best crepes in most Parisianish place?

My friend fell in love with crepes when he visited Paris. He is not an adventurous eater, so that he even tried crepes in the first place is something to celebrate.

I would like to take him out for crepes for his birthday, but I've not been to any of the creperies here. There are mixed reviews in the search I ran - so I thought I should just flat out ask and see if I can learn what I need to know.

If you had a friend who is scared by more authentic/gritty food experiences and very much likes frippery and presentation and apparentlly crepes with nutella ... where would you take him?

Evanston and Chicago are all ok. Way out in the suburbs is not so good.

Thank you in advance for the help!

La Creperie
2845 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-9050

gleam wrote:La Creperie
2845 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-9050

I fear that this is your best, and possibly only, choice if you want to eat crepes (both savory and sweet) in an environment that feels somewhat parisienne. Their menu is 90% crepe-oriented and the environment can be considered charming.

While I am no fan of their food, it is very popular and has many fans.

Best,
Michael

I am actually shocked that this place has not been mentioned before on this site. I don't know if it would fit the category of a Parisian place. The vibe is more of a Moroccan coffee house, but amazing lunch/dinner crepes (chicken, turkey, etc) with very fresh veggie toppings. Desert crepes with fruit and nutella - out of this world. Their crepes are on a whole other level than any other place I have been to in Chicago for crepes, including La Creperia:

Crepes de Paris
2433 N. Clark (Clark/Fullerton)
773-404-1300

2Utah2 wrote:I am actually shocked that this place has not been mentioned before on this site.

It has been mentioned a few times before, and it's actually Algerian.

I have a feeling that this being more of a coffee shop/cafe atmosphere, it would be less to the OP's liking than La Creperie.

Best,
Michael

I have a feeling that this being more of a coffee shop/cafe atmosphere, it would be less to the OP's liking than La Creperie.

It's true that it's not très Parisian, but it's a very pleasant atmosphere, and it's fun to watch them make the crêpes right behind the front counter. And I agree with 2Utah2--the food is darned good, both the savory crêpes and the dessert crêpes. Much, much better than La Crêperie, and cheaper.

They don't serve alcohol, and I don't know whether or not they allow BYOB, but I'm sure they'd tell you if you call and ask.

Highly recommended.

Can you tell that I've just finally figured out how to make accent marks??

I think the Algerian place-- which seems to be on its third name, now, which is why it didn't turn up in searches, I guess-- serves better, more authentic crepes, but the atmosphere is indeed that of an American yuppie coffee spot, not anything you'd particularly find in France (or, I have to think, Algeria).

I haven't been to either of the aforementioned places -- but that shouldn't preclude me from commenting, should it? La Creperie is highly regarded by the French couple of LTHForum note. I respect their opinion and would give it great weight.

I would like to add one other crepes source -- Magic Pan Crepe Stand in Northbrook Court. I doubt this has any Parisian flair.

Jesper

it should also be noted that the crepes at Le Creperie are in the Normandy style and made with buckwheat, not white flour. They are therefore earthier and slightly thicker. I like them just fine but I took a German friend and she turned her nose up at them as being too coarse/not delicate enough.

bjt

I can second (third? whatever ...) La Creperie. And though I haven't been, I've heard good things about Vive la Crepe - which I don't think has been previously mentioned on LTH. Looking in the window, the atmosphere doesn't seem as truly French as La Creperie, but looks appealing nonetheless. Might be worth a try if you want an alternative to La Creperie.

Can anyone here comment more knowledgeably about Vive la Crepe?

Vive la Crepe
1565 Sherman Ave.
Evanston

nr706 wrote:Can anyone here comment more knowledgeably about Vive la Crepe?

I can only say that my one visit there, a couple years ago, was so astoundingly bad that I won't return unless the tides of overwhelming positive opinion drive me to do so.

Best,
Michael

Forgo Vive La Crepe. The crepes are better even at the Northwestern student union (Norris Center) a few blocks away!

I hadn't been to Coffee & Crepe, or Crepe & Coffee, or whatever it's called for a while, but decided it would make a good stop after picking up a turkey at Green City Market. Turns out the atmosphere is neither Parisian nor quite as American as it used to be:



They've definitely dialed up the middle eastern bric-a-brac level since my last visit a year ago. In any case, not only is this place a little refuge from Lincoln Park in terms of atmosphere, it's a definite refuge from the plastic food common in the area, with flavorful, fresh crepes of both the sweet and savory kinds. My crepe with tomatoes, tapenade, basil, portabello mushrooms and such things was demurely veiled:



While the kids' choice of the classic combo of banana and Nutella was one of the more exuberant plates of the year:



Mine incidentally came with an excellent sweetish vegetable soup (carrot, lentil, not sure). This is a fine little place and the service-- from half a dozen Algerians bustling behind the counter making everything from crepes to espresso to scoops of gelato-- could not be friendlier.

Crepe & Coffee Palace, or variant
773-404-1300
2433 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614

Crepe & Coffee Palace, or variant
773-404-1300
2433 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614

I want to bump this thread about Crepe & Coffee Palace (or Cafe Icosium or whatever it's called). I went there for the first time today, and was very impressed. I'm a crepe fan...when I make them at home, they rarely get to the table because I eat them straight from the pan. Unfortunately, at many restaurants, crepe is synonymous with "chunks of overcooked stuff in a heavy white sauce rolled in a crepe covered with more heavy white sauce." That's not my cup of tea.

My BF suggested we head to Crepe & Coffee Palace (or whatever it's called today), and I loved it! We each had a savory crepe, which cost $8.50 apiece, and includes bowl of soup and some fresh fruit. These crepes are the antithesis of Le Creperie, Magic Pan, and similar places. The crepes are stuffed full of ingredients that have already been dressed, and there's no additional sauce on the top. Consequently, you can actually savor the taste of the crepe as well as the ingredients inside. They have about 10 suggested combos for savory crepes, or you can make you own, choosing from several types of protein, several types of vegetables, several types of cheeses, several types of herbs, and several types of lettuces. I had a twist on the "Icosium Crepe" with chicken breast, spinach, basil, tomatoes, tomato tapenade, caramelized onions, roast garlic and goat cheese, which was delicious. The BF had the Marrakech Crepe, which was also terrific, though for the life of me I can't remember what was inside.

These crepes are very big, but it was so good that I didn't want to leave any on my plate. An hour or so later, I was surprised to find that I didn't feel as full as I would have expected to feel. (Had I eaten a entire entree at a heavy-sauce type crepe place, I probably would have had to sleep it off for a few hours.) These crepes will satisfy your hunger, but because they're stuffed with terrific fresh ingredients, so you won't feel stuffed and bloated after eating them.

I'm looking forward to trying some other things on their menu.

I believe that it's currently Cafe Icosium.

This place is a real gem in the neighborhood and I would love to see it get more LTH love. The crepes are excellent, but I really enjoy their soups. With a savory crepe you get either vegetable or chicken soup and both are fantastic. The chicken soup is taken to even a higher level with the addition of the hot sauce they serve with all of the soups.

jesteinf wrote:I believe that it's currently Cafe Icosium.

This place is a real gem in the neighborhood and I would love to see it get more LTH love. The crepes are excellent, but I really enjoy their soups. With a savory crepe you get either vegetable or chicken soup and both are fantastic. The chicken soup is taken to even a higher level with the addition of the hot sauce they serve with all of the soups.

A quick Google search shows that www.icosiumkafe.com leads you to their website, which implies that their name is Crepes and Coffee Palace. (As a marketing professional, that confused identity makes me cringe. I wonder how many people drive past looking for Icosium Cafe and think they've gone out of business.)

The menu's online, and I was interested to see that they serve both "North African tea" and "South African tea." I adore Moroccan mint tea (presumably what they call North African tea), so I'll be curious to order some on a chillier day.

I've been going to La Creperie for years, decades in fact. I think their crepes are more "French authentic" than Icosium cafe, which is Algerian I believe and more like a coffee shop. LaCreperie is more of a casual restaurant feel. I like both but I'd pick La Creperie for a birthday treat rather than Icosium.

chgoeditor wrote:Unfortunately, at many restaurants, crepe is synonymous with "chunks of overcooked stuff in a heavy white sauce rolled in a crepe covered with more heavy white sauce." That's not my cup of tea.

It is, however, authentically French, at least based on my experience in Paris.

There is a new place, in Westfield Hawthorn Center in Vernon Hills: Melt Gelato & Crepe Cafe. You can see more at http://www.meltgelato.com/. This is their first Illinois location. They have about 20 locations in California plus scattered locations in a few other states. The foodies here may cringe that it's a quasi-chain and in a mall, but if you're jonesing for a crepe and in the north suburds, I found it to be perfectly acceptable.

We stopped there yesterday and enjoyed the crepes. My wife and daughter chose the chocolate one. Their review that it was just like the ones they had together every day on their recent trip to Denmark.

toria wrote:I've been going to La Creperie for years, decades in fact. I think their crepes are more "French authentic" than Icosium cafe, which is Algerian I believe and more like a coffee shop. LaCreperie is more of a casual restaurant feel. I like both but I'd pick La Creperie for a birthday treat rather than Icosium.

This thread seemed to have the most content devoted to Icosium, which is why I originally posted here. (I should have made it clear that I didn't intend for my post to comment on whether the crepes were authentically French and the cafe sufficiently Parisian.)

I have to admit that I haven't eaten many crepes in France, but my recollection of Le Creperie is that the atmosphere *might* be more authentically French than Icosium, which calls itself an Algerian cafe. But given the size of the N African population in France, an Algerian cafe might be a common sight in in Paris these days. I will note that I was steered to Icosium by my French boyfriend who absolutely hates Le Creperie, so go figure!

Perhaps it's best to describe Icosium's crepes as having none of the things I dislike about traditional French crepes (heavy sauces that often mask the flavor and texture of the crepe), but having things I appreciate in any cuisine (fresh, flavorful ingredients that taste delicious when combined together but each also stands well on its own).

May I suggest a little place on Elston called Cook-au-vin? You may have to call in advance to see if they're making crepes but they are pretty good. The owner moved to Chicago from Paris in 2004 and opened a little retail shop on Elston that serves some light food but I would say that their crepes are much better than LeCreperie. As a matter of fact, the last crepe I ate at LeCreperie, I sent back because I couldn't cut it with a fork and knife. The second one I received was just as bad and I left half of it on the plate. I wouldn't be so quick in comparing LeCreperie's crepes to anything I've had in Paris.

I just want to remind everyone that the crepes at Le Creperie are of the Normandy style, that means they are buckwheat crepes. They are intentionally heavier and less delicate, more "toothsome" as it were and just darker in appearance. (But you should still be able to get a fork through one!) Coming from a colder, harsher climate, they create crepes to hold saucier, richer and heartier ingredients. Le Creperie is not a perfect place and it has weathered the storm of personal loss (the wife, co-owner and the front of the house energy died unexpectedly from an aneurism several years ago). But it is pretty much still a funky neighborhood joint with affordable food and a lovely back garden. I am a fan of their chicken and mushroom crepe even though the mushrooms might be of the er, canned variety. I give that up for the overall experience.

bjt

While I love the atmosphere, I cannot recommend the food (although their beer selection is nicely eclectic) for the reason mentioned in the post above.
I ordered a mushroom and goat cheese crepe and even the strong goat cheese flavor could not overwhelm the tin can flavor of canned mushrooms. I mean how hard is it to saute some button mushrooms?

I stand corrected on a few points in my previous post. The crepes at Le Creperie are of the Breton style, the owners are from Brittany originally. And the mushrooms in all of the crepes, according to someone I have been communicating with who works there, are not from a can.

I apologize for not "fact checking" better before posting my comments. A fuzzy memory came into play to and Normandy/Brittany . . . oh I dunno how I even leapt from one to the other. Sorry about that.

But I still like the chicken mushroom crepe at Le Creperie. And the funky atmosphere.

bjt

I love Le Creperie... Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, good belgian beer selection. Have had a nice soup or two there, and I do like the crepes, although I have no idea what makes one authentic. Only that I've had some tasty ones. I've had a few early dinners with wife and 1 year old - he seems to like it there, and the folks have been great - which can be awfully gratifying to a parent sometimes. So maybe it's not all about the food there, but we do make it a point to go, and its not particularly close to me.

Icosium was fantastic too - great merguez, nice sweet crepes. Definitely a different style crepe too.

Icosium Kafe is probably my favorite. I wouldn't knock it just because it's Algerian. If you're planning on taking your friend out for crepes, I would be more inclined to eating something delicious as opposed to an atmospheric knock-up. But, that's just me.

Isn't Vive la Crepe closed? That's the one in Evanston right? They were always pretty good, though definitely had the "European service" to match.

makemedinner wrote:Isn't Vive la Crepe closed? That's the one in Evanston right? They were always pretty good, though definitely had the "European service" to match.

Frankly, I had some of the worst crepes I've ever had at Vive la Crepe. I suppose the crepes themselves weren't bad, but the toppings (served on top of the crepe, not inside) were cold inside, as if they hadn't spent enough time in the microwave.

That space is now Zoba the Noodle Bar (see here and here).