Crepes a Coco French Crepe House

I was craving crepes so my boyfriend and I went there one sunny Saturday recently. We should have gotten a clue when it looked like the place was closed and empty at 11am on a Saturday but then my boyfriend peered in and saw the waitperson who motioned us in.
I ordered a cappuccino that came in a large european style bowl/​cup. It had virtually no foam save for a few thin bubbles and the «espresso» already had so much milk in it that the color was beige. I told the wait person that I ordered a cappuccino and she confirmed that’s what it was and then I told her how a cappuccino normally looks and how it’s made. She stared at me in disbelief and then said she had made it just like I described. I don’t think so. I asked her to please try again and she took the bowl and after about 15 minutes returned with exactly the same luke warm thing. Very disappointing — and why did it take another 15 minutes, especially when there was only one other table of people in the whole place? I could have gotten past the lack of foam and too much milk had the espresso been strong and flavorful but it was watery so, really, undrinkable.
The plain coffee my boyfriend ordered was just mediocre.
And then the crepes. I ordered an egg, ham, cheese crêpe. My boyfriend ordered something similar. They took a long time to arrive and came with a couple forks full of plain, wilted mixed greens and dressing. The presentation was sad and the crepes were small and mostly inedible. I’ve only ever had steamed or scrambled eggs in crepes but this one was fried, or rather burned. The egg was actually crispy and rubbery, the ham was dry, and the cheese was a cold blob in the middle. There was no moisture or flavor and the ingredients didn’t even fill the whole crêpe so there was this dry crust of crêpe the whole way around it. I picked at it a bit then gave up. My boyfriend managed to finish most of his but that’s just because when he’s hungry, he’ll make anything work.
I agree with Cheriann — this place seems like a front because I don’t understand how restaraunts like this manage to stay in business amongst the world class food and discerning palates of the Bay Area. It baffles the mind.

I ate lunch here today for the first time in about a year, although I work just down the street. The previous staff and/​or owner was a complete joke. As has been stated in previous reviews, the service was not only slow, but dreadfully indifferent. Dude would be outside smoking, and couldn’t care less about you. The reviewer who said this joint may have been a front for some other illicit endeavor may very well be right.
I decided to give it another shot, as I noticed two women behind the counter. The chef was very friendly, the waitress pretty and demure. The food was fine, I had a salmon/​cheese crêpe and salad, but the portions were on the skimpy side. The fresh squeezed OJ was delicious, and the chef even surprised me with a seasoned hard boiled egg, gratis. It seems they are aware of the place’s bad reputation, and are trying to make amends. All-​in all I would, after my experience today, recommend this place for a leisurely light meal.

This was singularly the worst eating experience in my life. After waiting a long painful hour, during which we were served lukewarm coffee without cream by stressed out and fidgety serving staff (one of whom abruptly left the restaurant), my wife got her crêpe. It was like eating tasteless spinach wrapped in cardboard. I didn’t get my order until she was finished eating. It also happened to be not something I ordered. At my wits end, I returned the dish (they still charged me for it), and we went to Lakeshore Café down the block for a great (if late) breakfast. Honestly, people who do not know how to cook or know anything about good service should not go into the restaurant business.

This place has a lot of potential, but it’s not quite there yet. The fillings for the savory crepes are tasty, but the crepes themselves need some work. The consistency is a little weird. The service is really friendly, but slow. I think they just need to hire more people. I’m a really patient person, and I’m rarely in a hurry, so I didn’t really care but some people might.

Is it just me or does this place seem like a real restaurant or some kind of front for another business ;)
It shouldn’t take 50 min. for two crepes and lukewarm coffee. It’s not that I’m impatient, but many things about this place suggest cash coming from other places.
I could make better crepes at home.

My girlfriend had been craving crepes all week, so when we drove by this place over the weekend it seemed an excellent opportunity to try it out. I’d actually never noticed this little french restaurant/​crêpe shop before and have no idea how long it’s been there. The first warning should have been the fact that it was completely empty. Every other restaurant in that area that was offering breakfast or brunch was packed out, but we were the only ones there. They have one cook, so this is not a place to go if you are in any kind of hurry. Had we not been the only customers, I have to wonder if the food would have ever come. As noted in her review, my girlfriends omlette was quite delicious, but my curry chicken crêpe (while interesting) wasn’t anything to write home about. The apple and cinnamon crêpe that followed was fairly unexciting as well. It’s a shame, because I think that a really good crêpe place would do well in this location, but something has failed to click here.

why can’t this side of oak-​town do something better than a creepycrepe?

I’ve been having sweet dreams filled with dancing crepes and soft creamy toppings of whip cream, vanilla ice cream, and the buttery smoothness of Nutella drizzled over bananas.
Partial to blame is my definitive inclination for something sweet after anything savory, so when my plans to hit Ti Couz after a play was thwarted by miscommunication, I was left delirious with wanting crepes through the workweek.
Well, that day of absolvement finally came on a warm and slightly windy Sunday morning after my boyfriend and I finished our stomping classes at Bihr Studios (
) we were both famished from the workout. Well, after reading that the Arizmendi bakery on Lakeshore is actually closed on Sundays (grrr) we continued on our walk down to the local Crepes house.
It is a true hole in the wall, but a cheery disposition on the inside, complete with furniture, colours, and glasses from Ikea. The menu is short and simple, with a bunch of omelettes on one side as well as savory and dessert crepes on the other page of the menu. The difference, is that the savory crepes are folded from buckwheat flour, so be prepared for a slightly darker batter.
My bf ordered the coconut curry crêpe with chicken plus a dessert crêpe of apples and caramel. I elected for the ham & cheese omelet with a side of toast and light salad. My dessert, was of course no surprise here, the Nutella with strawberries and bananas.
Service was a bit slow, but that was because there was only one cook, so in that regard, we spent most of the morning chatting away and enjoying the filtering sunlight.
Food arrived, and since I’ve been assimilated by Ti Couz, the crêpe batter and consistency in the finished product was a little unexpected. The crepes here are thin and not porous or spongey. In fact, they reminded me of the flat egg-​style crepes used in Mu Shoo pork wraps in Chinese menus. Not exactly what I was looking forward to. Still, I was starving, so away went my fork and appetites runneth over.
My omelet, despite being a little deflated, was surprisingly good. The ham and Gruyère cheese package was perfect, and I happily placed pieces of it between my toasted bread and made a ghetto version of the Croque Monsieur, which I shared with the bf. His dish was not too great, but when one is hungry, you tend to eat the entire thing.
My dessert crêpe was bit of a disappointment, only because the fruit inside did not seem fresh and it was a bit soggy by the time it reached our table. And the crêpe itself, was a little stiff and too doughy.
In all, the chef was nice, but the food is mediocre, especially if you are wanting crepes. My infatuation has not gone down yet, so I’m still thinking of those banana and Nutella crepes at Ti Couz…

Service was terribly slow. Food was mediocre.

July 2007 Update — CERRADO!
NARRATIVE
Saturday afternoon I was nursing a cold and was sitting in a little café that serves buckwheat crepes. I was hungry, but because my nasal passage is a myth I remember from my past at the moment, I have to judge my food choices by any ability of scent to skirt it’s way to my olfactory center. I walked by after visiting the Oakland Farmers’ Market by 580 and smelled a combination of cumin, cinnamon, cayenne… spices that are hearty and comforting.
I knew I would taste my breakfast here.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Crepes a Coco
French Crêpe House
3227A Lakeshore Avenue
Oakland, CA 94 610
Phone: 510.834.8038
HOURS: Tue-​Sat 9am — 8 pm
Sun 9 am — 3 pm
CUISINE
Light, café fair featuring savoury and dessert buckwheat crepes, salads, and sandwiches.
PRICE RANGE
Inexpensive — Mid-​range. I was nursing my cold so I opted for a lunch crêpe and a dessert crêpe in addition to my cup of tea. Total was about $ 15.
SUMMARY
The storefront could look like a cheerful café. The interior is a sunny morning light yellow with tracklighting about the perimeter and artwork reticent of France along the walls. It’s a place of intimate dining, most tables seat two. There are a pair of dj turntables in the back for dj occasions. Essentially this is your favourite friend’s kitchen inviting you home to tell you the latest good news and you could spend hours here. I’m treating it as a café right now, but I am sure breakfast has that easy-​going brunch feel to it as well.
The cook is a gregarious, 6’4″ gent with dreads. I perused the menu, sought out a few choices and then asked his opinion. He painted a beautiful picture of the house crêpe, and since that was on my list of choices, I took it as a match and chanced on it. I opened up my laptop and started playing backgammon. When the owner passed by me, I asked him for a cup of mint tea. It was served promptly to me in a beautiful white bowl and saucer. My hands cupped around the bowl helped settle me back into my body. Illness always makes me feel out of The cook served me the house specialty crêpe: La Coconut Groove. Curried Chicken, Coconut Milk, and mushrooms with a vegetable ratatouille wrapped in a beautiful envelope of buckwheat crêpe.
The scents filled my nose and warmth filled my belly with flavour and goodness.
SERVICE
I felt completely at home. This place would do well to offer wi-​fi service so anyone could plop down a few bucks, enjoy the music, enjoy the people strolling by, enjoy their crepes and wile away their hours here.
REST ROOMS
I didn’t visit the restrooms since I was late to an appointment with a nap I had, but the place is lovely and I would assume the feel would carry into the W.C.