I’m in love.

And it’s not that fake, half-assed love that I get when I realize I get to sleep in an extra hour or I discover a new abrev.

This is real love-the kind that radiates in my kneecaps, the kind that I dream about, the kind that I can never get off my mind.

It’s phenoms.

I am in love with cr?pes:etc in the Central West End (52 Maryland Plaza)-and the feeling is mutual.

I should be scared to put my heart on the line; I’ve gotten burned in the past by what I thought were my true loves. I was abandoned when my favorite barbeque place in Kansas City moved. I was cheated on when I learned that the Pussycat Dolls lip-sync their songs after witnessing a live technical malfunction. I was betrayed when Tyra Banks picked Saleisha as the winner of Cycle Nine of “America’s Next Top Model” (girl was a pair of roller skates and an Edna Garrett away from actually becoming Tootie from “The Facts of Life”). Worst of all, I was dissapointed and let down when my laptop decided it would be a good idea to completely die a few months after my warranty expired. I expected so much more from that relationship.

One can see why I would be at least a bit weary toward putting all of my eggs in one basket, no matter how tasty what’s in that basket may appear to be. In this case, however, I feel completely at peace with my decision.

First and foremost, cr?pes:etc is adorable.

It’s larger than one would expect from a restaurant that specializes in a breakfast food.

There is plenty of seating, all of it comfortable and not at all crammed together. The sitting area features smaller areas tucked away in corners, if you and your posse of choice like the more secluded feel.

Though the cr?pes do take awhile to arrive at your table, the wait is not in vain. The thin, pancake-like substance of goodness is gigantic, and well worth the $7 charge. The possible toppings range from bananas to cherries to strawberries to Nutella, only the greatest chocolate food topping in the history of chocolate.

If thin pancakes aren’t your thing, never fear-cr?pes:etc has far more than just crepes. There is, after all, an entire etc. to get to.
Salads, sandwiches, pastries and a full gelato bar are just some of the many items featured in the etc. portion of cr?pes:etc.

Freshly made, all of the food is brought out to you in true, laid-back European restaurant fashion. The relaxing atmosphere is perfection, the perfect way to spend an evening of doing nothing. What I love most about cr?pes:etc is that it loves me back.

The amount of food I get, the quality of the food I get, the atmosphere I get, the relaxing time I get, all of these factors coupled together make my dining experience one of the best I’ve happened upon while in St. Louis. Like many, it is tucked in between buildings, nearly hidden from the public. That’s how I like my love affairs, though: secret enough that I can enjoy it for myself, but known enough that I can share it with those that I care about.

It’s official-cr?pes:etc + Kelley = tru luv 4eva.

Kelley Dunn is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.