Top 5 Crepes in Melbourne

This post is a long-time coming but as they say "good things come to those who wait". ;)

To me, crepes are such simple food but with such flair and class. So what makes a crepe what it is? Crepe is typically a type of very thin pancake (usually made from wheat flour) & of French origin - it is also considered a French National dish (Wikepedia).

Here's my Top 5, I hope you enjoy my Crepe journey over this next post..

TOP 5 CREPES IN MELBOURNE

1. Stokers
1033 Heidelberg Rd Ivanhoe (03) 9497 4488

This Ivanhoe cafe suits the nocturnal foodie in search of a satisfying late night snack. Only open at night from 6pm till 2am (weekdays) and 8pm till 2am (weekends), not many people know of this uniquely unexpected cafe that serves up a variety of pancakes & crepes - both savoury & sweet. The ambience & interior is warm & cosy - with red hanging lamps, dim lighting, long dark wooden dining tables & a fireplace. There's an intriguing black & white print on the wall of a cow & other contraptions so you can observe the oddities of how crepes are "created" whilst waiting for your warm comforting crepes to be freshly made. I had the warm & spicy apple crepe, dusted with icing & served with ice cream plus a chilled pineapple crush to accompany my crepe. It was simply divine. My friend had the ham & cheese savoury crepe - it was unpretentious and the texture of the crepe was unbeatable. Part of the thrill of visiting this place is you feel like you're going on an adventure just finding this cafe, then the late opening hours add a sense of excitement too and oh, the toilets in the shed..that's an experience in itself..spooky to say the least..but all in, certainly worth a visit!

2. Fraus
345 Victoria Street North Melbourne (0)3 9328 8999

Thank you SS for recommending this cute creperie in North Melbourne. The quaintness of this place begets the class it exudes in both the homely service & luxurious quality of crepes. Ah Frau, I could go back again and again. I was pleasantly surprised that it was set up by a young local Aussie lady inspired by her travels to Europe. Real brick interiors, timber floors, stained glass windows, & a steep wooden staircase leading to the second level make for a very European decor. Freshly baked croissants come cheap too - at half the price of other cafes you get a ham, cheese & tomato croissant at $4!! Freshly baked muffins in a tin tray & an exciting selection of chocolates & sweets greet you at the counter. Of course, there is also a huge array of sweet & savoury crepes - the sweet crepes are served with the delectable Frau melted chocolate. I had the kransky galette - cheesey kransky wrapped in light crepe, served with a side of beautifully dressed balsamic vinegrette salad. Guess what? They do takeaway too so be wowed by this creperie and ensure you make a visit to Fraus this weekend!

3. Briezoz
139 Nelson Pl. Williamstown (03) 9397 2300
Cnr. Gertrude & Brunswick St. Fitzroy (03) 9415 7588

2 locations mean easier assessibility to crepes. Briezoz is a French creperie which serves up traditional French crepes and French cider. There's an old school charm to this creperie as you walk into the cosy wooden decor, welcomed by French (or French-speaking) staff. Watching the staff personally create the crepes on the hot iron crepe machine is an experience in itself. Then wait in anticipation as the hot thin crepes are served - sometimes with fire! for the crepe flambe! For $10, I got a "complete crepe" which was a ham, egg & cheese crepe. You can add extra toppings for $2.50. Our pear cider too went down really well with the crepes. You can enjoy these thin tasty crepes 7 days a week for lunch or dinner!

4. Roule Galette
Scott Alley, 241 Flinders Lane, Melbourne (03) 9639 0307

I wonder if Roule Galette put Aix Cafe out of business as these 2 creperies were located within a stone's throw of each other; until the humble Aix closed down recently. In any case, Roule Galette packs up the crowds in its tiny abode dishing out 12 savoury crepes comprising of snails, scallops, salami, chicken, and even an interesting Aussie option. If you like your sweets, choose from the 15 varieties including the ol' faithful nutella at $6 to the crepe suzette flambe at $9.50. I had the chicken du chef which was "wonderful saute de chicken with fresh mushroom and a bit of cream" at $11, it was value for money. Beckie had the Forestiere - filled with bechamel (French white sauce) with bacon, mushroom, and cheese - a recipe from the owner's dad at $9.50. All crepes are made with buckwheat flour creating the unique French crepe texture they call Galette. Make sure you order the Henry of Hartcourt pear cider at $3.50 a glass to go with your crepes.

5. Cravin' Crepes
370 Keilor Rd Niddrie (03) 9379 2004

I was pleasantly surprised by this creperie located on Keilor Road; I certainly wasn't expecting much but was quite taken by the texture and quality of the crepes. Step into a lovely lunch time venue with hanging lamps, modern timber architecture, jazz music & Tea 2 displays. Nothing is over $10 - I got the mediteranean crepe at $9.90 with an antipasto platter within a crepe! Quite unique I should say and appeals to the one with a penchance for olives, eggplant, salami, feta & sun dried tomatoes! The sweet crepes are reasonably priced too - for instance the peanut butter and honey crepe is only $6.90. My colleague had a chicken chicka- fresh melted mozzarella cheese with chicken and mushrooms, so delish were his exact words.