Don’t worry about bringing your passport along for this culinary adventure—you won’t have to travel farther than Lincoln Park for an authentic Algerian dining experience.

Just beyond the Clark and Fullerton intersection, Crepe and Coffee Palace feels like a quaint European cafe with North African accents. Maps of Algeria hang on bright orange walls and ornate rugs give the space a sunny disposition. Colorful beaded lamps suspend from the ceiling and red sconces line the walls. The fifteen tiny wooden tables fit so snugly that you're bound to hear your neighbor's conversation.

The mostly crepe menu showcases France's influence on Algerian culture. Choose from one of about a dozen signature crepes like the Palace crepe with peppers, goat cheese, caramelized onions and pine nuts or the crepe Marrakech with toasted almonds, raisins, baby spinach, mint and cream cheese. If you don't find what you crave on the menu, you can create your own crepe (or salad) with your choice of veggies, cheese, meat, nuts and dressing. The crepe d'amour (fresh raspberries with Belgian chocolate or Nutella), crepe Icosium (Algerian compote of raisins, pears and rose water topped with pistachio ice cream) or the crepe Buena (fresh mango, ginger chutney, sunflower seeds and raisins) will leave you salivating. All dinner crepes cost $8.50, and dessert crepes cost $5-$7. An espresso machine whips up Algerian coffee and traditional mint sweet tea to wash it all down.

Centerstage Reviewer: Eve Ardell