Elf Cafe

10/07/08

Best restaurant (veggie or otherwise) on the east side

by julesvernon at Citysearch

I can't say enough about Elf! How is it possible that a restaurant makes me feel sensual? When you walk in you instantly feel welcome, warm and cozy. Then there's the beautiful, sweet, super attentive staff... then comes the food. There is nothing on the menu that doesn't blast your taste buds away. I must admit that I always leave feeling a little horny.

• Pros: food, service, atmosphere, price
• Cons: none

07/27/08

Poor customer service, bad attitude

by tonyiomi at Citysearch

This local restaurant does have good food but the atmosphere is very pretentious and trendy, IMO. They are also very over priced for serving kale dripping in clarified butter and garlic. The owner is also very rude. They tell everyone the wait time for a table is 20 minutes then give you a spiel about how "it's not a science determining how long it takes people to eat their food," making you wait an additional 20+ minutes. If you want to look last year's cool, this is the restaurant to be seen at. If you want to eat good food, try Bulan Thai or the vegetarian options at The Kitchen.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Terrible service, hostile environment, hippy posturing

02/10/08

Loved it!!!

by spelt at Citysearch

I went to Elf on a whim, after several unsuccessful attempts. The food was great! I had some kind of feta pastry that was perfect and some limeaid, a little too sweet, but good all the same. The atmosphere was really European. It reminded me of a great hidden vegetarian restaurant in Nice, France called Zucca Magica. Really incredible. It's a little higher priced than the average Echo Park eatery, but worth it for a special occasion

The corkage fee is unfortunate. I've worked as a server in fine dinning places that had cork fees. It makes sense to charge for this when a patron wants to bring in a wine, as the server has to supply glasses and inebriated customers usually stay at the table longer, keeping the restaurant and the server from making money. Not to mention that some folks bring their own things to be cheap, not realizing they are using valuable space and time for free. But...if a place doesn't have any wines available, then it's unfair to charge for this. We wanted wine with our meal, but it just feels stupid to have to interrupt your evening, go buy some wine and then pay the restaurant 5 bucks just to drink it there!

I'll go back though! This place is one of a kind.

• Pros: Food Ambience
• Cons: Cork fee