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
Rebecca
Place is nice, food is delicious and staff was efficient, but it is very loud inside.
Gottfried Kibelka
Glad to have them in B'ham. Charming bar area with an old world feel, very welcoming staff, and an modern-rustic interior. Service is fast, observant, warm but also unobtrusive and professional. Menu is small, changes with the seasons and offers several uncommon dishes. I was happy but not deeply impressed. Take this with a grain of salt because whenever I am in Italy, I am surprised how lightly herbed and seasoned the dishes are.
I found the menu descriptions a bit pretentious. Most casual eaters are not familiar with Paccheri or SarVecchio and an explinatory sentence or two would be more helpful than the listing of ingredients, as long as they sound good. I was missing those little icons that guide the diner with dietary preferences. I identified myself as ovo- lacto vegetarian and was still asked if butter would be acceptable, which did not install any confidence in my choices.
Portions are sized for office workers.
Ricecube
omg love this place! the peri peri Chicken is to die for go check them out!
Hewy NoSleep
Great cozy Location with authentic fresh dishes. It probably would be good for large groups but great for 2-4 couple . There is a bar if you are alone and want to meet others.
Barrett Irmscher
Went for Saturday brunch and it was fantastic! Breakfast sandwich was incredible and the hash brown was fantastic!! A bit of a wait, but you can walk around the cobblestone streets while you wait. Just beware of their afternoon closing time!
Cole
The ham sandwich was packed with a ton of flavor. Would definitely return for dinner.
Joey Amberson
Enjoyed our visit here. Sat on the heated patio, received prompt, superb service. Ordered the Essential Burger which was very tasty. Will definitely return!
Katie Little
The name says it all.
The food never disappoints, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is cozy & inviting, but still very hip. This is a go to date night spot and the first place I recommend when asked where to eat in Birmingham. You most definitely get what you pay for here. While the food menu is relatively limited, it shows that they put effort into making sure there’s something for everyone. This is a must go.
alek souza
- it is overpriced for what you get
- the mushroom croissant was very high in salt which made it hard to eat. The smoked salmon English muffin was ok.
- if you don’t mind a place with very limited options, this is the place. But if you are looking for flavor and better taste, I would recommend somewhere else.
- The French toast was good. I would give right credit when it’s due.
Jennifer Templin
Food: check. Atmosphere: check. Service: Kevin was great. Highly recommend.