Sweet and Savory Crepes in the Metro

Fluffy pancakes seem to be all the rage. On food pages and accounts, you'd be hard-pressed not to find posts of stacks and stacks of thick, old-fashioned American buttermilk pancakes and jiggly Japanese souffle pancakes getting all the attention, hype, and love. But we say bigger doesn't always mean better or best. Case in point: crepes! Perhaps some would find crepes not as arresting at first look. They are paper thin, usually folded and rolled, and lack the lift of their thicker counterparts due to the absence of a leavening agent.

Crepes are lighter and what they lack in bulk is made up for by their versatility. Have them sweet and dressed down with just a sprinkle of powdered sugar or gussied up to the nines with orange juice, caramelized sugar, and Grand Marnier for an iconic Crepes Suzette. Alternatively, you can have them savory (they're called galettes this way) and stuffed with ham, cheese, chorizo, salmon, topped with a crispy egg, or whatever else your stomach desires. To sample sweet and savory crepes, here are some restaurants and cafés to check out in Metro Manila.

La Creperie

This French restaurant was co-founded by Christine Laman and Maria Christine Ledesma-Ong, the duo behind The Big Chill juice bar chain. La Creperie serves a variety of authentic crepes, from galettes made of 100% buckwheat flour to crepes with regional flavors from Paris and Breton, and unique combinations. You can't go wrong with the classic Butter and Sugar crepe (P115) or the La Mer (P225), a savory crepe with tuna, mushrooms, tomato, and caramelized onions. We recommend you top your crepe off with a cup of Angelina's (P220), La Creperie's Paris-style hot chocolate. It has branches in Quezon City, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Tagaytay.

Café Breton

When someone says crepes in the metro, it's impossible not to think of Café Breton. This café has been serving French crepes and fine coffee to the Filipino people since June 1998. It has branches in Quezon City, Pasig, Muntinlupa, and Pasay, among others, but the most famous one has got to be its location in Makati, smackdab in the walkways of Greenbelt 3. We recommend you try its Galette Don Quixote (P355), made with ground chorizo, onions, tomato, cream, and mozzarella, and its Crepes Suzette (P240).

St. Louis Café

This café is many things: Australian born, French inspired, and European styled, specializing not just in house made fine ice cream and desserts but also coffee, cocktails, and brunch. St. Louis Café, located in Bonifacio Global City, is both family- and pet-friendly, so you don't have to worry about leaving your kids and fur babies behind. It also offers online delivery if you prefer to have your fill at home! Some of the treats you can try from its online menu are the Ham, Cheese, Tomato and Avo Crepe (P400), Strawberry Nutella Crepe (P440), and the Smoked Salmon Quinoa Bowl (P520).

Crepeman Café

If crispy crepes are your thing, head to Crepeman Café. It's known for its affordable sweet and savory crepes, which range from as low as P65 (Choco Crepe) to P185 (Chaos Special with ice cream). The café also offers all-day breakfast such as the Ham & Cheese Omelette (P100) and pasta like carbonara and pesto. Crepeman Café has branches in Pasig, Marikina, Manila, and Valenzuela, as well as a food stand in Robinsons Antipolo.