Luna Bakery and Cafe opens to the delight of neighbors

In the interest of full disclosure, I went to the newly opened Luna Bakery and Café fully intending for it to be just what I wanted. My wife and I had wanted a place like this near our house for many years. We envisioned a relaxed place a few minutes walk from our house where we could get a light bite, specifically crepes, sandwiches, salads, and pastries, with an urban café feel. We also harbored a desire for it to offer our favorite dessert, but which no one in Cleveland seemed to offer—pots de crème au chocolat, the rendition of chocolate so sublime it makes mousse look silly.

So we dropped into Luna on opening day, and there it all was. A simple menu consisting of crepes, paninis, a few salads, as well as breakfast items, such as eggs and oatmeal. The showcase had a variety of desserts—cookies, tarts, cupcakes, cheesecake, and to our great delight, yes, pots de crème au chocolat!

Luna Bakery and Café, located at 2482 Fairmount Boulevard in Cleveland Heights, is a partnership of Flour Girl owner Bridget Thiebault and Stone Oven owners Tatyana Rehn and John Emerman. The store occupies two storefronts, one side is the bakery and the other is the café. The décor of the café is simple and clean, with stucco walls, exposed concrete and brick, wood floors and seating for about 24. There is also an inviting patio and ample parking.

Emerman told us that he wanted to open another business and was seeking a partner to help him run it. He searched online for pastry chefs. The second person he interviewed was Thiebault, who happened to live in Cleveland Heights. The two storefronts becoming available on Fairmount was also fortunate.

The menu features a variety of simple fare. We had a black forest ham crepe with spinach, cheese and mustard, and the portabello crepe with summer squash, goat cheese and artichoke pesto. Both were very good, especially the portabello crepe. Each came with a small amount of tomato and onion salsa. All crepes are available made with either buckwheat or traditional batter. Our daughter had a turkey and cheese panini and enjoyed it, which is saying something because what she decides to enjoy at any given moment is a matter of pure speculation.

Of course, we finished our meal with the pots de crème au chocolat, and our daughter had a chocolate cupcake with mocha butter crème. Both were excellent.

We could not be happier with this new neighborhood amenity, and expect to be regulars.