Russian/French/Creperie/Bistro

Get your classic Russian/French cuisine right here! (I guess that's a thing?) We've been meaning to review Crepe Bistro for ages, but we haven't been there in ages. It’s an oddly shaped restaurant with high ceilings and big windows facing the Wells Street el. Since it opened six years ago it’s gotten cozier- if still a little odd. The food is simple and made with fresh ingredients. I remembered loving the tomato basil soup so much last time that my eyes skipped right over the borscht on the menu! ME! 

For my $8 lunch special I chose the coq au vin crepe (with mornay sauce and swiss cheese) and a crock of tomato soup. It was delicious and almost too much food. Quite a deal for the price. Erik's florentine crepe was pretty much the same thing but with spinach. His side of fries was topped with fresh dill and lightly sautéed garlic. It was so Russian it felt like I was back in Irkutsk. I've only been back from my Siberia trip a couple months, and I've been craving all things (mostly food) Russian. My Russian Federation radar is still pretty keen, though anyone would notice that owner-guy was wearing some VERY pointy shoes, and our waitress looked Buryat or Mongolian. (She's actually from Kyrgyzstan!)

Happy hour here seems like a great idea- even though their drinks are all sugar and vodka and end in tini (clementini anyone?). They do have a vodka flight that could be good, if there's anything interesting in stock. Also, Baltika beer is alright. 

We've been informed there's a live accordion player every Friday evening.

This place's aesthetic transports you straight to motherland. Sometimes Russian techno music videos blast from some satellite tv station, just like every single place of business in all of Russia.

As Erik said, "When your server is from Kyrgyzstan, you are certainly dining at the most exotic of all the Loop lunch options."  

We highly recommend checking this place out, just cut the 'bistro' decor some slack and enjoy this Russian take on French food. 

Rating, each category out of 5: 

Taste           * * * * 

Value           * * * * *
Atmosphere  * * * 
Service         * * *  

Links: Yelp, Crepe Bistro Website, NYTimes article about Kyrgyzstan