Stuffed Grape Leaves

Grape leaves, whether stuffed with rice or meat, make a perfect snack for any season.

* Carousel: Bite into a sarma at this elegant Glendale restaurant and taste the rice, onion, tomato, green pepper, fresh parsley and mint. Five pieces are served on a small plate as an appetizer. (Sarma, $4.95.) Carousel, 304 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 246-7775.

* C & K Importing Company: At this bustling Greek deli-restaurant, located right across the street from Saint Sophia Cathedral, you’ll find dolmades as big as your thumb filled with rice, sauteed onions and mint. You can eat them on the spot (10 pieces with pita) or order a dozen to go. (Dolmades, to eat or to go, $3.99.) C & K Importing Co., 2771 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 737-2970.

* Le Petit Greek: Large vegetarian grape leaves are served at this lively Greek taverna. They’re densely stuffed with rice, tomato, garlic and fresh dill and served warm, lightly sauced with a tangy dill egg-lemon (avgolemono) sauce. You get four pieces to a plate. (Dolmades, $6.95.) Le Petit Greek, 127 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 464-5160.

* The Great Greek: The grape leaves here are stuffed with beef, rice, leeks, onions, garlic, basil and dill, covered in a delicate avgolemono sauce. The plate holds six dolmades, pilaf, oven roasted potatoes and a fresh vegetable of the day. (Dolmades, $13.25.), The Great Greek, 13362 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 905-5250.

* Marouch: Leaves (five to an order) are stuffed with rice and vegetables, flavored with spices, lemon juice and olive oil, and the accompanying condiments make them even more delicious. They come with olives, chopped tomatoes, green onions, mint, red and green peppers, radishes and pickled turnips--and, of course, hot pita bread. (Warakenab, $5.) Marouch, 4905 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 662-9325.

* Cafe Plaka: Vegetarian or meat dolmades, five to an order and $2 more expensive at dinner than at lunch, are offered at this cafe. The vegetarian leaves, filled with rice, onions and dill, are served cold dressed with olive oil; the meat dolmades, stuffed with ground beef and fresh herbs, are served hot in avgolemono sauce. (Vegetarian grape leaves, $5.25/$7.25; meat dolmades, $6.25/$8.25.) Cafe Plaka, 18633 E. Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, (714) 963-4999.