HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) -A new restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg is bringing global flavors and seasonal ingredients to the table.
Elephant Head opened in July at North Liberty Street, in the space where Mashita previously operated. Chef and owner Colin Auckerman said the restaurant has been a dream of his for years.
Auckerman said his work with local farmers and producers helped shape the restaurant and its menu.
“As I mentioned, a big part of my time in Harrisonburg has been building relationships with local producers and just kind of developing my technique, my cooking technique, around that. And that’s really what I would like Elephant to be, is a kind of a showcase of my style of cooking as well as the ingredients that the Valley has to offer.”
The food uses Mediterranean techniques with influences from North Africa, the Middle East and India. Auckerman said the goal is to offer something unique while keeping the dishes approachable.
“The food, I think, while unique to Harrisonburg, is still pretty approachable. It’s at a price point that’s, you know, not unreasonable for a lot of people.”
The menu is also constantly changing. Auckerman said he works with local farmers to see what ingredients are available and builds the menu around them.
“But essentially, the menus have been changing nearly every day lately. And it’s really just based on what we can get and, you know, the public’s reception of dishes.”
Auckerman said that flexibility is part of what he envisioned for Elephant Head — a place where customers can try something different without feeling intimidated.
“I hope that people can come here with an open mind, and, you know, there are maybe some words on the menu that you might not have heard before. But I feel like if people can take a moment to look at the dish, it’s still most of what we’re doing here is still pretty familiar to most people. It’s just got a little bit of a, you know, hopefully interesting twist.”
Elephant Head also has a full bar program with cocktails designed to complement the food.
The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday and brunch on Sundays.
Auckerman said his goal is simple: to build a restaurant he would want to visit himself.
For those looking to switch up their next night out, Elephant Head offers a rotating menu built around local ingredients and global flavors.
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Dining and Cooking