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Crepes and Liege Waffles Bring Flavors of Europe to Court Street

 The new Carroll Gardens cafe opened its doors Aug. 14.
The Park Bench Cafe and Creperie
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CARROLL GARDENS — A new cafe is adding the flavors of France and Belgium to the Carroll Gardens' eating scene with crêpes and traditional Belgian waffles. 

The Park Bench Cafe and Crêperie opened earlier this month at 489 Court St. with an array of sweet and savory crêpes, paninis, gelatos and liege waffles, an authentic sweet and crunchy snack from Belgium that uses pearl sugar, said Nancy Settecasi, one of the eatery's co-owners.

The cafe is a family business with Settecasi's 24-year-old son and co-partner Vincent managing its day-to-day operations.

The younger Settecasi has spent 10 years working in the restaurant industry at catering halls, as a waiter, a bartender and even at a crêperie in Manhattan, he said. After graduating from college, he decided to open his own restaurant with the skills he had learned during his time in the food business, as well as his parents' assistance.  

Since Nancy Settecasi's grandmother is Belgian, she grew up eating liege waffles and crepes, she said.

"We thought it might be a good idea to open up something niche, something we're familiar with," she said.

Crêpes are priced between $4.95 and $8.95 and liege waffles are about $4.50 to $6 with gelato. 

The family spent a year searching for a location before finding the space on Court Street. While they had originally set their sights on Williamsburg, they eventually settled on Carroll Gardens. 

"I felt right away that this was the spot," she said.