Pates et Traditions

In light of the newly opened La Crepe Parisienne in Soho (supposedly with many more to come), crepes are slowly making their way back into the limelight. La Crepe Parisienne is a trendy, warm neighborhood joint, but it really is closer to being a takeout place (crepes are served in paper packets rather than plates). For those looking for a more wholesome, sit-down crepe meal, hop onto the L train to Bedford, walk a few blocks south, and head towards Pates et Traditions.

Restaurant: Pates et Traditions
Rating: ♔♔

Pates et Traditions is an uber cute, affordable little crepe place aiming to give you a taste of France. It's run by a French family, whose aesthetic tastes have translated into a cozy, friendly ambiance that couples can't resist. Note below, the little French girl in the highchair. Doesn't she fit right into the theme of the place? C'est charmant!

Our first crepe: Mussels in a Curry Sauce. I'm not a fan of mussels, but they were very fresh, and the light curry sauce was actually quite flavorful. They served it in a whole wheat crepe, which can be a bit dry at times, but not here!

The menu at Pates et Traditions consists mostly of crepes (20+ different flavors), but they've got some delectable pastas as well. Following the waiter's suggestion, we ordered the Mustard Chicken Penne, which was one of my favorites! Penne, cooked al dente, on a bed of creamy mustard sauce with generous dashes of white wine. It totally inspired me to add mustard to my pasta sauces. Yum!

Now onto the dessert crepes! Our second crepe: Belle-Helene. Unfortunately, this one did not score very many points for us. Traditional Belle-Helene desserts usually offer juicy, poached pears, but here it was served with canned pears, whose tartness did not go well with the crepe.

Our third crepe: Bananas Foster. Sounds just like the name. Bananas cooked in caramelized sugar and rum. It's always fascinating to watch the fire work its magic, but be careful not to ask them for too much rum. Although it makes the burning effect last longer, it can really eat up the crepe as well.

Our fourth crepe: Fresh Berries with Cream. Dum dum dum. This was indeed, the fairest of them all. We all know how great berries taste with fresh whipped cream, and the sweet berry compote sauce really made the crepe "berry" delicious!

There might be a a few inconsistencies here and there at this charming little French creperie, but Pates et Traditions is a hidden gem that could become the new playground for crepe lovers.

Pates et Traditions
52 Havemeyer St (between 6th and 7th)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(646) 409-4019