Breakfast at Humphreys

On a recent Wednesday morning, my husband and I visited Humphreys Restaurant on Shelter Island. Only two or three tables were occupied. We were seated at a table next to the floor-length window and enjoyed a full view of the marina. While we ate we watched the morning sun reflect off the boats and water.

I’m really big on customer service, and I loved how our waiter greeted us right away and took our drink orders. There was nothing special about my cranberry juice, so I was surprised that for such a small amount (maybe a cup) it cost almost $4.00 per glass. My husband’s Mimosa looked pretty, but he said it was weak and didn’t order his usual second.

The breakfast menu included standards such as steak and eggs, eggs benedict, and create-your-own omelet. I fluctuated between the Grand Marnier French toast ($10.50) and the old fashioned buttermilk pancakes ($7.50). After a few minutes of “eeny meeny miny mo,” the French toast won.

A side note on customer service: I overheard the couple behind us ask the waiter if the chef would consider creating a special order dish not listed on the menu. The waiter didn’t seem to think the chef would approve, but it turned out that they were happy to honor the request. Impressive.

Roughly seven minutes later, our food arrived. The menu described my French toast as "raisin wheat bread flavored with vanilla bean gelato ice cream batter." I imagined a creamy sweet gelato and a bitter-sweet orange flavor all wrapped up together with warm maple syrup. Didn’t happen. I could not taste the Grand Marnier or the vanilla bean flavor. The bread itself was cooked exactly how I like it; slightly crispy on the outside and soft but not doughy on the inside. I enjoyed the generous side of thick-cut, crispy-exterior bacon so much more.

My husband loved his Mediterranean Sausage Scramble ($9.50) filled with chicken-and-herb sausage, onions, bell peppers and sun dried tomatoes. After his first bite he said to me, “This is delicious. I can really taste the herbs in the sausage.” It came with a huge side of potatoes and two slices of toast. My husband complained the toast was too buttery. I haven’t quite figured out how a piece of toast can be too buttery.

A side note on napkins: loved them! They were large and soft and almost had the feel of an 800-thread-count sheet from a luxury hotel. I wanted to take our napkins home. Just shove them right into my purse.

For a total bill of $34.83, tip included, it wasn’t too bad considering the view, my husband’s satisfaction, and those napkins. I would have paid $34.83 for one napkin.