LA BUVETTE

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★★

French bistro with wine, bread, and charcuterie market

Perfect For: Baked Goods; Lunch; Casual Dining; Drinks; Breakfast/Brunch

Standout Dishes: Bread Plate; daily specials

“La Buvette is a vibe.”

Ask anyone who’s enjoyed a meal or a drink at this casual downtown bistro and you’ll hear some version of that phrase. The impolite part of you wants to roll your eyes—what does “is a vibe” even mean?!

But then you sit down on the cozy patio with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and the world seems to slow down. The constant pull to check your cell phone is gone. Worries momentarily melt away. It’s a feeling you’ll cling to until your plates and glasses are cleared and you have to return to the real world.

That’s La Buvette.

Normally I’d want to slap myself for using such flowery prose, but this is the effect La Buvette has. For more than 30 years it’s provided an intimate, inviting space for Omahans to dine, sip, and shop.

The interior of the restaurant includes a wine market with hundreds of unique bottles—feel free to buy one and enjoy it at your table—local products, freshly baked bread, and a full-service meat and cheese counter. The patio offers a small but welcoming spot to people watch and enjoy the old world feel of the Old Market as you peruse the menu.

La Buvette’s French-inspired menu consists of two sides, each with 12-15 offerings: one has items offered everyday, while the other features daily rotating specials that can’t even be found online. Each visit to La Buvette is like opening a present, only there are no old sweaters waiting inside these boxes.

The everyday offerings include charcuterie boards, cheese plates, smoked salmon, and other shared bites. It’s the specials where chef Julie Friederich gets to flex her muscles and have some fun.

From Boeuf Bourguignon to Beet Agnolotti, Pork Rilletes, and Octopus Linguini, you never know exactly what’s going to appear on the menu. You can be confident about 3 things:

It’s all going to be very French.
You’ll probably have to pull out your phone and Google a few terms.
It’ll be delicious.

Take, for instance, the Lamb Merguez. These garlicy links have just a touch of gaminess and a firm, brilliant casing that practically pops when you bite into it. La Buvette lays them atop a bed of pillowy, buttery cous cous and applies a scattering of creamy yogurt sauce for moisture and tang.

Or perhaps you’ll opt for the Baked Salmon, which is so tender it flakes apart with the faintest touch of the fork. Capers add pops of salt, while the saffron rice brings sweet, floral notes. And if one of the fresh cut pasta dishes makes an appearance, such as the House Pappardelle topped with delicious rabbit confit and swirled in a hearty marsala cream, it’s an absolute must.

Whatever dish you choose, try to resist the urge to completely fill up on carbs before it arrives. This is a tricky task, as La Buvette’s scratch-made breads are worth a visit alone, and a Bread Plate comes loaded with several different varieties. From hearty baguettes to crusty French bread and tangy sourdough, this plate threatens to bust your appetite before the entrees hit the table.

Simply put, La Buvette offers dishes you won’t find at any other restaurant in Omaha, and it constructs them in a thoughtful way.

One thing to note : don’t expect bend-over-backwards service. I think the restaurant models its service after service at restaurants in France, so friendliness and swiftness are not necessarily top priorities (at least, they haven’t been on my visits. Maybe I’ve just been unlucky).

It would absolutely be hyperbole to say eating at La Buvette transports you across the Atlantic for an afternoon in France. But there’s something about this place that inspires you to embrace a slower pace and enjoy good wine and great food.

So, sure. When someone tells you La Buvette “is a vibe”, go ahead and believe them. Or get down to this Omaha pearl and slow the clock down for yourself.