of mushrooms, red onion and bacon made the dish even better — but oh my god, that poached egg to top it all off? AMAZING. It was creamy, perfectly runny, and brought the dish to a whole new level. Awesome. My friends both had the roasted baby beet salad and said that was very good as well.
The fried chicken entrée was very good. The chicken was tender and juicy and the skin was breaded nicely — not too thick, but still crispy. Those pearl onions with the black pepper sauce were delicious, and the celery root purée was awesome. I don’t know what I was expecting it to taste like, but it was wonderful. Seriously. Wonderful. We also had a side of brussel sprouts with our entrees, and they were awesome — cooked perfectly and the cherries and hazelnuts were paired very well with the sprouts. My friends thoroughly enjoyed the cauliflower steak and the cod dishes.
We definitely could have been happy and full without dessert, but we couldn’t pass up that waffle soufflé. And thank goodness we didn’t, because it was heavenly. It had a nice crackly top and the inside was warm and tasted just like a waffle would — except way better. The maple ice cream was a nice pairing, and those little candied pecans added a perfect crunch to the dish. We were also sent a chocolate mousse and some sort of pear tart dessert. I did think the pear was a bit too sweet, but I think I remember caramel being in there, which I don’t usually like too much of. The chocolate mousse was awesome and had a little pool of some sort of chocolate mint ganache on top, which was amazing.
The ambiance of this place is great — cozy and dim lighting, with awesome music (the 90s hip hop stood out the most), and the bathrooms were super nice and clean.
The only negative aspect of my experience at Ellabess was that it started to get super crowded towards the end of our meal, which made it take a long time for us to get our bill — but this wasn’t a huge inconvenience, since we definitely needed time to digest. Not enough of a problem for me to take a star away.
I cannot wait to go back to Ellabess!

Epicurean Management, the guys behind the mouthwatering Italian empire L’Artusi, Dell’Anima and Anfora brought this new American restaurant to NoLita this July. It’s sunk below street level and the large windows look onto a not so charming street. The restaurant is lacking some serious umph and desperately needs a more exciting atmosphere or some decorations. The wimpy circular lamps aren’t doing much for anyone. Fortunately, the culinary offerings are absolutely terrific! The menu is serious serving excellent modern fare.
Food to get: (see my blog listed under my profile for pics)
–Shrimp alla Plancha. Brussel Sprout Leaves, Chili, Capers, Pancetta Pepato
–Delicata Squash: Maitake Mushrooms, Duck Egg, Bacon, Red Onion, Basil
— cauliflower steak was ok but not much cauliflower was given
The staff is very friendly and passionate about the cooking creating a positive experience. The grilled jumbo shrimp are seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the real rockstar is the delicata squash. Food execution couldn’t be better, but Ellabess needs to bring it’s energy level and style up a notch. Come here for a low-​key evening and for some tasty bites you can count on!

Ellaaaaaaaa, Elllaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Ellabess.
I don’t know what I was expecting. Actually, I kind of thought I might be underdress for your establishment, but I was wrong. Completely wrong.
I got in earlier than our reservation was for and was sat at the table. I ordered a glass of wine as I waited. The waitress was super attentive, yet gave us time and distance.
We ordered three starters, one main plate and one side dish. We had the grilled sweetbreads, delicata squash, octopus, bacon and potato croquettes and the shrimp alla plancha. Everything was delicious. Both my friend and I loved the squash. Loved it! Everything had a hint of smokiness to it that made me think of bacon deliciousness.
I happened to really dig the shrimp. It had a mustardy based sauce (I think) that had capers, prosciutto, and potatoes in it. The shrimp were large, plump and tasty.
For dessert we split the tomato upside down cake. We both had wished there were more tomatoes in the cake, but the caramelized grape tomatoes on the side were so freaking bomb that I could have eaten an entire plate of them alone. The cake was moist, tasty and perfect, really. There was a small scoop of ice cream of some sort with the cake that complimented the cake perfectly. I’d recommend the restaurant just for the cake alone.
Finally, ambiance. This place is hot! I don’t mean that in a trendy way either. The vibe is kind of upscale, but really not the case. The set up is so that no one is on top of each other, but you know when the place is full and when it’s not. What really got me, aside from the cool wait staff, was the music. It was a medley of bands like Led Zeppelin and The Cure to Jay-​Z and Nate Dogg. It was amazing and I sat at the table bobbing along to the music while eating and talking to my friend. My ripped sweater and I were feeling good while taking it all in.
I highly recommend this restaurant. It’s a good date, girls-​night, boys-​night and anything in between night kind of place. And really, you’re going for the food (although I’d go for the music and the cake) and it’s worth it –everything was solid. The menu seems like it will change as it hosts seasonal things on the menu, but that’s just part of the adventure.

Ellabess… not the best. But not terrible.
Overall the food was fine — some of it quite tasty but the service is still struggling to meet expectations.
Started with the Chicken Banh Mi Sliders and the Delicata Squash. The Sliders were decent, not fantastic. The Squash though was superb. The best part of the meal all night! A good mix of sweet and salty — I was a fan.
For mains I got the duck and it was cooked perfectly. Medium rare, tender, just wonderful. The skirt steak was ehhh — nothing spectacular. We ordered a side of brussel sprouts and they just never came. Come on, guys. You can’t forget the veggies!
Service tapered off through the night. They were attentive at the beginning and by the end, we had to ask two different people for our check. Didn’t stay for dessert or even a second drink because frankly, I didn’t feel like waiting for the slow, mediocre service.

Fine dining in NYC can be often be a pain, with dress codes and impossible-​to-​get reservations and long waits and haughty staff and customers, but that’s not the case here. Here they’ve got creative dishes and high-​class service in a trendy space, but when we randomly walked in here on a Saturday night, the place was blissfully quiet and relaxing and we could actually enjoy our meal in peace. Maybe not good news for the restaurant’s longevity, but certainly good for those lucky enough to find it while it lasts.
Standout dishes: the bread (OMG YUM) and the potato and bacon croquettes (pillowy soft and full of flavor) and the peach cobbler. When in doubt, ask your server for recommendations.
Less interesting: Monkfish and pork belly entrée. Apparently it’s new on the menu, so maybe they’ll tweak it to be better (or replace it with something else). I’m willing to overlook this mediocre dish, because everything else was so good.
Nice wine list too. I enjoyed an absolutely wonderful Chardonnay — a rare experience in itself — which the waiter informed me is not available at any other restaurant in NYC. Score!
Speaking of our waiter: He was knowledgeable, professional, and ever so sweet and adorable, pushing our pleasant 4 star meal into solid 5 star territory.

Ellabess is on a very nondescript block of Elizabeth, just round the corner from the smelly fishmarkets of Chinatown. Its easy to walk past the entrance… but don’t!
The interior is a world away from the street outside — elegant, airy, light and spacious. I liked the spare simplicity of the décor. It somehow heightened the flavours of the food.
Between the 3 of us, we shared two appetisers — the foie gras and the beet salad. Both delicious, the foie gras was the stand out. It tasted like Christmas mince pies. The winter spices perfectly compliment the velvet soft liver and the crunchy-​soft texture of the figs.
For an entrée I had the monk-​fish with pork belly — a really interesting combination that worked supremely well. The presentation was beautiful and I begrudged having to share even a single bite with my friends. J and S had the lamb ragout pasta (I wasn’t keen on the combination of lamb and pasta — it just didn’t work for me, too heavy, too gamey) and the fried chicken. The chicken was fantastic and the sauce with the little pearl onions was lip-​smackingly good.
Finally — desserts. Skip the Waffle Soufflé — really just boring and little too eggy. The hazelnut dessert was nicer but still not knee-​wobbling.
I have to say I found this to be a really wonderful meal. When they got it right, they REALLY got it right!
On the evening that I went the number of waiters seemed to match the number of diners. We noticed gaggles of waiters lurking awkwardly. This did mean that the service was impeccable, though.

My friend, Erik S. and I was blessed enough to come here on its opening night and score a 50% discount. With this in mind, we both took full advantage and ordered a slew of items on their menu.
3 appetizers — check
1 side — check
2 entrees — check
3 desserts — check
2 glass of red wine — check
The menu was kept simple and seasonal. The restaurant was chic and sophisticated and the staff was sharp and attentive. We were seated near the window and being that the restaurant was situated midway below ground level, the view was definitely interesting.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for their food. Although the quality was exquisite, the execution was average. Their raw clam «chowder» ($ 18) was way too fishy and rich for my taste. Initially, the first bite was great, but after a few, it just felt too heavy for the stomach and eventually became undesirable.
Their Diver Scallops ($ 16); however, was dead on and the scallops was huge, sweet and perfectly prepared, especially when paired with their pickled white asparagus. This momentary uphill sensation only went back downhill when my entrée arrived. I ordered their Dry Aged NY Strip ($ 28) and as delectable as the steak was and should, it was poorly paired with their overcooked summer bean and braised veal.
To finish off our meal, we ordered three desserts. Although it’s obvious that a lot of time and thought was vested to prepare these miniature sweetness, the only one that rained supreme above the rest was the Peach Cobbler Sunday ($ 8). The peach was fresh, not overly sweet and had the perfect amount of cream and crunch from the almond brittle that the peach was served in.
When all’s said and done, I think this restaurant has a vast potential for greatness. However, perhaps it’s still the new kid on the block but I think it will take sometime before this restaurant will set a name for itself within this competitive high-​end culinary world.

Stayed at the brand new Nolitan and had to stop by Ellabess since it’s in the hotel… :)
We just had a night cap drink here, a very strong, properly stirred Kettle One slightly dirty martini. Love that they accommodated us even though it was 11:55 and they were about to close at midnight…
The martini glasses were properly frosted, and seemed bigger than normal… However, the $ 16 per glass price tag is forcing me to round my 3.5 star rating down to 3.

Menu is. inconsistent, but here are some of the best, most delicious things. Apps: quail, sweetbreads. Entrée: fried chicken, wild bass. Drinks: Hemingway, Harvey W, old fashioned.

I love this area of town and have been frequenting restaurants in the are for over 5 years. I was excited when the Nolitan was built and Ellabess installed as its restaurant
I have now been on several occasions and have mixed feelings. Because usually alone, I always sit at the bat. The bartenders have all been great and work as a team. That is until last Thursday. I sat near the service bar and both bartenders were busy most of the time. The male bartender was preparing drinks for a group who had just sat at the other end of the bar. When the female bartender had a break in preparing drinks for table service, I asked if she could help me. She told me the other bartender would help me when he was available – that she wad too busy preparing drinks for the tables (although she was doing nothing when I asked her). The other bartender asked her to help me and she told him emphatically that it was not her responsibility. I felt a bit uncomfortable with her being so rude. That was the first time both bartenders did not go out of their way to serve bar customers
As for the atmosphere, I think the décor is stunning and the large windows give a great view of the neighborhood. At times the restaurant seems to he crowded (not with people) and I have overwhelmed at times with so many staff – especially the managers huddled together.
The food has a bit to be desired. Although a few dishes are very good, there are others I would never order again.
The grilled shrimp is my favorite and is what I ordered the first time. I was told the scallops were outstanding and planned to order them on a future visit; however, they are no longer on the menu – a bit surprising for a new restaurant.
I ordered the fried chicken at the suggestion of two bartenders. The chicken was great, but for $ 22 I expected more than about 3 ounces. Even the bartenders were shocked at how small it was. I also was not fond of the watermelon on the plate.
The chocolate dessert with mint ice cream us excellent.
I liked the pork chop but would have preferred the sweet sauce on the side.
There is a steak skewer on the lounge menu was outstanding the first time but the second time contained my sodium allowance for a week.
I could go on. It is a nice place but not consistent and over priced for what you get. And I would go there just for the bar service (but not when the aforementioned female is bartending).

dell animma is our favorite restaurant in the city, and L’Artusi is close behind. As such, curiosity over ellabess has been pretty high.
On impulse, we swung by on Saturday night early. The space is fantastic; sunk into the ground level looking out over Kenmare and Elizabeth’s busy intersection with huge 20′ windows giving you a great view of the city. This is, by far, my favorite restaurant for giving you a feel for NYC. Bring out of towners here, especially ones that love downtown.
Service was attentive, though a bit overwhelmed as the 8pm dinner rush came through. Had to flag our waitress a couple times for late course followups.
This is NOT contemporary Italian, but straight up American. Recommend the fried chicken (which is done just right) with watermelon; one of their signatures, apparently.
They are still ironing some flow issues out; we kept bumping into wait staff working an oddly placed workstation right in the middle of the floor. And the bar, which has some fantastic mixes, started to press into the dining area a bit uncomfortably. But those are minor operational stuff I’m sure they’ll correct. For now the view and the refreshingly simple but strong american fare is a nice find in the Nolitan Hotel. Worth a try.

Ellabess is part of the Epicurean group; the chef used to work at Del Posto and the W Hoboken (interesting career move?!) Décor is pretty standard; wooden tables and mega sized round paper lights; the large windows add some vibrancy. Bathrooms are nice but two staircases down.
The Capri cocktail I had was excellent; a summery vodka blend with peaches, St Germaine, and sparkling wine. There was an equally summery drink with tequila and sparkling pear.
I love peeky toe crab salad but wasn’t fond of this one– the crab is rather flat; basically it’s just crab pieces on a plate with some peppers and sesame crackers; similar flavorings to ceviche. Uni butter comes on the side; it’s good but not rave worthy. In all fairness the waiter did say the quail was better so guess I should’ve listened. Had a side of grilled corn; good but not noteworthy.
Wild King Salmon with porcini, blueberries, and lamb jus sounds intriguing but the execution leaves much to be desired. The waiter mentioned the salmon was ‘different’ and not what people usually expect. He asked if I like sushi and compared it to a big slab of sushi grade salmon;true not what most people would expect but sounds fantastic. Now I love salmon in most forms– smoked, sashimi, poached, oven baked etc but Ellabess version was like salmon Jell-​o– if that existed. Not totally raw, not cooked just a jiggly pinkish slab. Think they were a bit stingy with the mushrooms and blueberries it’s more of a garnish. Eater mentioned I ‘enjoyed the salmon’; which I had posted before the dish actually arrived so lesson learned: Don’t tweet before you eat.
I wanted to try the rhubarb tart with corn ice cream but was informed they had changed the menu (pretty surprising considering they’d only been open a week). They’re now making the same dessert with cherries; it was alright but barely memorable. Chocolate cake was good– on par with most equivalent places. The waffle soufflé seems like the most innovative dessert.
Service was top notch; our waiter was informative, non-​intrusive, and showed up at exactly the right moments. All in all good drinks, location, and service; a totally decent place to eat just nothing memorable.

Bold flavors, superfresh ingredients, expertly prepared meats, hearty cocktails — I (part of a party of 4) enjoyed an excellent meal here on Tuesday, the night after the restaurant’s opening.
Highlights:
Fluke sashimi — with a serious kick of chile oil and wrap-​ready cubes of watermelon
Uni butter — came along with a dish… the crab salad maybe. We all swooned.
Fried chicken was the bomb, and I hate fried chicken.
Pork was perfectly slightly pink and so very tender and succulent.
Sweet pea soup, spiked with speck and garnished with boats of snap peas in their pods.
Rhubarb tart thingie with corn ice-​cream.
The chef is doing lots of surprising-​yet-​sense-​making flavor pairings, none of them too salty (a BIG pet peeve). One corn fan thought the roasted kernels were overpowered by fennel/​anise, but otherwise I loved it all.
The space is great, maybe a little chi-​chi, but the staff is friendly so it balances out.
The experience featured some not unsurprising bumps due to the newness of the operation — the music played too loud at one point, my chair seemed in the way sometimes, dishes were cleared too soon, there were way too many employees about.
Overall, though, Ellabess is having a strong start. I’m sure once these kinks smooth out it will be a deservedly popular spot in this evolving neighborhood. Looking forward to my next meal!

Even though I knew some of the kitchen crew, I’m telling the truth.
I give it 4 ½ stars
Me and a friend went to Ellabess knowing there was a 50% discount. So we shared a good amount of the food. The menu has some great American hits. Clam chowder, and fried chicken in a fine dining way.
We ordered:
Raw Clam chowder with American caviar (best looking chowder I ever saw!) My friend didn’t really enjoy it, but I think it tasted great.
Fluke Ceviche with watermelon, chili, and radishes… The dish was refreshing, and I enjoyed it.
Sea Diver Scallops with pickled asparagus and summer truffle… This was my favorite dish! The Scallops cooked perfectly, and was potato crusted. oooh so good!
Fried chicken breast with pickle watermelon and rind salad… The meat was juicey, but some of the skin was not crispy. Which is a disappointment when ordering fried chicken.
Now for dessert!
We shared three different desserts…
Peach cobbler sunday… this was my favorite dessert. Served in edible bowl, tasted like a fortune cookie.
Waffle soufflé… I liked it, my friend didn’t so much. A little chocolate syrup may work with it.
Warm chocolate cake… This one wasn’t my favorite.
The service here was great, and seem to know the menu. Which is something I always like to see. They even brush the table to remove crumbs.
Soon they will have a rooftop table seating, with an awesome view. I’m hoping they will do that for weekend brunch!
I’ll add pictures soon!