"Collared a friend for short-notice lunch at Le Crepe Michel in Old Town ABQ. We got there a bit ahead of their 11:30 opening time and had another couple of folks waiting with us. When we entered the space the foyer/front end felt pretty small crowded on fleeting impression. But after winding through what I think was a server 's station into the rear eating room, the claustrophobia abated. The beamed skylight kept the cozy room from feeling closed in and the overall impression was of some elegance, albeit a bit aged or worn. Not so much tired as a well patina-ed slightly rustic character like you might find in older European houses. Table setting was linen appropriate. Price was moderate with ticket coming into the $20 'ish range for lunch (water, no drinks after tax. Food wise, they got easy five stars for diversity of offerings, quality of product, and presentation. Friend had salmon and cheese crepe with side salad. She gave it her stamp of approval. I got carrot ginger soup to start, followed by beef bourguignon crepe that arrived with a dab of veg to keep it sparse company on the plate. Baguette with butter to start the meal was ordinary, but okay. Service throughout was attentive professional. Spot on. Dark uniform of black slacks shirts helped along the impression that this is an eatery with a touch of class, without being pretentious. The rich cream-based carrot soup I started with had a subtle, nearly invisible, hint of ginger at the start that seemed to quickly disappear as I ate, leaving the carrot flavor to carry the load. I would have liked a more strident ginger kick as a personal preference. Nonetheless the creamy soup satisfied with it 's richness and smooth mouth feel. The beef bourguignon crepe was generous in portion size and very savory in flavor. Beef bourguignon is a dish that is time intensive enough that I will let someone else make it for me, but won 't make myself. So I was glad it was an option at Le Crepe Michel. The gravy was richly flavored and pungent. The beef chunks were very tender with one or two obstinate exceptions. The crepe wrapping the bourguignon was sturdy enough to contain the contents without being tough or rubbery. Overall I found it to be a very good dish. The accompanying veggies were ordinary. Steamed to al dente but could have used some salt and pepper, and a dab of butter would have helped. We were full enough at the end our meal to forgo dessert. But the offerings looked good, including the chocolate mousse, which is my litmus dessert in French restaurants. I may have to return some time just to dessert myself. (Somehow that sounds zen, eh? Overall I found Le Crepe Michel to be an easy candidate for more return visits due to the quality of food and service. See you there."
