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| - First. Aside from the niche cuisine genre, I would venture to say there are few who care more about their craft in Tempe (and dare I say greater Phoenix) than the folks at Crêpe Bar. They care more about their food and community than I've seen elsewhere. It's remarkable.
Second, if you've ever watched Andrew Zimmern do that thing where he takes a bite of food, closes his eyes, has a little moment, and nods in agreement with the deliciousness of the morsel he just savored...
This is that sort of experience.
If you've never had a savory crêpe (and I would guess there are quite a few of you out there), you'll never forget the first bite of a savory Crêpe Bar crêpe. It's masterful, and I can *barely* wrap my head around it. This is, by my knowledge, one of the only spots in town you can get premium cuts and preparations of duck, pork, chicken, etc. for a reasonable price, in a nearly anti-grandiose setting.
Highly recommended. Also, Coffee is a must.
Pros: other-wordly food, presentation, service, and fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Craft. And coffee.
Cons: they're SUPER anti-substitution / omission / addition (which hasn't really ever been an issue for me, personally, but I've heard a few gripes from friends). Craft! They often get terribly crowded around brunch and throughout the morning / mid-day, and seating becomes a real issue because of the size of their space, availability of tables and chairs. I can't knock them for being popular.
Bonus: Oftentimes, complimentary miniature samples of their desserts and sides are delivered to your table mid-way through your meal. The first time I visited, this sample was a house-made rose infused marshmallow cube (brûlée'd... at the table.) atop a shard of miso dark chocolate. Divine. Also, some of the staff at Crêpe Bar (who knows- maybe *all* of them) are well in-sync with current craft coffee culture and trends. Crêpe Bar is one of the only places in town where whole coffee beans from Heart Roasters (Portland) are available, as well as beans from the late local Phoenician roasters Nom de Plume (RIP).
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