Toast

Great service, drinks and food. A bit pricey, but not for the area. Bartenders are very helpful and attentive. Quite funny as well. An added bonus. Never have had anything but exceptional service.

One of the few places in Birmingham where parents can bring their kids and have a nice dinner and a cocktail! Service can be a little on the slow side but the staff is always very professional.

Brunch review: Toast changed the brunch menu a few months ago. My favorite thing about this restaurant is the French toast and they have taken my go-​to dish off the menu: Granola Mountain French Toast. What I loved about it was the fresh fruit and how it wasn’t overly sweet or too heavy. The yogurt sauce was amazing. Now the options are all too sweet/​heavy for me. The waitress knew I was disappointed and offered me a waffle with fresh fruit on it which was good. I was just disappointed because it wasn’t what I came for. If they brought this back or did the fried apple Brie special I had once there I would be happy. My husband has always felt the savory dishes are so-​so and nothing he couldn’t make himself. So I will be moving on to other brunch venues. It’s been fun. Adiós Toast!

Such a lovely evening patio and very nice service! Just went for drinks and snacks but it was great.

Great place for a somewhat expensive breakfast. Can’t seem to escape ‘priceyness’ that in this area (!).
I’m not made of money and I can cook at home. So, if I pay for prepared food — particularly in an upscale place — I expect value for my dough.
Toast is cool & hip; kitschy décor and well-​crafted, eclectic (but plenty of ol’ stand-​bys) meals. I guess you *HAVE* to have the French toast but I still haven’t after a few visits. I don’t really care for it. So there! They have a cranberry/​nut/​bacon/​feta omelette that is to die for, though. Friendly service and staff, but be prepared to wait 30 – 60 minutes if busy. Bring your appetite, their portions are generous.

THE BEST FRENCH TOAST I HAVE EVER HAD.
you wait an hour at least but its worth it.
I got the peanut butter french toast

One of my favorite retreats. Best Bloody Mary I’ve ever had. 3 options on those. spicy, savory, and cucumber infused, I believe…
My first try there was the chicken and waffles for brunch. You CANNOT go wrong with this! I’ve heard that the dinner chicken and waffles is even better — I’ve yet to try tho.
They get very busy… so plan to wait a bit unless you arrive early at opening or more towards the end of brunch hours. But totally WORTH THE WAIT.

One of our go to brunch spots if travelling in the area. The portions are generous and the selections have always met or exceeded our expectations. It gets busy so get here early or be prepared to wait. The Benny and the Huevos are especially to my liking and the serve a great cup of joe. Service has always been good and the small patio makes for some nice alfresco dining. Would definitely return (as we keep doing) if back in the area.

This place is such a great place for brunch — the decorations are one of a kind and I love the open veranda seating.
Other than some unique brunch items, like Cannoli French Toast (didn’t get to try it, but sounds really yummy!), this place is just OK at best. I got a Greek omelette and it certainly wasn’t anything special to amount to $ 12. I also was floored by the price of the coffee. $ 3.25 for a bottomless cup, but the coffee was absolutely terrible! Extremely bitter and had this weird salty taste to it.
All in all, skip this if you’re looking for good food/​drink, but it’s a good place for a big group to enjoy people watching and the beautiful summer weather in Birmingham.

It was Easter Sunday and we wanted to find a place to have brunch. I had tried the other location in Ferndale before so we wanted to try this location as well.
The décor is not as casual as the other location but it is appropriate for brunch. Luckily, we did not have to wait long to be seated but the restaurant was very busy.
The simple eggs, bacon, potatoes, and toast was good. The goat cheese and vegetable flan was a special. It was like a lighter quiche and the vegetables and side salad tasted fresh. I had a bite of the huevos rancheros the last time I tried Toast, so I wanted to order it for myself this time. It’s great because considering it’s huevos rancheros, it’s not too heavy and the portion isn’t too big.
Overall, it was a good pick for brunch. Toast doesn’t disappoint when it comes to doing breakfast right.

This is a perfect brunch place. They offer various choices but most importantly, when the food arrives, it’s a lot of food! Which is what you need to start your day.
The menu is not your simple breakfast menu, it offers various different gourmet choices but they are all so exquisite.
White sangria and freshly squeezed orange Guice are a plus.

I came here this morning with a friend for brunch, it had been on my list for a while. I ordered the cannoli French toast and I think it was on cinnamon Challah bread — it was very good. I asked for the espresso part of the topping on the side, and instead the ENTIRE topping was on the side … So next time I wouldn’t do that.
The vibe was very cozy as well, we were in the side room and I felt like I was in someone’s living room. Prices are reasonable for Bham, as well — my French toast was $ 11, I believe, and a big portion.
I’d come back here again to try some of the other sweet dishes, they all looked really good.

Toast is a very fun restaurant in Birmingham and perfect for any size groups. I’ve been here primarily for breakfast and have tried most of the menu so I can confidently recommend it. Only reason I deducted a star is that service can sometimes be slow but I will definitely give them more chances to win back that star.
Overall great place but super popular so be prepared to wait a long time for a table.

Had a fab breakfast on the outside terrace this fall.
The bonus besides the great food — GF pancakes and omlette from heaven — was how they welcomed my pup and even offered to get water to fill his travel bowl.
Server was delightful and attentive.
I would highly recommend Toast the next time you are around B’ham.

Wow, just wow! 5 star across the board. Cool vibe/​décor, fast and super friendly service and of course the important thing AMAZING FOOD! I was seated right away and had a cup of joe within seconds. Friendly waitress revised all the highlights of their wonderful menu. I went with the chicken and waffles Benedict which delivered on every level. Portion size was perfect. Chicken was crispy outside and tender in, knife cut through it with ease. The sweet flaky waffle cushioned the chicken and the perfectly poached eggs which were topped with a delicious gravy with chunks of sausage. The other pleasant surprise was their home fries which were topped with onions, peppers and some shredded cheese — they were outstanding! I cannot wait to be here on business again so I can come back!!!
So I couldn’t wait and came back for dinner on the same day! Dinner was great and the big plus was Wind Down Wednesday = half price on wine!!! Same as breakfast, service and food were superb. Recommend the Mac n cheese, fish tacos and chicken n waffles which were monster sized!!! I have a new favorite place!!!

A truly terrific brunch spot. Was recommended by a friend when visiting the area, it did not disappoint. We went on a Sunday morning so we expected a wait. They quoted 45 to an hour but it ended up being about a half hour, it went by quickly. They have a really nice atmosphere, as busy as it was it was still comfortable. The chicken and waffles were excellent! Very friendly and inviting staff. Definitely recommend just prepare yourself for the wait if you go on a weekend morning… but trust me it’s worth it.

My last two visits to Toast have been absolutely horrible. Both visits were on Saturday brunch busy hour for a 5 top. We waited over two hours to be seated! We noted that a big party left and it was 20 minutes before we were seated! Which is odd because the hostess obviously knows our party was waiting because we checked on our table status multiple times. I can’t express how frustrating it feels when our party arrived and there was barely a big waiting crowd. The crowd grew and dwindled, and we were the last to be seated from the waiting crowd.
After we were seated, we wanted the Crème brûlée donuts but the server said they were out. Probably because we waited forever and day for our meal. Our server comes back to say there’s one donut left so we offered to get it as half order so we can try the donut. But we were denied because our server comes back to say that they are out. (Perhaps someone at Toast really wanted this donut for themselves). During our drinks order, they were out of multiple drinks. Even the server admitted that they don’t keep all of their drinks in stock or fail to update the menu. Seriously?!? It’s like being out of orange juice for your mimosa.
Honestly the overall food at Toast is great. It’s definitely above par compare to other restaurants in the area. But this inefficient table seating needs some work. If you’re coming with a party more than 4, expect a long wait. You’ve been warned.

Took my mom here for her birthday breakfast. A little over priced but still good food. I ordered the almond French press. It smelled heavenly but didn’t taste as good :/​perhaps it just wasn’t strong enough. However, our meals were great! I ordered Huevos rancheros with poached eggs instead of the fried ones they come with. They’re so good I think I could eat two portions in one sitting. My mom had the vegetable burrito. We also ordered custard French toast that was on their specialty menu. I was skeptical to order it because I’m not sure how I feel about custard but it was great. Very rich but not too sweet. My huevos rancheros was perfect. I ordered a side of salsa with it because… well why not?! My mom said she didn’t really care for all the sour cream and salsa in the burrito. She wanted more vegetables in it versus the over load of spinach and the sauces.
Our service was good as well, she was definitely pushing some cocktails on us lol but I was quite impressed how she remembered our order and the modifications without writing it down. Brownie points to her. So far my experiences here have been great.

The amount of hype about this place is only matched by the amount of disappointment I had after my wife and I ate here. I do not like giving negative reviews. I love supporting local businesses, however there is no sugar coating it; I was very disappointed with this restaurant, especial since numerous friends raved about this place to me for months.
My wife (Sam) ordered the Urban Veggie with a side of potato salad. The potato salad was frozen when it came out. Not cold… actually frozen. You could see ice crystals in it. We told the waitress about it and she asked if she could get her a soup instead, which Sam accepted. The waitress did not tell us there would be a $ 2 charge for the soup (it is on the menu, but we didn’t have the menu since we were just replacing the frozen potato salad we got at that point). She was disappointed with the Urban Veggie sandwich, and says the only good part about it was the bread.
I ordered the veggie burrito. When it came out it looked amazing, however I soon discovered that looks can be deceiving. It was soggy and had very little flavor at all. The guacamole on top was bland, it had very little citrus flavor, and even the avocado flavor in it was off.
The waitress was nice but we felt unattended to. She was not bad by any account, but we felt forgotten at certain points.
I probably will not be giving this place another try. I let my friends who hyped this place up to me have an earful.

I had been to the Ferndale location a few times with their only downfalls being the wait and lack of space; so I was hoping that the B-​Ham location would be bigger. I was wrong. This place had good food but it’s annoying small at both location. I was thinking to myself on the drive there «why is it so small»? It’s annoying really because it seems ‘forced’. Anyway, this location accepts reservations for you fancy pants which is convenient. Another thing I didn’t like was how decorated it was. Like I know it’s Birmingham but I felt like I was sitting inside of a Pier 1. Ugh, so pretentious. Any who, I’d go back if I’m in the mood for TOAST but I won’t make it my go too for a simple family breakfast.

Other than being over-​priced and always busy — I’m a fan of Toast! The dishes are interesting and delicious though I’ve only ever gone for breakfast. It’s the kind of place to go when you don’t want your run-​of-​the-​mill diner/​coney breakfast options. I’ve had most of their food and the only thing I found kind of disappointing was the eggs benedict.
The staff has always been friendly and even if the food doesn’t come out super-​fast — it isn’t too bad of a wait, typically. I take my niece her every year for our birthday and it’s become our tradition — she’s just as much of a fan.
Go early though or you’re going to have a preposterously long wait.

Came with a small group. Everyone’s food looked dope and everyone seemed satisfied. Mimosas flow like a river. Trippy hipster shit all over the walls. The staff was patient with us even though we kept adding people.

Went on a Tuesday night, table for three. Excellent food, slow night so lots of personal attention. I ordered off the restaurant week menu… veggie chips with killer spiked ranch, lemon chicken and maple bacon brownie. Delicious! My tablemates loved the sandwiches, truffle fries, and Brussels sprouts.
Parking can be an issue, but in Birmingham, it always is !

I honestly do not understand what is the big deal with this place. I went there on a cold weekend morning with a friend. We put our names in for a table and we were told it will take them around 45 minutes to get us a table. Given the reviews and the place was crowded we decided to wait. After about 30 minutes, they got us seated.
We started out with some cappuccino (which was delicious and I liked the sugar thing they have to stir your drink). Then I ordered one of an egg benedict and so did my friend.
The place looks very nice and the people there are mostly your average rich white people. But the décor was very well put together.
The food look way better than it tasted. I was expecting this place to be phenomenal but it was very disappointing. The food tasted bland and I had to add some salt to make it more tolerable.
Overall, I do not think the place worth it especially given the prices and the time you have to wait to get a table.

I will only rate on Breakfast… Minus sometimes the wait, it is a solid selection of delicious items to choose from! Well balanced flavors, and absolutely tasty jalapeño toast! I have heard not so wonderful things of lunch/​dinner, but again I am only commenting on Breakfast/​Brunch slots. Hit with the fam on a weekend

Boggled by the good reviews… Ordered a specialty drink and was told they were out of it. Asked how that’s even possible and server explained that the drinks were pre-​mixed. Right there it doesn’t seem like a quality place, if they are premixing drinks like something you can get at a bulk food store.
Then, I ordered the breakfast burrito, it came in less than a minute. How? It tasted like a fast food chain burrito that’s how. The eggs and filling had obviously been precooked. Cold, dry eggs and a bean sauce which made the burrito soggy. If you don’t have the decency to make your food to order, then don’t make it.
But I wasn’t alone, I watched as others received their pancakes that somehow came out within a minute of the table finishing their order. Are they microwaved?
All this was topped off by having to wait. and wait for another drink…, nope, wasn’t going to wait any more. I had to wait so long I ended up just giving the server my CC so I didn’t have to wait even longer for the check to be picked up.

Lots of great breakfast cocktails. I had a spicy Bloody Mary and rate the chicken and waffles Benny. Woah it was amazing! The best chicken and waffles I’ve ever had and I’m a big fan!

I would have to give this place a zero for service. I’ve been here before & had the food, which is descent but for the price I would think twice about going here. The service is absolutely horrible! I wanted to celebrate Father’s Day with my 6 month old and they would not accommodate me by not allowing a stroller… inside or outside! I have a compact stroller and it’s the same size as a chair… never had a restaurant refuse service to me because of my stroller… the hostess was so rude! Go across the street to townhouse… great service and better food than toast… townhouse made my first Father’s Day a great memory.

The first time I was at Toast, I tried their chicken n waffle benny. It was delicious but I was disappointed with the poached eggs and the over cooked chicken. I decided to give this dish another try and was quite impressed this time!
The layers consist of: waffle, syrup, chicken, poached eggs, and the gravy. The gravy was absolutely delicious. It tied together the flavors of the entire dish. The chicken was perfectly cooked and was very tender. The eggs were runny and were perfectly cooked. The first time I had this dish, I didn’t notice the syrup (perhaps because there was only a little bit or none?). This time, I noticed that there was some syrup in between the waffle and the chicken. It perfectly balanced out the saltiness from the gravy. After this second experience, I must confess that I am in love with this dish and I simply cannot wait to have more!
In terms of the wait time, my girlfriends and I had to wait 15 minutes for a table. It was a noon on a Friday so we didn’t think it would be that busy. Surprisingly, it was a full house! Word of caution: never underestimate this place! Either arrive early or make reservations. Happy eating!

This is one of my favorite breakfast places! If I could, I’d be at Toast everyday! The B-​Street French Toast is heaven If you’re looking for something sweet. If you’re not into crunchy bread, swap out the baguette for the challah bread! They have the best Huevos Rancheros I’ve ever had. I could eat it all day and night if I had the money and stomach! I’ve also had their Chicken and Waffle Bennett and It is to die for. The service is quick, I’ve never had to wait long for my food. The restaurant has a great atmosphere. I especially love coming here during the summer for the outdoor seating. If you haven’t already, you NEED to try this place NOW!

Food and service was great! There is always a 45 to an hour wait at Toast when it’s extra busy! (But it’s worth the wait!) Only downside is the waiting area is really small and right next to the door so people are constantly coming in bringing that cold air in.

Always satisfied with the food, service & ambiance. Be sure to get here before the brunch rush (suggest coming at 10am, especially if you have a larger party). This time, I ordered their house bloody mary– it definitely has a kick to it. I ordered the Parisian omelette & my friend got the plain jane french toast. Both of us were happy with our food.

Probably top 3 breakfast experience I’ve ever had! They accept reservations which was great because we were meeting with a large group of people for a friend’s birthday. They have delicious fresh self-​serve coffee for you as you wait for your party to arrive.
The food was outstanding! I ordered the Chicken & Waffle Benny and my wife ordered B-​Street (Banana, Candied Bacon, Bourbon Sauce) French Toast. They have several different types of toasts and toppers to choose from — We ordered the Jalapeño Cheddar Challah and Cinnamon Challah with their ‘Jam of the Day’ which was a homemade bacon/​bourbon infused jam. Out of this world! The specialty drinks are also fantastic — Our table ordered some of the best mimosa’s and bloody mary’s I’ve ever tasted. The service and ambiance was excellent.
I don’t have anything bad to say except I wish they would open a location in Grand Rapids where I live. :)

From Toast’s quirky, cozy décor and mismatched coffee mugs to the friendly waitstaff and comfort food-​inspired dishes, Toast will give you that warm, fuzzy feeling of being at your Crazy (Insert Family Member Name)‘s house.
In the past eight years of brunching at Toast, I have never left disappointed… Or hungry. The portions are hearty, often paired with breakfast potatoes or cheesy grits. Trust me, get the grits! There is a broad range of breakfast offerings from sweet dishes to omelets. On my most recent visit, it seemed to me that the menu has been trimmed of some of the offerings (do not quote me on this, though) — — Not to despair, though, since everything they do, they do exceptionally well! They also have fantastic brunch cocktails to kick your hangover, as well as delicious brews from the barista.
Overall, one of my favorite stops in Birmingham. Be prepared to wait for a table on the weekends, though, since I am not the only fan of Toast.

Came for brunch after church– it’s bustling — it’s the holidays — and Toast is the place to come to enjoy a meal with some pizazz and great food. Loved the homemade daily jams with our omelettes. The cocktails looked enticing and creative but didn’t imbibe. Been here in the evening before as well as out on the patio in the summer. Fun place to meet your friends or have a family meal after church. 5 on creative atmosphere. Great service by server.

Toast is breakfast spot located in the heart of Downtown Birmingham. Therefore expect a crowded and diverse atmosphere. We came in for a typical Sunday brunch and the wait for two was only 45 minutes. They weren’t mindful where they seated because the majority of my experience was me swearing and blocking out the sun from my eyes. Nonetheless it didn’t change the taste of the food. The food is mediocre: average, normal portion. It’s nothing like Wildberry in Chicago or original house of pancakes down Woodward, it’s just plain mediocre. The waitstaff was friendly, the manager did not compensate us for the severe discomfort I had duty my entire meal. Eating in a restaurant is both comfort and food, unfortunately this place did not provide that for us at that time: Nonetheless, for the price and quality of food they offer, we will not be coming back here anytime soon.

I had a lovely little get together with some friends at Toast on a Saturday night, and we came away very pleased! Our server was sweet, the food was delicious, and the ambiance was chic but chill. I’m still thinking about the tomato soup and perfect chicken and waffles!

I’ve been to both this Birmingham location as well as the Ferndale location. The food is always great! Today, my awesomely wonderful waitress, Kasey, made the dopest suggestion ever! I decided to try something new so I selected the B-​Street French Toast, but she suggested that instead of the crispy fried baguette bread they normally use, to try it with the Challah (bread). And OMG! It was DE-​LI-​CIOUS… DE-​LITE-​FUL… DE-​LOVELY!!! The B-​Street French Toast is a Cinnamon Sugar Dusted party in my mouth. Everything about it was amazing… CHALLAH TOAST… Fresh Banana slices… Candied Bacon (Yes, I said CANDIED. And isn’t EVERYTHING BETTER with Bacon… Lol!). And the Brown Butter Bourbon Sauce! Yummy Yum Yum!!! I added a side order of the Chicken Apple Sausage link. Also good, but I probably didn’t really need it because the candied bacon on my french toast satisfied my meat craving.
This was the most amazing breakfast I’ve had in a long time… Oh who am I kidding!!! Best Breakfast EVER!!!

It was way too early to be up during the weekend, even for a lovely brunch out. While it looked like rain, many gravitated towards dining al fresco (on a sturdy platform) given the cool and fresh morning air. There was already a line-​up — yikes! But I love the food at this eclectically-​styled restaurant so I knew that it would be worth the wait. Hour magazine covers, mismatched wallpaper patterns, heavy draperies, and interesting light fixtures add to the ambiance. Somehow, banquette seating was available by the window — yay!
All around, other guests ordered luscious dessert-​like breakfasts with glazed fruit and mounds of whipped cream. I opted for something that was both savory and sweet: chicken and waffles benny. Two perfectly poached eggs perch on top of fried chicken and a sweet Belgian waffle. The latter was crisp and tender. I asked for the sausage-​studded country gravy, a substitute for Hollandaise, to be served on the side. The meal comes with a choice of grits and home fries, the latter of which I ordered with melted cheddar, green peppers, and onions, in other words, «the works».
Service was prompt and professional, in spite of the crush of people.

I love Toast! I especially like to come on Wednesdays, as it is «Wine Down Wednesday,» and they offer $ 5 glasses of great wine. They also have beautiful outdoor seating.
I love a place with seasonal specials, and Toast has them! My favorite restaurants prepare dishes that I can’t or won’t make at home, and Toast is that kind of place. Last week, I ordered one of their special bruschettas with morel mushrooms and this garlicky pesto made with ramps… YUM! I’ve never ordered something that wasn’t special is some kind of way, even their traditional dinners like the roast chicken is AMAZING. Their fries are perfect, the gnocchi is soft, pillowy deliciousness, and their steak frites are so tasty. Their flatbread pizzas are always really good as well — crispy and fresh, right out of the oven and to your table. The food is worth the slightly higher price point, and you can always just order one of their appetizers and a couple drinks rather than an etreee and feel satisfied.
The service here is FANTASTIC. They really go above and beyond for you, and there is no trace of the snobbery that can sometimes be felt in Birmingham establishments. As a matter of fact, the last time I was there, they had this seasonal dessert — rhubarb mousse with a pickled rhubarb garnish — and I made mention of how much I love rhubarb. I couldn’t order the dessert because I was stuffed, but my server brought me a little plate of the pickled rhubarb so I could taste it, and he even let me in on how the chef prepared it. He was chatty and friendly, and made my experience something out of the ordinary, and I really appreciate that.
I would like to make a plan just to come for a drink and dessert — they all sound seriously amazing every time I go, but I’m always so stuffed. Make this your regular Wednesday spot if you’re near B-​Ham!

Solid place for breakfast or lunch. I went with some co-​workers and we all enjoyed a mix of sweet of savory. I opted for the Chicken and Waffle Benedict (think chicken and waffles with eggs benedict). It was amazing and definitely worth the $ 13.
The atmosphere is very nice as well. We were seated at a table that had comfortable sofas for chairs. The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful as well. Other dishes we ordered included the grilled cheese and tomato soup (very flavorful) and a PB+J Waffle (Nutella peanut butter is always a treat). Definitely recommend adding a dollar to substitute for truffle fries if offered.
Overall — Toast was a great place to dine to close out the year. Although a bit pricey (~$ 15 a person), the quality, taste, and service made it all worth.