Best new Gallic charmer: Buvette

By Time Out editors Mon Apr 2 2012

Food & Drink Awards 2012: Critics' picks

Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Buvette

    Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Brandade at Buvette

    Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Coq au vin at Buvette

    Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Goose and pork-butt rillettes at Buvette

    Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Tarte Tatin at Buvette

    Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Steak tartare at Buvette

    Buvette

  • Buvette

    Photograph: Daniel Krieger

    Buvette

    Buvette

Buvette

Photograph: Daniel Krieger

Buvette


The French have had a good run lately in New York: dominating nightlife (Le Baron), the box office (The Artist) and the party-brunch scene (Beaumarchais). Even former Italophile (and Mario Batali acolyte) Jody Williams has fallen under the Gallic spell, trading in Chianti and arancini for Côtes du Rhône and brandade at her diminutive West Village “gastroteque,” Buvette. In this dollhouse setting, Williams made a compelling case for reviving old-fashioned French country cooking. Her immaculate renditions of coq au vin, goose-fat rillettes or intense, lacquered wedges of tarte Tatin arrived on tiny plates, in petite jars or in miniature casseroles, her time-warp flavors recalling an era when there were still classic bistros on every corner. Amid an artful clutter of antiques and ingredients arranged in precious still lifes, it added up to the year’s most enchanting new restaurant. 42 Grove St between Bedford and Bleecker Sts (212-255-3590, ilovebuvette.com)

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