Editor’s Review: Amazing Crêpes at Sweet Paris

BY: Karen Logan

So. Much. Charm! I dropped in at Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café mid-morning on a Monday, and right away, I knew this restaurant was something special. I thought my daughter and I would have the place to ourselves... you know, with it being Monday and 36 degrees and all. But there were couples sitting together drinking coffee, two groups of lady friends enjoying a brunch with spirited conversation and laughter, and other patrons who were dining alone and quietly savoring the energetic vibe of this place.

I have to tell you about the food, but first you should know I was captivated by the atmosphere. Sweet Paris is spacious and bright, yet quaint, with enough seating indoors and outside for up to 80 patrons. With its beautiful blue walls and elegant chandeliers, the decor is chic and modern, and I dare say transformative without feeling forced. I’m positive this is what everyone wants their French cafés to feel like - sophisticated, but very warm and approachable. Yes, this is it!

A wall of windows highlights one entire side of the restaurant, and natural light pours in, and the setting is just amazingly sweet and… Parisian! You order your food at the front counter, and then you go find a table (or hang around and watch your food being made in front of you, if it’s not too busy!).

You know crêpes – a little bit of flour, an egg or two, a pinch of this and a dash of that. Story is, the founders of Sweet Paris, Allison & Ivan Chavez, set out on a mission to create a flawless recipe for crepes, and what a success it was! Sweet Paris crêpes are legit - soft, delicate, and delicious, but are really just the canvas for the chef to go wild with some amazing fillings and flavor combinations.

The restaurant offers breakfast crêpes filled with everything from scrambled eggs to smoked salmon, outstanding savory crêpes like the ham & gruyère served with a side salad of fresh spring greens and French vinaigrette, plus knock-your-socks-off sweet crêpes like the dulce de leche with strawberries and bananas. The menu also boasts waffles, soups, salads, paninis, and more! And what’s brunch without mimosas? Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free batter is available upon request, and each crêpe can be customized exactly to your preference.

Never pass up the chance to try a dish that was named after your home town right? I’m a meat and potatoes kind of girl (hence my growing waist line), so I initially chose The Houstonian crêpe. Bacon, sausage, potatoes, scrambled eggs, mozzarella cheese, fresh jalapenos… it’s impossible to go wrong with this one. The Houstonian is moist, flavorful, and monumental! The crêpes in my former life have always been puny. Sweet Paris crêpes are huge and filled to perfection with so much goodness!

For each of the following crepes sold, Sweet Paris partners with our local food banks to donate one meal to children in need:

Allison’s Parfait – I couldn’t get enough of this breakfast crêpe filled with vanilla yogurt, strawberries, bananas, toasted almonds, and a drizzle of honey to create the perfect amount of sweetness!

Truffled Caprese – The simplicity and basil-infused fresh cherry tomatoes in this crepe made this an instant winner! A bit of truffle oil and mozzarella, and it’s perfection!

Lemon & Sugar – Lemon lovers, this fresh lemon crêpe served with whipped butter might be the flavor you’re looking for! I personally wasn’t a fan, but my teenager quickly finished off the leftovers I brought home.

My 10-year-old ordered the Nutella crêpe off the kid’s menu, and even for a kid size, the crepe was fairly large, and SO delicious! I can see us ordering this crêpe many times in our future! I should mention, my daughter also indulged in a cup of hot chocolate, and it looked beautiful and tasted outstanding. We’ve been drinking hot chocolate a lot lately, and Sweet Paris’s hot chocolate really raised the bar. So, I didn’t actually taste it myself, but my daughter said “this is SO good!” and since she’s one of those kids who’s stingy with compliments, this comment from her actually translates into “I’ve died and gone to heaven!”

Two words for you. Cookie Butter. It’s the Crêpe of the Month for March, and it sinfully delicious. Be sure you drop in before March is over and give it a try! Cookie butter is this rich, sweet, buttery, creamy spread, and when used to fill a Sweet Paris crêpe, all kinds of magic happens in your mouth.

During my visit, I was fortunate to meet the Strategic Partner of The Woodlands location, Mike Kelton. He’s a great host and extremely hospitable, and… no surprises here… he and his wife LOVE crepes! He invited me into the kitchen, and guess what? I made my own crêpe! Actually, 3 of them, and they weren’t half bad.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, conveniently located in The Woodlands Market Street, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Drop in and give them a taste!