Donning red berets and black aprons, servers prepare European delicacies in a small French-style cafe.

Complete with international music, murals and an outdoor patio - students and residents can now find a little taste of France nestled between a pizzeria, ice cream parlor and dozens of other fast-food chains on Grand River Avenue.

Ooh la la Crepes, 1133 E. Grand River Ave., serves coffee, cappuccino, espresso and crepes - thin pancakes filled with jams, powered sugar, fruit, ham and cheese, tomato and mozzarella or other ingredients.

"If there was a food in the world that was made to go with coffee, I'd think it would be the crepe," owner Frederick Foote said.

The restaurant opened Monday, and store hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Crepes range from about $2 to $5, and Foote said customers can buy a crepe and a cappuccino or coffee for about $5. There also is a walk-up window where students can grab a crepe on their way to class.

Foote said he discovered the food when he took a trip to Europe, although he's never been to France, the home of the crepe.

"They were just fantastic - there's nothing like that that I had eaten in the states, and in many countries, they're as common as donuts," Foote said.

When he returned home to Michigan, Foote ordered a crepe maker and experimented making the cuisine for his family. After a few years, he started thinking a crepe shop could find a niche in a town like East Lansing.

"I thought, 'Why not give it a shot on a college campus where there's an international feel?'" Foote said. "It seemed to me it would appeal to college kids."

Education junior Deidra Lever said she doesn't think a crepe shop will be successful in East Lansing.

"Everybody is already used to bagels and muffins," she said. "They can get crepes at (International House of Pancakes.)"

The city doesn't need any more coffee shops, philosophy and religious studies senior Dan Erck said.

"They'll pretty much have four customers that'll be really into crepes, then it'll go the way Roly Poly (did)," he said, adding that Roly Poly Sandwiches, formerly located on Grand River Avenue, closed due to lack of business. People would rather go somewhere with a familiar name, he said.

But merchandising management senior Jessica Aniel was excited to hear about a new crepe shop in town.

"I love crepes. That's awesome," Aniel said, adding that she didn't know of any other place to buy crepes.

Crepes are a popular trend in coastal areas of the United States, said Jeff Elsworth, hospitality business assistant professor.

"Whether or not Lansing is ready for it, I'm not sure. It will certainly be something different," he said. "Crepes - maybe it's time for crepes."