It Only Serves Crêpes — And That's Just Fine

For those who have met Konstantino, the owner of the newly opened La Crepe et La Vie on Foster Avenue, it will come as no surprise that he doesn't worry much about giving the customers what they want.

Luckily, they seem to want very much what he's offering.

Since the crêpe-only restaurant opened to the public Sunday (following a friends and family opening the previous Friday) there have been a steady stream of customers.

"It's been busy. They won't let us go home," said Konstantino (who, like Cher, chooses to go by just one name, at least when speaking to the Ditmas Park media).

Konstantino hails from Greece, but he likes crêpes, so that's what's on the menu. Period.

If you're hoping to get a Nicoise salad or French onion soup you'll have to hop the Q train to somewhere like Le Gamin in Prospect Heights. But, for anyone who likes crêpes (and really who doesn't?), this place is Mecca.

There are banana crêpes and strawberry crêpes  ham and cheese crêpes and a chili con carne crêpe.There is a goat cheese crêpe and a fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese crêpe. There's a crêpe with sautéed mushrooms and sausage. 

There are exactly four non-crêpe items on the menu — a baguette with jam and butter, Greek yogurt with honey, granola or walnuts, sorbet, or a small lettuce-only salad. There is also an espresso bar for your daily coffee fix.

Prices range frin $4 to $10 for the sweet crepes and $7-$12 for the savory. Coffee starts at $1.50. 

Michael Northrop, A children's book author, who has has walked over from Cortelyou twice in two days, says likes the dive-deep menu, for its simple, light options, such as the cheese-free ratatouille crêpe.

"The crêpes are very straightforward," he said. "I have different pizza options, different chicken options. If I want something light, this would be the place I would go to."

Konstantino is experimenting with using the traditional buckwheat flour for the savory varieties and making a rice-flour crêpe, not so much for the gluten-free properties, but because they're all the rage in Japan.

But don't go getting your hopes up. You know how Konstantino is.

"If I find it doesn't taste good to me, I'm not going to serve it," he said. 


La Crêpe et La Vie is located on Foster Avenue between E. 17th and E. 18th street. I will open at 11 a.m. and close when the time seems right, every day but Monday. No delivery yet, but take-out is available.