The morning on the second day of our Clayton swim-a-thon weekender was blissfully cool after a sweltering afternoon before. Clouds had rolled in to cover the city with some much needed gray and a few showers sprinkled off and on. Though it rained a bit on our swim team, they’re already in the water so basically, that doesn’t matter. As long as there’s no lightening or thunder, outdoor swim meets are a go. Luckily for the husband and I, we had a morning to ourselves filled with a leisurely stroll to the City Coffeehouse & Creperie, ready to feast on the breakfast of champions: crepes and coffee.

We’ve been here a number of times before and each visit, we plan to satiate our palates at least twice. There are So. Many. Options. it’s difficult to decide. When you walk into this sweet little shop, the smells of a hundred flavors hit you; rich dark espresso, the warm pancake scent of crepe batter sizzling on the billig (crepe iron), melting butter, fatty cheeses and stewed fruit. The inside, though lit from a bay of windows to the front, is a little dark, a little rustic. The textured walls are smeared in an ochre paint, the wood trim thick and stained dark and an enormous chalkboard covers one side, a colorful handwritten display of all the different crepes complete with cartoon-esque drawings embellishing the flavors. Quickly printed 8.5×11 sheets of paper are tacked below, beside and -basically anywhere – proclaiming the seasonal fruits or new menu items that won’t fit on the chalkboard.

City Coffeehouse and Creperie feels like you’ve stepped out of the Midwest and into a European establishment. The line to get in is almost always at least a 10 minute wait but they move through customers quickly and with a smile. Truly, if I was around these crepes and coffee all day, I’d be smiling too. Seating is small and limited so it’s best to come in parties of 4 or less or plan on getting there at the less than crowded times. Not sure when that actually is – I’ve never seen it uncrowded.

You’ll find this info over in Taco Buddha as well but I figured I’d add it in again. In St. Louis, we stayed in the Clayton-Shaw area. I love it there and here’s why:

• So. Many. Restaurants.
• Easy walking distance from hotels to all of those options
• Public art and sculpture everywhere
• A stunning public park right downtown with paved trails, manicured gardens, water features and plenty of shaded areas to cool off in the St. Louis summer heat (yeah, it’s also where the competition pool is so that works well for us)
• Plentiful adventures for my favorite pastime: house gawking at gorgeous million dollar abodes that I will never be able to afford but love to dream of
• If you’re a shopping type, the Galleria Mall is a 5 min drive just down the street
• The [free!] St. Louis Zoo is within a 15 min drive

From our hotel on Meramec Ave. the CCC (that’s what I’m calling it now) is only about a 5-10 minute walk, depending on your speed. And leg length. And how hungry you are. It’s situated downtown on busy Brentwood Blvd. tucked in between skyscrapers and small local shops. The pool and park are just a block down the street – order your crepes to go and enjoy them in the open air pavilion next to a babbling waterfall and lazy pond.

As we stepped in line to wait, a fine mist cooled us but our host assured us it would be just a moment and it was. We stepped inside and stood in the queue, giving us adequate time to peruse the chalkboard, desperately trying to make a final decision. We stepped to the counter and placed our orders, then shifted to the right to pick up our coffees while holding the tiny metal Eiffel Tower that displayed out order number. We picked up our coffees and found a cozy table for two, setting the tower on top, then relaxing back to sip our drinks and await the goodness that was coming our way.

The husband is a sweets guy (yes, he’s also a sweet guy, but a ‘sweets’ guy when it comes to breakfast). CCC has almost an equal amount of sweet and savory options plus the option to ‘build’ your own if you’d like. He chose the Mascarpone & Lemon Blueberry. Creamy and milky marscapone cheese, sweet/tart lemon curd and fresh blueberries are stuffed into a thin neutral flavored crepe (not sweet, not savory, just warm bready goodness) and grilled until the mascarpone and lemon curd are warmed and the blueberries begin to pop. Served with sweet cream cheese to slather over the top, it is just as much a dessert as it is breakfast. He paired his with an iced mocha (reg milk).

I often prefer a mix of sweet and savory to my breakfasts and since I like my coffee on the sweet side, a savory Lox and Dam wrapped in a buckwheat crepe was perfect. I’m a salmon fan to start in almost any form and lox and bagels is one of my all time favorite breakfasts. The fluffy, chewy bagel, the briney smokey salmon, the vinegary capers, the silky cream cheese… [insert chef’s kiss emoji here].

The buckwheat crepes at CCC are nuttier and slightly more chewy, a little heartier than the standard crepe. For the Lox and Dam, that is exactly what it needed to stand up to the hefty filling of salmon, spinach, red onions, capers and herbed cream cheese. And man, they pack them full. The herbed cream cheese gets all sauce like, coating the spinach and salmon in a creamy tangy goodness and bringing some cheesy unctuousness to the whole dish. I paired mine with an Almond Milk Iced Lavender latte. (A little dairy in the cream cheese is ok, a lotta dairy in a latte? Not good on my belly). Being iced, the lavender was softer, less floral than when hot (which I got the next day) and brought a honey like sweetness to the whole drink. They have multiple milk options, coconut, almond, soy, skim, full, heavy cream – all the milks, so it’s super easy to customize your caffeine to what you prefer.

The next morning, I went for a Fresh Peach and Mascarpone crepe. The fresh peach slices were thin and slightly caramelized with brown sugar, the mascarpone melty and oozing, creating a sweet silky sauce to coat the fruit all waiting to be mopped up with the crepe in each bite. I paired it with a hot almond milk lavender latte and though good, the lavender was definitely more pronounced. Still a fan, I love lavender, but the iced is the way to go if you’re stepping into the world of floral flavors.

The second morning was busy with large parties trying to find seating for all of their members. The hostess worked diligently to rearranged tables to accommodate the majority of the patrons. One group opted to take matters into their own hands, loudly dragging tables across the floor and stealing chairs from parties that needed them. The hostess was charming as ever as she quietly explained the “rules” and homeostasis was returned. Lesson here: don’t be that person. Let the staff do their jobs and you’ll be more than taken care of.

The biggest thing is that though absolutely amazing, CCC is not a dedicated gluten-free establishment. My joy at least having the option for a gluten-free crepe is amazing but there is always a risk of cross-contamination as the crepes are cooked alongside each other. I weighed my risks and options and felt pretty safe with the food choices but again, it’s always a risk. The majority of fillings are naturally gluten-free, being fresh fruits, cheeses, meats and eggs which makes it easier to select. The menu advises customers with allergies to inquire about any ingredients and ask for a change in gloves so you do have that option. There are additional menu items that are not crepes, specifically fruit and berry cups and yogurt.

Are you from this area? Do you have a GF fave that I need to check out? Comment below and let me know!