Really Thin Pancakes

“They are the really thin pancakes. It’s just a French word for them.”

That is my favorite description of crepes by none other than Jean Girard in Talladega Nights. If you’ve seen the movie, you know how the whole conversation goes. However, to those who have not, it’s a scuffle between two NASCAR drivers where a French racer, Jean Girard, is trying to get an American racer, Ricky Bobby, to say he loves crepes. I can safely say, without anyone twisting my arm, that I do, in fact, love crepes or really thin pancakes (since I’m American). Another love of mine is Sunday brunch; the perfect marriage of breakfast and lunch. However, once moving here, I was lost on where to go to continue our tradition of brunch after church every Sunday. It was my husband, however, who suggested a small little restaurant, slightly off of Broadway on Phila Street, called Ravenous, Saratoga’s only crepe restaurant.

Now, let me start off by saying that I don’t consider myself a “foodie” or a food critique in any sort of way. But if you were to ask my opinion on where to go for a nice Sunday brunch, I’m positive that Ravenous would be on the tip of my tongue. On our first Sunday brunch visit to Ravenous, there was already a short fifteen minute wait for a table. The hostess took our name inside the door (there’s really no place to stand and wait inside) and then we went for a short walk around the block. When we finally returned to see if there was an open table we were quickly seated in the charming little restaurant. The setting is very provincial and snug as tables and chairs are practically stacked on top of each other. The waiters would slide behind and around happy customers carrying delectable crepes, coffee, mimosas, and pomme frites all the while everyone chatted about this and that.

Price wise, brunch crepes run from $6 to $13 a plate depending on whether you get a sweet crepe or a savory crepe. You can also order pomme frites on the side for an extra charge along with a wide variety of dipping sauces. On our first visit there, my husband, who has a massive sweet tooth, order the sweet crepe, Blueberry Zeppelin. The two crepes were filled with a sweetened farmer’s cheese and then topped with blueberries and blueberry syrup.

My son ordered Strawberries Fields, also a sweet crepe. I, on the other hand, order a savory crepe, the Upper West Sider. This one was filled with Nova Scotia salmon, cream cheese, and scallions, served alongside a salad.

We also couldn’t pass up on an order of the pomme frites, and split a medium order between the three of us with some garlic mayo dipping sauce, or aioli.

Although small in size, this place makes up for it in big flavors. And even though we haven’t made it out there yet, this little restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. Hours change according to the season, and their website suggests you check out their Facebook page for current times. Yes, Ravenous, the name says everything and with all this writing it makes me want to go out and grab some to go. As Ricky Bobby said, “I wish I could crawl into one of those right now. I’d eat my way out from the inside.”