Elements Bistro Chef Cooks In: Chef Art Bonee from Elements Bistro in West Hartford gets cooking in the "Better Connecticut" WFSB studio..

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Elements Bistro - "An Affordable Gem" (from the Hartord Courant) in Elmwood

Forget those expensive and oh-so-trendy restaurants in West Hartford Center. These days, foodies throughout the region know Elmwood is where the action is. Elements Bistro is the latest addition to the south end's burgeoning dining scene. This smart new eatery occupies a spot in the newly refurbished Elmwood Plaza, and on a recent Friday night, it was packed.

The look: Warm butterscotch walls, dark wood accents and interesting lighting give the place an upscale look. Oversized vases, carved wooden masks and other intriguing decorative pieces are artfully arranged throughout the dining room. The bar area, in particular, is cozy and inviting, and the women's room is one of the most stylish restaurant lavs I've ever encountered.

The vibe: In a compact and walkable neighborhood such as Elmwood, many patrons are likely to be folks from the area. Any night of the week you will find the dining room filled with young professionals and empty nesters. The bar is the kind of place you'll want to bring the crew from the office for after-work drinks.

The eats: A little of everything: fish and chips, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, with plenty of vegetarian options. The chili comes in either red (with beef and sausage) and green, a veggie version with tangy tomatillos, chili peppers and a generous sprinkling of jack cheese. The house salad, a real bargain at $4.95, is a fresh mix of greens, grape tomatoes, jicama, red peppers and cilantro. But it's the oversized warm goat cheese crouton and the sweet-spicy ancho chili vinaigrette that elevate this dish beyond the ordinary. The burgers, particularly the house-made sausage-and-pepper version, won raves at our table. The house-made potato chips that accompany the sandwiches and burgers are excellent, but if you're watching calories, choose the jicama slaw, which provides all the crunch (and flavor) without the extra fat. And speaking of calories, the key lime cheesecake is worth the indulgence: light and creamy, with just enough pucker-inducing tartness. Other choices include an extremely rich chocolate ganache cake and a homespun apple crisp.

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