Elle A Wine Country Restaurant

I just spent a week long vacation between Phoenix and Tucson with my wife and kids. I like Southwestern annd Mexican food, but by the end of my trip was yearning for something more continental. Enter Elle, which was recommended to me by a business associate in NY who travels to Tucson often.\t\n\t\nI must say that I was skeptical, especially after reading the review here, but the meal and the value were incredible. We started by sharing several appetizers, including the antipasto plate, which is chocked full of Italian and Mediterranean goodies, and several of Elle's salads. Everything was fresh and delicious. As a New York Italian-American, I was especially impressed by the mozzarella, which was fresh and milky. We then moved on to our main dishes. I had the rack of lamb, which was cooked just as I requested, and served over a bed of cous cous with olives, juicy tomotoes and diced vegetables. The portion was enormous - at least 9 chops. I also tasted the Ahi tuna dish, which was awesome, and the gnocchi and the orechiette. I was impressed with each dish. I also enjoyed a great cocktail to start, and a glass of white wine with my appetizer, and red with my main dish. The restaurant pours a variety of wines from all regions, in a wide range of prices. My Sancerre was 8 bucks and was very nice, and then I moved up to a California Meritage for 13 bucks that was a perfect compliment to my lamb. I wish I could tell you about dessert, which my family seemed to enjoy, but which I was just too full to dig into. On the downside, I will say that the espresso that I ordered was not great - no foam, and kind of thin. Elle is also in a new space that needs a little more work, but I did enjoy the open kitchen.

The decor was beautiful. The bartender Kim was a delite. However, when I asked for a typical drink, a Bacardi and Diet Coke, they didn't have any Bacardi. So, they substituted a top shelf Clear Rum. I ordered the pate' it was tasty but very very dry. I also ordered the clamari that was good, not great but good. The only thing enjoyable was the Paetta.That was delicious.\t\nWhen I received my check I was annoyed to find out that they had charged me $9.75 per drink. If I had asked for the top shelf rum I would not have been upset to pay for it. But it was a substitution for something they failed to keep on hand. I should not have been charged and when I brought it to the Bartenders attention all she could say was that she was sorry. I'll make sure to stay away from the pate' and order iced tea next time. Yes I will go back the Paetta was worth a second trip.

Saw this menu online. My wife and I both really wanted to like this restaurant. Unfortunately after we arrived it took twenty minutes to even get drinks. We than ordered appitizer's which we were told were half price before 6:30. We did order before 6:30 and were still charged full price. Almost half of the mussel's were not opened. I ordered the ribs which were very tough. At one point I had to go to the rest room to get rid of the meat. My wife ordered some wine from the list. The list said it was $7.50 a glass. Our waiter not so nicely informed us that she had served my wife a different wine because she had misunderstood my wife and it was $15.00 a glass. My wife had only had two thankfully. We paid. I only complained about the wine. The bartender was very rude about it so I backed down. I was on the first date we have had for about a month so I was trying to make the night go well. We paid full price and I still tipped twenty dollars, but I will never return.