Couture Cafe

Couture Café
2568 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-857-2638

Type: Crepe/Sandwiches/Coffee Shop
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 1/5 trying to be a 3/5
Price: $7-9 per panini or crepe, breakfasts $5-7, desserts $5-8, specialty drinks $4-5

Quality for price: 2/5
Ambiance: Casual, Modern
Other: BYOB, “Stimulus Plan” specials, free wi-fi

[Dan] Last Saturday we decided to take advantage of a rainy fall day (because who doesn't feel like going for a walk when it is cold and misty out?) and check out World Market. After some shopping, we were both famished. However, we happened to walk by Border's Books on Clark and Diversey at the exact moment that David Cross was doing a book signing. Being huge fans (although apparently not huge enough to know he was in town to do a book signing) we couldn't pass up the opportunity to check it out. After burning quite a few calories laughing during his Q&A and waiting in line to get a book signed, we grew even hungrier. Kristen had been to Couture for crepes before and wanted to try their lunch fare (with the proviso that we also get sweet crepes for dessert).

Upon walking into Couture Cafe, it's hard not to be struck by the lack of anything resembling ambiance or character. A small casual cafe located on Clark street in Lincoln Park, Couture's focus seems to be entirely about their crepes, which they do very well. As far as a good spot to bring a date for lunch or, heaven forbid, dinner, may we humbly suggest any other spot on Clark Street. And then maybe stop by Couture for Intelligentsia coffee and a delicious sweet crepe...

The cafe is set up pretty standard, although it's not quite sure if it wants to be a full-service restaurant or a counter-service cafe. We walked up to the counter to order, but other patrons just sat down at a table and one of the employees brought them water and menus and took their orders at the table. In any case, the place is mostly white walls with some very large 'pop art' paintings. Sure, the furniture is pretty 'hip' and modern, but otherwise it is reminiscent of an apartment that someone just moved into and hasn't had time to decorate or make it feel like a home yet. There is something vaguely temporary-feeling about the decor. However, there is one huge plus if you're bringing a date there and you've either just met or have been dating for a long time and have just completely run out of things to talk about: Magazines. Lots of magazines inside the actual tables. Aside from the dessert crepes, it's probably one of the biggest selling points of Couture. The tables are glass tops with about eight inches of space for magazines underneath. So if you're sitting across from your date and the conversation starts to slow or become awkward you can look down and point out, "Hey, Jude Law is pregnant!" Or "What do you know, according to 'Vogue' men are three times more likely to want to sleep with you if show any interest in them whatsoever." On second thought, better not mention that headline if it's a first date...

But if you're not in the mood for "couture," and are looking for higher culture reading material, turn away from the fashion magazines and you'll find assorted books to choose from on a shelf behind a couple of cozy couches. Or just bring David Cross' new book, like we did, and read it aloud together. Let us offer a tip, though, especially if a mom and her two daughters sit down right next to you at the clearly-only-meant-to-sit-two-customers table: monitor your volume at the particularly lewd or crass parts. They probably want to eat their Snickers Wannabe crepe or Pear and Brie Salad sans Cross' scathing (but hilarious) critique of politics, the media, and society in general.

[Kristen] The fact that so much of this review has focused on reading material proves that we were clearly not blown away by our meals. In fact, I ordered a Grilled Chicken and Hummus crepe, but when our food arrived, it was a Chicken and Avocado panini I received. In partial defense of the wait staff, they did offer to correct the mistake, but having already waited too long for a couple of sandwiches in the nearly empty and not-at-all busy cafe, I decided to eat the panini. Dan's panini had pesto, which I find usually improves any food it accompanies, yet neither of us were particularly impressed with our lunches. One upside is that all sandwiches and crepes include a spring salad tossed in a light house vinaigrette. But light was definitely how we felt after finishing our meals and we craved something heavier to fill us up so we turned to the sweet crepes for dessert.

We deliberated between the Nutella crepes (and decided against them since we consume it almost daily already), the Fresh Berries and Cream, and The Smores and finally settled on the French Pear Crepes. These were so delicious that they almost made up for our previous disappointments and were the closest we came to actually feeling like we were in France (which we loved, as we are both francophiles). The crepes were filled with pastry cream and served under slices of pears poached in two different kinds of wine (Chardonnay and Merlot), and finished with a red-wine reduction syrup and french vanilla ice cream.

Thanks to the sweet crepe, we left satisfied, but we won't be rushing back any time soon. We've decided that this would be a good place to bring a date you are still trying to get a feel for or don't know very well but again, stick to the sweet crepes and coffees (or smoothies and fresh squeezed juices, if that's your thing). The couches and reading material would make Couture Cafe an excellent location for a study date. Bring a laptop and enjoy the perk of free wi-fi Internet. Another plus, since the employees don't seem to be in a rush to do anything, you will not feel any pressure to give up your table to new customers and can stay and eat until you finish your work, or until you get a stomach ache, whichever comes first. Come during lunch or on weekday evenings to take advantage of their "Stimulus Plan" specials so that even though your tummy may suffer, at least your bank account won't.

The most memorable part of our trip to Couture Cafe was reading Cross' book, I Drink for a Reason. And since our experience at Couture gave us plenty of reason to drink, we can't help but wonder if everything might have seemed a tad less mediocre had we known it was BYOB and brought along a bottle of wine or framboise. Ahh, well, next time we'll know.....to go to La Creperie instead.