Crêpe Surprise 

It was a surprise when Bangkok Bistro unceremoniously closed at 144 Church Street at the end of 2011. Then the construction began and rumors flew. Contrary to some of them, the renovations won’t be bringing a new Five Guys Burgers and Fries to Burlington. Later this summer, the space will become home to Mr. Crêpe.

Peter Creyf, a Chittenden-based native of Belgium, says he hopes to open his crêperie as soon as mid-August, though he thinks a date later in the month may be more realistic.

The Burlington Mr. Crêpe joins a 12-year-old brother restaurant in Somerville, Mass. “They have a lot in common,” says Creyf of the two cities. “The people are more geared toward a healthy lifestyle, well-balanced. From a personal point [of view], I like Burlington as a city a lot.”

Creyf describes Mr. Crêpe as a fast-casual restaurant, with quick service but elegant seating. Unlike the Somerville location, the Burlington spot will serve beer and wine, making it more of a dining destination than a quick lunch stop, Creyf hopes.

Creyf says he’s not concerned about competing with Lake Street’s Skinny Pancake and its outdoor Church Street cart. Like the made-in-Vermont business, Mr. Crêpe uses farm-fresh, local ingredients, but the owner says comparisons end there. Though he’s not ready to preview the menu, Creyf reveals, “We use ingredients and spices that are not very ordinary. It’s a bit more of a fine-dining menu, but it definitely has things you don’t usually see.”

Soon, Burlingtonians will be tasting them.