The first thing you notice sitting inside Elise is the bold artwork, vibrant with pinks, greens, and velvety red hues filling the space. Its setting feels like a natural transition from the art in the nearby High Museum, only improved by a grounding vermouth and tonic. The Woodruff Arts Center desperately needed a fantastic on-premise restaurant, and Elise, by chef Craig Richards of Lyla Lila, elegantly fills that gap.
People dressed in black turtle necks and dark-rimmed glasses speak in hushed voices in the gorgeous dining room. A woman with coiffed grey hair and a long, leopard-print coat takes her seat by the window. The two large dining rooms offer plenty of space for groups and intimate seatings alike. With an espresso and yuzu tonic in hand, who wouldn’t like people-watching here?
There is a mineral water list on the drinks menu — the Wossa mineral water from Austria ($24) tastes like wet stones. Give it a swirl and sniff, just as you would with wine, and see if you pick up on floral and mineral aromas.
Dining and Cooking