Every now and then you stumble upon a restaurant or diner that takes a silly idea, runs with it and makes it their entire identity. And when it works, it’s absolutely magical. The Traveling Gnome is one of those diners. Their entire shtick revolves around a garden gnome named Fudwick that has traveled across the world with the owners and their friends and family and the place is packed with pictures of Fudwick (who is an actual garden gnome, not just a story about one) in various places around the globe. Their menu names are themed around traveling and the food isn’t just basic diner fare as they take culinary ideas from the places Fudwick has been and bring it home to Bridgeport.
We had been to The Traveling Gnome once before but it has been a decent amount of time since, so we figured we would make a return trip since the food was fantastic the first time around. Like the first time, we were seated immediately despite their being a decent amount of people in the dining room and our service was extremely prompt and fun to chat with. Chelsea decided to get the “Road Trippin'”, a breakfast sandwich made with eggs, bacon, sausage and American cheese between two fluffy pancakes and served with home fries (just without the sausage). The pancakes had a perfect airy texture and absorbed all of the delicious maple syrup drizzled over the top, bacon was crunchy and cooked perfectly to her order and the egg a standard hard fry. Home fries were basic but well-executed, but could have been cooked a bit more for that gentle crisp texture that sets home fries over the top.
I went with the Texas BBQ Brisket Hash & Eggs: two eggs cooked your way (over easy), served with brisket hash and choice of toast (marble rye). The toast was toast so there isn’t much to say other than it was toasted just how I like it, crunchy crust but slightly softer center and heavily buttered. The brisket was cooked perfectly and sliced nicely with super tender beef and a good amount of BBQ sauce mixed in. In my opinion, brisket is ruined when it’s drowned in BBQ sauce and this wasn’t drowned but instead coated nicely with thick, sweet and savory sauce. I get a little judge-y with eggs because they are simultaneously one of the easiest yet hardest things to cook properly and if an over-easy egg has runny whites it’s just gross. These were cooked to the exact definition of over-easy with solidified whites and a delightfully runny, unbroken yolk. Everything blended together really well once the yolks were broken and oozed over the sweet and tender brisket.
There’s something about a diner that takes simple breakfast foods and puts their own twist on it that we love. Brewer Union Cafe in Brewerton, At Long Last in Auburn and Maryanne’s Country Time Café in Phoenix are three of those places that knock it out of the park every time we have been there. So far, Fudwick and crew at The Traveling Gnome have managed to go two-for-two, so I think it’s safe to say that they have cemented themselves in the upper echelon of breakfast eateries in CNY for us. Our only regret from this go-round was that we didn’t get the Apple Fudder Bites (fried apple fritter bites with cinnamon glaze dip and caramel) that we got the first time we went because those little guys are incredible. 10/10, make sure you read the special board right inside the door to the left before you get seated so you don’t miss out and DEFINITELY read Fudwick’s story on the wall when you first walk in. The Traveling Gnome is an adorable and silly idea brought to life in some of the most delightful and delicious ways.
7991 NY-31, Bridgeport, NY 13030
(315) 530-1250