Went here originally because of an ad in the paper. Once seated it took a little long for our server to come over but she was very professional once she did. Lots of choices but unfortunately both of mine were unimpressive. I ordered one of the Wok dishes and got chicken instead of shrimp. Way too salty and had an odd taste. I ordered a side of fried rice and it had no flavor and when it was recooked it was the same. Don't get fried rice whatever you do. Probably never going back. Not when P.F. Changs is nearby.
(2)
David C.
Typical chain with an extensive Asian fusion menu. It was very busy on a Friday but we grabbed a table within a booth in the bar area. Service was fast and friendly. They sell really tall glasses of Guinness and I had the Misoyaki fire grilled Salmon which was cooked to perfection. Street parking is at a premium however theres a huge parking lot behind the restaurant. Definitely worth a try.
(3)
Lily M.
Priced well. In a cute location. Lots of selections. meat, seafood, veg, etc. its very easy to find sth you would want to try. the first time when i was there, i ordered sth looked good on the menu pic, but it looked bad on the plate, its a tuna dish, after knowing i was not happy and they took it away and made me sth else. so that was nice.
(5)
Troy B.
My family decided to have a nice dinner last Friday (6/17)to celebrate father's day. We chose the Elephant Bar in Lakewood, CO, as this is the most convenient location for all of us (9 of us spread across the metro area). The service we received was terrible from the start. First, my wife made a reservation for nine people, yet when we arrived at the restaurant, we were led to a booth that could only seat 6 at the most (even though there were clearly nine of us standing there). Then we were led to one of three empty larger tables. As we started to sit, we were told that table was reserved for someone else and we were led to yet another table. Our waitress took her sweet time getting to our table. When she finally delivered our drinks, she literally spilled water down my leg and into my shoe. She apologized, but this didn't make the night any better. That's two strikes. Next, we were told your bar was apparently out of the two beers my brother and I ordered (Tsingtao and Bass). However, another server brought me a Bass. Three strikes. When our drinks arrived, my wife requested a bowl of pita chips for our son who is a toddler and was very hungry. Despite repeated requests (she kept saying they were on their way), the chips didn't arrive until our meals did. Four strikes. We then placed our food order. Our food arrived in a decent amount of time, and we were all willing to overlook the mishaps to this point and try and have an enjoyable meal (even though my foot was wet inside my shoe). However, we quickly noticed that 3 out of the 9 of us did not receive rice with our meals, and two of the people that did receive rice had the wrong kind (brown instead of white). Another server quickly remedied the rice situation, but at this point we were so underwhelmed and frankly just annoyed at the incompetency in the restaurant that it was hard to thank him for being prompt. Five strikes. Our server was generally inattentive, complacent, and flighty the entire time we were there. We split the check three ways, and my wife did not tip a full 20% on our check because the service and entire experience was so bad. Now for the thing that really makes me mad (and what actually drove me to write this email): my wife reviewed our bank account today and discovered that our server added $2 to her tip. I hate it here and will never go back. The Greenwood Village location, however, is awesome and TOTALLY worth the visit!
(1)
Mark B.
Personally, I don't understand why this restaurant has an average of 3 stars? I went there with a friend just last week on a Thursday night and had a really pleasant experience. If a friend were to ask me what I had to say about Elephant Bar I would have to respond, "Its like an African Themed Cheesecake Factory...Without the Cheesecake." While I suppose that could be construed as negative I really don't think it is. Neither my friend now myself had any specific cravings for our cuisine so I found it refreshing to see such a full menu with so many options. We ended up sharing lettuce wraps as an appetizer which, while not PF Chang's caliber wraps, were still quite tasty. I then moved on to a phenomenal Salad that included dry roasted candied walnuts, Gorgonzola and pears all laid over dark greens with a light Asian vinaigrette. I then moved on to Pad Thai that I thoroughly enjoyed while my friend enjoyed some kind of chicken pesto dish. We then split the ice cream cookie that was a perfect dessert even though we were both very full. The drinks were pretty good too. I had a sidecar and my friend had a house margarita. The side car was expectedly expensive but nothing was unreasonably priced. Bottom Line: Next time I am in Bel-Mar, Elephant Bar will be on the top of my list of ideas for when the friends and I go out.
(4)
Ellen C.
I had to go back for the quick seared Ahi tuna salad again. It was so good... also ordered their sweet potato fries. yummy! And to finish off our lunch, we got some Creme Brulee, my fav. The sugar on top was really thick and a bit on the burnt side But the custard still was oh, so good... The service was GREAT! Definitely will go back again... and again...
(4)
Jessica G.
The only good thing about this restaurant is the decor. The food was bland, the service was slow and over all just a really disappointing outing. We even had to get up and get our own beer from the bar, because the waitress was slow and totally forgot. The manager offered a free desert, but they still charged us for it. The food was yucky and bland. Our appetizer was cold and stale. My boyfriend and I joked as we left that even his beer buzz was not good. All kidding aside, we will never eat there again and we would never recommend this establishment to anyone...not even someone we don't like.
(1)
Sun P.
I had a really great experience the last time I went to the Elephant bar. We usually go during the holidays when the entire family is in town because it's convenient and the food is decent but this particular time there was a server named Marvin that really went above and beyond. I would say it was maybe the best service I've ever had and I eat out ALOT! He was so attentive and he decided my cousin's steak was cooked too well done so he took initiative to have it redone, and this was without my cousin ever saying a word. That was only one out of many things that he did to make sure we were taken care of. I would definitely go back again and request Marvin to be our server.
(5)
Michael C.
OMG so slow. 2 hours to get food.
(2)
Alex P.
If you're feeling hungry, and inside your head you're thinking,"mmMmm I want some delicious Asian food." and the first restaurant that pops up in your head is P.F. Changs, then this is your place. If not, don't waste your money here.
(2)
Amanda T.
Elephant Bar is a decent chain, reasonably priced and good to go to if you need an option before a movie at Belmar but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.
(3)
Todd M.
The food here is pretty good. I have not been disappointed yet. It is a little pricey, but you get a giant portion (please do not be a fatty and eat the entire meal in one setting) so you can take home leftovers for another whole meal. Good Service. Neat Decor and atmosphere
(4)
justin d.
Omg I haven't been here in abt a year but I still have the bland taste in my mouth. The portions were so small I felt we had ordered of the calf's (calf= baby elephant) menu but priced like a really nice burger king. The only reason I feel I could give it a one is I don't know if I could click next with out giving it some rating but I guess the cool ceiling fans scored some points with me
(1)
Kristen G.
Great food and cocktails!!! The seared Ahi tuna is amazing!!! Good place to just get drinks and appitizers.
(5)
Michelle P.
Been wanting to visit this restaurant & my friends spoke highly of it. Girls night out! Ordered the Olu Passion Mai Tai thinking it would be light and fresh, i don't recomment it at all. It was so sweet & syrupy. So hard to take down. At $6.95 a pop i wasn't complaining of the price, just the way it was made. Ordered the Spinach & Artichoke dip for a starter. Blech.. the consistency was very gummy & sticky. I have had my fair share of the dip & this stuff was disgusting. I can't even say it came out of a jar because Frito Lays Dip is much better than this. For $7.95 I was ready to tell my server to take it back it was so terrible. But I didn't. Oh and our server, though pleasant had no sense of timing for taking our order. It was our first time there & their menu is quiet large..she didn't give me enough time to order, which is bad service in my book. LIke whats the rush! For dinner I got the Braised Beef with flat noodles and a side of white rice. It was good. Nothing to brag about. It was an asian version of beef stroganoff $13.50. My friend got the burger and she enjoyed it. The tab came out to be $50.25 which wasn't too bad but I wasn't really satisfied with my dinner. I'm not, not going to come back here..I'm willing to give it another shot. We enjoyed the ambience-wasn't too loud. The palm trees, and the statues of elephants and other jungle/safari props makes for the feel of the resaturant name. I say give it shot. I will again..sometime.
(2)
Faye V.
So0o...I like elephants. (An elephant with it's trunk up is a sign of happiness.) I also like Belmar. With my friends visiting, I thought, why not try it out? We can stroll along for a bit then grab dinner at this nicely fitted chain restaurant they categorize as fusion. You can have your steak, I can have my fish. It's good. It's happy. At first I thought, damn, this hostess must've had a bad day. She looked so miserable. Then I found crumbs in my seat and the table was a wee bit oily. I had a prissy moment when I thought, man, my dress is going to get ruined. But I moved on. I got my strawberry lemonade and I was happy again. We didn't order appetizers -- oh wait. We did. I just wanted to forget about it. Fresh spring rolls it was called, just not so fresh, not so springy. Even the lovely tamarind sauce they had failed at making that thing taste better. I drank more strawberry lemonade and I was happy again. Our plates came. That was nice it came quickly. A friend had the seared Ahi tuna and it was a-okay. I had the Macadamian crust mahi, a-ok as well. Second friend has steak and coconut shrimp. Steak - she said was a-okay. The shrimp however, was so brown it looked like they used the coconut husk in the batter. I drank more strawberry lemonade. We ventured into dessert - an adventure that felt like a battle. Red Velvet Cupcake: looked more like a burned muffin. There was nothing velvety or cakey about it. The ice cream? Freezer burn. The tart cheesecake thingy majiggy - good lord - looked like they dumped grits around it, then dumped strawberry puree over that. Saving grace? They didn't screw up the creme brulee.... And so, I pushed aside my dessert plate of what looked like an early halloween treat. I drank more lemonade as I lamented about how big the bill was going to be for this overpriced Red Lobster. I think the best thing about Elephant Bar was the strawberry lemonade and the elephant door knobs (they rock). I completely neglected the full bar. So I drank more lemonade. Maybe next time I'll ask for vodka in it.
(3)
Heather B.
Elephant Bar is a concept restaurant with no concept. This isn't a bad thing - the atmosphere of the restaurant is neat. The decor is very African in nature - tall bronze giraffe statues; zebra striped seat cushions; metal elephant sculptures over the bar area with a deep blue "sky light" overhead. The menu is confusing - Asian fusion with burgers, seafood, and steaks. It was at that point that my friend and I found ourselves wondering what the heck this restaurant was about, but the interesting decor and fair prices on the menu ensured I'll probably be back another time. Kids may also find this restaurant entertaining. My oriental chicken salad and strawberry-banana daiquiri-type drink amounted to $16. There's also parking in front of the restaurant, as well as in the open lot for the entire city walk area.
(4)
Milo Y.
Nice Job! There 10-13-12, crowded but fun. Called ahead for a reservation for 8 ppl. got in, they were close to ontime for the reservation depsite being crowded. The food was very well done, i did French Onion Soup and a Wedge Salad. Both OK, my wife go the Shrimp Soup, awesome... Great staff and friendly. Thanks!
(4)
Myron T.
Decent food served quickly from a friendly staff.
(3)
Ryan T.
The food is ok. My experiences here have not been consistent. Sometimes pretty good, others blah. I only go here for the happy hour food specials at this point. They have two happy hours, one between lunch and dinner, and the other after 9 or 10 pm. The only down side to the happy hour is that you must sit in the bar area with the drunks to get the specials.
(2)
Jeremy M.
Worst dining experience ever. Where to begin. Crusty food debris in the table cracks, crusties on all my silverware, dishes AND glasses. They clearly do not change out their dishwasher cleaner. Woke up with food poisoning sickness this morning. The worst kind if you know what I mean. Everything that was served tasted like it came from the freezer. Artichoke dip was just slop, everything was presented with zero care. Stuff just thrown on a plate. "3 cheese" Mac and cheese tasted like cafeteria food. Soggy pasta, processed cheese. Lettuce in salad was soggy. "Medium" burger was burnt to crisp, while one of my friends well done burger was med rare. Nothing was right. Everything was wrong. This place is a health hazard. I'm contacting health department today. And FYI I'm not one to write negative reviews. I know restaurants are hard work and sometimes they have an off night. This goes beyond that. They need serious help ASAP. Half the letters in the signage are out, which should be a "sign" that nobody cares. Zero stars. I should have just walked away.Terrible. Clumsy service to top it off.
(1)
Kelsey R.
Wonderful food and the staff is always so nice and helpful. This place is a favorite anytime I'm in town, and never fails to satisfy. It can be busy, so you might consider calling ahead for reservations. If possible, ask for a table away from the kitchen, as it can be noisy. I always get the tempura salmon roll as an appetizer. The sweet potato fries are also good. For dinner, the pad thai is good, and the burgers are always good- especially the Santa Monica burger that comes with avocado. I've never had desert because I'm always so full, but I'm sure it is all delicious.
(5)
Ambur C.
Like many Yelpers, I'm not one for chain restaurants either. HOWEVER, location is everything, and Elephant Bar is close to home. More importantly, it's consistent. Consistently good. My staples here are the salads, particularly the Jaimaica Mojo shrimp salad... huge win. The Honey Mustard Chicken Salad is a close second, and the wedge salad is nice as well (though they do add chopped egg, which I usually nix). Happy Hour isn't really anything to write home about, especially when compared some of the other great happy hours in the area. Apps: salmon tempura rolls, calamari, and the Vietnamese spring rolls. yum!
(3)
Andrea T.
This place is a good time, and a fun escpae from some of the cold Colorado nights we get with the African Safari decor. The bar is excellent, and so is the food. All of their stir fries are good, as are their burgers. The only reason why I gave them a four star rating is because they're rather expensive, and almost sneaky about you getting to buy extra crap you don't really need. Plus the hostess came over and bashed her boss a bit too long to us. The place will seem a bit chain-y so if you want more hidden gems for a good fusion place, this could rub you the wrong way. Despite the price and they whiney hostess, I still enjoyed myself, my food and the vibe. I'll be back.
(4)
Chris W.
I have been multiple times due to close proximity to my apartment, but never been happy with my experience. The wok "seared" entrees have always been wok "burned" which I'm sure is contrary to the Pao cooking technique. Other food has not settled well later in the evening due to the heavy sauces on many of the dishes. The beer selection is relatively generic, but if you're a cocktail person the bar would be a good choice. The service, however, has been exemplary with a friendly work staff that promptly refills drinks, brings food, and sees to making your experience enjoyable. There are more affordable places offering well rounded menus similar to the Elephant Bar.
(2)
Christopher S.
This is the perfect place to go when you want something different. The atmosphere is exotic and the food is delicious.
(4)
Liz S.
This is the kind of place that I should hate, but I don't! E Bar is a total theme restaurant. They are rocking some kind of African safari vibe, and every cliche African decoration that you can think of is somewhere in the restaurant. Giraffe statue - check, giant elephant with waterfall - check, zebra print - check. But it's not terrible, or at least, it's no worse than the faux Chinese at PF's or the faux French Quarter at Mimis. And more importantly, the food holds its own. The menu ranges from standard American fare, like burgers and chicken sandwiches, to a few pastas, and some Asian-ish fare. I had a salmon tempura sushi roll thing, with a side asian noodle soup and a skewer of teriyaki chicken. And to my great surprise, it was damn good. My companion had a burger, which was perfectly cooked. Another companion had a pasta dish which he raved about. Plus there are a fair amount of items in the $8.99-$9.99 range so you can snag a deal here too. Authentic homestyle cooking this is not. So if you're looking for innovation and authenticity, go elsewhere. But if you take your food snob hat off for a night, as far as chain restaurants go, this place is a winner.
(3)
Becky S.
Think: an upscale Long Shot's. They've got asian. They've got American. They've got yummmmm. My boyfriend is all over the asian aspect, always getting tempura and sushi and soups and cashew chicken... all excellent choices. My favorite? The Rock Sugar Braised Beef with Pappardelle Noodles (yes I looked that name up on their website, I don't have it exactly memorized). It's the type of dish you'll be full on halfway through, but you'll finish it because it just tastes so dang good. If you've got kids, take them, and get their ice cream desserts. They come in these little cinnamon-and-sugar coated wontons. Delicious. If you don't have any kids, borrow the neighbor's. Or just ask if you can get the kid cone. The drinks are innovative but pricey, they always succeed in giving me a buzz. Best time to visit? Weekdays, and I tend to go later in the evening. We pretty much get the whole place to ourselves, the service is excellent, and everything comes out hot and fresh. It's fun. I'd recommend it.
(5)
Beth M.
I wish I had been hungry when I went to meet a friend...I think I would have CHOWED on that burger--it was perfectly cooked. The fries were crisp, well-seasoned, and non-greasy. The artichoke dip was fine--nothing special. Missing something, though. Not sure what. Loved the classic mojito--rarely do I order two drinks anywhere, but I did here. The service was slow--no one came to take our drink orders for what I'd swear was at least 10 minutes. However, they didn't make us feel rushed. We were catching up conversationally for about 2 hours, and didn't feel pressured to leave. In fact, one guy, not our server, offered us additional water after we'd already paid. Very impressive.
(4)
Eddie C.
So, I had a "blind" date at this place that turned out to be one of the most fun post-divorce dates that I have had. My counterpart was beautiful, charming and wonderful. We spent the evening chatting, laughing, drinking some foo-foo fruity type drinks and munching appetizers. It was a great evening... Why only three stars? Well, I'm glad you asked, friend. You see, I do love me some food. And, I can't, for the life of me, remember anything that I ate there. I remember that the drinks were good, but after sharing I believe three appetizers, none stuck out. I think that this is firmly in the "Eh, I need a break from every OTHER chain place in my suburban hell" or if you would like to check out the various groups of professional cougars gadding about in the numerous booths for their evening pregame. In summary, this place is like that episode of Family Guy where the Griffin family went on vacation in Purgatory. "It's not that bad, it's not that great... More or less."
(3)
Mindy L.
It started with the friendly voice on the phone as I made a reservation, superb customer service. There was only one small hiccup, the hostess crossed our name out even though we were sitting right infront of her waiting to be seated. Fifteen minutes after arriving we were seated at a table that matched my request perfectly. The staff was very friendly and I could tell they loved being at work. The food was very good and thank you to the Charlie the GM for the special attention paid to my food allergy. Thanks Charlie and Emily for a great evening, we will be back.
(5)
Josie H.
Not a friendly place. I was card for a drink which is usual for me, but I never felt so awkward after being carded. Not only did they scan my id but then asked for a second form. The manager made me feel like I was'nt welcomed, so I went to PF Chang's where I was able to get my Margarita. Won't be going back to the Elephant Bar ever!!!
(1)
Dena G.
I go to elephant bar often. I really enjoy their salads and sweet potato fries. They have a varied menu that makes most people happy. The food is very tasty are are the drinks. There is often a long wait for a table on weekend nights though you can often find a spot in the bar area if you are a small group with all adults. It's a good place for nice but affordable food...I would compare it to pf changs.
(4)
Lacey M.
My 1st encounter with the elephant bar was about 5 years ago in Kansas City, KS. I wanted to try it for several months after it first opened and finally decided to go there one night with some friends. It was awful: Horrible service, and the food was just as bad. After a 2nd visit with the same experience, I have never returned. Fast forward 4 years and I'm living near Belmar and an Elephant bar opens up. I decide to give it a try, knowing that chain restaurants can differ greatly from each location. Needless to say, my husband and I have been back numerous times. The food is consistently good, which I definitely notice because I usually order the same thing every time: Cashew Chicken. It is amazing-lightly breaded chunks of chicken over white ride with snow peas, cashews, and pineapple (I get mine without fruit. Cooked fruit belongs in pies). I often crave that dish, so I made up my own version to cook at home (My husband thinks it's better than theirs....however, theirs is more consistent than mine). Other dishes I have tried and enjoyed are the Spinach Dip, Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Fire Pot, and the Honey Orange Shrimp. They have several bigger booths that can hold larger parties of 10-12. Plus, the menu has great variety everyone could be easily pleased (salad, sandwiches, steak, chicken).
(4)
Linda G.
Meh. Really. It's a cut above Applebees (sort of) and occasionally the appetizers can be interesting. But tonite...well it was Friday and very busy. Vietnamese spring rolls were soggy. Coconut shrimp were overcooked. The wild greens salad was incredibly overdressed. But adult beverages are cheap until 7 so that's a plus. Kind of.
(2)
Bryan M.
I hate animal print anything. This hate includes, but is not limited to, bags/purses, pants, Speedos, carpets and restaurants. Elephant Bar doesn't make you feel as if you've traveled someplace exotic, it makes you feel like you're shopping in the Zoo gift shop. The only cool things about the decor are the ceiling fan system and the lighting/sculptures in the bar. But the food is... good. Surprisingly good. I have to agree with Heather S. that the concept of burgers and Asian fusion are an odd mix. Yet somehow it works, at least on the Asian side. The cashew chicken is great. The cauldron of seafood is great (I think it was a special). I usually leave full and feeling like I got a great value for my dollar. The service was very... Applebee's. Which is a bit of a backhanded compliment. It's fairly swift but also inexperienced and not very knowledgeable about their food. Food coupled with value would have been 4(ish) stars. The service and atmosphere reduced it by some, but I recognize not everyone will have such an adverse reaction to the decor.
(3)
Marcos B.
So over Memorial Day weekend my parents visited from out-of-state as well as my uncle and few friends. We were undecided on where to eat and as we were shopping around BelMar we found this place. Basically there was like 8 of us and we were seated fast, got our orders taken care of, and everyone enjoyed the experience. Would I came here with my Denver friends? maybe not because we all live in Cap Hill. But since the parents were in town with parental requirements like parking, no long walking, a menu full of various choices, and somewhere mom and dad can relax among other families....this place fit the bill. I like it. The food was good. It's not a gourmet dining experience but rather a place for us middle-class families to eat, chat, and enjoy and evening.
(5)
Summer S.
I was really disappointed by this place, which a friend had recommended to me. It's like a cross between PF Chang's and Cheescake Factory - except the food is nowhere as good. I thought the service was great and my tomato soup was fine but as far as my pint of Guinness (I know, what was I thinking ordering Guinness here?) and my friend's pasta dish go, I was convinced not to come here again.
(2)
Emily S.
I hate the fact that we have really bad restaurant options in our area. After about a half hour driving aimlessly deciding what to eat for dinner, my bf and thought we better try the place...and were let down. I gotta say, the food was not the greatest for what the place looked like. We both had shrimp, he had the shrimp adventure plate and I had the fried shrimp with fries... both very safe dishes. My shrimp was pretty much Perkins Grade shrimp on a fancy plate. His were a bit better, the coconut shrimp had not been deveined and the sauteed shrimp (which came with sauteed veggies) were wilted and gross. Not all of our meal was a disaster, I really liked the garlic bread presentation on their appetizer menu. For about $4, you get a funnel thing with thin (sticks) slices of garlic cheese bread served with marinara sauce...not bad. Our server was odd too, didn't really seem to care about what was going on but she did get the job done. And, lastly the bathrooms were the least bit impressive. Really...in this day and age, you are still using Tork towel dispensers? Think about it, we want clean hands, and the only way to do it, is to do a #3 and wash and dry them. Thanks for making me use a lever to get my towels...jerks.. Ok, that last part was a joke, but really, the bathrooms sucked too!
(2)
Ashley H.
i went to this place today after taking a walk through the belmar area...i was hungry and didn't really want pizza or a burger...i looked at the menu and it seemed pretty safe. it was pretty much a chain restaurant but with a nice outfit on...i went in with my friend and we seated quickly. we looked around and commented on how we were the only people under the age of 55 there at 6pm... we ordered our food and we were really expecting something better...i won't lie. i got a steak..and it was meh...ok. i mean a steak at chili's would have been the same. our waitress was very friendly and she was great at keeping our drinks full. so that was nice. the price was ok. a little more than any chain place..but i guess we were paying a few extra bucks for the atmosphere... would i go back here? hmm...maybe..but i wouldn't be the one paying. if you're looking for a place to go on a date in belmar stop by this place. or if you're looking for a hard drink to start your night off go here..but thats about it..
(3)
John R.
We stopped in the elephant bar for an early dinner & seated ourselves in the bar area. It took a little while for someone to come clean off the previous patrons plates and glasses as we chose the only open available table. My only gripe this trip. We started with the soy ginger calamari & drinks. The calamari was good but I couldn't taste any soy or ginger in it, the dipping sauce helped & the cocktail sauce that also came with it was the bomb. My wife had the orange chicken and I had the Mongolian beef for our main dishes. The orange chicken had tons of flavor and was definitely the winner of the evening. The Mongolian beef was tender and had good flavor. We also chose brown rice and veggie fried rice, both were good but the veggie fried rice was a nice change from the norm & stood out. Our server took good care of us and was very attentive. Another good visit to elephant bar.
(4)
Rafiq R.
A good restaurant. Nothing special or spectacular, but alright. Lighting was kind of dim and it was a little difficult to read the menu, but otherwise our service was fantastic, and the food very good.
(4)
Stephanie D.
The food was good but... They seated us in the back... way in the back, away from all other the other customers in a corner, by a drafty door. I can't help thinking it's because most of the people in my group were Black. I know this can sound a little sensitive, but they never sat anyone anywhere in that entire area the whole time we were there. To their credit, they were dealing with a leak in the back area (or is that really a good thing), so they didn't really want to sit anyone there. But it sure seemed like we were being segregated from the rest of the customers. I paid a pretty good chunk of change to feed the five of us and Elephant Bar can be a bit pricey so, naturally, I expect a good experience - regardless of my skin color. They said the back is where they seat their larger parties, but I noticed plenty of groups of 5 or more seated in the main dining area. Of course none of them were Black. What the what?
(2)
Marci A.
I love to come here and sit outside on the patio. It's so comfy and clean. I've had some pretty tasty dishes here. They have this tea spritzer drink that is delish!!! I've always had great service too. I think its corporate but still a charming place to spend an hour. Plus, it's in belmar.
(4)
Elizabeth K.
If you want to wait over an hour for your lunch, without drink re-fills, go to Elephant Bar. I work close to this restaurant and often times, fellow employees want to go there for lunch. Regardless of the customer traffic flow, I have always found the experience to be slow. The food is spectacular and the dining room is clean with perfect presentation. My suggestion to the staff is to have a greater focus for the timeliness of checking on their tables and food preparation.
(3)
Anthony B.
The drinks are amazing!!! However the food is so lackluster my wife ordered the lamb chops and they cooked them well done not even close to medium rare. The jambalaya has zero seasoning. That said come here for drinks the Mai tai is amazing the green tea cooler is refreshing for a hot day. That is why I have three stars DO NOT eat the food.
(3)
Pat G.
We have gone to the elephant bar several times and have enjoyed the food and service. Last night was the exception... We had the artichoke dip appetizer with chips. The dip was delicious, but the chips tasted like they had been fried in rancid oil. Also, a lot of broken chips.
(1)
Mike E.
Went here for lunch a few days ago. We had the soy-ginger calamari to start and it was simply amazing..perfectly julienned calamari which was perfectly fried. Best appetizer we've had in a long time. 5/5 For mains, I had the Globally Inspired Misoyaki Salmon. Again, cooked perfectly. 5/5 We also added sides of Sweet Potato Fries and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, which were wonderful as well (though, of course, with all fries, as soon as they cool, they dense up :-\ ) 4/5 She had the Globally Inspired Chicken Marsala. I didn't try any of her's but she said she'd rate it a solid 3 out of 5 due to it's being a bit bland/underseasoned. She did like that it was served over white rice instead of with noodles. 3/5 Total Avg 4.25/5
(4)
RoseAnn M.
This has been our go-to place for awhile because of the wide range of food options for varying tastes. Today may be the last time, though. Honestly, it's been going downhill for awhile but we've tried to hang in there and give the benefit of the doubt (busy night, inexperienced staff, etc). We were seated shortly after 11 and were the only ones in the restaurant for several minutes. Why, then, did it take close to 45 minutes to receive our food after it was ordered?! No one in our party of 6 ordered anything exotic or complicated. Burgers, club sandwiches, soup and salad shouldn't take that long to be served. The soup of the day was cheddar broccoli and it looked like it had been previously eaten, pureed in a blender and unceremoniously dumped in a bowl. I will say that the abbreviated menu is a nice improvement but I don't plan on coming back to try anything else on it.
(1)
Adam P.
I subscribe to the tenet that if you don't have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all. Well, the booths were quite comfortable here at the Elephant Bar, the food came out quickly, and the servers were very attentive. The end.
(2)
Brianna B.
The Elephant Bar relies heavily on its unique decor concept and delivers little quality in their food and drink. The atmosphere is a bit cliche and reminds me of a safari themed rainforest cafe. But I guess it's a bit novel in that aspect, compared to the many other large(r) chains in Lakewood. I've been in a couple times before movies and have sampled their happy hour and app menu and everything is forgettable and heavily sauced. The service is also repeatable slow in the bar area, I've waited up to 30min to be served with maybe 15 other patrons in the bar.
(2)
Mandy R.
So very, very mediocre. Came in for late night drinks and apps. The service was great, but the food was just so bland and beyond overpriced for the portions and the quality. We had the potstickers, the artichoke dip, the french dip sliders, and the seared ahi tuna. The sliders and the dip were 3 out of 5 stars, but the potstickers could have been from the frozen food section at the grocery store and were paired with a mayo-heavy sauce and the ahi tuna was absolutely terrible. The tuna was bad to begin with -- it should have been sushi-grade tuna and it clearly wasn't -- but it had absolutely no flavor and was over cooked. For these four apps and a few drinks to be $72 before tip, I almost choked. I most certainly will choose another restaurant in Belmar next time!
(2)
Juley L.
Ordered a big to go order tonight for 9 people for my Dad's bday dinner. It was a 45 min drive for me to get to the restaurant since my Dad was craving lamb shanks from here. If it was up to me, I would have gone somewhere else for better customer service. Again, customer service here sucks. Went up to the bar to pick up my order and the two guys behind the bar were not friendly. There was no one at the bar and they were chit chatting. When I approached, they did not greet me, smile or was helpful... I announced I was there to pick up an order. One of the guy goes to the kitchen to get my order and as I'm waiting, another female worker goes behind the bar and ignores me and greets this other woman who just got to the bar. Talk about rude... Didn't even ask me if I was being helped..Talks to the lady and a min later, turned and looked at me and gives me a "whatever" look. BITCH.. So the guy comes out with two bags and I noticed some things were missing and he says rudely, "Let me see the receipt" and tries to find what is missing. After figuring it out and getting it for me, he goes, "you have a big order, hope you have help carrying it out". I thought he was going to offer to help but he goes back to chit chatting with the other guy and girl standing behind the counter... Before leaving, I even gave him a small tip... He didn't deserve it. Those 3 workers working the bar this evening def needs retraining and better customer service. I hate complaining but I hate seeing people work in customer service knowing they have to talk and interact with customers but yet, they are incompetent of what they do. If you can't fulfill your duties and responsibilities at work, you deserve to be jobless. I drove 45 min to get food and I encounter a bunch of futile idiots who wasted my time.
(1)
Brenda S.
I have only had one good thing here out of the 5 times been here...that was the pot roast...we tried the Sheppard pie they had on special...what a joke...looked nothing like the picture ...the potatoes looked thrown on top and it was cold and meat was a little tough tasted like they put it in the microwave ...I think I'm done with giving them chances...the happy hour is cool..but for the prices I expect a lot more out of this place...get it together guys
(2)
Nicole W.
Suburban chain, in the far end of belmar. Typical Elephant bar, although the menu had changed since i had visited one in over 10 years... go figure! This one had a wait, a tiny bar, and some staff that seemed a bit over worked and less than thrilled to be there and even less thrilled that we were there. Trying to find a place to hover while waiting 30 minutes for our table. The food was pretty good - fried green beans were tasty - ask for extra sauce, the calamari strips (recipe has changed since i was last there 10 years ago) and they were ok, ask for the green bean sauce to dip them in! It's a neat take on calamari - strips vs circles! I ordered the seared tuna salad with the dressing on the sided - which translated to the yummy sauce usually on the tuna, looking liked it was brushed off, no extra of that, and the salad dressing in a little cup. Hmmm. Tuna was fishy tasting, and some of the lettuce tasted like dirt... might have just been just the arugula! Staff was pretty friendly. I think she was bummed that 2 of our party still had their drinks from the bar and I went with water. Oh well. She was fairly attentive, but there were some relatively kid intensive groups around us needing quite a bit of attention so being pretty self sufficient that was too bad for us!! All in all, it's great for rude families with loud kids.
(3)
Carol F.
This is going to be an odd review because I wasn't able to stay for dinner. I was told that 5 of the cooks quit at once last week so 3 cooks were getting to making all the food. The guests and servers were all frustrated. The surprising and impressive part was that the server handled it very professionally, telling me honestly, that our dinner wouldn't be ready in time to make a movie. Unfortunately, it took a long time to get the feedback and my son and I had to have popcorn for dinner. Overall, impressed by the server but unimpressed by their choice to keep the whole restaurant open. I also had a pretty bad mojito. Mint wasn't mottled and too much lime juice. Don't go for the drinks.
(2)
Linda P.
They listed the calorie count for each dish. Salad it is! The ambiance is what sells. I love the fans that gracefully circulate the air. The large sculptures of the exotic animals and the oversized foliage creates great atmosphere.
(4)
Meagan P.
I hate giving one star but this place doesn't even deserve that. I've been twice. Both times were awful. Terrible food that's over priced with terrible service. The blonde male bartender was nice though.
(1)
Chelsea S.
We headed into Elephant Bar on a Sunday evening, there were a few other people dining, we had a group of seven, we were greeted by our server right away, she was very friendly and efficient. The food fell somewhat short (with the exception of the macadamia mahi mahi, which was warm and tasty) Unfortunately, the rest of the food was cold!
(2)
Brandon P.
Server was great food was not simple as that and slightly over priced for very mediocre food
(2)
Jessica A.
I definitely don't recommend this place! My husband and I decided to try this place this past Saturday. We sat at the bar. There were two bartenders, but none of them greeted us when we sat down. The girl bartender made eye contact with us, but ignored us and was chatting away with seem like to be, one of her friends. I thought that was very rude and unprofessional. We finally spoke up after 10 minutes of being ignored and asked to be helped. She rolled her eyes and asked us what we needed.Whoever the manager is at this location need to retrain their employees. Good customers service goes a long way. Other than our bad customers service, the food was very good! We had the lamb. i hope by the next time we come back, the employees are retrained!
(1)
Amy F.
Not really sure how I feel about this place, had a large group for dinner- with a reservation (and it still took a while to get a table) and they were not able to seat us all together- they split up our party into booths, yes booths, and one table-very strange. The drink selection is good, but the house wine seemed little pricey. The service wasn't great, didn't go over the menu or anything, and our server brought out the main entrees while the apps were still on the table- felt rushed. The table we were at was in agreement that the food was good- I had a thai chicken salad-so really I wasn't expecting anything amazing.
(3)
Jake H.
Food was really crappy. Cheap ingredients and poor prep. Only redeeming quality was the friendly waitstaff and effective drinks,
(2)
Mariza V.
Too noisy, you have to yell to communicate across the tiny tables. Food is decent, however very poor options for vegetarians. Their Mojitos are yummy, they come with real sugar cane sticks to stir your drink, and if you are worldly enough, will now you can chew and suck the sugary juice out of your sugar cane stick. But don't swallow the sticks!
(3)
Nicky K.
My friend and I arrived at 6:00 on a Monday night. We were seated, and when we asked about happy hour, we were told specials were only available in the bar area (which isn't widely advertised, and as new customers, we were unaware). We politely told our server we would move to the empty bar area. Once seated at the bar, we were ignored for about 10 minutes by two bartenders who had four other customers. We got up to leave, and they'd still barely acknowledged us. I won't be back. Terrible experience.
(1)
Trip K.
Haven't been to an Elephant Bar in 10+ years, but was quickly reminded why. Sat at bar & ordered strawberry mule. Pretty sure nobody ever asked this bartender for one before and she totally made up the ingredients. Strawberry mule...more like straight up mule ass. Ok, how bought some nachos? $19 check for mule ass and stale chips covered in shredded lettuce. Thanks a lot... see you again never!
(1)
Samantha B.
Good food, great drink, and fantastic happy hour prices! The staff was very friendly and want out of their way to accommodate us.
(5)
Agii T.
Such horrible waitress, being out of town and waiting 20 mins to be seated and last thing u expect is waitress telling us to basically shut up with our orders and threw her stuff on the table, worst service ever!! I wish I could give her -5!!
Service was good, food quality seems to be going down hill but was ok. I was baited and switched on signing up for the "club" app. They said get any appetizer free, then when you try to use/redeem they tell you it only good for the cheapest ones. Totally tricked into giving all my info for the cheep appetizer. Truth next time please
(2)
john W.
Don't eat here often, in fact I've only eaten at an elephant bar in CO 3 times. This might be the last. Mainly because the menu has gone way too far into the "let's appeal to the bland tastes of suburbanites." zone. I used to have a spicy-ish chicken dish that I loved, from CA to CO. GONE. Burgers? WFH. This one was packed, but it was in a mall. I'm glad others like, it, they can eat there, I'll go elsewhere :)
(2)
Tuan M.
The menu is diverse. A few items on the menu are quite similar to those at P. F. Changs. Had the Chicken Lettuce Wrap. Chicken lacked flavor. At least the lettuce itself was fresh. A bit over priced.
(2)
Lilliana M.
I was happy to see that someone from elephant bar wanted to hear about my previous dinning experience. I was given a sense of false hope that my review was being heard and would possibly be addressed. I responded to Ashley S. from Elephant Bar per her request. It's been two weeks and I've have not heard anything back from the company. I was considering giving them another chance only because I thought someone higher up cared. After no response from them I feel they just wanted yelp viewers to believe they were taking care of the problems by posting a seemingly sincere post.
(1)
Courtney L.
Delicious food, good service and reasonable prices. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and the flavors were perfect!
(5)
Grace M.
I went there with a few people. I am gluten free and the server did not know anything about it he said he just "brings the food" they were not busy and 45 minutes we got our food. Cold. We wanted a few separate checks and I understand this is annoying but our server was visibly annoyed. It was our friends birthday and her food was not good she had 4 bites. Our server tried hard but he looked clearly annoyed. I'm sorry but bad service cold food and an uneducated server is not a good combo. Maybe it was just a bad lunch. But it was a bad lunch.
(1)
David K.
Fun atmosphere with good food. Our server did a great job. Prices were very reasonable. The restaurant is a little noisy making it difficult to talk.
(4)
Nichole H.
I was a bit apprehensive about going to Elephant Bar in Belmar on a Friday night with my family and a couple of friends because I had been there once before and wasn't really impressed. However, the wait time at all of the other restaurants nearby was 45 minutes + and they said they could seat us in 15 minutes so I thought, why not give them another try? Well, there is a reason they had such a short wait! First of all, I will say that the host staff and our server were very friendly and prompt with service. But that's about it for the positives of our experience. We were seated towards the back at a table/booth that didn't allow the people on the booth side easy access to get out to use the restroom. A couple of us ordered some overpriced beers from their bare bones selection and an appetizer to share - the spinach dip with chips. The spinach dip was not very good at all. Kind of tasted watery which is weird. Now, on to the meal. I ordered a burger (they do have customization options which is nice) and sweet potato fries. Food came out at a reasonable pace and I started taking bites of my burger. Nothing spectacular but decent. Then I bit into something that I thought was a piece of really hard lettuce. Upon further inspection I discovered that it was a piece of wax paper that they use to separate the burger patties!!! Sick! How did they even cook the burger with that on there? Did the wax paper fall into the lettuce bucket and get scooped onto my burger? I immediately stopped eating and flagged down a nearby server and explained what I found. The server apologized, asked if he could get me something else, took my plate and told me he would send the manager over. I suppose he handled it as best he could. I said I didn't want anything else. I mean, I wanted a burger but after that I lost my appetite. Side note: the sweet potato fries were good but they should have come with some aioli dipping sauce or something. So after a few minutes the manager comes over and apologizes, asks if he can offer me a dessert and assures us that my meal will be on the house. I eventually ordered a dessert from our server that we all split and it was pretty good (cookie thing with ice cream on top which looks way bigger in the picture that it is in real life). I just felt like they should have offered an additional discount on the full bill considering the other six people at the table had to witness me biting into wax paper and then pull it out of my burger. How are they supposed to fully enjoy their meal after seeing that and thinking about what other unsanitary conditions and lack of quality control is going on back in the kitchen? Overall, I was super disappointed and felt bad that we went there. My parents were visiting and treating us all to dinner and this is not the experience I wanted them to have. Should have just ordered pizza delivery and picked up a case of beer. Would have been cheaper and soooo much better! I will not be going back.
(1)
Lily S.
Had our office holiday party here yesterday, the place was packed! One of my co-workers said something about not wanting to be a waiter this time of the year, I agreed, so I'm really happy the way our waiter treated us. When we first went in, our big table was given to some other party so they had to split us up! To apologize, they gave us free appetizers! Before the apps were even served, they announced we had our big table back so we relocated quickly and enjoyed the free apps right away. Both the Spinach dip (I thought it had a little bit of wine taste to it, different, for sure, but enjoyable) and the platter (with Bruchetta, Chicken Fingers, and Shrimp Tempura) were hot and fresh. We were very happy. While we waited for our food, we exchanged gifts and whatnot. During that time, some of my co-workers' drinks arrived, all of them looked delicious and the sizes did not disappoint either! All of our dished arrived at the same time, everybody seemed to enjoy the food very much. I especially liked my "Pan Braised Rock Sugar Beef With Pappardelle (wide noodles)", it was like an Asian-Italian fusion dish. The beef was super tender and flavorful. I was a little worried that the "rock sugar" would make it too sweet, but it was just right. I also loved the mushrooms cooked in the sauce. Service was comparatively slower than the last time I dined here, but we didn't care, we knew it was due to the high traffic. Plus our waiter was very patient with us all, granted our requests, and figured out our separate bills, some have coupons to use, etc. Overall, my expereience was even better than last time which was years ago. I feel my next visit would be a lot sooner!
(4)
Tiffany W.
This is another one of those "somewhere between a 3- and a 4-star review", but I'm giving it a four because their happy hour choices are pretty decent, and their bar area (where the HH occurs) is pretty spacious. And the HH runs 'til 7. That said, it helps to arrive early for optimum seating choices. Though I arrived closer to 5 on the day I went and there were still plenty of seats (from bar seats, to high tops, to high top booths, to regular booths) to choose from. Elephant Bar offers different "tiers" during HH, both with food and drink. They have a couple non-alcoholic beverages to offer, too, which I think is nice in case someone in your party isn't imbibing for whatever reason. Choices range from $2 (for the N/A stuff), to $3 for domestic pours and house margs, to $4 for red or white sangria, mojitos, and well drinks, to $5 for a fancier marg, some kind of martini, Long Islands, and tall-pours of craft beers. Also, $1 off house wine by the glass, or $3 off by bottle. Oh, and a Black & Tan (which isn't on HH per se) is $5. Overall, lots to choose from at decent prices. And speaking of, that $1 off makes the house white $4.50. I also had the white sangria (based on the preference of the server) and it was pretty tasty, though a little awkward with bits and chunks (appetizing...) of fruit mixed in throughout, clogging up my straw. Their HH food choices also range in price, from $3.50 to $6.50, and $7-ish dollar combos (beer+burger or tacos+marg). Again, a good selection so that most could find something edible. Unfortunately, I ordered probably the worst artichoke dip I've ever had ($4.50), but at least the chips were good. Not a whole lot of choices for a veg-head, but if it means that much just ask for a regular menu and order off of that. Service was at about 3-stars. I was never given a regular menu (or asked if I wanted one), nor was I asked if I was going to order food. Grant, I sat there by myself for a little while before The Dude arrived, but so what? Perhaps I was going solo and I wanted a snack. Both of which were true until Duder arrived. Either way, once he got there we were still taken care of just fine; it wasn't bad enough that I'll never return. That said, it was brought to my attention that there are other HHs around Belmar that are comparable. However, in terms of drinks AND food choices, crappy as some of the dishes may be, I think EB has a handle on a good happy hour. And for that I'll give them 4 stars and likely a return visit eventually.
(4)
Gabriel M.
I came here for a business lunch so it wasn't my choice. I had never heard of the place or prior to looked up any ratings and unfortunately my phone was dead so I couldn't look up what people said on here about what was good and bad. I ended up getting a chicken breast burger and sprite. Honestly, it was nothing special and for the price, $11.25 I believe with add-on's, I was disappointed. I have had substantially better burgers for less, not to say the burger didn't taste good it's just that you can get better quality for cheaper elsewhere. The server was nice and since we had a larger group he did pretty well servicing the entire table along with his other tables. The interior was pretty clean and nicely decorated, but unfortunately all that presentation doesn't help out the quality of the food. There was sufficient parking both in front and in the private parking lot in the back so you shouldn't have an issue. I probably will not be coming back here if it's my choice but I wouldn't have an issue if someone else is paying because I'm not the one paying.
(3)
Melony F.
I really -want- to give this place more stars. Awesome atmosphere. FANTASTIC service. AMAZING drinks! The food presentation is damn impressive. So why am I only giving this restaurant 3 stars? The food itself. It's just...A-okay. Truly. And that is so damn sad. Because every time a plate comes out it looks so fantastic. And then you eat it. And you realize you could make something better at home. That is so disappointing. The prices are big for a big idea. Honestly, this place could be perfect. They need a menu change. Or maybe not a menu change but a revamp of each dish that they serve. It all needs a bit more flavor. Except the french fries. I do like those a lot. But it's about the only food I do like. Some desserts are actually pretty good. But all the main entrees...it's just...missing. :( Keep improving Elephant Bar, I think you could get there so easy! Just a little more motivation in the kitchen and I am 100% sold with five stars!
(3)
David L.
Biggest menu I've ever seen!!! Cool place that simply needs to drop their prices just a hair to get the 5th star. Food and drinks are always solid.
(4)
Kate G.
So far Matt the bartender is fun. Wine list all California wines with the exception of one argentine and one Australian. Going with the malbec first. Malbec is delicious and I tried their coconut shrimp skewers. Very tasty! Not much into smoked meat though. Still like the decor
(3)
Dean L N.
Elephant Bar used to be a great place about 6 - 7 years ago when they had a "good" menu. Now it's mediocre at best. They had a spicy Thai chicken soup which was great. But they got rid of it. The only people that go there now are those with no palate to speak of. They also used to have the best Mojitos, with the stick of sugar cane, the mint leaves, etc. but not any more...gone. Haven't gone back, and it's a shame since that place was my wife and I's go to joint on a Friday night, and we went there regularly. B'bye Elephant Bar..
(1)
Alicia J.
I am so on the fence about this place. I want to love it, I really do. The ambiance is actually quite nice. And, during Happy Hour, they have a bunch of appetizers at great prices. But, it seems like every time we go, we love or hate it. One time we went and the HH appetizers all came out so greasy and gross that we returned them all and left without eating. And, I'm not saying "Oh, ew, there was some grease, ew", these are greasy type appetizers to begin with, but these dishes were all pooled in grease. Then, we've had excellent experiences with HH appetizers. The calamari is one of my favorites - but, again, we've sent it back half the times we've ordered it for being drenched in grease. The last time we went (a few days ago), we each got a sandwich. I had the tempura mahi mahi and my boyfriend had some chicken breast with mozz and peppers. His was pretty decent, and I wished I had ordered it. Meanwhile, my Mahi sandwich was just...wrong, somehow. It was topped with tomatoes and onions and peppers and whatever it was marinated in just set the whole thing in the wrong direction. I asked for a box to take it home, but left it on the table, realizing I wouldn't eat it when I brought it home. The service is fine, and I haven't had the drinks several people here have raved about, but the food is just...hit or miss.
(3)
Jen L.
Awful food. Burnt, salty, bad flavor. Not much to say in every way it could be bad it was. There was a wait to get seated from the time we got there to the time we left, and I don't know why. Maybe people dint have taste buds. I do have to say the 2 female bartenders were running their butts off. The manager that was there looked to be more of a hindrance then help. Wont be back.... ever.... even if it was free
(1)
Gary M.
My wife and I went to dinner here last Friday, she had the asian soup with rice noodles and the tri-tip steak dinner, I had the lettuce wedge and rack of ribs, Both were very good and not pricey. Much like cheesecake factory- huge portions, huge tastes, great service.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Not a big fan of this place. Ate at two locations. Waitress was really nice (hence the three stars). But the food was not so great. Tastes frozen. No real flavor. I do have to say that the green tea fizzer was really good.
(3)
Rachel A.
My sister and I came here on Christmas Eve expecting a good experience to start off holiday festivities. We asked our server if she had and suggestions for a couple things and said she didn't know with her not so cute sarcastic attitude. We shared the steak sandwich and I guess it was good but considering be both got a bite of steak each and four fries it may be inaccurate to rate the food. Not impressed especially for the price you pay and the great location. The opportunity for a great restaurant is there they just have the wrong people executing it which calls for a less than mediocre experience.
(1)
Carl L.
We have been eating lunch here for several years. Today I find you have discontinued Senior discount. Bad move. Food good. Server Daryl, very good and knows her stuff. Seats in the booth area need replacing, they are torn or just missing sections. Upgrade or you will loose a lot of business and close like the one in Palm Desert, that just closed. There is a message there, keep your base, good customers, and you will survive.One more try under the new program an then we ill see.
(3)
Morgan D.
So sad. Came here expecting a great dinner. Got an over cooked petite sirloin, mushy vegetables and burnt potato. The manager was nice enough to take the meal off, but it did not make up for semi-good service and bad food.
(2)
David K.
I think this restaurants hey-day is over. Mediocre, pricey food and extremely small portions. I think they are trying to put American's on a diet! This is the second time I've left hungry and annoyed, and I even brought it to their attention on my last visit that the food portions were ridiculously small, especially considering the price. They gave me a $10 coupon so that I could come back and starve again! LOL I'm over this restaurant now, and suspect many others are too. The decor can only go so far to keep people coming back. I look forward to some sort of reincarnation of what was once a great destination in Belmar.
(1)
Keith W.
A few of my coworkers really like this place, so we decided to go here for one coworker's retirement lunch. First the positives: The decor is great - dark wood and brass throughout, carvings of elephants on the beams outside the booths, big round bar near the entrance with an easily viewable display of their impressive liquor collection. Honest waiter - one of my coworkers asked "What's the soup of the day?" and our server replied "Thai chicken - but don't order it, it's terrible." I found it refreshing to hear a truly honest, negative opinion about a menu selection, but I'm not certain the management would be as pleased as I was. The menu - a very expansive selection of Asian and American cuisine. Now the negatives: The food - Despite the expansive selection, or perhaps because of it, my meal was bland, bland, bland. I ordered the Rustica Garlic Bread as an appetizer, and found it much less pleasing than a prepared loaf of the same from the King Soopers bakery. I had the Kona BBQ Ribs for an entree, and ordered "all french fries" rather than the "fried potato medley" because I don't care for sweet potato fries, and it came out with the medley. The waiter happily brought me a side of fries, which I found to be good customer service, but the sauce on the ribs was almost tasteless - barely enough flavor so you could just taste the bland sauce and not the meat.. The cinnamon apples that came with the meal were just OK, and the fries were just fries - nothing special about them The price - I found Elephant Bar to be extremely overpriced for the quality of food served. A 30-dollar lunch should be mouthwateringly special, while this was just fair-to-middling. In short, the bland food and high prices outweigh the attentive service and interesting decor. I probably won't return to this establishment.
(2)
Becca R.
I don't know what it is about big, tasty chains that turn me into a sucker, but they've snagged me again. Much like cheesecake factory- huge portions, huge tastes, great service. Though I fear for my own credibility, I will be back!
(4)
Mike A.
Two visits. First with friends, dined at a table. Food was OK if pricey, service was good. Second visit, wife and I ate at the bar. Service was gosh-awful. Both times I noted several of the employees hanging out, chatting with each other. Very unprofessional.
(3)
Katie R.
Because this is halfway between my house and my grandparents house, we often meet at the Elephant Bar to catch up over some yummy food and drinks. This time, we met as the snow was beginning to fall and cozied up to the warm booths for some conversation and more :) Star 1= The food is amazing. With everything from burgers and sandwiches to sushi and awesome salads, this place has it all. I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad-as i'm now obsessed- and found the salad to be topped with plenty of fish and the perfect portion size. Not enough to take home, but not too much to leave behind. Ps. The mojito's are to die for. :) Star 2= Service was pretty darn good. Our orders were taken promptly, our lunches were delivered quickly and we were checked on many times, and not annoyingly too much or too little. Star 3= The decor is outstanding. Despite the cold fall-ish temps outside, I fetl as though I had walked into a jungle. With huge elephants statues, zebra patterns, palm trees and oak booths/walls, I had been wisked away from Colorado, into another world. Star 4= Prices are a little high, but worth a try :) DEF a great way to spend my Saturday!
(4)
Richard R.
What does an Elephant keep in his Bar? Delicious drinks - that's what! Oh me oh my I had the best Mai Tai at Elephant Bar! You might think it's a sweet, summertime drink but no no - it's an anytime drink. Duane the Bartender recommended this awesome drink with three different kinds of rum and I'm ever so glad he did. Plus, each drink was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 bucks, and not the African Antelope kind of bucks...I mean American dollars! Bring on the squid! Many places get calamari all wrong but not this place. Talk about the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy with zesty dipping sauces! Additionally, the bed of salad and rice noodles add distinct flavors and textures. Yum-me. I am very impressed with how inexpensive this place is for such an exotic menu. While I am not a fish fan I was impressed with how delicious the ahi tuna dish looked. Burgers and shrimp and salads, oh my! The food selection is top notch for sure! Sure, some items are more pricey than others but you always get what you pay for. I also like the decor: complete with mini fans on the ceiling to create the feel of some far off African locale. Safari anyone?
(4)
Danika L.
Nothing geat to talk about, I wouldn't say the food is terrible but I have been here about 4 times hoping to try something I would like and nothing on their menu is impressive. Don't waste your money, you're better off walking down the street to P.F. Changs or Bakers Street Pub for something semi-casual to eat.
(2)
Brandy D.
This place is gigantic and has a very large menu. Over all it feels like a typical large chain such as Fridays. It was very loud and the food was mediocre at best.
(3)
Katie B.
Something has happened to The Elephant Bar over the years. I don't know if it's that they did actually change, or that the novelty of the restaurant and it's decor has worn off and it had really been mediocre all along. The decor is absolutely awesome. I love the theme they have going and really love the booths that are made to appear as seats on trains with the luggage up top. The service is usually pretty good. The food, however seems to have gone downhill. I remember it being just great when they first opened and I loved going there. They had great crab cakes with lobster sauce that was rich and yummy, the last time I was there it was not on the menu. They used to serve their mojitos in huge glasses with sugar canes. Now it's just a standard glass with a straw and maybe some mint. I used to go there and have a hard time choosing what I wanted. Now I just get the seared ahi tuna salad, and even then is still not as good as I remember it once being. I don't know what happened, but I remember the days of going to Elephant Bar and really loving the food. Not so much anymore and it's really a shame because I WANT to love this place as much as I used to.
(3)
Erica Z.
Our visit to the Elephant Bar Lakewood Belmar was nothing but a headache. Starting with the service, I understand it was a busy Saturday night but it was slow and we had three different servers throughout the night. The second one actually complained to us about how the night was going. She appeared to have been replaced by a manager by the time we were done eating the main course. Maybe this was because we did not receive napkins or silverware at all and had to get up and ask another server to locate some for us. While there were chopsticks available the whole time, they were definitely not sufficient for eating a steak "sandwich" that was basically a long strip of sirloin on top of a piece of garlic bread, and not sufficient for the Mongolian Beef or Ceasar Salad that we ordered. Or maybe it was because we went several 10 minute stretches without having our waters refilled. Moving onto the food: Portions were very small for the prices, which wouldn't have been terrible if this weren't the case. We started with an appetizer, which we normally do not order because of the expense but there was an advertisement at our table to get a free appetizer by signing up for the restaurant's rewards program. Why not? We had the Ahi Tuna appetizer, and I am not joking when I say this item, valued at 11.95, consisted of 5 small bite-sized pieces of tuna. It was served on top of a big mound of lettuce and enough soy sauce and wasabi for several rolls of sushi. The menu pictured this appetizer as a huge mound of Ahi Tuna, not just 5 tiny pieces on top of lettuce. One tip I would suggest would be to have low sodium soy sauce. (Perhaps they do, but as we were not asked if we needed anything else when the food finally arrived at our table I mentioned the odd layout of a steak sandwich. It was actually very tasty, but hard to eat. The side caeser salad was decent. Our other entree was the Mongolian Beef. It was decent, but we could have had almost the same thing, but with more meat, at Panda Express for $5. All of the above together in one night that took over an hour and a half was enough to conclude that we have no interest in returning.
(1)
John B.
Generally, I am not altogether impressed with chain restaurants. Chilis, Applebees, TGI Fridays... they're all basically the same. I'm still up in the air about Elephant Bar, but at this moment, I'm willing to be generous and believe that it is a step above the ubiquitous generic chain. I ate lunch at Elephant Bar with my grandma this past week. I had been several times before, both at Belmar and in KC, and I can't say that I've ever eaten anything that wasn't pretty good. At lunch this week I had a burger which was really good. A lot of places, for obvious reasons, don't like to cook burgers medium-rare, and so I'm always happy when the server lets me order a burger that way, and then the cook really delivers. Say what you want about 'under-cooked' beef, but I'm a big fan. My burger at Elephant Bar was juicy and tasty (probably a good solid 7/10 on flavour). In addition to a pretty good menu, with a variety of options and occasional surprises, I have always been struck with the professionalism of the staff and the immaculate condition in which the restaurant is kept. Although I love a good dive, it is always admirable when a relatively inexpensive restaurant really pays attention to the whole experience of its customers. It is this, as much as anything, that pushes Elephant Bar from a generic 3-star to a pretty good 4-star in my book.
(4)
Noah L.
Well, this was an unfortunate experience. Went here for Father's Day as my dad had been here a few times before for lunch with coworkers and liked the place. Before we left I read the other Yelp reviews and was a little concerned, but I decided hey if that's where he wants to go that's where we will go. I wish I would have tried to change his mind. Let's start with our waitress. I don't think I have ever experienced such a dismal attitude by a waitress before. She had a severe sour puss expression on her face, was very short with us and was very sporadic with her service. She actually cut my mother off as she was placing her order, at first I thought it was just me, so when she left I asked my mother and she agreed that it was a very rude gesture. She really blew the ambiance. She may have just been having a bad day, so let's move on beyond the service to the food. The food was so bad that it caused me to come write my first Yelp review. That should tell you something. For the price I would rather go to one of 20 different restaurants that I can name off the top of my head. Let's get down to the nitty gritty. We ordered the chicken lettuce wraps and the margherita flat bread. The lettuce wraps were great. The only issue was it came with 4 pieces of lettuce and enough chicken for several more wraps than that. When we ran out of wraps we waited for our waitress to come back so we could ask for more. We waited, and we waited, and we waited. The whole time we grazed on the chicken so by the time she finally showed up it wasn't even worth asking for more. The margerita flat bread was cold and unappetizing and went half uneaten. Our 3 meals showed up, my mom got some kind of Chicken Parmesan that she not only did not eat but did not even want to take home in a box. My dad got the Kona bbq chicken, ribs and shrimp. he liked the ribs but that was it. The chicken was tough and the shrimp actually seemed greasy. I ordered the macadamia nut chicken and shrimp and that was actually pretty disgusting. The chicken was tough, poorly spiced and just didn't taste good. The shrimp were ok, but I only ate 2 of the 3 and I'm a pretty big fan of shrimp. The vegetables were just gross. How do you make vegetables gross you ask? I'm not sure but they did a bang up job. When the waitress sauntered around and asked how it was, I felt I didn't want to lie so I told her. She got the manager, Steve Olvera, and he is actually the only reason I gave this place two stars instead of one. He was VERY polite, VERY professional and personable. He comped the flatbread, discounted half of our meal and gave my dad a free desert. He also gave us $20 in gift cards to "come back and try them again". Well, I won't be back that's for sure, but I gave the cards to my dad and I'm sure he will come back. Steve Olvera was a great guy, and to be honest I wonder why he is working at The Elephant Bar. If you own a restaurant or work in the food industry, please go snatch this guy up and give him a better job. He deserves it. He took an otherwise horrible experience and at least made it tolerable. Steve, as you told me you read these reviews, I just want to say "Thank You Steve, great job on your part trying to redeem an otherwise very sub-par experience."
(2)
Tori G.
The only thing Elephant Bar excels at is mediocrity. I haven't been in years after a couple of unimpressive visits to other locations, and I only went again because it was a work lunch. I agree with the reviewer who said their menu is poorly formatted (roughly 900 pages of cocktails before you even get to actual food, pictures and descriptions placed randomly, and it felt like the food was ordered very oddly). My salad was bordering on inedible. If you put a picture of actual crab, please don't dump a pile of canned, fishy crab and expect me to be impressed. There were two olives on my entire salad, a lot of unripe mango, and some thousand island. I'm not sure which element gave it the underlying taste of licking an old bbq grill, but that was fun too. I ate about 1/3 before I gave up and decided the vending machine in the office was a better option. My coworkers ate their food but no one was raving about it (I think one response was something like, "It's...good" and a shrug) and we all passed on dessert. Maybe if you lack tastebuds, or you take advantage of one of the million cocktails they reaaaally want you to order, you'll think it's great. I'll pass on further invites. The second star is because our service was fast and polite.
(2)
Jacqui Q.
So we come in here because after having a nightmare experience at Beninhana and finding CF closed at Park Meadows at 930pm we come in here as NOTHING else is open at 10pm on a Saturday night. WTF?? Anyways it was like an freezer in there. So I was already more aggravated. Started off with cheese bread. It was good. BF ordered the bbq tri tip and I had the chicken marsala. Chicken part was fine but the mashed potatoes had NO flavor. Tasted like straight out of a box! I tried salt but no avail. Had to order another side. BF's food was fine. He got mac n cheese as a side and it was tasty. We might be back if we're starving late on a Saturday night and don't want fast food. What I don't get is they have a nice interior but paper napkins and a Denny's style menu. Doesn't work well..
(2)
Penny P.
This is a great place for a late night bite or full quality meal! I either sit at the bar or in the cocktail area, service has always been great. The menu can be a little overwhelming but it becomes much more simple with respect to their early and late happy hour specials on both food and drinks!
(5)
Claude C.
I didn't eat anything as I wasn't hungry when I visited, but the bartenders need to learn their cocktails. I asked for a Tom Collins and it was so watered down, with no cherry I might add, that I thought I was drinking a Sprite.
(2)
Jason B.
Got the steak and shrimp entree. Was not good, very salty and small overcooked shrimp. Girlfriend got the mac and cheese which ended up being the best thing we got. Calamari was only Ok.
The menu is eclectic, but a little overwhelming as it's like reading a small novel. I eat here for lunch quite a bit, but my favorite is their sweet potato fries and martinis :)
(4)
Ingrid S.
I have been here a few times and they have some good food and a good variety, but it seems that each time I go they are never friendly to those that I bring. I hang out with many people who are deaf, in wheelchairs or who have service animals and each times I do and I even call ahead they normally give me crap about it. Especially about the service animals. Each time we come no matter if its one or two service dogs with people they demand paperwork and we don't have to do that, federal law states it. One time one of our deaf friends wants paper to write what he wanted so that he didn't have to sign to me and that I wouldn't have to sign back to the server and the server told me that was not possible. So the food is meh-ok, there portion sizes could be a little larger for the one pays, also it would be cool to have a better happy hour. They just need to work on customer service and treating all humans like HUMANS and not like the people I bring to an establishment that there is something wrong with us!!
(2)
Liz R.
My fiance and I decided to go the Elephant Bar for Valentine's Day. We knew it would be risky with the crowds, but we had a coupon. After putting his name down and receiving our dud of a buzzer, we ended up waiting a good 90 minutes (even though the host said the wait would be 50-60min) and 7 other couples were seated after the hostess said that there were 5 names ahead of us. I am only giving 1 star because the last time I ate here (and ACTUALLY was seated), I had the orange chicken and was pleasantly surprised. I do no recommend this place unless you have immense patience and a very high hunger tolerance.
(1)
Sarah P.
Two words: Happy Hour! If you can make it down to the Elephant Bar between 3 and 7pm, go sit in the bar and enjoy some of the best drink specials on mixed drinks. I love the $4 Mai Tai and Mojito. Their beer is on special too. The burgers there taste like a hockey puck, but the fries are good, though. I suggest to go across the street to Champ St. Burgers for a decent burger (but their fries suck, so it's a toss up). For food, I like to order the Garlic bread sticks and dip them in a bowl their fantastic Tomato bisque soup. My boyfriend always orders the Chicken Marsala off the lunch menu and loves that. The folks who staff the bar area are awesome too!
(4)
Jacob S.
I normally shy away from big chain places like this, but I really enjoyed my meal! The Seared Ahi Tuna salad was just delicious. I added avacado slices, which were a nice addition to an already great selection of greens, seaweed salad and seared tuna. The tuna was nicely seared and wonderfully purple/pink in the middle. Great service, fun menu, and above average food.
(4)
Rod S.
PF Chang and Chills had a child. Mongolian Beef was excellent, service was great, atmosphere engaging. Good prices and great quantity and quality of food. The Parmesan Green Beans are crunchy and tasty, they say for two but they held their own again four. Parking was not easy but it was worth the walk. Great place when you have a wide spread of people with different taste. PF Chang quality and the price of Chili's.
(5)
Charlie C.
Great food and value. The service team is friendly and attentive. This is no ordinary chain. Try the full rack of ribs and you will not be disappointed! They have a great happy hour too!
(5)
Jeremy C.
Not a bad place. Great menu and it sometimes catches people by surprise when they look at the menu. It has some good exotic choices and they are reasonably priced but it really depends on what you are looking at if you feel you are going to get a deal or not. I am not a fan of fish, I don't eat anything fish lol but I love me some steak and burgers. The burgers here are pretty good and the price isn't horrible. The salads were huge and you can likely skip the meal if you just go with a salad. Honestly they are just that big. The decor is interesting but again I find it similar to a typical chain restaurant I mean if you went to an elephant bar some where else i would imagine it would look very similar if not exact lol. Not that it is a bad thing but it is interesting. I have been here for parties, after meeting get togethers, lunches and dinners. Every visit has been the same wonderful experience. Eating at the bar is great when you are in a rush for lunch.
(4)
Morgan W.
Wow. After all the hype I have heard about this place, and how freaking crowded it is during the lunch hours (especially on Fridays), this was a serious midday letdown. I suppose the other locations are better? This place felt like Applebee's with an island flair and a really weird, difficult to navigate and overly visual menu. I know what crusted ahi tuna salad looks like, and your presentation is no more interesting than anywhere else, and please pick font faces that I can read, and maybe make the prices bigger. Oh my gosh. My inner typography nerd was in total apoplexy within the first couple of minutes. The ONLY thing I liked was my red sangria. It was delicious. Almost as good as the sangria I make at home, though not as spicy and a bit sweeter. But a great, refreshing, inexpensive summertime drink. Thumbs up for that. Unfortunately I'm not one to just carouse down the street from my office after work and drink fifty sangrias, so it doesn't mean much in the long run. The waitstaff, the food, the portions, the presentation, the execution: It's just all wrong. I ordered the citrus chicken salad. The chicken pieces were overcooked, the dressing was lame, the lettuce was chunks of over-ripe iceberg (WTF?!), and the entire bottom was a layer of those disgusting white rice noodles that taste and feel like reeeeaaaaallllllyyyyy old styrofoam. Gross. I spent half my lunch picking them out of my salad and piling them up on the corner of the plate like a 6 year old. An alcoholic, disappointed 6 year old. One $35 tab later (I ate with a friend; we each had ONE cocktail, I had the salad from hell, and he had a soup/sandwich combo... pretty steep for such basic fare), it's been five hours and I am ready to eat a bicycle, piece by piece, like that guy in the Jim Rose circus. And then maybe some tasty light bulbs for dessert (but not CFLs; mercury doesn't do a body good).
(2)
Robin K.
The E Bar is an awesome place. I have been here for regular dinner and for happy hour. For regular dinner, the prices are not terrible, and the menu is HUGE. A little overwhelming, actually, but I like the fact that they have a lower calorie menu - huge dinners out (and the portions are very large) can get out of hand sometimes, calorically. The happy hour is a really good deal. It is from 4-7 (I believe), and they have items straight off their menu for between $3 and $7 (and cheap drinks too!). There are, of course, not as many options, but this is almost better: everything is still really good, and you are not overwhelmed by the tome that is their regular menu. The food options can satisfy any mood! Service is great, too! The employees are very nice and prompt. I will be coming back and back again for sure!
(4)
J K.
Not at all what I expected, but in a good way for a change. Came here to kill a couple hours, grab a few drinks, and wait for friends. Ended up having a great server, delicious food, and drinks that started the night off great! It was a little crowded, but that's usually a good sign in the end. The food is unique, and I honestly had a pretty good time, for less money than I thought I was going to shell out in the area.
(4)
Scott T.
"Is this your first time eating here?" I heard this line 6 more times before I left the last time, and it is the thing I remember the most about my other trips here too. Why is it that that line is soo important to your managers? What difference should or does that make? Are you surprised by the response of "no"? Is there some magic bonus that first timers get? My fourth trip with people who swear by this place and I still don't get it. It's another Applebee's or Flinger's with a vaguely Africa-esque theme...(More like the Toto version in that song, crossed with a visual theme park. "I got it at ROSS!!" comes to mind..) The food was just OK, not good, not really bad, just meh. It was food was the best I could say, and being as hungry as I was, I woulda eaten a well marinated insole from my own shoe, and given it one star rating.. I have had the Pork sandwich, several salads, appetizer combo thing and they were all just the exact same middle of the nowhere road of corporate cooking... If you are stuck here, it wont kill you, but don't look for inspired.
(2)
Justin B.
I like the restaurant, but it's just a little too fancy for my taste. Although I did like the food just wish it were bigger portions.
(3)
Cortney P.
Generally speaking I am not a fan of chain restaurants. And, by that I mean I normally avoid them at all costs. However, sometimes you just don't have a lot of options. And sometimes, you just feel lazy and can't be bothered to actually drive elsewhere so you make do with what's nearby. Lucky for me, what's nearby is Elephant Bar - a wildly themed, African Safari style restaurant complete with zebra carpet. Considering that it's a chain restaurant, I was cautious upon my first visit and came out pleasantly surprised, if a bit overwhelmed by the numerous pages of options that make up its menu. Since then, I have been back at least twice for lunch and most recently had dinner there with a couple of friends. Yes, the menu is extensive. You can select anything from sushi to All-American sandwiches & burgers to any number of dishes from the Wok Kitchen. However, I find that sometimes the more options available, the more indecisive I become. That being said, the quality of their food has been consistently good each time I've dined at the Elephant Bar. Their soups are excellent including the standard Tomato Basil offered on the everyday menu. On my last trip to E Bar, I opted for the soup du jour - Butternut Squash. It was thick, creamy and perfect for a cold winter's day. Another good standard are the Big "E" Sliders...mini burgers topped with grilled onion and a tasty special sauce. On the long list of cocktails, I'd also recommend the Habanera Margarita (I think that's the name) - it was quite interesting...sweet and a tad spicy at the same time. I wasn't sure if I'd like the mix, but it was really quite yummy. If you're on a budget and looking for a decent meal, then Elephant Bar fits the bill. Just be careful...it's a jungle in there.
(4)
Ken S.
It seem like every time I stop in to The Elephant Bar...the experence changes...I guess it is because I tend yo hit this place at alot of differant hours...So the service does change a bit..and so does the food..but no so much that I wouldn't go back..When it is packed in the dinning room I sit at the bar...and thats what I do alot anyway..You get to hear the staff talking when your up at the bar and you can really find out (maybe more than you wanted) about the daily opperation. The waitstaff always talks to the bar tenders about their shift...if they are bitchin about one of their tables...your still O.K....but you are up the creek if the main conversation is about how much it sucks to work there...I have heard both... The food tend to be good bar food..but I am not sure it qualifies for a great dinning experence...not to say I dont enjoy the meals..but the other distractions take away from what show be a nice night out...too loud..to hurried...and it seems like we get a differant server every time... So I might say...just belly up to the bar and eat....food seems to come faster...you can get in and out quicker..or stay longer with out the feeling that they want you out...
(3)
Sandi D.
The Elephant Bar reminds me of a cheap imitation of the Rainforest Cafe. Decorated by the buyer of Pier One, the entire restaurant is zebra prints, statues of giraffes, elephants, and period piece luggage --you know, the kind Indiana Jones lugs around. While I thought it awful, it bemused the BF, and well as 1/2 dozen patrons -- mostly guys, so maybe it appeals more to the testosterone set. I do have to give credit for the restaurant being open rather late on a Weekday Night, and for having several decent red wines by the glass. In fact, they served my "house wine", Rodney Strong Cab, which was a mere $9 a glass. Unfortunately the food is standard issue frozen food that has been unevenly re-heated. Broccoli was mushy and waterlogged. The shrimp so overly breaded, there was nothing to it once the coating was peeled away. The BF's steak sandwich was equally as bad, but what do you want for $10.95. While I'd never suggest a return visit, I wouldn't protest violently against it.
(3)
Jeramyn F.
Slow service, cold egg rolls, unfriendly staff. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't good. I won't be going back.
(2)
Katrina L.
I have been here a couple of times and wasn't disappointed. I got the pad thai the first time which was really good! Went back again with my boyfriend and his parents, but I can't remember what I got! I only remember the sweet potato fries were really good! A few weeks later we were in the area and stopped in for lunch. I got the half soup half sandwich. I got the tomato soup which was easily the best tomato soup I have ever had and a club sandwich which was also really really good! I will go back if I'm hungry and in the area..
(3)
Dan D.
We came in looking for some good food and a drink or two, were told it would be a 20-25 minute wait, so we headed to the bar. Our bartender was as attentive as could be expected on a busy Friday night, but after 20 minutes we went back to the front and were told there were still 3 parties ahead of us and it would be 25 minutes. Well, we gave up and decided to just eat at the bar, which was a bit noisy and not very good for conversation. Once we got our orders in, the food did come out fairly quickly, and tasted pretty good. Now here's the fun part- on my last bit of an otherwise tasty shrimp tempura sushi roll, I got some bonus styrofoam - mmm extra chewy. On the plus side, our attentive bartender was quick to take my full meal off the bill. Can't say the food tasted bad but between the lackadaisical service, the wait, and the foam, we probably won't be going back any time soon.
(2)
Kira C.
We have visited the Elephant Bar in Belmar numerous times over the past 5 years. Meetings with friends, business meetings, and relaxing evenings out. For some reason, beginning this Spring, the quality of the food wasn't as good as before. At first we thought it was a fluke. But, we started noticing it as a trend. We still enjoyed the warm and friendly staff, so we kept coming back anyway and just ordered appetizers instead. Then, we had a terrible experience in Sept. where the appetizers were bad as was the service. With budgets tightening all the time in this challenging economy, we decided that night that we'd spend our money at a different place instead. Out of courtesy to the staff, I wrote a letter and the response from the manager was amazing. He was extremely kind and apologetic. He asked about all of the details of our visits. The best part was that he said he'd use the feedback in a positive manner for the staff. In addition, we received a kind invitation to come back and try them again. It took over a month for us to come back, but we did, and the food was excellent. The staff was fantastic and, for the first time (or at least the first time we've seen) there was a manager on the floor checking up on everything. That kind of service and response deserves 5 stars in my opinion. Thank you to general manager Charlie Curtis and to the entire staff. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
(5)
T y.
What a fun atmosphere! From leopard print carpet to elephant tusks protruding from the wall, this restaurant excites your senses. You can usually grab a seat at the bar, which is trendier than most, yet still cozy. The flavors are fresh and the drinks are delicious. I look forward to going again.
(5)
J W.
DO NOT EAT HERE! I got the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had by eating the steak, coconut shrimp, and spinach. Not recommended if you want to stay healthy.
(1)
sydney s.
i would have to say the reason this place gets four stars is for two reasons only- for one, they are constantly changing their menu so its like every time u go there they have something new. also, the manager. i dont think i should say his name but he treats his staff with respect and is consistently walking around the restaurant to make sure everyone is having a good time. a bit overpriced... but worth it. i would give it five stars but it seems like half their food has some sort of seafood in it. i ate one of the lettuce wraps and actually threw up because of a sea food spice or somethin thats in it (i never eat sea food so im verrry sensitive to it)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Hailey W.
Went here originally because of an ad in the paper. Once seated it took a little long for our server to come over but she was very professional once she did. Lots of choices but unfortunately both of mine were unimpressive. I ordered one of the Wok dishes and got chicken instead of shrimp. Way too salty and had an odd taste. I ordered a side of fried rice and it had no flavor and when it was recooked it was the same. Don't get fried rice whatever you do. Probably never going back. Not when P.F. Changs is nearby.
(2)David C.
Typical chain with an extensive Asian fusion menu. It was very busy on a Friday but we grabbed a table within a booth in the bar area. Service was fast and friendly. They sell really tall glasses of Guinness and I had the Misoyaki fire grilled Salmon which was cooked to perfection. Street parking is at a premium however theres a huge parking lot behind the restaurant. Definitely worth a try.
(3)Lily M.
Priced well. In a cute location. Lots of selections. meat, seafood, veg, etc. its very easy to find sth you would want to try. the first time when i was there, i ordered sth looked good on the menu pic, but it looked bad on the plate, its a tuna dish, after knowing i was not happy and they took it away and made me sth else. so that was nice.
(5)Troy B.
My family decided to have a nice dinner last Friday (6/17)to celebrate father's day. We chose the Elephant Bar in Lakewood, CO, as this is the most convenient location for all of us (9 of us spread across the metro area). The service we received was terrible from the start. First, my wife made a reservation for nine people, yet when we arrived at the restaurant, we were led to a booth that could only seat 6 at the most (even though there were clearly nine of us standing there). Then we were led to one of three empty larger tables. As we started to sit, we were told that table was reserved for someone else and we were led to yet another table. Our waitress took her sweet time getting to our table. When she finally delivered our drinks, she literally spilled water down my leg and into my shoe. She apologized, but this didn't make the night any better. That's two strikes. Next, we were told your bar was apparently out of the two beers my brother and I ordered (Tsingtao and Bass). However, another server brought me a Bass. Three strikes. When our drinks arrived, my wife requested a bowl of pita chips for our son who is a toddler and was very hungry. Despite repeated requests (she kept saying they were on their way), the chips didn't arrive until our meals did. Four strikes. We then placed our food order. Our food arrived in a decent amount of time, and we were all willing to overlook the mishaps to this point and try and have an enjoyable meal (even though my foot was wet inside my shoe). However, we quickly noticed that 3 out of the 9 of us did not receive rice with our meals, and two of the people that did receive rice had the wrong kind (brown instead of white). Another server quickly remedied the rice situation, but at this point we were so underwhelmed and frankly just annoyed at the incompetency in the restaurant that it was hard to thank him for being prompt. Five strikes. Our server was generally inattentive, complacent, and flighty the entire time we were there. We split the check three ways, and my wife did not tip a full 20% on our check because the service and entire experience was so bad. Now for the thing that really makes me mad (and what actually drove me to write this email): my wife reviewed our bank account today and discovered that our server added $2 to her tip. I hate it here and will never go back. The Greenwood Village location, however, is awesome and TOTALLY worth the visit!
(1)Mark B.
Personally, I don't understand why this restaurant has an average of 3 stars? I went there with a friend just last week on a Thursday night and had a really pleasant experience. If a friend were to ask me what I had to say about Elephant Bar I would have to respond, "Its like an African Themed Cheesecake Factory...Without the Cheesecake." While I suppose that could be construed as negative I really don't think it is. Neither my friend now myself had any specific cravings for our cuisine so I found it refreshing to see such a full menu with so many options. We ended up sharing lettuce wraps as an appetizer which, while not PF Chang's caliber wraps, were still quite tasty. I then moved on to a phenomenal Salad that included dry roasted candied walnuts, Gorgonzola and pears all laid over dark greens with a light Asian vinaigrette. I then moved on to Pad Thai that I thoroughly enjoyed while my friend enjoyed some kind of chicken pesto dish. We then split the ice cream cookie that was a perfect dessert even though we were both very full. The drinks were pretty good too. I had a sidecar and my friend had a house margarita. The side car was expectedly expensive but nothing was unreasonably priced. Bottom Line: Next time I am in Bel-Mar, Elephant Bar will be on the top of my list of ideas for when the friends and I go out.
(4)Ellen C.
I had to go back for the quick seared Ahi tuna salad again. It was so good... also ordered their sweet potato fries. yummy! And to finish off our lunch, we got some Creme Brulee, my fav. The sugar on top was really thick and a bit on the burnt side But the custard still was oh, so good... The service was GREAT! Definitely will go back again... and again...
(4)Jessica G.
The only good thing about this restaurant is the decor. The food was bland, the service was slow and over all just a really disappointing outing. We even had to get up and get our own beer from the bar, because the waitress was slow and totally forgot. The manager offered a free desert, but they still charged us for it. The food was yucky and bland. Our appetizer was cold and stale. My boyfriend and I joked as we left that even his beer buzz was not good. All kidding aside, we will never eat there again and we would never recommend this establishment to anyone...not even someone we don't like.
(1)Sun P.
I had a really great experience the last time I went to the Elephant bar. We usually go during the holidays when the entire family is in town because it's convenient and the food is decent but this particular time there was a server named Marvin that really went above and beyond. I would say it was maybe the best service I've ever had and I eat out ALOT! He was so attentive and he decided my cousin's steak was cooked too well done so he took initiative to have it redone, and this was without my cousin ever saying a word. That was only one out of many things that he did to make sure we were taken care of. I would definitely go back again and request Marvin to be our server.
(5)Michael C.
OMG so slow. 2 hours to get food.
(2)Alex P.
If you're feeling hungry, and inside your head you're thinking,"mmMmm I want some delicious Asian food." and the first restaurant that pops up in your head is P.F. Changs, then this is your place. If not, don't waste your money here.
(2)Amanda T.
Elephant Bar is a decent chain, reasonably priced and good to go to if you need an option before a movie at Belmar but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.
(3)Todd M.
The food here is pretty good. I have not been disappointed yet. It is a little pricey, but you get a giant portion (please do not be a fatty and eat the entire meal in one setting) so you can take home leftovers for another whole meal. Good Service. Neat Decor and atmosphere
(4)justin d.
Omg I haven't been here in abt a year but I still have the bland taste in my mouth. The portions were so small I felt we had ordered of the calf's (calf= baby elephant) menu but priced like a really nice burger king. The only reason I feel I could give it a one is I don't know if I could click next with out giving it some rating but I guess the cool ceiling fans scored some points with me
(1)Kristen G.
Great food and cocktails!!! The seared Ahi tuna is amazing!!! Good place to just get drinks and appitizers.
(5)Michelle P.
Been wanting to visit this restaurant & my friends spoke highly of it. Girls night out! Ordered the Olu Passion Mai Tai thinking it would be light and fresh, i don't recomment it at all. It was so sweet & syrupy. So hard to take down. At $6.95 a pop i wasn't complaining of the price, just the way it was made. Ordered the Spinach & Artichoke dip for a starter. Blech.. the consistency was very gummy & sticky. I have had my fair share of the dip & this stuff was disgusting. I can't even say it came out of a jar because Frito Lays Dip is much better than this. For $7.95 I was ready to tell my server to take it back it was so terrible. But I didn't. Oh and our server, though pleasant had no sense of timing for taking our order. It was our first time there & their menu is quiet large..she didn't give me enough time to order, which is bad service in my book. LIke whats the rush! For dinner I got the Braised Beef with flat noodles and a side of white rice. It was good. Nothing to brag about. It was an asian version of beef stroganoff $13.50. My friend got the burger and she enjoyed it. The tab came out to be $50.25 which wasn't too bad but I wasn't really satisfied with my dinner. I'm not, not going to come back here..I'm willing to give it another shot. We enjoyed the ambience-wasn't too loud. The palm trees, and the statues of elephants and other jungle/safari props makes for the feel of the resaturant name. I say give it shot. I will again..sometime.
(2)Faye V.
So0o...I like elephants. (An elephant with it's trunk up is a sign of happiness.) I also like Belmar. With my friends visiting, I thought, why not try it out? We can stroll along for a bit then grab dinner at this nicely fitted chain restaurant they categorize as fusion. You can have your steak, I can have my fish. It's good. It's happy. At first I thought, damn, this hostess must've had a bad day. She looked so miserable. Then I found crumbs in my seat and the table was a wee bit oily. I had a prissy moment when I thought, man, my dress is going to get ruined. But I moved on. I got my strawberry lemonade and I was happy again. We didn't order appetizers -- oh wait. We did. I just wanted to forget about it. Fresh spring rolls it was called, just not so fresh, not so springy. Even the lovely tamarind sauce they had failed at making that thing taste better. I drank more strawberry lemonade and I was happy again. Our plates came. That was nice it came quickly. A friend had the seared Ahi tuna and it was a-okay. I had the Macadamian crust mahi, a-ok as well. Second friend has steak and coconut shrimp. Steak - she said was a-okay. The shrimp however, was so brown it looked like they used the coconut husk in the batter. I drank more strawberry lemonade. We ventured into dessert - an adventure that felt like a battle. Red Velvet Cupcake: looked more like a burned muffin. There was nothing velvety or cakey about it. The ice cream? Freezer burn. The tart cheesecake thingy majiggy - good lord - looked like they dumped grits around it, then dumped strawberry puree over that. Saving grace? They didn't screw up the creme brulee.... And so, I pushed aside my dessert plate of what looked like an early halloween treat. I drank more lemonade as I lamented about how big the bill was going to be for this overpriced Red Lobster. I think the best thing about Elephant Bar was the strawberry lemonade and the elephant door knobs (they rock). I completely neglected the full bar. So I drank more lemonade. Maybe next time I'll ask for vodka in it.
(3)Heather B.
Elephant Bar is a concept restaurant with no concept. This isn't a bad thing - the atmosphere of the restaurant is neat. The decor is very African in nature - tall bronze giraffe statues; zebra striped seat cushions; metal elephant sculptures over the bar area with a deep blue "sky light" overhead. The menu is confusing - Asian fusion with burgers, seafood, and steaks. It was at that point that my friend and I found ourselves wondering what the heck this restaurant was about, but the interesting decor and fair prices on the menu ensured I'll probably be back another time. Kids may also find this restaurant entertaining. My oriental chicken salad and strawberry-banana daiquiri-type drink amounted to $16. There's also parking in front of the restaurant, as well as in the open lot for the entire city walk area.
(4)Milo Y.
Nice Job! There 10-13-12, crowded but fun. Called ahead for a reservation for 8 ppl. got in, they were close to ontime for the reservation depsite being crowded. The food was very well done, i did French Onion Soup and a Wedge Salad. Both OK, my wife go the Shrimp Soup, awesome... Great staff and friendly. Thanks!
(4)Myron T.
Decent food served quickly from a friendly staff.
(3)Ryan T.
The food is ok. My experiences here have not been consistent. Sometimes pretty good, others blah. I only go here for the happy hour food specials at this point. They have two happy hours, one between lunch and dinner, and the other after 9 or 10 pm. The only down side to the happy hour is that you must sit in the bar area with the drunks to get the specials.
(2)Jeremy M.
Worst dining experience ever. Where to begin. Crusty food debris in the table cracks, crusties on all my silverware, dishes AND glasses. They clearly do not change out their dishwasher cleaner. Woke up with food poisoning sickness this morning. The worst kind if you know what I mean. Everything that was served tasted like it came from the freezer. Artichoke dip was just slop, everything was presented with zero care. Stuff just thrown on a plate. "3 cheese" Mac and cheese tasted like cafeteria food. Soggy pasta, processed cheese. Lettuce in salad was soggy. "Medium" burger was burnt to crisp, while one of my friends well done burger was med rare. Nothing was right. Everything was wrong. This place is a health hazard. I'm contacting health department today. And FYI I'm not one to write negative reviews. I know restaurants are hard work and sometimes they have an off night. This goes beyond that. They need serious help ASAP. Half the letters in the signage are out, which should be a "sign" that nobody cares. Zero stars. I should have just walked away.Terrible. Clumsy service to top it off.
(1)Kelsey R.
Wonderful food and the staff is always so nice and helpful. This place is a favorite anytime I'm in town, and never fails to satisfy. It can be busy, so you might consider calling ahead for reservations. If possible, ask for a table away from the kitchen, as it can be noisy. I always get the tempura salmon roll as an appetizer. The sweet potato fries are also good. For dinner, the pad thai is good, and the burgers are always good- especially the Santa Monica burger that comes with avocado. I've never had desert because I'm always so full, but I'm sure it is all delicious.
(5)Ambur C.
Like many Yelpers, I'm not one for chain restaurants either. HOWEVER, location is everything, and Elephant Bar is close to home. More importantly, it's consistent. Consistently good. My staples here are the salads, particularly the Jaimaica Mojo shrimp salad... huge win. The Honey Mustard Chicken Salad is a close second, and the wedge salad is nice as well (though they do add chopped egg, which I usually nix). Happy Hour isn't really anything to write home about, especially when compared some of the other great happy hours in the area. Apps: salmon tempura rolls, calamari, and the Vietnamese spring rolls. yum!
(3)Andrea T.
This place is a good time, and a fun escpae from some of the cold Colorado nights we get with the African Safari decor. The bar is excellent, and so is the food. All of their stir fries are good, as are their burgers. The only reason why I gave them a four star rating is because they're rather expensive, and almost sneaky about you getting to buy extra crap you don't really need. Plus the hostess came over and bashed her boss a bit too long to us. The place will seem a bit chain-y so if you want more hidden gems for a good fusion place, this could rub you the wrong way. Despite the price and they whiney hostess, I still enjoyed myself, my food and the vibe. I'll be back.
(4)Chris W.
I have been multiple times due to close proximity to my apartment, but never been happy with my experience. The wok "seared" entrees have always been wok "burned" which I'm sure is contrary to the Pao cooking technique. Other food has not settled well later in the evening due to the heavy sauces on many of the dishes. The beer selection is relatively generic, but if you're a cocktail person the bar would be a good choice. The service, however, has been exemplary with a friendly work staff that promptly refills drinks, brings food, and sees to making your experience enjoyable. There are more affordable places offering well rounded menus similar to the Elephant Bar.
(2)Christopher S.
This is the perfect place to go when you want something different. The atmosphere is exotic and the food is delicious.
(4)Liz S.
This is the kind of place that I should hate, but I don't! E Bar is a total theme restaurant. They are rocking some kind of African safari vibe, and every cliche African decoration that you can think of is somewhere in the restaurant. Giraffe statue - check, giant elephant with waterfall - check, zebra print - check. But it's not terrible, or at least, it's no worse than the faux Chinese at PF's or the faux French Quarter at Mimis. And more importantly, the food holds its own. The menu ranges from standard American fare, like burgers and chicken sandwiches, to a few pastas, and some Asian-ish fare. I had a salmon tempura sushi roll thing, with a side asian noodle soup and a skewer of teriyaki chicken. And to my great surprise, it was damn good. My companion had a burger, which was perfectly cooked. Another companion had a pasta dish which he raved about. Plus there are a fair amount of items in the $8.99-$9.99 range so you can snag a deal here too. Authentic homestyle cooking this is not. So if you're looking for innovation and authenticity, go elsewhere. But if you take your food snob hat off for a night, as far as chain restaurants go, this place is a winner.
(3)Becky S.
Think: an upscale Long Shot's. They've got asian. They've got American. They've got yummmmm. My boyfriend is all over the asian aspect, always getting tempura and sushi and soups and cashew chicken... all excellent choices. My favorite? The Rock Sugar Braised Beef with Pappardelle Noodles (yes I looked that name up on their website, I don't have it exactly memorized). It's the type of dish you'll be full on halfway through, but you'll finish it because it just tastes so dang good. If you've got kids, take them, and get their ice cream desserts. They come in these little cinnamon-and-sugar coated wontons. Delicious. If you don't have any kids, borrow the neighbor's. Or just ask if you can get the kid cone. The drinks are innovative but pricey, they always succeed in giving me a buzz. Best time to visit? Weekdays, and I tend to go later in the evening. We pretty much get the whole place to ourselves, the service is excellent, and everything comes out hot and fresh. It's fun. I'd recommend it.
(5)Beth M.
I wish I had been hungry when I went to meet a friend...I think I would have CHOWED on that burger--it was perfectly cooked. The fries were crisp, well-seasoned, and non-greasy. The artichoke dip was fine--nothing special. Missing something, though. Not sure what. Loved the classic mojito--rarely do I order two drinks anywhere, but I did here. The service was slow--no one came to take our drink orders for what I'd swear was at least 10 minutes. However, they didn't make us feel rushed. We were catching up conversationally for about 2 hours, and didn't feel pressured to leave. In fact, one guy, not our server, offered us additional water after we'd already paid. Very impressive.
(4)Eddie C.
So, I had a "blind" date at this place that turned out to be one of the most fun post-divorce dates that I have had. My counterpart was beautiful, charming and wonderful. We spent the evening chatting, laughing, drinking some foo-foo fruity type drinks and munching appetizers. It was a great evening... Why only three stars? Well, I'm glad you asked, friend. You see, I do love me some food. And, I can't, for the life of me, remember anything that I ate there. I remember that the drinks were good, but after sharing I believe three appetizers, none stuck out. I think that this is firmly in the "Eh, I need a break from every OTHER chain place in my suburban hell" or if you would like to check out the various groups of professional cougars gadding about in the numerous booths for their evening pregame. In summary, this place is like that episode of Family Guy where the Griffin family went on vacation in Purgatory. "It's not that bad, it's not that great... More or less."
(3)Mindy L.
It started with the friendly voice on the phone as I made a reservation, superb customer service. There was only one small hiccup, the hostess crossed our name out even though we were sitting right infront of her waiting to be seated. Fifteen minutes after arriving we were seated at a table that matched my request perfectly. The staff was very friendly and I could tell they loved being at work. The food was very good and thank you to the Charlie the GM for the special attention paid to my food allergy. Thanks Charlie and Emily for a great evening, we will be back.
(5)Josie H.
Not a friendly place. I was card for a drink which is usual for me, but I never felt so awkward after being carded. Not only did they scan my id but then asked for a second form. The manager made me feel like I was'nt welcomed, so I went to PF Chang's where I was able to get my Margarita. Won't be going back to the Elephant Bar ever!!!
(1)Dena G.
I go to elephant bar often. I really enjoy their salads and sweet potato fries. They have a varied menu that makes most people happy. The food is very tasty are are the drinks. There is often a long wait for a table on weekend nights though you can often find a spot in the bar area if you are a small group with all adults. It's a good place for nice but affordable food...I would compare it to pf changs.
(4)Lacey M.
My 1st encounter with the elephant bar was about 5 years ago in Kansas City, KS. I wanted to try it for several months after it first opened and finally decided to go there one night with some friends. It was awful: Horrible service, and the food was just as bad. After a 2nd visit with the same experience, I have never returned. Fast forward 4 years and I'm living near Belmar and an Elephant bar opens up. I decide to give it a try, knowing that chain restaurants can differ greatly from each location. Needless to say, my husband and I have been back numerous times. The food is consistently good, which I definitely notice because I usually order the same thing every time: Cashew Chicken. It is amazing-lightly breaded chunks of chicken over white ride with snow peas, cashews, and pineapple (I get mine without fruit. Cooked fruit belongs in pies). I often crave that dish, so I made up my own version to cook at home (My husband thinks it's better than theirs....however, theirs is more consistent than mine). Other dishes I have tried and enjoyed are the Spinach Dip, Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Fire Pot, and the Honey Orange Shrimp. They have several bigger booths that can hold larger parties of 10-12. Plus, the menu has great variety everyone could be easily pleased (salad, sandwiches, steak, chicken).
(4)Linda G.
Meh. Really. It's a cut above Applebees (sort of) and occasionally the appetizers can be interesting. But tonite...well it was Friday and very busy. Vietnamese spring rolls were soggy. Coconut shrimp were overcooked. The wild greens salad was incredibly overdressed. But adult beverages are cheap until 7 so that's a plus. Kind of.
(2)Bryan M.
I hate animal print anything. This hate includes, but is not limited to, bags/purses, pants, Speedos, carpets and restaurants. Elephant Bar doesn't make you feel as if you've traveled someplace exotic, it makes you feel like you're shopping in the Zoo gift shop. The only cool things about the decor are the ceiling fan system and the lighting/sculptures in the bar. But the food is... good. Surprisingly good. I have to agree with Heather S. that the concept of burgers and Asian fusion are an odd mix. Yet somehow it works, at least on the Asian side. The cashew chicken is great. The cauldron of seafood is great (I think it was a special). I usually leave full and feeling like I got a great value for my dollar. The service was very... Applebee's. Which is a bit of a backhanded compliment. It's fairly swift but also inexperienced and not very knowledgeable about their food. Food coupled with value would have been 4(ish) stars. The service and atmosphere reduced it by some, but I recognize not everyone will have such an adverse reaction to the decor.
(3)Marcos B.
So over Memorial Day weekend my parents visited from out-of-state as well as my uncle and few friends. We were undecided on where to eat and as we were shopping around BelMar we found this place. Basically there was like 8 of us and we were seated fast, got our orders taken care of, and everyone enjoyed the experience. Would I came here with my Denver friends? maybe not because we all live in Cap Hill. But since the parents were in town with parental requirements like parking, no long walking, a menu full of various choices, and somewhere mom and dad can relax among other families....this place fit the bill. I like it. The food was good. It's not a gourmet dining experience but rather a place for us middle-class families to eat, chat, and enjoy and evening.
(5)Summer S.
I was really disappointed by this place, which a friend had recommended to me. It's like a cross between PF Chang's and Cheescake Factory - except the food is nowhere as good. I thought the service was great and my tomato soup was fine but as far as my pint of Guinness (I know, what was I thinking ordering Guinness here?) and my friend's pasta dish go, I was convinced not to come here again.
(2)Emily S.
I hate the fact that we have really bad restaurant options in our area. After about a half hour driving aimlessly deciding what to eat for dinner, my bf and thought we better try the place...and were let down. I gotta say, the food was not the greatest for what the place looked like. We both had shrimp, he had the shrimp adventure plate and I had the fried shrimp with fries... both very safe dishes. My shrimp was pretty much Perkins Grade shrimp on a fancy plate. His were a bit better, the coconut shrimp had not been deveined and the sauteed shrimp (which came with sauteed veggies) were wilted and gross. Not all of our meal was a disaster, I really liked the garlic bread presentation on their appetizer menu. For about $4, you get a funnel thing with thin (sticks) slices of garlic cheese bread served with marinara sauce...not bad. Our server was odd too, didn't really seem to care about what was going on but she did get the job done. And, lastly the bathrooms were the least bit impressive. Really...in this day and age, you are still using Tork towel dispensers? Think about it, we want clean hands, and the only way to do it, is to do a #3 and wash and dry them. Thanks for making me use a lever to get my towels...jerks.. Ok, that last part was a joke, but really, the bathrooms sucked too!
(2)Ashley H.
i went to this place today after taking a walk through the belmar area...i was hungry and didn't really want pizza or a burger...i looked at the menu and it seemed pretty safe. it was pretty much a chain restaurant but with a nice outfit on...i went in with my friend and we seated quickly. we looked around and commented on how we were the only people under the age of 55 there at 6pm... we ordered our food and we were really expecting something better...i won't lie. i got a steak..and it was meh...ok. i mean a steak at chili's would have been the same. our waitress was very friendly and she was great at keeping our drinks full. so that was nice. the price was ok. a little more than any chain place..but i guess we were paying a few extra bucks for the atmosphere... would i go back here? hmm...maybe..but i wouldn't be the one paying. if you're looking for a place to go on a date in belmar stop by this place. or if you're looking for a hard drink to start your night off go here..but thats about it..
(3)John R.
We stopped in the elephant bar for an early dinner & seated ourselves in the bar area. It took a little while for someone to come clean off the previous patrons plates and glasses as we chose the only open available table. My only gripe this trip. We started with the soy ginger calamari & drinks. The calamari was good but I couldn't taste any soy or ginger in it, the dipping sauce helped & the cocktail sauce that also came with it was the bomb. My wife had the orange chicken and I had the Mongolian beef for our main dishes. The orange chicken had tons of flavor and was definitely the winner of the evening. The Mongolian beef was tender and had good flavor. We also chose brown rice and veggie fried rice, both were good but the veggie fried rice was a nice change from the norm & stood out. Our server took good care of us and was very attentive. Another good visit to elephant bar.
(4)Rafiq R.
A good restaurant. Nothing special or spectacular, but alright. Lighting was kind of dim and it was a little difficult to read the menu, but otherwise our service was fantastic, and the food very good.
(4)Stephanie D.
The food was good but... They seated us in the back... way in the back, away from all other the other customers in a corner, by a drafty door. I can't help thinking it's because most of the people in my group were Black. I know this can sound a little sensitive, but they never sat anyone anywhere in that entire area the whole time we were there. To their credit, they were dealing with a leak in the back area (or is that really a good thing), so they didn't really want to sit anyone there. But it sure seemed like we were being segregated from the rest of the customers. I paid a pretty good chunk of change to feed the five of us and Elephant Bar can be a bit pricey so, naturally, I expect a good experience - regardless of my skin color. They said the back is where they seat their larger parties, but I noticed plenty of groups of 5 or more seated in the main dining area. Of course none of them were Black. What the what?
(2)Marci A.
I love to come here and sit outside on the patio. It's so comfy and clean. I've had some pretty tasty dishes here. They have this tea spritzer drink that is delish!!! I've always had great service too. I think its corporate but still a charming place to spend an hour. Plus, it's in belmar.
(4)Elizabeth K.
If you want to wait over an hour for your lunch, without drink re-fills, go to Elephant Bar. I work close to this restaurant and often times, fellow employees want to go there for lunch. Regardless of the customer traffic flow, I have always found the experience to be slow. The food is spectacular and the dining room is clean with perfect presentation. My suggestion to the staff is to have a greater focus for the timeliness of checking on their tables and food preparation.
(3)Anthony B.
The drinks are amazing!!! However the food is so lackluster my wife ordered the lamb chops and they cooked them well done not even close to medium rare. The jambalaya has zero seasoning. That said come here for drinks the Mai tai is amazing the green tea cooler is refreshing for a hot day. That is why I have three stars DO NOT eat the food.
(3)Pat G.
We have gone to the elephant bar several times and have enjoyed the food and service. Last night was the exception... We had the artichoke dip appetizer with chips. The dip was delicious, but the chips tasted like they had been fried in rancid oil. Also, a lot of broken chips.
(1)Mike E.
Went here for lunch a few days ago. We had the soy-ginger calamari to start and it was simply amazing..perfectly julienned calamari which was perfectly fried. Best appetizer we've had in a long time. 5/5 For mains, I had the Globally Inspired Misoyaki Salmon. Again, cooked perfectly. 5/5 We also added sides of Sweet Potato Fries and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, which were wonderful as well (though, of course, with all fries, as soon as they cool, they dense up :-\ ) 4/5 She had the Globally Inspired Chicken Marsala. I didn't try any of her's but she said she'd rate it a solid 3 out of 5 due to it's being a bit bland/underseasoned. She did like that it was served over white rice instead of with noodles. 3/5 Total Avg 4.25/5
(4)RoseAnn M.
This has been our go-to place for awhile because of the wide range of food options for varying tastes. Today may be the last time, though. Honestly, it's been going downhill for awhile but we've tried to hang in there and give the benefit of the doubt (busy night, inexperienced staff, etc). We were seated shortly after 11 and were the only ones in the restaurant for several minutes. Why, then, did it take close to 45 minutes to receive our food after it was ordered?! No one in our party of 6 ordered anything exotic or complicated. Burgers, club sandwiches, soup and salad shouldn't take that long to be served. The soup of the day was cheddar broccoli and it looked like it had been previously eaten, pureed in a blender and unceremoniously dumped in a bowl. I will say that the abbreviated menu is a nice improvement but I don't plan on coming back to try anything else on it.
(1)Adam P.
I subscribe to the tenet that if you don't have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all. Well, the booths were quite comfortable here at the Elephant Bar, the food came out quickly, and the servers were very attentive. The end.
(2)Brianna B.
The Elephant Bar relies heavily on its unique decor concept and delivers little quality in their food and drink. The atmosphere is a bit cliche and reminds me of a safari themed rainforest cafe. But I guess it's a bit novel in that aspect, compared to the many other large(r) chains in Lakewood. I've been in a couple times before movies and have sampled their happy hour and app menu and everything is forgettable and heavily sauced. The service is also repeatable slow in the bar area, I've waited up to 30min to be served with maybe 15 other patrons in the bar.
(2)Mandy R.
So very, very mediocre. Came in for late night drinks and apps. The service was great, but the food was just so bland and beyond overpriced for the portions and the quality. We had the potstickers, the artichoke dip, the french dip sliders, and the seared ahi tuna. The sliders and the dip were 3 out of 5 stars, but the potstickers could have been from the frozen food section at the grocery store and were paired with a mayo-heavy sauce and the ahi tuna was absolutely terrible. The tuna was bad to begin with -- it should have been sushi-grade tuna and it clearly wasn't -- but it had absolutely no flavor and was over cooked. For these four apps and a few drinks to be $72 before tip, I almost choked. I most certainly will choose another restaurant in Belmar next time!
(2)Juley L.
Ordered a big to go order tonight for 9 people for my Dad's bday dinner. It was a 45 min drive for me to get to the restaurant since my Dad was craving lamb shanks from here. If it was up to me, I would have gone somewhere else for better customer service. Again, customer service here sucks. Went up to the bar to pick up my order and the two guys behind the bar were not friendly. There was no one at the bar and they were chit chatting. When I approached, they did not greet me, smile or was helpful... I announced I was there to pick up an order. One of the guy goes to the kitchen to get my order and as I'm waiting, another female worker goes behind the bar and ignores me and greets this other woman who just got to the bar. Talk about rude... Didn't even ask me if I was being helped..Talks to the lady and a min later, turned and looked at me and gives me a "whatever" look. BITCH.. So the guy comes out with two bags and I noticed some things were missing and he says rudely, "Let me see the receipt" and tries to find what is missing. After figuring it out and getting it for me, he goes, "you have a big order, hope you have help carrying it out". I thought he was going to offer to help but he goes back to chit chatting with the other guy and girl standing behind the counter... Before leaving, I even gave him a small tip... He didn't deserve it. Those 3 workers working the bar this evening def needs retraining and better customer service. I hate complaining but I hate seeing people work in customer service knowing they have to talk and interact with customers but yet, they are incompetent of what they do. If you can't fulfill your duties and responsibilities at work, you deserve to be jobless. I drove 45 min to get food and I encounter a bunch of futile idiots who wasted my time.
(1)Brenda S.
I have only had one good thing here out of the 5 times been here...that was the pot roast...we tried the Sheppard pie they had on special...what a joke...looked nothing like the picture ...the potatoes looked thrown on top and it was cold and meat was a little tough tasted like they put it in the microwave ...I think I'm done with giving them chances...the happy hour is cool..but for the prices I expect a lot more out of this place...get it together guys
(2)Nicole W.
Suburban chain, in the far end of belmar. Typical Elephant bar, although the menu had changed since i had visited one in over 10 years... go figure! This one had a wait, a tiny bar, and some staff that seemed a bit over worked and less than thrilled to be there and even less thrilled that we were there. Trying to find a place to hover while waiting 30 minutes for our table. The food was pretty good - fried green beans were tasty - ask for extra sauce, the calamari strips (recipe has changed since i was last there 10 years ago) and they were ok, ask for the green bean sauce to dip them in! It's a neat take on calamari - strips vs circles! I ordered the seared tuna salad with the dressing on the sided - which translated to the yummy sauce usually on the tuna, looking liked it was brushed off, no extra of that, and the salad dressing in a little cup. Hmmm. Tuna was fishy tasting, and some of the lettuce tasted like dirt... might have just been just the arugula! Staff was pretty friendly. I think she was bummed that 2 of our party still had their drinks from the bar and I went with water. Oh well. She was fairly attentive, but there were some relatively kid intensive groups around us needing quite a bit of attention so being pretty self sufficient that was too bad for us!! All in all, it's great for rude families with loud kids.
(3)Carol F.
This is going to be an odd review because I wasn't able to stay for dinner. I was told that 5 of the cooks quit at once last week so 3 cooks were getting to making all the food. The guests and servers were all frustrated. The surprising and impressive part was that the server handled it very professionally, telling me honestly, that our dinner wouldn't be ready in time to make a movie. Unfortunately, it took a long time to get the feedback and my son and I had to have popcorn for dinner. Overall, impressed by the server but unimpressed by their choice to keep the whole restaurant open. I also had a pretty bad mojito. Mint wasn't mottled and too much lime juice. Don't go for the drinks.
(2)Linda P.
They listed the calorie count for each dish. Salad it is! The ambiance is what sells. I love the fans that gracefully circulate the air. The large sculptures of the exotic animals and the oversized foliage creates great atmosphere.
(4)Meagan P.
I hate giving one star but this place doesn't even deserve that. I've been twice. Both times were awful. Terrible food that's over priced with terrible service. The blonde male bartender was nice though.
(1)Chelsea S.
We headed into Elephant Bar on a Sunday evening, there were a few other people dining, we had a group of seven, we were greeted by our server right away, she was very friendly and efficient. The food fell somewhat short (with the exception of the macadamia mahi mahi, which was warm and tasty) Unfortunately, the rest of the food was cold!
(2)Brandon P.
Server was great food was not simple as that and slightly over priced for very mediocre food
(2)Jessica A.
I definitely don't recommend this place! My husband and I decided to try this place this past Saturday. We sat at the bar. There were two bartenders, but none of them greeted us when we sat down. The girl bartender made eye contact with us, but ignored us and was chatting away with seem like to be, one of her friends. I thought that was very rude and unprofessional. We finally spoke up after 10 minutes of being ignored and asked to be helped. She rolled her eyes and asked us what we needed.Whoever the manager is at this location need to retrain their employees. Good customers service goes a long way. Other than our bad customers service, the food was very good! We had the lamb. i hope by the next time we come back, the employees are retrained!
(1)Amy F.
Not really sure how I feel about this place, had a large group for dinner- with a reservation (and it still took a while to get a table) and they were not able to seat us all together- they split up our party into booths, yes booths, and one table-very strange. The drink selection is good, but the house wine seemed little pricey. The service wasn't great, didn't go over the menu or anything, and our server brought out the main entrees while the apps were still on the table- felt rushed. The table we were at was in agreement that the food was good- I had a thai chicken salad-so really I wasn't expecting anything amazing.
(3)Jake H.
Food was really crappy. Cheap ingredients and poor prep. Only redeeming quality was the friendly waitstaff and effective drinks,
(2)Mariza V.
Too noisy, you have to yell to communicate across the tiny tables. Food is decent, however very poor options for vegetarians. Their Mojitos are yummy, they come with real sugar cane sticks to stir your drink, and if you are worldly enough, will now you can chew and suck the sugary juice out of your sugar cane stick. But don't swallow the sticks!
(3)Nicky K.
My friend and I arrived at 6:00 on a Monday night. We were seated, and when we asked about happy hour, we were told specials were only available in the bar area (which isn't widely advertised, and as new customers, we were unaware). We politely told our server we would move to the empty bar area. Once seated at the bar, we were ignored for about 10 minutes by two bartenders who had four other customers. We got up to leave, and they'd still barely acknowledged us. I won't be back. Terrible experience.
(1)Trip K.
Haven't been to an Elephant Bar in 10+ years, but was quickly reminded why. Sat at bar & ordered strawberry mule. Pretty sure nobody ever asked this bartender for one before and she totally made up the ingredients. Strawberry mule...more like straight up mule ass. Ok, how bought some nachos? $19 check for mule ass and stale chips covered in shredded lettuce. Thanks a lot... see you again never!
(1)Samantha B.
Good food, great drink, and fantastic happy hour prices! The staff was very friendly and want out of their way to accommodate us.
(5)Agii T.
Such horrible waitress, being out of town and waiting 20 mins to be seated and last thing u expect is waitress telling us to basically shut up with our orders and threw her stuff on the table, worst service ever!! I wish I could give her -5!!
(1)Melissa C.
This place is pretty good. The food is still pretty decent, but not as good as it used to be. I'm not sure what happened with that - if they got new cooks or what - but my husband and his mother both agree, so we seldom go here anymore, even though we used to go quite often. I think they should tone down the menu a bit so that what they do cook would be better made and perhaps not quite so generic. One restaurant shouldn't be serving Asian, Mexican, and American food unless you can do it all really well. The atmosphere and décor are really fun here, and the drinks are very good.
(3)Brett G.
Service was good, food quality seems to be going down hill but was ok. I was baited and switched on signing up for the "club" app. They said get any appetizer free, then when you try to use/redeem they tell you it only good for the cheapest ones. Totally tricked into giving all my info for the cheep appetizer. Truth next time please
(2)john W.
Don't eat here often, in fact I've only eaten at an elephant bar in CO 3 times. This might be the last. Mainly because the menu has gone way too far into the "let's appeal to the bland tastes of suburbanites." zone. I used to have a spicy-ish chicken dish that I loved, from CA to CO. GONE. Burgers? WFH. This one was packed, but it was in a mall. I'm glad others like, it, they can eat there, I'll go elsewhere :)
(2)Tuan M.
The menu is diverse. A few items on the menu are quite similar to those at P. F. Changs. Had the Chicken Lettuce Wrap. Chicken lacked flavor. At least the lettuce itself was fresh. A bit over priced.
(2)Lilliana M.
I was happy to see that someone from elephant bar wanted to hear about my previous dinning experience. I was given a sense of false hope that my review was being heard and would possibly be addressed. I responded to Ashley S. from Elephant Bar per her request. It's been two weeks and I've have not heard anything back from the company. I was considering giving them another chance only because I thought someone higher up cared. After no response from them I feel they just wanted yelp viewers to believe they were taking care of the problems by posting a seemingly sincere post.
(1)Courtney L.
Delicious food, good service and reasonable prices. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and the flavors were perfect!
(5)Grace M.
I went there with a few people. I am gluten free and the server did not know anything about it he said he just "brings the food" they were not busy and 45 minutes we got our food. Cold. We wanted a few separate checks and I understand this is annoying but our server was visibly annoyed. It was our friends birthday and her food was not good she had 4 bites. Our server tried hard but he looked clearly annoyed. I'm sorry but bad service cold food and an uneducated server is not a good combo. Maybe it was just a bad lunch. But it was a bad lunch.
(1)David K.
Fun atmosphere with good food. Our server did a great job. Prices were very reasonable. The restaurant is a little noisy making it difficult to talk.
(4)Nichole H.
I was a bit apprehensive about going to Elephant Bar in Belmar on a Friday night with my family and a couple of friends because I had been there once before and wasn't really impressed. However, the wait time at all of the other restaurants nearby was 45 minutes + and they said they could seat us in 15 minutes so I thought, why not give them another try? Well, there is a reason they had such a short wait! First of all, I will say that the host staff and our server were very friendly and prompt with service. But that's about it for the positives of our experience. We were seated towards the back at a table/booth that didn't allow the people on the booth side easy access to get out to use the restroom. A couple of us ordered some overpriced beers from their bare bones selection and an appetizer to share - the spinach dip with chips. The spinach dip was not very good at all. Kind of tasted watery which is weird. Now, on to the meal. I ordered a burger (they do have customization options which is nice) and sweet potato fries. Food came out at a reasonable pace and I started taking bites of my burger. Nothing spectacular but decent. Then I bit into something that I thought was a piece of really hard lettuce. Upon further inspection I discovered that it was a piece of wax paper that they use to separate the burger patties!!! Sick! How did they even cook the burger with that on there? Did the wax paper fall into the lettuce bucket and get scooped onto my burger? I immediately stopped eating and flagged down a nearby server and explained what I found. The server apologized, asked if he could get me something else, took my plate and told me he would send the manager over. I suppose he handled it as best he could. I said I didn't want anything else. I mean, I wanted a burger but after that I lost my appetite. Side note: the sweet potato fries were good but they should have come with some aioli dipping sauce or something. So after a few minutes the manager comes over and apologizes, asks if he can offer me a dessert and assures us that my meal will be on the house. I eventually ordered a dessert from our server that we all split and it was pretty good (cookie thing with ice cream on top which looks way bigger in the picture that it is in real life). I just felt like they should have offered an additional discount on the full bill considering the other six people at the table had to witness me biting into wax paper and then pull it out of my burger. How are they supposed to fully enjoy their meal after seeing that and thinking about what other unsanitary conditions and lack of quality control is going on back in the kitchen? Overall, I was super disappointed and felt bad that we went there. My parents were visiting and treating us all to dinner and this is not the experience I wanted them to have. Should have just ordered pizza delivery and picked up a case of beer. Would have been cheaper and soooo much better! I will not be going back.
(1)Lily S.
Had our office holiday party here yesterday, the place was packed! One of my co-workers said something about not wanting to be a waiter this time of the year, I agreed, so I'm really happy the way our waiter treated us. When we first went in, our big table was given to some other party so they had to split us up! To apologize, they gave us free appetizers! Before the apps were even served, they announced we had our big table back so we relocated quickly and enjoyed the free apps right away. Both the Spinach dip (I thought it had a little bit of wine taste to it, different, for sure, but enjoyable) and the platter (with Bruchetta, Chicken Fingers, and Shrimp Tempura) were hot and fresh. We were very happy. While we waited for our food, we exchanged gifts and whatnot. During that time, some of my co-workers' drinks arrived, all of them looked delicious and the sizes did not disappoint either! All of our dished arrived at the same time, everybody seemed to enjoy the food very much. I especially liked my "Pan Braised Rock Sugar Beef With Pappardelle (wide noodles)", it was like an Asian-Italian fusion dish. The beef was super tender and flavorful. I was a little worried that the "rock sugar" would make it too sweet, but it was just right. I also loved the mushrooms cooked in the sauce. Service was comparatively slower than the last time I dined here, but we didn't care, we knew it was due to the high traffic. Plus our waiter was very patient with us all, granted our requests, and figured out our separate bills, some have coupons to use, etc. Overall, my expereience was even better than last time which was years ago. I feel my next visit would be a lot sooner!
(4)Tiffany W.
This is another one of those "somewhere between a 3- and a 4-star review", but I'm giving it a four because their happy hour choices are pretty decent, and their bar area (where the HH occurs) is pretty spacious. And the HH runs 'til 7. That said, it helps to arrive early for optimum seating choices. Though I arrived closer to 5 on the day I went and there were still plenty of seats (from bar seats, to high tops, to high top booths, to regular booths) to choose from. Elephant Bar offers different "tiers" during HH, both with food and drink. They have a couple non-alcoholic beverages to offer, too, which I think is nice in case someone in your party isn't imbibing for whatever reason. Choices range from $2 (for the N/A stuff), to $3 for domestic pours and house margs, to $4 for red or white sangria, mojitos, and well drinks, to $5 for a fancier marg, some kind of martini, Long Islands, and tall-pours of craft beers. Also, $1 off house wine by the glass, or $3 off by bottle. Oh, and a Black & Tan (which isn't on HH per se) is $5. Overall, lots to choose from at decent prices. And speaking of, that $1 off makes the house white $4.50. I also had the white sangria (based on the preference of the server) and it was pretty tasty, though a little awkward with bits and chunks (appetizing...) of fruit mixed in throughout, clogging up my straw. Their HH food choices also range in price, from $3.50 to $6.50, and $7-ish dollar combos (beer+burger or tacos+marg). Again, a good selection so that most could find something edible. Unfortunately, I ordered probably the worst artichoke dip I've ever had ($4.50), but at least the chips were good. Not a whole lot of choices for a veg-head, but if it means that much just ask for a regular menu and order off of that. Service was at about 3-stars. I was never given a regular menu (or asked if I wanted one), nor was I asked if I was going to order food. Grant, I sat there by myself for a little while before The Dude arrived, but so what? Perhaps I was going solo and I wanted a snack. Both of which were true until Duder arrived. Either way, once he got there we were still taken care of just fine; it wasn't bad enough that I'll never return. That said, it was brought to my attention that there are other HHs around Belmar that are comparable. However, in terms of drinks AND food choices, crappy as some of the dishes may be, I think EB has a handle on a good happy hour. And for that I'll give them 4 stars and likely a return visit eventually.
(4)Gabriel M.
I came here for a business lunch so it wasn't my choice. I had never heard of the place or prior to looked up any ratings and unfortunately my phone was dead so I couldn't look up what people said on here about what was good and bad. I ended up getting a chicken breast burger and sprite. Honestly, it was nothing special and for the price, $11.25 I believe with add-on's, I was disappointed. I have had substantially better burgers for less, not to say the burger didn't taste good it's just that you can get better quality for cheaper elsewhere. The server was nice and since we had a larger group he did pretty well servicing the entire table along with his other tables. The interior was pretty clean and nicely decorated, but unfortunately all that presentation doesn't help out the quality of the food. There was sufficient parking both in front and in the private parking lot in the back so you shouldn't have an issue. I probably will not be coming back here if it's my choice but I wouldn't have an issue if someone else is paying because I'm not the one paying.
(3)Melony F.
I really -want- to give this place more stars. Awesome atmosphere. FANTASTIC service. AMAZING drinks! The food presentation is damn impressive. So why am I only giving this restaurant 3 stars? The food itself. It's just...A-okay. Truly. And that is so damn sad. Because every time a plate comes out it looks so fantastic. And then you eat it. And you realize you could make something better at home. That is so disappointing. The prices are big for a big idea. Honestly, this place could be perfect. They need a menu change. Or maybe not a menu change but a revamp of each dish that they serve. It all needs a bit more flavor. Except the french fries. I do like those a lot. But it's about the only food I do like. Some desserts are actually pretty good. But all the main entrees...it's just...missing. :( Keep improving Elephant Bar, I think you could get there so easy! Just a little more motivation in the kitchen and I am 100% sold with five stars!
(3)David L.
Biggest menu I've ever seen!!! Cool place that simply needs to drop their prices just a hair to get the 5th star. Food and drinks are always solid.
(4)Kate G.
So far Matt the bartender is fun. Wine list all California wines with the exception of one argentine and one Australian. Going with the malbec first. Malbec is delicious and I tried their coconut shrimp skewers. Very tasty! Not much into smoked meat though. Still like the decor
(3)Dean L N.
Elephant Bar used to be a great place about 6 - 7 years ago when they had a "good" menu. Now it's mediocre at best. They had a spicy Thai chicken soup which was great. But they got rid of it. The only people that go there now are those with no palate to speak of. They also used to have the best Mojitos, with the stick of sugar cane, the mint leaves, etc. but not any more...gone. Haven't gone back, and it's a shame since that place was my wife and I's go to joint on a Friday night, and we went there regularly. B'bye Elephant Bar..
(1)Alicia J.
I am so on the fence about this place. I want to love it, I really do. The ambiance is actually quite nice. And, during Happy Hour, they have a bunch of appetizers at great prices. But, it seems like every time we go, we love or hate it. One time we went and the HH appetizers all came out so greasy and gross that we returned them all and left without eating. And, I'm not saying "Oh, ew, there was some grease, ew", these are greasy type appetizers to begin with, but these dishes were all pooled in grease. Then, we've had excellent experiences with HH appetizers. The calamari is one of my favorites - but, again, we've sent it back half the times we've ordered it for being drenched in grease. The last time we went (a few days ago), we each got a sandwich. I had the tempura mahi mahi and my boyfriend had some chicken breast with mozz and peppers. His was pretty decent, and I wished I had ordered it. Meanwhile, my Mahi sandwich was just...wrong, somehow. It was topped with tomatoes and onions and peppers and whatever it was marinated in just set the whole thing in the wrong direction. I asked for a box to take it home, but left it on the table, realizing I wouldn't eat it when I brought it home. The service is fine, and I haven't had the drinks several people here have raved about, but the food is just...hit or miss.
(3)Jen L.
Awful food. Burnt, salty, bad flavor. Not much to say in every way it could be bad it was. There was a wait to get seated from the time we got there to the time we left, and I don't know why. Maybe people dint have taste buds. I do have to say the 2 female bartenders were running their butts off. The manager that was there looked to be more of a hindrance then help. Wont be back.... ever.... even if it was free
(1)Gary M.
My wife and I went to dinner here last Friday, she had the asian soup with rice noodles and the tri-tip steak dinner, I had the lettuce wedge and rack of ribs, Both were very good and not pricey. Much like cheesecake factory- huge portions, huge tastes, great service.
(4)Jennifer M.
Not a big fan of this place. Ate at two locations. Waitress was really nice (hence the three stars). But the food was not so great. Tastes frozen. No real flavor. I do have to say that the green tea fizzer was really good.
(3)Rachel A.
My sister and I came here on Christmas Eve expecting a good experience to start off holiday festivities. We asked our server if she had and suggestions for a couple things and said she didn't know with her not so cute sarcastic attitude. We shared the steak sandwich and I guess it was good but considering be both got a bite of steak each and four fries it may be inaccurate to rate the food. Not impressed especially for the price you pay and the great location. The opportunity for a great restaurant is there they just have the wrong people executing it which calls for a less than mediocre experience.
(1)Carl L.
We have been eating lunch here for several years. Today I find you have discontinued Senior discount. Bad move. Food good. Server Daryl, very good and knows her stuff. Seats in the booth area need replacing, they are torn or just missing sections. Upgrade or you will loose a lot of business and close like the one in Palm Desert, that just closed. There is a message there, keep your base, good customers, and you will survive.One more try under the new program an then we ill see.
(3)Morgan D.
So sad. Came here expecting a great dinner. Got an over cooked petite sirloin, mushy vegetables and burnt potato. The manager was nice enough to take the meal off, but it did not make up for semi-good service and bad food.
(2)David K.
I think this restaurants hey-day is over. Mediocre, pricey food and extremely small portions. I think they are trying to put American's on a diet! This is the second time I've left hungry and annoyed, and I even brought it to their attention on my last visit that the food portions were ridiculously small, especially considering the price. They gave me a $10 coupon so that I could come back and starve again! LOL I'm over this restaurant now, and suspect many others are too. The decor can only go so far to keep people coming back. I look forward to some sort of reincarnation of what was once a great destination in Belmar.
(1)Keith W.
A few of my coworkers really like this place, so we decided to go here for one coworker's retirement lunch. First the positives: The decor is great - dark wood and brass throughout, carvings of elephants on the beams outside the booths, big round bar near the entrance with an easily viewable display of their impressive liquor collection. Honest waiter - one of my coworkers asked "What's the soup of the day?" and our server replied "Thai chicken - but don't order it, it's terrible." I found it refreshing to hear a truly honest, negative opinion about a menu selection, but I'm not certain the management would be as pleased as I was. The menu - a very expansive selection of Asian and American cuisine. Now the negatives: The food - Despite the expansive selection, or perhaps because of it, my meal was bland, bland, bland. I ordered the Rustica Garlic Bread as an appetizer, and found it much less pleasing than a prepared loaf of the same from the King Soopers bakery. I had the Kona BBQ Ribs for an entree, and ordered "all french fries" rather than the "fried potato medley" because I don't care for sweet potato fries, and it came out with the medley. The waiter happily brought me a side of fries, which I found to be good customer service, but the sauce on the ribs was almost tasteless - barely enough flavor so you could just taste the bland sauce and not the meat.. The cinnamon apples that came with the meal were just OK, and the fries were just fries - nothing special about them The price - I found Elephant Bar to be extremely overpriced for the quality of food served. A 30-dollar lunch should be mouthwateringly special, while this was just fair-to-middling. In short, the bland food and high prices outweigh the attentive service and interesting decor. I probably won't return to this establishment.
(2)Becca R.
I don't know what it is about big, tasty chains that turn me into a sucker, but they've snagged me again. Much like cheesecake factory- huge portions, huge tastes, great service. Though I fear for my own credibility, I will be back!
(4)Mike A.
Two visits. First with friends, dined at a table. Food was OK if pricey, service was good. Second visit, wife and I ate at the bar. Service was gosh-awful. Both times I noted several of the employees hanging out, chatting with each other. Very unprofessional.
(3)Katie R.
Because this is halfway between my house and my grandparents house, we often meet at the Elephant Bar to catch up over some yummy food and drinks. This time, we met as the snow was beginning to fall and cozied up to the warm booths for some conversation and more :) Star 1= The food is amazing. With everything from burgers and sandwiches to sushi and awesome salads, this place has it all. I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad-as i'm now obsessed- and found the salad to be topped with plenty of fish and the perfect portion size. Not enough to take home, but not too much to leave behind. Ps. The mojito's are to die for. :) Star 2= Service was pretty darn good. Our orders were taken promptly, our lunches were delivered quickly and we were checked on many times, and not annoyingly too much or too little. Star 3= The decor is outstanding. Despite the cold fall-ish temps outside, I fetl as though I had walked into a jungle. With huge elephants statues, zebra patterns, palm trees and oak booths/walls, I had been wisked away from Colorado, into another world. Star 4= Prices are a little high, but worth a try :) DEF a great way to spend my Saturday!
(4)Richard R.
What does an Elephant keep in his Bar? Delicious drinks - that's what! Oh me oh my I had the best Mai Tai at Elephant Bar! You might think it's a sweet, summertime drink but no no - it's an anytime drink. Duane the Bartender recommended this awesome drink with three different kinds of rum and I'm ever so glad he did. Plus, each drink was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 bucks, and not the African Antelope kind of bucks...I mean American dollars! Bring on the squid! Many places get calamari all wrong but not this place. Talk about the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy with zesty dipping sauces! Additionally, the bed of salad and rice noodles add distinct flavors and textures. Yum-me. I am very impressed with how inexpensive this place is for such an exotic menu. While I am not a fish fan I was impressed with how delicious the ahi tuna dish looked. Burgers and shrimp and salads, oh my! The food selection is top notch for sure! Sure, some items are more pricey than others but you always get what you pay for. I also like the decor: complete with mini fans on the ceiling to create the feel of some far off African locale. Safari anyone?
(4)Danika L.
Nothing geat to talk about, I wouldn't say the food is terrible but I have been here about 4 times hoping to try something I would like and nothing on their menu is impressive. Don't waste your money, you're better off walking down the street to P.F. Changs or Bakers Street Pub for something semi-casual to eat.
(2)Brandy D.
This place is gigantic and has a very large menu. Over all it feels like a typical large chain such as Fridays. It was very loud and the food was mediocre at best.
(3)Katie B.
Something has happened to The Elephant Bar over the years. I don't know if it's that they did actually change, or that the novelty of the restaurant and it's decor has worn off and it had really been mediocre all along. The decor is absolutely awesome. I love the theme they have going and really love the booths that are made to appear as seats on trains with the luggage up top. The service is usually pretty good. The food, however seems to have gone downhill. I remember it being just great when they first opened and I loved going there. They had great crab cakes with lobster sauce that was rich and yummy, the last time I was there it was not on the menu. They used to serve their mojitos in huge glasses with sugar canes. Now it's just a standard glass with a straw and maybe some mint. I used to go there and have a hard time choosing what I wanted. Now I just get the seared ahi tuna salad, and even then is still not as good as I remember it once being. I don't know what happened, but I remember the days of going to Elephant Bar and really loving the food. Not so much anymore and it's really a shame because I WANT to love this place as much as I used to.
(3)Erica Z.
Our visit to the Elephant Bar Lakewood Belmar was nothing but a headache. Starting with the service, I understand it was a busy Saturday night but it was slow and we had three different servers throughout the night. The second one actually complained to us about how the night was going. She appeared to have been replaced by a manager by the time we were done eating the main course. Maybe this was because we did not receive napkins or silverware at all and had to get up and ask another server to locate some for us. While there were chopsticks available the whole time, they were definitely not sufficient for eating a steak "sandwich" that was basically a long strip of sirloin on top of a piece of garlic bread, and not sufficient for the Mongolian Beef or Ceasar Salad that we ordered. Or maybe it was because we went several 10 minute stretches without having our waters refilled. Moving onto the food: Portions were very small for the prices, which wouldn't have been terrible if this weren't the case. We started with an appetizer, which we normally do not order because of the expense but there was an advertisement at our table to get a free appetizer by signing up for the restaurant's rewards program. Why not? We had the Ahi Tuna appetizer, and I am not joking when I say this item, valued at 11.95, consisted of 5 small bite-sized pieces of tuna. It was served on top of a big mound of lettuce and enough soy sauce and wasabi for several rolls of sushi. The menu pictured this appetizer as a huge mound of Ahi Tuna, not just 5 tiny pieces on top of lettuce. One tip I would suggest would be to have low sodium soy sauce. (Perhaps they do, but as we were not asked if we needed anything else when the food finally arrived at our table I mentioned the odd layout of a steak sandwich. It was actually very tasty, but hard to eat. The side caeser salad was decent. Our other entree was the Mongolian Beef. It was decent, but we could have had almost the same thing, but with more meat, at Panda Express for $5. All of the above together in one night that took over an hour and a half was enough to conclude that we have no interest in returning.
(1)John B.
Generally, I am not altogether impressed with chain restaurants. Chilis, Applebees, TGI Fridays... they're all basically the same. I'm still up in the air about Elephant Bar, but at this moment, I'm willing to be generous and believe that it is a step above the ubiquitous generic chain. I ate lunch at Elephant Bar with my grandma this past week. I had been several times before, both at Belmar and in KC, and I can't say that I've ever eaten anything that wasn't pretty good. At lunch this week I had a burger which was really good. A lot of places, for obvious reasons, don't like to cook burgers medium-rare, and so I'm always happy when the server lets me order a burger that way, and then the cook really delivers. Say what you want about 'under-cooked' beef, but I'm a big fan. My burger at Elephant Bar was juicy and tasty (probably a good solid 7/10 on flavour). In addition to a pretty good menu, with a variety of options and occasional surprises, I have always been struck with the professionalism of the staff and the immaculate condition in which the restaurant is kept. Although I love a good dive, it is always admirable when a relatively inexpensive restaurant really pays attention to the whole experience of its customers. It is this, as much as anything, that pushes Elephant Bar from a generic 3-star to a pretty good 4-star in my book.
(4)Noah L.
Well, this was an unfortunate experience. Went here for Father's Day as my dad had been here a few times before for lunch with coworkers and liked the place. Before we left I read the other Yelp reviews and was a little concerned, but I decided hey if that's where he wants to go that's where we will go. I wish I would have tried to change his mind. Let's start with our waitress. I don't think I have ever experienced such a dismal attitude by a waitress before. She had a severe sour puss expression on her face, was very short with us and was very sporadic with her service. She actually cut my mother off as she was placing her order, at first I thought it was just me, so when she left I asked my mother and she agreed that it was a very rude gesture. She really blew the ambiance. She may have just been having a bad day, so let's move on beyond the service to the food. The food was so bad that it caused me to come write my first Yelp review. That should tell you something. For the price I would rather go to one of 20 different restaurants that I can name off the top of my head. Let's get down to the nitty gritty. We ordered the chicken lettuce wraps and the margherita flat bread. The lettuce wraps were great. The only issue was it came with 4 pieces of lettuce and enough chicken for several more wraps than that. When we ran out of wraps we waited for our waitress to come back so we could ask for more. We waited, and we waited, and we waited. The whole time we grazed on the chicken so by the time she finally showed up it wasn't even worth asking for more. The margerita flat bread was cold and unappetizing and went half uneaten. Our 3 meals showed up, my mom got some kind of Chicken Parmesan that she not only did not eat but did not even want to take home in a box. My dad got the Kona bbq chicken, ribs and shrimp. he liked the ribs but that was it. The chicken was tough and the shrimp actually seemed greasy. I ordered the macadamia nut chicken and shrimp and that was actually pretty disgusting. The chicken was tough, poorly spiced and just didn't taste good. The shrimp were ok, but I only ate 2 of the 3 and I'm a pretty big fan of shrimp. The vegetables were just gross. How do you make vegetables gross you ask? I'm not sure but they did a bang up job. When the waitress sauntered around and asked how it was, I felt I didn't want to lie so I told her. She got the manager, Steve Olvera, and he is actually the only reason I gave this place two stars instead of one. He was VERY polite, VERY professional and personable. He comped the flatbread, discounted half of our meal and gave my dad a free desert. He also gave us $20 in gift cards to "come back and try them again". Well, I won't be back that's for sure, but I gave the cards to my dad and I'm sure he will come back. Steve Olvera was a great guy, and to be honest I wonder why he is working at The Elephant Bar. If you own a restaurant or work in the food industry, please go snatch this guy up and give him a better job. He deserves it. He took an otherwise horrible experience and at least made it tolerable. Steve, as you told me you read these reviews, I just want to say "Thank You Steve, great job on your part trying to redeem an otherwise very sub-par experience."
(2)Tori G.
The only thing Elephant Bar excels at is mediocrity. I haven't been in years after a couple of unimpressive visits to other locations, and I only went again because it was a work lunch. I agree with the reviewer who said their menu is poorly formatted (roughly 900 pages of cocktails before you even get to actual food, pictures and descriptions placed randomly, and it felt like the food was ordered very oddly). My salad was bordering on inedible. If you put a picture of actual crab, please don't dump a pile of canned, fishy crab and expect me to be impressed. There were two olives on my entire salad, a lot of unripe mango, and some thousand island. I'm not sure which element gave it the underlying taste of licking an old bbq grill, but that was fun too. I ate about 1/3 before I gave up and decided the vending machine in the office was a better option. My coworkers ate their food but no one was raving about it (I think one response was something like, "It's...good" and a shrug) and we all passed on dessert. Maybe if you lack tastebuds, or you take advantage of one of the million cocktails they reaaaally want you to order, you'll think it's great. I'll pass on further invites. The second star is because our service was fast and polite.
(2)Jacqui Q.
So we come in here because after having a nightmare experience at Beninhana and finding CF closed at Park Meadows at 930pm we come in here as NOTHING else is open at 10pm on a Saturday night. WTF?? Anyways it was like an freezer in there. So I was already more aggravated. Started off with cheese bread. It was good. BF ordered the bbq tri tip and I had the chicken marsala. Chicken part was fine but the mashed potatoes had NO flavor. Tasted like straight out of a box! I tried salt but no avail. Had to order another side. BF's food was fine. He got mac n cheese as a side and it was tasty. We might be back if we're starving late on a Saturday night and don't want fast food. What I don't get is they have a nice interior but paper napkins and a Denny's style menu. Doesn't work well..
(2)Penny P.
This is a great place for a late night bite or full quality meal! I either sit at the bar or in the cocktail area, service has always been great. The menu can be a little overwhelming but it becomes much more simple with respect to their early and late happy hour specials on both food and drinks!
(5)Claude C.
I didn't eat anything as I wasn't hungry when I visited, but the bartenders need to learn their cocktails. I asked for a Tom Collins and it was so watered down, with no cherry I might add, that I thought I was drinking a Sprite.
(2)Jason B.
Got the steak and shrimp entree. Was not good, very salty and small overcooked shrimp. Girlfriend got the mac and cheese which ended up being the best thing we got. Calamari was only Ok.
(3)Lindsey G.
Most things about this place were mediocre. I liked the decor, it gives the appearance of being a nicer restaurant than it actually is. We ordered a slew of appetizers. The garlic bread was good, the Korean beef tacos were bland. Nothing else really stood out. The Mongolian beef stir fry was tasty, but my fiancée about choked when he ate a chili by accident not knowing what it was or what the consequences would be. Had a cookie for dessert. It was good, but most cookies are. Service was ok.
(3)Autumn B.
The menu is eclectic, but a little overwhelming as it's like reading a small novel. I eat here for lunch quite a bit, but my favorite is their sweet potato fries and martinis :)
(4)Ingrid S.
I have been here a few times and they have some good food and a good variety, but it seems that each time I go they are never friendly to those that I bring. I hang out with many people who are deaf, in wheelchairs or who have service animals and each times I do and I even call ahead they normally give me crap about it. Especially about the service animals. Each time we come no matter if its one or two service dogs with people they demand paperwork and we don't have to do that, federal law states it. One time one of our deaf friends wants paper to write what he wanted so that he didn't have to sign to me and that I wouldn't have to sign back to the server and the server told me that was not possible. So the food is meh-ok, there portion sizes could be a little larger for the one pays, also it would be cool to have a better happy hour. They just need to work on customer service and treating all humans like HUMANS and not like the people I bring to an establishment that there is something wrong with us!!
(2)Liz R.
My fiance and I decided to go the Elephant Bar for Valentine's Day. We knew it would be risky with the crowds, but we had a coupon. After putting his name down and receiving our dud of a buzzer, we ended up waiting a good 90 minutes (even though the host said the wait would be 50-60min) and 7 other couples were seated after the hostess said that there were 5 names ahead of us. I am only giving 1 star because the last time I ate here (and ACTUALLY was seated), I had the orange chicken and was pleasantly surprised. I do no recommend this place unless you have immense patience and a very high hunger tolerance.
(1)Sarah P.
Two words: Happy Hour! If you can make it down to the Elephant Bar between 3 and 7pm, go sit in the bar and enjoy some of the best drink specials on mixed drinks. I love the $4 Mai Tai and Mojito. Their beer is on special too. The burgers there taste like a hockey puck, but the fries are good, though. I suggest to go across the street to Champ St. Burgers for a decent burger (but their fries suck, so it's a toss up). For food, I like to order the Garlic bread sticks and dip them in a bowl their fantastic Tomato bisque soup. My boyfriend always orders the Chicken Marsala off the lunch menu and loves that. The folks who staff the bar area are awesome too!
(4)Jacob S.
I normally shy away from big chain places like this, but I really enjoyed my meal! The Seared Ahi Tuna salad was just delicious. I added avacado slices, which were a nice addition to an already great selection of greens, seaweed salad and seared tuna. The tuna was nicely seared and wonderfully purple/pink in the middle. Great service, fun menu, and above average food.
(4)Rod S.
PF Chang and Chills had a child. Mongolian Beef was excellent, service was great, atmosphere engaging. Good prices and great quantity and quality of food. The Parmesan Green Beans are crunchy and tasty, they say for two but they held their own again four. Parking was not easy but it was worth the walk. Great place when you have a wide spread of people with different taste. PF Chang quality and the price of Chili's.
(5)Charlie C.
Great food and value. The service team is friendly and attentive. This is no ordinary chain. Try the full rack of ribs and you will not be disappointed! They have a great happy hour too!
(5)Jeremy C.
Not a bad place. Great menu and it sometimes catches people by surprise when they look at the menu. It has some good exotic choices and they are reasonably priced but it really depends on what you are looking at if you feel you are going to get a deal or not. I am not a fan of fish, I don't eat anything fish lol but I love me some steak and burgers. The burgers here are pretty good and the price isn't horrible. The salads were huge and you can likely skip the meal if you just go with a salad. Honestly they are just that big. The decor is interesting but again I find it similar to a typical chain restaurant I mean if you went to an elephant bar some where else i would imagine it would look very similar if not exact lol. Not that it is a bad thing but it is interesting. I have been here for parties, after meeting get togethers, lunches and dinners. Every visit has been the same wonderful experience. Eating at the bar is great when you are in a rush for lunch.
(4)Morgan W.
Wow. After all the hype I have heard about this place, and how freaking crowded it is during the lunch hours (especially on Fridays), this was a serious midday letdown. I suppose the other locations are better? This place felt like Applebee's with an island flair and a really weird, difficult to navigate and overly visual menu. I know what crusted ahi tuna salad looks like, and your presentation is no more interesting than anywhere else, and please pick font faces that I can read, and maybe make the prices bigger. Oh my gosh. My inner typography nerd was in total apoplexy within the first couple of minutes. The ONLY thing I liked was my red sangria. It was delicious. Almost as good as the sangria I make at home, though not as spicy and a bit sweeter. But a great, refreshing, inexpensive summertime drink. Thumbs up for that. Unfortunately I'm not one to just carouse down the street from my office after work and drink fifty sangrias, so it doesn't mean much in the long run. The waitstaff, the food, the portions, the presentation, the execution: It's just all wrong. I ordered the citrus chicken salad. The chicken pieces were overcooked, the dressing was lame, the lettuce was chunks of over-ripe iceberg (WTF?!), and the entire bottom was a layer of those disgusting white rice noodles that taste and feel like reeeeaaaaallllllyyyyy old styrofoam. Gross. I spent half my lunch picking them out of my salad and piling them up on the corner of the plate like a 6 year old. An alcoholic, disappointed 6 year old. One $35 tab later (I ate with a friend; we each had ONE cocktail, I had the salad from hell, and he had a soup/sandwich combo... pretty steep for such basic fare), it's been five hours and I am ready to eat a bicycle, piece by piece, like that guy in the Jim Rose circus. And then maybe some tasty light bulbs for dessert (but not CFLs; mercury doesn't do a body good).
(2)Robin K.
The E Bar is an awesome place. I have been here for regular dinner and for happy hour. For regular dinner, the prices are not terrible, and the menu is HUGE. A little overwhelming, actually, but I like the fact that they have a lower calorie menu - huge dinners out (and the portions are very large) can get out of hand sometimes, calorically. The happy hour is a really good deal. It is from 4-7 (I believe), and they have items straight off their menu for between $3 and $7 (and cheap drinks too!). There are, of course, not as many options, but this is almost better: everything is still really good, and you are not overwhelmed by the tome that is their regular menu. The food options can satisfy any mood! Service is great, too! The employees are very nice and prompt. I will be coming back and back again for sure!
(4)J K.
Not at all what I expected, but in a good way for a change. Came here to kill a couple hours, grab a few drinks, and wait for friends. Ended up having a great server, delicious food, and drinks that started the night off great! It was a little crowded, but that's usually a good sign in the end. The food is unique, and I honestly had a pretty good time, for less money than I thought I was going to shell out in the area.
(4)Scott T.
"Is this your first time eating here?" I heard this line 6 more times before I left the last time, and it is the thing I remember the most about my other trips here too. Why is it that that line is soo important to your managers? What difference should or does that make? Are you surprised by the response of "no"? Is there some magic bonus that first timers get? My fourth trip with people who swear by this place and I still don't get it. It's another Applebee's or Flinger's with a vaguely Africa-esque theme...(More like the Toto version in that song, crossed with a visual theme park. "I got it at ROSS!!" comes to mind..) The food was just OK, not good, not really bad, just meh. It was food was the best I could say, and being as hungry as I was, I woulda eaten a well marinated insole from my own shoe, and given it one star rating.. I have had the Pork sandwich, several salads, appetizer combo thing and they were all just the exact same middle of the nowhere road of corporate cooking... If you are stuck here, it wont kill you, but don't look for inspired.
(2)Justin B.
I like the restaurant, but it's just a little too fancy for my taste. Although I did like the food just wish it were bigger portions.
(3)Cortney P.
Generally speaking I am not a fan of chain restaurants. And, by that I mean I normally avoid them at all costs. However, sometimes you just don't have a lot of options. And sometimes, you just feel lazy and can't be bothered to actually drive elsewhere so you make do with what's nearby. Lucky for me, what's nearby is Elephant Bar - a wildly themed, African Safari style restaurant complete with zebra carpet. Considering that it's a chain restaurant, I was cautious upon my first visit and came out pleasantly surprised, if a bit overwhelmed by the numerous pages of options that make up its menu. Since then, I have been back at least twice for lunch and most recently had dinner there with a couple of friends. Yes, the menu is extensive. You can select anything from sushi to All-American sandwiches & burgers to any number of dishes from the Wok Kitchen. However, I find that sometimes the more options available, the more indecisive I become. That being said, the quality of their food has been consistently good each time I've dined at the Elephant Bar. Their soups are excellent including the standard Tomato Basil offered on the everyday menu. On my last trip to E Bar, I opted for the soup du jour - Butternut Squash. It was thick, creamy and perfect for a cold winter's day. Another good standard are the Big "E" Sliders...mini burgers topped with grilled onion and a tasty special sauce. On the long list of cocktails, I'd also recommend the Habanera Margarita (I think that's the name) - it was quite interesting...sweet and a tad spicy at the same time. I wasn't sure if I'd like the mix, but it was really quite yummy. If you're on a budget and looking for a decent meal, then Elephant Bar fits the bill. Just be careful...it's a jungle in there.
(4)Ken S.
It seem like every time I stop in to The Elephant Bar...the experence changes...I guess it is because I tend yo hit this place at alot of differant hours...So the service does change a bit..and so does the food..but no so much that I wouldn't go back..When it is packed in the dinning room I sit at the bar...and thats what I do alot anyway..You get to hear the staff talking when your up at the bar and you can really find out (maybe more than you wanted) about the daily opperation. The waitstaff always talks to the bar tenders about their shift...if they are bitchin about one of their tables...your still O.K....but you are up the creek if the main conversation is about how much it sucks to work there...I have heard both... The food tend to be good bar food..but I am not sure it qualifies for a great dinning experence...not to say I dont enjoy the meals..but the other distractions take away from what show be a nice night out...too loud..to hurried...and it seems like we get a differant server every time... So I might say...just belly up to the bar and eat....food seems to come faster...you can get in and out quicker..or stay longer with out the feeling that they want you out...
(3)Sandi D.
The Elephant Bar reminds me of a cheap imitation of the Rainforest Cafe. Decorated by the buyer of Pier One, the entire restaurant is zebra prints, statues of giraffes, elephants, and period piece luggage --you know, the kind Indiana Jones lugs around. While I thought it awful, it bemused the BF, and well as 1/2 dozen patrons -- mostly guys, so maybe it appeals more to the testosterone set. I do have to give credit for the restaurant being open rather late on a Weekday Night, and for having several decent red wines by the glass. In fact, they served my "house wine", Rodney Strong Cab, which was a mere $9 a glass. Unfortunately the food is standard issue frozen food that has been unevenly re-heated. Broccoli was mushy and waterlogged. The shrimp so overly breaded, there was nothing to it once the coating was peeled away. The BF's steak sandwich was equally as bad, but what do you want for $10.95. While I'd never suggest a return visit, I wouldn't protest violently against it.
(3)Jeramyn F.
Slow service, cold egg rolls, unfriendly staff. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't good. I won't be going back.
(2)Katrina L.
I have been here a couple of times and wasn't disappointed. I got the pad thai the first time which was really good! Went back again with my boyfriend and his parents, but I can't remember what I got! I only remember the sweet potato fries were really good! A few weeks later we were in the area and stopped in for lunch. I got the half soup half sandwich. I got the tomato soup which was easily the best tomato soup I have ever had and a club sandwich which was also really really good! I will go back if I'm hungry and in the area..
(3)Dan D.
We came in looking for some good food and a drink or two, were told it would be a 20-25 minute wait, so we headed to the bar. Our bartender was as attentive as could be expected on a busy Friday night, but after 20 minutes we went back to the front and were told there were still 3 parties ahead of us and it would be 25 minutes. Well, we gave up and decided to just eat at the bar, which was a bit noisy and not very good for conversation. Once we got our orders in, the food did come out fairly quickly, and tasted pretty good. Now here's the fun part- on my last bit of an otherwise tasty shrimp tempura sushi roll, I got some bonus styrofoam - mmm extra chewy. On the plus side, our attentive bartender was quick to take my full meal off the bill. Can't say the food tasted bad but between the lackadaisical service, the wait, and the foam, we probably won't be going back any time soon.
(2)Kira C.
We have visited the Elephant Bar in Belmar numerous times over the past 5 years. Meetings with friends, business meetings, and relaxing evenings out. For some reason, beginning this Spring, the quality of the food wasn't as good as before. At first we thought it was a fluke. But, we started noticing it as a trend. We still enjoyed the warm and friendly staff, so we kept coming back anyway and just ordered appetizers instead. Then, we had a terrible experience in Sept. where the appetizers were bad as was the service. With budgets tightening all the time in this challenging economy, we decided that night that we'd spend our money at a different place instead. Out of courtesy to the staff, I wrote a letter and the response from the manager was amazing. He was extremely kind and apologetic. He asked about all of the details of our visits. The best part was that he said he'd use the feedback in a positive manner for the staff. In addition, we received a kind invitation to come back and try them again. It took over a month for us to come back, but we did, and the food was excellent. The staff was fantastic and, for the first time (or at least the first time we've seen) there was a manager on the floor checking up on everything. That kind of service and response deserves 5 stars in my opinion. Thank you to general manager Charlie Curtis and to the entire staff. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
(5)T y.
What a fun atmosphere! From leopard print carpet to elephant tusks protruding from the wall, this restaurant excites your senses. You can usually grab a seat at the bar, which is trendier than most, yet still cozy. The flavors are fresh and the drinks are delicious. I look forward to going again.
(5)J W.
DO NOT EAT HERE! I got the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had by eating the steak, coconut shrimp, and spinach. Not recommended if you want to stay healthy.
(1)sydney s.
i would have to say the reason this place gets four stars is for two reasons only- for one, they are constantly changing their menu so its like every time u go there they have something new. also, the manager. i dont think i should say his name but he treats his staff with respect and is consistently walking around the restaurant to make sure everyone is having a good time. a bit overpriced... but worth it. i would give it five stars but it seems like half their food has some sort of seafood in it. i ate one of the lettuce wraps and actually threw up because of a sea food spice or somethin thats in it (i never eat sea food so im verrry sensitive to it)
(4)