Le Petit Triangle in Ohio City

Update (2024): Le Petit Triangle is expanding and they are planning to expand the menu with it.

Update (2019): I was thrilled when they expanded into the space next door to seat 55 guests.  When they added the front patio, that number climbed to 75 when it is nice outside.

This place is tiny (as in only maybe 8 tables – tops – in the winter and a few more on the sidewalk), but it serves up some heavenly crepes and French bistro fare.

This is my go-to place whenever I want to have a leisurely breakfast or lunch featuring a good cafe au lait and feel like I’m back in Europe sitting in a little corner bistro. My first meal here was a memorable fondue dinner featuring the most amazing White Bordeaux back when it was Le Oui Oui Cafe. A friend from grad school invited me here to enjoy an authentic French meal. Our table was situated in the front window of the original pie-shaped space – le petit triangle. It was more a small open kitchen with a few extra seats than a dining room. Le Oui Oui Cafe was known for their crepes, and Le Petit Triangle continued the tradition. For such a small place and “limited” menu, the food is simply outstanding. I have never had a bad meal here.

They serve a delicious Salad Nicoise (featuring a pan-seared salmon filet, redskin potatoes, green beans, olives, tomato, hard boiled egg, and a peppercorn dressing), Croque Monsieur (ham, Gruyere and Bechamel sauce served warm on grilled challah with a side of potatoes), Croque Madame (the same sandwich but topped with a fried egg) and crusty baguette sandwiches. They are also known for their savory and sweet crepes and a delicious and filling French onion soup.

I was craving a baguette sandwich after watching Martha Stewart make one on her show, so I decided to enjoy a late lunch recently. I started with the French Three Onion Soup, which is topped with Gruyere and is vegetarian-based. Life just seems complete when you are eating a nice steaming bowl of French onion soup. Digging through the melty Gruyere cheese, tearing off some of the hunk of bread at the bottom of the bowl and getting the perfect amount of onions and broth is decadence at its best. In fact, I couldn’t wait to let it cool a bit before I dug in and burned my mouth. Do yourself a favor and let it cool just a bit.

For my baguette sandwich, I was torn between the Pan Bagna, which features Swiss cheese, ham, tomato, artichokes, spinach, olive tapenade on a baguette and served with a side of couscous-lentil salade, or the Caprese (fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, spinach with pesto on a baguette). The server (who also happened to be the owner) recommended the Pan Bagna, so I went with her recommendation. Wow, it was great! The olive tapenade really made the sandwich shine. As you can see from the side shot of the sandwich it was just packed with cheese, ham and veggies. And have I mentioned the olive tapenade? Soooo good!

If you still have room, I highly recommend ordering one of their sweet crepes. They are absolutely divine. My favorite is the Nutella crepe.

My friends and I enjoyed a delicious brunch here back in 2019. Their Raspberry and Mango French toast made with challah was the highlight. I ate it several times when it was the featured French toast on the menu in 2019, and I consider it one of the things I ate that year – if not the best French toast I have ever eaten.

They are open Monday and Thursday from 10 am-10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am-11 pm and Sunday from 10 am-9 pm.

Contact info:

Le Petit Triangle
1881 Fulton Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 281-1881