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- Nearest Transit:
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Canal St (J, N, Q, Z)
Canal St (4, 6, 6X)
Canal St (N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 6 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 4 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Price Range:
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$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
70 reviews for Bluebird Sky
Review Highlights
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"The Grilled Flank Steak sandwich is excellent." In 2 reviews -
"I had the sausage and Gruyere omelet and was very happy." In 4 reviews -
"A gem sandwich shop in Chinatown with even better prices." In 12 reviews
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70 reviews in English
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Review from Nickademus C.
New York, NY
I love this place. The staff is the best part, all of which are super friendly & do everything they can to make your meal enjoyable.
The tofu breakfast burrito is my favorite anywhere. Ingerdients are always fresh & comes w/ a generous portion of delicious greens.
The fact that they arent always playing typical cafe crap music is a huge bonus.
If they had a few more vegan options i'd give 'em 6 stars!
***The only downside, in my opinion, is the number of laptoppers and suits taking up too much space for long periods time w/ their business meetings. Have your meetings at the office! Also, way too many cops....douchebags, get real jobs and stop ruining the lives of others. These reasons are not the restaurants fault however and they shouldn't be rated down because of it. -
Review from Cecilia Z.
New York, NY
In the Chinatown area but hankering for some casual, light American cafe fare? Enter Bluebird Sky! This little hole in the wall is a clean, brightly-lit cafe with a pretty simple menu of various breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads along with coffee and other beverages.
The bf and I stopped in for a quick lunch on a calm afternoon while running some errands in the area, and I was quite impressed by the quality of the food this place turns out. My grilled chicken salad was a heaping plateful of mixed greens, fresh grilled corn, sweet red peppers, luscious avocado and an entire poached chicken breast - all drizzled with a creamy cilantro dressing. It was definitely more impressive than the average chicken salad you'd find at most fancy restaurants, and an amazing value for just $9. The bf tried their braised short rib sandwich, complete with a hefty slab of melty gruyere and onion jam. He and I were both pleasantly surprised by how tender and flavorful the off-the-bone short ribs were, especially for something sandwiched between a crusty baguette.
While the food here is top-notch, there was something strangely off-putting about the service. Now I totally get the whole concept of ordering at the counter and then finding a seat on your own (I'm from LA, afterall), the cashier who took our order seemed very disinterested and impatient... I guess I'd just expect to find more down-to-earth, friendly staff at an establishment like this. Given the chance, I'd probably just order for takeout next time. -
Review from bpanda Y.
New York, NY
I accidentally discovered this place on my regular visits to a Chinese bakery (famous for the paper-wrapped cakes) next door. Who would have thought I could find such a nice place in the middle of Chinatown!
In my first visit for an early lunch, I tried the BLT. They were generous with the bacon -- a few pieces of nicely seared thick-cut bacon. The bread was also thick (in a good way), chewy, and tasty. However, it was too huge for me to bite, so I had to de-construct the whole thing and eat the ingredients separately. :)
I took my husband with me for brunch last weekend. The brunch menu seemed fancier than the weekday menu. I ordered a Farmers Plate with 2 eggs, duck confit hash, pommes anna (some sort of potato pie), and multi-grain bread. Everything was delicious!
My husband ordered the Market Omelet, and it came with a side salad. I took a bite, and I loved that they put kale in the omelet!
This is a tiny place with good food and friendly service. I will definitely go back to try more items on the menu. -
Review from Jim P.
New York, NY
Completely unexpected to be right off canal street but quite nice. A quaint atmosphere with a nice touch of eclectic art. The tin etching celling is a bit cheezy, but nonetheless still soothing ambiance overall. Cucumber water is a nice touch. Flank steak platter was delicious.
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Review from John O.
Completely fantastic. Hands down my favorite brunch spot - anywhere. Several stand out items on the menu including the french toast, shrimp and grits, yogurt and fruit and egg benedict. Nice atmosphere and good service. I'll just keep coming back for more.
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Review from Ashley E.
Cleveland, OH
Great spot for lunch. Cool, clean environment opening up to sidewalk. We each ordered something different and all were excellent - mozzarella sandwich (French bread, with tomato, avocado); BLT (B as in Canadian style); and chickpea wrap. The place is very small but so worth a stop.
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Review from Amy S.
This place is adorable! I typically like to stay in Astoria for brunch on the weekends (great brunch food with better prices than their Manhattan counterparts. plus, I'm lazy) but Bluebird Sky was worth the travel. I owe the discovery of this cute, little cafe to Linny F. and her Scoutmob deal. Though small, Bluebird Sky has wait service at a few tables. Or if you want your coffee/tea/food to go you can order at the counter in the back. I suggest going before noon if you don't want to wait for a table.
For brunch I had the BLTA (double-smoked bacon, tomato, bibb lettuce, avocado, tarragon mayo) http://www.yelp.com/bi... and holy bacon it was good! Bluebird Sky, bless their heart, cuts their bacon into deliciously thick slices. And unlike some restaurants where a sandwich containing avocado means a measly smear of avocado, Bluebird Sky's BLTA contained a good half of an avocado. YUM! If that wasn't enough, all sandwiches are served with chips or salad. When I found out that Bluebird Sky makes their own chips, there was no question that it would be chips for me. The chips were thin, not greasy, with just the right amount of crunch. The only shortcoming with the chips was that there weren't more on my plate.
Obviously I highly recommend the BLTA, but if for some reason you don't like or don't feel like thick cuts of bacon and a generous portion of avocado (you weirdo), anything with flank steak is also a great choice. See exhibit A: http://www.yelp.com/bi... Bluebird Sky's flank steak is perfectly executed: marinated to perfection and then cooked to a perfect medium rare.
Oh yeah, and the coffee's pretty great too.Listed in: NYC Brunch Culture
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Review from Lina C.
New York, NY
My go-to for brunch. Great value. I usually get the sandwich options - their sourdough bread is awesome. Try BLT, egg/bacon, egg/sausage.
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Review from N C.
San Clemente, CA
I am happy I tried this place! Recommend it to everyone.
Found the place on Scoutmob and came here for Sunday brunch.
PLACE: The place is in Little Chitaly :) (Little Italy & Chinatown) , just up on Canal street. You would not expect a cafe like this in that area- I was pleasantly surprised.
The cafe is small, but not too tiny. The decor and ambiance makes you feel like you are in the West Village or Wburg. It was clean and fun.
SERVICE: The service was good. Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating. We asked for a couple sides for our toast and he brought everything without a grim on his face.
FOOD: I really appreciated the price of the brunch items (all the dishes were under $12/13). The portions are big and the quality was good.
I will definitely advise you to try this little place :) -
Review from Christal Y.
San Francisco, CA
What a quaint and peaceful place to spend your hours. It's small, but not noisy - I'm sure because the design just oozes serenity. The flowers in the tiny vase are fresh, and really add too the atmosphere.
I wasn't exactly sure what to do after I ordered because I thought they would call my name or the order, but instead they served it to me, which was a surprise for such a small place. If I knew, I would've tipped more - although for some reason, our order took a really long time.
I got the flank steak sandwhich after so many reviews. The bread is amazing, so fresh and soft - and easy to chew, while the flank steak is tasty, salty like a lingering dance on your tongue. I think I inhaled my sandwich. It's one of those things where you get it once, and you're too afraid to try something new because the last choice was so good.
The only thing that didn't really do it for me was the coffee. I got a Vanilla Chai Latte, which tasted a bit watery/weak. I didn't really taste the Vanilla or the Chai - it was good, don't get me wrong, but good in a, if I ordered flavoured milk way, not Vanilla Chia Latte.
Still, I think about the flank steak and the cozy decor of Bluebird Sky. It's definitely a place to hit up for some writing or conversation.Listed in: Must Visits
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Review from Lauren R.
Manhattan, NY
This charming cafe was on my list of lunch spots for day 2 of jury duty. I ordered a chicken sandwich and a coffee, and enjoyed both. It was relaxed enough where I could pull out my book and linger over coffee without being rushed. Would definitely recommend if you are in the area and looking for something other than chinese food.
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Review from Heather P.
Manhattan, NY
Very cozy, adorably sweet waiter, and fantastic, fresh brunch. Service was leisurely, but the place was pretty hoppin', and we were in no rush, so it was perfect. The place was on the small side, but it didn't feel cramped at all, and the volume level was just fine.
It was tough to pick from the menu, since everything looked yummy. I ended up ordering the huevo ranchero, which was an awesome melange of flavors, if a bit salty, and filled me right up despite being one of the "small" plates. The boy had the large plate with scrambled eggs and flank steak, which he said was marinated to perfection and came with a bunch of sides. Tons of food for the price, and super satisfying, especially considering we came in a couple of ravishing, rabid wolves.
All of this combined with the fun tunes coming from the kitchen and tons of refreshing cucumber water (nice touch!) put it in my top brunch experiences. I'll be back to try the delicious-looking cocktails, for sure. Rock on, Bluebird Sky. -
Review from Surge C.
Adorable coffee shop located in Chinatown. Full of pastries, amazingly brewed coffee, and delicious omelets. I got the cheese and avocado omelet with spring salad and left very satisfied for the day. My friend got a similar omelet but with egg whites and was pleased with his choice. I highly recommend stopping by before exploring Little Italy and Chinatown, especially if you are craving neither of those cuisines.
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Review from Chris M.
All I have to say abt the flank steak sandwich is that - I think it took longer for them to make it than for me to eat it. Wow thats a good sandwich. The steak juice ran a little because its made to order and I guess they didnt let the steak rest but its fine because the juice just ran onto the bread so it wasnt wasted. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and was bursting, repeat, BURSTING with flavor. Melted cheese and arugula round out this sandwich that, basically, just made my Friday.
Happy eating, suckers. -
Review from Valerie G.
New York, NY
Stopped by here for a quick drink on a random Friday afternoon while killing time in between Dr. appts and dinner with friends.
The lady who greeted me was warm and told me to choose what I wanted and to take a seat. I chose a cute little booth by the front of the cafe, with a little pillow to prop myself up and some yellow daisies on the counter top. The cafe is not terribly large, but not small either. There is one long communal table as well as several smaller tables throughout.
The vanilla chai latte I ordered was large and only $4! The cinnamon sprinkles on top provided just the right amount of sweetness and made for a pleasant 30 min me & my kindle bonding time :) -
Review from Giacomo C.
New York, NY
I was here a while ago and had the Baxter burger and the short ribs. They were both delicious. I would totally go back for more.
Justin, my waiter, was wonderful. -
Review from Mauri G.
Miami, FL
My boyfriend and I went here when he was visiting me in NYC for a quick breakfast before meeting up with the family.
I had the mushroom omelet which was perfectly made and a soy latte (which was a nice change from Starbucks), but the best part of the menu was of course the steak sandwich, which actually shut by boyfriend up for a good 10 minutes (a feat yet unheard of).
He wanted to hate it, he really did, he wanted to walk back up to the counter and tell the guy off for having that certain New-Yorker attitude that always gets him riled up, but he couldn't - the steak sandwich was just that darn good. -
Review from Alyssa P.
I pass by Bluebird Sky cafe on a regular basis... and last week was my first trip inside. First impressions? Charming.
Banquets and tables for two line each side of the narrow restaurant. So when you enter head all the way to the back to place your order. There were three people working behind the counter in the kitchen (which is even smaller than my NYC apartment kitchen- I didn't think that was possible!) one guy takes the orders (whether they be in person, via phone or via website) and the other two man the grills. it's a swift operations. Within 7 or so minutes my sandwich was ready, wrapped up and bagged. And that sandwich? Awesome.
I ordered the roasted chicken sandwich (chicken, goat cheese & arugula on a toasted baguette). As I watched the staff make my sandwich I was a little concerned that the baguette wasn't going to be big enough to fill me up... I was wrong. The baguette was cut to about 6" and was absolutely filled with more chicken and more goat cheese than I had expected. Generous portions make for a happy gal at lunch time. Oh and did I mention the side salad with balsamic? Yum.
I'm totally recommending this spot for lunch. Be warned though, its a bit pricey. $9 for a sandwich? ** Yikes! Even if you do get a salad to go with it. Sometimes its rough working and eating lunch in NYC.
** While my sandwich would have originally cost $9... I only paid $4.50. Thanks to Scoutmob for sending out an email for 50% off my order at Bluebird. If you're living in a major city in the US- check our Scoutmob! (http://scoutmob.com) -
Review from Jayson E.
Manhattan, NY
I spent three hours meeting with a couple of friends about our respective startups here today, and it was the perfect location. Not too busy or loud, but not too quiet and empty either.
Everything they have is excellent. I had a wonderful coffee and the flank steak sandwich--delicious.
The staff are incredibly friendly and nice, and I really felt at home in the cafe. We never felt rushed, even though we spent so much time sitting and chatting. I'm their newest fan. -
Review from Monique R.
Kew Gardens, NY
At first glance, I fell in love. I have walked by this cute little cafe numerous times and hadn't gone in. Recently, there was a Scout Mob deal offering 50% off and after hearing from multiple people at the office that the place was a little pricey, I thought the deal was the perfect excuse to order!
I walked in and the location was buzzing. It was busy. Good sign.
The kitchen area is small but everyone works together effortlessly. While waiting for my lunches, i browsed their stock and saw some really great, local goodies.
I was really really really looking forward to liking it here.
I received my lunch and with the discount, i still shelled out $13 for 2 sandwiches, a soda, and an iced tea. (ouch)
The sandwich itself is small. I wasnt expecting a massive sandwich but it is about half of a normal sandwich. And a side salad. The Chicken sandwich with goat cheese, arugula, and roasted red peppers, sounded amazing, but it fell short of the flavor mark. The chicken was bland. The roasted peppers, non existent and the arugula was sparse. The only thing I liked was the goat cheese. The dressing on the salad was extremly salty. I decided to put the salad on the sandwich but it just didnt go the way i had hoped.
The meatball sub my coworker ordered was bland as well.
It could have been an off day because the place is always crowded... or it could be that everyone goes there for coffee and eggs since they serve breakfast all day.
I might go back to try an omlette but not for a sandwich. -
Review from Kelly C.
Cute mom & pop cafe, nice people, fresh flowers on the tables, fruit & granola is fantastic. They supposedly have free wifi although I couldn't find the network.
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Review from Tom H.
New York, NY
Great place and great sandwiches, but they are so disorganized. They do not even answer the phone at lunch when you call to order!
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Review from Ty R.
New York, NY
I live in the neighborhood and usually pop in here for their dark roast to go. I finally had Saturday brunch here the other day and got the breakfast burrito. It was pretty big, packed with ingredients, and grilled like a panini so it didn't fall apart which I liked. They also served mimosas which were very pricey for just one - $9. It's a cute little space and a nice non-Chinese alternative for food in the area.
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Review from Sam C.
Manhattan, NY
This is my new go-to cafe for a great, fresh, and cheap meal.
My friend found this place on Yelp after our morning run and we decided to try it out since I was craving a breakfast burrito. The name kind of turned me off at first and I wasn't expecting much, but those initial doubts amounted to nothing when I walked in.
It's not a huge space, but it is big enough to seat around fifteen people comfortably. When I went there were only around five or six and this was around 10AM on a Saturday. Anyways, I ordered my breakfast burrito and my friend ordered a brioche french toast. Our food came out after a reassuring time (not too fast to make you think twice, not too long to piss you off, but just right so you know this stuff was made fresh).
The egg burrito is pretty massive, but sadly it is a knife and fork burrito. I prefer eating burritos by hand but no biggie. I couldn't believe the thing was only $7.50! It had fresh avocados, black beans, eggs, and salsa, all enveloped in a toasted tortilla. There is also a vegetarian option where you can substitute eggs for tofu. The burrito was great and a great deal. Everything tasted fresh and I was left satisfied.
My friend's french toast, from what I tried, was also pretty good. Just enough syrup and powdered sugar and a pretty generous servings of fruit. It also tasted fresh.
The atmosphere, not being huge, is nice and cozy and perfect for a morning breakfast or coffee. The employees were very friendly and the inside decor is charming. I will definitely be making a return trip to get my fix of breakfast burritos and their other breakfast items. Best part: EVERYTHING is under $10. -
Review from Chip G.
New York, NY
I went down to Bluebird Sky on a Saturday to try their highly recommended flank steak sandwich. When I arrived, however, I was told that they only serve breakfast on the weekends. The ENTIRE weekend. Strange policy, I must say.
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Review from BRIAN J.
Fresh Meadows, NY
Really small. Food okay, coffee sucked.
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Review from Joe G.
San Francisco, CA
Had brunch here today. Great cappuccino, delicious eggs with flank steak. Yum. Cute place and good service, too.
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Review from Geoffrey B.
New York, NY
Flank steak sandwich = glorious! A nice cafe in the midst of Chinatown. Holla~
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Review from R R.
Covington, LA
Fresh ingredients, reasonably priced breakfast. Clean bathroom, friendly staffed. Thick bacon, Chunks of real ham, great french toast (on weekends).
This smallish place hidden on Baxter St is still a secret, but it may not be for long.
It has free wireless too. They play their own soundtrack, and I liked it.
Prices are not cheap, but not unreasonable for freshly made food, clean, friendly staff. Dispense with the overpriced breakfast/brunch madness.
Great Stars Wars - themed chalkboard drawing outside too! -
Review from Dounia L.
New York, NY
Really great spot in the midst of the craziness Chinatown is characterized by. The food is delicious (maybe one of the best peanut butter and banana grilled sandwich I have ever tasted) and the coffee is very good! Cute brick walls, and great staff.
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Review from B G.
Austin, TX
The food here is actually pretty amazing. The service is friendly, but incredibly slow. We had to wait about 30+ minutes to be seated for a party of 5 on Sunday for brunch. The restaurant is pretty small. Eventually we were seated and we ordered drinks and what not. We ordered our food and it pretty much didn't come until an hour later. But the food was amazing! The french toast is incredibly awesome--cripsy outside, fluffy inside. The egg benedict was great too, although the lomo tasted a bit gamey. The cheese grits were great and the little bits of corn was a nice touch. The pork chop is flavorful too. I didn't have any, but my friends were amazed by the lamb bacon--they loved it. I would definitely go here again and the service was so friendly that it made up for the slowness.
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Review from caitlin h.
Sunnyside, NY
I work in SOHO and I'm always trying to find new spots for lunch. Bluebird Sky was perfect for that inbetween lunch. The " I only have 45 mins but I wanna feel like I'm taking a breather" lunch.
This right off the bat gets 2 stars for the simple fact they have espresso, it's in the middle of Chinatown, literally, and they serve food that doesn't look at you from behind a glass window, not that i'm not into that...sometimes.
The decor is very simple, sweet and clean. Just like me ;) There were plenty of tables, and while I worried about space, it was not crazy busy-another big plus!
They have a variety of food but I was looking for a salad or sando for lunch. I decided to go for the steak sandwich and was not disappointed. Just enough food for a lunch and not too heavy. The steak was also cooked perfectly and was finished with a nice zinger sauce.
Also, the guy working the counter had an amazing hat ,and, well, I'm a fan of hats. He was also relaxed and gladly answered my questions.
The prices run about 8 bucks for sandwich, and they take cards! Have cup and split a sandwich, then head next store for a bubble tea, after all you are in Chinatown! -
Review from Wenky L.
Manhattan, NY
At first when I saw the name of the place and its location, I thought it was run by Chinese people trying to serve American food but it was the total opposite! It had simple 'lax modern decor and a fairly selective menu and me and my friend were the only Chinese people in there. The food was pretty good and decent (nothing glamorous like a Michelin star restaurant of course) but I would definitely come back again. It's a good cozy place to grab a little afternoon snack or brunch/lunch with a buddy. I had their peanut butter and banana toast and I liked it! I'm not a coffee person but if you like coffee, they have a slightly broader selection of coffee than other places I've seen.
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Review from Dee Y.
New York, NY
I am slightly torn on my feelings of Bluebird Sky. On one hand, yay for a great coffee / sandwich shop a few blocks away from the apartment. On the other hand, the invasion of hipsters into Little Italy / Chinatown worries me...
I came here looking for the flank steak sandwich (featured in TONY's 100 best dishes this year). It did not disappoint. Apparently the beef is marinated for 24 hrs in "flavor-boosting bath of oil, garlic, crushed peppercorns and pimentón". The flavor shines through with the help of pickled shallots. My beef was a little more cooked than I like, but given how friendly the staff is, I'm sure you can request it to be slightly pinker if you'd like.
Oh and! If you are looking to bring your laptop in and be productive for a few hours, there were plenty of outlets from what I could see. -
Review from dave r.
New York, NY
Lovely decor great tunes friendly service - an oasis in chinatown
coffee is amazing -
Review from Ina C.
What a haven from the greasy, heavy food in this area! There's a time and place for Chinese food, but for me, yesterday was not it. The food at Bluebird Sky is healthy and filling. I had a mozzarella and avocado sandwich with arugula and red onion and probably some vinaigrette. What a beautiful combination of textures and flavors! And the bread is very simple, with a crispy crust and a soft inside. Really delicious.
Other great things about this place: They have a self-serve pitcher of cucumber water next to the register; It's cheap ($7-9 for sandwiches, I think); friendly service.
You will like this place. -
Review from Crystal W.
New York, NY
I tried this place on a Wednesday morning, so it wasn't too crowded. The service was really sweet, but for the number of people actually in the cafe it took just a smidge too long for them to get our food to us.
Nonetheless, it's a very cute place, well-priced and as others have mentioned it's a breath of fresh air in an area traditionally associated with either Asian or Italian food, as clearly indicated by the neighborhood names. This is a place where you can just duck in and relax and be a normal person. The coffee was good too - always a plus in my book. -
Review from Carol G.
Redwood City, CA
Great breakfast and good coffee but the music track made my ears bleed.
Hard rock for breakfast? Maybe I'm old but I'd rather have some Norah Jones for breakfast. But you don't need to have excellent hearing to enjoy a great breakfast burrito and mine was just that. The people sitting next to me had a breakfast sandwich which looked really good as well. Service was a little slow but I was having a lazy morning and so didn't mind too much. -
Review from Becki K.
Brooklyn, NY
This is probably the cheapest soy latte in town ($3). It's really good too! They get the foam just right, and that's tricky with soy milk.
I really loved the steak sandwich too. It was the best one I've had in a while. They really took care to cook the steak perfectly (not always the case with steak sandwiches).
Last time I popped in they told me they will soon have a dinner menu, and hopefully later hours! -
Review from Laura P.
New York, NY
This place is a bit pricey, kind of like an upscale version of IHOP minus the pancakes. Their foods are gourmet which means deliciousness without feeling like a pig.
Today, after being yelled at by my parents about getting sick and such I walked in and ordered a sausage omelet. I was fumbling with getting my money out to pay so he said I could just have a seat first and pay later. I didn't feel pretty or in the mood to smile so muttered a thanks and took a seat. Although the music was a bit loud, it wasn't bad. I'm glad the people here have such positive and upbeat attitudes early Saturday morning because I needed it today.
I work next door and I wasn't very happy to be going to work sick, especially because I caught it here from a girl that sits next to me who is still sick. I was brought breakfast (the only thing missing was a bed) and so I dug in with 20 minutes left.
The omelet was mindblowingly good. It was fluffy, the sausage was perfect, not too much cheese. The sea salt on the salad was oddly calming. It was like my food was trying to tell me I would get through my miserable day. The guy working behind the counter was able to crack a smile on my face and that really got me through my day. So thanks!
I brought my own drink, but I wished I could have ordered a latte here. I am sick so it was out of the question.
