Crepes Suzette

Literally the worst, hard, brown, crispy crepes my wife and I have ever had.

My friend and her mother came here a while ago and came back to New York raving about the Croque-​madame (basically a grilled ham and cheese with more cheese and a sunny side egg on top). When we went back to Sarasota, they both REALLY wanted to go back for that again, and being nearby, we decided to have brunch here last Sunday.
We all shared a few things because the menu really looked so good. The Croque-​madame was really excellent and had the taste and appearance of the ones I remember eating from carts on Île Saint-​Louis in Paris (that is a high compliment). The bread they use to make the sandwich is what makes it excellent because it has a texture and taste that is very hard to find in restaurants these days. We also tried the Crêpe Seguin (goat cheese and bacon in a buckwheat crêpe) and the Crêpe Espinale (chocolate and pear), and both were excellent. I would recommend trying all of these things to anyone. The menu offers a great variety of classic French bistro foods including crepes, salads and sandwiches and has a very authentic feel in the menu.
Service was great and the waitress, although not French, was really friendly and attentive. They have a great outdoor patio facing Lemon Avenue and it was really nice to find such a great little bistro right in the center of Sarasota.

I really really, want to like this place. I’ve had some good lunches here. But the wait staff is in some serious need of training. IT is almost like they pulled random people off the street and plunked them down and said «go wait on that table.» Wait staff really seems to have a problem paying attention and seem to be aqua phobic because I’ve almost always had to ask multiple times to get some water. I know there is a draught, but if I ask, can’t have a little bit of water?
For the most part I’ve enjoyed the food. But I find it a bit limited at times. What I mean is the crepes that I enjoy are few and far between. Most are americanized versions that just don’t work. I do like the paysanne crêpe but they can’t seem to make up their mind if it is going to be a breakfast sausage or a savory one. This would be an amazing dish with a good savory sausage. The Canadian bacon one is lacking something. Or maybe it has to do with the fact that when I order this one the crêpe was scorched. The salmon one is excellent as well. Chicken and the other ones are hit or miss. The sandwiches look good, but I have not had them yet. My co-​workers say they are fine and a good size. ANd we enjoyed the Pâté as well.
I do love their little tomato salad. The vinegret they put on is lovely and works nice with the ripe tomatoes. The first few times I have been there the fried potatoes were nicely cooked and tasty red ones. Well seasoned and fried perfectly. The last time they were flavorless and seemed like they came out of an frozen back of potatoes you get at the grocery store. I think there might be an «A» team and a «B» team in the kitchen. Hope you get the «A» Team. because when they are «ON» I’ve really enjoyed what I had.
I think if they can get some trained staff and get the kitchen straightened out they can have something special here. I hope to go back and bump them to three starts when they get things figured out. As you can tell I’ve been here 3 or 4 times. IT is not all bad, otherwise I wouldn’t come back. Like I said above, I really, really want to like this place.