The members of local rock band Viva K love food and happen to be vegetarians, and one of the musicians had an Echo Park storefront from which he wholesaled raw foods. That space is now home to Elf Café in Echo Park, admittedly an area in need of good restaurants. Chef Timothy Maloof brings great creativity to an all-organic, all-vegetarian menu. Be sure to check for nightly specials, like an inspired cold yogurt soup with cucumber and dill, studded with raisins. The raw Middle Eastern platter gives a good overview of the food here, with homemade tabbouleh, non-fried falafel and a mound of hummus, with a few seed-studded flax crisps to scoop it all up. We also recommend the organic vegetable tagine, the classic Moroccan stew served over fluffy couscous. A ramekin of homemade and fiery harissa perks up the dish substantially. Desserts include a saffron-laced rice pudding and pear tarte Tatin. There's no wine list, just a reasonable $5 corkage fee. But oenophiles be warned: they have only tumblers, so you might want to BYO stemware if you're bringing a fine bottle. And it's cash only, so leave the plastic at home.
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