Toast Wine & Cafe

The original manager has now left and unfortunately we can see the effects. Recently I met a friend here for a drink and dinner after work, and I got there first. I did my usual… and walked right to the wine racks only to see the selection was minimal and the majority of the price range was in the $ 50’s. One of the things I love about wine bars is the selection of different wines both for taste purposes and price. When I asked if they maybe had more wine in the back I was informed that the prior night they had a large crowd that cleaned them out. Truthfully regardless of the crowd size, I feel like a wine bar … should ALWAYS have plenty of wine. The wine that was recommended was sub-​par, but we had no other options. The food wasn’t bad but not worth the price, there was no one else in there and the atmosphere was a bit depressing. Unfortunately my favorite wine bar (where I hosted my bridal shower) is no longer my favorite, apparently the former manager is the one who kept it functioning. I’m still haven’t lost all hope, and I am hopeful this is just a transition period and soon we’ll be back to the glory days. :)

My favorite wine bar in Tampa! Great selection great service. Owners and staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. Diana the bartender and wine connoisseur is the absolute best. Definitely swing by and give this place try!

SO GOOD! The food was delicious, the space was adorable, good wine selection, and the staff just made the experience even better! And it didn’t break the bank– yay! HIGHLY recommend!

A friend of mine recently gushed about how much she used to love going to Toast when she was in college, so it was the first place that came to mind when a change of plans called for dinner/​drinks in the USF area. Our hostess was hilarious and so nice. She chatted with us a lot while we waited for the third member of our party to arrive.
After much debate, I went with a deliciously sweet Moscato. I wish I had gotten the name, because I would love to purchase a bottle! We visited during happy hour, but all of the wines on tap were dry and I prefer sweet wine. My friend had the Cabernet Sauvignon that was on special and said it was very good.
The menu online did not match the menu we were given in the restaurant. It was much more limited, with a few flatbreads, salads, and appetizer dishes. I had «nachos» that had gouda and bacon over kettle chips. There was also a French onion dip on the side. It was decent, but there could’ve been a lot more cheese! I’m very picky, so there wasn’t much else on the menu that I would eat and I think I would’ve been starving if not for the wine filling me up! One of my friends ordered the barbeque flatbread and she loved it. The other ordered a Mexican flatbread and didn’t like the chicken on it, but said everything else was fine.
It’s crazy that I lived right across the street in Tampa Palms for a year and never knew about this place. We had a really nice evening and enjoyed the laid back vibe. But I do think that if I return to Toast, I’ll stick with just wine and maybe charcuterie instead of going there to eat a full meal.

Went for happy hour and didn’t expect a wine bar to have such good food. Who would’ve thought garlic shrimp taste soo good! It was a nice place to have a drink or two.

I will never come back. Bartender ladies flirting and giving the guy next to me giving him about a half a bottle in free tastes of wine,. .etc… My pour was minimal. Not attentive. Not coming back here. Posted a picture.

This was my first visit to Toast & it certainly will not be my last. I can’t say that the atmosphere or ambiance is anything special, but you immediately feel at home. After reading the reviews, I knew it was Hector I was dealing with. He knew most of the customers coming in & for us neubies, he made sure we felt welcome.
In the pictures you can see the beautiful cheese plate I got, at happy hour, for $ 5.00, what a steal… um, I mean deal.
Hector & I dissed wine & he gave me a few sample sips, to go along with the glasses I purchased. Loved the homey feel I got right away. This is a new one for my list, I will return, when I get to that area of town or maybe try out their South Tampa location.
What’s a girl to do? Go where you are comfortable & can let your hair down.

My favorite wine bar! Great specials, knowledges staff and amazing win tastings. Definitely a perfect for date nights, girls night or to just have a glass after work!

So, it had been a year since I visited Toast, and once again it was on Mother’s Day! I was surprised that we were the only ones there. I will say that the few times I went there there were 0 to 1 people in the place. I am curious why that is…
Regardless, my mother really likes it, because it is hard to find a place like it around here. There was not any happy hours specials, it is only during the week, but they did offer free mimosas to the moms. My mom also bought a bottle of wine to have there, and then some to take home. I like the red wines offered, and also tried some of my mom’s white wine.
We ordered the artisan cheese plate, and also the bread and olive oil dip (again). I really enjoyed the cheese plate. Wine and cheese pairs well together, of course! I especially like the brie, and the drizzle of honey over it.
See you next year, Toast!

I’ve been here three or four times. My first experience was for an intimate bridal shower, and it provided the perfect environment. I also visited for happy hour with girlfriends, and for a first date. Happy hour specials and prices were reasonable, and the atmosphere provided for a great first date experience.
Overall, Toast is a great little place with an awesome selection of wines, fair prices, and a nice cozy ambiance.
Why only 3 stars? The service and guest engagement on my most recent visit was extremely poor… very inattentive to making guests feel special. Hesitant to return.

We have been coming to Toast on Bruce B Downs for a couple of years now. They consistently have a wide variety of wine to choose from, great food, and staff (especially Hector) who knows his wine!
If you’re looking for a cozy, nice spot for a bite to eat and some good wine, definitely give Toast a try.

A very hospitable wine and beer bar located in same strip mall as Dunderbacks on Bruce b downs. As we had gone in on a Saturday afternoon after a hike in the park, I opted for a beer. Not what they are known for but the very friendly bartender offered us up some very generous tastings of some wine. Thoroughly enjoyed the laid back atmosphere.
They have live music at 8pm and would definitely come back to try some more wine and think this would be a great place for a UYE. Small and inviting and friendly.

I came here with friends after a meal at Dunderbak’s. I had seen this place several times but always assumed it was more for smoking than wine. The bartender dude was super knowledge and helped make sure we had a fun night. I highly recommend the weekly flight specials they do, as it’s a great way to try a broad range of wines. The bartender was super knowledgeable and provided us a cool diagram of flavors to help us describe our wine.

Date night? make it a TOAST night!
Came across this place with the GF based on a friend’s recommendation and so happy that we did! We were basically looking for a nice, relaxing & laid back place to conclude a low key night at the movies and decided to stumble in. At the end of the night TOAST had us wondering, how the HECK have we NOT known about this place before?
The place is in the shopping plaza that contains popular hangouts such as Mr. Dunderbak’s, Takara Sushi, and Acropolis. When you think about the plaza itself, it’s is a great selection of restaurants because there aren’t too many places in Tampa where can you actually walk down a plaza and literally feel like you are being transported to different regions of the WORLD!
Upon walking in, we discovered that there was a live band (AWESOME!) playing 60’s –80’s classic hits from the beach boys, mamma’s & pappas, Bob Marley, and others which made the vibe inside very casual, light & entertaining. Tunes that any one would be able to recognize goes a long way and even had a few patrons of the restaurant singing along!
We sat by the bar and ordered the Anti Pasto plate which contained an assortment of cheeses & Italian meats to go along with the wine we ordered. At first we didn’t know which wine to select (as there’s so many to choose from!) but our bartender Hector gave us his recommendations and went as far to give us samples of the many different wines before deciding on the final winner. The Anti Pasto dish was also served with crackers and we enjoyed making our own grownup «Lunchables» while downing our glasses of wine & enjoying the live music. They also had TV screens behind the bar so we were even able to catch the Thursday Night football game.
One awesome thing to note — When we asked Hector what time they closed he said 10ish (we walked in around 945pm on a Thursday) and upon sitting down not once did we ever feel rushed to finish our wine or food, unlike some other establishments that typically frown on you for stepping foot right before closing time. THANK YOU HECTOR! You helped make our night!
If your looking for a nice low key place to take a date come check this place out & enjoy the great vibe and vast wine selections!

Toast Wine & Café is amazing. Honestly one of the happiest places to be in all of Tampa Bay. I LOVE it. From their food selection to their wine and coffee… everything is top notch. Hector — their wine expert and creative menu creator is awesome and each time I am there we always have great conversations about food, wine, and coffee.
Did I mention their coffee is insanely good and incredibly cheap? A great coffee will run you around $ 2/​$ 3 and they have a wide range of flavors with imported beans from around the world. I was a little skeptical that I could find myself in love with coffee, but Toast Wine & Café really changed my mind about that. I am hooked.
Another thing that I was turned onto here is wine. Being a food writer, I’m regularly treated to wine at food festivals and restaurants all around town whenever I am invited to a tasting. Often, I yak and leave all the wine glasses sitting there. One of the few times that changed was at the Capital Grille during the Generous Pour when Sommelier George Milotes perfectly paired the wine and dishes served and I realized wine is a complex thing and it is really important that the people understand more than just a label.
It is at Toast during a casual day of doing work and having some coffee that the manager Hector and I will enjoy a glass of wine and I will find myself somehow completely in love with the glass of wine I am drinking. Most of the wines are from California and surprisingly inexpensive, but still filled with depth and flavor. Each time he will teach me a little more about wine. So I would like to thank Hector for helping me to actually start to really love wine and take an active interest in it. Maybe I just was not having the right wines, you know?
Don’t forget the food. It is excellent. The best Cuban I have ever had that needs to be a contestant for the next Cuban Sandwich Festival in Ybor City. The paninis are a great bite and I have not tried anything on the menu that I did not like.
I could probably go on forever about how much I love Toast Wine & Café… but it’s easier to tell you to jump in your car and drive here for an excellent afternoon or evening. You won’t regret it.

Came here with a bunch of friends and they were nothing but great! Had the meat trio, Mediterranean flatbread, and the meat & cheese sampler. Everything was amazing and they allow you to sample wines.
Will be here for many times to come!

Came here for a Wine and Canvas event and was very impressed. The server came around to check on us several times throughout the evening and he was very good at handling the large Wine and Canvas crowd and keeping up with his other customers. He is very knowledgeable about his selection and other wine events in the area. Toast often gets featured wines and offers new specials on a rotating basis. I ordered a California Pinot Noir (which was on special that night). Just a warning – I love wine, but I don’t know all of the terminology. The wine was great, but I can’t describe it in the detail that most can. It was very smooth. I only ordered one glass because I was driving, but the server gave me a sample of the other Pinot on their menu for comparison. It was fruity and full of flavor, which I was not expecting from a Pinot! Yet still had all of the mellow smoothness you would expect of a Pinot. Very impressive.
Keep in mind – this is a wine bar, not a restaurant. I say that to temper expectations – this place is great to relax for happy hour with friends. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just want to try something new, you will like this place. The food is delicious and pairs well with their wines. I orderered a half Cuban and it was plenty for dinner. I wish I had ordered one of the cheese and olive plates because they were much bigger than I was expecting! However, if you are looking for a full meal, this may not be the place for you on that particular night.
I am glad to see such a unique establishment in the USF area! What a great experience!

I want to give this place more stars but just can’t based on the experience. We intended to eat at Dunderbaks and it was closed. Had 3 kids in tow and the server said it would be ok to bring them in. She was very nice, but disappeared after we ordered! I was waiting over 20 min for a second glass of wine. As it turns out, she was either preparing, helping to prepare or just chatting with the person preparing or food. Totally weird. The place is cute and may be a nice spot for a snack and glass of wine before a dinner out. Limited menu and a bit pricey for what you get. I will say I ordered a Cuban and was impressed. For a wine bar, it was totally unexpected.

The atmosphere is nice, with cheesy 70s-​80s rock music. When I walked in, I was the only person there, and the guy greeted me oddly with «Can I help you?,» as if I were in the wrong place. I said, «I’d like a glass of wine, please.» And he said, «A girl who knows what she wants.» I found this off-​putting since I am a professional person in my 30s. My friend joined me about 10 minutes later, then one other customer was at the bar the entire time we were there.
There are many bottles of wine. The by-​the-​glass prices are high, with the cheapest being $ 8 (and only one for that). The prices are probably high to keep the university crowd out and to make a bigger profit, but I wouldn’t worry about students with Dunderbak’s next door and profit can be better earned by keeping customers. Some inexpensive wine is worth drinking. I know I would’ve spent more here at $ 6/​glass and would’ve returned.
There is no vegan food. My friend ordered the cheese and fruit plate, and the creepy guy tried to dissuade her from it. She ordered it anyway, and literally 35 minutes later, she got it. The guy took her order, then proceeded to talk to the one other man at the bar for half an hour while standing directly in front of us before going to the back to finally prepare it. It was ridiculous, but she was polite about it. It looked delicious, and she shared it with the only other customer, and they ate it all.
Suggestions: Andy is a creep. Replace him with someone friendly, attractive, and good at her job. Add one or two vegan options. It’s easy: hummus and pita. Vegan cheese plate. Fruit only plate. Salsa and chips. Black bean dip. Flatbread with Daiya cheese. Sports on every TV is really… limiting. Change one of the channels.

It is hard to find a fancier joint in North Tampa. It is a great spot to start a date. If you think you’ve heard of it in another city, you are right. This is a franchise.
Not intimidating by any means. Shorts and flip flops seem welcome… although personally, I discourage it. The bar is long, versus wide. bar lines the left, tables lining the right. They have a wide wine variety to purchase from. You can think of it as a store/​tapas joint. Along with their wine selection, they offer a wide variety of cigars… however, you cannot smoke inside. They do have a couple bar tops set up outside if you so choose to enjoy a smoke with your wine.
As far as food they offer a tapas menu, limited salad menu (2), small plate offerings, flatbreads, and a chicken quesadilla. Sadly… no desert. Big fan of the cheese and fruit plate and the Mediterranean flatbread — warning it is not warm.
They often hold wine tastings, and are very generous.
Overall a good place to make a pit stop in the night… not a place to make a night out of.