Elephant Bar

Location: Cupertino, CA

Cuisine type: American, various

Atmosphere: casual, lounge/bar

Meal: dinner

Price range: $5-$15 (appetizers)

Overall grade: 8.4

Ben

We went to this bar / restaurant for a late dinner based on a recommendation. It is a dimly lit bar / restaurant, a romantic atmosphere with a classier bar island, though clearly the restaurant aspect was more emphasized. We caught the happy hour on appetizers (after 9 PM) and decided to try these out. We ordered steamed edamame, shrimp vietnamese egg rolls, a seared ahi tuna with seaweed salad, and stir-fried peanut chicken mixture in lettuce leaf wraps. At the happy hour specials, the appetizers were reasonably priced and we found them to be exquisitely prepared, cleaning the plates. The Ahi Tuna / Seaweed salad was the most impressive, an elegant display of thinly sliced very lightly edge seared raw ahi tuna around a tasty green salad. 

The beer list was somewhat limited, and the cocktail list was decent. The service was prompt and polite. I would strongly recommend this place as a reliable date location, suitable for a wide range of dress/formality levels and with food varying from burgers to highly elegant dishes. It has a relaxed and subtly classy atmosphere, while retaining the not too stuffy atmosphere suitable for a casual night of cheap beers with friends.

Food             9

Drinks           7

Atmosphere   9

Service          7 

Value            8

Nina

After an exhausting afternoon/evening spent looking at cars, then signing papers for the 2012 Honda Civic we decided to get, we were starving and feared that at 9 pm on a week night (when we finally left the Honda dealership) we couldn't find much open. We followed the salesman's recommendation and searched for the Elephant Bar, which he said served a wide variety of foods belonging to cuisines from all around the world in a casual, fun setting. Sure, why not?

We got there at happy hour, which meant specials on both drinks and appetizers. I ordered a lemon drop vodka martini (Ben had some beer, Sam Adams Oktoberfest) and we decided on three appetizers to share. The shrimp Vietnamese rolls were light and fresh, the seared Ahi tuna with seaweed salad was delicious, the steamed edamame were perfectly salted and the stir-fry peanut chicken salad wraps came as a nice surprise - the richness of the sauce, the crispiness of the lettuce and the brightness of the mango relish that came on the side - combined perfectly together. 

The atmosphere was, as described by the salesman, relaxed and youthful at the same time. Happy Hour seemed to bring together many groups of young professionals eager to socialize and unwind at the end of a long work day.

Food             8

Drinks           9

Atmosphere   9

Service          9 

Value            9