Holy Crepe: Collegetown’s Newest Late Night Eats Just Got Classier

Author: Gaby Keane

On October 1, the line extended down the sidewalk and the throngs of students buzzed with excitement. No, not the line for Bill Gates–these students were waiting to purchase a crepe from Collegetown Crepes, the new food truck that calls the corner of Williams Street and Eddy Street its home.

Open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., the small, shabby-chic truck twinkled from the strings of lights hung around it. An illuminated chalkboard flashing through a spectrum of colors displayed the small yet adventurous menu. Both sweet and savory crepes are available for $4-5 a pop, a reasonable price considering the size and generous fillings of the portions. Decked out in red “Crepe University” t-shirts, the truck’s owners, Forrest Crawford ‘15 and Max Richman ‘11, were visible through the front and the back, giving pedestrians the chance to watch the men create crepe after crepe for the hungry crowd.

 

On opening night, the crowd seemed to overwhelm the two-man operation.  A commitment to standing in line for anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes was required to satiate one’s crepe craving.  People occupied themselves by chatting with friends or taking in the surrounding hubbub of Collegetown, and of course by photographing the adorable truck itself (I can confirm several selfies were taken). By the time the line brought you close enough to see the men working, the wait felt more like a show as the buckwheat crepe batter was ladled out, swirled around in expert fashion, quickly flipped and filled with generous amounts of fresh toppings.

 

The banana/Nutella seemed to be the most frequently ordered of the night, but the chocolate/raspberry jam and cinnamon/sugar were not forgotten by the crowd either. The crepes, a hearty and savory flavor on their own, were the perfect complement to the sweet fillings. Each banana/Nutella received an entire banana sliced into mounds of Nutella that melted down smoothly inside the fresh crepe, so no bite lacked banana or Nutella. The cinnamon/sugar shined for its simple, delicious flavors and the generous layer of cinnamon and sugar that melted just enough to provide a crisp crunch.

 

For those who prefer savory, the options on opening night included a feta/chive and a ham/gruyere/honey mustard/thin-sliced green apple. I tried the ham crepe, and was surprised at the complexity of the flavors, distinct on their own, yet coming together to make each bite sweet, spicy, crunchy, cheesy, and flavorful.

The menu will rotate nightly, so next time you need a late night study snack or want to class up your typical drunk food meal of pizza, head over to Williams and Eddy to grab an affordable, generously portioned French delicacy on the streets of Collegetown.

 

Collegetown, crepes, food truck