DINING OUT

Annie Bettelli

BURBANK -- The Elephant Bar recently opened its doors on the site that

used to be Wild Thyme, around the corner from the AMC 14 Theaters in

Burbank. It has been completely refurbished in a wild and playful African

motif, and offers a diverse and appealing menu at reasonable prices.

There’s nothing outrageously exotic here as the name may infer, but it

does offer an interesting mix of popular standard entrees, plus

sandwiches, salads, pizzas, pastas and burgers.

The Pan Pacific vegetable spring roll appetizer ($4.95) is a

delectably crisp egg roll stuffed with a variety of shredded Chinese

vegetables. Served with a soy ginger sauce and hot mustard for dipping,

this is a good starter that’s not too filling.

A smoked turkey melt sandwich ($5.95) features thinly sliced smoked

turkey, that tastes a lot like ham, layered with lettuce, tomato, and

Jack cheese on grilled dark squaw bread.

The chicken and lobster jambalaya is the delicious deal of the day as

a lunch special ($5.25). This melange of chicken, lobster and sausage

chunks is mixed in a mild, yet flavorful tomato-based sauce with white

rice.

At the dinner hour, this entree goes up to $10.95 and the portion is

bigger, but the lunch portion was more than sufficient. The creme brulee

($3.25) is in dire need of more vanilla because it has no flavor at all.

Good word-of-mouth has apparently spread around town because the

Elephant Bar is very busy during the week for lunch. I strongly suggest

you get there before noon to avoid the rush, and no reservations are

accepted.

Note to parents: Your children will love it here. The jazzy jungle

decor combined with the wide selection of kid-pleasing entrees makes this

the perfect restaurant for a family outing. All kids’ meals include a

drink and small ice cream sundae for dessert at a price that is kind to

the wallet.

This is my final review and I want to thank all of you who have sent

in suggestions and kind words of support over these past 20 months. This

has been a wonderful experience in spite of the 8 extra pounds showing up

on my scale lately. If I have guided you to restaurants that you might

otherwise never would have tried, then this has all been worthwhile.

Happy New Millennium!

IF YOU GO:

*WHERE: Elephant Bar, 110 N. First St., Burbank.

*PHONE: 842-1334.

*LIQUOR: Full bar.

*HOURS: Open seven days, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday;

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; bar open until midnight.

*PRICES: $5.50 to $13.50; lunch specials $4.95 to $5.95; children’s

menu $2.95 to $3.50.