Question: What is Ooblies?
Answer: The latest occupant of 2001 Greenville Avenue, next to the recently closed Arcadia Theater. Let’s welcome it to the neighborhood and hope it stays.
Ooblies isn’t just another creperie. It’s a new experience in the art of crepe-making, introducing to crepe connoisseurs another version of the now-Americanized dish – “Savoury Gallettes.”
The restaurant’s atmosphere matches the originality of its food. The building’s exterior hasn’t changed, but the interior has taken on an entirely new look. The tasteful decorations include simple wood tables and chairs, white lace curtains and a high ceiling with exposed beams.
A bar runs almost the entire length of the building’s south side. The back of the restaurant even offers a view of the kitchen. It all adds up to a warm, continental feeling.
The international appeal continues with the discovery that an Anglo-French family owns the restaurant. The waiters have British accents, while the owner-chef speaks with a French accent.
The food adventure begins with a colorful assortment of appetizers, highlighted by the Terrine de Salmon, a homemade fresh salmon pate served with dill cream and toast. Camembert Frit (Camembert cheese coated with bread crumbs and deep fried) is a new twist on fried cheese. Prices range from $3.95 to $6.25.
The salad list, though small, features a “Salad Nicoise” of tuna fish, hard-boiled eggs, tomato, cucumber, olives and anchovies. Salads range from $3.25 to $5.95.
Now, what about those gallettes? They aren’t the standard crepes, but instead are whole wheat crepes originated in Brittany. Ooblies’ crepes fill the entire plate and are stuffed with a variety of ingredients.
They include such dishes as the Poulet Epinard, which is spinach and chicken in a mushroom sauce with melted cheese. This filling is rich, but the flavoring is so delicate, you won’t even notice.
The Crevettes au Curry is a shrimp-lover’s feast. The dish includes shrimp cooked in a sauce of Indian spices. Among the other entrees are Supreme de Volaille en Papillote (chicken breast in a sauce of butter, tomato, mushroom and white wine, baked in foil) and Entrecote Bordelaise (sirloin served with mushroom wine sauce). Entrees range from $6.95 to $12.95; some include salad and ratatouille.
The dessert crepes are made in traditional crepe format – a lighter pancake style with the goodies folded inside. The desserts alone – priced from $3.25 to $3.95 – may be worth a trip for a late-night treat.
Yes, this place is so good, I would take my mother here. She is Cajun French, but what the heck, family is family!
Bon appétit.
(The restaurant is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Ooblies, 823-4872, is located at 2001 Greenville Avenue.)
