Bites Nearby: Elephant Bar in Dublin

The in Dublin is a great place to dine if you are trying to please a bunch of different palates. It has a vast array of food from low-calorie fare to hearty dishes.

On a recent visit, I had the quick seared ahi tuna salad. It is served rare and has lots of crunchy sweet red peppers and edamame. This dish was $12.95.

One companion had the shrimp and chicken jambalaya. It was a large, spicy portion for $12.95. Another companion had the hardwood grilled teriyaki chicken rice bowl for $9.95. We also had someone try the half a turkey and ham focaccia sandwich and soup combo. The tomato basil bisque was rich and creamy. This dish ran $8.95.

The Elephant Bar has everything from burgers and sandwiches to fish dishes, such as the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, to the Bangkok pad thai with vegetables. And there's Kona BBQ pork ribs and braised lamb shank. The possibilities are plentiful and the prices are reasonable. 

My favorite part of the Elephant Bar is happy hour. You can try some pretty tasty starters such as wok-fried chicken and lettuce wraps, and warm and spicy artichoke dip. You will not want to miss out on the sweet potato fries with tangy dipping sauce. 

These starters, along with selected drinks, cost $3-$5 during happy hour, which is an awesome deal. And get this, while the usual happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., the restaurant also has a night-owl happy hour from 9 p.m. to closing every night. 

Elephant Bar desserts put you in the mood for something sweet. The portions are large, so there's plenty to share. You might want to try a mini indulgence, which is a smaller portion but still plenty to eat. I usually get one of the mini indulgences such as the fresh baked red velvet chocolate cupcake sundae. It costs $2.95 and I will slap the hand of anyone who tries to touch mine. 

Elephant Bar, 7202 Amador Plaza Road, Dublin. 925-803-0170; Hours are 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday; 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.