Creperie le Triskel

32 Hardware Lane
Melbourne, VIC 3000

The Hardware Street/Lane precinct is anything but a tourist trap... if you know where to look. Between the hulking cafes with vulture-esque spruikers swooping for carrion, there are some great representatives from all corners of the globe. A little Greek sea breeze here, some funky Spanish-inspired brunch there, and even a newcomer that specialises in fancy Japanese pork. And right at the end of Hardware Lane is something for the Francophiles; a window display full of jewel-toned macarons, right next door to Creperie le Triskel, a quaint cafe where they make the crepes and galettes right before your eyes.

Compared to the surrounding cafes desperately jostling passers-by for attention, Creprie le Triskel is practically hidden away.  But go through the demure entrance and you’ll be enveloped in a hearty ‘Bonjour!’, as well as the tantalising smell and promising sizzle of crepe batter hitting the hot plate.

The pride doesn’t stop there. A large, framed, and very detailed map of France adorns one wall, a shelf of French novels line another. Ordering in French is encouraged, no matter how bad the accent may be; they clearly haven’t heard me struggle through high school French.

L'Estivale ($13)

I wanted one of those crepes that they douse in alcohol and set on fire, but I wanted a good hearty lunch more. L’Estivale ($13) was a timeless combination of ricotta, smoked salmon, and non-existent (at least in my galette) chives folded into a neat square parcel. The muted flavours were brought alive by a squeeze of lemon, and even though the galette lacked the crispy edges that I so love, it had a delicate sweetness to it instead of the robust, grainy richness you often get with buckwheat flour. The oily richness of the two pieces of the sundried tomato was perfect for draping over rounds of fluffy baguette.

Complimentary Green Salad

I also had a Green Salad, which came with any galette on request. This was a lively mix of mesclun greens doused in a zippy dressing, and funnily enough, was probably my favourite part of the meal.

La Complete ($9.5)

La Complete ($9.5)

Just like every other time, Chris ordered La Complete ($9.5), the classic breakfast combo of gruyere and ham, with an egg cracked into the center. The rich orange yolk, the kind only found in good free-range eggs, added a nice creaminess to the savoury, crowd-pleasing flavours of the galette. Chris hoovered this all up, then almost (almost, but not quite) regretted it because it was so filling. 

Creperie le Triskel is a gem of a cafe with a great atmosphere, if you can manage to find it. The galettes (and the crepes too, from a very distant memory) aren’t as well done as my favourite creperie, Roule Galette, but sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Rating: 13/20 – arrogantly french.