At Birdee, an all-day cafe in the The Refinery at Domino, the baked goods sell out early—and for good reason. The perfect strawberry cheesecake danishes, churro croissants and other laminated pastries from an Eleven Madison Park alum taste as good as they look.

But once the pastry-chasers have gone home and the clock strikes 12, the breakfast sandwiches are replaced by a lunch sandwich that deserves its own moment in the spotlight. Birdee’s Italian dip is like a cross between a French dip and an Italian beef, with basil mayo, soft shreds of beef, provolone cheese, and a crisp giardiniera, on a blistered bun with a side of jus—and it's excellent.

photo credit: Willa Moore

photo credit: Natalie Black

photo credit: Natalie Black

With a few more lunch options and plenty of space to get work done, Birdee (which is from the Crown Shy team) is a pleasant—if slightly corporate—spot to drink a matcha and spend a couple of hours near the Williamsburg waterfront. We’ll be back to try their ice cream sundae bar too.