Essence Restaurant + Bar is a highly rated restaurant in Elkhart, Indiana, offering a welcoming setting for memorable dinners, relaxed drinks, and enjoyable dining experiences. Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 564 customer reviews, the restaurant is known for its cozy, quiet, romantic, trendy, and upmarket atmosphere.
Guests can enjoy attentive table service, comfortable seating, and the convenience of a bar on site, along with a fireplace that adds to the inviting dining environment.
The menu and beverage selection provide something for a range of preferences, including small plates, healthy options, beer, cocktails, spirits, coffee, and alcohol. Essence Restaurant + Bar is also known for its great beer selection, great cocktails, great dessert, and great wine list, while its local specialty adds a distinctive touch to the dining experience.
Whether you are planning an evening meal, enjoying dessert, dining alone, or arranging a private gathering in the private dining room, the restaurant offers a versatile setting with dinner reservations recommended and reservations accepted.
For added convenience, Essence Restaurant + Bar provides outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeaway, kerbside pickup, delivery, no-contact delivery, and on-site services. The location includes a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, helping make the restaurant more accessible for guests. Credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments are accepted.
Visit Essence Restaurant + Bar at 333 Nibco Pkwy, Elkhart, IN 46516, United States, or call +1 574-327-6143 to make a reservation or plan your next meal.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Essence Restaurant + Bar
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Hear from our valued guests
We had an AMAZING experience at this restaurant last night!! PERFECT for date night with the hubby!!! The food from the appetizer to the dessert was crafted with such care, flavor, and alot of love!! The service...TOP NOTCH!!! From the moment we walked in, Brad was very attentive and welcoming. Not just to us, but to the whole restaurant. OUR waitress, Neida, such class,such grace, I would label her the perfect touch of the best experience we have EVER had, and I am such a foodie!!! We can't wait to come back and enjoy another fantastic meal soon!!! Thank you, Brad, for living out something that was SO made for you!!! Stay blessed, and continue to bless us!!!
This is my second time to essence. This time I decided to bring my team of 10 for our Christmas party. Evie was our server for the second time and she was just as consistent as she was the first time. Very friendly made lots of conversation with our table. Had great recommendations, for us as well. I have a gluten sensitivity and they came up with plenty of ways and options for me. We came from an hour away, And it was worth the trip! I recommend the Japanese sweet potatoes as your small plate with your Entrée they were all the perfect size. I had the salmon with asparagus and they were both delectable. I’m actually quite a fan of not having leftovers and I don’t believe anyone in our group did. Brad, the owner also made multiple appearances at our table was very kind and down to earth surprised us with complementary desserts at the end. Made for a great team memory!
Absolutely beautiful experience. It was my fiances birthday, I thought this would be a nice romance spot. It was! We had the pleasure of having Zach as our waiter. The owner Brad is so sweet. He gave my fiancé a birthday card and a complementary dessert. We had to get one for each of us tho. If you want to dress up and have a romantic dinner this is the place. Can’t wait to go back.
We had such an incredible experience dining here for our anniversary. The food was outstanding every bite was better than the last. You can really tell the ingredients are fresh and the dishes are thoughtfully prepared. The desserts were absolutely phenomenal and worth coming back for alone. The drinks were just as impressive. The whole atmosphere made it even more enjoyable. This place definitely exceeded our expectations, and we can’t wait to return.
Came here twice in a row! first day was for a work meeting, and it was very professional. We were a big group, but everything was efficiently timed & we were well cared for. The second day, my significant other took me out to celebrate my last day of work before moving to a new position elsewhere. my SO knew a friend of the head chef, & we were able to talk to the owner and chef to thank them for the amazing food & service. I got the chicken that was on the experimental menu both days, but was able to swap my side veggies with the help of our amazing waitress. Such a lovely, welcoming place with amazing food & drink
Absolutely amazing experience at Essence Restaurant + Bar. The food was outstanding — perfectly cooked salmon, rich and flavorful ravioli, and creative cocktails with an awesome presentation. The atmosphere was upscale but comfortable, and the service was excellent from start to finish. Easily one of the best restaurants in the Elkhart area. Highly recommend for a date night or special dinner!
Essence consistently lives up to its stellar reputation. From the moment you arrive, the experience feels intentional and elevated. The servers are attentive, warm, and genuinely engaging, each bringing a great sense of humor that makes the meal even more enjoyable. Their deep knowledge of the menu allows them to offer thoughtful recommendations, adding a personal touch to every visit. The food is exceptional—beautifully presented and crafted with care, balancing flavor and artistry in every dish. The atmosphere is equally impressive, with comfortable seating and meticulous attention to detail, from being seated at your table to having the door opened for you as you leave. Brad, the owner, plays a huge role in making Essence stand out. He has a remarkable ability to make every guest feel valued, as if they’re the most important person in the room. It’s the kind of hospitality that turns first-time visitors into regulars. Essence isn’t just a great local restaurant—it’s among the best dining experiences I’ve had anywhere in the United States. It easily rivals top restaurants in cities like Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle, and New York. Once you’ve been, you’ll find yourself eagerly checking their menu updates, already planning your next visit.
My fiancé and I celebrated our engagement here, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. We were trying to find a place last minute, and when we called here no one answered, but then they actually called us back. They booked us for 8:00 and even offered to call if an earlier table became available, which we really appreciated. When we arrived, they surprised us with champagne and a handwritten congratulations card, which was such a thoughtful touch. The food was amazing, especially the Japanese sweet potato, it was incredible! Thank you for making our celebration so memorable. We can’t wait to come back. :)
We had a wonderful evening at Essence! Our server Zach went above and beyond to make sure that everyone was safe with allergies and understood the menu options available on the rotating menu. We had the Japanese Sweet Potatoes, Tuna Tartare, Bang Shrimp, Lobster Gnudi, Chicken, Elk, Scallop & Corn Risotto and a delicious Lemon dessert! Everything was incredible and an absolute delight to eat. Essence is a true fine dining experience perfect for a weeknight or special occasion. We will be back!
From the moment we walked in and they offered to take our coats all the way to the desert menu, phenomenal service! Thank you to Melissa our server, Marissa and Brad. We had a letter waiting at our table and a free pour of champagne for my Wife and I's 4th wedding anniversary. Also the Chef needs a raise!!! We're used to good restaurants and good food, but DANG that food was amazing some of the best in Northern Indiana!! The amazing food and Melissa's service were an absolute pleasure. We will be back!
Common questions about Essence Restaurant + Bar
Essence Restaurant + Bar is located at 333 Nibco Pkwy, Elkhart, IN 46516, United States, Elkhart, IN, United States.
You can reach Essence Restaurant + Bar by calling +1 574-327-6143.
Essence Restaurant + Bar has a rating of 5.0 out of 5 based on 564 customer reviews.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Kerbside pickup, No-contact delivery, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following highlights: Fireplace, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following popular for: Dinner, Solo dining.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Healthy options, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following dining options: Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following atmosphere: Cozy, Quiet, Romantic, Trendy, Upmarket.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following planning: Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Essence Restaurant + Bar features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Business Features
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