When you first step into For Goodness Crepes, the tree is what catches your eye. Climbing up the wall to the left of the register, the tree is structured of chicken wire with bright, patterned strips of fabric weaving in and out: loops of colorful rags and white lights form the branches. “That took us forever to make!” owner and manager Carrie Ramsey says, beaming.
That tree could be the flagship (the flag tree?) for the whole restaurant. The space is decorated with pops of color in a rainbow of hues. The booths are equipped with boards of magnetic poetry. The tables have games, like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and checkers. For Goodness Crepes is what would happen if Lynn’s Paradise Café lost weight and got a makeover: kitschy, but not overwhelming, attractive and photogenic without going over the top.
Co-owners Carrie Ramsey and Abby Peak met working together in Occupational Therapy, and this creperie is the product of years of dreaming and planning. “We wanted to do something different,” Carrie says. “We worked with people with disabilities—severe mental and physical, cognitive and sensory impairments. Loved it, loved working with those individuals, but we just wanted to do something different.” Carrie and Abby got the idea for a crepe restaurant on a girls’ trip to Cincinnati years ago, and “it kind of stuck. It kept coming back. A couple years ago we started working on a business plan and got funding, which was not easy, but we got it, and here we are!”
Where they are is 619 Baxter Avenue, which used to be a furniture refinishing shop. For Goodness Crepes opened last Friday (January 2, 2015) to an “unexpectedly” large crowd. “I’m nervous but it feels good. It’s a good location,” says Carrie. She’s already talking about expanding hours for the restaurant. “We’re hoping as we get going to open for breakfast during the week and hopefully stay for the late-night crowd!” Since Rumplings, right around the corner, commonly sells out in the wee hours, this could provide another place to nosh after a long night in the cluster of bars within walking distance.
The menu at For Goodness Crepes is large, and not just for those with a sweet tooth. You can get savory, sweet, or dessert crepes, and build your own crepe or salad. The UnBURGettable crepe ($8.79) with ground beef, basil mayo sauce, American cheese, pickles, lettuce and tomato is giant and meaty, served in a cone. The cinnamon roll crepe ($5.59) is laden with sweet cream cheese sauce and cinnamon sugar. Those with special dietary needs might enjoy the build your own chicken salad ($5.99) with chipotle mayo, jalapenos and banana peppers: spicy and delicious. Everything on the menu is under ten dollars, though the build-your-own options offer customizable ingredients and thus pricing.
Though the decoration alone makes For Goodness Crepes worth an initial visit, the food will keep customers coming back. “Come eat crepes,” Carrie says. “We’re having a ball!”
