Following the lead of fast-casual, culinary-minded restaurants like Panera Bread and Pei Wei Asian Diner, Tampa's Red Elephant Cafe is a similar concept, but benefits from independent ownership and an eclectic menu that follows suit.
The sibling of Red Elephant Pizza and Grill on N. Dale Mabry, Red Elephant Cafe is a near-identical restaurant, but instead of sitting down and ordering, it utilizes the order at the counter, fill up your soda, we bring you your food method much like the fast-casual dining spots mentioned above.
With prices to match - the average meal hovering around the $9-10 mark with a drink - Red Elephant seems like a welcome addition and refreshing change from the standard fare of nationally-owned fast casual restaurant chains which dot the Tampa dining landscape.
But the mark of true success for us, is the quality of the product delivered inside. Touting a long list of signature and customizable personal and larger pizzas, it's easy to tell these are the pride and joy here amongst other items like sandwiches, wraps, rice bowls and salads at Red Elephant Cafe.
Their classic pepperoni, in all honesty, looks like something you'd order and slice up at a kid's birthday party with a golden, but suspiciously perfect, round crust; seasoned pepperonis, and a healthy layer of melty, lightly-crisped cheese.
Despite its more microwave oven than wood-fired appearance, the pizza at Red Elephant Cafe is sloppy-looking quite good with a center that packs a pillowy-crisped crust that plays nicely with a helping of surprisingly fresh-tasting marinara and mozzarella cheese. The actual crust-crust, though, leaves a little to be desired with a bland, cardboard-y taste and overly chewy texture that does its just but not much more.
A side caesar salad, while easy to see why it would normally be acceptable was drowned in a bath of salty caesar dressing that really just killed the thing. I would've seriously accepted if they asked if I wanted more lettuce with my dressing, but that's not usually how it goes.
Overall, Red Elephant is definitely a nice change of pace from the standard roster of affordable, fast-casual restaurants in the area. It's got its pitfalls, but nothing that would make us stray away again in the future.
What do you think? Have you visited, or plan to visit, Red Elephant Cafe? Let us know your thoughts with a rating and review on the Red Elephant Cafe 813area business listing.
