Elements Kitchen Disappoints

There is nothing that ruins a fine dining mood more than a drunken man at a nearby table who talks loudly.  Especially an obnoxious, self centered drunken man.  Unfortunately, that is what we experienced when we tried Elements kitchen in Pasadena.

Located in the beautiful courtyard of the old Pasadena Playhouse, we were seated in a booth next to the prep kitchen window.  That was good and bad.  We watched them make my Farmer's Market salad (photo) and thought,  really for this, you charge $17?  It was entertaining to see them make the desserts, but disappointing to watch them scoop a dollop of creme fraiche from a plastic Alta Dena container. It took the magic of fine dining away. 

We started with Duck Confit "egg rolls" filled with wild rice, Brussels sprouts, veggies and a port and  pomegranate sauce.  It was tasty but greasy.  Next, we ordered the Monk fish Curry ($34?) with ginger, root vegetables, kaffir curry and a delicious steamed rice with nice size chunks of lobster.

For dessert, the Whole Apple Tarte Tatin was a disappointment, because I watched the chef piece it together haphazardly.  The menu stated sweet creme fraiche, instead it tasted like Alta Dena sour cream.

There are too many restaurants in Pasadena that offer small and large plates that are priced more reasonably.  They also seem to know how to contol or keep loud drunks away from guests. Sorry Elements Kitchen I was not at all impressed.