Sofi's made us a crepe we couldn't refuse: The Godfather.
(Credit: Mark Gross)
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Sofi's Crepe's—already a well-known Baltimore institution—now caters to the lunchtime foot traffic of downtown. If you're a regular of the Station North area, don't worry. Sofi's hasn't moved, it's just expanded. The new location is open Monday through Friday, which fleshes out the uptown location's Thursday through Sunday hours nicely. Crepe-lovers can now eat Sofi's seven days a week.
Food: It's the same old same old at Sofi's, which is to say the same old delicious, thoughtfully-crafted crepes it's always served. Taking a first look at an old standard encouraged Metromix to try something new. We debated between the Italian meats and cheeses of the Godfather and the Southern draw of the pulled pork BBQ with Cheddar cheese, until Sofi's counter girl made us an offer we couldn't refuse. The spicy pepperoni and mild mozzarella blended perfectly inside the crepe's slightly sweet fried batter.
Booze: The most exotic beverage at Sofi's is Orangina (What's the deal with that stuff, anyway?), so if you need a shot of Grand Marnier to fine tune your French dining experience, consider crossing Charles Street and saying hey to one of the lads at Mick O'Shea's.
Digs: Owner Ann Costlow is happy to say that the "dance" she and her employees learned at the cramped Sofi's North has eased, what with all the space of the new location. Despite its long-standing vacancy, the space doesn't look tired in the least. The restaurant's charms still hinge on the rectangular counter lined with stools, and Sofi's patrons aren't ones to withhold a conversation. There remains a lot of white space on the walls, but Costlow hasn't ruled out hosting local art like Sofi's North, though it's not on the top of her priority list. What she would like to do is have an official grand opening party soon, which may or may not feature live music and may or may not be an outdoor party on Pleasant Street. Stay posted.
Vibe: Sofi's is hot! Granted, the cute ladies grilling tasty Franco-fare possess certain charms, it's the low, comfortable stools' proximity to the griddles that really brings the sweat to your brow. This would certainly be a downside (which would bring the grand total of downsides to one), if autumn weren't already creeping in, but as summer makes an exit the need for central air takes a back seat. The new Sofi's provides everything you love about Sofi's North—namely sweet and savory crepes—it just does it downtown. Obviously, what would prove most beneficial to the new Sofi's would be an influx of business-types during lunch hour. That shouldn't be a problem, though, because once word gets out that Sofi's is downtown, Charles Street is sure to ring with chants of vive le crepe!
