The Raven’s Nest is a café on Division Street in downtown Northfield. Connected to Farmstead Bike Shop, this spot offers a unique experience catered to those seeking a tasty meal or a brake tune-up — or both. The Raven’s Nest’s specialty is the French crêpe, however their menu features a variety of traditional breakfast foods. Crêpes are customary in my household, so I was excited to see The Raven’s Nest’s take on this classic cuisine.
Accompanied by four friends, I ventured into Northfield on the morning of Sept. 27 hungry for something other than the Stav scramble for breakfast. The Raven’s Nest’s “Berries & Whip!” crêpe ($9.50) answered my cravings. Consisting of a giant fluffy crêpe folded into a triangle, the delicate flavor of the batter was elevated by salty-sweet honey butter lathered between each layer. The lightness of the whipped cream artfully swirled atop the crêpe was the perfect pairing for the assortment of fresh berries that I have been desperately missing since coming to St. Olaf. A sprinkle of powdered sugar to top it all off gave the dish that extra hint of sweetness that I personally find necessary on any breakfast plate. This crêpe received rave reviews from all who tried a bite.
The choice between sweet and savory is certainly a difficult one at The Raven’s Nest, as both flavor palates offer such worthy contenders. On the savory side, there’s the “Harvest” crêpe ($11) filled with sweet potato, kale, feta, and pepitas. This tempted my friend Taletta, but she ended up going with the “Nutella Banana” crêpe ($10.50), choosing to forgo the pretzels that are included in the dish. Another appetizing choice is the “Caprese” ($12.50), which takes a French twist on the classic Italian dish sporting mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and greens drizzled with black cherry balsamic glaze — yum! The crêpe that enticed Sadie was the “Lemon Curd Blueberry” ($12.50), which had maple-glazed almonds tucked between layers of crêpe and lemon curd for an added crunch. Sophie and Wylie decided to test out other food options and split the “Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich,” and I have to admit, smelling the melted cheese made me wish I’d gotten one, too.
Overall, The Raven’s Nest is a great choice for a considerably affordable breakfast. One crêpe was a substantial meal, and the wait time per dish was about 10 minutes. If crêpes aren’t your thing, consider coming in for their monthly open-mic nights or to see their resident dog, Zen. As Sophie put it, “10 out of 10, would eat again.”
