Suzette's Creperie in Wheaton offers touch of France

WHEATON – Since opening Suzette's Creperie at 211 W. Front St. in downtown Wheaton in 2000, owner Donna Hesik has seen the popularity of crepes only increase.

Hesik thinks she knows why.

"I think that whenever you put something in a crepe, it elevates it to a new elegance," she said. "For instance, a ham and cheese sandwich versus a ham and cheese crepe. Same ingredients, but the envelope is different. And it's a world apart in terms of elegance and taste."

The restaurant has a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes on hand, including a berry crepe, warm caramel apple crepe, ham and cheese crepe, spicy coconut shrimp crepe and salmon crepe.

But Suzette's does more than just sell crepes. The restaurant also has a French-inspired bakery, French bistro and wine bar. Bistro entrees include steak frites, crab cakes with habanero lime sauce served with a baby field greens salad, and a sauteed salmon filet with honey dijon glaze served with a baby field greens salad.

Suzette's is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. The restaurant can seat between 70 and 100 people, and it features indoor and outdoor seating.

"We are very French focused," Hesik said. "We try not to follow the trends too much, but to stay true to a French focus... We really are trying to be as authentic as an American restaurant can be."

That philosophy extends to the wine Suzette's serves. The restaurant's extensive list of French wines has earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for several years in a row.

Prior to opening Suzette's Creperie, Hesik sold crepes out of a street cart for three years. She was inspired to do so after visiting France one summer and seeing the street vendors there.

"I was enjoying the crepe and I was wondering, 'Why can't Americans have such nice fast food?''' she said.

In September 2015, the restaurant opened a cooking school, Suzette's L'Ecole. Hesik is one of the school's instructors.

"It seemed like a natural next step for us to take," Hesik said. "We've had a steady number of people taking classes."

In another touch of authenticity, the school features a custom-made stove from Burgundy, France.

Those who visit Suzette's on a Friday or Saturday night will hear a jazz band. And Hesik hopes her customers will soak up the restaurant's atmosphere as they are enjoying their food.

"For us, it's about food, beverage and conversation," she said. "We don't want to rush them through. We want them to stay and converse."

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If you go

What: Suzette's Creperie

Address: 211 W. Front St., Wheaton

Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Info: suzettescreperie.com, 630-462-0898