The problems continue for Thai eatery the Elephant on East First Street. Per a tipster: They have a court order on their window today: “NYC vs. Thai Me Up, Inc.” closing them down. And the Elephant has had run ins with the law in previous years... like last July ... and May 2008... Word on the street is they allegedly served an underage auxiliary police officer. If the Elephant remains closed for any period of time, then perhaps the Lower Eastside Girls Club will be able to hold their annual free prom gown giveaway without having anyone call the cops...
[Update: The Elephant was back open this evening...the legal papers were still up on the side...]
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11 comments:
I completely disagree with this post that in unfair and obviously wrote by someone who has a personal issue with someone who maybe don't pay they attention to her that she would like to have. the Elephant is a very nice restaurant run by a perfectly educated and respectful team, very professional and proud of their daily work at the kitchen, bar and floor. I am a regular and will continue going there to enjoy marvelous thai food, delicious cocktails and the best of the companies. Long life to the Elephant!!!
I am so sad to heard negative comment and post talking about other places like Elephant because they have an undercover policeman making money for the city with tickets...
We are regulars and they been so professionals all they time, my girls love elephant.
Go Elephant, go.....We are with you guys.
My name is Adria and I manage the Elephant.
I invite anyone to come at the restaurant and try our food, check on our service and if you see anything for which the elephant should be punished, let me know and I'll do my best to change and correct.
We are committed to our neighbourhood and 1Street, we need your support to survive this hard times and so the 9 families that depend on this restaurant can keep walking with their sons and daughters.
Btw, The Girls Club have all our support and i think they are doing a wonderful job.
Please, be my guest...!
Sincerely,
a
Wow, why would anyone want to close down Elephant? I've been there many times because I love the place, the food and now have become friends with the owners and staff. The managers have always kept the noise down after a certain time. There's so many other clubs, or bars that have a loud crowd and Elephant is just not one of them. I don't know why the Girl's Club would wish for a place to close down when there are people who have been working there for years that depend on them being open for their income. Not to mention, they never served to a minor, it's a restaurant not a club and that's not the crowd they attract. I have sat at the bar and watched how they diligently lower the music at 11PM and check ids. It would be so sad to loose such a great, small and intimate place where the staff actually knows your name when you walk thru the door.
Thank you for all the testimonials. And who said anything about wanting to close the Elephant? Please read the post carefully again. It seems as if the only people who want to close the Elephant is the city ... because someone allegedly served an auxiliary police office who is also a minor.
It is truly a shame, that a small, determined, and respectful business such as the Elephant has to endure such an attack on its fine character.
I have sat at the small dinner bar on many occasions and enjoyed looking out onto the sidewalk and beyond, to the park across the street, always full of children playing games into the early evening. It is a peaceful environment that extends through the restaurant's doors and onto the small candle lit dining room.
The Elephant has quietly sat on 1st street for many years and has always catered to a distinctly mature crowd that expects a serious dining experience. I'm saddened to hear of the unfortunate blemish upon its character.
What was the city thinking when they decided to target this oasis of quiet dining, amidst a sea of loud "alcohol" oriented establishments? The judge behind the decision to punish our "peaceful Elephant" should be lured to the restaurant so that he/she may experience the wonderfully peaceful and mature setting that is the Elephant and realize just how absurd and steeped in ignorance, this disastrous covert operation by city officials has been.
-A very concerned city resident and a huge fan of our "Peaceful Elephant".
Yes, yes, yes... I understand... but bartenders/waitstaff anywhere need to know that you need to ID anyone who may not look of legal age... and why did The Elephant get shuttered by the DOH twice before this? No one has answered that.
I am sure that the people who work at Elephant and who are seasoned bartenders would never serve an underage person. It is simply not the crowd they get there. I spoke to the person who recently served an undercover cop without id and he was well over 40. It was no surprise that the cop did not show up to court when they were summoned there last week. The people who work at Elephant are in the 30's and 40's and know the law well, they have no interest in having young people at there bar or compromising their jobs.
In case that was unclear...the undercover cop was well over 40 years old.
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