Ellē has been on my radar for about a year. It's one of the places that I've been meaning to go to, but never got around to it. It was recently ranked #7 on Washingtonian's Very Best Restaurants List, so I knew it was time to finally make the trek to Mount Pleasant.
Ellē is what you wish your neighborhood coffee shop looked like. It's bright, yet cozy and offers a wide array of tasty menu options. During breakfast and lunch, they have a more casual menu with a variety of soups, sandwiches, and salads. At night, Ellē becomes a full-service restaurant and they expand their menu to include dishes such as, spicy sausage pasta and charred broccoli benedict.
I popped in for lunch on a rainy day and Ellē offered just the vibe I was looking for. It was fairly quiet, except for the whir of the coffee machine and the hushed conversations in the back of the café. It was the ideal place to get some work done. The front bar area is tucked behind the coffee counter and right in front of a window, so I could see everything happening outside. It also made for impeccable lighting for my photos.
It was miserable the day I was there, so I decided to order a hot chocolate. It was 100% the right decision. When I took my first sip, I sighed with content. The hot chocolate was rich and fluffy with a touch of spice. The chocolate flavor wasn't overwhelming and it was just what I needed to comfort me on a rainy day.
The pressed cheese was the epitome of cheesy goodness. It was served on Ellē's homemade sourdough, which you can purchase from them on Sundays, and stuffed with all of my favorite cheeses: feta, gruyere, and cheddar. The combination of these three cheeses made the sandwich just the right amount of gooey. The bread was pressed to crispy perfection and topped with a dash of sea salt.
Ellē is the perfect place to escape to for a few hours to get away from it all and enjoy a delicious meal with a good book. I plan to return soon to sample their dinner menu.