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The Flat: The Downtown Mall’s hidden gem

Takeaway creperie offers a delightful taste of France amidst the bustle of the Downtown Mall

<p>The Flat’s brick exterior, crawling with ivy and strung with colored lights, lends a cozy and inviting atmosphere to the outdoor seating area.</p>

The Flat’s brick exterior, crawling with ivy and strung with colored lights, lends a cozy and inviting atmosphere to the outdoor seating area.

Nestled in a tiny storefront just outside the Downtown Mall, The Flat is easy to miss. Best described as a ‘hole in the wall’ — yes, The Flat is literally a window in the side of a brick building — eating here is a refreshing change from your typical sit-down style restaurant.  

I first discovered The Flat when parking in the lot directly across the street. Even though I had driven by countless times before, I had failed to notice The Flat. Upon first glance, I decided I just had to try it. As a lover of French cuisine, I was thrilled to have discovered a creperie so reminiscent of a Paris sidewalk café. 

The Flat’s brick exterior, crawling with ivy and strung with colored lights, lends a cozy and inviting atmosphere to the outdoor seating area. Although there is limited seating — only two or three tables — I have been able to find a seat both times I have visited. 

My first time visiting The Flat, my friend and I were in need of a pick-me-up and decided crepes were just the answer to our afternoon slump. We walked up to the window and ordered a “Temptation of Adam” and a “Crepes According to Anna” — both made with apples and brie, with the addition of homemade jam of the day in the latter. The crepes were ready within five minutes of ordering, steaming hot and jam-packed with apples and melted cheese. If you’re anything like me, you’ll agree that it is hard to find something better than melted brie cheese. But ladies and gentlemen, I believe I’ve found it — melted brie smothered in homemade blackberry rhubarb jam. Stuff that all into a flakey, light crepe with some sliced Granny Smiths, and you’ve got the “Crepes According to Anna.”

It’s safe to say that my first visit to The Flat had me so hooked that I felt the overwhelming urge to go again and this time bring more friends with me — sharing new food discoveries is one of the best friendship perks. 

The second time going to The Flat, it was a Sunday morning, prime-time for brunch in Charlottesville. While most other restaurants are heaving at brunch time, with wait times sometimes exceeding an hour, The Flat was relatively quiet with only two other groups waiting for food.

Any of their fillings can be mixed and matched to make your own creation. This time I decided to try something more savory, so I built my own crepe with an egg, ham, avocado and cheese inside. It was like a French spin on the American bacon, egg and cheese. The cheese melted amazingly into the hunks of ham and avocado — however, the fillings could have been more evenly spread throughout the crepe. Since they serve the crepes upright, the solid fillings tend to sink down to the bottom. 

My friend ordered the “Mama’s Apple Pie” off of the sweet side of the menu. The apple pie crepe tasted exactly like classic apple pie and was — in the words of my friend — “exponentially satisfying.” The apples were tender, cinnamony and not overly sweet.

Another great thing about The Flat’s crepes is how you can eat them either sitting down or wandering around downtown Charlottesville. Each crepe is wrapped tightly and covered in plenty of wax paper and napkins, so even as your apples are falling out everywhere and the cheese just will not stay inside, you will most likely avoid a mess — but definitely still grab a few forks and napkins just in case. 

The Flat offers a crepe for every mood, whether you’re feeling something sweet, savory or somewhere in between. The portion sizes are perfect, not too big that you feel stuffed afterwards but definitely satisfying enough to be their own meal. Their prices are decent, maybe a little bit on the high side — most of their menu falls in the $6 to $10 range. On my next visit to The Flat I will be trying one of their dessert style crepes, something like the “Chocolate Chip Cookie” or the “Chocolate Delights” — both of which cost around $6 and offer a chocolatey take on their crêpes. 

You can find The Flat behind The Jefferson Theater at 111 East Water Street — just look out for their bright blue sign. They are open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p. m. Fridays, 9 a. m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. These hours can vary sometimes, which is one downside to this otherwise charming spot. So next time you’re in need of a unique dessert, or you just don’t feel like waiting in line for a table for brunch, give The Flat a try — you won’t be disappointed. 

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