Ela

A new Mediterranean spot in town so I was excited to check it out. Plenty of free parking and the space is beautifully decorated. We went for dinner and the place was quite busy. The service was great and quick. The food itself was alright. Nothing stood out really. The portions were small and compared to other Mediterranean spots, it just did not hit the mark. I will be skipping on this spot until further notice.

I was on the edge with 4 star but that wouldn’t be fair. All the food I tasted was good. A few tweaks needed but pretty good. Prices were fair but a few items could’ve been reduced a couple dollars like the Brussels and the Mushrooms with salad set deal. Dark chill mood vibes. Really Great restrooms, utensils and service. Brussels-delicious and well presented. Too saucy-reduce the sauce Eggplants-Delicious all around- absolutely perfect to me. The grill taste is pronounced and that oil on the plate was worthy to be licked. Lamb Pocket- it was deconstructed- I wasn’t expecting that. It was delicious, a bit too seasoned, just reduce the seasoning. It was great price. The breading was wow-really good. Beet Salad- 10/10 The beets weren’t flavored, but the salad flavoring when eating with the beets was perfect. Beets are great for you. Mushroom Skewer- good and quality mushrooms-maybe could be a few less $. The roasted red peppers were too soft on the salad. The goddess dressing should probably be put on the side as it was a bit heavy. Lamb Skewer-good. The cooked medium but I like medium well. Couscous delicious. Could’ve had a chimichuri sauce. I used the Brussels sprout sauce with it but it was overpowering. I wanted to try the entree’ fish but he didn’t identify the type of redfish. Lamb Burger and Cod looked great. I’d def come back and recommend. Not many heavy plates so u really have to order several things if you’re very hungry. You def end up spending $50 per but I had an overall good experience. I could see them adding more entree’s and sides. Not a large menu. Appreciate free parking.

Chef's Kiss-- Ela is completely a vibe. Located in the Virginia Highland neighborhood, Ela awakens taste buds with a cultural fusion of Mediterranean flavors. Many dishes had a tart profile, making the dishes savory, fruity, and sour. Nothing was overtly spicy. Some dishes had a mellow spice kick (probably from the harissa). The menu is extensive, consisting of shareable small plates and main entrees. Everything on the menu was bursting with flavor. With everything being so good, is it weird to rave about the hummus? One of the best we've had in a while. The house hot sauce was a nice touch to everything as well. Their cocktails were refreshing-- would go back just to visit the bar too. Cannot recommend this contemporary oasis enough. Parking: There is a small, shared lot adjacent to the shopping area. Some street parking available.

Came here for a celebration, and while it wasn’t inexpensive, the food was delicious! The shareable platter had the freshest hummus, and our server readily provided us with extra pita! The meat was cooked perfectly, as was the falafel. Reservations are a must, since this place was packed even on a Tuesday night! There was plenty of free parking behind the restaurant.

Went here for dinner with my girlfriends and we enjoyed the experience. Our waiter was great and the food was really good. We ordered a couple of things to have a family style dining experience, so we tried a couple of things. My favorite was the lamb burger, but everything we had was delicious. We definitely plan to return.