Mon dieu, delicious crêpes and galettes in Hammersmith?! Mais oui, a small patch of Brittany has popped up opposite the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines station in Hammersmith. La Petite Bretagne prepares savoury galettes – made with gluten-free buckwheat flour – and sweet crêpes fresh to order.
Classic savoury combinations include ham and cheese as well as spinach, egg and cheese, while sweet crêpes range from sugar and lemon juice to nutella and banana. A chestnut crêpe was exemplary: the layer of crème de marrons generous, but thin enough for the pancake's subtle flavour to shine through.
While galettes and crêpes are no longer a novelty in London, the kouign amann (a buttery Breton pastry) is sure to kindle a few puzzled looks, if only at how to correctly pronounce this regional speciality.
Food can be ordered to take away, but it would be a shame not to linger in the stylish surroundings. Think wooden tables screenprinted with a red gingham pattern, quirky lampshades and displays of salted caramel jars and colourful tins of sardines.
With cidre brut on the menu and opening hours that last from breakfast through to the evening, the café's casual atmosphere might be just what you need to spend une agréable soirée in Hammersmith.