Breakfast on the run

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Olga Sidoruk of Espresso Love stands behind a wealth of baked goods that can help you start your day, or keep it going with a mid-day snack. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

This week I wanted to do a part two of the breakfast article I wrote two weeks ago. In that article, I talked about places to sit down for a lingering breakfast with copious amounts of coffee (speaking of which, the ArtCliff is now serving a duck confit crepe with sliced Granny Smith apples and maple syrup…Sunday morning breakfast heaven). But those meals are usually reserved for a holiday, the weekend, or just a lazy day off. What about the rest of the week? These places have you covered on the mornings between, when you need something quick.

The Scottish Bakehouse. Those crafty cooks at the Bakehouse, in Vineyard Haven, have been serving some truly tempting specials lately. In addition to their ever-popular breakfast sandwich, they are serving a Pilot Hill Farm T-Bone steak with local eggs, kale, and roasted Island fingerling potatoes ($15.95). Last weekend they had Mexican Rice with eggs, salsa, and guacamole ($9), hearty and perfect for enjoying at home during the snowstorm.

7a Foods. Chef Dan Sauer’s breakfast sandwich ($3.95; $4.95 with meat) has earned him quite a following. He makes the sausage and cures the bacon himself while Scott Booth, resident baker, makes the buttery biscuits in-house daily. But have you tried the bagel and lox ($7.95)? With cream cheese, red onion, tomato, and homemade lemon-caper relish, it’s a good way to start the day. And the oatmeal ($4.95) is not your average boiled water plus dry mix oatmeal. Scottish oats retain all their healthful nutrients and when mixed with butter, maple syrup, and plump raisins, the result is hot cereal nirvana. 7a, in West Tisbury, is open Monday through Saturday, 7 am to 3 pm.

Espresso Love. For a quick on-the-run bagel sandwich, Espresso Love in Edgartown has a few to choose from like “Mike’s” ($4.99) with tomato, avocado, and cream cheese. In addition to their rotating selection of baked goods like the chocolate and peanut-butter bar (not breakfast but still delicious!), Espresso Love also has a refrigerated case stocked with yogurt and granola parfaits for an even speedier on-the-go breakfast. The cafe is open daily 6:30 am to 5 pm.

Whether you start your morning in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs, Mocha Mott’s is there for you with Cape Cod Bagels, breakfast sandwiches ($4.55), breakfast burritos, and baked goods. Mocha Mott’s is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm.

Did you know that Edgartown Meat and Fish bakes their bagels daily? Try one with cream cheese (plain, veggie, lox, or jalapeno) for $3.79. Specialty sandwiches like the “Oak Buff” ($6.99) include egg, breakfast meat, tomato, purple onion, and jalapeno cream cheese on a bagel. They are closed on Tuesdays; otherwise the café is open from 6 am to 4 pm.

Waterside Market. At the end of Main Street in Vineyard Haven, Waterside Market serves breakfast and lunch daily. If you’re watching your waistline, The Skinny Wrap ($9) comes with scrambled eggs, roasted tomatoes, cheddar, avocado, and spinach in a whole-wheat wrap. If not, try the blueberry buttermilk pancakes ($9). Waterside is open Monday through Saturday 8 am to 4 pm and until 2 pm on Sunday.

Woodland Variety and Grill. Where else can you get coffee, breakfast, and put in your Keno picks? The Woodland Grill serves breakfast daily from 6 am to 1 pm. The menu includes omelets, French toast, and a pretty good deal on breakfast sandwiches ($3.50 for two eggs, cheese, and breakfast meat on a roll, bagel, or English muffin). Visit them in the Woodland Plaza on State Road, Vineyard Haven.

Fella’s. The convenient mid-Island coffee stop for lots of Islanders is next to Up-Island Cronig’s in West Tisbury. To go with the coffee, how about a simple egg and cheese on an English muffin ($3.50)? Extras such as bacon, linguica, and veggies can be added for $1 to $1.50. Fellas’s signature “Unreal” breakfast is pesto, tomato, onion, and Genoa salami on a bagel ($4.50). Fella’s is open Monday through Saturday, 7 am to 4 pm; open ’til 5 pm for pizza night on Fridays.

Dippin’ Donuts is tucked away at the Triangle in Edgartown, still serving their famous donuts, pastries, bagels ($2.20) and breakfast sandwiches ($4.46). Convienent for early-birds, they are open daily from 5 am to 4 pm.

Even when you don’t have time to sit down in the tavern, The Black Dog has their café on State Road and the bakery next to the Steamship, both in Vineyard Haven for you to get your fill. The “Woofer” is served with two fried eggs, melted cheddar, and your choice of bacon, sausage, or ham on their homemade multi-grain bread for $3.50. The Black Dog also offers their homemade “Sunrise Granola” chock full of good things like oats, wheat germ, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, almonds, maple syrup, soybean oil, spices, and vanilla, with milk ($4.95) or with fruit and yogurt ($6.95).

Shiretown Meats in Edgartown is closing for renovations but they will re-open in March. Though well-known for their prime cuts of meat and delicious grinders, they make a mean breakfast sandwich as well. Egg and cheese sandwiches come on Portuguese muffins with your choice of bacon, ham, steak, or sausage ($4.99).

Noteworthy

There is a burrito shop coming to town, Vineyard Haven, that is. Seth Gambino grew up on the Island and went on to open La Choza, well-received burrito shops, in the Berkshires. He has since closed those to focus on one at home. Mr. Gambino aims to keep the price right, offering burritos at $5 to $8. La Choza is set to open on Main Street, Vineyard Haven, next to Brickman’s, on February 29.

Through the winter, Friday is Pizza Night at the Scottish Bakehouse from 6:30 to 9 pm. Choose your crust: Italian white, whole wheat, or gluten-free, the sauce is homemade using local tomatoes, and there are tons of toppings to choose from. Call 508-693-6633 for details.