PHOTOS: New Carmel spot Lafayette Kitchen & Cafe does French with zest.

Even as recently as a quarter century ago, even die-hard diners would've had a heck of a time imagining just how often 2016 humans photograph their food.

It can be a little much.

But then comes along Lafayette Kitchen & Cafe and its adorable croque madames, crêpes and cottage-like setting and you just gotta break out the smartphone for some closeups.

It's a Carmel-by-the-Sea spinoff of its popular bakery cafe in the Barnyard, located on Dolores between Fifth and Sixth in the former Em Le's, with a tidy little sun-splashed patio for you and the pooch.

The spot does both counter service—distributing all sorts of grab-and-go breads, sweets and sandwiches—and sit-down dining too.

Isabel and Jean Bernard Vial, who started the Barnyard spot, teamed up with Ben Khader, owner of Yafa Mediterranean Restaurant in Carmel, on the project; Isabel is directing traffic in the kitchen.

Italian Danesi espresso coffee, imported by Gusto and Basil Seasonal Dining's Denis Boaro, meets caffeine fixes with style.

Highlights from the restaurant menu include a half dozen crepes like the Monterey with bacon, cream, onion, cheese and potatoes ($11) and the Carmel with leek, cream and smoked salmon ($12).

Five petit déjeuner offerings include the oeuf à la coque (soft boiled eggs), basket of bread, butter, jam, croissant, and orange juice ($16).

Pain perdu (aka French toast) can come sweet or all salted savory with two eggs ($11); another savory play would be the croque madame ($10) with melting egg on the melted ham-and-cheese.

Keeping with the simple menu design, there are just two salads, a bacon-chicken Cobb ($12) and the atypical beet salad with eggs and potatoes ($12).

The two galettes: a vegetarian with chickpea panisse, lettuce, tomato, red onion jam, cheese, onions, avocado and lemon sauce with a side of baby gratin ($12), and the "creek burger" with potato creek, skirt steak, cheese lettuce, tomato with a side of baby gratin ($14).

Tagliatelle with mushroom cream ($14) tops the list of three tempting pastas.