elements / Sanctuary on Camelback Sunday Brunch - Restaurant Review

elements Sunday Brunch - What I Liked

• Garden and mountain views from the dining room
• Patio dining overlooking the pool with mountain views
• Have just the buffet or add an entree
• Delicious, warm cinnamon rolls!

Sunday Brunch at elements - Be Aware

• The breakfast buffet is limited
• Not much meat here
• Small bites of pastries are offered at the buffet, not too many varieties

elements (with a lower case "e"!) is the premier dining experience at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. The elegance at Sanctuary at Camelback is actually quite understated - no huge mirrored lobbies or grand entryways. Similarly, elements is a not-too-big dining room adjacent to jade bar, a smallish, popular bar with live music on Friday nights. Both elements and jade connect to the outdoor patio. The dining room decor is stylish and modern, but warm with comfortably spaced tables and booths. While we were seated at a cozy booth for two, right up against the glass for the best view, I didn't find the booth all that comfortable. Affording a wonderful exterior view, there is no interior view from those booths except a painted wall. A booth might be the right choice if the two of you want privacy, but not if you like to look around the dining room at all. I would opt for a table next time.

Resort attire is appropriate here, but shorts and casual wear are also permitted. Families are welcome. Free valet parking is available (gratuity not included).

You can indulge in the buffet only at the elements Sunday brunch for $32 per person. That includes sparkling wine, coffee and/or tea, but not juice. If you want a mimosa, there's an extra charge for OJ. It also includes a wonderful cinnamon roll for each paying brunch guest. For an extra $10 you may also select from about eight entrees to complement the buffet.

Signature cocktails are $14 each, with a few select brunch cocktails available for between $10 and $13. About 40 wines are available by the glass, with prices ranging from $9 to $25 per glass. elements is consistently recognized by Wine Spectator as having one of the best wine lists in Arizona.

Anyone who regularly dines in the Valley of the Sun would recognize the name of the Chef of elements at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. He is Executive Chef Beau MacMillan. If you haven't met him at the restaurant, you might have seen him on television on the Food Network in the The Next Iron Chef competition.

Known for his preparation using local, organic ingredients where possible and creating his gourmet dishes with an Asian influence, the Sunday brunch buffet does not stray. Along with antipasti, fruit, cheese, salmon, chilled shrimp and crab legs, several salads and the omelet station, the buffet offers miso soup, edamame and steamed rice.

Your server will deliver warm and delicious cinnamon rolls to your table, complimentary with your meal. Exquisite!

We tried bites of nearly everything on the buffet. Don't expect breakfast potatoes, breakfast meats or any hot entrees other than the made-to-order eggs/omelets and, of course, the soup and rice. Everything I tried was very good, but left me wanting something more substantial other than eggs. The entree selections included two egg dishes, two salads (one with steak and one with ahi), an udon noodles dish with seafood, and three other breakfast-type items: pumpkin zucchini five spice french toast, belgium waffle and red velvet pancake. I was really hoping for an entree featuring meat that wasn't a salad, but meat is a rare commodity at this brunch. At the server's suggestion, I ordered the red velvet pancakes. It was, well, like eating an entire red velvet cake with chocolate sauce and cherries on top! Sweet, warm and incredibly filling, I could never finished those pancakes by myself.

Brunch at elements includes a dessert buffet comprised of individual small items, seven varieties on the day I visited, including fruit tarts, cream puffs and chocolate covered strawberries. I wasn't drawn enough to the desserts, especially after those luscious cinnamon rolls and the red velvet pancakes, to try any.

On certain holidays, like Easter and Mother's Day, elements offers a more elaborate buffet brunch. Naturally, the price is higher on those occasions.

elements is located inside the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain resort. It's quite a lovely, but long walk from the self park area up to the lobby. If you drive past the self-parking lot up the hill you can take advantage of valet parking.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Address:
5700 E. McDonald Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

elements Phone:
480-607-2300

As is common in the industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary meal for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy. All prices and offerings mentioned are subject to change without notice. 05/12