Elements Restaurant

I ate here last night with my husband and it was a wonderful experience! From the outside you wouldn’t know what a nice restaurant it is, but as soon as you walk in the door you are in a fine dining establishment! The prices are reasonable and they have a great wine selection! The flavors are delicious and plated beautifully. The menu changes often so there is always new dishes to try. The staff are very friendly and take wonderful care of their customers. We will definitely be eating here often!

My wife and I had the privilege to come here for our 3^rd anniversary and our experience was stunning. William was our waiter, and he was very polite and made us feel comfortable and at home. The setting was the perfect combination of romantic and classy. We sat in the left corner table against the wall in front of the bar. We felt like the ambiance of the evening lighting, the gorgeous watercolors, and the bamboo and cotton sails that section off this part of the restaurant made us feel like we were on a boat.
Orders:
Side: Signature Grilled Beef Asparagus Skewers $ 11.95
Beautifully presented and tastes even better than it looks. I would have been more than satisfied to just eat this and go home. It is an asparagus, wrapped in beef, wrapped in a rice noodle mesh, with a green onion that ties it all together. The top is sprinkled with fried garlic and it comes with thin slivers of carrot and other vegetables.
Entrée: Salmon Wellington $ 19.95
The most astonishing dish of the night. Every bite was pure joy. I don’t know how they do it. The salmon is wrapped in a breaded lattice with red pepper, and spinach. The sauce is white and creamy and the whole dish rides on top of two baked asparagus.
Entrée: Tea Smoked Duck $ 19.95
Fabulous presentation. Homey pleasant and filling meal. The duck is shaved into rounds, which surround a cooked carrot slivers and spinach. On top is a square of sweet potato and tarro root topped with a fancy cheese and fried carrot slivers. It had a cinnamon apple flavor to it. It was beautiful and an exquisite combination of tastes.
Desert: Mango Panacotta $ 8.50
It melts in your mouth. It’s like eating a bite of heaven. It looks beautiful with the sauce designs and berries.
Total after tax and gratuity $ 78.
My wife and I came reasonably hungry, but we could not finish all our food. If I came here again, I would have ordered 2 or 3 dishes instead of 5 for us, which would have been enough food and kept the bill under $ 60.
During the meal we wrote cards for each-​other and shared a wonderful time of talking and laughing together. This was an experience of a lifetime. My wife and I will remember it for a long long time.

This restaurant is so incredibly rude! We walked in and they asked if we had reservations and we said no. A waiter that didn’t even talk to us waved his hand as if shooing us away. The hostess said something to him and turned around and pointed to some tables. He laughed and had very offensive body language. So they talked amongst themselves while we waited and she comes back to tell me it’s going to be a small table Bc they don’t have anything open. We asked if it would accommodate our 2 children and again the rude waiter in the back was staring at us. So we decided we will not eat here. I did let her know that I thought they are exceptionally rude there. I will take my business somewhere else.
After reading more reviews, I saw a pattern of Asian customers being treated poorly. So I guess Asians shouldn’t come here and it’s catered to the Caucasians.
My husband mentioned that they are all young. Maybe they should learn how to run a business and not bite the hand that feeds them.

An unassuming restaurant even without any sign outside in a largely deserted strip mall, you likely miss it if you aren’t actively looking. But you definitely don’t want to miss this hidden gem deep in Almaden valley. I came with high expectation, and I wasn’t disappointed at all! The Tea smoked duck and the Salmon Wellington were perfect. The Mango Panna Cotta was so good that my 3 years old daughter, who is a very slow eater, obliterated it in 2 minutes. The price was also very reasonable. I probably would have to pay 2x for the same high quality of food in the city. Maybe the only disappointment was that the dumplings and the ahi tuna that I wanted to try were out, but I definitely will come back and try again.

We dropped by without making a reservation. There was no wait and they got us a table. We ordered the crusted salmon and salmon wellington. Food was very good and service was good too. We would come again.

Do not dine here… at least not on Valentine’s Day!
Came here for Dad’s Birthday (same day as Valentine’s Day) and was really disappointed. Fellow Unilocalers have failed me on this one! The restaurant was overbooked, understaffed and the tables were all cramped together.
First of all, we made reservation but still waited for 5 mins+ before getting seated, which was not a big deal but things just got worse once we were seated.
There were no sign of any server greeted us after seated for almost 25 minute. We were all ready to order and starving and I finally had to stop some other sever to find our server. When he finally came (This guy wearing glasses) did not even greet us or apologize for keeping us waiting and asked «Are you ready to order?» (Hack Yah I am ready to order… like 25 mins ago) I was thinking.
Once we placed ordered, things just hit rock bottom. We waited for another 25 mins plus and no sign of appetizer and the server did not even check on us once. I saw there were 2 tables who ordered after us already got their food so I stopped the server and ask him to check the status. He came back unapologetic and said the kitchen is «all clogged up» and «there’s nothing I can do»…Wait a minute, if the kitchen is clogged up then why the other two tables that ordered AFTER us got their food before us??? (unless someone forgot to put in the order) At that moment I was already quite fed up and just try not to argue with him. And finally the appetizer came, the same server just give me some more bullshit that because the «chef has to hand roll each of the spring roll». What a liar, the table next to us order the exact same thing and they got it within 5 minutes, what a load of crap. The worse thing is he DID NOT ONCE APOLOGIZE or at least have the courtesy to say «thank you for waiting».
The food is not bad but the portion is quite small for the price. The dessert looks interesting but was afraid they will make us wait anther hour for it so… no please!
Overall the only reason I gave the restaurant 2 star (instead of 1) is the food was not bad. The service however was down right embarrassing especially when people are celebrating important events here.
Definitely not coming back or recommend others unless the owner fire that waiter and improve the customer service.

We just discovered this place and are so happy to have an option for delicious food here in Almaden! I’ve been dreaming about my herb-​crusted salmon and that incredible sauce it was served with, and my husband was so happy with his tea-​smoked duck. The service was very professional and prompt too. Can’t wait to go back!

Pros
A small business owned scrumptious restaurant. Service is good. My favorite is the pork chop. Yum.
Cons
I wish it was in a better location.

Have dined here twice now. I am always wowed by the presentation of their food. You wouldn’t expect the dishes to look so nice, considering the price & the fact that this restaurant is in a pretty non-​descript strip mall with not even a permanent sign!
Although they do presentation well, there are certain items that I found quite excellent and certain items that didn’t quite meet the bar. This past visit, we ordered Stuffed Porkloin in Homemmade apple sauce & New york steak with red wine peppercorn sauce.
Both of these items were too dry, the pork especially. In addition, we ordered medium rare for my NY steak and it came out as medium. I did get to sample some of the Vegetarian wellington and that had a delicious pastry crust with some savory vegetables. Our entire party agreed that it was the best item of the night.
One other note: Their complimentary bread is delicious!

omg. this restaurant is such a neighborhood gem! we were very pleasantly surprised by this fusion restaurant. we didn’t even know there was such a good restaurant in this small plaza where there’s not much shops at all. it’s so hidden no one would even know it was there if not for the great Unilocal reviews from everyone. (thanks y’all!) I think all the returning customers r ppl who live in the area.
there’s plenty of parking in the plaza. the hostess n our waiter were nice n showed professionalism thru their manners. there’s a small menu on each table which showed the specials. (dunno how often they change those.) our dishes came plated beautifully like those u would c in a 5 star restaurant. the prices r pretty great for the quality of food here. we will definitely return to try the other dishes next time!
Complimentary bread n butter: this came warm n the baguette pieces were really good. he ate like 3 pieces!
Tropical Shrimp Martini: so good. I could just order 2 of those for my entrée n b satisfied. the mango salsa was so yummy! I wanted more of it.
Stuffed Chicken Breast w/​Yellow Curry: the black rice plus the chicken was very filling. the curry itself is mild not spicy. the veggies tasted fresh.
Salmon Wellington: I had to order this cuz it looked like such a unique dish. I was glad I did. the puff pastry was crispy. don’t expect the salmon to b cooked medium. (they only do well-​done.) it still exceeded my expectations for a $ 20 entrée. there were mushrooms n also spinach inside the puff pastry n I even found a slice of zucchini inside the salmon. it’s not King Salmon. I think it’s Sock-​Eye Salmon fillet. (looked kinda thin.)

Warm, very professional, excellent customer service. Atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming. They handled a crowd, and waiting customers, with ease.
We had the tea smoked duck, salmon Wellington and Vietnamese beef stew. Delicious. Succulent, well developed flavors, beautiful, delicate plating style. You could pick any of these and be very pleased with your meal. Nicely diverse wine list. The desserts looked wonderful, and I’ll look forward to trying them next time when I’m not so full. in addition to coming back to this local gem and trying a few more tempting dishes.

Fine food, manager left a bad taste. We went here on a Sunday night using gift certificates we bought from an auction fundraiser. The gift certificates clearly state that they expired in December of 2013. We called and were told that they would still accept them. After eating and attempting to use them to pay, we were told that because they were donated to a fundraiser that they could not honor them. This fact was explained to the person who answered the phone and they said no problem. The manager was very firm that he could not accept them. Rather then make a scene we paid and let.
Looking into the law, the restaurant had every legal right to not accept the certificates. The point being what is right for the customer. The restaurant deducted the gift from their taxes a few years ago, the value of the certificate has gone down due to inflation yet they refused to accept them. Very poor customer service which is a shame as the food was not mediocre.

Tasty, well prepared, creative seasoning but why are dishes served cold???
Starters: dumplings were creative but using sticky rice for the dumpling skin is a very risky bet. A bit too thick and chewy to my taste. The crust under the dumplings compensate and the filling is lovely.
Mussels: well seasoned, perfectly cooked, arranged and presented.
Calamari: standard. very lightly battered.
Vegetarian rolls: good. fresh, delicate.
Entrees:
Seabass (I personally didn’t/try have this dish): seemed amazingly cooked. seemed a bit drenched in sauce though but I’ll definitely try it next time.
Duck: nice but slightly too smokey and overcooked. Dish was served cold. ‘vegetable’ (potato?) slightly too heavy.
Scallops and shrimps: dish was served cold. slightly too much rice compared to the rest of the dish. Fine sauce, well seasoned.
Desserts looked great but I can’t eat sweet so I won’t leave any opinion.
Perfect service, attentive and professional. Table of 6 so we got mandatory 18% gratuity added to our bill (without being warned).

I found this place on accident! This place a hidden gem! Tucked away in the almaden valley with a very cozy and romantic vibe! It boasts an extensive wine selection with artistically presented dishes of Asian-​inspired French cuisines served by extremely courteous staff. So far I have had a few appetizers but can’t wait to come back for the full menu! I keep seeing dishes go by and ask «what is that!?» I’m coming back to try the salmon Wellington!

This place was pretty good. I was meeting a group for dinner here. I made reservations for six, but I later realized we actually needed eight. The servers were really nice and moved us to another table. The service was a bit slow, but the food tasted great. The bread was warm and awesome. We got the duck which was extremely tender and flavorful. I also got the papaya salad, which was also great. If I’m ever in the area, I’d probably go again but wouldn’t go out of my way. It’s a bit expensive.

I usually don’t write reviews. But this restaurant kind of lost at the end of Almaden is just so good!!! I’m French therefore extremely picky. I chose the beef stew which was tasty but not salty, the beef was tender, the carrots were cooked for once! I still don’t like raw green beans or any raw veggies that you find in restaurants. Don’t even understand it… Anyway, the desserts were just delicious and the right portion! The waiters and the manager were very kind. We are talkative people and they didn’t push us toward the exit like others but were super friendly even speaking some french words. Great diner, great place!!!

Freaking out over Mother’s Day dinner options a few days ago, I came across Elements on Unilocal and quickly made reservations. We arrived early and were quickly shown to our table. For appetizers we ordered calamari and spring rolls which seemed a little standard compared to the price. The other adults at our table ordered the tea-​soaked duck while I ordered the salmon Wellington. The two kids ordered chicken and pasta. Everything was delicious! But the star… Is the bread! I loved the little round ones. The presentation and plating was beautiful, especially the dessert! The service was average but overall good experience.

Elements,
You have never dissapointed. In fact the sea bass that my wife ordered was the best cooked and tasting fish that I have ever eaten. I hope that it is available when I come back.
They didn’t have the paellea in a clay pot on the menu but I am glad that I asked for it because the chef nailed it once again. That is one of my favorites that I would highly recommend.
Keep it up Elements!
We will be back

4 ½*
I found this restaurant by accident while looking for reservations on Valentine’s Day. I will definitely be back, as the service and food were spot on!
(Ambience)
I deducted ½ a star in this category for the location bringing a strip mall and not very intimate if your seated facing the door. Away from the door is another story. However there were many positives!
With a view of the restaurant I could see the wine cellar, bar, open style kitchen area, and the lovely tables with white tablecloth place setting. I love the use of colorful painting. If your views of the door you see the bright neon sign and what appears to be a fast food Chinese restaurant.
They have outdoor patio seating with portable heaters, which I plan to take advantage of in the summer.
(Service)
I was pleasantly surprised as to how attentive, but overbearing or interrupting the service was. We were seated next to the host table and it was not loud or obnoxious. To date, it was one of the best service experiences I have had. I saw a mishap order at another table that was corrected flawlessly. The server apologized, made no excuse and said he would correct it. Seconds later the manager apologized and offered free appetizer while they waited to re-​cook the entrée. Then the entrée came out moments later. 5* service!
(Food)
I ordered wine by the glass and the had Napa wines for $ 9. I was happily surprised and the wine was great.
The table was provided a bread basket that contained pretzel rolls and sourdough rolls. They felt as if they were freshly baked. Warm, soft, and doughy goodness.
Tea smoked duck — smoked duck that was a tad overdone but so tender I could barely notice. On a bed of perfectly cooked spinach that had no bitterness. Accompanied by potatoes Au gratin. It was a unique and very lovely dish.
Dumplings — the perfect dim sum style dumpling with seafood.
Chocolate Bomba — vanilla and chocolate gelato coated in chocolate egg shape and frozen. The dessert was light and very satisfying to the sweet tooth.
I would expect to pay $ 175 – 200 for 2 people (to include appetizers, drinks, entrée, dessert and coffee). We walked out paying $ 90; unreal.

I was a bit nervous coming here, but the evening turned out to be a big hit with everyone in my party! It’s in such an unassuming, quiet neighborhood plaza, semi-​formal environment, white table-​cloths, an extensive wine bar, and servers in white long sleeved button ups, but most of the guests on this particular Saturday night were very casual. Most looked like «locals» of Almaden Valley and dressed casually in hawaiian shirts or outfits straight off the tennis court… srsly livin’ the life.
Anyway, food wasn’t anything short of amazing. Loved how they were able to incorporate subtle Vietnamese flavors into European dishes. And though the cooks were all Vietnamese, they did all these dishes so well!
Lamb — best dish of the night! Incredibly tender and amazing grill flavor.
Tea-​smoked duck — I thought it sounded good in theory and would be cool to taste, but I ended up not being a huge fan of the tea flavor. I still really enjoyed the dish though and I’m glad I finally tried it! The slices of duck were also really tender and moist that they practically melted in your mouth. I also loved the slightly sweet fried taro cake and fried sweet potato fritters!
Salmon Wellington — really fun! Salmon wasn’t overcooked as I feared it might be, and the outer croissant shell was flaky and perfect.
Filet Mignon — Also good! Cooked and seasoned just right.
Calamari — I personally like a more American take on this popular appetizer, but the others in my group really liked and found comfort in the Vietnamese flavoring.
We had such a great dinner here and have vowed to come back as often as we can. We were not the only ones. Everyone in the restaurant looked happy and we heard so many compliments given to the staff as people were leaving. Prices are fairly modest for the quality, and it’s a nice enough place to come for a special occasion if not just after playing tennis at the country club… ;)