The Elephant Walk
Categories:
Catering Companies, Restaurants, Seafood Restaurants, Asian Restaurants, Cambodian Restaurants
Details:
$$$, Bar Scene, Brunch, Date Spot, Family Style Dining, Group Dining
Message from The Elephant Walk
Since 1991, The Elephant Walk has remained the only restaurant in the Boston area serving Cambodian and French cuisine. The Cambodian menu consists of traditional dishes ranging from everyday street food to aristocratic and royal delicacies, as well as original dishes created by Cambodian Executive Chefs Nadsa and Longteine De Monteiro using classic Cambodian ingredients and cooking techniques. The French menu consists of original dishes created primarily by Nadsa. At The Elephant Walk in Cambridge we have the ability-- and the experience-- to host private parties of virtually any size - up to our licensed capacity of 263. We welcome birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and rehearsal dinners, as well as professional conferences and business meetings.
Editorial by Citysearch
The SceneA colorful crowd of food lovers make the trek to sample hard-to-find Cambodian dishes and non-fussy French fare. Attentive young servers and colorful, eclectic dishes provide the bright, upbeat dining room with plenty of atmosphere (there are also many elephant images, for good luck). Libation lovers have a menu of fruity house concoctions to select from, as well as an exciting wine list that's full of rare, international varietals.
The Food
Wise diners mix and match from the menu's endless assortment of French and Cambodian dishes. Must-try starters include devilishly fun Nataing (ground pork-coconut milk dip that's served with crunchy jasmine rice cakes) and Leah Chah (steamed mussels in a savory Asian basil broth). Among the Gallic options, a smart choice is the Porc Diplomat--grilled pork tenderloin with a creamy mushroom, garlic, and black pepper sauce. Leave room for light, pleasing desserts like white chocolate mousse with tart raspberry coulis.
Key Points
- Large Vegetarian Menu
- Full Service Catering
- Private Banquet Facilities
The Inside Scoop
- Parking - Patrons needn't bother searching for on-street parking; park in the huge lot in back of the restaurant for free after 5pm.
- The Extras - Try to replicate the Walk's most popular dishes at home by picking up a copy of the restaurant's cookbook (widely considered the country's finest Cambodian cookbook).
- Know Before You Go - Word to the wise: unless you have an iron tongue, order the Cambodian dishes on the mild side and ask for a dish of hot sauce (spicy here means more than a pinch of curry powder).
Insider Pages Reviews for The Elephant Walk
For some reason we had a difficult time finding vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants in Boston, and even in Cambridge. Went here after seeing a variety of tofu dishes on the menu. Honestly, most items were only on par with what you could find in any Thai restaurant--nothing special.
Posted 09/19/08 | Report Abuse
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My husband and I have dined at the Elephant Walk three times and each experience was worse than the last. The food is decent, though not at the calibur that the menu prices would suggest. While the menu is a Cambodian-French fusion, neither cuisine pops out and the "fusion" is good at best.
The service is terrible. Twice we encountered wait staff that was brusque and once we were served by an angry and foul-mouthed server who complained within earshot with explitives that would make your grandmother blush.
The restaurant itself is clean and has a nice atmosphere. It also has a decent wine list. But those two things don't make a restaurant. Friends of ours love The Elephant Walk, but to be honest, I don't know that they've experienced the other fine restaurants that Cambridge has to offer.
We have no plans to rush back anytime soon.
Posted 04/15/08 | Report Abuse
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A bit pricey, but happiness all around! A taste treat and also good atmosphere (but hard to park, of course). Varied and unique menu, with several choices. Ask the waitstaff for explanations of unfamiliar foods. Great experience!
Posted 03/21/08 | Report Abuse
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French Cambodian Fare
by Anonymous
This restaurant offers French Cambodian Fare. Don't let this scare you, there are plenty of things to offer. I was nervous about what to order, but I found pleny of offerings to choose from. Expect to pay a little more for this fine restaurant with great service.
Posted 12/08/07 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
French Cambodian Fare
by Citysearch User
This restaurant offers French Cambodian Fare. Don't let this scare you, there are plenty of things to offer. I was nervous about what to order, but I found pleny of offerings to choose from. Expect to pay a little more for this fine restaurant with great service.
Posted 12/08/07
Disappointed
by lisa813
I went to the Boston location and was let down. I had the three course prix fixe, and the fresh tomato salad first course was delicious, but then the same dish was served as a side with my lamb chops. I wish the waitress would have told me this so I could have tried a different first course. My lamb was fatty and chewy. Not a single bite was enjoyable. My boyfriend's breaded tuna steak should have been called "chicken-fried tuna." Saving grace: the wine pairing was lovely as was the chocolate cake. I had heard such good things, so I was really disappointed. I wouldn't go back.
Pros: Margaritas at Sol Azteca a few doors down
Cons: Mediocre service, bad lamb
Posted 09/28/07
Poor Service, waited 45 mins.
by indianfoodcritic
Great food, but NOT worth the wait of 45 minutes. People around us came and got fed well before we did...I should have left after 30 mins, it was unacceptable!! This was my first place in 27 years where I waited this long for food. We didn't receive an apology or anything during our wait, maybe a drink or additional dish would have been nice. A friend of mine said he has a similar experience at this location, so beware if you are hungry!
Pros: ambience, nice large windows, food
Cons: expensive, service
Posted 01/23/07
Great and Unique
by islandsistah
The combination of French and Camdobian works!!! Tried a similar restuaurant in NYC, but this is much better!! It was pretty busy the night I went, but the service was quick and efficient.
Pros: Good Portions, flavorful food!
Cons: Street Parking, lot in rear is really dark
Posted 11/13/06
Succees breeds indifference
by wme79736
What used to be fine food and attentive service in a friendly and professional restaurant has turned into a production system designed to get you in and get you out as quickly as possible. The food was cold, poorly prepared, bland and uninteresting (the appetisers were tasteless). The wait staff did not ask me what I wanted to order - I actually had to remind her to do so. The dinner was over in 50 minutes and the check was promptly placed in the middle of the table. The reservation I had made was not recognised and the meal cost $85 for 2 entrees and one appetiser plus 2 glasses of wine. I noticed two other tables returning their food. Don't go there!
Pros: nice decor, good location, friendly people
Cons: bad food, poor service, impersonal
Posted 04/13/06