Elephant Bar and Yardhouse are two restaurants that will be opening up in the Northridge Fashion Center later this year.  A summer construction date has been set for both restaurants, with a grand opening for Yardhouse set for the fall and for Elephant Bar it is tentatively set for summer. Both restaurants will be conveniently located near Pacific theatres, joining existing restaurants such as Wood Ranch Barbecue and Grill, California Pizza Kitchen and Claim Jumpers. They will be part of an outdoor amphitheater, being built to house local concerts and events. Each can be categorized as serving American cuisine, but offer unexpected dishes sure to excite your taste buds, inspired by several countries around the globe.

Elephant Bar
Walking into this restaurant transports you to an exotic East Asian location, with a giant elephant statue as the focal point in the entryway. With its first location opened in 1980, Elephant Bar’s menu has transformed over the years to include more pan-Asian influences. Popular dishes include the quick seared Ahi Tuna appetizer, the Kona BBQ pork ribs, and crispy teriyaki chicken.  If the more exotic global flavors are not your cup of tea, they also offer a variety of delicious burgers, sandwiches and salads. The bar is fully stocked and the deals offered are a major reason guests return to this restaurant. Their happy hour menu includes $3 margaritas and domestic draft beer, combos including a burger, fries, and your choice of domestic beer for under $7, and the popular sweet potato fries along with other appetizers are under $4. Happy Hour is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 p.m. to closing time every day of the week. Currently, the closest locations to Northridge include Burbank, Simi Valley and Santa Clarita.

Yardhouse
Described as having American cuisine, the menu includes the typical burger, steak and sandwich options. Yardhouse does branch out their menu to include delicious dishes such as the Spicy Jambalaya and Maui Chicken. They also have a portion of the menu called “gluten sensitive,” which offers adjustments to items on the menu to accommodate patrons needing to avoid gluten. While they don’t have a fully gluten-free menu, they have made an attempt to make it easier for customers to order and be aware of the gluten items in their dishes. The bar includes various wines, domestic and imported beer, martinis, mojitos, and a list of specialty drinks including the pineapple express, a blend of Sky Infusions pineapple and Malibu pineapple rum. Happy-hour specials include various type of martini and beer options for less than $5, $2 off wine ordered by the glass, and half price for select appetizers and pizzas, including the popular spinach cheese dip. Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday-Wednesday from 10 p.m. to closing. The Northridge location will be the first in the San Fernando Valley.