One thing's for sure, the day that they landed in Paris from Montparnasse station, the Bretons didn’t have to venture far to settle down. Since then, creperies have proudly lined the streets of Odessa and Montparnasse. And it’s to this one that we turned to establish a ranking of utmost importance: among the 12 spots on the street, which one serves the best galette? Armed with our ogre-sized appetites and our love for Brittany, we set out to test 7 establishments before throwing in the towel, butter having replaced blood in our system.
© Hugo Dominguez
For each of the 7 crêperies we tested, we chose simplicity: a complete crêpe to start with, and a butter-sugar crêpe to indulge. After all, what better way to judge the quality of this unique dish than with the basics? Alright, enough joking around, it’s high time we reveal our ranking.
No dramatic blunders
On a day that was completely opposite to the Breton weather with its bright blue skies, we found ourselves on the 29th of January ready to embark on our mission. The agenda: gray skies, drizzle, cold wind, and 3 hours to sample as many crêperies as possible. With our finest bowls under our arms, we set off...strong>that we started our journey, which took us to the Pont-Aven crêperie, Chez Jeanne, to the Quiberon crêperie, to the Breton Crêperie, to the Le Plougastel crêperie, to the Petit Josselin, and finally, to the Les Cormorans crêperie. (And if you're looking for the address, once again...Sometimes, it's pretty simple, they're all on Montparnasse Street.
© Hugo Dominguez
And after this butter feast, the verdict is clear: while some stand out a bit more than others, there are generally no bad choices. Whether you choose Plougastel for its giant galette-style menu, Quiberon for its unbeatable price deal, la Bretonne for its charmingly kitschy decor just the way we like it, or Pont-Aven for its retro vibe and original business cards, the results on the plate will always be spot on. A little more butter over here (Quiberon), a slightly thinner crêpe over there (la Bretonne), the differences are quite minimal, and the galettes and crêpes themselves are always well-made. We've even noticed that three addresses stand out from the rest, and without further ado, here they are.
A podium that’s drool-worthy!
ne de beurre
In third place, we have Le Petit Josselin, a family-run place that's been warming hearts for 50 years on this street. A well-deserved bronze medal for sure, especially considering this was our 6th tasting, and yet, the quality of the ingredients, the folding technique, and the flavors truly managed to surprise us. What an achievement! But be warned, if you're a fan of runny eggs, this might not be your cup of tea, as here, the egg is cooked and hidden inside the galette. The butter-sugar galette, however, is definitely one of the best on the street, by far. The only small downside is that the prices are a bit higher than at other places on the street.
© Hugo DominguezAddress: 59 Rue du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris, France
On the second step of the podium, we find the Cormorans. It’s quite simple, it’s the place where we’ve tasted the best of Breton crêpes and galettes. In savory options, the 100% buckwheat batter is to die for! And the wheat crêpe is just the right thickness, with its delicious subtle hint of vanilla making us completely addicted. To give you an idea, this was our 14th plate of this crêpe marathon, and we seriously hesitated to have another one. A tiny downside for the savory version: maybe the fillings were a bit too generous (at least in the complete one) which slightly masked the taste of the delightful galette.
© Hugo Dominguez
Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, ladies and gentlemen, the grand winner of this absolutely unique competition in the world: Chez Jeanne. Here, the galette is made nice and kraz (for those who aren't Brittany bilingual, that means well done, crispy), and the crepe is super soft. The batter is super thin, the toppings are top-notch, all with plenty of beautiful butter sprinkled everywhere. In short, honestly, it’s a flawless experience, at a price that perfectly matches what you find throughout the rest of the street. Gourc'hemennoù, Jeanne!
© Hugo Dominguez
