Blue Elephant

Details

Published on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 10:52

Written by Scott Joseph

I’ve lost track of all the restaurants that have occupied the address at 951 Market Promenade in Lake Mary in just the past nine years. Looking back over my past reviews, I see a Blackfin Seafood Grill, something called Austral, which was a sort of churrascaria, an Italian restaurant called Ultra Luce (as opposed to your everyday type of Luce), and I’m pretty sure there was a Carlos’n Charlie’s in that spot, as well (though perhaps well isn’t the appropriate word).

Now settling in for what I hope will be a good long run is Blue Elephant, a pleasant, not so little Thai restaurant.

Shortly after I was seated I was served a bowl of airy rice crisps with a gooey dipping sauce, sort of a Thai version of chips and salsa, I assumed. Certainly nothing one would fill up on as they were lighter than helium.

For my appetizer I had the B.E. dumplings, little pillows of wonton-like wrappers filled with minced chicken and pan-seared until the outsides are slightly crisped. They were delicious with the salty soy dipping sauce.

For my entree I chose the Panang curry with beef, a thick golden-brown gravy lightened with coconut milk and filled with al dente strips of red and green peppers and onions. It was medium spicy, just enough heat to tickle the taste buds but not enough to sear. It was wonderful spooned over the jasmine rice.

Service was attentive and welcoming.

The large restaurant features a snazzy bar and lounge in the center (reminiscent of the Ultra Luce days, I’m sure), and a tranquil altar-like lotus fountain just inside the front door. The restaurant space has a patio, but it was not set up when I dined there recently. Blue Elephant is directly across from Amura, the sushi restaurant, which has been there for a good many years, and neighbors with Dexter’s of Lake Mary, also a long-timer. More recently, a Graffiti Junktion has opened between those two restaurants.

Nearly a decade ago, this development and the one across County Road 46A were looking like they would form a Restaurant Row North for the region. That didn’t quite happen, but if more restaurants can settle in for the long run, it just might become a dining destination for north central Florida.

Blue Elephant is at 951 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary (off CR 46A just west if Interstate-4). It is open for lunch and dinner daily. Here is a link to the Blue Elephant website. The phone number is 407-936-2698.

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