DAYTIME

Written By Nick Di Chiara

LOCATION
199 Windsor Place, Brooklyn, NY 11215

THE ESTABLISHMENT

Daytime has 2 locations in Williamsburg and Windsor Terrace. When you walk into the Windsor Terrace location, you see a fridge with a wide array of to-go groceries from house-made chai concentrate, pickled shallots, and pepper jam, to wine and coffee beans. There is also a cozy bar area by the window where patrons can sit on stools and look out onto the street. As you approach the counter, there is a display case filled with fresh pastries and more grocery items including olive oils, condiments, oat milk, and more, making this a truly convenient location for anything you might need. The kitchen is open so you can see the staff working hard preparing breakfast orders. The menu is large and filled with toasts, bowls, egg sandwiches, and seasonal beverages. Daytime has created a strong emphasis on local ingredients, and a focus on community in their products and it is clear by the assortment they offer. Their partners include Colson Patisserie, Bien Cuit, The Good Batch, Hudson Valley Fresh, Coeur Wine Co., Bellocq Tea Atelier, and Matchaful.

THE MEAT OF IT

Daytime’s egg sandwich is a build-your-own, so the possibilities are endless. The options for add-ons include proteins like Bacon, Ham, Turkey, and Avocado. In addition to house-made Pepper Jam, Pickled Shallots, Tomato, and Arugula. By default, it is served on a brioche bun. There is also the option to substitute it for Multigrain, or a Gluten-Free English Muffin. Our go-to is Turkey or Avocado, with Pepper Jam, and Arugula on Brioche. The soft brioche bun is lightly toasted on the top and bottom. The sweet Pepper Jam soaks into the bun and complements the smoked turkey flavor nicely. The bite of the arugula also pairs well and adds a fresh crispness to the sandwich.

THE BEV

We grabbed a hot coffee, which is Daytime’s Darling blend. According to the flavor profiles on the packaging, it specifies notes of malt, black tea, and plum. The coffee flavor is robust, but not overpowering, and one of our favorite coffees to start the work day. They also have espresso blends available called Strong & Tiny, and Slowpoke (which is decaf), all their blends can be purchased whole or ground. According to their website “Daytime works directly with a vertically integrated coffee roaster located in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We are dedicated to consistent and quality product produced and sourced ethically. Our blends are roasted and delivered weekly.”

We also always make sure to grab a house-made chai. In our opinion, it is one of the best in Brooklyn. It is not overly sweet and is full of delicious spices. For convenience, we like to grab a chai concentrate to keep at home.

THE EXTRA

We also grabbed an everything croissant as well, which was super crispy on the bottom, but still light and flakey throughout. When you bite into it, there is a burst of butter and you instantly taste the garlic flavor from everything seasoning on top. The seasoning makes this normally sweeter pastry, a savory delight.

THE EXPERIENCE

This neighborhood staple functions like a well-oiled machine. Everyone is friendly and is a convenient one-stop shop for everything you need. The food and beverages are delicious, we can’t complain about anything we’ve had here. This is one of our favorite places to frequent if just for a coffee on the weekdays or a decadent egg sandwich on the weekend. We recommend stopping in and taking a stroll down Windsor Place and admiring the beautiful row houses on your way to Prospect Park.

Nick Di Chiara