Cafe Royal

Call it the royal treatment: Owner Cody Utzman (Brooklyn Standard, Papacito's) gutted this former laundromat, turning it into a spacious cafe modeled on the neighborhood bar tabacs that he fell in love with in France. Right now the menu is strictly Stumptown coffee drinks and Ceci Cela pastries, but the food options will expand considerably (and hopefully a pending beer and wine license will accommodate an evening bar scene). Like Utzman's other Greenpoint establishments, the cuisine will be a cut above what you'd expect—cafe fare with a gourmet twist. In addition to the pastries, breakfast will include a tofu Scramble with whole grain sunflower toast and local vegan pate; lunch will feature European-inflected sandwiches like jambon, French butter and cornichons on a baguette; and dinner will offer hearty fare like coq au van and short ribs. The counter-service space is on the large side for a NYC cafe, offering 40 seats inside, an additional 25 in the yard and a large bar for mingling.

See more: Greenpoint restaurants, Baked good restaurants, Sandwich restaurants