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
Nitsuga Apiat
Loved the atmosphere of Essential. The service and food were very good. I got the steak medium rare and was cooked perfectly. I tried the carrots, beets, Cesar salad, and yeast roll. Everything was delicious and no pictures were taken. We were catching up with good friends. Also tried several red wine glasses and they were all excellent. Birmingham needs more places like this!
Karan Vance
My best friend and I sat at the bar. The food was amazing. The service was fantastic. We will be back!
Joni S
The Essential Absolutely deserves to be higher ranked for restaurants in Birmingham. My partner and I went for brunch and it was a spiritual experience. I had the French toast, which I can’t rave about enough, and my partner had the mushroom madame, which was equally as good. We did wait for a table since they don’t take reservations for brunch but it’s on a lovely cobblestone street with plenty to do in the area (we hung out at Birmingham Oddities). The service was good for a busy morning, and overall it was a great experience!
Patrick Moore
We picked up cacio e pepe and mushroom rigatoni for dinner. The staff we interacted with was very friendly, but unfortunately the food was very salty. Both dishes were similar in flavor as well.
Kimmie Mack
Sunday morning brunch was definitely worth the wait!!! Where do I start we walked in and placed our name on the wait list. It was a 25 minute wait not a biggie it was expected. The 3 of us were seated at a cozy table. The menu had many great options. We started out with the croissant, butter and jam it was phenomenal! The blueberry brioche french toast was divine! The hash was delicious, the burger and frites we're absolutely amazing! The grits, hash browns and bacon were very comforting and satisfying! I'll definitely be back again.
Hannah T
Really awesome experience for brunch today! Loud place but cool atmosphere and good food. Had the burger and my husband had the chicken biscuit. Solid flavors and smaller portions but very filling! Recommended for a nice modern brunch spot in a nice area of Birmingham :)
Tatiana Neuman
I love The Essential! The staff is always efficient and friendly! Honestly the most efficient kitchen I’ve EVER seen. Everything always comes quick and delicious even when they are packed. 100/10 recommend!
Rebecca Dimon
Everything was great! We added a third person to our party and they didn't flinch. We took a long time to order and the server was patient with us. Our drinks were refilled right on time. Our food was sooooo good. I got the burger and it wasn't too big like a lot of restaurants. It was cooked perfectly and tasted even better.
David Pace
A really great restaurant hidden away in a part of Birmingham I would never have known to look if it wasn't for a friend inviting me there for lunch. Our waiter was attentive and did a good job taking care of us. The food was very good as well with my favorite part being their yeast rolls. It's a little expensive but worth it.
Toya J
I came here just sporadically because I wanted to get out of my apartment. I found it while scrolling through places to eat on Google. It didn't have many reviews so I figured I'd give it a try. A plus is the service and atmosphere. Very upscale and the music is nice. I was greeted pleasantly immediately as I entered which was helpful. For the food, I ordered a fried chicken biscuit. It tasted like fried chicken, a biscuit, and an egg like the description. There wasn't much else to it than that. I think I should have gone with my first mind and tried the French toast since that seems a bit more popular. I would not say to not come here because I do believe this place has potential. I will say to not expect a "southern" experience when ordering a fried chicken biscuit unless you prefer your food lightly seasoned. You can park right across the street in the garage which is pretty convenient. I'll give it another try and just order something else next time.