PHOTOS: Crepes of Brittany reinvents itself with big new location in Monterey.

It is not every day that you see a restaurant's co-owner/operator point at the most basic of supplies and grin like the Penguin in Batman.

"Plates!" Thierry Crocquet says.

But his enthusiasm is understandable.

For years, Crêpes of Brittany (649-1930) wedged into a shoebox-sized space, shared with a ice cream-coffee shop, on the front porch of Fisherman's Wharf. 

Now it's into its second week in the former Pino's on the breezeway between Custom House Plaza and the Portola Hotel roundabout, at 211 Alvarado St. in downtown Monterey.

The new home, which has been freshly cleaned, painted and given a new awning, means more crepe stations, tons more seating (including patio space), a sizable kitchen, beer and wine, and, yes, real flatware.

Crocquet, who immigrated from France as a kid, and his partner/chef Daniel Peron, a more recent import, are ecstatic at the upgrade, and proud owners of a 16-year lease.

Their Portola landlords are into it too, helping drive business that led to a 45-minute wait for a single crepe on opening weekend.

Peron is already planning classic French restaurant fare to deepen the menu, including a flagship French onion soup, croque monsieurs (and madames), salmon salads and more.

While much has changed, the crepes have not, and thankfully so.  

Tasty combinations like a brie and caramelized onion ($8.50), seasonal veggie-cheddar-jack ($5.50, caramel-apple ($6.50), strawberry-cream cheese ($6.50) and turkey-jack-cheddar ($6.50) all come on authentically thin and rustic buckwheat base layer, or in French, galette.

Hours are 7:30am-4pm daily. More at the Crêpes of Brittany website.