I really would like to spend more time exploring downtown Manhattan, but cousin Alessandra convinced me to visit Williamsburg and said it would be worth my time.

Williamsburg is one of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City. It is No. 3 on the list of America's Best Hipster Neighborhoods by Forbes (Lower Westheimer in Houston, Texas is No. 20 and Silver Lake in Los Angeles, California is No. 1).

A hipster neighborhood, according to Forbes, is judged by its walkability, the number of neighborhood coffee shops per capita, the assortment of local food trucks, the number and frequency of farmers markets, the number of locally owned bars and restaurants, and the percentage of residents who work in artistic occupations.

After walking around the neighborhood, cousin Alessandra took me to Pates et Traditions. Located at 52 Havermeyer St, at N 6th St. in Williamsburg’s residential area, it is an authentic French creperie with a Mediterranean influence.

I adore anything rustic so even before passing white fences to enter a red front door, I was already ooh-ing and aah-ing. Inside, it felt like a Parisian café, what with the background music, the server with French accent and the romantic decoration.

The décor is not high end, but the green wall, the wooden floor, the fluffy seat cushions, and the hanging leaves and flowers make the place feel cozier in winter.

The word pates in Pates et Traditions, as several reviewers reminded their readers, means pasta and not chopped liver. French crepes and pastas are its specialties, however the menu listed appetizer, salad, pasta, savory crepe, les croques, les omelettes, and sweet crepe.

We ordered crepes, a lighter meal except for the calories. While waiting for our order, since  the place was not crowded the afternoon we came in,  I looked around admiring the knick-knacks and postcards from France on display.

Meanwhile, cousin Alessandra watched the world go by through large windows.

Lorenzo Gantonio, the eatery’s chef and owner, moved to New York in 2008 after working in several establishments at Europe’s famous cities. Following the success of Pates et Traditions he has since opened another French restaurant, but this time with a Mexican twist. Named Santos Anne, it is also located in Williamsburg.

Our order arrived, banana nutella crepe with banana, nutella spread and whipped cream as topping; and crepe suzette with orange sauce, ice cream, flambee with rhum and whipped cream to make it perfect.

For a while, I regretted not ordering one savory dish and one sweet dish for each of us rather than all sweet dishes. After all, the pasta menu is inviting with selections like mustard chicken penne, fettuccini provencale, veggie pasta and spinach ravioli.

Nonetheless we did make the right choices. They were the most exquisite crepes we have ever tasted, soft, sweet, and creamy. To cherish the taste we did not order any fancy drink but settled with hot teas.

Pates et Traditions has a complete list of beverages and drinks in French headings: les cafes, les softs, les thes, biere, les specials, les bulles, vin rouge, vin blanc, and vin rose. Three ice cream choices available are amaretto cup, caramel cup, and white widow (homemade chocolate, vanilla ice cream, almonds and whipped cream.

Cousin Alessandra was right. The trip to Williamsburg turned out worth a lot more than my time. I hope to be back to this hipster neighborhood, visit Santos Anne, and explore Brooklyn leisurely.

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Text: Maira Niode

Images: Car: Andric Tham/123RF; All others: Omar Niode Foundation