“Le Crepe Cafe”; Pretty food that makes me feel like an "Ugly American" (Restaurant Review)

Post by The Grumpy One

Le Crepe Cafe

2740 East Manoa Road

Honolulu, HI

So "The Tattooed One" has been trying to take me here for a few weeks now.  Even though I have been really busy at work preparing for my vacation (which starts tomorrow) I decided to try to fit it in since I don't know how many posts I will do while on vacation. Now "Tatoo" wanted me to be "nicer" on my posts (he does realize my nickname is "The Grumpy One" right?) So I will take this in to consideration. So here comes the review from the "Considerately Grumpy One."

So as we pulled up, I noticed that I would have NEVER found this place if it wasn't for "Tatoo." If you blink while going the speed limit on this road, you would never see it.

Now the outside reminds you of a nice European cafe, which the feel continues to flow inside with the constant "French" music playing ("The Pretty One" and I agreed that the music would be o.k. if we knew what they were saying.) and it even had...

A quaint little booth that you could pull the curtain and have a  "Paris-y" experience. Which we didn't try since our party was three guy's in our Military Uniforms (but Tatoo said he tried it with his wife and it was a little cramped, but the idea is neat.)

Now I lived in Europe for over 6 years (I know I lived in Germany not France, but still it was Europe.) And I will tell you that this place Nailed one key feature.  No matter what I did, I felt like an Ugly American.  It started with the ordering,

Now they have a huge selection of savory and sweet crepes, and those are all on a nicely displayed menu both inside and outside, but I was struggling to find a "Soda" list so I asked what kind of "Sodas" they had, this was my first Ugly American move, it turns out this a very "Healthy, Natural Ingredient, Organic" kinda place (which I think Tatoo purposely didn't tell me this knowing that I might not eat here if I knew this.) and they do not serve "Sodas." Which when she told me this in her french accent, made me feel like I just asked if I could punch all the babies in the world.  So instead of "slapping children," I ordered a Organic Orange Blossom Lemonade with mint.  

So I thought I would be nice and pay for everybodys lunch and that was Ugly American Move #2. I was ordering, and she was at a cash register, and it is a cafe, but when I told her I was paying for everybody and pulled out the wallet, she pulled out the french accent again and hinted "Don't you want to enjoy your food first, then pay." (which I will give Tattoo credit since he tried to stop me, I was just to fast.) 

So I instead sat down and waited for crepe number one. I ordered a savory and a sweet one to be able to give a better review (see I am a giver.)

So I started with "The Warrior" because I was hungry and it had the most ingredients.  It was a crepe with; Mozzarella cheese, rotisserie chicken, turkey slices, bacon, spinach, grape tomatoes, red onions, mushrooms and your choice of either pesto or BBQ sauce (I had BBQ sauce) It would have been really good except one  Huge problem, there were so many ingredients so none of them were warm, the crepe was hot, but the filling was cold which was weird to me.  The flavors were good, it just was weird to be hot and cold (hopefully that was nice enough for you Tattoo :)  When that crepe was finished, it was time for the sweet one.  Behold....THE CHUNKY MONKEY!!!

 Peanut Butter, Nuttella, Apple Bananas, in a crepe covered with powder sugar.  This more than made up for the short comings of "The Warrior."

If I got to choose my own death, I would choose to constantly eat these until I drowned myself with Chunky Monkey crepes...which wouldn't be hard to do.

I was full when this came out, but I couldn't stop eating it, and I wanted another one afterwards.

I almost ordered another sweet one when I was finally allowed to pay since I saw a little sign announcing their new "Carmel Apple Crepe" but I decided not too.

So final verdict...I think it would have been an o.k. lunch if you order a savory one with less toppings.  But if you want something sweet...defiantly the place to go.  As I am looking at the chunky monkey photo right now, I am almost tempted to get in the car and drive for an hour and a half to get another one...But next time, I will try not to be such a "Ugly American."