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• A French Tradition in Downtown Champaign

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Pete Ellis and Teresa Henry, both from Champaign, ordered Escargot, Curried Cauliflower Soup. Chicken Waldorf Salade (lunch special), anc Crepe wrap with peppercorn, crushed steak, spinach, bleu cheese, and roasted red peppers at Carmon's Creperie on Saturday, November 10th, 2007. (Anne-Marie Cheely, Buzz photographer)

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The blue lights of the sign above Carmon’s Diner located at 415 N. Neil St. in downtown Champaign were relit late October, but with a new flavor. Inside the newly decorated establishment, three apricot-colored walls and a warm green wall feature French advertisements and art. Elevated chairs with varying backs, united by a common frame, surround a bar backed by a distinctive wine rack. Fresh flowers accent wooden tables bringing a grounded feel to the space. Carmon’s is no longer Champaign’s classic diner. It’s a French Crêperie with culture spilling from your plate to the walls.

An amiable waiter handed me a hand-written menu with a note stating “All Prices Include Sales Tax,” the common form in France. The server was helpful and attentive and never hovered annoyingly. I struggled between choosing the Peppercorn Crusted Steak and the Quiche du Jour, a mushroom and blue cheese quiche topped with caramelized onion and balsamic glazed roasted peppers. I chose the quiche while my lunch date, my mom, ordered the steak.

The mushrooms blended perfectly in the quiche, avoiding any potential for another overbearing mushroom dish. The blue cheese was absent until I moved to the crust. My taste buds enjoyed the transfer from mushroom to blue cheese. A medley of thinly sliced grapes, apples, strawberries, and honeydew melon, all ripe despite the season, complimented the quiche. My mom was fond of her Peppercorn Crusted Steak, and I was glad she reluctantly allowed me to steal some of the exceptional frites or fries that came with her dish. Both dishes were served on plain plates with a green boarder letting the delicacies show for themselves. I indulged in a unique beverage ­— Blackberry Iced Tea. The blackberry was gently balanced in the tea, although as a fan of strong teas, I craved for more tea presence.

For dessert, my mom and I split the misnamed Multi-berry Desert Crêpe. We devoured the strawberry-only crêpe quickly. The wheat crêpe was heavier and drier than what I would have preferred but still enjoyable. French serving sizes left my petite mother and me satisfied, but for an American appetite I’d recommend an appetizer.

If you haven’t made your way to Carmon’s Crêperie, I recommend you run. With charming service, a comfortable, stylish ambiance, and delectable dishes, Carmon’s is on the road to becoming Champaign’s classic Crêperie. Lunch items range from $6-$9. Carmon’s Crêperie is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.