Lunch at Crêperie le Carrousel

Situated strategically on a prominent corner on Länggasse, next to the similarly bohemian Parterre, this (literally) little creperie functions as a bright spot in the concrete landscape as you approach it. Lunch hours are busy, as are the after-work hours, where the clientele seems to consist of both the dedicated stream of university students who are easily and generously absorbed from the main street, as well as what looks like a steady audience of friends and acquaintances of the staff and owners continuously riding along (pun intended). The decor is a familiar one of romantic elements like chandeliers, wooden chairs and slightly creaky floorboards, although it also appropriates the occasional kitschy gum ball machine to break it up. The staff is less French than the place otherwise proposes to be, happily taking orders and making suggestions. The limited scope of the menu is both a strength and a weakness, the strongest focus being on sweet crepes and savory galettes, all readily prepared in the open bar/kitchen in the front of the creperie. Both are consistently satisfying although at risk of being uniform in their expressions; sweet is often overly sweet and dolloped with favorites such as caramel, chocolate and fruits that give rise to the empty belly's yearning but runs the risk of leaving you slightly nauseated. The strongest cards on the menu are where contrasts are at play in evergreens such as lemon and sugar or manchego and figue, complementing each other and making you want more. Portions are on the small side, generally suited for a light lunch or large snack if you are a petite French woman, which neither in the our party of 3 was. The different variations of coffee were randomly similar and seemed distinguished merely to the same extent as buttons on an industrial coffee machine, although strong and generally satisfying for those who don't discriminate too harshly between their lattes and cappuccinos. 

Crêperie le Carrousel

Hallerstrasse 1
3012 Bern