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Cafe Crepe
Categories: Restaurants Creperies Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Creperies, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
246 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 1Z7
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Queen Street West, Downtown Core
(416) 260-1611
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 1 am
Sun 10 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
82 reviews for Cafe Crepe
Review Highlights
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"but my favorite is always the Nutella w/ Bananas." In 20 reviews -
"I've also tried the dark chocolate and enjoyed it." In 6 reviews -
"Dark Chocolate and Coconut Crepe with Vanilla Ice Cream." In 3 reviews
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82 reviews in English
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Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
4/6/2012
Good place to have crepe dishes. Crepes are freshly made upon ordering (or at least new batch is made every hour). They are delicious and have smooth flavors without glue-ish sticky texture. I never order things myself since I go with my friends. We usually have crepe with chocolate, vanilla ice cream and bananas. Not sure if it's on menu or my friends custom-order it, but it is very tasty. Consistency is pretty good too. All the ingredients are fresh and crepes are cooked nicely all the time.
Tables are large, and there is enough privacy on each table. The noise level is high. In winter, it can get really cold. Servers are not really attentive. But servers seem impersonal in general. I don't mean they are rude or unpleasant, but I wouldn't mind more smiles and enthusiasm on their faces.
The overall ambience is very casual. It has a diner feel to it with checker-pattern floors and old school posters. Good place to spend time with your friends. -
Review from Abigail G.
Toronto, ON
5/16/2012
I pass by Cafe Crepe all the time. Every time I do, I sniff the delicious scents wafting from the windows and make a note that to eat there someday. Today, "someday" finally arrived.
I am a HUGE crepe fan. I've been making them from scratch for years, (including recently for my Mom at Mother's Day brunch) so I have pretty high expectations. I much prefer dessert crepes to the savoury kind so I ordered the dark chocolate with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. The crepe was well cooked and well filled with chocolate and fruit. With the whipped cream the crepe was the perfect sweetness. It's not the best crepe I've ever eaten, but was quite satisfactory.
My friend and I also took advantage of the Wednesday beer special offering pitcher's for $11.50 (we had Keith's), which was not a bad deal.
Our server was polite, friendly and prompt and the venue was comfortable. Overall, good food, good experience. -
Review from Johnathan N.
Brampton, ON
4/3/2012 5 Check-ins Here
A tasty breakfast, but nothing to write home about.
I love crepes. I love pancakes, waffles, anything with that vanilla and butter-flavoured batter. In Europe, crêpes are pretty standard hand-food, available for on-the-go nosh in most big cities, and they make me so very happy. I am poised to be delighted.
The place is open and clean, the street-front take out window is a fun idea, and it smells *great*. Coming in for breakfast, I want a better selection than I'm getting -- their menu has 20 or so savoury choices, but only because every minor variation gets its own entry (egg and ham, egg and ham and cheese, egg and ham and cheese and mushroom, egg and spinach, egg and spinach and cheese, &c &c). They do let you construct your own, but first thing in the morning, I could do with some more creative hand-holding.
When I do make a choice, the prices sting a little. $10+? For a breakfast crêpe? In the grand scheme of things, it won't bankrupt me, but neither is it the best bargain in town. Please, Cafe Crêpe, help me avoid the $3 sodium bomb sausage mcmuffin at the starbucks next door!
The product itself is delish. Just what the doctor ordered. The crêpe is what I want it to be: light and aromatic, but with enough firmness to hold the goodies in. The spinach is fresh. The cheese is gooey. The mushrooms are... podunk ho-hum button mushrooms, but fresh ones, at least.
At $6, this would be a great deal. At $10 with interesting field mushrooms or some creative cheese choices or a well-curated menu of awesome, I'd be happy to pay it. As it stands, you won't leave hungry, but you won't leave thrilled by the value, either.
Pro-tip: the right thing to do here might be to show up later, when the "sweet" side of the menu takes over. Or have a nutella crêpe for breakfast... -
Review from Peggy W.
Markham, ON
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Visited Cafe Crepe a couple of weeks ago and tried my best to approximate a chicken florentine crepe by adding chicken, mushrooms and sweet onion aioli to a spinach crepe. (Chicken florentine crepe purists, you may cringe now at my lack of knowledge on what constitutes a chicken florentine crepe.)
I've actually tried a somewhat shoddily-assembled strawberry and nutella crepe back in the summer of 2011, well before I even opened a Yelp account, so my expectations were not that high. This time around, though, the crepe was more carefully assembled (look, ma, no cracks!) and had a subtly crispy texture. The chicken was decently seasoned and not too dry, the spinach and mushrooms are all right, and the sweet onion aioli was mainly more sweet than onion.
In conclusion, while there are other creperies that I'd like to visit, I don't mind heading to Cafe Crepe once in a while. Probably not in the summer though... fruit fly season! X_X -
Review from Shiona R.
2/1/2012
I have been to Cafe Crepe a couple of times and both were rather delightful, the first time I had a a savory crepe filled with ham, cheese and mushroom and a nutella hot chocolate, be still my beating heart, it almost was!
Being more health conscious the second time I visited, I had the pear, avocado and brie salad...fantastic! I did have a nibble of my friends chocolate and strawberry crepe and it was tasty.
I really like the decor of this place, and the atmosphere. Both times I have been it was really busy yet the service was spot on and it did not feel overly crowded. -
Review from Cara L.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
Best dessert shop on Queens!
My favourite place to go for lunch and the most wonderful place to take your friends for a little get together, atmosphere is great and not too fancy.
Very comfortable but be sure to get there before 7:00 if possible! The line gets super long because it's so popular with the student crowds, especially on a Thursday or Friday. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
1/8/2012
VIBE
This is across from the Much Music building so during the day, it's the meeting spot for the "youth" (16-21). You'll see as many people waiting inside at the front counter for their crepes as you will inside. That said, you never feel rushed here. I like the take out window and walking by to see the guys make the crepes. It definitely adds a bit of character to the corner of Queen and John.
I EAT/DRINK
Their hot chocolate is one of my favourites in the city. A must! I used to work in the area so it was always the ham and swiss cheese crepe that was my usual. I love that the cheese oozes out of the crepe (also well made and shaped). That said, I'm also a huge fan of the nutella/strawberry combo. They slather it on. Well worth the indulgence!
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Don't give a crepe about the other mediocre food in the area. This is a lovely spot to hang if there's room or grab and go a snack (service is pretty speedy as well). I like this as a good breakfast pick-me-up as well.
Bon Appetit! -
Review from Laura T.
11/27/2011
I've walked passed this place 100 times and never thought to stop (me, a dessert addict, I know right?). At first glance, it looks like just a fast-food crepe place with a counter and small bar area to sit... BUT at second glance, there is an entire restaurant/sitting area towards the back. Very funky decor as well, almost retro with black and white tiles and large 50s-like prints on the wall.
The service was great - quick and friendly, and the crepes really were the best part. Although Cafe Crepe has other items on the menu (and a fairly extensive menu at that), I can only speak to the delicious dessert.
We shared one with strawberries, icecream and suger sprinkled on the top - as a former waffle girl, I may be the latest crepe-convert. It was absolutely delicious, and reasonably priced (around $8 all in).
We also enjoy the vanilla bean tea, and fun Saturday night ambience. Verdict? I will be going back, and cheating on waffles for awhile... -
Review from Sharky L.
Toronto, ON
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
The apple sauce banana crepe was really blend, don't get it. It's just apple sauce, a bit of bananas and lots of crepe, had no taste to it. The portions were very small. We had to drive to Wanda's waffle afterwards to satisfy our need. Wanda's was yummy!
Been here couple of times before and the crepes were okay, the nutella banana one is always good. -
Review from Gregory H.
2/20/2012
Great little place to run in or sit down for some amazing crepes and coffee. I enjoyed a great ham and swiss crepe and some fresh lavazza coffee. You can sit at the bar or enjoy table service. Fast and very fresh. Loved it.
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Review from andrew m.
Toronto, ON
11/28/2011
Crepe Cafe is located in one of Toronto's trendy parts of the city. Food is really cheap, they have a high volume of people who come to eat here and a lot of young people dig the place
Drawbacks: Sometimes glasses aren't as clean as they should be. The magic behind a crepe is kinda ruined when you loads of Nutella out on display. (Don't get me wrong, i sometimes indulge in Nutella at home... its a wonderful chocolate hazel nut spread... but sometimes i wish i was getting an in-house made spread instead of store bought product.
Positives: All the crepes are made with fresh ingredients ... some of the best ones are those made with fruit (but they kinda get messy when eating on a street car and are often gone after only a few stops.) They make the crepes in house ... just hope that you get your crepe fresh because they have to make large batches of them to accommodate the number of orders they get.
Service is fast, the place can accommodate large groups. Has a large enough selection that a group can agree to eat here and be satisfied. Price wise very affordable. -
Review from Thuy T.
Woodbridge, ON
11/6/2011 5 photos
This rating is for the Grilled Panini With Chicken, Cheese & Tomatos
It was bland for my taste bud!!!! No flavouring was added
Restaurant Rating:
0(Too Sad), 1(Horrible), 2(Poor), 3(Ok Lah), 4(Good), 5(Excellent)
Food: 2
Clean: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: Casual
Will I Return? No
Keep in mind all food postings is according to personal preferences and taste buds. Therefore, it's best to try the places out for yourself and see if it suites your taste. -
Review from Nelson L.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2012
When I first heard of this place I was a bit worried... I have a big appetite, and usually dessert places don't cut it for me. However I was (pleasantly) surprised to discover that their crepes can be filling enough. They have two crepes on the first page they recommend, and those two would be what I recommend too. Good atmosphere and good food.
I'll be back to this place. -
Review from Vivek S.
So I didn't get a stiff drink this time, but a few Stella Artoises were a great way to watch down my usual order: the chicken, egg, swiss and mayo crêpe (CESM). Delicious as usual.
I have to give them an extra point for handling our large and boisterous group with aplomb and grace. Even though we milled about for hours, they were super-accomodating and even managed to wrangle separate cheques for each of us. There was a gratuitity added but I think it was only 10%. Fair.
I can now proclaim this restaurant Good for Groups. And so it is done.Listed in: Queen Street Address, Yet Another Good for Groups…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2011
At the corner of Queen and John, Cafe Crêpe is a fair place to meet up for a quick lunch or late… Read more »
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Review from Daisy C.
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
What's up with this place using precooked crepes that are not even hot?? Literally, the so-called chef just take out one of those premade crepes, put in some filling, and serve. No wonder it takes minimal time for them to serve a big party.
Crepes are supposed to be crispy on the outer layer, with juicy fillings, for example, hot melted chocolate. Here? Because crepes are not made fresh, the neutella does not even melt. It is literally just: big fluffy dough + neutella from a jar directly.
Omg I still cannot believe I paid 6 for that crap. Regretting lots. Not coming back again that's for sure:( -
Review from Madelaine D.
Toronto, ON
3/28/2011
Cafe Crêpes is a fantastic little restaurant set up like a 50's style diner with a modern twist. You sit at tables with black leather booths, paintings of flapper's on the walls around you and modern looking stainless steel fans spinning overhead. I love that the kitchen is on display so you can see them cooking your crêpes and preparing your meal as you walk in. It's neat to see and makes the place feel very clean.
The crêpes are delicious and just the right size to fill you up at dinner without stuffing you. We ordered savory crêpes, stuffed with a mix of eggs, mushrooms, spinach, ham and cheese. Both variations we ordered were delicious! One had the aioli in it which was a great addition.
The service was quick and friendly and the total of our bill came to just $20 tax and tip included! It was the perfect quick meal before we headed to The Second City.
They have cheap beer Wednesday and cheap martini's Thursday's.
I'd happily go back to this place with a group of friends and would love to try their dessert crêpes sometime.Listed in: Queen West, Inexpensive and delicious
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Review from Lauren M.
4/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good place for groups, as they handled 12-13 of us with relative efficiency and friendliness.
Menu is kind of tedious. Keeps repeating the same dish over and over again with slight ingredient modifications, almost like a Vietnamese restaurant menu, left me wondering WTF am I ordering. Menu choices were also dull, I was hoping to see some creative/inventive ingredient combinations for crepes, but I settled on "ham, cheese and egg".
Crepe was very tasty and quite cheap though, A-OK on tastiness and portion-size, but lacking in presentation. -
Review from Giovanni P.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2011
Simply a horrible experience. Completely overpriced for what you get. I ordered prosciutto panini, which the menu said would have boconcinni cheese and tomato.
I paid $8.50 cents for it - and as my friend joked, 'is that an appetizer?' It was pathetic.
It was no bigger than 1.5 inches by 6 inches. It was not any bigger than a hot dog bun. It contained a single strip of prosciutto, barely any tomato at all and cheese melted into a liquid.
For $8.50, I was expected a little more meat, actual boconcinni cheese (and not some liquid mess) and fresh tomato - and a little basil couldn't hurt either. It was bland and cheaply made.
I don't mind a smaller portion if the ingredients are top notch and plentiful - but this place completely failed.
I will never go back again, and I don't suggest anyone else does either. -
Review from alfred i.
North York, ON
1/3/2012
Great place to get crepes. Ice cream, fruit, chocolate, maple syrup, and more! They're open late too.
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Review from Nischay M.
Lawrene Park South, Toronto, ON
1/21/2012
Nutella Espresso is like liquid cake! Eggs, Chicken, Swiss Cheese savoury crepe is just the tastiest.
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Review from Claudia B.
Toronto, ON
1/14/2012
Yum noms! My friend and I went last night, a Friday around 1230am.
Atmosphere:
Calm and intimate, but still good for groups as there was an top next to us and on the other side a couple. Its good for all types and all night. I love the setup for those ordering take out, you stay in the front section of the restaurant. If you're going to dine in, which we did, you walk through a glass door into the dining area. I think with the dark lighting and location on Queen street I expected and would have preferred some music. Perhaps des chansons francais aussi. Edith Piaf, Gregroie, Celene Dion?? Ha ha ha ne porte qui!
Food & Drinks
To drinks I ordered a medium hot chocolate. Nice presentation with a dollop of whip cream on top (something I personally could do without) BUT it tasted as chocolatey as my friends steamed milk with flavor and was served only moderately hot. This [my drink] was the biggest disappointment of the night. I mean geez, it's hot chocolate - err on the side of caution with too much chocolate and piping hot, not the opposite when its -10 out. My friend ordered steamed milk with strawberry flavor. She enjoyed it, and I can say it was what it said it was steamed milk with flavor.
The eats! We had had a filling dinner (see review for Paramount Fine Dining) so we knew we didn't each want our own crepes. We shared a classic crepe of strawberry and nutella. It was great. Only complaint if I have to have one, the strawberries were obviously not freshly cut so the mix of cool strawberries, room temp nutella melted by the warm crepe was not there and maybe some powdered sugar? But such a finishing touch is perhaps more of a personal preference, no?Admittedly we were probably the last table they sat around 1230 am so they were close to closing and who is going to cut up a batch of fresh strawberries for us? I'm not that famous yet.
I love that they [and their kitchen] are open late - 1am on Fridays/Saturdays = Huge bonus after leaving the surprisingly early closing area of yonge-dundas
Service
It was fine. I think the guys at the front area were more friendly than our particular waitress. But she got our drinks and food out in a timely manner and cleared our plates accordingly so nothing wrong there.
Bang for my Looney?
Yup! And the menu has numerous offerings that we decided after sitting down not too hungry that we had to come back and properly do the restaurant. I shall return! La semaine prochaine est trop tot? Non! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Cafe Crepe's crepes are not bad... but the selections just did not make be go WOW, I want to try them all....
Yawning... the menu is just so Yawningly boring.. Do I want chicken/ham/tuna with cheese/egg/spinach?
or should I just skip my dinner and just have dessert instead... the sweet crepes are definitely much much much better!!
Chicken with Mayo (yawning)
- winner of the most boring dinner food photos I ever took!! A glass of water will be a more interesting photo...
- The chicken is a little on the dry side... no amount of mayo would have save it!
Dark Chocolate and Coconut Crepe with Vanilla Ice Cream
- I did not order that.. but of course Rafi N who was so fortunate to sit with me for the evening let me taste it.. and I took a HUGE bite out of it!!
- It was really good... I guess it always good when you are eating someone else food?
Cafe Crepes is really good if you come in a big group! Our waitress suggested that she is going to split our bills right off the bat! Awesome! I know how after a few drinks, I lost my ability to figure out my share...
I will definitely be back for some sweet crepes, especially since Cafe Crepes is opened till 1 AM on weekends! And next time, I going to order one all for myself!!Listed in: UYE Sends Me Here!, Crepes! Wonderful Crepes!
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Review from Juliane W.
3/3/2012 1 photo
Wow! If I lived in Toronto I think I would live off crepes. Cafe Crepe has it all...delicious savory and sweet crepes to chose from (or maybe a combination of the two?), fabulous drinks and a really cozy intimate cafe vibe. I love that you walk into Cafe Crepe to first see the chefs whipping up crepes right in front of you. You can get a crepe to go or be seated at a table to eat in. They have tons and tons of options to chose from or you can create your own crepe with tasty ingredients like swiss cheese, strawberries, bacon, nutella, veggies and REAL maple syrup! I was enticed by a staff creation, the "french toast crepe" that had swiss, eggs, cinnamon sugar and maple syrup then added strawberries. Mmmm I couldn't be happier when the plate of goodness was placed in front of me. The crepe was pretty massive, hot and beautifully dusted with powdered sugar. I sipped my friends nutella martini and it was also to die for. After our crepe feast my group went on to shop around that area...it really is one of my favorite areas of Toronto now!
Listed in: Can't Live Withouts, Food and Shopping Therapy, Date Night!
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Review from S D.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
This place is pretty good. I always get the Nutella crepe, and am never disappointed by the quality, however I've tasted better. As for the ambiance, it feels like a fast food place, and therefore it is very loud and difficult to sustain a conversation with friends. To me, it's definitely more of a grab-and-go place.
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Review from Jennifer M.
1/30/2011
We do not have H & M in Austin, so I was beyond excited to find one just a few blocks away from our hotel. Unfortunately, it didn't open until 11:00am, so we decided it was a good time to have some breakfast.
Sadly, my only previous experience with a crepe has been at IHOP so I was not terribly excited about sucking down a powdered sugary, fake fruit-filled, syrupy, flaking thing before trying to squeeze into clothes.
Stupid, stupid American.
I had no idea there was such a wide variety of crepes to select from. Even though it seemed like ingredients I would never mix myself; I ordered the eggs, mushroom, tomato, (and cheese?) crepe with maple syrup. The tomatoes were a mistake and quickly plucked those out. Otherwise the crepe was scrumptious and light and I ate the entire thing even though I intended to only eat half. You know, in preparation to try on clothes.
A gal's got her priorities.
It may be because we were the only guests, but the service was impeccable. Our server was polite, attentive and our meal came out much more quickly than I had anticipated.Listed in: Out of State Adventures
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Review from Vivien L.
2/23/2011
Cafe Crepe is a great go-to crepe place! I love how they have a good assortment and it isn't too pricey. If i go with my bf, i get the jam crepe (b/c sadly he's allergic to nutes =( ) and when i'm with friends i get anything with nutella in it! hahha
another random thing they have on the menu is their "parisan hot dog" it's really yummy
their savoury crepes are also delicious, it makes it so hard to choose so i usually get one savoury and one sweet!
service has it's ups and downs, but i don't really mind. i allows me to take the time to relax and chat. OH and my bf and i went on valentines day and they gave us chocolate dipped strawberries! it was a nice surprise =) -
Review from Mike U.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool creperie in the heart of town to sit down have a snack and a coffee and move on. It actually has a pretty big selection of crepes, salty or sweet. It also features in the front an area to for quick service take out.
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Review from Joanne S.
Toronto, ON
12/16/2011 2 photos
Fun to see the chefs make the crepes and a good place for a quick desert. But, nothing really stands out. Price to portions are definitely better than Crepes A Go Go, but I find the quality is sometimes lacking.
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Review from Rob D.
11/4/2010 2 photos
Now lemme tell ya why I'm a fan of this joint.
First - the Martinis with vodka, kaluha, creme de cocao, baileys in a glass lined with melted Nutella. I was so inspired by this, that I huffed on down to the LCBO and purchased a hundred bucks of ingredients for my homemade creations. Although my glasses with nutella didn't look so pretty ... looked kinda gross actually ... but the taste (and homemade strength) was there . . . but I digress ...
The crepes were fantastic.
I went for bannana, almonds, nutella (vs choice of dark chocolate) ...
all of this along one of my favourite lil blocks in t.o.
Thanks for the Crepes . . . . the waistline can't afford to eat these too regularly . . . . but it is a must try. -
Review from Joanne W.
3/6/2011
Cafe Crepe is a great place to just chill with a few friends over some coffee and dessert.
The illy coffee served there is amazing (like always). I ordered myself a lemon and sugar crepe with a side of ice cream. I was very content.
However, service wasn't the best. The waitress that was serving us had a bit of attitude. -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
10/28/2010 1 photo
Fast & friendly service.
Awesome Italian coffee.
Wicked crepes.
Staff is awesome.
Keep coming back for more.
Love this place.
Servers are very friendly and cute!
Gets busy. Wait time is less than 10 minutes!
Try the Nutella banana crepes & coffee! -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2011
The crepe here is no Crepe a Go Go. But it's sure quite yummy.
I usually come and have a quick lunch here, sit down on my own, shopping on queen street. It's also great for a small group. The folks are friendly and the meal is quite simple, crepe or paninis.
Today I got take out. They did serve it to me in a paper bag, so i can eat it on the Go, but something about it wasn't quite right. Not sure if it's the solid-ity of the thing, it sticks out of the bag and keeps flopping over. I had a hard time eating it without also eating paper - maybe the bag had to be higher. Not sure what it is, but it was a difficult on the go eating experience.
Good for lunch, mid/after shopping, chatting, dessert. -
Review from G K.
Mississauga, ON
11/22/2010
Ventured into Cafe Crepe for a late dessert on Saturday night. Yes this place is the famous crepe place in the background of all the cp24 broadcasts. It was very busy at around 11pm and we waited about 5 minutes for a table.
After being pretty stuffed from dinner we decided to split a crepe with nutella, fresh bananas and strawberries. The crepe arrived reasonably quickly, it was reasonably tasty, with a lot of fruit it just didn't sit well with me.
The nutella seemed a little watery and inconsistent which detracted a little bit from the overall crepe. The crepe itself was cooked well, though a personal preference would be a slightly more "well done" crepe.
The atmosphere in the place was pretty loud and tables were fairly close together but nothing too bad. A decent place for a quick dessert but nothing earth shattering. -
Review from Denise C.
9/13/2010
I walked by here at like 9 PM on a Monday night. Damn you Cafe Crepe, fanning the delicious smells of crepes onto the street. I wasn't even hungry but had to stop in.
The service was very friendly and helpful (I'm one of those people that asks a lot of questions about everything), and my nutella-strawberry-banana crepe came up quickly. And it was bomb. It was everything I wanted in a crepe. No complaints here. Just writing about it makes me want another one. -
Review from Raymond W.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2011
I remember the first time visiting here, my ex-girlfriend introduced it to me, and I was as much of a skeptic as one could be. Ignorant, unwilling to experiment, I admire her patience in talking me through with coming here.
If you never had a crepe before, it's basically a French taco (except you eat it with a knife and fork). There's a wide variety of selection on the menu, but they're happy to customize your crepe if need be, which is my favorite part about the place. The strawberry crepe was good, I usually order the mushroom and chicken, or the banana & vanilla ice cream if my sweet-tooth starts aching. They are rather generous with what they stuff into your crepe, and the prices are reasonable. Unless you intend on ordering the six dollar espresso.
The place serves as a local cafe for the dying breed of Queen Street yuppie, and a cheap lunch alternative for the staff working at the CityTV building directly across the street.
The cafe is supposed to be French, but the ambiance is remarkably American. Art Deco floors, paintings, furnishing..very 30's. Kind of that fedora wearing, spy vs. spy private detective feeling.
I always leave just enough time in between each of my visits to forget which one of the abstract paintings hung outside on the basement washroom door represent which sex.
Trust me, if your name isn't Picasso, figuring out what lies behind door #2 could end up being a lot of guess work. No pun intended.
It's a cafe, but you can order anything from a Nutella Martini, to a Royale with cheese. It's not the Ritz, but it ain't shabby. The place has character.
Considering it's adjacent to a Starbucks, Cafe Crepe has done quite well for itself for the last couple of years. -
Review from Michael J.
3/2/2010
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I once made a promise to someone that I would never have crepes unless they were present. In my own world, I guess I considered it a special type of thing since they were the person that turned me on to crepes in the first place. But since that time, we are no longer friends, and I no longer care about anything pertaining to them or their life, so I no longer have to keep my promise...right? Well, that's how I'm justifying it.
Hey, don't judge me.
[roll scrolling wall of text that talks about the evil empire and something about Jedi's, and a little green man]
Anyway, so, I proclaimed my craving for crepes to my wonderful fiancee and she suggested that we go to Cafe Crepe for breakfast. My first thought was "Why the hell would I want to enjoy a really thin pancake for breakfast? If it's for breakfast, I want the real thing damn it!" Unfortunately for me, since becoming pregnant, my fiancee has an uncanny ability to read my mind so she looks at me and says "Oh no, we are so going to Cafe Crepe for breakfast and that's that."
It was about that time that I tighten up my belt, flexed out my chest and got all mannish, and was about to lay down the law when my fiancee gives me that look. My fellow men know what "that" look is. That "look" that tells you she gets her way or else you're in a lot of trouble. So, I deflated my chest, put on a sad panda face and went back to playing Heavy Rain, like that man's man that I really am. YEAH!
Anyway, we went to Cafe Crepe the next morning, and the second I saw the entrance...I was pissed. They have a damn neon sign! I love neon signs. I suppose it's my own fault for coming in the morning, but god damn it...I'm going to have to come back here at night just to see the awesome neon sign.
I really liked the atmosphere. I'm a diner type of guy. Fancy, smhancy restaurants with that whole high class, up scale feel...just no. I'm a white boy from the ghetto's of Oakland. You put me in an upscale environment and my uncomfortable level raises far beyond the reaches of what a Saiyan Scouter could read. I like diners. I like the atmosphere they provide - simple, fun, and friendly. You don't get that at upscale. You get jerkoffs who are only trying to get a big tip.
Anyway, the crepes themselves were...meh. Bland. Not that favorable, and not that rememberable. I don't know if the only other place I've had crepes at is just THAT good, or is this place fails that much. Actually, that's mean. Cafe Crepes doesn't fail...it's just...average. It's nothing special, and nothing worth making a return trip to since there are several other places in Toronto that offer crepes.
Think of Cafe Crepes as going to a house party to get drunk, but when you get there they are playing music that you don't really like, and the alcohol they have to offer is nothing you like as well, but you've had such a crappy day that you really don't care what it is, so long as it renders you highly intoxicated. Cafe Crepes does offer food. It will provide you with substance, and I suppose if this was a post apocalyptic world then yeah...it might be considered good, but it's not 2013 yet, and here in 2010, Cafe Crepes...is meh.
However, the service was excellent. The people there are very friendly, and the atmosphere is very warm and kind. And those two things go a long way with me. Other than that, Cafe Crepes is average. Bland. Nothing special. -
Review from Rosie S.
7/29/2009
I do love to meet people here, but why?
The crepes aren't even that good.
The hot chocolate is grainy/sandy/nasty.
The servers are rude and inattentive, the tables are totally uncomfortable, and did I mention the disappointing hot beverages?
It's expensive too - especially for the quality (or lack thereof).
The kitchen staff are usually scowling (not good in an open-concept kitchen) and the wait staff I've experienced (over 4-5 visits) have all been grumpy and surly. As others have noted, there are frequent order mistakes and the service is notoriously slow... are these the same kind of crepes they serve on the street in Paris? It can't be! Those ones only take 90 seconds from ordering fresh to get into your hands... these ones take 20 minutes to prepare. Odd.
Anyway, there are better places in the city for crepes. This one just has the luck of a great location and lots of space to meet people. -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'm used to eating crepes in Europe, not to sound elitist, but they are of similar quality and much cheaper. They're not expensive by Canadian breakfast standards here, however. I would definitely recommend this place for something out of the ordinary.
Really liked the dark chocolate and the coffee is good. -
Review from Kat F.
2/11/2009
I've worked in the neighbourhood for five years now and despite my adoration for crepes (I grew up eating them nearly every day), I've never had any real desire to try this place, and now I know why.
My first (and last visit) about a year ago was wrought with order complications and misunderstandings, a long wait, snooty service, and finally: a botched crepe! I ordered a banana and nutella crepe and it was mediocre for a cost of $8 (!!) but by the time I got it I was too tired to argue.
I have since duplicated the crepe at home for 1/16th the price. -
Review from Rita C.
Saanich, BC
5/12/2009
I was surprised to see it listed here, and surprised to see that Cafe Crepe was nearly full at nine tonight-- in Vancouver, Cafe Crepe's a chain, and it seemed to me the McDonald's of the crepe world. But I guess there's just the one store here, and apparently a busy one at that!
The crepes here aren't anything special, and overpriced. If not freshly made (they pile up the crepes premade), they're freshly prepared with the ingredients you choose. They're tasty enough, and the service is pretty quick. Still, you're bound to find better crepes elsewhere-- but probably not late at night, I guess!
