Always on the hunt for a “relatively new” café, I happened upon Sevens Café and Bakery located at the Barcalo Living & Commerce building in the Old First Ward. The café, owned and operated by a married couple by the names of Caitlin Lanigan and Yazmin Bitouche, is dedicated to vegan food, sustainability, and an international café experience. The menu items are heavily influenced by the couple’s world travels. I understand that the name “Sevens” is in honor of their families, as Lanigan is the youngest of three sisters and Bitouche is the oldest of four.
The morning that I popped by was a Saturday, so I was not sure how busy it would, or would not, be. There was a lively crowd of people waiting in line, and lounging about. The workers behind the counter were in crunch mode, while handling the orders effortlessly.
It appeared as if the focal point of Sevens was a pastry display case, which was located front and center. Inside, there were delectable-looking treats of all sorts, including Dopest Dough bagels. A glance at their menu (and website) highlights some of the fan favorites, including Chai Latte, the Flat White (coffee), Nitro Cold brew, and Barrel & Brine Kombucha. More robust food offerings were the Miso Eggplant, the Harissa Mushroom, and the Caesar Crunch Bowl. There were also three specials on that day – the cherry matcha, a mac salad, and a creamy dill ‘tater salad.
In true blue Buffalo fashion, Sevens has listed a number of community partners on their website, including Tipico Coffee Roasters, Undergrounds Coffee House, Edenesque (a Buffalo, NY-based plant-based dairy startup founded by Leslie Woodward), and Flat 12 Mushrooms. This powerhouse list of partners bodes extremely well for Sevens.
The atmosphere of Sevens is industrial chic, laid back, hip, and cosmopolitan, with Buffalo flare. The Barcalo setting perfectly suits this café, and the café vibe helps to invigorate the Old First Ward. It’s certainly a matcha made in heaven.
Sevens | 225 Louisiana Street | Buffalo, New York 14204 | Instagram | Open seven days a week, of course…