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Crepes

January 25, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Simply Crepes in Lafayette Village, Raleigh

Front of Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Front of Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Unlike Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, I love crepes!  Thin little pancakes or not, imagine my excitement when I heard that Simply Crepes was opening up in N. Raleigh.  A small chain based out of upstate New York, for some odd reason they decide to open up their third Simply Crepes at Lafayette Village.  For those of you who haven’t hit up Lafayette Village, it’s a quaint European style shopping plaza with all sorts of great eateries and stores so Simply Crepes fits right in.  Inside the space is rustic, tables with carved legs, avocado green chairs with a light and airy feel.  An open kitchen flanks one side so you can watch your treats being prepared, live.  I’ve eaten at Simply Crepes twice, once for breakfast and the other time for a crepe cooking class, very different experiences.  And that is the beauty of the versatile crepe, it can be done up so many ways for all the meals of the day, from morning to night.

Crepes benedict at Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Crepes benedict at Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Apple-brie crepe at Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Apple-brie crepe at Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

For my brunch visit I had a crepe eggs benedict.  Poached eggs, Canadian bacon and hollandaise over a folded crepe.  Not bad but probably would have been just as happy with a muffin underneath!  But the roasted breakfast potatoes at Simply Crepes are quite good, make sure you try them.  My cooking class was a lot of fun.  Held in the private room, chef-owner Pierre Heroux came down from NY for the lesson.  We sampled cinnamon crepe chips (thin, crunchy), a wonderful apple-brie crepe with onions, tomatoes and apple butter and a sweet dessert crepe with ice cream and cinnamon apples.  The apple-brie crepe is a popular menu option and oddly enough, it’s delicious!  The creamy, dense brie contrasted against the crispy apple and savory onions along with the chewy crepe makes for an interesting bite.  Overall I think Simply Crepes does a decent job with their crepes and flavor choices, just not quite as impressive as my favorite creperie in SF, Ti Couz.

Dining room at Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining
Dining room at Simply Crepes in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

With the cozy interior, solid service and wide variety of flavor options, Simply Crepes works for breakfast, lunch, dinner AND dessert.  Hard to believe that that thin little pancake can be done up in so many ways!  But yes, welcome to North Carolina, Simply Crepes and thanks for dishing out this Gallic delicacy cause it’s not easy to find them in the Triangle.  So the next time you’re visiting Lafayette Village, treat yourself to a crepe at Simply Crepes!

 

Simply Crepes

8470 Honeycutt Road #110

Raleigh, NC 27615

919.322.2327

 

Menu at Simply Crepes

Location on Google maps

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Filed Under: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Brunch, Crepes

December 5, 2021 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Press Coffee, Cocktails, and Crepes, Durham: A Pleasant Spot for Breakfast, Brunch and More

Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com

It’s interesting how some locations for restaurants seem to be tough for new businesses or restaurants. One spot that has seen a huge turn-over in terms of concepts is 359 Blackwell Street which is tucked between DPAC and the Durham Bulls Ballpark. This large space has hosted a barbeque restaurant, mini-golf venue, chili-wings spot, and currently, Press Coffee, Cocktails & Crepes. Now in my head I’m thinking “how in the world could that prime location just a stone’s throw from DPAC, DBAP, and ATC see so much turnover?” Well if I had to guess, it’s been a combination of the concept and the (most likely) leasing expense of that premium spot. But I’m hoping that with the arrival of Press Coffee, Cocktails & Crepe (Press CCC), we may have a lasting presence here!

Dining room at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Head on over to Blackwell Street, it’s that busy street that shoulders the American Tobacco Campus and DPAC. This office area is officially known as Diamond View 3, one of three buildings that circle the ballpark. Press CCC has done a lovely job renovating the space and it looks worlds better than previous incarnations. High ceilings, a coffee bar right up front and then a main dining room and back bar to the right when entering. There’s a mod, arched mirror behind the bar which reflects the space along with all the natural light pouring through the floor to ceiling plate glass windows. A lot of light-colored woods color the space giving it all an organic and casual feel, it reminds me a bit of a bigger Jack Tar and the Colonel’s Daughter which is several blocks away. And don’t miss their covered side patio for some fresh air eating!

Coffee at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Coffee at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Press CCC is primarily a breakfast and lunch cafe with hours from 7am to 6pm during the week and 9am to 3pm during the weekend. As such, you have a variety of crepes, sandwiches, and salads to choose from along with beer, wine, and cocktails. Start off with a coffee or latte to get the day going. Their coffee roast here is deep and mellow, good beans! One unique item that caught my eye on their menu is their hash brown waffles which are available on the weekends. The Traditional comes with your choice of breakfast meat and egg over a hashbrown waffle and it’s quite filling! My egg-over easy and the sausage pattie makes for a great meal.

Hashbrown waffle with egg and sausage at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Hashbrown waffle with egg and sausage at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For sweets, I’ve tried their nutella, banana, strawberry crepe which could work for breakfast or dessert. This hefty crepe is folded over four times, well-filled, and sprinkled with confectionary sugar. And for cocktails I’ve tried an aperol spritz, nicely done but their house cocktail menu is a bit short.

Nutella crepe with strawberries and bananas at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Nutella crepe with strawberries and bananas at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com
Aperol spritz at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Aperol spritz at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Overall I’m a fan of Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes and believe that it will do really well in this location. Even with their limited hours, the place has been regularly packed since it has opened. That being said, I wish the food and menu options were a bit more interesting. More creativity in the menu and food options would be great, it’s a satisfying if not memorable meal for me. So rock on, Press! You’ve started off with a bang, here’s to more and better.

Back bar at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham - nctriangledining.com
Back bar at Press Coffee, Cocktails and Crepes in Durham – nctriangledining.com

 

Press Coffee, Cocktails, Crepes

359 Blackwell Street

Durham, NC 27701

919.748.3142

Location on Google maps

Filed Under: Durham, Restaurant & Bar Reviews Tagged With: Breakfast, Brunch, Crepes, DPAC Restaurants and Bars, Patio

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