European Flavor in Glendale: Le Chalet

By: Jessica Danielle Ramirez

Crepes are a common entrée found on many restaurant menus. 

Le Chalet is one of the few French eateries in the West Valley where customers can choose savory or sweet crepes, or a traditional French plate like the bretonne.

The specialty is Crepes in this French-influenced restaurant in Glendale.

Alain Keller is the man behind the idea of creating the mouthwatering crepes served at Le Chalet. Born in Switzerland, Keller  went to New York to be an entertainer and then transitioned to Arizona and began Le Chalet.

“I had the concept of Swiss and French because the food you have here [in New York] are is what I am accustomed to when I was a kid. So I wanted to bring the food over here,” Keller said.

The typical mountain foods that you find in Switzerland like fondue can be found at the French eatery.

“We take a lot of our food from other places like Italy and Germany and we make it better,” he said.

Le Chalet is not the typical European stop; with the French flag waving proudly outside of the business, customers will get a sense of the French culture along with the exotic plates made right before your eyes.

The eatery bases the food off of what customers would find at little villages in France. In many of these villages travelers would find restaurants that are solely for crepes, and that is what Keller and his team wanted to replicate in Arizona.

Each batch of crepes served at Le Chalet is made with buckwheat flour and cooked with various condiments depending on whether the customer chooses savory or sweet. For the savory crepes, each entrée comes with a side of salad and drizzled with honey vinaigrette on top.

Of course, meals aren’t the same without dessert. The sweet crepes are to die for. The serving size is big enough for two and customers can choose from toppings like nutella to salted butter caramel.

While the delicious crepes may be what draws people into the restaurant and having them returning for more, it is the European vibe that makes this business unique. In the corner of the eatery, there is a stage where local entertainment performs. 

Also, depending on what customers order, some food comes out sizzling in flames and served by their friendly staff.

Le Chalet is a casual restaurant to dine during the day, but also a romantic hotspot to take your significant other on a date. Even to try something different, something exotic.

Le Chalet

5626 W. Bell Rd. Suit 101