If you’re a regular at Ange Noir Café, you might have noticed a bit of commotion going on in the back for the past few months. Your suspicions would be correct, as there is most definitely something beyond the café. Enter through a red phone booth and voila – you’re in Hell Phone, the new restaurant and speakeasy at 247 Varet St.
Vanessa and Anguy Pacini, the owners of Ange Noir, have been renovating for the past two years and have finally opened Hell Phone behind the existing cafe. Like something out of Doctor Who, it is an absolutely magical place – red velvet sofas made from repurposed phone booths, dark wood floors, original brickwork, and a piano you can dine on. And while the London phone booths may give the place a decidedly British flair, the restaurant is much more closely tied with the owners’ native France.
The menu focuses on a selection of savory and sweet crepes with plenty of vegetarian options. If you want your crepe gluten-free, they’ll do that. “We didn’t want to exclude anyone with this menu,” says Vanessa. Served with a small side salad, the crepes are eaten with a knife and fork, the way they do in France. You’ll also find salads, charcuterie plates for sharing, and larger entrees.
