Essence Restaurant + Bar

Fine dining at a new level! Our first visit was great, our second visit beyond fantastic. EVERYTHING we had was delicious and beautiful. Cocktails are top notch and staff are some of the best we’ve ever experienced. Personal and professional. They gifted our table some delicious champagne to toast our friend’s anniversary, and they made sure our experience was memorable and delightful. Thank you Brad and staff for a beautiful fine dining experience. We will definitely be back and highly recommend.

My husband and I did the tasting experience last night, and it did not disappoint! Every single detail from start to finish was amazing! The food was impeccable, the drinks were perfectly paired with each course, and the service is truly one-of-a-kind. Some of the best food, if not the best food, we have ever experienced! Also, it has to be noted that the kitchen staff works so smoothly and calmly together. Such a pleasure to watch them as they created many masterpieces throughout the evening.

First time there and we will 100% be back. Everything was absolutely fantastic. Our server Holly was a perfect fit for our personalities. The food was off the charts delicious. Thank you for a great evening!

5 ⭐️ dining in Elkhart!

My fiancé reserved the coveted “Chef’s Table” for our engagement/anniversary celebration and I can say without any hesitation that it was a dining experience unlike anything I have had before.

The greeting we received upon entering this beautiful establishment set the tone for the evening: warm, friendly, cheerful and full of excitement. We were then shown to the coveted table located in the kitchen, directly behind the bar, where we found a wonderful hand-written note from Brad (one of the owners). We were immediately served champagne on the house in honor of our celebration, which was crisp and refreshing.

From then on, the night was a dream. The uniquely prepared and ever-changing courses of the “Chef’s Tasting Menu” were beyond compare with any dishes I have experienced. The Chef, and co-owner, Juan would explain the art-like dishes in superb detail and have our mouths watering before we took the first bite.

Speaking of first bites, the flavor combinations of each course were so beautifully complex yet perfectly paired that we were often literally left speechless. From the sauces and seasonings, to the main components, each course was immaculately prepared and presented. You could truly taste the passion Chef Juan has for preparing amazingly unique dishes.

The staff, front and back of the house alike, were all beyond friendly and helpful the entire evening. Being located in the kitchen, we also got to experience how fluidly and cohesively the entire staff worked together. We consistently heard staff speaking words of appreciation to one another throughout the night, without any sense of frustration, regardless of how busy they were.

Essence is an amazingly unique, yet definitely much needed in this area, restaurant that should not be passed up. Whether you dine at the bar, a traditional table or at the impeccable Chef’s Table, your experience at Essence will be one you’ll likely never forget. I know it was for us.

Thank you to Brad, the talented beyond compare Chef Juan and the entire staff of Essence for providing us with a night to remember. We will definitely be back! 🌺

Our experience was amazing. Avery was a great waitress and had wonderful suggestions on dishes and drinks as well. We were a party of four and spent the whole evening with the staff taking wonderful care of us. Brad stopped by the table multiple times and even taught us how to examine a wine corn to tell if the bottle had any issues in transport or storage. Brad is very proud of the establishment that he and the Chef have created and it shows. He even showed us the “Chef’s Table” located directly in the kitchen! We will be booking that table on our next visit.

Now on to our dinner. The appetizers were amazing. We didn’t take many pictures because we were enjoying the experience. The menu changes often, so always ask the waitstaff for suggestions, you won’t be disappointed. The entrees were very good as well. I had the Wellington and the pastry crust was perfectly cooked and not soggy on the bottom as I’ve experienced at other establishments. The dessert course should not be skipped. The presentation of my Apple dessert was enough alone to order again.

More on the drinks. We ordered a few different cocktails around our table and every one of them was perfect. For dinner, Avery helped pick out a good red wine to go with our table as most of us ordered red meat entrees. I’m not an avid wine drinker and I had a couple glasses. I finished out the night with a Scotch that was also suggested by Avery and it was very good.

Thank you to all the staff at Essence for making our night perfect.