Elements Restaurant

Pictures canf even begin to explain what an experience this is! And an experience it is, I did the 15 courses which is definitely worth the time and money. The service is wonderful at explaining each plate and how they work together as well as the chefs vision. Also the staff was very nice in general. Will be joining again.

We spent our anniversary here for dinner with our waitress Caroline. The service was impeccable as Caroline was very knowledgeable, professional and attentive. We did the 15 course pairing the the food and wine were perfectly paired. Every course was special and we loved the whole experience!

Post-pandemic experience: Still five stars ⭐️! I recently reserved our anniversary dinner here and it was amazing. We had the privilege of being hosted by Claudia, a wine expert, she was very accommodating and very knowledgeable about deeper aspects of the prefix sequence and the pairing. We will undoubtedly be coming back for another special event. Pre-pandemic experience: What an interesting and exquisite experience. I took a chance on this upscale gem for it’s promises of an open kitchen and amazingly modern style of fine dining. This was a special occasion, my wife’s birthday and my teenage daughters first prefix menu experience. Elements hit 5 out of 5 on all accounts from the experience itself, to all the extras that came with. The wine pairing came with one of the most amazingly knowledgeable wine experts that I have had the pleasure of being treated by. His name was Daniel, and I just want to make it a point of how impressive of an impact his knowledge made on me and my wife. The service was top notch, chefs were cosmic, best steak I have ever had in my life and I have had hundreds of filets at fine venues. The price was worth the experience. If you have half the experience we had, it will be enough to leave a magnificent impression.

Wow! Delicious food 🤤 I could not fault it. Super tasting, so many flavour, I have to say the ribeye steak and the ice cream were my highlight. Also had the tea time cocktail 👌🏻. I am from France and U.K. and I have to say I wasn’t expecting those portion sizes, I would recommend skipping lunch on the day.

This was an awesome experience. I tried the chef's menus tasting and it was one of the best culinaryexperiences i've had. I don't remember a dish that I didn't like. My favorite was the wagyu ribeye steak dish. I thought I knew how to prepare steak, but this is another level of cooking.

It looks like I can't write multiple reviews for a site, so I'll add onto my previous review. We had the chef's tasting menu on NYE-eve and everything was incredible. Before I get to the food, the service was amazing. Everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable. Even better is that they are open to sharing any detail about the meal. We had the wine pairing and the sommelier was a delight. Her name escapes me, which is a shame since she remembered us from 2 years earlier. This is the first time we had the tasting menu and it did not disappoint. The highlights for me were: The seafood/mushroom dumplings Madai 4 ways Black Cod Wagyu Ribeye Tahitian Vanilla This might have been the 2nd best ribeye I've ever had (another top-5 was also from here). The Tahitian vanilla was quickly devoured even after 14 previous courses. So good. Not to put any of the other courses down... I love squid (it was cooked perfectly) and my dining mate loved the caviar egg. While I'd recommend the tasting menu, I'd simply suggest you try to visit for any of the food.

My first time there was for my birthday dinner, partially due to close proximity and good reviews. Certainly the chefs and the service surpassed my expectations with their great presentation and excellent world class food with mainly local ingredients. Being a world traveler and in comparison to many good restaurants I have been to I can comfortably say that everything was excellent at Michelin star level. Keep up the great work!

The name is not visible outside, but the front desk at Mistral can help you! Elements is upstairs. The food is just so amazing and delicious. They really look after your dietary restrictions and ensure that you are being served just as amazing food as any!! Service was great too. 10/10 would go again!

Elements is not a meal but a dining experience. We did the 15 course chefs tasting to commemorate a life milestone occasion. Elements was the best experience we’ve EVER had in a restaurant. The restaurant is basic but it’s fun to see the magic being created in the open kitchen The food is presented as ART! Each tasting is prepared with thought and tastes divine. David guided us through our 3.5 hour experience. Next time we will add the wine pairing and take an Uber, LoL! Highly recommend Elements for a VERY unique and spectacular dining experience!

I actually felt like I was in the Netflix series, The Chef's Table. The experience was worth every penny. We did the 5 course meal and we got way more food than we expected. It was hard not to try the bread even though we wanted to save room. Everything from start to finish was prepared and looked like artwork. My absolute favorite was the Wagyu beef dish and the blueberry dessert as seen in the pictures. Kudos to the staff and servers who made the experience flawless.

Awesome place! The food was delicious. The staff was not extremely friendly but know exactly what they are doing and how to serve their clients. We were impressed with the open kitchen. The smoke quail’s eggs, the roasted beet salad and the pheasant dish were phenomenal. It’s a great experience in downtown Princeton.

Great experience at this restaurant. One menu. Multiple courses hand picked and crafted by chef. Wine pairing was wonderful too. All food entries offer unique flavors and beautifully designed. Service A+++. You must try this place!

We had such a great evening at Elements last night. We went for the 4 course menu which was excellent. I went for the sea bream carpaccio, the bay scallops, the ribeye and the cheese icecream (which was much better than what I would have expected). The ambiance in the restaurant was nice and cosy. We were seated next to the kitchen which I loved because then I got a chance to see the beautiful work they did while preparing the food. We also went for the wine pairing which I recommend as it provides a nice full experience. We will for sure come back.

PS: the place is wheelchair accessible but not really kids friendly! Fine dining at its best: elegant, intimate, relaxing atmosphere. The place is fairly small, but that makes your experience feel even more personal. They really make you feel like they are there just for you, doing their best to give you your best unique experience. You can order a la carte, but their are 2 other better options: a 4 course menu (which is actually not too much, just the perfect amount of food - PS: i’m a small person and cannot put up with big amounts of food) or the chef’s tasting (more amazing food, if you can put up with it). Everything had an exquisite taste. What surprised me was how each dish served tasted different than what you would expect by just looking at it. The warm “homemade” bread and the butter made us wish we could order more of them to go for later 😂 the ribeye was literally melting in your mouth, the mashed potato was creamy but super light, the chocolate dessert was the right amount of sweetness and refreshment leaving you feeling satisfied, without that sugar rush you get after most desserts! The best thing is that they change the menu all the time! Hehe :) you can tell I loved it, don’t you?

If you like to try many items that you most likely have never eaten then this is the place. We had a company dinner in the private dining area and it was amazing. Excellent service, quality, presentation and flavor. Each of many dishes were served to our entire party at the same time. The chef explained in detail each dish. Also, has an excellent wine selection.

Amazing! We went for our anniversary. We ordered the chef tasting in advance. The food was superb! It did take almost 4 hours, which we were told it would be. Just amazing!

Unbelievable, just finished dinner and it was fantastic. Not only was the food great, but the service, staff and chefs were great. Everyone was warm and welcoming, explaining every dish and answering any questions. One of the Best places. A must for foodies and a great experience for anyone.

Everything was perfect down to the way I could observe the kitchen doing their cleaning at the end of the night. I loved every bite and wanted to thank the chefs in person but didn’t have the opportunity to do so. I loved the 5 course tasting menu. Amazing wine pairings that were so well selected. Nothing overpowered the food and they were delicious and they were explained very well. I will absolutely go back and I highly recommend it!

We always have a wonderful dinner at Elements. The staff is so kind, drinks are delicious and the food is so creative and delicious. One of our favorite spots to celebrate special occasions and go on a nice Date night.

We had our wedding dinner at Mistral but we were so thrilled when elements offered to make our hors d'oeuvres. Our wedding dinner was initially supposed to be at elements, but due to indoor dining restrictions in NJ at the time, we switched our dinner to be at Mistral. It was a treat to get a taste of our original plan. My husband is a chef and was thrilled with the options, especially the foie gras!

Absolutely amazing food, mostly from local ingredients. Meticulously prepared and creatively served. On the expensive side, but well worth it. Definitely recommend!

Great experience! Food was amazing! Caroline was super knowledgeable and well spoken. She knew details about every dish & more!

An exceptional fine-dining experience, and I’m not quite sure what other people’s comments were about the undersized portions. The portions may be smaller; the food quality and presentation were excellent, and the service was more than professional as well as accommodating.

Great dining experience! Must try! By far the best dinner experience in this area. Food and service were outstanding. Dishes were creative, gorgeous, and cooked to perfection. Thank you so much! Will be back.

Elements is easily the most unique dining experience in Princeton, maybe in all of Central Jersey. The experience we had wasn't just in what they served, which was an 8 course meal of various seafood and meat dishes (including dessert) all exquisitely prepared and delicious, but in that it was served over a 4-hour period, so diners basically have their table for the night, with no rush. We went on New Year's Eve, so it actually worked perfectly, leaving just in time to be home by midnight, but you need to be in the mood for this type of experience. The waitstaff was excellent, very attentive and informative, presenting each creative dish with the correct accoutrement. The chef also allows substitutions, if you or someone in your party can't eat one of the prix fixe items. This all comes with a hefty price tag, but it's worth treating yourself for a special occasion. My only critique was that the brightness of the dining room did nothing to set the mood and although I enjoyed being able to see my menu, the ambiance would be a bit more magical if they turned the lights down.

Truly one of the most creative and best executed meals I have ever had. The presentation was perfect and the food was impeccably prepared in every course. You can see the experience and talent in the kitchen (literally) all over every dish. Absolute pleasure to visit and would be happy to come back. The location is great as well!

My wife & I love to go here for a special occasion . High end dinning experience that doesn't feel stuffy. Expertly curated wine list with experienced staff to speak to the pairings. Dishes that have been perfected.

This place is amazing. Some places in Jersey are 4-5 stars but does not have the same meaning/taste of a 4-5 star in like NY or Chi. Everything the restaurant brought to the table was delicious. So happy to be so close to a wonderful spot where I'm able to bring my wife out to dinner and celebrate. Thanks for a wonderful meal and experience!

came here to celebrate my graduation & had a great experience. highly recommend the happy hour menu/sitting at the bar for cheaper prices! i really enjoyed the pink moon oysters & blackberry with cremeux. very fresh, unique and well balanced. hope to return sometime!

I really wish I could give this five stars, and someways. The experience was like that, but it just wasn’t as over-the-top as I had hoped. Still, completely worth it, and a really lovely time with my dad for their Christmas Eve tasting menu. The food overall was really great, a little fish-heavy for my liking, but still fresh and well cooked. It was kind of a bummer to be stuck in the back room when I knew that there was a beautiful open kitchen concept in another space that people, who were paying the same amount of money as we were, were getting to experience. The waitstaff were lovely and warm, but there were some wait times between courses that were overlong. Again, though, I am super glad we went and had a proper tasting menu fancy dinner. Just as a note, parking was a little bit of a struggle for us, even though it was Christmas Eve. We drove around for a while and found a place on the street. So just know that it might not be completely easy to get a spot as soon as you arrive - you might want to build a little bit of time into your arrival for that.

I will be more rigorous than usual given the rating of the restaurant. On the bright side, I’d like to highlight the meats: the “sashimi” and the wagyu were simply delicious! The appetizers were exquisite and flavorful. I think the salmon was too rare for me, but I think it’s a matter of taste. The bread was good but I’ve seen better in lower rated restaurants (my wife thought the crust was too hard). The desert was just ok, the taste of the “ice cream” could be a little more delicate. Overall I had a good experience, but I don’t think it’s a place I’d go back if I factor the price in.

My brother chose Elements for his birthday celebration! I enjoyed my first experience of a 5 course tasting menu. However, something didn't sit well and my stomach became upset by the time I got home. Staff was very attentive. It was an experience!!

Could so easily have been 5 stars. Let's start with the basics, for a set menu with a good bottle of wine you are paying 250USD. No problem if everything is top notch. So firstly the room you are sitting in feels like a canteen, the wallpaper may have been very popular in the 80s and the spotlights a little too harsh, but that was nothing compared to the dirty bashed up table they sit you down at, seriously I would not have picked this table up from the side of the street on a Princeton Monday morning. Then the water comes, and it's fizzy and filtered apparently but we couldn't drink it as it tasted bracken and chlorinated no bottled choices which is fair enough but we couldn't drink the water. Now onto the reason why you come to a restaurant, the food. The amuse bouche were stunning, beautifully balanced and tasty, next was the the linguine, spoiled by over salting the sauce, no other taste but salt. Tried the amazing Japanese squid, again over salty, such a shame as the quality of the squid was amazing. Then the meat. The meats were excellent but the accompanying sauces and especially spinach were dominated by salt.We left the plate half eaten, such a shame. Dessert was very nice. Overall a very hit and miss experience. Convinced though that this was down to the person tasting the plates having a too higher tolerance for the level of salt needed to balance the food out, such a shame as this could have been another 5 star (which I gave last year) experience.

Good food. All the dishes were made to perfection. The highlight was the Madai fish served in 4 different styles. Cons: For a place of this reputation the service component was below par. Even the basics of service was not followed. The dinner options had upcharge. That's not then exactly an option, is it?

Atmosphere was good. Toilet needs more attention. I don’t want to see pink line in the toilet at an upscale restaurant. Service is good but my serviceman has too soft voice. It was hard to understand the food explanation. Food was okay. They use high quality ingredients. Oyster was great. Tuna and shrimp were too salty. Tartare was too sweet. Steak was very disappointing. Small area of fascia was not removed. I wonder why juniper was used for smocking steak. It created too strong aroma. Scone and bread were great. Kimchi was used in some dishes. It was over-permeated with strong sourness and acidity and undermined taste. They may want to consider fresh one unless the acidity is important part of theme. Lastly, sesame-coated chocolate ball was good and fresh. I would like to suggest using freshly roasted sesame to increase the nutty flavor and aroma instead of raw one.

I came with my dad for the 16 course tasting menu. It’s organized into 6 bites, 5 seafood dishes, 1 vegetarian dish, duck, wagyu, and 2 desserts, plus a bread basket and petit fours. We didn't realize that it would take 4 hours. We didn't eat slowly; there were gaps between the larger courses which seemed unintentional, like the kitchen was struggling to keep up. While we enjoyed the longer experience, I think the expected length is something guests should know when reserving. Some miscellaneous thoughts: The stuffed oysters had a nice crunch, and acidity from the charred lemon. The smoked brassicas were served on a plate filled with charcoal lumps (still not sure how I feel about that), and the outside was nicely crunchy, contrasting with the creamy interior. From here, I feel that the savory dishes were all very rich (they usually either had a thick cream somewhere or used fatty meat) with little crunch, acidity, or tanginess to balance it out. Palate cleansers (e.g. sushi ginger) would have helped a lot. The first dessert, the white chocolate with anise, was a perfect palate cleanser, beautiful, and delicious, and my favorite menu item. The tuna served 4 ways was fun, and the vegetarian dish was amazing. I found the bread crusts in the breadbasket to be tough to bite off, but the inner sections of bread were delicious, as was the butter. For the prawn dish (where we were served one delicious bowl of soup with a flan-like texture, and a separate crunchy part), we were told to finish with the crunchy part. However, I would have preferred to start with crunchy and wash it down with the soup. I think leaving people to eat in the order they desire would work better here. The duck also tasted just a tad tough. Other than that, the individual dishes were delicious, although as mentioned, more textural variety and acidity, or palate cleansers, would really make each dish’s flavors stand out more. I found myself craving lettuce throughout. Something light, cool, crunchy, and refreshing to contrast with the fattiness and creaminess. The dish presentations were showstoppers. Snapping turtle served in a turtle’s shell, whole crab claws with burnt ends to create a gorgeous ombre, fish collars with fish fins sticking out and lovely green and yellow flowers/leaves draped on top, mother-of-pearl plates, etc. Definitely ostentatious and unique. My dad felt that it bordered on faffiness, but I suppose that may be expected at this price point (the bill was $520 for 2, including gratuity and 1 mocktail). The lighting is dimmed to something comfortable and relaxing. You can see the theme in the decor, with many of the items recalling earth, water, air and fire. The open kitchen is so cool. I loved seeing the chefs pluck fresh herbs from the plants. And I appreciate the high quality and variety of ingredients used. Nothing overdone like truffles or caviar. A note on service—our main server Caroline was clearly the most experienced. She was warm and friendly, and absolutely elevated our experience. However, some dishes were brought out by servers who I think didn't realize that with the ambient noise, it was difficult for us to hear them while they were explaining the dishes to us. There was also the issue that, when putting the plates down, the cutlery sometimes got upended. Given that everything was put on placemats, I'd hope that the restaurant would train its staff on how to place the cutlery using the placemats as a guide to ensure proper distancing. Also—empty water glasses. Sometimes, our water glasses were filled up promptly, and sometimes they weren't. Overall, I can't say I'd recommend the 15-course chef's menu, given the price point and the issues I've mentioned. My dad and I certainly enjoyed our time here. The dish presentation was truly extraordinary and unique, even amongst the fine dining places we've been, and seems to be where the team truly excels. However, there are some obvious improvements that could be made to the food and service.

Great atmosphere, good drinks, but the food wasn’t the best. Everything was plated very well and the Presentation was great but it seemed like they spent more time presenting the food then actually preparing it. The service was okay, because we were young we felt as if the wait staff did not pay attention to us as much as some of the older couples. This restaurant fell very short of the expectations sadly.

I came here with my family for Easter brunch, which was a $85 prix fixe menu. The waitstaff were generally inattentive though friendly (not genuinely warm though), and the meal was poorly paced despite being a 3-course brunch. Even the bread took a significant amount of time to be brought to the table after we ordered. I hope the restaurant can come to learn that courses should be spaced out in order to optimize dining experience, not just for the sake of making guests wait. Our reservation was at 1:15 PM, and most guests had cleared out by the time we were waiting for our second course. The house-made sparkling water was almost completely flat, and when I explained that it was flat and asked to have it swapped to a different bottle, there was no apology and we were just given still water instead. The plating of the food was excellent, and the thorough explanations by a specific staff member were much appreciated. The dumplings were fantastic. My sister’s linguine was great. The madai done four ways was a highlight, though the grilled tail was no longer hot. However, the savory courses were generally overly salted just as they are at Mistral. The second course (steak with eggs) wasn’t at the right temperature either by the time it was served. The eggs were outrageously salty. There were two sweet dessert options- one was Tahitian vanilla and the other was the chocolate tart. The buckwheat honey on the website’s Easter brunch menu was not on today’s menu, which is okay because there is a disclaimer about how menus are subject to change. However, my sister ordered the vanilla so she and I could try out to different desserts and hers (vanilla ice cream, seasoned apple, and a warm biscuit) was nearly identical to the chocolate tart, except the “elements” of her dessert were separated and there was no chocolate tart or fried pieces of biscuit in addition to everything listed in parentheses. The dessert was delicious, but having only two options that were 80% identical billed as separate dishes made us feel a little cheated (see photo though some portions of the dishes are obstructed). Gratuity was an automatic 20% billed as a “guest experience” charge, which explained why the service was inadequate and inattentive. Please understand why guaranteeing a 20% tip is going to compromise the quality of service. It is important for waitstaff to tailor the pace and style of service to the courses/meal being served and to pay attention to the needs of individual tables.

This is the first time I am writing a review and, unfortunately, it's because I am quite disappointed with my recent dining experience. The food was underwhelming - the dishes were ordinary, and I can say that I could make better at home. It was definitely not worth the price charged. Compared to other restaurants in the vicinity, this one falls short in terms of taste. Additionally, the ambiance was just average and to make matters worse, there were a lot of mosquitoes while we were dining. Overall, a disappointing experience and I would not recommend this place when there are clearly better options available in the area.

Just a tip, the restaurant is above mistral and there is no signage indicating this. I am shocked at such a pricey and expensive restaurant the host would be so rude. I was met with a red headed woman with short hair who begrudgingly showed us to our seat and acted like we didn’t exist. She kept dismissing us when we came and had to show her in fact had a reservation. Then they messed up our reservation, I had scheduled for the 15 course menu and they again kept telling us it was only 8 course available until they finally agreed we did book the 15 course. We got our first course 45 minutes after we sat down. The waiter didn’t even explain the courses as they came. I literally had to ask him what everything was and he would get annoyed I was asking. I’m shocked that they have such a high price point and such horrible service. It’s too bad because some of food was so good. The first few courses were phenomenal. The lamb was the worst piece of lamb I’ve ever had. But the rest was actually really great. But the service is just terrible and everyone has an attitude like they don’t want to be there. And since gratuity is included, it’s no wonder they don’t even try.