Article by Kaili Corkran | Photography by Phil Roszak | Owl Staff
In an everlasting battle of sweet vs. savory snacks, Baltimore’s locally owned Sofi’s Crepes has both to offer. The quaint restaurant is located on 1723 North Charles Street right next to the Charles Theatre, with additional locations in Annapolis and Owings Mills.
All of the crepes are freshly prepared while you wait; you’ll get nothing here that’s been under a heat lamp for hours. The crepes are affordable, ranging from $4.00-$8.00, which is perfect for a college student’s budget. The menu is comprised of breakfast, lunch, and dessert crepes.
There are savory options such as the Kevin Bacon, which contains turkey, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, and 1000 Island Sauce. They also offer vegetarian friendly options such as a crepe stuffed with chickpeas, fresh cilantro, spring onions, and salsa.
For those looking for something sweeter, there are options such as the Turtle, packed with caramel, chocolate, and nuts. There’s also the Banana Royale, with fresh bananas and homemade butterscotch. If the menu doesn’t have enough options for your taste, you can always create your own custom crepe!
“The crepes are affordable, ranging from $4.00-$8.00, which is perfect for a college student’s budget. The menu is comprised of breakfast, lunch, and dessert crepes.”
I had the pleasure of indulging in their Smore’s crepe, loaded with chocolate, melted marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbs. All of the ingredients were so fresh; these crepes are truly matched in flavor to Baltimore’s charm.
The name behind the restaurant has a heartwarming story. Anna Costlow founded the restaurant a few years ago and named it after her dog, Sofi, who suffered from severe spinal damage, causing the pup’s legs to become paralyzed. Still, Sofi remained extremely jubilant, getting around by rolling herself on a cart. Costlow owned Sofi for eleven years before the dog passed away.
“She was an inspiration to me and never wavered in her joy, light spirit, and playfulness,” Costlow says on the restaurant’s website.
Prior to opening the restaurant, Costlow worked in the finance industry for sixteen years, where she would often find herself admiring the ships passing through the harbor from her office on the 21st floor. She worked as a galley cook on The Pride of Baltimore for a summer and decided she wanted to open a restaurant at that point.
Sofi’s has been featured on WBAL, in The Baltimore Sun, and was declared the “Best Place to Eat Alone” by the City Paper. Even Kevin Bacon has tried the crepe named after him, and he loved it. Sofi’s provides delicious treats and is reason enough to go down to Baltimore.
For more information, you can visit the official website at http://www.sofiscrepes.com.