I admit I had misgivings about trying the Elephant Bar and Restaurant, 5001 Monroe St., in Toledo.  Scoping out the restaurant’s website beforehand, it seemed to emphasize ‘family friendly’, with a special kids menu and certificate program.  I have children myself, so don’t get me wrong – I love kids.   Unless they are stranger’s kids who scream, yell, beg, cry or whine when I am trying to enjoy a meal.  Then….not so much!  Two other red flags: It is part of a chain and it is located in a busy mall parking lot.

As it turned out my misgivings were unfounded.  I had a very good meal there and an enjoyable dining experience. 

To drink, I chose a ‘small carafe’ of wine, which contained about a third of a bottle.  The wine list, while not extensive, was adequate – at least for a wine novice like me.   The bar area is large and has plenty of atmosphere.  It is situated so as to provide a bit of elevation and a good vantage point of the rest of the restaurant (Plus, no screaming kids!).

We started out with the ‘E-Bar “Famous” Artichoke Dip’, which was served with warm tortilla chips.  The dip had a bit of a kick to it, which was unexpected and appreciated. 

The menu has a variety of Asian Rim selections, as well as regional favorites such as burgers and ribs, soups and salads.  For my main course, I had an entrée salad, the “Thai Sweet and Spicy Chicken Salad”, which I enjoyed very much.  The food was intriguingly spicy and the ingredients were fresh. 

Our waiter was knowledgeable and made recommendations when requested.  He was attentive without being intrusive.  In other words, the service was good.

Prices were reasonable with most entrees in the $9 to $15 range -about on par with most national chain sit-down restaurants.