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Elaine's On Franklin

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454 W Franklin St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

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(919) 960-2770
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Elaine's On Franklin - Chapel Hill, NC
Elaine's On Franklin - Chapel Hill, NC
Reviews
( 19 )
( 7 )
( 5 )
( 4 )
( 2 )

Best

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...

Worst

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...

Best restaurant in town! 3/3/2006

I LOVED my experience at Elaine's - I'm still dreaming of the meal I had there. For dinner: roast pork loin on top of a sweet potato waffle, with wilted greens topped with pecans and a sweet balsamic dressing. For dessert: triple chocolate mousse. Great service, great atmosphere, affordable as far as fine dining goes...I'll definitely be back! Pros: atmosphere, creative cuisine, fresh ingredients more
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Very nice experience 2/18/2006

Tables are a bit close and if you are at a 2-top next to the wall separating dining from the bar, you will be hitting your elbow on it. Not a good spot for a quiet, intimate, romantic interlude. Those are the negative aspects. The menu is small but inventive, changing frequently. Portions are just right... not giant pig-outs, but satisfying. Our appetizers were spectacular, my foie gras on an apple tart tatin was unbeatable. Service was pleasant, prompt, and attentive. Very good food, professional competence demonstrated everywhere. A very nice evening and worth the upscale prices. Pros: Great food, Professional Service, Inventive Menu Cons: Tight seating, Can be noisy more
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Spectacular! 7/31/2004

Finally went to Elaine's after hearing about it from friends for a long time and it definitely lived up to all the accolades. True, it was a bit noisy, but who says that upscale dining has to be like a wake? It was fun, the service was wonderful - knowledgeable and friendly, and the food was amazing. I had an appetizer of venison and corn pudding and only wished it would have been an entree. Elaine's is certain to become our new favorite! Pros: Wonderful Food, Great service, Wine list Cons: , parking more
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A enjoyable dining experience 4/19/2004

Elaine's provides an eclectic, enjoyable dining experience. Our server was wonderful -- prompt, well-versed in the menu and matching the appropriate wine, attentive, but unobtrusive. The food was excellent, using fresh ingredients and the right amount of seasoning. The portions were moderate, and not the usual ""quantity over quality."" While the prices are a bit higher than some restaurants in Chapel Hill, they are actually very reasonable for the quality of food. Pros: Food, Service, Ambience more
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The Best 8/15/2003

After 4 years, and what seems like hundreds of restaurants ranging from Hector's to the Fearrington, Elaine's is by far the best. The service (Thad - sorry if I spelled it wrong, Audrey, and Bret especially) make the whole experience a treat. Comparatively, Elaines is inexpensive with entrees sometimes as low as $15 and never exceeding $25, no matter the delicacy. The wine list is superb with great bottles starting in the upper $20s. The ever-changing foie gras is unsurpassed and an excellent variety of creative meats, fish and pasta are always available. I promise youll be back. Pros: Everything Cons: Good Luck Finding One more
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Elaine's is a great treat 5/19/2003

I went to Elaine's with some friends and I really like it. I had the scallops and the roasted chicken and both were wonderful. The bread is also wonderful and fresh. They have a great drink menu and when I ordered a drink I didn't like, they took it back at no charge. The only thing I wasn't that happy with was the chocolate cake. I had read so many great things about it that I was really looking forward to it and it did nothing for me. The atmopshere was fun and I liked the table we sat at in the window. The service started out a little slow, but got much better. Pros: food, drink more
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Chapel Hill's Finest 2/26/2003

The food is always delicious. I'm from Chicago and Elaine's could easily compete with the Windy City's finest restaurants. The wine selection is extensive and the wait staff is wonderful at pairing -- they have yet to steer me wrong. And whatever you do, don't forget dessert. Cons: Noisy more
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Elegant dining in Chapel Hill 8/23/2002

My husband and I celebrated our first anniversary by dining at Elaine's, and we weren't disappointed! The menu offered a wide selection of creative entrees, and the wine list was extensive and wide-ranging in regard to both taste and price. Although our server's attitude was somewhat distant and reserved, all other staff members were terrific - we were congratulated on our anniversary several times. One week later, we received a thank you postcard from the management, expressing their honor at our decision to celebrate with them! How's that for customer service? We definitely plan to return for our next anniversary! Pros: Attentive service, Great food, Great follow up more
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Great food, great service 8/8/2002

I love the food at Elaine's, and the bar and service are also both the best I've seen. The atmosphere is hip and trendy, and that's not my favorite. It's also really loud and crowded. But if you like that sort of thing, then you'll get great food on top of it! Very polished menu and presentation -- everything is top shelf. more
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Great 7/26/2002

I took my husband there for his birthday, and we had one of the best meals of our lives! We have been to some amazing restaurants in the past few years, and this definitely ranks among the best! Pros: Food, Wine, Serice Cons: Noise more
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Sizzling Skillet 7/25/2002

I was at Elaine's the other night, enjoying a fabulous meal with some friends. First of all the food was unreal. I had Bison (first time ever!) and was very impressed with the presentation and the succulence of what I experienced. Our waitress (I think her name was Carolyn?) was very funny and charming, while still maintaining her poise and exhibiting wonderful knowledge of the food and wine. The atmosphere was a bit noisy, but I heard that they're going to work on it in August. The chef is adorable - he was carrying his 2yr old daughter around and they both looked like they were having the time of their life! A definite must - I will become a regular. Pros: Bartender!, Food Cons: Noisy more
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local jewel 7/20/2002

The menu featured local ingredients fresh from that mornings farmers market. The food was amazing and the ambiance nice, but comfortable. I would recommend the restraunt for anyone wanting a top notch meal without the stuffy environment. Pros: food, menu, ambiance more
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Hats off! 6/23/2002

This classy bistro ranks as one of the top four restaurants in the triangle. With our vacation in Europe just behind us, we were absolutely delighted to find that our dining experiences here held up beautifully against some of the best chefs in France. Wonderfully prepared sushi tuna, coated in sesame seeds, and served rare. Fantastic summer fruits cobbler, lemon pound cake with fresh blueberries, and an extensive choice of good wines. Who needs the inconsistency of Magnolia Grill when Elaine's is always great. Pros: Great food, Great wine list, Great desserts more
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Best Food in the Triangle! 6/7/2002

If you want a quiet atmosphere this is not the place to go. Elaine's is lively and fun. The food is fantastic. I had the soft shell crab and it was better than the crab I had in some of NYC's best restaurants. The service was attentive but the place can get busy at times. I'm glad I don't have to dress up in a suit and tie to have great food! more
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Menu for Elaine's On Franklin


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Loud and bustling, Elaine's is the quintessential Chapel Hill eatery. A Jewel-toned paintings of fruit capture the eye with their particular boldness. Although menus change...

  • 7/17/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon. CLOSED;Tue. - Thu., Sun. 5:30pm - 9:30pm;Fri. - Sat. 5:30pm - 10pm
  • Payments: Discover, American Express, Visa, Master Card
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