Clarendale Holdings Inc

Amazing Meal

On the occasion of our daughter's convocation the next day from Trent University, we decided to have a special dinner the night before the ceremony. Having driven by Elements many times over the four years of her living in Peterborough, we looked it up and made reservations. We enjoyed a meal that was so delightful in many different ways, that since returning to Ottawa my husband has told people here "our dinner was so good, it's worth the drive to Peterborough"! (Ottawa is three hours away by Highway 17.) First, I left a voicemail when I called for reservations which was responded to within an hour of leaving it. When we arrived at the restaurant, since it was a pleasant evening, there was no hesitation switching our reservation to the outdoor patio area. The service was attentive but not intrusive. Our server could answer all our questions without hesitation and was helpful with two of us who could not make up our minds. When one special of the night was "all gone", she said that she would ask the chef if they could "whip something up" with chicken to substitute and the dish was heavenly! Our service was prompt, courteous and friendly. Our meals were all amazing! Portions were not 'petite' as is often the case in pricier restaurants but not so large as to overwhelm the diner. All four of us were able to finish our plates without feeling over-full or under-full. The four of us shared two appetizers and it was just enough to whet our appetites for the even better dishes to come. And all of us agreed enthusiastically that the bruschetta was the best we had ever tasted in a restaurant! I thought about it's delectable taste and presentation for a couple of days afterwards! The fettucine alfredo with shrimp and asparagus was perfectly prepared - the pasta was al dente with a smooth sauce with just the right amount of seasoning. The six large shrimp were succulent. The duck main course was served creatively with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes that had been breaded in a pear-shape and (we assumed) deep-fried. The "special" chicken breast meal was also beautifully presented with a moist, delicately sauced, ample boneless chicken breast with the same vegetables and potatoes as the duck meal. All four of us were happy with our choices. We each had one cocktail before our meal, shared a bottle of red wine with our meal and with tip of 20% for our wonderful server, our total bill was $200. Now that our daughter has graduated, we won't be in Peterborough several times a year as we have for the past four years, but we will DEFINITELY return to Elements anytime we are anywhere near the city!

Nice experience

Last weekend, we rediscovered this restaurant where we have only visited three times in eight years since moving to Peterborough. This time, I was so impressed with the decor and service. The entrance to the establishment was decorated with pots of different coloured Mums and assorted fall flowers. Just beautiful!! The restaurant was bright and warm and so wonderfully decorated with fresh flowers and candles on all the tables that were covered with yellow table cloths and the window sills adorned with miniature pumpkins and candles as well . We had a nice waitress who was attentive and friendly. Norm the proprietor came to our table to welcome us and to explain that all of the food is seasonal and fresh from local farms and markets and in the winter he orders from organic markets in Toronto. The fresh local ingredients were delicious in our dinner including Swiss chard, squash and beets which are all in season now. Their wine list is extensive and suitably priced. We chose an Italian Chianti to accompany our meal of pork tenderloin stuffed with sage and fresh fish with couscous. The food was good, not fantastic, but good. The Creme Brulee was to die for. We will certainly return again.

Fantastic Food

I've been several times to Elements for lunch and dinner. The food has always been outstanding, especially the Pommes William(yum). Services has always been excellent. If you want to have a really nice dinner go to Elements! You won't be disappointed!

Service poor, food good.

For these prices, service should be good to very good. Our food and beverages took ages to arrive (all courses). We were there when it wasn't that busy (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.). Can't imagine how long you'd have to wait for food later in the evening. Food and entertainment were good. Restaurant could get to the next level if service improved.

Wonderful food for our special occasion. Although this is a pricey restaurant (entrees mostly $20+), we had a lovely time and the food and service were great. The appetizers were creative and the entrees (we went with two different Specials) were perfectly cooked, very fresh, and nicely presented. Don’t expect a gut busting heaping plate of food, but the portions were more than satisfying. The waitress was very knowledgeable and engaging – she definitely added to the evening. They also had a good selection of reasonably price wines (under $60). Overall we were very pleased and will definitely make this one of our special meal destinations.

We're going back!! My wife and I had a great...

We're going back!! My wife and I had a great time on their amazing leafy shaded patio. The server was friendly and knowledgeable, attentive but not intrusive. The solo entertainer on the stage was great, really added to the experience. This place has a really extensive wine list, with Italian, Portuguese and Spanish selections dominating. We selected the 2000 Anselma Barolo, one of the pricier options and it was really great. This wine needs some time to open up, and the staff was really cool about letting us linger over our Tapas before getting to our entrees. The Tapas themselves were good, especially the Chorizo, the Hummus, and the cold yellow tomato soup in a shot glass. The Tapas plate we ordered is supposed to be kind of random, whatever is inspiring the chef on the day, so I'm really curious about what we'll get next time. My wife ordered the fish special, an herb crusted fillet of some Portuguese fish whose name escapes me on a bed of organic quinoa with grilled veggies. She cleaned her plate and pronounced it amazing. I had the veal special, a scallopine on amazing roasted garlic mashed potatoes with a hunter style mushroom wine sauce with rapini and grilled yellow beets. The potatoes were creamy and delicious, the sauce pitch perfect. I used the basket of Italian bread to polish my plate. The portions were not huge, but artfully presented and big enough that neither my wife or I was inclined to order dessert. All desserts are made daily on the premises, so I intend to try the creme brule next time. This place is definitely getting a return visit from us. It is a standout in a small city with many great places to eat.

It was alright. We had a meal, and was delicious...

It was alright. We had a meal, and was delicious although the portions were quite tiny, and it was pricy. We also had some wine, and that was ok too. I really loved the atmosphere though, and I think I would visit again mainly for romantic setting.

Great lunch experience! Had a burrito made with...

Great lunch experience! Had a burrito made with mashed sweet potatoe and chedder cheese, like heaven in my mouth! This place is great because they have a different spin on classic dishes and the tastes are unique and delicious! Much more fun and value for your money in comparison to some of the big chains where you'll spend the same amount of money for something out of the back of a Sysco truck.

Yes, you can get a memorable meal in Peterborough

A busy & intriguing menu, with thoughtfully prepared fare that challenges the pallet. Like any tapas selection some are winners and some come second place, but nothing got returned to the kitchen as leftovers. The Tapanade trio with endives was pleasant surprise Service was exemplary for my tastes, attentive, yet casual. Our server (I've forgotten her name, but I think she was named like a State) was accommodating, made helpful suggestions, and added to our dining experience. I have no hesitation recommending this restaurant, and plan to return to explore more of their creative menu. The only annoyances were the tables were sticky (the finish, not due to cleanliness), and the wine list was over the top for the local market with nothing decent for less than $95 a bottle.

My favorite place in Peterborough so far...

My party arrived at about 4pm and we were told the kitchen was not ready to be completely open yet but that we were welcome to order off the tapas menu. We decided we did not mind having a glass of wine and waiting for the full menu to open an hour later. The server then returned with our wine and informed us that the kitchen staff had offered to begin work early to prepare our meals if we wished. I asked the server to bring us some oil, viniger and bread to go with our wine. I knew this was something Elements did from a previous visit. After we had been eating the bread I noticed fruit flies on my plate and in the bottle of viniger. Do not let this desuade you, it is the season of fruit flies and they will infiltrate viniger in seconds. When I pointed out the flies to the server she brought us a complimentary assortment of cheese, chorizo sausage, pancetta and olives to have with our wine. Let this be a note to restraunteurs. Giving your servers the ability and power to make up for mishaps to your clients is very important. Things such as fruit flies happen, but our experience was not spoiled because the server was aloud to show us that the restaurant was sorry. Our steak and pasta dishes were amazing, the steak came with what I think was a basil and horshradish sauce wich was wonderful. The steak was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. Elements is pricy for Peterborough but if you are looking for a nice place to go, this is it.

The service was flawless, food was delicious, I...

The service was flawless, food was delicious, I couldn't believe their wine list. Hopefully more restaurant owners would go there and learn what a dining establishment should be like. It was hard to determine what they were trying to portray with their decor

I've been there at least 3-4 times and the food...

I've been there at least 3-4 times and the food and service is very good, not amazing, but very good.

What a fabulous place to dine! The patio, where...

What a fabulous place to dine! The patio, where we were seated, was just amazing. The atmosphere, even though a little loud due to traffic, was very pleasant. Our server was highly attentive and very well versed in the menu and wine list items. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a one of a kind experiance.

We definitely will never return! We waited and...

We definitely will never return! We waited and waited for a tiny, overpriced $31 (plus tax), burned porterhouse steak for my husband (including a small amount of vegetables) and a $25 undercooked snapper with a few burned vegetables. We complained! The waiter, who also happened to be the head chef training two other chefs that night, offered to have another one cooked, but it had already taken waaaayyy toooo long to get the first burnt one - so we said no. He was going to charge us $5 for the sparse vegetables on my husbands plate. I said that was not acceptable and he took that off the bill. No tip and no recommendations to go to Elements!

Attention: PLEASE be careful when ordering house...

Attention: PLEASE be careful when ordering house wines. The "La Mission" from Chile was really bad. This is very sad as it did embarrass the wonderful cooking and service.

The food was the tastiest food I have ever had at...

The food was the tastiest food I have ever had at a restaurant! The service was excellent - they never interfered but always had what we needed. We sat on the patio and the atmosphere was lovely, to say the least. Portions could be a bit larger & it is fairly pricey. But for a wonderful evening dining out I would highly recommend Elements!

Grteat resturant , good food excellent service...

Grteat resturant , good food excellent service and a wounderful wine list

We visited with an elderly aunt who can eat only...

We visited with an elderly aunt who can eat only plain food (no sauces or spices). Our very pleasant waiter, Sandy, was so patient and helpful and arranged with the chef to make a chicken plate especially for her. We sat on the patio and had a very enjoyable lunch. Hats off to Sandy and the chef.

Although a little pricier than I would have...

Although a little pricier than I would have liked, the food was delicious - I had pork with green beans and sliced sweet potatoes. The atmosphere was wonderful, we ate on the patio outside on a warm night. Service was great, we were never in need of anything without being approached directly by our server. Would dine here again on a special occasion, in a second!

Food was presented very well (although quite...

Food was presented very well (although quite pricey), and the wine cellar is quite cogent. The meat was lovely, but the rice was crunchy. The servers very prompt and pleasent. There were a lot of selections on the supper menue that didn't appeal to I, or my partner.