Sweet Pea’s Café: Voulez Vous Crepes?

France is easily the most listed country on people's travel checklist, because of its monuments, fashion and food. This week's selection will bring to your mouth the country's most celebrated food. Enjoy!

Overview: Classically trained chef Michael McBride and co-owner Dorta McBride demonstrated their devotion to Frances’ national dish, “the crepe,” by creating this charming venue in which to enjoy the crispy, thin chock-full-of-goodness treat. The beauty of crepes is that they are an anytime meal. Fill a thin wheat-flour pancake with fruits and custards, and you have breakfast or dessert. They can also be served as lunch and dinner entrees or appetizers, or switch up the batter to make a buckwheat pancake and change the shape for savory “gallettes,” filled with ingredients found on a typical farm in Brittany. Chef McBride is committed to the slow food movement and does his best to make sure as many local and organic fruits and vegetables are used as possible. is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so you have to get there early, but if you are out and about in Capitola, you will get an extra hour to make it into Sweet Pea's second location on 41st Avenue.

Décor: There aren't any singular characteristics that set the space apart as distinctive or unique. However, the mood of this unassuming, low-key, cozy cafe enhances the quality of food being served—simple and good. The dining room accommodates a small crowd, and there is outside seating reminiscing of French brasseries where you can watch passersby while enjoying your meal. Chef McBride tells me the café is in line for a makeover in April, but he doesn't intend to close during the upgrades.

The Drinks: Fountain sodas, Vitaminwater beverages, Nantucket Nectars, beer, wine and champagne. There is also fresh-squeezed orange juice, a special blend of house-brewed iced tea, hot tea and full coffee bar. ($1.75-$10.50)

Appetizers: Garlic fries with basil and parmesan ($1.50) and French fries ($2).

Entrees: Versatility, your name is crepe. The sweet crepes ($3.50-$6) are simple and uncomplicated, containing fillings like lemon curd, Nutella, jam, fresh fruit, yogurt and custard. The savory crepes ($7-$9) are an assortment of international flavor profiles like Chicken Pomodoro, Turkey and Brie with roasted red peppers and white wine mushroom sauce, Ratatouille and Mozzarella, to name a few. Not a fan of crepes? Well, there are some super options, like a collection of sandwiches such as the Napa Chicken ($8), Grilled Chicken and Pesto ($7.50), Roasted Turkey and Avocado ($7), Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato ($7), Grilled Chicken and Brie ($8), and many more. For a little twist, there are wraps—Chicken Caesar ($7) and Grilled Salmon. Traditional American favorites like burgers are on the menu, providing four offerings: the Classic, the Classic with cheese, a Green Chili Jack burger, and Bacon Gorgonzola. Each comes in a single or a double patty. Another daily preparation is the quiche ($8) which can be a choice of Quiche Lorraine, Broccoli and Cheddar, Portobello Mushroom, Roasted Pepper and Mexican Boudin served with a green or fruit salad. Sweet Pea’s serves breakfast all day and has created some interesting crepe options in a benedict. The crepe benedicts come in a full or half order ($6-$10) and you can choose from Benedictine with poached egg and ham, the Forentine with poached egg and spinach, the Boulderado with poached egg, beef and balsamic onions, and the Crab Benedictine with poached egg, crab meat and avocado. Each is ladled with hollandaise sauce and an excellent way to start your morning. Regular breakfast fare likes omelets ($7-$8), waffles ($5.50-$7.50) and egg combos ($5-$6.50) are also served.

Sides: Mixed green salad ($4 for half-order and $7 for full), Caesar salad ($5 half-order and $7 for full), grilled chicken Caesar ($6.50 half-order and $8.50 for full),  Greek salad with French beans, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives and feta cheese on crisp romaine lettuce ($6 half-order and $8 for full), Apple Gorgonzola Salad with fuji apples, spicy walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette ($6 half-order and $8 for full), Spinach Salad ($6 half-order and $8 for full), or customize a leafy green creation starting from your imagination or building on one of the salad offerings. Three choices of freshly prepared soups ($3.75 cup and $5.50 bowl) are offered daily. Orzo salad, potato salad and fruit salad are available alone or as an accompaniment.

Service: The counter service is super speedy. You get your number, take off your jacket and settle in to your spot, and with the eerie now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t blink of your eye, someone is hovering at your elbow with a plate full of yummy goodness.

Signature Dish: The Beef Briand Crepe ($8) made with sirloin, brie, balsamic onions and horseradish. It is named for Chef McBride, who tells me his family roots are Brittany, home of the crepe.

• 453 No. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos and 2121 41^st St., in Capitola
• Chef: Michael McBride
• Cost: $3.50-$20