10/07/08

Best restaurant (veggie or otherwise) on the east side

by julesvernon

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

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

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

02/04/08

Amazing in every way!

by Jenipherlc

The atmosphere and staff are amazing. The chef is a culinary genius. I'm not a vegetarian and thought that this would be a bland spot for dinner upon suggestion from a friend. Wow, was I wrong! I can't wait to go back.

• Pros: The food was outstanding!
• Cons: It's very close to an American Apparel store.

02/03/08

Delicious vegitarian cuisine, great atmosphere

by mlledragon

Warm and cozy, delicious, clean, vegan food, super friendly staff, locally owned. A great neighborhood spot. Always good.

• Pros: Food, service, atmosphere
• Cons: Small

01/26/08

Best restaurant in the hood

by magiclight

I love ELF.

Everytime I go, I have a great experience. The staff is so warm and helpful.

The food is amazing. I especially love the lasagna and the apple tarte infused with rosewater. The atmosphere is fabulous. I am so happy I can eat here now and not at another gross mexican stand in Echopark. I wish they were open every night of the week!

10/29/07

best vegetarian in echo park/silverlake area!

by cdisip

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 satisfy. We were too full for dessert, but I'll definitely be back here to try the other entrees.

10/12/07

Misguided BYOB

by lachowgirl

At first, Elf seems to be a gem of a restaurant in an up and coming part of Echo Park. It's a hip, neighborhood joint that's just so chi-chi, but has that wonderful, gritty East side character. While BYOB is always a wonderful thing, their version is a bit deceptive. No sooner than you start waiting for a seat, the hostess announces great organic wines for sale at the liquor store down the street. Great, we think, and we go get a bottle. Nonetheless, what they don't tell you, and is in fact not-so-friendly practice, is that despite NOT having a liquor license, they charge at $5 corkage fee, which upon my polite inquisition, was immediately removed. While the overall experience was good, the menu and the food eclectic, the price and the dishonest approach to BYOB takes away from the overall experience. Certainly a restaurant can charge whatever it wants, but Elf's prices are well beyond neighborhood friendly and that much more undesirable when they dishonestly strike you with a corkage fee. Oh, and the food is over-the-top loaded with garlic--a vegetarian version of the Stinking Rose perhaps? I do not think I'll go back anytime too soon.

• Pros: Unusual option for that part of town.
• Cons: Dishonest BYOB claim.

Tiny vegetarian gem in Echo Park sparkles with urban chic romantic atmosphere and haute Mediterranean fare.

by Martha Burr

In Short
Inside this intimate jewel box, sexy organic textures of wood, exposed brick, tiles and plants glow moodily under ethereal rattan lanterns and flickering candles. Hip North African jazz lends a funky edge to the low buzz of a good-looking young Eastside crowd. Owned by members of the local band Viva K, dishes feature Lebanese-Mediterranean fare with featuring seasonal, organic ingredients like citrus kale salad, mac and blue cheese, Moroccan vegetable tagine, rustic Greek white lasagna, and roasted beet and braised fennel.