The Elk is a hidden West Village gem that everyone needs to go and check out… now! Despite its social media popularity, the café still maintains a laidback and relaxing environment, unlike many other hotspots where a trip for lunch ends up being more stressful and time-consuming than it’s worth. Best of all, there is a decent selection of NOBREAD-approved dishes, meaning you are not relegated to solely coffee or tea, as is the case at many other cafés…
At first glance, The Elk’s menu appears pretty NOBREAD unfriendly as it contains many bread-heavy dishes. However, after further investigation I realized that they actually do have a good selection of gluten free fare hidden among the sandwich and toast options. If you go to the café simply for a mid-morning or afternoon snack with your coffee, you will be pleased to see at least one variety of GF cookie, if not more. On my last two trips to The Elk, I ordered the granola bar cookie which is GF and has dark chocolate chips and dried cranberries. If you’re looking for a full meal , you will be more than pleased with The Elk’s GF options. From the market rice bowl (NO VINAIGRETTE) with roasted root veggies and a fried egg, to the yogurt bowl with an array of sweet toppings, you will definitely find a filling meal that suits your tastes. I’m a big fan of the soft scramble with sweet potato hash; the dish is delicious!
The Elk is the perfect spot for a solo lunch or place to meet a friend. I take full advantage of The Elk’s wi-fi; finally an awesome café with unlimited wi-fi! I highly recommend The Elk for both its fresh and delicious food as well as its great atmosphere. With a rustic-meets-modern interior and hip clientele, the vibe is awesome. Best of all, The Elk is still under-the-radar enough that you don’t have to deal with masses of people and a shortage of seating that is too common at other downtown hotspots.