Their latest email says

"We want to keep up the hype around Elizabeth Restaurant but we want to crush the hype around the price! Take a good look at our Spring and Summer tickets. Now that we've been open for 6 successful months, we really know what can and cannot be done. One thing we are certain that can be done is give our guests a great value. We no longer want to be considered as one of the most expensive tickets in town because we are not."

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ffb ... b612ff0a5c

I had the Diamond menu about a month after Elizabeth opened, and though I admit it was expensive, I don't think it was out of line (similar to the discussion in the Grace thread). I really liked the Diamond menu and it's good to see a place that is not increasing prices simply because their success is allowing them to get away with it.

milz50 wrote:As a critic of the value proposition of the diamond menu, I thought I should point out that the prices are substantially lower now than when I attended.

At the risk of my once again getting slammed for posting actual menu prices...

If you look in the tickets section of their website, you'll find menu prices of owl $60-100, deer $80-120, and diamond $100-140. Looks like they need to update the FAQ section, which still shows the old prices (owl $75-105 with pairings $60-75, deer $135-155 with pairings $95-110, diamond $175-195 with pairings $125-140).

nsxtasy wrote:

milz50 wrote:As a critic of the value proposition of the diamond menu, I thought I should point out that the prices are substantially lower now than when I attended.

At the risk of my once again getting slammed for posting actual menu prices...

If you look in the tickets section of their website, you'll find menu prices of owl $60-100, deer $80-120, and diamond $100-140. Looks like they need to update the FAQ section, which still shows the old prices (owl $75-105 with pairings $60-75, deer $135-155 with pairings $95-110, diamond $175-195 with pairings $125-140).

No, not at all. This information is extremely useful for anyone who wants to go to Elizabeth but cannot check their website. Thanks, for posting this. Someday, when their prices change again, we'll have a record here of what they were on this date.

=R=

Did you see thursday, May 30th? . Simply put, I just didn't know what I didn't know at the time and priced us according to other restaurants tasting menus. But our location, ticket system that allows us to get exactly what we need to serve, and small size allows us to give a much better value. And until we are world-class, or even if we become world-class, we want people to feel satisfied, even happy about what they've paid to dine with us. Our environment is casual and I've decided our price should be more casual as well. Nothing about the food, quality or experience will change. However we have become a very solid team and the food has gotten to a place that is making me very happy and confident.

Ps. Unfortunately I don't have access to our faqs so I have to wait for the developer to make that change. Hopefully the faqs will be updated to reflect new prices within next week or two. But what is on calendar is correct.

ilianaregan wrote:Did you see thursday, May 30th? .

Cool...thanks. I purchased a couple tix.

ilianaregan wrote:Ps. Unfortunately I don't have access to our faqs so I have to wait for the developer to make that change. Hopefully the faqs will be updated to reflect new prices within next week or two. But what is on calendar is correct.

Most of us would prefer you spend your time on gathering and creating than websites and such I don't think people will mind paying less than the price advertised on the FAQ page.

Excited to have you back milz50. I think you experienced us stumbling in our first few weeks. We are a much more solid crew these days. Even though as the chef I still work a fair amount on the business side of things, I've had more time to focus on the food and my chefs have a much better understanding of what I want.

milz50 wrote:

ilianaregan wrote:Did you see thursday, May 30th? .

Cool...thanks. I purchased a couple tix.

Looks like there might be quite a few LTHers there that night. We'll see you there!

I have been waiting to go to Elizabeth for a long time!

I really appreciate Chef using the ticket system to really give value to the customer.

Also thanks for the hot tip on about the 30th. Deer menu here I come!

That's a bummer, I literally went there last Saturday for my boyfriends birthday and we had the deer menu with wine tasting. The menu, plus tip and tax, plus wine tasting and tip was close to $600 for two.

I will say the meal was good. But a lot of flowers and floral things going on, a little too much for my taste, but the smell of flowers is too much for me. A few dishes were lost, but my favorite was the bear with puffed rice (not sure the official name). It was like curry rice krispy treat with a slice of bear on top. So amazing and that is the stuff I appreciate. I am quite sure I will never have anything close to that again.

600 for two all inclusive is already pretty darn good.

... for that price you can eat there every day.

Iliana Regan: Ticketing Is Allowing Me To Lower Prices For Elizabeth
http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2013/05/i ... _allo.html

ilianaregan wrote:600 for two all inclusive is already pretty darn good.

Not as good a deal as I got! I purchased two last-minute seats for the Owl menu the other night for $55 each (plus tax, etc.). The meal was excellent, fun, exciting, and delicious! Worth every penny we paid and more.

Did you see our Deer tickets for tonight and tomorrow night? It's another steal. Seats have opened up and we'd love them filled!

My wife and I returned to Elizabeth last night and had the Diamond menu for our first time. It was truly a wonderful evening. Elizabeth had a full house last night and we were fortunate to have some really friendly tablemates, which always further enhances the experience. This was my fourth visit to Elizabeth and it has been nice watching the restaurant progress; while I was wowed by my very first meal here Elizabeth has become a very well oiled machine now that Chef Regan has several months of running the restaurant under her belt, has assembled a great team that has gelled and has a first rate sommelier in Ben (who came over from Alinea). I like their chances for a Michelin star this fall.

The Diamond menu is a truly a memorable, whimsical dining experience. There were 19 courses and 10 wines; nice mixture of simple 1-3 bite courses as well as several hearty and complex courses; the meal last approximately 4 & 1/2 hours and for me was the perfect amount of food and wine to leave completely full, but comfortable. The spring menu features lots of seasonal delicacies such as morel mushrooms and ramps; about half of the courses look similar to courses from the winter, but have new featured ingredients (i.e. the Pumpkin Experiment has become the Borscht Experiment) and half seemed to be completely new creations. I enjoyed the "best of" courses from the One Sister days such as the Salad Sponge.

Everything was beautifully prepared and plated and I love how Chef Regan does a nice blend of farm to table with modern techniques. My favorite courses on the night were the aforementioned Borscht Experiment (I especially loved the smoked tea in the dropper), the Salad Sponge (such a beautiful looking dish I almost was reluctant to dig in, but such amazing flavors in addition to being a really cool dish), the One Pill Makes You Larger (homemade mushroom tea), Shoots and Tubers (beautiful presentation of various highly aromatic flowers surrounding the food which consisted of some outstanding preparations of artichoke and halibut, and the Rabbit and Nettles course - sous vide lamb loin wrapped in bacon (smoky flavor and really juicy meat, this was by far the best preparation of rabbit I have ever consumed).

Out of the 19 courses there were only two I was not crazy about and that likely was more just a personal taste versus anything wrong with the dish; I have a very keen sense of smell and when a dish has a lot of vinegar the smell overwhelms everything else for me - this was the case with the Terrarium course. The other course being the first rabbit course - Rabbit Featuring Leg and Foie Gras; my wife and I seem to be among a very small group of people who enjoy fine dining but generally dislike foie gras; there are were some heavily pickled fruit slices on this course that again were so aromatic that they impacted my ability to taste other flavors. Others however at our table seemed to enjoy these dishes, so again this is not to say there is anything inherently wrong with these dishes.

Ben's pairings really enhanced the meal and he is such a friendly person (he doubles as sommelier and a primary server). The sparkling at the start of the meal (Magma des Granites Rouge), the sake (Mizuho Kuromatsu) and the final red (a 2004 Kongsgaard Syrah) were my favorites. There was one sparkling, one sake, four whites, three reds and a dessert wine. Service in general has become more polished at Elizabeth yet it continues to have that wonderful peaceful, cozy, friendly, laid back ambiance despite serving such high end and cutting edge cuisine. Chef Regan has also become adept at picking up on some of my wife's dietary aversions and automatically making some tweaks for her; considering how many different courses are assembled each evening this level of personal attention is immensely appreciated and testament to Chef Regan's keen attention to detail.

Now that Chef Regan has dropped prices so significantly for the Diamond and Deer menus I feel that Elizabeth has become one of the best values in fine dining in Chicago. On Tuesday evenings the Diamond menu is just $100 for the foreseeable future and the Deer menu $80 (they gradually go up in price as the week progresses - still the same food irregardless of day of the week, but days with more demand incur a higher charge). At this price point it opens the door to a lot of people to be able to enjoy these longer tasting menus and now the longer the menu one chooses, the better the value (whereas before the shortest menu, the Owl, was the best value). The wine pairing was $95 for the Diamond menu (not sure if this changes based on day of the week); pours were pretty generous and it likely amounts to the equivalent of a bottle of wine. There is also wines by the bottle, wines by the glass, after dinner drinks such as cognac and some outstanding teas and coffee. I strongly recommend the spring menu at Elizabeth and I am already eagerly anticipating a return visit for some more of Chef Regan's magic once the summer menu rolls out.

I am still coming down from my meal last night at Elizabeth.

We had the Deer menu.
The food was great. "Woodsy" as promised. I really enjoyed it.
Sitting at a communal table is always risky, but in our case we had a fun table.

My only qualm about the meal isnt that big of an issue, but it's something I wish would be different at many places around town: wine pairings.

I wasnt super excited to do the pairings, but my wife wanted to, and I didnt want to share.
I just dont always "love" wine enough to spend $120 for the pairing.
They were certainly tasty. I just think that I would enjoy a mixed pairing more. Beer, wine, cocktail, etc. I think that is something that is missing in fine dining in general, so I dont really count it as a knock against Elizabeth, perhaps something that could be done in the future?

I wanted to echo Bspar. Friends and I ate the Deer Menu this week (not last night), and, having dined at Elizabeth four times, including the Deer menu when the restaurant first opened, this was the best, most flavorful, most serious meal that Iliana has created. The dessert (Chocolate, Violet and Mushroom) and the last savory (Acorn, Deer Heart, Morels, and Wild Berries) were particularly notable. Iliana is developing her own aesthetic, which has become richer and deeper and more woodsy - not just adding a few odd ingredients. It is less "twee" and bolder and more composed. There are fewer "throw-away" courses. And it is an aesthetic that is not a copy of Noma, but something strongly her own. If you have never tried the restaurant, now is an excellent time, particularly during the week when prices are more modest (and have been reduced). But there is a commitment to dining here. One dines for nearly four hours (for the Deer menu) with seven other people, which can be great fun or a great burden (it was great fun this time), and the start time depends on the last person who arrives. Sometimes dinner can be a combination of Avec and the Bataan Death March, but sometimes one meets glorious friends or, occasionally, finds an old acquaintance (as happened at our table).

Here are some photos from the current (late May) menu at Elizabeth

Ramps and Trout Roe

1150 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A very artistic presentation of spring. Beautifully structured.

Terrarium - Grandfather's Farm (Malted Soil)

1151 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
One of Iliana's iconic dishes from the days of One Sister

Vegetables in Hay Butter, Rhubarb Jam, Cured Deer and Homemade Cheese

1153 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
The radishes make this dish very special.

Cattails, Cucumber and Yogurt

1152 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A lovely salad with great textures.

Dandelion, Pistachio and Halibut on the Rocks

1154 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A cute and sweet appetizer. A little playful, but an effective change of pace

Maplewood, Birch and Dried Mushroom Tea

1155 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
I preferred this to the later tea, lovely

Wild Boar with Spring

1156 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A clear, clean dish with echoes of the cuisine at Noma.

Potato and Twigs

1157 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A lush taste of potato and egg


1158 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
Those twigs are edible.

Rabbit and Nettles

1159 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A beautifully composed plate, another dish with some connection to a Noma aesthetic

Wild Rice Crispy

1160 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A one-bite pleasure

1 Pill Makes You Larger (Mushroom Broth)

1161 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
An iconic Iliana "tea"

Acorn, Deer Heart, Morels, and Wild Berries

1162 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
A beautiful dish. Not flashy, but with powerful and warm tastes. Acorn "pasta" was revealing

Homemade Ricotta and Spruce Ice

1163 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
This palate cleanser needs some tweaking. The spruce was overpowering, tasting like mouthwash.

Chocolate, Violet and Mushroom

1164 by garyalanfine, on Flickr
This was really a distinguished dessert, filled with wonderful textures and deep flavors. It really made an impact at the end of the evening.

Bite from the Woods

1165 by garyalanfine, on Flickr

Gary, I dined at Elizabeth last night and had the Diamond menu too. Instead of the chocolate, mushroom and violet dessert (which was served to either the Owl or Deer table) we had a rhubarb and goat's milk dessert, with streusel, strawberry, rhubarb, pound cake and vanilla meringues. I'll admit I was a bit disappointed when I saw we wouldn't be receiving the chocolate dessert, but the chocolate cookies with earl grey custard at least assuaged my chocolate craving.

Overall, I'll admit I was disappointed with my meal here. My dining companions were fantastic, and it was lovely to see the kitchen in action throughout the evening. However, I found several of the courses far too salty, including the mushroom tea, lamb loin main course, acorn gnocchi and deer heart course, and the hen and egg. I'm not sure if my palate is just too light or if there was an oversalting problem in the kitchen yesterday evening. Our table seemed to wholeheartedly agree on the oversalting issue though, so I don't think it was just me.

My favorite courses of the evening include the salad sponge, the shrimp noodles with kale chips and garlic (also quite salty, but with just one spoonful it was appropriately bold in flavor), the ebelskiver pancake with goat cheese and the fava beans, asparagus terrine, cous cous, pickled potato and grilled octopus course.

With so many other dining options in Chicago, I'm not sure that I would go back to try the Deer or Owl menu. Compared with other higher-end restaurants I've been to in the last two weeks (Topolobampo, Border Oak, Sixteen, Brindille, Grace, NAHA, North Pond and Mexique) this was my least favorite meal in terms of the food, although I did enjoy the ambiance and company. I understand that sometimes there are off nights, but the overarching saltiness really detracted from the ingredients and composition of the dishes.

One menu now
http://thewoodlandladyandchef.blogspot. ... -2013.html

And separate tables for parties of two or four. This system begins on July 11th.

mgmcewen and GAF, I believe you've both suggested this in the past. I like to shake it up and test things out. As you know we have a small space and ability to have a lot of creative freedom. We get the chance to be bold and brave. I love not having to play it safe. Elizabeth is at many, most times, a testing ground.

So when does this menu go into effect? I ask as someone who has a reservation on the 25th and as such am already paid up.

Email from Elizabeth Restaurant wrote:Elizabeth's summer menu will mark the evolution of our food and space. We are fine tuning Elizabeth to create a more diginified dining experience. Our dining times, casual ambiance, and prices will remain consistent, but we are seperating our tables and reverting to one menu. The separation of tables will give guests a more singular experience. We believe one menu will reflect are best ideas and expressions, while still focusing on farmed and gathered ingredients.
The menu will change with each season, sometimes transitioning from one season to the next as new ingredients become available and others disappear, very similiarly to our current set-up. You will find nearly as much variation as you have with our three separate tasting menus.
All tickets purchased for July 11th and after will be in accordance with this change. This means the menu is the same for all dining times. This also means all parties will dine at their own table. There will be no communal seating.
We look forward to having you.
Visit www.elizabeth-restaurant.com for tickets.
Visit our blog to take a peak at the summer menu.
Hop online and grab the tickets while they last. The ticket prices on our website for July 11th and after are for this menu.
OUR WEBSITE WILL OFFICIALLY REFLECT THIS CHANGE ON JULY 1st. Give us a call if you have any questions. Office hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.

I'm not sure this change is reflected in the ticketing system yet since it's still offering tickets for three different menus after July 11 and the option for parties of 3 or 1 on some nights. But it appears that the Owl lower priced tickets will be for the same menu as the other tix:

From FB:

Elizabeth Restaurant Yes. Whatever is on site is correct for now. We will at some point change it a touch but tickets will still likely vary from 65-165 depending on day of week and time of ticket but all for that same menu.

On July 1st the website will reflect the new format. As of now any tickets purchased for on or after July 11th will be for the new seating style and menu format even if it doesn't appear that way.

Therefore it should be noted that those 630pm tickets that still appear to be for the owl menu after said date...are a freaking steal across the board! Honestly all of them are an amazing value.

The website has been updated with the new seating times and prices. The spread of prices seems to be quite large considering it is the same exact meal - just differing days of the week and times of day (ranges from $75 for 9:30pm on a Tuesday/Wednesday to $165 on a Saturday at 6:45pm or 7:15pm). Eating at 7:15pm versus 6:15pm on a Tuesday/Wednesday costs nearly $80 more for a couple (including tax/gratuity). Will be interesting to see if people are willing to pay more than double the price for a prime time Saturday meal versus a late weeknight meal (as comparison Alinea is only approximately 25% higher on a prime time Saturday versus early/late weeknight). Definitely some great bargains though if one is flexible with when they dine.

I am excited to try out the summer menu (looks like an awesome menu: http://thewoodlandladyandchef.blogspot.com/) and new format of private tables, but I will very likely do a Tuesday/Wednesday early seating to take advantage of more favorable pricing. I am curious if the private tables and single menu format will enable more personalization of the menu for dietary aversions to be accommodated.

Gonzo70. The range of price is due to demand. We don't have the demand of Alinea or Next. Someday we may like to but as of now alinea has quite a brand, a name, a position, etc. that is much different than ours. We can be compared but it is never accurate to do so. We are attempting to be full at all times, which is why we have a lower price for the weekdays and times. We may at some point bridge the gap but what is most important to us is that as we grow, evolve, and refine, people are in here eating our food. That being said, it is an extreme value considering the quality of ingredients and number of courses one will receive. The highest price, 165, on a weekend at 7pm is still an extremely good value for the menu which will be served. As I've said before, due to our location, the business model, and our fixed costs, we can give our guests a great value. I'll see you this summer.

--Yes, we already do as much as we can to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies but the private tables will certainly allow us to focus more on the individual parties and their needs.

ilianaregan wrote:Gonzo70. The range of price is due to demand. We don't have the demand of Alinea or Next. Someday we may like to but as of now alinea has quite a brand, a name, a position, etc. that is much different than ours. We can be compared but it is never accurate to do so. We are attempting to be full at all times, which is why we have a lower price for the weekdays and times. We may at some point bridge the gap but what is most important to us is that as we grow, evolve, and refine, people are in here eating our food. That being said, it is an extreme value considering the quality of ingredients and number of courses one will receive. The highest price, 165, on a weekend at 7pm is still an extremely good value for the menu which will be served. As I've said before, due to our location, the business model, and our fixed costs, we can give our guests a great value. I'll see you this summer.

Thanks for the response; FYI I enjoy Elizabeth nearly as much as Alinea.

I think that is great that you are trying to ensure maximum capacity as well as offering people such an amazing bargain who are flexible with when they dine.