Brunchin’ @ The Shed - Food Review
If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that i'll never turn down an invite to brunch/breakfast. Ever since I can remember I've loved grabbing an omelet or Belgian waffle at my local diner with family, friends, and even for dates. So, as you can imagine, being diagnosed with celiac and realizing I can't just go out to breakfast anywhere I please anymore was a disheartening blow. Fast forward to now; Although I still can't eat safely at most of your regular old mom and pop diners, I've since found several spots offering safe gluten-free options for me to enjoy.
My friend and classmate, Rachel, suggested we hit up The Shed in Huntington for an early Sunday brunch and of course I couldn't turn her down. Rachel, who's originally from the Island has an older sister who also has celiac, which means she knows all the reliable and yummy gluten-free spots from the 516 to the 631. All I know was that I was more than ready to finally enjoy a scrumptious and hearty breakfast that I didn't have to cook myself.
Being eager beavers who wanted to miss the usual Sunday brunch rush, Rachel and I arrived promptly before the restaurant's 9 a.m. opening and had the honor of opening the restaurant as the first two customers of the day. We were greeted warmly by the hostess and waitstaff and instructed to sit wherever we pleased.
Our waitress was prompt and immediately asked if we'd like anything to drink to start. Rachel stuck with water while I opted for a tall glass of Ace Coffee Co. cold brew with almond milk on the side. The Waitress brought us each two small glasses and a large carafe of water. The carafe in question was an old handle of Buillet Whiskey, which I thought was a fun and whimsical touch. The cold brew was bold, robust and rich in flavor and was exactly what I needed for a full morning revival.
After perusing the menu for some time, Rachel and I were ready (maybe even a little bit anxious) to place our orders. Rachel decided to sway from her usual choice of french toast and tantalize her taste buds with their house made Belgian waffle. After some internal debating, I went with the indulgent Eggs Benedict. We kept busy by catching up on the latest in our lives while waiting the 20 minutes for our food to come.
What arrived was one of the most aesthetically pleasing, too-good-to-be-true breakfast spreads I've had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand...
Our scrumptious meals.
Rachel's waffle came complete with fresh blueberries, a scoop of sugar spice butter, a light dusting of powdered sugar and a bottle of maple syrup for her to pour at her own leisure. Considering her plate was empty not even 25 minutes after receiving our meals, there was no doubt that she had made an excellent, satisfactory choice.
My Eggs Benedict came dressed with creamy hollandaise sauce, perched precariously on a bed of roasted tomatoes, arugula and sliced avocado. Underneath all of that scrumptious glory was a generous portion of home fries, crisped to perfection. The poached eggs were cooked to an exquisite consistency and the delectable combination of the warm yolk and the rich, buttery hollandaise made for a one way ticket to flavor town.
After stomaching all I could possibly handle in one sitting, Rachel and I both agreed we had nothing short of a delightful dining experience. My dish added up to be $13.75 with an additional $6.00 for the cold brew. Rachel's waffle totaled out at $9.25 with an additional $5.00 for a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Due to the kind and conscientious service from our waitress, the delicious meals and our happily filled stomachs, I will certainly be returning to The Shed in the future!