Barnyard Cheese
“Apparently the Mexican Cuban is also fantastic, which means I'll have to get that next time I'm in town.”
“I've come twice, and each time I want to get something new but I keep falling back on the Figgy Piggy because I know how delicious it is!”
“I bring all of my friends and family to check out the freshest meats and cheeses between two slices of bread in Alphabet City.”
Barnyard Cheese
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Ironically, this place has been on my to-do list for months. I finally visit, and instead of one of their famous sandwiches I get swayed by the aroma of their killer empanadas. (In my case, the beef and bean variety). They heated it for me on the spot, but hearing that they sell them cold also sounds like a perfect party food to keep in mind for this gal who habitually stores cereal boxes in her oven. Do I regret making the empanada the lunch of choice on my first Barnyard visit? Not a wee bit. Will I be back pronto for the legendary sandwiches? Bet your bottom dollar I will.
The shop is warm and cozy, with a helpful and unpretentious team manning the counters. They sell some chips and assorted baked goods for those looking to assemble a Tompkins Square picnic. And picnicking is wise – as there's minimal seating inside, and one picnic table out front now that spring has gloriously sprung.
Due to a recommendation I tried the "Whit" as probably most of the people since they made it on TV with the sandwich. Although I am mostly very reluctant in trying out spots featured in shows I did it anyway and I have to apologize: This sandwich is simply amazing. I have no idea whether it's the cheese, the egg, the bacon or the sauce. It's just soooo good. And the guys working there are a big plus too. Very friendly and relaxed.
Great spot for sandwiches, salads, and cheese. I've gotten lunch here and their salads are terrific! They get pretty busy during lunch though so there might be a bit of a wait. I'll definitely go back for more.
My favorite sandwich so far is the Mexican Cuban, a riff on the Cuban sandwich. It has avocado and picked jalapeño in addition to the usual fixings and it is delicious!
I came here. I had the Whitt. It was really really good. I'll warn you though it's not for people who can't handle fat and heat. It's a hot hot hot sandwich and it's made with lots of meat, cheese, and eggs (it's very greasy) so if you can't handle it it will probably wreak havoc on your GI tract… You've been warned.
Also sandwich was $10 and I was easily full after having half at two separate meals so the value is there as well. Yay!
NB: get to go or delivered. There's minimal seating out front but nothing inside so if it's cold windy or rainy you're not eating there.
Good sandwiches! We got the The Whit and a Tuna salad sandwich. Both were really really tasty. We actually think we liked the tuna salad the best – it was flavorful and had a unique mayo type mix in it. We will be back again to buy some cheese and grab another sandwich!
YUSS!!! I was in town staying with a friend and made it over to Barnyard twice and had food/wine delivered a third time. That's how great they are.
In fact, on a separate trip my friend who lives around the corner asked what sandwich I ordered and when I described the ingredients she screamed, "The Vito!?" So that says a lot about how great this little cheese shop is. Their sandwiches are so good that people memorize the names and get them over and over. I highly recommend the Vito. It's made up of prosciutto, sopressata, fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, basil, EVOO & aged balsamic all on a soft, chewy, perfect baguette.
Apparently the Mexican Cuban is also fantastic, which means I'll have to get that next time I'm in town.
In addition to a thorough sandwich selection there are also pre-packed containers of fresh fruit, salads, a whole selection of cheeses, sodas/waters, and more. It's the perfect corner store for people who want incredible options and not just Cheetos or Gatorade. As I mentioned above they do deliver so we were stoked to get cheese, a baguette and rosé dropped off right at our apt around the corner. Call ahead and make sure you're in their delivery radius though because we were literally less than 500 ft from the store's front door. Just a little too hungover/lazy to go there ourselves. Wink!
Ooh – They also so fresh made hibiscus iced tea and daily desserts/pastries. I think a better review would simply read, "What DOESN'T this place do?!"
the sandwiches here are THE TRUTH! and that ain't no lie. seewhatididthere
it might be called BARNYARD but it ain't no menagerie, though you will find a variety of fine meats, cheeses, and hunks of bread here for sandwiching. ha
the entrance is simple and tasteful without being pretentious or corporate-y. the outside have a marble-top table with inset benches around it–good for eating/coffee'ing from Spring to late Fall. the entrance and store window let in a lot of light which is nice, so the space doesn't have to lean heavily on creepy retail lighting. As you walk in, there's various food merch to buy to the right like chips, crackery stuff, salami, etc. Further in on the right is where the soda, juices, and pre-prepared food is refrigerated (the pre-prepared foods are good (like the pesto), but pricey.). To the left is the deli display where you can get cuts of speck, prosciutto, and other meats on top of some tasty cheeses! There is seating in the front flush to the window, an inset high table with stools. There might be about 4-6 seats. It's not a place where you can linger–not much room. Centered in the back is the order counter/cashier. Order here. Pay by cash or credit ($10 minimum on the plastic). If you order in they'll bring you your food on a plate. Otherwise they brown bag it for your to-go needs.
There are two types of sandwiches served here: HOT or COLD.
On the COLD side, I've had the GREATEST AMERICAN HERO and the VITO. If you like sandwiches overstuffed with MEAT on a baguette, these are your go-to's. I really enjoyed both but while the GREATEST AMERICAN was heftier and had a lot more ingredients…the VITO's simplicity plus the baller olive oil and balsamic added to it made it my favorite on the cold side (could be bc it's loaded with prosciutto, sopressat, and "da mooz").
On the HOT side, the sandwich to beat is THE WHIT which is comprised of eggs, roast beef, bacon, home fries, cheddar, jalapenos, cilantro, and some super crazy salsa–all smashed and toasted together on a Portuguese flautta (oilive oil long roll). The WHIT is spicy mayhem. The sandwich brings the jalapeno heat and balances that with the savoriness of the roast beef and bacon. Smooth cooling from the cheddar cheese and eggs, and then some more bite from the salsa. It will be complete anarchy in your mouth as your tastebuds try to take in all the flavors as your mind is blown and your stomach expands. The sandwich is a legit cure for even the HANGRIEST of hungers! "Whit" by definition is a small or trace amount of something…and this sandwich is definitely a small trace of glorious food heaven.
Other hot "sammies" of note to GNOSH/GNASH on:
* Barnyard Classic of eggs, bacon, and cheese can soothe the stomach grumbles whether it's morning or evening. Serious YUM.
* Steak n Bacon Eggalicious is a filling serving of roast beef, eggs, bacon–kicked up with some jalapenos. A whole lotta eats with some fire.
* Mexican Cuban does everything right with no wrong. Step 1, smoosh together pork, ham, swiss, avocado, jalapeños, & pickles. Step 2, devour it without choking! lol So good.
* Meatball Parm Hero. It's delicious. Miles ahead of most places charging less for this sandwich. I like this sandwich, but being that there are SO MANY outrageous sandwich options on the menu…I'd order something else. Also my expectations for this sandwich (bc it's BARNYARD) was that it would be insane…alas, it was quite tame and the meatballs were small.
the staff seems nice-ish. they do their jobs well which is take orders, take payment, hand orders to customers, etc. no substantial complaints. though i am a Patriots fan, i do use "Hi. How how are you? What's up?" Etc and other niceties. I've yet to hear "Hi. How are you?" Etc. from the staffers here. Though it might be casual and small talk is abridged at Barnyard. I find it weird that a neighborhood-esque place isn't having staff do that on the reg–not only is it good manners but also engages a customer a bit longer beyond just a transactional relationship / interaction. I don't expect a creepy corporate smile and greeting, but a few pleasantries goes a long way in developing repeat customers who sing your praises on social media and elsewhere. just saying.
the $10 minimum irks me a lil. i get that small business get screwed by the credit card companies etc., but being that a bunch of sandwiches end up being under $10 bucks. you're forced to buy a soda or something else to get you over the top and then you add the tip for staff. i'd rather just tip out to the staff to get the bill to $10 rather than having to buy a small bottled Coke where there's only 1 bottle opener and it's attached to a wall by the entrance/exit. and WHY is it placed here? just buy a normal bottle opener that i can easily pop the cap off as opposed to my jiggling a bottle open against a wall as people enter and exit. ARGH!
drops mic for a two-handed sandwich experience. Mmm-agnificent.
i out.
zzz
Last weekend, in the mood for a sandwich at a joint I hadn't been to yet, my fiancee and I made the trek over to the eastern reaches of Alphabet City to come to Barnyard. By mid-afternoon, it wasn't too crowded, so we were able to eat at one of the few seats that is at the window. The servers here are all very nice, and the food comes out pretty quickly. We split a small split pea soup, which, at 12 ounces, isn't all that small. It's very hearty, without any of the cream that's used to usually enrich a soup. We split the Starvin' Marvin, which is deli-sliced smoked turkey with Swiss, avocado, egg whites, and a few veggies on 7-grain bread. I wasn't blown away by it, but it has a very savory taste without being overly heavy or stuffed with ingredients, which is how a lot of delis treat sandwiches. I really do like it as a warm sandwich as well.
I'd definitely like to come back again to try out some of the other sandwiches, as well as the baked goods (cookies, brownies, etc.) and maybe pick up some cheese – of which there is a pretty solid selection to choose from. It reminds be a bit of Lamazou near where I live, although the sandwiches don't appear to be quite as adventurous. It's still very good, though, and it's great for a light mid-afternoon lunch.