.elia – Savour Simple Menu With Sophisticated Dishes

If there were a formula to capture the millennial appetite, .elia might have just figured it out. This 30-seater eatery boasts a dual-concept that changes with the sun, and its menu contains youth-centric buzzwords (think avocado toasts and truffle eggs) that will send phone-wielding diners to social media heaven. And that’s not forgetting the minimalistic decor, marble bar counters, baby’s breath, and oodles of natural light – ingredients that help make .elia an Instagram-friendly dining option.

Their lean menu makes deciding what to eat a breeze. Brunch on a weekend features the usual suspects like pancakes ($15) with berries and maple syrup, and big breakfast ($19) with scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, tomato relish, toast, and bacon. We couldn’t resist the avocado toast ($12.50), which was a green garden of sliced avocados and arugula, served atop a thick sourdough slice and drizzled with toasted black sesame dressing. We liked how the bitter greens were a good counterbalance to the rich and creamy avocado, with mild nutty undertones from the black sesame dressing.

We also tried the potatoes ($16), which fortunately tasted much more complex than its name. Roasted potatoes and sliced bacon were served on a bed of truffled-laced mash potato, and topped with a sunny side up. The truffle mash perfumed the entire dish, while enhancing the salty pieces of meat and roasted potato slices. The serving size might be a little small to be considered a main, but we reckon it’ll be a great side to share among friends.

Those accustomed to ending their meal on a sweet note might be disappointed at the missing dessert menu, but their milkshake might make up for that. Our peanut butter fudge ($12) came overflowing with a decadent concoction of peanut butter, fudge, and ice cream. It is richly satisfying – think of this as a molten dessert best consumed through a straw.

At night, .elia sheds its casual bistro persona to transform into a modern European restaurant serving wagyu beef short rib and grilled octopus. It’ll take more than one visit to fully savour what .elia has to offer, and we’re definitely making plans to return. 

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid for its own meal at the restaurant featured here.