damnlines for iPhoneLive lines & push alerts — freeGetdamnlines.comA small, cozy West Village French gastrothèque known since 2011 for its all-day bistro fare and marble counter, drawing a reliable weekend brunch line.
42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
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Buvette is a small French gastrothèque in the West Village, opened in 2011 by chef Jody Williams, known for its cozy marble-counter, candlelit dining room and all-day French bistro fare. Its compact size and popularity — especially for brunch — mean it regularly draws a line of people waiting for a table rather than being a walk-right-in spot.
Reviewers describe weekend brunch as the reliable line-forming period, with some suggesting arriving close to the roughly 8am opening to beat the crowd, while others report waits of only about 20 minutes even with several groups ahead. Because experiences vary so widely by day, time, and party size, the safest approach reported by visitors is to go early on a weekday or check for reservation availability rather than count on a quick walk-in during peak brunch hours.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: Per Buvette's official site, the New York location does not list a reservation system (unlike London/Tokyo/Seoul, which use SevenRooms, TableCheck, and CatchTable respectively), consistent with a walk-in cafe model.
New York: open daily 8am to 12am ("Tous les Jours"), per the official site.
That said, reviewers consistently describe a wait for brunch, especially on weekends — some regulars say arriving close to opening (around 7:45-8am) is the way to beat the crowd, while other visitors have reported being seated in about 20 minutes even with roughly 10 groups ahead of them. Wait length appears to vary a lot by day and hour. (No live damnlines camera here yet — this is reported guidance, not a live count.)
Buvette is a small, cozy French gastrothèque and walk-in seating (especially at the counter or shared tables) is common, which is part of why lines form at busy times. Check OpenTable or call ahead for the most current reservation policy, since small-restaurant policies can change.
Based on reported visitor experience, weekend brunch hours are the busiest, so going right at opening on a weekday, or later in the afternoon/evening outside of peak brunch and dinner rush, appears to be the better bet for a shorter wait.
Buvette is reported to be open daily from around 8:00am to midnight, though hours can shift — it's worth confirming current hours directly with the restaurant before you go.
The site doesn't explicitly state a walk-in policy for New York, but the absence of a reservation system there, per the same source, points to walk-in seating.
Sources: Yelp — Buvette · Buvette official site