Crepes De Luxe
™Street Style Crepes...Savory and Sweet
First look: Crepes De Luxe
Ohio City staple finds a new home downtown
By Emily Hanna
January 6, 2010
Long a mainstay on West Side Market visitors’ “must” lists, Crêpes De Luxe has expanded its empire, opening a second location downtown in the food court at The Arcade. The original outpost of the crêpe shop has a huge fan following (with the lines to prove it), and the second location’s larger kitchen allows for an even bigger menu, which gives patrons a broader view of French dining. For those downtown workers who can’t steal away to Ohio City during their lunch hours, lunchtime just got a whole lot sweeter.
Food: Though the downtown location offers an expanded menu that includes a pleasing variety of soups, salads and fresh baguette sandwiches, one would be remiss to try anything other than a bit of heaven inside a patted-thin pancake (at least on their first go-around). Looking for something sweet? Try out the oh-so-reasonably priced $5 sweet crêpes, such as the Rouge et Noir (strawberries with Nutella or dark chocolate) or the Le Roi (Elvis’ favorite combination: bananas, peanut butter and chocolate). The size of the crêpe, plus the richness of the chocolate, will leave you full and more than satisfied.
Those working long hours may want a bit more substance to get through the day – check out the $6 savory crepe options like the Jambon et Fromage (ham and Gruyere cheese) or La Chevre, meaning “the goat” (fresh goat cheese, baby spinach and tomato). Feeling creative? Try your hand at your own concoction: Start with the Basic Crepe for $3; additional toppings can be added for $1 or $1.50 each.
Décor: Crêpes De Luxe is located in the food court, situated between Charley’s Grilled Subs and Greek Express, so there’s not much in terms of panache. But The Arcade itself is a beautiful building, so take a seat at one of the tables or comfy couches near Crêpes De Luxe to enjoy your meal and do some people watching.
Service: For such a delicate process, the crepe creation is surprisingly quick, and the employees are friendly and informative. Once word gets around about this venue’s opening, though, the wait might be a bit longer, as the workspace allows for limited crêpe preparation, but it’s well worth the wait.
Insider tip: Once you order, don’t just waltz away while they make your crêpe–step right up and watch the action unfold. From the perfect pouring of the batter to the surprisingly thoughtful placement of each ingredient, watching the crepe being made is second only to devouring it.
Bottom line: While a decadent crepe probably shouldn’t become a part of your daily intake, enjoying one from Crêpes De Luxe is a splurge that is guaranteed to satisfy—and one that won’t break the bank.