Westchester Breakfast Club

“Some People Do Different Things”: Shelley and Friends Breakfast Adventures on Fire Island

Our opening quote comes courtesy of the metal band Punishment, via Fire Island co-host Tomas. Let me take a moment to give a shout-out to the site that Tomas runs, The Musician’s Lab.  Like music? Like podcasts? Then you should like The Musician’s Lab. Come on, do it. Like them.

Anyway, while the rest of the WBC was holding down the metaphorical breakfast fort in Westchester, I was doing a different thing, taking a much needed vacation on Fire Island. From the moment I stepped onto the ferry at Bay Shore, LI, I was instantly in vacation mode, and when I stepped off the ferry at the dock in Ocean Beach 20 minutes later, I was transported to a world of R&R. Now, maybe I’m a cynical New Yorker type of person, but the thing that struck me about Ocean Beach was how darn friendly everyone was. Locals offered help, they smiled and said hello. There are no cars on the island, which just makes everything blissfully quiet and easygoing. People ride bikes (with bells and baskets!) and pull little red wagons behind them. It was beautiful.

I could go on about my vacation, detailing how my sunscreen didn’t blend well and made me look like a goth kid, explaining in amazement how I didn’t crash my rented bike despite not having ridden a bike in upwards of 15 years (I guess you really don’t forget!), and how with my flashlight I accidentally became the nighttime sex on the beach patrol. But I know what you’re all here for, you want to hear about the breakfasts. Ok, I’ll get on with it.

I had breakfast at two establishments in Ocean Beach: Rachel’s Restaurant and The Landing. Read on for my reviews, as well as reviews from some very special guests!

 

If you can’t find these establishments, they’ve either closed down or you’re not where you think you are.(Map it)

Wednesday, June 15, 2011: Jimmy’s Shrimp Shack or something equally mundane

Attendees: Andy

Thursday, June 16, 2011: Rachel’s Restaurant

Attendees: Andy, Wendy, Shelley, Tracey, Tomas, Gabriel

Friday, June 17, 2011: The Landing

Attendees: Andy, Shelley, Tracey, Tomas, Gabriel

Andy: Gary the Garbage Man Requested the Doo-Wap or My Breakfasts on Fire Island

Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Breakfast time. Shelley and I are waiting for our Fire Island getaway to begin with a ferry ride to car-free tranquility. But first I must eat. We wait, knock on a plastic window, stare longingly at Doritos mysteriously enclosed behind shatterproof glass. With bags clamoring against doors, tipping over chairs, we enter Jimmy Shrimp Shack, or something equally as mundane. One stale everything bagel please.

Munching on mediocrity on the ferry, a culinary lifesaver is thrown my way. The Westchester Breakfast Club is going on a special Fire Island road trip, and I can challenge my palette and memory to take part.

The WBC put together a road crew composed of vacationers turned semi-professional eaters. With our fearless leader Shelley, Tracey, Tomas, Wendy, Gabriel, myself, and Gary the Garbage Man had two great breakfasts together as we took on the role of guest bloggers.
Back to top

 

Rachel’s Restaurant, Thursday June 16, 2011

Andy

Thursday morning we ate at a diner in restaurant’s clothing: Rachel’s, with famed biscuits and baked goods, and not so famed breakfasts. I can only speak of my Eggs Benedict, which came out runny, and without the promised biscuits on the side, which came later as a side dish upon request only. The home fries on the side were delicately seasoned with spices. However, the tastiness of the potatoes couldn’t make up for the rubbery and watery sensations that were the aforementioned Eggs Benedict.
Back to top

Wendy Wolf

Guest reviewer, Westchester transplant to Philadelphia (you WBC eaters are invited to do some Philly brunch eating, we’ve got some stellar places!), WBC appreciator and occasional commenter

“Caprece” omelette: mozzarella, tomato, and basil omelette (I’m pretty sure they should have called it the “Caprese” omelette; the mispelling wasn’t a good omen) that came with home fries, a biscuit, and a twist of orange. $16 including tip/tax

I’ve been visiting Fire Island for ten years and have never eaten at Rachel’s. I usually visit very budget conscious and bring my food to make at the house. Rachel’s tempts you with baked goods lined up in the window that I always suspected didn’t taste as good as they looked. The interior of the restaurant has a nice open and beachy atmosphere, the menu is diner-type fare and the place was nice and empty when we finally got the whole crew out to a very late breakfast.

Sadly it was worse than I expected. The highlight of the meal was the biscuit and the orange garnish. The biscuit was fine (very far from the best I’ve ever had, though); it wasn’t too dry and it had a nice buttery flavor. It was baked in a sheet pan and cut into rectangles which is a sad way to make a biscuit since the crusty outside with the fluffy moist inside is my favorite part. I was pleasantly surprised that it had gotten a nice orangey flavor since it was placed on top of the orange slice garnish (surely not done intentionally). Is it bad when you like the garnish better than the food? The omelette did have a good amount of tomato and mozzarella (not fresh) and enough basil to give it flavor, but the egg was extremely overcooked and needed lots of tobasco to make it edible. The home fries were nice sized chunks of skin-on potatoes, but weren’t the crispy type, and the flavor on them was simply gross to me. I was the only one at the table that seemed to hate them, so maybe it was just me.

Shelley also shared a plate of mini-cupcakes; I had a bite of each. The chocolate cake and icing were a flavor of chocolate that should never be eaten, weird bitter and inedible. The yellow cake was actually OK and the butter sugar frosting was sweet. But worth eating? Nope!

Was it worth it? NO. Will I go back? NO.

Best part of the meal: The wildly entertaining baby and the wonderful company, and the short walk to the beach!

My advice is to bring your own breakfast to Fire Island!

Back to top

Shelley

Rachel’s is a two-in-one establishment, with a bakery on one side and a restaurant on the other side. Of course upon entering, my eye wandered to the case of baked goods on the bakery side. But we’ll get to that in a little bit.

We arrived at about 10:00 on a beautiful Thursday morning. The restaurant was quiet, with only one other table occupied. Therefore, there was no problem pushing two tables together to accommodate the five of us (plus one hungry baby). The interior was open and airy, with tall ceilings which were adorned with charming ceiling fans that seemed to be at several restaurants in the town. The menu offered your typical breakfast fare, with a couple of interesting omelette choices available (including a caprece omelette, which contained mozzerella, basil, and tomatoes), all at elevated vacation-destination prices. Tracey told fables about the biscuits at Rachel’s, so I wanted to select a breakfast meal that would come with a biscuit. The winner: Western omelette, served with breakfast potatoes and a biscuit. The waitress asked me if I wanted to add cheese, and I thought, why not, I’m on vacation, let’s go nuts. So, cheddar it was. I selected an apple juice to wash everything down with. Beverages arrived promptly (including fresh milk for baby). I took the time while we were waiting for our meals to go inspect the bakery side more carefully. The case contained a variety of intriguing baked goods including croissants, apple turnovers, rugelach, some sort of chocolate cake (which had a charmingly imperfect homemade look to it), cookies, and mini-cupcakes. I love me a good cupcake, so on my way back to our table I told our waitress I wanted to get a small sampling of mini-cupcakes for the table. I asked for one of each: vanilla with vanilla frosting, vanilla with chocolate frosting, and chocolate with chocolate frosting.

When I returned from my bakery excursion it was only a short while longer before our food arrived. Everything was well presented, and I have to say, was served with a smile.

Now, the omelette was well cooked, and the ham, peppers, and onions were well distributed through the omelette and were fresh. Unfortunately my omelette would have been better without the added cheddar cheese. The cheese was not well distributed, instead it was clumped together right in the middle of the omelette. To add insult to injury, there was way too much cheese and it was very, very stringy. As I took a piece of omelette and lifted my fork up, a long string of cheese remained connected to the rest of the omelette still on the plate. I twirled my fork around several times to collect the rest of the cheese, and Wendy accurately commented that it looked like I was eating cheese spaghetti. 

I enjoyed the potatoes, which were large cuts, subtly (but I thought well) seasoned, and not too terribly greasy. The biscuit was a superstar, a large rectangle of buttery, flaky, fresh biscuity goodness. On the menu, the breakfast sandwich comes served on a Kaiser roll. I wonder, though, if Rachel’s would prepare the breakfast sandwich on one of these delicious biscuits if asked. That would make for something special.

The cupcakes were delightful little sweet treats. I enjoyed the vanilla, which had a good balance of sweetness and creaminess. The dollup of whipped cream served in the middle of the plate evened things out nicely, and went particularly well with the chocolate cupcake.

Now, as I said at the outset, the prices were elevated. The omelette (with the added cheese) came to $13.95. Was it really a $14 omelette? I’d be willing to pay that much for a more creative omelette like you’d find at Stanz in Larchmont, but a run of the mill Western omelette? No, not really. But when you go on vacation, especially to a place like Fire Island where there are not all too many restaurants to choose from in town, you probably have to expect to pay a little more for a breakfast that would typically cost less in your hometown. (Unless, that is, your hometown happens to be Ocean Beach.)
Back to top

Tracey

two eggs any style, homestyle potatoes, choice of sausage, ham, or bacon, and biscuit ($9.50); iced coffee ($2.75)

Rachel’s is my favorite breakfast spot on Fire Island. Granted I’ve only been to maybe three restaurants for a morning meal in the ten years I’ve been visiting this local paradise, but I always look forward to Rachel’s for good satisfying breakfast one day out of the week I’m on Fire Island. Most days, I opt for a dockside chocolate croissant and iced tea or coffee procured from one of the local markets. Things are pricey so even that could still set you back a couple bucks, so Rachel’s is a good value.

Rachel’s has an adjoining bakery counter with gorgeous looking pastries and cookies showcased in the window. Sadly (or maybe it’s a good thing for the bathing suit minded), the baked goods just aren’t, well, that good.

But….there are Rachel’s biscuits. And my anticipation for that biscuit every year is palpable! It may be the only biscuit I eat all year, so maybe it isn’t as fantastic as I think, but I like it. And my predisposition as a biscuit lover (I hope that doesn’t have any weird euphemistic meaning) persuaded my taste buds to order the egg plate back in my first days of visiting Fire Island despite growing up not liking eggs in any manner except in food I couldn’t recognize them in.

I wasn’t disappointed…the biscuit was square cut, large, airy, and buttery (and even more buttery with a few dabs of the whipped butter—oh how nice not to have a cold butter pat gum up the works!). Breakfast as a whole was a satisfying treat.

Ambiance and service: cheery, friendly, accommodating. High chair was available for the little guy and our waitress even asked about and remembered my son’s name.

The music was fun and familiar (Paul Simon’s Graceland…crowd pleaser to all ages of breakfast eaters in my book) Service was fast—meals out in ten minutes!

Breakfast: The scrambled eggs were plentiful, yellow, pleasant, and more than I could eat. Potatoes: fine, not spicy and not greasy. A touch of salt made them just right. Sausage: evocative of McDonald’s—two round patties…a bit greasy but hit the spot.

Iced coffee: fine…but why can’t they refill iced coffee as they do with hot coffee? It wasn’t a fancy espresso drink (although I would’ve loved that…but I don’t think espresso machines are allowed on the ferry as I can’t find any coffee other than the regular stuff anywhere…). Shelley treated us to mini cupcakes. The vanilla one: good! The chocolate one: ugh! How does chocolate go wrong? But all flavors were pretty to look at.
Back to top

Tomas

French toast ($10.50); coffee ($2.75)

Tracey’s take: the bite I had was tasty but one bite is plenty of French toast for me. Loved the syrup in a tall olive oil style bottle with decanter pour top. Elegant and functional!
Back to top

Gabriel

Gerber Organic Apples ($1.00 from home); bites of everyone’s food ($0.00); milk ($3.00)

“Bah!” “Uh-Oh!” “Apple!” “mmmm” (translation from 15-month-old limited vocabulary: “Having a blast with Gary Garbageman and Mom and Dad and Shelley and Andy and Wendy! Food good!”) Considering the mark up on the Island (a bag of m&ms is $1.55!) not a bad price for the convenience (our server filled up our bottle with milk). However, looking back, maybe mom should’ve just kept asking for more milk for her coffee. They offered whole, skim, and half and half, and brought out milk in nice sized little metal pitcher.

Back to top

The Landing, Friday June 17, 2011

Andy

What was lacking at Rachel’s was made up for in the dining experience alone Friday morning at The Landing. That morning we got a nice early start and for that we were rewarded. There were no crowds or waits when we ambled up to the oceanside restaurant with a gorgeous view of the Atlantic from a front porch reminiscent of an old Southern home.

Between snap shots of gently bouncing waves, full plates, and fuller smiles, we ate. I enjoyed a nice big stack of syrup with a side of pancakes. Shelley may still have a picture to prove it. (Editor’s Note: There is indeed a photo. Take a look.)  It wasn’t as bad as it seemed when I finished it. What can I say, I have a sweet tooth sometimes. I used every last drop of the syrup. Now, this is not to say that the pancakes totally needed the syrup because on their own the pancakes were fluffy, flavorful, and light. The meal was also peppered with a nice mix of Tomas-approved rock and a weird mix of doo-wap, which we all learned was not Tracey-approved! This meal wasn’t memorable because of the perfectly nice food or peaceful setting, but rather the company we kept.
Back to top

 

Shelley

Breakfast 2 took place at The Landing, a restaurant about a block away from Rachel’s. The Landing’s big draw is the large veranda-style front porch that has an unobscured view of the ferry dock. Although this morning was overcast and cooler than the last several days, it was still nice enough for outdoor eating. We arrived around 9:30, but as with Rachel’s, there was only one other table occupied. I wonder whether people don’t typically go out for breakfast on the island. Or maybe it was because it was still before the weekend rush. Who knows, but again, the quieter setting was pleasant. Service was once again very friendly and prompt. The Landing adds a nice touch with their menus, which are oblong pieces of paper mounted on metal. The Landing has a beach chic motif, with a blue, white and silver color scheme. However, the porch had the same decorative ceiling fans that we saw at Rachel’s. The ambience at The Landing seemed much more fitting for a beachside retreat, though, compared to Rachel’s, which felt more like your typical Everytown USA restaurant. The Landing had the same elevated prices.

I had overheard the waitress telling the people at the table behind us that the French toast was really good. She really talked it up, made it sound like the real breakfast superstar of the place. And the French toast was listed first on the menu. It claimed to be a bourbon vanilla French toast with carmelized pecans and your choice of breakfast meat. I decided to try it, making sausage my breakfast meat of choice this morning.

When it arrived, the French toast looked inviting. I had four fluffy slices, which were topped with a generous helping of pecans. Accompanying the toast were two large sausages, a silver cup of what I hope was real maple syrup, and an orange twist. What would this fabled bourbon vanilla French toast taste like? Well, it really tasted just like regular French toast. Where was the bourbon? Where was the vanilla? I don’t know, but they weren’t in my French toast. Now, let me say, the French toast wasn’t bad. It was fluffy, soft, and pleasantly sweet. But it wasn’t what was advertised. I wouldn’t have had any disappointment had I just thought I was ordering regular French toast. But because I thought I was ordering bourbon vanilla French toast, I was a bit disappointed.

The sausage had a nice kick of spiciness and was juicy, the way a good breakfast sausage should be.

So what’s my final takeaway of my breakfasts on Fire Island? The food was fine (if not always exactly what it should have been), the prices were high, the ambience was pleasant. I think if you’re renting a house on Fire Island, you’d be better off to stock up on supplies and make your own breakfast at home. You’ll save some money and you’ll be able to get exactly what you want. But am I upset about my breakfasts? Nah, I was on vacation, I was too relaxed to let anything bother me. And I must say, it is nice starting the day by strolling into town and settling down for a leisurely breakfast. (Ah, I’m already thinking about when I can return to Ocean Beach…)
Back to top

Tracey

pancakes with choice of ham/bacon/sausage ($12.00); iced coffee ($3.50)

The Landing is a pretty, new restaurant and hotel overlooking the bay and main dock in Ocean Beach. It boasts a genteel porch and tasteful interior and bar. When the freight ferry comes in, the atmosphere is lively and fun but potentially very loud if you plan on having a conversation. Check the ferry schedule if noise is an issue for you. If not, enjoy the old-timey fun seeing all the various crates of produce, liquor, furniture and other unwieldy goods gracefully and impressively unloaded onto golf carts and bicycle-drawn transport. And it’s a perfect spot for people watching—it’s fun to see the parade of weathered, seasoned locals as well as arriving ferry passengers greeted like long-lost relatives by their hosts, loading their luggage into FI traditional red wagons (hilarious to watch wagons pulled by burly sailor types).

Ambiance and service: great view of the town, friendly, accommodating. High chair was available for the little guy. The music was a combination of fun stuff I like and stuff that makes me want to run screaming. (But that’s just me. The Phil Spector Wall of Sound gives me psychadelic creeps.) Service was friendly and waiting time for meal perfectly acceptable. Nice place settings although most of our cups had to replaced because they had bits of sand in them. Pretty menus with aluminum metal backings.

Breakfast: Three big pancakes with very nice texture and crisp edges. Huge, thick, slab of ham—salty and a perfect pairing to the sweet syrup that I poured on the pancakes. Nicely plated with an artfully curled orange slice. We all fed our orange slices to the baby which made our waitress happy as she lamented all the perfectly tasty orange garnishes that get thrown out every day. Iced coffee was fine…I didn’t even asked about refills. It was a cool morning after a night of rain so I didn’t need more to quench my thirst.
Back to top

Tomas

Eggs Benedict ($12.00); coffee ($3.50)

Tracey’s take: I’m not a fan of EB…but they looked saucy and tasty and the bite I had was fine. I think I remember my husband commenting on the potatoes being cold and the eggs being lemony…can’t remember exactly….I was busy inhaling pancakes made even more tasty with a few swipes of fluffy whipped butter. Definitely like the whipped butter trend on this island.

Back to top

Gabriel

many bites from Mom’s plate ($0.00)

“Hello!” “Up!” “Bye” (translation: “Nice view! Convenient to benches for diaper change! Yum pancakes! Yum oranges!”)
Back to top

Back to top