Independent spin flavors Nu Crepes in Elmhurst

Niall Martin named his downtown Elmhurst restaurant Nu Crepes to celebrate his fresh twist on the classic dish. He created his own recipe for a crepe filled with a choice of savory or sweet fillings, all based on fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

"I developed a recipe of buckwheat that blends across our breakfast, sweet and savory categories," he says, noting he was inspired by a creperie in Dublin, Ireland, he visited while studying abroad. "We need a little heartier crepe to hold the ingredients — a little more robust than the typical French one — because we have more decadent fillings. You can eat them on the run like hand food."

Thanks to working several seasons at the Downers Grove Farmers Market, he found his food purveyors.

"It's how we landed our meat and our egg vendors," he says, noting items are organic when possible, and never frozen. "They were next door neighbors of ours at the farmers market. (The food) is locally sourced and extremely tasty. Even with the sweets, we try to do organic sugars and better butter and fresh fruit."

His mother, Diane, also of Elmhurst, played a part in helping launch the enterprise, providing the initial crepe pan so Niall could test his recipes.

"My mother is kind of the reigning queen of the sweet (crepes), because she has a sweet tooth," he says of her input on dessert recipes, noting options range from classic fruit and Nutella to the s'more-inspired Campfire, and a cinnamon roll spinoff.

Vegetarian items also are offered, and a guilt-free side dish is the Rock-It Slaw, made of julienne Fuji apple, celery, arugula, cilanto and lime juice. Nu Crepes brews its own coffee blend from local roaster Dark Matter, and carries the bottled DRY Soda line, in a range of flavors such as rhubarb, juniper berry and vanilla bean.

A fan of the brand is Annemarie Toedt, who recently lunched with Kathy Pankau, also of Elmhurst. Toedt says the first time she stopped in, she knew she'd be back.

"Everything is fresh and delicious," Toedt says. "Even the silverware is made of corn and is compostable."

Pankau says she likes the cute atmosphere, and recommends the Hail Caesar with chicken, fresh spinach and healthful ingredients.

"I've never been disappointed," Pankau says, adding its nice to support a local.

Nu Crepes is located west of York Road, at the end of a pedestrian walkway. An indoor staircase leads down to the attractive, garden-level restaurant; an elevator is available.

"We are definitely a different concept on crepes," Niall says. "People … appreciate that it's a family owned and locally operated business. We wanted to offer something different."

The full menu is served all day, and students receive a 10 percent discount.

Nu Crepes

Address: 115 W. Schiller Court, Elmhurst

Contact: 630-577-7558, nucrepes.com