Elephant Bar in Altamonte Springs, Florida: Restaurant and Bar Review

When roaming about in Altamonte Springs, Florida during a busy shopping day, you may feel the need to take a timeout from the madness and have yourself a pleasant meal and/or drinks. Well, there are several places to pick from in Altamonte, but one place that may be more convenient than any other location is the Elephant Bar restaurant, which recently opened in 2008. What is convenient about it, you ask? The answer is simple . . . it's located INSIDE THE MALL! More specifically, it's located inside the Altamonte Mall, which is one of the finest malls in the Orlando area.

This establishment has a strong focus on Asian food, so if Asian is not your taste, you may have to look elsewhere. Notable specialties of theirs include their Wok Seared Pan Asian Chicken & Lettuce Wrap; Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls; Kona BBQ Pork Ribs; Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad; Fire Grilled Smokehouse Chicken Sandwich; Fresh MisoYaki Fire Grilled Salmon; Bangkok Pad Thai with Shrimp & Vegetables; and a "Shrimp Adventure Platter." In addition, they offer some mouth-watering desserts that include Chocolate Molten Lava Cake and Creamy Creme Brulée.

In addition to fine dining, this place is great for meeting friends for drinks or having a drink with a date. The bar area has the perfect setting. It has just enough TV's around to keep the sports enthusiast satisfied, but it lacks the loudness and craziness of sports bars. The prices for drinks are average, but when sitting at a table near the bar, you almost get a "VIP" feeling, as this area gives off a subtle, glamorous, and cozy atmosphere. Like any other establishment in this area, you may have to wait in line for a short while on a weekend night, but for the most part, there is always a table available immediately when you walk in. Overcrowding is rarely a problem here.

So, next time you're shopping at the Altamonte Mall and need a drink or a bite, don't even bother stepping outside the building! Just find the big elephant and sit down after a hard day's "work." And if by chance you feel the need to later go somewhere that offers entertainment, then all you have to do is simply exit the building and walk about 100 yards, as the Bahama Breeze and their one-man calypso band is located on the other side of the parking lot. The Altamonte Alehouse is also located in this parking lot, just in case you want to end the night with more of a party atmosphere or play some pool. If this isn't convenient, I don't know what is!

The address for the Elephant Bar is 451 E Altamonte Drive, Suite 2378, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, phone # (407) 339-1186. The web address for this establishment is www.elephantbar.com.