Written & Photographed by Athena Smith

Julianna’s – Atlanta Crepe Heaven

When it’s a hot summer weekend morning in Atlanta, you want two things: delicious food and air conditioning. Venturing into the Inman Park neighborhood, I stumbled upon Julianna’s tucked away on Lake Avenue by the Krog Street Market. While it looks unassuming on the outside, the inside invites you in with a cozy feel and a local Atlanta vibe.

Most people are familiar with French crepes. However, Julianna’s actually serves Hungarian crepes called “palacsinta.” Intrigued at the difference between the two, I quickly learned that it’s all about the batter—while French crepes are made from batter that has rested for several hours, Hungarian crepes are made from fresh batter. With this new knowledge under my belt, I perused the sweet and savory menu on the wall, finally deciding on The Almighty and Pecan Pleasure. After all it’s the weekend and who doesn’t love an excuse to indulge in a chocolate, fruit, and pecans?

While I waited for my crepes to be freshly made, I enjoyed a strong Atlanta roasted iced coffee and explored the array of items for sale. The coffee is not for the faint of heart, so I recommend adding some creamer for those who don’t like dark roast. For myself, I love dark roast coffee and this smooth iced beverage is hitting my caffeine spot just the right way. Local pride exudes from each shelf with everything from soap, candles, and artwork to jams, condiments, and preserves. When you stop by to get yourself a little something to eat, you can also support your local community and get some gift shopping done.

The moment of truth finally arrived with my two crepes. The Almighty is drizzled in Nutella and confectioner’s sugar with a dollop of whipped cream to the side. With the first bite, I quickly realized that the Hungarians have surpassed the French in the art of crepe making. Each bite of the delicate crepe melts in my mouth while my taste buds are first hit by delectable strawberries followed by the indulgent Nutella. Whipped cream is not even necessary since the crepe is so good, but is certainly a nice touch.

Moving on to the Pecan Pleasure crepe, the bar is already set pretty high. I decided to go with bananas instead of strawberries for this one, and one bite tells me I made the right decision. The cinnamon is perfectly mixed with the honey, giving a nice balance to the bananas. The chef certainly knows how to put together a simple, yet scrumptious crepe that transports me to Europe with each bite.

Wow, Julianna’s you were everything I hoped for and more. I will certainly be back to try something on the savory menu. If the sweet crepes were this mind blowing, I can only imagine what’s in store for my next visit. Note that the hours are a little odd, closing at 4:30pm each day and all day on Monday.