Clifton Cafe

A cold, cold morning a few weeks ago I met a friend for breakfast in Clifton, VA. Tucked back in the woods of Northern Virginia, Clifton has kept a its small town appeal with a few cute shops and restaurants lining a main street.

Clifton Cafe opened during the financial crisis of last year and is still going strong. They are one of very few local places I know of offering savory breakfast crepes. The restaurant is tiny. My friend and I were the only people in there at first, but that quickly changed. It was definitely a rotating door of people moving in and out. Some stayed, many got theirs to go.

The workers, both of them, were very friendly and obviously personally involved in the restaurant in some respect. Both the cooks and the decor brought a casual, down to earth element to the cafe. The ambiance was friendly; it looked as though a local artist had done murals both outside and in. Guests have a choice of hard chairs and soft chairs.

My breakfast partner ordered "Matt's Meatless Mistake". This savory crepe is filled with olives, artichokes, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese. He laughed as he ordered it, saying he couldn't believe he just ordered a 'meatless mistake' but was delighted with the outcome. I decided on a custom crepe with spinach and swiss and some mango salsa (recommended by my cook). They cooked the crepes right there and brought them to our table. They were warm and fresh and full of flavor. The crepe wasn't too thick, as some places mistakenly make them. While the crepes aren't bursting with the stuffing, they don't skimp on the insides. They serve them very simply, with nothing extra. I can't wait to try one of the sweet crepes! The ones they have on the menu range from fresh to decadent.

The parking lot is small and the place itself is quite small so if they are busy, I imagine things get a little tight. The door kept opening and the cold air comes rushing in, so if you are staying to eat and it is cold out, be ready to keep your coat on. Oh, and the bathroom was uncomfortably freezing.

Schedule your breakfast with a little bit of time to walk around Clifton or drive down the road to see the horse farms and you will not be disappointed.

HOURS:
Mon.-Fri: 6 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Sat: 7 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Sun: 8 a.m.- 6 p.m

Most things under $9.
They take credit cards.
(also on Facebook)

--S.Coffin