Winner Small Business Spotlight 2023

Minnesota is an unassuming state that often takes people by surprise. While folks venture to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to partake in amazing aquatic and terrestrial recreation, that’s often where the conversation ends. But if you only visit Minnesota for the lakes (and parks… and forests), you’d be missing out on some of the most diverse and robust cultures and cuisines in the country. And Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the epicenter of it all – a culinary mecca that merits any epicurean or casual foodie’s attention.

For proof of this, simply visit La Belle Crepe and Come Pho Soup, a duo of eateries in Minneapolis, Minnesota, owned and operated by chef and French expat Alain Lenne. The story of this Minnesota iconoclastic starts in 2008 when life took an unexpected detour for Lenne that presented a unique opportunity.

Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.

When life hands us lemons, we have two choices: put our hands up and, well, give up, or, roll up our sleeves and get to work.
© Marco Bottigelli/Moment Collection via Getty Images
Life handed French-expat-turned-Midwest-implant Alain Lenne a big bowl of lemons in 2008 when personal and professional tragedy struck in the form of "a sad divorce and losing a real estate business."
Come Pho Soup/Facebook
One of these things would have been enough to discourage many people to the point of defeat, but not Lenne. A self-described entrepreneur who has always worked for himself, Lenne "decided to take a chance and open a creperie" – in the middle of All-American Midwest, USA: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Come Pho Soup/Google Local
And so, in 2008, he opened La Belle Crepe, a small creperie located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Christine Shellenbarger/Google Local
The small restaurant serves beautifully executed crepes, both sweet and savory, quickly gaining an almost cult-like following and earning Alain the devotion and adoration of Minneapolitans.

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Alain trained and developed a strong team of crepe-making experts, turning the creperie into a highly sought-after caterer. But the French chef and entrepreneur dreamed bigger.
La Belle Crepe/Facebook
As the creperie's fanbase grew, so too did Lenne's culinary offerings. "I added banh mi sandwiches, then pho to the menu," he says, making for a wholly unique and unprecedented Vietnamese-French fusion in the heart of the American Midwest.
Lamb and tzatziki noodles and tofu bánh mì sandwiches... in Minneapolis, MN? Would it work? Would people go for it? Absolutely.
{Tumatachin }/Google Local
"In 2020, we divided the business in two: La Belle Crepe Catering and Come Pho Soup," explains Lenne. A crazy concept? Perhaps. But a concept enthusiastically and exuberantly embraced in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Widely considered to be the best pho in the region, these hearty and herbaceous bowls of hot, brothy soup make for a wholly comforting winter lunch. In this way, a pho shop in Minneapolis makes all the sense in the world -- but even if it didn't, Lenne would still have the support and devotion of his town.
Come Pho Soup/Facebook
Because today, folks visit Lenne for the full experience -- not just the food. Diners enjoy the smiling chef's French banter and zest for fun.
La Belle Crepe
When you visit Lenne at 825 Nicollet Mall in Downtown Minneapolis, you'll step inside a shop that's wholly, wonderfully unique. It features a wall of bills from around the world, a beautiful chandelier, a giant whisk hanging from the ceiling, and a bike mounted above the menu wall. It's quirky, but delightfully so -- just like its chef-owner.

Many thanks to Chef Alain Lenne for sharing the story of La Belle Crepe Catering and Come Pho Soup, his unique duo of restaurants in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn more about La Belle Crepe Catering on Facebook and Instagram pages, and check out Come Pho Soup on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Of course, Chef Lenne’s restaurants are just two of the many wonderful local businesses in Minnesota; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Minnesota article. And be sure to follow Only In Minnesota on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Land of 10,000 Lake’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Featured Addresses
La Belle Crepe Catering, 825 Nicollet Mall suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA
Come Pho Soup, 825 Nicollet Mall suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA