Le Cafe Crepe, located at 90 Marietta Station Walk, brings an authentic taste of France to the Marietta Square. The romantic hideaway is a rare breed of restaurant in Marietta.

The restaurant, obscurely tucked away on the railroad side of the Square between Mill and Dodd Streets, is like stepping into a Parisian cafe on the Left Bank. The dining experience is relaxed, leisurely and never rushed.

Le Cafe Crepe's brick walls, high antique ceiling and wooden tables adorned with white doilies offer a warm and charming atmosphere. Thick aromas greet food lovers at the door who often return to Le Cafe Crepe for its French specialties.

Owner/chef Alfred Carraz does most everything himself, including personally serving his customers. Known for his savory crepes - fine pancakes filled with choices of mushroom, chicken, seafood and ham or combinations thereof - Carraz said the chicken crepe is the most popular.

Le Cafe Crepe specializes in two soups: French onion and tomato basic cream. The French onion soup is a wonderfully rich, creamy soup worthy of a meal. Atlanta Magazine at one time named it the "Best of Atlanta Onion Soup," according to Carraz, who previously owned a similar cafe in Canada for six years. Le Cafe Crepe was also named "Best Dining on Saturday" in 2002.

Other specialty dishes of the house include quiches, salads served with a wonderful vinaigrette dressing and French baguette bread. A variety of dessert crepes filled with custard, mousse or fruit are also offered.

"It's special dishes. Nobody around does this type of food. That's probably what's attractive to so many people," said Carraz.

Saturday evenings at Le Cafe Crepe are "Gourmet Nights" when Carraz creates more specialized dishes with a fixed price menu. Reservations are required by Thursday.

Carraz, who was born in southeastern France in Annecy, passed through Marietta 25 years ago on his way to Florida. "I find the Square very nice, like maybe a European-type village," Carraz said.

After opening Le Cafe Crepe in 1986, Carraz nurtured the European feel in his restaurant, a restaurant worthy of discovery.

Le Cafe Crepe's hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 6-9 p.m.