There seems to be a butcher on the loose, who keeps carving out bits and pieces of New York and selling the parts to Paris, as more and more places are popping up that can easily dupe you into believing you just walked into a slice of the Big Apple.

In the case of Pigalle’s recently opened Buvette, consider owner, Jody Williams, the butcher’s apprentice. The American restauranteuse has brought her West Village success to Paris, where maybe the only characteristics that distinguish it from its NYC counterpart are the neighborhood prostitutes and the porn shops down the street.

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The charming, rustic parlor-like setting makes a striking contrast to the usual gritty Pigalle establishments, with its exposed brick walls, sleek wood finishes and marble countertop bar. A chalkboard map of wine regions graces one wall, while the rest are neatly adorned with antique embellishments that make the place worthy of Pinterest design boards across the world.

A hefty chunk of jambon sits on the edge of the bar for shaving, next to stacked dishware, a tower display of enticing viennoiseries and a huge bowl of butter that will have you already thinking about how you’re going to repent for your gastronomic sins. Behind the bar and below the neat displays of copious wine bottles sit jars and bowls of various garnishes and ingredients, in addition to a gauffre machine turning out crispy golden waffles every five minutes.

The decidedly French menu is short and sweet and composed to your liking. Keep in mind that the place is a self-dubbed ‘Gastrothèque,’ so if you’ve got a big appetite, expect to double or triple up on the various small plates available or order a bunch to share.

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Start off with tartines slathered in walnut pesto and parmesan or the elusive kale simmered with pine nuts and raisins to a spreadable consistency. If you’re a Croque person, get a stacked twist on the classic Monsieur/Madame, or opt for the Forestier topped with sauteed mushrooms and melted Gruyère.

Diet-conscious foodies and vegetarians are hardly excluded, with lighter fish and egg options, salads and simple yet done right veggie variations, such as roasted beetroot topped with almonds and horseradish and leeks drizzled in a Dijon vinaigrette.

French staples Hachis Parmentier and rabbit confit discreetly flank the small two-sided carte, and off-menu daily specials are also available.

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If after all that, you can’t tear your eyes away from the enormous bowl of mousse au chocolat being swirled and folded onto plates around you and topped with a generous dollop of homemade whipped cream, you might as well just say to yourself ‘laisses tomber’ and go for it, with YOLO echoing in your ears after every succulent spoonful.

Of course a ‘buvette,’ by definition, is more related to liquid nourishment, so if you’re feeling thirsty, dive into the extensive drink menu that resembles an old-fashioned pocketbook, complete with illustrations and detailed descriptions of the cocktails and wines at your disposal.

Think of Buvette as the new Paris-New York hybrid — French in theory with Manhattan allure. It’s open all day for your petit déj, your lunches or late brunches, your wine and cheese apéros or your affordable dinner dates before heading out into the Pigalle periphery, with Glass, Dirty Dick and Carmen awaiting your late-night delires.

Buvette
28 rue Henri-Monnier
75009 Paris
Métro : Pigalle, Abbesses, Saint-Georges
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to midnight
01 44 63 41 71
Website : ilovebuvette.com
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Article: Stéphanie Holmes
Instagrams: @nicole_franzen @tendaysinparis @juliaverse @hboeton 

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[googleMap name=”Buvette” description=”28 rue Henri-Monnier, Paris” width=”600″ height=”200″ mousewheel=”false” directions_to=”false”]28 Rue Henry Monnier 75009 Paris[/googleMap]