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Great, inventive food in a romantic setting. My boyfriend and I found Elaine's by accident when stopping in Chapel Hill for dinner on a recent cross-country road trip (check out our trip blog, "A Mini & A Map"), and what a happy accident it was! We ate there on a Thursday night during the summer around 5:30, and it was nearly empty when we arrived. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Our appetizer -- an heirloom tomato plate with 3 different salts on the side -- was beautiful on the plate as well as delicious. My boyfriend's buffalo steak was wonderful, and the truffled creamed corn underneath the fish I ordered was mouth-watering. A perfect, romantic meal, topped off by good espresso that powered us through an all-night drive. We both loved Elaine's and, after 6 weeks of eating out on the road, it remains in our top 3 meals for the entire trip (which included some pretty nice restaurants in some major U.S. cities).…
Disappointing service and management. It took 3 hours to finish our dinner, with service that required we had to wave or actually ask for drinks to come, or the bill to arrive or be settled. The end was terrible -- with a major hassle over the bill because we had gift certificates....did you know that the waiters make $2/hour? That is what the manager told us when he wanted to be sure we would pay 20 percent tip for a split check (two gift certificates of $125 each). I told him I felt like we were in McDonalds. Not again for quite awhile.…
date night. We choose Elaine's for just about all of our special occasion dining. This was a dinner before the Bolshoi Ballet and therefore a special 'date night'. Elaine's never disappoints! Service is always friendly but professional and knowledgeable. Our waitress was returning on her night off to enjoy one of the newest dishes on the menu. That attitude shows that this isn't just someone waiting tables and it certainly shows in the service. The wine was excellent as were our dinners and dessert. We love Elaine's.…
never again. I do not understand all the hoopla about this place. The meals were over priced, servings were small, and the worst part was that after waiting forever, the entrees were cold when they reached the table. Won't be going back.…
UNDERWHELMED. We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Elaine's and left disappointed. First off, the service we received was great. And our appetizer, soft shell crab, was quite delicious. However, the entrees were a disappointment. They definitely were not worth the price you pay. . .very expensive. I had the chicken and it was very tough. The potatoes and marsala sauce surrounding the chicken was very good though. But I got very little of it. My husband enjoyed his tuna but said his vegetables were cold. I don't know if we will dine here again.…
