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It is said that on Le Jour des Crepes (National Crepe Day), held on February 2 in France, if you can catch a crepe with a frying pan after tossing it in the air with your right hand and holding a gold coin in your left, you will become rich.
We’d consider a trip to France to find out if it’s true, but until then, lovers of the luscious thin pancakes filled with various types of goodness can celebrate their very own crepe day at some of our favorite spots in the Valley.
Chef and owner James Porter’s cozy Parisian bistro in Scottsdale gets into crepes of the most decadent kind on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the restaurant’s brunch du champagne. On the savory side, there’s crepes au canard featuring herbed crepes, duck confit, and wild mushroom mornay; and on the sweet side, crepes Nutella with a warm banana sauté, powdered sugar and fresh mint.
Coffee and free Wi-Fi aren’t the only reasons to hang out at this locally owned Ahwatukee eatery serving breakfast and lunch. A selection of small, wallet-friendly sweet and savory crepes includes several chicken options, such as the Buffalo wings-inspired creation called “The Nat,” and for sweet tooths, “The Shirley” includes Nutella and chocolate sauce balanced with cream cheese and strawberries.
Right in the heart of Old Town, this reliable fast-casual eatery serves up as many kinds of sandwiches as it does crepes — and they may be just as filling. Plump and folded into rectangles, try a breakfast creation filled with creamy goat cheese, tomato, and basil, fruit crepes filled with fresh apple, cinnamon, and cream sauce, or take advantage of the “build your own” option.
Sophisticated eats at this stylishly cozy French bistro in Central Phoenix also include Paris-style crepes. For a light lunch or dinner, choose from crepes filled with slow-braised pulled pork, cured ham, and Gruyere cheese, or go with the chef’s daily special. For dessert, there’s the Crepe du Jour, two crepes filled with almond paste and cream patissiere, then topped with berries and warm orange suzette sauce.
Lucky for us, the crepes at this charming and affordable Glendale restaurant with a French/Swiss flair are as share-worthy as its dreamy Swiss cheese fondue. Chef Anthony Ferré, a native of France, crafts square crepes made from buckwheat flour for stellar selections such as the Méditerranée, with sea scallops sauteéd with leeks, and the Nordique, with smoked salmon. Best part: Watch your crepes being prepared in the restaurant’s exhibition kitchen.
Serving a menu of reasonably priced regional specialties, this charming bistro in Scottsdale from France natives Denis and Catherine Michel offers an extensive list of sweet and savory crepes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Don’t miss the deceptively filling Provençale, with tasty assorted vegetables, goat cheese, and a fried egg topping, or the Élysée, with turkey and mushrooms. For a fiery-sweet ending, order the crepe Suzette flambee.
Vincent’s Saturday Camelback Market
At James Beard Award winner Vincent Guerithault’s European-style farmers market, held in the parking lot of his Camelback restaurant on Saturdays from October to May, shoppers can get their crepe on at the popular made-to-order bar, where creations packed with fresh ingredients like basil, shrimp, and veggies are decidedly shareable. Parking can be a hassle, but it’s worth the effort.
This charming cafe at The Shops at Gainey Village owned by a French expat couple includes organic buckwheat crepes as part of its menu of casual and affordable European fare. On the savory side, don’t miss hearty entree creations such as the French Favorite with ham and Swiss, the Chez-Vous packed with roasted chicken and sautéed mushrooms, or the Brittany, a customer favorite with chicken and tomato. Sweet crepes with fresh fruit and Nutella are also available.
Once part of Conspire, this coffee and crepe shop in the Roosevelt Arts District moved into a bungalow of its own just down the street in 2010. Along with a custom roast by Cartel Coffee Lab, crepe lovers can choose from a blackboard menu of sweet and savory creations such as smoked turkey breast, spinach, mozzarella, and pesto and peanut butter, raspberry jam, and banana. And with its late-night hours (open 24 hours on the weekends), crepe time is nearly any time.
Hidden in the back of Stagecoach Village in Cave Creek, this tiny eatery features delicious sweet and savory crepes best enjoyed on its patio. Using her grandmother’s recipes and fresh ingredients, Russian-born Marina Matatov makes share-worthy creations like pesto chicken and veggies and a sweet treat called the “Triple Threat” with bananas, strawberries, and Nutella. Gluten-free versions are also available.
All our favorites lists also are available on our Best Of app — see it in action here.
And check out our other lists:
10 Favorite Spots for Crepes in Greater Phoenix
11 Favorite Phoenix Beers
10 Favorite Spots for Seafood in Greater Phoenix
10 Favorite Gelato Spots
10 Favorite Burrito Joints in Metro Phoenix
10 Favorite Spots for Wings in Metro Phoenix
11 Things to Eat and Drink Before You Leave Phoenix
Ten Favorite Phoenix Hot Sauces and Salsas
Top Ten Spots for Mac ‘n’ Cheese in the Valley
Three Favorite Espresso Shots in Metro Phoenix
Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Farmers’ Markets
Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Eleven Favorite Favorite Places for Sushi in the Valley
Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Cupcakes
Eleven Favorite Barbecue Joints in Greater Phoenix
Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Wine Bars
Ten Favorite Phoenix Irish Restaurant & Pubs
Six Favorite Specialty Cocktails in Phoenix
Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Craft Beer Bars
Ten Favorite Gourmet Pizza Shops in the Valley
Five Favorite Japanese Restaurants in Phoenix
Ten Favorite Margaritas in Metro Phoenix
Ten Favorite Coffee Shops in Phoenix
Five Favorite Thai Restaurants in Metro Phoenix
Eleven Favorite Ice Cream Shops in Greater Phoenix
Ten Favorite Phoenix Happy Hours
Five Favorite Sonoran Dogs in the Valley
Ten Favorite Hot Dogs in Greater Phoenix
Ten Favorite Desserts in Phoenix
Ten Favorite First Date Restaurants
Ten Favorite Burgers in Greater Phoenix
Ten Favorite Downtown Phoenix Restaurants for Late Night Dining
Ten Favorite Vegetarian Entrees in Metro Phoenix
Ten Favorite Chinese Restaurants in Greater Phoenix