Excellent service and delicious food! The ambiance was exceptional as well, I love the candles in the bathroom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Haley Hoppe
My husband and I recently came into some babies lol and this place has the best baby-changing station in Birmingham. The food is upscale and the vibe is upscale but still so welcoming for families. Big deal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael
Instagram vibe meets culinary excellence. Essential hash was so tasty. Worth the wait for brunch if you are in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah W
We were seated right away at 6pm on a Friday night at the bar (where we prefer to sit). We had a Leslie’s Cup and an Old Fashioned. Both were thoughtfully made and delicious. We ordered the burger and five grain bowl for dinner and loved both dishes. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 5 Grain Salad, Hamburger
James Hale
We were seated immediately without a reservation on a Sunday morning. The Essential Hash, Avocado Toast with Salmon, Yellow Grits, and Bo Round Hash round were all delicious, and the cappuccino was fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado, The Hash, Breakfast Hash
Tyler James Conway
Excellent food and service. They don't have a large beer selection, and the menu isn't too crazy, but they have enough of a variety to give everyone something to pick from. A lot of the entrees range from about $20 to $35 dollars or so, but the quality does put the menu soundly in that price range.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tess K
Lovely spot with friendly and helpful staff. The food was good with very generous portions. Got there about 5 minutes before they opened for brunch and they seated everyone very quickly. I was expecting quite a wait for food as the restaurant filled quickly but they took drink orders quickly and food came out hot and fresh in no time. Picked up some baked goods next door at the bakery for later. Would recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TaShundra Robinson
Highly recommend!!! It is very obvious that the leadership in here have shown the staff that they are willing to be in the grind with them. The teamwork was so amazing! My husband and I sat at the bar and Libby constantly wiped down the surfaces. The food was amazing and despite there being a wait, it was well worth it and wasn't too long.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon Benedict
Lori
Went to dinner on a busy Saturday night. Apparently they were down one server, but our server Kevin, who was non stop busy, never let that affect our dining experience. He was amazing, along with the rest of the staff. Not to mention the food was wonderful! I would definitely return to The Essential!
The atmosphere was cozy and hip at the same time. The waiter was highly informed about the menu and the bar options, and he was also wonderfully personable. But the highlights were the cocktails and the food. This is a high-class foodie destination with a manageable pricepoint. For 2 people, at dinner, we had salad, an appetizer, cocktails, 2 entrees, and an espresso for $105, plus tip. It's worth every penny.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Hartman
Stopped by here on Valentines day and it was an excellent choice. The food was full of flavor and extremely well prepared. 10 out of 10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Rigatoni
MBS Pellegrino
We enjoyed brunch here. They don't take reservations for brunch, although we were able to get a table outside without much of a wait. Food & Bloody Marys were delicious! We had the chicken sandwich, Reuben, and hash. Loved their homemade hot sauce & side of cheese grits. Nice atmosphere inside & outside. Would definitely recommend & can't wait to try their dinner menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Hash
A HJ
Great appetizers, especially the beans. The bartender was amazing, too great at suggesting wines & drinks.
Excellent service and delicious food! The ambiance was exceptional as well, I love the candles in the bathroom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I recently came into some babies lol and this place has the best baby-changing station in Birmingham. The food is upscale and the vibe is upscale but still so welcoming for families. Big deal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Instagram vibe meets culinary excellence. Essential hash was so tasty. Worth the wait for brunch if you are in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were seated right away at 6pm on a Friday night at the bar (where we prefer to sit). We had a Leslie’s Cup and an Old Fashioned. Both were thoughtfully made and delicious. We ordered the burger and five grain bowl for dinner and loved both dishes. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 5 Grain Salad, Hamburger
We were seated immediately without a reservation on a Sunday morning. The Essential Hash, Avocado Toast with Salmon, Yellow Grits, and Bo Round Hash round were all delicious, and the cappuccino was fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Avocado, The Hash, Breakfast Hash
Excellent food and service. They don't have a large beer selection, and the menu isn't too crazy, but they have enough of a variety to give everyone something to pick from. A lot of the entrees range from about $20 to $35 dollars or so, but the quality does put the menu soundly in that price range.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely spot with friendly and helpful staff. The food was good with very generous portions. Got there about 5 minutes before they opened for brunch and they seated everyone very quickly. I was expecting quite a wait for food as the restaurant filled quickly but they took drink orders quickly and food came out hot and fresh in no time. Picked up some baked goods next door at the bakery for later. Would recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Highly recommend!!! It is very obvious that the leadership in here have shown the staff that they are willing to be in the grind with them. The teamwork was so amazing! My husband and I sat at the bar and Libby constantly wiped down the surfaces. The food was amazing and despite there being a wait, it was well worth it and wasn't too long.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon Benedict
Went to dinner on a busy Saturday night. Apparently they were down one server, but our server Kevin, who was non stop busy, never let that affect our dining experience. He was amazing, along with the rest of the staff. Not to mention the food was wonderful! I would definitely return to The Essential!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A fantastic little hidden gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Blake was great
The atmosphere was cozy and hip at the same time. The waiter was highly informed about the menu and the bar options, and he was also wonderfully personable. But the highlights were the cocktails and the food. This is a high-class foodie destination with a manageable pricepoint. For 2 people, at dinner, we had salad, an appetizer, cocktails, 2 entrees, and an espresso for $105, plus tip. It's worth every penny.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped by here on Valentines day and it was an excellent choice. The food was full of flavor and extremely well prepared. 10 out of 10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Rigatoni
We enjoyed brunch here. They don't take reservations for brunch, although we were able to get a table outside without much of a wait. Food & Bloody Marys were delicious! We had the chicken sandwich, Reuben, and hash. Loved their homemade hot sauce & side of cheese grits. Nice atmosphere inside & outside. Would definitely recommend & can't wait to try their dinner menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Hash
Great appetizers, especially the beans. The bartender was amazing, too great at suggesting wines & drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemon Tart