On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Vegetarian [Edit]
Neighborhood: Echo ParkMy favorite restaurant in LA. The food, ambiance, and service are all impeccable.
My favorite starter is the Avocado-Tahini Puree - it is a perfect mixture of flavors and consistencies. For salads, the Elf Salad can't be beat (if you like kale, which I do). For main courses my two favorites are the Portabella Ragout (so rich and delicious - the sauce is out of this world) and the Vegetable Torte (perfect blend of tart and savory flavors).
The ingredients are top notch and it is BYOB which I always love. The coffee is stellar to which is always a clincher for me.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I think about Elf Cafe's Gorgonzola macaroni and cheese more than anyone should. I kind of want it right now. I really, actually told everyone I knew to try this place out after I ate there--and it's not as if they were asking me for restaurant recommendations.
Also: this place is great date material. It's nice without being stuffy. The food is excellent (my date enjoyed his mushroom and feta tart) but reasonably priced, and the tab is not going to shoot up in a shocking manner because of booze since they don't serve any. And you can bring your own wine! Yay!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Yum! A vegan menu that can satisfy with hearty and light choices that pack in the flavor. Everyone that worked there was friendly and joined us outside to watch the craziness that is Sunset Blvd... Wish they had a liquor license but other than it's an amazing find in my 'hood
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Go early, the wait might be long because it only has like 5 tables. The MAC & CHEESE was a dream...
i lied... i didn't save room for dessert.
the crepe was too good to quit it.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
05/27/2008
elf is delicious
the braised portobello is amazing
next time i'm saving room for dessert though
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
They changed their menu and NOW, Elf is off my list, which sucks because it is one of the few nice places with vegan offerings we can walk to. They decided to change a few items that were previously vegan to now being made with butter in order to avoid using palm oil. They're reasoning was that palm oil is a product of the rain forest and they are taking a stance on protecting it. Ummmm how about global warming, how about taking a sustainable stance which would be to eliminate dairy products? Lame.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
If you blink then you will miss the place. It's an unpretentious cosy cafe. I thought there was a bar inside and was sad to find the only "brew" they served was coffee.
FOOD: Tried the Tangine over Quinios (SP?) and Potato and Blue Cheese Torte. Both were AMAZING. The mid-price range was justifiable since two of us split those and we are eating left overs today. Food flavors were complex, unique, and filling. I can't wait to go back!
**Only thing that threw me off was the olives and cinnamon warmed almonds at the beginning. The combo of the two was not complimentary. The nuts were awkward. Maybe if they were a curry flavor, or something else.
WAIT STAFF: Very friendly and down to earth
ATMOSPHERE: We sat outside, just in time to watch the 6:15 rush hour down Sunset! Great people watching! Small, cosy vibe inside.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I see that there are about a bajillion reviews already so I don't need to go on an on here but I'd like to add a few notes. It's been a while since I've had such a great start to finish wonderful experience - not one single issue, and that's sayin' something. (not that you can tell by my other reviews *yet* but I can be a picky lil thing!)
When we arrived we were greeted by an adorable hostess type gal who was so lovely and it seemed sincere in her want for to us to get a table very soon. Her time estimate was off for sure, but due to the fact that she was so truly kind and concerned about us, I didn't care. As mentioned below, the place is adorable with chocolate walls and candelit loveliness - I'm a sucker for lighting and they nailed it for sure.
Our food was great - as recommended by the next adorable arrival of service, our waitress. She is a waif and floats around the tiny space with the same genuine concern for everyone's well being. This alone could be an argument for vegetarianism - these people are so sweet.
We had the asparagus (holy yum), babaganoush (crap I can't spell that - you know what I mean!) and the dee-licious potatoe mushroom thing mit cheese and butter. Lately I've been off the dairy so this little infusion was at both delicious and too much, but let's be honest - I should have chosen something sans dairy since they absolutely had tons of Vegan options. And I will! Next time! For sure!
Hooray for this little piece of east coast genius in our very own little echo park. I'm already looking forward to my next visit 'cause they make some of their deserts with agave which makes them a featured destination for me. We of course had to try and got the vegan chocolate cake with agave with some berry syrup (also agave). To summarize: it's dense and salty. Salty you say? That's weird. Not at all. Sweet and Salt is just a special, special place to be...
Run don't walk.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I've been holding off on the Elf review because I'm honestly terrified of what Mike will say about it. After our last meal at Elf (Saturday night), he proclaimed it his favorite restaurant in LA -- based on a lot of things: proximity, price, food, ambiance, and so on and so forth. For him, it's a total package type thing.
And, he's right. It is the total package.
FOOD:
The macaroni and cheese is divine. The tarts are amazing (the potato and blue cheese is heavenly). Mike likes the Mediterranean platter -- the hummus and babaganoush are soooo good. They start you with cinnamon almonds and olives -- yum. It's all super fresh and yummy and comforting and spot-on.
SERVICE:
Helpful, nice, welcoming. Just what a neighborhood restaurant should be.
AMBIANCE:
Somehow manages to be dark and bustling at the same time. Romantic or soothing. You don't want to leave. Tiny and cozy.
LOCATION:
It's just around the corner from Mike's place in Echo Park, which means it's almost as far as you can get from MY home in the Marina and still be in LA. And you know what? I'll truck out there anytime Mike says Elf (let's be honest -- I'm out there enough anyway).
EXTRA:
Corkage is five dollars. We've brought good bottles (from the home supply), bad bottles (one sad bottle of Two Buck Chuck, the only thing Mike had in the house), and okay bottles (from the liquor store just down the street).
It's a winner, hands down, no questions. See? That wasn't so scary.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I found this place to be a little overpriced, but very delicious. The vibe is nice, though it was kind of hard to spot from the street if you don't know exactly where it is (which I didn't.)
Their water is like, the champagne of waters, and the service was super friendly. But I just feel like it didn't need to be as expensive as it was. I know that organic food is more expensive to buy, but I eat out organic all the time and these prices topped RFD. Maybe it's aspiring to be veggie fine dining, but they could do to knock off a few bucks of the seventeen or eighteen dollar braised beet (honestly, isn't that a little excessive?) and still keep the doors open.
Lots of yummy vegan options, and a great raw vegan chocolate cake for dessert!
This is my new favorite place.
The atmosphere is very warm and relaxed. Their kitchen/waitstaff seemed to constantly circulate and our waitress was very helpful.
All the food we ordered was excellent. They seem to do simple things with very good ingredients.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Great food and good service made me fall in love with this tiny vegetarian bistro. It's cash only, so bring your green and bring a bottle of wine too, I don't think there's a corkage fee.. I highly suggest the portabelo mushroom for the main course, and the mac and cheese is yummie too! Mmmm cheeese.....
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (1)
The omnivore's dilemma at any vegan/vegetarian restaurant has always been how to fairly assess the fare without the prejudice that we inherently bring to a cuisine that forgoes an ingredient we normally expect (and want) at the table. It's like a frenchman dining at a gluten free bakery in certain respects. But with an open mind (and healthy appetite), vegan/vegetarian cuisine can be as satisfying as any other particular cuisine, especially when the restaurant doesn't try so much to make up for the absence of meat, but focuses on the vibrant and unique tastes of vegetables, spices, grains and fruit.
In the case of Elf Cafe, the menu immediately reveals itself to be an enticing mixture of Mediterranean classics, replete with promises of aromatic flavours that hail from a region where eating without meat isn't necessarily going without. The house salad was a hearty portion of deep, vibrant greens, garnished with delicious herbed potatoes, crisp hericot vert, and black olives, all coated with a light but tangy dressing whose appeal increased with each bite. The main course of roasted beets and fennel over quinoa and wild rice was bound nicely with a drizzling of reduced red wine, a dish whose presence made itself known upon first inhale of it's earthy-spiced savoriness. Portions are hearty and prices are actually quite reasonable compared to many of the other vegan/raw dining establishments in Los Angeles (or San Francisco for that matter). The icing on the proverbial cake (the real one I had to unfortunately forgo last night due to diet restrictions) is the extremely attentive and genuinely friendly service in a neighborhood that possibly hints otherwise. If Elf Cafe was a D&D character, it would certainly be a chaotic good Wood Elf with a +3 saving throw against suspicious meat eaters and a +5 effect with vegans/vegetarians looking for a satisfying dining experience.
Elf is admittedly hipster filled (it sometimes feels like a parade of American Apparel models passing by on foot or bike), located just around the corner from the neighborhood's popular hangouts and other scenester spots that give the gentrified neighborhood it's too-cool-for-school rep. But the servers/owners themselves appear to be down-to-earth, pleasant people whose primary goal is to make you happy from start to finish of your meal. Just get there early, as it begins to crowd up for a late dining hour, with people still coming by for seats past 10pm (we were seated immediately before 8pm, but might have lucked out reading some of the past remarks). Grab the outside dining table and request the heat lamp, and you can enjoy Elf Cafe al fresco, without the bustle, heat and scene inside. Well, unless that's your thing.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
After a glass of wine (empty stomach) this cafe begins to feel like it's located in Montmartre or Morocco. I think it may be the chocolate colored walls that are responsible.
The potato and bleu cheese tart is INCREDIBLY good. By no means health food, but one of the best things I've eaten in a long time.
The lack of a public restroom here is a bit inconvenient. Decanting before you arrive might be in order.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
the only reason i didnt give them the last star is because they don't accept credit cards. THEY DON'T ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS? yup, they don't. BUTTTTTT... the food was amazing! i had a vegetable torte, i think? whatever it was, it was delicious! my boyfriend had the braised mushroom.. it was AMAZING! we'd come back. you should try it.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Not much more to add to the 50+ reviews on here. Super friendly service. Outstanding mac and bleu cheese. The tomato and feta tart was a surprise, baked perfectly with loads of flavor. Very much homemade looking and tasting, which is just what I like. Lentils in a crock made a perfect starter. I will try the babaganoush next time, I swear.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
the food is bland and totally overpriced for what it is. I know great restaurants that serve fresh, organic, tasty food that is priced accordingly. just because it's supposed to be healthy doesn't mean it's supposed to be tasteless and then they charge you an arm and a leg for it? no, thanks. I really like the space, the feel and the look of the place. It has a lot of potential. It just looks cool but other than that...no thanks!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
On our week escape to Santa Monica, we have really been able to take advantage of our extra time to enjoy great food. As yelpers, we found that it is not used in LA as often as one would think. Hence why I've yelped some this week.
We came to Elf Cafe with my cousin and her friend. They've been before and raved about the vegetarian menu, with plenty of vegan options. Although we are all carnivores, we came with high expectations and happily all were met.
From the friendly, warm service to the beautifully presented and absolutely delicious food. The venue is so chic and hip, we felt right at home, it had a very SF crunchy granola feel in echo park. It is also a very sustainable place, with all organic produce locally grown.
Bring your vino and your appetite, you won't be sorry.
**If you have nut allergies, make sure to let them know since there are a few nuts mixed in there.
Absolutely amazing babaganoush. The Elf Salad is also terrific - ample and alive and full of surprises. We loved this cute place with a warm vibe and kind, personal service. The mac n' cheese and roasted beet entrees were not as exquisite as the small plates and appetizers - next time we might just get a selection of those. Don't forget to BYOB!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Thanks Yelpies, for turning me on to Elf Cafe. I went last night w my foxy ex boyfriend and we both loved it. We had babbaganoush (I love saying that word outloud! Try it, you'll know what I mean.) that was so silky smooth and yum yum! Also a cabbage salad with a perfect mint vinaigrette dressing just like my late, lovely, Lebanese mom used to make. SO GOOD! Then we split the tomato and feta tart which was happily heavier on the tomatoes than the cheese, so it didn't make me feel guilty. And we were stuffed. Took the Yelp hot tip and brought our own wine. The only slightly annoying part is that, because the restaurant is so tiny you can't help but overhear the conversations around you. There were these two women next to us who never talked about anything but creationism and intelligent design through our whole meal!!! FRACK!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah, also, cute friendly staff. Go!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Food: Anything in season at the time when you go.
Drink: Bring your own. Don't worry if you forget you'll be pleasantly
surprised by the cucumber water.
Service: Friendly when they are not too busy. Suck it up if they are.
Vibe: Cool, non-pretentious hipsters
(perhaps a little more hippy than hip).
Tip: It's a small place- please don't wear too much perfume.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
This place is scrumptous!!! Went for a romantic dinner with my love where we experienced a life altering experience with the mac and blue cheese...yum yum...we also tried the soup du jour which was a light and creamy roasted broccoli set up...also yummy...the crispy vegetable phylo dough combination entree was tasty....service was exemplary...we were the only table in the place for the first thirty minutes of our stay!!!! but all in all the dark and woody atmosphere made us feel at home and comfortably satisfied.....
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Yummy!
Went here last night after hearing rave reviews from a friend and Elf frequenter. I must say...they have such interesting and different vegetarian options. Not just your usual veg-fare. As soon as we entered the cute New Yorkish-atmosphere cafe, I could not wait to see what they had on the menu and eat. The kitchen is in the main room allowing diners to inhale all the aromas - for balsamic and vinegar lovers, you'll be in heaven!
For an appetizer, we tried the roasted tomatoes with baked feta and olives. It was de-lish! It tasted like a pizza, but without the crust! For my entree, I had the sauteed mushroom and feta baked tart and it was scrumptious! The flavors were so full and the phyllo dough was perfectly baked. My friends had the lasagna and the vegetable torte and after trying their dishes too, I agreed with them that they were delicious as well. Even though I was stuffed to the brim, we still made room for dessert, opting for the pudding w/ rosewater and pistachios. It was so different and very refreshing! I nice cap for a full meal.
I can't wait to go back to Elf. It will take much restraint on my part to not order the same thing again (it was THAT delicious), but looking at the menu and our neighbor's entrees, I'm sure their other dishes will not disappoint.
Such big food for such a cute little nondescript place. Thanks to E.'s foodie ways, we were led to try out this little meditteranean vegetarian haven. We ate our meal family style so we each got a little of everything. The babbaganoush was so yummy and rich and the tomato & feta tart was nice and light...they balanced each other. And then there was the stuffed portobello mushroom which was so tasty and good....who knew that balsamic would go so well with mushrooms and mashed potatoes!
We only had to wait 10 minutes and that actually afforded us time to go down to the liquor store and get a bottle of wine...the small $5 corkage fee was too tempting to miss out. The service is excellent and the ambiance is dark and romantic...even if you're just 3 chicks out on a saturday night.
Definitely try this cute place out...if you can find it!
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
it's been a while since i've laid down a new yelp review. in fact, i don't think i've written a single (real) review of any local establishments since i relocated to the eastside. and what better way to start things off than with my favorite place to grab a bite to eat in echo park?
elf already had a lot going for it even before i set foot inside: 1) it's a block and a half down the road from me, 2) i am very forgiving of any cuisine that uses olive oil, feta, cous cous, eggplant and avacado generously, and 3) you can bring your own wine with a reasonable corkage fee of $5.
that being said, elf did not disappoint. everything i've tried is delicious. the friendly wait staff start things off with an amuse bouche consisting of olives and cinnamoned almonds. from there, i recommend a starter--the eggplant babaganoush and avacado tahini are both delectible--and to finish things off, you can't go wrong with any of the savory tarts or the macaroni and blue cheese.
quite an enjoyable dining experience.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This place satisfies anyones craving! Even your meat eating friends will have a smile on their face by the end of the evening. My top favs are the tomato tart and mac&cheese.
The place is tiny so don't bring a group larger than 4-6. They don't have a liquor license and don't charge a corkage fee...so bring your favorite wine ;o)
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
I think that elf is a good place to have a sophisticated romantic evening. Even the bathroom is romantic. The waitress is nice and she always has a look that seems to say that she wants to sleep with you... Don't worry, she doesn't, it's just the way she looks.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (4)
Cool (1)
I love you Elf. So Tasty So Cute So Ahhh.
Just go you will love it. Unless you are generally a Dick then dont go...please dont go if they dont spit in your food I will.
Warning: there is NO sign for this place! Luckily I knew of its vicinity. Also it's CASH only!
As a non-vegetarian I really liked this place. I'm only giving it 4 stars bc it's too small, so waiting for a table while it's 55degrees out isn't so fun. But I highly enjoyed the complimentary snacks: cinnamon-spiced almonds and green and black olives. My friends and I had their baked tarts which were delicious! I noticed some people brought their own bottles of wine so that was cool to know that Elf allows that. The service was nice and accomodating.
Overall I'd come back!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Much like Tracy D, I really wanted to love this place. While my polenta dish was good, it was a little on the cold side. And the stuffed mushroom special was tasty, but I found the portion a little too tiny for an entree. The pudding dessert was plain gross.
The space is also very small so you have to time your visit to get there before or after the rush. Not good for big parties because there are literally maybe 10 tables in the place and they don't take reservations.
All in all for $32 bucks a head I feel they should have knocked it out of the park, and they didn't. Don't know if I'll be going back for a second try.
First let me say that Bacon and I are BFF's. With that said, I absolutely loved Elf. My veggie friend has been trying to get me to go here for months and I was always hesitant. Really, no meat, at all, not one little piece of steak, fish or chicken found anywhere? I finally gave in and now I relax and embrace in veggie goodness. 3 words, Mac and Cheese! Blue cheese mac and cheese. I would have been completely satisfied with just this one dish, but out came about 5 more delicious plates, tarts and tahini, grilled beets and saffron pudding, all yummy. Recommended to all the carnivores out there. I'll be back for sure.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
I was extremely disappointed with my first visit to Elf. There I was, eating amazing food in this dark, cozy, extremely romantic little cafe... with my roommate. Sigh. Unfortunately, my (now ex-)boyfriend had car trouble and was stuck at his parents' place in Redlands for the night, thus eliminating my plans to cook him a very romantic dinner. So, of course, when my roommate and I decided to try a new restaurant instead, we ended up at a place that inspires hand-holding and longing looks across the table. My roommate is a swell guy and all, but holding his hand isn't high on my list of things I want to be doing, and any looks I give him don't have much resembling longing in them. So bummer.
We sat side-by-side at the bar (conspicuously not playing footsie or touching legs) that surrounds the little kitchen instead of at a table, so we didn't have to look at each other longingly. Instead, we looked longingly (dare I say lustfully? I do! I do dare!!) at all the food being made. Holy crap, I didn't see a single thing that didn't look and smell delicious. Plus, I was very impressed at the fact that there was only one chef and one sous-chef preparing each individual meal with great care. I actually highly recommend sitting at the bar, because watching the artists at work made the wait for our food a lot more bearable. I almost wish I ate cheese, because the mac and cheese looked good enough to face-plant in. If you eat cheese, order that sucker. I've never been so impressed by the look of mac and cheese in my life.
It took me a long time to decide on one item on the menu; there were a lot that sounded really good. I settled on the polenta with veggies dish while my roommate got the raw mediterranean plate, and we shared the lentil appetizer. The lentils were amazing-- filling and incredibly flavourful. I was excited about my dish when it finally arrived-- it smelled great. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that it had cheese in it (they really need to mark that in the menu), so I managed to talk my non-vegan roommate into switching dishes with me. Turned out to be a good thing-- the Med plate was fantastic, and I have a newfound love for raw felafel.
For dessert we got the apple torte. I don't usually like pie crusts, but I wanted to make sweet, sweet love to the crust on this dessert. It was crispy, flaky and lick-the-plate amazing.
Service was extremely friendly and attentive. Great atmosphere, great service, amazing food. My only issue was the fairly high prices (and the fact that the menu doesn't mention the cheese in the polenta dish), but really, you get what you pay for here, plus everything is organic (woo hoo!).
So, love it, love it, love it. But next time, I'm taking my man, should I have one, holding his hand, and gazing at him so longingly that his underwear melts.
People thought this was:
Useful (12)
Funny (8)
Cool (11)
Believe the hype. I had read many good reviews on this place, and finally decided to try it for dinner on a Sunday night. The staff was extremely friendly, gave good recommendations, and were available to answer any questions. For appetizers, we had the eggplant puree soup and the babaganoush. Both were amazing! for those people who think that raw/vegan/vegetarian cuisine is bland, Elf is a must try. the eggplant puree was the best soup I had ever tasted, and the babaganoush was bursting with garlic flavor. We were already stuffed before the main courses arrived, but didn't have any problems finished it up. The polenta maloof was served with grilled asparagus and port-wine infused mushrooms. For those craving comfort food, the macaroni and blue-cheese will hit the spot. We were too full for dessert, but I'll definitely be back here to try the other entrees.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Yum.
I went here on valentine's day with my bf. It was the perfect spot-- intimate and romantic without being cheesy or stiff. There was a bit of a wait (35 mins?), but we expected it (they don't take reservations) and we didn't mind.
The food was great-- we had the lentils with carmelized onions and mushrooms. Fantastic. I also fell off the vegan wagon for a roasted tomato and feta tart and it was totally worth it-- also fantastic. My boyfriend had the vegetable tangine. It was quite good, but he liked mine better. We brought wine, and contrary to a few reports, ther eis a corkage fee of $5. Service was very good.
I'd like to go back and sit at the bar for a casual dinner. I only wish that they offered more vegan entrees-- it seems like most are only vegetarian and that the non-vegan dishes are the ones that get the highest praise from other reviewers. That said, there is a possibility that I will lapse again in order to try the famous mac and cheese...
i love meat! with that said, i really enjoy this place...even though i don't trust vegetarians much. i was taken here for the first time a few weeks back. i was very skeptical in goin' since i really like to have a variety of meat selections. however, i dug this place.
i love that you can take your own bottle of vino, so you know what your drinkin' will be good. my friend that took me here gave me her suggestions...so since she's a regular i took her word. we started with the roasted tomato and baked feta. ohmygoodlord! i now have regular cravings for this dish. then i ordered the potato and blue cheese tart atop a bed of mixed baby greens, it was good, but not extremely memorable.
two weeks later i took another friend here for dinner because i knew she would love it. we again ordered the tomato and feta and this time i ordered the mac and blue cheese. i tend to judge a lot of places on their mac and cheese...i mean if you can't get that right then why have a restaurant at all? this was excellent! it was even good the next day for left overs! my friend ordered the stuffed mushroom and again i was pleased!
for not having a huge menu and no meat, they are a great place to eat. the atmosphere is very i'm a cool new yorker vibe with some tree huggin' hippies thrown in the mix. i will definitely be back here. And yes, it is small. so if you plan on goin' and enjoying a nice quiet time, i suggest goin' early or later in the evening.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (5)
Cool (5)
Very good veggie food. I would recommend it to all, definitely a good place to take "non-veggies" (like myself).
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
so flippin' good! wait staff is super friendly and damn cute! food is aces! great atmosphere. they even honored earth hour the other night and turned off all of the lights and we ate by candlelight. this place is seriously one of the most enjoyable places to eat in town. no alcohol but bring it in, the don't care! they charged a small cork fee but who cares when the food is this good! just go.
thanks elf!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Somehow, (excepting real food daily), each and every time i hear there's a good vegetarian restaurant in LA, it turns out to be thai, or thai-esque. Why is this? sigh..
Not so with Elf Cafe! It's not vegan, it's more like a cosy little tiny french bistro--the salads are wonderful, the starters olives and almonds (instead of bread--so you aren't stuffed when your food arrives), the baked pastry thingys delish, the homemade tea brewed to perfection. Service/price ratio is decent, and my meat eating boyfriend has declared the tomato mozzerella sandwich the best he's ever had!
A good place for vegis to take omnivores..
I'd give 'em 5 stars if they had a sign and were open more often!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
I'm sad to report how incredibly rude the staff was to us this last weekend. We were very much hurried and given quick smart alec remarks, as well as a turned back..I'm not kidding. We were very uncomfortable to say the least!!! With that, we did not stay. It's sad because I want to support them, a small vegan restaurant. I have no idea why they were being SO rude, perhaps a bad day.. but geez!!! The one and only time I was there last, the food was quite tasty and the server (the same server in fact) very charming. I left him an excellent tip that day. However, due to this last experience, I will not be going back ever; and cannot/will not be recommending this place to anyone in the future. I'm very disappointed and hope that their snobbery is not often as it doesn't go very well with dinner.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Within the last month I've been to Elf Cafe twice, and both times have been wonderful. I've loved their baba ghanoush appetizer, cabbage salad (called something like the "Middle Eastern salad"), tomato and feta tart, and mac & blue cheese. The avocado tahini appetizer, lasagna, and desserts (the pear tart and saffron rice pudding) were only so-so. Their hosts and servers couldn't have been more attentive, knowledgeable, and delightful. It does get a bit hot in there, though! We were sweating like crazy in that place, but I guess that's all part of the Elf experience. Nontheless, I can't wait to go back, and even as a graduate student on a budget, I think the prices are fair.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)