Welcome back Cafe L’Aube! (coming to 20/21 & Washington)

**Lolly** · 10-21-2012, 03:04 PM

Spicoli,

Not sure who you are or where exactly you live, or how long you've been around here, but from my vantage point (going on 7 years ~20th & Carpenter), the positive changes in our neck of the woods have been spectacular. In fact, coincidentally, one of my near neighbors just posted this as her status on Facebook this morning:

Beautiful new turf dog park at the river trail...and the new bridge is completed! tried the new Ultimo Coffee shop in our hood and now going to try the new 19 Cafe in the hood...what a change from 6 years ago when I was afraid to get out of my UHaul!!

This is the sort of sentiment I hear on a daily basis around here. And especially considering the economy, I really don't see how anyone thinks all that's happened around here these last few years isn't anything short of amazing.

Now, in my mind, as I've said here before, things are only just starting to get even better - as far as commercial and other amenties that we all of course still need and want. Regarding the pace of more commercial/amenities coming in, I think it is completely understandable that some serious groundwork had to happen first. (Though admittedly slower than we all would have wished it to be, because let's face it, we all wanted this *yesterday* - who wouldn't.)

For example when I moved here, SOSNA was a hot mess. I started learning how things worked from this site's predecessor, PhillyBlog, and by going to every Zoning Committee meeting I could. And trust me, figuring out when and where those meetings were held back then was WAY harder than it is now. Those who have been around and were plugged-in at the same time, know full well that notifications were extremely spotty, and SOSNA's online presence was non-existent. (Short of some outdated archives LBPhilly kept and shared here, thank goodness for her.)

It was in this way I got to know other like-minded folks, and ultimately became very involved with SOSNA. I spent a term + on the Board. Now, due to a bit of burn-out and also some job situation changes since, I have taken somewhat of a backseat. But I am still quite active on some initiatives and committees - mostly the Friends of Julian Abele Park, and others when I can.

Meanwhile, many of the folks who remain more involved than me, and those who have become very involved since, are super-terrific community-minded people, and are the best neighbors any of us could ever hope to have. Some of these folks I now consider my very dearest friends in fact.

So, when someone comes on here and complains about what hasn't happened yet around here, rather than figuring out ways to actually help make those things happen, I hope you can imagine how that makes me (and I'm sure many others) feel.

Yes, we all know we still need and want many more good things to happen. But who do you think needs to do the work to make those things happen? Me, you? Okay then, let's get on with it!

**dana_b** · 04-11-2013, 10:47 PM

My husband and I got takeout crepes for the first time from here over the weekend. We walked the short walk back to our house and I was saddened to see that my crepe was not the correct order (I ordered the classique, which has ham, cheese and mushrooms, and it only had cheese and mushrooms). I almost didn't bother going back, but I had a couple bites of my husband's crepe with bacon and it was so good, that I wanted my true order. So, I walked back. When I walked in, one of the gentleman working (I assume a manager or maybe even the owner) asked me what the issue was, I told him, and he profusely apologized, went behind the counter and made the crepe himself. In addition, he made a dessert crepe for us to try, complimentary.

My crepe was really good (though I think I will get the bacon one next time, that one was awesome) and the dessert crepe was also awesome. I thought I would write a nice post since the food was yummy and the service was great.

Also, I bought a bag of coffee beans there and have been enjoying excellent coffee all week.

**Julia1020** · 04-11-2013, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by dana_b

My husband and I got takeout crepes for the first time from here over the weekend. We walked the short walk back to our house and I was saddened to see that my crepe was not the correct order (I ordered the classique, which has ham, cheese and mushrooms, and it only had cheese and mushrooms). I almost didn't bother going back, but I had a couple bites of my husband's crepe with bacon and it was so good, that I wanted my true order. So, I walked back. When I walked in, one of the gentleman working (I assume a manager or maybe even the owner) asked me what the issue was, I told him, and he profusely apologized, went behind the counter and made the crepe himself. In addition, he made a dessert crepe for us to try, complimentary.

My crepe was really good (though I think I will get the bacon one next time, that one was awesome) and the dessert crepe was also awesome. I thought I would write a nice post since the food was yummy and the service was great.

Also, I bought a bag of coffee beans there and have been enjoying excellent coffee all week.

I've been in a few times and used to go to their location on South Street a couple of years back. Know the owner Jean-Luc through mutual friends and have always received great service...He used to be an actuary, believe it or not...so the conversations range from soccer, to politics to pension funding...Also have met the founder of NextFab...what a cool concept...

TEDxPhilly - Evan Malone - Keeping innovation at home - YouTube

**ThePursuit84** · 04-15-2013, 03:49 AM

I REALLY wish I could like this place, but I can't. Both times I've walked in there, I've felt like... well like I wasn't welcomed. I tried to be social to the people at the cafe and talk about their new business but got the feeling I was annoying them. The food was good, but I couldn't shake the feeling I was imposing on them somehow while being their only customer in the building.

The second time I went there, I had read a little about how cool some of the things at NextFab appear to be. I walked over to their desk to chat, maybe even take a tour. To my confusion, the three people at the desk essentially stared at me like I was an alien. They asked if I had been there before. I said no, but was interested in learning about what they had to offer. I thought that was an easy opportunity for them to brag up their cool new place. Instead, I just got stares. I can understand how one person could have poor PR skills, but there were three people at the counter and the other two never said anything. After my third attempt at striking up a conversation with them to learn how I could possibly use their allegedly impressive facilities, I gave up.

This facility has twice been a dissapointment. It's outlay is confusing. The cafe appears to be trying to bring an air of sophistication to Washington with it's Bistro styled offerings and name. Oddly in contrast to this is the very industrial/sterile feel (like a Chipotle) of it's design. When you add to that the lack of any background music and no cheerful, friendly workers - it just doesn't work.

Yes, I will undoubtededly go again. I live close and their product is very tasty, but the delivery is wanting. I truly want them to be a successful break in the Washington street scene. However, I fear for their longevity if others have a similar experience as I have.