I got displaced out of Harlem in 2015 when gentrification and development started hitting its peak. I used to walk down Convent Avenue on 145th Street down to 135th Street, and it’s stunning. The architecture and placement of the brownstones, colors, and greenery is gorgeous. Hamilton Heights, the side of Harlem closest to Washington Heights, is a richly green neighborhood with so many trees and small parks. This is why walking through the West Village feels so nostalgic. Different historical context for each neighborhood (clearly), but both remind me of a NYC that I wish I could have lived through.
I feel like every street in this neighborhood is so charming, and I worked up a serious appetite while drooling over the architecture.
I’ve come to realize that I have a clear love for all that is French: the cafes, food, restaurants, and aesthetics. When I discovered Buvette, I honestly could understand the hype. Even though there’s always a line, it moves quickly. I didn’t even know Buvette was so popular until I looked it up on Yelp and saw all the reviews. It’s a chic, intimate French cafe serving pastries, drinks, coffee, and food.
I think some people will fairly say that it’s over hyped, but I’ve grown into appreciating simple recipes and specific seasonings. I normally keep my breakfast simple: eggs, meat, and toast. The first time I came to Buvette, I got the Avocado Toast (don’t come for me for being basic, I said what I said) with egg molette, smashed avocado, spiced yogurt, and salmon to top it. Like I said, pretty simple; HOWEVER, the avocado was so delicious. It was so creamy and well seasoned, which surprised me because of how simple I anticipated it being.
The latte here was excellent. Only the cappuccino comes in the cute cup that says “Buvette” on it incase you’re going for that experience. When I got the latte and it came in a stemless cup, I was a little sad because I wanted the infamous Buvette picture. I made it happen for myself though. The second time I visited, I ordered the Jambon Cru which is eggs topped with prosciutto and parmesan cheese. Not to die for, but perfectly delicious for a feel good breakfast. I also got the cappuccino to get my picture 🙂
The cappuccino was REALLY good. Better than the latte, in my opinion. I’m a simple syrup lover, so I got mine with some of that and oat milk. Perfect.
It’s the vibe in here for me, really. I sat at the bar, which a lot of the time I prefer if I’m alone or with one other person. The service is way more personalized, and I tend to have full blown conversations with whoever is behind the bar. I find the overall service to be quicker and hospitality to be better whenever I sit at a bar.
The West Village irks me sometimes because it’s so outside my income bracket. It reminds me of a serious issue with class, race, and income in NYC specifically. Yet, I love walking through here as a reminder of what’s possible for me. I sat at Buvette thinking to myself that if I ever wanted to be a regular at an aesthetic cafe like this, I would have to put in the work.
I will.
