Luang Prabang: L'Elephant (February 2012)

My spouse and I tried to dine at L’Elephant in late February 2013, where we were turned away despite the restaurant being completely empty). The host would not even let us sit down for a few minutes to enjoy a drink because they were expecting guests over an hour later; however, the restaurant was COMPLETELY EMPTY when we were turned away, which made us feel totally unwelcome. As a result, we did not attempt to eat at L'Elephant again during our time in Luang Prabang. The restaurant is attractive with many outdoor patio tables adjacent to the sidewalk but separated by a row of lovely potted plants, many indoor tables, and a large bar. The restaurant is located in a block between busy Sisavangvong Road and the river. Even if all of the tables were reserved at L’Elephant, we wonder why they did not offer us a place to sit at the bar to enjoy a quick refreshment instead of turning us away? (Later in the week, we dined at sister restaurant, Coconut Garden, where we were given a warm welcome.) In a colonial-chic building with bamboo shades and hardwood tables, L'Elephant is a longstanding favourite. They serve both Western and Lao cuisine, but on our lunchtime visit the aroma of baking bread was definitely stronger than that of chilli. French fare like frogs' legs and steak tartare grace the menu, but equally popular are their degustation menus of Lao cuisine. Some dishes are traditional like lemongrass pork, while desserts like ginger ice cream are their own creation. The ambience is sophisticated and there's an extensive liste du vin. It's an expensive restaurant by Lao standards with the cheapest set menu starting at 180,000 kip and rising sharply from there. Still, it's a popular restaurant and has a great reputation.