With a outdoor sidewalk seating, a mod glass portal painted in white and lime green, and beautiful service staff, Elmo sits comfortably on this busy stretch of Chelea's Seventh Avenue, waiting for you to come in, sit down and have a crazy cocktail from its fabulous menu.

The interior is a mixture of 80’s color and noise, nouveau urban mod (especially above the bar), and airport lounge. A phalanx of two-tops follows the curved banquette that snakes to the back of the dining room. In fact, most of the tables are for two, but can be pushed together to make room for four or more (although more than six is not suggested). Two large paintings that pine away for mom-in-the-apron-Americana gaze down upon diners from their 1950’s inspired color scheme.

The paintings were not chosen by accident. The menu is a cheeky feast of comfort food, Chelsea style. With a twist on everything you thought you knew about your mother’s kitchen (including meatloaf and alphabet soup), Elmo seeks to poke fun at the trend of high-brow “comfort food”. Witness the Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake on the dessert menu.

Elmo’s is a great brunch spot for shoppers and people watchers. The steak and eggs entree is really, really good, as is the spicy Bloody Mary. Also notable are the large salads, served in big white bowls rather than on a big white plate – much neater for the eater. Notable items on the menus: fun cocktail list, coconut layer cake, bison burger, garlic bread with gorgonzola, fried chicken.

While many couples go here from brunch, it is not a romantic spot. Diners may feel that, at any moment, someone is going to push all the tables aside and a dance party is going to break out. This feeling is due in part to the dance club soundtrack playing far above the dining room, but there actually is a lounge downstairs which serves various functions.

The service staff are attentive and helpful, and like many of the patrons, the staff here are also attractive. It's almost like a movie set. While it is casual, it is Chelsea-casual, meaning a tad more casual than perhaps the Uptown set might care for.