Wandering Dave’s Fork in the Road is an apt name for David Humphreys’ food truck. And now, with a new brick and mortar location in Brewster, he’s managed to stick a fork in the Lakeview Shopping Center, too.
Humphreys’ truck, and the delicious farm-to-table food it serves from the parking lot of a gas station, is a familiar sight to people traveling on Route 22 in Brewster. He’d been working in the 120 sq ft truck for two years when he realized it was time to plant some roots. “We reached a plateau with the truck,” Humphreys says. There’s only so much prep that can be done in such a tight space, and when operating a food truck, “you’re not only a chef, but have to become a jack-of-all-trades to keep the truck operational.”
Humphreys opened the café in December 2018 in a space 10 times the size of the truck. He admits that opening a restaurant proved more challenging than expected. “The space had been a former food facility, but when we started work we realized it wasn’t up to code and ran into some obstacles we weren’t expecting.”
Now that he’s up and running, Wandering Dave’s Café allows Humphreys some more creative license with his food. “I’m able to cook such dishes as ramen and experiment more with desserts.” And since people have a place to sit, customers aren’t as rushed as when they order from the truck.
Humphreys says that with two food businesses, he doesn’t have to turn people away if the truck is booked at a private event. He’s committed to using as many Hudson Valley ingredients as possible, and says both menus will change around eight times a year. And he’s looking to add wine, cider, and beer at the café, something he can’t offer from the truck. “Those additions will add to the fun environment of the café; and as with the food I’ll be focusing on local brewers, farms, and wineries for the alcohol served here.”
Open Tues–Thurs, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sat, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
1515 NY-22, Brewster, 845.582.0668
