La Buvette

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

Have not been back to La Buvette for a year after last bad experience and nothing has changed. Better venues in Potts Point with far greater value. Dubious about hygiene of the the tiny kitchen, some food seemed not freshly cooked and service is below expectations - they cannot cope with so many customers in the weekend. Too buzzy, crowded and hate the smoke outdoors.

Oct 28, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  3     

I am sorry but having just got back from NY where they really understand service as well as the need for good food, I was disappointed once again in how our service lags behind. I actually had quite a good meal so it was a shame to have to try desperately to attract attention on a quiet night to pay the bill.Waiters were too busy packing up ( 9.30pm ) and the girl that served me was checking her blackberry over attending the few tables that were going. We can do better than this. Won't be back for a while, sadly what was going well, became a bad experience because of ill disciplined or poorly trained staff and we vote with out feet.

Oct 04, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I'm a recent addition to the Potts Point scene, so I thought I'd check out this longstanding resident. In fact, I've tried it three times. Breakfast, coffee, and dinner.

All up, very impressed. Breakfast is tasty, service is friendly, without being overbearing and most importantly for a Melbournite like me, the coffee is pretty good. Not necessarily 'mind-blowingly oh my god my face is about to explode this is so good', but still pretty damn good.

Dinner was Lamb ragout linguini, surprisingly with rocket but I went with it, and was not disappointed. My friend had the steak diane and was equally impressed. Again, great friendly service, and nestled in a really nice part of the neighbourhood. Makes for lovely mild spring and summer nights. Will be back.

Aug 20, 2010 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Great value for money! amazing service and will go back again! only went for dessert and coffee, but had a very good experience!

Jun 19, 2010 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  6     

Great location. We sat on an outdoor table on a Sunday morning recently and had a few good coffees. The breakfast I chose, 'french toast with grilled banana, cinnamon and bacon' was tasty while Lil Neecy's fruit plate with yoghurt was very average. Worth a short visit because of the tree lined atmosphere.

Feb 15, 2010 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  3      Value  1     

I've been coming here for ten years and while the prices have been going up, the quality of food has been going downhill. Sadly, this is a result of the lack of competition when the owners bought the next door cafe and run that out of the same kitchen! While one of the senior staffs is outgoing and friendly, the other senior staff is cold and angry.

For breakfasts, be careful if you're ordering juice. Any juice you choose will taste of ginger! Note to staff, clean your blender or use a different blender. Breakfast portions are small and expensive and taking the area into account, don't reflect value for money. Lunches feature some fairly average pasta and salad dishes. While they may be big on original ideas they're quite bland. A lamb risotto lacks any flavour whatsoever. It would be much better for this cafe to stick to well known favourites and do them well.

Crepes are tasty but arrive with a mountain of unwanted extras (probably to justify the price) and garnish. Covering a chocolate filled crepe with icing sugar so it can't be seen is completely unnecessary for both taste or visual effect (nevermind how many calories this adds to an already high kilojoule dessert), the French don't do it!

At the end of all this they'll slug you a couple of extra bucks if you dare pay with your credit card! Because La Buvette is small it doesn't take many people to make it look busy and, therefore, look like a good place to eat. Don't be fooled! There are much better places to eat in Potts Point.

Oct 16, 2009 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

We went here for an afternoon coffee, and realised they served dinner. Went back that evening and it was just like a night in Paris. The linguine carbonara was amazing, and the portion size was huge. Recommend this very highly, and will be going back very soon!

Oct 10, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Chris and Will are wonderful hosts, they are attentive, make you feel special, remember your favourite coffee, and take time for a chat, even when it is super busy (which it often is!).

The food is healthy, yummy, good portions and great ingredients. When Will and Chris are not there, the service is very sloppy though, and I avoid the place when they are not there. The coffee lately tasted a bit burnt, I think they need to revamp the quality. But I am a regular and stay a regular, they are open early in the morning, even on public holidays. I love going there and look at the wanderers passing by. It's the heart beat of Potts Point.

Jul 07, 2009 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

La Buvette is more than a great breakfast place, its a great any meal place. A lovely place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, really friendly, unassuming staff and loved the nutella crepe suggested by the waiter.

Apr 05, 2009 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Have been coming to La Buvette on and off for about 10 years now, probably the best compliment is that I didn't know the name for the first 5 years, was just "the cafe with no name" that had great breakfasts.

Owners changed a few years ago which lowered quality for a while, but was there in December 2008 and it had not only recovered but probably improved, for coffee, quality of breakfast and service. Food quality is particularly impressive given it's prepared by 3 people working a space smaller than their toilet!

Dec 26, 2008