Lunch At Bluebird Sky: A Classy Spot Amid The Chinatown Handbag Sellers

I know it’s strange to head up to Chinatown or Little Italy to eat at newish Bluebird Sky instead of eating at one of the million cheap Asian or Italian places there. But this cafe on Baxter (btw. Canal & Hester) came highly recommended by lunch’er Mark and also lured me in with its promise of a muffuletta listed on the menu. And since it’s right by the Canal St. subway stop I decided it was time to if their sandwiches were up to the task of being my lunch. 

It’s what you might call a “charming” little shop that’s part coffeehouse, part breakfast and lunch sandwich spot. The best part was there were plenty of seats available which is a rarity in most places come lunchtime. Dare I say it was even relaxing?

Here’s what Mark had to say about his lunch there:

I had a GREAT lunch at Bluebird Sky on Baxter Street- sandwiches were awesome.  Salad was good.  It’s a super clean, quiet spot.  Def recommend checking it out. My coworker and I split the egg and (thick cut, delicious) bacon with gruyere, the spinach salad, and the flank steak sandwich.

It doesn’t say so on the Web site, but they don’t have all of the sandwiches listed there at any one time. If you have your heart set on something like I did, it might be best to call ahead. My second choice was the braised short rib sandwich, but they were out of that, so I went with one of Mark’s suggestions and got the flank steak sandwich ($9) with shallots and gruyere. Yes, this is a $9 yuppie sandwich, but it comes with some roughage and it was a decent size and actually had a lot of grilled flank steak.

This was one tasty lunch, and the addition of some salad made me feel a little better about stuffing my face with rare steak and cheese. If you work nearby this might be a good place to check out if you’re looking for somewhere quiet to eat. And you can buy a fancy handbag across the street afterward.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • It’s quiet and there’s plenty of seating.
  • They have some unique sandwiches, including a muffaletta (maybe).

THE — (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • I’m not paying $9 for a sandwich when I’m in Chinatown.

Bluebird Sky, 121 Baxter St. (btw. Canal & Hester), (212) 966-4646

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3 Comments

  • Look’s good but I’d have trouble paying that much when I’m in the area.

  • Love the negative.
    I feel the same way. Passed by here yesterday on my way to Jup she. Might just take your word for it and cross it off my list.

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    That’s around the corner from may wah fast food, the orig one, not the watered down replacement. The one where you can smell the fryolator from a block away. And, that new condo with the radiant heating system under those brick pavers.
    It appears there’s people out there waiting to buy those $9 sandwiches.

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