This Kansas City brunch spot serves so many delicious crepes. But this is my favorite

Natalie Wallington
·2 min read

Editor’s note: Welcome back to our series Let’s Dish, Kansas City, showcasing some of our favorite restaurant meals. Click here to sign up for our new newsletter. And scroll down to learn how you can participate.

The first thing that strikes you at Seven Swans Creperie is the light. The soaring ceilings and huge windows of this West Side brunch destination make it airy and charming, enhanced by its mismatched wooden furniture and the tiny white vases of fresh flowers on every table.

Chef Lauren Snedden says the creperie’s “joyous” atmosphere is her favorite thing about it.

This sense of delight is everywhere, from the golden silverware to lush plants spilling vines over the front windows to the tasteful swan figurines — belying its name, I counted nine, not including the swan-shaped faucets in both bathrooms.

“I think what has been so special here is the space, like the space is really, it’s gorgeous,” said Beka Holman, front-of-house manager at Seven Swans Creperie. “It’s like a little piece of home.”
“I think what has been so special here is the space, like the space is really, it’s gorgeous,” said Beka Holman, front-of-house manager at Seven Swans Creperie. “It’s like a little piece of home.”

Since I moved to Kansas City, I’ve brought my family visiting from out of town here for my 25th birthday breakfast. I’ve made it my solo refuge on a rainy autumn Friday with the latest issue of my favorite literary magazine, lingering over a fluffy scone still warm from the oven. And recently, I celebrated my 26th birthday here with a handful of my Star colleagues.

It’s hard to pick a favorite crepe from Seven Swans’ selection: Its bestsellers include a seasonal fruit crumble, a classic strawberry-nutella combination, the veggie-filled Farmer’s Market and the Goodfellas, filled with bacon, sharp cheddar and strawberry jam and topped with a fried egg.

The Clean crepe at Seven Swans Creperie is filled with lavender lemon curd and topped with blueberries, candied lemons, fresh mint and whipped cream.
The Clean crepe at Seven Swans Creperie is filled with lavender lemon curd and topped with blueberries, candied lemons, fresh mint and whipped cream.

But for this installment of Let’s Dish, I returned to my perennial favorite and the first dish I ever ordered here: a sweet, simple crepe called the Clean, for $9.

Much like the space that surrounds it, this crepe’s flavors are bright and elegant. It’s filled with homemade lavender lemon curd and topped with lightly sweetened vanilla whipped cream, fresh berries (mine were blueberries this time) and a candied lemon wheel — also made in-house.

Lauren Snedden holds a bowl of candied lemons used to garnish the Clean crepe. Many customers don’t realize they’re edible and delicious.
Lauren Snedden holds a bowl of candied lemons used to garnish the Clean crepe. Many customers don’t realize they’re edible and delicious.

During my recent visit, I was shocked to learn from front-of-house manager Beka Holman that most people leave their lovingly candied lemon wheels on their plates, assuming they aren’t edible. Mine was sweet, tart and chewy — and dozens more awaited on a baking sheet to adorn other orders of this particular dish.

Seven Swans’ garnishing station is almost as big as its crepe-making station. All the essentials are close at hand: fresh strawberries and blueberries, cinnamon sugar, oat crumble, slivered almonds, fresh mint, rainbow sprinkles, chopped peanuts, everything bagel seasoning and squeeze bottles of Nutella and strawberry jam.

Beka Holman, left, and Lauren Snedden prepare a batch of whipped cream at Seven Swans Crêperie, which sources ingredients from local vendors.
Beka Holman, left, and Lauren Snedden prepare a batch of whipped cream at Seven Swans Crêperie, which sources ingredients from local vendors.

The shop also offers a full vegan crepe menu; a small pastry case featuring homemade tea cakes, cookies and scones; an espresso bar with homemade syrups; and a cocktail menu.

Seven Swans Creperie, 1746 Washington St., is open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and recently added special 5 to 9 p.m. hours on First Fridays.