324555 Sat Sep 09 17:22:18 -0700 2006 0 2 Los Angeles Area 0 1865130 I had my first and last experience at The Leaf in Culver City yesterday. Went with an out-of-town friend who is a vegetarian and wanted to try The Leaf. First problem was in placing our order with a young Latino woman, who not only seemed to be lacking in communication skills but who did not know much about the menu either. My friend wanted soup; I wanted a wrap. Since I like falafel, I ordered a falafel wrap, only to find out it is wrapped in a collard green. I told the order taker I did not care for that and would prefer a tortilla-type wrap. She never explained that a tortilla wrap was available for 65-cents extra. As I was deciding what else to order, my friend noticed that a tortilla wrap was an option on the menu, which I then ordered, along with a bottle of water. Because my order had to be changed, the order taker did not know how to void out the original order and a middle-aged blonde woman came to her assistance. This woman, who appeared to be the manager or owner, had a very nasty attitude and actually verbally berated me for being rude to her order taker when, in fact, it was the order taker not doing her job properly in assisting a new customer! My falafel was very disappointing, primarily because of the bitterness of something in the wrap, probably one of the green leaves, which left a horrible taste in my mouth the rest of the afternoon. The uncooked falafel balls also were not very tasty. I ate only half of the wrap as it was not at all good. And not cheap either. Falafel and water cost $10.60. My friend's soup was served lukewarm, a small bowl at $4.95. We noticed on the take-out menu that no foods are cooked higher than 110 degrees--hardly a good temperature for soup. The noise factor inside Leaf was very annoying. Everytime a smoothie was being made in the blender, my friend and I had to stop talking, and we were seated far from the food prep counter. Another employee was using a meat cleaver to chop something, which sounded like construction going on with hammering. That should have been done in the kitchen, away from customers. Definitely not a place I would recommend nor go back to. Sat Sep 09 17:22:18 -0700 2006 39183 annifran