11/04/06

Disappointing and pricier than comparable restaurants in Phoenix

by ptbrennan

Eleve was overpriced for a grocery-anchored strip mall location - especially since it didn't seem at all great in any particular way. The service was mostly good, but the server dropped several hints throughout the evening about his tip - probably because we were using a discount certificate.

The wine list was very limited, and the server could only recommend the two most expensive bottles on the list. The food was good, but often too rich for what I would have perceived, such as with the chicken breast dish that had butter in everything. And the richness of the food wasn't really any consolation for the disappointing ambience because it was really just gourmet comfort food. Also, the cotton hand towels in the bathroom were not properly clean, and we received a piece of silverware with food debris on it - both red flags in my mind that the staff is not as concerned with the overall guest experience as they should be. And to top it off, the chef and server could be easily heard in the open kitchen, discussing how terrible Friday evenings are because of all the walk-in business.

Eleve succeeded in turning me off from becoming a regular. With so many restaurants in the area, I couldn't possibly recommend this one to others. It was absolutely not worth the $55 per person. If you are willing to spend that much on dinner, why not step it up and go somewhere that is truly "great".....

• Pros: We were the first table, and the server let us in early
• Cons: We could have done far better for the price

A low-pressure spin on eclectic gourmet.

by Contributor

In Short
Chef and owner Michael Mishkin tempers culinary elegance with neighborhood conviviality and emerges as a formidable rival to his grandiose competitors. Quality and simplicity are keys to the artful choices in food and wine. The crowning glory here is the filet with Israeli feta. Conclude with candied pear and homemade blue-cheese ice cream--a curious match for the adventurous palate.

02/15/06

Lack of Respect

by scottsdaledoc

While the food was good (not great...nor worth the prices charged), it was an overall poor dining experience. We waited 45 minutes for our table even though we had made reservations more than two weeks in advance. And while that may be understandable, the restaurant should have offered us a bottle of wine or desserts or something as an apology for keeping us waiting so long. Their failure to do so was rude, as it evidenced a lack of respect for our time. Accordingly, we will not dine there again.

09/19/05

GREAT FOOD, COOL PLAZA

by vangomo

I recently moved to Phoenix from San Francisco. I was looking for a neighborhood restaurant and found it in my own backyard. I wasn't too sure since it's in a shopping plaza but the food and service at Eleve was GREAT. I was referred to them from the staff at Mane Attraction Salon (also GREAT!) who were referred by the barista at Hava Java. This plaza has a very cool neighborhood feel. It reminds me of home.

• Pros: fresh ingredients, reasonable pricing, yummy
• Cons: parking

08/12/04

Romantic

by liszoe

Why isn't this restaurant listed in the most romantic??? Eleve is a wonderful experience from beginning to the delicious blue cheese ice cream with pear dessert... Try it - fabulous. Mike makes you feel like one of the family.

I can't fault this restaurant, the best dining experience in Phoenix.

• Pros: Delicious, Ambience, Romantic