One Eleven Yorkville: Champagne, Oysters, Caviar

I think the name and location say it all. It is Yorkville and they serve champagne, oysters and caviar. Of course just because you have the location and a swanky menu doesn't mean you have it all, you still have to do it right and One Eleven has done it right.

Atmosphere is one of the key elements if you want people to continually come back to your establishment.  From the waterfall flowing beside the stairs as you descend into the restaurant and the unique art deco inside One Eleven creates a relaxing gathering place.  This small underground space has a max capacity of sixty people; however, the dark colours, mirrored walls and dim lighting play tricks on your perception making the place feel much larger than it is. In addition to this perception trickery, there is a vertical column of bubbling blue "water" in the center of the room which helps create the artificial feeling of semi private quarters to the restaurant.  This artificial feeling offered our group a sense of intimacy and seclusion from those around us.  In contrast to this privacy and intimacy,  the venue is  small enough to feel comfortable mingling  with the rest of the crowd.  There is often live music in the background and the Tuesday night I was there the vocal stylings of Mike Ferfolia (www.ferfolia.net) added a kick to the atmosphere making it feel a little bit more like a party.  Using a number of classics from the seventies he united the crowd with the common theme of his voice but did not overpower the room so that we could enjoy our meals and friends.  The atmosphere alone is enough for me to recommend you go and check out One Eleven Yorkville; however, they enticed me for a return trip with a wonderful meal.

We were celebrating a birthday so the chefs prepared a special three course meal and paired it with wine.  I cannot speak for their regular menu but I can suggest based on what we received and what they specialize in, just about anything on a plate would make you melt.  Our meal consisted of a mixed green salad with vinagrette, roast chicken on a bed of asparagus and blackened potatoes, followed by a baked fruit crisp, all paired with  a wonderful french wine.  Each aspect of the meal, almost literally melted in my mouth, everything was perfectly tender and full of flavor.  It is one of the best meals I have experienced in a long time.   

Great food, elegant upscale styling, and good entertainment provide a combination of excellence for this small intimate space in Yorkville.  If you have not been there yet stop in and see for yourself.  One Eleven Yorkville has done it right.