As a Lego office building or a Kodiak bear cub so amply demonstrate, smaller versions of things can often be more fun than their full-size counterparts. Today's Groupon provides further proof with some delicious small plates. For $20, you get $40 worth of eclectic tapas at Elements Café in Haddon Heights, NJ. Elements is BYOB, so don't expect to find any letter Bs on the menu.
Specializing in American-style tapas, Elements chef and perpetual-motion machinist Fred Kellerman incorporates the flavors of Asia, France, the Mediterranean, and beyond into an ever-changing menu of freshly interpreted favorites and new creations. Each dish benefits from elegant presentation and thoughtful preparation using fresh ingredients, often locally sourced and organic.
The dinner menu is divided into the same four sections as the Bible—"in the beginning," soups, salads, and “the show.” Starters have included a crimini-and-shiitake risotto ($7), as well as shrimp with couscous and tomato ($9). Soup options usually include chowda with cauliflower, shrimp, and rosemary ($6) and a few surprises. The salad course could mean a healthful helping of spinach ($5), served with gorgonzola and other garnishes, or a flavorful mix of peppers, blue cheese, and pecans ($5). As for "the show," main dishes range from updates on traditional Italian preparations—like the gnocchi with tomato, arugula, and oregano ($8)—to the creative (salmon served Reuben style, $11).
Dining at Elements is a great way to introduce your tongue to flavors it’s never met before, having only longingly watched them from across a junior-high dance floor. The small, intimate atmosphere and the opportunity to mingle a variety of dishes with good conversation have made Elements a prime date spot. Two Groupons can be combined for tables of four or more, so use your Tetris skills to determine how many of your smallest friends you can fit around one table.
This Groupon is valid for the regular lunch and dinner menu, but not specialty menus for Restaurant Week or special occasions such as holidays, Sunset Dinner, Sunday Supper, and others.
Reviews
The Artful Diner reviewed Elements Café, saying:
- Elements Café provides its patrons with a most exhilarating and satisfying evening at table. You would do well to consider it a definite must on your dining agenda. – The Artful Diner
Zagat users give Elements Café's food an excellent rating. OpenTable diners hover over four stars, and six Yahoo! Local users give it a near-perfect 4.5 rating:
- It's such a great little gourmet gem. – OpenTable user who dined on 12/10/2009
- The tapas-style portions are perfectly sized, and the flavors are handled with a very light and elegant touch. – OpenTable user who dined on 11/21/2009
- The small intimate setting makes it a great place to enjoy for a romantic evening. – EbonyB, Zagat
- Consistently excellent quality, inventive preparations (nothing ever looks like you expect it to), pleasant service make for a very pleasant meal. – RandolphR5485, Zagat
Groupon Says
Brave the Elements
With the westerly winds blowing at an all-time high and numerous clouds suddenly fleeing into space, it's more important than ever to be prepared for weather of all kinds. Here's a guide to braving the elements:
Rain: Many children are told the fable that rain is merely Zeus's sweat, but the truth is that nobody knows who causes rain. Either way, rain is a sopping annoyance that can ruin clothing, hairdos, and moods; contact with the sky-liquid should be avoided. Invest in a heavy, body-length rain armor of rustproof steel and wear it under your clothes at all times to prevent rain-skin contact.
Wind: Wind is an unpredictable creature, and attempts to harness its energy have resulted only in giant, deafening fields of mechanical pinwheels. If confronted by wind, unsheathe your pocketknife and begin stabbing at the wind until it subsides out of intimidation.
Heat: Scientists agree that the sun exploded sometime in 2003, giving us one more year before the Earth becomes engulfed in complete darkness. For now, however, the sun is still bothering us with bouts of extreme sunniness and high temperatures. Beat the heat by drinking plenty of water and taking frequent plane trips into the atmosphere to capture and eat bits of the ozone layer, which will protect your insides from the sun's rays.
Comment on our feelings board
