Nestled in an area on the edge of Soho and a stone’s throw from nearby Chinatown, this charming creperia/café/bar is a real gem. First, the food is excellent and the atmosphere warm with interesting décor. This area has been dotted with trendy modern furniture stores, boutiques, and galleries, most verging on the cutting edge and futuristic themes. However, once you step into this airy space, you are surrounded by old general store memorabilia, signage, peeling paint, and shelves of kitchen equipment new and old. It is a comfortable break from all the simple lines and sceptic spaces of nearby stores.
At the entrance, there is a bar counter with the small kitchen area behind. The small tables are intimately placed together and there are 4 tall round bar tables along a bench by the windows. The menu is simple, with sandwiches made with ciabatta bread and savory and sweet crepes. On my last visit over the weekend, I had the ham, gruyere and tomato crepe, one of the less exotic fillings. My husband had the olive tapenade, goat cheese and merquez (spicy sausage) sandwich. The crepes are always light and airy, made with a buckwheat batter. The sandwiches are also excellent, starting with good bread and quality ingredients. The menu is not entirely French, with dashes of Mediterranean flavors infused.
My favorite is still the sweet crepes. Made with a spike of Grand Marnier in the batter, the fillings range from the simple lemon, sugar or chocolate to combinations such as banana and nutella, candied chestnuts and crème fraiche, and brandied pear and almond cream sauce. All are delicious and I sometimes make a point of stopping by just for dessert. There are also other dessert staples as tarte tatin.
For drinks, my favorite is the fresh ice lemonade. There is also a short wine and beer list, and the usual selections of coffees. I’ve had better caffe lattes elsewhere, but with a sweet crepe, it’s a good combination.
Palacinka is a great place to hang out with its relaxed and low-key atmosphere. The items on the wall and shelves are interesting to check out as well. Old "No Smoking" signs, the collection of coffee pots old and new on the shelves by the counter, they all make for a quirky American general store feel. It is also affordable, with savory crepes and sandwiches around $8 and sweet crepes and desserts around $4 to $6. This part of Soho is also up and coming with lots of modern boutiques. Whether you make the trek here to shop and eat or stumble across this creperia by accident, this is a real find in the busy life of New York city.