The Crêpes Bar

Excellent crêperie in International City 2 Reviews

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: International City unfairly gets a bum rap. Those who don’t know better seem to picture it as some desolate ghost town, with tumble weed and a sewage stench the neighbourhood’s most defining features in the public imagination. But, in truth, the area is actually the emirate’s hidden bohemian alcove, bustling with artsy types and cute indie restaurants drawn to the area’s cheap rents. Perhaps the best place to find evidence of both, I discovered, is at The Crêpes Bar, a small, cheery eatery dedicated to fondue and crepes.

As my date and I nestled into a corner table, made of latticed wood and decorated with a jam jar and a tea candle, we immediately noticed that the walls were coated in marker. Diners had scribbled drawings, musings and rave reviews in an array of languages. One marking boasted of the venue’s stock of board games. So we grabbed a set of markers, a game of mastermind, and set to work being kids again.

In between turns, I tucked into a forest galette, a savoury buckwheat crepe stuffed with scrambled egg (or fried, if you choose), mushrooms, cheese and parsley. The pancake was delightfully crisp, if a tad too brown, and I was eager to note the kitchen’s choice of Emmental, a Swiss cheese that is regardless a popular filling in France. My date ordered the ‘complete’, which despite its name was merely stuffed with cheese, egg and turkey ham (the Crêpe Bar special, meanwhile, comes loaded with turkey ham, egg, mushrooms, onion fondue, béchamel sauce and cheese). Both mains made for simple yet elegant meals, and were a perfect backdrop for the chilled vibe and the breathy jazz and soul that oozed from the speakers.

Desserts were a no-brainer. We forwent the cheesecake and tiramisu options and stuck to the theme. My date’s citronné crêpe (sprinkled with lemon and sugar) was beautifully light, and one could even taste hints of vanilla in the pancake. My choice was less seemly. The oddly named Creole crêpe came packed with caramelised pineapple, desiccated coconut, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. The sauce was a bit of a disappointment, reminding me of Hershey’s syrup, and the coconut was a tad overwhelming, not allowing the other flavours to breathe. But it still remained a decadent dessert and, though the elements didn’t work together as much as I would have liked, I still enjoyed it.

‘This should be our hangout place,’ said my companion. And, indeed, the venue is perfectly set up to be a charming local. Even though International City is a bit of a schlep from either my home or the office, I realised I wouldn’t object to making the trip; it’s that unique.

The bill (for two)
1x Iced tea Dhs12
1x Small bottle Masafi Dhs5
1x Forest galette Dhs20
1x Complete galette Dhs18
1x Citronné crepe Dhs12
1x Creole crepe Dhs18
Total (excluding service) Dhs89

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