Toast

Very nice atmosphere in a repurposed home. Not overly crowded for a Monday during happy hour, which was to be expected. The beer list was not overwhelming, but it did not fall flat either. An offer of some local crafts to level out the list was nice. A good amount of cocktails offered as well. The menu is short and concise. I had the brisket burger. It was cooked as I ordered and tasted exactly as described in the menu. Nothing mind blowing, but an all around good burger. I enjoyed this location, but none of the dishes made a lasting impression to make me clammer back anytime soon.

Never again, mark my words!
I really wanted to like this place and I did till our service was non-​existent. Stopped in after work for happy hour with a girl friend. Decided to sit in their lounge area because it looked so cozy. It only looks cozy but if it’s cold and windy outside then it’s cold and windy inside by the windows as well. They really need to invest into new windows because it was very cold!
Their happy hour menu looked good, 2 $ off of wine and food specials. We ordered the trio to start. It was literately 3 pieces of toast (actually half of pieces of toast) topped with different things. One had hummus, one had tapenade and the third had a beet spread. The saddest trio for 7 $. Then we ordered the cheese plate, I didn’t think it could get worse but it did. The cheese plate was 2 different types of cheese and 6 pieces of tiny toast… for 12 $. We also ordered the Rice & Bean burger which was ok just dry.
We started with a glass of wine each, we finished our wine then waited about 10 – 15 min before the server came to ask if we wanted more. We both ordered another glass of wine. After we finished the second glass we waited and waited and waited. The table in front of us was served 7 times before our server came back to us to refill our wines. By that time we had enough and just asked for the bill.
When we received the bill, she had charged us full price for everything! We ordered everything during happy hour, had an awful time and awful service and she charged us full price. When we told her that she charged us full price she said «Oh I didn’t even notice.» She ended up changing the bill, we paid and left never to return.

This is a sad tale of a very disappointing, mushy, tasteless, lukewarm bean burger.
I have wanted to try toast for two years but just never got around to it. Finally, on a whim, we went in during happy hour for an early dinner and drinks. I got the burbon cider (delicious). First demerit, there are very few vegetarian options. That doesn’t shock me; a lot of Cleveland restaurants have yet to evolve in this respect. We ordered the rice and bean burgers and the cheese plate. The cheese plate was nothing to write home about (although nothing can be as good as urban farmer), save for the worst Camembert cheese I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. The burger was, without a doubt, the worst veggie burger I’ve ever had. Possibly some of the worst food I’ve ever had. It was mushy, watery, lukewarm, and tasteless. It’s clear that someone just cooked beans and rice, lazily threw it into a food processor without adding spices, formed it into a paddy and that was it. The bun was one of those dry generic sesame seed buns. They tried to add flavor by adding pickled red onions but that did nothing. For all of the great things I’ve heard about toast this made me so sad. I know Toast has great, innovative chefs and to serve this food was just lazy in my opinion.
I’m usually willing to give restaurants a second chance but I’m on the fence about this one.

Martinis definitely did the job, bartender had quite the heavy hand. I was annihilated! The prices in this little place are outrageous. Im nowhere near cheap, but man!
Enough said here.

Pretentious and over rated. Our server was condescending. The charcuterie board had something unidentifiable that looked like nothing more than shaved fat.

Love this place! Very cool atmosphere, very quaint and cozy with a rustic vibe. I’m partial to patios and theirs is magical with string lights, a garden-​esque feel, and just the right amount of space without feeling packed in. The people sitting next to us had their pups with them, so also furbaby friendly! Their drinks pack a punch and you can’t go wrong with ordering numerous small plates to split. Our server was also very personable and great at offering suggestions. This place is truly a hidden gem, can’t wait to go back soon!

Rustic, yet modern atmosphere with good drinks and diverse and healthy food options. Sat at a table at the front window and was perfect for a private conversation. Service was prompt but not intrusive.

We sat at the bar for dinner. It was only us and another couple at the bar, and in the end just us. The main restaurant was empty, but the patio was full out back.
The bar tender was amazing. We asked her to prepare a wine tasting for us and she did an amazing job! After telling her what we were familiar with, we asked for something outside of that realm. She shared that she drew on her experience from a tour of Italian wineries, and her personal favorites, to make the selection for our tasting. She poured one white and 4 reds and ordered them in increasing boldness. She told us about each one and what to expect as she poured the sample. She left the bottles in front of us and remained nearby as we tasted throughout our meal to interject her comments on our observations and to share more of her travel experiences. She was really enjoyable company and made for a great night. Her wine selection was really unique and was eye opening into the world of reds for me.
To go with all the wine we ordered dinner. I had the fish of the day which was Arctic Char. It was prepared perfectly and the selected accoutrements went well with it. I think I would get the fish of the day on return visits or a sampling of apps, as the few other entrée menu items, though quite different from each other, did not really appeal to me. There were several starters and sides however that would go well as small plates with wine.

A cute little romantic/​hipster/​wahteveryouneedittobe joint near Gordon square was our destination last night. Seat yourself deal. I really just wanted to find a place with good fries– and this place did not disappoint. Their salt and vinegar fries were amazing chunks of potato medallions– fresh and yummy!
I wanted to try both the fish and crispy lentil cake so my partner got the fish and i got the lentil cake. The fish was cooked wonderfully– had a nicer earthy mellow flavor of sunchockes and pepita. I got the lentil cake– i think it was a good thought but poorly executed. It tasted burnt and the inside was really mushu. It was accompanied by a side of carrots that were seasoned and grilled– they tasted okay but the best part of the meal. I barely touched my lentil cake and sent it back almost whole.
I also got the Jockey Full Of Bourbon which was great! By far my favorite part of the meal :)
Dessert: well, they were out of ²⁄₃ desserts. So, we got the only thing they had on their menu: Assorted Petit Fours. There were three very tiny pieces of some sort of vanilla buttercream cake, chocolate chip cookie dough truffle ball and dark chocolate nut truffle ball. We didnt enjoy any of them The dark chocolate ball was really hard, so we had to cut it with a knife. The vanilla cake was kinda bland but okay.
Pricey: Fries, 2 entrees, 2 drinks 1 dessert = 86 $
Id come back maybe to try another dish, for the ambiance and drinks. Service was pretty good. I genuinely believe I just had crappy luck that day with food since my friend enjoyed his meal. So, I’m willing to do toast round 2 soon :)
good for: date night, serious discussions, day away from the husband and dog, girls night out, meet the parents.

(To the tune of «Celebrate» by Kool & the Gang)
Six hundred reviews, come on!
Let’s celebrate!
Six hundred reviews, come on!
Let’s celebrate!
There’s a day date goin’ on right here,
No children with us, let’s make this last all year.
So bring your stomach, and your liver too,
I’m gonna eat and drink and then I’ll review.
(Come on now) Toooooassst… is awesome,
Let’s all have a bite of hot cottage fries
(Come on now) Tooooassst… is awesome,
Let’s all celebrate our Saturday right.
It’s time to eat together,
Crispy pig head? That’s my pleasure!
Everyone around the CLE
Come on!
Six hundred reviews, come on!
Let’s celebrate!
Six hundred reviews, come on!
Let’s celebrate!
We’re gonna have a good time at Toast
Those potent drinks… flavors they boast (yeah)
We’re gonna have a good time at Toast
It’s local food… they have the most!
Woohoo!

The food is good, the salt and vinegar cottage fries are drool worthy. They have a pretty good selection of drinks, but it’s a little pricey. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the music the crowd was nice. Not too crowded, it seemed really homey.
The service wasn’t very good – inattentive, forgetful, not particular interested in doing their job. But alas, I enjoyed my self.
If the service was better, or maybe sitting at the bar as opposed to a table, I would definitely make more trips to Toast.

This quaint house-​turned-​winebar near Gordon Square is spectacular. It’s warm, friendly and comfortably upscale. The bartenders and servers are the best. They really make you feel welcome and at home. The wine selection is superb and the tab doesn’t kill your bank account.
If you’re looking to host a large get together, or just want to bring a group of friends together, you can request the front room of the winebar. It has a large table that comfortably seats 16 as well as smaller tables around. It’s separate from the main floor of the restaurant so you really feel like you have your own little space.
This newer winebar is a definitely must try!

Loved the brunch. Great french press coffee, and everything we ordered was fantastic. The side of sausage was my favorite. All food is local, and the staff was laid back and friendly.
We would definitely go back!

Let me start by saying that I had high expectations for this place. I go into every dining experience with an open mind.
My boyfriend and I joined an admittedly large group of friends for dinner. We were seated at a large picnic-​style table in the noisy front room of the restaurant. The service was a bit slow to start, but we did have drinks in front of us before too long. The beer selection was nice, and after scoping out the very creative and expensive craft cocktail menu, we did opt for beer in order to save our purse for food instead.
The food and drink are on a New York price point, but the chef’s tasting menu seemed like a reasonable deal in lieu of the $ 31 chicken roulade entrée on its own. The tasting menu included three choices for $ 40 ($ 35 plus a $ 5 upcharge for a chicken dish). Because we were growing quite hangry, I selected the bread and flavored butters as my first item and requested that they bring it out ASAP. Another friend next to me requested the same.
When the bread arrived— four small pieces in each order— the food runner came to the opposite end of the table and announced that he would leave one basket at that end and the other closer to us. The thing is, Toast doesn’t serve toast when you sit down. The bread was tasty, and it was part of my meal. I felt quite awkward having to yell across a table of ten hungry people that the bread was mine and that my boyfriend and I would be eating it. Don’t their servers know that they don’t drop free bread for their guests? They should.
My chicken arrived in a reasonable amount of time. It was described as a chicken roulade with cranberry stuffing, parsnip purée, confit potato, and gravy. The presentation was fantastic, but from the first bite, I was disappointed. Keeping in mind that this was a $ 31 entrée when served alone, I was expecting more taste and more food! The spoonful of parsnip purée was hardly enough to accompany the chicken. The bland «confit potato» was inexplicably flavorless. I’ve had better French fries at Wendy’s, and their fries suck! The «gravy» was served at room temperature in a ramekin the size of two thimbles (again, hardly enough to dress a stuffed and rolled chicken breast). And the chicken itself had no outwardly identifiable flavors. I had hoped for a cranberry stuffing that was bursting with flavor. Instead, it tasted just like it looked: taupe.
Side note: the potato confit (read: French fries) was garnished with sprigs of thyme and then covered in what appeared to be a bunch garlic skins. Not to sound too traditional, but I tend to throw that part away after I crush my garlic. Also, I cook better chicken.
My boyfriend ordered a brisket burger. The menu said it was served with goat Gouda, tomato jam, lettuce, and aioli with fries. The goat Gouda was undetectable. I’m not even sure it was actually there. The aioli must have ended up on someone else’s plate, because it certainly wasn’t on his. After a bite of his sandwich, he said «Yep. It’s a burger.» Disappointing.
Another friend ordered a chef’s flight like I did, but he included the suggested wine pairings for his three courses. At $ 53, this is not a bad deal at first glance. Unfortunately, the wine pairings didn’t make it to the table. Before his final course arrived, he asked about his wine, and our waitress felt very bad. She said she would take the wine off the bill, and in the same breath she also asked him to remind her what his entrée was. «The brisket burger,» he said tenderly, «and no worries on the wine mixup.» I suppose we all expected that dish to be served with some wine, considering she asked him specifically what he was eating. Did not happen.
Next time I’ll try something else, somewhere else, with better service and more taste for less money. Our city might be an underdog compared to big cities like Chicago, but Clevelanders have discerning tastes. We have all eaten in fine restaurants, so we know what to expect when we spend our allowance on a good meal. And we also know when we’ve been fleeced.

A little on the pricy side but it has a great happy hour and cool atmosphere. I’ll definitely be coming back again.

Hands down one of the most under-​rated restaurants in Cleveland. Every dish, cheese, meat, appetizer or drink that I’ve had here has been nothing short of outstanding.
The dimly lit, sort of rustic, cozy interior is perfect if it’s your first date, your 50^th date or just a night out with your friends. The menu always has something that catches my eye — even when I swear I’m only there for drinks! The cheese and charcuterie is always a go-​to and may be some of the best in the area.
What keeps me always coming back is the cocktails (no one is surprised) — they have classics and also some very creative, balanced tasty drinks. The wine list is also not boring and has a lot of interesting options.
Toast is easily becoming one of my favorite CLE restaurants.

I finally made it back again… and this time for tapas and drinks during happy hour before catching a movie at Capitol. It was such a better experience this time around. We sat at the bar and greeted by the bartender who was very attentive and friendly. I ordered a glass of wine ($ 2 off) and boyfriend ordered a beer ($ 1 off), we also ordered two appetizers: pickled deviled eggs ($ 3 for 2) and french fries (I think the fries are only on hh menu– $ 5).
The food was delicious! We devoured the fries, perfectly seasoned. The eggs also delicious, my only complaint is that 2 for $ 3 seems a little pricey for deviled eggs.
We’ll definitely be back again! Hopefully to try dinner again next time.

The word on the street is that Toast is pretty amaze-​balls. With that much hype, it’s difficult to live up to it, but Toast sure did try it’s best!
We had a wonderful server who kindly handled my fiancé’s barrage of questions (that didn’t have anything to do with the meal) and he was both knowledgeable and quick with our drinks and meal.
I was honestly impressed by the wine selection. Unusual and worldly wines (I ordered one from Tokaj Hungary and one from Stellenbosch SA) paired well with our Price Fixe menu.
We got a selection of things (some things were already sold out so we had a limited menu). The pâté was good, but didn’t blow us away, but we were very happy with the plates in general. The aged ribeye was delicious and perfectly done, and the corn «succotash» meal was spot-​on.
Very happy and I will return!

ALL DAY Happy Hour on Wednesdays!
Needless to say that I went on a Wednesday to check this out. I have eaten at Toast a couple of times before but have never been to their happy hour. I was impressed.
They have $ 2 off glasses of wine (including champagne) and food specials. I enjoyed the beer braised wings (you get 6 for $ 5). Other items enjoyed at my table were the burger (marked down to $ 9 during happy hour), a cheese board and the tomato flat bread.

Cute, quaint, chill neighborhood vibe.
We stopped by Toast this weekend, looking for something new to try. Having heard some reviews about Toast, we decided to stop in.
The décor is cute– kind of rustic looking and the type of restaurant where it looked like the owner put his own touches of art in the place-​wine bottles in plastered art, metal spirals around the lights, and so on. We sat down on one of the benches by the windows (with pillows), and sipped some water out of our mason jars as we looked at our food choices.
First, we went with the brandade pierogies-​cured pollock, cheddar, potatoes. It was small, but good and rich-​very flavorful.
We moved on to the root vegetables-​we definitely loved this dish, cooked with tons of flavor and not too oily at all. You could definitely taste the spicy coconut in it too.
We finished off with the mushroom gnocchi– with oyster mushrooms and shallot sauce. The sauce was so rich and the gnocchi so good, it was a great way to end the night. I almost wishes they made a soup form of this dish! Super tasty.
Although I was disappointed with their dessert list (only three items, no chocolate, and then everything else was alcoholic), I still enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. Our waiter was super cool as well which made a great experience.
Eat, drink, and toast. Head to Toast for a light and satisfying meal!