In a world of Egg McMuffins and defrosted breakfast burritos, it’s comforting to know a little shop on Amsterdam is doing breakfast right. Artopolis Café on 113th street is an adorable getaway from the morning rush, serving up all sorts of handmade crepes, pies and gelato.

I recently stopped in for a Saturday brunch, though the entirety of the Upper West Side beat me to it. The place was packed! The usual wait during brunching hours is anywhere from a half hour to an hour- so imagine my surprise when it only took 10 minutes to get a cozy table for two. Not that I minded waiting by the glass cases of expertly crafted cakes and chocolate dipped cookies…

Adam and I were seated and quickly ordered coffee. It was hot, very fresh, and served with a little homemade cookie for dunking. Luckily, they do free refills to the caffeine-addict’s delight. Craving something savory but definitely in crepe-form, I ordered an “omelette crepe” filled with egg, spinach and cheddar cheese ($7). Adam got the Belgian waffles- two for $4! The prices were shockingly savvy for the amount of food and care put into it all.

Glancing over to the glass kitchen, I could see my crepe forming on the iron griddle. Poured from a batter and spread thin, the chef flipped the crepe and adorned it with scrambled egg, fresh spinach, and the shredded cheddar. He folded it over like an envelope and garnished it with mango and sliced strawberry.

It was fantastic. The crepe itself was a bit sweet- a nice contrast to the earthy taste of the spinach and salty cheddar. The egg was scrambled to perfection, and the spinach was naturally stewed within the crepe pocket. Not to mention, it was gigantic. Adam was happy with his waffles, too, which were generously sprinkled with powdered sugar, along with halved strawberries and a dollop of freshly whipped cream. 

Artopolis Café is a wonderful solution to a tasty, budget-savvy brunch. Go here with your kids for their pizza crepe or for a romantic late-night dessert (the melted chocolate and strawberry crepe looked particularly amazing). You won’t break the bank, and you’ll leave comforted, satisfied, and hopped up on caffeine.