Ellina

Italian restaurant · Aspen

Ellina

Italian restaurant · Aspen

2

430 E Hyman Ave Downstairs, Aspen, CO 81611

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Highlights

Sophisticated Italian nook with upmarket dishes & extensive wine  

Featured in The Infatuation
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430 E Hyman Ave Downstairs, Aspen, CO 81611 Get directions

ellinaaspen.com
@ellinaaspen

$100+ · Menu

Information

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430 E Hyman Ave Downstairs, Aspen, CO 81611 Get directions

+1 970 925 2976
ellinaaspen.com
@ellinaaspen
𝕏
@EllinaAspen

$100+ · Menu

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reservations required
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outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 25, 2025

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@eater

The Best Restaurants in Aspen, Colorado | Eater Denver

"Ellina has been an Aspen anchor of Italian cuisine since 2009, but after a complete interior refresh over the spring offseason (including soundproofing of the wine cave-like dining room), it feels even more polished. Owner and sommelier Jill Carnevale, a former server-turned-wine wizard, still oversees one of the region’s most compelling cellars (with more than 1,500 thoughtfully curated bottles). Chef Miguel Diaz stays true to the restaurant’s roots — housemade pastas, braised artichokes with lemon-thyme aioli, calamari fritti, black-pepper fettuccine, and classic chicken Milanese. The renovation has elevated the experience without changing the vibe. Claim a horseshoe-bar seat for a quick Negroni or grab a patio table on the Hyman pedestrian mall with blankets and heat lamps provided on cool summer nights." - Katie Shapiro

https://denver.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-aspen-colorado
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@infatuation

Ellina - Review - Aspen - The Infatuation

"The stone-walled downstairs dining room at Ellina feels like a cozy wine cave, with low lighting, white tablecloths, and, yes, lots of wine. There are a few dishes here that have remained crowd favorites since its opening 25 years ago (an eternity in Aspen time), like the lemony braised artichokes, crispy calamari fritti, and chicken Milanese topped with a tower of fresh arugula. There’s always a fun crowd hanging around the horseshoe-shaped bar, where you can order from the full dinner menu as well as a wine list with over 2,000 bottles." - Katie Shapiro

https://www.theinfatuation.com/aspen/reviews/ellina
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Soffia Wardy

Google
Ellina: A Must-Visit in Aspen Ellina is a true Aspen treasure! Owner and sommelier Jill brings unmatched passion and expertise to every detail, curating a phenomenal wine list that perfectly complements Chef Miguel’s extraordinary creations. The menu is a masterpiece, from indulgent handmade pastas to tender braised short rib and the vibrant, must-try taco menu. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere warm and inviting, and every visit feels like a special occasion. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Ellina is a dining experience you’ll never forget. Kudos to Jill, Chef Miguel, and their incredible team!

Leigh Senci

Google
Had a lovely experience at Ellina. The ambiance and outdoor seating is comfortable and elegant. The staff was kind and attentive, and took special attention to make sure my food wasn't contaminated with gluten (I have celiacs, husband does not). The prosciutto and tuna tartar was great; husband had the black pepper fettuccini and French onion soup and said all was amazing. Thank you! Highly recommend.

Holiday House SRQ

Google
Most Incredible dinner and wine at this beautiful restaurant in the heart of Aspen. Owner is extremely knowledgeable about wines and has a collection to be envied. If you go, must try the artichoke truffle app, truly one of the best things I’ve eaten in my life. 10/10 recommend .

Tom Misuraca

Google
If you’re reading a bad review ignore it! This was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, and I come from Manhattan. Amazing service and each dish just got better and better. Outstanding drinks as well. Very pricey as we had to order from a prefixed menu which out bill came to $450 for two after drinks and tip, but worth every penny honestly. Almost went back again the next night! If it wasn’t for the prefixed we would have! Hoping next time we can order freely!

Navneet Anand

Google
Better than any other place in Aspen Great service Superb food Should be rated as a high Michelin star The owner Jill C is very involved and looks like a perfectionist

Maksim Safiullin

Google
There are no questions for the kitchen, delicious. The staff is polite. I was here in the evening, almost all the tables were occupied. It is necessary to pre-reserve the table. The only thing I didn't like was very noisy here. A lot of people and everyone tries to shout down the other. Background music is barely audible. I prefer places with a more relaxed atmosphere where you can talk quietly, and not try to explain something to the interlocutor with a cry.

Gage Chapel

Google
Had a wonderful birthday dinner at Ellina. Made reservations and they were able to sit us outside on the patio per our request. The food was phenomenal. The calamari was one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend the tacos (pork belly and fish). Our mains were terrific. The braised short rib melted in my mouth. Our server Tia was also friendly and helpful. Would 100% eat at Ellina again.

Jos S

Google
One of the best restaurants in Aspen! Amazing menu and food, there’s something for everyone. Calamari, prosciutto, Pastas, Poke bowl are some of my favorites! Always great service and incredible wine list as well. Love Ellina!!

Idit F.

Yelp
One of the better served restaurants in Aspen wine is always a good choice Jill and her team are phenomenal always a pleasure always great food and wonderful service
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Zach H.

Yelp
Food was great. Highly recommend the octopus. Pasta was delicious as well. Some did nice job to find us a delicious wine. Samantha was a star
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Candace L.

Yelp
Friday solo dinner dates are sort of my jam. I enjoyed a lovely meal at Ellina. I was in town for a few days for the Aspen Valley Marathon and specifically made a booking at Ellina for a pre marathon pasta dish. I started with the frisée salad (beets, apples, goat cheese) which was really nice and refreshing. I initially told myself I'd skip a glass of wine, being that I was a bit anxious about the altitude change (coming from 300ft to run 26.2 in 8000ft) and really wanted to play it safe - then I realized I don't love playing it safe as much as I do a glass of wine with dinner and ordered the Aglianico. The bread basket with olive oil was lovely. I was happy to have the carbs! When I spotted the campanelle piselli on a table adjacent from me, I immediately knew I needed this dish. I'd previously been torn between a few but I love English peas and this dish looked so scrumptious. I ordered it as my main and it was perfection. I honestly credit the guaciale for helping me in the marathon, with each bite I took I knew my sodium levels would definitely be in check ;) Service was excellent, place was a buzz. Highly recommend!
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Jodi W.

Yelp
Ok, first off, service was amazing. Great even! The set up is pretty cozy. The room is crowded and there are many seating areas including outside and inside on different levels. We sat spot in the middle of the dining room at a table. The wine was a fortune but heck, we are in Aspen. What bummed us out was the food. I could make better food at home. We were looking for a place to go for something that was unusual. We decided, due to a suggestion from waitstaff, to get the artichoke bruschetta. Ok, it was good. Was it incredible and a culinary delight? not really. An old tired recipe that at one point was prob. pretty new to our palates. Hubby go the short rib and I got pasta. It was incredibly simple. The ravioli was soggy and hubbys short rib was rich but nothing incredible. Just some wet meat over what could have been boxed mashed potatoes. It was good, but expensive and not too adventurous.
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Heather C.

Yelp
This is a tough one. I love the look of the restaurant - there is ample outdoor seating and the inside has a cute cavelike feel (although there are quite a few steps to get to the indoor seating). The service was great and our waitress incredibly nice. Although our food looked amazing, every dish seemed to be missing something. The flavor profile on my salad was interesting - it was a radicchio salad, but definitely needed something sweet to offset the bitterness of the lettuce and had grilled corn that was lost in the dish. The short rib fell off the bone, but was pretty basic in flavor and needed a little salt. I had high hopes for this place but felt it was a little overrated for the price.
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Patrick D.

Yelp
We had a memorable dinner at Ellina which really offers a great Italian fine dining experience in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere! Their wine list is impressive and we had a fantastic Barrolo from 2016 which is a great vintage! Service was on the slow side but hey it was President's Day long weekend in Aspen! Service was attentive and dedicated! They even rushed some special order for my son who was "low" with his T1D. So, that was very much appreciated. This is a favorite of my dear friend Ken, so needless to say to say this restaurant is known by locals for its great food and wine.
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Madison W.

Yelp
The best food I had while visiting in Aspen, can't go wrong ordering anything on the menu. Absolutely unmatched culinary excellence. Jill is amazing as well!!!
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Daniel H.

Yelp
I wasn't there to experience the dine in experience because I chose to stay to workout at the hotel. It might have been a mistake based on how good the leftovers pasta i tried was. (And I even ate it cold because I was lazy and it was amazing!) Skip the workout to get some food Italian food

Anonymous R.

Yelp
Ellina is delicious and has a wonderful atmosphere and Jill is lovely! It's always a pleasure to dine there.
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Mason P.

Yelp
This is in response to Jill: I recall drinking multiple cocktails and no wine in my visit. She could pull the receipts on that. Also not once did I have a wine question. Responses to critical reviews, from someone with "basic etiquette and courtesy" (lame comeback), should be a reflection of how you're running your business. You unfortunately decide to get offended each time some criticizes you, which only makes the reviewers statement more factual. Lastly, for the busiest week of the summer in Aspen, your restaurant was not full at the time we sat nor by the time we ordered our food. Sad on your part. Guess I'll have to eat at Matsuhisa twice as much now. How sad for me

Ossie B.

Yelp
The ambiance of the restaurant has a cool vibe, good drinks and that's about it. We were a party of 4, the server didn't even bother to ask me if I wanted another drink, overall service was extremely poor server never came by to check in us. The bussers did their job but main server was terrible. In addition the food was ok not excellent. Not sure if I'll return since there's a lot of options Aspen.
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Brooke W.

Yelp
This was our first time eating at Ellina and we were very impressed throughout our experience! The food was delicious, the staff were all very kind and knowledgable, and the owner, Jill, was wonderful to meet and spot on with wine and food recommendations. The restaurant setting is a beautiful, classic Italian cave-like space with gorgeous stone walls, soft (yet still supportive) lighting, an overall lovely space. We left stuffed and incredible satisfied!!
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Natalie B.

Yelp
The most terrible service I have ever received at a restaurant. The owner is so rude. I would not spend a dollar more at this place. Don't waste your time!
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Daniel F.

Yelp
Jill, a reminder that you are in the hospitality business. I have been to so many lousy restaurants, yours included, that I don't even bother to rate any more. But you are really over the top as one of the worst restauranteur based on how you interact with your one star reviews. It was brought to my attention regarding the negative wine experience on 7/9 by one of your customers. As a serious wine collector with over 12,000 bottles of exquisite wines, your comment regarding a 2020 village wine is simply a joke. First, I can order a container for $30 each and for you to have an allocation of only 3 bottles of a village level wine ...... please And for those other 5 stars raters who claimed that your restaurant is the best in Aspen, please stop posting to save other diners from wasting their time and stomach. If Cache Cache and Matsuhisa is not on top of your list, you should just stop pretending to be a foodie, period. I have a home in Aspen and I visit Aspen four times a year. I have both owners of Cache Cache and Matsuhisa on speed dial and almost all their servers know who I am. Jill, you are way out of your league to be so rude to your customers. Please just shut your mouth and stop scamming your customers.

Lauren K.

Yelp
It wasn't half a complete table that's simply not true. We were missing two guests on a 7 top. I am fully aware of the rule regarding incomplete parties which is why I asked if it was okay to be seated while we waited. Like I said I have enjoyed meals here before so I was shocked by the reaction and service we received this time despite ordering plenty of food and drinks in the meantime. Also absolutely unaware there was a time cap on our reservation.
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Jordan C.

Yelp
One of the best bars in Aspen! Great local ambiance with a top shel bartender. You can't order wrong on the menu, everything is delicious. But their signature Bruschetta is an absolute must.

Lulu B.

Yelp
Overall pretty good didn't like that they had a split charge service was good except for the fact we waited 15 minutes for someone to come to our table to take drink orders. Food was good and overall recommend for a quick fine dining experience.

Blake D. B.

Yelp
The meal, service and vibe were 10/10. My good friends are locals to Aspen and said this was their favorite spot in town to meet for dinner. Jill the owner was lovely. She went above and beyond to take care of us. Willy at the bar was 10/10. Come here for dinner when you're in town. You will be happy you did.

Madison E.

Yelp
Called 2 times prior to our reservation because I got sick. I understood there was a cancellation fee and I accepted the matter. I courtesy called twice and then tried calling a third time to order take out because I wasn't feeling well enough to go out. I went online under "online order" and it didn't work. I started to assume the restaurant maybe wasn't open because they weren't answering the phone and the online order didn't work on their website. Anyway. The owner decides to personally message me and my friend 3 hours later. My friend was the one who called to order take out and wasn't even the one who made the reservation.
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Matt R.

Yelp
Fantastic dining option in Aspen. We'd go again. I'll start with the negatives, and finish on the positives, but they far outweigh the downsides. Only 2 gripes, one of which can't be realistically solved by the restaurant....b/c money talks. 1) At the prices of restaurants in Aspen, infants/toddlers really shouldn't be ruining the dining experiences of people paying hundreds of dollars to dine out. The parents are at fault, but a bold restaurant would ask the parent to take their child outside until they can properly behave. 2) I shouldn't have to get out of my seat to pour myself wine from the cooling stand. Now, the positives. They have a great wine selection and the sommelier knows her stuff b/c she had a story for the wine I chose, and it's not a common wine. They opened the wine and we tasted with approval. They put it on ice next to the table, but out of reach, while we finished our cocktails and enjoyed the appetizers. Unfortunately they did not come back to actually pour the wine until after our main/pasts dishes had been delivered. Just as I was ready to pour ourselves a glass, the waitress finally noticed our table and came over to pour the wine. They were busy, but not overly so that they shouldn't notice this on a modestly priced bottle of wine. Modest for this establishment anyways...they did have screaming eagle on the list. ooooph. A minor oversight on their part but it didn't really take away from the stellar food. The appetizers were delicious and perfectly balanced. Burrata of good quality is pretty hard to mess up, but they found a way to enhance every part of that dish. The artichoke bruschetta was simply outstanding. Don't skip this item in the starter section. For the mains we went of the house made pasta. We couldn't pass that up, and I was surely glad of that decision. Of the two pasta dishes we ordered, the Black Pepper Fettucini* pancetta, poached egg, parmigiano cream and Ricotta Cavatelli asparagus, prawns, tomato, garlic white wine, lemon breadcrumbs, the Fettucini dish was the clear winner. Just enough black pepper in the pasta to make it pop. The pancetta was some of the richest I've ever tasted. It's a very rich pasta dish, and I'd recommend a good white wine to compliment. We were both so full from everything that we couldn't even consider dessert. Honestly they earn a 4.75*rating. If the staff had been just a tiny bit more attentive I'd give them a 5. The screaming infant/toddlers? I give the parents 1* for being inconsiderate of others.

Jennifer R.

Yelp
Food was delicious. Service was fabulous. Lovely cocktail list and great reasonable wine list. Definitely going back!
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C Y.

Yelp
My favorite restaurant in Aspen!!! The food is incredible. We had the roasted tomato soup, tuna appetizer, and goat cheese salad to start and all were delicious. The lamb chops were the best I have had! Melts in your mouth! Highly recommend ordering this! We also shared the spaghetti with pine nuts, burrata and marinara sauce. WOW!! As good as what you would get in Italy. The service was perfect and everyone was so friendly. Can't wait for our next trip to Aspen so we can eat here again!!

Tony T.

Yelp
So many reviews about the very rude owner. Don't risk your precious time or hard-earned money at this restaurant. Take a look at the following 1 and 2-star reviews, and the owner's replies to those reviews. You'll quickly figure out the common denominator here. You'll find similar reviews about the owner's rudeness and unprofessional behavior on other platforms. Like Elena K on 3/15/23, Candy F on 3/26/22, Fran F on 12/11/21 who received a harassing text message from the owner , Paran J on 8/12/21, Dasha G on 8/10/20 ..... Ana P, John D, Urus L, Jonathan H, and the list goes on....... Read them. Do you see the common denominator? Mistakes happen. It's how you handle them that makes the difference. Most business owners address complaints professionally, apologizing, offering to correct problems and make things right. This owner is unhinged! Sending harassing messages to people who complain. She has a huge, arrogant ego. Even making up alternate realities of what actually took place. Take a look at other reviews and judge for yourself. So many other great restaurants in Aspen. Don't risk your time at this one. Read the other reviews that echo the same thing I'm saying.
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Morolake T.

Yelp
This place is SO good. Ordered the Artichoke Bruschetta, the Black Pepper Fettuccine, and the Ricotta Cavatelli and the Paper plane for my drink. 1. Make sure you make a reservation--we could see unhappy people getting turned away without one. 2. The paper plane is amazing. Although I had to wait forever (I think the bartender was backed up) it was so good I ordered it again. The bruschetta and the fettuccine stole the show for me. The flavor. The textures. The right amount of peppery flavor in the fettuccine. It was AMAZING. The Cavatelli was good, but the sauce was more watery/liquid like, which I wasn't a fan off. Overall a great experience and would come back to try some other entrees.
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Shruti J.

Yelp
Ellina is a great place! I loved everything about this restaurant- very upscale and cozy even in the outdoors with amazing food. Started the evening with cocktails - theh are amazing!!! Ordered a bunch of things for starters like the braised artichoke, fritters (I think) and tacos ( halibut and pork belly tacos were excellent, very flavourful). For mains, I got the shrimp pasta that had crumbled croutons, definitely a new take on pasta. The only dish we were disappointed in was the chicken Milanese.. it was very oil and had no flavours at all! Just plain soggy oily sandwich. The desserts were definitely the highlight of all the courses. Cream caramel was like nothing I've ever had before- so velvety and the right amount of sweet. The only thing we were disappointed about was our server. He was a bit rude and asked to place orders of all meals together with no proper explanation, or courteousness! Besides this, I do want to visit Ellina again. Oh ya this place is reservation only so book your table before for sure - they were pretty packed!!
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Betsy T.

Yelp
I'm sure their regular menu is fine. My husband and I booked their dinner event for New Years Eve. We've done other dinner experiences for past NYEs in Aspen and this one fell flat. Drinks were not included, which would have been fine. But the "experience" itself was just balloons and a few streamers on the walls. No DJ, no champagne toast at midnight. To clarify, this was coded as a dinner experience when we booked the reservation.

John B.

Yelp
One of the best in Aspen. Great food. Friendliest staff. i always stop here at least once while in aspen.

T W.

Yelp
We had a party of four. Very good wine selection. We shared 4 entrees and a few of apps. We had 3 desserts so I felt we had a good representation of the options. Loved the short ribs, French onion soup and artichoke bruschetta! It was a very special night with my son. Least favorite was the spinach pasta with bolognese sauce. ( noodles were too think). Favorite part is the personal touch of the staff stories of meeting the winery owner of our choice wine.
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Logan H.

Yelp
Always always have to pay a visit to Ellina! It's so cozy and so delicious. Super classic. The salmon entrée is beyond, 10/10. Great drinks, vibe, and incredible service.
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Kai B.

Yelp
Ellina is my absolute favorite spot in Aspen. If I had two children and one was Ellina and the other was another local restaurant, I would tell the other one straight to their face that Ellina is my favorite. In the summer, they have outdoor dining (had this before it was cool from the pandemic) and they give you red blankets to keep you warm.

Bridy T.

Yelp
The owner of Ellina is completely unprofessional and harassing. We made reservations through OpenTable for our upcoming trip to Aspen. I later called the restaurant to confirm the reservation and to make a request. When the employee answered the phone, there was no greeting, just a hello. If there was a greeting, it did not come through on my end. I asked if it was Ellina because the person who answered the phone sounded very casual. I thought that I had called someone's personal mobile number. She then said yes this is Ellina. I said I would like to confirm my upcoming reservation. She asked me my last name and how to spell it. I spelled out my last name and she said hold on. I was not put on a real hold because I could hear shuffling and talking in the background. I then heard from a distance someone else say "hello ELLINA". It was very distant so I was confused if it was me who this other person was speaking to or if it was just me hearing someone else's conversation. So I asked very politely! "hello are you speaking to me?" The person in the distance said yes in a very unprofessional hostile voice. I was taken aback by the rude tone of this person since I was just genuinely confused by the awkward way the phone call had been handled to this point. After I asked her who was I speaking with because of this very unprofessional treatment, I was shocked to learn it was the owner herself! I told her I was shocked that the owner would treat a returning customer so poorly! She showed no care whatsoever. She just said she was going to cancel my reservation and I said yes please do and that was that, at least for me. The reservations were canceled and that should have been that but she continued by inappropriately initiating text messages to my mobile! Please, be warned! I never write reviews because if I don't like the food or service, I just try somewhere else, but this I could not let go undocumented! Look at the other 1-2 star reviews and you will see this is true to the owner's behavior and treatment to customers! The past few years that we have been visiting Aspen, we have enjoyed so many of the restaurants and have been welcomed with nothing but professional kind service everywhere. This is the worst experience I have ever had with any business owner and service industry owner none the less, anywhere!

Elena K.

Yelp
The worst service ever! Waiters are extremely impatient. They treat you with an attitude like you are making them to do their job. No wonder, the owner is so rude. Doesn't let you talk and doesn't listen. Even if it was the best food it's not worth to ruin your evening.

Alexandra P.

Yelp
Amazing all around! Went twice on my 10 day trip to Aspen! Started with a summer salad and the polenta croutons! They were to die for! The sauce served on the croutons was amazing! The bolognese was perfect for my entree as well as the fall apart short ribs. I understand why this place has been around for so long! I hope more people don't find out how amazing it is so I can get in without a reservation!
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Skylar S.

Yelp
The food is phenomenal. Everything I get I love. This place is impossible to get into for a reason, it's constantly full but never understaffed. I absolutely love it.
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Christine B.

Yelp
Probably the worst $250 dinner I've ever had. My pasta dish was described as coming with prawns, so I pictured the whole prawn head and all type deal. Nope, five average shrimp. My wife ordered short ribs. What she got was a braised chuck steak. It was dry, boneless, and had none of the fatty goodness that comes with short ribs. Two dishes on the menu complete misrepresented for what they were. To top it off, our server was completely inattentive. We were treated better by the other servers bring our food to our table and the bus people. Not sure if it was because we are lesbian couple, or if we didn't look ritzy enough for Aspen (we were both dressed as nicely as others in the restaurant). Total disappointment.
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Edward V.

Yelp
Greyhound. Instead of quiet wine dining environment, you will get loud ass greyhound bus station atmosphere. Nothing good/special about the food either. Not worth it.
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Marcella M.

Yelp
Ellina is a small, casual yet classy restaurant with an extensive wine selection that will please the wine snob!! The outside seating was romantic and beautiful. The pork chop was a nice sized portion and cooked perfectly. The Halibut was beautifully presented with a wonderful sauce. Outstanding service and food. A must try while in Aspen.
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Elizabeth B.

Yelp
Super cute location with a gorgeous, yet cozy bar. We shared all the pastas. All outstanding. The chicken Milanese was also delicious. Great wine list but all very expensive. Not many mid priced/affordable which would have been fine except we had a large party. Also, our service was poor in my opinion. Our server was kind of rude. That's the reason for the 4 stars.
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Lena C.

Yelp
Ellina is a cute restaurant right off the main downtown pedestrian street in Aspen. We decided to visit based on the great reviews and also because my co-worker recommended it. To start the ambiance is lovely. It was a chilly night when we visited in mid-September but there were people sitting outside on the patio anyway! Stairs take you deep down into a large dining area. When we got there at 7pm we were one of a handful tables, but as the dinner went on the tables quickly filled up. The menu has so many classic and familiar options, however I would say the dishes are far from boring. For example, we had the artichoke heart appetizer which came on toasted bread and was topped with an over easy egg. These are all familiar foods, but we're combined so uniquely and topped with an amazing sauce. After we finished that, we used additional bread to soak up every drop of that yummy sauce. My partner had filet mignon which was topped with mushrooms, and served with a yummy sauce and sweet potato tots. I actually had a decent amount of his food while we were waiting for my dish (I ordered salmon but chicken showed up instead!)... Maybe someone out there is looking out for me and wanted me to eat more of this yummy dish. 0:) I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection and served over a bed of crispy quinoa. Again, familiar ingredients but pulled together in a thoughtful way that maximizes flavor and texture. The sauce was also outstanding. Whoever is in charge of sauces must be a magician, because they were all incredible tonight. One setback for my experience was our server. Not only did he input our order wrong, but we were without water throughout the night. At the end of the meal, we told him we weren't interested in dessert and he brought one anyways instead of the check. It seemed like other tables were being taken care of and were being checked on by the owner of the restaurant, so I would guess this experience is probably not the norm. Overall I definitely would recommend Ellina to others. It's a romantic and delicious ambiance and I have never gushed over sauce more than during my time here.
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Candy F.

Yelp
This is the worst restaurant in aspen. The owner is so rude. Apparently it's ok to serve cold soup and gross cold calamari. Don't waste you're time at this place. We come to aspen in the winters and I never had such a horrible experience at any restaurant. The owner has several bad reviews on here and other reviews so I won't take it personal, she's just a very nasty person who shouldn't be in customer service. Ok, to reply to this crazy women it's all lies! Read on everyone and you will clearly see all her bad reviews are very similar to mine. No need to add anything more, I never walked out of a restaurant before, like I said she's crazy and lying. We walked out yes after she yelled at me. Of course we would never go back! She even said leave if you don't like the food prepared cold! The soup was suppose to come first as I told the waiter, then we were sharing the gross calamari. They slapped both down cold and said this is the way it has to come! Who eats coup and calamari at the same time! Soup is suppose to be hot, but you must do what she says and eat both at the same time, even after requesting it twice to come separate. Does this even explain her behavior? I mean if you're owner aren't you suppose to be customer friendly?!? She honestly came over ready to ATTACK me! It's ok, I told all the concierge people at the hotel and they all said this is why we can always get a reservation here lol. They have also had complaints about this crazy lady. You're a owner! You need to go to learn customer service. You can clearly see what kind of person she is by her response! Fyi, I didn't yell at anyone, but you sure yelled at me, basically scared me! Get lost!! My reviews is true, the many other bad ones here show the truth! Keep having people write reviews for you because you're food sucks! Normal person that knows Customer service would have made sure the cold gross food was at least came out hot! Any good business owner makes people happy, that's how you keep a good business! I sure would and do in my business! The concierge agreed about this place to me. Eventually she will be out of business. Any owner acting like this deserves ALL the bad reviews here. Read on, there's so many, I wish I saw the yelp reviews she doesn't seem to care about before I went!
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Khaled A.

Yelp
Ellina is relatively bigger in terms of seating than the other Aspen restaurants we went to, it a good bet if you are a big group. We started with the ahi tuna tartare which turned out to be my favorite. The combination of chips, tuna and avocado went well together. Next we had the barata salad which was just ok as far as the barata goes, but the beets were great. We ordered cauliflower soup which was on the heavy creamy side, they are good but nothing outside the ordinary. As for the main dishes went with the salmon and the roasted chicken. The roasted chicken was the better choice mainly due to the lemon caper sauce. Here are my ratings: Ahi tuna tartare: 8.5/10 Barata salad: 8/10 Cauliflower soup: 8/10 Salmon: 8/10 Roasted chicken: 8/10
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Mark W.

Yelp
We ate here only once, and the food was exceptional in all respects. Can't give much credit for the ambiance, though. We rarely order steaks in restaurants , but their Harris Ranch New York Steak was perfect (not a word I use a lot.). Great tender beef, 100% consumable, exactly medium rare, and topped with a sauce that caused me to pick the plate up and lick it clean (just kidding on that part.) They charged extra for us to split it, but it came out like two individual servings. Expensive, but good value nonetheless.
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Dan M.

Yelp
Delicious appetizers and well prepared pasta dishes with attentive and friendly service. We particularly enjoyed the artichoke bruschetta, which was fresh, flavorful and creative. The polenta bites were very good too. The main pasta entrees were very flavorful and well portioned, but it being pasta, were also very heavy. We sat indoors because of the rain. If you're concerned about COVID it probably wouldn't be your first choice as the space does not have great ventilation and it was quite crowded. But the food and service are worth it.

Matt K.

Yelp
Very unimpressive food and service, especially for New Year's Eve prices. Charged $200 per person price fix menu for only 2 courses. Service was pushing us to leave after only 75 minutes and was consistently late with drinks, serving us wine as we were finishing our main courses. Many better restaurants are available for much less money. Try Bosq or Butela for a much better experience at a much better price.

Fran F.

Yelp
Look at this dm the owner of Ellina sent me. Way to prove my point Jill! The fact that you felt the need to message me on Yelp calling me a Karen because YOU were rude just really proves my point that you shouldn't be running a customer facing business. To say I have anger issues when I'm not the one who messaged a stranger on yelp because I didn't like the review they left me is laughable. Honestly don't want to stoop to your level of name calling so I'll just leave you with a piece of advise - dissolve and franchise a McDonald's
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Jack D.

Yelp
Nothing special about this place but the attitudes. Did spend some time in the restroom after.
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Tammy M.

Yelp
Was in town for Food & Wine and ate here on our last evening. I am a plant based eater and ate pasta the previous 3 nights...I was craving some veggies. Our server was awesome, I am sorry that I can't remember her name. I asked if the chef could make me something vegan, no pasta please. I was served a beautiful vegetable tower wrapped in shaved zucchini on a bed of marinara. It was delicious and exactly what I was craving. Thank you to the chef and server for going above and beyond!
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Lynn G.

Yelp
Terrible Unfriendly, actually hostile service. Overpriced so-so food. Not worth it. No outdoor heaters where we sat. Many other better choices in town. Cannot recommend.
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Selma F.

Yelp
OMG talking about the rude hostess. The food is just ok, nothing special. With so many restaurant choices in Aspen I don't recommend this one.