Crêperie Opens In Worcester Where Historic Jewish Deli Stood

WORCESTER, MA — Just over a year after Weintraub's Jewish Delicatessen closed after almost 100 years in business in Worceser's Canal District, a new restaurant has opened to take its place.

The Suzette Crêperie and Café opened in Weintraub's former Water Street storefront on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring city officials. Owners Jean Luc and Evelyn Wittner say they were drawn to Worcester due to the city's "tremendous economic revitalization" — and Evelyn is also a Clark graduate.

Jean Luc is originally from France, but has always wanted to move to the U.S. to open his own crêpe restaurant.

"After arriving in Massachusetts in 2011, I worked in restaurants and cafés for several years to understand how Americans eat out," he wrote on Suzette's website. "I can now say that I am the perfect combination of the French tradition and the American way."

The menu includes a raft of sweet and savory crêpes, plus options for vegetarians and vegans.

Sam and Ida Weintraub opened their deli in 1920 in what was then a bustling Jewish business district. Their son, Manny Weintraub, sold the business in the late 1980s to David Mizrahi. The deli closed for good in April 2019 after declining in its last few years.

But Wittner will honor the culinary legacy. His creperie is keeping the Weintraub's sign, and he's created a special menu item: The "Weintraub" crêpe comes with cheese, pastrami, Dijon mustard, béchamel sauce and tomato sauce.

Suzette Crêperie and Café
126 Water St., Worcester
Tuesday to Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m.
Fridays noon to 1:30 p.m.; 5 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.