I was lucky enough to have been invited to dinner at a brand new restaurant called Elements Kitchen and Martini Bar.  When I read that the owners describe their menu as “comfort food with a touch of sophistication,” I knew I couldn’t miss a chance to sample some it….

 The restaurant, which is located on the SW corner of Rainbow and Tropicana at 4950 Rainbow Blvd, opens at 5pm every night (closed on Sundays).  Their “Happy Hour” (5pm – 6:30pm) is worth an early arrival for $2 off appetizers and wine, beer and cocktails. 

 I invited my best Vegas girlfriends along for the dinner.  We sat at a large table in the corner of the dining area, looking over the warmly decorated room.  I noticed the bright paintings on the wall immediately- I learned later that the owners, Catherine and Jose Luis Pawelek, brought them over from Haiti. 

 The bar is dimly lit, but in a good way, and there is silverware set up for every bar chair- which means they welcome not only a drink at the bar but a meal as well.  Maybe only my bartender-experienced eyes would notice this but, Catherine had multiple martini glasses already chilling on ice when we arrived.  This was very impressive!  I’m sure that, if you choose to order one of the restaurant’s 252 different martinis (yes, I said 252), it will be made by a master mixologist….most likely Catherine herself.

 I was served a refreshing and not-too-strong pineapple martini.  It was sweet, light and a perfect summer cocktail.  One of my girlfriends ordered the chocolatini which had chocolate shavings on top (yum!) and syrup inside the glass.  Another friend enjoyed a modified Cosmopolitan that tasted more like a sip-worthy Kamikaze (that’s lime and sweet and sour flavored for you inexperienced drinkers!).

We started with the calamari (7$) which came with a sweet, papaya mango sauce for dipping.  The spices on the calamari went very smoothly with the sweetness of the dipping sauce.  We also ordered the “fire and ice” scallops and jumbo shrimp ($9).  This was one of my favorites dishes of the night!  It was spicy- thank goodness for my pineapple martini- but then again I am a complete wuss when it comes to spicy food- I always have been.  My girls didn’t complain about the spiciness at all!

For dinner, I had the Seabass Ponzu ($24) which was rubbed with sesame seeds and a somewhat heavy-flavored sauce.  The fish was light and tender, and I happily finshed off the whole piece.  On the side was garlic mashed potatoes (who doesn’t LOVE some warm, just made mashed potatoes?) and beautiful, brightly colored vegetables.  You may not know this but I adore vegetables, especially ones that are not overcooked and still hold their crisp.  These veggies were delicious and perfectly steamed.  I actually finished those off before I even started my fish. Next time, I might ask for extra vegetables!

The service was exceptional, with a main server and a server’s assistant at our beck and call (thanks David and Ansel!).  Our drinks were refreshed before we had to ask, plates were cleared and new ones were brought in multiple times over the course of the meal, and the food was hot and prompt.  If you’re curious about the menu or a drink recipe, just ask your server- I’m sure Catherine herself would come out and gladly answer your question.  She’s extremely knowledgeable and a perfect host to her restaurant.

Another one of my favorite dishes of the night was the north Atlantic salmon with a strawberry balsamic glaze ($19).  Now this wasn’t just a strawberry flavor within the glaze – there were actual, big pieces of fresh strawberry over the fish, and the sweetness went very nicely with the ocean flavor of the salmon.  I wouldn’t think these two ingredients would normally go together, but I loved the textures of the two- mushy sweet with flaky, firm fish- as one in my mouth.  It worked, and it worked WELL!

What I noticed about the menu?  There’s lots of fruity flavors used- mostly as a side flavor to the main one.  There were lots of bold, unusual tastes and spices (like the ginger and papaya spread for the sun-dried tomato bread) that might scare off the average eater.

BUT…

Don’t let these unique fusion flavors keep you from trying something new! This is great food, cooked with fresh, hand-picked ingredients.  Catherine and Jose are world travelersand have spent many years within restaurants.  They’ve taken what they’ve learned and brought it here to Las Vegas- to share their favorite dishes with us.  How lucky we are!  You can read up on the rest of their menu by visiting their website.

To make a reservation call (702) 750-2991 OR if you’re planning a meal or martini date ahead of time you can reserve a table online.  Elements Kitchen also offers  their patio and a private dining room for any fuction you might have.  I bet they’d throw an excellent party!