Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Dissection Of A Menu: Creperie Beau Monde, Philly Edition



photography by so does estella 
 
I've fallen off the raw foods wagon and I'm eating cooked foods again, but with good reason -- Creperie Beau Monde! Situated in the Bella Vista neighborhood of South Philadelphia is this gem of gems. For me, it doesn't feel reminiscent of the small crepe stops in Paris, rather my favorite Southern California haunt, Le Creperie. In both places you're eating crepes in a restaurant that is clearly American and not really authentic, but somehow you don't mind it a bit.

Fare: Savory & sweet crepes both do the trick...I can vouch. Wins.
Interior Design: Carefully thought interior and exterior down to every detail. Wins.
Branding: On point. Have a look at their website. Wins.


1. Custom metalwork signage to die for.
2. Chinoiserie style wallpapered panels & crushed velvet drapery.
3. Casual patio perfect for a warm day.
4. Those details that I mentioned!
5. Gorgeous built in's at the bar in a dark finish.
6. Lemon sorbet and nutella dessert crepe.


From top to bottom, Beau Monde wins! It's nice to drive out to Philadelphia from New York on a whim, especially when you know delicious crepes await you.

What creperies do you recommend? And for the entree, sweet or savory?

16 comments:

Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rocket said...

love all the photos- looks like the perfect place for lunch :)

Maddy said...

Next time I'm in Philly, I'll skip the cheesesteaks ( I'm not a fan of the way they make their cheesesteaks anyways. I know...blasphemy!) in favor of this spot! This places looks like it has character and I love that in a restaurant :)

Eva @ Four Leaf Clover said...

Mmm... sounds so tasty! I love that sign, so unique! How did I not know you were eating just raw foods? How long were you doing that for? It's my goal for one of these days!

Your shop looks amazing, by the way!

Sana said...

@erika welcome to SDE and thank you! it really is a great lunch spot. good people watching on the patio.

@maddy haha. i'm not a fan of them either so no worries there and yes, you should definitely try it. i try to avoid restaurants that are popular just because -- seems i always end up a little disappointed despite the ambiance.

@eva yes! you probably didn't know because it was so short-lived. :) i lasted all of 2 weeks. i stopped because i'd still get hungry even after supplementing meals with nuts and avocados, etc. and i was a little grumpy, too. all in all i'm still incorporating some of the great recipes into my daily eats. try the kale smoothie. my fav- 2 cups of raw almond milk, 2 cups of chopped kale, 1 banana and 2 tsps of raw honey. amazing!

Susan said...

I've been meaning to get here, and have it planned in the coming weeks! Great shots!

Christine said...

Looks like a great place! Love the decor.

Meg said...

Your blog is fashinating!I'm a new follower,follow me back,if u like,on http://themissidea.blogspot.com/!
xoxo

Brandi said...

My rule is a sweet crepe before 11am, a savory one after. Unless it's dessert and then nutella better be involved. Thanks for giving me a place to look forward to trying next time I'm in Philly.

Sana said...

@susan must be nice to have it so close by! enjoy and let me know what you think :)

@christine isn't it lovely!

@meg welcome and thanks for visiting, meg!

@brandi i like that rule! i'm willing to bet you even make your own nutella crepes. you're my hero! :)

Some Korean Website Highjacker said...

gosh, i can see why that wagon got the big ol' boot! this spot looks amazing, so wanna visit Philly! love how you just picked up and went, i'm working on more spontaneity - such a planner and the boyf is a free spirit like you. the metal sign post is crazy, totally my kinda place! happy weekend Sana. thanks so much for the blog design feedback, it means a lot coming from you! ♥

Eva @ Four Leaf Clover said...

I'll have to try that smoothie recipe and just substitute agave nectar or something for the honey. Thanks for sharing your recipe (my last one didn't taste all that great)!

Kimia Kline said...

um, sounds like a pretty great reason to fall off the raw foodie bandwagon. :) sounds amaaazing. what i wouldnt give for crepe right about now.

andrea said...

Your pictures of Beau Monde are gorgeous! I'm not a fan of crepes but I always liked going there for the delightful atmosophere.

Sana said...

@lynn you're so welcome. let's see if we can get free this summer! shall we?! :)

@eva have you tried the agave version? i'm curious!

@kimia let's swap! a crepe for a dosa. india is lovely and intriguing at the same time.

@andrea thank you! how lucky you are to be so close. it definitely has a great atmosphere!

sara (girls can tell) said...

yes! beau monde is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! i love that neighborhood.
also, i know we're known for cheesesteaks, but people who know what's up eat roast pork sandwiches here. ;)

Jo said...

My boyfriend's parents live in Philly! We'll be in NYC for a wedding in Sept, but will take a train to Philly for a day or two. I think I will plan my east coast trip based on the dining suggestions here on your beautiful blog!!
xox