Toast
“It's no Fred's, but there was no wait at all and lots of outdoor seating, so it held its own.”
“The prices a reasonable for NYC/UWS and the service is consistantly good.”
“Overall, I definitely recommend you try this place, especially if you're a Columbia student and live nearby.”
Toast
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I went here for lunch with my parents the morning I moved into NYC. After a rainy morning moving a sandwich and beer was all we needed and TOAST did the trick. There were more than one thing on the menu I wanted and the place was clean with a great staff.
I came here primary due to proximity and a dog friendly patio as I trolled the neighborhood with my little snaggle-toothed, four-legged friend. Also, as I thumbed through the pics, I saw a lean, mean looking lobster salad that I thought might do me good.
Unfortunately, the lobster salad is not a staple menu item and was not currently being offered. So I opted for the Lump Crab Gazpacho ($7) and the Grilled Salmon Sandwich.
The sandwich was delicious, with a generous bit of perfectly cooked salmon on a lightly toasted baguette. When I first saw the portion it looked a little intimidating. But as I worked my way through it I realized it just looked more daunting than it really was. Don't get me wrong, it will fill you up nicely if you're very hungry, but if not you might just be content with half.
The Truffle Parmesan fries though were so good that it took a ton of will power to exercise some reservation as I ate each fry daintily, one by one. If the salmon hadn't already taken me out, this fries would have been smashed.
The sangria was also light and refreshing, so if you've got a craving for red, I'm giving a green light on it to order.
The only item that I really didn't enjoy was the gazpacho. For some reason it was really oily. (Much more oily than any gazpacho I've ever had!) I just plucked out the few little pieces of lump crab, spooned a few bites and then put it into retirement.
My first waiter was a little negligent considering it was a slow afternoon, but I realized he was minutes away from ending his shift, so he probably already had mentally "checked" out. The waitress that took over though was on point and very attentive.
Overall, I'd recommend for a quick bite albeit perhaps not as a planned destination to go out of the way for. But if you do, I'm sure everyone would be able to find something they like on the menu.
Toast is only a few blocks from my apartment. I would describe it as a pub-style restaurant. I had a turkey burger paired with a side salad, and both were very good. I didn't know too much about beer at the time, so I had a hard time choosing from their selection of craft beers, but our waitress was very helpful in recommending different options based on more standard beers that we told her we like. She even let us try a sample of one of the beers before we ordered. My friend and I came here for lunch during a random weekday, so there weren't many people, but I'm assuming it gets far more attention at night. Overall, very pleased!
This place is OK. I wouldn't say A-OK, more like C+ OK. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could.
Your experience here really depends on what you order – the food is hit or miss. The meat here is great, particularly the burgers, which are thick and juicy. However, do NOT get the lobster roll. I ordered a $21 lobster roll the other day and it was super small (3 bites?!) and terrible. The side salad I had was soggy and didn't taste fresh.
Service was ok, and willing to modify orders upon request. However, they didn't tell my friend about the $2.50 additional charge he got stuck with for swapping french fries with broccoli (so not an obvious extra charge) and that's very frustrating.
Prices = meh.
Summary: An ok hangout near the Columbia campus but only go there if you want a burger.
Can't speak for anything but the Mac and Cheese – but boy, was it magical. Like a bottomless crock of gooey goodness. Don't let them fool you into thinking you need the "dinner portion" though. Unless you've got superhuman abilities then the appetizer size will more than satisfy.
Attentive and friendly staff – and they agreed to split separate checks which was basically a small miracle. And the drinks were all reasonably priced (also a small miracle, for that matter)
Lively yet laid-back vibe, and a spot I'd definitely see myself frequenting if it were at all on my "beaten path."
Good food and nice variety of breakfast and lunch items. Eggs Benedict is very satisfying! The omelets can come with a side salad (good sized portion) if u are feeling those greens in the am! Or u can get the original side of potatoe hash.
Bloody Mary was one of the best I've had in the city and Mimosas are good – both are reasonably priced at $5 each.
I love their sign for the name Toast.
The place is small but they have outdoor seating and the hostesses had no problem moving our outside seat from the shade to a sunshine table.
The service was a bit slow at the end to get the check and I would not recommend the bathroom (hold it ladies or pop that squat) given it is 1 shared stall and at 11am it was already a bit rancid.
Solid spot if you hail from Morningside Heights/Manhattan Valley. If you're a Columbia student, this place is probably one of your go-tos. Affordable, decent food, cheap wine. Not sure what else to say….Yelp's definition of a three-star review is "A-OK", which is exactly how I feel about Toast.
The good:
-One of the better eateries in the neighborhood. Not many options in this area, so sometimes you gotta settle. There are even better options up in the 120s (Max Soha, Pisticci, Dino BBQ, etc.). This area – where I happen to live – is pretty barren in terms of bars/restaurants.
-Great, great ambiance. Dimly lit, but still casual and good for a group of friends in the mood for a burger-filled night. Music is ON POINT. Lots of 90s rock – so much nostalgia.
-Really affordable if your on a college student/entry level employee budget. Cheap + edible = my only criteria in college.
The eh:
-Service is inconsistent. It shouldn't take that long to make a salad or a wrap. If you get something that requires more preparation, sure. But a basic turkey burger does not take that long to make, unless you're planning on going turkey shooting for fresh product (because clearly, New York is rife with wild turkeys – and no, I don't mean the bourbon).
-Since actually traveling below 96th street for my culinary exploits, it's now clear that going to Toast is more out of convenience and predictability than anything else. I've been back since going to plenty of dynamite spots downtown, and I can now safely say that if I move to another neighborhood, I won't be going out of my way to return to Toast. Nothing against you, Toast, I'm just unenthused.
Not as good as the uptown location. I would spend a little time and travel northward to 124th and Broadway to the original location.