Elephant Bar: Upscale Dining at Reasonable Prices

When the Elephant Bar restaurant opened its doors in Concord, California at least 8 years ago, we were dubious about having yet another casual dining themed chain restaurant... so I avoided making even the slightest suggestion to my wife that we "test it out". We really should have given it a chance earlier. At our first dining experience at Elephant Bar, we were very pleased indeed; they served up exceptional meals at a very reasonable price.

The decor feels a bit like a Princess Cruises ship blended with the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland, with undulating levels of semi-circular booth seating and theme-parkesque artificial rock fashioned into a freakishly large elephant head hanging from the back wall of the dining room. But it’s not overpowering, and the color choices are rich and pleasing. The restaurant was very clean, and it was refreshing to see an open kitchen in a casual dining environment.

The staff was very attentive, but not so much so as to make a nuisance of themselves. I was openly taking notes in a small steno pad which undoubtedly prompted a mid-meal tableside visit from one of the chefs (Cindy taking photographs with her conspicuous camera probably was a tip-off as well). At the end of our little chat with the chef, we identified ourselves as foodies, reviewers, and featured publishers for FoodBuzz. He later came back to our table with his business card, and happily informed us that he was about to open up another more upscale version of the Elephant Bar just down the road about 30 miles in Dublin, California.

This restaurant has the most varied menu of any casual dining restaurant I’ve ever encountered--from Pacific Rim Specialties like Bangkok Pad Thai with Vegetables & Tofu to American standards like their Classic Hamburger. Wow!

Our selections were easy. My wife had the Roasted French Dip with Swiss Sandwich (she had the chef had carmelized onions). I had the Crispy Teriyaki Chicken (off the Pacific Rim Specialties menu).

My wife reported that the French Dip featured a roll with a good crumb filled with tender, thinly sliced beef with just the right amount of caramelized onion and Swiss cheese. The au jus for dipping the sandwich wasn’t too salty (that can make or break a French Dip). She was also very pleased that the sandwich wasn't over-sized in its proportions. Often restaurants make the mistake of making a French Dip too large to bite or handle. This sandwich also had the right ratio of meat to bread (another deal breaker if done wrong).

I snuck some of her fries from the ample serving served to the side of the sandwich. I was very pleased that the fries weren’t at all greasy or overcooked, but light and fluffy with a crispy exterior. Good!

My Crispy Teriyaki Chicken was an ample portion, but I would have liked a bit more. The dinner was served with steamed rice and featured a mushroom soy-ginger sauce that I could have everyday of the week. I usually have to go to my local "mom & pop" Chinese restaurant for this level of wok cookery, but here it was at a chain… hmmm. I don’t quite know what to think about that, but I was pleased that I could get this type of meal here with my wife having one of her favorites and the two of us sitting at the same booth instead of in our living room with take-out from two different restaurants (trust me, it happens).

Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience at Elephant Bar and will plan another visit in the near future. They also offer take-out for when we just don’t have the time for the full dining experience, and I won’t have to drive to two separate establishments to get what we want!

The Original Mel's Diner: Home of American Graffiti

A rainy evening a couple of days ago, Hubby and I realized later than usual that we hadn't eaten dinner yet. Hubby wasn't in the mood to cook anything and wanted us to just get out. So off to Walnut Creek we went to dine at Mel's Diner--a perfect late night eatery as it is open until 3 a.m.!

Mel's Diner is a classic 50's-style diner based on the drive-in featured in the early George Lucas film American Graffiti. The original eatery where the filming of the movie actually occurred was located in the Central Valley town of Modesto, California. Since that time, other Mel's Diner locations have opened around the West with most being company-owned. However, the Walnut Creek establishment is actually a franchise (which we just learned on this visit).

The decor is classic 50's diner decor with lots of American Graffiti memorabilia and photos gracing the walls. Even if you aren't a fan of the film, Mel's Diner is sure to be a treat because of its easy-going atmosphere, nostalgic charm, and great food. And the service has never been anything less than superb in all our visits even to other locations.

Hubby chose to order the Mel's Classic Burger. The burger was served hot and juicy--just right to curb the craving for the "perfect burger". The bun was very impressive. It held together being was more like a dinner roll than a bun in its density. A large pickle spear being served on the side was refreshing as pickle on the burger is sometimes overpowering. The large leaf of lettuce was fresh and crisp. The burger came without mayo--which made it a refreshing change as one doesn't always want the added calories (although there may have been some butter on the bun).

I ordered my favorite, the French Dip sandwich. The sandwich is offered as a traditional French Dip with roast beef only on the bun or for a nominal charge one can order it Philly style with bell peppers, onions, and cheese. I ordered mine with grilled onions and cheese. Of course the sandwich is served with a small bowl of au jus. Au jus can make or break a French Dip sandwich, and I found Mel's au jus to be very tasty but not too salty. The roast beef was succulent, tender, and perfectly sliced making bites into the sandwich easy.


Instead of the standard side of fries or cole slaw, we chose the beer-battered onion rings (that cost a little extra). The generous portions of rings were hot, crispy, and tasted wonderful. Hubby ate his without condiments while I chose to eat mine like I always do with lots of ketchup. And as really good onion rings should be, they were almost too big to eat in a polite manner. That's the way diner food should be in our estimation--not too fussy and a little bit messy.

The overall ambience of Mel's Diner is always enhanced by the music that plays in the background from the old jukebox that's been converted to play CD's. Many times during our meal, we would be sitting there and then realize that we were quietly humming along to a favorite old tune that we've heard so much throughout our lives that's it's just become a part of the fabric of who we are. I think that's why Mel's Diner appeals to us (and many others). It represents a slice of Americana that has actually been woven into the fabric of our lives. It is who we are. And reconnecting with that part of ourselves is always a great way to spend a rainy evening when it's late, we're hungry, and Hubby doesn't want to cook.

To see any one of the images in this review larger, just click on it. All photographs were taken by permission of the management of the Mel's Diner in Walnut Creek, California.

Perfect beans and rice for New Year's

After a walk around the Martinez Marina to enjoy chilly but sunny New Year's Day weather, we decided to treat ourselves to an early dinner at La Primavera Mexican restaurant located at 1311 Pine Street in downtown Martinez, California.

Hubby had eaten their refried beans and rice and said they were the best he's ever tasted aside from those we found at Cholo's in Haleiwa on the north shore of O'ahu. Since we're always on a quest for the perfect beans and rice, I was anxious to taste them as well as the rest of the fare.

We were pleased to find La Primavera open on the holiday. Hubby's impression upon entering La Primavera was, "This is the cleanest restaurant!" And it is! It's a real joy (and relief) to enter a small "mom and pop" establishment and have that be one's first impression.

We were also charmed by the atmosphere of casual Mexican dining that was enhanced by brightly colored wall and ceiling murals; vintage style boothes and counter stools in red green and yellow vinyl; and the traditional Mexican music playing over the stereo system. It felt like we had stepped off Pine Street into Mexico.

We were greeted and seated promptly and cordially by the waitress that would then be our server for the evening. She brought us chips with two kinds of salsa: mild and not-so-mild (a real nice kick with a good smokey edge). The chips were obviously made on-site and were very fresh.

After perusing an extensive, but not overwhelming, menu we chose carne asada for our New Year's meal (the prices are very reasonable even for the steak). We were pleased to see that the menu includes some regional Mexican selections for those that want a taste of Mexico. The menu also includes an extensive breakfast menu with a Mexican flare.

Our meal was wonderful. The carne asada was seasoned to perfection. Hubby was right about the beans and rice. The flour and corn tortillas were fresh as can be served in a charming hand-embroidered and carefully pressed and starched cotton cloth with handmade lace edging as if we were sitting down to eat in a relative's kitchen. We could see the tortilla press behind the pristine counter where they had been made. It was all so impressive.

To add to the wonderful ambience, a gentleman (probably the owner or manager) sat at one of the counter stools rocking his baby girl. Once she was asleep, he placed her in her baby carrier with a pink blanket over it to shield her eyes from the light, and then proceeded to check on us and the other diners periodically, even bussing our plates. He continued to check on her and then the diners throughout our meal. That's impressive! It showed a commitment to the restaurant that one doesn't find in chain restaurants. It also added a quality that is hard to put into words.

We went away having dined sufficiently on superb Mexican food. I went away with a not only a wonderful memory of delicious food, but a wonderful memory of a dining experience. Will we go back? Most definitely! And we've probably started a New Year's tradition that we will continue to keep from this year on. Thank you La Primavera!