Unexpected Gems

A cheerful dandelion yellow splashes walls adorned with a collection of antique French tin signs. A unique selection of plates hand-crafted into wall clocks align the top ceiling overhang, complemented by several aged wooden coffee grinders and gravy boats that sit atop the mantle. Weathered copper pots and pans of various sizes hang just below. The kitchen is completely open exposing the same dandelion colored cabinetry running around the perimeter of the tiny but quaint space.

I suddenly have the overwhelming feeling I’ve not walked into this restaurant by happenstance, but that I’ve been invited into someone's home.

My brother and I sit at a tiny two top bistro table next to the window and order up two cups of joe, which endearingly arrive in two mismatched mugs that feel like they came out of my grandmother's cabinet. His a John Deere mug and mine a cow with heart shaped boxers around his ankles that reads "Moo-ning", an excellent reminder that whilst in this petite French inspired cafe- I'm still in Texas.

Now the biggest challenge of The Cafe Crêpe- what to order! To be honest, it’s sort of a no brainer for us to both select a savory and then split a sweet for dessert. About six minutes later, we have two plates of mouth watering crêpes in front of us taunting us to dig in- so much so that the social media enthusiast in me doesn’t even think to take a picture until I’m swallowing the last piquant piece. We promptly follow up our stellar savory selections with a Brie, pear, walnut, and honey crêpe, which has left me salivating with nostalgia.

It wasn’t the airy, happy vibe of a hip Austin restaurant. It wasn't the exceptional, flavorful noshes. It wasn't even Lionel Richie softly singing All Night Long to me in between bites that made this place so special in a city full of cutting edge character and cuisine.

It was the friendly and unexpected conversation I struck up with the waitress refilling my morning cup of coffee. It was the inspiring story of her family’s antique store overcoming the challenge to reinvent their business during the economic slump. It was the smile of humble pride on her face. It was the excitement I felt and the reminder that anything is possible. When life handed them lemons, they took a selection of their antiques, inspiration from their French in-laws for authenticity and made crêpes.

The Cafe Crêpe is the American Dream embodied… and now lives in my gratifyingly full belly upon every return visit to Austin.