To celebrate my dad’s birthday, we headed up to Glencoe for Sunday dinner at Elyon. My parents had gone for the first time a week before, and they loved it so much they wanted to bring the whole family back. Elyon serves Turkish and Mediterranean food, and what stuck with me most was our waiter telling us that "the chef’s number one goal was to share his heritage and its food with the local community."
The chef and owner, Ozgur Ozkan, is a Wilmette local who also co-owns Elia, a Mediterranean spot on Division Street in Wicker Park. Elia had been on my list to try, so I'm looking forward to it even more now. Elyon was his way of bringing that same cooking closer to home on the North Shore.
We each did the $50 tasting menu, and I can confidently say it was one of the most filling tasting menus I’ve ever had, and one of the best deals. Every dish was filled with a ton of flavor, and plenty of them were things I hadn't tried before. In classic Loiacono fashion, dinner lasted three hours, and the food and wine never stopped coming. We left completely full, and it was worth every minute. If you’re looking for a special occasion spot that will introduce you to Turkish and Mediterranean food, Elyon is a great choice. Here’s a quick run through of some highlights from the tasting menu:
We started with a spread of five mezze: hummus, tzatziki, muhammara, htipiti, and baba ghanoush, all served with warm bread that was crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. Every dip was delicious, but the htipiti was the true highlight for me. It’s a blend of roasted spicy red peppers and creamy feta, with a little bit of heat and so much flavor. The muhammara was a close second, sweet and smoky from the roasted red pepper, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses. The dishes each spread came in were beautiful, too! Next came two platters of sliced meats and smoked salmon. They were great, although the smoked salmon wasn’t my favorite. Honestly, it was hard to keep track of every dish. It almost felt like we were at someone’s house while they cooked and brought out whatever they’d made, and I loved that. Overall, it was a great start to the meal.
The next round of food brought out tiny Turkish dumplings, which were another highlight for me. The dumplings are bite size and traditionally filled with spiced ground beef or lamb. They were packed with a lot of flavor and a little heat, and I could have eaten a whole plate on my own. They came with a side of sausage that was just as good. The large platter of the kebabs and chicken were delicious. The chicken was so tender, and the kebab was another standout for me. This is where the tasting menu really started to feel like a feast, and I stopped trying to keep track and just enjoyed it. We were also given this bread with cheese and truffle, similar to a pizza. It wasn't on the menu, but it was delicious. We added the Fisherman’s pasta from the main menu, and I’m so glad we did. It came loaded with shrimp, salmon, and mussels, and like everything else, it was packed with flavor.
We ended the night with baklava, some of the best I’ve ever had. For just $50 per person, Elyon was an incredible experience, and the kind of place that makes a celebration feel special without trying too hard. It feels authentic, and you leave feeling like you are getting enough food that is well worth it. I’d absolutely go back with a big group for the next one, and if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a birthday or special occasion on the North Shore, this is a great choice. Happy birthday to the best dad ever!
