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Try a Sweet or Savory Crepe at New Cafe in Astoria

 Locus opened its doors Feb. 2 at 23-14 Ditmars Blvd., serving coffee and crepes.
Locus Opens in Astoria
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DITMARS — A mother-and-daughter team opened a new cafe on Ditmars Boulevard this month, specializing in coffee drinks and crepe dishes.

Locus opened Jan. 2 at 23-14 Ditmars Blvd., where Christina Canon and her mother, Dina Kowalczyk, serve up "meal-sized" crepes stuffed with hearty fillings, both sweet and savory.

"It's what I know how to do best," said Kowalczyk, who serves as chef, carefully the spreading the thin pancake batter on a large circular griddle. "This is what I love to cook."

The pair once ran a coffee shop in California as well as a coffee and crepes food truck on Long Island, and wanted to open a place in Astoria that was "cozy and inviting."

"Instead of everywhere else you go — you go in and it's rushed and you can't stay or you feel like you have to leave," said Canon. "Just something warm, and neighborhood-like and welcoming for everybody of all ages."

Locus is at the address formerly occupied by performance cafe Waltz-Astoria. The cafe has tables and chairs and a couch to lounge on, as well as a collection of board games for customers to play.

The menu includes savory crepes, like the "Hardy Hearty," which comes stuffed with Canadian bacon, mozzarella, egg and hollandaise sauce. Another popular favorite is "The Machine," according to the owners, which is filled with chicken breast, avocado, tomato and tahini sauce.

There's a separate menu for sweet options, like one crepe filled with marshmallows, Nutella and banana, or another that comes with brandy apples, cinnamon and salted caramel. All sweet crepes are served with a side of Greek yogurt with nuts in a sweet wine and fig reduction.

Customers can sip on teas and coffee, as well as espresso drinks, like mochas.

The team plans to start serving baked goods like muffins soon, and hopes to serve beer and wine starting this summer. They are also planning to have sidewalk seating during warmer weather.

The cafe will have an official grand opening party on Feb. 14, from 5 to 11 p.m.

Locus is located at 23-14 Ditmars Blvd. It is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The cafe will be closed on Mondays.