La Petite Creperie brings new choices

Its easy to avoid temptation when temptation lives in a dirty alley off of Walnut Street.

Abstinence takes more will power and Spring Break diets are put in dire jeopardy, though, when temptation in the form of La Petite Creperie is transplanted into the hub of daily life at the center of campus.

Yes, the famed crepe truck, while also maintaining its Sansom Street locale, has been recreated in full at the east end of Houston Hall. No longer must students endure the imitation crepes that have been available there for the past several months. (They couldn't just fold those wraps one more time, could they?)

Now, after numerous renovations, the real thing is here with a snazzy new design. And in some ways, the new stand may rival the original.

Everything at the Houston Hall location is virtually identical to the original truck, including some of the staff, with only a hint of flair to spice things up.

The creperie now offers Starbucks coffee, after-dinner mints, croissants and LeBus pastries. The traditional pad of paper used to take orders at the truck has been usurped by devilish little touch-screen computers that the staff is still trying to master.

Fountain sodas have replaced the perpetually melting bin of ice and Snapple. And yes, they plan to allow students to swipe their PennCards to allow for maximum convenience.

For the most part, the menu remains the same at both locales. Savory crepes ($3.97) still include the classic chicken dijon, vegetable medley, roasted garlic chicken caesar and honey dijon turkey. Low-fat Mozzarella is a given, and wheat crepes are available for campus carbophobes.

Sweet crepes come a la mode ($3.97) or steaming hot ($3.04) and include a wide variety of options. They range from peach & pear with dark chocolate and cinnamon to New York cheesecake with strawberries, Amaretto and Grand Marnier with choice of fruits caramelized in brown sugar. The more adventurous might test the coconut and roasted almonds topped with cinnamon and drizzled with chocolate.

And there is a pleasant addition at the new creperie -- the breakfast crepe ($3.04).

The stand now opens for business at 8 a.m. Among the breakfast selections are a vegetable omelette with light feta cheese and a choice of ham, bacon and sweet sausage, all available wrapped in the trademark flour crepe or the innovative new herb crepe.

But just like its predecessor, a long wait is inevitable.With only a scattered few people in line, the wait was a solid half hour. Of course, this is an adjustment time for the vendor, and once things begin to settle, it should decrease to the average 20 minutes it takes at the Sansom location.

And just like its predecessor, the end product is well worth the wait, no matter what time of day.

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