Leaf Organics (CLOSED)

Proprietor Ron Rotondi may have trained under celebrity raw food proselytizer Juliano, but the Culver City chef operates a more inclusive, affordable eatery for raw foodists and vegans alike. Though uncooked foods figure heavily on the menu at this minimalist and modern cafe, there’s also a good selection of cooked vegan options, many with flavors inspired by Rotondi’s Italian heritage: Lasagna, made with dairy-free Daiya cheese, gluten-free lasagna noodles and his Rotondi’s family’s marinara sauce recipe, is a hit. There’s also a series of "vegan fusion" dishes, like the Ethiopian-inflected One Love, a kale and split pea stew, and the Indian-flavored Shanti, a mix of chana masala and saag that’s served as a wrap, bowl, quesadilla or atop a sweet potato. Finish off with housemade chia kreme, an icy dessert made from fermented chia seeds and made into a variety of sundaes.