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La Crepe Michel
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
25 reviews for La Crepe Michel
Review Highlights
"tucked into a little spot in the historic Old town district."
(in 5 reviews)
"Good wine selection and nice chocolate mousse for dessert."
(in 3 reviews)
"French onion soup also excellent."
(in 2 reviews)
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Damon T.
Albuquerque, NM
9/30/2011
Phenominal food, decent lunch prices
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Review from R B.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/26/2011
A tiny, cozy, authentic French restaurant tucked away in Old Town.
I went there with an old friend on her recommendation, and I wasn't disappointed. You walk in and see maybe eight tables and think that's all there is. Well it used to be like that, but they also have another room that used to be the patio, now covered complete with a tree trunk still in the middle. You walk through the kitchen for that, and there's even a secluded private room behind a curtain in back of THAT! When we were there, it was for a party of 9 or so gals, but they said it's often set up with a few extra tables. Talk about a hideaway! I was told this place has been open for over 30 years and that says something.
I had the salmon and asparagus crepe, and she had the seafood crepe (Crêpe aux Fruits de Mer - shrimp with 2 kinds of scallops and mushrooms in sauce). I opened with the French onion soup which was tops along with only one other place I've eaten it. She opened with the escargot, which was served out of the shell on a plate with multiple half-globes, each containing garlic butter and mushroom pieces with each. I think there were about a dozen. Keep the plate till your main course arrives so you and your date might fight over who gets the melted butter remnants drizzled onto their dinner!
My crepe was delicious, and I sampled hers, and it was DREAMY. I should've gotten that one instead. I'm not a smitten teenage girl, I'm a grown man, but it made me sigh and close my eyes. The flavor of the creamy sauce painted pictures in my mind, and this never happens. The same thing happened with our shared dessert, the crème brûlée.
Prices were reasonable for dinner, and special preparations are on the chalk board in the second room and the server will tell you of others. I also had a French beer called Gavroche which I highly recommend, and I'm a beer snob.
My only complaint is that our server wasn't QUITE with it, I had to remind him of my beer which I said I wanted straight away. However he was very nice, not snooty, and was perfect in every way after that. I think I would like to offer 4.5 stars. I hope after my next visit when I'm in town again, I can get blown away enough to upgrade this review to 5 stars.
What a special secret this place is! -
Review from E G.
San Jose, CA
1/5/2012
Wandering Old Town wondering if there was something nice to eat, we were given a recommendation to go to La Crepe. It is hidden away and its name may not give the impression that it is a full service French restaurant. Not the most glamorous interior, particularly the back room, but oh my gosh, this was the best meal we had in a 5 day trip to Santa Fe and just a single night in Albuquerque as was by far the best cost performance, taste and enjoyment meal of the trip. And if you are gluten-free, they even do buckwheat crepes.
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Review from Patty Y.
Los Angeles, CA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
A tiny place in old town. I looked for it after reading in on Yelp and didn't expect it in the back of the little courtyard. There were 4 parties when I got there and quickly realized 2 of the tables are regulars. It has a very friendly, homely feel. The service was very attentive.
I ordered the soup de jour which is a tomato based summer soup. Loved it. Salmon crepe was little too creamy and heavy for me, and yet not a lot of flavor. It's a cute place and I was glad to have tried it. Not really impressed though. -
Review from Mindy J.
Albuquerque, NM
5/1/2011
This has been one of my favorite places in Albuquerque for a long time. I've had most things no the menu from the tomato onion tart, crepes, and mussels.
The prices are awesome for the quality as well. -
Review from Andrew T.
Phoenix, AZ
8/28/2011
Come for lunch, but check the hours first. Great little place tucked off the main drag. Try the Soupe de poissons and poulet grille (you won't even need the bread).
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Review from Denean P.
12/24/2010
We went for lunch and will be going back. I had the crêpe aux epinards (spinach with cream and garlic topped with melted swiss cheese) and my mother had the quiche special - salmon and asparagus. They were both divine.
The 5 star rating is for the food, it was simply divine and really filling and because it was a really reasonable spot for lunch. -
Review from Thomas H.
Albuquerque, NM
12/23/2010
My wife and I went to La Crepe Michel last night, and we really enjoyed it. The environment is very cozy and comfortable; our table was near a crackling warm fireplace. I wish Yelp allowed half stars, because La Crepe Michel would get 4.5 from me -- it would be a perfect 5, but I'll get to that.
The good: Great atmosphere, prices are very good, appetizers are well-timed and delicious. The main dishes are beautifully presented and expertly cooked, bursting with flavor. The young lady who stayed mainly in the kitchen area, but occasionally came out to help serve our table, was very friendly and warm.
The not-so-good: In contrast to the young lady who helped us, our waiter (a young man) seemed to offer the stereotypical French experience; that is, even when smiling he seemed very cold and his voice hinted at a bit of disdain for us, as if he doubted our ability to fully appreciate the splendor of his restaurant. Perhaps that's true, but it's not good service. In a technical sense he was a fine waiter, attentive and timely, and he answered whatever questions we had before ordering. But there was no warmth, and this bothered my wife to the point that it put a bit of a damper on our enjoyment of the evening.
Overall, La Crepe Michel is a lovely place to have a dinner. The food and general atmosphere are both excellent and well worth the money. If you don't mind the potential risk of a bit of snobbish arrogance, you'll have a very enjoyable time. -
Review from Keith R.
Davis, CA
7/22/2011
Excellent bœuf bourguignon crepe and chocolate mouse! Davis, CA used to have the Crepe Bistro which had a fabulous beef bourguignon. La Crepe Michel comes close and almost caused a party in my mouth! French onion soup also excellent.
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Review from SJane D.
Albuquerque, NM
4/26/2011
Giving 5 stars is not for me, so 4 is as good as it gets for a restaurant. I love this place and we return time and time again. The staff are superb and know the menu intimately. The kitchen is right in the center of the restaurant - nothing to hide there. I have never had even a mediocre meal here, and some meals are among the winners on my "best meals ever" list. You cannot go wrong at La Crepe Michel, genuine French cooking without the hype, cheekiness or huge price. This is the real thing folks.
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Review from K L.
San Jose, CA
10/11/2011
The pate de champign is very good. The crepe itsef is very ordinary. Nothing compare to what I had in France. The service was very good, so I gave it a 4-star.
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Review from Rachel P.
2/2/2008
Okay this place is a totally small, wonderfully French hideout in Old Town. I was so excited to see that they change the five entrees everyday, and write them on the board (along with everything else) only in French. The menu isn't large, and your server will help you decode the specials. Everything is fresh , flavorful and feels special.
The best part that there is an 85 year old woman in town that is originally from the French countryside and she makes their authentic Pate. Holy ish it's somethin else to write home about. I will dream of this pate accompanied by perfect little cornichons.Listed in: Wanna Get Laid?, Cross Country Thrills
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Review from Sergio S.
Houston, TX
7/28/2008
I had lunch here on my way to Santa Fe and was very pleased. The place is small and very cute. The service was excellent and the crepes were just what I wanted. I had the "Crêpe aux Epinards" (Spinach with cream and garlic topped with melted Swiss cheese). Being full--the glutton in me had to have dessert. I had the Crêpe Au Chocolat
(Melted Belgian Callebault chocolate and Chantilly cream) and couldn't have been happier!
It's really not a place to go if you are in a rush. If you are looking for a relaxed ambiance--this is it! -
Review from Claire S.
Somerville, MA
5/4/2010
I went to La Crepe Michel tonight and was so impressed. The waiter suggested the Crepe Ratatouille and it was great, flavorful and warm. The crepe itself was light and crispy in some parts and fluffy in others. I followed it up with a Crepe Helene which was awesome. These are the first crepes I've had in the US that even come close to the crepes I had when visiting France.
The service was also very friendly and intimate. Overall, great place. -
Review from Andrea L.
Albuquerque, NM
5/29/2007
Country cuisine, native French tongue-speakers to read off the specials, crepes to die for, and a nicoise salad that does not use "rare seared tuna" to up the snooty factor.
Oh, and a honey/walnut dessert crepe that keeps me drooling. -
Review from Dave T.
Albuquerque, NM
4/24/2011
Lunch is good but the dessert is the best you can find in Albuquerque for sure.
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Review from Ian M.
3/24/2006
Tucked away near the plaza in old town, in a tiny little space, is an authentic French restaurant, replete with French-speaking waiters and kitchen staff. There's no pretense here--this is the real deal. The intimate setting makes a great spot for a romantic dinner, and the crepes are reasonably priced. Make sure to pay attention to the daily specials, too, as I was wonderfully surprised by a monkfish special that I had last time we went.
Splurge on dessert, and order the charlotte, whatever it is. They always offer one, and the flavors rotate each week. We have had it both times we've gone, and it's a wonderful way to finish a nice meal. -
Review from Eric P.
Albuquerque, NM
4/10/2010
My wife and I loved this place. It was very reminiscent of our time in Europe. The wait staff was great using all the french terms but not in a patronizing way which usually seems to happen to us as 20 somethings in a French restaurant.
The food was very good although I feel like there are more items to be discovered that I would like even more.
We were also pleasantly surprised that the prices were not terrible. My wife's Salmon Salad was $10 which would easily be $14 someplace else, and I had the Quail special for $18, a bit high for a normal plate for me but for something like Quail you'd expect to pay more.
The only reason I didn't rate five stars is because I wasn't screaming in disbelief over how incredible the food was but it was very good none the less. We will definitely be back. -
Review from Ellena M.
Albuquerque, NM
4/9/2010
A little pricey, but generally worth it. The atmosphere is quaint and delightful. The crepes are very, very good. The bread is hot and fresh. The french dressing they put on their house salad is out of this world! Onion soup is the best in the city. Good wine selection and nice chocolate mousse for dessert.
It can feel a little crowded, because it is in a very interesting, old small building. One of the rooms has a tree growing through it, which is kind of cool.
People say it is not good for kids, and I can understand why. It is small and quiet and french food. However, my 10 and 11 year old have come here with us several times and have loved it. They have french onion soup, chicken crepes and chocolate crepes or mousse. All depends what kind of taste your kids have and how used they are to eating in restaurants and staying well behaved. -
Review from Jimmy N.
Spokane, WA
2/16/2008
I used to come here 4-5 years ago frequently with a former girlfriend before I moved for work. At the time, the food was very well prepared with excellent attention to detail and quality. My usual was the filet de boeuf with the roquefort sauce. It was absolutely brilliant!
However, I recently returned to visit family and decided to drop by. We made reservations for New Year's and I was fairly disappointed with the quality. My father and I had beef wellington that was shockingly overdone and dessert was a "cake(?)" that consisted of stacked crepes with an orange finish that was excessively bitter.
Cozy atmosphere, good wine selection, attentive (but a little uptight and curt at times by a tall pony tailed waiter) service.
I wish I could have had the filet de boeuf again to evaluate the consistency as compared to years ago but I probably won't return after my recent experience.
At this point, average at best for French. -
Review from Lucien S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/25/2009
Leek and potato soup was excellent. The Crepes Suzettes was average. Not exemplary, but worth having. The spinach crepes are great.
Service was very friendly on my first visit, but on the second they were severely understaffed and we waited more than 20 minutes just to be offered water. -
Review from Jerry M.
Albuquerque, NM
1/28/2009
fantastic soups, excellent quiche , fantastic wine selection. tucked into a little spot in the historic Old town district. A must visit for any fan of french cuisine or any fan of great food.
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Review from M G.
New York, NY
4/28/2007
Excellent. Excellent food, wine and service. Excellent ambiance. And realistically speaking, excellent value. When I say excellent, I mean on a worldwide scale, not just "even better than Teriyaki Chicken Bowl."
Order a special, or the salmon crepe (or any other crepe) and you will not be disappointed. Go here, you will not regret it. -
Review from Jeffrey N.
Atlanta, GA
1/2/2010
We ate there for New Year's Eve a couple of days ago. First, we were unaware until we arrived that the menu was set and the price quite high ($65/person with wine). By the time we realized this, we felt obligated to stay. I wish we had been told on the phone that what the menu was for the evening. If you are considering eating here on a holiday, make sure you check if there is a set menu and the pricing.
Pros:
-Ambiance was nice
-Beautiful, old building
-Good wine selection
Cons:
-Food! For the price, the food was nothing special. I would have paid only half of what the set price was. I had a fried sole fish dish that was way too oily (even for fried food) and not very flavorful. The salads were nothing special.
-Some of the staff were great, others were less than great
I would try to restaurant on a non-holiday evening to get a better sense of the food. The restaurant's set menus, as far as I can tell, are not worth anywhere near the price. -
Review from Brian S.
Travis, TX
7/30/2011
I'd say La Crepe Michel is just okay. Keep in mind this is a traveler's review based on just one experience there, for whatever that's worth to you. First the good points. The location is a nice tucked away nook in Old Town, it's small and charming and there are a few outdoor tables for when the weather's warm, and the staff is accommodating and friendly. But when it comes to the food, our experience was it's only average. I had one of the evening specials, a dover sole described as lightly breaded and pan-seared. It was actually fairly heavily breaded and greasy and nearly tasteless and the vegetables on the side were mediocre. My friend got a vegetarian (ratatouille) crepe and that was better. The crepe was fine and the vegetables were nice, though taken together it was nothing special. My local crepe trailer in Austin turns out far better crepes than this. If I was going again, though, I would definitely forgo the more expensive specials and stick with the crepes which, after all, are their specialty.
