This tiny, atmospheric restaurant, with low lights and Middle Eastern music, is Paris chic by way of hippie California.

Elf Cafe is a new business venture by local band Viva K. With its Echo Park location, organic ingredients and hottie owner/employees, it veers close to painfully hip, but the delicious food and friendly service saves it. Some may be afraid of the all-vegetarian, sometimes vegan concept, but the vegan potato puree with toast that comes to all tables lets apprehensive guests know that much deliciousness is impending. The tarts are a highlight, filled with ingredients like mushrooms and feta or potatoes and blue cheese, as is the labneh, a plate of yogurt cheese with pita. For the vegan purists, there's a raw middle eastern platter with raw tabouleh, hummus, falafel and flax crisps. But even vegans might make exception for the pear tart tatin, the highlight of the small dessert menu. Elf Cafe doesn't have a liquor license, but in a nicely symbiotic move, the liquor store down the street now stocks organic wine and beer for the restaurant. —Katherine Spiers