Chef Patrick Ridge’s Island Kitchen is in its fourth year on 1 Chin’s Way, just across from Stop and Shop, and it keeps expanding and has become hugely popular. Rated the Best Breakfast on Nantucket by newspaper polls two years running, it was mobbed when we visited for Sunday brunch yesterday. This is despite Ridge having increased dining room seating and increased the outdoor covered porch seating to run ¾ of the way around the building. Parking was a challenge and there was a 20-30 minute wait at 11:45 am.
However, the restaurant is as good or better than ever serving both breakfast favorites and some specials like his Animal (above), an enhanced Eggs Benedict served with bacon and sausage, with each poached egg breaded and briefly flash fried to give a nice crust.
In addition, their French toast, made using sourdough bread., along with a touch of cinnamon was outstanding. Service is pleasant and efficient, although perhaps a bit slower with the pressure of a crowd like this, but everything was done efficiently and with good humor.
Ridge has also taken over the adjacent building, formerly the Gray Lady and before that the Bamboo Supper Club, dubbing the building IK. Here they serve doughnuts, coffee and home-made ice cream. The doughnuts are about 2 bucks, but the ice cream is $4.35 for one scoop, and $5.35 for two . It’s $4.95 downtown at the Juice Guys!
With his expansion, Ridge has dubbed the Island Kitchen an American Bistro, and serves breakfast and lunch from 7am to 2pm, and dinner from 5:30 to 9pm. Ice cream, coffee and doughnuts are available unto 10 pm.
Food Science Institute 