French & Cambodian flavours meet at The Elephant Walk (663 Main Street, Waltham, MA). The restaurant has garnered numerous accolades since its opening in 1991, and it’s no wonder – the food is delicious!
The crispy Cambodian rouleaux are among the best spring rolls I’ve tasted. They are stuffed with ground pork, peanuts, bean-thread noodles and carrots, and served with lettuce to wrap around the rolls, along with lemongrass and bean sprouts. All of these combine to produce a complex balance of hot and cool, savory and fresh flavours, and crunchy and crisp textures.
Other appetizers I’ve enjoyed include the Maine Blue mussels – a generous portion of mussels sauteed perfectly with garlic, scallions, basil, and bell peppers. The soupe Phnom-Penh is a large bowl of rice noodles in a delicious broth with sliced and ground pork and bean sprouts, reminiscent of Vietnamese pho. It’s large enough to be a lunch entree on its own.
Grilled cod served over French beans, bean sprouts, and a tasty mushroom-miso sauce:
The croustillants aux poires is one of my favourite dishes. The beautiful tower of crispy wontons layered with warm pear and scallions normally includes shrimp, but when it appears on the daily specials menu, it might feature duck. It’s absolutely delicious.
There are many vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu as well, so there is something for everyone. Finally, the Elephant Walk in Waltham donates 3% of its monthly sales to a nonprofit organization fighting poverty. What’s there not to love about this place?
The Busy Foodie 