The Essential
Review of The Essential
The Essential: A Trendy Contemporary American Cafe
The Essential is a trendy contemporary American cafe located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama. This popular restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with its diverse menu, specialty cocktails, and stylish ambiance. Whether you're looking for a casual lunch, a satisfying dinner, or a relaxing weekend brunch, The Essential has you covered.
The menu at The Essential is a true reflection of its "American bistro" concept. With a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients, the chefs create innovative and flavorful dishes that cater to a variety of tastes. From classic favorites like avocado toast and salmon Benedict to unique creations like the Mushroom Madame, every item on the menu is thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented.
The Essential is not just about the food; it's also about the experience. The restaurant boasts a modern and inviting atmosphere, with stylish decor and comfortable seating. Whether you choose to dine indoors or enjoy the outdoor patio, you'll be surrounded by a vibrant and energetic ambiance that adds to the overall enjoyment of your meal.
One of the highlights of The Essential is its specialty cocktail menu. The talented mixologists craft a variety of creative and refreshing drinks that perfectly complement the flavors of the food. From handcrafted cocktails to carefully curated wine selections, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
The service at The Essential is top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff who go above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience. Whether you're a regular customer or a first-time visitor, you can expect exceptional service that will make you feel welcome and well taken care of.
The Essential is open for lunch and dinner throughout the week, and also offers a delightful weekend brunch. The restaurant is conveniently located on Morris Avenue, making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors alike.
If you're looking for a trendy and contemporary American cafe that offers delicious food, specialty cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere, look no further than The Essential. It's a must-visit destination for food lovers in Birmingham.
From the business
"American bistro"
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Outdoor seating
- Curbside pickup
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Chad Reiske
Their brunch did not disappoint! We had the homemade Pastrami and the mushroom madame! Both were excellent and the Bloody Mary had just enough spice and on was point!
Bridjet Mendyuk
What a gem! I had a cappuccino and the five grain bowl. Adorable little spot in Birmingham. My partner had the hash for breakfast. Just as delicious! Everything looked amazing as well.
Aleena G.
Love the interior and vibe of the place. The food was decent- good but not amazingly wow. Coffee was excellent. They brew a local coffee shop Seeds coffee. Masks are required while dining indoors, however you can remove when eating. Kitchen can get backed up during peak hours, and they take orders as they come.
Lisa Crymes
Pork scaloppini was absolutely amazing! Cooked perfectly - breaded pork with sweet, citrus yummiest on top. I highly recommend trying this place!
Hunter Kestner
Let me start by saying the food was great. My main issue was the service from the server. My partner and I went there for dinner. When we walked in we were greeted from the hostess and what appeared to be the bartender. We were immediately seated. It took 30 minutes for him to come by our table and even then we felt very rushed. Ilet him know what food I wanted and when I was about to order my wine, he started to walk away. I had to get his attention and only then could I order the wine. Throughout the night he never checked on us, even after we got our food. He would check on the other tables, see if they wanted a refill on their drinks and even offering dessert, meanwhile we didn't even have water, we had to stop him just so we can get water. We were going to order desert but when he finally came back to the table he just dropped off the check. We decided we were a bit uncomfortable because of the way he treated us and paid the check so we could leave. I'm not sure if he had any sort of issue with my partner and I or if he was just having a bad night. I would like to give this place another chance but I am not sure I would want the same server.
Sara Bauer
Visited here for brunch a few weeks ago and it was fantastic! I saw the chicken biscuit posted on their Instagram and was just craving it. It was delicious! The mimosas are strong and the lattes are flavorful too! The vibes inside were also popping with the music and atmosphere. I would definitely go back and try a different entrée.
Joseph Babitsky
Great brunch spot! I had the hash and it was very tasty, though the portion is a bit on the small side and I left still feeling hungry. The atmosphere inside is also really loud and I could barely hear the waiter standing right next to me. Besides these two issues, The Essential is still a great place for brunch and I recommend stopping by if you're in the area (sit outside if it's nice out!)
John S
Best brunch in Birmingham. Avocado toast, French Toast, and Benedict are incredible!
Rose B
Amazing food and service! Our server Griff was super great and attentive! He was juggling lots of tables, but he never fell behind with us! The food is amazing, I got the avocado toast and it was great! The peppers were well seasoned and delicious. You could taste the freshness of the avocado and it all paired well with the everything bagel seasoning they use! Definitely recommend! Will be coming back here for sure!
Ben Scarboro
Wow…the absolute best brunch I’ve ever had. So good that I returned the very next morning for more. Saturday I had the hash and Sunday I had the mushroom Madame and I would have come again Monday before flying back home if they served breakfast during the week. Not only did the food invoke the senses and palate in such a way that required I close my eyes in order to fully become immersed in the incredible saturation of flavors and fresh, quality ingredients bursting to life in a full display that only truly good food orchestrated by truly brilliant chefs and prepared by truly talented cooks can bring about, but the coffee was equally of great quality and strength and flavor with real cream on the side, none of that coffee mate hogwash. To top it all off, the staff were all incredibly kind, patient, and full of hospitality. The wait can be long, especially for parties of quantity but please trust that it will be worthy of your time. The only thing I yearned for was a larger stomach. Thank you The Essential, and bravo!! I can’t wait to come back to BHM to see you. With love, stay gold.