Late lunch at Buvette
A new thing that I'm trying to do more of is to assume that things are going to work out for the better. Too often it's easy to get caught up on things not worth worrying about like sharks by a beach or meeting strangers off of the internet (totally safe! I've done it many times!) With that said, it's always better to just relax, take in what life has to offer, and maybe eat a late lunch on a weekend day. Steph and I went to Buvette a few weeks ago because it's a nice place to go for some decent non-fussy French food. Generally around dinner time, this place is a zoo, since it's tiny. Go in the middle of the afternoon on a weekend? Awesome because it's not too crazy in there yet.
Buvette does dishes tapas sized. They're really not meant to be completely filling if you order one per person, so you gotta order a few things to share. We started with some chicken liver mousse, which you could spread onto bread. It's like a poor man's foie gras.
We also had some country pate which was really good. Basically anything French that you can spread onto bread is really good. Butter, head cheese, foie gras, pate, and women. All great on bread. If you're tore between the chicken liver mousse and the country pate, just pick them based on texture, since the liver is smoother to spread. Don't forget to enjoy the little cornichons (pickles) that come with these things too.
We finished up the savory portion of our late lunch with some rabbit confit. I actually can't really tell rabbit apart from chicken. They taste very very similar to me. It doesn't take away from the fact that I really enjoyed eating bits and pieces of a bunny from a jar. That shit never gets old.
Whatever you order at Buvette, just make sure you end your meal with some tarte tatin or basically an upside-down apple pie. The apples are caramelized and the slice is topped with some creme fraiche, which is divine.
A meal like this is a treat. I wouldn't say Buvette is some sort of hidden value in the West Village. Obviously it's a premium, and I would say it's one that's worth checking out if you're into rustic French food and want some delicious food. For the most part they're pretty spot on with flavors and it's a good experience.
Buvette
42 Grove St.
New York, NY 10014
212-255-3590
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