Anita's crepes get a home of their own

If you've ever been to a neighborhood farmers markets, you know its name — or at least have seen Nutella dripping out of one of its folded crepes.

Anita's Crêpes is known for running crepe stations around farmers markets, and now it has its own restaurant, which debuted last month in the 'hood known as "Frelard" — the gray area where many locals believe Fremont ends and Ballard begins.

It's a French bistro. But by its name, you can safely assume that crepes are the main draw.

The menu: Anita's Crêpes serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Its seasonal menus are highlighted by fresh, organic produce and game meat. The bistro features an extensive, rotating menu of crepes, both savory and sweet. The dinner menu includes braised veal shank with glazed carrots and short ribs with horseradish cream.

What to write home about: The best crepe was the Sweet Cheese, with ricotta, candied orange peel, powdered sugar, chantilly and bits of pistachios. It had nice nutty, salty, tangy and sweet nuances. Also noteworthy was the Prosciutto Di Parma crepe with Gruyère and arugula, although it could have used a sweeter cheese to offset the porky saltiness. The Lemon Sugar crepe also was nice, even though the caramelized sugar was unevenly spread

What to skip: The Sausage crepe — with andouille, arugula, sunny-side-up organic egg and Emmentaler, a popular cheese in Switzerland. It would have been better if the mediocre sausage was a backdrop instead of the featured ingredient.

The setting: The French-style bistro has enormous windows and a cheerful, comfy atmosphere. The jazzy music can be a bit loud for conversation.

Summing up: The bill for four crepes, two savories and two desserts, totaled $42.82 after tax. The crepes range from $8 to $12, a bit pricey, but you're paying for gourmet fare here — something you don't get at those crepe stations Anita's runs around neighborhood markets.

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656

or tvinh@seattletimes.com