Toast, a Neighborhood Joint

It's a shame, because the food at Toast is good, and Birmingham could use another good breakfast venue. We've tried Toast twice now for breakfast and both times it has been an unpleasant experience.

One morning we arrived between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on a Saturday and Toast was packed. We were jammed into the crowded dining room, practically sitting in the laps of patrons on either side of us, and yet curiously far, far apart from each other across the table.

Toast has long, narrow tables, and they have them turned so they can jam the maximum number of patrons in with no consideration for comfort. You literally have to yell to your dining companions across the long, narrow tables, and good luck being heard over the din of other diners AND the loud music.

They play music as though it's a dance club.

"Am I at The Corner?" I wondered.

We tried Toast again this morning, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., hoping it would be less busy. It was less busy, but still just as loud.

The music was so loud, that despite not having both tables on either side of us filled, we still had to yell over the music to hear each other.

Who needs loud music at 8:30 a.m. for Sunday breakfast?

My partner had a French Omelette which he enjoyed, and he commented that the toast at Toast is indeed awesome.

I had a Make Your Own omelette ... with egg whites, mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes. It wasn't bad, if a bit watery. I asked for tomato slices instead of the grits and toast, and the waitress informed me that it would cost a dollar extra.

Now that's a first for me.

I have yet to go to any other breakfast restaurant in Birmingham or Royal Oak that charged me more to not have toast and hash browns or some other starch.

And to add insult to injury, they gave me three measly slices of tomato. They made an effort at presentation with a few sliced green onions on top ... but three slices of tomatoes cost me a dollar?

C'mon.

This will be our last visit to Toast.

We even mentioned how loud the music was to the waitress, but it was never turned down.

Perhaps this explains why Toast wasn't as busy as the last time we visited. Perhaps everyone is getting sick of the loud music and the lack of space and comfort. The chairs are remarkably uncomfortable and dig into your back. When I thought my partner's seat on the bench would be more comfortable, he said it had him sitting so bolt upright it wasn't relaxing at all.

Toast cares way more about aesthetics than about a pleasant experience, that much is clear.