Each Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Schout Bay Tavern switches to a classic brunch menu with a few twists.
Schout Bay Tavern, a name which comes from the 17th century Dutch name for Manhasset Bay (pronounced “Scout”) means sheriff, opened at the end of the summer in 2015 on Plandome Road by three locals. Pete Keogh, Evan Psyllos and Matt Sheerin have each spent their fair share of time in Manhasset and opened up the restaurant with Executive Chef Shawn Patrick at the helm of the kitchen.
“I think we serve a nice niche,” says co-owner Keogh. “Locals can come in and have a burger, a piece of fish or a cocktail in a comfortable atmosphere. We’re a great neighborhood spot.”
While the restaurant serves up dinner—modern pub food, locally sourced and organic when possible—seven days a week, Sunday calls for a change in menu from September through June.
“When we spent some time in the city, we loved brunch,” says Keogh. “Chef Patrick came from the city, a place where brunch is important, so it was a no-brainer to offer it.”
The menu offers breakfast selections including avocado toast with smoked salmon, greens, red onion and a poached egg; the SBT Benny complete with an English muffin, ham, poached egg, potato hash and Bearnaise sauce; rancheros with a crispy corn tortilla, sunny eggs, black beans, avocado, salsa verde and cotija cheese; French toast topped with pumpkin-spice whipped cream; and steak and eggs served with potato hash and chimichurri sauce.
“The most popular items on the menu are the avocado toast, the steak and eggs, and we do a great eggs Benedict,” says Keogh. “I think that’s a staple of a good brunch cheat meal, especially if you had a big Saturday night.”
A unique item featured on the brunch menu is the Tuscan baked eggs: two eggs baked in soft polenta with tomato and fontina cheese.
For those more in the mood for lunch, Schout Bay Tavern has a few options, from the Tuscan kale Caesar with the option to add an egg, to the fried chicken with cider slaw, Calabrian chili aioli and pickles on a sesame bun or the SBT burger complete with smoked Vermont cheddar, bacon and tavern sauce.
While the entrées are filling on their own, add a side of applewood smoked bacon, two eggs any style, mac and cheese with pork belly or seasoned house fries to any meal.
“Brunch is just another time to meet up with friends and family,” says Keogh of why brunch has gotten so popular. “It’s just an afternoon to get together.”
Schout Tavern is located at 118 Plandome Road in Manhasset. For more information, call 516-627-2190 or visit schoutbaytavern.com.
Check out the other brunch joints in town: Brunch Bunch
https://www.longislandpress.com/brunch-bunch/
