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
K S
Blake T. was a great server! Recommendation on my solo trip through Birmingham. Blake’s recommendations were spot on and I had an an awesome experience.
Y M
Wow! This was so beautiful! Servers were so sweet and genuine. The food was amazing and it came out hot and very fresh. I tried the Sausage Biscuit, The Hash, and the Egg Benedict and they were all so great! Everything tasted of quality and was very well seasoned and cooked. Will DEFINITELY BE BACK!
Rob McDonald
Lunch was delicious; we both had pasta dishes that were excellent. Cocktails & dessert were just as good. Service was friendly & efficient. Highly recommend.
Update 3/5/23: We went back for brunch with our 14yo. Everyone was happy with food drinks & service again. The 2010 pop music was pretty loud and annoying, but forgivable. Once.
Bartlee Linton
Great food, delicious drinks, and a fun, vibrant atmosphere. Had to wait a bit for a table when we arrived, so went to a nearby bar for drinks and then returned for dinner. We have taken friends here visiting from out of town, and it’s a great spot for a Birmingham meal, whether brunch or a Saturday dinner.
Lance Carroll
Nice vibe! Limited menu but great food. Drinks were on point. Service was exceptional. Waiter was always close by and manager came by twice to ensure everything was going well.
Buonasera Ferah
My hubby and I got out for a rare date night and went here. It was wonderful. Delicious drinks and eats. The fish was AMAZING! I highly recommend! ♡♡♡
Edward Smith
This restaurant is AWESOME. Highest praise all around. If you're in Birmingham and haven't tried it, you're doing yourself a disservice.
Pier LaFarge
Essential. The best brunch spot in Birmingham in my opinion. Great food, a killer hip but approachable atmosphere and truly friendly staff. The drink program is darn near perfect on execution and offers real range, letting you decide if your Saturday morning tilts michelada or pet nat champagne.
Menu pro-tip: the Salmon Benedict can be ordered substituting Parisian ham to make a really delicious more traditional benedict with really high quality ham sliced papery thin. If your brunch has drifted into lunch territory, the burger with an egg (+$2) with the fries switched for a salad hits the spot.
Their espresso game is also top notch, particularly if Heath if lovingly creating cortados. Fun to watch that guy work.
Sam Smith
My wife and I have been waiting for the Essential to open since Feast & Forest closed its doors - and we were not disappointed!
The heirloom tomatoes made for a fresh start with natural herbs and flavors. The Cacio e Pepe pasta was subtle but savory, definitely recommended. However, the catch of the day, a lightly seared trout, completely blew us away! The creamy beurre blanc contrasted with the almost tart zucchini, both of which complimented the tender trout - absolutely superb.
Don't skip dessert. The chocolate mousse and lemon-blueberry tart were both excellent but the consensus favorite was the blueberry almond cake with ginger ice cream. So good!
I cannot recommend the Essential highly enough - we will be back regularly.
Google User
Great food, great atmosphere and excellent service. Everything we ordered was perfect: asparagus and egg salad/salmon tartine to start, pork belly, mushroom rigatoni and duck risotto for our entrees and finished off with lemon tart. Simply Devine!