Crêpes a GoGo
18 Yorkville Avenue
416-922-6765
Complete dinner for two with all taxes, tip and sweet cider: $49
While calling Crêpes a GoGo for reservations, I am intrigued by the thick Parisian accent that takes my name and number, and wonder if it might be owner Véronique Perez, but with so many of the staff here speaking French, it's hard to tell. Having set-up shop in 2002, this is Perez’s new location, as she was originally situated at Bedford and Bloor, but it seems as if patrons followed their noses to the Yorkville Avenue location, as there is never at a shortage of mouths to feed.
Upon arrival, we find ourselves in a tiny European-style café, cozy enough for no more than maybe 25 people with walls lined with black and white pictures of Paris, and a sprinkling of small wooden-slatted square tables, resembling those found in Parisian cafés. The air is heavily scented with the aroma of the crêpes cooking, and French chatter between the workers and some of the patrons mingles with the French music in the background. Despite the small space, the feel is cozy, not crowded, and we still feel like we have a private table without the interruption of other people’s elbows in our sides.
Looking through the menu, there is a wide selection of both sweet and savoury offerings, all made with buckwheat crêpes, along with some salads and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. I order a bubbly non-alcoholic Purpom apple cider ($2.50) from Normandy which is crisp with a hint of sweetness, while my friend opts for a cappuccino ($3), which is velvety in texture and requires no extra sweetener.
We are famished and my friend starts with a Mediterranean salad ($7), made of lettuce, tuna, tomato and hard-boiled egg lightly dressed in a Dijon dressing with lemon juice and olive oil. The result is refreshing and crisp with subtle flavours that mingle well and share the spotlight. There is just enough tuna to add flavour without overpowering the whole dish. I boldly opt for a Big Ben Brie crêpe ($7) to begin my meal, and perhaps the surprise in our server’s eyes should have alarmed me about the size, but then again, she doesn’t know my love affair with Brie. My crêpe arrives wrapped in a thin paper bag and served in a basket, as do all crêpes here. This sweet and savoury crêpe is a GoGo signature dish, and is filled with raspberry jam and brie. The classic union is enveloped in a warm wheat flour crêpe; soft in the inside and slightly crispy on the edges. The warm gooeyness of the brie melts with the hint of sweet and tarty raspberry creating a match made in crêperie heaven.
For our main dishes, my friend chooses the Parisienne crêpe ($8.50), filled with scrambled egg, mushrooms, threads of red onion, filaments of dill and mozzarella (as they were out of swiss). Disappointed about the lack of swiss, the mozza is a good substitute to this hearty crêpe with pronounced dill flavours. I opt for the Niçoise crêpe ($9) which does not have green beans or potatoes but does include mozzarella, tuna, tomato, black olives, zaatar (a mixture of Mediterranean herbs and spices), basil and a dash of olive oil. Unlike the salad, it’s impossible to see the mélange of ingredients tightly wrapped up in a steaming crêpe, however the careful arrangement of the different ingredients allows the flavours to pop and not overpower. The tomatoes add a refreshing zest mixed with the zaatar while the black olives add a smooth tartness fortified by the slivers of tuna and bound together by the gooey mozza.
For dessert, I pick the Charlotte ($6) filled with sour cream and sugar, with a dash of cinnamon. It has a delicious tart sweetness which I normally reserve for topping strawberries; definitely an indulgence as a crêpe filling. My friend selects the Tartinade ($5) which is essentially like Nutella but does not contain any peanut oil. The sweet, thick, chocolaty paste melts inside the crêpe resulting in a delightful gooeyness.
The service throughout our meal was good, with attentive and friendly staff, helpful with menu suggestions. The only thing we noticed was that we did not receive water, but that could have been due to water selections on the menu. Overall, this crêperie is a cut above some others in town that use whipped cream as a main ingredient. The savoury crêpe selections were varied and the sweet crêpes were simple, yet delicious. And as for the Big Ben Brie? It became a fast favourite with me.
