Yann Bris, owner and chef, originally from Brittany in France, more precisely from the city of Paimpol, a small fishing port in the Cotes d'Armor, settled in Quebec in 2005. After earning his degree in hotel and restaurant management, he worked for the Accor Group as director of hotel-restaurant in the southwest of France, a bastion of French gastronomy. He opened his first crêperie in Fort Lauderdale, on the coast of Florida, in the United States.
This success and some leisure travel to the beautiful city of Montreal, prompted him to return and try the Quebec experience. He opened a decoration boutique in downtown Montreal, on Amherst Street, which he calls Karactère with a "K". Despite the success of this enterprise, he misses restauration. He decides to close the shop and starts a project that is closer to his love of gastronomy by opening a crêperie in the now trendy district known as Griffintown.
He sets his sights on a former hairdressing studio that he completely transforms to create Spanel, the Breton word for "spatula" Spatula for turning pancakes. Spanel's philosophy is based on a cuisine made exclusively with fresh, quality products. Thanks to the proximity of the Atwater Market, Yann can fulfill his wish to serve his customers crepes and gourmet dishes. Spanel is also committed to offering its customers a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The choice of a shady terrace, surrounded by trees and equipped with heaters, allows them to make the most of outdoor dining, from the first days of summer until the arrival of winter. The chef hopes you'll enjoy discovering Spanel and come back often to spend pleasant moments.
Spanel Crêpes et Gourmets offers a cozy, welcoming vibe and a wide range of buckwheat crepes, both savory and sweet, with generous, well balanced fillings that many reviewers praise for freshness and flavor; the staff are consistently described as friendly, attentive, and helpful, and the atmosphere ranges from intimate to lively, with a charming back patio adding seasonal charm; the menu provides vegetarian and gluten free options and pairs well with dependable coffee, making it a reliable brunch or casual spot that invites a return visit.
Première visite chez Spanel, & belle surprise 😲
L'ambiance est agréable, le personnel accueillant, & les crêpes sont vraiment excellentes 😋
J'ai goûté la « Verdun » (porc effiloché à l'érable, oeuf miroir, emmental) en salée, puis la « Banana Split » en sucrée : un vrai régal du début à la fin.
Un café americano ☕? pour finir, & l'expérience était complète.
Une belle adresse sur la rue Notre-Dame que je recommande volontiers.
🥞🥞🥞🥞
First time at Spanel, & what a nice surprise 😲
The atmosphere is pleasant, the staff is welcoming, & the crêpes are truly delicious 😋
I had the'Verdun' (maple pulled pork, sunny-side-up egg, Emmental) as a savory option, followed by the'Banana Split' for dessert - absolutely delightful from start to finish.
I wrapped it up with an Americano ☕? & the whole experience felt complete.
A great spot on Notre-Dame Street that I definitely recommend.
'Nestled near downtown Montreal, this cozy gem offers an exceptional dining experience. The ambiance is warm & inviting, complemented by a courteous & respectful staff. Our waitress, Vong, was particularly outstanding, providing impeccable service with a friendly & professional demeanor. The menu features a unique & delightful mix, with crepes taking center stage in a variety of innovative dishes. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy a diverse & flavorful meal.'
Had a great breakfast, I mean outstanding, the buckwheat crepes were perfect, sweet & salty, edges were crispy, I mean delicious, I hear, it's good on Saturdays, good vibes...
A cute & charming restaurant with one of the best selections of crêpes in town! Everything was absolutely delicious, & the staff were incredibly friendly & welcoming.
I especially loved the little garden in the back-perfect for enjoying a quiet moment on a warm day.
Highly recommend for anyone craving a delicious sweet or savoury crêpe.
Enjoy!
Apr 25, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
The ambience was lovely, & the staff were both attentive & knowledgeable. I had the special crepe of the day, which came with a mimosa & a delicious soup-such a great combo.
The crepe itself was next-level: Serrano hamon, roasted cherry tomatoes, spinach, arugula, goat cheese, all wrapped in a buckwheat crepe with a perfectly fried egg on top. The staff recommended adding maple syrup-& wow, that took it over the top!
I'm definitely going back to try more from the menu. Highly recommend!
I had an unpleasant experience during my recent visit. The restaurant wasn't full when we arrived, & we only ordered two crepes. After waiting 45 minutes, my girlfriend had to leave due to another appointment. While the waitress was kind & apologetic, waiting that long for crepes is simply unacceptable.
To make matters worse, the crepes were average in taste & overpriced for what they were. No discount or compensation was offered for the delay, which was disappointing.
This wasn't my first visit, but unfortunately, I can't recommend this place anymore. You're better off going to September - similar pricing, a nicer interior, & much better food.
Apr 13, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I ordered the same dish of my friend & it was not the same & clearly less amount,,,my other friend ordered with smoked salmon & it was very nice & lots of smoke salmon so I ordered the same & again when I received mine clearly not the same incredibly les smoke salmon so clearly the both plates I had very disappointed I'll never go back
Very tasty crepes, but the service was pretty slow overall. They seemed really busy, which is a good problem to have, but delays in getting our reserved table, getting our food & coffees, & getting the bill. It was still a good environment, & the crepes were really, really good, so that more than made up for it.
Mar 27, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Spanel Crêpes & Gourmets - un brunch réconfortant à souhait 🌿
J'ai choisi la crêpe bretonne Outremont (champignons, asperges, béchamel, emmental), accompagnée d'un bol de patates assaisonnées.
🌾 La crêpe était parfaitement cuite - fine, savoureuse, & surtout pas pâteuse, ce qui est souvent un risque avec le sarrasin.
💛 La béchamel était une belle surprise : douce, bien équilibrée, pas trop lourde. Pour moi, c'est souvent quitte ou double… & celle-ci, c'est un oui!
🥔 Les patates en cubes? Un vrai délice. Bien assaisonnées, crousti-fondantes à souhait.
✨ Ambiance chaleureuse, décor rustique, service attentionné - j'ai passé un très bon moment.
Je reviendrai, c'est certain. 🤭
Spanel Crêpes & Gourmets - a cozy & comforting brunch spot 🌿
I went for the Outremont buckwheat crêpe (mushrooms, asparagus, béchamel, emmental), with a side of seasoned potatoes.
🌾 The crêpe was perfectly cooked - thin, tasty, & not doughy at all, which can be tricky with buckwheat.
💛 The béchamel was a lovely surprise: smooth, well-balanced, not too heavy. It's a hit-or-miss thing for me… but this one was definitely a hit!
🥔 The cubed potatoes? Absolutely delicious. Well-seasoned with that perfect crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside texture.
✨ Warm atmosphere, rustic decor, thoughtful service - I had a lovely time.
Une crêperie vraiment excellente! Les crêpes sont toujours délicieuses, & le service est rapide & efficace. C'est un endroit que j'adore, surtout quand il y a un peu moins de monde : l'ambiance devient alors vraiment agréable.
C'est vrai que lorsqu'il est plein, on peut se sentir un peu à l'étroit & que c'est plus bruyant, mais ça témoigne aussi de son succès! Malgré cela, l'expérience reste toujours positive. Un incontournable pour les amateurs de bonnes crêpes!
