I t must be tough being a restauranteur in Kathmandu if you want to draw the locals in. A menu bereft of momos or chicken chilli is a tough sell, and even the fanciest of joints may feel obliged to splice in the usual suspects or variations thereof under the eesnacks section. Nanette's Creperie, open for all of two months, insouciantly fills its menus with crepes. Lots of them.The latest addition to a Jhamsikhel corner already populated by three other eateries, Nanette's provides sweet (and savoury) relief to those tired of experimenting with a continental mish of steak with mash. Al fresco or within the cute interior, seat yourself at the tables with colour-coordinated placemats and peruse the long list of fill 'er ups. Nanette's is relatively undiscovered, but one suspects not for long.

There's all sorts of reasonably priced crepes here (Rs 130-455), but for simplicity's sake you may imagine your buckwheat pancakes filled with savoury combos that include cheese, mushrooms, cream, bacon, smoked salmon, spinach or potatoes, or sweet combos of sugar, chocolate, caramel, banana, butter, honey and more. With decent sides of ratatouille, salad, or potatoes. La Suedoise was scrumptious, the delicate flavours of the spinach in cream complementing the richer taste of the smoked salmon. La Forestiere Gourmande was almost as grand as it promised, with mushroom, bacon and cheese, but perhaps limited by the quality of its ingredients. The goat cheese next time, I promised myself.

For dessert, the exciting sounding Crepe Flambe fell a little flat. Having excused myself to the restroom, I returned to find a dull looking pancake awaiting me, the flame long gone, only the whisky to tickle my palate. The Apple and Caramel pancake was much better, even if the chewiness of the cooling home-made caramel gummed my teeth together. But by this time, faced with a dining companion sans wallet, I was already plotting my course to the nearest ATM. I casually slipped out, cupping my phone to my ear, began pounding the pavement south, turned back thinking it would be quicker to dash home, then realised halfway I'd left my keys at Nanette's. By the time I made the circuit out to Pulchok and back, I was drenched in the sweat of the unexpected digestive run, and felt I'd hardly done justice to the place. I'll be back!

Nepali Kukur

Head south from the British School to a be-statued junction. Nanette's is tucked away to the right.