SPECIAL FEATURE: Guest Blogger - Enstin
Thanks for blogging Enstin for S2S! I miss Houston so much already!
Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe
This cute little crepe shop just opened in the Village in May 2012, taking over the narrow space that Patu used to occupy. Patu had been my favorite Thai place in the Village and I was sad to see it go, but I had hope for Sweet Paris to be the new go-to crepe place since Coco’s Crepes in midtown was a bit too far for satisfying crepe cravings.
Sweet Paris Creperie & Café clearly put a lot of thought into its ambiance, transforming Patu’s kitchy, hole-in-the wall feel to something completely different. Stepping into this pristine café is like stepping into a whimsical Paris, with sparkling glass chandeliers and plush seating. White brick walls and sky blue walls bring an airy feel and vintage-style photographs of classic Parisian scenes add to the experience.
The “experience” I am talking about here is the crepe eating! Savory and sweet crepes are both offered, and there are several enticing options to choose from. With the exception of the classic Nutella and fruit combination, all the other crepes are intriguing (or am I just a crepe novice?). Some of the interesting dinner selections include Nordic (smoked salmon, fresh dill, sour cream, capers, scallions, and lemon) and turkey, grapes, and brie. For dessert, there are DDL (Argentine Dulce de Leche) crepes and Very Berry crème brulee, among others. The first decision to make is whether to get a savory crepe, a dessert crepe, or both!
I finally decided on a dessert crepe, the DDL with strawberries and bananas, and my friends tried the Chicken Carbonera, Nutella with strawberries, and Sugar & Spice. Sweet Paris was generous with their crepe sizes, and I probably would not have been able to eat both dinner and dessert. The presentation of each variety was distinct and delightful. The dessert crepes we chose tasted as expected from their descriptions, delicious but not particularly exciting. There is nothing wrong with that either, since a tasty treat is always welcomed. Nutella is Nutella, no matter where you go. Chicken Carbonera was unusual as a crepe choice, but it definitely worked here. Flavorful and just the right texture.
Sweet Paris Creperie & Café lives up to its expectations of delivering a variety of freshly made crepes in an endearing atmosphere. The staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive, although this might be because it only recently opened. A highly anticipated addition to Rice Village, Sweet Paris joins the ranks of the other French establishments, contributing to what appears to be a golden era for French (or Americanized- French) cuisine here- we already have La Madeleine, Croissant Brioche, Café Rabelais, Le Peep, and Bistro des Amis! Sweet Paris should not have too much trouble with the competition though…there is always demand for a cute place for stopping after too much shopping.
Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe
2420 Rice Blvd.
Houston, TX 77005
713.360.6266
Enstin is a Houston-native and graduate from Rice University Class of 2011. She most recently traveled to Costa Rica, and blogged about her musings on her cute and intelligently written, Pigeons and Loquats. She will be traveling to China tomorrow and start medical school this summer.
