My first fondue experience was at Port Jefferson’s Toast – and I would not have had it any other way.
The most striking thing about the tiny restaurant is the atmosphere; dark, candlelit, cozy, and unabashedly hip – the kind of thing Starbucks is trying to be. Although it sports the usual breakfast and lunchtime fare (at Manhattan prices), Toast is renowned for its late-night bar phase, which boasts great wine, fondue and, love it or hate it, a boatload of that Brooklyn hipster chic.
Unfortunately, the boat, in this case, is easy to miss; the wine and fondue only start flowing after 6 p.m., from Wednesday to Saturday. After my first time there, I tried twice in vain, to dine there again before I became aware of its sparse operating hours. For a little while, I wondered if I had dreamed up my first experience, or if Toast had ever really been open at all. The fact that it operates like a mystic oasis is not it’s only fantastic dimension; on Wednesday nights, a local psychic sits in and gives readings to patrons.
The fondue, itself, exudes a mystical greatness. For dessert, a boiling cauldron of chocolate (or white chocolate) is available for $25 for a couple. The sides are refilled for free: strawberries, pineapple, bananas, apples, graham crackers, peanut butter cornflakes, rice crispy treats, soft pretzels, peanut butter, and fluff.
The cheese, perhaps a little more sophisticated, is also a little more expensive, ranging from $30 to $35 per couple. In both cases, additional parties are billed $10 each – so leave the third wheel at home. Toast, by day, is also a coffeehouse, which suits its atmosphere.
The restaurant though, is built for night life. The interior is deep, but the storefront is awkwardly narrow, and the accommodations are tight. They are great for a date, but not for a group, unless you’ll be sitting at the bar.
If you’re going to go to Toast, bring someone and stay late – you’ll get your money’s worth. It’s more than the chocolate. With or without the psychic, it’s somewhat of an adventurous experience, as far as desserts go.
Toast is located at 242 East Main St. in Port Jefferson. For full menus, check out www.toastcoffeehouse.com.
