Whitefish's Amazing Crêpes celebrates two decades serving customers

With an artful swirl of a specialized tool, skilled crêpe makers at Amazing Crêpes create not only delicious food but a bit of a show as well. It’s common to see people on the sidewalk outside the popular Whitefish restaurant, seemingly hypnotized by the rapid and rhythmic production of the thin cakes. 

Amazing Crêpes is marking 20 years in business. Special treats during April are part of its celebration. 

Beginning as a food truck, Amazing Crêpes was founded in 2005. The original owners, Todd and Becky Horning, opened the cafe in its current location at 123 Central Ave. in 2008. 

After working in finance for years, Sara Seed moved to Whitefish from Seattle in 2017, with the thought of someday owning a restaurant. She said finding and working for the Hornings was a serendipitous meeting of the right people at the right time. 

She started in an entry-level job at Amazing Crêpes and learned every part of the business. When the Hornings decided to sell, Seed was prepared. 

“It was the right transition for me because I had worked in the restaurant, knew the crew, knew the customers,” Seed said. “I did not totally know what I was doing but knew enough.” 

For the last seven years, Seed has owned the shop. She expanded in 2018, nearly doubling its size and allowing for more seating. Otherwise, there have been few changes to the beloved eatery. 

Seed chooses to honor the shop’s legacy by keeping longtime favorites like the Darth Bacon, which includes jalapeno-infused bacon, cheddar cheese and egg, and Farm-to-Market sausage, which includes sausage, onion, green pepper, cheddar cheese and egg, on the menu. 

Supporting local businesses is key to Seed’s philosophy. 

“We take great pride in sourcing high-quality ingredients, including Farm-to-Market pork, which is locally raised and processed in Kalispell,” she said. “We source Fieldheads Coffee, which is a roastery down in Bigfork.” 

Small flowers from Mountain Prairie Flower Farm grace each table in the restaurant. 

Seed said crêpes are friendly to dietary restrictions and the cafe offers gluten- and dairy-free crepes. Vegan batter is also available. 

“A lot of people are surprised to find that out when they come in, that they can actually find something, and they don’t have to compromise on taste or texture,” she said. “Side by side, the crêpes taste almost exactly the same.” 

Outdoor recreation in the area has been the sugar on Seed’s crêpe. She recently took up mountain biking and is looking forward to the snow melting so she can hit the trails. 

“I’ve always enjoyed just how close and accessible any sort of outdoor recreation you want,” she said. “It really can become something that is integrated into your lifestyle.” 

Often, she will take a quick midday break to walk her dog at Lion Mountain and, in the summer, Seed accompanies the restaurant's team for a dip in the lake after work.  

The shop has about 10 employees now, and, at the peak of the summer, 20-25 people will work there, many of them high school students who return to work at the restaurant for several seasons. 

“It’s been cool for me, personally, to see how they’ve been able to grow and develop and take on more responsibility,” Seed said. “It's something we’ve worked on as a team over the last several years to develop that structure that people have the opportunity to advance and get new skills and get additional training.” 

Whitefish tourists flock to the crêpe shop and locals support Seed’s business during the shoulder seasons. It’s the recipe that makes downtown businesses last. 

“We’re so grateful to our community for their support over the years,” said Seed. “Amazing Crêpes wouldn’t be what it is today without our loyal customers, incredible staff and the Whitefish community.” 

    A crepe in the making at Amazing Crepes on Central Avenue in Whitefish. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    One of the offerings at Amazing Crepes. (Photo provided)