The Elderberry House

A beautiful European oasis, tucked away on a peaceful hill, Elderberry House is the best sit-down restaurant in Oakhurst thus far. An absolute gem. Andrea, our server was very charming. She introduced the dishes as they were set down, but did not linger like the server we had during our previous visit.

The food was smashing - every bite made us want for more. My dinner tasted like abalone in a scallop body. There isn't one complain about the food or the service this evening. Our out-of-town guests gushed over the food and have already made plans for another visit.

Note: It was our 30th wedding anniversary celebration, and our friends 39th year. When Andrea brought the plates of desserts, the words 'Happy Anniversary' was written on our plates. THAT is so thoughtful of the establishment.

Location: May be a little difficult to find, but don't give up
Service: 5 stars
Food: 5 stars
Presentation: 5 stars
Price: Start saving now

** Check out my last image... art on a plate :)

Erna's Elderberry House, Oakhurst: 16 February 2020

I've heard and read about this place and am curious to see what a chateau might look like - and I feel that Elderberry House in Oakhurst may just satisfy my curiosity. Elderberry House is located just 20-minutes from the South Gate of Yosemite Park.

Sunday Brunch: 5-course tasting menu at $68 per person. The price is steep - but an absolute 'must visit' with that special person for a special celebration. It was very clever of them to use Valentine's Day (money-making day by marketing companies) as the theme for the weekend. It's amazing to see what some companies do to lure in customers. They decorated the dining room with fresh roses hung from the ceiling, a pair of roses sat in a small vase at each table - and the fireplace was ablaze.

This was an epic experience - a feast for the eyes, the palate, and the soul. The team try to create an elegant European atmosphere. Now, not having visited Europe - I could not compare, but I felt that they have gone over the top on this one. Even though the restaurant has received numerous honors and awards - some of the things they did was not at the top of my ranking.

Food: Overall, the presentation was beautiful - but all three of us had mixed reviews about the taste and texture.

Blood Orange Frappe (kumquat, coconut winter flora): I thought this chilled drink was a very nice opener to what's to come. It was refreshing - a little sweet, a bit tangy - but a nice palate cleanser. (5 or 5)

Crêpes Suzette (spiced Chantilly, local pecan, raspberry): Crêpes Suzette is a French dessert but today, they served this dish as a starter. I'm not complaining. I enjoyed my dish though the spiced Chantilly was quite
bitter if eaten on its own. (4 of 5) One point off for the semi warm food.

Local Asparagus Frittata (herb infused chèvre, pea shoot, first of the year tomatoes): This dish looked very elegant to me - but my guest thought it lacked seasoning.

Highland Farm's Poached Egg (Yukon potato ecrasse, baby leeks, house cured salmon, dill creme): A work of art - I was enjoying looking at my plate of food and had to force my hands to dig my fork into it. The poached egg broke apart to reveal a beautiful bright yolk. I thought the house cured salmon smelled a tad fishy but love the potatoes. (3.4 of 5) One point off for the semi warm food.

Pesto Glazed Free Range Chicken (anson mill's polenta, local carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, brussels sprouts): I did not try this dish. My guest mentioned that there were some unrecognizable items on her
plate. Now, for me - knowing what I is very important so I feel for her.

Herb Roasted Rack of Lamb (pommes purée, local asparagus, radish, cauliflower, tapenade demi-glaze): The lamb was delicious - it had a nutty crunch, and was superbly done. Everything on this plate worked well together, including the potato puree, which I thought helped me finish my vegetables. (4 of 5) One point off for the semi warm food.

Dulcey Chocolate Semifreddo (strawberry, almond, mint): Here's a shout of praise - the finale. It was so good, I wanted to lick my plate. (5 of 5)

Coffee: Tasted watered-down.

Croissant: Yummy

Butter & Home-made Jam: Loved it.

Location: It's in a serene location, overlooking matured trees and shrubs. Don't drive too fast or you might miss it. Using the GPS helps.

Parking: Plenty of FREE parking.

Service: I am at odds with this. When we called to make our table reservation, we were greeted on the phone by Rani. It was during meal time but she was very accommodating. She did not rush us into reserving a table - but took time to ask about food allergies and if we're celebrating an occasion. She also invited us on a tour of the chateau. (5 of 5)

We drove over 3 hours to get there. We were early, but I rang the doorbell and Kari opened the door for us. She showed us to the back garden and invited us to walk around the grounds. When it was time to sit down, I tried to open the door... it was locked. I peeked inside the dining room and could see they were already seating guests. (3 of 5)

During the service, Lauren, our server wanted to take away our guest's frappe. When she was stopped, she cackled her way into the kitchen. Maybe she was just, nervous but the harsh laughing sound made us uncomfortable. (1 of 5)

Elderberry House was opened in 1984 by Erna - who hailed from Vienna, Austria. The establishment offers fine-dining experience. For years, Erna's restaurant has consistently won Forbes Travel Guide's four-star award - the only restaurant in the Central Valley to do so.

So, would we return? Well, the food was mostly good - but the food temperature was not quite right. All the hot dishes were lukewarm. The cold dishes were excellent though. We all felt that the service could use some polishing. They were trying too hard and it showed.