Business & Tech
Oby Lee: European Flavors In Clarendon
Creperie, winery with self-serve options and coffee shop serves a unique menu—including gluten-free crepes.
Delaware beach goers may remember visiting one of Oby Lee's five coffee shops, known for homemade freshly roasted coffee beans and winner of "Best in State" coffee awards for eight years running.
Now their famous coffee can be purchased right here in Clarendon.
Ready for a life change, Oby Lee closed all of the shops in Delaware and moved with his girlfriend Ula Piotrowska to Arlington where they opened a completely new restaurant called Oby Lee Creperie and Winery.
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Lee said that even though he was known for coffee in Delaware, the main concept they are focusing on in this restaurant is the winery and creperie aspect.
A special self-serving "wine fountain" was commissioned from Italy and brought to the new restaurant, which opened a year ago. The 18-bottle wine fountain is stocked with affordable, under $10 wines by the glass. The machine works with a "smart card" which can be loaded with any amount of money.
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In addition, they carry over 120 different wines in house. "We specialize in European wines, there are a lot of Italian ones," Lee said.
The menu offers both sweet and savory crepes—even crepes that are gluten free.
Lee, who is from Japan originally, explained that the crepes are actually Japanese style, not French crepes. "They are lighter and very delicious," Lee said.
Lee said that many of their gluten-conscious customers were telling them that they could not eat anything on the menu, so they came up with a recipe that was gluten free. He said the customers have been very happy with the result.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and all of the items on the menu are under $15. Piotrowska, who is originally from Poland, creates a signature Polish dish called Beef Krokiet, which is a crepe with beef and mushrooms.
Each Monday Lee makes a wide variety of freshly roasted coffee beans, just as they sold in their Delaware shops. Customers can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee in their outdoor cafe area, or there is indoor seating as well.
Oby Lee Creperie and Winery is located at 3000 N. Washington Blvd. in Arlington.