Restaurant Review: Crepe-Ology, "A Study in Good Eats!"

I am an unabashed fan of a good crepe. It's always high on my list of items to order at a brunch, often exotic, and not all that easy to make in my own kitchen. Crepes, when done well, can be time-consuming to make as well, and have, somewhat unfairly, been relegated to the breakfast/brunch only food category. Because I am somewhat culinarily-challenged in my own home, I'll order crepes - sweet, or stuffed with any number of fillings - whenever possible when dining out. It was with high hopes and anticipation that I very recently visited Crepe-Ology restaurant in downtown Safety Harbor, Florida.

A friend had suggested that we try Crepe-ology as it was a convenient location for the three of us meeting there at lunchtime on a recent Sunday. Safety Harbor is one of those historic, gem-like towns that dot southwestern Florida: a wonderful public school system, homes that resemble "old Florida" at its finest with all sorts of varieties of palm and tropical flowers, home prices that range from the moderate to the sublime, first rate youth sports and arts facilities, and a vibrant downtown area with often-recommended shopping, restaurants and quirky businesses. (Psychic readings, anyone?!) Crepe-ology is located directly off of Safety Harbor's main drag, Route 590, which runs through the middle of the business district. The restaurant itself is housed in what appears to have been a former home: low-slung roof, an outdoor dining wooden patio, and an obviously revamped interior to provide distinct seating areas, including one right by the open kitchen. There's very little in the way of decor, frankly, other than ceiling fans. The tables and chairs are diner-grade and neither particularly attractive nor comfortable; they are also located a bit too closely together in an attempt to maximize the seating space. While dining there, it was virtually impossible not to eavesdrop on neighboring tables' conversations, and they on ours. This is a 'mom and pop' operation, with Mom hostessing and waiting tables while Pop mixes the crepe batter in the open kitchen prep area. Service was pleasant, but we got the feeling that we were being rushed, even though the restaurant was considerably less than half full.

The menu is printed on plain white paper and enveloped in clear plastic folders. 90% of it is crepe related; the balance was divided between beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, lemonade) and small salads. That having been said, it's important to remember that the crepes come two to an order, with no sides. We considered ourselves fortunate to have also ordered the small house salad (for $3) as a supplement to our meals. (The house salad was small, fresh, and basic: Romaine and iceberg lettuces mixed with halved cherry tomatoes. Their raspberry vinaigrette house dressing was the best choice of the basic dressings offered.)

Crepes were divided into two categories: 'meal' styled crepes and dessert/sweet crepes. Between both selections, your choices were limited to a selection of about 20 offerings. The steak crepe was an interesting choice for one of my friends, who found the meat to be tougher than it should have been. A grilled chicken crepe was a good choice, with all white meat, but not particularly well seasoned. My cheese crepe - cheddar and feta - was good, but not particularly filling. The crepes themselves are of average size, and arrive folded over on their paper plates.

Our biggest disappointment with Crepe-Ology? They use only one type of batter. We had asked if whole-wheat crepes were available and were told that their crepes "come only one way."

Another item of note: All plates, napkins and cutlery at Crepe-Ology are paper and/or plastic. As one friend noted, "Well, I guess there's not a lot of dish-washing going on here." Hopefully, the restaurant recycles everything, but its use of very informal settings lent a bit of a downbeat atmosphere overall - almost like a crepe fast-food restaurant chain.

Still hungry after polishing off our crepes and grateful that we'd ordered the house salads, we decided to share a Bananas Foster sweet crepe. It was nicely made and served appropriately piping hot, but again, the portion size made us wish we'd ordered at least another dessert. (Their sweet crepe menu has eight offerings.) We were presented with our check before we'd finished dessert.

Would I recommend Crepe-Ology? Yes and no. Their prices are fairly reasonable for crepes in the $3.95 - $8.95 range, but portions were small to adequate at best and came with no side dish. This is not the sort of place you would want to bring out of town guests to sample Old Florida cooking at its best. The restaurant has a decidedly laid-back, no-need-to-impress atmosphere, and we did feel rushed from the moment we took our table until our check arrived. Only a true crepe fanatic might express an interest - and probably end up being disappointed. It's not the kind of place where a business meal would be shared, but might be a good choice for college students, families with children, or those on a somewhat limited budget for an unusual menu in a very casual setting.

Crepe-Ology is located at 155 Fifth Avenue, North in downtown Safety Harbor; their telephone number is 727-799-3300. Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. and Sundays from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Major credit cards are accepted, with the exception of American Express. Dress is casual!