The Essential

Just ate here for the first time this week and loved it so much I took my husband back three days later! The pastas are incredible! The sourdough OMG! The 5 grain salad wow! Simple yet delish! Wonderful service! Parking can be tough so go early if you can.

We got seated really fast even though it was busy for brunch. I had the pancakes and they’re amazing. The coffee is really good too. Also the tea they atmosphere and decor are very cute and welcoming. It gets very loud in here. Our seating was more communal style, where you sit with others at a very large table overall, the breakfast was fantastic and I would definitely visit again.

The Essential has well known dishes but they add a bit of a twist. It's not your everyday pasta or roasted chicken. The sauces, the vegetables, the blends of spices make known dishes come alive in a different but satisfying way. I would suggest to make a reservation to ensure you don't have a long wait time and are able to dine-in on the day of your choosing.

This place is a tucked away cozy treat! From the moment you walk in the door, you feel welcome. The atmosphere and ambience is amazing as well. All of the staff were extremely friendly, and management visited our table to check on us as well. My wife and I had the burger and the chicken dish, both of which were amazing. My wife really enjoyed the sourdough bread appetizer. We finished with their in house made sorbets. The blackberry banana and the peach were both so refreshing.

This is a great place to have brunch with friends, brunch date with your significant other or even a business brunch date. It works for any type of brunch date. It’s a beautiful spot, great service and great food! The pancakes are phenomenally, the breakfast hash was delicious and the banana bread with the walnut butter is delicious! My bestie and I had a great experience and is now one of our new favorite brunch spots in the city!

Aesthetically, beautiful. The sourdough bread 1000/10, the entrees were nothing short of amazing! Katie, our table concierge, was very attentive and pleasant. Our experience was top quality all around and would absolutely recommend when you are in the Birmingham area!

When my girlfriends suggested going here for a girl's night out, I was so excited cause I'd "never been there"- or so I thought. I got there before the others for our reservation, and the hostesses who sat me were really sweet. Our server got me water immediately while I waited. He was really dry and deadpan, but wasn't rude. That's just his personality, I guess. We started out with these four little rice balls with some overly vinegary dipping sauce and some bread that tasted like any old sourdough from Publix. That was $20 right off the bat. One of my friends got redfish, one got a salad, and two of us got the agnolotti ($24). The sweet potato filling of the agnolotti was pretty tasty, but the actual pasta, itself, was rubbery/slightly crunchy as if our food were sitting under a heat lamp too long. Three of us were underwhelmed with our dishes, but at least the salad was decent- according to our friend. Two out of the four of us weren't impressed with our French 75 and negroni, either. A negroni- when done properly- shouldn't taste medicinal. Against her better judgment- and my warnings- my friend got the tiramisu....with SESAME SEED OIL. The heck? As someone with an Italian background, what kinda bastardization is that? I've seen a lot of iterations of tiramisu, but this one took the cake. As someone who lived in S. Korea a half decade, it tasted like I was literally eating espresso-flavored Korean food. Normally, I love Korean food, but one thing that's almost always prevalent in it is the addition of sesame oil. While it's amazing on Korean cuisine, it does NOT belong in an Italian dessert. The one highlight of the meal was my dinky citrus tarte. I will give them credit- it wasn't half bad. But trust me, we didn't need the four spoons to "share." Ha! And it wasn't $12 good. The worst part was the seating. The place is so tiny and the booth backs weren't angled at all, so your back is just stiff as a board vertically. I'd just done back extentions at the gym that day so I was in pain at that straight upright angle for almost 2 hrs. That, and as a short person I never have an issue with my legs bumping others peoples' under a table, but I kept having to switch my legs being crossed different ways to avoid my friend's. When we were walking back to their car on Morris, my friend pointed to a corner restaurant and said, "That's where they used to be so we accidentally parked in the wrong place." Suddenly, my mind was jogged to a time a little over 5 yrs ago when I had BEEN to their old location and- lo and behold- was absolutely not impressed with their services, food quantity, and uncomfortable seating then either! I'm also amazed they relocated a block away to a store front equally as tiny. Not sure that was such a great investment, but hey. Lesson learned. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, well...you know the rest.

We really wanted to love it, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype for us. The atmosphere was trendy and inviting, and all the staff we interacted with were friendly and welcoming. We arrived before the lunch rush, but the place filled up quickly and got very loud, making conversation hard. As for the food it was mediocre at best. We ordered the rigatoni Bolognese: the pasta was fresh and cooked al dente, and the ragù had good flavor, but the dish lacked salt overall. The cacio e pepe was disappointing. It was heavy on the “pepe” (black pepper), and the spaghetti were clumped together clearly not stirred properly while cooking. I did enjoy the 4-grain salad. It was fresh, original, and well-balanced. The arancini had a nice crispy fry on the outside, but the rice inside was overcooked. The biggest letdown was the espresso completely undrinkable. We paid just over $100 (with tip) for a lunch that looked much better than it tasted. For a place with such a strong visual brand and beautiful photos, we expected more. Maybe we caught them on an off day, but we left disappointed.

Found this gem by chance coming from out of town on trip. Love the limited but diverse menu I believe too big a menu is a fault. Let's be real , can't do everything excellent. Our group of 8 ordered a wide range of items and entrees. From pasta ,fish and their renowned hamburger. Service was spot on with the manager Wes, showing up and pouring wine and engaged. High quality ingredients was a big plus.

The Essential is a cute American bistro spot. With its new location on first Avenue, the essential has a cute outdoor patio and inside seating. Personally do miss their prior location as it felt more French and cozy. Also, a big new plus is that they've opened brunch for reservations on resy - able to secure a table just the day before! Onto the food. Enjoyed the burger for brunch. The burger is quite vertical so definitely had to attack with fork and knife. My friends had the breakfast hash and the pancakes with eggs and bacon, which they enjoyed. The star of the show for this meal was the carrot cake - it has a nice crême with the cake, and the cake itself was very moist. Definitely miss their croque madame menu items when they were going for a more French-inspired bistro feel. Definitely now more of an elevated American brunch spot. Will still be coming back especially since it's easier to get reservations.

This place was fantastic! Super intimate, great date night spot with outstanding food and service! Highly recommend and will definitely be returning!

Great atmosphere with nice outdoor seating, but service was extremely slow. The pancakes were delicious and fluffy. The eggs Benedict was good but nothing special. It was drenched in hollandaise which overpowered the dish. I also got a matcha latte, which was good but nothing special.

Wonderful experience today at the bar in the Essential. Service was great: informative & humble, attentive without being pushy., definitely friendly & kind. Had the Rainbow Trout in a beurre blanc sauce. The sauce was the star of the show: great butter lemon balance. Trout was very, very good.

This place has been in our Birmingham eateries list for years. We finally made it, and the place absolutely lives up to the hype. We enjoyed the olives and pickles (pickled okra, actually), chicken piri piri, and the burger. Everything was absolutely delightful. The chicken just might be one of the best chicken dishes we have ever had! It was just enough spice, lots of flavors, and perfectly cooked. It's easy to see why this is a staple dish on the apparently ever-rotating menu! The lemon bliss, old fashioned, Chardonnay, and Moscow mule were really tasty as well.

Excellent service. And excellent food. Loving the new location on 1st Ave N. Outdoor seating area is perfect for mild evenings.

Stopped in for lunch and a spot to do a little work. Sat at the bar and enjoyed the 5 grain salad with salmon. I was a little skeptical initially as the salmon was shredded as if it came from a can but the combination of the grains and feta with the lemon vinaigrette made it tasty. I'd definitely come back

Some bites were incredible! Others were a let down. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, and I hope next time every bite is amazing!!! The good: the apple crisp was the best I've ever had. It was spectacular! Garlic bread was substantial and tasty! The meh: cool aesthetic, but bad acoustics. Tiny tables made me feel a little crammed. The bad: the crab bucatini was such a let down. Way overpriced and the flavors just didn't hit. There was a pickled flavor didn't work for me (and wasn't hinted at on the menu description either). I also had quite literally, no crab. Maybe it all broke down into sauce, but you couldn't see a single tiny sliver of crab. My husband got the same dish and could only find two tiny slivers of crab. Truly almost microscopic. If I come back I'll for sure try a different entree!!

What is it about this French Cafe that keeps bringing me back? Is it the fabulous welcoming and professional wait staff? Is it the freshly baked authentic breads? Is it the artfully prepared and presented food? Is it the perfectly crafted cocktails and the carefully collecting wine selection? Perhaps it is the beautifully appointed interior, reminescent of a Paris cafe. All of these things rarely come together in one place, but they have here. The chef, the waitstaff, the hosts and hostesses, all deserve the highest compliments!! None of this happens by the way without excellent management. Hats off to everyone for another great experience!!

I had not been back since they were at the old location. Had to wait a little bit but was not too bad. Met some friends for a pre Christmas brunch. I had the corn beef hash with a biscuit (crunchy and fluffy at the same time!). The chimichurri on the eggs was chefs kiss! Not pictured was the mimosa flight we shared which was exactly what we needed. Our waiter was so kind and let us have girl time while still checking in on us. 10/10 definitely coming back!

After various recommendations, I was really excited to try this restaurant. Even though it was just okay, I came back on various other occasions to try other menu items... but to no avail. I've tried their five grain salad with salmon, a pasta option, and their chicken piri piri -- the chicken was the best. My favorite dish here is actually their tomato salad, which has chickpeas and a tzatziki sauce. Unfortunately, it is seasonal! For the price point, there are other restaurants in the vicinity that offer more generous portions or have a more expansive menu. However, the service here is always great. They do get very busy, so I recommend putting in a reservation!

My FAVORITE restaurant in Birmingham! The chicken entree is the best chicken I've ever had. A must-try. Cocktails are great, the Lambrusco on the menu is amazing. Service and waiters are always friendly and fun. I need to come back for brunch sometime!

Guys yesterday I got the chance to try The Essential. Not going to lie I only came here because they made the list of 25 best burgers in Alabama so of course I hade to try it. However we had to get some other items to try. To start off the place was very nice and welcoming not a huge place either but not too small. A very nice bar, great place for friends and small family gatherings or even a nice date night. 8/10 I also really loved the open kitchen they had you could see the chefs working hard and getting the dishes out. Our waitress (forgot her name) was probably hands down one of the best waitresses I have ever had and even got some up sales out of me. Also got to meet who I think was either the manager or the owner not sure but he was very nice too. 10/10 on customer service. APPETIZER: BAKED MOZZARELLA (Lioni cheese, calabrian sauce, fontina). This was so freaking good its hard to explain but I'm going to do my best. It's baked mozzarella but eating it you'd definitely think it was fried but it was not. The sauce was so good its not marinara sauce kind of is but with a slight spicy kick. I absolutely devoured this thing. Probably my favorite dish of the whole night. 10/10 We also recieved free focaccia bread which is one of my favorite breads and it was so good. I was not a big fan of the ricotta cheese blend though it's just me I'm not a fan of ricotta cheese lol. But the bread itself was top notch. So fluffy and yet properly toasted and buttery. 8.5/10 Now for what I and all of you are waiting for: CHEESEBURGER (Bear Creek beef, big mac style, fries) This burger was so fresh and delicious don't let the picture fool you it was not very big but still very delicious. The Big Mac style sauce was good. The ingredients you could easily tell were very fresh but I feel like seasoning wasn't executed well and lacked salt and pepper. Fries were cut fresh very good and well seasoned. Do I think it deserves to be on the top 25 list? Yes but what they are charging for it I think it's a bit much for what you actually recieve. 8.9/10 Second entrée was: HALF CHICKEN PIRI PIRI (guajillo marinade, peanut-lime gremolata, fries) This was some flavorful juicy chicken Piri Piri definitely done right however correct me if I'm wrong but half chicken means half a chicken right because we only recieved a butterflied chicken breast. Maybe I'm missing something here and someone can help me understand. 9/10 Last but not least dessert: CARROT CAKE (swiss meringue buttercream, whipped cheesecake) The dessert menu wasn't very extravagant and very limited but I found out they own their own bakery so the cakes were made in house so we got the carrot it. It was very good and very moist however it had coconut all over it and I flat out don't like coconut it's a texture thing not a flavor thing. For the price you pay for it I definitely expected a bigger slice then what we recieved. But with that being said 8.5/10 Would I come back here? Yes! Do I recommend this place? Yes! However I think for what you're paying for some for the items I think the portions should be adjusted accordingly. Staff was spectacular food was great and I really enjoyed my time here.

I'd venture to say that my parties initial entry into the building was the best part of the night. The hostess was amazing! The ambiance lighting was cute, and the air conditioning was pleasant. About the food: it wasn't our favorite-- so disappointing. I had been looking forward to this restaurant since we arrived in BHAM. I ordered the focaccia bread, and it was really dry. Tried the Caesar salad which had great flavor but the crumbled croutons were unnecessary, I much prefer croutons whole. I also tried to order the "bistro filet" but they were out and had the skirt steak, so I tried that. It was just okay. Cooked well but lacked flavor and was a tad fatty and served in its grease-- not appetizing. My hubs ordered the lamb bucatini and did not like it. Neither meals were impressive; we actually did not complete them and wished that we had chosen another restaurant. The Essential's menu and food selections sound better than they are. The food was bland, and needed a hint more seasoning. Drinks were not great and tasted very mild in alcohol. Our service was GREAT!! Five stars there. As for the overall vibe; it was a buzz killer. We sat in between two small tables and the vibe was off. Being that we were in Birmingham Alabama, I'm not certain if the issue was Alabamians vs. Californians, White energy vs. Black energy, or Southern vs.Western energy, but whatever it was, we didn't like it. We got some looks and glares that felt a little suspicious and caused us to notice. Although we beat to the sound of our own drum, I'm just keeping it solid and letting you know what type of vibe we felt, so you can gear up. That said, if you're in town-- it's not a must frequent restaurant but it's one that's available until 10p. We may give it one more try, but we'll keep an eye out on the menu and see if it changes at all and expands its options. They need crispy Brussel sprouts, truffle fries, sweet potato fries, corn ribs, a few more appetizer options, and an angel hair pasta dish with garlic, etc. for folks who don't want thick noodles. More variety to the menu will help elevate the restaurant. I'd also recommend a variety of music-- include some smooth Jazz, pop, light rock, and R&B. The country music is okay, but add in some diversity.

Love this place for brunch or dinner. The food is always delicious, waitstaff is excellent. Love the new location too.

We visited The Essential to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday. The Manager was amazing, he made sure we were comfortable and the guest of honor was enjoying herself. The food here is amazing so you really can't go wrong with ordering any dish. We brought a cake from outside so although there was a cake cutting fee, they lit the candles and delivered each slice so that was a nice touch.

I never order cheese burgers when I go out. It wanted to be different and try something new and boy let me tell you it was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Quad is the BEST bartender in the world and to be honest he's the only reason I finally decided to just check it out. He recommended the tomatoes and peaches and it was different but I enjoyed my overall experience. I also ordered the carrot cake to go and it was chefs kiss.

Overview: I visited the Essential many years ago when it just opened. I did not like it. Seemed ok with above average prices. When this happens to me, it makes me sour on a place. My daughter wanted a weekend brunch, and the Essentials is 1/2 block from her loft. This review is my re-visit to the Essentials. Atmosphere: The Ambiance is nice but not over the top. It gives you a kind of feel like you are in Europe. Everything is nice and understated. Service: My service was good but not great. We ordered a piece of Banana Bread to start and it never showed up. Not a big thing but does take five stars to four stars. Food: I got the Smoked Salmon Benidict. I am very particular on the English muffin wanting it toasted and crisp. The entire entre was great from start to finish. My daughter got the famous Burger and fries. It did not disappoint. The coffee was excellent. Value: This place is kind of pricy but not over the top. It is a higher end from a quality standpoint. Conclusion: I was wrong to stay away from the Essentials for so many years. I will visit again. Eat well, Drink well and stay health.

Great experience! Make sure to make reservations ahead of time. The hostess put us on the bar waitlist and it took about 15-20 minutes. Hands down best caesar salad I've had. Such a unique twist to it. The baked mozerella was also so good!

$$ is wildly incorrect . I spent 64 on half an appetizer, a 1/4th of the cheapest bottle of wine, a salad, and half a carrot cake. The appetizer and cake were AMAZING, like life changing, but otherwise was fairly disappointed. The staff, however, was the redeeming quality. I LOVED our waiter!! She split the check in a crazy complicated way, which she should have said no to, but she stuck with us. Also gave amazing recommendations, and was just a friendly person. Once again, we were recommended to come here for the interior design, which was decent, but the lighting was bad late at night. Not a big deal, but that's the architect within me.

I can't believe I am just trying this place this year. I've only been for brunch but man, let me tell you it's absolutely scrumptious. I had every intention to try something new but I just couldn't. Their burger has to be top 5 in Bham. The fries are perfectly seasoned and with a nice crunch. I tried the Aperol Spritz but I don't know if this drink is worth the hype. The mimosas on the other hand, let's just say the champagne -orange juice ratio was right where it needed to be. Anywho enough about the food. The servers are great and friendly. The vibe is beautiful and I love a good wallpapered bathroom. I will say if you plan to go to brunch expect to have a wait! Overall this restaurant has met all my expectations and let's just say it really is an essential place!

Love the new location! Atmosphere is much cozier than the original location. Server was great and knowledgeable. Food was delicious, only complaint was the size of the hamburger and fry quantity. Seems smaller than before. Tried the Mafaldine and it was delicious. Portion was great, couldn't finish it all.

Great food and drinks. The bartender, Libby, was on point! I ordered the five grain salad and it did not disappoint. My friend ordered a pasta dish that she said was delicious. Their menu changes seasonally my visit was in December 2023. I ordered a drink called Lillypad. It's my new favorite.

Our server was great!! We told him we were in town for a few days and then we are heading farther south. He had wonderful recommendations that 4 of us took advantage of! I would recommend going here! It was a bit loud but it worked for the 4 of us!

The enchantress and I really enjoy starting early on Saturday mornings with a long walk around town...makes you feel better about the brunch food and drink planned for afterwards! This week that walk was all around downtown Birmingham, which by the way is a great city! A little after 9am we found ourselves at The Essential. Absolutely our kind of brunch location. Outside seating was already filled up but we enjoyed two bar seats up at the front window. Sipped on sparkling wine while people watching out on the street. While she enjoyed the rich, earthy Mushroom Madame I carbed up with the Essential Hash. Both dishes were outstanding. Chatted about local neighborhoods with Aleiah, a fantastic server. Will definitely be a repeat next time we are in town.

Yes. Just yes. Service, atmosphere, cocktails, food, . Rolled in on a Sunday night after the place cleared out. I was brought the perfect vodka martini. We were lucky to have the lovely server Blake's full attention. He helped us pick the perfect meal for our mood. Let me just say: get the beets. Everything we had was tasty, but I'll crave the beets. Carrot cake also insanely delicious. Enjoy!

My second time at the Essential was just as good as the first. The service was great on this quiet weeknight date. The agnolotti was very tasty and the carrot cake was SO good, highly recommend.

I've heard tons about this spot. The good, bad, and the in between. While paroosimg the menu, it seemed as though The Essential menu is almost the exact same as another popular spot down the street. Was supposed the meet a friend here on Sunday, she was running a little behind schedule so I got here first. Honestly, I'm not sure if the sourdough pancakes were worth the $16 price tag, but the few bites that I did have were decent at best. I sat at the bar as I was a part of one. All of the staff I came into contact with were pleasant. But the people behind the bar were a little rough. I was given a menu and then they kind of stood there and stared at me while I was deciding what to order. In all honesty, their food isn't anything super different then what you can find at any other brunch spot in the area. It was good, but was also nothing out of the box or creative. When my friend arrived, I decided to take her else where for brunch. I believe brunch is so easy to be creative with, but the Essential, it nothing new. They have the opportunity to be creative and take the innovative, but they choose not to. Not sure if I will be back or not. But was happy to try this spot out finally.

Food was alright, but not what I was expecting. I was told the burger was good, but there wasn't anything special about it.

First time at The Essential. I came for the burger because of all the reviews on it. We started off with the mozzarella sticks. They were on the bland side, not sure what type of mozzarella they use but it was very mild tasting. The only thing I tasted was the breadcrumbs and that even lacked flavor. In other words skip out on those. They were nice enough to remove them for the bill which was appreciated. Now for the burger, I ordered it medium and it was just that. The burger had good flavor and was juicy for sure. The fries were good as well and very salted which I love salty fries. I would go back but next time I will try the piri piri chicken. The staff was great and the customer service was great too. Overall 8/10

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at The Essential. They have creative cocktails, a desirable food menu, and great service. Others in the restaurant seemed happily pleased.

Really good brunch spot and lunch spot but never experienced dinner. I've only been to the original location but I'm imagine the food will stay consistent.

We always enjoy ourselves when we go! Never bad service, and our food is always freshly cooked. Drinks are A1, and it's such a cute cozy little vibe in there! I love the smoked salmon Benedict and they make a great lemon drop. The Irish coffee is strong!, but really good. Sometimes, they're can be a little wait, but it's always worth it

Pri pri chicken was delicious, service was great, and they had some nice happy hour options on apps and drinks. Would certainly come back here if in the area again.

I came here not too long ago for lunch on a weekday. My server was very courteous. I had the mushroom rigatoni. It was pretty good but I wasn't a huge fan of the way the mushrooms were cooked/the texture of them in the dish. I don't have the best opinion on it since I can be put off by mushrooms at times, so keep that in mind. The food was very good quality and I really liked the pasta. If you don't absolutely love mushrooms though I'd probably stay away from ordering the dish. I really liked the vibe of the place. One thing I would change is that if you come in by yourself you have to sit at the bar and I'm not a huge fan of that, I'd much more prefer a small table. They're limited on space so that might not be doable but it's worth considering

I chose to go to The Essential last minute for my Birthday and thankfully I was able to grab a table for two and a little baby without a reservation. First off the food was delicious! I ordered the Half Chicken Piri Piri and my wife had the Cheeseburger. Both were so good I forgot to snap a picture of it. The Chicken Piri Piri was so juicy and full of flavor and came on top of a generous portion of seasoned just right fries. My wife's cheeseburger was the bomb and also came with loads of fries. I totally almost forgot that we ordered spaghetti and meatballs for the little one and she LOVED IT! The ambience was as expected, lively and full of laughter and the music was a hit for the little one. Haha Lastly we enjoyed a house margarita and an espresso martini that was phenomenal and are certainly come back again with friends and family. The greeter was very pleasant and welcoming and the server was attentive but didn't pester us.

Amazing food, amazing service, upscale diner feel. Returning as often as I can. Get the milk punch. You're welcome.

This was our first meal ever in Birmingham and we were pleased we came to The Essential. We just got into town and saw this restaurant mentioned a few places and has 4.5 hearts on GF Foodie, they were great to make accommodations for GF. Service was excellent, Kevin was spot on, friendly and efficient. His suggestions were very helpful. They a a GF IPA which my husband enjoyed and I had the "Lux be a Lady" it was so refreshing! Just the thing to start the night off, since we went with the Caesar salads, one with Chicken and one with Smoked Salmon we decided to splurge on two small plates, one French fries with Parmesan and garlic aioli and an Heirloom tomatoes with mini chickpeas, olive oil and Tzatziki sauce with herbs so delicious! Sadly no GF bread, but do have GF pasta. Had decaf cappuccino with the Chocolate Bundino a rich ganache-like creation ask for it without the cookies if you're GF, paired beautifully with the cappuccino. The ambiance is French bistro chic with marble tabes, linen napkins and inside and outside eating areas. Valet parking, street or parking garage with limited spaces across the cobble stone street. Sound bounces al over the place inside, so if you want to focus on your conversation, opt for the patio. Either way you'll have a great meal in a fun space with great service! Hello Birmingham!

We love their new location. We're sad that La Fete moved because we loved this build out, but having The Essential there now is cool. Food is always good. Servers are nice and attentive. Only complaint would be the ambient noise level. Unsure if they could do anything about it but it's a little loud for dinner. The Caesar salad is one of the best in town. Burger is pretty high on my list. And they make their pasta in house.

Love service and food! The ambiance is great and the drinks are amazing! Awesome salad!

I tried the pri pri chicken and my mom tried the 5 grain salad. Both of them were delicious. The chicken was very succulent. I will definitely come again.

Great food and drinks, service was great. Super cute spot for dinner and drinks. Server was knowledable and friendly.

We came here for Saturday brunch. Pro tip is to join the waitlist virtually from the Resy app. The lady on the phone gave me that recommendation when I called to inquire about the wait, and she was so upbeat and friendly! It took a little over an hour for our table to get ready. When we arrived, we were disappointed to see they were seating three of us on a table that was hardly big enough for even two people. We felt like we were in the walkway. The music was also insanely loud, especially for an early brunch hour. We considered sitting outside in the heat due to the noise levels. Our server was very friendly. She gave recommendations. Our table split the French toast, and we all got separate meals to then try. I got the mushroom madame. It came with a small "salad," but this was basically just salted lettuce leaves. The dish itself was just okay. We all felt that way regarding our orders. We liked the French toast, but it was quite rich. It was a cute establishment with friendly faces, but it's not somewhere that we will likely return. Worth checking out once though!

The Essential has always had great food and cocktails and now that they've swapped locations with Bar LaFete it's a bit easier to get a spot. We popped in twice recently for dinner and drinks at the bar and it was a great experience both times. The service was completely on point and Libby made my friend the cutest cocktail I've ever seen - a Lily Pad complete with a little matcha frogger. The decor is interesting and the ambiance is classic with an acceptable noise level. Check out the daily specials. I ordered the Tuesday special - Agnolotti - and it's now my new favorite food. SO GOOD! Can't wait to return.

Food is high quality and delicious. It is a small menu but they do everything well. Service was great at the bar, and I love the design of the restaurant.

We love coming over here! They have a great selection of items, but you can never go wrong with their burger. It is one of my favorites in Birmingham! The staff is all very friendly and the restaurant is in a beautiful area. The only downside is that the restaurant can get crowded at times. I hope to go one day to try out their brunch!

Grabbed brunch here on Saturday morning right when they opened. Was afraid that it would be really busy but managed to grab a table really easily. No reservations are taken for brunch. We were warmly greeted by our server and walked through the menu. I was a big fan of my breakfast - the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese biscuit. Though it can come across as a rather generic menu item at a breakfast eatery, I was really amazed by the varying aromatics in this simple breakfast sandwich. You can tell everything is sourced very intentionally. Paired with a simple side salad and two mimosas (orange and pomegranate), I was feeling very good for breakfast. As a side, I got a Bo Boy? which is like a giant hashbrown. Overall, a great time!

I have heard so many people raving about this place and wanted to give it a try since I haven't been since it first opened. I do like that they take reservations so we didn't have to worry about getting a table. They also have valet parking outside which is nice. Everyone is as very friendly from the hostess to all the wait staff. I will say I felt like it was a little loud ambience wise. It doesn't feel like a super fancy place for a special occasion dinner, which is what I felt like the prices were. It was good food but I did feel like the prices were a little high. I will say the appetizer bread and cheese spread was my favorite part. It does only come with two rolls so not really much for sharing.