La Crepe Nanou

La Crepe Nanou from the street. Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans, reproduced here under the Creative Commons.

La Crepe Nanou is a strictly French bistro located at 1410 Robert Street in Uptown New Orleans. The restaurant was founded in 1983 by current owner, Mariano “Nanou” de Raczynski. La Crepe Nanou does not accept reservations, and those who know about one of New Orleans’ better kept secrets find themselves lucky if they are fortunate enough to grab a table for dinner at the European inspired bistro.

Humble Beginnings

Mariano de Racznyski moved to Louisiana with the intention of working as an airline pilot, however on a trip to New Orleans he met a local and fell in love. According to McCaffety and Kerri, and Peggy Scott Laborde, In the 1983, de Raczynski began his crepe shop with low expectations, and the intention of serving solely crepes, though both sweet and savory (Mon Amour: The Great Restaurants of New Orleans. Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2002. Print). Comments made from “La Crepe Nanou”, The restaurant served its authentic French crepes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, the crepe did not catch on in New Orleans as de Raczynski hoped it would . When the existence of his restaurant was at stake, he expanded the menu far beyond the realms of crepes. And what a fine decision it was. The French menu was due to de Raczynski’s French heritage, and inspired by the streets of France (“Story Type: Commentary (2009): n. pag. New Orleans CityBusiness. Web. Nov. 2012).

The Building

1410 Robert Street is a beautifully unique building with an even more exciting inside. As the popularity of the restaurant grew, as did the building. What was once three separate buildings now creates La Crepe Nanou. And, local artists beautified the inside of de Racznyski’s restaurant, filling it with life and color. A lively mural expands from wall to wall of the back dining room, painted by a New Orleanian café owner. According to McCaffety, Kerri, and Peggy Scott Laborde, Each room has a different decorative atmosphere, which adds to the excitement of a meal at this fine establishment (Mon Amour: The Great Restaurants of New Orleans. Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2002. Print).

The Fuss, The Wait

Visitors say that “a trip to France is all that beats this bistro,” and many agree according to “LA CREPE NANOU.”, La Crepe Nanou does not take reservations, however it is most definitely worth the half-hour plus wait to dine there. The friendly staff, amazing food, and exciting atmosphere give clientele no choice but to want to wait 40 minutes for a Nanou meal. Once appetizers hit the table, you will have forgotten you were ever outside. Uptown New Orleans residents who regularly eat at the bistro consider it their own secret, and they expect and accept the wait. Part of the fun of a trip to the bistro is the time spent hanging outside drinking and socializing with neighbors as you wait to be seated (Multichannel News 1 May 2000: 6. Business Insights: Essentials. Web. 12 Nov. 2012).

What to Eat

You would be hard pressed to find a bad meal at La Crepe Nanou, but there are items that cannot go un-ordered. It is widely acknowledged that Nanou serves some of the best steamed mussels in town. Comments made from the “Commentary: New Orleans places,  The crepes are delicious as well, which is fortunate, seeing as they were once the focal point of the café (New Orleans places value on restaurant ‘funkiness’.” New Orleans CityBusiness 12 May 2008. Business Insights: Essentials. Web. 12 Nov. 2012).  One should definitely try to experience a La Crepe Nanou dessert crepe, referred from “La Crepe Nanou.” (Ebsco. New Orleans CityBusiness, n.d. Web).