"Elysian is my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. Tucked away in an industrial area near the LA River, you enter the restaurant by passing a wooden gate and wandering through a bamboo oasis. On sunny days or warm evenings, you can have a drink or eat in the garden/patio area. Inside, the restaurant feels more like a gallery--spacious, minimal, contemporary, with concrete floors, art on the walls, open kitchen. If you have been there more than once, Bethany, the hostess, will recognize you and greet you warmly. And while it still feels like they are working out some service kinks--I sometimes get the feeling that the servers have never waited tables before--the friendliness and food more than make up for the occasional oversights. Chef David Thorne's cooking--seasonal, local California-Mediterranean cuisine--is what keeps me coming back. Befitting the setting, each plate is like a work of art, but never fussy, just delicious. The portions aren't huge, but because they are so balanced and flavorful, they satisfy. Make sure you get on their mailing list. The weekly emails are creative and funny and will entice you with a photo of the week's new dish and what to expect on the menu. Although it's only open Thursday-Friday for dinner and Sunday brunch, I've made it part of my weekly routine. It feels like being invited to a meal with friends, friends who live in a beautiful loft and just happen to be great artists and cooks."
