The Islander Restaurant has been described as the closest thing Shelter Island has to a diner-style family restaurant. It’s a place where colorful walls greet you along with friendly staff when you walk in the door.
The menu features breakfast, lunch and dinner items with special offerings just for burger night, which is Monday. That menu includes starters, sides, burgers and milkshakes.
While the breakfast menu contains the requisite eggs and pancakes, it also wanders a bit off the beaten path, with bisquits and gravy and bananas foster french toast.
The prices are also very reasonable. The most expensive breakfast item is the Irish Benedict, which includes two eggs and corn beef hash on an Englsh muffin, served with hollandaise sauce and hash browns ($11.95.)
For lunch there are salads, sandwiches — with names like the Beach Bum and the Bubba sandwich — and burgers.
On a recent visit we opted for the Bubba.
The sandwich is served on a large brioche roll and piled high with the Islander’s own pulled pork, then topped with cole slaw and crispy fried onion ringlets. It’s so big you can barely get your mouth around it. Served with hand-cut potato chips or a mixed green salad, it costs $10.95.
The Islander’s dinner menu includes everything from country pot roast, fish and chips and cod tacos. The most expensive item are the crab cakes ($17.95.)
The Islander is located at 63 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, and is open year round.
On Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday the restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. On Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday it’s open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, call (631) 749-1998 or visit theislandersi.com.