Lea Crepe and Panini

awesome time here, smoking hookah and eating great crepes with my love!

I liked the layout, the ambience, wine and their hookahs a lot. The server we had the night I went with friends was absolute garbage. He told us the kitchen was open, then when we ordered food, said «no food.» No apology or anything. Oh, and cash only, of course. Not a first choice, but if all else fails, at least you get a cushioned seat somewhere in the city.

This is a bit of an anomaly: a place I know is not really great, and yet I keep going back. I find myself in the ‘hood and hungry often after seeing or being seen in Dixon Place shows and everything is SO crowded. And really really loud (it IS the LES). Then there’s Lea. Sitting just a few blocks away, almost empty (every time, which is now 3), quiet save the reliably ill-​fitting music, cheap, and comfy. It’s quaint dining area is warmly lit and lined in a U-​shaped banquet littered with living-​room style throw pillows. The tiny granite-​topped tables and wooden chairs recall a french bistro. The enormous TV spewing sports games conjures a frat bar. The strange soundtrack brings to mind an underground rave. The menu consists of Italian paninis and French crepes, accompanied by wine and a dwindling selection of German beer or boring American tastelessness (back to the frat bar). Oh right, and they have hookah. It’s Schizophrenic beyond excuse but if you’re hungry and tired of hunting, or if you have older folks in tow who can’t carry on a conversation anywhere else on the LES, duck into Lea. Order something traditional to avoid chance disappointment and don’t be afraid to verbally hail your disinterested server from across the restaurant. You’ll probably be the only people there, anyway.

this place is like a perfectly homey lovely living room, but also with sports TV, top 40 music and hookah. it’s very random, and also very chill.
i have never smoked hookah in a living room before, while watching a football game and listening to lady gaga, but it was very interesting and refreshing. who says all hookah lounges need to be dark, middle eastern themed and play north african grooves?
it was fun for a late nite hookah/​beer nightcap. and you can also get crepes (even though i never have).
waitstaff is nice. if i’m back in the area and am in the mood for hookah i will totally come back.

Totally random to find a place like this here, but had a really nice time with a small group of friends. Wine’s are maybe a tad bit over priced, but doable. Hookak was OK, and service not so bad either. LOVE the ambience.
If you’re looking for a chill night out with friends, go here.

I dig this place! I was walking by with a friend when we stumbled upon it. Hookahs are $ 15, or $ 18 if you want the special ones with fruit. The staff was very attentive. They would replace coals without being asked. Not only that, one came over to entertain us with smoke bubbles. That’s right. Smoke bubbles.
The place was an interesting mix between café and hookah lounge. I felt like i was in Europe. Overall, a great little hideaway!

So weird and wonderful.

I have been wanting to try Lea ever since it opened — but I had been hesitant since I no one was ever there or it was closed.
Last night, it was actually open and I actually saw people inside. I ordered the spinach and mushroom savory crêpe — a favorite combination.
When I saw the guy pour the batter, I saw it immediately bubbling and realized the surface of the crêpe pan was too hot. Since I knew I was going to be eating it, I said something: ‘Um, I think its too hot, that’s why its sticking.’ The cook agreed. Now, I know not everyone can make a crêpe, but the fact that the cook agreed and did not pour a new crêpe, kind of pissed me off. Instead, he unstuck the crêpe from the pan as best he could, trying to hide the tears by covering it with fillings and folding it over. I could not believe it — he was serving me the broken crêpe. My heart broke.
Despite the presentation, the crêpe was pretty good. But before I return, I hope they practice their skills on someone else.

This place just opened on Allen near Rockwood Music Hall It’s wonderfully strange. The dining area is a long u-​shaped bench/​couch where you face the great huge people-​watching windows facing the sidewalk, they serve panini, hookah, crepes, and wine. The décor is French bistro/​bar and intimate yet exposed.
The crepes were pretty good and under $ 10 for savory and $ 6 for sweet. I had the honey, almond, and manchego one which was great and my friend had «old reliable» Nutella which always delivers.
There was a guy sitting next to us blowing hookah smoke into dishwashing liquid bubbles. Sooo cool to watch balls of smoke pop in the air.
Also, on the large tv they were showing ESPN’s strong man competition and huge men were heaving barrels over their heads and engaging in various feat of strenght.
All in all, a surreal but enjoyable place that was fun for a snack.