Definitely order breakfast. Do not come here to order from the lunch menu. I had a crazy weekend, starting with being whisked away to a surprise brunch experience by a very dear friend. I have yet to explore Chicago for breakfast joints, and Toast was one of his suggestions that he decided against. However, I took mental note because I love diners and I have yet to find a place fit for my expectations in the city. Toast does not fit the bill. Rocking serious hangovers, my new friend and I decided that a substantial breakfast would assist in stopping our dizzy heads and perhaps reset our cloudy and unmotivated attitudes. He ordered the veggie burger, and I got the El Bucktowno. What came to our table looked much different from what we had pictured inside our heads. His veggie burger looked like someone cut out small pieces of construction paper, took a bunch of Elmer's glue, and made a patty out of the clippings, and threw it in a bun. I almost burned my mouth on the over-cooked chicken in my sandwich, and there was so much zucchini, it was hard to keep it inside the bun. For both of us, there was no flavor in our selections at all. No one was saying it needed to be deep fried; but you can marinate chicken and you can also use spices. My friend and I are form the suburbs, and we are not used to sitting so close to other diners. At toast, you feel like a fish in a can of sardines. I have learned to get used to it. I can even take the noise level. However, you sit me next to two loud and pretentious hipster girls who pretty much favor the sound of their own voice over actually listening to what their breakfast companion is saying; I will draw the line. My friend and I kept looking at each other, eyes practically bleeding at being subjected to their conversation. There was no choice. We had to listen to them and we couldn't even talk because it would have meant that we needed to raise our voices even more to hear each other. We resorted to texting each other with jokes regarding their sense of fashion, and perhaps both of them lacking men in their lives. Who would even stomach a date with these girls? There were, however, some very attractive men that dined here. I am not usually one to check out guys with tattoos and gauged earrings; but my visit to Toast changed my mind. Our waitress was amazing. She was so gracious and patient with everyone. I don't know how she does it, but she treated everyone like they were royalty. I didn't catch her name, but she had blond hair and cat-eye glasses. We made sure she got a decent tip. My tip to the reader would be to stick to breakfast if you eat at Toast. The rest of my weekend, my friend and I spent at the mercy of frequent trips to the bathroom.
(3)
Freddie M.
This place is a great find for breakfast lovers. I was incredibly impressed with the overall quality of food and the cozy atmosphere. I had the Loraine, while my girlfriend had the breakfast burger. The hot chocolate and lemon tea made yummy drinks. Next time I will try the BYO Bloody Mary. Service was great and they were relatively fast for a busy Sunday morning. I wish it were a little larger so the tables were not on top of one another, however, I suppose it would not have that cozy feel anymore. The vaulted ceilings helped anyway:) This is a definite must stop when in Bucktown
(5)
Sarah R.
Great breakfast. Coffee is good, orange juice is good. Servers were very friendly and attentive. My dad liked the decor of the restaurant and we had fun looking at all the vintage toasters. Went during the week so it wasn't as crowded.
(4)
Lily Z.
I went here this afternoon with the boy. First off, the place is tiny. There's hardly any space to wait for a table. The host did not seem friendly. I couldn't blame him. Standing in front of a freezing cold door all day would make me crabby as hell. But it was like a quiet crabby-ness? We were seated and ordered the pancake orgy and pesto scramble. He liked his pesto scramble a lot and I agreed. We both thought it was just going to be eggs with pesto thrown on top. Nope, it was blended with the egg and it still retained its nice pesto flavor. He really liked his cinnamon raisin toast. His potatoes could have been crisper. His OJ was tasted like Tampico. I was happy with my pancake orgy at first. The yogurt was good, but then again you can't really go wrong with vanilla yogurt, fruit and granola. The marscapone was nice, but kind of lacking in flavor. I couldn't handle the strawberry french toast. It was just too mushy for me. I understand that there's strawberry inside, but it just looked like mush to me. I even scraped some of it out to see if I would like it better, but I didn't. Perhaps if I'm in the mood for brunch again, I'll get the regular French toast with berries on top. Overall, I think Toast is a solid place for brunch. A bit cramped because I was scared that the guy next to me would knock over the vase of flowers into my french toast. They need to work on their heating/winter door or something. It was bitterly cold every time the door was opened. The outside canvas door did nothing. I would definitely choose this place over Janik's on division.
(4)
Jerome M.
This is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch spots. Great food all around! AND, they have Pepper Plant hot sauce, which you HAVE to put on some fried potatoes! Wait hasn't been the worse, outdoor seating in Summer is rad. Cool enough staff. Coffee is probably their weakest point, but a good benedict makes up for it.
(5)
Joe E.
Came here on Labor Day weekend with a few friends. Our wait was about 20 mins, even though we were told it would be 30. Yay. This place is BYOB, and it's actually quite small. We were seated on the patio on back. It was very nice to have the shade from the umbrella, because it was pretty hot in the sun. Everyone ordered Iced Coffee besides my bro and me. He went with the standard coffee and I went with water. For the entrees, my friends had the cobb club, the cobb salad, the bison sliders with potato salad, and the burger of the day (a breakfast burger type with sausage, egg, arugla, and potatoes). My brother and I ordered omelettes with multigrain toast and fruit. We also split a short stack (2 pancakes, so one each) of the whole wheat cakes. I went with the vegetarian omelette, which had shrooms, broccoli, peppers, onion, and gruyere cheese. I had it with egg whites too. My bro went with the mexican type omelette (Tijuana, I believe). It had peppers, jalapenos, and I'm forgetting the rest, but he enjoyed it. Fruit bowl had bananas, berries, and grapes. Not a fan of the 3.00 upcharge to have fruit instead, but that's the price I pay for being a bit healthier. Egg whites I understand, though (1.50 upcharge). The toast was perfect, the pancake was good (6 dollars for a shortstack? COME ON). Omelette was good, but nothing out of this world. Waitress wasn't very attentive, but she was nice. It was 35 bucks for my bro and me. A little expensive for my liking, especially since we didn't get that much food. Should have paid ten dollars less (Thanks Chicago). Overall, I'd probably go back. I've had a few breakfast/brunch places in Chicago, and Toast is better than average.
(4)
Pat E.
Welp Yelp, my first Chicago brunch experience with my best friends was a success. After deciding through an extensive Yelp search, I decided to make an executive decision (Kurt Russell and Halle Berry, anyone?) and head to Toast Two. Since my friends live near Bucktown, I wanted to walk but being with hung over 20 somethings, we decided to hop in my brothers Buick and head over. After parallel parking, we were told it would be a 30 to 45 mins for a table. The wait was only about 20 mins. This place is small but there is a patio in back which is where we were led to sit. I was not expecting to dine al fresco but we loved the Julius Melini coffee umbrellas providing shade. Our large testosterone filled group was ready our order food after getting iced coffees, coffee (this is why I'm hot) and waters. I went with the Tijuana omelette, fruit instead of potatoes, multigrain toast, and a side of whole wheat cakes to split with my twin brother. We were the only two that were not hung over as I mentioned before. Brother ordered the vegetarian omelette. Rest of the table enjoyed a Cobb Salad, Cobb Club Sandwich sliders, burger of the day, and their iced coffees. Food was great! Service was okay, but what do you expect? Refills had to be constantly asked for, especially on water. The menu is simple. Besides the service I found two pancakes for six bucks a bit much. Sure they were whole grain and delicious, but I thought an order was three or four. To our odd waitress, it was great to see you. I wish you were around more today. Bus boy was great at refills. I would go back to sit back on the patio again. Wish I could have buttered up this review a bit more, but Toast Two should be on your list of Bucktown hot spots. It is BYOB. I hate places that upcharge for fruit, but I understand. It's a business. As my friends mentioned, this is the kind of place a couple of cheeseburgers in paradise can chill on a Sunday afternoon.
Looking for a place to eat stopped in for some brunch and behold excellent food. quick friendly service. definitely will be back
(4)
Norbert S.
Went there on Sunday, and we sit by the bar. Food was great as always, service was ok. It was my third brekfast there i would definitely recomend this restaurant.
(3)
Mark H.
Even if you're a diner aficionado you would still agree this small place packs a solid punch to the best of all the local breakfast spots. Wasn't my first pick but rather 2nd choice but glad to have made the decision. From the French toast orgy to their breakfast burrito, the menu is full of interesting choices. And yes orgy. It's actually a menu choice. Kind of like the everything bagel with a nice assortment of fruit and sweets. Prices are fair considering the neighborhood. Got lucky with only a 10 min wait on a Sunday brunch. Could be a regular stop if you're tired of overpaying and over waiting at the other joints on Milwaukee and also on Division.
(4)
Antaash U.
After driving by Toast Two for almost a year on my way to my tennis club, and completely missing it (clearly I'm not the most observant), I finally spotted it a few weeks ago and happened to go yesterday for breakfast. Apparently, Bongo Room doesn't open until 9, and we were ready for breakfast by 8:30! Since we weren't willing to wait around, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to try Toast Two. Unfortunately when we got there there were no tables available but the hostess did offer us the opportunity to immediately sit at the bar, which we took. Celebrating the late arrival of fall, I immediately decided on the Pumpkin Pancakes with pumpkin whipped cream on the side. My BF decided to order the Tijuana scramble with an English muffin (his choice) and breakfast potatoes. Both were really good! We ended up swapping our dishes with one another so we could have a fair share of the sweet with the savory. It was perfect. I just wish the seats at the bar had back rests because I would have enjoyed my meal more if I had been comfortable. I almost scarfed my entire meal down so I wouldn't have to sit on the stool any longer. I guess this just means I need to go back in the hopes of getting to sit at a real table with comfortable chairs and see if Toast Two can earn its 5th star :).
(4)
Mith R.
"Buttermilk pancakes w/ toasted pine nuts over mascarpone cream, flavored w/ honey and anise drizzled w/ melted butter and honey w/ lavender flowers" I know this sounds like a lot...but they are hands-down THE BEST pancakes you'll ever have. I go back here almost exclusively to eat these. TRY THEM!
(4)
Chicago A.
I ordered the French Toast Orgy....sadly it was the kind of Orgy you don't wanna get involved in. The three pieces of toast were different temperatures...the chocolate was straight up cold, which made me wonder how long it had been sitting out compared to the other two. There was way too much stuff on it....but really the fact that some of the bread was straight up cold killed it for me.
(2)
Adam R.
My wife and I ate here while visiting the city. Breakfast was delicious. I had the two eggs breakfast, and wife had the Omelette Lorraine. I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the neighborhood.
(5)
Victoria C.
I have been to toast a few times and service has always been okay. To be fair, I have never had a problem with the food. The pesto eggs/scramble with prosciutto is excellent, stuffed toast is great, and the omelettes are tasty as well. My problem with Toast is the service. This last time I went particularly. My friend and I didn't realize we were early, but got there 20 minutes beforehand. I saw people inside so I knocked when the door was locked the manager/owner (I assume, not sure) gave me the 10 minute signal with her hands. I said ok no problem. We came back 17 minutes later (a couple minutes before open) and she gave us a 5 minute sign and looked angry at as, although we were following what she said. I understand we were early 3 minutes early the last time, but it was 4 degrees outside and she wouldn't let us in to sit down and warm up. We didnt need to be served right away. We decided to go to Meli instead.
(2)
Jon O.
I went for brunch day after new years and the food here is very good imo. We had to wait a little while to get a table since the place is a little on the small side and seating is fairly limited. Once we were seated thought the service was quick and friendly and we didn't have to wait for anything at all. I think part of that is them trying to turn over tables quickly but whatever it was nice to have attentive people working there. For brunch I ordered the crab eggs benedict and a side order of blueberry pancakes. The eggs benedict was delicious and came with a side of fried potatos. The pancakes were also great as well. I'm looking forward to going back here. Also, for two people the total bill came out to around 30$ but since we got a bunch of food I'd say it was a good value.
(4)
Ashley R.
Toast has been the most consistently delightful brunch spot I've frequented on the west side I've been to in the 5 years I've called Chicago home. The staff is attentive (shout out to Brandon!) and welcoming, and the food is both delicious and generously doled out. The eggs Benedict are the best I've ever tried due to an extra lemony truffle spiked hollandaise. Also noteworthy is their messy but oh-so satisfying breakfast burger with pesto aioli and a fried egg, the cowboy chili omelette when it's on special, and their pesto prosciutto scramble is heavenly. This location may not serve booze, but it's BYOB. They keep the coffee fresh and comin' (It's Bowtruss now!) and the daily tunes range from rockabilly to Ryan Adams. I'll be a customer for life.
(5)
Karolina M.
Expect a long wait for brunch on a Saturday. Other than that the service and food were great.
(4)
Cris O.
I really wish I could rate this place better, but the lack of inconsistent flavors between the Lincoln Park and Bucktown location leaves me disappointed and sad. :/ I came here (Bucktown location) with my husband Nov, 17th. We were beyond excited to again try the famous and delicious "french toast orgy", for we had tried it 2 times over at the Lincoln Park location. Everything about the 3 different flavors, (mascarpone, mexican chocolate, and strawberry was fantastic!) This is of course only when we had it at the Lincoln P. Toast. However, we can't say the same about our food experience when we decided to stop at the Bucktown location. We live less than 10 minutes away, yet I highly doubt we will be back. The french toast stuffing flavors lacked INCREDIBLY. I hardly was able to taste the chocolate flavor filling; the chocolate flavor was very diluted. They added so little chocolate cocoa flavor, that it so seems the cooks pitch in from their own pocket just to make the dollar stretch. To top it off their mascarpone filling was very soggy and they hardly added any. (a PICTURE is attached). I truly wish I could say this was only my plate but unfortunately my husband ordered the orgy and he felt the same way about his filling flavor and the amount they add to each toast stick. We weren't expecting anything far beyond what we have eaten at the L.P location: just regular good tasting with a mild amount of filling. It was so disappointing to come to this location's Toast. You would think that one of the things they are famous for would be on point at both locations. Bucktown's location needs to step it up and stick to the original recipe without being cheap with their flavors and amount served. Next time, I rather drive further, wait as long and gladly go through troubles with finding parking at the Lincoln Park location, than to come to this location and be disappointed with my dish.
(2)
Amanda B.
DELICIOUS! My first experience here was yummy! I had the stuffed french toast and it is definitely one of my new favorites. I pretty much wanted to try everything on the menu so I am definitely going to be returning. The service was good, checked up on us but also wasn't too persistent and interrupting my conversations every 10 minutes (pet peeve of mine). I can't wait to return !
(5)
Aaron G.
I went here Saturday afternoon and there was no wait. There was free parking outside too. The service was on point and the food was very well prepared. I had the chorizo Benedict and some of my girl friends Tijuana omelette, both great!
(5)
Greg W.
Pretty disappointed. Orders came out wrong. Ordered potatoes crispy, came out soggy. We sent them back. They must've dropped 'em in the fryer. They came back crispy and soaked in grease. Hollandaise was way too lemony. Mom's salmon omelet was pretty good. Dad ordered fried egg sandwich, and it came out two eggs over easy. I've been here before and really enjoyed it. Wonder if they're under new management or just an off day. Outdoor seating was pretty nice.
(1)
Ezeibe A.
Good food, kid friendly!
(4)
Sid B.
Excellent. This is how you pull off modern gourmet American breakfast. I had the omelette chicken jalapeño sausage with cheddar yellow and red peppers and onion. Delicious. I highly recommend the pancake orgy. Insane! Dear Bongo room, THIS is how you pull it off. Strongly recommended. Dishes were appropriately priced. I came on a Saturday and the wait was 15 min max. Well managed joint which means they're turning over tables quickly and the kitchen is pushing out food fast for all patrons. I understand now why the wait is only 15 min for a party of 2 and not an hour. Coming back again!
(5)
Jay N.
Parking can be difficult in this neighborhood with all the other businesses and restaurants in the area. I had heard good things about Toast and this location so I had an opportunity to check this place out before going on the Vienna Beef hot dog tour. We went on a weekday morning so it wasn't that busy inside except for a few single visitors and a couple of moms with their kids in strollers. The decor is pretty simple and plenty of vintage toasters. The Julius Meinl coffee is decent except for the presentation that you get from the original cafes. We ordered the pancake orgy, an order of huevos chorizo and cheddar, along with a standard breakfast of eggs bacon potatoes and toast. The breakfast items were pretty standard and none of them really stood out. I expected more from the pancakes and they sort of blended into each other with the individual components not sticking out on its own. The portions were good and service was good since it wasn't that busy. But the key for me was that I never felt like this place would be worth it to stand in line for or drive around to find a parking space when there are so many similar places around the city. If you're here on a weekday, then stop on in. But it's not a stand out for any particular items or the environment.
(3)
Brett P.
The best brunch place in the area. Probably in the city. If you are in the mood for something completely gluttonous but amazing, try the french toast orgy. That said, everything I have had there is great. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Nicholaus H.
Filet Benedict is glorious. Everything else looks amazing. I wouldn't know. I've been here 3 times and had the same thing. I crave it.
(5)
Kavi P.
Been here a couple times now, the menu is pretty standard - food is alright. No complaints really, but i would probably enjoy trying other places for the same price...
(3)
Justine G.
For pancakes and French toast head over to Toast II. Nothing pretentious, just straight forward breakfast & brunch options with a bit of something special. First, this place is great for families with kids (kid size portions available). Otherwise it's nice to sit at the counter. Aside from the cold draft, food was delicious. Decided to not order my usual omelette and go for their stuffed French toast. Mascarpone is definitely the best of option. I got all three flavors (Mascarpone, strawberry, & dark chocolate) served with blueberries, black berries, strawberries, & grapes. Next time I'll definitely just go with a kid size version and order a savory dish to complete that sweet & savory combo. Chill atmosphere & good brunch.
(4)
Dawn H.
We've been here several times and had good food and good service, hence the 3 stars instead of 1. Definitely some missteps at my most recent visit, ie moldy fruit cup and served the wrong drink, both of which I could have overlooked. But...kicker for me was when I brought out apple slices and cheerios for my daughter, they told me no outside food was allowed, despite the fact I had ordered her her own meal. She's two years old, come on. Going elsewhere from now on.
(3)
Joyce C.
On our way to another brunch place in the completely opposite direction as Toast Two. We decided literally on the highway before the exit that we were going to try this place instead. Am I glad we picked this place over the other!! First off, we went on a random weekday. We found parking right away but were surprised that it was packed. Luckily there was one table and we got seated right away. So the space. It's kinda old school. Nothing exciting. And it's kinda small. Like I don't think there could be more than 40 people in there at any given time. But it's cutely decorated with toasters. And there is a bar I think in the back. The food. My husband got the crab benedict, I got the omelette lorraine and we split the pancake orgy. In order of favorites - pancake orgy, crab benedict and omelette lorraine, BUT everything was pretty good. I was surprised that we liked the pancakes so much- we don't usually order pancakes (or other sweet breakfast items) unless it comes with the meal. This was definitely worth it. It was flavorful, had a variety of flavors with fresh fruit, granola and honey drizzed in it- it was AWESOME! And the coffee was awesome too- I think they used Julius Meinl, which I'm not usually a fan of but this dark roast was delicious... The only gripe was that the food took a while to get. It seems the kitchen was backed up that day or something. Not sure. I would def come back!
(5)
Zimin M.
great breakfast joint. love their French Toast Orgy with yogurt on top. Coffee is good and strong
(4)
Candace S.
Toast is still, and will always be one of the best brunch places in town. The French toast orgy always keeps me coming back and is just as good every time. Although the space is small and a wait is often required, it is worth every minute for this quaint little brunch spot in Bucktown. I haven't had a bad thing on the menu!
(5)
Adam D.
Cool little diner with awesome skylights. Busy place and seating is limited
(4)
George R.
My girlfriend and I came here for brunch for her birthday. There was no wait, and we were seated quickly. The place had kind of a homey decor, lined with different toasters on some shelves, but there was not a ton of seating. We both ordered the stuffed french toast orgy. Hers was stuffed with Mexican chocolate, mine was stuffed with mascarpone. We both agreed that mine was definitely a lot better than hers. The other food people were ordering looked good too. Service was prompt, and prices were fair. I'm not sure I'd come out of my way to come back here, but I'd definitely go again if I was nearby.
(3)
Nicole W.
I love this area of town. I'm more than happy to walk about (credit card in hand), shop, eat, drink, get my nails did, etc. Toast is the perfect start to a commerce filled day down Damen. As others have mentioned, the place can get quite packed, especially on weekends. But if you're like me and you just love breakfast, do yourself a favor and hit up Toast Two during the weekdays. The tables are pretty close together, so please shower for the good of the whole restaurant and your inadvertent dining partner next to you. At least layer on a swipe or two of deodorant. But I digress. The eats at Toast are solid. If you're a fan of the sweet stuff, try the stuffed French toast: three sizable, battered to perfection pieces of goodness stuffed with chocolate, strawberry goodness and marscapone. Three separate stuffs, all meld together to form a harmonious dish of fatty deliciousness. Still hungry? Definitely get a size of chicken sausage. It's flavorful and offers that perfect snap that I so crave in encased meats. For a tasty and fairly affordable breakfast in a fab downtown neighborhood, Toast Two is where it's at.
(4)
Lexie V.
Yum! The pancake orgy was so freaking good that I've been trying to figure out how to make something comparable for myself at home. So far no luck so I will keep coming back. One thing I did not know is that it is BYOB. I wish I knew this because I REALLY wanted to have a bloody mary but I did not happen to have a bottle of vodka on me (which is probably a good thing).
(5)
Rafael M.
My first visit to "Toast" in Bucktown did not disappoint! The food and drink were wonderful! The service was outstanding definitely 5-stars. We sat at the bar and our server "Jeny" was super awesome! I had the Traditional Eggs Benedict and Strawberry Stuffed French Toast with Coffee. Great visual presentation and the taste was superb! I would rank "Toast" in the top 3 breakfast places in Chicago. Parking was convenient and prices were competitive. I would highly recommend "Toast" on there level of service alone. Warm, friendly and very genuine.
(4)
Rubin K.
With all the food requests I gave on this trip, I had to grant other people a few of their wishes, so per her request, we ended up here on a Sunday morning. What started out as a good morning quickly turned sour when our wait time went beyond what they said for 5 people. Not only that, there was an empty table that could fit us right next to the window that was clear for 20 minutes. I asked if we could just sit there, and they said it was reserved or something. Angry and hungry, my alter ego hungry Hans came out...and it wasn't pretty. By the time we sat down, we already knew what we wanted as we had plenty of time outside to figure it out. Me and my friend split the French Toast Orgy and Nutella crepe thing. Note: be careful about your wording when you say something like this because someone asked me what I was getting and I said "we were splitting an orgy and..." I didn't even need to complete the sentence. We got to try all 3 flavors with the orgy, but you could request just one if you like. I believe there was a mexican chocolate one, a strawberry, and a marscapone. I think I liked the marscapone and Chocolate on the best, but my friend really liked the marscapone. To each their own, but I like the the variety of getting all 3. They balance each other out. As for the crepe, I thought it was good, but a bit dry. There were a lot of pecans around it, which were nice, but as a whole, I thought the dish was a bit dry. I needed something. Even a little dollop of whipped cream would have been nice. I tried my friends' dishes and they were good too. The veggie goat cheese one was awesome. And as the name implies, the toast was surprisingly good. I enjoyed the perfect brown-ness on them. I think I would prefer Yolk over this, but this was also a good option. It probably wouldn't be my first choice to go back to, but a solid one nonetheless.
(4)
Vanitha S.
In Chicago brunch can sometimes be boring or repetitive depending on where you go. Toast was definitely memorable! I came on a weekday so fortunately didn't have to worry about a wait. It is really cozy in here and the tables are squeezed together to get maximum patronage but it didn't seem bad. I ordered a chai which was pretty tasty and frothy. The scrambles and omelette menu looked so creative that it was hard to decide! I finally chose the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. Now sometimes egg dishes with whites can be flat and a little blah tasting, but whatever they did to my omelette (cream maybe??) was magic as it was soft and fluffy. The flavor combo of chihuahua cheese and veggies was delicious. The house potatoes were not heavy and oily and their multigrain toast delicious. I licked my plate! Next time I will listen to Justine's idea tip which is brilliant--if ordering a kid sized French toast with your savory dish! Must do that next time.
(4)
Mike K.
Staff at the counter is really cool. Great Omelets and oatmeal. Bacon is awesome. And best of all they serve Bowtruss coffee
(5)
Michael B.
Can't say enough about the fast service and good food. It was crazy packed and several in front of us and only waited about 10 minutes for a table. The crabby Benedict was fantastic.
(5)
Yen D.
Really enjoyed it, would have hated to wait for it. We walked in on a weekday morning for brunch and were seated immediately. The place was almost full but not packed. I love the high ceiling; it reminds me of a barn, and the toasters decorating the entryway are adorable and quirky. The whole place felt light and airy and like breakfast. So it's funny that we ordered the heaviest items on the menu (I can't imagine it getting heavier): the french toast orgy and the vegetable eggs benedict, adding avocado and mozzarella. (Actually it would've been heavier if we'd gotten a meat benedict). First, OH MY GOD THE LEMON HOLLANDAISE SAUCE YOWZA it's awesome. I love benedict, but I've never had a lemon hollandaise. The tangy lemon is just perfect with the creamy rich yolk-y hollandaise. It went great on the pile of veggies (yum lemony artichoke hearts and spinach) and avocado and mozzarella. We probably didn't need the mozzarella but it was yummy. And the egg was very well poached. The muffin was not very good though; tasted like chewy bread. Wish it had those big sauce-holding nooks and crannies that English muffins should have, and/or was more toasted. Served with potatoes which are fine. Next, the french toast orgy. We wanted to order an orgy and aren't huge pancake fans, so french toast it was! You have a choice of three stuffings: mascarpone, strawberry, mexican chocolate. We nixed the chocolate and got two pieces filled with mascarpone and one with strawberry. They're topped with powdered sugar, vanilla yogurt, granola, and berries. The berries were great, and the yogurt was also pretty good. The granola was a little too chewy to give enough textural contrast with the toast: it just tasted like harder french toast on french toast. I could not finish this. I had OJ, fresh squeezed and delicious, he had some good coffee, and we had great service by a woman with short hair and tattoos. I didn't get her name but I really liked her attentiveness, kindness, and helpfulness (she told us that we could mix and match our french toast, which was nice, and she checked in on us often but not too often). Overall, quite good! Yay I'm a fan! It's quite good, but not worth a wait of more than 10 minutes (I mean, you might as well just make your own breakfast at that point. It's good but not AMAZING).
(4)
Philip P.
This is a great breakfast spot to come to after a long than a few friends I started breakfast naturally at 2:00 with some homemade oatmeal and quickly moved into the pancake orgy, yes pancake orgy, which had fresh fruit, granola, some other delicious additives and a drizzle of honey. This place also had some stuffed French toast the looked great but I unfortunately did not try.
(3)
Jasmin V.
A BYOB breakfast place so bring your own. French toast orgy really amazing! There are three choices of flavors. I decided to try all three. I would definitely recommend getting all three Marscapone. The strawberry was not good at all. I was very excited for the chocolate but it was not very chocolatey. Maybe if it was Nutella (hint hint for any owners/workers reading this) then I would order it again but next time I'll go for all cheese! I also had a bite of my friend's pesto omelet. Mmmm so good I almost traded my french toast orgy...keyword almost...
(4)
Loni H.
Love the service. Love the veggie breakfast burrito. Atmosphere is great. The pretty owner is a nice gal and her staff is supercool. Everyone I have gone with has enjoyed their selections ... And they are really nice about editing your food if you prefer something added/ removed :-D 5 stars after 5 or so visits -unflawed.
(5)
Basil D.
Well, I went to Toast Two for the first time today, but I had been to the original "Toast" a few years ago. I had the B.E.L.T Breakfast sandwich. It was $8. It was good, that's it, nothing better than that. Guys, this breakfast sandwich is NOT an original concept, so spice it up a bit! Make it different!! The BELT is on ciabatta bread, which admittedly, is the BEST way to have it (I've had the exact same sandwich in tons of breakfast restaurants!). The choice of lettuce was perfect. The applewood smoked bacon was good too. There was one small egg that covered only half the sandwich inside...that was disappointing. I've never seen such a tiny fried egg! Now, if you're serving ciabatta bread on a sandwich, why in GOD'S NAME would you serve a side of potatoes?? Why not fruit as a side? I ordered avocado for my sandwich on the side, for TWO DOLLARS!! It wasn't even a whole avocado. Guys, c'mon! It was about a 1/3rd of an avocado, for two freaking dollars. To make it different, why not put a sauce on it, some mayo, or chipotle mayo or mango chutney cream cheese something.... Give it a little more flavor than just slapping crap together for a sandwich if it's going to be EIGHT DOLLARS!!!!!! Now, my friend had the stuffed french toast with the granola and yogurt on top. I had a taste of that, and it was pretty amazing. Please put that kind of creativity into your other dishes if you want premium price, and for people to have a truly unique experience. I also had the Julius Meinl coffee.... the ONLY kind of coffee to have in Chicago (sorry Intelligentia snobs...overrated), and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice which was fantastic. Maybe if I have the French Toast next time I go, and I will go, good locations, I'll give it another star. If the price point were lower, I'd bump it up a star, but not worth it for the price under normal circumstances.
(2)
Ryan C.
This place blows. My wife and I have been wanting to go here for a long time, so we finally decided to give it a Sunday brunch try. We immediately regretted it. The place is so small and crammed, and the way the seats are, you are basically sitting on top of the people next to you, just hearing everything they are saying. The tables are so close to each other that to get to the booth seat you have to stick your butt right in your neighbors face. Awkward. The service is incredibly slow as well. I ordered the chilaquiles and added chorizo, it was decent. My wife got the eggs Benedict. Super gross. Why would you make your hollandaise sauce so lemony? Ruined her dish. The potatoes that came with were ok. We know we will never go back. The food wasn't good enough to overcome the horrible atmosphere and lay out.
(1)
Lindsey S.
I just wasn't a fan of what I ordered. The stuffed French toast. It wasn't awful I just couldn't do the warm fruit. Service wasn't awful. It was extremely busy on the Saturday morning we got there but were seated in about fifteen minutes. My husband did really enjoy the pancake orgy.
(3)
Donisha L.
Two words for Toast Two: FOOD - COMA. I had friends in town from New York this weekend and we were actually headed to Lula's Cafe closer to my Logan Square hood. Sadly they were closed (strange for a Tuesday), but glad I stumbled across another brunch gem. My friends both had Eggs Benedict, which looked absolutely amazing. I opted for a healthier option (at least in my mind) with the peppered eggs and a side of chicken sausage. The chicken sausage was a magically delicious savory hint of apple goodness. We were fighting over the last piece like two homeless alley cats....man that sausage was amazing! Cute, quaint, looks like my grandma's kitchen, easy street parking during the weekday. Just say YES to Toast Two!
(4)
Dan E.
The food is generally good, but I have had long waits and poor service on a couple of occasions at this location. Not sure what the deal is, but it's not worth the wait with so many other great breakfast places in Chicago.
(3)
Steve H.
I only Yelp if I know a place, love a place, and can't help but spread the word. My wife and I have been to Toast well over a dozen times (probably closer to two dozen - don't judge) since moving to Bucktown. It's our go-to place for a Saturday morning brunch date or a meal with visiting out-of-towners. The staff is always kind, especially on busy mornings. On numerous occasions, we have been served coffee while we wait. I don't know any other place that does that. It's affordable and delicious. It's also pretty fun to hear my mother-in-law order a "french toast orgy."
(5)
Lola K P.
Cute updated diner-style with high ceilings that gives it the illusion of being much bigger than it is. Solid neighborhood breakfast joint with very good prices. Everyone was so pleasant, from the front desk to the waitress. We sat right by the window, which was very nice. The virgin Bloody Mary was good, practically had a whole salad in it (another Chicago specialty we'll miss). I had the crabby benedict, which was quite good, just the right amount of hollandaise. My thick cut bacon was perfectly crispy. Hubby and I shared that and the plain french toast with berries, good. Our friends have visited before and got their usual breakfast burrito and omelet, and said they were great as usual. Very good all around.
(4)
Preston J.
My favorite breakfast place in the city. The place is small, so expect to wait 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere inside is cute and clean. My favorites are the Eggs Benedict (all 3 varieties) or the french toast orgy (a mountain of tastes).
(5)
Ashley B.
A friend of mine suggested brunch at this place so my boyfriend and I came along and it was pretty awesome! I had been to Yolk, Eggsperience, Nookies, and a few other places in the city and this place seemed right on the money. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was delicious, especially since I requested to add chorizo. It was spicy, filling, and I needed a nap afterwards which to me, suggests it was a success. The boyfriend got the pancake orgy: a lemon poppyseed, regular, and blueberry muffins with granola, yogurt, honey, and syrup on top. Needless to say it was ridiculously rich (the yogurt on a side is probably a good idea) but definitely delicious. I want to come back! Only next time I'll have a bottle of champagne on hand to mix with my delicious homemade OJ!
(4)
Mallory H.
My girlfriend and I just had brunch at the Bucktown location of Toast and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We sat at the counter, the stools have little pegs for your legs which is great for us shorties out there! The overall ambiance is cozy and our server was super sweet - the staff in general was very accommodating and genuine. As for the food, we went with the basics and everything was prepared perfectly. My girl went with the buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries. The serving size was plentiful and the berries were super fresh. I had scrabbled eggs, house potatoes and chicken sausage which was incredibly juicy and had the prefect grilled taste that took me to a place of summer and BBQ, vastly different from the snow and negative degree temps we've had lately. We were even offered a fresh cup of coffee to take home. Maybe I've just been going to all the wrong breakfast places, but I really appreciated this and took our server up on her offer. We will definitely be back! Only tip is to arrive before 11, after that you are most likely in for a long wait, but it's worth it :)
(5)
Ellen V.
Years ago we went there for breakfast on Sat, the food was excellent , but waiting time was to kill your day. These days I have an opportunity to enjoy my 'solo' breakfast during week days. Sitting by the bar , chatting with the owner and folks around - perfect way to start a day. French Toast, pancakes, crepes all are done to perfection! And so far one of the best Eggs Benedict in town. So, why 4 starts? Coffee.... Few months ago they changed the vendor, looks like most of the folks are happy with the new one, but I left out without my morning coffee.
(4)
Meredith K.
We have been coming here for years. Its my dad's favorite place for Sunday breakfast. I say breakfast b/c we're always here before 9. Anything after and you're waiting for awhile. The coffee is good and so are the omelets. I usually get the veggie. If you're feeling decadent then get the french toast orgy. Its crazy!! I've had the crepes and they're sweet. And the seasonal pancakes are good too. I wouldn't come here without my dad but its where my dad ALWAYS wants to go.
(4)
Claudia D.
The offerings sound great and include Steel Cut Oatmeal and fresh fruit. Daily specials. The husband has, however, been disappointed 2-3 times with his sandwich selection, and with the preparation of his omelets/eggs. He likes his eggs soft, they always are too hard. He likes his Croque Monseur, but not the one here. The pancakes are often dry. The Steel Cut Oatmeal is good, but not great. The prices are a bit high. The service is good. Parking is easy during the week on the street.
(2)
Melissa K.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday on heavy recommendations from co-workers. I was NOT disappointed. The place was really small, and I had a 45 minute wait, but I was warned before so was prepared. Once we got it it was a quick seat & a hottie waitress, and it was smooth sailing and good eats from there! I ordered the Cobb Club sandwich with the House Potatoes; My friend ordered the stuffed French Toast with Marscapone Cheese & her Guy ordered the Grilled Tenderloin Benedict - all looked so tasty - and my sandwich was killer. I will definitely be coming back to this place
(4)
Raymond S.
Being down the street from two great brunch places in Red Door and Bristol, Toast Too had a lot to live up to due to proximity. The place is small but me and my brah got seated immediately (1:45 p.m. Sat). No waiting area so I imagine it would suck coming around prime hours and having to wait. I got the French Toast Orgy and I knew it would be a bad idea. For one because it's praised by Yelpers and to be quite honest, the consensus usually ends up sucking. Secondly I normally get french toast at other establishments including some of the best offered in Chicago so it had to go up against Batter and Berries and Bristol. The dish was extremely bland, the texture wasn't very pleasurable and the yogurt brought the flavor quotient down a few notches. All three flavors sucked. The other dish ordered was the breakfast burrito but lets be serious, it's impossible to screw up a flour tortilla stuffed with chorizo, eggs and cheese. It was tasty and had a nice spice kick to it. I can praise them for their prices, which were generally affordable for the main dishes. The coffee was just decent, and for $4 we got 4 flimsy pieces of Oscar Meyer bacon. I see no reason to visit this place unless the wait for Red Door and Bristol is unbearable.
(2)
Joshua M.
In my last review, I detailed an awful experience I had with this place. An awful waiter, awful service, awful food, the whole nine yards. I got invited out to brunch here, and I put my resentment aside to try this place out again. Boy am I glad I did. It was honestly fantastic this time. Our server was a tall man with lots of tattoos (the bill said Brandon, but who knows if that's his name. It said "Brandon" last time, and our last "Brandon" sucked). He really went above and beyond. We had someone at our table who wasn't feeling well and just couldn't stomach eating. He brought us some soda water with lemon and salt for him, which really helped settle his stomach. The food and service were both spectacular. My tenderloin benedict was perfectly-charred and pretty close to the medium rare I ordered (I'll forgive a few extra degrees on a medium rare for a nice char). Everyone at our table raved about their food, myself included. This place really turned it around for me. I'll be sure to give them more brunching opportunities in the future.
(5)
Taufiq H.
Very nice atmosphere. Usually long wait times over weekends. Outdoor seating in back. Superb breakfast!
(4)
Ramya P.
Really good breakfast spot but not worth the 1 hour wait-time The space is actually a lil' congested but the high ceilings make it appear more spacious. Service was fast and attentive. Eggs benedict is amazing, the lemon truffle hollandaise sauce is divine and the potatoes on the side are roasted perfectly. The omelet is nothing special but good nonetheless.
(4)
Maureen R.
Toast...I will never forget you. First the wait. Did you have to do that to me! And when it's a little cold I thought...eh-we can go somewhere else. But no, rumor is I wouldn't be disappointed with you! And waiting was well worth it. There were 3 of us and everything we ordered turned out amazing!!! The French Toast Orgy pretty much describes it in the title (insert Meg Ryan here). Also the French Toast stuffed with mascarpone was delicious! Although I may be partial to anything pesto...the Pesto Scramble was also tasty!! Go for brunch. Bring a book. Wait the wait. Do it. I will hopefully be seeing you soon...
(5)
Michael U.
Getting back to breakfast proper I gave my aunt the choice between Toast and Jam - though I hear the two go well together these are two separate restaurants in Chicago's breakfast/brunch scene - a scene I personally believe is the best in the country. Arriving at the small shop - the second of Jeanne Roser's (who was indeed present that day working the counter and pouring coffee) locations just after 9:30 we entered and were seated immediately. Menus were presented, specials described, water poured - top notch service. With aunt ordering orange juice (fresh squeezed and only $3 for a good sized glass) and myself going for coffee - a strong breakfast blend with mostly floral notes and a decent acidity - we perused the unique menu full of the standard breakfast, lunch, and brunch foods plus some really unique options. Decisions made we placed our orders and waited approximately 15 minutes while chatting and browsing the kitschy interior (toasters EVERYWHERE) before our food was delivered. For my aunt her selection was the "pancake orgy" featuring a stack of three thick and buttery yet perfectly golden and chewy pancakes topped with raspberry granola, creamy yougurt, and a drizzle of honey. With each pancake featuring a different flavor we both rather suspected they would be served linearly instead of as a stack, but on tasting we were both impressed by how each pancake tasted entirely different but also worked as a whole. Featuring a mild apple cinnamon pancake on top, a zippy and sour lemon poppy seed in the middle, and a banana pecan on the bottom I personally liked the banana pecan best (perhaps the post-New Orleans bias?) while aunt fancied the apple cinnamon. Offered a bite early in the meal my aunt is thankfully weak and couldn't finish much so I was able to later add some maple syrup and finish off the banana pecan cake. For myself the decision was easy - French Toast Orgy. Served essentially as a single 2 inch thick slice of stuffed brioche divided into three "fingers" the dish was again topped with an ample helping of raspberry granola, savory and smooth yogurt, and honey - I also added ample maple syrup, pure unless my taste buds deceive me. Featuring three different styles I first tasted the chocolate - mild hints of cocoa, great crispy and textural exterior with a melt in the mouth interior. Second I tasted the mascarpone and it turned out to be my favorite of the group with the sweetened cheese forming a pockets of creaminess inside the already buttery and smooth bread-pudding textured toast. My final taste was stuffed with pureed strawberry and while not quite as delectable as the other two (lacking the creaminess) I loved the tart contrast - eating it with the chocolate toast was superb. Very pleased with the griddled goods my aunt and I were equally enamored with the copious amount of fresh berries delivered with the breakfasts - in Los Angeles or New York the fruits included would've likely more than doubled the price of the meal. Paying the bargain tab and leaving a large tip we made our way to the streets and our easily obtained free parking spot very pleased with the Toast experience - between Bongo Room, Toast, M.Henry, and the myriad spots serving weekend brunch Chicago still reigns as my favorite breakfast city by far.
(5)
Kyle S.
Fantastic food. The feast potatoes are wonderful. Coffee was good, bacon crisp, but there was something not quite right with the sausage. I like it spicier maybe, it was still good though. I really liked this place.
(4)
Matteo I.
Food is great, differentiated. Service is friendly and down-to-earth. Great space, good buzz and atmosphere (especially if you bring sparkling wine for mimosas, it's BYOB). 3 stars for one reason that ruined my experience. The waiting list and seating process is not very streamlined. All members of your party must be present in order to be put in line for the next table available. It gets worse for parties over 2 people in number. So even though you may have waited for 45 minutes minus one member of your party (my case), you'll have to wait potentially 30 minutes or more on top of that to get a table, while others who arrived after you are seated before you. My wait total was 1hr 25min beginning at 10:15am on a Sunday morning for brunch. Still they did their best to follow their process, just a key management fix for the future. Definitely going back, but I will be planning ahead! Make sure your champagne is chilled somehow as you wait!
(3)
Osiris V.
After years of anticipation I finally stopped in here. Between my moms and my sister we all tasted some of the Eggs Benedict, Tijuana omelet (jalapeños, onion, tomato, chihuahua cheese and cilantro) and the French Toast orgy. The french toast orgy was very naughty, it did all kinds of things in my mouth. We ordered the one stuffed with marscapone, then they topped it with yogurt and their home made granola. I enjoyed every bite! The omelet was something that I'd make at home, and I'm not a fan of Eggs Benedict. The service was exceptional. The cups of water and coffee at our table were always full, all the empty plates were taken promptly. I am a definite fan of Toast Two but unless I'm in the city early in the a.m., I don't think I'd make the trip out there just for the french toast. I'm sure a breakfast joint here in the burbs would offer me tasty choices as well.
(4)
Caroline A.
I cannot believe it took me this long to get to Toast Two. After reading about their French Toast Orgy recently, I had not been able to get it out of my head! We got to the restaurant at 10:30 on a Saturday and only had to wait 20 minutes. Not bad at all. Six hungry ladies gathered and had mimosas with super fresh gargantuan strawberries! The menu is full of super fat, calorie dense, sugary and savory brunch favorites... and the worst part is that you kind of want it all. I went with the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette. And I almost ate the whole thing. I also had a bite of the marscapone stuffed french toast and it was sinfully delicious. Bonus points for being able to switch to egg whites only and having a few healthy options. The staff is super friendly, and we had lovely service. We stayed for a while catching up and didn't feel rushed at all. Enjoy and have a food coma shnap afterward.
(5)
Kimberly K.
Had a groupon for Toast. My son and I decided to check it out. We went on a weekday. Food was good as was service. Tables are very close and there aren't a lot of them, but that's not unusual. It was a bit noisy. Cute place, good food. Definitely a place to check out. Oh and they do serve lunch.
I had a great eggs benedict dish here. This dish, plus the potatoes served with it, was delicious. The coffee was also great. My friend and I did not have to wait too long on a Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Service was friendly. A little expensive, but I do not want to make hollandaise at home, so it was very good. I hope to return in the near future.
(5)
Hana W.
This is by far one of the best brunch spots in the city. Whether you sit inside or out on the patio I have received exceptional service. It is a byob restaurant with large pitchers of orange juice to take care of all our mimosa needs. We began our meal with the orgasmic stuffed French toast. Each piece could stand as a meal of it's own , but brilliently complimented each other. I have ordered a number of other dishes such as the Cobb sales, pesto scramble, ahi tuna sandwich, just to name a few. I have enjoyed absolutely everything. In addition we had one server assistant Gordie, who went over and above with his service. He always approached our table with a genuine smile and accommodated all of our needs. If you are looking for a great neighborhood breakfast spot, visit toast two. There is sometimes a small wait list, but it is worth it.
(5)
Steve W.
A place called "Toast," should have very good Toast, and Toast Two certainly does. I really enjoy the hearty, multigrain toast I have with my breakfast here. Is talking about toasted bread boring? No? Ok, wonderful. The dining room is quaint, with a nice al fresco area out back. There area few old toasters, and comfy "breakfast" art on the walls. The menu features a few egg benedicts, omelettes, french toasts, and pancakes. They also serve Julian Meinl coffee, which is delicious. The Chilaquiles were a special one morning, and they were very delicious. In a peppery Verde sauce, the chips were a little softer than traditional chilaquiles, but still held on to a little texture. All the food I've tried at Toast Two has been well prepared, tasty, and far from typical greasy breakfast fare.
(4)
B H.
Love this place. It's one of our favorite brunch spots in the city. The French Toast Orgy is awesome. If I had to complain about something, it's that there's no place to wait. This is a popular place so a 20+ minute wait is not unheard of. In the summer, people usually hang out on the sidewalk. In the winter you have to cram into the doorway. You have to squish right between the table nearest the door and between the host stand. This doubly sucks when you're seated at the table nearest to the door.
(4)
Bryan Y.
I ate here with my roommates last Saturday and it was amazing! The breakfast tasted so fresh. Here is what we ordered: 1. Breakfast burrito: the veggie/multi grain wrap hit the spot 2. Eggs benedicts and Steak: They poached the egg perfectly. Steak was very tender 3. Bacon Omelet: enjoyed the bacon and potatoes 4. Stuff French toast: the toast was very fluffy. I enjoyed the cream stuff flavor the most It had nice little home feel environment. We sat in the patio which felt like I was having breakfast at a friends house. I would definitely come here again. Also, if you come with a group they only accept a maximum of 2 credit cards. They don't allow you to use a combination of cash and card. So it either 2 credit cards or all cash.
(5)
Leah D.
Why are you reading this review? Go to Toast right now and get stuffed french toast with marscapone. It's the best. Their savory breakfasts are equally delicious, but the french toast is out of this world! Great coffee, great service. We usually sit at the counter and have always had excellent service and amazing breakfast! Oh and it's BYOB!
(5)
Andrea R.
I've been a longtime fan of the original Toast* in Lincoln Park, but just tried it's Bucktown location for the first time this week. It was hustling and bustling on a Wednesday afternoon just a few days before Xmas- most likely with people off for the holiday. I had the lil one with me so I was a bit worried it would be a long wait, but they had us seated pretty fast. Bucktown Toast is pretty similar to it's big sis: a tiny restaurant crammed with tables a bit too close to each other, mediocre service and a menu full of yummy breakfast and lunch eats. I usually stick with their granola/fruit bowl, but just last week discovered the pesto scramble. So good that I had it 2 days in a row- once in LP and then the next day here in Bucktown. I preferred mine without the prosciutto and in the name of healthiness substituted their delish potatoes for fruit, which they charged a ridiculous fee of $3. I also got a side of cinnamon raisin toast, which was awesome...then again I'd expect nothing less for a restaurant named "Toast." ---------- * Toast: yelp.com/biz/toast-chica…
(4)
Lynn N.
Coming from an area with no BYOBs, I welcomed Toast Two's BYOB policy and lovely carafes of orange juice that came with strawberry-rimmed glasses. My Tijuana omelet (with avocado added) also came out pretty tasty with stretchy chihuhua cheese, onions, pockets of avocado, and a gentle pinch of cilantro. So why only three stars? First of all, my omelet cost $10 outright and $12 with the avocado added. Even for my DC standards, that seems kind of pricey for a run-of-the-mill omelet. Secondly, and more importantly, I had a beef with the toast at Toast (Two). While they offered many kinds of toast, I learned very quickly that brioche should only be used for french toast. Also, they only offered strawberry jam with it. When I asked if they had any other kind, they said no. Seriously?! Toast is as tight with jam as jelly is with peanut butter. Please, Toast, offer your bread more jam friends to hang out with.
(3)
Ana C.
One of my favorite breakfast places. It is honestly a hidden gem. I love their omelets you can really taste all the fresh ingredients. One week I went here about three times that is how much I fell in love with it. They also give you endless coffee and oh my god it is delicious not your typical old coffee sitting for 3 days in the pot kind of coffee. I left feeling full and energized with all the cups of coffee. On one trip I had some coffee left and the server was so kind as to bring a to go cup for the coffee. I was the happiest super good food and friendly staff. One con which doesn't take away any star is that there usually is a wait time especially now that the outdoor sitting area will soon be unavailable.
(5)
Sherie P.
Yes, it's called Toast. No, I didn't actually have toast! But what I did have was very good. I though I was going to have to give a not so good review, but Toast changed my mind. A girlfriend of mine organized a slightly large party for such a small place. There were 12 of us meeting there for brunch at 11 on Sunday. I know...their busy time. But when she called weeks ahead of the date, they said it would be no problem... The week of, Oh, it might be a problem.... And when she arrived an hour early to ensure we got seats may or may not be a problem?? But as 11 soon approached the lovely hostess came to check in on us while we waited and ensure that we would be sat at 11. It was a few minutes later but the timing was perfect. She was great and totally made up for the indecisiveness and attitude of the others. Did I mention it was BYOB? We brought our bottle of champagne and they brought the cups and juice right away. YUM. The perfect way to start a brunch is with a sip of coffee and a sip of Mimosa. Next time I've got to bring Vodka to make myself a bloody mary! Since it was such a "big" group we got a wide sampling of food. My friend got the pumpkin pancakes! YUM! They were so light and fluffy. They just melted in my mouth. Several people got omelettes which they all loved and the benedict was a hit. I got the breakfast burrito. Of course I had to add chorizo to it. YUM! It was spicy and eggy. The tortilla was filled to the brim. It was the perfect size for me to eat it all but not feel over stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the salsa they brought with it. It was like tomato water with a spec of cilantro floating in it. Really?? That's NOT salsa. But the hot sauce the waiter brought more than made up for it. Will I go back? Definitely. I am dying to try the Pancake Orgy!
(4)
Annalea T.
Seriously this might be my favorite brunch place in the city of Chicago. Both locations are great- this one is closer for me so I prefer it, the only downside is at this location they don't have booze. Best eggs Benedict I have ever had in my life- lemony truffle hollandaise with house potatoes and tenderloin cooked to perfection with the best eggs and English muffin. Wow, just thinking of it makes my mouth water! I always love to find any excuse to go here. I love the staff too. Vinny is my favorite here, he loves to strike up conversation & always gives wonderful service. They have Julius meinl coffee here which is also excellent. This is a place I don't hesitate to take my out of town visitors :) always a must!!
(5)
Neha N.
This place is walkable for me.....and I'm so grateful. I came here on a Sunday around 11, and got seated in ten minutes. The server was kind and attentive. I got the pancake orgy (3 types of pancake) which was sooo delicious. This place is vegetarian friendly, unlike a lot brunch places around the city. Not too pricey and enough food if you want to take it home (but whose gonna take soggy pancakes home). Also, they are BYOB, but you have to purchase orange juice in order to make the mimosas which can end up being pricey...
(5)
David R.
November 6, 2010 - Per the website the last seating is at 3:45 pm being that they close at 4pm on Saturday. I have a Foursquare check-in at 3:21...my friend and I walked in and were told they will be closing in five minutes. I had looked forward eating here. I failed to notice the last seating time when I picked this place since I found in on Yelp Mobile for Android and saw the 4pm closing time, I figured we made it in time to dine here....oh well!
(1)
Jason D.
Toast has been on my hit list since I first moved to Bucktown a year ago. I finally found no wait and decided to take my house guests there. I ordered the Pesto Scramble and it didn't disappoint. The dish was very tasty with little bits of prosciutto and the pesto flavor wasn't overbearing. The eggs came with a side of potato's which were cooked perfectly, crispy but not overdone. The potato's however were not served as hot as I would of liked. Five Star Eggs, Three Star Potato's With the Pesto scramble, I ordered the short stack side, full size pancakes covered with powder sugar. Very tasty but this order could feed one by itself, so in addition the Pesto Scramble this proved to be a lot of food. Four Star Pancakes. Toast is very good breakfast joint. I enjoyed the home-style ambiance and the wait staff was very friendly. I would recommend it so long as there is no wait, as we were eating we overheard the hostess notifying people of a 25 minute wait.
(4)
Cheryl S.
very disappointing.... who doesn't have WiFi these days anyway. Well this is how it all started. Couldn't get any work done. From there, the waitress seemed to be more annoyed that I asked for WiFi from both her and the gal at the front because both didn't know off hand. Anyway as for the food. I ordered the steak Benedict on her recommendation and yes it was good. Just nothing special. toast was a great place years back when no restaurants cared about doing breakfast well. Now, it seams the rest have passed this place up. Oh well, lots more to chose from as I said.
(2)
Jaye J.
At this point, I've dined here quite a few times and had several menu items. Sure, sometimes I had to swipe them off of Mr. J's plate, but still... Yup, there is a wait on weekends. Prepare for up to an hour. In nice weather, our usual routine is to put in our names, get coffee somewhere, and walk around the 'hood. I'm not a fan of more than a 15 minute wait anywhere, so in the winter, we usually just don't make it here. The decor is simple and cute. Service has been overall excellent. Helpful suggestions from the servers, polite hosts and unobtrusive bussers. The only time we experienced anything less was our last visit on Apr 1. The host acted put-out to have to set us and the server was just barely adequate. Perhaps I'm just spoiled by otherwise more engaged service from Toast II, and it was near the end of their day. In general though, I have always been pleased. As another reviewer noted, the hollandaise here is perfection. Creamy, rich, and just enough tang. That gloppy over-lemoned mess you usually get places is not found here. Apparently I am the only person not in love with the "orgy" dishes. I find them odd-too dry in some places, too soggy in others and the yogurt seems too drippy and sour and the granola and french toast mixture just turns to a mushy chunky slosh on y plate mixed with bland tasting marscapone and overly sweet strawberries. I really hated it. However, I suppose it does have that comfort food things-a-6-year-old-would-eat craziness to it, and my Mother in Law really enjoyed it. The first thing I ever had there was the pancake of the day which, at that time was a dark chocolate chip pancake with a chili whipped cream. This is the stuff my fantasies are made of. I love butter. Like Paula Deen love for butter, but these were so rich and creamy all I had to do was let the whipped cream melt onto the cakes and I was happy. The dark chocolate chips were not too sweet and offset nicely by the chili which was not hot at all. The pancakes themselves were a perfect texture. I have since tried other pancakes, and they are all good-however this combo could make them famous! Last time, I got the pesto scramble which was delicious. Scrambled in prosciutto and topped with Gruyere cheese and served with house potatoes it was substantial and delicious. Mr. J had the egg of the day which was similar to mine but with a different cheese (chihuahua?) and green chili sauce with green peppers. Also good. The crabby Benedict is better than most places with nice sized hunks of crab and the regular Benedict are also delicious. In all the egg dishes-my only complaint is that the eggs could use a bit less cook time. Both Benedicts and scrambles/omelettes the eggs are just the wrong side of done and border on rubbery. The coffee is good. The OJ is a real treat. The prices area bit of a splurge, but the portions are good sized and the food is really enjoyable. I feel like I can take anyone here and I have: from my trendy girlfriends, to pals after a long night of parties, to out of towners to get a feel for the 'hood to just me and my hubby for a nice breakfast. Even my in-laws who aren't adventurous eaters, but don't mind coming a bit out of the box. The food is familiar enough to be satisfying but different enough that you know you are eating breakfast you wouldn't have whipped up yourself in an atmosphere that is usually has a bit of bustle to awaken you but not too much trendiness.
(5)
Allison V.
Met a friend for brunch. I ordered the BELT with goat cheese and even though I pointed to it in the menu as I ordered it, repeated my order and even clarified the goat cheese it still came out wrong. Who orders a plain old BLT with goat cheese on plain bread....I wanted a breakfast sandwich. I notified the server and he was not apologetic, he did not even want to accept responsibility for it at first. Then he offered to take it back to the kitchen...no way. I just ate the sandwich, which was pretty okay, just not what I had wanted. A pleasant surprise came when I was comped $2.50 for my coffee. Whatever. I also received an apology when the bill was brought to the table. I will go back here and try it again. The food is very tasty. Coffee is strong. Service is pretty friendly. Bike parking on the street.
(4)
Roberto F.
Just a quick review on why I love this place so much and why you should come and have brunch here. First of all the food is amazing here, I've been here three times already and we always get something different and we never leave disappointed. The Pancake Orgy and the Salmon omelette are my personal favorites. Second great thing is the the coffee, because I love Julius Meinl. And last but not least they have amazing people working here. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great start to your day. Other Comments: Baby/Kid friendly, with plenty of crayons to play with BYOB!
(5)
Dianne S.
I'm a huge fan of bacon. That being said, I can't believe that I've only recently tried their b.e.l.t. (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato) sandwich. Why didn't I think of that? Yes it's messy, but the thick French roll helped soak up my ooey gooey over medium fried egg. I'm a sucker for topping anything with a fried egg. This sammie ($9) packing with some serious thick applewood bacon-crunchy yet meaty at the same time. House potatoes were deelish! More soft and creamy than fried and crunchy. Friendly. Attentive. Overall awesome service. This may be due to the fact that I usually show up with my friends who live 2 blocks away and a regulars, but hey...I'll take it.
(5)
Alma C.
Great brunch spot that's survived and thrived after years of cut-throat brunch competition in Chicago, and Chicagoans love to brunch. Toast has a good mix of sweet (pancake orgy) and savory (breakfast burrito) so even picky friends will be able to find something they like on the menu. Coffee is Julius Meinl, a decent Viennese chain that makes for a rich roast (but it ain't no Cafe Sperl). Try it, you'll like it.
(4)
Ellarey M.
I love sweet breakfasts, and when my sister told me we would be coming here for brunch, I immediately looked up the menu to see what infectiously sweet breakfast delicacy I could order. Enter the french toast orgy. Three large french toast sticks (? no better word to describe except maybe logs) each stuffed with a different filling - strawberry, mascarpone, and chocolate, covered with yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit (in my case, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries). I washed everything down with a glass of fresh OJ. Everything was good, but I will say that I didn't much like the chocolate stuffed french toast. The filling made the toast a little too mushy and didn't have the best flavor. Mascarpone was by far my fave. If I come again, I think I'll have the pancake orgy, so that I can still get the great texture of granola on top and not have to worry about overly mushy toast.
(4)
Jess L.
I waited an hour, which kind of stunk at the time, but the food made up for itself. The breakfast burrito is nicely sized, and the pesto scramble also won our hearts and minds. Oh, and they don't call it a French toast orgy for nothing... You will regret it if you don't get one portion at the table. The service is a bit slow, and I can't say much for the ambiance, but I am definitely glad I tried it once!
(4)
Alicia M.
I was in the Bucktown area visiting a friend and we wanted to find somewhere to eat. My friend's brother passed us a Groupon he had for Toast, and off we went! (Thanks again Groupon...I might start every review from now on with "thanks, Groupon") I selected a vegetarian egg white scrambler, which came with their home made hash brown things (red skin potatoes) and toast. It was the perfect size, and man was it delicious. My friend ordered the club, which was huge but looked like it was made with love and all fresh ingredients :) My friend gave the club a big thumbs up Luckily, we didn't have 4 kids with us in a quadruple-wide stroller so we could just sit at the counter and eat while the housewives waited. Definitely be prepared to wait if you aren't willing to sit at the counter. And Julius Meinl coffee? hell yeah! The decor was cute, the service was exceptional and the staff was very friendly. If I'm in Bucktown for brunch again, I will be back!
(4)
Sandra M.
You have to be really good to get give stars from me. The french toast orgy was the bomb. Three different flavored stuffed french toasts topped with yogurt, granola, fruit, then drizzled with honey. The waiter was ok separating everything for me because the portion was huge and I knew I wouldn't finish it. This way I would be able to take half home for tomorrows breakfast and it wouldn't get soggy. The bread was homemade and was injected with the fillings. Great taste. The coffee was really good too. Wish we had a Toast Two in my neighborhood. Hint hint.
(5)
Liz K.
Not one of my brunch faves. I don't blame them for not having my favorite breakfast dish (smoked salmon eggs benedict), but maybe I shouldn't have had such high hopes for my replacement dish (smoked salmon omelette). It just that when I order smoked salmon, I expect it to be reasonably present in the dish. I couldn't really taste it at all. My man friend was equally unimpressed with his eggs and bacon. The lack of flavor, high prices, and wait are enough for me to cross this off the list and not try it again.
(2)
Kori E.
So, so, so good! I love brunch on Sunday mornings and I am lucky enough to live a block away from this magnificent brunch spot. Yes, there is always a wait, so definitely get there early and put your name in. The wait is definitely worth it!! I had the BELT, a Bacon, Egg, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich on a french roll. I am a sucker for breakfast sandwiches and this was probably by far the best one I have had in a really long time. It was very fresh, the bread was soft (which was surprising since it said it was a french roll, it looked more ciabatta) the egg was perfectly cooked and the bacon was the perfect touch. I devoured the entire sandwich. My boyfriend ordered lunch and he got the tuna steak sandwich with a side of the apple chicken sausage. His was equally as tasty as mine. I am definitely getting the french toast the next time we come here...hopefully this weekend!!
(5)
Jo W.
We ended up here on accident, but I'm really glad we came. It was a Friday morning so it wasn't that busy when we arrived, but there was a line by the time we left. French toast used to be my go-to brunch dish, but I hadn't had it in ages. Since "toast" is in the name I decided to go for it, and I'm glad I did - it was perfection, and now I'm back to having daydreams about french toast all day long... Service was excellent. So excellent, here's where they earned their 5th star: I was brunching with my vegan friend, and Toast Two isn't vegan, nor do they have any listed vegan options on their menu. My friend was going to order something really basic and boring, and mentioned she was vegan. Our server told her she could make the breakfast burrito vegan for her, so my friend went with that. Apparently this was a good move, because my friend inhaled that burrito and kept commenting how good it was. So, vegan diners, take note - ask and ye shall receive! I was super happy with brunch here and would come back, but I'd come on an off day and time because I'm not a fan of standing in any line, no matter how good the food is.
(5)
Mayra H.
We ate more food than what fit on a table. and when I say "we" I mean just me & my mentee Cynthia aka my other lil sis. ambiance was cool, service was great, food was awesome. we ordered crepes, French toast (fresh fruit made it yummy), eggs, the works.... We ate like we had never eaten before but all and all we did have to ultimately sacrifice and leave some of it behind. you do have to wait awhile to be seated, depending on the day, so make sure you bring something to read or at the very least like the person you're eating with enough to talk to them for up to an extra 45-60 min. :) *I went back with my mini me & J but they didn't like the hollandaise sauce. ((so note to self: we need to find some good hollandaise sauce))
(5)
Patrick L.
OMG I think I got drunk on their chilaquiles- best I have ever had-
(5)
Chijen Y.
Maybe this place can't afford to clean their grossly smelly bathroom or hire a repair man to come to fix the toilet paper dispenser that's hanging off the wall because their heat bill is so high from "toasting" all their patrons. Ridiculously hot in there, but anyway, on to the important stuff... I tried to order the highest nutritionally sound items on the menu... "artichoke" soup tasted like saur kraut... it was good, but no hint of artichoke there... and ewww. Niscoise salad?!! I should have taken a picture of this pale poorly put together salad...gross frozen fish lacking flavor and color... but that wouldn't have helped explain why the greenbeans tasted of slight pinesol??! Blech. Will not be going back. My assumption, based on the look on the waiter's face when I told him that the salad wasn't good is that its not the first one he had to take back. Partner ordered crab benedict and pancakes. They didn't seem to screw that up.
(1)
Praveen S.
Good brunch place. Tasty burgers, even the vegetarian one was good. Good coffee and service. will visit again.
(4)
Kendal K.
Best brunch in Bucktown! Love! Get the French Toast Orgy!
(5)
Jessie B.
I have died & gone to brunch heaven. Plus it is BYOB. I'm speechless here.
(5)
Kelsey F.
A BYOB Brunch spot with amazing food and options for everyone! Why don't we have one of these in Boston??! I got the spinach and goat cheese omelet which was yummy. Everyone else really liked there meals as well. The french toast orgy sounded like heaven but I wasn't in that indulgent of a mood. Oh and they're OJ is fresh squeezed and perfect to add to some champagne. Toast Two you Rule!
(4)
Jennifer v.
This is my favorite brunch place in Chicago! There is not a single menu item that I wouldn't recommend, which is a feat. My favorites- the Vegetarian Eggs Benedict and the French Toast Orgasm. Staff is always friendly and the service is quick. The decor is bright and just what anyone needs with a good meal. The line can be long depending on the time/day, but it's always worth the wait. There are plenty of stores to go poking into or you can just pick up a mug of coffee and mingle with the waiting patrons. Friends and I wish we lived closer so we could walk over more often. Can't complain about a single visit!
(5)
Jen G.
We love brunch. We brunch every Sunday. And Toast is definitely a brunch staple for us. If you go during peak hours, there will be a wait, but it's totally worth it. I recommend the Stuffed French Toast. The flavors are Mexican Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mascarpone. I'm not a fan of strawberry products, so I always order two Chocolate and one Mascarpone. It comes with berries and a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. They bring syrup to the table for you as well, and I recommend using at least a little because it will balance the moisture level and the sweetness actually balances the fillings (they aren't as sweet as you would think). I have ordered other items on the menu as well, and they are all delicious, but this has become my mainstay. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and the decor/atmosphere is whimsical and comfy.
(5)
Olivia H.
I just MUST comment on Meg O,'s review, who regaled us with the tale of the bearded dragon Toast's birthday. It is NEVER, EVER okay to bring an animal into a dining establishment without first clearing it with the management, and a responsible, law and health code abiding restaurant would never allow that. (For that matter, in my opinion it is flat out not appropriate to bring an animal into a dining establishment, guide dogs and the like aside). Were the health inspector to arrive whilst Toast was having his little trip to Toast, there could be ramifications for the dining establishment. I am more disturbed by the Map Rooms allowance of the lizard than Toast's request for them to leave. Please, don't take this as pure animal hatred, I have animal companions myself and feel very strongly that sharing your lives with various critters can be great for your health and psyche. But that does not give one the right to tote their pet around wherever they like. Rant aside, I love Toast, and highly recommend it, especially on weekdays when you can avoid the massive crowd. The smoked salmon omelet with dill havarti and capers is to die for, and I find myself ordering it over and over, even when I sternly tell myself to try something new. For those of you who love chocolate for breakfast, try the Nutella Crepes (because everything is delicious with Nutella).
(5)
Eitan S.
nice local breakfast. food is okay, reminds me of Nookie, very American. too much hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedicts. steak & eggs were decent.
(4)
Lezah G.
This could easily be a 4 or 5 star place but the indifferent service made me subtract 2-3 stars. The menu has great stuff on it. Our food was pretty good. Mine was the best--I had eggs benedict which was great. The other dishes were above average. Why only two stars then? Well, the place is called TOAST. One of us ordered a meal that came with a brioche. She was expecting a knotted type of roll but she got what looked like Texas toast. The menu should have said brioche bread, not a brioche. My brother ordered a side of raisin bread toast. He got two tiny pieces of bread that looked like the pieces of bread next to the heel of the loaf. They were about two bites each. The waitress was completely indifferent when we mentioned something about the TOAST. The place is called TOAST. All she said was that was what they served. Would it have killed her to go back to the kitchen and put two more slices of the tiny bread in the toaster and brought it out? Greek diners do a better job. Would it have killed her to offer something other than the Texas toast/Brioche? These are not big ticket items and it was Monday morning. There were no lines waiting to get it. Thank goodness we were using a groupon!
(2)
Jenni Q.
We walked in around 230pm on a Sunday and luckily a table had just opened up so we didn't have to wait at all. Always a good start to a weekend brunch :) Everything on the menu looked so good we had trouble making up our minds even as we were placing our orders. I was debating between the B.E.L.T (bacon+eggs+mixed greens+tomato sandwich) or the grilled ahi tuna sandwich. I wanted to try something other than my usual breakfast sandwich so ended up getting the ahi tuna sandwich which came with this really great zesty sauce, sauteed chopped tomatoes and onions and the best ciabatta bread ever. The huge serving of tuna was a little overcooked but still tasted great. My boyfriend got the ground chicken mixed with cheese sandwich and really enjoyed his dish as well and we both LOVED the breakfast potatoes (I would recommend skipping the potato salad). Also tried the soup of the day - watermelon gazpacho - which was more savory than I thought it would be. I'm not a fan of cold soups but my bf thought it was very original and delicious. We will definitely be back to try some of the other items we wish we could have gotten!
(4)
chris c.
ordered the french toast orgy and they forgot about the granola and vanilla yogurt. the person at the front counter was apathetic at best and really did not help us look out for a table. He also refused to take down my number to call me when there's a table. we had to point out to him that there were empty tables before we were seated. even after pointing out to him the empty table and asking if we could have it, his response was "possibly". bad service ruins the whole experience. not pleased.
(1)
Ian A.
I debated a one star but really want to save that for the worse of the worse. I just don't get the lines or the great reviews this place has. The food is really not that good! In fact sometimes it's been downright bad. The staff holds the "it's a privilege to even be here" attitude and is about as rude is you'll find for breakfast. This particular location doesn't serve bloody marries or other breakfast drinks like their other location does and can be another turn away for some people.
(2)
Joe W.
I love breakfast. Lots of breakfast. Things like stuffed french toast or a pancake orgy, both with mounds of fresh fruit around it and a good cup of coffee exceed any breakfast expectations you've ever had. It gets busy, so buck up and come early. Toast Two makes breakfast an art.
(5)
Event Horizon L.
I have two words for you : yum, yum
(4)
Bess R.
My review is only for takeout since I NEVER brave the lines at this place on the weekends. They have many yummy breakfast/brunch foods, though I prefer breakfast. Usually get the awesomely huge pancakes (love banana nut, but they always have a few different flavors) or the goat cheese, spinach and tomato omelet with a side of chicken sausage. Oh mamma, that is good stuff. Not as big of a fan of the lunch options (bad experience with the frisee salad), but my ladyfriends seem to like the turkey burger a lot.
(4)
Stacy K.
I have been going to Toast for a decade but my last two visits will have been my last ever. Today's visit was inexcusable. I had the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette with potatoes and rye toast. Now mind you the coffee was great and the toast and jam good but the eggs and potatoes were so salty that I couldn't even eat them and the goat cheese in the eggs was broken and gritty. The server took my plate when I told him and....NEVER RETURNED! I got up to use the restroom and when I came back, my table had been cleared- coffe, toast, water - GONE! I told the gentleman at the register what happened and he handed me my bill and said that he couldn't do anything because the manager wasn't there. He did ask me if I'd like a coffee to go. Really?!? No - what I'd like to have is an edible breakfast. It's a shame - this was once a great reliable breakfast spot. But I guess all good things must come to an end. Adieu, Toast.
(1)
Andy R.
favors the sweet toothed and sober folk wait not worthwhile
(3)
Ryan P.
Eeehhhh. I go to Toast as a last resort, it's mediocre at best.
(2)
Amanda D.
Wow!! I've been here probably 7 times. I LOVE their stuffed french toast. The pancakes are also pretty good. Just be sure to get here early-it gets crowded!!!
(4)
jenn m.
wowzaa. love this place. very cute, great skylights. the stuffed french toast with marscapone is my favorite. they serve it with all kinds of berries. great selection of coffee and teas. i like a latte. they also have another great dish called Huevos W/ Chorizo & Cheddar is reallyyy yummy. definitely go on a weekday later ... no crowds ... no one in eye shot of conversation. love it.
(4)
Mike D.
I've always liked the food here, the service is never bad, and its not terribly overpriced. I have found that some of their specialty dishes to be a bit flat. That is my only complaint.
(4)
Katherine R.
Although you will wait on the weekends this small breakfast spot is worth the wait- so don't go hungover like I did! Outstanding eggs benedict; instead of canadian bacon, thinly sliced prosciutto with homemade hollandaise sauce on a bed of sauteed spinach (on a homemade english muffin) served with homemade potatoes. Fantastic and worth the wait despite my killer hangover!!
(5)
Christina G.
Okay, so I don't really like the seating arrangement, because it makes it impossible for anyone to not overhear your conversation at the next table over, which is about 1 foot away from you. However, the food is pretty good. I have eaten here quite a bit, and I have to say that everything I had was good except for the eggs benedict. It was a little too lemony for me, but i don't love eggs benedict that much either. The pesto scramble, breakast burritto, and pancake orgy are all excellent. The place could be a little less expensive, but it is a nice breakfast treat once in a while.
(3)
Alice K.
Best service and the bestest french toast I've ever had.
(5)
Gwen D.
I try to eat very balanced meals, lots of fruit, veggies, fish, some bread and occasionally meat. So I like to come here for the scrambled eggs with chorizo. This dish is disgustingly good, and worth feeling like I ate an entire elephant afterwards. Service is typically quite quick, and occasionally off (mixups on the bill or with my tea), but totally forgivable. The coffee cups are always filled, and more hot water for my tea is constantly offered. They open at 8am on certain days too, which is great, if you have to be at work bright and early. It's bright, but not too bright, and simple and the dishes are HUGE. Actually, too big. I think they could offer less food for less money, because I never can eat all mine, and feel bad wasting it (but who brings eggs home as leftovers? That's just gross).
(4)
Ariel B.
This is one of our favorite brunch spots in the neighborhood. Their stuffed french toast is a treat anytime I go there. The atmosphere is great. The only downside is the long wait.
(5)
Ishaq L.
I've only had the Egg Burrito both times I've gone, and I've been satisfied both times. My wife's tried a couple different dishes (veggie omellete and pancakes) and been pleased with her choices. The servings are quite generous, so don't let your eyes order for you. The wait can be a little excessive if you show up after 10 on a weekend...like most people.
(4)
Danielle R.
I've been to the original Toast in Lincoln Park as well as "Toast 2" and I've never had a complaint about the food. My boyfriend swears by the breakfast burrito but I tend to go for the.....well, toast! Their French toast really is divine. After going in for the stuffed variety I have since returned to the one that is just served with fresh berries so I leave pleasantly full without the sugar coma. Food = yum but the wait = misery. I dread walking up and asking about the wait....because there is ALWAYS a wait and it's always seems to be over an hour and really.....the food is good, but I don't know if it's worth it to wait that long for breakfast!
(4)
Megan M.
Another breakfast spot with a long wait, but it is so worth it! The stuffed french toast is amazing and covered with fresh fruit. Their breakfast burrito is the best I've ever had. And the coffee is good too. The only issue I have is that the rush you through the meal once you are seated. I understand why they do it, but if I wait over an hour for a table, don't give me the check five minutes after I get my food.
(5)
Valerie A.
This is a great brunch place. Really the only downsides are that the line can be long on Saturday, when I typically go, and the tables are a little close together since it's a rather small place. The last time I went to Toast the coffee was only ok, but my omelette and sausage were very good. Also, the decor is super cute. Rooster wallpaper!
(4)
missallfun H.
The hostess is miserable. Her energy is toxic, so be careful. I have only been to this location 4 times. everytime I leave dissapointed and my mood altered by the bad vibe the place has. Ive boycotted this place each time and have only given it other chances because of friends buying into the hype. Yes the french toast orgy is good but its as if there are tears put into your cafe. The staff is just a mess and ruins the magic of the kitchen. Maybe Lincoln park has it together?
(2)
James W.
This is my favorite breakfast place. Love the marcapone french toast and the eggs benedict. The space is a little small and on weekends the wait can be long but the food is worth it. Also a little pricey.
(4)
Maximus T.
One day after mass me and my sister stopped by Toast and enjoyed it very much. I had the eggs benedict and my sister has blueberry wheat pancakes ad eggs we finished everything down to the last crumb. The one cons about this was the wait and that the tables are too close to each other making customers have no privacy.
(4)
Gavin G.
ok, so the food was pretty good. and the pancakes were in monstrous proportion. the wait to be seated here sucked really bad. granted, it was a sunday and we arrived around noon. our friend arrived around 11:45 and got our party on the list, and was told "about 45 minutes" but we didn't sit down until almost 1pm. alright, so waiting i can deal with. but the place is packed, and i mean packed with people waiting, asses to elbows. and some of them repeatedly whined to the hostess about having to wait for their 10 person party to get a table while couples were getting open tables. hello assholes, 10 people won't fit at a 2 person table! food was good and i'd go back, but i'm sure as hell not going back on a sunday to deal with a bunch of people who feel self-important because mommy got them a 3-BR condo and a BMW.
(3)
stephanie s.
It was good pancake. Really, only the most horrible of grease spoons can mess up a pancake. That said, I am not 100 percent sure why this place always has lines of people waiting to get in. I've had better cakes from nondescript diner-type restaurants. If I was a meat and/or egg eater, I may have been better clued in to the majesty that is Toast, but as a veggie pancake eater, I was not incredibly impressed. Sure is cute in there, though. We went once and never felt the need to go back, but not for any other reason that I can get cheaper, tastier cakes elsewhere. I will say that the fruit on my cakes was remarkably fresh. I wouldn't necessarily call our server that day friendly, but she was polite and efficient, which is just fine.
(3)
Michelle R.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants. They have french toast to die for, yummy crepes, and scrumpchy omelette's. There is usually a wait, but it's well worth it.
(5)
Stephanie H.
Great Brunch, I've only been once though. Will go back, Downside is the wait.
(4)
Jay D.
Possibilty one of the best breakfasts in the City of Chicago. If I didn't care about my health I would eat here every day. I'm a big fan of the chocolate stuffed french toast, the Eggs Danny, the strawberry lemonade, and the specials. I haven't had any lunch items, but breakfast/brunch hits the spot every time. The only complaint I have about this place is the wait, but then again I'd say its justifiable...just don't come famished at 11am on a Sunday morning.
(4)
Samara B.
Love love love! I have never hated Anything I have tried here and am always a fan of BYOB for mimosas. Cute, friendly, and amazing breakfast!
(5)
Lizzie O.
my husband and i tried toast today for the first time, and we were pleasantly suprised. it was busy for a sunday morning (naturally) but we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes. our waitress was prompt with the coffee and our meals. service was very friendly. the huevos verdes with cilantro pesto sauce was a delight for my mouth, and suprisingly not too expensive ($8.00 and that included potatoes and 2 slices of toast). the only downside is that it was a *little* on the noisy side... but, a good sign that business is going well. we will definitely be coming back to try other delectable meals :)
(4)
mike l.
holy crap. Just go and wait, it's worth it.
(5)
cara r.
I'm not sure if I was just off when I visited Toast - I had kind of a lot to drink the night before - but I didn't love it. I had the fresh fruit and yogurt, but it was in late June, when raspberries and cherries and strawberries are abundant and all I got was honeydew and musk melon! This tells me that the powers-that-be at Toast aren't taking advantage of Green City Market and the other AMAZING farmer's markets in the city to get me seasonal, locally grown produce. I'm sure we'll be back at some point - the boy does live three blocks from Toast Two, and hopefully I'll be less hungover and more pleased.
(2)
Melinda C.
While the food is unremarkable, it's a comfortable place to sit, eat, and chat with friends. Great ambiance - sunny interior. However, the eggs benedict were good but nothing exceptional. The hugely-portioned pancakes might be a better bet. Fairly large variety of dishes to choose from. Parking on a Sunday was surprisingly easy - a very pleasant surprise.
(3)
C. M.
a friend and i were trying to find the perfect place for our sunday brunch and finally settled on toast in bucktown. when we walk in the guy sitting down with barely any tables said they were closed. since the website said they closed at 4, and it was only around 3:20, why would he have said that? i was really curious why he turned us away - and why he had to be such a jerk in the process. bad business, get rid of that guy.
(1)
Stephanie P.
I am a huge fan of toast--especially the pesto scramble and the mascarpone pancakes. I have had terrible experiences at the webster street location but toast two on damen has always been good to me.
(5)
Jessica B.
I simply cannot say enough good things about Toast. I am very hard to please when it comes to breakfast/brunch because i want a little of everything-eggs, pancakes, toast, hash browns.Toast has nailed breakfast. I always order the two eggs, because it comes with toast, potatoes, and one side (I always get pancakes, they're amazing). The eggs are awesome, definitely some of the best i've had. I was a little thrown off by their lack of Grape jelly 2 weeks in a row. How does a place named Toast not have Grape Jelly?!?! My boyfriend gets the omelet or benedict both of which are delicious. The decor is simple, and its always bright inside. The seating is a little cramped, which is why i prefer to sit at the counter. The hostess is a little rude, and the staff could be a little more attentive, but since this is the one place in Chicago that I've been where i get exactly what i want, without having to argue with the wait staff, or substitute something, i have to give this 5 stars.
(5)
KM S.
I cannot stand this place. Soooo overrated. It needs to stay in LP and leave Bucktown. They are so incredibly rude. I don't know why people would stand in line and wait to be treated so rudely here. Besides the horrible service---the food isn't all that. So many better places in the area besides this overhyped place.
(1)
Arlene M.
this place is great! when i went here i got their eggs with chorizo and i believe it was called a pancake orgy? i dunno- it was one of each of their pancakes. Well either way- it was GREAT!
(4)
Ebru Y.
Holy pancakes! Had to be one of the best if not THE best. Eggs were equally good but I just can't get over the pancakes! Okay really I ordered the eggs with peppers and it was love at first bite :) my sister and I also ordered two pancakes which were supposed to be one with chocolate chip and one with banana and pecan, they ended up making both of them banana, pecan and chocolate chip, and when we were served, we were in heaven! I am always going to get them that way from now on, I am glad they made that mistake! The ambiance is very cozy and comfortable Service was very friendly and pretty fast for a busy day.
(5)
A. M.
I took my sister here for breakfast yesterday. She was quite pleased with their non-egg options. I love Toast because their omelettes are always cooked to perfection. They are bursting with fresh ingredients, and they are never undercooked. I think the Bucktown location is slightly larger than the Lincoln Park one, and it seems to get busy just a tad bit later. I also love how bright the Bucktown location is - creates a very happy breakfast/brunch atmosphere.
(4)
Amanda G.
I realize that brunch in Bucktown/Wicker Park is usually overrated, but not at Toast. The food is super-delicious (I love the Breakfast Burrito). Go early or plan to wait outside since there is no room inside. Definitely worth it!
(5)
Amanda A.
In the search for a new brunch place and also one in walking distance of my sister's Humbolt Park condo - I happened upon this place in yelp. The wait was similar to the rest of the trendy little breakfast spots in town immediately apparent by the smalls groups of people waiting outside as we approached the literal piece of toast hanging above the entrance. The wait ended up being less than the 45 minutes quoted and in the meantime there were several cute shops in the area to browse in before breakfast. I wanted just about everything on the menu but settled on the breakfast burrito- my standby favorite almost everywhere. It was excellent and the fresh jalepenos gave it a nice kick. The fruit cup I ordered had great variety and all perfectly in season for a fraction of the cost of most of its restaurant counterparts. My sisters spinach, tomato and gouda omelette with challah toast was equally delicious and we both agreed that next time the french toast orgy would be in order! I've heard mixed reviews about its other location - but this was a hit.
(4)
Steph M.
This is not a great place to eat. We met friends here two weeks ago. We waited. And waited. Thank god it was warm and we could wait outside because there is no place to wait inside. Our waitress whispered and we couldnt hear her. As another poster mentioned, the flavors and textures were all wrong. I had the crepes - they sucked. The mascarpone filled French Toast wasnt more than ok, but then again, it was the whole flavor-texture thing. I can see why the trend-seeking yuppies like this place - it's cute decor and seemingly one-off menu would make it unique if the food was worth the plate it was served on. Breakfast for 4 with a tip came to about $70. What a waste!!! Save your money.
(2)
Jennifer K.
Worst service in the city. I have lived here for 12 years and the staff is laughable....seriously they laughed at me when I was waiting an HOUR for my food. It was Wednesday at 1pm. So we are not talking about their busy weekend brunch times. They are rude and I don't think their food is worth the hype. I will never ever go again.
(1)
Dave B.
Great breakfast spot. Typical wait on weekends but this one is worth it. Go with French Toast or Fruit Panacakes and you'll be a happy camper the rest of the day. Tip once seated, if someone around you orders the eggs benedict ask them to put it on the other side of the table so as not to have the aroma waft over and ruin the great start to your day.
(5)
cb b.
when every i go out to breakfast I choose this place. it is fun they have great pancakes, muffins, crepes and good service. They are only open until 2 pm and they have an outside deck. On the weekends you need to get there early or you will be standing in line - guaranteed!
(4)
Niraj G.
Veggie eggs benedict was pretty good but not better than other places. The veggie chilli was suprisingly good and definitely recommend it.
(4)
Stephanie E.
Do Not Go To Toast. My boyfriend and I went to Toast for brunch last weekend and received the worst service we have ever received. After we ordered and tried to pay with our Groupon on my boyfriend's Droid App, the manager said they were unable to use Groupon's off of a Droid although, as we pointed out to him, the Groupon itself explicitly said you could. Moreover, the manager refused to apologize and made me walk 40 minutes to my house (while my boyfriend sat by himself at the counter) to get my ITouch which they did except. Later that day we called Groupon to confirm, and they told us that the Toast manager was completely wrong. We called Toast back to tell them, and the manager was again completely rude and unapologetic. Honestly this was the worse service I have ever received in my life. I hope anyone reading this review takes note and NEVER GOES TO TOAST. Horrible staff. Perhaps it would have been alright (ok, no it wouldn't - that is how bad the service experience was) if the food was good, but the food is only average. So as a summary, TERRIBLE TERRIBLE & RUDE.
(1)
Brian B.
One of my favorite spots for breakfast. The French Toast Orgy is a must. Usually a line on the weekends, but tends to move very quick. For a couple of people, there is usually seating at the bar available. This place is a must every time I am in Chicago.
(5)
Alex F.
To be fair, I didn't actually eat here...the reason, the host pissed us off so much, that we left after ordering coffee. It was a hot Sunday, early 9:30 when we got to Toast. There was a wait, NP. When the host called us in, he seated us at the counter, problem. We didn't want to sit at the counter and told him that we would be happy to wait for a table. We got in reply to our request a 2 minute lecture about how he had bumped us up the list (really? there was no one else outside), about how we would have to wait another 45 min for a table (really? there is an open one behind us and about 3 tables that are almost done with their meals), and how the counter was the most popular area in the restaurant (really? cause those chairs are super uncomfortable). He basically refused to let us wait for a table. Really? So after being bullied by the host, we ordered coffee. And then we left (we paid for the coffee AND left a tip) I think the host was a little shocked. Really? You bullied us and wouldn't let us wait for a table. I am too old and have worked in restaurants for too long to be treated that way. Sorry guys, you get a fail. A restaurant is about food AND service. Part of service is not giving the customer a hard time. We were happy to wait for as long as needed for a table, we weren't rude or being fussy, we just wanted a table...that's not too much to ask or accommodate.
(1)
Jen G.
Chicago brunch...how I miss thee!! Toast 2 was great. We had to wait about 40 min for a party of 6 on Sat at 10:30 -- not bad! The food was so good. I had the pancake orgy. Oh, soooo good. 3 different kinds of pancakes, each so tasty. There was really good fresh fruit around the pancakes and then on top there was yogurt, some of the best granola I've ever had, and honey. Man -- it was delicious! The breakfast burrito was also very good. Another person with us got the pesto scramble -- this looks delicious and from the noises my friend made, I am pretty confident that it was! And, another person had the BELT. Apparently at toast 1 this isn't the heartiest sandwich. But here it was beautiful. It was huge and really good looking! SOmoene at a different table got the stuffed french toast. Wow, that is what I want next time... Chicago brunch is one of the things I really miss about chicago...
(4)
Johnny W.
Very, very good. I recommend any of their scrambles; one plate is enough to feed two. Get there realtively early (pre-9 a.m.) on weekends to avoid waiting in line.
(4)
Maurizio C.
This place is great , 2.50 for cup of coffee, breakfast yum especially chicken sausage, lunch sandwiches are out of this world! This place kills bongo room(5.00 for mocha, get real losers)! Waitstaff is happy and friendly.
(5)
Kelsey K.
2 word, my friend, 2 words: damn good. Went there and got the breakfast burrito (which was served in a spinach tortilla, DOUBLE BONUS!) which was huge and delectable! My man got the Pesto Scramble and that was totally rock star, whoo-ee! My only complaints are that the front stairs are a little tricky (but you can't fault the restaurant for that, just warning you to watch your step when you leave!) and that the crepes were a little crunchier than the ones I used to eat in France... but really??? It only gets 4 stars because the 5-star rating is reserved for Pura Belleza, home of the best breakfast in Chicago. Dee-lish!! Can't wait to go back!!
(4)
bill s.
Maybe 3 1/2 stars. Had breakfast there this morning with my wife and son. The "kid" lives in the neighborhood and we spent Easter with him and his wife. Been to many the breakfast places in the area (Bongo Room, Caffe de Luca, Feast, & Milk & Honey on Division). Attentive service, food was quite good, although my peppers and eggs could have been a bit hotter. No lines, no waiting, but at 10am on a Monday would not expect one. MY wife had the french toast with berries. Quite nice but looked like a duplicate of the version served at de Luca. Probably still like de Luca the best; maybe because it is closest to the kid's house and it is the first place I ever went to once he moved to Bucktown. Did not find it so special that I would wait an hour on weekends (same thing about the Bongo room. Been there 3 times, all on weekday mornings), but frankly I cannot think of any place that I would wait an hour to get into unless Rick Bayless, Tony Manutano, Grant Achtaz, and Graham Elliot were all in the same place having a demonstration and someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)
arun r.
I went there last Sunday for breakfast as it was closer to my new place and I'm extremely happy with their food and service. The waiting time was about 45 minutes but food was worth the wait. I had an egg benedict and a mascarpone stuffed french toast and both were delicious. French toast was the one of the best I had in years. I'm going there again!!!!
(5)
Kyle B.
Maybe it's because I generally have bad luck anyways but this, to me, was not worth the wait. They definitely had delicious food, but the wait was entirely too long (good for them I suppose) and the food was not incredible enough for me to think that it was worth it. Additionally, I made it about halfway through my meal and found a hair gracefully flowing atop my french toast. I will say that the waiter was apologetic and offered me a new plate free-of-charge. It just really made me lose some of the excitement I had for wanting to go to this place. To wait so long to get in and have a hair issue with my food is points off in my book. I would probably go here again, but it would have to be during off hours and with a very small group (of 1-2 people). Otherwise it just feels crowded and rushed.
(3)
Chris C.
What can I say that has not already been said about toast. Pretty much nothing :). So I will this the very short and sweet the place is small and intimate which is great. It is BYOB but you better get there during the times 9-10am because if you are let it be a wait. The food is good I am getting fat just thinking about it lol! The French Toast is what they are know for so make sure you try that first then explore from there :-)
(4)
Ms L.
The male host here is hilarious. My friend and I went for brunch on a day where there was a not-so-nice couple in front of us...he handled them in the snarky, yet friendly manner that I love among hosts (I used to be one in my former life). They didn't pick up on the sarcasm, but it tickled me and made me feel right at home. A great start to what was a fantastic meal. If you do nothing else here - go for the pancake flight, with scrambled eggs & bacon. Sure, it's a bajillion calories...but if you're gonna go that route - do it in style. I'm a stickler for eggs...if I say scrambled well, that doesn't mean brown/burnt. Most places don't get that...Toast Two did. For that alone I would grant 5 stars -- the only other place I've had the perfect eggs experience was a place in NYC about 5 years ago...and yes, that proves how hard to please I am. Perfect bacon (to me) means light on the grease, keep the size (i.e. a straight piece, not a short, curled up one that's bubbled with lots of fat) and make sure it's crispy. Again, Toast Two *nailed it*. I swear, if this was the Olympics, they'd be the Mary Lou Retton of breakfast. To recap: Perfect eggs - check Hilarious Host - check Great bacon - check Pancake flight that's amazing to look at and eat - check Why are you still reading this -- go get some Toast Two!!
(4)
Sergio T.
One of the better breakfast/brunches in Chicago. Awesome pesto eggs scramble. Expect a wait after 1030am, but amazing!
(5)
Kristina B.
yummmm. a co-worker recommended this place to me, and i'm so glad i got a chance to check it out! we went on a sunday around 11, and waited about 40 minutes, as to be expected, no biggie. when we were seated, no one came around to give us menus for about 5 minutes. when we flagged down the host to get some menus, he also offered to open our bottle of champagne, which was great. once we got our menus, it took me a while to decide, because there were so many amazing looking things on the menu. my friend went with the eggs benedict with prosciutto, and i decided on the stuffed french toast - one each of the mexican chocolate, strawberry, and mascarpone cheese. we both LOVED what we chose - we also split a side of apple gouda chicken sausage, which was grilled to perfection. my only complaint is that we rarely saw our waiter, and it was hard to flag someone down. other than that, it was a nice experience and i thoroughly enjoyed my meal! the mascarpone stuffed french toast was my favorite out of all three ;)
(4)
Laura L.
There's no better eggs benedict ... your truffle hollandaise is more than amazing. Have the brioche toast with their butter and fresh jam along with Julius Meinl coffee and a the french toast orgy for brunch "dessert." I love you Toast ... and all of the cute toasters you display.
(5)
Bryan B.
This is definitely one of the top three breakfast restaurants in Chicago. The menu is about as creative as you can get for breakfast. My favorite is the French Toast orgy (3 thick pieces of French Toast individually stuffed with strawberry puree, Mexican chocolate or mascarpone cheese). Julius Meinl coffee. Yukon Gold breakfast potatoes. Freshly squeezed O.J. They don't open until 8am (kinda weird for a breakfast place), but go early to avoid the wait. Long lines develop as the Bucktown residents awake.
(5)
Char Y.
Not a good experience at all. I was very excited about this place, since there were so many positive reviews, even though I noticed that everyone complains of the long wait. But no one mentioned of the long wait after you order the food. We were seated immediately (YAY!) but had to wait 40+ minutes for our food, I do understand that there were only 2 cooks, but that's a long wait for breakfast. On top of that our food was a disappointment. The sliders were tasteless & small, and the french toast mushy. I was quite sad because I LOVE french toast & everyone raved about theirs, but they were just mushy sticks of unknown substance. next to the french toasts was the fruits, and i saw a bug walked out of the fruits onto the plate, and died. SERIOUSLY!!! i was completely grossed out and pointed it out to our waiter, and he wordlessly took the plate back.
(1)
HOLLY M.
Probably the best Hollandaise Sauce I have ever had smothered my Eggs Benedict. A hint of truffle and lemon put that sauce into one of the most amazing flavors I can recall in resent memory. I'm still in a food coma but am already looking forward to returning to this restaurant. I will be prepared to wait the 30-45 minutes happily if it means I get that sauce again....drool.
(5)
Lorenzo F.
The food is good, but nothing special. The service mediocre at best. That being said, today I'm writing because of a recent experience I had. I had a queue of Groupons that I needed to use up by Friday, 6/17, so I called on a Sunday afternoon about 20 mins before close (didn't realize they closed when they did). Anyway, I spoke to the manager (which I learned once I arrived), and asked her if she could seat us. She says if you get here in the next 5 mins, so we rush there, get there maybe 6 mins later, and she refused to seat us. Now, I understand they have a policy about closing 15 mins before they're posted time, but why not just change your posted close time to when they ACTUALLY close (oh...it's in the "fine print" that they close their kitchen 15 mins before). I guess I assume that if I'm still finishing my coffee or toast at the exact close time, that I'm not going to be walked out to the curbside. I usually assume that close time is when they'll stop seating people / taking new customers (i.e. close their doors to the OUTSIDE public). Anyway, that may be a common practice, and not why I'm writing. I'm writing because of the attitude and service of their so called manager. I called, she said if you get here in the next 5 mins, I say, "okay, already on my way (so...maybe she should have been expecting us?)", then I get there and she says no (with a smirk). I was extremely upset that she wasted our time and did not care one bit. Therefore, I refuse to say much good about this place (and to be fair, location and/or their manager). I went ahead and used up the last of the Groupons today (the last day), and again, I was not impressed by the food or service. Now I can write this place off my list, and take my business somewhere where they value their customers. Chicago has too many great brunch places to settle for a place like this.
(1)
T S.
The food was great. I ordered the pancake orgy which came with 3 different pancakes and granola, fruit and yogurt on top. It doesn't look like much when brought to you, but boy is it filling. Also tried the grilled cheese sandwich and that too was awesome. The service was "there" and not all over you. The workers were pleasant to interact with. Average price per person is around $11. Overall I'd rate it 8.5/10
(4)
Lauren D.
I have walked by Toast many times but today was the first time I made it inside. Having read and heard many great things about this breakfast establishment, I came in with pretty high hopes for what sort of delicious food would pass through my mouth. Now I would not go so far as to call myself a brunch expert, although I would say I'm a pretty good judge of anything that tastes good with syrup and butter. Anyhow, Toast doesn't really stand out by way of decor or ambiance. It's a breakfast place. It is bright and cheerful though, which is generally a plus. The servers were all very smiley. We were quoted a 30 minute wait and were seated in less than 20, and service was great. I tried the Stuffed French Toast and probably would have left stuffed had I eaten the entire plate. That consists of 3 pieces of French toast in a sort of square "roll" type creation - one stuffed with Mexican chocolate, one stuffed with mascarpone, and one stuffed with strawberry fraische or some sort of gourmet concoction of some sort. It was tasty, although I don't think those 3 flavors went very well together. There were lots of other foods floating by that looked delicious as well. I was not "wowed" by my first visit, but am conflicted about whether or not an appreciator of the simpler breakfast foods can ever really be "wowed." I will try Toast another time for sure.
(3)
Susan K.
I was looking forward to trying this place b/c I had walked by several times since moving to the area. So I convinced 3 of my friends to join me for breakfast here one Sunday morning. I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed. To start with, the waiter was not very friendly at all. The service is slow and when we finally got our food, they got my order wrong and I only ordered pancakes. I didn't complain to the waiter b/c I didn't want to deal with him and wait another 20 minutes for pancakes, plus my friends all had their food. The coffee didn't taste like it was brewed right; as if they didn't use enough coffee grinds. I know the difference between good and bad coffee, I was a barista for several years. There are many places that offer better food and better service. I won't be go back.
(2)
Larissa A.
I tell everyone to make sure they get toast with their meal at toast, because, well, they're toast is the best. I'm addicted to their bread, which -- truth be told -- is really fairly ordinary for nice brunch places, but with toasters lining the wall, you just HAVE to eat their toast. Seriously, though, their menu is amazing. I've had a few greasy scrambles, but for the most part, the food is extraordinary. The chorizo and cheddar scramble I ate yesterday was perfectly made, and they were great about customizing it. Friends at the table all ordered fantastic foods from their pancake orgy (which is good enough to fit its name) to marscapone stuffed pancakes drizzled with honey butter. They even have turkey and vegetarian sausage, both of which are delicious! The staff is friendly, and was great about making us feel at home even while we waited for 45 minutes in a torrential downpour. The coffee is good (although, their decaf is oddly better than their regular) and their outdoor patio is great for the summer. Go here. Eat good food. Leave happy.
(4)
Raphael D.
If you've never been here before you really should start with the stuffed french toast. Its pretty much what makes this place after the benedicts and other stuff. You'll feel like a glutton after eating such a sinful plate of french toastyness but its worth every bite. They serve Julius Meinl coffee too which is not something you see very often. If you don't want to wait for a table try going later in the day saturday or sunday or try going on a weekday.
(4)
Jennifer B.
BYOB Brunch? It's like God wanted us to pour some champagne in those juice glasses.... I think Toast Two should really be called Toast #1 (with the foam finger, naturally). While this brunch spot is rather small like it's sister Lincoln Park spot, this location just has all sorts of charm. For as busy as they are, the wait is never extremely long. We came at 10am on Saturday (primetime!) and the wait was only 10 minutes for a table. While at Toast you never feel rushed, and the patrons are a nice mix of hungover twenty-somethings and little kids trying their first bites of strawberry-infused french toast. The food at Toast Two can rival any brunch place in Chicago. I would recommend this adorable spot to anyone...even if Bucktown is a couple neighborhoods away...you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Mike F.
The best brunch I've had in Chicago. They serve Julius Meinl coffee, which is my favorite. The combination is transcendental. Order anything with the word "orgy" and it will truly be orgasmic. Well not truly, but it will be really really good. The pancake orgy is three different types of pancakes. The french toast orgy is three different kinds of stuffed french toast. Both are completely surrounded by fresh berries, and topped not with syrup, but yogurt and honey. The first time I went, wasn't sure what I'd think about that as a topping -- trust me, it blows syrup away. If you don't get here before 9AM on a weekend, you'll wait -- it is what it is, plan for it. And even getting there between 8:30 and 9AM, I still haven't scored a back patio table. That's the price you pay for brunch this good.
(5)
E C.
First of all, there's free street parking! Yippee! :) As already stated by many, many people, the food is delicious and the prices are fair. I met a friend for lunch, and we were both very happy with our dishes. I ordered the French Toast Orgy and got one of each filling (chocolate, mascarpone, and strawberry), and my friend got the prosciutto eggs benedict. The portions were bigger than most other breakfast places, which made the both of us happy. :) We also got the Julius Meinl coffee--decaf for her, regular for me. That was some good coffee, and thank goodness for refills. :) The thing that I really want to commend Toast Two for, however, is their customer service. My friend was running a bit late, so I ended up waiting for a bit. A worker there--tall, tattoos, perhaps the owner?--checked up on me a couple times, first to take any drink orders and then to offer something to munch on while I wait. I didn't want to because I already felt bad for having been sitting there with only a cup of coffee, but he offered and served fresh cinnamon toast with butter and jam--on the house! His response to all this was that he didn't like to see people (waiting) hungry. :) I was and still am pretty floored by his kindness and gesture. (Thank you, sir. The toast was delicious. :)) I will be visiting Toast Two from now on. :)
First place I've had brunch in Chicago that felt like home away from home! The server was super-friendly and the menu selection was great. You cannot go wrong with the stuffed french-toast; I've been craving it since my first visit.
(5)
Marti G.
WOW...AMAZING FRENCH TOAST AGAIN! I am just loving French Toast lately and this one may have won my #1 prize -- delicious with cinnamon --- so GOOD. We were told that the stuffed french toast was the BEST so we made our way today to try it out. The first impression of the place wasn't anything special -- as the decor and atmosphere was kind of bland and it's pretty small -- but the 20-30 minute wait was totally worth it. The guy at the front desk was funny and nice and sat us a little quicker than we had been told our wait would be which was cool. The eggs are the BEST eggs I have had and we eat at breakfast places all the time. The house potatoes are awesome! So for food it's a 5 STAR -- the service was excellent. My only con is the atmosphere...maybe some paint and some music would spice it up a little. This is one of my NEW favorites -- I will be visiting often.
(4)
Brenna O.
After just one visit to Toast Two, I am in love. First of all, I loved how their sign is just one big piece of toast a la Prince changing his name to a symbol. Second, we went on a Monday morning during a glorious day off from work, so we didn't have to deal with what sounds like a very large weekend brunch crowd. Third, PANCAKE AND FRENCH TOAST ORGIES! Our waiter was friendly and laid back, and we got our food quickly. After reading other recommendations on-line, we made sure to ask for the yogurt on the side with our breakfast orgies because it's tangy and can overpower the rest of the plate. It was such a fun and decadent experience and made me tingly all over. NOMNOMNOM! If you can, try and hit this place up during the week because the dining room is kind of small and it sounds like it's super busy on the weekends. It's totally worth it!
(5)
Tim W.
I've been going to this place for a while now, since I live in the neighborhood. The place is fairly small, but extremely popular, so the wait during peak times can be 30 minutes or more. During the summer, the open up a nice back patio, which helps with wait times. Their omelets are tasty, but what they're really known for are their pancakes. The pancake orgy is probably their most popular, featuring three different kinds of big pancakes with layers of yogurt in-between. Topped with TONS of fresh berries, this is one to remember. Breakfast isn't the only tasty dish here. They also have some great lunch food. Their sandwiches feature different types of fresh breads and flavorful sauces. I love the pesto. Service is fast and friendly. I never have to ask for a refill on my coffee. Tip: If you have a small party (2 or 3), ask to be seated at the bar area, and you'll get a seat much faster.
(5)
Sharon H.
I never thought I'd want to be involved in an orgy! But after my breakfast here the other day, I'm game for French toast orgy any time of day! The marscapone was the best I agree followed by the chocolate. When I do it again, ill definitely do 2 marscapone and a chocolate. Even the fruit around the toast was fantastic! Definitely can be a split meal! The service on the other hand...not a fan. We felt brushed off several times waiting for out table. It was by the owner!
(4)
Megan L.
Incomprehensably (that's a word, right? sort of?), I had never been to Toast until yesterday morning. Luckily, a friend and I were both up early on a Sunday and he had a Groupon to use... off we went! We were prepared for a wait (brunch in Bucktown - seriously, it can take forever), but it was only a few minutes before we were seated in the very lovely patio in back. What a perfect way to start the day in the beautiful Indian Summer we're having! Cute and cozy, with planter boxes that are still blooming. On to the food. I couldn't pass up the steak benedict (eggs benedict, but substitute steak for the ham/canadian bacon). Good choice! They make their own hollandaise which is a bit more lemony than what you'll normally get - and it is delicious! I was also craving sweet, so my friend and I split a side of pancakes. Light and fluffy - totally what I wanted. My friend had an omelet with chorizo, cheese, and jalapenos. He was also happy with his food (I didn't try it, so I can't rate it for myself). I'm glad I finally got around to trying Toast - and hopefully I'll get back there soon!
(4)
Jessica G.
Had a lovely experience here for new year's brunch but have a few (tiny) bones to pick. My group arrived prior the 11 am crowds and the staff was lovely. Our service was prompt and our coffee and water cups were always full. Coat rack also a plus. Everyone at our table ordered french toast in various forms and I got the breakfast burrito. The stuffed french toast was quite tasty. Unfortunately the table syrup was not maple syrup. And there was an upcharge to get said maple syrup. The breakfast burrito was ok. But was $9 and nothing compared to the glorious breakfast burrito served at Lula. The breakfast potatoes were cooked quite nicely, but lacked seasoning. Easily remedied with salt and ketchup but still disappointing. Overall, a great neighborhood option with a darling interior. But not a place I would seek out again. Overpriced for food that could take a lesson from other Chicago brunch spots (lula, southport grocery, etc). Also, the ladies bathroom hand dryer could use a nice upgrade.
(3)
Amanda Z.
Weekday brunch: Take eighty-seven. Scene: Toast Two. Cast: Usual suspects. Preview: Hot coffee, refreshed often with real cream. Main Feature: Split: Pumpkin pancakes with nutmeg whipped cream and the Andouille Omelet (chicken sausage plus bell peppers plus Chihuahua cheese.) The pumpkin pancakes were sinfully delicious, yet surprisingly not overly sweet. I'm not even the world's biggest pumpkin fan, but on a dreary fall day, not much sounded better than warm comforting cakes with fancy whipped cream. Well done. The omelet was rich and wonderful. Perfect to split. Bonus points for the English muffin option with real butter. Also featuring the "Moms of Bucktown." Including the cutest babies ever who loved to smile for us. Oh yeah, and breast feeding. At the table. But said breast feeding resulted in the cute little happy smile flaunted at us, so I won't complain. Good food, good service. I'll be back. But on the weekday. Cuz I don't wait for brunch. Critics say: Yes, do it again. Solid brunch experience. Oh, and don't drink the water. I think it causes a baby. (kidding)
(4)
Charlene S.
Never lets me down. Always my number 1 choice for brunch The wait: The wait is a bit long, but not excessive like the Bongo Room and def worth the wait. And they don't try to rush you out. The atmosphere: I like the Bucktown location a bit more than the Lincoln Park one, I jsut like the layout of the restaurant. The food is great at both places. I like the LP because of the location. While you wait, you could walk to the cute shops to pass the time. Both locations are small, but the one is Bucktown has patio seating, which is great in the summer (except little buds from the trees above kept falling on us and our food) The peeps: the Bucktown locals The food: savory and sweet. I can never decide. I'll order sweet if someone at the table orders savory. -The french toast orgy: stuffed with mascarpone, chocolate, or a fruit compote. I choose 2 mascarpone and 1 chocolate. With granola, honey, yogurt, berries... I'm drooling. -Eggs benedict... solid -Coffee.... delicious. Strong, made well. -Egg white omelette with pesto and chicken... amazing. -Good fruit. Just a great place, good service, cute quaint atmosphere, good quality and consistency. Anything with the word "orgy" is worth trying!
(5)
Amanda P.
Love the french toast, the OJ and the Coffee. Others have tried other things and said it's pretty good but not worth the wait. However, I will keep going back for the stuffed french toast.
(4)
Dominique B.
Ok so I've been back, like a million times. They got a new host guy a few months back, and he rocks! He's super conversational and totally cool about getting a list going. Since he knows us now, no issues getting in, or getting a spot at the counter. But again it goes to my previous review, where if they don't know you it can be a LONG wait. In addition, they still have that stupid "if you whole party isn't here" rule! Ahhhh it drives me nuts, even if they are around the corner. What's the dif? So annoying, but can't hate on the food. So yummy!
(4)
Marie B.
So, I'm hanging out with my favorite person (those in the know...know who this is) and we decide we're famished...we popped in toast and were pleasantly surprised. I had a wonderful plate of eggs scrambled with pesto and proscuitto...yummy. Also, unlike alot of breakfast places, the potaotes were fresh and perfectly prepared. My only disappointment...the toast was a bit dry...and they only gave me one little pad of jelly/jam. But, it was "all good" because their tea was delightful, the eggs fab and the company wonderful... What better way to spend a leisurely holiday?
(4)
Meridith E.
How did I not know that there was a 2nd location in Bucktown when I lived less than 2 blocks away from it for the past year? I had loved the LP location and love the Bucktown location as well. They offer specials each week ranging from the sweet to savory. Vegetarians and meatlovers alike will find something there. Breakfast is my favorite weekend indulgence, and Toast has one of the best brunches that I have had in Chicago. When my friend was in town from France, I brought him there and he ate in complete happy silence! Look for the piece of Toast on Damen and run in...be prepared, as there's usually a wait. Making me hungry just thinking about it.
(4)
Lauren D.
Dear French Toast Orgy - Your layers of goodness, piled high with fruit and granola beckon me every time I see your name on the menu. I dream of your sweet cheesy, chocolate and strawberry filled goodness. I only wish you weren't so enormous and delicious. Every time I leave Toast, I feel like I need a 4 hour nap. The food is good, maybe a little too good, because I always feel compelled to devour everything on my plate and maybe a bit off my neighbor's plate too. Cute cozy brunch place, with smiling servers and delicious food. The coffee is Julius Meinel (YAY!) and I have yet to eat something here that didn't give me foodie dreams for a week.
(5)
Seamus F.
This place is a damn fine brunch every weekend we've tried it over two years. Resisted reviewing it before since it's already busy enough but have had such consistently good food and great service from the servers that had to throw them a hat tip. Patio is great if the weather is cooperating too. The only blemish is that if you don't get there early on a weekend there can be a solid wall of stroller people ahead of you, and a long wait ensues. The only blemish I've had in the last six months there is that the guy who works the counter seats can be a pain, but food to good to stay away so we just get there early for table service. Coffee is kick-ass Julius Meinl, Eggs Benedict always solid, the featured omelet is sometimes amazing, even simple red pepper, cheese, and egg scramble is very good. Same menu as the Webster location, but just a better vibe at this spot, probably due to the larger room and outdoor options when it's nicer out.
(5)
Claire Y.
3.5 stars. Surprisingly, to our delight, our wait time for a weekend brunch was only about 10 minutes. We were seated at the bar (faster seating), which we didn't mind one bit. Our veggie benedict and pesto scramble were quite delicious. As a pesto snob, I must say their pesto was rather excellent. The side of potatoes was perfectly cooked with just enough char. The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice was refreshing. It's a solid neighborhood brunch joint. I probably won't frequent it much since I don't live in the area. Nevertheless, I do hope there will be a second visit some day --- perhaps the other location in Lincoln Park.
(3)
Kristin S.
With a smoked salmon scramble, the perfectly layered breakfast sandwich and a nutella-filled crepe, Toast has made it's way into my brunch hall of fame. Now if I could just get rid of the 500 other people who love it, too. I came here with my boyfriend's family who were in from out of town. We had to wait the obligatory 30-45 minutes since there were 5 of us, but it was a nice day, so we walked around the neighborhood until it was time to eat. Either everyone ordered extremely well, or this place is the real deal. Out of 5 of us, every person was "mmm"-ing and "oh, wow"-ing all over the place. I ordered the breakfast sandwich which was perfection, with the soft, but chewy bread being the star that held everything together. I also tried the stuffed french toast (mascarpone is the BOMB), the smoked salmon omelet and the roasted pepper omelet (which sounds pretty ordinary, but holy cow! The flavors were so fresh and very strong). The decor is very fun and playful without being kitschy. The service was also attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back, but I'll probably go when I'm in a small group to try and avoid the long waits.
(5)
dan l.
Believe me, I never thought I would ever leave this place just one star but the french toast I had today for brunch was by far, hands down, bar none, without a doubt, the worst I've ever eaten. It was the stuffed version with Mexican chocolate inside. How could this possibly be bad?? Well for starters the bread wasn't even soggy, but wet. It had been left in the batter far too long and was hardly cooked on top of that. Some of the fruit was past ripe and the chocolate was a bit mild for my taste but that's not their fault. Well regardless, it was very disappointing. Three or four years ago I had brunch at their other location and tried the pancake orgy which I recall being pretty good. Maybe just a fluke. That being said, I don't feel terribly motivated to go back after my experience today. A real bummer..
(1)
Ashley D.
one of the best brunches i've had. everything on the menu sounds amazing and i had such a hard time choosing what i wanted to eat. then right when i thought i finally decided, we get inside and see the specials board. chili cheese omelet. damn. this omelet was one of the best breakfast entrees i've had. any other place would have put some standard chili on top of some eggs but everything about this omelet was well thought out. all of the flavors in the chili were well developed and you could definitely taste each of its components. it would have been a great meal on its own but i couldn't imagine a better topping for the eggs. the potatoes were very tasty too. and of course the toast! i couldn't decide on which bread i wanted so the waitress let me split and try one challah and one whole grain piece. definitely preferred the whole grain. and as simple as it sounds, they really do know how to do a good toast job on a piece of bread. my friends also seemed to really enjoy what they ordered but honestly i was kinda in the zone with my own food. it's just too bad it was a special and they don't serve it everyday. the place is also super cute inside and our waitress was great. the only gripe was we ended up waiting quite a bit outside for a table even though there seemed to be one open but apparently "reserved" or something. it sounded kinda weird but i guess that's policy. either way, i still had a great start to my sunday here.
(4)
Nicolas H.
Great selection, reasonable prices and friendly service. Not much here to complain about, especially when the patio opens and you can eat outside. The stuffed french toast is something I've never had before but really enjoyed and the portion was huge. I also had the Croque Monsieur which was cooked perfectly with the overabundance of butter. Looking forward to repeat visits to taste some of the other creations...
(5)
Eman S.
This place is right down the street from me and my wife loves it, but I do not think it is that good. We are lucky because we never have to wait there because when there is a 45-minute wait (which happens often on the weekend) we just put our name in and go home. The thing that I don't like is that the food is just okay. There is nothing that stands out or makes a 45-minute wait worth it. I have eaten here four or five times and really only go because of the ease of access and because my wife loves it. I wish they had even one dish I could crave, but there isn't.
(3)
Milena M.
Living up to its name, this is the best toast that I have ever had. I seriously don't know what they did to it, but it was delicious. The pancakes were so good we didn't need the butter or syrup. I had the pesto eggs and they were delicious. The coffee was very fresh and the servers are super friendly. They have a ton of toasters decorating the restaurant. It gets really crowded around brunch time so you may want to go during off peak hours if you don't want to wait. A definite must go at least once.
(5)
Samson P.
We came in on a Saturday and of course it was packed. My girlfriend went in first to try to get a seat while I was parking. Well, just a note they do not seat incomplete parties, and the host said he was very "cutthroat" about it. Anyway, we waited 20 minutes and then were seated in the back. A word of advice. Try avoid seating in the patio out back unless you like eating next to the dumpsters in the alley and surrounding flies. If you sit right by the fence you can actually smell the garbage. Gross. But this experience alone wasn't enough for us to give toast a bad rating because the food is actually pretty good, generous, and reasonably priced. I went with my girlfriend and ordered the stuffed french toast with fruit and mascarpone, eggs benedict with prosciutto and a side of chicken sausage (yum). This location is also better than its Lincoln Park location.
(4)
Katie M.
I went to Toast Two a few days ago for brunch with a friend and my sister, who was visiting from out of town. There was a slight wait for the meal, which was perfectly understandable. Once seated, we ate our meals which were perfectly good besides certainly being overpriced. Still, the veggie eggs benedict that I ordered was enjoyable and the side of house potatoes were delicious and filling. After they took our plates away, the waitress brings the check to us without asking if we want anything else. We were planning on ordering more, so we thought it was rude but nonetheless, we continued to catch up. 20-some minutes later, we pay and decide to leave the waitress a 40% tip because we knew we were staying late to chat. 15 minutes later, a woman comes up and basically tells us to leave because we were staying at the table for too long and they apparently had to seat a large group.... despite the fact that there was no large group waiting outside or inside the restaurant and there were plenty of other open seats. They offered to give us a free drinks, which we declined and then we awkwardly left. It was ABSURDLY rude! We weren't acting disrespectfully, we were just talking. None of us had ever been told to leave a restaurant before. It was embarrassing and beyond unprofessional. Over all, the food was overpriced although good. But the staff was beyond horrendous. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(2)
kendra s.
I've decided to not review Toast Two until I had been there multiple times. Each time the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Yes, you will probably wait, but I knew that coming in, so that does not bother me one bit. The food is always amazing, but not so heavy on your stomach. I've never ordered the same thing twice (as of currently) and I've always left with a good taste. I always recommend Toast Two to friends and co-workers. This last time I even took my parents. I will be looking forward to many more delicious visits,
(5)
Mary S.
The food was really good, but service was bad. Not a huge deal, but it was really slow. I wasn't crazy about the decor. Felt like I was sitting in a big beige box. So back to the food. I had the pesto scramble. It was very tasty. Oily and probably not too healthy, but delicious. Lots of flavor. If you like basil, you'll love it. The potatoes could use a little burst of flavor or seasoning, but they're decent. The buttery toast was also really good and the jam was not just your average jar stuff. Coffee was pretty good, but I didn't get my warm up until just before I left...I'll let that slide. 3.5 stars for the food. If I'm in that area and not in a hurry, I'll definitely go back. I think they have a BYOB thing too....they'll make your mimosa if you bring the booze or something. Too bad I missed out on that. Maybe next time.
(3)
Lois A.
I've never been to either Toast without having to wait but it has always been worth it. The B.E.L.T with applewood smoked bacon always tastes good and whenever I order that I have a large glass of cranberry juice with it. Good coffee, great french toast and really good buffalo sliders. The crabby benedict is also very good. Service is always excellent and so is everything I've ever tried and I've been here a lot. It's worth an extra few minutes of waiting to make sure you get a patio spot in the summer. I was so happy when I first found out there was a bucktown location. The Toast on Webster gets PACKED.
(4)
Lisa P.
I know there's a ton of reviews on here already, but I just have to add that I enjoy Toast as a treat! Coworkers and I usually meet here a couple times a year and we've enjoyed it every time. The mascarpone filled french toast is heavenly. I only order one so I don't have a sugar overload and can share with the table. My main order was the spinach, goat cheese, and tomato omelet which was great. Although it's crazy busy, when we meet and want to chat it doesn't feel rushed at the table. I like this place better than Bongo Room, but think it's up there with Southport Grocery.
(4)
Rachel L.
Toast is a solid choice for weekend brunch, though be sure to factor in a signigicant wait time if you arrive at 10ish. Their eggs benedict is fabulous, as is the breakfast burrito. I almost alway choose savory over sweet but I'll admit to inviting friends to brunch here who I can bank on choosing sweet breakfast options, just so I can snag a nibble or two of their delicious french toast or pancake creations. Good coffee, service has been mostly consistent from my experience, bright and sunny interious, and prices are comparable to other places in the area. But that wait....ugh.
(4)
Leanne M.
Don't hate me... I've been wanting to try Toast officially for 5 years now but it turns out... there's nothing for me to eat. :( The two vegan-izable options my server pointed out: oatmeal, and chili, weren't exactly what I was hoping for... would a vegan version of the breakfast burrito or a skillet be so tough to muster? All the ingredients were there- it's just in the mix? I was really hoping to enjoy my visit here... I was, but instead I'm still hungry... In sum: Toast Two. Adorable, but not so vegan friendly. Sigh.
(2)
Matt Z.
BEST Breakfast Burrito in Town! AMAZING! Pesto scramble is pretty friction delicious also!
(5)
John B.
Come prepared to wait, because you will. Certainly on a weekend. But since last Sunday was a bee-yootiful day, that wasn't a problem. Toast will try to kill you with their food. But in a kind, loving way. Case in point: stuffed French toast. You heard me. Eggy, creamy French toast stuffed with chocolate, strawberry puree, or mascarpone cheese. Served with fresh berries (and grapes, it seems) and a side of syrup. Because a little more sugar won't kill you. You get three "sticks," which amounts to maybe one big slice of bread, but believe me, it's plenty. If it's not, you can go with the French toast orgy, which is all of the above, but topped with yogurt and granola and drizzled with honey. Squeal like a pig! I went with a side of bacon and potatoes, which was a little bit of a disappointment. The bacon was overdone for my taste, and the potatoes were kind of gooey. So it goes. There are enough selections on the menu that everyone in our group ended up with very different choices: crab Benedict, Mexican omelette, and pesto scramble. The Hollandaise sauce on the Benedict was perfect: thick and creamy, with enough lemon to give it a nice bite. Unlike its Lakeview sister, Toast Two is BYOB. So head to the liquor store while you're waiting and pick up a bottle of shampoo. They will gladly provide a pitcher of OJ, as well as glasses garnished with orange slice and strawberry. Woo hoo!
(4)
P S.
Nicely done, Toast! After years of walking, bussing and driving by it seemed you always had a line out the door so naturally I thought the neighborhood must know something I did not. True that. I met some lovely Yelpers early-ish one gorgeous Sunday afternoon and found, surely enough, a line. Luckily we had enough time to make a booze cruise before seating and were able to pick up a few bottles of bubbly for mimosas (BYO, we forgot). A walk back and a relatively short wait later, we were called in. I was prepared for an elbow-to-elbow situation given the reviews I'd read but it was actually quite roomy and not *too* loud. Our server was prompt and very sweet, and hooked us up with a pitcher of oj for our champagne ($12 for four glasses, about two mimosas each depending on your booze ratio). We ordered, the food came fast and it was faaaaaaanfreakintastic. Delicious crab Benedict? Check! Delicious potatoes? Oh heck yes check! Applewood-smoked bacon? A little overdone for my taste but check check! My companions seemed to totally enjoy their items as well (I sampled the marscapone-stuffed french toast and...yeah... check as well). It's a little pricey but probably more average than not for the area, space and quality of the food. The service was great though, and on a perfect day such as this, we didn't mind the wait. I'll be back! Oh and a potential de-starring factor for you to be aware of: they "can't" (more like won't I suspect) split your check into both a card and cash, it has to be one or the other or two cards. Heads up.
(4)
Meg O.
So I suppose we'll chalk this whole experience up to my sense of whimsy, and its epic fail...well, its epic fail AT Toast, at least, and its charming transition into a moveable feast. Moral of the story? Taking my ideas seriously will sometimes lead to delightfully bizarre consequences. Also, as you're reading, be sure not to miss my plug for the Map Room! Anyway, my friend Peter has a bearded dragon named Toast, and her supposed birthday is May 5th. When I learned of this, my immediate reaction was, "OMG! We have to take Toast to Toast for her birthday! She'll wear a ribbon around her neck and we'll feed her stuffed french toast with mascarpone cheese and marmalade!" Now, dear reader, you and I might hear this 'suggestion' and laugh, but Peter took me up on it, completely, even made it an event on Facebook. I hadn't even been to Toast in over three years, but somehow believed that if we could hide Toast the bearded dragon in a bag, everything would be okay. Although as we took off from Logan Square to go to Bucktown, I started wishing that Toast's name was Lula. We strolled up to Toast--the restaurant--and put our names in. We were told that it would be a 45 minute wait, annoying but par for the course at 11:00 on a Sunday in Bucktown. I desperately needed coffee, and, as we were heading towards the Starbuck's on Armitage, brilliantly remembered that the Map Room serves coffee in the morning! Yes--iced Intelligentsia! Peter and I walked in, Toast in clear sight, and the three of us were welcomed with open arms. Nobody cared that we had a bearded dragon--and she was even sans ribbon; we just sat at a high table and I sipped my coffee and Peter sipped his Red soda, and everyone thought Toast was adorable. "I'm sure they'll let her in at Toast! I would definitely let her in!" Emboldened by the small, pro-bearded lizard crowd at the Map Room, Peter and I walked back to Toast and were immediately seated. I ordered Julius Meinl coffee--YUM!--and the Pesto Scramble, and Peter got buffalo sliders. There was this charming young man at the table next to us who had just gotten an enormous plate of French Toast Orgy put down in front of him, and he immediately offered us some. I was going to be cheeky and comment that perhaps he thought he was up the street at Bristol, seated at the communal table, but am now so glad that I was earnestly gracious. As I was nearly finished with my first cup of coffee, the manager came over and said that we had to leave! "Take the Iguana out of here!" So Peter got up and took Toast the bearded dragon outside. I waved over our waitress, Michelle, and sheepishly asked if we could have our order to go. Michelle was a rock star! Not only was she apologetic and sweet and totally unfazed by the fact that her table had been kicked out of the restaurant for bringing a LIZARD into the restaurant, she gave me a huge cup of coffee to go, and filled our bag with lots of jelly, butter, and ketch-up! Hurray for Michelle, and hurray for nice guy seated next to me! By this time, he had nearly finished his French Toast Orgy, but, after hearing my tale of woe, asked, "So, what does Toast eat?" "She loves grapes and kumquats and sometimes eats veggie pellets that are cricket-flavored," I replied. The next thing I knew, nice guy had obtained a small Julius Meinl coffee cup and filled it with the grapes from his French Toast Orgy! "Tell Toast Happy Birthday," he smiled. So I walked out to find Peter chatting with two more completely sympathetic young women on the sidewalk. They agreed that perhaps a picnic was better on such a fine day, and everyone was pleased by the addition of the grapes. Peter and I strolled down Damen to Churchill Park and sat ourselves down to our picnic. Toast enjoyed the sunlight and the grass, and we enjoyed watching all the puppy dogs playing in the dog park. "This is so much better than eating at Toast," Peter smiled as I spread out our brunch. My pesto scramble was delicious for awhile, but then got REALLY salty. The challah toast was delicious. Peter and I smeared some of the blackberry jelly onto Toast's nose so she could lick it off. The whole thing was adorable. Overall, celebrating Toast's birthday was a huge success. If you actually want to sit in an establishment with your bearded dragon, stick to the Map Room. And remember that those odd bedfellows at nearby tables can turn out to be the best.
(3)
Sarah B.
I was invited by the very dear Penny S. to join her and a couple of other Yelpers for brunch at Toast Two and I jumped at the offer. I'm not a morning person but this Sunday brunch thing is making me a changed woman. There was a bit of a wait but it was nice outside and my company provided some fun conversation so I didnt mind. It also gave us a minute to go to the corner liquor store and grab a couple bottles of champers for mimosas. (BYOB) The inside is bright and cheery and for being small I did not feel cramped. Our server was very sweet and chill. We ordered OJ for our champagne and she brought out tumblers with an orange slice and the brightest red strawberries on the glass. YUM! I had an omelette with jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and cheese. It was really good but not spicy enough for me. The balance of flavors was nice, though. My companions all seemed to enjoy their food as well. I had an appointment to get to so I couldnt linger and I kindof felt that if we wanted to, we wouldnt have been able to sit for long anyway, considering how small the place is. Bonus: easy street parking. :)
(3)
Kortney M.
Its really just ok. You wait for over an hour on a Sunday to get inside and be rushed after having JUST ok food. I dont get why all of you think this place is good, nothing stands out from EVERYOTHER BRUNCH PLACE! Oh, theyre rude to you, maybe thats it? None of their food was even memorable enough for me to care about putting it in a review.
(2)
Brett F.
After frequenting Toast (and Toast Two) for years and years I can not believe that I've just recently learned this location on Damen is BYOB... Score! I'd give 6 friggin' stars if I could!!
(5)
Tina B.
I guess I just don't understand what the big fucking deal is. They serve breakfast stuff in a tiny little cramped place and people line up clamoring to get in here like they're giving away free bread or something. They're not. They are selling overpriced bread covered with a lot of glob, like grapes and jelly and granola and shit all over it. It's just way too early for all of that action. And even with that more-is-more philosophy, I can never seem to remember what I actually ordered the next day - it's like they slipped my wallet a roofie and then stuffed it full of bread.
(2)
Helena B.
Given the long wait, I expected a little something more from our experience at Toast. The food was good, but not as fantastic as I'd been expecting. The French Toast did not seem that different from what I could get elsewhere. The main drawback, for me, was the restaurant set-up itself - very cramped. I sat at the bar, which I generally don't mind doing, but I felt smooshed and in the way the entire time at this particular bar. It made me want to hurry, and if there is one meal that shouldn't be hurried - it's brunch! I just wanted to pay and get out of there, not sit, chat, and enjoy brunch with my friend.
(2)
Nicki W.
I very much enjoy this brunch spot. The menu items are creative, filling and totally satisfying. The vibe in here is so small town, with a diner feel but with style and class. This space is very small and on the weekends there's always a jumble of baby strollers and families hoarding around the door, but that's a good sign right? For sure. I would prefer to go during the week when I don't have to deal with screaming children and people crammed at tables listening to my conversation so that's the way I do it. I like to sit right by the window so I can check out the fantastic people watching along Damen while sipping on my java and freshly squeezed orange juice. They also have Strawberry Lemonade which is SWEET (as in cool, but yes of course it's sweet too). They have a small staff over there and that adds to the "neighborhood" thing they have going on. The waitresses are always cheerful and quick. Onto the food. Here are some highlights that I would recommend that you try. I'm a big Pancake and French Toast person so when I notice they do "stuffed" pancake and french toast options which they dub with the suffix "Orgy" I was giddy like a schoolgirl. Of course, Chocolate is the obvious amazing choice, but you should also try the banana pancakes (because when is that ever a bad idea?) The portions are huge and I'm rarely ever able to finish all of what I order. The crepes are also to die for. I was excited to see that they serve Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon (because that's the best kind of bacon there is...seriously). If you aren't in the mood for something as filling, I would go for the Pepper Eggs, they are scrambled with red and yellow peppers, cheddar cheese served with their house potatoes and toast. Their potatoes are really great with just the right amount of seasoning. Since I'm on the kick of egg talk, I might as well get into the Omelette talk. They have interesting choices like Smoked Salmon Omelettes, Spinach,Goat Cheese and Tomato and my favorite, the Omlette Lorraine with applewood smoked bacon, gruyere cheese, onion and chives. The Omelettes are huge and served with Toast. They also have lunch items but I've yet to try them, so when I do, I shall report back. All in all a solid brunch spot. Check it out!
(4)
Aliya J.
I live in New York City now, but I still miss my FAVORITE breakfast place in the whole world! Toast is seriously amazing. The food is always consistent. The service is always fast. And all of it tastes so good! The French Toast Orgy stuffed with mascarpone cheese is to die for!
(5)
Poof A.
Went here for brunch this morning and I will be back! We arrived just before 9:30 and were seated without a wait (at the last available table! Nice timing) Unfortunately (well, unfortunately for this review, not unfortunately for our tastebuds) my brunch date and I ordered the same thing- apple, pear, and brie crepes with a side of sausage (although he ordered a chicken sausage and I ordered the veggie variety- both were tasty). The crepes were delicious, perfectly-textured, and I always appreciate a brunch choice outside of the usual toast, eggs and potato trifecta (although they have that too!) The coffee was good, but could have been refilled more than once- I got the feeling they were trying to get us to finish up and head out. Still, the food was delicious and I look forward to trying some of the other items on the menu (pancake orgy, anybody?) Oh, and it's BYOB!!
(4)
Jason C.
Great French toast. The chicken sausage was fantastic as well. Be prepared to wait on for a while but the payoff is well worth it.
(5)
caroline e.
FOOD: I love a good savory breakfast, and I gotta say that Toast Too always comes through. The pesto eggs are good, the eggs benedict is above average and the Crabby Benedict is awesome. Though I'd recommend getting the hollandaise on the side as they can get a little heavy handed with it. And they win a gold star for having great decaf coffee! I have to admit I've never eaten a sweet breakfast at Toast, though after reading some reviews I might have to try it next time. SERVICE: I've been here a good half dozen times and never experienced rude service. It's true that they'll usually tell you the wait is longer than it actually is. Though I think they're just being conservative so you're pleasantly surprised at the shorter wait instead of angry about a longer one. I have actually waited for 2 hours at the LP location. Ridiculous! Why put yourself through that craziness when you can get the same great quality food with a much shorter wait at TT?
(4)
Purvi R.
yum yum yum mmmmm YUM. A cute little brunching venue in (Bucktown? I think? I am not from here). We arrived here after the Carerra de los Muertos (SORRY to all Spanish speakers) 5k race and were in the mood to scarf down some delicious eggs. This place did NOT disappoint. We were seated almost immediately which rocked (there was a wait when we left, but we were on the early side - so come early). Their great JM coffee brought us back to life after our brilliant idea to wake up at 6am and run a race on Halloween morning. I selected the breakfast burrito after much changing-of-mind and I was happy I did. The homemade salsa alone gave me reason to recommend this place to others, incredible! And the breakfast potatoes that I poached off my friend's plates were great. Both of them looovvved their eggs benedict, btw. Not too shabby when the bill came (approx 12 minutes after we ordered, seeing as we inhaled our food) - I think we each got our for around $20. Bingo! All in all, in a city full of great breakfast/brunch options, I'll remember this one next time I'm in town!
(4)
Peter K.
good place
(4)
Ali O.
nom nom nom nom I must have been very very very good lately, because this morning I found myself in breakfast heaven. I've wanted to try Toast for a while now (okay...probably a few years) and this weekend was the perfect opportunity. Scared of the tremendous wait, our party of three decided to try and beet the brunch rush. 10 am must be the sweet spot, because there were empty tables when we arrived and we were seated right away. By 10:30, people were lining up outside. Suckers. I checked out the Yelp reviews before going (naturally) and I was tempted to take Jessica B's advice and order the two eggs so I could try a little bit of everything. But, I could not fool myself . . . .I was there to dive head first into a big luscious gooey buttery fabulous stack of pancakes. And that was exactly what I did. I ran a train on those pine nut and mascarpone pancakes with lavender sprinkled on top. IN YOUR FACE. These pancakes were so good that at dinner time I was kicking myself for not taking my left overs home. Seriously. I will be back.
(5)
Natalie M.
I gave my original review of Toast Two 3stars(see below) but believing that my fellow Yelpers would NOT lead me astray I decided to come back and try something else. WOW, Im so happy I did! My 2nd visit to Toast Two was almost 2x better as my first. I had the buckwheat blueberry pancakes, which, although others may find them too "wheat-y" they were just my flavor, with egg whites and coffee(really, really good coffee!). My Mom had their Pina Colada Pancakes(a special)- My Mom is NOT a pancake person, but she said they were so good she ate EVERY SINGLE BITE. She also had the chicken sausage which she liked a lot. One thing I must say about Toast Two is that their food is VERY appealing to the eye, and very reasonable- my short stack(2 LARGE pancakes) was only $5, and egg whites $2- breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day, but dont often get fresh food THIS cheap. I do wish there was more parking in the Bucktown area- if there was I wouldve given them an extra star.
(4)
Michael T.
It seems like this place is well-loved by the sort of person who really enjoys writing "creative" Yelp reviews. I was totally underwhelmed. I ordered the plain french toast (with berries and all that), figuring that I should go with what I thought would be the flagship dish of a place called "toast," and it was very dry. Almost tasted as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp for an hour and a half. Certainly not worth $9; maybe worth $3. My girlfriend got a breakfast burrito, which was equally disappointing. It was basically a crap ton of undercooked, under-seasoned scrambled eggs with some diced onion and green pepper in a wrap. Again: may just have ordered the weak items.
(3)
Jean C.
I am a big breakfast person. And when I went here with my neighbor on a Monday, we were ignored. It wasn't really busy but people who came in after us were seated before us. Kind of upsetting. When we asked the server about it, she was indifferent and passed us onto the manager who could have cared even less then the server. We discussed if we should stay or leave but ended up staying. We both ordered coffee (good!) and the Eggs Benedict. I do like the truffle hollandaise sauce with prosciutto but wasn't as floored by it as I thought I would be. The food came out quickly which was nice. Cheap eats for sure. I came back with my husband twice and on the second time, he got food poisoning from their breakfast burrito! He was out for 3 days. So, needless the say, we will not be coming back anytime soon. Which is unfortunate because I really wanted to try the pancake orgy. :-(
(2)
Kim A.
It takes a lot for breakfast to absolutely blow me away. I wasn't blown away, but wholly satisfied. I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the dishes, and the fact that they offered a special (which I had and was delicious!). It's easy to pander to the "bacon and eggs" brunch crowd. The indigents were fresh and seasonal, and the staff really friendly. This is defiantly one of those spots that you most certainly must hit up if you're within walking distance, but I'd say I'd be hard pressed to drive or take public transportation here. Also, be mindful that if you do come here on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you'll probably have to wait for a table. And, if you're not a fan of kids, this probably isn't the place for you. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but haters of "alt human accessories" need not apply.
(3)
Jenna S.
I can agree with some of the other 2 star reviews here, Toast Two did not win me over. First, let's start with the good things: -The wait, we were told 30 minutes--but were seated within 20. Yay! -The staff, sure they were nice...but not over the top friendly. -The joint is cutetsy! Loved all the little toasters lined up across the top of the wall. Then we can move on the negatives: -We sat at the bar, but because of the ceiling light were blinded by the sun shining in. Yes, I realize that's not their fault, but c'mon...put up some blinds or something to block the rays of death coming in. I could barely even see what I was eating, let alone read the paper on a Sunday morning! -The wait for food. UGH! It felt like it took FOREVER. Granted, it was a Sunday morning at 10:30 AM...but really, 40 minutes for two omelettes?! -The omelet itself was bland. I had the Lorraine, which had apple wood smoked bacon, gruyere, chives, and onions. About the only thing good was the CHEESE because there was plenty of it. The bacon was disgusting, I imagined crispy smokey bacon...and instead I got limp chunks of fat. I don't think this was a applewood smoked bacon, but rather a run of the mill hormel Aldi special bacon. GROSS! I had to pick it out. The breakfast potatoes spread sparingly on the side of my plate were COLD. And my side of chicken apple sausage was good, but those were like the size of bratwursts. -The bill: $41 for 2 omelettes, 2 coffees and 2 orders of chicken sausage. Who knows, maybe their "sweet" items are better tasting?! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say we MIGHT return, only to try the french toast or pancakes. But, bottom line, the food was average at best...but certainly didn't warrant a $48 bill with tax and tip. For that price, I'd rather have Sola, Lula, or even the Publican for heaven's sake!
(3)
Borracho G.
Love what they do to the breakfast here. If you enjoy chorizo con huevos, then you are set, because they serve a great tasting order. Ask them to substitute the toast for a spinach tortilla and eat them the right way, with your hands. If you also love breakfast that can pass as a dessert then order the pancake orgy or french toast orgy. Just don't say "I will have the french toast orgy minus the french toast", nobody laughs and the cute server doesn't find you funny to begin with.
(4)
danny e.
tasty, chicy, big ol giant fun toast as a blade sign. There was a big of a wait for in the middle of the day. I got the giant monster stuffed french toast, strawberry and chocolate. They were really good, I couldn't even finish them. The chocolate tasted like mexican chocolate which was nice and surprising. The place is cool but really small.
(4)
Stacey A.
B reakfast foods are my favorite R eally amazing menu - everything sounds good U nbelievably perfect breakfast potatoes N utella, strawberry, and marscapone are what fill the french toast C an't stop thinking about the omelette my roommate had H oly crap, I love this place Toast in Lincoln Park serves booze. Toast Two in Wicker Park does not - but is larger, sunnier, and quieter - and way less full of Depaul Trixies in Training.
(4)
Adam V.
So here we go... I live right up the street from Toast and used go there all the time. It's DECENT food, but for the price it is absurd. I wish badly there were another decent breakfast spot around bucktown that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get a cup of joe and some eggs. $10.00+ for an omelet? Quick secret, a single egg cost about $0.20 at most.... Don't price gouge me Toast, you pirates! That felt good, anyway, recently my brother, a close friend and I decided NEVER to go back to Toast again. Allow me to start off by mentioning that I have been in the hospitality/restaurant industry for over 10 years. I bused tables and washed dishes as a 14 year old, I've served tables during college and have worked several back of the house jobs in professional kitchens. You don't want my resume here... I'm just saying... So we go into Toast and the usual male server that has flipped me attitude on our last visit was our server. "Let's give him another chance", I say to the fellas. We order our food and don't see the guy again until our altercation. Someone else actually even brought us our food. The three of us were about 2 bites into our meal when our server came to our table (he refused to give me his name... ch!). He asked how things were and I said fine. My brother then asked the fellow for Tobasco sauce. Saying, "may I please have some Tobasco sauce" must be code for something much worse and sinister... To my bothers request, the server yelled "HOW IIIISSSSS EVERYTHIIIING!" Bewildered by the servers outburst, my brother said "Great, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" The server again, dumbing himself down as if speaking to an infant says loudly again "HOOOW....IIIISSSS....EVERYTHING?" My brother says now, "its great! Everything is awesome, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" Finally the server turned and stormed off... The table next to us then turned to us and explained that the same server had been being less than friendly to them, as well. My brother is severely soft spoken, so I suppose it makes sense that I inherited most of the aggressive genes from our Dutch heritage. I was fed up and wasn't going to stand for the obnoxious treatment for one more second. Upon the servers return to our table, I inquired as to what the problem was and why he treated my brother in that fashion. I informed him of my history in the restaurant industry and how I understand the frustrations of serving from time to time, but that his treatment was unreasonable. To this he exclaimed "I'm not your slave". This attitude was SEVERELY unwarranted. To this i dropped my napkin on the table and calmly asked for the manager. He explained primarily that the manager was not there. I happen to notice the female owner was not present, as she usually is. So then, surprised, I asked "No manager? Then who's in charge around here, I want to speak to them." Here it is... He says "Too bad..... I'M the manager" I had enough now and gathered my brother and friend and decided we were leaving, we had barely touched our meal and were not going to pay nor ever return. "He said, good, don't return, we'll be fine without you.. and I'm calling the police if you don't pay!!" -this is where i close my eyes, breath slowly and try to count to ten..... At this my friend tells me to go ahead and leave and he would wait for the police.... the police never showed (obviously, what a tool), but the owner did. She gave my friend the meal for free, calling it "even now".... NO... after this review, we might be a little closer to even. The service at Toast is SO horrible I urge none to ever give it a cent of your money.
(1)
Annie G.
Yummm, Toast. If I wasn't sitting in a pile of my dirty tissues, red-nosed and achy, I'd probably be proposing a trip to Toast right now to my husband. This place gets four stars for being so consistently good. Only once in my dozens of outings there have I experienced the rude service mentioned already in these reviews; our waitress was obviously hungover and wretched but that was once, our tip told her as much, and we've never had her since. But back to the positives: start to finish, anything here that touches my tongue is fantastic. The coffee is bold and fresh and can cure any hangover. While the sweet breakfasts look out of this world, I have to stick to my morning staples: eggs, potatoes, and toast. I love the mexican special they often have -- cilantro and jalap. egg scramble with salsa, house potatoes and wheat toast dry. Always dry. I'm often inclined to order a cup of fruit, too, because this is a place that doesn't skimp on fruit: berries, bananas and grapes. Yumm! I love that they don't serve dingy plates of un-ripe melons and cantaloupe. Sure, there is often a wait when you go during warmer months, mid-morning. But that's not uncommon in this stoller-ville neighborhood. Do yourself a favor and wait. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Christine K.
Absolutely love this place. Sometimes finding parking around this area can take some time (really I should walk here since it's "close" but I'm lazy on Saturday mornings), but I can usually find it. The food is great, they have tasty coffee and the waitstaff is super nice! You can't ask for more. If it weren't for the line out the door, I'd give it 5 stars. :)
(4)
Catherine R.
Great service, great food, great price. Bacon, gruyere, carmelized onion omlette. 'Nuff said.
(4)
Melissa N.
I. Love. Toast. This place is delish. Our go to brunch place conveniently located within walking distance from the apartment. I have never been disappointed with any selection. My favorite is the french toast orgy (trio of stuffed french toast: strawberry, marscapone and chocolate, topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.) Amazing. Always amazing!
(5)
Vanessa P.
It's usually a 30-60 min wait on Saturdays and Sundays. It's worth it. The food is always so good and I could wax poetic about the pesto scramble and the stuffed french toast. Service is usually top notch too.
(4)
Wendy G.
Every time I try something new and I always enjoy it.
(5)
Michelle L.
As a breakfast fanatic - TOAST - Truly is "as good as it gets"! Not only is the french toast beyond orgasmic, but the breakfast burrito is absolutely delicious. Very friendly staff and were good with my 8 month old. No matter what I order on their menu, I can't go wrong!!! LOVE IT!!
(5)
Lyn B.
The marscapone french toast is very good. Other than that, you're not missing much. The wait can be really long, and it's just not worth it. I'd go back if someone really wanted to, but the service/atmosphere/food combo was just okay.
(3)
Sarah Louise W.
I ate here once a year ago and again this past weekend. I recalled it being a bit more delicious the first time. This review is of this past weekend. Negatives: No more lavender French toast? Sadness. Not every egg dish comes with toast, which is a little weird. The vegetarian Eggs Benedict were awful. I had never had Eggs Benedict before, and it had artichoke and spinach on it which I love, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. It was a shame because I ordered this instead of 3 other dishes, all of which I surely would have enjoyed a lot more. Like the reviewer below, mine too was swimming in hollandaise, which I immediately disliked the taste of and after a while the smell made me ill. Since there was no toast (!) I at least ate the eggs I could salvage and the potatoes (also disappointing, a bit flavourless). My boyfriend got the french toast with mixed berries and a side of bacon. The bacon was good, and perfectly crisp, but $4? For 4 slices? Hmm, a bit much. His french toast filled him up, though, and since my dish was gross I nibbled some of the black berries he discarded (what a fool). I loved the coffee, though, and all is right in the world when I have some coffee. A lot of the sandwiches also looked good on the menu (and I sneaked peeks at what my fellow diners ordered), so if I come back I'm getting plain eggs or lunch. But I don't know when that will be, since apparently there are a lot better brunch places I have yet to try.
(3)
Sara B.
Eggs or sweets? Eggs or sweets? I can never choose. In fact, the only things I never hem and haw about at brunch are coffee and booze. Yes and yes, with multiple rounds of both, please. Beyond that, it's usually a drawn-out process of salivating over each item, debating relative merits, and eventually choosing wildly when the waitress looks my way. Hey, it works. Which brings me to Toast II, which DOES NOT HAVE A BAR. And for which it loses a full star. Sorry, the powers that be have spoken. I need a bar, particularly at vacation brunch. However, what Toast II lacks in booziness it (almost) makes up for in deliciousness, which brings me to the eggy/sweet dilemma. A longtime eggs Benedict slut, I was torn: Try my favorite brunch feast, this time promised with prosciutto and truffle hollandaise, or take on the french toast orgy? Well, as mom always says, never turn down an orgy...just invite some more to join in! (Eds. note: My mom never actually said that. That would be weird.) Anyway, my friend and I made the wise choice of ordering both and sharing. It was decadent. It was rich. It would have been perfect...with a cocktail.
(4)
Jen A.
Yummy yummy. The only thing that knocks Toast Two off the five-star pedestal it belongs on is the fact that this location (as opposed to the other Toast) lacks a bar. I don't think I'd mind so much if the menu wasn't the same, but it made me a wee bit sad that I saw beverages I couldn't order. All that aside, OH MY. I don't like French toast. I just don't. But I tried a few bites of my roommate's French Toast Orgy and I'm pretty sure that I'd make an exception and order one for myself next time. It's really that good, and I wish the English language had a better array of synonyms for "awesome" that I could apply to it. The breakfast potatoes are also delish, and they're worth getting a la carte if your entree doesn't include them. I actually enjoyed them so much that I tried to replicate the recipe at home, which is pretty much the highest form of praise I have for food. I was actually so wrapped up in the food experience that I initially neglected to notice how cute the place is. It's adorable. There are toasters all over the place, and I love it.
(4)
Kathy P.
The battle between savory and sweet rages on at Toast. Luckily, I was there with a group and we were evenly split, giving us the chance to sample a bit of everything. Good thing the portions are generous! I had the breakfast burrito, which was excellent, though it could've been spicier (couldn't taste the jalapenos) and there were no beans. Que sera, sera, burrito. My friend ordered the veggie eggs benedict and was pleased as punch. The big, fat draw at Toast is (duh) the French Toast which is available stuffed with such delights as chocolate, pureed strawberries, and marscapone, to name a few. The French Toast is served in huge chunks which are perfect for sharing with your favorite brunch companions. The marscapone was really rich, and I can't imagine making a whole meal of it. The chocolate is, of course, desserty, and the strawberry puree is jam-jam-jammy. Needless to say, we all left full and happy and ready to brave the rain outside. Toast also serves Julius Meinl coffee which is, of course, the next best thing to being at Julius Meinl. Service was attentive and friendly on this busy Saturday morning. Get there early because the line was out the door by the time we left around 10:30.
(3)
Destiny T.
First time trying this place and I would definitely return! I played it safe and got the two eggs meal with house potatoes, toast and a side of short stack buttermilk pancakes. They were not skimpy on the food. In fact I wasn't able to even eat my toast and half of my pancakes because I was full mid-meal (and I can eattt lol). Usually, I'm not a fan of house potatoes but they made them nice and flavorful and crispy. The scrambled eggs were probably one of the best scrambled eggs I have ever had from a restaurant (they were seasoned already and were yellow and fluffy). The pancakes were delicious; adding additional butter is not necessary which I love because I'm always too eager to eat my food to want to take the time out to put butter on my already buttermilk pancakes lol. The waiters are also very friendly and approachable. Only downside is that it can be difficult to find parking on Damen. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this breakfast place! You can tell that they take pride in their food and use fresh ingredients which is always important to me!
(5)
Stephen L.
The mascarpone stuffed French toast... My god, it was delicious. The chicken Apple Gouda sausage was the best sausage I have had in a long time.Espresso game is average and it took a while for me to get my food. Staff is friendly and helpful.
(4)
Morganne B.
This was the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to come when we were too hungover to go to work the day after taking our medical boards exam and skipped. We were lucky not many people were out on this gloomy looking Friday but thankfully there was no wait and we were seated immediately. The special omelet, with prosciutto, tomatoes and cheddar was just the ticket. Olive salty salty prosciutto on its own but in an omelet with some hot sauce on top was even better. My boyfriend loved his crabby benedict; he loved it so much he ordered a side of chorizo to put on top. He said his potatoes maybe weren't cooked as much as they should've been and didn't finish them, but otherwise this place was on point. Coffee mug was never empty and the service was fast. I'm not sure if I would wait in line for so long as I've often seen people do here, but I definitely will come back and bring mimosas once this hangover subsides!
(4)
Elisabeth C.
My brother emailed me one day that he was flying into Chicago for a bachelor party, and could I pick him up from O'Hare? He'd make it worth my while by buying me breakfast. Of course I obliged, but what he didn't know was that my sister and two of her three daughters were in town for the weekend visiting me, so he had a rather large party for breakfast! Despite coming at peak hours on a Saturday morning, Toast Two was able to accommodate all five of us immediately. The service was great (and to be honest, brunch with young children is not always the best experience). The food was also delicious. I had the french toast orgy, my sister had the eggs benedict, and my brother had the breakfast burrito. And he wasn't at all annoyed about having to buy breakfast for all four of us since it meant he got to see his nieces.
(5)
Jamie B.
Good breakfast place in Bucktown. I've been here many times over the last few years and it's always been speedy and consistent. I enjoy the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. The pancakes are also tasty. Good option on the neighborhood.
(4)
Deanna N.
Very cute place. No reservations and BYOB, which means no bloody marry's or mimosas served. I had a delicious crepe with brown sugar and strawberries for $6. The bacon was disappointingly thin. I think the stellar items here maybe the french toast hence the name. Definitely a hipster hangout in Bucktown.
(4)
Glenn B.
The staff is friendly and quick. Service was great. The food was exceptionally good! I hate to say even better than the deep dish pizza we had come to Chicago to try. Had the breakfast burger with Swiss cheese. Patty was perfectly cooked to order. All the ingredients came together and complimented each other well. The egg gave it an unreal richness! Also ordered the French toast orgy with one of each flavor! The strawberry and marscapone filled ones were delicious. Not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I can't say I enjoyed it. Overall, great breakfast place and a definite must try!
(5)
Bao L.
Stuffed french toast on fleek. I had breakfast here and couldn't decide between the Pancake Orgy and the French Toast Orgy, so I asked the waitress what she recommended between the 2. Before I could finish my sentence, she said French Toast Orgy, so French Toast Orgy it was. I must say, the French Toast Orgy here is AMAZING and I'm glad she recommended it. It comes w/ 3 pieces of stuffed french toast: strawberry puree, mascarpone, and Mexican chocolate, all topped with vanilla yogurt, granola, berries, powdered sugar, and a drizzle of honey. There's a lot going on on the plate, but it all works well together. It was plenty sweet (in a good way), so I didn't even need to add syrup to it. The berries are fresh and the yogurt and granola add great texture to the stuffed french toast. All 3 were good, but my favorite was the strawberry puree, followed by the mascarpone, and then the Mexican chocolate. Toast Two is close to my house, so I definitely want to come back to try the Pancake Orgy and Pesto Scramble
(4)
Stephen M.
Went here for brunch and it hit the spot. I got the breakfast burger which was very good. Girlfriend got the chorizo Benedict but the English muffin was burnt. Ok prices for what you get, good service, and only had to wait 10 min for brunch on a Sunday. Next time I need to try the stuffed French toast, It looked good!
(4)
Sara T.
Still one of my favorite brunch spots! It's pretty much got the whole package -- good food, good coffee, friendly staff, and love the bright, modern country styled interior. The pesto egg dish and brie with pear and apple crepe were both stellar.
(4)
Rebecca R.
Had a great meal at my neighborhood spot. It is typically packed, so I was able to meet a friend here moments after the opened on a week day during my winter break. We sat at the counter and had a great meal with great service. I ordered chilaquiles off the special board while my partner in crime ordered delicious looking pancakes off the menu. We were both super pleased with the meal, coffee, and feeling of the place. The couple next to us offered us their almost empty bottle of champaign, so apparently it is also BYOB. Enjoy! I'll be back!
(5)
Evie H.
I was super excited to come here for brunch especially because 1) I love the name 2) I love the store front even more. Our wait was about 40 minutes on a Sunday at noon and then it was probably another 20 minutes before we got our food after we ordered. A little lengthy for me. I got the French toast orgy with one of each flavor - dark chocolate, marscapone, and strawberry. I thought I would like the dark chocolate the most but it turned out it was my least favorite. It was kind of mushy and stuck at an awkward in between of trying to be sweet, but not sweet enough. Turns out the marscapone was my favorite! The regular stuffed french toast is basically the same plate but just without the yogurt and granola toppings. The service was okay. They were very accommodating for one of my friends who had a lot of specific requests for her burger. One of our waiters was very odd though and he kept on asking if we wanted more coffee and water even though we repeatedly said no. He also very awkwardly tried to maneuver the water pitcher around us which I didn't understand at all because it really wasn't that difficult to do. All in all, it's a solid brunch spot but because it's also a smaller place, be prepared to wait on weekends.
(4)
Melanie P.
After living down the street from Toast for years, we finally decided to brave the crowds and give it a try. Arrived at 9:45am on a Sunday, and were seated immediately in the very busy restaurant. (We went because it was COLD and knew that the crowds might be lighter). SO GLAD WE DID! We have already been back for the second time in one week (this time a Thursday morning which was comfortably quiet!). The Croque Madam, the BELT, the breakfast burrito with chorizo, all DELICIOUS!! The bread on the BELT made this sandwich for me. Buttery and perfectly toasted outside, super soft inside. Tried a latte upon the recommendation of our waiter (who doubled as a barista?!) during our second visit. It was excellent! Service was solid during even during a busier Sunday. Avoided this place because I hate to wait, but will return again and again because when you time it right, it's outta sight!
(5)
Lauren B.
What a great spot for brunch! Love the omelette and sandwich selection. We had a wonderful waitress named Jennifer, who took great care of us. My only qualm is the fact that it is BYOB but you have to use their beverages and I'm sorry but $8 for a small carafe of OJ is not realistic... Other than that our food was great! It's gets pretty busy so def make a reservation during the weekend!
(5)
Aja G.
Classically good breakfast. When you want some fluffy scrambled eggs, a decent size side of bacon and some damn good toast then Toast one or two is your place. This location is set up much life the originally in DePaul country: about 15 tables crammed against a wall, a breakfast bar and a lot of natural light. There are come things I wish Toast Two would offer like a build your own omelet option or meat with pancakes. But when you want some cozy down home breakfast Toast Two is your place.
(4)
Anna G.
Came back to Toast Two after a long absence and it confirmed what I remembered it being: just an average brunch place. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, the service even better, but overall nothing I can't get at any other brunch place. My friend and I went at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and our wait time was between 20-30 minutes. (If we had agreed to sit at the counter, the wait would have only been 5 minutes.) I definitely wouldn't wait any longer than that.
(3)
Lati T.
Brunch when I have time, i come here! Super friendly staff...and the stuffed french toast is so good!!
(5)
Rice D.
Been here many times, as I live right across the street. I called this morning (Monday, 2/2) and asked to place a takeout order. A male responded with "We're not doing take out orders right now" [CLICK]. No goodbye, no info regarding if they'd be taking orders later today, a week from now, a month from now etc. I understand if you're swamped, but it's Monday morning and there was a HUGE snowstorm all weekend. I can see Toast from my window and it's not busy at all. My advice to the guy answering the phone would be to not take your bad mood out on the customer. My advice to Toast would be to not let that guy answer the phone any more. It's not often you encounter such a bad response from a business you're trying to patronize. If this is how Toast treats their customers, I will take my food request elsewhere.
(1)
Daisy K.
I know this place is a solid 4 stars with several hundred reviews, but for some reason when I took a bite out of my breakfast burrito I literally said out loud "What?".. As in, how was this burrito everything I so desperately need right now. Go. If they can make a simple burrito delicious, than I would imagine everything else on the menu would follow suit. I will say though, that $2 dollars seems high for an avocado add on, but whatevs, I was feeling generous & it was packed with delicious perfectly ripe avocado. Staff was friendly and very attentive too! 5 well deserved stars.
(5)
Beth C.
I'm really surprised at how well this place has been reviewed overall. I went here for breakfast last Sunday with a friend. I'm new to the area and noticed that there are almost always people waiting for a table on the weekends for brunch so I checked out the menu online and thought it sounded like a great classic brunch stop. If a restaurant is going to be strictly breakfast/brunch place (no bar, no bottomless mimosas, no shtick) then surely the food must be great. Or so I thought. The wait for a table was going to be 30 minutes on a Sunday around 10 a.m. But a couple of spots opened up at the counter, so we sat there immediately. We were offered and served coffee pretty quickly. I think the service was good. Not overly personal or friendly but polite and efficient. The food is where things fell apart. I ordered the two egg breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon, breakfast potatoes). My scrambled eggs were way overcooked and the potatoes were hard. My friend ordered the French Toast. It certainly looked pretty when it came it out. But it, too, was completely overcooked and dried out. There are a lot of other brunch options in the area. I have no plans to return here.
(2)
Ashley C.
I'd give Toast Two 3.5 stars. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but it is a solid neighborhood place. We were trying to find a place to go when my sister was visiting. She loves breakfast food. Toast Two was a solid option. We arrived at about 10:15 and only had to wait a little bit for a table. The place was packed and rather loud (read: not the best hangover breakfast spot). I had a the eggs benedict. It was very good but nothing mind blowing. My sister was pleased with her option (which was made gluten free to order). The portions were also huge! I was also told that their coffee was solid as well. Overall, a solid brunch basic spot.
(3)
Jenny G.
We went here for a birthday Brunch. Service was great, menu was even better!!! I had the breakfast burrito, shared the strawberry stuffed French toast and my boyfriend had an omelet. There was so much to choose from that we have already decided we will be going back soon to try something new! PLUS; Its BYOB.. They have orange juice and a Bloody Mary mix available so all you need to bring is the vodka!
(5)
Kayla S.
Does Toast Two need another stellar review? Nah, but what the hell, it's delicious! The cinnamon raisin toast. Wow. Served warm and HAS to be made in the restaurant. Literally the best piece of toast I have ever had in my entire life. Eggs Benedict was good. Egg cooked to perfection. We wanted more meat so we ordered sides of sausage. Oh, and the best part, BYO mimosas, baby! And the orange juice glasses that come with the carafe are brought with a little strawberry on top. My friend had some sort of scramble and the potatoes were just so perfect. The right amount of crispy and seasoned well. I came with my husband some time back and it was pretty good, this most recent time just affirmed Toast Two as a solid brunch spot forever. Most definitely will return!
(5)
N A.
I had breakfast here on Monday June 15, 2015. I was getting my last real meal before flying out of town. I had never been here but I left thinking that if I ever find myself in the area, I will certainly visit again. I had coffee (plenty of it!) and their "B.E.L.T." sandwich. It was GOOD! It came with potato quarters on the side. The service was good too. The lady working there kept my coffee topped and made sure all was well. Great service. The decor is nice too. Modern "home" feel. Lot's of cute decor depicting toast in various ways. Highly recommend for a sit down breakfast solo or with a group.
(5)
Ramona Q.
Great place, good coffee, good food. Stuffed french toast (marscapone) is my favorite. There is almost always a wait on weekends.
(5)
Jessica P.
My friend and I both got stuffed French toast, mine with dark chocolate and hers with mascarpone. Mine was ridiculously delicious and she only had good things to say about hers. I will say this: don't go for the dark chocolate unless you have a serious sweet tooth, it was not for the faint of heart. You get three chunks of toast and o could only manage one, despite how delicious it was. They aren't messing around with the portion size here. We went around 11:30 on MLK day, and the place was accordingly bursting at the seams. I believe we eventually got seated a little after noon, which wasn't bad at all. We were seated at the counter, and the server was very pleasant and quick with the refills of coffee. I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about this place. I will have to go back and try something savory.
(5)
Matt V.
Food was great. Heat not working so food was cold before I finished. Need to fix the heat
(3)
Unna N.
Pesto scramble was in a small pool of oil, same with the potatoes. Overall delicious, but only three stars for the oil. The jam for the English muffin was really delicious. The orange juice is freshly squeezed and full of good pulp. The flowers on the table are real :)
(3)
Brian C.
Awesome breakfast! I had the Chilaquiles plate it was wonderful. Good atmosphere, friendly place. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jack F.
Pretty good brunch spot. The place itself is a bit small, but you get seated pretty quickly. Try the Lorraine Omelet. Great stuff!
(4)
Jess D.
I arrived and put in my name for a party of two at around 1:30 on a Sunday. The place was PACKED. There wasn't even anywhere to stand in the miniscule entryway, so my cousin and I took a walk in the freezing cold and checked out some little shops just to warm up. Quoted a wait time of half an hour, we headed back to check in just after 2:00. Nope. Still nowhere to even stand inside. When I asked for an update, the hostess was totally snotty. Then, when it finally cleared up enough for us to at least stand inside where it was warm, she ignored us completely. No, "sorry for the wait". No, "it'll just be a bit longer". Nothin'. We were just about to leave and go get sushi across the street when we were finally seated. Around 2:45. The atmosphere and decor were cute, if a little kitschy for my taste, but the seating was just absurdly close together. I could barely manage to squeeze between the two tables to access my bench seat against the wall without taking out the water glasses of the diners beside us. The savory options sound tempting, but I really wanted the namesake toast. I had a dish with a sampling of different stuffed french toast, the French Toast Orgy. A lofty name for an okay plate. It arrived relatively quickly and it was good. But not quite good enough to make it worth the ridiculously long wait and the awkwardly cramped seating arrangement. In short...Since they don't take reservations, you can simply accept a long wait time for apathetic service and mediocre food with a somewhat inflated price tag or... Call up a hankering for sushi instead of brunch and head across the street.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Came in because of the prior yelp reviews and was not let down, at all!!! Came in and was busy with no tables, but servers rearranged some seating and got my party of 3 in right away. A bit snug with the table next to us, but it's all good. Best French toast ever - go for French toast orgy
(5)
Krista S.
Fabulous fabulous service!!!!! Food is fresh and on point for a nice brunch spot. Coffee is nice and strong. A helpful tip is that you cannot be seated until your whole party is there which is understandable considering its popularity (especially on weekends). They are know for their stuffed French toast. My husband ordered 1 of each type (strawberry, chocolate, and mascarpone) and like the server suggested the mascarpone was his favorite. I had the b.e.l.t. with avocado- great fresh bread and nice ripe avocado!
(4)
demika c.
The breakfast is consistently good! My favorite is the orgy pancakes. They're delicious and worth waiting for.
(4)
XTreats X.
Great food! I gave it the extra star because they serve Bow Truss coffee at $2.50 with free refills... That alone makes it worth it, not to mention the huevos with chorizo & cheddar! GO!
(5)
Bryce S.
Good breakfast place. I got one of their top menu items: the B.E.L.T and really enjoyed it! If you're in Bucktown, you should definitely stop in!
(4)
Lizette Y.
This is a pretty decent breakfast place. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table, not too bad in my book. The decor and space are pretty interesting. The location has enormously high ceilings but seating area is quite small. Walls are a bright, sunny yellow and vintage toasters adorn the tops of the cabinets, really cute. We were promptly seated and the server brought our coffee to the table immediately. I ordered the veggie benedict, my boyfriend ordered the crabby benedict, and we split a French toast orgy. I know, that seems like a lot, but we wanted to get a good sampling of what they had available and had plenty to take home with us. The benedicts were great, very flavorful and the poached egg was cooked perfectly (a big plus since it's hard to do!). The French toast orgy was yummy and included chocolate, strawberry, and marscapone flavors. Immediately we noticed that these delicious flavorings were either baked into the toast or included inside the batter, as they were consistently flavored throughout the toast, not just drizzled on top. The chocolate and marscapone were my faves, and the strawberry was good too, tasted very fresh like they had just pureed the berries before adding it to the batter. Overall the food was good and so was the service. Not outstanding but I'd go back to try other interesting items on the menu - crepes with pear, brie, and apple; anything with SOY CHORIZO and VEGGIE SAUSAGE (holla to my fellow vegetarians); and pancakes with marscapone, pine nuts, and anise.
(3)
Francesca S.
Totally toasty! - Pancake Orgy....berrylicious - Pesto & Prosciutto omelette....salivating This is the second time I've been here and it still continues to hit the sweet spot. Both dishes were made to perfection. We also ordered hot cider and hot chocolate that kept us warm in Chiberia. I decided to order the cinnamon raisin toast to accompany my eggs. As always, it was toasted to the right amount. Chose to sit at the breakfast bar this morning. Loved looking at all the wall art especially the retro toasters. Plenty of other good sounding dishes to order next time. I can't wait to wake up craving for a delicious Bucktown breakfast.
(4)
Jim C.
Really strained service this Sunday. Had to remind waitress of our drinks and the toast that should come as a side for both entrees (it's in the name!) that we got as we left. It's not the waitress's fault, she was the only one on a Sunday that we saw, and wound up comping our drinks. The other brunch options were solid, lots of savory options with eggs, good portions, well cooked veggie additions. Where it lacks is the sweet section, which I know others will disagree on. The pancake and French toast options are good but just differ in their toppings. That's not going to compare to a lot of spots in Chicago- but hey, they have something called an orgy so it's not all bad. This will be a good backup from here on out.
(3)
Sasha R.
This place was amazing the food was great.... I am a very picky eater and this place surpassed it all. Our waiter was extremely nice as well... Also make sure you get the stuffed toast! Get the cheese one (can't remember the name) you will not regret it!
(5)
Steve S.
The place is small and the wait can be long BUT it's one of the best breakfast restaurant I have eaten at
(5)
Jeannine H.
Not quite sure I understand all the 4 and 5 star love for this spot...except it is one of these oh so trendy LP-Bucktown spots that is on everyone's MUST list. However I was completely underwhelmed by the quality of the food. I had the stuffed French toast (which you figure should be a yummy, amazing signature dish at a place named "Toast") and while the concept is interesting overall the flavor was NOT there. I didn't know it was possible for french toast (especially when it was stuffed with something) to be so bland. And the bacon...I was simply shocked...it was so dry, and flavorless that I sent it back...HOW DO YOU MESS UP BACON!!! I did however have good service (of course it was a tuesday morning around 11) so that is a big plus. All in all as I said in a previous review...in a city like Chicago where EXCELLENT brunch spots abound...you may want to skip the hype and skip this place.
(2)
Aurore L.
If there is a better way to start off your week than by having a lazy brunch after the Oscars night and a mini ice-storm, I want to know all about it. First win: free and ample parking. The hipsters wannabe are at work (or pretend to be); you just have to deal with the hip moms and their intergalactic strollers. I am sure you can make waffles and kill a whole bunch of nasty aliens with these things. Minus today: slippery pavements. Ouch. Second win: Julius Meinl coffee. A real plus for this European snob. Perfection in a cup, served with real cream. Third win: a killer menu. All the usual suspects, often with a twist. Hard to choose. And specials to top it off. I chose one of these and got the 'huevos verde' (green eggs si no entiendes Español) made of a cilantro and jalapaño pesto and chihuaha cheese. Hot and yummy tasting. Perfect breakfast potatoes. Wonderful challah bread. The B.E.L.T. (bacon egg lettuce tomato) was quite nice too and was served on a brioche bun. Fourth win: reasonably priced and served with a smile. Having broken my fast I am ready for the day, the week and - maybe - the new coming month.
(4)
Selena A.
I stumbled across this place with my roommate last fall and I fell in love! The food is amazing and its located in one of Chicago's most upbeat neighborhoods. The staff is very attentive and did I mention how delicious the food is? I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys an early breakfast, brunch or late lunch!
(5)
Hilary P.
I can't believe I've been going to Toast for 4 years now but it's still my favorite breakfast in the country. That's right, the whole damn country! I've expanded to the eggs benedict from time to time as well since it's incredible but everything here really is delicious so you really can't go too wrong. This is the one place that every trip to Chicago, we manage to work in at least one breakfast at no matter how hectic our schedule is and I don't see that changing any time soon.
(5)
Katie R.
service is good, coffee is good, atmosphere is good. i had the pancake orgy which was yummy but not great - and honestly the idea of yogurt on pancakes with granola was a good one, but unfortunately doesn't convey to the dish (someone made a suggestion of getting the yogurt on the side - i wish i had thought of that when i was there). it came with a ton of fruit. will it be the plain old fruit and granola with toast or the crazy ass brick-sized&shaped french toast that woos me over next?
(4)
Aly H.
Toast was...a little dry. After seeing rave reviews, my boyfriend and I decided to make the trip to Bucktown to Toast to experience the great pancake orgy and other deliciousness. However, we were a bit let down and have been to far superior a brunch place at hubs such as Lou Mitchells and Milk and Honey. Here were our likes and dislikes: Likes: -Prompt coffee service. It was frigid Chicago morning thus warmth (both inner and outer) were our primary needs. -Immediate seating at the bar. Without that, our wait would have been 30 minutes- and we were only 2! -Solid egg white veggie omelet with marble rye toast. Moist and cheesy, this omelet perfectly balanced sinful with healthful. It's a pity that the sweet dishes get all the credit here, because there was surely something to be said for the quality of this dish. -Serving vanilla yogurt on top of pancakes - yum! Dislikes: -Somewhat aloof host. Granted it was busy (but isn't it always at 10:30am during Sunday brunch?) but the host offered no smile, smirk, or any hint of pleasure at the presence of paying customers. Not a good mood-setter when you feel like an annoyance the moment you walk in the door. -Lack of waiting area/space in general. This place is Cramped with a capital C. While we were seated at the bar, the constant opening and closing of the front door left a constant draft and I felt bad for those waiting for a table as there was no waiting area and they were seriously encroaching on other diner's "space." -An anticlimatic "pancake orgy." We had heard of its sinfulness and deliciousness and yet were met with...well...pancakes :/ All 3 flavors were stacked on top of one another and all that could be discerned was the lemon poppyseed (very good btw). But that little blip of goodness misses the point that this pancake orgy was supposed to make. It was supposed to make the angels sing and glorify the pancake gods with its harmonious and unique flavors. This just seemed like a stack of flavored pancakes and I missed the banana altogether. Overall, Toast was a shmeh brunch and left us feeling a bit let down. We probably won't be back as we continue on our constant quest to find the best brunch places in Chitown.
(2)
Kyle W.
Toast 2, in my mind, was very average. My girlfriend's chilaquiles tasted great but were lacking in the visual presentation department. I had the chicken burger and it was good. Service was very good and friendly and we did not have to wait for a spot at the bar.
(3)
bria s.
Love the Veggie Eggs Benedict and some of the best coffee I've ever had! I like the natural lighting and the window seats. Possibly my favorite breakfast spot.
(5)
Johnny T.
*Sniff, Snniifff* Ahh, there's nothing quite like the smell of HOT GARBAGE on a warm summer's day as a biblical plague of flies descends upon you, your friends and your food. Just a suggestion: maybe you should move the gigantic trash cans on the other side of the fence to another location. You see, as effective as the wood fence is at blocking the view to the alley, it's not so effective at blocking the smell of smoldering garbage or the enormous tsetse fly invasion that was, obviously, bent on world domination (and winning). The waitress was a sweet heart (really) and my food - when I didn't think about anything that was happening around me, else I'd gag - was good. But the paranoia I developed at the prospect of catching trypanosomiasis and the head injury my friend, Payal, incurred when the stench caused her to pass out...those were not good. Not.Good. But, maybe it was our fault. After waiting so long for a table, we jumped at the first one that was available. Granted, Donnie & Marie, Pat Boone and the New Kids on the Block were all sitting inside in air-conditioned, non-smelly splendor while Preet, Payal, Flavor Flav, Menudo and I sat outside in the blinding sun, heat, stench and insect invasion. But, I am sure that is all just a crazy coincidence. Thanks, Toast. You're the best. I can't wait to come back. Will it be frogs falling from the sky next time?
(2)
cassie r.
Ooooooh, bread. Rich, hearty, stick to your ribs kinda bread. Toasted and slathered in butter and jam. THIS is a beautiful thing. Since their moniker exalts the simple yet all important brunch necessity, I should have known they'd do it well. When I saw "Challah" on their menu, I knew it was gonna be good. And it SO was. I chose their special of the day for the rest of my breakfast meal - mango jalapeno sausage, cheddar and peppers wrapped in an egg white omelette. I love omelettes - especially discovering a uniquely delicious way of serving them. This place is uber small, and already full at 8:30 a.m. A short or even long wait is a small sacrifice for the chance to enjoy any one of their tempting menu options.
(4)
Scott N.
As far as breakfast goes, this place is right up at the top of my list! Amazing food, very nice staff -- they even brought me coffee while I waited on my table. Had the breakfast burrito -- yummy!
(4)
Alex R.
I must concur, the stench outback was a bit overwhelming for me---but my company did not agree. The flavors were bountiful, and the ingrediants incredibly fresh. In fact my visitors even went back on their own during their stay (but ate inside)! The filled french toast looked interesting, but we never tried....Had the pepper eggs, omlete lorainne, were wonderful. The fruit, immpecable!
(4)
John D.
Love the French Toast Orgy. The 1 star is because the host seated personal friends ahead of our table after having waited 30+ mins, in the cold, after walking 2 miles uphill. Ok not really but the point is I'll never come back to Toast. There are too many great places that don't show that kind of disrespect to the customer. At least if you're going to pull a douchebag move like that don't make it so obvious.
(1)
Dan D.
Came here expecting overpriced so-so breakfast food, and I walked away thinking it is AWESOME food that is priced higher simply because it is so innovative and tasty. Details: I ordered the "French Toast Orgy." Like many of the other Yelpers have said, it is just a masterpiece of stuffed-french-toast with different fillings that are literally cooked right into the bread (blueberries is my favorite one they offer). And no syrup needed. Yup, thats right. NO SYRUP! Instead, they place nuts, powered sugar, honey, and a little bit of yogurt as a dressing. Wow, I am permanently freed from the chains of maple-syrup (suck it Vermont!.... naw, jk, I still like ya Vermont....). Also, we had the omelette that contains a smorgeshborg (?) of applewood bacon, chives, peppers, some more veggies, and a beautiful white european cheese that I cannot pronounce (and will not even TRY to spell). Fantastic. Both entrees cost $10 a plate. Seems a bit high for breakfast, but both were wonderful and creative. For that, I am more than willing to splurge now and then. Cheers my friends!
(4)
Jon O.
Y'know what? It's pretty good. Toast has been a presence in brunch talk since I moved to Wicker Park in 2008. It's delicious! They have Julius Meinl coffee! My friend saw Jeff Tweedy there! It sounds like an "event" brunch to be sure. Well, I'd been there two or three times before and hadn't been totally blown away. I took my mom there on her recent trip to Chicago to re-evaluate. And the verdict is... it's pretty good. This isn't to discount the quality of the food! I had a beef tenderloin sandwich (the special of the day), and it was great. My co-diners opted for an omelette and a scramble, and they were likewise pleased. The menu is what I'd consider "the basics done right". Not "basic" in the sense of Sunrise Cafe or other diner-style brunch places, but variety within the typical categories of pancakes, sandwiches, egg dishes, etc. However, the experience of eating at Toast leaves a little to be desired. For one, the place is small - they packed about as many tables and counter seats in as they could, but that's still only about 30 seats, and it's consequently a very loud place with a long waiting list and no waiting room. Prices are decent, and the service was harried but eventually polite. If you're going, I recommend a willingness to sit at the counter - on multiple occasions, it's been the difference between a 10 minute wait and a 40 minute wait. If you have a weekday off and getting here won't be a problem for you, I can heartily recommend Toast. However, if you're looking for an especially interesting brunch, or have no interest in 40 minute waits on the weekend, you would be better served going elsewhere.
(3)
Tiffany T.
My favorite brunch place that does not serve alcohol! Toast is absolutely delcious no matter what you order. I adore their stuffed french toast, but I am mostly partial to the strawberry stuffed french toast. My boyfriend loves their chicken sausages and pancakes, he always raves about them. Julius Mienhl coffee is great, freshly squeezed orange juice is delightful, I only wished they served mimosas.
(4)
David F.
The burger menu is pathetic as they only have bland chicken and veggie burgers. Where's the beef!? All they have is buffalo which is honestly not for everyone. Their French toast is good but the Mexican chocolate they use is powdered it's basically Mexican nesquik and its not very rich or thick. 2 stars bc there r other menu items worth trying
(2)
Rachel S.
So cute with all the little toasters and chicken wallpaper and such. But, a word to the wise, if you intend to eat here for brunch, come here early! The waits can get ridiculous and there is nowhere to wait inside. You're forced to awkwardly stand in everyone's way. I got here with my friends at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. We waited almost an hour in this nowhere-to-comfortably-stand war zone. That being said, the food and coffee were tasty, although I felt the menu could have stood a bit more ingenuity. A touch boring, given the wide and varied offerings this city has for brunch.
(3)
Shauna N.
Super delicious! Make sure to try something new. Also, get there early--there is ALWAYS a wait!
(5)
Colleen C.
A rainy Friday morning... *punctuated with pumpkin pancakes dolloped with nutmeg whip cream. *percolated with Julius Meinl coffee, fresh REAL cream, quick steppin' refills. *giggled by Amanda C *bubbled by Diet Coke. *Courtesy of Toast 2. Weekday brunching encouraged...this is a high-risk zone for waiting on weekends. Also, please keep in mind that something in the air creates children all over the place in Bucktown brunch spots, so protect accordingly. It's a baby factory. They like pancakes, too...apparently!
(4)
Tyler J.
Great breakfast food and coffee. Price seemed a bit high for the quality, but overall a good experience.
(4)
Kymberly J.
Completely worth the long wait! Luckily for us gals, Toast is sandwiched by two clothing boutiques so we can browse while we wait - even on Sunday morning! The only deal is that if you arent there to hear your name being read, the host moves on after 5 seconds. We sat in the quaint back patio with patches of sun coming through the trees and peaking around the umbrellas that even on a hot Chicago Afternoon youre not roasting. The food was deeeeelicious! I had pancakes with lavender buds, marscipone, pine nuts and berries. I am more of a savory breakfast person but I saw this on the menu and it called my name. In an ideal world I would be able to get a smaller portion pancakes with an egg or bacon to balance out the sweet... The BF got french toast which were cut into strips and each had a different flavor. I tried the mexican chocolate...OMG! BYOB! There is a liquor store right down the street. Buy your vodka there and add it their bloody mary mix or get your own and save the $5.00 per glass per mix.
(5)
Anonymous F.
I don't know whether they were just having an off day, but our food was bad. I mean, I didn't even want to finish my food, it was so bad. The flavors and the textures were just wrong. My friend's food sucked as well, and the people at the next table appeared to be complaining about their food too. I gave it an extra star because of the atmosphere, but I would never go back here.
(2)
kevin M.
This place is excellent!! Its a clean place and the wait staff is great. They are pricey for breakfast but they have such good coffee and french toast, you just have to splurge. My friend was in town so we stopped in for a late breakfast and the bill was around $39. I would go back but only for lunch.
(4)
Annette J.
MMM French toast orgy. Naughty? Yes. Delicious? OH YES. Three pieces of French toast each stuffed with a wonderful surprise (strawberry puree, mascarpone cheese, and chocolate) topped with yogurt, granola, fresh fruit and honey. I am actually eating some yogurt, granola and blueberries right now and how I wish I had a nice piece of Toast French toast underneath! Sadly this is not the case. But Toast can get that for you if you want it. If you are willing to wait, that is. The wait here can be a killer. Unfortunately Toast does not take reservations so be prepared to stand around. The space is small but there is bar seating if you are fast enough to grab it. Admittedly I'm not the world's earliest riser so my brunch dates tend to start a little late which is a benefit at Toast. The later you go the quicker it is to get a table. That has been my experience at least. The fruit is fresh and tasty. I hate melon so I appreciate that they do not use melon filler in their fruit cups and French toast orgy like most breakfast joints do. Berries! Yay! While I tend to always go for the orgy their savory foods are delicious as well. Great breakfast sandwiches! Coffee is pretty good although their hot chocolate is somewhat lacking. I'm a chocolate snob so a cup of Hershey's syrup hot chocolate just ain't gonna cut it for me. But other beverages I've had here have been great! Overall one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. I strangely find myself at this location more than the Lincoln Park one even though I live closer to the Webster spot but both are great. I believe the Webster location has a liquor license so if a cocktail with your eggs Benedict is important to you then perhaps make your way there.
(4)
Sean S.
We're from out of town and yelp pointed us here. Went on a weekday and it was full but we were seated quickly. The service was awesome and the food was delightful. The 5 of us all chose something different and shared bites. That was a great way to do it. It's a great option for a breakfast spot outside of downtown in a new neighborhood.
(5)
Melly C.
This place was amazing, I had the stuffed fresh toast, hot apple cider, and bacon on the side. Everything tastes spectacular and we got there during a busy time in the day, but we still were able to sit at the counter. I liked all the different toasters they have, I want that Hello Kitty one! Food was prepared quickly and I am a huge fan of the strawberry stuffed french toast. I'll come here again but I am going to have a hard time choosing what to get,I know it!
(5)
Abbey A.
this place is NOT vegan friendly, not a single item on the menu. i can't vouch for how their food tastes, but they claim to be vegan friendly both online and when i called in ahead of time.
(1)
Becky S.
I come to Toast with people who have never eaten there. It's futile to come any time between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on a weekend, so it's usually a late brunch kind of destination. The food is great, and you get huge portions for a reasonable price. I don't find Toast to be the sort of place I can visit more than a few times a year, though--it's sensory overload, and the wait and difficulty parking is usually more formidable than the food. Still. Inevitably, it's worth it with friends visiting from out of town when their eyes widen and they begin salivating at the prospect of the "french toast orgy".
(4)
Carol K.
A-Ok. That's the perfect description of my recent breakfast visit to Toast Two. Okay. Not great, phenomenal, life changing or amazing. Not crappy, awful, "should have slept in", bad. Just okay. We got here before the mad rush on a cool Sunday morning. Eating outside was out of the question so I was thrilled to see a two top with our name on it as we walked in just before 9am. We ordered and sat waiting to get anything. Coffee, people! Want a great review? Bring me coffee! Now! But bring it with real cream for my dining companion as he hates anything but half and half or real cream, and that milk that came in that little pitcher did nothing to assuage the need. COFFEE!! I NEED COFFEE!! A cup arrived. It was gone in a flash- almost inhaled and then the forever wait for cup number two. Where are they going for my coffee . . . .Brazil? Thank heaven our food came up then- Eggs Benny for me and a Breakfast Burrito for the man who sat across from me still glowering about the lack of cream. They were both good but not great. The hollandaise sauce on my eggs was a little too lemony but the chopped tomatoes on top were a nice touch. And the potatoes that came with it? Not so good. Kind of soggy and boring. The burrito was definitely the better choice. Our server was literally missing in action during our visit. I can't be the only one who needs tons of coffee in the morning. The fact that they had to take my cup, go back and pour the coffee out of a carafe behind the bar and then return with one cup every time someone wanted a refill was a problem. Breakfast for two ran around $36. A bit pricey in my opinion for the food served. Parking on Damen on a Sunday morning? Easy, Peasy. But the biggest opportunity? Service. Don't mess with me in the morning. I'm not a morning type of gal. Just get me tons of coffee with no hassle (and real cream) and food that I rave about and you and I will get along fine. Now about about another cup of that java?
(3)
Michael L.
The eggs Benedict are delightful!!!
(5)
Anna K.
Very good food. I liked the atmosphere and our server was fantastic. I had the granola and it was definitely some of the best granola I've ever had. We got there super early so there was no wait but I could tell that later on during the busy breakfast hours you'd definitely have to wait. Good stuff.
(5)
Latrese W.
I simply must do a review of Toast Two after they were gracious enough to let us stay even though we were walking in just as they were closing. The french toast orgy was well, orgasmic. The coffee was tasty which is often rare in breakfast places that tend to focus more on the food. Since we were their final seating, I didn't finish my coffee and even took the extra coffee to go.
(5)
MARISOL P.
I've been to Toast a number of times and have always enjoyed myself. It had been a year since our last visit but this week we had breakfast twice. I was very disappointed. We had Gregory as our waiter the first time during breakfast with friends. They guy is very rude and should probably apply at Ed Debevics. The second time he was not our waiter but was the host. He told us it would be 20 minutes. It was over 20 minutes! Someone possibly the manager's friends were seated before us. Then a few other people (three other groups) who had just walked in were seated before us. I was waiting outside since it was a nice day. I went in to check on why it was taking so long and Gregory said that a table hadn't cleared up. Five minutes later he said that there was a table in the back (their supposed "patio"). Keep in mind as Chunk S's review, it is next to the dumpster's and yes flies were also around. It was a warm day and the dumpsters were foul. So we went to the back and there was there were four tables open. Wait a jerk I thought! I was so upset that we waited so long due to this guys attitude. It doesn't take much to deter me from going to places especially with service like this! Gregory must go! He ruined what once was a great place for my family, friends and I.
(1)
Christina G.
Be forewarned, the wait here is terribly irritating. In particular, I would definitely not come back here in the winter. This place is tiny, and everyone waiting for a table is standing around squished together up front and the door keeps opening and the wind gusts in and there's little kids running up and hugging your leg out of nowhere and you want to be annoyed but then finally they sit you down and they bring you coffee and it's a little bit worth it. I believe they use Intelligentsia coffee which is strong, but really good. I had the pesto scramble, which was excellent. Someone at the table had the stuffed French toast, the one with the mascarpone (a sweet Italian cream cheese) was to die for. Someone else got the eggs Benedict, over crab cakes with real crab and she loved them, and the fourth person got a chicken sandwich called "El Bucktowno" and he is a hearty eater but only finished half. Overall we all left stuffed and I don't think I ate another meal the rest of the day; I was done.
(4)
Daniel W.
I've been here a number of times. It is down the street from where I live. It's always been really really good. It can get really really crowded though, prepare to wait or in worst case senario, sit at the table next to the door and people will stand on top of you while you eat. The patio out back is the exact opposite, roomy and quite... to bad its getting cold. I took my parents there once and my dad ordered the French toast orgy. He wouldnt say Orgy, so he had to point to it. Good times.
(4)
Tracey S.
This is it for me as far as breakfast goes. I have been here 5 or six times and have loved everything. The omelets the pancakes, you really can't go wrong. My favorite dish is the pesto scramble that I get with fruit instead of potatoes and a side of cinnamon raisin toast. Everything is so incredibly fresh and good. That includes the coffee. The service is good, but can be on the slower side. However I don't deduct points, because on the weekends I am never in a rush to get through breakfast.
(5)
Tiffany K.
the two times i've been here, there's always a painfully long wait. painful because by the time i get here, i'm so hungry!! also, the two times i've been here, we've had the same waitress. i don't know her name but she's friendly and service is awesome. actually, now that i think about it, my first time here, i had the buttermilk pancake. only a couple bites because i was way too hungover to eat a full meal. i do remember seeing what my friends ordered and it looked so good that i had to come back. soooo, my second time back (completely sober) i had the huevos w/ chorizo & cheddar omlette. i love omlettes! it was very good. i ate the whole thing even the sourdough bread. deeeeeeeelish!
(4)
Kristy N.
Had a groupon here and went in for brunch last Friday with some friends that were in town. We sat on their (hidden) patio out back. Their menu is pretty huge and everyone enjoyed their food. I had the omelet with goat cheese which was nothing special but still good. The breakfast burrito was also tasty. The clear winner was the pesto scramble. It was pretty rich but extremely delish. Great service. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(4)
Liz S.
I met up with my old roommate for brunch at Toast Two and I have to say, I don't think I'm all that impressed. I don't think this place is the most comfortable place to have brunch, or any meal for that matter. First of all, people who are waiting for tables are literally on top of the people at the tables. Not to mention, if you sit for five minutes longer than it took to pay the bill you'll start getting the stink eye. Second, half the reason the wait is so long is because the staff are slow. Trust me....I enjoy it when the servers aren't asking you every ten seconds what you want, is everything okay, are you finished, etc. But when it takes 10 minutes to put in an order, when you're clearly ready to, that's a problem. The food that I had, Eggs Benedict (with prosciutto instead of Canadian bacon) wasn't as good as I had hoped it would've been. They crisp up the prosciutto, which make sit difficult to cut and a bit stringy. It might've worked better if they would've just left the prosciutto alone. I really doubt I'll be back here. The food wasn't amazing and the wait isn't worth it.
(2)
Timothy W.
My fiancee and I dine in or pickup from here every weekend. Best breakfast in the city; you can always count on a solid meal. Their BELT (breakfast sandwich) is fantastic -- on a french roll and a classic. Their pancakes are perfect and light, and the specials they have are creative and very very good. You cannot go wrong here! Everything is done well, and the service is fantastic! Greg, the host, is our buddy and has a great sense of humor. You may have to wait on weekends, but well worth it. Nice outdoor seating area as well. A+
(5)
Mari K.
If the original Toast and Toast Two were sisters, this would definitely be the more attractive one. The restaurant feels brighter, roomier, and overall...pleasant-er. =) As for the food, it's good. I ordered the french toast orgy... 3 stuffed french toasts with yogurt and granola. Definitely enough for 2 breakfasts... too bad french toast doesn't survive too well in the fridge. Service was fine.. no complaints. Don't worry if there's a wait. There are PLENTY of cute boutiques and shops nearby to browse through while waiting... and plenty to return back to when you're trying to walk off what you ate.
(3)
jen m.
Decided to stop here on a sunny Saturday morning and was prepared to wait 30 mins for a table but lucky me! We were seated after just 5 mins. It took some maneuvering to get to my seat. The tables were so close to each other that I almost knocked over a plate of avocados that someone was enjoying! With the table so close together, it also makes for some good eavesdropping. lol. But the skylights make the space so warm and bright. I have a strong affection for their mascarpone stuffed french toast. It's nice that they don't scrimp on the fruits that compliment the mascarpone wonderfully. A lil french toast + a piece of fruit = a perfect bite. They serve Julius Meinl products and they make a mean cup of strawberry tea! But skip the thick cut apple smoked bacon. It was overdone and they should have just labeled it "bacon", no hint of the apple smokiness nor was it thick. The Tijuana wasn't too memorable either. But I'm not an omelet fan, it's too easy of a dish to make at home and have it taste exactly the same as the restaurant versions.
(3)
kim h.
We were starving. It was 10:50 am on a Tuesday (June 22), many seats open inside and out. The decision was a Lorraine Omelet ,Stuffed French Toast, side of bacon, coffee and lemonade. We never got to experience to food. -NO ONE EVER WAITED ON US!!! IGNORED FOR 20 MINUTES. We were seated on the patio by the host. Despite two servers walking past us at least 6 times (I did not count from the very beginning), no one ever acknowledged our presence let alone said hello or indicated that they would ever wait on us. At the 20 minute point we got up and left. The host offered for us to come into the main restaurant, but I had no desire to be waited on by the same staff who had just ignored us for 20 minutes. No Manager was available on site. I was over it. No longer have the desire to EVER eat there. Went over to the BONGO ROOM. Had a delicious breakfast. were waited on in less that 5 minutes despite the crowds,
(1)
Matt J.
This Wicker Park restaurant has some things going for it; decent street parking if you get there early, fairly cheap prices (compared to other joints), and good Julius Meinl coffee. The decor is fancy kitsch but the main room suffers from bad acoustics. A couple of screaming babies don't help matters either. I had the croque monsieur which was good and the potatoes. The potatoes were the blandest I've ever had. Not a hint of any spice other than pepper. It's nice to know that lunch is available all the time. The service was slow and that's sad for eating there at 8:15 this morning. I'd hate to see how it is closer to noon. The entrance has a few stairs that can be a little treacherous in the snow. Be careful.
(3)
Chance T.
Hands down the besy brunch in Wicker Park/ Bucktown Busy on the weekends (for a good reason) Heavy and awkward entrance doors, but exceelent food and staff! Perfect aqnd magically delicious!
(5)
Kelly R.
We come here all the time for breakfast when in Chicago. The french toast with fruit is just enough and the pesto scramble is dee-lish. They have a great kid's menu, I was very tempted to order the S'mores pancakes for myself! The staff is super friendly and very helpful.
(4)
Meriel C.
Loved this place! Had the French Toast Orgy and it was to die for. I was in heaven. They give you plenty so I had the left overs for dinner. This place is small so recommend that you arrive early if you don't want to wait. I got there at about 8:30 on a Sunday morning and was seated right away.
(4)
Lauren K.
Yummy stuff! Though I feel some of the dishes are a bit over priced, I was pleased to see portion sizes were huge, so it all works out. Nice service. Absolutely lovely waitress. When my only vegetarian side option was fruit, I was a bit disappointed. Fruit in winter months usually means grapes, off-season hard melon pieces, maybe even thawed out frozen strawberries. BUT I was pleasantly surprised when I got a lot of black raspberries, blueberries, FRESH strawberries and about half a banana. And grapes that didn't taste like they set out for a long time. Oh and I love any place that serves challah toast! And though I ordered two eggs, it seemed more like three. Very tasty.
(4)
betsy b.
I'd come here for an orgy anytime. I've tried both the pancake and french toast and it's hard to pick a favorite. There's so much to choose from on the menu whether you're in the mood for sweet or savory. If only the place wasn't so small and tight. It's best to show up early on weekends to avoid a wait.
(4)
Julie B.
Meh. With so many great brunch places in the city, why bother with one that's just so so. The entryway is tiny, so when it's cold outside, everyone is crammed right inside the front door. Total cluster. The food was totally average. I had the eggs benedict with prosciutto, but instead of being thinly sliced and raw, like I was expecting, it was cooked, super salty, and thick. The hollandaise was a bit too lemony for my liking, but whatever. My friend had the veggie benedict and raved about it - it did look exceptionally better than mine. Other friend had some chorizo omelet that looked revolting. We shared the french toast trio for dessert and again, totally blah. I didn't care for any of the flavors, really can't understand why people rave about this. If you like chocolate french toast, go to Kingsbury Cafe - 100x better. Then when the host brought our check, we put our 3 cards in there to split 3 ways. He comes back and tells us max 2 cards per check. So then one of us pays with cash and the other 2 leave their cards in. He was standing there watching us do this, goes away, comes back and says we can't split one check across cards and cash. WTF?? What kind of stupid rules are these? I've worked in plenty of restaurants and never heard of anything like that. The bright spot of the place was the waiter, who was really nice and very attentive. And we got a good laugh from the girl at the next table who nicked our half-empty carafe of OJ when we got up to leave. Really, girl? Klassy.
(2)
Jill and Ying J.
In the myriad of one-word brunch eateries in Chicago lies Toast, a gem of a restaurant, where the food is as airy, light, and uplifting as is the decor. We chose this one in Bucktown after reading about some of the less than delightful personalities at the Lincoln Park location, and since we came on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush, all the negatives highlighted in other reviews were completely absent. The staff was courteous, polite, and friendly. The inside is decorated with a spring-like feel that breaths life into your hungry hungry soul. The 2 floor high ceilings create an illusion of a much larger place, desperately appreciated on crowded weekends, we're sure. The food, of course, is the star of the show. We had the French Toast Orgy (seriously, how could you NOT order an orgy when it's legally offered to you without risk of certain diseases?) and the seared ahi tuna sandwich. The french toast medley was fantastic. Starring 3 giant pieces of toast, strawberry, chcolate, and marscapone, with a perfectly seared crispy outside and moist, sweet, and individually tasteful inside, the orgy was also accompanied by 4 varieties of fruits flanking the outside, awaiting their turn. On top of it all, it was smothered by a layer of delicious oats, sunflower seeds, and a creamy sweet honey-infused concoction. The seared ahi tuna was more classic, a giant piece of tuna seared on the outside, medium on the inside, flanked by 2 pieces of perfectly toasted bread, with grilled fennel and all, again, smothered perfectly with a sauce of saffron, tomatoes, and other delights. The menu is expansive, the food is delightful, and the staff was courteous. We will definitely be back to explore more of their menu...on weekdays if we could help it though.
(5)
Megan G.
Crowdy, trendy, long waits, slow service, loud - yes Yummy, warm, charming, worth it all - yes If you walk by and there are no people waiting on the street then chances are your wait won't be too long. The hostess will bring you hot coffee to sip on while you wait in their tiny front area, which is a major plus! The menu isn't huge but it covers all of the bases. I have tried the french toast trio which was good, but more of a desert, the lemon poppyseed pancakes which were fantastic and some omelet thing with cheese and (mmmmm) bacon. Delish! I can't wait to try the breakfast burrito because it looks, well, right up my ally.
(4)
Maria G.
The hubby and I live closer to the Toast in Lincoln Park, but since it's always soooo crowded, we thought to try this one. Let me say the service, people, coffee (and must in the AM) and food at both locations is are simply OUTSTANDING...seriously had to use that word 'cause it's that GOOD! But (insert tense music here) this locaton has a patio and is much bigger. For those reasons, I like this location better, but reccomend both. Check them out for yourself!
(4)
kim w.
Had a friend visit Toast a while back and she urged me to check it out. Exciting to see such an open, airy room. The counter was unoccupied but looked inviting. A cute friendly model-esque redhead worked the door and sat my guest and I quickly- only two available tables to choose from, full house but not too crowded. The place was bustling with Bucktown professional couples, those couple types entertaining their in-laws and hyped/yacky after-class yoga girls. We grabbed a warm window seat; the seat in the window had a gob of pillows behind the back but the butt/seat was truly uncomfortable and not much space on either side of the table- a case where you're closer to the strangers next to you and strain to hear what your own guest is saying. We were cursed by and closest to the yacky yoga gals flooding with energy post-class but complaining about everything under the sun: jobs, shoes, co-workers, blah, gag. Our server was slow and short-winded. The orange juice was just... fine. Again, the building structure and room design was inviting but the clientele was an off-balance mix. The menu was... okay. Standard brunchy fare. I ordered the Crab Benedict. The hollandaise was REALLY super lemony which was... okay... for the crab. Coffee refills were always timely thankfully. We did ask to move to a different area of the restaurant promptly after YACKIES got louder and even more negative. (EEEEK. Shut up! Be aware of your surroundings and proximity to other diners. Tacky Yacks! Go back to yoga and learn something other than standing and breathing on a mat.) Staff was eager to adjust and apologized for the awkwardness. It happens on occasion I suppose. My guests - a local chef- was utterly unimpressed and mentioned little to validate our experience: Just that he has a silly rule about NOT frequenting brunch joints with one-word brunchy names like Toast or Orange or Yolk. Decent-okay/fine-enough food. Some favor and substance to fill a belly. Nothing exceptional. We won't be returning.
(2)
Kim J.
I had a good brunch here with some friends a few weeks ago. We apparently arrived just before the rush as we got the last table in the house. Sadly, it was right by the door and I felt like people were on top of us for our entire meal. I can't imagine how crowded it would be in winter, when no one would be willing to wait outside! Our waitress was friendly but a bit scattered. She had a lot going on and was a bit slow. I had to flag down a busboy to get a coffee refill (and the coffee wasn't even anything to write home about!). And it took our food almost 40 minutes to come out, and when it did come out, I could tell it had been sitting awhile as my plate was scorching! The food was quite good, which was really the saving grace of our experience. The big winner seemed to be the smoked salmon omelette - lox in an omelette sounded kind of weird to me but it turned out to be delicious It had fresh smoked salmon and cream cheese and capers - yum! The Lorraine omelette was also a hit among our group. It had bacon. 'Nuff said. Were it not for the service issues and the issues with the crowd, this would've been a fantastic brunch. I'd give it another chance, because I think it could be great. But it just wasn't.
(3)
Jing C.
One of the more inventive brunch spots in Chicago. I've never ordered anything I haven't liked here. The decor is friendly for a brunch spot but expect a wait if you get here after 11am.
(4)
Melissa H.
This is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Bucktown/Wicker Park area! My husband is a big fan of the chicken sausage. My favorite is the Tijuana Omelette. The food and service have always been great even though it gets so crowded for breakfast. Have yet to go back for lunch, but that's definitely on the list.
(5)
Bobby N.
Food was delicious and service was great. They accommodated a large party quickly and the food was delicious. Amazing coffee too!
(5)
Diana P.
Toast Two is my favorite Brunch place in the city. Everything on the menu is amazing, fresh and delicious. They have wonderful coffee and great selection of tea. My boyfriend and I have tried at least half of their menu and loved every bite of it. Our favorites are the Stuffed french toast (all three flavors), B.E.L.T, and the omelette lorraine. I'm usually not a fan of pancakes, but i loved the pancake orgy. Everyone who works here is extremely pleasant and kind. Beware: Toast can get packed very quick! My boyfriend and I like to get there right when they open. I would recommend getting there early if you don't like to wait.
(5)
Linda L.
Absolutely great brunch place. This cozy little restaurant located in Bucktown is definitely a place you need to try out at least once. I haven't tried the other Toast (located in Wicker Park) but I'm a true fan of this place. It does get busy on the weekend, I went with my girlfriend for a casual outing and girl chat feast. The wait was about 45 minutes on a rainy Saturday around 11-ish. Its also BYOB and appeals to all, young and older, can't get any better. We ordered Veggie Eggs Benedit and pesto scrambled eggs and a side of pancakes. And we finished every bite. Best eggs benedict I've ever tried! Go try it for yourself ;)
(4)
Liz H.
If I am going to brunch in Bucktown, I am going to Toast. It is my favorite spot by far. I have uploaded a couple pictures of the food so you can see just how awesome it is. On a recent trip, one friend had the french toast orgy --- chocolate stuffed French toast cover with yogurt granola and berries. My sister and I shared awesome eggs benedict and the most unique pancake with anise, mandarin oranges, strawberries pine nuts and lavender! Crazy sounding, yes, but OH SO GOOD! Either get there early, go when the weather is bad or be prepared to wait. Toast is not a hidden gem in Bucktown. The locals know about it and go frequently, but in my opinion even an hour long wait is well worth it when coming to Toast!
(5)
J D.
WAAAAAAAAAY better than the toast in lincoln park. Kinda bizarre since it's the same menu. Usual suspects of lengthy wait, tight quarters...why IS this city so obsessed with brunch? My boy and I were lucky to walk in just as a two top cleared out so we were seated RIGHT AWAY! ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON! pause for awe. I had the special, pesto omelet/scramble with prosciutto. WOW, a bit rich even for me, I just barely finished it. Homefries were alright...meh. Boy had the three different kinds of french toast (orgy?) Once again WOW. My fave was the chocolate though the vanilla also very tasty. The french toast is more like super thick slabs of fluff, yeasty, chewy brioche, a must try (and I am ALWAYS an eggs for brunch person). Only go on the weekends if you're prepared to wait forever to eat. Even though we sat right away, it took a bit for the server to come over and for our food to actually come. Decent coffee.
(4)
jenise r.
I always try and come here before work but there's always a huge line on the weekends. I don't wait to eat when I'm hungry & in a somewhat rush, so sorry toast. But today (tuesday) me and a pal went for breakfast and hooray no line! I ordered the Pesto Scramble (im a sucker for pesto) which has prosciutto and some cheese I didn't get the name of all mixed in. It was pretty tasty, it also came with the house potatoes which were really good and some toast. Service was great and quick and I think my friend enjoyed her meal as well. I'll come here again.
(3)
Jessica F.
Stuffed French Toast. I don't know what image that conjures up in your mind, but if it does not involve some kind of watery filling, then the French Toast Orgy is not for you. Calling it a "filling" isn't even the right word because that implies that it had another dimension beyond the first two. I didn't put the yogurt and granola on the top and could barely taste the flavors of the chocolate and marscapone. The strawberry one tasted like real strawberry and was a bit tart. I get it. Maybe the added yogurt and granola make it a five star meal and I missed out due to my purist ways. I don't know and won't be finding out. Then let's talk about the service. We went in on a Monday around 10am. There were maybe 2 other "couples" there but it took forever to get waited on. I had to stare down and lock eyes with my waitress to get her to come over -- twice. Not cool when there are only 6 people in the place. I really wanted to have an amazing mouth time at Toast but it just wasn't happening.
(2)
Julianna M.
I'm pretty sure, if I held a gun to his head and forced him to choose between me and the French Toast Orgy, my husband would choose the French Toast. Yes, the food here is extra tasty, sugary, bad for you and all that brunchy goodness. Yes, the scene is a madhouse on the weekends. Folks, here's a tidbit of wisdom for you. Live relatively close to Toast? Want French Toast or pancakes but don't want to wait for an hour for them? Call Toast. Order takeout. Take it home, eat it in your jammies in front of the TV.
(4)
Jonathan F.
What a great little spot! It's bright, cheery, and the staff is friendly. Coffee was always full, OJ was good. Like Beth M I have to give it 3.75 stars...the hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict had a little too much lemon in my opinion, but the rest of the food made up for it. The potatoes were pretty good - overall they could have just kicked the oil down a tablespoon for my taste. I went by myself (hey it's down the street) and there were quite a few people doing the same. I was reading for about an hour, and it was nice because the staff didn't interrupt me to hand me the check or pour coffee, they just quietly placed it on the table and kept refilling. Despite the sauce, I will come back here. It seems like a great neighborhood place to be.
(4)
Ashley S.
Sooooo good! We were almost the last people seated on a Saturday(they close at 4). After getting lost on our trek there the host was really nice (and particularly nice to my friend) and gave us some water while we waited to be seated. The food was among one of the top brunch meals I've had! We both had the special scramble of the day, similar to their huevos scramble but I got avocado instead of meat. My friend also got the pancakes (she was hungry that day). Everything tasted great, definitely on my list for my next trip to Chicago!
(5)
Virginia T.
Really more like 3.75 stars.... Everyone's biggest complaint about this place was the small seating area(s) and the long wait times....I went on my day off (Wednesday) at around 11:30 and we were one of 3 tables. :) The stuffed french toast (marscapone) with berries was great (not spectacular). The juice was fresh tasting but slightly more pulp-y than I like. The coffee was good, but my refill was tepid- promptly fixed with a brand new, steaming hot cup by the waitress. But the Cobb Club Sandwich (grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, lettuce & tomato w/ a dijon mayo served on thick toasted challah bread) was AMAZING. The service was really great too. Even though it's a bit pricey (and I *hear* rather crowded-especially on weekends) the service and the food would be well worth the second trip.
(4)
Lisa A.
So I've always loved this place and not sure why I haven't reviewed it. I've been a fan of Toast (the one on Webster) since 2003. And today I was reminded again why I loved this place to so much. I saw Toast Two during a day of running errands and then I had the day off today and thought...this is a perfect day to go and enjoy my favorite...FRENCH TOAST ORGY. It was just as I remembered it. Fresh, tasty, and filling. For $10 bucks its a good deal. I had left overs. The service was outstanding and I grew up not too far from this neighborhood so it feel perfect. Go and enjoy this yummy place. You won't regret it!
(5)
Rochelle C.
Before Kid - My husband and I loved coming to Toast. Great food - amazing apple/pear/brie crepe and their pumpkin pancakes are terrific. Great coffee too. Would have been a 5 star review...back then. After Kid - Went to Toast Two a few days ago for breakfast with my toddler. The restaurant has always seemed kid-friendly so I was excited to take my kid here, and also very much looking forward to their amazing apple/pear/brie crepe. I ordered a kid's stack of blueberry pancakes for my toddler. When they came out, they had what appeared to be a whole bag of powered sugar on them. They were just covered in powered sugar...total mess. I explained to the waitress that I didn't really want my child to have powered sugar esp. not this much of it. She said that all of the pancakes have sugar on top (doesn't mention this in the kid's menu and wasn't told this when I ordered) . So the point is - the food is terrific for adults. If you are looking for a healthy breakfast for your little one, make sure to specify that you don't want a dumping of powered sugar all over the kid's pancakes that you just ordered. It's a surprise that the generous use of sugar isn't mentioned on the menu or by the server considering how health conscious many parents are concerning their children. Plus - the server (young lady with large black glasses) was a bit annoyed and acted like she couldn't understand why I wouldn't directly feed a pound of sugar to my little one. We received new pancakes, but never saw our server again. So her lack of understanding played a role in only give the restaurant 3 stars.
(3)
Carol J.
I've never had anything but excellent service here, from everyone from the friendly service to the smiling bussers and even the cleaning guys who wave hello. They are five stars in my book except I only eat one thing when I come here and that is the Coq Monsiuer (sp) which I usually only eat in Paris because, well, when in Rome. But usually someone starts stealing my delightful little Mister because they like it better than theirs. Which gives me room to think-is their omelette, waffle, skillet thingy not so good? Doubt it. Lines are so crazy here, I thought of starting brunch service to act as their waiting room but its gonna be awhile before I can step into their realm which is fine with me. Oh wtf, Five stars for the awesome hash browns and choice of hot beverages!
(5)
Diana F.
In the two times I have been here, I have fallen in love with my food. Yes, real love. I wanted to marry it and then have babies with it. I've had the stuffed french toast (wow...wow...wow) the pesto scramble...wow again...I've had the crab benedict which was SOOOO GOOOD and the regular benedict which did not disappoint....the oj is yummy the coffee is good...the restaurant is cute, the service is great. I absolutely love it.
(5)
Maura S.
Had a very enjoyable late lunch at Toast. I went with the grilled cheese, which included three different kinds of cheese- can't go wrong there. Mmmm. I think I'll be back for breakfast...
(4)
one thousand songs s.
Orgylicous. Why on earth did my so-called friends send me to Feast when this place is (i) closer to where I was staying (ii) tastier with a better menu (iii) less likely to be filled with screaming toddlers. We actually "found" this place after the waitress at Maps of the World sent us over. She was likely trying to get rid of us, but I figure it was a fair trade, although for who I'm not sure. We had eggs, a pancake orgy, sausages filled with cheese and yes, we even sampled some of the food. Two thumbs up - how else can you have an orgy?! Drawbacks (i) they didn't give us crayons to colour with (ii) they aren't licensed - brunch without the opportunity to have a bloody mary is like serving pancakes and french toast and not having real maple syrup (iii) THEY SERVE PANCAKES AND FRENCH TOAST AND DO NOT SERVE REAL MAPLE SYRUP. 1000Songs
(4)
Casey C.
We visited on a weekday and had a very short wait for a table. The hostess was nice and welcoming and our waiter got our drinks for us immediately. So, unlike other reviews I have read the service was really amazing. Then the food came and we were even more impressed. I had an egg scramble(Tijuana) which was delicious. Even my daughter who doesn't eat eggs liked it!! She had the stuffed french toast trio, which was also excellent. The Mexican chocolate didn't have the best flavor, but it didn't taste bad either. The Nutella crepe with pecans was also yummy and reasonably priced. We didn't have a single thing that tasted bad from coffee to jam. The service was also welcoming and attentive. We will definitely be back to try other inviting menu choices :)
(5)
Alexis F.
Great local place. Don't leave without trying the tenderloin benedict!
(5)
kelly z.
Sometimes brunch restaurants have that one dish that make them great. Toast's entire menu is just that. We had the vegetarian omlet, homestyle potatoes, buttermilk pancakes and, of course, toast. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The potatoes had their own flair. The powdered sugar dusted pancakes were so sweet, they didn't even require syrup. The service was also amazing. It wasn't very busy, so we had the perfect amount of attention at the table.
(5)
Kristen S.
Toast Two is pretty much always crowded and it's for a reason! A great menu and great service keeps me coming back over and over again. As a person who is gluten intolerant, you would wonder why I would go to a restaurant aptly named Toast. Fair enough. The toast IS amazing. Prior to being gluten free, I enjoyed the sourdough toast (which has been "sold out" on more than one visit.... so keep trying to get it). But now that I can no longer have wheat and gluten, I still enjoy Toast without the namesake. The omelettes and eggs are fantastic, as is the coffee and espresso drinks. I always get some fruit and the chicken sausage stuffed with apple and gouda cheese is to-die-for. My favorite omelette is stuffed with tomato, spinach, and goat cheese. Be prepared to wait and be prepared to be cozy with your dining neighbors. The only complaint about Toast Two is the seating area. Very cramped. Reasonably priced at about $20-30 for two people including some espresso drinks, Toast Two is worth the wait.
(4)
Eliza M.
3.75 stars I guess I had really high expectations for Toast Two. I was expecting it to knock my socks off. I had the eggs benedict and was really jazzed on the truffle hollandaise sauce. It was....not that impressive. Also shared the apple, pear and brie crepe and sampled a friend's french toast orgy which was my favorite of the three. I will, however, be back to try the breakfast burrito. The sign is a piece of toast.
(4)
Sara B.
I loved this place. Know that brunch restaurants are my favorite type of established, not steak houses, so read this accordingly. I have something saavy and something sweet, and both were great. The Ahi sandwich was awesome, and it was a healthy size of fish. It was served with my favorite kind of homecooked potatoes, which weren't fried and didn't taste like they had been overcooked in grease. I had the strawberry crepe which I had them nutella to. It was awesome and the perfect size, not too big and not too small. I didn't have them, but the pumpkin pancakes also looked awesome, a number of people were eating them around me. Highly recommend this place if you like cute, brunch restaurants with food that tends to be on the sweeter size.
(5)
Angela Z.
I am a HUGE fan of the Toast on Webster so I came here a couple times as the Webster one usually has a longer wait. Everything here is still as great as the Webster one EXCEPT!!!!!! for the egg benedict, which has always been my favorite eggs benedict in the city. :( For some reason at this location, the hollandaise just doesn't have that magical lemony truffle taste that the Webster location's has. When I eat the one at the Webster location, my eyes roll back in my head and it's completely unique to any other hollandaise I've ever had. The Damen location's isn't bad, but it tastes like something you could get anywhere else. However, the pancakes, juice and service are all still great here. Just wish they could get the recipe down from their Webster peeps for that hollandaise! :)
(3)
Nikki L.
The wait was long! Too long! I had the stuffed french toast with the trio of fillings. The only one I really enjoyed was the marscapone filling. The chocolate stuffed one was sour? I've never had sour chocolate before and it was gross. The strawberry one was too tart as well. I sent it back for 2 more marscapone ones. Not only did we wait almost 45 minutes for our breakfast but I had to wait another 25 for my replacement french toast. The server almost didn't replace my meal...but once I told her the chocolate was sour, she had a change of heart...why wouldn't any restaurant NOT replace something that a customer didn't eat because they didn't like? That'd be bad service! Overall, not terribly impressed, I went home with a sour stomach probably due to the sour chocolate.
(2)
Jen S.
I recently purchased a groupon for Toast, and I was guessing we would experience a long wait when my friend and I went on a Saturday morning around 9:30. We waited about half an hour, which I don't think is bad. The waitress was extremely friendly and offered great service. I have the omelette lorraine (smoked applewood bacon, guyere cheese and chives), which was delicious. Their potatoes and toast were amazing as well.
(4)
Megan M.
Un-Bloody-Believable. My favorite brunch comrades and I stumbled into this glorious oasis last sunday morning. The wait was tolerable (30 minutes) and it was a beautiful day. We were seated on the back patio (which may be my only complaint. There were three of us, and we were seated at two tables seperated by a good five inch gap. Awkward.) Julius Meinl coffee? Yes! There wasnt a bad bite between our three entrees (Pesto scramble with proscuitto, pancakes with honey and pine nuts, and a breakfast burrito), and the waitress, while timid, was attentive. I can't wait to go back for a french toast orgy!
(5)
Jessica M.
Talked about highly by friends, but not overly impressed in the end. DRINK: We started with coffee, which was really good - I am picky about a good cup of coffee, and that alone gets 5 stars. FOOD: loses one star My friend said their stuffed french toast is killer and suggests it. However, I wasn't in the mood for sweet and it looked so fattening I had to pass. I ordered an omelet with goat cheese, tomatoes and spinach, side of potatoes and cinnamon toast. The omelet had a funky taste to it, not sure if it was the oil they use or if they were egg beaters or something. I ended up picking out the fillers a little, and maybe only ate half. Probably the worst omelet I've had unfortunately. The potatoes were excellent, toast was sweet and good. Tried a bite of my friends marscapone french toast at the end of the meal and it was pretty good - maybe should have ordered that and only ate half. SERVICE: loses one star Three of us came here on a Thursday at 9:30am, which was not very busy maybe 4 other tables and us. Service was slow - had to ask for more coffee and they only came around 3 times in almost 2 hours to check on us - pretty bad for such a small place and not busy. The waitress also messed up the order slightly, gave my potatoes to my friend on her plate and had to take them back to the kitchen to switch. Overall, so so service.
(3)
lola d.
O.K people: Toast is good. It is an excellent place to eat brunch, lunch, and so much more. Here are a couple of pointers that will make your toast experience a lot more smoother: Do not visit Toast on a Saturday or a Sunday and get all angry because you are not sat in 5 minutes--the restaurant is SMALL! The food will take a good 15-25 minutes to reach your table after you order on a Saturday or Sunday--so don't go there starving! How do I know this? I am a long time patron, who avoids the joint on weekends and embraces it on weekdays. The staff is amazing and always makes me feel welcomed and the food keeps me coming back for more. What else do I need to say?
(4)
Laura R.
The french toast orgy is quite possibly the most amazing/delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life. It's three sticks of stuffed french toast (mascarpone, strawberry, and chocolate, I usually go all mascarpone) covered generously in yogurt, granola and fresh fruit. And their fresh fruit is not your standard grapes with over-ripe melon blend, we're talking delicious blackberries and raspberries here. I cannot stand to wait a long time for brunch but I am willing to sit my ass down on the freezing or boiling hot sidewalk (nowhere else to wait here) just for the french toast orgy. However I've noticed there usually isn't a line closer to 2 when they close.
(5)
Isabella M.
This is a favorite spot of mine. I come here often. Here are some dishes I have tried: French Toast Orgy - the mexican chocolate french toast was a bit too rich, the strawberry is insanity and the mascarpone is equally succulent. Don't add syrup to these, people. You will regret it. I would almost be inclined to tell them to hold the granola, as it becomes a lot to ingest and maintain productivity for the remainder of my Sunday. Mascarpone Pancakes w/ pine nuts and anise and other things - This is my all time favorite here. The pancakes are crips on the edges, the flavors blend very well. I am in love. Breakfast Burrito - It's good. But seriously, why are you ordering this when you can have the mascarpone pancakes? Pesto Scamble - This was intense and I'm not sure I would order it again, or at least not as hungover as I was. Very good, very rich. House Potatoes - This is where I reach my dilemma. I love the house potatoes here. They come as a side with most of the savory items. Yet, I prefer the sweet dishes. I suggest the best of both worlds, would be to order this as a side. And i have been known to do so. I've also been to the Lincoln Park location and I'm not sure if I'm just partial to my own neighborhood.... but they were a little stuck up there!! I do like that they have drinks but that's probably the only upside to the place.
(4)
Aileen O.
Toast Two has eclipsed Lincoln Park's Toast as my favorite brunch spot! The space is more spacious and has more character than its counterpart. I loved the retro feel. There were vintage toasters and toaster decor decorating the walls. The high ceilings also opened up the place. Despite the dreary weather outside, the place received a good amount of light which was very nice. Service was prompt and friendly. We went on a Monday so there was no crazy rush. We were able to take our time and the wait stuff was patient with our indecisiveness (too many good menu items!). Get the French Toast orgy with marscarpone filling. You'll get three gigantic slabs of stuffed french toast. The pureed strawberry was okay, but the strawberry taste wasn't as defined. I also recommend getting the yogurt and granola on the side, rather than slathered on top. It's less messy and more visually appealing. My friend and I split this dish and combined with our side of house potatoes, we were perfectly sated. With Toast's wait times sometimes topping two hours, I'd recommend visiting the Bucktown spot. Seems less crowded to me!
(5)
Gracie B.
A plate of warm gingerbread pancakes on a cold snowy winter vacation afternoon... Does it get any better? I seriously doubt it. Mama Marie and I stopped here for a late breakfast. I had the seasonal gingerbread pancakes which were absolutely great. Moist, fluffy and not heavy, they were lovely. I also had the chicken sausage which was a great compliment. Service was friendly and casual - almost too casual...I normally leave breakfast jittery, instead, I had to ask them to refill my coffee. But I'll forgive that and only dock a star off of what would otherwise had been a great meal
(4)
Andreea O.
Really delicious breakfast...there wasn't one thing that my boyfriend and I got that wasn't either really good, either excellent...starting with the fresh strong coffee and ending with the french toast orgy...yummmyy Definitely recommend the pesto scramble, with panceta and tomatoes...oh so good, comes with these awesome potatoes... The only thing that I didn't like as much was the seating situation....it's a small place and tables are crowded next to each other and it could get loud.
(4)
Brooke W.
Not often do we stray from our favorite breakfast joint the B.C. (breakfast club), but this morning we found ourselves in Bucktown... I didnt feel like breakfast, but rather lunch food, so I ordered the ahi tuna sandwhich. My boyfriend ordered the special, eggs with some green sauce. Overall the food was bland. Dont order the tuna, it's covered with way too much sage. I expressed my disappointment to the waitress and she didnt have much to offer. Not a "can I bring you something else" Obviously hired for her looks and not her ability to wait on people. Foodie beware. Not the best breakfast in this city.
(1)
Bridget L.
The food is good, and I enjoyed my "pancake orgy," but the place is small and gets very crowded. We actually got there really early and the place was empty, but the host refused to seat us until we had our entire party join us, which was only two more people. It was like that scene in the movie Meet the Parents when Ben Stiller is waiting to get on the airplane...Hahaha. Eventually the host sat us because I think she realized that making a hugely pregnant lady stand by a cold door with a toddler in tow in an empty restaurant was pretty silly. But our server was great and the food was very yummy. although a little pricey. I don't live anywhere near Bucktown, so not sure I'd travel all that way just for Toast Two, but if I am in the area, I'd give it another shot.
(3)
James C.
So what's the difference between this place and other breakfast places? Nothing. One thing that kinda turns me off is the fact that these little brunch places (that are SO popular with the ladies) is the fact that they're ridiculously expensive for no god awful reason. Why does this place cost just as much as eating dinner? I just don't get it. I ordered a Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo (I always get breakfast burritos if there's nothing on the menu I like) and my gf decided to have the French Toast stuffed with Mascarpone. What the hell is mascarpone? It honestly tasted like nothing. Call me an uncultured low class breakfast burrito eating dummy but the french toast tasted like light fluffy bread... and the mascarpone that was inside the light fluffy bread tasted like creamy nothing. We also shared a side of their potatoes which were nothing too great... just potatoes. The best part about this meal was that it cost me $30 bucks. I love spending $30 bucks for a burrito that I scarfed down in 3 minutes and light fluffy toast with creamy nothingness inside with little pieces of fruit around it. Maybe I'm just not into breakfast (which I'm not) and I'm definitely not into expensive breakfast/brunch places. This place is just OK for me. If I had a choice, I'd go to YOLK where they have a great menu... it's just too bad their location sucks for me cause it's so far into the city. If you like breakfast/brunch and you have the cash for it, I'd recommend this place. The people/person who took our order was super nice and had a very inviting vibe to her but other than that, the food was just average. Maybe I'm expecting too much for a breakfast joint... but if I'm gonna spend $11 for a breakfast burrito that wasn't all that great, I'd better get something else too... like.. I dunno.. a side of potatoes for free. Actually... yeah... why didn't my breakfast burrito come with hash browns or something. Even McDonalds gives you hashbrowns with your two breakfast burritos! Booooooooo for toast. I'm probably not gonna go there again. I'll let my gf go with her other friends that like to spend way too much money for toast they can drench with syrup.
(2)
K B.
My bro and I came here. This was a sweet brunch spot, and super cheap - we ate for around $10 each. My bro had the B.E.L.T. with everything (it's huge! and he loved it), and I had the omelette lorraine which rocked. Will totally be going back.
(4)
B.D. K.
Actually went to Toast in LP, but either way this place never ceases to impress (4.5 stars). I had a Spanish omelette and it may have been the best omelette I've ever had - hmm, or, let's say at least in the last few years... Thought it was better than the french toast orgy as well. They're eggs always taste really light and fresh. I can't remember the name but it has jalapenos in it.
(4)
Hannah K.
This place is so amazing and I love the atmosphere too. THe one in Lincoln Park is just as cute. Favorite meal: the B.E.L.T. and the stuffed french toast (prefer the mascarpone cheese one)
(5)
Amy S.
Breakfast burrito is awesome. Pumpkin pancakes were the special of the day and they were loaded with whipped cream (no butter or syrup needed). They were the best pancakes I've ever had!
(4)
Kaelan W.
Worth the long wait, Toast Two has the same great food as the Lincoln Park location with slightly shorter waits and a killer garden for summer dining. The food can't be improved upon, but I would love to see both of the Toast locations go the way of other wait-worthy brunch places and offer free coffee and some outdoor seating to the huddled masses.
(4)
hannah o.
We visited the Bucktown location on a recent trip to Chicago. It was very tasty. We got the marscapone french toast which was probably in my top 10 favorite french toast dishes. The only irritating thing is they could only split the check 2 ways, but it turned out fine because I just put it all on my card and my friends paid me back. Policies are policies. Overall, great experience--great atmosphere, tasty food, good service.
(4)
Denise C.
We did wait quite a while on a Saturday at about 11:30 (about 25 minutes) and were seated at the counter. The counter seating is not very comfortable and we had to put our purses on the floor. (get purse hooks for under the counter, Toast Two!). The coffee was delicious, the service was a bit chilly but efficient. I ordered the Tijuana omelet which was really delicious and hit the spot. The toast was fantastic (as it should be). The potatoes were just so-so and not worth the calories. My friend had the Lorianne omelet which she thought was incredible and finished every bit. Overall, it was a good breakfast but nothing over-the-top great.
(4)
Drea E.
Yeah, we went back for round 2 and it was OK. Not spectacular, not terrible, just fine. We split the omelet Lorraine which would have been fantastic had the bacon been cooked more. As it was, chewy bits of undercooked bacon peppered throughout the omelet kind of ruined every bite.
(3)
Kate S.
Decent brunch food and selection, nothing as special as, say, Lula's, but alright. Not quite sure why anyone would wait for an hour to eat here, but if there's seating it's a-ok. But, TERRIBLE COFFEE! Wow, I may as well have been at a golden nugget, and they may actually have better coffee there anyway. BLEH!
(3)
Carrie L.
Here's the deal. I went to the Lincoln Park Toast a while ago and had the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and it was about the most delicious thing my mouth has ever encountered. I went with a friend from Pittsburgh, and as she was back in the city this month, we decided to visit the one in Bucktown. Very excited about the french toast, she ordered the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and I ordered the stuffed french toast with pureed strawberry. And there ends the good experience... Our meals came out, and mine was soggy and pink. When I tried a bite, it tasted like mushy egg bread with a bitter strawberry taste. Thinking I had perhaps tried the worst bite first, I gave it a few more shots until I decided to save the calories. Although my friend's meal was much better than mine, it was still a little dry and not the french toast manna I remembered. I'm not sure if my memory was better than the actual first experience, or if the Bucktown Toast simply isn't as good. But, in a city with countless great brunch spots, I'll go elsewhere for good stuffed french toast. The chicken and gouda sausauge, on the other hand, was delish. In short, skip the strawberry stuffed french toast and pick something savory!
(2)
Jillian D.
two words: pancake orgy oh bacchus would delight! my girlfriend and i brunched here on sunday then went to buy running shoes (bad idea. bad idea.) at nearby running away multisport (see later review). we both ordered the decadent orgy. we both left feeling the need to light up (if we were smokers. and not runners.) yes my friends. it was *that* good. you get three flavorful, plate-sized hot cakes, topped with yogurt, honey and homemade granola, surrounded by fresh berries. (i know - right??!!!) i dare you to finish - i certainly couldn't go through with the entire orgy. that would have been gluttonous. but i would have loved every gooey bite!! if you're more of the savory breakfast type ( i usually am), there are ample opportunities to indulge that craving, from omelets to benedicts to huevos rancheros and beyond. and cup after cup of julius meinl coffee is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
(4)
Jess S.
Your weekend brunch wait scares me. But I still love you. I usually end up getting the omelettes for fear anything "stuffed" will make me crazed with sugar. The delicious food trumps the usually crummy service and drafty and cramped interior And I wish the damn line wasn't so long.
(5)
Katie L.
Great coffee here, and the stuffed french toast is delicious! The staff does a great job of working their way through the crowded tables to refill water and drinks. They have a nice back deck which you get to by walking between the buildings-not through the restaurant itself, which is kind of cute. I'm looking forward to it being spring soon so I can go back there again! One of these days I'm going to have to try their lunch menu, but I'm always so tempted by the breakfast side of the offerings that I haven't yet. Overall, one of my favorite places in Chicago for breakfast. It is crowded, but the high ceilings and skylights at least make it feel less claustrophobic.
(5)
Eliot J.
the hostess and our waitress were one and the same today. she was helpful and friendly. the food came out in about 10 minutes or less. decently priced for what it's considered - a trendy and popular brunch spot. unique food options for the most part. expect a wait during peak hours.
(3)
Mike S.
Toast was amazing, if for no other reason than for the juice. The apple just tasted like *gasp* real apples, and didn't taste like sugar water with apple flavoring. The orange juice tasted just as fresh and authentic. I'm not even a big juice drinker, but I would come here for the juice alone. As far as food goes, the brunch was really tasty as well. The menu had a lot of great options, so much that I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down to one. The breakfast burrito, which I finally settled on, was huge and delicious. Especially with some Cholula on it. The cheesy chicken sausage was yummy too, and the nutella-stuffed crepes were top-notch too. Probably the only thing better would have been nutella-stuffed nutella, but I guess I can just have that at home. Brunch may get crowded, but I'm a late eater anyways. Eat here!
(5)
Alex M.
The first time I went to Toast, the weather was just toying around with the idea of extending its summer. After a short wait, the hostess whisked us to an outdoor patio! A patio! We hadn't even known or asked, but were seated at a great table, brought ample coffee, reinforcements of orange juice, and overwhelmingly delicious breakfast. Eggs, stuffed french toast, meat, you name it, someone ordered it. Subsequent visits revealed a good bathroom, hip interior seating, and waiters just as friendly as our original lanky western wearin' server.
(5)
Hayden J.
As others have mentioned, expect to wait on the weekends. Since I live in the neighborhood, I decided to grab my order to go and take in some Saturday morning TV. I got the French Toast Orgy which is three french toasts that are filled with your choice of chocolate, strawberry, or mascarpone and topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, grapes, granola, and honey. I couldn't decided on the filling so I got one of each. My favorite was the mascarpone (sorta like cream cheese) filling and the strawberry. The chocolate was a little too sweet for my taste. All and all, this was a delicious meal and quite a challenge for one to finish on their own. (I posted a photo of my meal that was taken near the stopping point.)
(5)
Lady L.
Yummy breakfast in Bucktown. I don't even try getting in on weekends but if you are lucky and are able to go out to breakfast during the week, make it to Toast. All of the pancake/french toast stuff is good. Also, they've got a good selection of savory items on the menu, which is good considering Bongo Room lacks that in their menu. Definitely a must try.
(4)
Brian M.
When we lived in Bucktown (2002-2005) This was our home-turf for breakfast... we couldn't get enough. Love the oatmeal, and anything that they do with French Toast. Since leaving Chicago, we have been to Boston, and now Tucson, Arizona - we have been searching for a "Toast-like" breakfast spot, and have been unsuccessful! Congrats to the team at Toast (all of them) hopefully you are still having the success you did years ago.
(5)
Kami T.
The menu was departure from typical brunch places. They offered a twist on the usual flavors for breakfast, and it was executed well. The portion size was also surprisingly big. A big plus for me is that they offered sugar-free syrup. We had to wait 1 hour, but that's to be expected for brunch on a sunday. Overall, it was a great experience!
(4)
t.n. t.
I have an addiction! The pancake orgy and the breakfast burrito are a must!!! I prefer to go here in the summer when the back patio is open so that I have some privacy. My boyfriend and I miss this place when we haven't been in awhile. The portions and quality have decreased a bit in recent time, but its still good!!
(5)
candace l.
There are so many good choices on the menu, but don't be afraid to try the daily specials. You will not be disappointed. This place is a hit so expect to wait and wait and wait for a table. But it will be worth it, I promise! Fantastic food and friendly service.
(5)
Blah B.
Love this place. Have had some pretty awesome experiences here with my boys! I tend to always order one of the specials for the day and they never disappoint. Love the fact that you can come here during the week as well and have some quality time with friends or family!!!
(4)
eden s.
Yes, the waitstaff is super snotty hipsters and prices are above average, but that's fine bc they have the best eggs & chorizo in the city. I love their potatoes too. And their fresh OJ is always so refreshing. The pancakes are fluffy and delightful. It's the best breakfast place in the city. Expect a wait of 30 minutes or more. Kid-friendly - kind of. The waitstaff hates kids pretty much...or maybe they just hate life in general. They are always so crabby. There is one standout waitress -- Michelle, I think. She has been there for years. African American gal. Always very sweet contrary to her counterparts. Ask for her section if she is there. Despite some of these negative things, I still love Toast.
(5)
Leang E.
This place is really small, so I wouldn't recommend a group larger than 4 to be honest. I wonder if there would still be a line of people if the place was bigger. It was the weekend and we did have to wait outside for brunch. We were told an hour long wait, but got in sooner since we were willing to sit at the counter. I like the homey feel that the place has to it. It is reminiscent of a nicer diner in the movies. Our server was really nice as well as the hostess. I ordered the breakfast that included eggs over medium, the chicken gouda sausage, thick sliced bacon, potatoes, and wheat toast. I ate half of it and took the rest home. It was very tasty, but slightly more expensive but worth it. The sausage was unique and they have huge portions here. You can also get coffee before you are seated so you can drink it outside while you wait. I think I live even closer to this place.
(4)
Janette L.
Despite it's namesake, I have yet to try the french toast. I have a weird love for breakfast burritos and I think this place has one of the best in the city. Space is small so be prepared to wait. Perfect for couples and very small groups. I have been here a few times and thought the service was good - they always kept my coffee mug full! Remember to check out the specials written on the chalkboard hanging on the wall - some unique and tasty dishes (i.e eggs+pesto).
(4)
Suzzane B.
My boyfriend and I get breakfast together all.the.time. We were super sad that our regular spot Cafe de Lucca closed down (down the street) and so we tried this place on a whim instead. I think it's safe to say, it is for sure our new regular and much loved place to go. We love that we run into people frequently here that we know from the neighborhood or just around town in general, and I personally love that they remember us as familiar faces and even are starting to know what our usual orders are. But more importantly, I just love that they are a locally owned joint that offers great food at a great price and always provide stellar customer service to us regardless of being 'regulars' now or not. They greet us with a friendly smile every time, and even something so simple as the check holders they give us at the end of our meal have the saying on it "Good food with good friends" (or something to that effect) because that's how they make us feel every time. We will definitely be enjoying breakfast here for years and years to come (oh, and the lunch options are spectacular too!).
(5)
Akeisha W.
I enjoyed breakfast here a couple of days ago. They were ver friendly and fast. The atmosphere was pleasant and food was good. Definitely going to try the french toast orgy next time. I had and omelet and it was good. I will be back.
(4)
brian u.
We moved 1/2 block away from Toast II. It was the best thing we ever did! As long as you are there before the mob (Sat and Sun before 9:30ish) you get a quick table or a seat at the bar. Lucky grab last week on the beautiful, tranquil back patio. Everything on the menu is fantastic! Have had several of the items and always score a taste from fellow diners if it's something I haven't had. Unfortunately makes Clarke's Diner (see earlier review) a little less tempting and a whole three blocks away!
(5)
charlotte G.
Went for brunch on a holiday Monday around noon - only a very short wait for a table of four! Very cute place, but not too girly that you couldn't bring guys. The menu had many different options - we all stuck with the more breakfast type food. Everything was great! And very large portions too. Maybe I am just used to NYC prices but everything seemed very cheap - I got a side of pancakes with my meal, no extra charge! I guess they don't have a liquor license yet so alcohol was not available yet.
(4)
Trevor R.
If you happen to be a hungry Texan lost in Chicago, and you stumble upon a sign in the shape of a slice of toast, I highly recommend that you enter the establishment below and enjoy their hearty, eggy breakfast burrito. The house salsa is pretty darn good, but the old standbys Tabasco and Cholula are on-hand as well. You may have to wait 10-15 minutes for a table, but if the summer heat is getting to you, the equally tasty hostess will be happy to bring you some water. ;-)
(4)
Nancy H.
A cute brunch place just north of Armitage on Damen. It's a long restaurant, so they make use of booth seating along the wall. The wait for a late lunch was approximately 30 minutes for a party of three on a Sunday, and they don't take reservations. The prices are average for breakfast, but what surprised me is that crepes are only $5-7. I ordered the cobb club sandwich, which is grilled chicken, lots of bleu cheese (that I scraped off), avocado, tomatoes, and salad greens, and it was excellent! I think they season or butter the toasted bread. I substituted the potato salad that accompanies all sandwiches for a small fruit cup for $1 more ($9.50 total) but so worth it - the sliced bananas and strawberries and whole blackberries were so fresh and sweet. I noticed the stuffed french toast with fruit was a popular hit. I was most impressed by the presentation of the food. Everything comes out on white shiny plates, and there is absolutely no messiness. Sandwiches are cut straight, there are no random crumbs on your plate, and each meal is colorful - all so picture perfect. I'd come back again.
(4)
Laura I.
I used to come here more but don't even think of coming these days. It does have pretty good food but what I can't get past is how PACKED it becomes and how PACKED they seat everyone. You're basically sitting at some stranger's table throughout your meal and there's barely enough room to let one thigh go in between the tables to get to the cushioned seats. I always go here expecting good but leave feeling like a sardine who's finally been freed. If only they could get more oil in this joint so we could all breathe!
(3)
Becky W.
I met a friend here for breakfast yesteray. I ordered the pancake orgy and swapped the banana pancake for a blueberry. It was good. I was a little skeptical about the yogurt on top of pancakes, but It was sprisingly delicious. Negatives are the thimble of warm orange juice I got for $2, and I really love fresh squeezed OJ, so that was a disappointment. And also it was majorly crowded, and we got sat at the table right next to the door so the people waiting were encroaching on my booth space and letting their children run around. I'd give it another try because it tasted good and it was bright and sunny, but I think I'm more of a low-key brunch spot kind of girl.
(3)
Rachel E.
toast two is definitely in my top 3 places for breakfast/brunch. the food is fantastic; the service is always pleasant; and, although the seating is a little cramped, it doesn't get too busy during the week. probably my favorite breakfast potatoes in town.
(4)
Jacque w.
I just don't get it. I had heard that Toast was wonderful. I had seen it on tv and had read reviews that it was one of the best around. This is not the experience I had ! I went with a friend who ordered the Pepper eggs, I ordered the Lorraine Omelet. My friends eggs were tasty, but nothing special. My omelet was very dry, very small and looked very bland on the plate. My friends eggs were accompanied by potatoes and toast. My omelet just came with toast. It just needed something else on the plate, because it seemed almost unfinished. You would think that a place named Toast would have some stand out breads, but this was just your run of the mill grocery store bread. I think there are many better places to eat than Toast, I would not go back.
(2)
Destiny T.
First time trying this place and I would definitely return! I played it safe and got the two eggs meal with house potatoes, toast and a side of short stack buttermilk pancakes. They were not skimpy on the food. In fact I wasn't able to even eat my toast and half of my pancakes because I was full mid-meal (and I can eattt lol). Usually, I'm not a fan of house potatoes but they made them nice and flavorful and crispy. The scrambled eggs were probably one of the best scrambled eggs I have ever had from a restaurant (they were seasoned already and were yellow and fluffy). The pancakes were delicious; adding additional butter is not necessary which I love because I'm always too eager to eat my food to want to take the time out to put butter on my already buttermilk pancakes lol. The waiters are also very friendly and approachable. Only downside is that it can be difficult to find parking on Damen. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this breakfast place! You can tell that they take pride in their food and use fresh ingredients which is always important to me!
(5)
Morganne B.
This was the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to come when we were too hungover to go to work the day after taking our medical boards exam and skipped. We were lucky not many people were out on this gloomy looking Friday but thankfully there was no wait and we were seated immediately. The special omelet, with prosciutto, tomatoes and cheddar was just the ticket. Olive salty salty prosciutto on its own but in an omelet with some hot sauce on top was even better. My boyfriend loved his crabby benedict; he loved it so much he ordered a side of chorizo to put on top. He said his potatoes maybe weren't cooked as much as they should've been and didn't finish them, but otherwise this place was on point. Coffee mug was never empty and the service was fast. I'm not sure if I would wait in line for so long as I've often seen people do here, but I definitely will come back and bring mimosas once this hangover subsides!
(4)
Elisabeth C.
My brother emailed me one day that he was flying into Chicago for a bachelor party, and could I pick him up from O'Hare? He'd make it worth my while by buying me breakfast. Of course I obliged, but what he didn't know was that my sister and two of her three daughters were in town for the weekend visiting me, so he had a rather large party for breakfast! Despite coming at peak hours on a Saturday morning, Toast Two was able to accommodate all five of us immediately. The service was great (and to be honest, brunch with young children is not always the best experience). The food was also delicious. I had the french toast orgy, my sister had the eggs benedict, and my brother had the breakfast burrito. And he wasn't at all annoyed about having to buy breakfast for all four of us since it meant he got to see his nieces.
(5)
Jamie B.
Good breakfast place in Bucktown. I've been here many times over the last few years and it's always been speedy and consistent. I enjoy the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. The pancakes are also tasty. Good option on the neighborhood.
(4)
Deanna N.
Very cute place. No reservations and BYOB, which means no bloody marry's or mimosas served. I had a delicious crepe with brown sugar and strawberries for $6. The bacon was disappointingly thin. I think the stellar items here maybe the french toast hence the name. Definitely a hipster hangout in Bucktown.
(4)
Glenn B.
The staff is friendly and quick. Service was great. The food was exceptionally good! I hate to say even better than the deep dish pizza we had come to Chicago to try. Had the breakfast burger with Swiss cheese. Patty was perfectly cooked to order. All the ingredients came together and complimented each other well. The egg gave it an unreal richness! Also ordered the French toast orgy with one of each flavor! The strawberry and marscapone filled ones were delicious. Not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I can't say I enjoyed it. Overall, great breakfast place and a definite must try!
(5)
Bao L.
Stuffed french toast on fleek. I had breakfast here and couldn't decide between the Pancake Orgy and the French Toast Orgy, so I asked the waitress what she recommended between the 2. Before I could finish my sentence, she said French Toast Orgy, so French Toast Orgy it was. I must say, the French Toast Orgy here is AMAZING and I'm glad she recommended it. It comes w/ 3 pieces of stuffed french toast: strawberry puree, mascarpone, and Mexican chocolate, all topped with vanilla yogurt, granola, berries, powdered sugar, and a drizzle of honey. There's a lot going on on the plate, but it all works well together. It was plenty sweet (in a good way), so I didn't even need to add syrup to it. The berries are fresh and the yogurt and granola add great texture to the stuffed french toast. All 3 were good, but my favorite was the strawberry puree, followed by the mascarpone, and then the Mexican chocolate. Toast Two is close to my house, so I definitely want to come back to try the Pancake Orgy and Pesto Scramble
(4)
Stephen M.
Went here for brunch and it hit the spot. I got the breakfast burger which was very good. Girlfriend got the chorizo Benedict but the English muffin was burnt. Ok prices for what you get, good service, and only had to wait 10 min for brunch on a Sunday. Next time I need to try the stuffed French toast, It looked good!
(4)
Sara T.
Still one of my favorite brunch spots! It's pretty much got the whole package -- good food, good coffee, friendly staff, and love the bright, modern country styled interior. The pesto egg dish and brie with pear and apple crepe were both stellar.
(4)
Rebecca R.
Had a great meal at my neighborhood spot. It is typically packed, so I was able to meet a friend here moments after the opened on a week day during my winter break. We sat at the counter and had a great meal with great service. I ordered chilaquiles off the special board while my partner in crime ordered delicious looking pancakes off the menu. We were both super pleased with the meal, coffee, and feeling of the place. The couple next to us offered us their almost empty bottle of champaign, so apparently it is also BYOB. Enjoy! I'll be back!
(5)
Evie H.
I was super excited to come here for brunch especially because 1) I love the name 2) I love the store front even more. Our wait was about 40 minutes on a Sunday at noon and then it was probably another 20 minutes before we got our food after we ordered. A little lengthy for me. I got the French toast orgy with one of each flavor - dark chocolate, marscapone, and strawberry. I thought I would like the dark chocolate the most but it turned out it was my least favorite. It was kind of mushy and stuck at an awkward in between of trying to be sweet, but not sweet enough. Turns out the marscapone was my favorite! The regular stuffed french toast is basically the same plate but just without the yogurt and granola toppings. The service was okay. They were very accommodating for one of my friends who had a lot of specific requests for her burger. One of our waiters was very odd though and he kept on asking if we wanted more coffee and water even though we repeatedly said no. He also very awkwardly tried to maneuver the water pitcher around us which I didn't understand at all because it really wasn't that difficult to do. All in all, it's a solid brunch spot but because it's also a smaller place, be prepared to wait on weekends.
(4)
Stephen L.
The mascarpone stuffed French toast... My god, it was delicious. The chicken Apple Gouda sausage was the best sausage I have had in a long time.Espresso game is average and it took a while for me to get my food. Staff is friendly and helpful.
(4)
Melanie P.
After living down the street from Toast for years, we finally decided to brave the crowds and give it a try. Arrived at 9:45am on a Sunday, and were seated immediately in the very busy restaurant. (We went because it was COLD and knew that the crowds might be lighter). SO GLAD WE DID! We have already been back for the second time in one week (this time a Thursday morning which was comfortably quiet!). The Croque Madam, the BELT, the breakfast burrito with chorizo, all DELICIOUS!! The bread on the BELT made this sandwich for me. Buttery and perfectly toasted outside, super soft inside. Tried a latte upon the recommendation of our waiter (who doubled as a barista?!) during our second visit. It was excellent! Service was solid during even during a busier Sunday. Avoided this place because I hate to wait, but will return again and again because when you time it right, it's outta sight!
(5)
Lauren B.
What a great spot for brunch! Love the omelette and sandwich selection. We had a wonderful waitress named Jennifer, who took great care of us. My only qualm is the fact that it is BYOB but you have to use their beverages and I'm sorry but $8 for a small carafe of OJ is not realistic... Other than that our food was great! It's gets pretty busy so def make a reservation during the weekend!
(5)
Aja G.
Classically good breakfast. When you want some fluffy scrambled eggs, a decent size side of bacon and some damn good toast then Toast one or two is your place. This location is set up much life the originally in DePaul country: about 15 tables crammed against a wall, a breakfast bar and a lot of natural light. There are come things I wish Toast Two would offer like a build your own omelet option or meat with pancakes. But when you want some cozy down home breakfast Toast Two is your place.
(4)
Anna G.
Came back to Toast Two after a long absence and it confirmed what I remembered it being: just an average brunch place. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, the service even better, but overall nothing I can't get at any other brunch place. My friend and I went at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and our wait time was between 20-30 minutes. (If we had agreed to sit at the counter, the wait would have only been 5 minutes.) I definitely wouldn't wait any longer than that.
(3)
Lati T.
Brunch when I have time, i come here! Super friendly staff...and the stuffed french toast is so good!!
(5)
Rice D.
Been here many times, as I live right across the street. I called this morning (Monday, 2/2) and asked to place a takeout order. A male responded with "We're not doing take out orders right now" [CLICK]. No goodbye, no info regarding if they'd be taking orders later today, a week from now, a month from now etc. I understand if you're swamped, but it's Monday morning and there was a HUGE snowstorm all weekend. I can see Toast from my window and it's not busy at all. My advice to the guy answering the phone would be to not take your bad mood out on the customer. My advice to Toast would be to not let that guy answer the phone any more. It's not often you encounter such a bad response from a business you're trying to patronize. If this is how Toast treats their customers, I will take my food request elsewhere.
(1)
Daisy K.
I know this place is a solid 4 stars with several hundred reviews, but for some reason when I took a bite out of my breakfast burrito I literally said out loud "What?".. As in, how was this burrito everything I so desperately need right now. Go. If they can make a simple burrito delicious, than I would imagine everything else on the menu would follow suit. I will say though, that $2 dollars seems high for an avocado add on, but whatevs, I was feeling generous & it was packed with delicious perfectly ripe avocado. Staff was friendly and very attentive too! 5 well deserved stars.
(5)
Beth C.
I'm really surprised at how well this place has been reviewed overall. I went here for breakfast last Sunday with a friend. I'm new to the area and noticed that there are almost always people waiting for a table on the weekends for brunch so I checked out the menu online and thought it sounded like a great classic brunch stop. If a restaurant is going to be strictly breakfast/brunch place (no bar, no bottomless mimosas, no shtick) then surely the food must be great. Or so I thought. The wait for a table was going to be 30 minutes on a Sunday around 10 a.m. But a couple of spots opened up at the counter, so we sat there immediately. We were offered and served coffee pretty quickly. I think the service was good. Not overly personal or friendly but polite and efficient. The food is where things fell apart. I ordered the two egg breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon, breakfast potatoes). My scrambled eggs were way overcooked and the potatoes were hard. My friend ordered the French Toast. It certainly looked pretty when it came it out. But it, too, was completely overcooked and dried out. There are a lot of other brunch options in the area. I have no plans to return here.
(2)
Ashley C.
I'd give Toast Two 3.5 stars. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but it is a solid neighborhood place. We were trying to find a place to go when my sister was visiting. She loves breakfast food. Toast Two was a solid option. We arrived at about 10:15 and only had to wait a little bit for a table. The place was packed and rather loud (read: not the best hangover breakfast spot). I had a the eggs benedict. It was very good but nothing mind blowing. My sister was pleased with her option (which was made gluten free to order). The portions were also huge! I was also told that their coffee was solid as well. Overall, a solid brunch basic spot.
(3)
Jenny G.
We went here for a birthday Brunch. Service was great, menu was even better!!! I had the breakfast burrito, shared the strawberry stuffed French toast and my boyfriend had an omelet. There was so much to choose from that we have already decided we will be going back soon to try something new! PLUS; Its BYOB.. They have orange juice and a Bloody Mary mix available so all you need to bring is the vodka!
(5)
Kayla S.
Does Toast Two need another stellar review? Nah, but what the hell, it's delicious! The cinnamon raisin toast. Wow. Served warm and HAS to be made in the restaurant. Literally the best piece of toast I have ever had in my entire life. Eggs Benedict was good. Egg cooked to perfection. We wanted more meat so we ordered sides of sausage. Oh, and the best part, BYO mimosas, baby! And the orange juice glasses that come with the carafe are brought with a little strawberry on top. My friend had some sort of scramble and the potatoes were just so perfect. The right amount of crispy and seasoned well. I came with my husband some time back and it was pretty good, this most recent time just affirmed Toast Two as a solid brunch spot forever. Most definitely will return!
(5)
N A.
I had breakfast here on Monday June 15, 2015. I was getting my last real meal before flying out of town. I had never been here but I left thinking that if I ever find myself in the area, I will certainly visit again. I had coffee (plenty of it!) and their "B.E.L.T." sandwich. It was GOOD! It came with potato quarters on the side. The service was good too. The lady working there kept my coffee topped and made sure all was well. Great service. The decor is nice too. Modern "home" feel. Lot's of cute decor depicting toast in various ways. Highly recommend for a sit down breakfast solo or with a group.
(5)
Ramona Q.
Great place, good coffee, good food. Stuffed french toast (marscapone) is my favorite. There is almost always a wait on weekends.
(5)
XTreats X.
Great food! I gave it the extra star because they serve Bow Truss coffee at $2.50 with free refills... That alone makes it worth it, not to mention the huevos with chorizo & cheddar! GO!
(5)
Bryce S.
Good breakfast place. I got one of their top menu items: the B.E.L.T and really enjoyed it! If you're in Bucktown, you should definitely stop in!
(4)
Matt V.
Food was great. Heat not working so food was cold before I finished. Need to fix the heat
(3)
Jessica P.
My friend and I both got stuffed French toast, mine with dark chocolate and hers with mascarpone. Mine was ridiculously delicious and she only had good things to say about hers. I will say this: don't go for the dark chocolate unless you have a serious sweet tooth, it was not for the faint of heart. You get three chunks of toast and o could only manage one, despite how delicious it was. They aren't messing around with the portion size here. We went around 11:30 on MLK day, and the place was accordingly bursting at the seams. I believe we eventually got seated a little after noon, which wasn't bad at all. We were seated at the counter, and the server was very pleasant and quick with the refills of coffee. I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about this place. I will have to go back and try something savory.
(5)
Jess D.
I arrived and put in my name for a party of two at around 1:30 on a Sunday. The place was PACKED. There wasn't even anywhere to stand in the miniscule entryway, so my cousin and I took a walk in the freezing cold and checked out some little shops just to warm up. Quoted a wait time of half an hour, we headed back to check in just after 2:00. Nope. Still nowhere to even stand inside. When I asked for an update, the hostess was totally snotty. Then, when it finally cleared up enough for us to at least stand inside where it was warm, she ignored us completely. No, "sorry for the wait". No, "it'll just be a bit longer". Nothin'. We were just about to leave and go get sushi across the street when we were finally seated. Around 2:45. The atmosphere and decor were cute, if a little kitschy for my taste, but the seating was just absurdly close together. I could barely manage to squeeze between the two tables to access my bench seat against the wall without taking out the water glasses of the diners beside us. The savory options sound tempting, but I really wanted the namesake toast. I had a dish with a sampling of different stuffed french toast, the French Toast Orgy. A lofty name for an okay plate. It arrived relatively quickly and it was good. But not quite good enough to make it worth the ridiculously long wait and the awkwardly cramped seating arrangement. In short...Since they don't take reservations, you can simply accept a long wait time for apathetic service and mediocre food with a somewhat inflated price tag or... Call up a hankering for sushi instead of brunch and head across the street.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Came in because of the prior yelp reviews and was not let down, at all!!! Came in and was busy with no tables, but servers rearranged some seating and got my party of 3 in right away. A bit snug with the table next to us, but it's all good. Best French toast ever - go for French toast orgy
(5)
Krista S.
Fabulous fabulous service!!!!! Food is fresh and on point for a nice brunch spot. Coffee is nice and strong. A helpful tip is that you cannot be seated until your whole party is there which is understandable considering its popularity (especially on weekends). They are know for their stuffed French toast. My husband ordered 1 of each type (strawberry, chocolate, and mascarpone) and like the server suggested the mascarpone was his favorite. I had the b.e.l.t. with avocado- great fresh bread and nice ripe avocado!
(4)
demika c.
The breakfast is consistently good! My favorite is the orgy pancakes. They're delicious and worth waiting for.
(4)
Lizette Y.
This is a pretty decent breakfast place. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table, not too bad in my book. The decor and space are pretty interesting. The location has enormously high ceilings but seating area is quite small. Walls are a bright, sunny yellow and vintage toasters adorn the tops of the cabinets, really cute. We were promptly seated and the server brought our coffee to the table immediately. I ordered the veggie benedict, my boyfriend ordered the crabby benedict, and we split a French toast orgy. I know, that seems like a lot, but we wanted to get a good sampling of what they had available and had plenty to take home with us. The benedicts were great, very flavorful and the poached egg was cooked perfectly (a big plus since it's hard to do!). The French toast orgy was yummy and included chocolate, strawberry, and marscapone flavors. Immediately we noticed that these delicious flavorings were either baked into the toast or included inside the batter, as they were consistently flavored throughout the toast, not just drizzled on top. The chocolate and marscapone were my faves, and the strawberry was good too, tasted very fresh like they had just pureed the berries before adding it to the batter. Overall the food was good and so was the service. Not outstanding but I'd go back to try other interesting items on the menu - crepes with pear, brie, and apple; anything with SOY CHORIZO and VEGGIE SAUSAGE (holla to my fellow vegetarians); and pancakes with marscapone, pine nuts, and anise.
(3)
Francesca S.
Totally toasty! - Pancake Orgy....berrylicious - Pesto & Prosciutto omelette....salivating This is the second time I've been here and it still continues to hit the sweet spot. Both dishes were made to perfection. We also ordered hot cider and hot chocolate that kept us warm in Chiberia. I decided to order the cinnamon raisin toast to accompany my eggs. As always, it was toasted to the right amount. Chose to sit at the breakfast bar this morning. Loved looking at all the wall art especially the retro toasters. Plenty of other good sounding dishes to order next time. I can't wait to wake up craving for a delicious Bucktown breakfast.
(4)
Jim C.
Really strained service this Sunday. Had to remind waitress of our drinks and the toast that should come as a side for both entrees (it's in the name!) that we got as we left. It's not the waitress's fault, she was the only one on a Sunday that we saw, and wound up comping our drinks. The other brunch options were solid, lots of savory options with eggs, good portions, well cooked veggie additions. Where it lacks is the sweet section, which I know others will disagree on. The pancake and French toast options are good but just differ in their toppings. That's not going to compare to a lot of spots in Chicago- but hey, they have something called an orgy so it's not all bad. This will be a good backup from here on out.
(3)
Sasha R.
This place was amazing the food was great.... I am a very picky eater and this place surpassed it all. Our waiter was extremely nice as well... Also make sure you get the stuffed toast! Get the cheese one (can't remember the name) you will not regret it!
(5)
Steve S.
The place is small and the wait can be long BUT it's one of the best breakfast restaurant I have eaten at
(5)
Jennifer P.
Definitely order breakfast. Do not come here to order from the lunch menu. I had a crazy weekend, starting with being whisked away to a surprise brunch experience by a very dear friend. I have yet to explore Chicago for breakfast joints, and Toast was one of his suggestions that he decided against. However, I took mental note because I love diners and I have yet to find a place fit for my expectations in the city. Toast does not fit the bill. Rocking serious hangovers, my new friend and I decided that a substantial breakfast would assist in stopping our dizzy heads and perhaps reset our cloudy and unmotivated attitudes. He ordered the veggie burger, and I got the El Bucktowno. What came to our table looked much different from what we had pictured inside our heads. His veggie burger looked like someone cut out small pieces of construction paper, took a bunch of Elmer's glue, and made a patty out of the clippings, and threw it in a bun. I almost burned my mouth on the over-cooked chicken in my sandwich, and there was so much zucchini, it was hard to keep it inside the bun. For both of us, there was no flavor in our selections at all. No one was saying it needed to be deep fried; but you can marinate chicken and you can also use spices. My friend and I are form the suburbs, and we are not used to sitting so close to other diners. At toast, you feel like a fish in a can of sardines. I have learned to get used to it. I can even take the noise level. However, you sit me next to two loud and pretentious hipster girls who pretty much favor the sound of their own voice over actually listening to what their breakfast companion is saying; I will draw the line. My friend and I kept looking at each other, eyes practically bleeding at being subjected to their conversation. There was no choice. We had to listen to them and we couldn't even talk because it would have meant that we needed to raise our voices even more to hear each other. We resorted to texting each other with jokes regarding their sense of fashion, and perhaps both of them lacking men in their lives. Who would even stomach a date with these girls? There were, however, some very attractive men that dined here. I am not usually one to check out guys with tattoos and gauged earrings; but my visit to Toast changed my mind. Our waitress was amazing. She was so gracious and patient with everyone. I don't know how she does it, but she treated everyone like they were royalty. I didn't catch her name, but she had blond hair and cat-eye glasses. We made sure she got a decent tip. My tip to the reader would be to stick to breakfast if you eat at Toast. The rest of my weekend, my friend and I spent at the mercy of frequent trips to the bathroom.
(3)
Freddie M.
This place is a great find for breakfast lovers. I was incredibly impressed with the overall quality of food and the cozy atmosphere. I had the Loraine, while my girlfriend had the breakfast burger. The hot chocolate and lemon tea made yummy drinks. Next time I will try the BYO Bloody Mary. Service was great and they were relatively fast for a busy Sunday morning. I wish it were a little larger so the tables were not on top of one another, however, I suppose it would not have that cozy feel anymore. The vaulted ceilings helped anyway:) This is a definite must stop when in Bucktown
(5)
Sarah R.
Great breakfast. Coffee is good, orange juice is good. Servers were very friendly and attentive. My dad liked the decor of the restaurant and we had fun looking at all the vintage toasters. Went during the week so it wasn't as crowded.
(4)
Lily Z.
I went here this afternoon with the boy. First off, the place is tiny. There's hardly any space to wait for a table. The host did not seem friendly. I couldn't blame him. Standing in front of a freezing cold door all day would make me crabby as hell. But it was like a quiet crabby-ness? We were seated and ordered the pancake orgy and pesto scramble. He liked his pesto scramble a lot and I agreed. We both thought it was just going to be eggs with pesto thrown on top. Nope, it was blended with the egg and it still retained its nice pesto flavor. He really liked his cinnamon raisin toast. His potatoes could have been crisper. His OJ was tasted like Tampico. I was happy with my pancake orgy at first. The yogurt was good, but then again you can't really go wrong with vanilla yogurt, fruit and granola. The marscapone was nice, but kind of lacking in flavor. I couldn't handle the strawberry french toast. It was just too mushy for me. I understand that there's strawberry inside, but it just looked like mush to me. I even scraped some of it out to see if I would like it better, but I didn't. Perhaps if I'm in the mood for brunch again, I'll get the regular French toast with berries on top. Overall, I think Toast is a solid place for brunch. A bit cramped because I was scared that the guy next to me would knock over the vase of flowers into my french toast. They need to work on their heating/winter door or something. It was bitterly cold every time the door was opened. The outside canvas door did nothing. I would definitely choose this place over Janik's on division.
(4)
Jerome M.
This is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch spots. Great food all around! AND, they have Pepper Plant hot sauce, which you HAVE to put on some fried potatoes! Wait hasn't been the worse, outdoor seating in Summer is rad. Cool enough staff. Coffee is probably their weakest point, but a good benedict makes up for it.
(5)
Joe E.
Came here on Labor Day weekend with a few friends. Our wait was about 20 mins, even though we were told it would be 30. Yay. This place is BYOB, and it's actually quite small. We were seated on the patio on back. It was very nice to have the shade from the umbrella, because it was pretty hot in the sun. Everyone ordered Iced Coffee besides my bro and me. He went with the standard coffee and I went with water. For the entrees, my friends had the cobb club, the cobb salad, the bison sliders with potato salad, and the burger of the day (a breakfast burger type with sausage, egg, arugla, and potatoes). My brother and I ordered omelettes with multigrain toast and fruit. We also split a short stack (2 pancakes, so one each) of the whole wheat cakes. I went with the vegetarian omelette, which had shrooms, broccoli, peppers, onion, and gruyere cheese. I had it with egg whites too. My bro went with the mexican type omelette (Tijuana, I believe). It had peppers, jalapenos, and I'm forgetting the rest, but he enjoyed it. Fruit bowl had bananas, berries, and grapes. Not a fan of the 3.00 upcharge to have fruit instead, but that's the price I pay for being a bit healthier. Egg whites I understand, though (1.50 upcharge). The toast was perfect, the pancake was good (6 dollars for a shortstack? COME ON). Omelette was good, but nothing out of this world. Waitress wasn't very attentive, but she was nice. It was 35 bucks for my bro and me. A little expensive for my liking, especially since we didn't get that much food. Should have paid ten dollars less (Thanks Chicago). Overall, I'd probably go back. I've had a few breakfast/brunch places in Chicago, and Toast is better than average.
(4)
Pat E.
Welp Yelp, my first Chicago brunch experience with my best friends was a success. After deciding through an extensive Yelp search, I decided to make an executive decision (Kurt Russell and Halle Berry, anyone?) and head to Toast Two. Since my friends live near Bucktown, I wanted to walk but being with hung over 20 somethings, we decided to hop in my brothers Buick and head over. After parallel parking, we were told it would be a 30 to 45 mins for a table. The wait was only about 20 mins. This place is small but there is a patio in back which is where we were led to sit. I was not expecting to dine al fresco but we loved the Julius Melini coffee umbrellas providing shade. Our large testosterone filled group was ready our order food after getting iced coffees, coffee (this is why I'm hot) and waters. I went with the Tijuana omelette, fruit instead of potatoes, multigrain toast, and a side of whole wheat cakes to split with my twin brother. We were the only two that were not hung over as I mentioned before. Brother ordered the vegetarian omelette. Rest of the table enjoyed a Cobb Salad, Cobb Club Sandwich sliders, burger of the day, and their iced coffees. Food was great! Service was okay, but what do you expect? Refills had to be constantly asked for, especially on water. The menu is simple. Besides the service I found two pancakes for six bucks a bit much. Sure they were whole grain and delicious, but I thought an order was three or four. To our odd waitress, it was great to see you. I wish you were around more today. Bus boy was great at refills. I would go back to sit back on the patio again. Wish I could have buttered up this review a bit more, but Toast Two should be on your list of Bucktown hot spots. It is BYOB. I hate places that upcharge for fruit, but I understand. It's a business. As my friends mentioned, this is the kind of place a couple of cheeseburgers in paradise can chill on a Sunday afternoon.
Pesto scramble was in a small pool of oil, same with the potatoes. Overall delicious, but only three stars for the oil. The jam for the English muffin was really delicious. The orange juice is freshly squeezed and full of good pulp. The flowers on the table are real :)
(3)
Brian C.
Awesome breakfast! I had the Chilaquiles plate it was wonderful. Good atmosphere, friendly place. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jack F.
Pretty good brunch spot. The place itself is a bit small, but you get seated pretty quickly. Try the Lorraine Omelet. Great stuff!
(4)
Goo C.
Looking for a place to eat stopped in for some brunch and behold excellent food. quick friendly service. definitely will be back
(4)
Norbert S.
Went there on Sunday, and we sit by the bar. Food was great as always, service was ok. It was my third brekfast there i would definitely recomend this restaurant.
(3)
Antaash U.
After driving by Toast Two for almost a year on my way to my tennis club, and completely missing it (clearly I'm not the most observant), I finally spotted it a few weeks ago and happened to go yesterday for breakfast. Apparently, Bongo Room doesn't open until 9, and we were ready for breakfast by 8:30! Since we weren't willing to wait around, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to try Toast Two. Unfortunately when we got there there were no tables available but the hostess did offer us the opportunity to immediately sit at the bar, which we took. Celebrating the late arrival of fall, I immediately decided on the Pumpkin Pancakes with pumpkin whipped cream on the side. My BF decided to order the Tijuana scramble with an English muffin (his choice) and breakfast potatoes. Both were really good! We ended up swapping our dishes with one another so we could have a fair share of the sweet with the savory. It was perfect. I just wish the seats at the bar had back rests because I would have enjoyed my meal more if I had been comfortable. I almost scarfed my entire meal down so I wouldn't have to sit on the stool any longer. I guess this just means I need to go back in the hopes of getting to sit at a real table with comfortable chairs and see if Toast Two can earn its 5th star :).
(4)
Mith R.
"Buttermilk pancakes w/ toasted pine nuts over mascarpone cream, flavored w/ honey and anise drizzled w/ melted butter and honey w/ lavender flowers" I know this sounds like a lot...but they are hands-down THE BEST pancakes you'll ever have. I go back here almost exclusively to eat these. TRY THEM!
(4)
Chicago A.
I ordered the French Toast Orgy....sadly it was the kind of Orgy you don't wanna get involved in. The three pieces of toast were different temperatures...the chocolate was straight up cold, which made me wonder how long it had been sitting out compared to the other two. There was way too much stuff on it....but really the fact that some of the bread was straight up cold killed it for me.
(2)
Adam R.
My wife and I ate here while visiting the city. Breakfast was delicious. I had the two eggs breakfast, and wife had the Omelette Lorraine. I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the neighborhood.
(5)
Victoria C.
I have been to toast a few times and service has always been okay. To be fair, I have never had a problem with the food. The pesto eggs/scramble with prosciutto is excellent, stuffed toast is great, and the omelettes are tasty as well. My problem with Toast is the service. This last time I went particularly. My friend and I didn't realize we were early, but got there 20 minutes beforehand. I saw people inside so I knocked when the door was locked the manager/owner (I assume, not sure) gave me the 10 minute signal with her hands. I said ok no problem. We came back 17 minutes later (a couple minutes before open) and she gave us a 5 minute sign and looked angry at as, although we were following what she said. I understand we were early 3 minutes early the last time, but it was 4 degrees outside and she wouldn't let us in to sit down and warm up. We didnt need to be served right away. We decided to go to Meli instead.
(2)
Jon O.
I went for brunch day after new years and the food here is very good imo. We had to wait a little while to get a table since the place is a little on the small side and seating is fairly limited. Once we were seated thought the service was quick and friendly and we didn't have to wait for anything at all. I think part of that is them trying to turn over tables quickly but whatever it was nice to have attentive people working there. For brunch I ordered the crab eggs benedict and a side order of blueberry pancakes. The eggs benedict was delicious and came with a side of fried potatos. The pancakes were also great as well. I'm looking forward to going back here. Also, for two people the total bill came out to around 30$ but since we got a bunch of food I'd say it was a good value.
(4)
Ashley R.
Toast has been the most consistently delightful brunch spot I've frequented on the west side I've been to in the 5 years I've called Chicago home. The staff is attentive (shout out to Brandon!) and welcoming, and the food is both delicious and generously doled out. The eggs Benedict are the best I've ever tried due to an extra lemony truffle spiked hollandaise. Also noteworthy is their messy but oh-so satisfying breakfast burger with pesto aioli and a fried egg, the cowboy chili omelette when it's on special, and their pesto prosciutto scramble is heavenly. This location may not serve booze, but it's BYOB. They keep the coffee fresh and comin' (It's Bowtruss now!) and the daily tunes range from rockabilly to Ryan Adams. I'll be a customer for life.
(5)
Karolina M.
Expect a long wait for brunch on a Saturday. Other than that the service and food were great.
(4)
Cris O.
I really wish I could rate this place better, but the lack of inconsistent flavors between the Lincoln Park and Bucktown location leaves me disappointed and sad. :/ I came here (Bucktown location) with my husband Nov, 17th. We were beyond excited to again try the famous and delicious "french toast orgy", for we had tried it 2 times over at the Lincoln Park location. Everything about the 3 different flavors, (mascarpone, mexican chocolate, and strawberry was fantastic!) This is of course only when we had it at the Lincoln P. Toast. However, we can't say the same about our food experience when we decided to stop at the Bucktown location. We live less than 10 minutes away, yet I highly doubt we will be back. The french toast stuffing flavors lacked INCREDIBLY. I hardly was able to taste the chocolate flavor filling; the chocolate flavor was very diluted. They added so little chocolate cocoa flavor, that it so seems the cooks pitch in from their own pocket just to make the dollar stretch. To top it off their mascarpone filling was very soggy and they hardly added any. (a PICTURE is attached). I truly wish I could say this was only my plate but unfortunately my husband ordered the orgy and he felt the same way about his filling flavor and the amount they add to each toast stick. We weren't expecting anything far beyond what we have eaten at the L.P location: just regular good tasting with a mild amount of filling. It was so disappointing to come to this location's Toast. You would think that one of the things they are famous for would be on point at both locations. Bucktown's location needs to step it up and stick to the original recipe without being cheap with their flavors and amount served. Next time, I rather drive further, wait as long and gladly go through troubles with finding parking at the Lincoln Park location, than to come to this location and be disappointed with my dish.
(2)
Mark H.
Even if you're a diner aficionado you would still agree this small place packs a solid punch to the best of all the local breakfast spots. Wasn't my first pick but rather 2nd choice but glad to have made the decision. From the French toast orgy to their breakfast burrito, the menu is full of interesting choices. And yes orgy. It's actually a menu choice. Kind of like the everything bagel with a nice assortment of fruit and sweets. Prices are fair considering the neighborhood. Got lucky with only a 10 min wait on a Sunday brunch. Could be a regular stop if you're tired of overpaying and over waiting at the other joints on Milwaukee and also on Division.
(4)
Amanda B.
DELICIOUS! My first experience here was yummy! I had the stuffed french toast and it is definitely one of my new favorites. I pretty much wanted to try everything on the menu so I am definitely going to be returning. The service was good, checked up on us but also wasn't too persistent and interrupting my conversations every 10 minutes (pet peeve of mine). I can't wait to return !
(5)
Aaron G.
I went here Saturday afternoon and there was no wait. There was free parking outside too. The service was on point and the food was very well prepared. I had the chorizo Benedict and some of my girl friends Tijuana omelette, both great!
(5)
Greg W.
Pretty disappointed. Orders came out wrong. Ordered potatoes crispy, came out soggy. We sent them back. They must've dropped 'em in the fryer. They came back crispy and soaked in grease. Hollandaise was way too lemony. Mom's salmon omelet was pretty good. Dad ordered fried egg sandwich, and it came out two eggs over easy. I've been here before and really enjoyed it. Wonder if they're under new management or just an off day. Outdoor seating was pretty nice.
(1)
Ezeibe A.
Good food, kid friendly!
(4)
Sid B.
Excellent. This is how you pull off modern gourmet American breakfast. I had the omelette chicken jalapeño sausage with cheddar yellow and red peppers and onion. Delicious. I highly recommend the pancake orgy. Insane! Dear Bongo room, THIS is how you pull it off. Strongly recommended. Dishes were appropriately priced. I came on a Saturday and the wait was 15 min max. Well managed joint which means they're turning over tables quickly and the kitchen is pushing out food fast for all patrons. I understand now why the wait is only 15 min for a party of 2 and not an hour. Coming back again!
(5)
Philip P.
This is a great breakfast spot to come to after a long than a few friends I started breakfast naturally at 2:00 with some homemade oatmeal and quickly moved into the pancake orgy, yes pancake orgy, which had fresh fruit, granola, some other delicious additives and a drizzle of honey. This place also had some stuffed French toast the looked great but I unfortunately did not try.
(3)
Jay N.
Parking can be difficult in this neighborhood with all the other businesses and restaurants in the area. I had heard good things about Toast and this location so I had an opportunity to check this place out before going on the Vienna Beef hot dog tour. We went on a weekday morning so it wasn't that busy inside except for a few single visitors and a couple of moms with their kids in strollers. The decor is pretty simple and plenty of vintage toasters. The Julius Meinl coffee is decent except for the presentation that you get from the original cafes. We ordered the pancake orgy, an order of huevos chorizo and cheddar, along with a standard breakfast of eggs bacon potatoes and toast. The breakfast items were pretty standard and none of them really stood out. I expected more from the pancakes and they sort of blended into each other with the individual components not sticking out on its own. The portions were good and service was good since it wasn't that busy. But the key for me was that I never felt like this place would be worth it to stand in line for or drive around to find a parking space when there are so many similar places around the city. If you're here on a weekday, then stop on in. But it's not a stand out for any particular items or the environment.
(3)
Brett P.
The best brunch place in the area. Probably in the city. If you are in the mood for something completely gluttonous but amazing, try the french toast orgy. That said, everything I have had there is great. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Nicholaus H.
Filet Benedict is glorious. Everything else looks amazing. I wouldn't know. I've been here 3 times and had the same thing. I crave it.
(5)
Kavi P.
Been here a couple times now, the menu is pretty standard - food is alright. No complaints really, but i would probably enjoy trying other places for the same price...
(3)
Justine G.
For pancakes and French toast head over to Toast II. Nothing pretentious, just straight forward breakfast & brunch options with a bit of something special. First, this place is great for families with kids (kid size portions available). Otherwise it's nice to sit at the counter. Aside from the cold draft, food was delicious. Decided to not order my usual omelette and go for their stuffed French toast. Mascarpone is definitely the best of option. I got all three flavors (Mascarpone, strawberry, & dark chocolate) served with blueberries, black berries, strawberries, & grapes. Next time I'll definitely just go with a kid size version and order a savory dish to complete that sweet & savory combo. Chill atmosphere & good brunch.
(4)
Dawn H.
We've been here several times and had good food and good service, hence the 3 stars instead of 1. Definitely some missteps at my most recent visit, ie moldy fruit cup and served the wrong drink, both of which I could have overlooked. But...kicker for me was when I brought out apple slices and cheerios for my daughter, they told me no outside food was allowed, despite the fact I had ordered her her own meal. She's two years old, come on. Going elsewhere from now on.
(3)
Joyce C.
On our way to another brunch place in the completely opposite direction as Toast Two. We decided literally on the highway before the exit that we were going to try this place instead. Am I glad we picked this place over the other!! First off, we went on a random weekday. We found parking right away but were surprised that it was packed. Luckily there was one table and we got seated right away. So the space. It's kinda old school. Nothing exciting. And it's kinda small. Like I don't think there could be more than 40 people in there at any given time. But it's cutely decorated with toasters. And there is a bar I think in the back. The food. My husband got the crab benedict, I got the omelette lorraine and we split the pancake orgy. In order of favorites - pancake orgy, crab benedict and omelette lorraine, BUT everything was pretty good. I was surprised that we liked the pancakes so much- we don't usually order pancakes (or other sweet breakfast items) unless it comes with the meal. This was definitely worth it. It was flavorful, had a variety of flavors with fresh fruit, granola and honey drizzed in it- it was AWESOME! And the coffee was awesome too- I think they used Julius Meinl, which I'm not usually a fan of but this dark roast was delicious... The only gripe was that the food took a while to get. It seems the kitchen was backed up that day or something. Not sure. I would def come back!
(5)
Zimin M.
great breakfast joint. love their French Toast Orgy with yogurt on top. Coffee is good and strong
(4)
Candace S.
Toast is still, and will always be one of the best brunch places in town. The French toast orgy always keeps me coming back and is just as good every time. Although the space is small and a wait is often required, it is worth every minute for this quaint little brunch spot in Bucktown. I haven't had a bad thing on the menu!
(5)
Adam D.
Cool little diner with awesome skylights. Busy place and seating is limited
(4)
George R.
My girlfriend and I came here for brunch for her birthday. There was no wait, and we were seated quickly. The place had kind of a homey decor, lined with different toasters on some shelves, but there was not a ton of seating. We both ordered the stuffed french toast orgy. Hers was stuffed with Mexican chocolate, mine was stuffed with mascarpone. We both agreed that mine was definitely a lot better than hers. The other food people were ordering looked good too. Service was prompt, and prices were fair. I'm not sure I'd come out of my way to come back here, but I'd definitely go again if I was nearby.
(3)
Gustavo L.
First place I've had brunch in Chicago that felt like home away from home! The server was super-friendly and the menu selection was great. You cannot go wrong with the stuffed french-toast; I've been craving it since my first visit.
(5)
Nicole W.
I love this area of town. I'm more than happy to walk about (credit card in hand), shop, eat, drink, get my nails did, etc. Toast is the perfect start to a commerce filled day down Damen. As others have mentioned, the place can get quite packed, especially on weekends. But if you're like me and you just love breakfast, do yourself a favor and hit up Toast Two during the weekdays. The tables are pretty close together, so please shower for the good of the whole restaurant and your inadvertent dining partner next to you. At least layer on a swipe or two of deodorant. But I digress. The eats at Toast are solid. If you're a fan of the sweet stuff, try the stuffed French toast: three sizable, battered to perfection pieces of goodness stuffed with chocolate, strawberry goodness and marscapone. Three separate stuffs, all meld together to form a harmonious dish of fatty deliciousness. Still hungry? Definitely get a size of chicken sausage. It's flavorful and offers that perfect snap that I so crave in encased meats. For a tasty and fairly affordable breakfast in a fab downtown neighborhood, Toast Two is where it's at.
(4)
Rubin K.
With all the food requests I gave on this trip, I had to grant other people a few of their wishes, so per her request, we ended up here on a Sunday morning. What started out as a good morning quickly turned sour when our wait time went beyond what they said for 5 people. Not only that, there was an empty table that could fit us right next to the window that was clear for 20 minutes. I asked if we could just sit there, and they said it was reserved or something. Angry and hungry, my alter ego hungry Hans came out...and it wasn't pretty. By the time we sat down, we already knew what we wanted as we had plenty of time outside to figure it out. Me and my friend split the French Toast Orgy and Nutella crepe thing. Note: be careful about your wording when you say something like this because someone asked me what I was getting and I said "we were splitting an orgy and..." I didn't even need to complete the sentence. We got to try all 3 flavors with the orgy, but you could request just one if you like. I believe there was a mexican chocolate one, a strawberry, and a marscapone. I think I liked the marscapone and Chocolate on the best, but my friend really liked the marscapone. To each their own, but I like the the variety of getting all 3. They balance each other out. As for the crepe, I thought it was good, but a bit dry. There were a lot of pecans around it, which were nice, but as a whole, I thought the dish was a bit dry. I needed something. Even a little dollop of whipped cream would have been nice. I tried my friends' dishes and they were good too. The veggie goat cheese one was awesome. And as the name implies, the toast was surprisingly good. I enjoyed the perfect brown-ness on them. I think I would prefer Yolk over this, but this was also a good option. It probably wouldn't be my first choice to go back to, but a solid one nonetheless.
(4)
Helena B.
Given the long wait, I expected a little something more from our experience at Toast. The food was good, but not as fantastic as I'd been expecting. The French Toast did not seem that different from what I could get elsewhere. The main drawback, for me, was the restaurant set-up itself - very cramped. I sat at the bar, which I generally don't mind doing, but I felt smooshed and in the way the entire time at this particular bar. It made me want to hurry, and if there is one meal that shouldn't be hurried - it's brunch! I just wanted to pay and get out of there, not sit, chat, and enjoy brunch with my friend.
(2)
Vanitha S.
In Chicago brunch can sometimes be boring or repetitive depending on where you go. Toast was definitely memorable! I came on a weekday so fortunately didn't have to worry about a wait. It is really cozy in here and the tables are squeezed together to get maximum patronage but it didn't seem bad. I ordered a chai which was pretty tasty and frothy. The scrambles and omelette menu looked so creative that it was hard to decide! I finally chose the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. Now sometimes egg dishes with whites can be flat and a little blah tasting, but whatever they did to my omelette (cream maybe??) was magic as it was soft and fluffy. The flavor combo of chihuahua cheese and veggies was delicious. The house potatoes were not heavy and oily and their multigrain toast delicious. I licked my plate! Next time I will listen to Justine's idea tip which is brilliant--if ordering a kid sized French toast with your savory dish! Must do that next time.
(4)
Mike K.
Staff at the counter is really cool. Great Omelets and oatmeal. Bacon is awesome. And best of all they serve Bowtruss coffee
(5)
Michael B.
Can't say enough about the fast service and good food. It was crazy packed and several in front of us and only waited about 10 minutes for a table. The crabby Benedict was fantastic.
(5)
Lexie V.
Yum! The pancake orgy was so freaking good that I've been trying to figure out how to make something comparable for myself at home. So far no luck so I will keep coming back. One thing I did not know is that it is BYOB. I wish I knew this because I REALLY wanted to have a bloody mary but I did not happen to have a bottle of vodka on me (which is probably a good thing).
(5)
HOLLY M.
Probably the best Hollandaise Sauce I have ever had smothered my Eggs Benedict. A hint of truffle and lemon put that sauce into one of the most amazing flavors I can recall in resent memory. I'm still in a food coma but am already looking forward to returning to this restaurant. I will be prepared to wait the 30-45 minutes happily if it means I get that sauce again....drool.
(5)
Lauren D.
Dear French Toast Orgy - Your layers of goodness, piled high with fruit and granola beckon me every time I see your name on the menu. I dream of your sweet cheesy, chocolate and strawberry filled goodness. I only wish you weren't so enormous and delicious. Every time I leave Toast, I feel like I need a 4 hour nap. The food is good, maybe a little too good, because I always feel compelled to devour everything on my plate and maybe a bit off my neighbor's plate too. Cute cozy brunch place, with smiling servers and delicious food. The coffee is Julius Meinel (YAY!) and I have yet to eat something here that didn't give me foodie dreams for a week.
(5)
Yen D.
Really enjoyed it, would have hated to wait for it. We walked in on a weekday morning for brunch and were seated immediately. The place was almost full but not packed. I love the high ceiling; it reminds me of a barn, and the toasters decorating the entryway are adorable and quirky. The whole place felt light and airy and like breakfast. So it's funny that we ordered the heaviest items on the menu (I can't imagine it getting heavier): the french toast orgy and the vegetable eggs benedict, adding avocado and mozzarella. (Actually it would've been heavier if we'd gotten a meat benedict). First, OH MY GOD THE LEMON HOLLANDAISE SAUCE YOWZA it's awesome. I love benedict, but I've never had a lemon hollandaise. The tangy lemon is just perfect with the creamy rich yolk-y hollandaise. It went great on the pile of veggies (yum lemony artichoke hearts and spinach) and avocado and mozzarella. We probably didn't need the mozzarella but it was yummy. And the egg was very well poached. The muffin was not very good though; tasted like chewy bread. Wish it had those big sauce-holding nooks and crannies that English muffins should have, and/or was more toasted. Served with potatoes which are fine. Next, the french toast orgy. We wanted to order an orgy and aren't huge pancake fans, so french toast it was! You have a choice of three stuffings: mascarpone, strawberry, mexican chocolate. We nixed the chocolate and got two pieces filled with mascarpone and one with strawberry. They're topped with powdered sugar, vanilla yogurt, granola, and berries. The berries were great, and the yogurt was also pretty good. The granola was a little too chewy to give enough textural contrast with the toast: it just tasted like harder french toast on french toast. I could not finish this. I had OJ, fresh squeezed and delicious, he had some good coffee, and we had great service by a woman with short hair and tattoos. I didn't get her name but I really liked her attentiveness, kindness, and helpfulness (she told us that we could mix and match our french toast, which was nice, and she checked in on us often but not too often). Overall, quite good! Yay I'm a fan! It's quite good, but not worth a wait of more than 10 minutes (I mean, you might as well just make your own breakfast at that point. It's good but not AMAZING).
(4)
Jasmin V.
A BYOB breakfast place so bring your own. French toast orgy really amazing! There are three choices of flavors. I decided to try all three. I would definitely recommend getting all three Marscapone. The strawberry was not good at all. I was very excited for the chocolate but it was not very chocolatey. Maybe if it was Nutella (hint hint for any owners/workers reading this) then I would order it again but next time I'll go for all cheese! I also had a bite of my friend's pesto omelet. Mmmm so good I almost traded my french toast orgy...keyword almost...
(4)
Loni H.
Love the service. Love the veggie breakfast burrito. Atmosphere is great. The pretty owner is a nice gal and her staff is supercool. Everyone I have gone with has enjoyed their selections ... And they are really nice about editing your food if you prefer something added/ removed :-D 5 stars after 5 or so visits -unflawed.
(5)
Basil D.
Well, I went to Toast Two for the first time today, but I had been to the original "Toast" a few years ago. I had the B.E.L.T Breakfast sandwich. It was $8. It was good, that's it, nothing better than that. Guys, this breakfast sandwich is NOT an original concept, so spice it up a bit! Make it different!! The BELT is on ciabatta bread, which admittedly, is the BEST way to have it (I've had the exact same sandwich in tons of breakfast restaurants!). The choice of lettuce was perfect. The applewood smoked bacon was good too. There was one small egg that covered only half the sandwich inside...that was disappointing. I've never seen such a tiny fried egg! Now, if you're serving ciabatta bread on a sandwich, why in GOD'S NAME would you serve a side of potatoes?? Why not fruit as a side? I ordered avocado for my sandwich on the side, for TWO DOLLARS!! It wasn't even a whole avocado. Guys, c'mon! It was about a 1/3rd of an avocado, for two freaking dollars. To make it different, why not put a sauce on it, some mayo, or chipotle mayo or mango chutney cream cheese something.... Give it a little more flavor than just slapping crap together for a sandwich if it's going to be EIGHT DOLLARS!!!!!! Now, my friend had the stuffed french toast with the granola and yogurt on top. I had a taste of that, and it was pretty amazing. Please put that kind of creativity into your other dishes if you want premium price, and for people to have a truly unique experience. I also had the Julius Meinl coffee.... the ONLY kind of coffee to have in Chicago (sorry Intelligentia snobs...overrated), and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice which was fantastic. Maybe if I have the French Toast next time I go, and I will go, good locations, I'll give it another star. If the price point were lower, I'd bump it up a star, but not worth it for the price under normal circumstances.
(2)
Ryan C.
This place blows. My wife and I have been wanting to go here for a long time, so we finally decided to give it a Sunday brunch try. We immediately regretted it. The place is so small and crammed, and the way the seats are, you are basically sitting on top of the people next to you, just hearing everything they are saying. The tables are so close to each other that to get to the booth seat you have to stick your butt right in your neighbors face. Awkward. The service is incredibly slow as well. I ordered the chilaquiles and added chorizo, it was decent. My wife got the eggs Benedict. Super gross. Why would you make your hollandaise sauce so lemony? Ruined her dish. The potatoes that came with were ok. We know we will never go back. The food wasn't good enough to overcome the horrible atmosphere and lay out.
(1)
Lindsey S.
I just wasn't a fan of what I ordered. The stuffed French toast. It wasn't awful I just couldn't do the warm fruit. Service wasn't awful. It was extremely busy on the Saturday morning we got there but were seated in about fifteen minutes. My husband did really enjoy the pancake orgy.
(3)
Donisha L.
Two words for Toast Two: FOOD - COMA. I had friends in town from New York this weekend and we were actually headed to Lula's Cafe closer to my Logan Square hood. Sadly they were closed (strange for a Tuesday), but glad I stumbled across another brunch gem. My friends both had Eggs Benedict, which looked absolutely amazing. I opted for a healthier option (at least in my mind) with the peppered eggs and a side of chicken sausage. The chicken sausage was a magically delicious savory hint of apple goodness. We were fighting over the last piece like two homeless alley cats....man that sausage was amazing! Cute, quaint, looks like my grandma's kitchen, easy street parking during the weekday. Just say YES to Toast Two!
(4)
Dan E.
The food is generally good, but I have had long waits and poor service on a couple of occasions at this location. Not sure what the deal is, but it's not worth the wait with so many other great breakfast places in Chicago.
(3)
Steve H.
I only Yelp if I know a place, love a place, and can't help but spread the word. My wife and I have been to Toast well over a dozen times (probably closer to two dozen - don't judge) since moving to Bucktown. It's our go-to place for a Saturday morning brunch date or a meal with visiting out-of-towners. The staff is always kind, especially on busy mornings. On numerous occasions, we have been served coffee while we wait. I don't know any other place that does that. It's affordable and delicious. It's also pretty fun to hear my mother-in-law order a "french toast orgy."
(5)
Lola K P.
Cute updated diner-style with high ceilings that gives it the illusion of being much bigger than it is. Solid neighborhood breakfast joint with very good prices. Everyone was so pleasant, from the front desk to the waitress. We sat right by the window, which was very nice. The virgin Bloody Mary was good, practically had a whole salad in it (another Chicago specialty we'll miss). I had the crabby benedict, which was quite good, just the right amount of hollandaise. My thick cut bacon was perfectly crispy. Hubby and I shared that and the plain french toast with berries, good. Our friends have visited before and got their usual breakfast burrito and omelet, and said they were great as usual. Very good all around.
(4)
Preston J.
My favorite breakfast place in the city. The place is small, so expect to wait 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere inside is cute and clean. My favorites are the Eggs Benedict (all 3 varieties) or the french toast orgy (a mountain of tastes).
(5)
Ashley B.
A friend of mine suggested brunch at this place so my boyfriend and I came along and it was pretty awesome! I had been to Yolk, Eggsperience, Nookies, and a few other places in the city and this place seemed right on the money. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was delicious, especially since I requested to add chorizo. It was spicy, filling, and I needed a nap afterwards which to me, suggests it was a success. The boyfriend got the pancake orgy: a lemon poppyseed, regular, and blueberry muffins with granola, yogurt, honey, and syrup on top. Needless to say it was ridiculously rich (the yogurt on a side is probably a good idea) but definitely delicious. I want to come back! Only next time I'll have a bottle of champagne on hand to mix with my delicious homemade OJ!
(4)
Mallory H.
My girlfriend and I just had brunch at the Bucktown location of Toast and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We sat at the counter, the stools have little pegs for your legs which is great for us shorties out there! The overall ambiance is cozy and our server was super sweet - the staff in general was very accommodating and genuine. As for the food, we went with the basics and everything was prepared perfectly. My girl went with the buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries. The serving size was plentiful and the berries were super fresh. I had scrabbled eggs, house potatoes and chicken sausage which was incredibly juicy and had the prefect grilled taste that took me to a place of summer and BBQ, vastly different from the snow and negative degree temps we've had lately. We were even offered a fresh cup of coffee to take home. Maybe I've just been going to all the wrong breakfast places, but I really appreciated this and took our server up on her offer. We will definitely be back! Only tip is to arrive before 11, after that you are most likely in for a long wait, but it's worth it :)
(5)
Ellen V.
Years ago we went there for breakfast on Sat, the food was excellent , but waiting time was to kill your day. These days I have an opportunity to enjoy my 'solo' breakfast during week days. Sitting by the bar , chatting with the owner and folks around - perfect way to start a day. French Toast, pancakes, crepes all are done to perfection! And so far one of the best Eggs Benedict in town. So, why 4 starts? Coffee.... Few months ago they changed the vendor, looks like most of the folks are happy with the new one, but I left out without my morning coffee.
(4)
Meredith K.
We have been coming here for years. Its my dad's favorite place for Sunday breakfast. I say breakfast b/c we're always here before 9. Anything after and you're waiting for awhile. The coffee is good and so are the omelets. I usually get the veggie. If you're feeling decadent then get the french toast orgy. Its crazy!! I've had the crepes and they're sweet. And the seasonal pancakes are good too. I wouldn't come here without my dad but its where my dad ALWAYS wants to go.
(4)
Claudia D.
The offerings sound great and include Steel Cut Oatmeal and fresh fruit. Daily specials. The husband has, however, been disappointed 2-3 times with his sandwich selection, and with the preparation of his omelets/eggs. He likes his eggs soft, they always are too hard. He likes his Croque Monseur, but not the one here. The pancakes are often dry. The Steel Cut Oatmeal is good, but not great. The prices are a bit high. The service is good. Parking is easy during the week on the street.
(2)
Maureen R.
Toast...I will never forget you. First the wait. Did you have to do that to me! And when it's a little cold I thought...eh-we can go somewhere else. But no, rumor is I wouldn't be disappointed with you! And waiting was well worth it. There were 3 of us and everything we ordered turned out amazing!!! The French Toast Orgy pretty much describes it in the title (insert Meg Ryan here). Also the French Toast stuffed with mascarpone was delicious! Although I may be partial to anything pesto...the Pesto Scramble was also tasty!! Go for brunch. Bring a book. Wait the wait. Do it. I will hopefully be seeing you soon...
(5)
Raymond S.
Being down the street from two great brunch places in Red Door and Bristol, Toast Too had a lot to live up to due to proximity. The place is small but me and my brah got seated immediately (1:45 p.m. Sat). No waiting area so I imagine it would suck coming around prime hours and having to wait. I got the French Toast Orgy and I knew it would be a bad idea. For one because it's praised by Yelpers and to be quite honest, the consensus usually ends up sucking. Secondly I normally get french toast at other establishments including some of the best offered in Chicago so it had to go up against Batter and Berries and Bristol. The dish was extremely bland, the texture wasn't very pleasurable and the yogurt brought the flavor quotient down a few notches. All three flavors sucked. The other dish ordered was the breakfast burrito but lets be serious, it's impossible to screw up a flour tortilla stuffed with chorizo, eggs and cheese. It was tasty and had a nice spice kick to it. I can praise them for their prices, which were generally affordable for the main dishes. The coffee was just decent, and for $4 we got 4 flimsy pieces of Oscar Meyer bacon. I see no reason to visit this place unless the wait for Red Door and Bristol is unbearable.
(2)
Melissa K.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday on heavy recommendations from co-workers. I was NOT disappointed. The place was really small, and I had a 45 minute wait, but I was warned before so was prepared. Once we got it it was a quick seat & a hottie waitress, and it was smooth sailing and good eats from there! I ordered the Cobb Club sandwich with the House Potatoes; My friend ordered the stuffed French Toast with Marscapone Cheese & her Guy ordered the Grilled Tenderloin Benedict - all looked so tasty - and my sandwich was killer. I will definitely be coming back to this place
(4)
Joshua M.
In my last review, I detailed an awful experience I had with this place. An awful waiter, awful service, awful food, the whole nine yards. I got invited out to brunch here, and I put my resentment aside to try this place out again. Boy am I glad I did. It was honestly fantastic this time. Our server was a tall man with lots of tattoos (the bill said Brandon, but who knows if that's his name. It said "Brandon" last time, and our last "Brandon" sucked). He really went above and beyond. We had someone at our table who wasn't feeling well and just couldn't stomach eating. He brought us some soda water with lemon and salt for him, which really helped settle his stomach. The food and service were both spectacular. My tenderloin benedict was perfectly-charred and pretty close to the medium rare I ordered (I'll forgive a few extra degrees on a medium rare for a nice char). Everyone at our table raved about their food, myself included. This place really turned it around for me. I'll be sure to give them more brunching opportunities in the future.
(5)
Taufiq H.
Very nice atmosphere. Usually long wait times over weekends. Outdoor seating in back. Superb breakfast!
(4)
Ramya P.
Really good breakfast spot but not worth the 1 hour wait-time The space is actually a lil' congested but the high ceilings make it appear more spacious. Service was fast and attentive. Eggs benedict is amazing, the lemon truffle hollandaise sauce is divine and the potatoes on the side are roasted perfectly. The omelet is nothing special but good nonetheless.
(4)
Michael U.
Getting back to breakfast proper I gave my aunt the choice between Toast and Jam - though I hear the two go well together these are two separate restaurants in Chicago's breakfast/brunch scene - a scene I personally believe is the best in the country. Arriving at the small shop - the second of Jeanne Roser's (who was indeed present that day working the counter and pouring coffee) locations just after 9:30 we entered and were seated immediately. Menus were presented, specials described, water poured - top notch service. With aunt ordering orange juice (fresh squeezed and only $3 for a good sized glass) and myself going for coffee - a strong breakfast blend with mostly floral notes and a decent acidity - we perused the unique menu full of the standard breakfast, lunch, and brunch foods plus some really unique options. Decisions made we placed our orders and waited approximately 15 minutes while chatting and browsing the kitschy interior (toasters EVERYWHERE) before our food was delivered. For my aunt her selection was the "pancake orgy" featuring a stack of three thick and buttery yet perfectly golden and chewy pancakes topped with raspberry granola, creamy yougurt, and a drizzle of honey. With each pancake featuring a different flavor we both rather suspected they would be served linearly instead of as a stack, but on tasting we were both impressed by how each pancake tasted entirely different but also worked as a whole. Featuring a mild apple cinnamon pancake on top, a zippy and sour lemon poppy seed in the middle, and a banana pecan on the bottom I personally liked the banana pecan best (perhaps the post-New Orleans bias?) while aunt fancied the apple cinnamon. Offered a bite early in the meal my aunt is thankfully weak and couldn't finish much so I was able to later add some maple syrup and finish off the banana pecan cake. For myself the decision was easy - French Toast Orgy. Served essentially as a single 2 inch thick slice of stuffed brioche divided into three "fingers" the dish was again topped with an ample helping of raspberry granola, savory and smooth yogurt, and honey - I also added ample maple syrup, pure unless my taste buds deceive me. Featuring three different styles I first tasted the chocolate - mild hints of cocoa, great crispy and textural exterior with a melt in the mouth interior. Second I tasted the mascarpone and it turned out to be my favorite of the group with the sweetened cheese forming a pockets of creaminess inside the already buttery and smooth bread-pudding textured toast. My final taste was stuffed with pureed strawberry and while not quite as delectable as the other two (lacking the creaminess) I loved the tart contrast - eating it with the chocolate toast was superb. Very pleased with the griddled goods my aunt and I were equally enamored with the copious amount of fresh berries delivered with the breakfasts - in Los Angeles or New York the fruits included would've likely more than doubled the price of the meal. Paying the bargain tab and leaving a large tip we made our way to the streets and our easily obtained free parking spot very pleased with the Toast experience - between Bongo Room, Toast, M.Henry, and the myriad spots serving weekend brunch Chicago still reigns as my favorite breakfast city by far.
(5)
Kyle S.
Fantastic food. The feast potatoes are wonderful. Coffee was good, bacon crisp, but there was something not quite right with the sausage. I like it spicier maybe, it was still good though. I really liked this place.
(4)
Matteo I.
Food is great, differentiated. Service is friendly and down-to-earth. Great space, good buzz and atmosphere (especially if you bring sparkling wine for mimosas, it's BYOB). 3 stars for one reason that ruined my experience. The waiting list and seating process is not very streamlined. All members of your party must be present in order to be put in line for the next table available. It gets worse for parties over 2 people in number. So even though you may have waited for 45 minutes minus one member of your party (my case), you'll have to wait potentially 30 minutes or more on top of that to get a table, while others who arrived after you are seated before you. My wait total was 1hr 25min beginning at 10:15am on a Sunday morning for brunch. Still they did their best to follow their process, just a key management fix for the future. Definitely going back, but I will be planning ahead! Make sure your champagne is chilled somehow as you wait!
(3)
Osiris V.
After years of anticipation I finally stopped in here. Between my moms and my sister we all tasted some of the Eggs Benedict, Tijuana omelet (jalapeños, onion, tomato, chihuahua cheese and cilantro) and the French Toast orgy. The french toast orgy was very naughty, it did all kinds of things in my mouth. We ordered the one stuffed with marscapone, then they topped it with yogurt and their home made granola. I enjoyed every bite! The omelet was something that I'd make at home, and I'm not a fan of Eggs Benedict. The service was exceptional. The cups of water and coffee at our table were always full, all the empty plates were taken promptly. I am a definite fan of Toast Two but unless I'm in the city early in the a.m., I don't think I'd make the trip out there just for the french toast. I'm sure a breakfast joint here in the burbs would offer me tasty choices as well.
(4)
Caroline A.
I cannot believe it took me this long to get to Toast Two. After reading about their French Toast Orgy recently, I had not been able to get it out of my head! We got to the restaurant at 10:30 on a Saturday and only had to wait 20 minutes. Not bad at all. Six hungry ladies gathered and had mimosas with super fresh gargantuan strawberries! The menu is full of super fat, calorie dense, sugary and savory brunch favorites... and the worst part is that you kind of want it all. I went with the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette. And I almost ate the whole thing. I also had a bite of the marscapone stuffed french toast and it was sinfully delicious. Bonus points for being able to switch to egg whites only and having a few healthy options. The staff is super friendly, and we had lovely service. We stayed for a while catching up and didn't feel rushed at all. Enjoy and have a food coma shnap afterward.
(5)
Kimberly K.
Had a groupon for Toast. My son and I decided to check it out. We went on a weekday. Food was good as was service. Tables are very close and there aren't a lot of them, but that's not unusual. It was a bit noisy. Cute place, good food. Definitely a place to check out. Oh and they do serve lunch.
I had a great eggs benedict dish here. This dish, plus the potatoes served with it, was delicious. The coffee was also great. My friend and I did not have to wait too long on a Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Service was friendly. A little expensive, but I do not want to make hollandaise at home, so it was very good. I hope to return in the near future.
(5)
Hana W.
This is by far one of the best brunch spots in the city. Whether you sit inside or out on the patio I have received exceptional service. It is a byob restaurant with large pitchers of orange juice to take care of all our mimosa needs. We began our meal with the orgasmic stuffed French toast. Each piece could stand as a meal of it's own , but brilliently complimented each other. I have ordered a number of other dishes such as the Cobb sales, pesto scramble, ahi tuna sandwich, just to name a few. I have enjoyed absolutely everything. In addition we had one server assistant Gordie, who went over and above with his service. He always approached our table with a genuine smile and accommodated all of our needs. If you are looking for a great neighborhood breakfast spot, visit toast two. There is sometimes a small wait list, but it is worth it.
(5)
Steve W.
A place called "Toast," should have very good Toast, and Toast Two certainly does. I really enjoy the hearty, multigrain toast I have with my breakfast here. Is talking about toasted bread boring? No? Ok, wonderful. The dining room is quaint, with a nice al fresco area out back. There area few old toasters, and comfy "breakfast" art on the walls. The menu features a few egg benedicts, omelettes, french toasts, and pancakes. They also serve Julian Meinl coffee, which is delicious. The Chilaquiles were a special one morning, and they were very delicious. In a peppery Verde sauce, the chips were a little softer than traditional chilaquiles, but still held on to a little texture. All the food I've tried at Toast Two has been well prepared, tasty, and far from typical greasy breakfast fare.
(4)
B H.
Love this place. It's one of our favorite brunch spots in the city. The French Toast Orgy is awesome. If I had to complain about something, it's that there's no place to wait. This is a popular place so a 20+ minute wait is not unheard of. In the summer, people usually hang out on the sidewalk. In the winter you have to cram into the doorway. You have to squish right between the table nearest the door and between the host stand. This doubly sucks when you're seated at the table nearest to the door.
(4)
Bryan Y.
I ate here with my roommates last Saturday and it was amazing! The breakfast tasted so fresh. Here is what we ordered: 1. Breakfast burrito: the veggie/multi grain wrap hit the spot 2. Eggs benedicts and Steak: They poached the egg perfectly. Steak was very tender 3. Bacon Omelet: enjoyed the bacon and potatoes 4. Stuff French toast: the toast was very fluffy. I enjoyed the cream stuff flavor the most It had nice little home feel environment. We sat in the patio which felt like I was having breakfast at a friends house. I would definitely come here again. Also, if you come with a group they only accept a maximum of 2 credit cards. They don't allow you to use a combination of cash and card. So it either 2 credit cards or all cash.
(5)
Leah D.
Why are you reading this review? Go to Toast right now and get stuffed french toast with marscapone. It's the best. Their savory breakfasts are equally delicious, but the french toast is out of this world! Great coffee, great service. We usually sit at the counter and have always had excellent service and amazing breakfast! Oh and it's BYOB!
(5)
Andrea R.
I've been a longtime fan of the original Toast* in Lincoln Park, but just tried it's Bucktown location for the first time this week. It was hustling and bustling on a Wednesday afternoon just a few days before Xmas- most likely with people off for the holiday. I had the lil one with me so I was a bit worried it would be a long wait, but they had us seated pretty fast. Bucktown Toast is pretty similar to it's big sis: a tiny restaurant crammed with tables a bit too close to each other, mediocre service and a menu full of yummy breakfast and lunch eats. I usually stick with their granola/fruit bowl, but just last week discovered the pesto scramble. So good that I had it 2 days in a row- once in LP and then the next day here in Bucktown. I preferred mine without the prosciutto and in the name of healthiness substituted their delish potatoes for fruit, which they charged a ridiculous fee of $3. I also got a side of cinnamon raisin toast, which was awesome...then again I'd expect nothing less for a restaurant named "Toast." ---------- * Toast: yelp.com/biz/toast-chica…
(4)
Lynn N.
Coming from an area with no BYOBs, I welcomed Toast Two's BYOB policy and lovely carafes of orange juice that came with strawberry-rimmed glasses. My Tijuana omelet (with avocado added) also came out pretty tasty with stretchy chihuhua cheese, onions, pockets of avocado, and a gentle pinch of cilantro. So why only three stars? First of all, my omelet cost $10 outright and $12 with the avocado added. Even for my DC standards, that seems kind of pricey for a run-of-the-mill omelet. Secondly, and more importantly, I had a beef with the toast at Toast (Two). While they offered many kinds of toast, I learned very quickly that brioche should only be used for french toast. Also, they only offered strawberry jam with it. When I asked if they had any other kind, they said no. Seriously?! Toast is as tight with jam as jelly is with peanut butter. Please, Toast, offer your bread more jam friends to hang out with.
(3)
Ana C.
One of my favorite breakfast places. It is honestly a hidden gem. I love their omelets you can really taste all the fresh ingredients. One week I went here about three times that is how much I fell in love with it. They also give you endless coffee and oh my god it is delicious not your typical old coffee sitting for 3 days in the pot kind of coffee. I left feeling full and energized with all the cups of coffee. On one trip I had some coffee left and the server was so kind as to bring a to go cup for the coffee. I was the happiest super good food and friendly staff. One con which doesn't take away any star is that there usually is a wait time especially now that the outdoor sitting area will soon be unavailable.
(5)
Sherie P.
Yes, it's called Toast. No, I didn't actually have toast! But what I did have was very good. I though I was going to have to give a not so good review, but Toast changed my mind. A girlfriend of mine organized a slightly large party for such a small place. There were 12 of us meeting there for brunch at 11 on Sunday. I know...their busy time. But when she called weeks ahead of the date, they said it would be no problem... The week of, Oh, it might be a problem.... And when she arrived an hour early to ensure we got seats may or may not be a problem?? But as 11 soon approached the lovely hostess came to check in on us while we waited and ensure that we would be sat at 11. It was a few minutes later but the timing was perfect. She was great and totally made up for the indecisiveness and attitude of the others. Did I mention it was BYOB? We brought our bottle of champagne and they brought the cups and juice right away. YUM. The perfect way to start a brunch is with a sip of coffee and a sip of Mimosa. Next time I've got to bring Vodka to make myself a bloody mary! Since it was such a "big" group we got a wide sampling of food. My friend got the pumpkin pancakes! YUM! They were so light and fluffy. They just melted in my mouth. Several people got omelettes which they all loved and the benedict was a hit. I got the breakfast burrito. Of course I had to add chorizo to it. YUM! It was spicy and eggy. The tortilla was filled to the brim. It was the perfect size for me to eat it all but not feel over stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the salsa they brought with it. It was like tomato water with a spec of cilantro floating in it. Really?? That's NOT salsa. But the hot sauce the waiter brought more than made up for it. Will I go back? Definitely. I am dying to try the Pancake Orgy!
(4)
Annalea T.
Seriously this might be my favorite brunch place in the city of Chicago. Both locations are great- this one is closer for me so I prefer it, the only downside is at this location they don't have booze. Best eggs Benedict I have ever had in my life- lemony truffle hollandaise with house potatoes and tenderloin cooked to perfection with the best eggs and English muffin. Wow, just thinking of it makes my mouth water! I always love to find any excuse to go here. I love the staff too. Vinny is my favorite here, he loves to strike up conversation & always gives wonderful service. They have Julius meinl coffee here which is also excellent. This is a place I don't hesitate to take my out of town visitors :) always a must!!
(5)
Neha N.
This place is walkable for me.....and I'm so grateful. I came here on a Sunday around 11, and got seated in ten minutes. The server was kind and attentive. I got the pancake orgy (3 types of pancake) which was sooo delicious. This place is vegetarian friendly, unlike a lot brunch places around the city. Not too pricey and enough food if you want to take it home (but whose gonna take soggy pancakes home). Also, they are BYOB, but you have to purchase orange juice in order to make the mimosas which can end up being pricey...
(5)
David R.
November 6, 2010 - Per the website the last seating is at 3:45 pm being that they close at 4pm on Saturday. I have a Foursquare check-in at 3:21...my friend and I walked in and were told they will be closing in five minutes. I had looked forward eating here. I failed to notice the last seating time when I picked this place since I found in on Yelp Mobile for Android and saw the 4pm closing time, I figured we made it in time to dine here....oh well!
(1)
Jason D.
Toast has been on my hit list since I first moved to Bucktown a year ago. I finally found no wait and decided to take my house guests there. I ordered the Pesto Scramble and it didn't disappoint. The dish was very tasty with little bits of prosciutto and the pesto flavor wasn't overbearing. The eggs came with a side of potato's which were cooked perfectly, crispy but not overdone. The potato's however were not served as hot as I would of liked. Five Star Eggs, Three Star Potato's With the Pesto scramble, I ordered the short stack side, full size pancakes covered with powder sugar. Very tasty but this order could feed one by itself, so in addition the Pesto Scramble this proved to be a lot of food. Four Star Pancakes. Toast is very good breakfast joint. I enjoyed the home-style ambiance and the wait staff was very friendly. I would recommend it so long as there is no wait, as we were eating we overheard the hostess notifying people of a 25 minute wait.
(4)
Liz K.
Not one of my brunch faves. I don't blame them for not having my favorite breakfast dish (smoked salmon eggs benedict), but maybe I shouldn't have had such high hopes for my replacement dish (smoked salmon omelette). It just that when I order smoked salmon, I expect it to be reasonably present in the dish. I couldn't really taste it at all. My man friend was equally unimpressed with his eggs and bacon. The lack of flavor, high prices, and wait are enough for me to cross this off the list and not try it again.
(2)
Jaye J.
At this point, I've dined here quite a few times and had several menu items. Sure, sometimes I had to swipe them off of Mr. J's plate, but still... Yup, there is a wait on weekends. Prepare for up to an hour. In nice weather, our usual routine is to put in our names, get coffee somewhere, and walk around the 'hood. I'm not a fan of more than a 15 minute wait anywhere, so in the winter, we usually just don't make it here. The decor is simple and cute. Service has been overall excellent. Helpful suggestions from the servers, polite hosts and unobtrusive bussers. The only time we experienced anything less was our last visit on Apr 1. The host acted put-out to have to set us and the server was just barely adequate. Perhaps I'm just spoiled by otherwise more engaged service from Toast II, and it was near the end of their day. In general though, I have always been pleased. As another reviewer noted, the hollandaise here is perfection. Creamy, rich, and just enough tang. That gloppy over-lemoned mess you usually get places is not found here. Apparently I am the only person not in love with the "orgy" dishes. I find them odd-too dry in some places, too soggy in others and the yogurt seems too drippy and sour and the granola and french toast mixture just turns to a mushy chunky slosh on y plate mixed with bland tasting marscapone and overly sweet strawberries. I really hated it. However, I suppose it does have that comfort food things-a-6-year-old-would-eat craziness to it, and my Mother in Law really enjoyed it. The first thing I ever had there was the pancake of the day which, at that time was a dark chocolate chip pancake with a chili whipped cream. This is the stuff my fantasies are made of. I love butter. Like Paula Deen love for butter, but these were so rich and creamy all I had to do was let the whipped cream melt onto the cakes and I was happy. The dark chocolate chips were not too sweet and offset nicely by the chili which was not hot at all. The pancakes themselves were a perfect texture. I have since tried other pancakes, and they are all good-however this combo could make them famous! Last time, I got the pesto scramble which was delicious. Scrambled in prosciutto and topped with Gruyere cheese and served with house potatoes it was substantial and delicious. Mr. J had the egg of the day which was similar to mine but with a different cheese (chihuahua?) and green chili sauce with green peppers. Also good. The crabby Benedict is better than most places with nice sized hunks of crab and the regular Benedict are also delicious. In all the egg dishes-my only complaint is that the eggs could use a bit less cook time. Both Benedicts and scrambles/omelettes the eggs are just the wrong side of done and border on rubbery. The coffee is good. The OJ is a real treat. The prices area bit of a splurge, but the portions are good sized and the food is really enjoyable. I feel like I can take anyone here and I have: from my trendy girlfriends, to pals after a long night of parties, to out of towners to get a feel for the 'hood to just me and my hubby for a nice breakfast. Even my in-laws who aren't adventurous eaters, but don't mind coming a bit out of the box. The food is familiar enough to be satisfying but different enough that you know you are eating breakfast you wouldn't have whipped up yourself in an atmosphere that is usually has a bit of bustle to awaken you but not too much trendiness.
(5)
Kori E.
So, so, so good! I love brunch on Sunday mornings and I am lucky enough to live a block away from this magnificent brunch spot. Yes, there is always a wait, so definitely get there early and put your name in. The wait is definitely worth it!! I had the BELT, a Bacon, Egg, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich on a french roll. I am a sucker for breakfast sandwiches and this was probably by far the best one I have had in a really long time. It was very fresh, the bread was soft (which was surprising since it said it was a french roll, it looked more ciabatta) the egg was perfectly cooked and the bacon was the perfect touch. I devoured the entire sandwich. My boyfriend ordered lunch and he got the tuna steak sandwich with a side of the apple chicken sausage. His was equally as tasty as mine. I am definitely getting the french toast the next time we come here...hopefully this weekend!!
(5)
Rachel S.
So cute with all the little toasters and chicken wallpaper and such. But, a word to the wise, if you intend to eat here for brunch, come here early! The waits can get ridiculous and there is nowhere to wait inside. You're forced to awkwardly stand in everyone's way. I got here with my friends at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. We waited almost an hour in this nowhere-to-comfortably-stand war zone. That being said, the food and coffee were tasty, although I felt the menu could have stood a bit more ingenuity. A touch boring, given the wide and varied offerings this city has for brunch.
(3)
Shauna N.
Super delicious! Make sure to try something new. Also, get there early--there is ALWAYS a wait!
(5)
Colleen C.
A rainy Friday morning... *punctuated with pumpkin pancakes dolloped with nutmeg whip cream. *percolated with Julius Meinl coffee, fresh REAL cream, quick steppin' refills. *giggled by Amanda C *bubbled by Diet Coke. *Courtesy of Toast 2. Weekday brunching encouraged...this is a high-risk zone for waiting on weekends. Also, please keep in mind that something in the air creates children all over the place in Bucktown brunch spots, so protect accordingly. It's a baby factory. They like pancakes, too...apparently!
(4)
Tyler J.
Great breakfast food and coffee. Price seemed a bit high for the quality, but overall a good experience.
(4)
Kymberly J.
Completely worth the long wait! Luckily for us gals, Toast is sandwiched by two clothing boutiques so we can browse while we wait - even on Sunday morning! The only deal is that if you arent there to hear your name being read, the host moves on after 5 seconds. We sat in the quaint back patio with patches of sun coming through the trees and peaking around the umbrellas that even on a hot Chicago Afternoon youre not roasting. The food was deeeeelicious! I had pancakes with lavender buds, marscipone, pine nuts and berries. I am more of a savory breakfast person but I saw this on the menu and it called my name. In an ideal world I would be able to get a smaller portion pancakes with an egg or bacon to balance out the sweet... The BF got french toast which were cut into strips and each had a different flavor. I tried the mexican chocolate...OMG! BYOB! There is a liquor store right down the street. Buy your vodka there and add it their bloody mary mix or get your own and save the $5.00 per glass per mix.
(5)
Annette J.
MMM French toast orgy. Naughty? Yes. Delicious? OH YES. Three pieces of French toast each stuffed with a wonderful surprise (strawberry puree, mascarpone cheese, and chocolate) topped with yogurt, granola, fresh fruit and honey. I am actually eating some yogurt, granola and blueberries right now and how I wish I had a nice piece of Toast French toast underneath! Sadly this is not the case. But Toast can get that for you if you want it. If you are willing to wait, that is. The wait here can be a killer. Unfortunately Toast does not take reservations so be prepared to stand around. The space is small but there is bar seating if you are fast enough to grab it. Admittedly I'm not the world's earliest riser so my brunch dates tend to start a little late which is a benefit at Toast. The later you go the quicker it is to get a table. That has been my experience at least. The fruit is fresh and tasty. I hate melon so I appreciate that they do not use melon filler in their fruit cups and French toast orgy like most breakfast joints do. Berries! Yay! While I tend to always go for the orgy their savory foods are delicious as well. Great breakfast sandwiches! Coffee is pretty good although their hot chocolate is somewhat lacking. I'm a chocolate snob so a cup of Hershey's syrup hot chocolate just ain't gonna cut it for me. But other beverages I've had here have been great! Overall one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. I strangely find myself at this location more than the Lincoln Park one even though I live closer to the Webster spot but both are great. I believe the Webster location has a liquor license so if a cocktail with your eggs Benedict is important to you then perhaps make your way there.
(4)
Sean S.
We're from out of town and yelp pointed us here. Went on a weekday and it was full but we were seated quickly. The service was awesome and the food was delightful. The 5 of us all chose something different and shared bites. That was a great way to do it. It's a great option for a breakfast spot outside of downtown in a new neighborhood.
(5)
Melly C.
This place was amazing, I had the stuffed fresh toast, hot apple cider, and bacon on the side. Everything tastes spectacular and we got there during a busy time in the day, but we still were able to sit at the counter. I liked all the different toasters they have, I want that Hello Kitty one! Food was prepared quickly and I am a huge fan of the strawberry stuffed french toast. I'll come here again but I am going to have a hard time choosing what to get,I know it!
(5)
Abbey A.
this place is NOT vegan friendly, not a single item on the menu. i can't vouch for how their food tastes, but they claim to be vegan friendly both online and when i called in ahead of time.
(1)
Hilary P.
I can't believe I've been going to Toast for 4 years now but it's still my favorite breakfast in the country. That's right, the whole damn country! I've expanded to the eggs benedict from time to time as well since it's incredible but everything here really is delicious so you really can't go too wrong. This is the one place that every trip to Chicago, we manage to work in at least one breakfast at no matter how hectic our schedule is and I don't see that changing any time soon.
(5)
Carol K.
A-Ok. That's the perfect description of my recent breakfast visit to Toast Two. Okay. Not great, phenomenal, life changing or amazing. Not crappy, awful, "should have slept in", bad. Just okay. We got here before the mad rush on a cool Sunday morning. Eating outside was out of the question so I was thrilled to see a two top with our name on it as we walked in just before 9am. We ordered and sat waiting to get anything. Coffee, people! Want a great review? Bring me coffee! Now! But bring it with real cream for my dining companion as he hates anything but half and half or real cream, and that milk that came in that little pitcher did nothing to assuage the need. COFFEE!! I NEED COFFEE!! A cup arrived. It was gone in a flash- almost inhaled and then the forever wait for cup number two. Where are they going for my coffee . . . .Brazil? Thank heaven our food came up then- Eggs Benny for me and a Breakfast Burrito for the man who sat across from me still glowering about the lack of cream. They were both good but not great. The hollandaise sauce on my eggs was a little too lemony but the chopped tomatoes on top were a nice touch. And the potatoes that came with it? Not so good. Kind of soggy and boring. The burrito was definitely the better choice. Our server was literally missing in action during our visit. I can't be the only one who needs tons of coffee in the morning. The fact that they had to take my cup, go back and pour the coffee out of a carafe behind the bar and then return with one cup every time someone wanted a refill was a problem. Breakfast for two ran around $36. A bit pricey in my opinion for the food served. Parking on Damen on a Sunday morning? Easy, Peasy. But the biggest opportunity? Service. Don't mess with me in the morning. I'm not a morning type of gal. Just get me tons of coffee with no hassle (and real cream) and food that I rave about and you and I will get along fine. Now about about another cup of that java?
(3)
Michael L.
The eggs Benedict are delightful!!!
(5)
Jo W.
We ended up here on accident, but I'm really glad we came. It was a Friday morning so it wasn't that busy when we arrived, but there was a line by the time we left. French toast used to be my go-to brunch dish, but I hadn't had it in ages. Since "toast" is in the name I decided to go for it, and I'm glad I did - it was perfection, and now I'm back to having daydreams about french toast all day long... Service was excellent. So excellent, here's where they earned their 5th star: I was brunching with my vegan friend, and Toast Two isn't vegan, nor do they have any listed vegan options on their menu. My friend was going to order something really basic and boring, and mentioned she was vegan. Our server told her she could make the breakfast burrito vegan for her, so my friend went with that. Apparently this was a good move, because my friend inhaled that burrito and kept commenting how good it was. So, vegan diners, take note - ask and ye shall receive! I was super happy with brunch here and would come back, but I'd come on an off day and time because I'm not a fan of standing in any line, no matter how good the food is.
(5)
Mayra H.
We ate more food than what fit on a table. and when I say "we" I mean just me & my mentee Cynthia aka my other lil sis. ambiance was cool, service was great, food was awesome. we ordered crepes, French toast (fresh fruit made it yummy), eggs, the works.... We ate like we had never eaten before but all and all we did have to ultimately sacrifice and leave some of it behind. you do have to wait awhile to be seated, depending on the day, so make sure you bring something to read or at the very least like the person you're eating with enough to talk to them for up to an extra 45-60 min. :) *I went back with my mini me & J but they didn't like the hollandaise sauce. ((so note to self: we need to find some good hollandaise sauce))
(5)
Patrick L.
OMG I think I got drunk on their chilaquiles- best I have ever had-
(5)
Chijen Y.
Maybe this place can't afford to clean their grossly smelly bathroom or hire a repair man to come to fix the toilet paper dispenser that's hanging off the wall because their heat bill is so high from "toasting" all their patrons. Ridiculously hot in there, but anyway, on to the important stuff... I tried to order the highest nutritionally sound items on the menu... "artichoke" soup tasted like saur kraut... it was good, but no hint of artichoke there... and ewww. Niscoise salad?!! I should have taken a picture of this pale poorly put together salad...gross frozen fish lacking flavor and color... but that wouldn't have helped explain why the greenbeans tasted of slight pinesol??! Blech. Will not be going back. My assumption, based on the look on the waiter's face when I told him that the salad wasn't good is that its not the first one he had to take back. Partner ordered crab benedict and pancakes. They didn't seem to screw that up.
(1)
Praveen S.
Good brunch place. Tasty burgers, even the vegetarian one was good. Good coffee and service. will visit again.
(4)
Kendal K.
Best brunch in Bucktown! Love! Get the French Toast Orgy!
(5)
Jessie B.
I have died & gone to brunch heaven. Plus it is BYOB. I'm speechless here.
(5)
Kelsey F.
A BYOB Brunch spot with amazing food and options for everyone! Why don't we have one of these in Boston??! I got the spinach and goat cheese omelet which was yummy. Everyone else really liked there meals as well. The french toast orgy sounded like heaven but I wasn't in that indulgent of a mood. Oh and they're OJ is fresh squeezed and perfect to add to some champagne. Toast Two you Rule!
(4)
Katie R.
service is good, coffee is good, atmosphere is good. i had the pancake orgy which was yummy but not great - and honestly the idea of yogurt on pancakes with granola was a good one, but unfortunately doesn't convey to the dish (someone made a suggestion of getting the yogurt on the side - i wish i had thought of that when i was there). it came with a ton of fruit. will it be the plain old fruit and granola with toast or the crazy ass brick-sized&shaped french toast that woos me over next?
(4)
Jen G.
We love brunch. We brunch every Sunday. And Toast is definitely a brunch staple for us. If you go during peak hours, there will be a wait, but it's totally worth it. I recommend the Stuffed French Toast. The flavors are Mexican Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mascarpone. I'm not a fan of strawberry products, so I always order two Chocolate and one Mascarpone. It comes with berries and a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. They bring syrup to the table for you as well, and I recommend using at least a little because it will balance the moisture level and the sweetness actually balances the fillings (they aren't as sweet as you would think). I have ordered other items on the menu as well, and they are all delicious, but this has become my mainstay. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and the decor/atmosphere is whimsical and comfy.
(5)
Jeannine H.
Not quite sure I understand all the 4 and 5 star love for this spot...except it is one of these oh so trendy LP-Bucktown spots that is on everyone's MUST list. However I was completely underwhelmed by the quality of the food. I had the stuffed French toast (which you figure should be a yummy, amazing signature dish at a place named "Toast") and while the concept is interesting overall the flavor was NOT there. I didn't know it was possible for french toast (especially when it was stuffed with something) to be so bland. And the bacon...I was simply shocked...it was so dry, and flavorless that I sent it back...HOW DO YOU MESS UP BACON!!! I did however have good service (of course it was a tuesday morning around 11) so that is a big plus. All in all as I said in a previous review...in a city like Chicago where EXCELLENT brunch spots abound...you may want to skip the hype and skip this place.
(2)
Aurore L.
If there is a better way to start off your week than by having a lazy brunch after the Oscars night and a mini ice-storm, I want to know all about it. First win: free and ample parking. The hipsters wannabe are at work (or pretend to be); you just have to deal with the hip moms and their intergalactic strollers. I am sure you can make waffles and kill a whole bunch of nasty aliens with these things. Minus today: slippery pavements. Ouch. Second win: Julius Meinl coffee. A real plus for this European snob. Perfection in a cup, served with real cream. Third win: a killer menu. All the usual suspects, often with a twist. Hard to choose. And specials to top it off. I chose one of these and got the 'huevos verde' (green eggs si no entiendes Español) made of a cilantro and jalapaño pesto and chihuaha cheese. Hot and yummy tasting. Perfect breakfast potatoes. Wonderful challah bread. The B.E.L.T. (bacon egg lettuce tomato) was quite nice too and was served on a brioche bun. Fourth win: reasonably priced and served with a smile. Having broken my fast I am ready for the day, the week and - maybe - the new coming month.
(4)
Selena A.
I stumbled across this place with my roommate last fall and I fell in love! The food is amazing and its located in one of Chicago's most upbeat neighborhoods. The staff is very attentive and did I mention how delicious the food is? I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys an early breakfast, brunch or late lunch!
(5)
Aly H.
Toast was...a little dry. After seeing rave reviews, my boyfriend and I decided to make the trip to Bucktown to Toast to experience the great pancake orgy and other deliciousness. However, we were a bit let down and have been to far superior a brunch place at hubs such as Lou Mitchells and Milk and Honey. Here were our likes and dislikes: Likes: -Prompt coffee service. It was frigid Chicago morning thus warmth (both inner and outer) were our primary needs. -Immediate seating at the bar. Without that, our wait would have been 30 minutes- and we were only 2! -Solid egg white veggie omelet with marble rye toast. Moist and cheesy, this omelet perfectly balanced sinful with healthful. It's a pity that the sweet dishes get all the credit here, because there was surely something to be said for the quality of this dish. -Serving vanilla yogurt on top of pancakes - yum! Dislikes: -Somewhat aloof host. Granted it was busy (but isn't it always at 10:30am during Sunday brunch?) but the host offered no smile, smirk, or any hint of pleasure at the presence of paying customers. Not a good mood-setter when you feel like an annoyance the moment you walk in the door. -Lack of waiting area/space in general. This place is Cramped with a capital C. While we were seated at the bar, the constant opening and closing of the front door left a constant draft and I felt bad for those waiting for a table as there was no waiting area and they were seriously encroaching on other diner's "space." -An anticlimatic "pancake orgy." We had heard of its sinfulness and deliciousness and yet were met with...well...pancakes :/ All 3 flavors were stacked on top of one another and all that could be discerned was the lemon poppyseed (very good btw). But that little blip of goodness misses the point that this pancake orgy was supposed to make. It was supposed to make the angels sing and glorify the pancake gods with its harmonious and unique flavors. This just seemed like a stack of flavored pancakes and I missed the banana altogether. Overall, Toast was a shmeh brunch and left us feeling a bit let down. We probably won't be back as we continue on our constant quest to find the best brunch places in Chitown.
(2)
Kyle W.
Toast 2, in my mind, was very average. My girlfriend's chilaquiles tasted great but were lacking in the visual presentation department. I had the chicken burger and it was good. Service was very good and friendly and we did not have to wait for a spot at the bar.
(3)
bria s.
Love the Veggie Eggs Benedict and some of the best coffee I've ever had! I like the natural lighting and the window seats. Possibly my favorite breakfast spot.
(5)
Niraj G.
Veggie eggs benedict was pretty good but not better than other places. The veggie chilli was suprisingly good and definitely recommend it.
(4)
arun r.
I went there last Sunday for breakfast as it was closer to my new place and I'm extremely happy with their food and service. The waiting time was about 45 minutes but food was worth the wait. I had an egg benedict and a mascarpone stuffed french toast and both were delicious. French toast was the one of the best I had in years. I'm going there again!!!!
(5)
Johnny T.
*Sniff, Snniifff* Ahh, there's nothing quite like the smell of HOT GARBAGE on a warm summer's day as a biblical plague of flies descends upon you, your friends and your food. Just a suggestion: maybe you should move the gigantic trash cans on the other side of the fence to another location. You see, as effective as the wood fence is at blocking the view to the alley, it's not so effective at blocking the smell of smoldering garbage or the enormous tsetse fly invasion that was, obviously, bent on world domination (and winning). The waitress was a sweet heart (really) and my food - when I didn't think about anything that was happening around me, else I'd gag - was good. But the paranoia I developed at the prospect of catching trypanosomiasis and the head injury my friend, Payal, incurred when the stench caused her to pass out...those were not good. Not.Good. But, maybe it was our fault. After waiting so long for a table, we jumped at the first one that was available. Granted, Donnie & Marie, Pat Boone and the New Kids on the Block were all sitting inside in air-conditioned, non-smelly splendor while Preet, Payal, Flavor Flav, Menudo and I sat outside in the blinding sun, heat, stench and insect invasion. But, I am sure that is all just a crazy coincidence. Thanks, Toast. You're the best. I can't wait to come back. Will it be frogs falling from the sky next time?
(2)
cassie r.
Ooooooh, bread. Rich, hearty, stick to your ribs kinda bread. Toasted and slathered in butter and jam. THIS is a beautiful thing. Since their moniker exalts the simple yet all important brunch necessity, I should have known they'd do it well. When I saw "Challah" on their menu, I knew it was gonna be good. And it SO was. I chose their special of the day for the rest of my breakfast meal - mango jalapeno sausage, cheddar and peppers wrapped in an egg white omelette. I love omelettes - especially discovering a uniquely delicious way of serving them. This place is uber small, and already full at 8:30 a.m. A short or even long wait is a small sacrifice for the chance to enjoy any one of their tempting menu options.
(4)
Scott N.
As far as breakfast goes, this place is right up at the top of my list! Amazing food, very nice staff -- they even brought me coffee while I waited on my table. Had the breakfast burrito -- yummy!
(4)
Alex R.
I must concur, the stench outback was a bit overwhelming for me---but my company did not agree. The flavors were bountiful, and the ingrediants incredibly fresh. In fact my visitors even went back on their own during their stay (but ate inside)! The filled french toast looked interesting, but we never tried....Had the pepper eggs, omlete lorainne, were wonderful. The fruit, immpecable!
(4)
John D.
Love the French Toast Orgy. The 1 star is because the host seated personal friends ahead of our table after having waited 30+ mins, in the cold, after walking 2 miles uphill. Ok not really but the point is I'll never come back to Toast. There are too many great places that don't show that kind of disrespect to the customer. At least if you're going to pull a douchebag move like that don't make it so obvious.
(1)
Dan D.
Came here expecting overpriced so-so breakfast food, and I walked away thinking it is AWESOME food that is priced higher simply because it is so innovative and tasty. Details: I ordered the "French Toast Orgy." Like many of the other Yelpers have said, it is just a masterpiece of stuffed-french-toast with different fillings that are literally cooked right into the bread (blueberries is my favorite one they offer). And no syrup needed. Yup, thats right. NO SYRUP! Instead, they place nuts, powered sugar, honey, and a little bit of yogurt as a dressing. Wow, I am permanently freed from the chains of maple-syrup (suck it Vermont!.... naw, jk, I still like ya Vermont....). Also, we had the omelette that contains a smorgeshborg (?) of applewood bacon, chives, peppers, some more veggies, and a beautiful white european cheese that I cannot pronounce (and will not even TRY to spell). Fantastic. Both entrees cost $10 a plate. Seems a bit high for breakfast, but both were wonderful and creative. For that, I am more than willing to splurge now and then. Cheers my friends!
(4)
Jon O.
Y'know what? It's pretty good. Toast has been a presence in brunch talk since I moved to Wicker Park in 2008. It's delicious! They have Julius Meinl coffee! My friend saw Jeff Tweedy there! It sounds like an "event" brunch to be sure. Well, I'd been there two or three times before and hadn't been totally blown away. I took my mom there on her recent trip to Chicago to re-evaluate. And the verdict is... it's pretty good. This isn't to discount the quality of the food! I had a beef tenderloin sandwich (the special of the day), and it was great. My co-diners opted for an omelette and a scramble, and they were likewise pleased. The menu is what I'd consider "the basics done right". Not "basic" in the sense of Sunrise Cafe or other diner-style brunch places, but variety within the typical categories of pancakes, sandwiches, egg dishes, etc. However, the experience of eating at Toast leaves a little to be desired. For one, the place is small - they packed about as many tables and counter seats in as they could, but that's still only about 30 seats, and it's consequently a very loud place with a long waiting list and no waiting room. Prices are decent, and the service was harried but eventually polite. If you're going, I recommend a willingness to sit at the counter - on multiple occasions, it's been the difference between a 10 minute wait and a 40 minute wait. If you have a weekday off and getting here won't be a problem for you, I can heartily recommend Toast. However, if you're looking for an especially interesting brunch, or have no interest in 40 minute waits on the weekend, you would be better served going elsewhere.
(3)
Tiffany T.
My favorite brunch place that does not serve alcohol! Toast is absolutely delcious no matter what you order. I adore their stuffed french toast, but I am mostly partial to the strawberry stuffed french toast. My boyfriend loves their chicken sausages and pancakes, he always raves about them. Julius Mienhl coffee is great, freshly squeezed orange juice is delightful, I only wished they served mimosas.
(4)
David F.
The burger menu is pathetic as they only have bland chicken and veggie burgers. Where's the beef!? All they have is buffalo which is honestly not for everyone. Their French toast is good but the Mexican chocolate they use is powdered it's basically Mexican nesquik and its not very rich or thick. 2 stars bc there r other menu items worth trying
(2)
Stephanie E.
Do Not Go To Toast. My boyfriend and I went to Toast for brunch last weekend and received the worst service we have ever received. After we ordered and tried to pay with our Groupon on my boyfriend's Droid App, the manager said they were unable to use Groupon's off of a Droid although, as we pointed out to him, the Groupon itself explicitly said you could. Moreover, the manager refused to apologize and made me walk 40 minutes to my house (while my boyfriend sat by himself at the counter) to get my ITouch which they did except. Later that day we called Groupon to confirm, and they told us that the Toast manager was completely wrong. We called Toast back to tell them, and the manager was again completely rude and unapologetic. Honestly this was the worse service I have ever received in my life. I hope anyone reading this review takes note and NEVER GOES TO TOAST. Horrible staff. Perhaps it would have been alright (ok, no it wouldn't - that is how bad the service experience was) if the food was good, but the food is only average. So as a summary, TERRIBLE TERRIBLE & RUDE.
(1)
Brian B.
One of my favorite spots for breakfast. The French Toast Orgy is a must. Usually a line on the weekends, but tends to move very quick. For a couple of people, there is usually seating at the bar available. This place is a must every time I am in Chicago.
(5)
Alex F.
To be fair, I didn't actually eat here...the reason, the host pissed us off so much, that we left after ordering coffee. It was a hot Sunday, early 9:30 when we got to Toast. There was a wait, NP. When the host called us in, he seated us at the counter, problem. We didn't want to sit at the counter and told him that we would be happy to wait for a table. We got in reply to our request a 2 minute lecture about how he had bumped us up the list (really? there was no one else outside), about how we would have to wait another 45 min for a table (really? there is an open one behind us and about 3 tables that are almost done with their meals), and how the counter was the most popular area in the restaurant (really? cause those chairs are super uncomfortable). He basically refused to let us wait for a table. Really? So after being bullied by the host, we ordered coffee. And then we left (we paid for the coffee AND left a tip) I think the host was a little shocked. Really? You bullied us and wouldn't let us wait for a table. I am too old and have worked in restaurants for too long to be treated that way. Sorry guys, you get a fail. A restaurant is about food AND service. Part of service is not giving the customer a hard time. We were happy to wait for as long as needed for a table, we weren't rude or being fussy, we just wanted a table...that's not too much to ask or accommodate.
Chicago brunch...how I miss thee!! Toast 2 was great. We had to wait about 40 min for a party of 6 on Sat at 10:30 -- not bad! The food was so good. I had the pancake orgy. Oh, soooo good. 3 different kinds of pancakes, each so tasty. There was really good fresh fruit around the pancakes and then on top there was yogurt, some of the best granola I've ever had, and honey. Man -- it was delicious! The breakfast burrito was also very good. Another person with us got the pesto scramble -- this looks delicious and from the noises my friend made, I am pretty confident that it was! And, another person had the BELT. Apparently at toast 1 this isn't the heartiest sandwich. But here it was beautiful. It was huge and really good looking! SOmoene at a different table got the stuffed french toast. Wow, that is what I want next time... Chicago brunch is one of the things I really miss about chicago...
(4)
Johnny W.
Very, very good. I recommend any of their scrambles; one plate is enough to feed two. Get there realtively early (pre-9 a.m.) on weekends to avoid waiting in line.
(4)
Maurizio C.
This place is great , 2.50 for cup of coffee, breakfast yum especially chicken sausage, lunch sandwiches are out of this world! This place kills bongo room(5.00 for mocha, get real losers)! Waitstaff is happy and friendly.
(5)
Kelsey K.
2 word, my friend, 2 words: damn good. Went there and got the breakfast burrito (which was served in a spinach tortilla, DOUBLE BONUS!) which was huge and delectable! My man got the Pesto Scramble and that was totally rock star, whoo-ee! My only complaints are that the front stairs are a little tricky (but you can't fault the restaurant for that, just warning you to watch your step when you leave!) and that the crepes were a little crunchier than the ones I used to eat in France... but really??? It only gets 4 stars because the 5-star rating is reserved for Pura Belleza, home of the best breakfast in Chicago. Dee-lish!! Can't wait to go back!!
(4)
bill s.
Maybe 3 1/2 stars. Had breakfast there this morning with my wife and son. The "kid" lives in the neighborhood and we spent Easter with him and his wife. Been to many the breakfast places in the area (Bongo Room, Caffe de Luca, Feast, & Milk & Honey on Division). Attentive service, food was quite good, although my peppers and eggs could have been a bit hotter. No lines, no waiting, but at 10am on a Monday would not expect one. MY wife had the french toast with berries. Quite nice but looked like a duplicate of the version served at de Luca. Probably still like de Luca the best; maybe because it is closest to the kid's house and it is the first place I ever went to once he moved to Bucktown. Did not find it so special that I would wait an hour on weekends (same thing about the Bongo room. Been there 3 times, all on weekday mornings), but frankly I cannot think of any place that I would wait an hour to get into unless Rick Bayless, Tony Manutano, Grant Achtaz, and Graham Elliot were all in the same place having a demonstration and someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)
Kyle B.
Maybe it's because I generally have bad luck anyways but this, to me, was not worth the wait. They definitely had delicious food, but the wait was entirely too long (good for them I suppose) and the food was not incredible enough for me to think that it was worth it. Additionally, I made it about halfway through my meal and found a hair gracefully flowing atop my french toast. I will say that the waiter was apologetic and offered me a new plate free-of-charge. It just really made me lose some of the excitement I had for wanting to go to this place. To wait so long to get in and have a hair issue with my food is points off in my book. I would probably go here again, but it would have to be during off hours and with a very small group (of 1-2 people). Otherwise it just feels crowded and rushed.
(3)
Susan K.
I was looking forward to trying this place b/c I had walked by several times since moving to the area. So I convinced 3 of my friends to join me for breakfast here one Sunday morning. I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed. To start with, the waiter was not very friendly at all. The service is slow and when we finally got our food, they got my order wrong and I only ordered pancakes. I didn't complain to the waiter b/c I didn't want to deal with him and wait another 20 minutes for pancakes, plus my friends all had their food. The coffee didn't taste like it was brewed right; as if they didn't use enough coffee grinds. I know the difference between good and bad coffee, I was a barista for several years. There are many places that offer better food and better service. I won't be go back.
(2)
Larissa A.
I tell everyone to make sure they get toast with their meal at toast, because, well, they're toast is the best. I'm addicted to their bread, which -- truth be told -- is really fairly ordinary for nice brunch places, but with toasters lining the wall, you just HAVE to eat their toast. Seriously, though, their menu is amazing. I've had a few greasy scrambles, but for the most part, the food is extraordinary. The chorizo and cheddar scramble I ate yesterday was perfectly made, and they were great about customizing it. Friends at the table all ordered fantastic foods from their pancake orgy (which is good enough to fit its name) to marscapone stuffed pancakes drizzled with honey butter. They even have turkey and vegetarian sausage, both of which are delicious! The staff is friendly, and was great about making us feel at home even while we waited for 45 minutes in a torrential downpour. The coffee is good (although, their decaf is oddly better than their regular) and their outdoor patio is great for the summer. Go here. Eat good food. Leave happy.
(4)
Raphael D.
If you've never been here before you really should start with the stuffed french toast. Its pretty much what makes this place after the benedicts and other stuff. You'll feel like a glutton after eating such a sinful plate of french toastyness but its worth every bite. They serve Julius Meinl coffee too which is not something you see very often. If you don't want to wait for a table try going later in the day saturday or sunday or try going on a weekday.
(4)
Jennifer B.
BYOB Brunch? It's like God wanted us to pour some champagne in those juice glasses.... I think Toast Two should really be called Toast #1 (with the foam finger, naturally). While this brunch spot is rather small like it's sister Lincoln Park spot, this location just has all sorts of charm. For as busy as they are, the wait is never extremely long. We came at 10am on Saturday (primetime!) and the wait was only 10 minutes for a table. While at Toast you never feel rushed, and the patrons are a nice mix of hungover twenty-somethings and little kids trying their first bites of strawberry-infused french toast. The food at Toast Two can rival any brunch place in Chicago. I would recommend this adorable spot to anyone...even if Bucktown is a couple neighborhoods away...you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Mike F.
The best brunch I've had in Chicago. They serve Julius Meinl coffee, which is my favorite. The combination is transcendental. Order anything with the word "orgy" and it will truly be orgasmic. Well not truly, but it will be really really good. The pancake orgy is three different types of pancakes. The french toast orgy is three different kinds of stuffed french toast. Both are completely surrounded by fresh berries, and topped not with syrup, but yogurt and honey. The first time I went, wasn't sure what I'd think about that as a topping -- trust me, it blows syrup away. If you don't get here before 9AM on a weekend, you'll wait -- it is what it is, plan for it. And even getting there between 8:30 and 9AM, I still haven't scored a back patio table. That's the price you pay for brunch this good.
(5)
E C.
First of all, there's free street parking! Yippee! :) As already stated by many, many people, the food is delicious and the prices are fair. I met a friend for lunch, and we were both very happy with our dishes. I ordered the French Toast Orgy and got one of each filling (chocolate, mascarpone, and strawberry), and my friend got the prosciutto eggs benedict. The portions were bigger than most other breakfast places, which made the both of us happy. :) We also got the Julius Meinl coffee--decaf for her, regular for me. That was some good coffee, and thank goodness for refills. :) The thing that I really want to commend Toast Two for, however, is their customer service. My friend was running a bit late, so I ended up waiting for a bit. A worker there--tall, tattoos, perhaps the owner?--checked up on me a couple times, first to take any drink orders and then to offer something to munch on while I wait. I didn't want to because I already felt bad for having been sitting there with only a cup of coffee, but he offered and served fresh cinnamon toast with butter and jam--on the house! His response to all this was that he didn't like to see people (waiting) hungry. :) I was and still am pretty floored by his kindness and gesture. (Thank you, sir. The toast was delicious. :)) I will be visiting Toast Two from now on. :)
(5)
Marti G.
WOW...AMAZING FRENCH TOAST AGAIN! I am just loving French Toast lately and this one may have won my #1 prize -- delicious with cinnamon --- so GOOD. We were told that the stuffed french toast was the BEST so we made our way today to try it out. The first impression of the place wasn't anything special -- as the decor and atmosphere was kind of bland and it's pretty small -- but the 20-30 minute wait was totally worth it. The guy at the front desk was funny and nice and sat us a little quicker than we had been told our wait would be which was cool. The eggs are the BEST eggs I have had and we eat at breakfast places all the time. The house potatoes are awesome! So for food it's a 5 STAR -- the service was excellent. My only con is the atmosphere...maybe some paint and some music would spice it up a little. This is one of my NEW favorites -- I will be visiting often.
(4)
Brenna O.
After just one visit to Toast Two, I am in love. First of all, I loved how their sign is just one big piece of toast a la Prince changing his name to a symbol. Second, we went on a Monday morning during a glorious day off from work, so we didn't have to deal with what sounds like a very large weekend brunch crowd. Third, PANCAKE AND FRENCH TOAST ORGIES! Our waiter was friendly and laid back, and we got our food quickly. After reading other recommendations on-line, we made sure to ask for the yogurt on the side with our breakfast orgies because it's tangy and can overpower the rest of the plate. It was such a fun and decadent experience and made me tingly all over. NOMNOMNOM! If you can, try and hit this place up during the week because the dining room is kind of small and it sounds like it's super busy on the weekends. It's totally worth it!
(5)
Tim W.
I've been going to this place for a while now, since I live in the neighborhood. The place is fairly small, but extremely popular, so the wait during peak times can be 30 minutes or more. During the summer, the open up a nice back patio, which helps with wait times. Their omelets are tasty, but what they're really known for are their pancakes. The pancake orgy is probably their most popular, featuring three different kinds of big pancakes with layers of yogurt in-between. Topped with TONS of fresh berries, this is one to remember. Breakfast isn't the only tasty dish here. They also have some great lunch food. Their sandwiches feature different types of fresh breads and flavorful sauces. I love the pesto. Service is fast and friendly. I never have to ask for a refill on my coffee. Tip: If you have a small party (2 or 3), ask to be seated at the bar area, and you'll get a seat much faster.
(5)
Sharon H.
I never thought I'd want to be involved in an orgy! But after my breakfast here the other day, I'm game for French toast orgy any time of day! The marscapone was the best I agree followed by the chocolate. When I do it again, ill definitely do 2 marscapone and a chocolate. Even the fruit around the toast was fantastic! Definitely can be a split meal! The service on the other hand...not a fan. We felt brushed off several times waiting for out table. It was by the owner!
(4)
Megan L.
Incomprehensably (that's a word, right? sort of?), I had never been to Toast until yesterday morning. Luckily, a friend and I were both up early on a Sunday and he had a Groupon to use... off we went! We were prepared for a wait (brunch in Bucktown - seriously, it can take forever), but it was only a few minutes before we were seated in the very lovely patio in back. What a perfect way to start the day in the beautiful Indian Summer we're having! Cute and cozy, with planter boxes that are still blooming. On to the food. I couldn't pass up the steak benedict (eggs benedict, but substitute steak for the ham/canadian bacon). Good choice! They make their own hollandaise which is a bit more lemony than what you'll normally get - and it is delicious! I was also craving sweet, so my friend and I split a side of pancakes. Light and fluffy - totally what I wanted. My friend had an omelet with chorizo, cheese, and jalapenos. He was also happy with his food (I didn't try it, so I can't rate it for myself). I'm glad I finally got around to trying Toast - and hopefully I'll get back there soon!
(4)
Jessica G.
Had a lovely experience here for new year's brunch but have a few (tiny) bones to pick. My group arrived prior the 11 am crowds and the staff was lovely. Our service was prompt and our coffee and water cups were always full. Coat rack also a plus. Everyone at our table ordered french toast in various forms and I got the breakfast burrito. The stuffed french toast was quite tasty. Unfortunately the table syrup was not maple syrup. And there was an upcharge to get said maple syrup. The breakfast burrito was ok. But was $9 and nothing compared to the glorious breakfast burrito served at Lula. The breakfast potatoes were cooked quite nicely, but lacked seasoning. Easily remedied with salt and ketchup but still disappointing. Overall, a great neighborhood option with a darling interior. But not a place I would seek out again. Overpriced for food that could take a lesson from other Chicago brunch spots (lula, southport grocery, etc). Also, the ladies bathroom hand dryer could use a nice upgrade.
(3)
Amanda Z.
Weekday brunch: Take eighty-seven. Scene: Toast Two. Cast: Usual suspects. Preview: Hot coffee, refreshed often with real cream. Main Feature: Split: Pumpkin pancakes with nutmeg whipped cream and the Andouille Omelet (chicken sausage plus bell peppers plus Chihuahua cheese.) The pumpkin pancakes were sinfully delicious, yet surprisingly not overly sweet. I'm not even the world's biggest pumpkin fan, but on a dreary fall day, not much sounded better than warm comforting cakes with fancy whipped cream. Well done. The omelet was rich and wonderful. Perfect to split. Bonus points for the English muffin option with real butter. Also featuring the "Moms of Bucktown." Including the cutest babies ever who loved to smile for us. Oh yeah, and breast feeding. At the table. But said breast feeding resulted in the cute little happy smile flaunted at us, so I won't complain. Good food, good service. I'll be back. But on the weekday. Cuz I don't wait for brunch. Critics say: Yes, do it again. Solid brunch experience. Oh, and don't drink the water. I think it causes a baby. (kidding)
(4)
Charlene S.
Never lets me down. Always my number 1 choice for brunch The wait: The wait is a bit long, but not excessive like the Bongo Room and def worth the wait. And they don't try to rush you out. The atmosphere: I like the Bucktown location a bit more than the Lincoln Park one, I jsut like the layout of the restaurant. The food is great at both places. I like the LP because of the location. While you wait, you could walk to the cute shops to pass the time. Both locations are small, but the one is Bucktown has patio seating, which is great in the summer (except little buds from the trees above kept falling on us and our food) The peeps: the Bucktown locals The food: savory and sweet. I can never decide. I'll order sweet if someone at the table orders savory. -The french toast orgy: stuffed with mascarpone, chocolate, or a fruit compote. I choose 2 mascarpone and 1 chocolate. With granola, honey, yogurt, berries... I'm drooling. -Eggs benedict... solid -Coffee.... delicious. Strong, made well. -Egg white omelette with pesto and chicken... amazing. -Good fruit. Just a great place, good service, cute quaint atmosphere, good quality and consistency. Anything with the word "orgy" is worth trying!
(5)
Amanda P.
Love the french toast, the OJ and the Coffee. Others have tried other things and said it's pretty good but not worth the wait. However, I will keep going back for the stuffed french toast.
(4)
Dominique B.
Ok so I've been back, like a million times. They got a new host guy a few months back, and he rocks! He's super conversational and totally cool about getting a list going. Since he knows us now, no issues getting in, or getting a spot at the counter. But again it goes to my previous review, where if they don't know you it can be a LONG wait. In addition, they still have that stupid "if you whole party isn't here" rule! Ahhhh it drives me nuts, even if they are around the corner. What's the dif? So annoying, but can't hate on the food. So yummy!
(4)
Marie B.
So, I'm hanging out with my favorite person (those in the know...know who this is) and we decide we're famished...we popped in toast and were pleasantly surprised. I had a wonderful plate of eggs scrambled with pesto and proscuitto...yummy. Also, unlike alot of breakfast places, the potaotes were fresh and perfectly prepared. My only disappointment...the toast was a bit dry...and they only gave me one little pad of jelly/jam. But, it was "all good" because their tea was delightful, the eggs fab and the company wonderful... What better way to spend a leisurely holiday?
(4)
Meridith E.
How did I not know that there was a 2nd location in Bucktown when I lived less than 2 blocks away from it for the past year? I had loved the LP location and love the Bucktown location as well. They offer specials each week ranging from the sweet to savory. Vegetarians and meatlovers alike will find something there. Breakfast is my favorite weekend indulgence, and Toast has one of the best brunches that I have had in Chicago. When my friend was in town from France, I brought him there and he ate in complete happy silence! Look for the piece of Toast on Damen and run in...be prepared, as there's usually a wait. Making me hungry just thinking about it.
(4)
Seamus F.
This place is a damn fine brunch every weekend we've tried it over two years. Resisted reviewing it before since it's already busy enough but have had such consistently good food and great service from the servers that had to throw them a hat tip. Patio is great if the weather is cooperating too. The only blemish is that if you don't get there early on a weekend there can be a solid wall of stroller people ahead of you, and a long wait ensues. The only blemish I've had in the last six months there is that the guy who works the counter seats can be a pain, but food to good to stay away so we just get there early for table service. Coffee is kick-ass Julius Meinl, Eggs Benedict always solid, the featured omelet is sometimes amazing, even simple red pepper, cheese, and egg scramble is very good. Same menu as the Webster location, but just a better vibe at this spot, probably due to the larger room and outdoor options when it's nicer out.
(5)
Claire Y.
3.5 stars. Surprisingly, to our delight, our wait time for a weekend brunch was only about 10 minutes. We were seated at the bar (faster seating), which we didn't mind one bit. Our veggie benedict and pesto scramble were quite delicious. As a pesto snob, I must say their pesto was rather excellent. The side of potatoes was perfectly cooked with just enough char. The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice was refreshing. It's a solid neighborhood brunch joint. I probably won't frequent it much since I don't live in the area. Nevertheless, I do hope there will be a second visit some day --- perhaps the other location in Lincoln Park.
(3)
Kristin S.
With a smoked salmon scramble, the perfectly layered breakfast sandwich and a nutella-filled crepe, Toast has made it's way into my brunch hall of fame. Now if I could just get rid of the 500 other people who love it, too. I came here with my boyfriend's family who were in from out of town. We had to wait the obligatory 30-45 minutes since there were 5 of us, but it was a nice day, so we walked around the neighborhood until it was time to eat. Either everyone ordered extremely well, or this place is the real deal. Out of 5 of us, every person was "mmm"-ing and "oh, wow"-ing all over the place. I ordered the breakfast sandwich which was perfection, with the soft, but chewy bread being the star that held everything together. I also tried the stuffed french toast (mascarpone is the BOMB), the smoked salmon omelet and the roasted pepper omelet (which sounds pretty ordinary, but holy cow! The flavors were so fresh and very strong). The decor is very fun and playful without being kitschy. The service was also attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back, but I'll probably go when I'm in a small group to try and avoid the long waits.
(5)
dan l.
Believe me, I never thought I would ever leave this place just one star but the french toast I had today for brunch was by far, hands down, bar none, without a doubt, the worst I've ever eaten. It was the stuffed version with Mexican chocolate inside. How could this possibly be bad?? Well for starters the bread wasn't even soggy, but wet. It had been left in the batter far too long and was hardly cooked on top of that. Some of the fruit was past ripe and the chocolate was a bit mild for my taste but that's not their fault. Well regardless, it was very disappointing. Three or four years ago I had brunch at their other location and tried the pancake orgy which I recall being pretty good. Maybe just a fluke. That being said, I don't feel terribly motivated to go back after my experience today. A real bummer..
(1)
Ashley D.
one of the best brunches i've had. everything on the menu sounds amazing and i had such a hard time choosing what i wanted to eat. then right when i thought i finally decided, we get inside and see the specials board. chili cheese omelet. damn. this omelet was one of the best breakfast entrees i've had. any other place would have put some standard chili on top of some eggs but everything about this omelet was well thought out. all of the flavors in the chili were well developed and you could definitely taste each of its components. it would have been a great meal on its own but i couldn't imagine a better topping for the eggs. the potatoes were very tasty too. and of course the toast! i couldn't decide on which bread i wanted so the waitress let me split and try one challah and one whole grain piece. definitely preferred the whole grain. and as simple as it sounds, they really do know how to do a good toast job on a piece of bread. my friends also seemed to really enjoy what they ordered but honestly i was kinda in the zone with my own food. it's just too bad it was a special and they don't serve it everyday. the place is also super cute inside and our waitress was great. the only gripe was we ended up waiting quite a bit outside for a table even though there seemed to be one open but apparently "reserved" or something. it sounded kinda weird but i guess that's policy. either way, i still had a great start to my sunday here.
(4)
Nicolas H.
Great selection, reasonable prices and friendly service. Not much here to complain about, especially when the patio opens and you can eat outside. The stuffed french toast is something I've never had before but really enjoyed and the portion was huge. I also had the Croque Monsieur which was cooked perfectly with the overabundance of butter. Looking forward to repeat visits to taste some of the other creations...
(5)
Eman S.
This place is right down the street from me and my wife loves it, but I do not think it is that good. We are lucky because we never have to wait there because when there is a 45-minute wait (which happens often on the weekend) we just put our name in and go home. The thing that I don't like is that the food is just okay. There is nothing that stands out or makes a 45-minute wait worth it. I have eaten here four or five times and really only go because of the ease of access and because my wife loves it. I wish they had even one dish I could crave, but there isn't.
(3)
Milena M.
Living up to its name, this is the best toast that I have ever had. I seriously don't know what they did to it, but it was delicious. The pancakes were so good we didn't need the butter or syrup. I had the pesto eggs and they were delicious. The coffee was very fresh and the servers are super friendly. They have a ton of toasters decorating the restaurant. It gets really crowded around brunch time so you may want to go during off peak hours if you don't want to wait. A definite must go at least once.
(5)
Samson P.
We came in on a Saturday and of course it was packed. My girlfriend went in first to try to get a seat while I was parking. Well, just a note they do not seat incomplete parties, and the host said he was very "cutthroat" about it. Anyway, we waited 20 minutes and then were seated in the back. A word of advice. Try avoid seating in the patio out back unless you like eating next to the dumpsters in the alley and surrounding flies. If you sit right by the fence you can actually smell the garbage. Gross. But this experience alone wasn't enough for us to give toast a bad rating because the food is actually pretty good, generous, and reasonably priced. I went with my girlfriend and ordered the stuffed french toast with fruit and mascarpone, eggs benedict with prosciutto and a side of chicken sausage (yum). This location is also better than its Lincoln Park location.
(4)
Katie M.
I went to Toast Two a few days ago for brunch with a friend and my sister, who was visiting from out of town. There was a slight wait for the meal, which was perfectly understandable. Once seated, we ate our meals which were perfectly good besides certainly being overpriced. Still, the veggie eggs benedict that I ordered was enjoyable and the side of house potatoes were delicious and filling. After they took our plates away, the waitress brings the check to us without asking if we want anything else. We were planning on ordering more, so we thought it was rude but nonetheless, we continued to catch up. 20-some minutes later, we pay and decide to leave the waitress a 40% tip because we knew we were staying late to chat. 15 minutes later, a woman comes up and basically tells us to leave because we were staying at the table for too long and they apparently had to seat a large group.... despite the fact that there was no large group waiting outside or inside the restaurant and there were plenty of other open seats. They offered to give us a free drinks, which we declined and then we awkwardly left. It was ABSURDLY rude! We weren't acting disrespectfully, we were just talking. None of us had ever been told to leave a restaurant before. It was embarrassing and beyond unprofessional. Over all, the food was overpriced although good. But the staff was beyond horrendous. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(2)
kendra s.
I've decided to not review Toast Two until I had been there multiple times. Each time the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Yes, you will probably wait, but I knew that coming in, so that does not bother me one bit. The food is always amazing, but not so heavy on your stomach. I've never ordered the same thing twice (as of currently) and I've always left with a good taste. I always recommend Toast Two to friends and co-workers. This last time I even took my parents. I will be looking forward to many more delicious visits,
(5)
Leanne M.
Don't hate me... I've been wanting to try Toast officially for 5 years now but it turns out... there's nothing for me to eat. :( The two vegan-izable options my server pointed out: oatmeal, and chili, weren't exactly what I was hoping for... would a vegan version of the breakfast burrito or a skillet be so tough to muster? All the ingredients were there- it's just in the mix? I was really hoping to enjoy my visit here... I was, but instead I'm still hungry... In sum: Toast Two. Adorable, but not so vegan friendly. Sigh.
(2)
Matt Z.
BEST Breakfast Burrito in Town! AMAZING! Pesto scramble is pretty friction delicious also!
(5)
Mary S.
The food was really good, but service was bad. Not a huge deal, but it was really slow. I wasn't crazy about the decor. Felt like I was sitting in a big beige box. So back to the food. I had the pesto scramble. It was very tasty. Oily and probably not too healthy, but delicious. Lots of flavor. If you like basil, you'll love it. The potatoes could use a little burst of flavor or seasoning, but they're decent. The buttery toast was also really good and the jam was not just your average jar stuff. Coffee was pretty good, but I didn't get my warm up until just before I left...I'll let that slide. 3.5 stars for the food. If I'm in that area and not in a hurry, I'll definitely go back. I think they have a BYOB thing too....they'll make your mimosa if you bring the booze or something. Too bad I missed out on that. Maybe next time.
(3)
Lois A.
I've never been to either Toast without having to wait but it has always been worth it. The B.E.L.T with applewood smoked bacon always tastes good and whenever I order that I have a large glass of cranberry juice with it. Good coffee, great french toast and really good buffalo sliders. The crabby benedict is also very good. Service is always excellent and so is everything I've ever tried and I've been here a lot. It's worth an extra few minutes of waiting to make sure you get a patio spot in the summer. I was so happy when I first found out there was a bucktown location. The Toast on Webster gets PACKED.
(4)
Lisa P.
I know there's a ton of reviews on here already, but I just have to add that I enjoy Toast as a treat! Coworkers and I usually meet here a couple times a year and we've enjoyed it every time. The mascarpone filled french toast is heavenly. I only order one so I don't have a sugar overload and can share with the table. My main order was the spinach, goat cheese, and tomato omelet which was great. Although it's crazy busy, when we meet and want to chat it doesn't feel rushed at the table. I like this place better than Bongo Room, but think it's up there with Southport Grocery.
(4)
Rachel L.
Toast is a solid choice for weekend brunch, though be sure to factor in a signigicant wait time if you arrive at 10ish. Their eggs benedict is fabulous, as is the breakfast burrito. I almost alway choose savory over sweet but I'll admit to inviting friends to brunch here who I can bank on choosing sweet breakfast options, just so I can snag a nibble or two of their delicious french toast or pancake creations. Good coffee, service has been mostly consistent from my experience, bright and sunny interious, and prices are comparable to other places in the area. But that wait....ugh.
(4)
Tina B.
I guess I just don't understand what the big fucking deal is. They serve breakfast stuff in a tiny little cramped place and people line up clamoring to get in here like they're giving away free bread or something. They're not. They are selling overpriced bread covered with a lot of glob, like grapes and jelly and granola and shit all over it. It's just way too early for all of that action. And even with that more-is-more philosophy, I can never seem to remember what I actually ordered the next day - it's like they slipped my wallet a roofie and then stuffed it full of bread.
(2)
John B.
Come prepared to wait, because you will. Certainly on a weekend. But since last Sunday was a bee-yootiful day, that wasn't a problem. Toast will try to kill you with their food. But in a kind, loving way. Case in point: stuffed French toast. You heard me. Eggy, creamy French toast stuffed with chocolate, strawberry puree, or mascarpone cheese. Served with fresh berries (and grapes, it seems) and a side of syrup. Because a little more sugar won't kill you. You get three "sticks," which amounts to maybe one big slice of bread, but believe me, it's plenty. If it's not, you can go with the French toast orgy, which is all of the above, but topped with yogurt and granola and drizzled with honey. Squeal like a pig! I went with a side of bacon and potatoes, which was a little bit of a disappointment. The bacon was overdone for my taste, and the potatoes were kind of gooey. So it goes. There are enough selections on the menu that everyone in our group ended up with very different choices: crab Benedict, Mexican omelette, and pesto scramble. The Hollandaise sauce on the Benedict was perfect: thick and creamy, with enough lemon to give it a nice bite. Unlike its Lakeview sister, Toast Two is BYOB. So head to the liquor store while you're waiting and pick up a bottle of shampoo. They will gladly provide a pitcher of OJ, as well as glasses garnished with orange slice and strawberry. Woo hoo!
(4)
P S.
Nicely done, Toast! After years of walking, bussing and driving by it seemed you always had a line out the door so naturally I thought the neighborhood must know something I did not. True that. I met some lovely Yelpers early-ish one gorgeous Sunday afternoon and found, surely enough, a line. Luckily we had enough time to make a booze cruise before seating and were able to pick up a few bottles of bubbly for mimosas (BYO, we forgot). A walk back and a relatively short wait later, we were called in. I was prepared for an elbow-to-elbow situation given the reviews I'd read but it was actually quite roomy and not *too* loud. Our server was prompt and very sweet, and hooked us up with a pitcher of oj for our champagne ($12 for four glasses, about two mimosas each depending on your booze ratio). We ordered, the food came fast and it was faaaaaaanfreakintastic. Delicious crab Benedict? Check! Delicious potatoes? Oh heck yes check! Applewood-smoked bacon? A little overdone for my taste but check check! My companions seemed to totally enjoy their items as well (I sampled the marscapone-stuffed french toast and...yeah... check as well). It's a little pricey but probably more average than not for the area, space and quality of the food. The service was great though, and on a perfect day such as this, we didn't mind the wait. I'll be back! Oh and a potential de-starring factor for you to be aware of: they "can't" (more like won't I suspect) split your check into both a card and cash, it has to be one or the other or two cards. Heads up.
(4)
Meg O.
So I suppose we'll chalk this whole experience up to my sense of whimsy, and its epic fail...well, its epic fail AT Toast, at least, and its charming transition into a moveable feast. Moral of the story? Taking my ideas seriously will sometimes lead to delightfully bizarre consequences. Also, as you're reading, be sure not to miss my plug for the Map Room! Anyway, my friend Peter has a bearded dragon named Toast, and her supposed birthday is May 5th. When I learned of this, my immediate reaction was, "OMG! We have to take Toast to Toast for her birthday! She'll wear a ribbon around her neck and we'll feed her stuffed french toast with mascarpone cheese and marmalade!" Now, dear reader, you and I might hear this 'suggestion' and laugh, but Peter took me up on it, completely, even made it an event on Facebook. I hadn't even been to Toast in over three years, but somehow believed that if we could hide Toast the bearded dragon in a bag, everything would be okay. Although as we took off from Logan Square to go to Bucktown, I started wishing that Toast's name was Lula. We strolled up to Toast--the restaurant--and put our names in. We were told that it would be a 45 minute wait, annoying but par for the course at 11:00 on a Sunday in Bucktown. I desperately needed coffee, and, as we were heading towards the Starbuck's on Armitage, brilliantly remembered that the Map Room serves coffee in the morning! Yes--iced Intelligentsia! Peter and I walked in, Toast in clear sight, and the three of us were welcomed with open arms. Nobody cared that we had a bearded dragon--and she was even sans ribbon; we just sat at a high table and I sipped my coffee and Peter sipped his Red soda, and everyone thought Toast was adorable. "I'm sure they'll let her in at Toast! I would definitely let her in!" Emboldened by the small, pro-bearded lizard crowd at the Map Room, Peter and I walked back to Toast and were immediately seated. I ordered Julius Meinl coffee--YUM!--and the Pesto Scramble, and Peter got buffalo sliders. There was this charming young man at the table next to us who had just gotten an enormous plate of French Toast Orgy put down in front of him, and he immediately offered us some. I was going to be cheeky and comment that perhaps he thought he was up the street at Bristol, seated at the communal table, but am now so glad that I was earnestly gracious. As I was nearly finished with my first cup of coffee, the manager came over and said that we had to leave! "Take the Iguana out of here!" So Peter got up and took Toast the bearded dragon outside. I waved over our waitress, Michelle, and sheepishly asked if we could have our order to go. Michelle was a rock star! Not only was she apologetic and sweet and totally unfazed by the fact that her table had been kicked out of the restaurant for bringing a LIZARD into the restaurant, she gave me a huge cup of coffee to go, and filled our bag with lots of jelly, butter, and ketch-up! Hurray for Michelle, and hurray for nice guy seated next to me! By this time, he had nearly finished his French Toast Orgy, but, after hearing my tale of woe, asked, "So, what does Toast eat?" "She loves grapes and kumquats and sometimes eats veggie pellets that are cricket-flavored," I replied. The next thing I knew, nice guy had obtained a small Julius Meinl coffee cup and filled it with the grapes from his French Toast Orgy! "Tell Toast Happy Birthday," he smiled. So I walked out to find Peter chatting with two more completely sympathetic young women on the sidewalk. They agreed that perhaps a picnic was better on such a fine day, and everyone was pleased by the addition of the grapes. Peter and I strolled down Damen to Churchill Park and sat ourselves down to our picnic. Toast enjoyed the sunlight and the grass, and we enjoyed watching all the puppy dogs playing in the dog park. "This is so much better than eating at Toast," Peter smiled as I spread out our brunch. My pesto scramble was delicious for awhile, but then got REALLY salty. The challah toast was delicious. Peter and I smeared some of the blackberry jelly onto Toast's nose so she could lick it off. The whole thing was adorable. Overall, celebrating Toast's birthday was a huge success. If you actually want to sit in an establishment with your bearded dragon, stick to the Map Room. And remember that those odd bedfellows at nearby tables can turn out to be the best.
(3)
Sarah B.
I was invited by the very dear Penny S. to join her and a couple of other Yelpers for brunch at Toast Two and I jumped at the offer. I'm not a morning person but this Sunday brunch thing is making me a changed woman. There was a bit of a wait but it was nice outside and my company provided some fun conversation so I didnt mind. It also gave us a minute to go to the corner liquor store and grab a couple bottles of champers for mimosas. (BYOB) The inside is bright and cheery and for being small I did not feel cramped. Our server was very sweet and chill. We ordered OJ for our champagne and she brought out tumblers with an orange slice and the brightest red strawberries on the glass. YUM! I had an omelette with jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and cheese. It was really good but not spicy enough for me. The balance of flavors was nice, though. My companions all seemed to enjoy their food as well. I had an appointment to get to so I couldnt linger and I kindof felt that if we wanted to, we wouldnt have been able to sit for long anyway, considering how small the place is. Bonus: easy street parking. :)
(3)
Kortney M.
Its really just ok. You wait for over an hour on a Sunday to get inside and be rushed after having JUST ok food. I dont get why all of you think this place is good, nothing stands out from EVERYOTHER BRUNCH PLACE! Oh, theyre rude to you, maybe thats it? None of their food was even memorable enough for me to care about putting it in a review.
(2)
Chris C.
What can I say that has not already been said about toast. Pretty much nothing :). So I will this the very short and sweet the place is small and intimate which is great. It is BYOB but you better get there during the times 9-10am because if you are let it be a wait. The food is good I am getting fat just thinking about it lol! The French Toast is what they are know for so make sure you try that first then explore from there :-)
(4)
Ms L.
The male host here is hilarious. My friend and I went for brunch on a day where there was a not-so-nice couple in front of us...he handled them in the snarky, yet friendly manner that I love among hosts (I used to be one in my former life). They didn't pick up on the sarcasm, but it tickled me and made me feel right at home. A great start to what was a fantastic meal. If you do nothing else here - go for the pancake flight, with scrambled eggs & bacon. Sure, it's a bajillion calories...but if you're gonna go that route - do it in style. I'm a stickler for eggs...if I say scrambled well, that doesn't mean brown/burnt. Most places don't get that...Toast Two did. For that alone I would grant 5 stars -- the only other place I've had the perfect eggs experience was a place in NYC about 5 years ago...and yes, that proves how hard to please I am. Perfect bacon (to me) means light on the grease, keep the size (i.e. a straight piece, not a short, curled up one that's bubbled with lots of fat) and make sure it's crispy. Again, Toast Two *nailed it*. I swear, if this was the Olympics, they'd be the Mary Lou Retton of breakfast. To recap: Perfect eggs - check Hilarious Host - check Great bacon - check Pancake flight that's amazing to look at and eat - check Why are you still reading this -- go get some Toast Two!!
(4)
Sergio T.
One of the better breakfast/brunches in Chicago. Awesome pesto eggs scramble. Expect a wait after 1030am, but amazing!
(5)
Kristina B.
yummmm. a co-worker recommended this place to me, and i'm so glad i got a chance to check it out! we went on a sunday around 11, and waited about 40 minutes, as to be expected, no biggie. when we were seated, no one came around to give us menus for about 5 minutes. when we flagged down the host to get some menus, he also offered to open our bottle of champagne, which was great. once we got our menus, it took me a while to decide, because there were so many amazing looking things on the menu. my friend went with the eggs benedict with prosciutto, and i decided on the stuffed french toast - one each of the mexican chocolate, strawberry, and mascarpone cheese. we both LOVED what we chose - we also split a side of apple gouda chicken sausage, which was grilled to perfection. my only complaint is that we rarely saw our waiter, and it was hard to flag someone down. other than that, it was a nice experience and i thoroughly enjoyed my meal! the mascarpone stuffed french toast was my favorite out of all three ;)
(4)
Laura L.
There's no better eggs benedict ... your truffle hollandaise is more than amazing. Have the brioche toast with their butter and fresh jam along with Julius Meinl coffee and a the french toast orgy for brunch "dessert." I love you Toast ... and all of the cute toasters you display.
(5)
Bryan B.
This is definitely one of the top three breakfast restaurants in Chicago. The menu is about as creative as you can get for breakfast. My favorite is the French Toast orgy (3 thick pieces of French Toast individually stuffed with strawberry puree, Mexican chocolate or mascarpone cheese). Julius Meinl coffee. Yukon Gold breakfast potatoes. Freshly squeezed O.J. They don't open until 8am (kinda weird for a breakfast place), but go early to avoid the wait. Long lines develop as the Bucktown residents awake.
(5)
Char Y.
Not a good experience at all. I was very excited about this place, since there were so many positive reviews, even though I noticed that everyone complains of the long wait. But no one mentioned of the long wait after you order the food. We were seated immediately (YAY!) but had to wait 40+ minutes for our food, I do understand that there were only 2 cooks, but that's a long wait for breakfast. On top of that our food was a disappointment. The sliders were tasteless & small, and the french toast mushy. I was quite sad because I LOVE french toast & everyone raved about theirs, but they were just mushy sticks of unknown substance. next to the french toasts was the fruits, and i saw a bug walked out of the fruits onto the plate, and died. SERIOUSLY!!! i was completely grossed out and pointed it out to our waiter, and he wordlessly took the plate back.
(1)
Brett F.
After frequenting Toast (and Toast Two) for years and years I can not believe that I've just recently learned this location on Damen is BYOB... Score! I'd give 6 friggin' stars if I could!!
(5)
Lorenzo F.
The food is good, but nothing special. The service mediocre at best. That being said, today I'm writing because of a recent experience I had. I had a queue of Groupons that I needed to use up by Friday, 6/17, so I called on a Sunday afternoon about 20 mins before close (didn't realize they closed when they did). Anyway, I spoke to the manager (which I learned once I arrived), and asked her if she could seat us. She says if you get here in the next 5 mins, so we rush there, get there maybe 6 mins later, and she refused to seat us. Now, I understand they have a policy about closing 15 mins before they're posted time, but why not just change your posted close time to when they ACTUALLY close (oh...it's in the "fine print" that they close their kitchen 15 mins before). I guess I assume that if I'm still finishing my coffee or toast at the exact close time, that I'm not going to be walked out to the curbside. I usually assume that close time is when they'll stop seating people / taking new customers (i.e. close their doors to the OUTSIDE public). Anyway, that may be a common practice, and not why I'm writing. I'm writing because of the attitude and service of their so called manager. I called, she said if you get here in the next 5 mins, I say, "okay, already on my way (so...maybe she should have been expecting us?)", then I get there and she says no (with a smirk). I was extremely upset that she wasted our time and did not care one bit. Therefore, I refuse to say much good about this place (and to be fair, location and/or their manager). I went ahead and used up the last of the Groupons today (the last day), and again, I was not impressed by the food or service. Now I can write this place off my list, and take my business somewhere where they value their customers. Chicago has too many great brunch places to settle for a place like this.
(1)
T S.
The food was great. I ordered the pancake orgy which came with 3 different pancakes and granola, fruit and yogurt on top. It doesn't look like much when brought to you, but boy is it filling. Also tried the grilled cheese sandwich and that too was awesome. The service was "there" and not all over you. The workers were pleasant to interact with. Average price per person is around $11. Overall I'd rate it 8.5/10
(4)
Lauren D.
I have walked by Toast many times but today was the first time I made it inside. Having read and heard many great things about this breakfast establishment, I came in with pretty high hopes for what sort of delicious food would pass through my mouth. Now I would not go so far as to call myself a brunch expert, although I would say I'm a pretty good judge of anything that tastes good with syrup and butter. Anyhow, Toast doesn't really stand out by way of decor or ambiance. It's a breakfast place. It is bright and cheerful though, which is generally a plus. The servers were all very smiley. We were quoted a 30 minute wait and were seated in less than 20, and service was great. I tried the Stuffed French Toast and probably would have left stuffed had I eaten the entire plate. That consists of 3 pieces of French toast in a sort of square "roll" type creation - one stuffed with Mexican chocolate, one stuffed with mascarpone, and one stuffed with strawberry fraische or some sort of gourmet concoction of some sort. It was tasty, although I don't think those 3 flavors went very well together. There were lots of other foods floating by that looked delicious as well. I was not "wowed" by my first visit, but am conflicted about whether or not an appreciator of the simpler breakfast foods can ever really be "wowed." I will try Toast another time for sure.
(3)
Nicki W.
I very much enjoy this brunch spot. The menu items are creative, filling and totally satisfying. The vibe in here is so small town, with a diner feel but with style and class. This space is very small and on the weekends there's always a jumble of baby strollers and families hoarding around the door, but that's a good sign right? For sure. I would prefer to go during the week when I don't have to deal with screaming children and people crammed at tables listening to my conversation so that's the way I do it. I like to sit right by the window so I can check out the fantastic people watching along Damen while sipping on my java and freshly squeezed orange juice. They also have Strawberry Lemonade which is SWEET (as in cool, but yes of course it's sweet too). They have a small staff over there and that adds to the "neighborhood" thing they have going on. The waitresses are always cheerful and quick. Onto the food. Here are some highlights that I would recommend that you try. I'm a big Pancake and French Toast person so when I notice they do "stuffed" pancake and french toast options which they dub with the suffix "Orgy" I was giddy like a schoolgirl. Of course, Chocolate is the obvious amazing choice, but you should also try the banana pancakes (because when is that ever a bad idea?) The portions are huge and I'm rarely ever able to finish all of what I order. The crepes are also to die for. I was excited to see that they serve Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon (because that's the best kind of bacon there is...seriously). If you aren't in the mood for something as filling, I would go for the Pepper Eggs, they are scrambled with red and yellow peppers, cheddar cheese served with their house potatoes and toast. Their potatoes are really great with just the right amount of seasoning. Since I'm on the kick of egg talk, I might as well get into the Omelette talk. They have interesting choices like Smoked Salmon Omelettes, Spinach,Goat Cheese and Tomato and my favorite, the Omlette Lorraine with applewood smoked bacon, gruyere cheese, onion and chives. The Omelettes are huge and served with Toast. They also have lunch items but I've yet to try them, so when I do, I shall report back. All in all a solid brunch spot. Check it out!
(4)
Aliya J.
I live in New York City now, but I still miss my FAVORITE breakfast place in the whole world! Toast is seriously amazing. The food is always consistent. The service is always fast. And all of it tastes so good! The French Toast Orgy stuffed with mascarpone cheese is to die for!
(5)
Poof A.
Went here for brunch this morning and I will be back! We arrived just before 9:30 and were seated without a wait (at the last available table! Nice timing) Unfortunately (well, unfortunately for this review, not unfortunately for our tastebuds) my brunch date and I ordered the same thing- apple, pear, and brie crepes with a side of sausage (although he ordered a chicken sausage and I ordered the veggie variety- both were tasty). The crepes were delicious, perfectly-textured, and I always appreciate a brunch choice outside of the usual toast, eggs and potato trifecta (although they have that too!) The coffee was good, but could have been refilled more than once- I got the feeling they were trying to get us to finish up and head out. Still, the food was delicious and I look forward to trying some of the other items on the menu (pancake orgy, anybody?) Oh, and it's BYOB!!
(4)
Jason C.
Great French toast. The chicken sausage was fantastic as well. Be prepared to wait on for a while but the payoff is well worth it.
(5)
caroline e.
FOOD: I love a good savory breakfast, and I gotta say that Toast Too always comes through. The pesto eggs are good, the eggs benedict is above average and the Crabby Benedict is awesome. Though I'd recommend getting the hollandaise on the side as they can get a little heavy handed with it. And they win a gold star for having great decaf coffee! I have to admit I've never eaten a sweet breakfast at Toast, though after reading some reviews I might have to try it next time. SERVICE: I've been here a good half dozen times and never experienced rude service. It's true that they'll usually tell you the wait is longer than it actually is. Though I think they're just being conservative so you're pleasantly surprised at the shorter wait instead of angry about a longer one. I have actually waited for 2 hours at the LP location. Ridiculous! Why put yourself through that craziness when you can get the same great quality food with a much shorter wait at TT?
(4)
Purvi R.
yum yum yum mmmmm YUM. A cute little brunching venue in (Bucktown? I think? I am not from here). We arrived here after the Carerra de los Muertos (SORRY to all Spanish speakers) 5k race and were in the mood to scarf down some delicious eggs. This place did NOT disappoint. We were seated almost immediately which rocked (there was a wait when we left, but we were on the early side - so come early). Their great JM coffee brought us back to life after our brilliant idea to wake up at 6am and run a race on Halloween morning. I selected the breakfast burrito after much changing-of-mind and I was happy I did. The homemade salsa alone gave me reason to recommend this place to others, incredible! And the breakfast potatoes that I poached off my friend's plates were great. Both of them looovvved their eggs benedict, btw. Not too shabby when the bill came (approx 12 minutes after we ordered, seeing as we inhaled our food) - I think we each got our for around $20. Bingo! All in all, in a city full of great breakfast/brunch options, I'll remember this one next time I'm in town!
(4)
Peter K.
good place
(4)
Ali O.
nom nom nom nom I must have been very very very good lately, because this morning I found myself in breakfast heaven. I've wanted to try Toast for a while now (okay...probably a few years) and this weekend was the perfect opportunity. Scared of the tremendous wait, our party of three decided to try and beet the brunch rush. 10 am must be the sweet spot, because there were empty tables when we arrived and we were seated right away. By 10:30, people were lining up outside. Suckers. I checked out the Yelp reviews before going (naturally) and I was tempted to take Jessica B's advice and order the two eggs so I could try a little bit of everything. But, I could not fool myself . . . .I was there to dive head first into a big luscious gooey buttery fabulous stack of pancakes. And that was exactly what I did. I ran a train on those pine nut and mascarpone pancakes with lavender sprinkled on top. IN YOUR FACE. These pancakes were so good that at dinner time I was kicking myself for not taking my left overs home. Seriously. I will be back.
(5)
Natalie M.
I gave my original review of Toast Two 3stars(see below) but believing that my fellow Yelpers would NOT lead me astray I decided to come back and try something else. WOW, Im so happy I did! My 2nd visit to Toast Two was almost 2x better as my first. I had the buckwheat blueberry pancakes, which, although others may find them too "wheat-y" they were just my flavor, with egg whites and coffee(really, really good coffee!). My Mom had their Pina Colada Pancakes(a special)- My Mom is NOT a pancake person, but she said they were so good she ate EVERY SINGLE BITE. She also had the chicken sausage which she liked a lot. One thing I must say about Toast Two is that their food is VERY appealing to the eye, and very reasonable- my short stack(2 LARGE pancakes) was only $5, and egg whites $2- breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day, but dont often get fresh food THIS cheap. I do wish there was more parking in the Bucktown area- if there was I wouldve given them an extra star.
(4)
Michael T.
It seems like this place is well-loved by the sort of person who really enjoys writing "creative" Yelp reviews. I was totally underwhelmed. I ordered the plain french toast (with berries and all that), figuring that I should go with what I thought would be the flagship dish of a place called "toast," and it was very dry. Almost tasted as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp for an hour and a half. Certainly not worth $9; maybe worth $3. My girlfriend got a breakfast burrito, which was equally disappointing. It was basically a crap ton of undercooked, under-seasoned scrambled eggs with some diced onion and green pepper in a wrap. Again: may just have ordered the weak items.
(3)
Jean C.
I am a big breakfast person. And when I went here with my neighbor on a Monday, we were ignored. It wasn't really busy but people who came in after us were seated before us. Kind of upsetting. When we asked the server about it, she was indifferent and passed us onto the manager who could have cared even less then the server. We discussed if we should stay or leave but ended up staying. We both ordered coffee (good!) and the Eggs Benedict. I do like the truffle hollandaise sauce with prosciutto but wasn't as floored by it as I thought I would be. The food came out quickly which was nice. Cheap eats for sure. I came back with my husband twice and on the second time, he got food poisoning from their breakfast burrito! He was out for 3 days. So, needless the say, we will not be coming back anytime soon. Which is unfortunate because I really wanted to try the pancake orgy. :-(
(2)
Kim A.
It takes a lot for breakfast to absolutely blow me away. I wasn't blown away, but wholly satisfied. I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the dishes, and the fact that they offered a special (which I had and was delicious!). It's easy to pander to the "bacon and eggs" brunch crowd. The indigents were fresh and seasonal, and the staff really friendly. This is defiantly one of those spots that you most certainly must hit up if you're within walking distance, but I'd say I'd be hard pressed to drive or take public transportation here. Also, be mindful that if you do come here on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you'll probably have to wait for a table. And, if you're not a fan of kids, this probably isn't the place for you. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but haters of "alt human accessories" need not apply.
(3)
Jenna S.
I can agree with some of the other 2 star reviews here, Toast Two did not win me over. First, let's start with the good things: -The wait, we were told 30 minutes--but were seated within 20. Yay! -The staff, sure they were nice...but not over the top friendly. -The joint is cutetsy! Loved all the little toasters lined up across the top of the wall. Then we can move on the negatives: -We sat at the bar, but because of the ceiling light were blinded by the sun shining in. Yes, I realize that's not their fault, but c'mon...put up some blinds or something to block the rays of death coming in. I could barely even see what I was eating, let alone read the paper on a Sunday morning! -The wait for food. UGH! It felt like it took FOREVER. Granted, it was a Sunday morning at 10:30 AM...but really, 40 minutes for two omelettes?! -The omelet itself was bland. I had the Lorraine, which had apple wood smoked bacon, gruyere, chives, and onions. About the only thing good was the CHEESE because there was plenty of it. The bacon was disgusting, I imagined crispy smokey bacon...and instead I got limp chunks of fat. I don't think this was a applewood smoked bacon, but rather a run of the mill hormel Aldi special bacon. GROSS! I had to pick it out. The breakfast potatoes spread sparingly on the side of my plate were COLD. And my side of chicken apple sausage was good, but those were like the size of bratwursts. -The bill: $41 for 2 omelettes, 2 coffees and 2 orders of chicken sausage. Who knows, maybe their "sweet" items are better tasting?! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say we MIGHT return, only to try the french toast or pancakes. But, bottom line, the food was average at best...but certainly didn't warrant a $48 bill with tax and tip. For that price, I'd rather have Sola, Lula, or even the Publican for heaven's sake!
(3)
Borracho G.
Love what they do to the breakfast here. If you enjoy chorizo con huevos, then you are set, because they serve a great tasting order. Ask them to substitute the toast for a spinach tortilla and eat them the right way, with your hands. If you also love breakfast that can pass as a dessert then order the pancake orgy or french toast orgy. Just don't say "I will have the french toast orgy minus the french toast", nobody laughs and the cute server doesn't find you funny to begin with.
(4)
danny e.
tasty, chicy, big ol giant fun toast as a blade sign. There was a big of a wait for in the middle of the day. I got the giant monster stuffed french toast, strawberry and chocolate. They were really good, I couldn't even finish them. The chocolate tasted like mexican chocolate which was nice and surprising. The place is cool but really small.
(4)
Stacey A.
B reakfast foods are my favorite R eally amazing menu - everything sounds good U nbelievably perfect breakfast potatoes N utella, strawberry, and marscapone are what fill the french toast C an't stop thinking about the omelette my roommate had H oly crap, I love this place Toast in Lincoln Park serves booze. Toast Two in Wicker Park does not - but is larger, sunnier, and quieter - and way less full of Depaul Trixies in Training.
(4)
Adam V.
So here we go... I live right up the street from Toast and used go there all the time. It's DECENT food, but for the price it is absurd. I wish badly there were another decent breakfast spot around bucktown that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get a cup of joe and some eggs. $10.00+ for an omelet? Quick secret, a single egg cost about $0.20 at most.... Don't price gouge me Toast, you pirates! That felt good, anyway, recently my brother, a close friend and I decided NEVER to go back to Toast again. Allow me to start off by mentioning that I have been in the hospitality/restaurant industry for over 10 years. I bused tables and washed dishes as a 14 year old, I've served tables during college and have worked several back of the house jobs in professional kitchens. You don't want my resume here... I'm just saying... So we go into Toast and the usual male server that has flipped me attitude on our last visit was our server. "Let's give him another chance", I say to the fellas. We order our food and don't see the guy again until our altercation. Someone else actually even brought us our food. The three of us were about 2 bites into our meal when our server came to our table (he refused to give me his name... ch!). He asked how things were and I said fine. My brother then asked the fellow for Tobasco sauce. Saying, "may I please have some Tobasco sauce" must be code for something much worse and sinister... To my bothers request, the server yelled "HOW IIIISSSSS EVERYTHIIIING!" Bewildered by the servers outburst, my brother said "Great, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" The server again, dumbing himself down as if speaking to an infant says loudly again "HOOOW....IIIISSSS....EVERYTHING?" My brother says now, "its great! Everything is awesome, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" Finally the server turned and stormed off... The table next to us then turned to us and explained that the same server had been being less than friendly to them, as well. My brother is severely soft spoken, so I suppose it makes sense that I inherited most of the aggressive genes from our Dutch heritage. I was fed up and wasn't going to stand for the obnoxious treatment for one more second. Upon the servers return to our table, I inquired as to what the problem was and why he treated my brother in that fashion. I informed him of my history in the restaurant industry and how I understand the frustrations of serving from time to time, but that his treatment was unreasonable. To this he exclaimed "I'm not your slave". This attitude was SEVERELY unwarranted. To this i dropped my napkin on the table and calmly asked for the manager. He explained primarily that the manager was not there. I happen to notice the female owner was not present, as she usually is. So then, surprised, I asked "No manager? Then who's in charge around here, I want to speak to them." Here it is... He says "Too bad..... I'M the manager" I had enough now and gathered my brother and friend and decided we were leaving, we had barely touched our meal and were not going to pay nor ever return. "He said, good, don't return, we'll be fine without you.. and I'm calling the police if you don't pay!!" -this is where i close my eyes, breath slowly and try to count to ten..... At this my friend tells me to go ahead and leave and he would wait for the police.... the police never showed (obviously, what a tool), but the owner did. She gave my friend the meal for free, calling it "even now".... NO... after this review, we might be a little closer to even. The service at Toast is SO horrible I urge none to ever give it a cent of your money.
(1)
Annie G.
Yummm, Toast. If I wasn't sitting in a pile of my dirty tissues, red-nosed and achy, I'd probably be proposing a trip to Toast right now to my husband. This place gets four stars for being so consistently good. Only once in my dozens of outings there have I experienced the rude service mentioned already in these reviews; our waitress was obviously hungover and wretched but that was once, our tip told her as much, and we've never had her since. But back to the positives: start to finish, anything here that touches my tongue is fantastic. The coffee is bold and fresh and can cure any hangover. While the sweet breakfasts look out of this world, I have to stick to my morning staples: eggs, potatoes, and toast. I love the mexican special they often have -- cilantro and jalap. egg scramble with salsa, house potatoes and wheat toast dry. Always dry. I'm often inclined to order a cup of fruit, too, because this is a place that doesn't skimp on fruit: berries, bananas and grapes. Yumm! I love that they don't serve dingy plates of un-ripe melons and cantaloupe. Sure, there is often a wait when you go during warmer months, mid-morning. But that's not uncommon in this stoller-ville neighborhood. Do yourself a favor and wait. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Christine K.
Absolutely love this place. Sometimes finding parking around this area can take some time (really I should walk here since it's "close" but I'm lazy on Saturday mornings), but I can usually find it. The food is great, they have tasty coffee and the waitstaff is super nice! You can't ask for more. If it weren't for the line out the door, I'd give it 5 stars. :)
(4)
Catherine R.
Great service, great food, great price. Bacon, gruyere, carmelized onion omlette. 'Nuff said.
(4)
Melissa N.
I. Love. Toast. This place is delish. Our go to brunch place conveniently located within walking distance from the apartment. I have never been disappointed with any selection. My favorite is the french toast orgy (trio of stuffed french toast: strawberry, marscapone and chocolate, topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.) Amazing. Always amazing!
(5)
Vanessa P.
It's usually a 30-60 min wait on Saturdays and Sundays. It's worth it. The food is always so good and I could wax poetic about the pesto scramble and the stuffed french toast. Service is usually top notch too.
(4)
Wendy G.
Every time I try something new and I always enjoy it.
(5)
Michelle L.
As a breakfast fanatic - TOAST - Truly is "as good as it gets"! Not only is the french toast beyond orgasmic, but the breakfast burrito is absolutely delicious. Very friendly staff and were good with my 8 month old. No matter what I order on their menu, I can't go wrong!!! LOVE IT!!
(5)
Lyn B.
The marscapone french toast is very good. Other than that, you're not missing much. The wait can be really long, and it's just not worth it. I'd go back if someone really wanted to, but the service/atmosphere/food combo was just okay.
(3)
Sarah Louise W.
I ate here once a year ago and again this past weekend. I recalled it being a bit more delicious the first time. This review is of this past weekend. Negatives: No more lavender French toast? Sadness. Not every egg dish comes with toast, which is a little weird. The vegetarian Eggs Benedict were awful. I had never had Eggs Benedict before, and it had artichoke and spinach on it which I love, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. It was a shame because I ordered this instead of 3 other dishes, all of which I surely would have enjoyed a lot more. Like the reviewer below, mine too was swimming in hollandaise, which I immediately disliked the taste of and after a while the smell made me ill. Since there was no toast (!) I at least ate the eggs I could salvage and the potatoes (also disappointing, a bit flavourless). My boyfriend got the french toast with mixed berries and a side of bacon. The bacon was good, and perfectly crisp, but $4? For 4 slices? Hmm, a bit much. His french toast filled him up, though, and since my dish was gross I nibbled some of the black berries he discarded (what a fool). I loved the coffee, though, and all is right in the world when I have some coffee. A lot of the sandwiches also looked good on the menu (and I sneaked peeks at what my fellow diners ordered), so if I come back I'm getting plain eggs or lunch. But I don't know when that will be, since apparently there are a lot better brunch places I have yet to try.
(3)
Sara B.
Eggs or sweets? Eggs or sweets? I can never choose. In fact, the only things I never hem and haw about at brunch are coffee and booze. Yes and yes, with multiple rounds of both, please. Beyond that, it's usually a drawn-out process of salivating over each item, debating relative merits, and eventually choosing wildly when the waitress looks my way. Hey, it works. Which brings me to Toast II, which DOES NOT HAVE A BAR. And for which it loses a full star. Sorry, the powers that be have spoken. I need a bar, particularly at vacation brunch. However, what Toast II lacks in booziness it (almost) makes up for in deliciousness, which brings me to the eggy/sweet dilemma. A longtime eggs Benedict slut, I was torn: Try my favorite brunch feast, this time promised with prosciutto and truffle hollandaise, or take on the french toast orgy? Well, as mom always says, never turn down an orgy...just invite some more to join in! (Eds. note: My mom never actually said that. That would be weird.) Anyway, my friend and I made the wise choice of ordering both and sharing. It was decadent. It was rich. It would have been perfect...with a cocktail.
(4)
Jen A.
Yummy yummy. The only thing that knocks Toast Two off the five-star pedestal it belongs on is the fact that this location (as opposed to the other Toast) lacks a bar. I don't think I'd mind so much if the menu wasn't the same, but it made me a wee bit sad that I saw beverages I couldn't order. All that aside, OH MY. I don't like French toast. I just don't. But I tried a few bites of my roommate's French Toast Orgy and I'm pretty sure that I'd make an exception and order one for myself next time. It's really that good, and I wish the English language had a better array of synonyms for "awesome" that I could apply to it. The breakfast potatoes are also delish, and they're worth getting a la carte if your entree doesn't include them. I actually enjoyed them so much that I tried to replicate the recipe at home, which is pretty much the highest form of praise I have for food. I was actually so wrapped up in the food experience that I initially neglected to notice how cute the place is. It's adorable. There are toasters all over the place, and I love it.
(4)
Kathy P.
The battle between savory and sweet rages on at Toast. Luckily, I was there with a group and we were evenly split, giving us the chance to sample a bit of everything. Good thing the portions are generous! I had the breakfast burrito, which was excellent, though it could've been spicier (couldn't taste the jalapenos) and there were no beans. Que sera, sera, burrito. My friend ordered the veggie eggs benedict and was pleased as punch. The big, fat draw at Toast is (duh) the French Toast which is available stuffed with such delights as chocolate, pureed strawberries, and marscapone, to name a few. The French Toast is served in huge chunks which are perfect for sharing with your favorite brunch companions. The marscapone was really rich, and I can't imagine making a whole meal of it. The chocolate is, of course, desserty, and the strawberry puree is jam-jam-jammy. Needless to say, we all left full and happy and ready to brave the rain outside. Toast also serves Julius Meinl coffee which is, of course, the next best thing to being at Julius Meinl. Service was attentive and friendly on this busy Saturday morning. Get there early because the line was out the door by the time we left around 10:30.
(3)
Anna K.
Very good food. I liked the atmosphere and our server was fantastic. I had the granola and it was definitely some of the best granola I've ever had. We got there super early so there was no wait but I could tell that later on during the busy breakfast hours you'd definitely have to wait. Good stuff.
(5)
Latrese W.
I simply must do a review of Toast Two after they were gracious enough to let us stay even though we were walking in just as they were closing. The french toast orgy was well, orgasmic. The coffee was tasty which is often rare in breakfast places that tend to focus more on the food. Since we were their final seating, I didn't finish my coffee and even took the extra coffee to go.
(5)
MARISOL P.
I've been to Toast a number of times and have always enjoyed myself. It had been a year since our last visit but this week we had breakfast twice. I was very disappointed. We had Gregory as our waiter the first time during breakfast with friends. They guy is very rude and should probably apply at Ed Debevics. The second time he was not our waiter but was the host. He told us it would be 20 minutes. It was over 20 minutes! Someone possibly the manager's friends were seated before us. Then a few other people (three other groups) who had just walked in were seated before us. I was waiting outside since it was a nice day. I went in to check on why it was taking so long and Gregory said that a table hadn't cleared up. Five minutes later he said that there was a table in the back (their supposed "patio"). Keep in mind as Chunk S's review, it is next to the dumpster's and yes flies were also around. It was a warm day and the dumpsters were foul. So we went to the back and there was there were four tables open. Wait a jerk I thought! I was so upset that we waited so long due to this guys attitude. It doesn't take much to deter me from going to places especially with service like this! Gregory must go! He ruined what once was a great place for my family, friends and I.
(1)
Christina G.
Be forewarned, the wait here is terribly irritating. In particular, I would definitely not come back here in the winter. This place is tiny, and everyone waiting for a table is standing around squished together up front and the door keeps opening and the wind gusts in and there's little kids running up and hugging your leg out of nowhere and you want to be annoyed but then finally they sit you down and they bring you coffee and it's a little bit worth it. I believe they use Intelligentsia coffee which is strong, but really good. I had the pesto scramble, which was excellent. Someone at the table had the stuffed French toast, the one with the mascarpone (a sweet Italian cream cheese) was to die for. Someone else got the eggs Benedict, over crab cakes with real crab and she loved them, and the fourth person got a chicken sandwich called "El Bucktowno" and he is a hearty eater but only finished half. Overall we all left stuffed and I don't think I ate another meal the rest of the day; I was done.
(4)
Daniel W.
I've been here a number of times. It is down the street from where I live. It's always been really really good. It can get really really crowded though, prepare to wait or in worst case senario, sit at the table next to the door and people will stand on top of you while you eat. The patio out back is the exact opposite, roomy and quite... to bad its getting cold. I took my parents there once and my dad ordered the French toast orgy. He wouldnt say Orgy, so he had to point to it. Good times.
(4)
Tracey S.
This is it for me as far as breakfast goes. I have been here 5 or six times and have loved everything. The omelets the pancakes, you really can't go wrong. My favorite dish is the pesto scramble that I get with fruit instead of potatoes and a side of cinnamon raisin toast. Everything is so incredibly fresh and good. That includes the coffee. The service is good, but can be on the slower side. However I don't deduct points, because on the weekends I am never in a rush to get through breakfast.
(5)
Tiffany K.
the two times i've been here, there's always a painfully long wait. painful because by the time i get here, i'm so hungry!! also, the two times i've been here, we've had the same waitress. i don't know her name but she's friendly and service is awesome. actually, now that i think about it, my first time here, i had the buttermilk pancake. only a couple bites because i was way too hungover to eat a full meal. i do remember seeing what my friends ordered and it looked so good that i had to come back. soooo, my second time back (completely sober) i had the huevos w/ chorizo & cheddar omlette. i love omlettes! it was very good. i ate the whole thing even the sourdough bread. deeeeeeeelish!
(4)
Kristy N.
Had a groupon here and went in for brunch last Friday with some friends that were in town. We sat on their (hidden) patio out back. Their menu is pretty huge and everyone enjoyed their food. I had the omelet with goat cheese which was nothing special but still good. The breakfast burrito was also tasty. The clear winner was the pesto scramble. It was pretty rich but extremely delish. Great service. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(4)
Liz S.
I met up with my old roommate for brunch at Toast Two and I have to say, I don't think I'm all that impressed. I don't think this place is the most comfortable place to have brunch, or any meal for that matter. First of all, people who are waiting for tables are literally on top of the people at the tables. Not to mention, if you sit for five minutes longer than it took to pay the bill you'll start getting the stink eye. Second, half the reason the wait is so long is because the staff are slow. Trust me....I enjoy it when the servers aren't asking you every ten seconds what you want, is everything okay, are you finished, etc. But when it takes 10 minutes to put in an order, when you're clearly ready to, that's a problem. The food that I had, Eggs Benedict (with prosciutto instead of Canadian bacon) wasn't as good as I had hoped it would've been. They crisp up the prosciutto, which make sit difficult to cut and a bit stringy. It might've worked better if they would've just left the prosciutto alone. I really doubt I'll be back here. The food wasn't amazing and the wait isn't worth it.
(2)
Timothy W.
My fiancee and I dine in or pickup from here every weekend. Best breakfast in the city; you can always count on a solid meal. Their BELT (breakfast sandwich) is fantastic -- on a french roll and a classic. Their pancakes are perfect and light, and the specials they have are creative and very very good. You cannot go wrong here! Everything is done well, and the service is fantastic! Greg, the host, is our buddy and has a great sense of humor. You may have to wait on weekends, but well worth it. Nice outdoor seating area as well. A+
(5)
Mari K.
If the original Toast and Toast Two were sisters, this would definitely be the more attractive one. The restaurant feels brighter, roomier, and overall...pleasant-er. =) As for the food, it's good. I ordered the french toast orgy... 3 stuffed french toasts with yogurt and granola. Definitely enough for 2 breakfasts... too bad french toast doesn't survive too well in the fridge. Service was fine.. no complaints. Don't worry if there's a wait. There are PLENTY of cute boutiques and shops nearby to browse through while waiting... and plenty to return back to when you're trying to walk off what you ate.
(3)
jen m.
Decided to stop here on a sunny Saturday morning and was prepared to wait 30 mins for a table but lucky me! We were seated after just 5 mins. It took some maneuvering to get to my seat. The tables were so close to each other that I almost knocked over a plate of avocados that someone was enjoying! With the table so close together, it also makes for some good eavesdropping. lol. But the skylights make the space so warm and bright. I have a strong affection for their mascarpone stuffed french toast. It's nice that they don't scrimp on the fruits that compliment the mascarpone wonderfully. A lil french toast + a piece of fruit = a perfect bite. They serve Julius Meinl products and they make a mean cup of strawberry tea! But skip the thick cut apple smoked bacon. It was overdone and they should have just labeled it "bacon", no hint of the apple smokiness nor was it thick. The Tijuana wasn't too memorable either. But I'm not an omelet fan, it's too easy of a dish to make at home and have it taste exactly the same as the restaurant versions.
(3)
kim h.
We were starving. It was 10:50 am on a Tuesday (June 22), many seats open inside and out. The decision was a Lorraine Omelet ,Stuffed French Toast, side of bacon, coffee and lemonade. We never got to experience to food. -NO ONE EVER WAITED ON US!!! IGNORED FOR 20 MINUTES. We were seated on the patio by the host. Despite two servers walking past us at least 6 times (I did not count from the very beginning), no one ever acknowledged our presence let alone said hello or indicated that they would ever wait on us. At the 20 minute point we got up and left. The host offered for us to come into the main restaurant, but I had no desire to be waited on by the same staff who had just ignored us for 20 minutes. No Manager was available on site. I was over it. No longer have the desire to EVER eat there. Went over to the BONGO ROOM. Had a delicious breakfast. were waited on in less that 5 minutes despite the crowds,
(1)
Matt J.
This Wicker Park restaurant has some things going for it; decent street parking if you get there early, fairly cheap prices (compared to other joints), and good Julius Meinl coffee. The decor is fancy kitsch but the main room suffers from bad acoustics. A couple of screaming babies don't help matters either. I had the croque monsieur which was good and the potatoes. The potatoes were the blandest I've ever had. Not a hint of any spice other than pepper. It's nice to know that lunch is available all the time. The service was slow and that's sad for eating there at 8:15 this morning. I'd hate to see how it is closer to noon. The entrance has a few stairs that can be a little treacherous in the snow. Be careful.
(3)
Chance T.
Hands down the besy brunch in Wicker Park/ Bucktown Busy on the weekends (for a good reason) Heavy and awkward entrance doors, but exceelent food and staff! Perfect aqnd magically delicious!
(5)
Kelly R.
We come here all the time for breakfast when in Chicago. The french toast with fruit is just enough and the pesto scramble is dee-lish. They have a great kid's menu, I was very tempted to order the S'mores pancakes for myself! The staff is super friendly and very helpful.
(4)
Meriel C.
Loved this place! Had the French Toast Orgy and it was to die for. I was in heaven. They give you plenty so I had the left overs for dinner. This place is small so recommend that you arrive early if you don't want to wait. I got there at about 8:30 on a Sunday morning and was seated right away.
(4)
Lauren K.
Yummy stuff! Though I feel some of the dishes are a bit over priced, I was pleased to see portion sizes were huge, so it all works out. Nice service. Absolutely lovely waitress. When my only vegetarian side option was fruit, I was a bit disappointed. Fruit in winter months usually means grapes, off-season hard melon pieces, maybe even thawed out frozen strawberries. BUT I was pleasantly surprised when I got a lot of black raspberries, blueberries, FRESH strawberries and about half a banana. And grapes that didn't taste like they set out for a long time. Oh and I love any place that serves challah toast! And though I ordered two eggs, it seemed more like three. Very tasty.
(4)
betsy b.
I'd come here for an orgy anytime. I've tried both the pancake and french toast and it's hard to pick a favorite. There's so much to choose from on the menu whether you're in the mood for sweet or savory. If only the place wasn't so small and tight. It's best to show up early on weekends to avoid a wait.
(4)
Julie B.
Meh. With so many great brunch places in the city, why bother with one that's just so so. The entryway is tiny, so when it's cold outside, everyone is crammed right inside the front door. Total cluster. The food was totally average. I had the eggs benedict with prosciutto, but instead of being thinly sliced and raw, like I was expecting, it was cooked, super salty, and thick. The hollandaise was a bit too lemony for my liking, but whatever. My friend had the veggie benedict and raved about it - it did look exceptionally better than mine. Other friend had some chorizo omelet that looked revolting. We shared the french toast trio for dessert and again, totally blah. I didn't care for any of the flavors, really can't understand why people rave about this. If you like chocolate french toast, go to Kingsbury Cafe - 100x better. Then when the host brought our check, we put our 3 cards in there to split 3 ways. He comes back and tells us max 2 cards per check. So then one of us pays with cash and the other 2 leave their cards in. He was standing there watching us do this, goes away, comes back and says we can't split one check across cards and cash. WTF?? What kind of stupid rules are these? I've worked in plenty of restaurants and never heard of anything like that. The bright spot of the place was the waiter, who was really nice and very attentive. And we got a good laugh from the girl at the next table who nicked our half-empty carafe of OJ when we got up to leave. Really, girl? Klassy.
(2)
Jill and Ying J.
In the myriad of one-word brunch eateries in Chicago lies Toast, a gem of a restaurant, where the food is as airy, light, and uplifting as is the decor. We chose this one in Bucktown after reading about some of the less than delightful personalities at the Lincoln Park location, and since we came on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush, all the negatives highlighted in other reviews were completely absent. The staff was courteous, polite, and friendly. The inside is decorated with a spring-like feel that breaths life into your hungry hungry soul. The 2 floor high ceilings create an illusion of a much larger place, desperately appreciated on crowded weekends, we're sure. The food, of course, is the star of the show. We had the French Toast Orgy (seriously, how could you NOT order an orgy when it's legally offered to you without risk of certain diseases?) and the seared ahi tuna sandwich. The french toast medley was fantastic. Starring 3 giant pieces of toast, strawberry, chcolate, and marscapone, with a perfectly seared crispy outside and moist, sweet, and individually tasteful inside, the orgy was also accompanied by 4 varieties of fruits flanking the outside, awaiting their turn. On top of it all, it was smothered by a layer of delicious oats, sunflower seeds, and a creamy sweet honey-infused concoction. The seared ahi tuna was more classic, a giant piece of tuna seared on the outside, medium on the inside, flanked by 2 pieces of perfectly toasted bread, with grilled fennel and all, again, smothered perfectly with a sauce of saffron, tomatoes, and other delights. The menu is expansive, the food is delightful, and the staff was courteous. We will definitely be back to explore more of their menu...on weekdays if we could help it though.
(5)
Megan G.
Crowdy, trendy, long waits, slow service, loud - yes Yummy, warm, charming, worth it all - yes If you walk by and there are no people waiting on the street then chances are your wait won't be too long. The hostess will bring you hot coffee to sip on while you wait in their tiny front area, which is a major plus! The menu isn't huge but it covers all of the bases. I have tried the french toast trio which was good, but more of a desert, the lemon poppyseed pancakes which were fantastic and some omelet thing with cheese and (mmmmm) bacon. Delish! I can't wait to try the breakfast burrito because it looks, well, right up my ally.
(4)
Maria G.
The hubby and I live closer to the Toast in Lincoln Park, but since it's always soooo crowded, we thought to try this one. Let me say the service, people, coffee (and must in the AM) and food at both locations is are simply OUTSTANDING...seriously had to use that word 'cause it's that GOOD! But (insert tense music here) this locaton has a patio and is much bigger. For those reasons, I like this location better, but reccomend both. Check them out for yourself!
(4)
kim w.
Had a friend visit Toast a while back and she urged me to check it out. Exciting to see such an open, airy room. The counter was unoccupied but looked inviting. A cute friendly model-esque redhead worked the door and sat my guest and I quickly- only two available tables to choose from, full house but not too crowded. The place was bustling with Bucktown professional couples, those couple types entertaining their in-laws and hyped/yacky after-class yoga girls. We grabbed a warm window seat; the seat in the window had a gob of pillows behind the back but the butt/seat was truly uncomfortable and not much space on either side of the table- a case where you're closer to the strangers next to you and strain to hear what your own guest is saying. We were cursed by and closest to the yacky yoga gals flooding with energy post-class but complaining about everything under the sun: jobs, shoes, co-workers, blah, gag. Our server was slow and short-winded. The orange juice was just... fine. Again, the building structure and room design was inviting but the clientele was an off-balance mix. The menu was... okay. Standard brunchy fare. I ordered the Crab Benedict. The hollandaise was REALLY super lemony which was... okay... for the crab. Coffee refills were always timely thankfully. We did ask to move to a different area of the restaurant promptly after YACKIES got louder and even more negative. (EEEEK. Shut up! Be aware of your surroundings and proximity to other diners. Tacky Yacks! Go back to yoga and learn something other than standing and breathing on a mat.) Staff was eager to adjust and apologized for the awkwardness. It happens on occasion I suppose. My guests - a local chef- was utterly unimpressed and mentioned little to validate our experience: Just that he has a silly rule about NOT frequenting brunch joints with one-word brunchy names like Toast or Orange or Yolk. Decent-okay/fine-enough food. Some favor and substance to fill a belly. Nothing exceptional. We won't be returning.
(2)
Kim J.
I had a good brunch here with some friends a few weeks ago. We apparently arrived just before the rush as we got the last table in the house. Sadly, it was right by the door and I felt like people were on top of us for our entire meal. I can't imagine how crowded it would be in winter, when no one would be willing to wait outside! Our waitress was friendly but a bit scattered. She had a lot going on and was a bit slow. I had to flag down a busboy to get a coffee refill (and the coffee wasn't even anything to write home about!). And it took our food almost 40 minutes to come out, and when it did come out, I could tell it had been sitting awhile as my plate was scorching! The food was quite good, which was really the saving grace of our experience. The big winner seemed to be the smoked salmon omelette - lox in an omelette sounded kind of weird to me but it turned out to be delicious It had fresh smoked salmon and cream cheese and capers - yum! The Lorraine omelette was also a hit among our group. It had bacon. 'Nuff said. Were it not for the service issues and the issues with the crowd, this would've been a fantastic brunch. I'd give it another chance, because I think it could be great. But it just wasn't.
(3)
Jing C.
One of the more inventive brunch spots in Chicago. I've never ordered anything I haven't liked here. The decor is friendly for a brunch spot but expect a wait if you get here after 11am.
(4)
Melissa H.
This is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Bucktown/Wicker Park area! My husband is a big fan of the chicken sausage. My favorite is the Tijuana Omelette. The food and service have always been great even though it gets so crowded for breakfast. Have yet to go back for lunch, but that's definitely on the list.
(5)
Bobby N.
Food was delicious and service was great. They accommodated a large party quickly and the food was delicious. Amazing coffee too!
(5)
Diana P.
Toast Two is my favorite Brunch place in the city. Everything on the menu is amazing, fresh and delicious. They have wonderful coffee and great selection of tea. My boyfriend and I have tried at least half of their menu and loved every bite of it. Our favorites are the Stuffed french toast (all three flavors), B.E.L.T, and the omelette lorraine. I'm usually not a fan of pancakes, but i loved the pancake orgy. Everyone who works here is extremely pleasant and kind. Beware: Toast can get packed very quick! My boyfriend and I like to get there right when they open. I would recommend getting there early if you don't like to wait.
(5)
Linda L.
Absolutely great brunch place. This cozy little restaurant located in Bucktown is definitely a place you need to try out at least once. I haven't tried the other Toast (located in Wicker Park) but I'm a true fan of this place. It does get busy on the weekend, I went with my girlfriend for a casual outing and girl chat feast. The wait was about 45 minutes on a rainy Saturday around 11-ish. Its also BYOB and appeals to all, young and older, can't get any better. We ordered Veggie Eggs Benedit and pesto scrambled eggs and a side of pancakes. And we finished every bite. Best eggs benedict I've ever tried! Go try it for yourself ;)
(4)
Liz H.
If I am going to brunch in Bucktown, I am going to Toast. It is my favorite spot by far. I have uploaded a couple pictures of the food so you can see just how awesome it is. On a recent trip, one friend had the french toast orgy --- chocolate stuffed French toast cover with yogurt granola and berries. My sister and I shared awesome eggs benedict and the most unique pancake with anise, mandarin oranges, strawberries pine nuts and lavender! Crazy sounding, yes, but OH SO GOOD! Either get there early, go when the weather is bad or be prepared to wait. Toast is not a hidden gem in Bucktown. The locals know about it and go frequently, but in my opinion even an hour long wait is well worth it when coming to Toast!
(5)
J D.
WAAAAAAAAAY better than the toast in lincoln park. Kinda bizarre since it's the same menu. Usual suspects of lengthy wait, tight quarters...why IS this city so obsessed with brunch? My boy and I were lucky to walk in just as a two top cleared out so we were seated RIGHT AWAY! ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON! pause for awe. I had the special, pesto omelet/scramble with prosciutto. WOW, a bit rich even for me, I just barely finished it. Homefries were alright...meh. Boy had the three different kinds of french toast (orgy?) Once again WOW. My fave was the chocolate though the vanilla also very tasty. The french toast is more like super thick slabs of fluff, yeasty, chewy brioche, a must try (and I am ALWAYS an eggs for brunch person). Only go on the weekends if you're prepared to wait forever to eat. Even though we sat right away, it took a bit for the server to come over and for our food to actually come. Decent coffee.
(4)
jenise r.
I always try and come here before work but there's always a huge line on the weekends. I don't wait to eat when I'm hungry & in a somewhat rush, so sorry toast. But today (tuesday) me and a pal went for breakfast and hooray no line! I ordered the Pesto Scramble (im a sucker for pesto) which has prosciutto and some cheese I didn't get the name of all mixed in. It was pretty tasty, it also came with the house potatoes which were really good and some toast. Service was great and quick and I think my friend enjoyed her meal as well. I'll come here again.
(3)
Jessica F.
Stuffed French Toast. I don't know what image that conjures up in your mind, but if it does not involve some kind of watery filling, then the French Toast Orgy is not for you. Calling it a "filling" isn't even the right word because that implies that it had another dimension beyond the first two. I didn't put the yogurt and granola on the top and could barely taste the flavors of the chocolate and marscapone. The strawberry one tasted like real strawberry and was a bit tart. I get it. Maybe the added yogurt and granola make it a five star meal and I missed out due to my purist ways. I don't know and won't be finding out. Then let's talk about the service. We went in on a Monday around 10am. There were maybe 2 other "couples" there but it took forever to get waited on. I had to stare down and lock eyes with my waitress to get her to come over -- twice. Not cool when there are only 6 people in the place. I really wanted to have an amazing mouth time at Toast but it just wasn't happening.
(2)
Julianna M.
I'm pretty sure, if I held a gun to his head and forced him to choose between me and the French Toast Orgy, my husband would choose the French Toast. Yes, the food here is extra tasty, sugary, bad for you and all that brunchy goodness. Yes, the scene is a madhouse on the weekends. Folks, here's a tidbit of wisdom for you. Live relatively close to Toast? Want French Toast or pancakes but don't want to wait for an hour for them? Call Toast. Order takeout. Take it home, eat it in your jammies in front of the TV.
(4)
Jonathan F.
What a great little spot! It's bright, cheery, and the staff is friendly. Coffee was always full, OJ was good. Like Beth M I have to give it 3.75 stars...the hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict had a little too much lemon in my opinion, but the rest of the food made up for it. The potatoes were pretty good - overall they could have just kicked the oil down a tablespoon for my taste. I went by myself (hey it's down the street) and there were quite a few people doing the same. I was reading for about an hour, and it was nice because the staff didn't interrupt me to hand me the check or pour coffee, they just quietly placed it on the table and kept refilling. Despite the sauce, I will come back here. It seems like a great neighborhood place to be.
(4)
Ashley S.
Sooooo good! We were almost the last people seated on a Saturday(they close at 4). After getting lost on our trek there the host was really nice (and particularly nice to my friend) and gave us some water while we waited to be seated. The food was among one of the top brunch meals I've had! We both had the special scramble of the day, similar to their huevos scramble but I got avocado instead of meat. My friend also got the pancakes (she was hungry that day). Everything tasted great, definitely on my list for my next trip to Chicago!
(5)
Virginia T.
Really more like 3.75 stars.... Everyone's biggest complaint about this place was the small seating area(s) and the long wait times....I went on my day off (Wednesday) at around 11:30 and we were one of 3 tables. :) The stuffed french toast (marscapone) with berries was great (not spectacular). The juice was fresh tasting but slightly more pulp-y than I like. The coffee was good, but my refill was tepid- promptly fixed with a brand new, steaming hot cup by the waitress. But the Cobb Club Sandwich (grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, lettuce & tomato w/ a dijon mayo served on thick toasted challah bread) was AMAZING. The service was really great too. Even though it's a bit pricey (and I *hear* rather crowded-especially on weekends) the service and the food would be well worth the second trip.
(4)
Lisa A.
So I've always loved this place and not sure why I haven't reviewed it. I've been a fan of Toast (the one on Webster) since 2003. And today I was reminded again why I loved this place to so much. I saw Toast Two during a day of running errands and then I had the day off today and thought...this is a perfect day to go and enjoy my favorite...FRENCH TOAST ORGY. It was just as I remembered it. Fresh, tasty, and filling. For $10 bucks its a good deal. I had left overs. The service was outstanding and I grew up not too far from this neighborhood so it feel perfect. Go and enjoy this yummy place. You won't regret it!
(5)
Rochelle C.
Before Kid - My husband and I loved coming to Toast. Great food - amazing apple/pear/brie crepe and their pumpkin pancakes are terrific. Great coffee too. Would have been a 5 star review...back then. After Kid - Went to Toast Two a few days ago for breakfast with my toddler. The restaurant has always seemed kid-friendly so I was excited to take my kid here, and also very much looking forward to their amazing apple/pear/brie crepe. I ordered a kid's stack of blueberry pancakes for my toddler. When they came out, they had what appeared to be a whole bag of powered sugar on them. They were just covered in powered sugar...total mess. I explained to the waitress that I didn't really want my child to have powered sugar esp. not this much of it. She said that all of the pancakes have sugar on top (doesn't mention this in the kid's menu and wasn't told this when I ordered) . So the point is - the food is terrific for adults. If you are looking for a healthy breakfast for your little one, make sure to specify that you don't want a dumping of powered sugar all over the kid's pancakes that you just ordered. It's a surprise that the generous use of sugar isn't mentioned on the menu or by the server considering how health conscious many parents are concerning their children. Plus - the server (young lady with large black glasses) was a bit annoyed and acted like she couldn't understand why I wouldn't directly feed a pound of sugar to my little one. We received new pancakes, but never saw our server again. So her lack of understanding played a role in only give the restaurant 3 stars.
(3)
Carol J.
I've never had anything but excellent service here, from everyone from the friendly service to the smiling bussers and even the cleaning guys who wave hello. They are five stars in my book except I only eat one thing when I come here and that is the Coq Monsiuer (sp) which I usually only eat in Paris because, well, when in Rome. But usually someone starts stealing my delightful little Mister because they like it better than theirs. Which gives me room to think-is their omelette, waffle, skillet thingy not so good? Doubt it. Lines are so crazy here, I thought of starting brunch service to act as their waiting room but its gonna be awhile before I can step into their realm which is fine with me. Oh wtf, Five stars for the awesome hash browns and choice of hot beverages!
(5)
Diana F.
In the two times I have been here, I have fallen in love with my food. Yes, real love. I wanted to marry it and then have babies with it. I've had the stuffed french toast (wow...wow...wow) the pesto scramble...wow again...I've had the crab benedict which was SOOOO GOOOD and the regular benedict which did not disappoint....the oj is yummy the coffee is good...the restaurant is cute, the service is great. I absolutely love it.
(5)
Maura S.
Had a very enjoyable late lunch at Toast. I went with the grilled cheese, which included three different kinds of cheese- can't go wrong there. Mmmm. I think I'll be back for breakfast...
(4)
one thousand songs s.
Orgylicous. Why on earth did my so-called friends send me to Feast when this place is (i) closer to where I was staying (ii) tastier with a better menu (iii) less likely to be filled with screaming toddlers. We actually "found" this place after the waitress at Maps of the World sent us over. She was likely trying to get rid of us, but I figure it was a fair trade, although for who I'm not sure. We had eggs, a pancake orgy, sausages filled with cheese and yes, we even sampled some of the food. Two thumbs up - how else can you have an orgy?! Drawbacks (i) they didn't give us crayons to colour with (ii) they aren't licensed - brunch without the opportunity to have a bloody mary is like serving pancakes and french toast and not having real maple syrup (iii) THEY SERVE PANCAKES AND FRENCH TOAST AND DO NOT SERVE REAL MAPLE SYRUP. 1000Songs
(4)
Casey C.
We visited on a weekday and had a very short wait for a table. The hostess was nice and welcoming and our waiter got our drinks for us immediately. So, unlike other reviews I have read the service was really amazing. Then the food came and we were even more impressed. I had an egg scramble(Tijuana) which was delicious. Even my daughter who doesn't eat eggs liked it!! She had the stuffed french toast trio, which was also excellent. The Mexican chocolate didn't have the best flavor, but it didn't taste bad either. The Nutella crepe with pecans was also yummy and reasonably priced. We didn't have a single thing that tasted bad from coffee to jam. The service was also welcoming and attentive. We will definitely be back to try other inviting menu choices :)
(5)
Alexis F.
Great local place. Don't leave without trying the tenderloin benedict!
(5)
kelly z.
Sometimes brunch restaurants have that one dish that make them great. Toast's entire menu is just that. We had the vegetarian omlet, homestyle potatoes, buttermilk pancakes and, of course, toast. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The potatoes had their own flair. The powdered sugar dusted pancakes were so sweet, they didn't even require syrup. The service was also amazing. It wasn't very busy, so we had the perfect amount of attention at the table.
(5)
Kristen S.
Toast Two is pretty much always crowded and it's for a reason! A great menu and great service keeps me coming back over and over again. As a person who is gluten intolerant, you would wonder why I would go to a restaurant aptly named Toast. Fair enough. The toast IS amazing. Prior to being gluten free, I enjoyed the sourdough toast (which has been "sold out" on more than one visit.... so keep trying to get it). But now that I can no longer have wheat and gluten, I still enjoy Toast without the namesake. The omelettes and eggs are fantastic, as is the coffee and espresso drinks. I always get some fruit and the chicken sausage stuffed with apple and gouda cheese is to-die-for. My favorite omelette is stuffed with tomato, spinach, and goat cheese. Be prepared to wait and be prepared to be cozy with your dining neighbors. The only complaint about Toast Two is the seating area. Very cramped. Reasonably priced at about $20-30 for two people including some espresso drinks, Toast Two is worth the wait.
(4)
Eliza M.
3.75 stars I guess I had really high expectations for Toast Two. I was expecting it to knock my socks off. I had the eggs benedict and was really jazzed on the truffle hollandaise sauce. It was....not that impressive. Also shared the apple, pear and brie crepe and sampled a friend's french toast orgy which was my favorite of the three. I will, however, be back to try the breakfast burrito. The sign is a piece of toast.
(4)
Sara B.
I loved this place. Know that brunch restaurants are my favorite type of established, not steak houses, so read this accordingly. I have something saavy and something sweet, and both were great. The Ahi sandwich was awesome, and it was a healthy size of fish. It was served with my favorite kind of homecooked potatoes, which weren't fried and didn't taste like they had been overcooked in grease. I had the strawberry crepe which I had them nutella to. It was awesome and the perfect size, not too big and not too small. I didn't have them, but the pumpkin pancakes also looked awesome, a number of people were eating them around me. Highly recommend this place if you like cute, brunch restaurants with food that tends to be on the sweeter size.
(5)
Angela Z.
I am a HUGE fan of the Toast on Webster so I came here a couple times as the Webster one usually has a longer wait. Everything here is still as great as the Webster one EXCEPT!!!!!! for the egg benedict, which has always been my favorite eggs benedict in the city. :( For some reason at this location, the hollandaise just doesn't have that magical lemony truffle taste that the Webster location's has. When I eat the one at the Webster location, my eyes roll back in my head and it's completely unique to any other hollandaise I've ever had. The Damen location's isn't bad, but it tastes like something you could get anywhere else. However, the pancakes, juice and service are all still great here. Just wish they could get the recipe down from their Webster peeps for that hollandaise! :)
(3)
Nikki L.
The wait was long! Too long! I had the stuffed french toast with the trio of fillings. The only one I really enjoyed was the marscapone filling. The chocolate stuffed one was sour? I've never had sour chocolate before and it was gross. The strawberry one was too tart as well. I sent it back for 2 more marscapone ones. Not only did we wait almost 45 minutes for our breakfast but I had to wait another 25 for my replacement french toast. The server almost didn't replace my meal...but once I told her the chocolate was sour, she had a change of heart...why wouldn't any restaurant NOT replace something that a customer didn't eat because they didn't like? That'd be bad service! Overall, not terribly impressed, I went home with a sour stomach probably due to the sour chocolate.
(2)
Jen S.
I recently purchased a groupon for Toast, and I was guessing we would experience a long wait when my friend and I went on a Saturday morning around 9:30. We waited about half an hour, which I don't think is bad. The waitress was extremely friendly and offered great service. I have the omelette lorraine (smoked applewood bacon, guyere cheese and chives), which was delicious. Their potatoes and toast were amazing as well.
(4)
Megan M.
Un-Bloody-Believable. My favorite brunch comrades and I stumbled into this glorious oasis last sunday morning. The wait was tolerable (30 minutes) and it was a beautiful day. We were seated on the back patio (which may be my only complaint. There were three of us, and we were seated at two tables seperated by a good five inch gap. Awkward.) Julius Meinl coffee? Yes! There wasnt a bad bite between our three entrees (Pesto scramble with proscuitto, pancakes with honey and pine nuts, and a breakfast burrito), and the waitress, while timid, was attentive. I can't wait to go back for a french toast orgy!
(5)
K B.
My bro and I came here. This was a sweet brunch spot, and super cheap - we ate for around $10 each. My bro had the B.E.L.T. with everything (it's huge! and he loved it), and I had the omelette lorraine which rocked. Will totally be going back.
(4)
B.D. K.
Actually went to Toast in LP, but either way this place never ceases to impress (4.5 stars). I had a Spanish omelette and it may have been the best omelette I've ever had - hmm, or, let's say at least in the last few years... Thought it was better than the french toast orgy as well. They're eggs always taste really light and fresh. I can't remember the name but it has jalapenos in it.
(4)
Hannah K.
This place is so amazing and I love the atmosphere too. THe one in Lincoln Park is just as cute. Favorite meal: the B.E.L.T. and the stuffed french toast (prefer the mascarpone cheese one)
(5)
Amy S.
Breakfast burrito is awesome. Pumpkin pancakes were the special of the day and they were loaded with whipped cream (no butter or syrup needed). They were the best pancakes I've ever had!
(4)
Kaelan W.
Worth the long wait, Toast Two has the same great food as the Lincoln Park location with slightly shorter waits and a killer garden for summer dining. The food can't be improved upon, but I would love to see both of the Toast locations go the way of other wait-worthy brunch places and offer free coffee and some outdoor seating to the huddled masses.
(4)
hannah o.
We visited the Bucktown location on a recent trip to Chicago. It was very tasty. We got the marscapone french toast which was probably in my top 10 favorite french toast dishes. The only irritating thing is they could only split the check 2 ways, but it turned out fine because I just put it all on my card and my friends paid me back. Policies are policies. Overall, great experience--great atmosphere, tasty food, good service.
(4)
Denise C.
We did wait quite a while on a Saturday at about 11:30 (about 25 minutes) and were seated at the counter. The counter seating is not very comfortable and we had to put our purses on the floor. (get purse hooks for under the counter, Toast Two!). The coffee was delicious, the service was a bit chilly but efficient. I ordered the Tijuana omelet which was really delicious and hit the spot. The toast was fantastic (as it should be). The potatoes were just so-so and not worth the calories. My friend had the Lorianne omelet which she thought was incredible and finished every bit. Overall, it was a good breakfast but nothing over-the-top great.
(4)
Carrie L.
Here's the deal. I went to the Lincoln Park Toast a while ago and had the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and it was about the most delicious thing my mouth has ever encountered. I went with a friend from Pittsburgh, and as she was back in the city this month, we decided to visit the one in Bucktown. Very excited about the french toast, she ordered the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and I ordered the stuffed french toast with pureed strawberry. And there ends the good experience... Our meals came out, and mine was soggy and pink. When I tried a bite, it tasted like mushy egg bread with a bitter strawberry taste. Thinking I had perhaps tried the worst bite first, I gave it a few more shots until I decided to save the calories. Although my friend's meal was much better than mine, it was still a little dry and not the french toast manna I remembered. I'm not sure if my memory was better than the actual first experience, or if the Bucktown Toast simply isn't as good. But, in a city with countless great brunch spots, I'll go elsewhere for good stuffed french toast. The chicken and gouda sausauge, on the other hand, was delish. In short, skip the strawberry stuffed french toast and pick something savory!
(2)
Jillian D.
two words: pancake orgy oh bacchus would delight! my girlfriend and i brunched here on sunday then went to buy running shoes (bad idea. bad idea.) at nearby running away multisport (see later review). we both ordered the decadent orgy. we both left feeling the need to light up (if we were smokers. and not runners.) yes my friends. it was *that* good. you get three flavorful, plate-sized hot cakes, topped with yogurt, honey and homemade granola, surrounded by fresh berries. (i know - right??!!!) i dare you to finish - i certainly couldn't go through with the entire orgy. that would have been gluttonous. but i would have loved every gooey bite!! if you're more of the savory breakfast type ( i usually am), there are ample opportunities to indulge that craving, from omelets to benedicts to huevos rancheros and beyond. and cup after cup of julius meinl coffee is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
(4)
Jess S.
Your weekend brunch wait scares me. But I still love you. I usually end up getting the omelettes for fear anything "stuffed" will make me crazed with sugar. The delicious food trumps the usually crummy service and drafty and cramped interior And I wish the damn line wasn't so long.
(5)
Katie L.
Great coffee here, and the stuffed french toast is delicious! The staff does a great job of working their way through the crowded tables to refill water and drinks. They have a nice back deck which you get to by walking between the buildings-not through the restaurant itself, which is kind of cute. I'm looking forward to it being spring soon so I can go back there again! One of these days I'm going to have to try their lunch menu, but I'm always so tempted by the breakfast side of the offerings that I haven't yet. Overall, one of my favorite places in Chicago for breakfast. It is crowded, but the high ceilings and skylights at least make it feel less claustrophobic.
(5)
Eliot J.
the hostess and our waitress were one and the same today. she was helpful and friendly. the food came out in about 10 minutes or less. decently priced for what it's considered - a trendy and popular brunch spot. unique food options for the most part. expect a wait during peak hours.
(3)
Drea E.
Yeah, we went back for round 2 and it was OK. Not spectacular, not terrible, just fine. We split the omelet Lorraine which would have been fantastic had the bacon been cooked more. As it was, chewy bits of undercooked bacon peppered throughout the omelet kind of ruined every bite.
(3)
Kate S.
Decent brunch food and selection, nothing as special as, say, Lula's, but alright. Not quite sure why anyone would wait for an hour to eat here, but if there's seating it's a-ok. But, TERRIBLE COFFEE! Wow, I may as well have been at a golden nugget, and they may actually have better coffee there anyway. BLEH!
(3)
Mike S.
Toast was amazing, if for no other reason than for the juice. The apple just tasted like *gasp* real apples, and didn't taste like sugar water with apple flavoring. The orange juice tasted just as fresh and authentic. I'm not even a big juice drinker, but I would come here for the juice alone. As far as food goes, the brunch was really tasty as well. The menu had a lot of great options, so much that I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down to one. The breakfast burrito, which I finally settled on, was huge and delicious. Especially with some Cholula on it. The cheesy chicken sausage was yummy too, and the nutella-stuffed crepes were top-notch too. Probably the only thing better would have been nutella-stuffed nutella, but I guess I can just have that at home. Brunch may get crowded, but I'm a late eater anyways. Eat here!
(5)
Alex M.
The first time I went to Toast, the weather was just toying around with the idea of extending its summer. After a short wait, the hostess whisked us to an outdoor patio! A patio! We hadn't even known or asked, but were seated at a great table, brought ample coffee, reinforcements of orange juice, and overwhelmingly delicious breakfast. Eggs, stuffed french toast, meat, you name it, someone ordered it. Subsequent visits revealed a good bathroom, hip interior seating, and waiters just as friendly as our original lanky western wearin' server.
(5)
Hayden J.
As others have mentioned, expect to wait on the weekends. Since I live in the neighborhood, I decided to grab my order to go and take in some Saturday morning TV. I got the French Toast Orgy which is three french toasts that are filled with your choice of chocolate, strawberry, or mascarpone and topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, grapes, granola, and honey. I couldn't decided on the filling so I got one of each. My favorite was the mascarpone (sorta like cream cheese) filling and the strawberry. The chocolate was a little too sweet for my taste. All and all, this was a delicious meal and quite a challenge for one to finish on their own. (I posted a photo of my meal that was taken near the stopping point.)
(5)
Lady L.
Yummy breakfast in Bucktown. I don't even try getting in on weekends but if you are lucky and are able to go out to breakfast during the week, make it to Toast. All of the pancake/french toast stuff is good. Also, they've got a good selection of savory items on the menu, which is good considering Bongo Room lacks that in their menu. Definitely a must try.
(4)
Brian M.
When we lived in Bucktown (2002-2005) This was our home-turf for breakfast... we couldn't get enough. Love the oatmeal, and anything that they do with French Toast. Since leaving Chicago, we have been to Boston, and now Tucson, Arizona - we have been searching for a "Toast-like" breakfast spot, and have been unsuccessful! Congrats to the team at Toast (all of them) hopefully you are still having the success you did years ago.
(5)
Kami T.
The menu was departure from typical brunch places. They offered a twist on the usual flavors for breakfast, and it was executed well. The portion size was also surprisingly big. A big plus for me is that they offered sugar-free syrup. We had to wait 1 hour, but that's to be expected for brunch on a sunday. Overall, it was a great experience!
(4)
t.n. t.
I have an addiction! The pancake orgy and the breakfast burrito are a must!!! I prefer to go here in the summer when the back patio is open so that I have some privacy. My boyfriend and I miss this place when we haven't been in awhile. The portions and quality have decreased a bit in recent time, but its still good!!
(5)
candace l.
There are so many good choices on the menu, but don't be afraid to try the daily specials. You will not be disappointed. This place is a hit so expect to wait and wait and wait for a table. But it will be worth it, I promise! Fantastic food and friendly service.
(5)
Blah B.
Love this place. Have had some pretty awesome experiences here with my boys! I tend to always order one of the specials for the day and they never disappoint. Love the fact that you can come here during the week as well and have some quality time with friends or family!!!
(4)
eden s.
Yes, the waitstaff is super snotty hipsters and prices are above average, but that's fine bc they have the best eggs & chorizo in the city. I love their potatoes too. And their fresh OJ is always so refreshing. The pancakes are fluffy and delightful. It's the best breakfast place in the city. Expect a wait of 30 minutes or more. Kid-friendly - kind of. The waitstaff hates kids pretty much...or maybe they just hate life in general. They are always so crabby. There is one standout waitress -- Michelle, I think. She has been there for years. African American gal. Always very sweet contrary to her counterparts. Ask for her section if she is there. Despite some of these negative things, I still love Toast.
(5)
Leang E.
This place is really small, so I wouldn't recommend a group larger than 4 to be honest. I wonder if there would still be a line of people if the place was bigger. It was the weekend and we did have to wait outside for brunch. We were told an hour long wait, but got in sooner since we were willing to sit at the counter. I like the homey feel that the place has to it. It is reminiscent of a nicer diner in the movies. Our server was really nice as well as the hostess. I ordered the breakfast that included eggs over medium, the chicken gouda sausage, thick sliced bacon, potatoes, and wheat toast. I ate half of it and took the rest home. It was very tasty, but slightly more expensive but worth it. The sausage was unique and they have huge portions here. You can also get coffee before you are seated so you can drink it outside while you wait. I think I live even closer to this place.
(4)
Janette L.
Despite it's namesake, I have yet to try the french toast. I have a weird love for breakfast burritos and I think this place has one of the best in the city. Space is small so be prepared to wait. Perfect for couples and very small groups. I have been here a few times and thought the service was good - they always kept my coffee mug full! Remember to check out the specials written on the chalkboard hanging on the wall - some unique and tasty dishes (i.e eggs+pesto).
(4)
Suzzane B.
My boyfriend and I get breakfast together all.the.time. We were super sad that our regular spot Cafe de Lucca closed down (down the street) and so we tried this place on a whim instead. I think it's safe to say, it is for sure our new regular and much loved place to go. We love that we run into people frequently here that we know from the neighborhood or just around town in general, and I personally love that they remember us as familiar faces and even are starting to know what our usual orders are. But more importantly, I just love that they are a locally owned joint that offers great food at a great price and always provide stellar customer service to us regardless of being 'regulars' now or not. They greet us with a friendly smile every time, and even something so simple as the check holders they give us at the end of our meal have the saying on it "Good food with good friends" (or something to that effect) because that's how they make us feel every time. We will definitely be enjoying breakfast here for years and years to come (oh, and the lunch options are spectacular too!).
(5)
Akeisha W.
I enjoyed breakfast here a couple of days ago. They were ver friendly and fast. The atmosphere was pleasant and food was good. Definitely going to try the french toast orgy next time. I had and omelet and it was good. I will be back.
(4)
brian u.
We moved 1/2 block away from Toast II. It was the best thing we ever did! As long as you are there before the mob (Sat and Sun before 9:30ish) you get a quick table or a seat at the bar. Lucky grab last week on the beautiful, tranquil back patio. Everything on the menu is fantastic! Have had several of the items and always score a taste from fellow diners if it's something I haven't had. Unfortunately makes Clarke's Diner (see earlier review) a little less tempting and a whole three blocks away!
(5)
charlotte G.
Went for brunch on a holiday Monday around noon - only a very short wait for a table of four! Very cute place, but not too girly that you couldn't bring guys. The menu had many different options - we all stuck with the more breakfast type food. Everything was great! And very large portions too. Maybe I am just used to NYC prices but everything seemed very cheap - I got a side of pancakes with my meal, no extra charge! I guess they don't have a liquor license yet so alcohol was not available yet.
(4)
Trevor R.
If you happen to be a hungry Texan lost in Chicago, and you stumble upon a sign in the shape of a slice of toast, I highly recommend that you enter the establishment below and enjoy their hearty, eggy breakfast burrito. The house salsa is pretty darn good, but the old standbys Tabasco and Cholula are on-hand as well. You may have to wait 10-15 minutes for a table, but if the summer heat is getting to you, the equally tasty hostess will be happy to bring you some water. ;-)
(4)
Nancy H.
A cute brunch place just north of Armitage on Damen. It's a long restaurant, so they make use of booth seating along the wall. The wait for a late lunch was approximately 30 minutes for a party of three on a Sunday, and they don't take reservations. The prices are average for breakfast, but what surprised me is that crepes are only $5-7. I ordered the cobb club sandwich, which is grilled chicken, lots of bleu cheese (that I scraped off), avocado, tomatoes, and salad greens, and it was excellent! I think they season or butter the toasted bread. I substituted the potato salad that accompanies all sandwiches for a small fruit cup for $1 more ($9.50 total) but so worth it - the sliced bananas and strawberries and whole blackberries were so fresh and sweet. I noticed the stuffed french toast with fruit was a popular hit. I was most impressed by the presentation of the food. Everything comes out on white shiny plates, and there is absolutely no messiness. Sandwiches are cut straight, there are no random crumbs on your plate, and each meal is colorful - all so picture perfect. I'd come back again.
(4)
Laura I.
I used to come here more but don't even think of coming these days. It does have pretty good food but what I can't get past is how PACKED it becomes and how PACKED they seat everyone. You're basically sitting at some stranger's table throughout your meal and there's barely enough room to let one thigh go in between the tables to get to the cushioned seats. I always go here expecting good but leave feeling like a sardine who's finally been freed. If only they could get more oil in this joint so we could all breathe!
(3)
Becky W.
I met a friend here for breakfast yesteray. I ordered the pancake orgy and swapped the banana pancake for a blueberry. It was good. I was a little skeptical about the yogurt on top of pancakes, but It was sprisingly delicious. Negatives are the thimble of warm orange juice I got for $2, and I really love fresh squeezed OJ, so that was a disappointment. And also it was majorly crowded, and we got sat at the table right next to the door so the people waiting were encroaching on my booth space and letting their children run around. I'd give it another try because it tasted good and it was bright and sunny, but I think I'm more of a low-key brunch spot kind of girl.
(3)
Rachel E.
toast two is definitely in my top 3 places for breakfast/brunch. the food is fantastic; the service is always pleasant; and, although the seating is a little cramped, it doesn't get too busy during the week. probably my favorite breakfast potatoes in town.
(4)
Jacque w.
I just don't get it. I had heard that Toast was wonderful. I had seen it on tv and had read reviews that it was one of the best around. This is not the experience I had ! I went with a friend who ordered the Pepper eggs, I ordered the Lorraine Omelet. My friends eggs were tasty, but nothing special. My omelet was very dry, very small and looked very bland on the plate. My friends eggs were accompanied by potatoes and toast. My omelet just came with toast. It just needed something else on the plate, because it seemed almost unfinished. You would think that a place named Toast would have some stand out breads, but this was just your run of the mill grocery store bread. I think there are many better places to eat than Toast, I would not go back.
(2)
Olivia H.
I just MUST comment on Meg O,'s review, who regaled us with the tale of the bearded dragon Toast's birthday. It is NEVER, EVER okay to bring an animal into a dining establishment without first clearing it with the management, and a responsible, law and health code abiding restaurant would never allow that. (For that matter, in my opinion it is flat out not appropriate to bring an animal into a dining establishment, guide dogs and the like aside). Were the health inspector to arrive whilst Toast was having his little trip to Toast, there could be ramifications for the dining establishment. I am more disturbed by the Map Rooms allowance of the lizard than Toast's request for them to leave. Please, don't take this as pure animal hatred, I have animal companions myself and feel very strongly that sharing your lives with various critters can be great for your health and psyche. But that does not give one the right to tote their pet around wherever they like. Rant aside, I love Toast, and highly recommend it, especially on weekdays when you can avoid the massive crowd. The smoked salmon omelet with dill havarti and capers is to die for, and I find myself ordering it over and over, even when I sternly tell myself to try something new. For those of you who love chocolate for breakfast, try the Nutella Crepes (because everything is delicious with Nutella).
(5)
Eitan S.
nice local breakfast. food is okay, reminds me of Nookie, very American. too much hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedicts. steak & eggs were decent.
(4)
Lezah G.
This could easily be a 4 or 5 star place but the indifferent service made me subtract 2-3 stars. The menu has great stuff on it. Our food was pretty good. Mine was the best--I had eggs benedict which was great. The other dishes were above average. Why only two stars then? Well, the place is called TOAST. One of us ordered a meal that came with a brioche. She was expecting a knotted type of roll but she got what looked like Texas toast. The menu should have said brioche bread, not a brioche. My brother ordered a side of raisin bread toast. He got two tiny pieces of bread that looked like the pieces of bread next to the heel of the loaf. They were about two bites each. The waitress was completely indifferent when we mentioned something about the TOAST. The place is called TOAST. All she said was that was what they served. Would it have killed her to go back to the kitchen and put two more slices of the tiny bread in the toaster and brought it out? Greek diners do a better job. Would it have killed her to offer something other than the Texas toast/Brioche? These are not big ticket items and it was Monday morning. There were no lines waiting to get it. Thank goodness we were using a groupon!
(2)
Anonymous F.
I don't know whether they were just having an off day, but our food was bad. I mean, I didn't even want to finish my food, it was so bad. The flavors and the textures were just wrong. My friend's food sucked as well, and the people at the next table appeared to be complaining about their food too. I gave it an extra star because of the atmosphere, but I would never go back here.
(2)
kevin M.
This place is excellent!! Its a clean place and the wait staff is great. They are pricey for breakfast but they have such good coffee and french toast, you just have to splurge. My friend was in town so we stopped in for a late breakfast and the bill was around $39. I would go back but only for lunch.
(4)
Jenni Q.
We walked in around 230pm on a Sunday and luckily a table had just opened up so we didn't have to wait at all. Always a good start to a weekend brunch :) Everything on the menu looked so good we had trouble making up our minds even as we were placing our orders. I was debating between the B.E.L.T (bacon+eggs+mixed greens+tomato sandwich) or the grilled ahi tuna sandwich. I wanted to try something other than my usual breakfast sandwich so ended up getting the ahi tuna sandwich which came with this really great zesty sauce, sauteed chopped tomatoes and onions and the best ciabatta bread ever. The huge serving of tuna was a little overcooked but still tasted great. My boyfriend got the ground chicken mixed with cheese sandwich and really enjoyed his dish as well and we both LOVED the breakfast potatoes (I would recommend skipping the potato salad). Also tried the soup of the day - watermelon gazpacho - which was more savory than I thought it would be. I'm not a fan of cold soups but my bf thought it was very original and delicious. We will definitely be back to try some of the other items we wish we could have gotten!
(4)
chris c.
ordered the french toast orgy and they forgot about the granola and vanilla yogurt. the person at the front counter was apathetic at best and really did not help us look out for a table. He also refused to take down my number to call me when there's a table. we had to point out to him that there were empty tables before we were seated. even after pointing out to him the empty table and asking if we could have it, his response was "possibly". bad service ruins the whole experience. not pleased.
(1)
Ian A.
I debated a one star but really want to save that for the worse of the worse. I just don't get the lines or the great reviews this place has. The food is really not that good! In fact sometimes it's been downright bad. The staff holds the "it's a privilege to even be here" attitude and is about as rude is you'll find for breakfast. This particular location doesn't serve bloody marries or other breakfast drinks like their other location does and can be another turn away for some people.
(2)
Joe W.
I love breakfast. Lots of breakfast. Things like stuffed french toast or a pancake orgy, both with mounds of fresh fruit around it and a good cup of coffee exceed any breakfast expectations you've ever had. It gets busy, so buck up and come early. Toast Two makes breakfast an art.
(5)
Event Horizon L.
I have two words for you : yum, yum
(4)
Bess R.
My review is only for takeout since I NEVER brave the lines at this place on the weekends. They have many yummy breakfast/brunch foods, though I prefer breakfast. Usually get the awesomely huge pancakes (love banana nut, but they always have a few different flavors) or the goat cheese, spinach and tomato omelet with a side of chicken sausage. Oh mamma, that is good stuff. Not as big of a fan of the lunch options (bad experience with the frisee salad), but my ladyfriends seem to like the turkey burger a lot.
(4)
Becky S.
I come to Toast with people who have never eaten there. It's futile to come any time between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on a weekend, so it's usually a late brunch kind of destination. The food is great, and you get huge portions for a reasonable price. I don't find Toast to be the sort of place I can visit more than a few times a year, though--it's sensory overload, and the wait and difficulty parking is usually more formidable than the food. Still. Inevitably, it's worth it with friends visiting from out of town when their eyes widen and they begin salivating at the prospect of the "french toast orgy".
(4)
Stacy K.
I have been going to Toast for a decade but my last two visits will have been my last ever. Today's visit was inexcusable. I had the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette with potatoes and rye toast. Now mind you the coffee was great and the toast and jam good but the eggs and potatoes were so salty that I couldn't even eat them and the goat cheese in the eggs was broken and gritty. The server took my plate when I told him and....NEVER RETURNED! I got up to use the restroom and when I came back, my table had been cleared- coffe, toast, water - GONE! I told the gentleman at the register what happened and he handed me my bill and said that he couldn't do anything because the manager wasn't there. He did ask me if I'd like a coffee to go. Really?!? No - what I'd like to have is an edible breakfast. It's a shame - this was once a great reliable breakfast spot. But I guess all good things must come to an end. Adieu, Toast.
(1)
Andy R.
favors the sweet toothed and sober folk wait not worthwhile
(3)
Jessica M.
Talked about highly by friends, but not overly impressed in the end. DRINK: We started with coffee, which was really good - I am picky about a good cup of coffee, and that alone gets 5 stars. FOOD: loses one star My friend said their stuffed french toast is killer and suggests it. However, I wasn't in the mood for sweet and it looked so fattening I had to pass. I ordered an omelet with goat cheese, tomatoes and spinach, side of potatoes and cinnamon toast. The omelet had a funky taste to it, not sure if it was the oil they use or if they were egg beaters or something. I ended up picking out the fillers a little, and maybe only ate half. Probably the worst omelet I've had unfortunately. The potatoes were excellent, toast was sweet and good. Tried a bite of my friends marscapone french toast at the end of the meal and it was pretty good - maybe should have ordered that and only ate half. SERVICE: loses one star Three of us came here on a Thursday at 9:30am, which was not very busy maybe 4 other tables and us. Service was slow - had to ask for more coffee and they only came around 3 times in almost 2 hours to check on us - pretty bad for such a small place and not busy. The waitress also messed up the order slightly, gave my potatoes to my friend on her plate and had to take them back to the kitchen to switch. Overall, so so service.
(3)
lola d.
O.K people: Toast is good. It is an excellent place to eat brunch, lunch, and so much more. Here are a couple of pointers that will make your toast experience a lot more smoother: Do not visit Toast on a Saturday or a Sunday and get all angry because you are not sat in 5 minutes--the restaurant is SMALL! The food will take a good 15-25 minutes to reach your table after you order on a Saturday or Sunday--so don't go there starving! How do I know this? I am a long time patron, who avoids the joint on weekends and embraces it on weekdays. The staff is amazing and always makes me feel welcomed and the food keeps me coming back for more. What else do I need to say?
(4)
Isabella M.
This is a favorite spot of mine. I come here often. Here are some dishes I have tried: French Toast Orgy - the mexican chocolate french toast was a bit too rich, the strawberry is insanity and the mascarpone is equally succulent. Don't add syrup to these, people. You will regret it. I would almost be inclined to tell them to hold the granola, as it becomes a lot to ingest and maintain productivity for the remainder of my Sunday. Mascarpone Pancakes w/ pine nuts and anise and other things - This is my all time favorite here. The pancakes are crips on the edges, the flavors blend very well. I am in love. Breakfast Burrito - It's good. But seriously, why are you ordering this when you can have the mascarpone pancakes? Pesto Scamble - This was intense and I'm not sure I would order it again, or at least not as hungover as I was. Very good, very rich. House Potatoes - This is where I reach my dilemma. I love the house potatoes here. They come as a side with most of the savory items. Yet, I prefer the sweet dishes. I suggest the best of both worlds, would be to order this as a side. And i have been known to do so. I've also been to the Lincoln Park location and I'm not sure if I'm just partial to my own neighborhood.... but they were a little stuck up there!! I do like that they have drinks but that's probably the only upside to the place.
(4)
Aileen O.
Toast Two has eclipsed Lincoln Park's Toast as my favorite brunch spot! The space is more spacious and has more character than its counterpart. I loved the retro feel. There were vintage toasters and toaster decor decorating the walls. The high ceilings also opened up the place. Despite the dreary weather outside, the place received a good amount of light which was very nice. Service was prompt and friendly. We went on a Monday so there was no crazy rush. We were able to take our time and the wait stuff was patient with our indecisiveness (too many good menu items!). Get the French Toast orgy with marscarpone filling. You'll get three gigantic slabs of stuffed french toast. The pureed strawberry was okay, but the strawberry taste wasn't as defined. I also recommend getting the yogurt and granola on the side, rather than slathered on top. It's less messy and more visually appealing. My friend and I split this dish and combined with our side of house potatoes, we were perfectly sated. With Toast's wait times sometimes topping two hours, I'd recommend visiting the Bucktown spot. Seems less crowded to me!
(5)
Gracie B.
A plate of warm gingerbread pancakes on a cold snowy winter vacation afternoon... Does it get any better? I seriously doubt it. Mama Marie and I stopped here for a late breakfast. I had the seasonal gingerbread pancakes which were absolutely great. Moist, fluffy and not heavy, they were lovely. I also had the chicken sausage which was a great compliment. Service was friendly and casual - almost too casual...I normally leave breakfast jittery, instead, I had to ask them to refill my coffee. But I'll forgive that and only dock a star off of what would otherwise had been a great meal
(4)
Andreea O.
Really delicious breakfast...there wasn't one thing that my boyfriend and I got that wasn't either really good, either excellent...starting with the fresh strong coffee and ending with the french toast orgy...yummmyy Definitely recommend the pesto scramble, with panceta and tomatoes...oh so good, comes with these awesome potatoes... The only thing that I didn't like as much was the seating situation....it's a small place and tables are crowded next to each other and it could get loud.
(4)
Laura R.
The french toast orgy is quite possibly the most amazing/delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life. It's three sticks of stuffed french toast (mascarpone, strawberry, and chocolate, I usually go all mascarpone) covered generously in yogurt, granola and fresh fruit. And their fresh fruit is not your standard grapes with over-ripe melon blend, we're talking delicious blackberries and raspberries here. I cannot stand to wait a long time for brunch but I am willing to sit my ass down on the freezing or boiling hot sidewalk (nowhere else to wait here) just for the french toast orgy. However I've noticed there usually isn't a line closer to 2 when they close.
(5)
Brooke W.
Not often do we stray from our favorite breakfast joint the B.C. (breakfast club), but this morning we found ourselves in Bucktown... I didnt feel like breakfast, but rather lunch food, so I ordered the ahi tuna sandwhich. My boyfriend ordered the special, eggs with some green sauce. Overall the food was bland. Dont order the tuna, it's covered with way too much sage. I expressed my disappointment to the waitress and she didnt have much to offer. Not a "can I bring you something else" Obviously hired for her looks and not her ability to wait on people. Foodie beware. Not the best breakfast in this city.
(1)
Bridget L.
The food is good, and I enjoyed my "pancake orgy," but the place is small and gets very crowded. We actually got there really early and the place was empty, but the host refused to seat us until we had our entire party join us, which was only two more people. It was like that scene in the movie Meet the Parents when Ben Stiller is waiting to get on the airplane...Hahaha. Eventually the host sat us because I think she realized that making a hugely pregnant lady stand by a cold door with a toddler in tow in an empty restaurant was pretty silly. But our server was great and the food was very yummy. although a little pricey. I don't live anywhere near Bucktown, so not sure I'd travel all that way just for Toast Two, but if I am in the area, I'd give it another shot.
(3)
James C.
So what's the difference between this place and other breakfast places? Nothing. One thing that kinda turns me off is the fact that these little brunch places (that are SO popular with the ladies) is the fact that they're ridiculously expensive for no god awful reason. Why does this place cost just as much as eating dinner? I just don't get it. I ordered a Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo (I always get breakfast burritos if there's nothing on the menu I like) and my gf decided to have the French Toast stuffed with Mascarpone. What the hell is mascarpone? It honestly tasted like nothing. Call me an uncultured low class breakfast burrito eating dummy but the french toast tasted like light fluffy bread... and the mascarpone that was inside the light fluffy bread tasted like creamy nothing. We also shared a side of their potatoes which were nothing too great... just potatoes. The best part about this meal was that it cost me $30 bucks. I love spending $30 bucks for a burrito that I scarfed down in 3 minutes and light fluffy toast with creamy nothingness inside with little pieces of fruit around it. Maybe I'm just not into breakfast (which I'm not) and I'm definitely not into expensive breakfast/brunch places. This place is just OK for me. If I had a choice, I'd go to YOLK where they have a great menu... it's just too bad their location sucks for me cause it's so far into the city. If you like breakfast/brunch and you have the cash for it, I'd recommend this place. The people/person who took our order was super nice and had a very inviting vibe to her but other than that, the food was just average. Maybe I'm expecting too much for a breakfast joint... but if I'm gonna spend $11 for a breakfast burrito that wasn't all that great, I'd better get something else too... like.. I dunno.. a side of potatoes for free. Actually... yeah... why didn't my breakfast burrito come with hash browns or something. Even McDonalds gives you hashbrowns with your two breakfast burritos! Booooooooo for toast. I'm probably not gonna go there again. I'll let my gf go with her other friends that like to spend way too much money for toast they can drench with syrup.
(2)
Danielle R.
I've been to the original Toast in Lincoln Park as well as "Toast 2" and I've never had a complaint about the food. My boyfriend swears by the breakfast burrito but I tend to go for the.....well, toast! Their French toast really is divine. After going in for the stuffed variety I have since returned to the one that is just served with fresh berries so I leave pleasantly full without the sugar coma. Food = yum but the wait = misery. I dread walking up and asking about the wait....because there is ALWAYS a wait and it's always seems to be over an hour and really.....the food is good, but I don't know if it's worth it to wait that long for breakfast!
(4)
Megan M.
Another breakfast spot with a long wait, but it is so worth it! The stuffed french toast is amazing and covered with fresh fruit. Their breakfast burrito is the best I've ever had. And the coffee is good too. The only issue I have is that the rush you through the meal once you are seated. I understand why they do it, but if I wait over an hour for a table, don't give me the check five minutes after I get my food.
(5)
Valerie A.
This is a great brunch place. Really the only downsides are that the line can be long on Saturday, when I typically go, and the tables are a little close together since it's a rather small place. The last time I went to Toast the coffee was only ok, but my omelette and sausage were very good. Also, the decor is super cute. Rooster wallpaper!
(4)
missallfun H.
The hostess is miserable. Her energy is toxic, so be careful. I have only been to this location 4 times. everytime I leave dissapointed and my mood altered by the bad vibe the place has. Ive boycotted this place each time and have only given it other chances because of friends buying into the hype. Yes the french toast orgy is good but its as if there are tears put into your cafe. The staff is just a mess and ruins the magic of the kitchen. Maybe Lincoln park has it together?
(2)
Jennifer v.
This is my favorite brunch place in Chicago! There is not a single menu item that I wouldn't recommend, which is a feat. My favorites- the Vegetarian Eggs Benedict and the French Toast Orgasm. Staff is always friendly and the service is quick. The decor is bright and just what anyone needs with a good meal. The line can be long depending on the time/day, but it's always worth the wait. There are plenty of stores to go poking into or you can just pick up a mug of coffee and mingle with the waiting patrons. Friends and I wish we lived closer so we could walk over more often. Can't complain about a single visit!
(5)
James W.
This is my favorite breakfast place. Love the marcapone french toast and the eggs benedict. The space is a little small and on weekends the wait can be long but the food is worth it. Also a little pricey.
(4)
Maximus T.
One day after mass me and my sister stopped by Toast and enjoyed it very much. I had the eggs benedict and my sister has blueberry wheat pancakes ad eggs we finished everything down to the last crumb. The one cons about this was the wait and that the tables are too close to each other making customers have no privacy.
(4)
Gavin G.
ok, so the food was pretty good. and the pancakes were in monstrous proportion. the wait to be seated here sucked really bad. granted, it was a sunday and we arrived around noon. our friend arrived around 11:45 and got our party on the list, and was told "about 45 minutes" but we didn't sit down until almost 1pm. alright, so waiting i can deal with. but the place is packed, and i mean packed with people waiting, asses to elbows. and some of them repeatedly whined to the hostess about having to wait for their 10 person party to get a table while couples were getting open tables. hello assholes, 10 people won't fit at a 2 person table! food was good and i'd go back, but i'm sure as hell not going back on a sunday to deal with a bunch of people who feel self-important because mommy got them a 3-BR condo and a BMW.
(3)
stephanie s.
It was good pancake. Really, only the most horrible of grease spoons can mess up a pancake. That said, I am not 100 percent sure why this place always has lines of people waiting to get in. I've had better cakes from nondescript diner-type restaurants. If I was a meat and/or egg eater, I may have been better clued in to the majesty that is Toast, but as a veggie pancake eater, I was not incredibly impressed. Sure is cute in there, though. We went once and never felt the need to go back, but not for any other reason that I can get cheaper, tastier cakes elsewhere. I will say that the fruit on my cakes was remarkably fresh. I wouldn't necessarily call our server that day friendly, but she was polite and efficient, which is just fine.
(3)
Michelle R.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants. They have french toast to die for, yummy crepes, and scrumpchy omelette's. There is usually a wait, but it's well worth it.
(5)
Stephanie H.
Great Brunch, I've only been once though. Will go back, Downside is the wait.
(4)
Jay D.
Possibilty one of the best breakfasts in the City of Chicago. If I didn't care about my health I would eat here every day. I'm a big fan of the chocolate stuffed french toast, the Eggs Danny, the strawberry lemonade, and the specials. I haven't had any lunch items, but breakfast/brunch hits the spot every time. The only complaint I have about this place is the wait, but then again I'd say its justifiable...just don't come famished at 11am on a Sunday morning.
(4)
Samara B.
Love love love! I have never hated Anything I have tried here and am always a fan of BYOB for mimosas. Cute, friendly, and amazing breakfast!
(5)
Lizzie O.
my husband and i tried toast today for the first time, and we were pleasantly suprised. it was busy for a sunday morning (naturally) but we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes. our waitress was prompt with the coffee and our meals. service was very friendly. the huevos verdes with cilantro pesto sauce was a delight for my mouth, and suprisingly not too expensive ($8.00 and that included potatoes and 2 slices of toast). the only downside is that it was a *little* on the noisy side... but, a good sign that business is going well. we will definitely be coming back to try other delectable meals :)
(4)
mike l.
holy crap. Just go and wait, it's worth it.
(5)
cara r.
I'm not sure if I was just off when I visited Toast - I had kind of a lot to drink the night before - but I didn't love it. I had the fresh fruit and yogurt, but it was in late June, when raspberries and cherries and strawberries are abundant and all I got was honeydew and musk melon! This tells me that the powers-that-be at Toast aren't taking advantage of Green City Market and the other AMAZING farmer's markets in the city to get me seasonal, locally grown produce. I'm sure we'll be back at some point - the boy does live three blocks from Toast Two, and hopefully I'll be less hungover and more pleased.
(2)
Melinda C.
While the food is unremarkable, it's a comfortable place to sit, eat, and chat with friends. Great ambiance - sunny interior. However, the eggs benedict were good but nothing exceptional. The hugely-portioned pancakes might be a better bet. Fairly large variety of dishes to choose from. Parking on a Sunday was surprisingly easy - a very pleasant surprise.
(3)
C. M.
a friend and i were trying to find the perfect place for our sunday brunch and finally settled on toast in bucktown. when we walk in the guy sitting down with barely any tables said they were closed. since the website said they closed at 4, and it was only around 3:20, why would he have said that? i was really curious why he turned us away - and why he had to be such a jerk in the process. bad business, get rid of that guy.
(1)
Stephanie P.
I am a huge fan of toast--especially the pesto scramble and the mascarpone pancakes. I have had terrible experiences at the webster street location but toast two on damen has always been good to me.
(5)
Jessica B.
I simply cannot say enough good things about Toast. I am very hard to please when it comes to breakfast/brunch because i want a little of everything-eggs, pancakes, toast, hash browns.Toast has nailed breakfast. I always order the two eggs, because it comes with toast, potatoes, and one side (I always get pancakes, they're amazing). The eggs are awesome, definitely some of the best i've had. I was a little thrown off by their lack of Grape jelly 2 weeks in a row. How does a place named Toast not have Grape Jelly?!?! My boyfriend gets the omelet or benedict both of which are delicious. The decor is simple, and its always bright inside. The seating is a little cramped, which is why i prefer to sit at the counter. The hostess is a little rude, and the staff could be a little more attentive, but since this is the one place in Chicago that I've been where i get exactly what i want, without having to argue with the wait staff, or substitute something, i have to give this 5 stars.
(5)
KM S.
I cannot stand this place. Soooo overrated. It needs to stay in LP and leave Bucktown. They are so incredibly rude. I don't know why people would stand in line and wait to be treated so rudely here. Besides the horrible service---the food isn't all that. So many better places in the area besides this overhyped place.
(1)
Arlene M.
this place is great! when i went here i got their eggs with chorizo and i believe it was called a pancake orgy? i dunno- it was one of each of their pancakes. Well either way- it was GREAT!
(4)
Ebru Y.
Holy pancakes! Had to be one of the best if not THE best. Eggs were equally good but I just can't get over the pancakes! Okay really I ordered the eggs with peppers and it was love at first bite :) my sister and I also ordered two pancakes which were supposed to be one with chocolate chip and one with banana and pecan, they ended up making both of them banana, pecan and chocolate chip, and when we were served, we were in heaven! I am always going to get them that way from now on, I am glad they made that mistake! The ambiance is very cozy and comfortable Service was very friendly and pretty fast for a busy day.
(5)
A. M.
I took my sister here for breakfast yesterday. She was quite pleased with their non-egg options. I love Toast because their omelettes are always cooked to perfection. They are bursting with fresh ingredients, and they are never undercooked. I think the Bucktown location is slightly larger than the Lincoln Park one, and it seems to get busy just a tad bit later. I also love how bright the Bucktown location is - creates a very happy breakfast/brunch atmosphere.
(4)
Amanda G.
I realize that brunch in Bucktown/Wicker Park is usually overrated, but not at Toast. The food is super-delicious (I love the Breakfast Burrito). Go early or plan to wait outside since there is no room inside. Definitely worth it!
(5)
Amanda A.
In the search for a new brunch place and also one in walking distance of my sister's Humbolt Park condo - I happened upon this place in yelp. The wait was similar to the rest of the trendy little breakfast spots in town immediately apparent by the smalls groups of people waiting outside as we approached the literal piece of toast hanging above the entrance. The wait ended up being less than the 45 minutes quoted and in the meantime there were several cute shops in the area to browse in before breakfast. I wanted just about everything on the menu but settled on the breakfast burrito- my standby favorite almost everywhere. It was excellent and the fresh jalepenos gave it a nice kick. The fruit cup I ordered had great variety and all perfectly in season for a fraction of the cost of most of its restaurant counterparts. My sisters spinach, tomato and gouda omelette with challah toast was equally delicious and we both agreed that next time the french toast orgy would be in order! I've heard mixed reviews about its other location - but this was a hit.
(4)
Steph M.
This is not a great place to eat. We met friends here two weeks ago. We waited. And waited. Thank god it was warm and we could wait outside because there is no place to wait inside. Our waitress whispered and we couldnt hear her. As another poster mentioned, the flavors and textures were all wrong. I had the crepes - they sucked. The mascarpone filled French Toast wasnt more than ok, but then again, it was the whole flavor-texture thing. I can see why the trend-seeking yuppies like this place - it's cute decor and seemingly one-off menu would make it unique if the food was worth the plate it was served on. Breakfast for 4 with a tip came to about $70. What a waste!!! Save your money.
(2)
Jennifer K.
Worst service in the city. I have lived here for 12 years and the staff is laughable....seriously they laughed at me when I was waiting an HOUR for my food. It was Wednesday at 1pm. So we are not talking about their busy weekend brunch times. They are rude and I don't think their food is worth the hype. I will never ever go again.
(1)
Dave B.
Great breakfast spot. Typical wait on weekends but this one is worth it. Go with French Toast or Fruit Panacakes and you'll be a happy camper the rest of the day. Tip once seated, if someone around you orders the eggs benedict ask them to put it on the other side of the table so as not to have the aroma waft over and ruin the great start to your day.
(5)
cb b.
when every i go out to breakfast I choose this place. it is fun they have great pancakes, muffins, crepes and good service. They are only open until 2 pm and they have an outside deck. On the weekends you need to get there early or you will be standing in line - guaranteed!
(4)
Ryan P.
Eeehhhh. I go to Toast as a last resort, it's mediocre at best.
(2)
Amanda D.
Wow!! I've been here probably 7 times. I LOVE their stuffed french toast. The pancakes are also pretty good. Just be sure to get here early-it gets crowded!!!
(4)
jenn m.
wowzaa. love this place. very cute, great skylights. the stuffed french toast with marscapone is my favorite. they serve it with all kinds of berries. great selection of coffee and teas. i like a latte. they also have another great dish called Huevos W/ Chorizo & Cheddar is reallyyy yummy. definitely go on a weekday later ... no crowds ... no one in eye shot of conversation. love it.
(4)
Mike D.
I've always liked the food here, the service is never bad, and its not terribly overpriced. I have found that some of their specialty dishes to be a bit flat. That is my only complaint.
(4)
Katherine R.
Although you will wait on the weekends this small breakfast spot is worth the wait- so don't go hungover like I did! Outstanding eggs benedict; instead of canadian bacon, thinly sliced prosciutto with homemade hollandaise sauce on a bed of sauteed spinach (on a homemade english muffin) served with homemade potatoes. Fantastic and worth the wait despite my killer hangover!!
(5)
Christina G.
Okay, so I don't really like the seating arrangement, because it makes it impossible for anyone to not overhear your conversation at the next table over, which is about 1 foot away from you. However, the food is pretty good. I have eaten here quite a bit, and I have to say that everything I had was good except for the eggs benedict. It was a little too lemony for me, but i don't love eggs benedict that much either. The pesto scramble, breakast burritto, and pancake orgy are all excellent. The place could be a little less expensive, but it is a nice breakfast treat once in a while.
(3)
Alice K.
Best service and the bestest french toast I've ever had.
(5)
Gwen D.
I try to eat very balanced meals, lots of fruit, veggies, fish, some bread and occasionally meat. So I like to come here for the scrambled eggs with chorizo. This dish is disgustingly good, and worth feeling like I ate an entire elephant afterwards. Service is typically quite quick, and occasionally off (mixups on the bill or with my tea), but totally forgivable. The coffee cups are always filled, and more hot water for my tea is constantly offered. They open at 8am on certain days too, which is great, if you have to be at work bright and early. It's bright, but not too bright, and simple and the dishes are HUGE. Actually, too big. I think they could offer less food for less money, because I never can eat all mine, and feel bad wasting it (but who brings eggs home as leftovers? That's just gross).
(4)
Ariel B.
This is one of our favorite brunch spots in the neighborhood. Their stuffed french toast is a treat anytime I go there. The atmosphere is great. The only downside is the long wait.
(5)
Ishaq L.
I've only had the Egg Burrito both times I've gone, and I've been satisfied both times. My wife's tried a couple different dishes (veggie omellete and pancakes) and been pleased with her choices. The servings are quite generous, so don't let your eyes order for you. The wait can be a little excessive if you show up after 10 on a weekend...like most people.
(4)
Cheryl S.
very disappointing.... who doesn't have WiFi these days anyway. Well this is how it all started. Couldn't get any work done. From there, the waitress seemed to be more annoyed that I asked for WiFi from both her and the gal at the front because both didn't know off hand. Anyway as for the food. I ordered the steak Benedict on her recommendation and yes it was good. Just nothing special. toast was a great place years back when no restaurants cared about doing breakfast well. Now, it seams the rest have passed this place up. Oh well, lots more to chose from as I said.
(2)
Rafael M.
My first visit to "Toast" in Bucktown did not disappoint! The food and drink were wonderful! The service was outstanding definitely 5-stars. We sat at the bar and our server "Jeny" was super awesome! I had the Traditional Eggs Benedict and Strawberry Stuffed French Toast with Coffee. Great visual presentation and the taste was superb! I would rank "Toast" in the top 3 breakfast places in Chicago. Parking was convenient and prices were competitive. I would highly recommend "Toast" on there level of service alone. Warm, friendly and very genuine.
(4)
Allison V.
Met a friend for brunch. I ordered the BELT with goat cheese and even though I pointed to it in the menu as I ordered it, repeated my order and even clarified the goat cheese it still came out wrong. Who orders a plain old BLT with goat cheese on plain bread....I wanted a breakfast sandwich. I notified the server and he was not apologetic, he did not even want to accept responsibility for it at first. Then he offered to take it back to the kitchen...no way. I just ate the sandwich, which was pretty okay, just not what I had wanted. A pleasant surprise came when I was comped $2.50 for my coffee. Whatever. I also received an apology when the bill was brought to the table. I will go back here and try it again. The food is very tasty. Coffee is strong. Service is pretty friendly. Bike parking on the street.
(4)
Roberto F.
Just a quick review on why I love this place so much and why you should come and have brunch here. First of all the food is amazing here, I've been here three times already and we always get something different and we never leave disappointed. The Pancake Orgy and the Salmon omelette are my personal favorites. Second great thing is the the coffee, because I love Julius Meinl. And last but not least they have amazing people working here. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great start to your day. Other Comments: Baby/Kid friendly, with plenty of crayons to play with BYOB!
(5)
Dianne S.
I'm a huge fan of bacon. That being said, I can't believe that I've only recently tried their b.e.l.t. (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato) sandwich. Why didn't I think of that? Yes it's messy, but the thick French roll helped soak up my ooey gooey over medium fried egg. I'm a sucker for topping anything with a fried egg. This sammie ($9) packing with some serious thick applewood bacon-crunchy yet meaty at the same time. House potatoes were deelish! More soft and creamy than fried and crunchy. Friendly. Attentive. Overall awesome service. This may be due to the fact that I usually show up with my friends who live 2 blocks away and a regulars, but hey...I'll take it.
(5)
Alma C.
Great brunch spot that's survived and thrived after years of cut-throat brunch competition in Chicago, and Chicagoans love to brunch. Toast has a good mix of sweet (pancake orgy) and savory (breakfast burrito) so even picky friends will be able to find something they like on the menu. Coffee is Julius Meinl, a decent Viennese chain that makes for a rich roast (but it ain't no Cafe Sperl). Try it, you'll like it.
(4)
Ellarey M.
I love sweet breakfasts, and when my sister told me we would be coming here for brunch, I immediately looked up the menu to see what infectiously sweet breakfast delicacy I could order. Enter the french toast orgy. Three large french toast sticks (? no better word to describe except maybe logs) each stuffed with a different filling - strawberry, mascarpone, and chocolate, covered with yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit (in my case, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries). I washed everything down with a glass of fresh OJ. Everything was good, but I will say that I didn't much like the chocolate stuffed french toast. The filling made the toast a little too mushy and didn't have the best flavor. Mascarpone was by far my fave. If I come again, I think I'll have the pancake orgy, so that I can still get the great texture of granola on top and not have to worry about overly mushy toast.
(4)
Jess L.
I waited an hour, which kind of stunk at the time, but the food made up for itself. The breakfast burrito is nicely sized, and the pesto scramble also won our hearts and minds. Oh, and they don't call it a French toast orgy for nothing... You will regret it if you don't get one portion at the table. The service is a bit slow, and I can't say much for the ambiance, but I am definitely glad I tried it once!
(4)
Alicia M.
I was in the Bucktown area visiting a friend and we wanted to find somewhere to eat. My friend's brother passed us a Groupon he had for Toast, and off we went! (Thanks again Groupon...I might start every review from now on with "thanks, Groupon") I selected a vegetarian egg white scrambler, which came with their home made hash brown things (red skin potatoes) and toast. It was the perfect size, and man was it delicious. My friend ordered the club, which was huge but looked like it was made with love and all fresh ingredients :) My friend gave the club a big thumbs up Luckily, we didn't have 4 kids with us in a quadruple-wide stroller so we could just sit at the counter and eat while the housewives waited. Definitely be prepared to wait if you aren't willing to sit at the counter. And Julius Meinl coffee? hell yeah! The decor was cute, the service was exceptional and the staff was very friendly. If I'm in Bucktown for brunch again, I will be back!
(4)
Sandra M.
You have to be really good to get give stars from me. The french toast orgy was the bomb. Three different flavored stuffed french toasts topped with yogurt, granola, fruit, then drizzled with honey. The waiter was ok separating everything for me because the portion was huge and I knew I wouldn't finish it. This way I would be able to take half home for tomorrows breakfast and it wouldn't get soggy. The bread was homemade and was injected with the fillings. Great taste. The coffee was really good too. Wish we had a Toast Two in my neighborhood. Hint hint.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jennifer P.
Definitely order breakfast. Do not come here to order from the lunch menu. I had a crazy weekend, starting with being whisked away to a surprise brunch experience by a very dear friend. I have yet to explore Chicago for breakfast joints, and Toast was one of his suggestions that he decided against. However, I took mental note because I love diners and I have yet to find a place fit for my expectations in the city. Toast does not fit the bill. Rocking serious hangovers, my new friend and I decided that a substantial breakfast would assist in stopping our dizzy heads and perhaps reset our cloudy and unmotivated attitudes. He ordered the veggie burger, and I got the El Bucktowno. What came to our table looked much different from what we had pictured inside our heads. His veggie burger looked like someone cut out small pieces of construction paper, took a bunch of Elmer's glue, and made a patty out of the clippings, and threw it in a bun. I almost burned my mouth on the over-cooked chicken in my sandwich, and there was so much zucchini, it was hard to keep it inside the bun. For both of us, there was no flavor in our selections at all. No one was saying it needed to be deep fried; but you can marinate chicken and you can also use spices. My friend and I are form the suburbs, and we are not used to sitting so close to other diners. At toast, you feel like a fish in a can of sardines. I have learned to get used to it. I can even take the noise level. However, you sit me next to two loud and pretentious hipster girls who pretty much favor the sound of their own voice over actually listening to what their breakfast companion is saying; I will draw the line. My friend and I kept looking at each other, eyes practically bleeding at being subjected to their conversation. There was no choice. We had to listen to them and we couldn't even talk because it would have meant that we needed to raise our voices even more to hear each other. We resorted to texting each other with jokes regarding their sense of fashion, and perhaps both of them lacking men in their lives. Who would even stomach a date with these girls? There were, however, some very attractive men that dined here. I am not usually one to check out guys with tattoos and gauged earrings; but my visit to Toast changed my mind. Our waitress was amazing. She was so gracious and patient with everyone. I don't know how she does it, but she treated everyone like they were royalty. I didn't catch her name, but she had blond hair and cat-eye glasses. We made sure she got a decent tip. My tip to the reader would be to stick to breakfast if you eat at Toast. The rest of my weekend, my friend and I spent at the mercy of frequent trips to the bathroom.
(3)Freddie M.
This place is a great find for breakfast lovers. I was incredibly impressed with the overall quality of food and the cozy atmosphere. I had the Loraine, while my girlfriend had the breakfast burger. The hot chocolate and lemon tea made yummy drinks. Next time I will try the BYO Bloody Mary. Service was great and they were relatively fast for a busy Sunday morning. I wish it were a little larger so the tables were not on top of one another, however, I suppose it would not have that cozy feel anymore. The vaulted ceilings helped anyway:) This is a definite must stop when in Bucktown
(5)Sarah R.
Great breakfast. Coffee is good, orange juice is good. Servers were very friendly and attentive. My dad liked the decor of the restaurant and we had fun looking at all the vintage toasters. Went during the week so it wasn't as crowded.
(4)Lily Z.
I went here this afternoon with the boy. First off, the place is tiny. There's hardly any space to wait for a table. The host did not seem friendly. I couldn't blame him. Standing in front of a freezing cold door all day would make me crabby as hell. But it was like a quiet crabby-ness? We were seated and ordered the pancake orgy and pesto scramble. He liked his pesto scramble a lot and I agreed. We both thought it was just going to be eggs with pesto thrown on top. Nope, it was blended with the egg and it still retained its nice pesto flavor. He really liked his cinnamon raisin toast. His potatoes could have been crisper. His OJ was tasted like Tampico. I was happy with my pancake orgy at first. The yogurt was good, but then again you can't really go wrong with vanilla yogurt, fruit and granola. The marscapone was nice, but kind of lacking in flavor. I couldn't handle the strawberry french toast. It was just too mushy for me. I understand that there's strawberry inside, but it just looked like mush to me. I even scraped some of it out to see if I would like it better, but I didn't. Perhaps if I'm in the mood for brunch again, I'll get the regular French toast with berries on top. Overall, I think Toast is a solid place for brunch. A bit cramped because I was scared that the guy next to me would knock over the vase of flowers into my french toast. They need to work on their heating/winter door or something. It was bitterly cold every time the door was opened. The outside canvas door did nothing. I would definitely choose this place over Janik's on division.
(4)Jerome M.
This is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch spots. Great food all around! AND, they have Pepper Plant hot sauce, which you HAVE to put on some fried potatoes! Wait hasn't been the worse, outdoor seating in Summer is rad. Cool enough staff. Coffee is probably their weakest point, but a good benedict makes up for it.
(5)Joe E.
Came here on Labor Day weekend with a few friends. Our wait was about 20 mins, even though we were told it would be 30. Yay. This place is BYOB, and it's actually quite small. We were seated on the patio on back. It was very nice to have the shade from the umbrella, because it was pretty hot in the sun. Everyone ordered Iced Coffee besides my bro and me. He went with the standard coffee and I went with water. For the entrees, my friends had the cobb club, the cobb salad, the bison sliders with potato salad, and the burger of the day (a breakfast burger type with sausage, egg, arugla, and potatoes). My brother and I ordered omelettes with multigrain toast and fruit. We also split a short stack (2 pancakes, so one each) of the whole wheat cakes. I went with the vegetarian omelette, which had shrooms, broccoli, peppers, onion, and gruyere cheese. I had it with egg whites too. My bro went with the mexican type omelette (Tijuana, I believe). It had peppers, jalapenos, and I'm forgetting the rest, but he enjoyed it. Fruit bowl had bananas, berries, and grapes. Not a fan of the 3.00 upcharge to have fruit instead, but that's the price I pay for being a bit healthier. Egg whites I understand, though (1.50 upcharge). The toast was perfect, the pancake was good (6 dollars for a shortstack? COME ON). Omelette was good, but nothing out of this world. Waitress wasn't very attentive, but she was nice. It was 35 bucks for my bro and me. A little expensive for my liking, especially since we didn't get that much food. Should have paid ten dollars less (Thanks Chicago). Overall, I'd probably go back. I've had a few breakfast/brunch places in Chicago, and Toast is better than average.
(4)Pat E.
Welp Yelp, my first Chicago brunch experience with my best friends was a success. After deciding through an extensive Yelp search, I decided to make an executive decision (Kurt Russell and Halle Berry, anyone?) and head to Toast Two. Since my friends live near Bucktown, I wanted to walk but being with hung over 20 somethings, we decided to hop in my brothers Buick and head over. After parallel parking, we were told it would be a 30 to 45 mins for a table. The wait was only about 20 mins. This place is small but there is a patio in back which is where we were led to sit. I was not expecting to dine al fresco but we loved the Julius Melini coffee umbrellas providing shade. Our large testosterone filled group was ready our order food after getting iced coffees, coffee (this is why I'm hot) and waters. I went with the Tijuana omelette, fruit instead of potatoes, multigrain toast, and a side of whole wheat cakes to split with my twin brother. We were the only two that were not hung over as I mentioned before. Brother ordered the vegetarian omelette. Rest of the table enjoyed a Cobb Salad, Cobb Club Sandwich sliders, burger of the day, and their iced coffees. Food was great! Service was okay, but what do you expect? Refills had to be constantly asked for, especially on water. The menu is simple. Besides the service I found two pancakes for six bucks a bit much. Sure they were whole grain and delicious, but I thought an order was three or four. To our odd waitress, it was great to see you. I wish you were around more today. Bus boy was great at refills. I would go back to sit back on the patio again. Wish I could have buttered up this review a bit more, but Toast Two should be on your list of Bucktown hot spots. It is BYOB. I hate places that upcharge for fruit, but I understand. It's a business. As my friends mentioned, this is the kind of place a couple of cheeseburgers in paradise can chill on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)Erica A.
Checked this place out on out vacation due to a friends suggestion. It didn't disappoint! We got there around opening time, so luckily there was no wait at all. Our waitress was super helpful when it came to explaining the menu. The crepes were delicious as well as the special my husband got. Can't remember what it was called but it was an omelette that contained sautéed tortilla chips, weird combo but tasted amazing. We'll definitely be hitting this place up on our next journey to Chicago!
(4)Goo C.
Looking for a place to eat stopped in for some brunch and behold excellent food. quick friendly service. definitely will be back
(4)Norbert S.
Went there on Sunday, and we sit by the bar. Food was great as always, service was ok. It was my third brekfast there i would definitely recomend this restaurant.
(3)Mark H.
Even if you're a diner aficionado you would still agree this small place packs a solid punch to the best of all the local breakfast spots. Wasn't my first pick but rather 2nd choice but glad to have made the decision. From the French toast orgy to their breakfast burrito, the menu is full of interesting choices. And yes orgy. It's actually a menu choice. Kind of like the everything bagel with a nice assortment of fruit and sweets. Prices are fair considering the neighborhood. Got lucky with only a 10 min wait on a Sunday brunch. Could be a regular stop if you're tired of overpaying and over waiting at the other joints on Milwaukee and also on Division.
(4)Antaash U.
After driving by Toast Two for almost a year on my way to my tennis club, and completely missing it (clearly I'm not the most observant), I finally spotted it a few weeks ago and happened to go yesterday for breakfast. Apparently, Bongo Room doesn't open until 9, and we were ready for breakfast by 8:30! Since we weren't willing to wait around, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to try Toast Two. Unfortunately when we got there there were no tables available but the hostess did offer us the opportunity to immediately sit at the bar, which we took. Celebrating the late arrival of fall, I immediately decided on the Pumpkin Pancakes with pumpkin whipped cream on the side. My BF decided to order the Tijuana scramble with an English muffin (his choice) and breakfast potatoes. Both were really good! We ended up swapping our dishes with one another so we could have a fair share of the sweet with the savory. It was perfect. I just wish the seats at the bar had back rests because I would have enjoyed my meal more if I had been comfortable. I almost scarfed my entire meal down so I wouldn't have to sit on the stool any longer. I guess this just means I need to go back in the hopes of getting to sit at a real table with comfortable chairs and see if Toast Two can earn its 5th star :).
(4)Mith R.
"Buttermilk pancakes w/ toasted pine nuts over mascarpone cream, flavored w/ honey and anise drizzled w/ melted butter and honey w/ lavender flowers" I know this sounds like a lot...but they are hands-down THE BEST pancakes you'll ever have. I go back here almost exclusively to eat these. TRY THEM!
(4)Chicago A.
I ordered the French Toast Orgy....sadly it was the kind of Orgy you don't wanna get involved in. The three pieces of toast were different temperatures...the chocolate was straight up cold, which made me wonder how long it had been sitting out compared to the other two. There was way too much stuff on it....but really the fact that some of the bread was straight up cold killed it for me.
(2)Adam R.
My wife and I ate here while visiting the city. Breakfast was delicious. I had the two eggs breakfast, and wife had the Omelette Lorraine. I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the neighborhood.
(5)Victoria C.
I have been to toast a few times and service has always been okay. To be fair, I have never had a problem with the food. The pesto eggs/scramble with prosciutto is excellent, stuffed toast is great, and the omelettes are tasty as well. My problem with Toast is the service. This last time I went particularly. My friend and I didn't realize we were early, but got there 20 minutes beforehand. I saw people inside so I knocked when the door was locked the manager/owner (I assume, not sure) gave me the 10 minute signal with her hands. I said ok no problem. We came back 17 minutes later (a couple minutes before open) and she gave us a 5 minute sign and looked angry at as, although we were following what she said. I understand we were early 3 minutes early the last time, but it was 4 degrees outside and she wouldn't let us in to sit down and warm up. We didnt need to be served right away. We decided to go to Meli instead.
(2)Jon O.
I went for brunch day after new years and the food here is very good imo. We had to wait a little while to get a table since the place is a little on the small side and seating is fairly limited. Once we were seated thought the service was quick and friendly and we didn't have to wait for anything at all. I think part of that is them trying to turn over tables quickly but whatever it was nice to have attentive people working there. For brunch I ordered the crab eggs benedict and a side order of blueberry pancakes. The eggs benedict was delicious and came with a side of fried potatos. The pancakes were also great as well. I'm looking forward to going back here. Also, for two people the total bill came out to around 30$ but since we got a bunch of food I'd say it was a good value.
(4)Ashley R.
Toast has been the most consistently delightful brunch spot I've frequented on the west side I've been to in the 5 years I've called Chicago home. The staff is attentive (shout out to Brandon!) and welcoming, and the food is both delicious and generously doled out. The eggs Benedict are the best I've ever tried due to an extra lemony truffle spiked hollandaise. Also noteworthy is their messy but oh-so satisfying breakfast burger with pesto aioli and a fried egg, the cowboy chili omelette when it's on special, and their pesto prosciutto scramble is heavenly. This location may not serve booze, but it's BYOB. They keep the coffee fresh and comin' (It's Bowtruss now!) and the daily tunes range from rockabilly to Ryan Adams. I'll be a customer for life.
(5)Karolina M.
Expect a long wait for brunch on a Saturday. Other than that the service and food were great.
(4)Cris O.
I really wish I could rate this place better, but the lack of inconsistent flavors between the Lincoln Park and Bucktown location leaves me disappointed and sad. :/ I came here (Bucktown location) with my husband Nov, 17th. We were beyond excited to again try the famous and delicious "french toast orgy", for we had tried it 2 times over at the Lincoln Park location. Everything about the 3 different flavors, (mascarpone, mexican chocolate, and strawberry was fantastic!) This is of course only when we had it at the Lincoln P. Toast. However, we can't say the same about our food experience when we decided to stop at the Bucktown location. We live less than 10 minutes away, yet I highly doubt we will be back. The french toast stuffing flavors lacked INCREDIBLY. I hardly was able to taste the chocolate flavor filling; the chocolate flavor was very diluted. They added so little chocolate cocoa flavor, that it so seems the cooks pitch in from their own pocket just to make the dollar stretch. To top it off their mascarpone filling was very soggy and they hardly added any. (a PICTURE is attached). I truly wish I could say this was only my plate but unfortunately my husband ordered the orgy and he felt the same way about his filling flavor and the amount they add to each toast stick. We weren't expecting anything far beyond what we have eaten at the L.P location: just regular good tasting with a mild amount of filling. It was so disappointing to come to this location's Toast. You would think that one of the things they are famous for would be on point at both locations. Bucktown's location needs to step it up and stick to the original recipe without being cheap with their flavors and amount served. Next time, I rather drive further, wait as long and gladly go through troubles with finding parking at the Lincoln Park location, than to come to this location and be disappointed with my dish.
(2)Amanda B.
DELICIOUS! My first experience here was yummy! I had the stuffed french toast and it is definitely one of my new favorites. I pretty much wanted to try everything on the menu so I am definitely going to be returning. The service was good, checked up on us but also wasn't too persistent and interrupting my conversations every 10 minutes (pet peeve of mine). I can't wait to return !
(5)Aaron G.
I went here Saturday afternoon and there was no wait. There was free parking outside too. The service was on point and the food was very well prepared. I had the chorizo Benedict and some of my girl friends Tijuana omelette, both great!
(5)Greg W.
Pretty disappointed. Orders came out wrong. Ordered potatoes crispy, came out soggy. We sent them back. They must've dropped 'em in the fryer. They came back crispy and soaked in grease. Hollandaise was way too lemony. Mom's salmon omelet was pretty good. Dad ordered fried egg sandwich, and it came out two eggs over easy. I've been here before and really enjoyed it. Wonder if they're under new management or just an off day. Outdoor seating was pretty nice.
(1)Ezeibe A.
Good food, kid friendly!
(4)Sid B.
Excellent. This is how you pull off modern gourmet American breakfast. I had the omelette chicken jalapeño sausage with cheddar yellow and red peppers and onion. Delicious. I highly recommend the pancake orgy. Insane! Dear Bongo room, THIS is how you pull it off. Strongly recommended. Dishes were appropriately priced. I came on a Saturday and the wait was 15 min max. Well managed joint which means they're turning over tables quickly and the kitchen is pushing out food fast for all patrons. I understand now why the wait is only 15 min for a party of 2 and not an hour. Coming back again!
(5)Jay N.
Parking can be difficult in this neighborhood with all the other businesses and restaurants in the area. I had heard good things about Toast and this location so I had an opportunity to check this place out before going on the Vienna Beef hot dog tour. We went on a weekday morning so it wasn't that busy inside except for a few single visitors and a couple of moms with their kids in strollers. The decor is pretty simple and plenty of vintage toasters. The Julius Meinl coffee is decent except for the presentation that you get from the original cafes. We ordered the pancake orgy, an order of huevos chorizo and cheddar, along with a standard breakfast of eggs bacon potatoes and toast. The breakfast items were pretty standard and none of them really stood out. I expected more from the pancakes and they sort of blended into each other with the individual components not sticking out on its own. The portions were good and service was good since it wasn't that busy. But the key for me was that I never felt like this place would be worth it to stand in line for or drive around to find a parking space when there are so many similar places around the city. If you're here on a weekday, then stop on in. But it's not a stand out for any particular items or the environment.
(3)Brett P.
The best brunch place in the area. Probably in the city. If you are in the mood for something completely gluttonous but amazing, try the french toast orgy. That said, everything I have had there is great. Can't go wrong.
(5)Nicholaus H.
Filet Benedict is glorious. Everything else looks amazing. I wouldn't know. I've been here 3 times and had the same thing. I crave it.
(5)Kavi P.
Been here a couple times now, the menu is pretty standard - food is alright. No complaints really, but i would probably enjoy trying other places for the same price...
(3)Justine G.
For pancakes and French toast head over to Toast II. Nothing pretentious, just straight forward breakfast & brunch options with a bit of something special. First, this place is great for families with kids (kid size portions available). Otherwise it's nice to sit at the counter. Aside from the cold draft, food was delicious. Decided to not order my usual omelette and go for their stuffed French toast. Mascarpone is definitely the best of option. I got all three flavors (Mascarpone, strawberry, & dark chocolate) served with blueberries, black berries, strawberries, & grapes. Next time I'll definitely just go with a kid size version and order a savory dish to complete that sweet & savory combo. Chill atmosphere & good brunch.
(4)Dawn H.
We've been here several times and had good food and good service, hence the 3 stars instead of 1. Definitely some missteps at my most recent visit, ie moldy fruit cup and served the wrong drink, both of which I could have overlooked. But...kicker for me was when I brought out apple slices and cheerios for my daughter, they told me no outside food was allowed, despite the fact I had ordered her her own meal. She's two years old, come on. Going elsewhere from now on.
(3)Joyce C.
On our way to another brunch place in the completely opposite direction as Toast Two. We decided literally on the highway before the exit that we were going to try this place instead. Am I glad we picked this place over the other!! First off, we went on a random weekday. We found parking right away but were surprised that it was packed. Luckily there was one table and we got seated right away. So the space. It's kinda old school. Nothing exciting. And it's kinda small. Like I don't think there could be more than 40 people in there at any given time. But it's cutely decorated with toasters. And there is a bar I think in the back. The food. My husband got the crab benedict, I got the omelette lorraine and we split the pancake orgy. In order of favorites - pancake orgy, crab benedict and omelette lorraine, BUT everything was pretty good. I was surprised that we liked the pancakes so much- we don't usually order pancakes (or other sweet breakfast items) unless it comes with the meal. This was definitely worth it. It was flavorful, had a variety of flavors with fresh fruit, granola and honey drizzed in it- it was AWESOME! And the coffee was awesome too- I think they used Julius Meinl, which I'm not usually a fan of but this dark roast was delicious... The only gripe was that the food took a while to get. It seems the kitchen was backed up that day or something. Not sure. I would def come back!
(5)Zimin M.
great breakfast joint. love their French Toast Orgy with yogurt on top. Coffee is good and strong
(4)Candace S.
Toast is still, and will always be one of the best brunch places in town. The French toast orgy always keeps me coming back and is just as good every time. Although the space is small and a wait is often required, it is worth every minute for this quaint little brunch spot in Bucktown. I haven't had a bad thing on the menu!
(5)Adam D.
Cool little diner with awesome skylights. Busy place and seating is limited
(4)George R.
My girlfriend and I came here for brunch for her birthday. There was no wait, and we were seated quickly. The place had kind of a homey decor, lined with different toasters on some shelves, but there was not a ton of seating. We both ordered the stuffed french toast orgy. Hers was stuffed with Mexican chocolate, mine was stuffed with mascarpone. We both agreed that mine was definitely a lot better than hers. The other food people were ordering looked good too. Service was prompt, and prices were fair. I'm not sure I'd come out of my way to come back here, but I'd definitely go again if I was nearby.
(3)Nicole W.
I love this area of town. I'm more than happy to walk about (credit card in hand), shop, eat, drink, get my nails did, etc. Toast is the perfect start to a commerce filled day down Damen. As others have mentioned, the place can get quite packed, especially on weekends. But if you're like me and you just love breakfast, do yourself a favor and hit up Toast Two during the weekdays. The tables are pretty close together, so please shower for the good of the whole restaurant and your inadvertent dining partner next to you. At least layer on a swipe or two of deodorant. But I digress. The eats at Toast are solid. If you're a fan of the sweet stuff, try the stuffed French toast: three sizable, battered to perfection pieces of goodness stuffed with chocolate, strawberry goodness and marscapone. Three separate stuffs, all meld together to form a harmonious dish of fatty deliciousness. Still hungry? Definitely get a size of chicken sausage. It's flavorful and offers that perfect snap that I so crave in encased meats. For a tasty and fairly affordable breakfast in a fab downtown neighborhood, Toast Two is where it's at.
(4)Lexie V.
Yum! The pancake orgy was so freaking good that I've been trying to figure out how to make something comparable for myself at home. So far no luck so I will keep coming back. One thing I did not know is that it is BYOB. I wish I knew this because I REALLY wanted to have a bloody mary but I did not happen to have a bottle of vodka on me (which is probably a good thing).
(5)Rafael M.
My first visit to "Toast" in Bucktown did not disappoint! The food and drink were wonderful! The service was outstanding definitely 5-stars. We sat at the bar and our server "Jeny" was super awesome! I had the Traditional Eggs Benedict and Strawberry Stuffed French Toast with Coffee. Great visual presentation and the taste was superb! I would rank "Toast" in the top 3 breakfast places in Chicago. Parking was convenient and prices were competitive. I would highly recommend "Toast" on there level of service alone. Warm, friendly and very genuine.
(4)Rubin K.
With all the food requests I gave on this trip, I had to grant other people a few of their wishes, so per her request, we ended up here on a Sunday morning. What started out as a good morning quickly turned sour when our wait time went beyond what they said for 5 people. Not only that, there was an empty table that could fit us right next to the window that was clear for 20 minutes. I asked if we could just sit there, and they said it was reserved or something. Angry and hungry, my alter ego hungry Hans came out...and it wasn't pretty. By the time we sat down, we already knew what we wanted as we had plenty of time outside to figure it out. Me and my friend split the French Toast Orgy and Nutella crepe thing. Note: be careful about your wording when you say something like this because someone asked me what I was getting and I said "we were splitting an orgy and..." I didn't even need to complete the sentence. We got to try all 3 flavors with the orgy, but you could request just one if you like. I believe there was a mexican chocolate one, a strawberry, and a marscapone. I think I liked the marscapone and Chocolate on the best, but my friend really liked the marscapone. To each their own, but I like the the variety of getting all 3. They balance each other out. As for the crepe, I thought it was good, but a bit dry. There were a lot of pecans around it, which were nice, but as a whole, I thought the dish was a bit dry. I needed something. Even a little dollop of whipped cream would have been nice. I tried my friends' dishes and they were good too. The veggie goat cheese one was awesome. And as the name implies, the toast was surprisingly good. I enjoyed the perfect brown-ness on them. I think I would prefer Yolk over this, but this was also a good option. It probably wouldn't be my first choice to go back to, but a solid one nonetheless.
(4)Vanitha S.
In Chicago brunch can sometimes be boring or repetitive depending on where you go. Toast was definitely memorable! I came on a weekday so fortunately didn't have to worry about a wait. It is really cozy in here and the tables are squeezed together to get maximum patronage but it didn't seem bad. I ordered a chai which was pretty tasty and frothy. The scrambles and omelette menu looked so creative that it was hard to decide! I finally chose the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. Now sometimes egg dishes with whites can be flat and a little blah tasting, but whatever they did to my omelette (cream maybe??) was magic as it was soft and fluffy. The flavor combo of chihuahua cheese and veggies was delicious. The house potatoes were not heavy and oily and their multigrain toast delicious. I licked my plate! Next time I will listen to Justine's idea tip which is brilliant--if ordering a kid sized French toast with your savory dish! Must do that next time.
(4)Mike K.
Staff at the counter is really cool. Great Omelets and oatmeal. Bacon is awesome. And best of all they serve Bowtruss coffee
(5)Michael B.
Can't say enough about the fast service and good food. It was crazy packed and several in front of us and only waited about 10 minutes for a table. The crabby Benedict was fantastic.
(5)Yen D.
Really enjoyed it, would have hated to wait for it. We walked in on a weekday morning for brunch and were seated immediately. The place was almost full but not packed. I love the high ceiling; it reminds me of a barn, and the toasters decorating the entryway are adorable and quirky. The whole place felt light and airy and like breakfast. So it's funny that we ordered the heaviest items on the menu (I can't imagine it getting heavier): the french toast orgy and the vegetable eggs benedict, adding avocado and mozzarella. (Actually it would've been heavier if we'd gotten a meat benedict). First, OH MY GOD THE LEMON HOLLANDAISE SAUCE YOWZA it's awesome. I love benedict, but I've never had a lemon hollandaise. The tangy lemon is just perfect with the creamy rich yolk-y hollandaise. It went great on the pile of veggies (yum lemony artichoke hearts and spinach) and avocado and mozzarella. We probably didn't need the mozzarella but it was yummy. And the egg was very well poached. The muffin was not very good though; tasted like chewy bread. Wish it had those big sauce-holding nooks and crannies that English muffins should have, and/or was more toasted. Served with potatoes which are fine. Next, the french toast orgy. We wanted to order an orgy and aren't huge pancake fans, so french toast it was! You have a choice of three stuffings: mascarpone, strawberry, mexican chocolate. We nixed the chocolate and got two pieces filled with mascarpone and one with strawberry. They're topped with powdered sugar, vanilla yogurt, granola, and berries. The berries were great, and the yogurt was also pretty good. The granola was a little too chewy to give enough textural contrast with the toast: it just tasted like harder french toast on french toast. I could not finish this. I had OJ, fresh squeezed and delicious, he had some good coffee, and we had great service by a woman with short hair and tattoos. I didn't get her name but I really liked her attentiveness, kindness, and helpfulness (she told us that we could mix and match our french toast, which was nice, and she checked in on us often but not too often). Overall, quite good! Yay I'm a fan! It's quite good, but not worth a wait of more than 10 minutes (I mean, you might as well just make your own breakfast at that point. It's good but not AMAZING).
(4)Philip P.
This is a great breakfast spot to come to after a long than a few friends I started breakfast naturally at 2:00 with some homemade oatmeal and quickly moved into the pancake orgy, yes pancake orgy, which had fresh fruit, granola, some other delicious additives and a drizzle of honey. This place also had some stuffed French toast the looked great but I unfortunately did not try.
(3)Jasmin V.
A BYOB breakfast place so bring your own. French toast orgy really amazing! There are three choices of flavors. I decided to try all three. I would definitely recommend getting all three Marscapone. The strawberry was not good at all. I was very excited for the chocolate but it was not very chocolatey. Maybe if it was Nutella (hint hint for any owners/workers reading this) then I would order it again but next time I'll go for all cheese! I also had a bite of my friend's pesto omelet. Mmmm so good I almost traded my french toast orgy...keyword almost...
(4)Loni H.
Love the service. Love the veggie breakfast burrito. Atmosphere is great. The pretty owner is a nice gal and her staff is supercool. Everyone I have gone with has enjoyed their selections ... And they are really nice about editing your food if you prefer something added/ removed :-D 5 stars after 5 or so visits -unflawed.
(5)Basil D.
Well, I went to Toast Two for the first time today, but I had been to the original "Toast" a few years ago. I had the B.E.L.T Breakfast sandwich. It was $8. It was good, that's it, nothing better than that. Guys, this breakfast sandwich is NOT an original concept, so spice it up a bit! Make it different!! The BELT is on ciabatta bread, which admittedly, is the BEST way to have it (I've had the exact same sandwich in tons of breakfast restaurants!). The choice of lettuce was perfect. The applewood smoked bacon was good too. There was one small egg that covered only half the sandwich inside...that was disappointing. I've never seen such a tiny fried egg! Now, if you're serving ciabatta bread on a sandwich, why in GOD'S NAME would you serve a side of potatoes?? Why not fruit as a side? I ordered avocado for my sandwich on the side, for TWO DOLLARS!! It wasn't even a whole avocado. Guys, c'mon! It was about a 1/3rd of an avocado, for two freaking dollars. To make it different, why not put a sauce on it, some mayo, or chipotle mayo or mango chutney cream cheese something.... Give it a little more flavor than just slapping crap together for a sandwich if it's going to be EIGHT DOLLARS!!!!!! Now, my friend had the stuffed french toast with the granola and yogurt on top. I had a taste of that, and it was pretty amazing. Please put that kind of creativity into your other dishes if you want premium price, and for people to have a truly unique experience. I also had the Julius Meinl coffee.... the ONLY kind of coffee to have in Chicago (sorry Intelligentia snobs...overrated), and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice which was fantastic. Maybe if I have the French Toast next time I go, and I will go, good locations, I'll give it another star. If the price point were lower, I'd bump it up a star, but not worth it for the price under normal circumstances.
(2)Ryan C.
This place blows. My wife and I have been wanting to go here for a long time, so we finally decided to give it a Sunday brunch try. We immediately regretted it. The place is so small and crammed, and the way the seats are, you are basically sitting on top of the people next to you, just hearing everything they are saying. The tables are so close to each other that to get to the booth seat you have to stick your butt right in your neighbors face. Awkward. The service is incredibly slow as well. I ordered the chilaquiles and added chorizo, it was decent. My wife got the eggs Benedict. Super gross. Why would you make your hollandaise sauce so lemony? Ruined her dish. The potatoes that came with were ok. We know we will never go back. The food wasn't good enough to overcome the horrible atmosphere and lay out.
(1)Lindsey S.
I just wasn't a fan of what I ordered. The stuffed French toast. It wasn't awful I just couldn't do the warm fruit. Service wasn't awful. It was extremely busy on the Saturday morning we got there but were seated in about fifteen minutes. My husband did really enjoy the pancake orgy.
(3)Donisha L.
Two words for Toast Two: FOOD - COMA. I had friends in town from New York this weekend and we were actually headed to Lula's Cafe closer to my Logan Square hood. Sadly they were closed (strange for a Tuesday), but glad I stumbled across another brunch gem. My friends both had Eggs Benedict, which looked absolutely amazing. I opted for a healthier option (at least in my mind) with the peppered eggs and a side of chicken sausage. The chicken sausage was a magically delicious savory hint of apple goodness. We were fighting over the last piece like two homeless alley cats....man that sausage was amazing! Cute, quaint, looks like my grandma's kitchen, easy street parking during the weekday. Just say YES to Toast Two!
(4)Dan E.
The food is generally good, but I have had long waits and poor service on a couple of occasions at this location. Not sure what the deal is, but it's not worth the wait with so many other great breakfast places in Chicago.
(3)Steve H.
I only Yelp if I know a place, love a place, and can't help but spread the word. My wife and I have been to Toast well over a dozen times (probably closer to two dozen - don't judge) since moving to Bucktown. It's our go-to place for a Saturday morning brunch date or a meal with visiting out-of-towners. The staff is always kind, especially on busy mornings. On numerous occasions, we have been served coffee while we wait. I don't know any other place that does that. It's affordable and delicious. It's also pretty fun to hear my mother-in-law order a "french toast orgy."
(5)Lola K P.
Cute updated diner-style with high ceilings that gives it the illusion of being much bigger than it is. Solid neighborhood breakfast joint with very good prices. Everyone was so pleasant, from the front desk to the waitress. We sat right by the window, which was very nice. The virgin Bloody Mary was good, practically had a whole salad in it (another Chicago specialty we'll miss). I had the crabby benedict, which was quite good, just the right amount of hollandaise. My thick cut bacon was perfectly crispy. Hubby and I shared that and the plain french toast with berries, good. Our friends have visited before and got their usual breakfast burrito and omelet, and said they were great as usual. Very good all around.
(4)Preston J.
My favorite breakfast place in the city. The place is small, so expect to wait 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere inside is cute and clean. My favorites are the Eggs Benedict (all 3 varieties) or the french toast orgy (a mountain of tastes).
(5)Ashley B.
A friend of mine suggested brunch at this place so my boyfriend and I came along and it was pretty awesome! I had been to Yolk, Eggsperience, Nookies, and a few other places in the city and this place seemed right on the money. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was delicious, especially since I requested to add chorizo. It was spicy, filling, and I needed a nap afterwards which to me, suggests it was a success. The boyfriend got the pancake orgy: a lemon poppyseed, regular, and blueberry muffins with granola, yogurt, honey, and syrup on top. Needless to say it was ridiculously rich (the yogurt on a side is probably a good idea) but definitely delicious. I want to come back! Only next time I'll have a bottle of champagne on hand to mix with my delicious homemade OJ!
(4)Mallory H.
My girlfriend and I just had brunch at the Bucktown location of Toast and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We sat at the counter, the stools have little pegs for your legs which is great for us shorties out there! The overall ambiance is cozy and our server was super sweet - the staff in general was very accommodating and genuine. As for the food, we went with the basics and everything was prepared perfectly. My girl went with the buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries. The serving size was plentiful and the berries were super fresh. I had scrabbled eggs, house potatoes and chicken sausage which was incredibly juicy and had the prefect grilled taste that took me to a place of summer and BBQ, vastly different from the snow and negative degree temps we've had lately. We were even offered a fresh cup of coffee to take home. Maybe I've just been going to all the wrong breakfast places, but I really appreciated this and took our server up on her offer. We will definitely be back! Only tip is to arrive before 11, after that you are most likely in for a long wait, but it's worth it :)
(5)Ellen V.
Years ago we went there for breakfast on Sat, the food was excellent , but waiting time was to kill your day. These days I have an opportunity to enjoy my 'solo' breakfast during week days. Sitting by the bar , chatting with the owner and folks around - perfect way to start a day. French Toast, pancakes, crepes all are done to perfection! And so far one of the best Eggs Benedict in town. So, why 4 starts? Coffee.... Few months ago they changed the vendor, looks like most of the folks are happy with the new one, but I left out without my morning coffee.
(4)Meredith K.
We have been coming here for years. Its my dad's favorite place for Sunday breakfast. I say breakfast b/c we're always here before 9. Anything after and you're waiting for awhile. The coffee is good and so are the omelets. I usually get the veggie. If you're feeling decadent then get the french toast orgy. Its crazy!! I've had the crepes and they're sweet. And the seasonal pancakes are good too. I wouldn't come here without my dad but its where my dad ALWAYS wants to go.
(4)Claudia D.
The offerings sound great and include Steel Cut Oatmeal and fresh fruit. Daily specials. The husband has, however, been disappointed 2-3 times with his sandwich selection, and with the preparation of his omelets/eggs. He likes his eggs soft, they always are too hard. He likes his Croque Monseur, but not the one here. The pancakes are often dry. The Steel Cut Oatmeal is good, but not great. The prices are a bit high. The service is good. Parking is easy during the week on the street.
(2)Melissa K.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday on heavy recommendations from co-workers. I was NOT disappointed. The place was really small, and I had a 45 minute wait, but I was warned before so was prepared. Once we got it it was a quick seat & a hottie waitress, and it was smooth sailing and good eats from there! I ordered the Cobb Club sandwich with the House Potatoes; My friend ordered the stuffed French Toast with Marscapone Cheese & her Guy ordered the Grilled Tenderloin Benedict - all looked so tasty - and my sandwich was killer. I will definitely be coming back to this place
(4)Raymond S.
Being down the street from two great brunch places in Red Door and Bristol, Toast Too had a lot to live up to due to proximity. The place is small but me and my brah got seated immediately (1:45 p.m. Sat). No waiting area so I imagine it would suck coming around prime hours and having to wait. I got the French Toast Orgy and I knew it would be a bad idea. For one because it's praised by Yelpers and to be quite honest, the consensus usually ends up sucking. Secondly I normally get french toast at other establishments including some of the best offered in Chicago so it had to go up against Batter and Berries and Bristol. The dish was extremely bland, the texture wasn't very pleasurable and the yogurt brought the flavor quotient down a few notches. All three flavors sucked. The other dish ordered was the breakfast burrito but lets be serious, it's impossible to screw up a flour tortilla stuffed with chorizo, eggs and cheese. It was tasty and had a nice spice kick to it. I can praise them for their prices, which were generally affordable for the main dishes. The coffee was just decent, and for $4 we got 4 flimsy pieces of Oscar Meyer bacon. I see no reason to visit this place unless the wait for Red Door and Bristol is unbearable.
(2)Joshua M.
In my last review, I detailed an awful experience I had with this place. An awful waiter, awful service, awful food, the whole nine yards. I got invited out to brunch here, and I put my resentment aside to try this place out again. Boy am I glad I did. It was honestly fantastic this time. Our server was a tall man with lots of tattoos (the bill said Brandon, but who knows if that's his name. It said "Brandon" last time, and our last "Brandon" sucked). He really went above and beyond. We had someone at our table who wasn't feeling well and just couldn't stomach eating. He brought us some soda water with lemon and salt for him, which really helped settle his stomach. The food and service were both spectacular. My tenderloin benedict was perfectly-charred and pretty close to the medium rare I ordered (I'll forgive a few extra degrees on a medium rare for a nice char). Everyone at our table raved about their food, myself included. This place really turned it around for me. I'll be sure to give them more brunching opportunities in the future.
(5)Taufiq H.
Very nice atmosphere. Usually long wait times over weekends. Outdoor seating in back. Superb breakfast!
(4)Ramya P.
Really good breakfast spot but not worth the 1 hour wait-time The space is actually a lil' congested but the high ceilings make it appear more spacious. Service was fast and attentive. Eggs benedict is amazing, the lemon truffle hollandaise sauce is divine and the potatoes on the side are roasted perfectly. The omelet is nothing special but good nonetheless.
(4)Maureen R.
Toast...I will never forget you. First the wait. Did you have to do that to me! And when it's a little cold I thought...eh-we can go somewhere else. But no, rumor is I wouldn't be disappointed with you! And waiting was well worth it. There were 3 of us and everything we ordered turned out amazing!!! The French Toast Orgy pretty much describes it in the title (insert Meg Ryan here). Also the French Toast stuffed with mascarpone was delicious! Although I may be partial to anything pesto...the Pesto Scramble was also tasty!! Go for brunch. Bring a book. Wait the wait. Do it. I will hopefully be seeing you soon...
(5)Michael U.
Getting back to breakfast proper I gave my aunt the choice between Toast and Jam - though I hear the two go well together these are two separate restaurants in Chicago's breakfast/brunch scene - a scene I personally believe is the best in the country. Arriving at the small shop - the second of Jeanne Roser's (who was indeed present that day working the counter and pouring coffee) locations just after 9:30 we entered and were seated immediately. Menus were presented, specials described, water poured - top notch service. With aunt ordering orange juice (fresh squeezed and only $3 for a good sized glass) and myself going for coffee - a strong breakfast blend with mostly floral notes and a decent acidity - we perused the unique menu full of the standard breakfast, lunch, and brunch foods plus some really unique options. Decisions made we placed our orders and waited approximately 15 minutes while chatting and browsing the kitschy interior (toasters EVERYWHERE) before our food was delivered. For my aunt her selection was the "pancake orgy" featuring a stack of three thick and buttery yet perfectly golden and chewy pancakes topped with raspberry granola, creamy yougurt, and a drizzle of honey. With each pancake featuring a different flavor we both rather suspected they would be served linearly instead of as a stack, but on tasting we were both impressed by how each pancake tasted entirely different but also worked as a whole. Featuring a mild apple cinnamon pancake on top, a zippy and sour lemon poppy seed in the middle, and a banana pecan on the bottom I personally liked the banana pecan best (perhaps the post-New Orleans bias?) while aunt fancied the apple cinnamon. Offered a bite early in the meal my aunt is thankfully weak and couldn't finish much so I was able to later add some maple syrup and finish off the banana pecan cake. For myself the decision was easy - French Toast Orgy. Served essentially as a single 2 inch thick slice of stuffed brioche divided into three "fingers" the dish was again topped with an ample helping of raspberry granola, savory and smooth yogurt, and honey - I also added ample maple syrup, pure unless my taste buds deceive me. Featuring three different styles I first tasted the chocolate - mild hints of cocoa, great crispy and textural exterior with a melt in the mouth interior. Second I tasted the mascarpone and it turned out to be my favorite of the group with the sweetened cheese forming a pockets of creaminess inside the already buttery and smooth bread-pudding textured toast. My final taste was stuffed with pureed strawberry and while not quite as delectable as the other two (lacking the creaminess) I loved the tart contrast - eating it with the chocolate toast was superb. Very pleased with the griddled goods my aunt and I were equally enamored with the copious amount of fresh berries delivered with the breakfasts - in Los Angeles or New York the fruits included would've likely more than doubled the price of the meal. Paying the bargain tab and leaving a large tip we made our way to the streets and our easily obtained free parking spot very pleased with the Toast experience - between Bongo Room, Toast, M.Henry, and the myriad spots serving weekend brunch Chicago still reigns as my favorite breakfast city by far.
(5)Kyle S.
Fantastic food. The feast potatoes are wonderful. Coffee was good, bacon crisp, but there was something not quite right with the sausage. I like it spicier maybe, it was still good though. I really liked this place.
(4)Matteo I.
Food is great, differentiated. Service is friendly and down-to-earth. Great space, good buzz and atmosphere (especially if you bring sparkling wine for mimosas, it's BYOB). 3 stars for one reason that ruined my experience. The waiting list and seating process is not very streamlined. All members of your party must be present in order to be put in line for the next table available. It gets worse for parties over 2 people in number. So even though you may have waited for 45 minutes minus one member of your party (my case), you'll have to wait potentially 30 minutes or more on top of that to get a table, while others who arrived after you are seated before you. My wait total was 1hr 25min beginning at 10:15am on a Sunday morning for brunch. Still they did their best to follow their process, just a key management fix for the future. Definitely going back, but I will be planning ahead! Make sure your champagne is chilled somehow as you wait!
(3)Osiris V.
After years of anticipation I finally stopped in here. Between my moms and my sister we all tasted some of the Eggs Benedict, Tijuana omelet (jalapeños, onion, tomato, chihuahua cheese and cilantro) and the French Toast orgy. The french toast orgy was very naughty, it did all kinds of things in my mouth. We ordered the one stuffed with marscapone, then they topped it with yogurt and their home made granola. I enjoyed every bite! The omelet was something that I'd make at home, and I'm not a fan of Eggs Benedict. The service was exceptional. The cups of water and coffee at our table were always full, all the empty plates were taken promptly. I am a definite fan of Toast Two but unless I'm in the city early in the a.m., I don't think I'd make the trip out there just for the french toast. I'm sure a breakfast joint here in the burbs would offer me tasty choices as well.
(4)Caroline A.
I cannot believe it took me this long to get to Toast Two. After reading about their French Toast Orgy recently, I had not been able to get it out of my head! We got to the restaurant at 10:30 on a Saturday and only had to wait 20 minutes. Not bad at all. Six hungry ladies gathered and had mimosas with super fresh gargantuan strawberries! The menu is full of super fat, calorie dense, sugary and savory brunch favorites... and the worst part is that you kind of want it all. I went with the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette. And I almost ate the whole thing. I also had a bite of the marscapone stuffed french toast and it was sinfully delicious. Bonus points for being able to switch to egg whites only and having a few healthy options. The staff is super friendly, and we had lovely service. We stayed for a while catching up and didn't feel rushed at all. Enjoy and have a food coma shnap afterward.
(5)Kimberly K.
Had a groupon for Toast. My son and I decided to check it out. We went on a weekday. Food was good as was service. Tables are very close and there aren't a lot of them, but that's not unusual. It was a bit noisy. Cute place, good food. Definitely a place to check out. Oh and they do serve lunch.
(3)Angie M.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've had fantasies about the grilled chicken sausage stuffed with apple & gouda. It's the stuff dreams are made of. It's hands down my single most favorite breakfast/brunch item on any menu in Chicago. Yum. I've explored pretty much the entire menu at Toast Two and I feel confident in saying it delivers on every single level imaginable. Do you like eggs for breakfast? The spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelet is superb. Perhaps you're more of a basic breakfast person? Get the two eggs any way you like them, served w/ one side (I clearly recommend the chicken sausage), house potatoes and toast. The scrambled eggs are perfect and topped with a beautifully tasty sprinkle of chives. If sinful carbs are on the agenda, you cannot go wrong by ordering the French Toast Orgy. Sounds dirty, right? It is. Imagine a plate piled high with French toast stuffed with puréed fresh strawberry, mascarpone and Mexican chocolate topped with vanilla yogurt, house made berry granola, fresh fruit and drizzled with honey. Try rolling around in that breakfast and tell me what you think! Word of caution: Wear expandable waist pants. Or a loose belt. Toast serves up some amazing specials every day, too. They always have a pancake special and if you're lucky, it (and it's Fall) you might score the pumpkin pancakes. They're huge, luscious and out of this word. I may or may not have once ordered them along with a spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelet. Don't judge me. The only beef I have with Toast Two is that it's teeny tiny and they don't take reservations so if you show up at a popular brunching hour (any time between 10am-1pm), you're looking at a substantial wait. I recommend getting there early or even making your trip to Toast Two a solo mission and trying to score a seat at the bar.
(5)Sara P.
I had a great eggs benedict dish here. This dish, plus the potatoes served with it, was delicious. The coffee was also great. My friend and I did not have to wait too long on a Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Service was friendly. A little expensive, but I do not want to make hollandaise at home, so it was very good. I hope to return in the near future.
(5)Hana W.
This is by far one of the best brunch spots in the city. Whether you sit inside or out on the patio I have received exceptional service. It is a byob restaurant with large pitchers of orange juice to take care of all our mimosa needs. We began our meal with the orgasmic stuffed French toast. Each piece could stand as a meal of it's own , but brilliently complimented each other. I have ordered a number of other dishes such as the Cobb sales, pesto scramble, ahi tuna sandwich, just to name a few. I have enjoyed absolutely everything. In addition we had one server assistant Gordie, who went over and above with his service. He always approached our table with a genuine smile and accommodated all of our needs. If you are looking for a great neighborhood breakfast spot, visit toast two. There is sometimes a small wait list, but it is worth it.
(5)Steve W.
A place called "Toast," should have very good Toast, and Toast Two certainly does. I really enjoy the hearty, multigrain toast I have with my breakfast here. Is talking about toasted bread boring? No? Ok, wonderful. The dining room is quaint, with a nice al fresco area out back. There area few old toasters, and comfy "breakfast" art on the walls. The menu features a few egg benedicts, omelettes, french toasts, and pancakes. They also serve Julian Meinl coffee, which is delicious. The Chilaquiles were a special one morning, and they were very delicious. In a peppery Verde sauce, the chips were a little softer than traditional chilaquiles, but still held on to a little texture. All the food I've tried at Toast Two has been well prepared, tasty, and far from typical greasy breakfast fare.
(4)B H.
Love this place. It's one of our favorite brunch spots in the city. The French Toast Orgy is awesome. If I had to complain about something, it's that there's no place to wait. This is a popular place so a 20+ minute wait is not unheard of. In the summer, people usually hang out on the sidewalk. In the winter you have to cram into the doorway. You have to squish right between the table nearest the door and between the host stand. This doubly sucks when you're seated at the table nearest to the door.
(4)Bryan Y.
I ate here with my roommates last Saturday and it was amazing! The breakfast tasted so fresh. Here is what we ordered: 1. Breakfast burrito: the veggie/multi grain wrap hit the spot 2. Eggs benedicts and Steak: They poached the egg perfectly. Steak was very tender 3. Bacon Omelet: enjoyed the bacon and potatoes 4. Stuff French toast: the toast was very fluffy. I enjoyed the cream stuff flavor the most It had nice little home feel environment. We sat in the patio which felt like I was having breakfast at a friends house. I would definitely come here again. Also, if you come with a group they only accept a maximum of 2 credit cards. They don't allow you to use a combination of cash and card. So it either 2 credit cards or all cash.
(5)Leah D.
Why are you reading this review? Go to Toast right now and get stuffed french toast with marscapone. It's the best. Their savory breakfasts are equally delicious, but the french toast is out of this world! Great coffee, great service. We usually sit at the counter and have always had excellent service and amazing breakfast! Oh and it's BYOB!
(5)Andrea R.
I've been a longtime fan of the original Toast* in Lincoln Park, but just tried it's Bucktown location for the first time this week. It was hustling and bustling on a Wednesday afternoon just a few days before Xmas- most likely with people off for the holiday. I had the lil one with me so I was a bit worried it would be a long wait, but they had us seated pretty fast. Bucktown Toast is pretty similar to it's big sis: a tiny restaurant crammed with tables a bit too close to each other, mediocre service and a menu full of yummy breakfast and lunch eats. I usually stick with their granola/fruit bowl, but just last week discovered the pesto scramble. So good that I had it 2 days in a row- once in LP and then the next day here in Bucktown. I preferred mine without the prosciutto and in the name of healthiness substituted their delish potatoes for fruit, which they charged a ridiculous fee of $3. I also got a side of cinnamon raisin toast, which was awesome...then again I'd expect nothing less for a restaurant named "Toast." ---------- * Toast: yelp.com/biz/toast-chica…
(4)Lynn N.
Coming from an area with no BYOBs, I welcomed Toast Two's BYOB policy and lovely carafes of orange juice that came with strawberry-rimmed glasses. My Tijuana omelet (with avocado added) also came out pretty tasty with stretchy chihuhua cheese, onions, pockets of avocado, and a gentle pinch of cilantro. So why only three stars? First of all, my omelet cost $10 outright and $12 with the avocado added. Even for my DC standards, that seems kind of pricey for a run-of-the-mill omelet. Secondly, and more importantly, I had a beef with the toast at Toast (Two). While they offered many kinds of toast, I learned very quickly that brioche should only be used for french toast. Also, they only offered strawberry jam with it. When I asked if they had any other kind, they said no. Seriously?! Toast is as tight with jam as jelly is with peanut butter. Please, Toast, offer your bread more jam friends to hang out with.
(3)Ana C.
One of my favorite breakfast places. It is honestly a hidden gem. I love their omelets you can really taste all the fresh ingredients. One week I went here about three times that is how much I fell in love with it. They also give you endless coffee and oh my god it is delicious not your typical old coffee sitting for 3 days in the pot kind of coffee. I left feeling full and energized with all the cups of coffee. On one trip I had some coffee left and the server was so kind as to bring a to go cup for the coffee. I was the happiest super good food and friendly staff. One con which doesn't take away any star is that there usually is a wait time especially now that the outdoor sitting area will soon be unavailable.
(5)Sherie P.
Yes, it's called Toast. No, I didn't actually have toast! But what I did have was very good. I though I was going to have to give a not so good review, but Toast changed my mind. A girlfriend of mine organized a slightly large party for such a small place. There were 12 of us meeting there for brunch at 11 on Sunday. I know...their busy time. But when she called weeks ahead of the date, they said it would be no problem... The week of, Oh, it might be a problem.... And when she arrived an hour early to ensure we got seats may or may not be a problem?? But as 11 soon approached the lovely hostess came to check in on us while we waited and ensure that we would be sat at 11. It was a few minutes later but the timing was perfect. She was great and totally made up for the indecisiveness and attitude of the others. Did I mention it was BYOB? We brought our bottle of champagne and they brought the cups and juice right away. YUM. The perfect way to start a brunch is with a sip of coffee and a sip of Mimosa. Next time I've got to bring Vodka to make myself a bloody mary! Since it was such a "big" group we got a wide sampling of food. My friend got the pumpkin pancakes! YUM! They were so light and fluffy. They just melted in my mouth. Several people got omelettes which they all loved and the benedict was a hit. I got the breakfast burrito. Of course I had to add chorizo to it. YUM! It was spicy and eggy. The tortilla was filled to the brim. It was the perfect size for me to eat it all but not feel over stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the salsa they brought with it. It was like tomato water with a spec of cilantro floating in it. Really?? That's NOT salsa. But the hot sauce the waiter brought more than made up for it. Will I go back? Definitely. I am dying to try the Pancake Orgy!
(4)Annalea T.
Seriously this might be my favorite brunch place in the city of Chicago. Both locations are great- this one is closer for me so I prefer it, the only downside is at this location they don't have booze. Best eggs Benedict I have ever had in my life- lemony truffle hollandaise with house potatoes and tenderloin cooked to perfection with the best eggs and English muffin. Wow, just thinking of it makes my mouth water! I always love to find any excuse to go here. I love the staff too. Vinny is my favorite here, he loves to strike up conversation & always gives wonderful service. They have Julius meinl coffee here which is also excellent. This is a place I don't hesitate to take my out of town visitors :) always a must!!
(5)Neha N.
This place is walkable for me.....and I'm so grateful. I came here on a Sunday around 11, and got seated in ten minutes. The server was kind and attentive. I got the pancake orgy (3 types of pancake) which was sooo delicious. This place is vegetarian friendly, unlike a lot brunch places around the city. Not too pricey and enough food if you want to take it home (but whose gonna take soggy pancakes home). Also, they are BYOB, but you have to purchase orange juice in order to make the mimosas which can end up being pricey...
(5)David R.
November 6, 2010 - Per the website the last seating is at 3:45 pm being that they close at 4pm on Saturday. I have a Foursquare check-in at 3:21...my friend and I walked in and were told they will be closing in five minutes. I had looked forward eating here. I failed to notice the last seating time when I picked this place since I found in on Yelp Mobile for Android and saw the 4pm closing time, I figured we made it in time to dine here....oh well!
(1)Jason D.
Toast has been on my hit list since I first moved to Bucktown a year ago. I finally found no wait and decided to take my house guests there. I ordered the Pesto Scramble and it didn't disappoint. The dish was very tasty with little bits of prosciutto and the pesto flavor wasn't overbearing. The eggs came with a side of potato's which were cooked perfectly, crispy but not overdone. The potato's however were not served as hot as I would of liked. Five Star Eggs, Three Star Potato's With the Pesto scramble, I ordered the short stack side, full size pancakes covered with powder sugar. Very tasty but this order could feed one by itself, so in addition the Pesto Scramble this proved to be a lot of food. Four Star Pancakes. Toast is very good breakfast joint. I enjoyed the home-style ambiance and the wait staff was very friendly. I would recommend it so long as there is no wait, as we were eating we overheard the hostess notifying people of a 25 minute wait.
(4)Cheryl S.
very disappointing.... who doesn't have WiFi these days anyway. Well this is how it all started. Couldn't get any work done. From there, the waitress seemed to be more annoyed that I asked for WiFi from both her and the gal at the front because both didn't know off hand. Anyway as for the food. I ordered the steak Benedict on her recommendation and yes it was good. Just nothing special. toast was a great place years back when no restaurants cared about doing breakfast well. Now, it seams the rest have passed this place up. Oh well, lots more to chose from as I said.
(2)Jaye J.
At this point, I've dined here quite a few times and had several menu items. Sure, sometimes I had to swipe them off of Mr. J's plate, but still... Yup, there is a wait on weekends. Prepare for up to an hour. In nice weather, our usual routine is to put in our names, get coffee somewhere, and walk around the 'hood. I'm not a fan of more than a 15 minute wait anywhere, so in the winter, we usually just don't make it here. The decor is simple and cute. Service has been overall excellent. Helpful suggestions from the servers, polite hosts and unobtrusive bussers. The only time we experienced anything less was our last visit on Apr 1. The host acted put-out to have to set us and the server was just barely adequate. Perhaps I'm just spoiled by otherwise more engaged service from Toast II, and it was near the end of their day. In general though, I have always been pleased. As another reviewer noted, the hollandaise here is perfection. Creamy, rich, and just enough tang. That gloppy over-lemoned mess you usually get places is not found here. Apparently I am the only person not in love with the "orgy" dishes. I find them odd-too dry in some places, too soggy in others and the yogurt seems too drippy and sour and the granola and french toast mixture just turns to a mushy chunky slosh on y plate mixed with bland tasting marscapone and overly sweet strawberries. I really hated it. However, I suppose it does have that comfort food things-a-6-year-old-would-eat craziness to it, and my Mother in Law really enjoyed it. The first thing I ever had there was the pancake of the day which, at that time was a dark chocolate chip pancake with a chili whipped cream. This is the stuff my fantasies are made of. I love butter. Like Paula Deen love for butter, but these were so rich and creamy all I had to do was let the whipped cream melt onto the cakes and I was happy. The dark chocolate chips were not too sweet and offset nicely by the chili which was not hot at all. The pancakes themselves were a perfect texture. I have since tried other pancakes, and they are all good-however this combo could make them famous! Last time, I got the pesto scramble which was delicious. Scrambled in prosciutto and topped with Gruyere cheese and served with house potatoes it was substantial and delicious. Mr. J had the egg of the day which was similar to mine but with a different cheese (chihuahua?) and green chili sauce with green peppers. Also good. The crabby Benedict is better than most places with nice sized hunks of crab and the regular Benedict are also delicious. In all the egg dishes-my only complaint is that the eggs could use a bit less cook time. Both Benedicts and scrambles/omelettes the eggs are just the wrong side of done and border on rubbery. The coffee is good. The OJ is a real treat. The prices area bit of a splurge, but the portions are good sized and the food is really enjoyable. I feel like I can take anyone here and I have: from my trendy girlfriends, to pals after a long night of parties, to out of towners to get a feel for the 'hood to just me and my hubby for a nice breakfast. Even my in-laws who aren't adventurous eaters, but don't mind coming a bit out of the box. The food is familiar enough to be satisfying but different enough that you know you are eating breakfast you wouldn't have whipped up yourself in an atmosphere that is usually has a bit of bustle to awaken you but not too much trendiness.
(5)Allison V.
Met a friend for brunch. I ordered the BELT with goat cheese and even though I pointed to it in the menu as I ordered it, repeated my order and even clarified the goat cheese it still came out wrong. Who orders a plain old BLT with goat cheese on plain bread....I wanted a breakfast sandwich. I notified the server and he was not apologetic, he did not even want to accept responsibility for it at first. Then he offered to take it back to the kitchen...no way. I just ate the sandwich, which was pretty okay, just not what I had wanted. A pleasant surprise came when I was comped $2.50 for my coffee. Whatever. I also received an apology when the bill was brought to the table. I will go back here and try it again. The food is very tasty. Coffee is strong. Service is pretty friendly. Bike parking on the street.
(4)Roberto F.
Just a quick review on why I love this place so much and why you should come and have brunch here. First of all the food is amazing here, I've been here three times already and we always get something different and we never leave disappointed. The Pancake Orgy and the Salmon omelette are my personal favorites. Second great thing is the the coffee, because I love Julius Meinl. And last but not least they have amazing people working here. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great start to your day. Other Comments: Baby/Kid friendly, with plenty of crayons to play with BYOB!
(5)Dianne S.
I'm a huge fan of bacon. That being said, I can't believe that I've only recently tried their b.e.l.t. (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato) sandwich. Why didn't I think of that? Yes it's messy, but the thick French roll helped soak up my ooey gooey over medium fried egg. I'm a sucker for topping anything with a fried egg. This sammie ($9) packing with some serious thick applewood bacon-crunchy yet meaty at the same time. House potatoes were deelish! More soft and creamy than fried and crunchy. Friendly. Attentive. Overall awesome service. This may be due to the fact that I usually show up with my friends who live 2 blocks away and a regulars, but hey...I'll take it.
(5)Alma C.
Great brunch spot that's survived and thrived after years of cut-throat brunch competition in Chicago, and Chicagoans love to brunch. Toast has a good mix of sweet (pancake orgy) and savory (breakfast burrito) so even picky friends will be able to find something they like on the menu. Coffee is Julius Meinl, a decent Viennese chain that makes for a rich roast (but it ain't no Cafe Sperl). Try it, you'll like it.
(4)Ellarey M.
I love sweet breakfasts, and when my sister told me we would be coming here for brunch, I immediately looked up the menu to see what infectiously sweet breakfast delicacy I could order. Enter the french toast orgy. Three large french toast sticks (? no better word to describe except maybe logs) each stuffed with a different filling - strawberry, mascarpone, and chocolate, covered with yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit (in my case, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries). I washed everything down with a glass of fresh OJ. Everything was good, but I will say that I didn't much like the chocolate stuffed french toast. The filling made the toast a little too mushy and didn't have the best flavor. Mascarpone was by far my fave. If I come again, I think I'll have the pancake orgy, so that I can still get the great texture of granola on top and not have to worry about overly mushy toast.
(4)Jess L.
I waited an hour, which kind of stunk at the time, but the food made up for itself. The breakfast burrito is nicely sized, and the pesto scramble also won our hearts and minds. Oh, and they don't call it a French toast orgy for nothing... You will regret it if you don't get one portion at the table. The service is a bit slow, and I can't say much for the ambiance, but I am definitely glad I tried it once!
(4)Alicia M.
I was in the Bucktown area visiting a friend and we wanted to find somewhere to eat. My friend's brother passed us a Groupon he had for Toast, and off we went! (Thanks again Groupon...I might start every review from now on with "thanks, Groupon") I selected a vegetarian egg white scrambler, which came with their home made hash brown things (red skin potatoes) and toast. It was the perfect size, and man was it delicious. My friend ordered the club, which was huge but looked like it was made with love and all fresh ingredients :) My friend gave the club a big thumbs up Luckily, we didn't have 4 kids with us in a quadruple-wide stroller so we could just sit at the counter and eat while the housewives waited. Definitely be prepared to wait if you aren't willing to sit at the counter. And Julius Meinl coffee? hell yeah! The decor was cute, the service was exceptional and the staff was very friendly. If I'm in Bucktown for brunch again, I will be back!
(4)Sandra M.
You have to be really good to get give stars from me. The french toast orgy was the bomb. Three different flavored stuffed french toasts topped with yogurt, granola, fruit, then drizzled with honey. The waiter was ok separating everything for me because the portion was huge and I knew I wouldn't finish it. This way I would be able to take half home for tomorrows breakfast and it wouldn't get soggy. The bread was homemade and was injected with the fillings. Great taste. The coffee was really good too. Wish we had a Toast Two in my neighborhood. Hint hint.
(5)Liz K.
Not one of my brunch faves. I don't blame them for not having my favorite breakfast dish (smoked salmon eggs benedict), but maybe I shouldn't have had such high hopes for my replacement dish (smoked salmon omelette). It just that when I order smoked salmon, I expect it to be reasonably present in the dish. I couldn't really taste it at all. My man friend was equally unimpressed with his eggs and bacon. The lack of flavor, high prices, and wait are enough for me to cross this off the list and not try it again.
(2)Kori E.
So, so, so good! I love brunch on Sunday mornings and I am lucky enough to live a block away from this magnificent brunch spot. Yes, there is always a wait, so definitely get there early and put your name in. The wait is definitely worth it!! I had the BELT, a Bacon, Egg, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich on a french roll. I am a sucker for breakfast sandwiches and this was probably by far the best one I have had in a really long time. It was very fresh, the bread was soft (which was surprising since it said it was a french roll, it looked more ciabatta) the egg was perfectly cooked and the bacon was the perfect touch. I devoured the entire sandwich. My boyfriend ordered lunch and he got the tuna steak sandwich with a side of the apple chicken sausage. His was equally as tasty as mine. I am definitely getting the french toast the next time we come here...hopefully this weekend!!
(5)Jo W.
We ended up here on accident, but I'm really glad we came. It was a Friday morning so it wasn't that busy when we arrived, but there was a line by the time we left. French toast used to be my go-to brunch dish, but I hadn't had it in ages. Since "toast" is in the name I decided to go for it, and I'm glad I did - it was perfection, and now I'm back to having daydreams about french toast all day long... Service was excellent. So excellent, here's where they earned their 5th star: I was brunching with my vegan friend, and Toast Two isn't vegan, nor do they have any listed vegan options on their menu. My friend was going to order something really basic and boring, and mentioned she was vegan. Our server told her she could make the breakfast burrito vegan for her, so my friend went with that. Apparently this was a good move, because my friend inhaled that burrito and kept commenting how good it was. So, vegan diners, take note - ask and ye shall receive! I was super happy with brunch here and would come back, but I'd come on an off day and time because I'm not a fan of standing in any line, no matter how good the food is.
(5)Mayra H.
We ate more food than what fit on a table. and when I say "we" I mean just me & my mentee Cynthia aka my other lil sis. ambiance was cool, service was great, food was awesome. we ordered crepes, French toast (fresh fruit made it yummy), eggs, the works.... We ate like we had never eaten before but all and all we did have to ultimately sacrifice and leave some of it behind. you do have to wait awhile to be seated, depending on the day, so make sure you bring something to read or at the very least like the person you're eating with enough to talk to them for up to an extra 45-60 min. :) *I went back with my mini me & J but they didn't like the hollandaise sauce. ((so note to self: we need to find some good hollandaise sauce))
(5)Patrick L.
OMG I think I got drunk on their chilaquiles- best I have ever had-
(5)Chijen Y.
Maybe this place can't afford to clean their grossly smelly bathroom or hire a repair man to come to fix the toilet paper dispenser that's hanging off the wall because their heat bill is so high from "toasting" all their patrons. Ridiculously hot in there, but anyway, on to the important stuff... I tried to order the highest nutritionally sound items on the menu... "artichoke" soup tasted like saur kraut... it was good, but no hint of artichoke there... and ewww. Niscoise salad?!! I should have taken a picture of this pale poorly put together salad...gross frozen fish lacking flavor and color... but that wouldn't have helped explain why the greenbeans tasted of slight pinesol??! Blech. Will not be going back. My assumption, based on the look on the waiter's face when I told him that the salad wasn't good is that its not the first one he had to take back. Partner ordered crab benedict and pancakes. They didn't seem to screw that up.
(1)Praveen S.
Good brunch place. Tasty burgers, even the vegetarian one was good. Good coffee and service. will visit again.
(4)Kendal K.
Best brunch in Bucktown! Love! Get the French Toast Orgy!
(5)Jessie B.
I have died & gone to brunch heaven. Plus it is BYOB. I'm speechless here.
(5)Kelsey F.
A BYOB Brunch spot with amazing food and options for everyone! Why don't we have one of these in Boston??! I got the spinach and goat cheese omelet which was yummy. Everyone else really liked there meals as well. The french toast orgy sounded like heaven but I wasn't in that indulgent of a mood. Oh and they're OJ is fresh squeezed and perfect to add to some champagne. Toast Two you Rule!
(4)Jennifer v.
This is my favorite brunch place in Chicago! There is not a single menu item that I wouldn't recommend, which is a feat. My favorites- the Vegetarian Eggs Benedict and the French Toast Orgasm. Staff is always friendly and the service is quick. The decor is bright and just what anyone needs with a good meal. The line can be long depending on the time/day, but it's always worth the wait. There are plenty of stores to go poking into or you can just pick up a mug of coffee and mingle with the waiting patrons. Friends and I wish we lived closer so we could walk over more often. Can't complain about a single visit!
(5)Jen G.
We love brunch. We brunch every Sunday. And Toast is definitely a brunch staple for us. If you go during peak hours, there will be a wait, but it's totally worth it. I recommend the Stuffed French Toast. The flavors are Mexican Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mascarpone. I'm not a fan of strawberry products, so I always order two Chocolate and one Mascarpone. It comes with berries and a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. They bring syrup to the table for you as well, and I recommend using at least a little because it will balance the moisture level and the sweetness actually balances the fillings (they aren't as sweet as you would think). I have ordered other items on the menu as well, and they are all delicious, but this has become my mainstay. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and the decor/atmosphere is whimsical and comfy.
(5)Olivia H.
I just MUST comment on Meg O,'s review, who regaled us with the tale of the bearded dragon Toast's birthday. It is NEVER, EVER okay to bring an animal into a dining establishment without first clearing it with the management, and a responsible, law and health code abiding restaurant would never allow that. (For that matter, in my opinion it is flat out not appropriate to bring an animal into a dining establishment, guide dogs and the like aside). Were the health inspector to arrive whilst Toast was having his little trip to Toast, there could be ramifications for the dining establishment. I am more disturbed by the Map Rooms allowance of the lizard than Toast's request for them to leave. Please, don't take this as pure animal hatred, I have animal companions myself and feel very strongly that sharing your lives with various critters can be great for your health and psyche. But that does not give one the right to tote their pet around wherever they like. Rant aside, I love Toast, and highly recommend it, especially on weekdays when you can avoid the massive crowd. The smoked salmon omelet with dill havarti and capers is to die for, and I find myself ordering it over and over, even when I sternly tell myself to try something new. For those of you who love chocolate for breakfast, try the Nutella Crepes (because everything is delicious with Nutella).
(5)Eitan S.
nice local breakfast. food is okay, reminds me of Nookie, very American. too much hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedicts. steak & eggs were decent.
(4)Lezah G.
This could easily be a 4 or 5 star place but the indifferent service made me subtract 2-3 stars. The menu has great stuff on it. Our food was pretty good. Mine was the best--I had eggs benedict which was great. The other dishes were above average. Why only two stars then? Well, the place is called TOAST. One of us ordered a meal that came with a brioche. She was expecting a knotted type of roll but she got what looked like Texas toast. The menu should have said brioche bread, not a brioche. My brother ordered a side of raisin bread toast. He got two tiny pieces of bread that looked like the pieces of bread next to the heel of the loaf. They were about two bites each. The waitress was completely indifferent when we mentioned something about the TOAST. The place is called TOAST. All she said was that was what they served. Would it have killed her to go back to the kitchen and put two more slices of the tiny bread in the toaster and brought it out? Greek diners do a better job. Would it have killed her to offer something other than the Texas toast/Brioche? These are not big ticket items and it was Monday morning. There were no lines waiting to get it. Thank goodness we were using a groupon!
(2)Jenni Q.
We walked in around 230pm on a Sunday and luckily a table had just opened up so we didn't have to wait at all. Always a good start to a weekend brunch :) Everything on the menu looked so good we had trouble making up our minds even as we were placing our orders. I was debating between the B.E.L.T (bacon+eggs+mixed greens+tomato sandwich) or the grilled ahi tuna sandwich. I wanted to try something other than my usual breakfast sandwich so ended up getting the ahi tuna sandwich which came with this really great zesty sauce, sauteed chopped tomatoes and onions and the best ciabatta bread ever. The huge serving of tuna was a little overcooked but still tasted great. My boyfriend got the ground chicken mixed with cheese sandwich and really enjoyed his dish as well and we both LOVED the breakfast potatoes (I would recommend skipping the potato salad). Also tried the soup of the day - watermelon gazpacho - which was more savory than I thought it would be. I'm not a fan of cold soups but my bf thought it was very original and delicious. We will definitely be back to try some of the other items we wish we could have gotten!
(4)chris c.
ordered the french toast orgy and they forgot about the granola and vanilla yogurt. the person at the front counter was apathetic at best and really did not help us look out for a table. He also refused to take down my number to call me when there's a table. we had to point out to him that there were empty tables before we were seated. even after pointing out to him the empty table and asking if we could have it, his response was "possibly". bad service ruins the whole experience. not pleased.
(1)Ian A.
I debated a one star but really want to save that for the worse of the worse. I just don't get the lines or the great reviews this place has. The food is really not that good! In fact sometimes it's been downright bad. The staff holds the "it's a privilege to even be here" attitude and is about as rude is you'll find for breakfast. This particular location doesn't serve bloody marries or other breakfast drinks like their other location does and can be another turn away for some people.
(2)Joe W.
I love breakfast. Lots of breakfast. Things like stuffed french toast or a pancake orgy, both with mounds of fresh fruit around it and a good cup of coffee exceed any breakfast expectations you've ever had. It gets busy, so buck up and come early. Toast Two makes breakfast an art.
(5)Event Horizon L.
I have two words for you : yum, yum
(4)Bess R.
My review is only for takeout since I NEVER brave the lines at this place on the weekends. They have many yummy breakfast/brunch foods, though I prefer breakfast. Usually get the awesomely huge pancakes (love banana nut, but they always have a few different flavors) or the goat cheese, spinach and tomato omelet with a side of chicken sausage. Oh mamma, that is good stuff. Not as big of a fan of the lunch options (bad experience with the frisee salad), but my ladyfriends seem to like the turkey burger a lot.
(4)Stacy K.
I have been going to Toast for a decade but my last two visits will have been my last ever. Today's visit was inexcusable. I had the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette with potatoes and rye toast. Now mind you the coffee was great and the toast and jam good but the eggs and potatoes were so salty that I couldn't even eat them and the goat cheese in the eggs was broken and gritty. The server took my plate when I told him and....NEVER RETURNED! I got up to use the restroom and when I came back, my table had been cleared- coffe, toast, water - GONE! I told the gentleman at the register what happened and he handed me my bill and said that he couldn't do anything because the manager wasn't there. He did ask me if I'd like a coffee to go. Really?!? No - what I'd like to have is an edible breakfast. It's a shame - this was once a great reliable breakfast spot. But I guess all good things must come to an end. Adieu, Toast.
(1)Andy R.
favors the sweet toothed and sober folk wait not worthwhile
(3)Ryan P.
Eeehhhh. I go to Toast as a last resort, it's mediocre at best.
(2)Amanda D.
Wow!! I've been here probably 7 times. I LOVE their stuffed french toast. The pancakes are also pretty good. Just be sure to get here early-it gets crowded!!!
(4)jenn m.
wowzaa. love this place. very cute, great skylights. the stuffed french toast with marscapone is my favorite. they serve it with all kinds of berries. great selection of coffee and teas. i like a latte. they also have another great dish called Huevos W/ Chorizo & Cheddar is reallyyy yummy. definitely go on a weekday later ... no crowds ... no one in eye shot of conversation. love it.
(4)Mike D.
I've always liked the food here, the service is never bad, and its not terribly overpriced. I have found that some of their specialty dishes to be a bit flat. That is my only complaint.
(4)Katherine R.
Although you will wait on the weekends this small breakfast spot is worth the wait- so don't go hungover like I did! Outstanding eggs benedict; instead of canadian bacon, thinly sliced prosciutto with homemade hollandaise sauce on a bed of sauteed spinach (on a homemade english muffin) served with homemade potatoes. Fantastic and worth the wait despite my killer hangover!!
(5)Christina G.
Okay, so I don't really like the seating arrangement, because it makes it impossible for anyone to not overhear your conversation at the next table over, which is about 1 foot away from you. However, the food is pretty good. I have eaten here quite a bit, and I have to say that everything I had was good except for the eggs benedict. It was a little too lemony for me, but i don't love eggs benedict that much either. The pesto scramble, breakast burritto, and pancake orgy are all excellent. The place could be a little less expensive, but it is a nice breakfast treat once in a while.
(3)Alice K.
Best service and the bestest french toast I've ever had.
(5)Gwen D.
I try to eat very balanced meals, lots of fruit, veggies, fish, some bread and occasionally meat. So I like to come here for the scrambled eggs with chorizo. This dish is disgustingly good, and worth feeling like I ate an entire elephant afterwards. Service is typically quite quick, and occasionally off (mixups on the bill or with my tea), but totally forgivable. The coffee cups are always filled, and more hot water for my tea is constantly offered. They open at 8am on certain days too, which is great, if you have to be at work bright and early. It's bright, but not too bright, and simple and the dishes are HUGE. Actually, too big. I think they could offer less food for less money, because I never can eat all mine, and feel bad wasting it (but who brings eggs home as leftovers? That's just gross).
(4)Ariel B.
This is one of our favorite brunch spots in the neighborhood. Their stuffed french toast is a treat anytime I go there. The atmosphere is great. The only downside is the long wait.
(5)Ishaq L.
I've only had the Egg Burrito both times I've gone, and I've been satisfied both times. My wife's tried a couple different dishes (veggie omellete and pancakes) and been pleased with her choices. The servings are quite generous, so don't let your eyes order for you. The wait can be a little excessive if you show up after 10 on a weekend...like most people.
(4)Danielle R.
I've been to the original Toast in Lincoln Park as well as "Toast 2" and I've never had a complaint about the food. My boyfriend swears by the breakfast burrito but I tend to go for the.....well, toast! Their French toast really is divine. After going in for the stuffed variety I have since returned to the one that is just served with fresh berries so I leave pleasantly full without the sugar coma. Food = yum but the wait = misery. I dread walking up and asking about the wait....because there is ALWAYS a wait and it's always seems to be over an hour and really.....the food is good, but I don't know if it's worth it to wait that long for breakfast!
(4)Megan M.
Another breakfast spot with a long wait, but it is so worth it! The stuffed french toast is amazing and covered with fresh fruit. Their breakfast burrito is the best I've ever had. And the coffee is good too. The only issue I have is that the rush you through the meal once you are seated. I understand why they do it, but if I wait over an hour for a table, don't give me the check five minutes after I get my food.
(5)Valerie A.
This is a great brunch place. Really the only downsides are that the line can be long on Saturday, when I typically go, and the tables are a little close together since it's a rather small place. The last time I went to Toast the coffee was only ok, but my omelette and sausage were very good. Also, the decor is super cute. Rooster wallpaper!
(4)missallfun H.
The hostess is miserable. Her energy is toxic, so be careful. I have only been to this location 4 times. everytime I leave dissapointed and my mood altered by the bad vibe the place has. Ive boycotted this place each time and have only given it other chances because of friends buying into the hype. Yes the french toast orgy is good but its as if there are tears put into your cafe. The staff is just a mess and ruins the magic of the kitchen. Maybe Lincoln park has it together?
(2)James W.
This is my favorite breakfast place. Love the marcapone french toast and the eggs benedict. The space is a little small and on weekends the wait can be long but the food is worth it. Also a little pricey.
(4)Maximus T.
One day after mass me and my sister stopped by Toast and enjoyed it very much. I had the eggs benedict and my sister has blueberry wheat pancakes ad eggs we finished everything down to the last crumb. The one cons about this was the wait and that the tables are too close to each other making customers have no privacy.
(4)Gavin G.
ok, so the food was pretty good. and the pancakes were in monstrous proportion. the wait to be seated here sucked really bad. granted, it was a sunday and we arrived around noon. our friend arrived around 11:45 and got our party on the list, and was told "about 45 minutes" but we didn't sit down until almost 1pm. alright, so waiting i can deal with. but the place is packed, and i mean packed with people waiting, asses to elbows. and some of them repeatedly whined to the hostess about having to wait for their 10 person party to get a table while couples were getting open tables. hello assholes, 10 people won't fit at a 2 person table! food was good and i'd go back, but i'm sure as hell not going back on a sunday to deal with a bunch of people who feel self-important because mommy got them a 3-BR condo and a BMW.
(3)stephanie s.
It was good pancake. Really, only the most horrible of grease spoons can mess up a pancake. That said, I am not 100 percent sure why this place always has lines of people waiting to get in. I've had better cakes from nondescript diner-type restaurants. If I was a meat and/or egg eater, I may have been better clued in to the majesty that is Toast, but as a veggie pancake eater, I was not incredibly impressed. Sure is cute in there, though. We went once and never felt the need to go back, but not for any other reason that I can get cheaper, tastier cakes elsewhere. I will say that the fruit on my cakes was remarkably fresh. I wouldn't necessarily call our server that day friendly, but she was polite and efficient, which is just fine.
(3)Michelle R.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants. They have french toast to die for, yummy crepes, and scrumpchy omelette's. There is usually a wait, but it's well worth it.
(5)Stephanie H.
Great Brunch, I've only been once though. Will go back, Downside is the wait.
(4)Jay D.
Possibilty one of the best breakfasts in the City of Chicago. If I didn't care about my health I would eat here every day. I'm a big fan of the chocolate stuffed french toast, the Eggs Danny, the strawberry lemonade, and the specials. I haven't had any lunch items, but breakfast/brunch hits the spot every time. The only complaint I have about this place is the wait, but then again I'd say its justifiable...just don't come famished at 11am on a Sunday morning.
(4)Samara B.
Love love love! I have never hated Anything I have tried here and am always a fan of BYOB for mimosas. Cute, friendly, and amazing breakfast!
(5)Lizzie O.
my husband and i tried toast today for the first time, and we were pleasantly suprised. it was busy for a sunday morning (naturally) but we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes. our waitress was prompt with the coffee and our meals. service was very friendly. the huevos verdes with cilantro pesto sauce was a delight for my mouth, and suprisingly not too expensive ($8.00 and that included potatoes and 2 slices of toast). the only downside is that it was a *little* on the noisy side... but, a good sign that business is going well. we will definitely be coming back to try other delectable meals :)
(4)mike l.
holy crap. Just go and wait, it's worth it.
(5)cara r.
I'm not sure if I was just off when I visited Toast - I had kind of a lot to drink the night before - but I didn't love it. I had the fresh fruit and yogurt, but it was in late June, when raspberries and cherries and strawberries are abundant and all I got was honeydew and musk melon! This tells me that the powers-that-be at Toast aren't taking advantage of Green City Market and the other AMAZING farmer's markets in the city to get me seasonal, locally grown produce. I'm sure we'll be back at some point - the boy does live three blocks from Toast Two, and hopefully I'll be less hungover and more pleased.
(2)Melinda C.
While the food is unremarkable, it's a comfortable place to sit, eat, and chat with friends. Great ambiance - sunny interior. However, the eggs benedict were good but nothing exceptional. The hugely-portioned pancakes might be a better bet. Fairly large variety of dishes to choose from. Parking on a Sunday was surprisingly easy - a very pleasant surprise.
(3)C. M.
a friend and i were trying to find the perfect place for our sunday brunch and finally settled on toast in bucktown. when we walk in the guy sitting down with barely any tables said they were closed. since the website said they closed at 4, and it was only around 3:20, why would he have said that? i was really curious why he turned us away - and why he had to be such a jerk in the process. bad business, get rid of that guy.
(1)Stephanie P.
I am a huge fan of toast--especially the pesto scramble and the mascarpone pancakes. I have had terrible experiences at the webster street location but toast two on damen has always been good to me.
(5)Jessica B.
I simply cannot say enough good things about Toast. I am very hard to please when it comes to breakfast/brunch because i want a little of everything-eggs, pancakes, toast, hash browns.Toast has nailed breakfast. I always order the two eggs, because it comes with toast, potatoes, and one side (I always get pancakes, they're amazing). The eggs are awesome, definitely some of the best i've had. I was a little thrown off by their lack of Grape jelly 2 weeks in a row. How does a place named Toast not have Grape Jelly?!?! My boyfriend gets the omelet or benedict both of which are delicious. The decor is simple, and its always bright inside. The seating is a little cramped, which is why i prefer to sit at the counter. The hostess is a little rude, and the staff could be a little more attentive, but since this is the one place in Chicago that I've been where i get exactly what i want, without having to argue with the wait staff, or substitute something, i have to give this 5 stars.
(5)KM S.
I cannot stand this place. Soooo overrated. It needs to stay in LP and leave Bucktown. They are so incredibly rude. I don't know why people would stand in line and wait to be treated so rudely here. Besides the horrible service---the food isn't all that. So many better places in the area besides this overhyped place.
(1)Arlene M.
this place is great! when i went here i got their eggs with chorizo and i believe it was called a pancake orgy? i dunno- it was one of each of their pancakes. Well either way- it was GREAT!
(4)Ebru Y.
Holy pancakes! Had to be one of the best if not THE best. Eggs were equally good but I just can't get over the pancakes! Okay really I ordered the eggs with peppers and it was love at first bite :) my sister and I also ordered two pancakes which were supposed to be one with chocolate chip and one with banana and pecan, they ended up making both of them banana, pecan and chocolate chip, and when we were served, we were in heaven! I am always going to get them that way from now on, I am glad they made that mistake! The ambiance is very cozy and comfortable Service was very friendly and pretty fast for a busy day.
(5)A. M.
I took my sister here for breakfast yesterday. She was quite pleased with their non-egg options. I love Toast because their omelettes are always cooked to perfection. They are bursting with fresh ingredients, and they are never undercooked. I think the Bucktown location is slightly larger than the Lincoln Park one, and it seems to get busy just a tad bit later. I also love how bright the Bucktown location is - creates a very happy breakfast/brunch atmosphere.
(4)Amanda G.
I realize that brunch in Bucktown/Wicker Park is usually overrated, but not at Toast. The food is super-delicious (I love the Breakfast Burrito). Go early or plan to wait outside since there is no room inside. Definitely worth it!
(5)Amanda A.
In the search for a new brunch place and also one in walking distance of my sister's Humbolt Park condo - I happened upon this place in yelp. The wait was similar to the rest of the trendy little breakfast spots in town immediately apparent by the smalls groups of people waiting outside as we approached the literal piece of toast hanging above the entrance. The wait ended up being less than the 45 minutes quoted and in the meantime there were several cute shops in the area to browse in before breakfast. I wanted just about everything on the menu but settled on the breakfast burrito- my standby favorite almost everywhere. It was excellent and the fresh jalepenos gave it a nice kick. The fruit cup I ordered had great variety and all perfectly in season for a fraction of the cost of most of its restaurant counterparts. My sisters spinach, tomato and gouda omelette with challah toast was equally delicious and we both agreed that next time the french toast orgy would be in order! I've heard mixed reviews about its other location - but this was a hit.
(4)Steph M.
This is not a great place to eat. We met friends here two weeks ago. We waited. And waited. Thank god it was warm and we could wait outside because there is no place to wait inside. Our waitress whispered and we couldnt hear her. As another poster mentioned, the flavors and textures were all wrong. I had the crepes - they sucked. The mascarpone filled French Toast wasnt more than ok, but then again, it was the whole flavor-texture thing. I can see why the trend-seeking yuppies like this place - it's cute decor and seemingly one-off menu would make it unique if the food was worth the plate it was served on. Breakfast for 4 with a tip came to about $70. What a waste!!! Save your money.
(2)Jennifer K.
Worst service in the city. I have lived here for 12 years and the staff is laughable....seriously they laughed at me when I was waiting an HOUR for my food. It was Wednesday at 1pm. So we are not talking about their busy weekend brunch times. They are rude and I don't think their food is worth the hype. I will never ever go again.
(1)Dave B.
Great breakfast spot. Typical wait on weekends but this one is worth it. Go with French Toast or Fruit Panacakes and you'll be a happy camper the rest of the day. Tip once seated, if someone around you orders the eggs benedict ask them to put it on the other side of the table so as not to have the aroma waft over and ruin the great start to your day.
(5)cb b.
when every i go out to breakfast I choose this place. it is fun they have great pancakes, muffins, crepes and good service. They are only open until 2 pm and they have an outside deck. On the weekends you need to get there early or you will be standing in line - guaranteed!
(4)Niraj G.
Veggie eggs benedict was pretty good but not better than other places. The veggie chilli was suprisingly good and definitely recommend it.
(4)Stephanie E.
Do Not Go To Toast. My boyfriend and I went to Toast for brunch last weekend and received the worst service we have ever received. After we ordered and tried to pay with our Groupon on my boyfriend's Droid App, the manager said they were unable to use Groupon's off of a Droid although, as we pointed out to him, the Groupon itself explicitly said you could. Moreover, the manager refused to apologize and made me walk 40 minutes to my house (while my boyfriend sat by himself at the counter) to get my ITouch which they did except. Later that day we called Groupon to confirm, and they told us that the Toast manager was completely wrong. We called Toast back to tell them, and the manager was again completely rude and unapologetic. Honestly this was the worse service I have ever received in my life. I hope anyone reading this review takes note and NEVER GOES TO TOAST. Horrible staff. Perhaps it would have been alright (ok, no it wouldn't - that is how bad the service experience was) if the food was good, but the food is only average. So as a summary, TERRIBLE TERRIBLE & RUDE.
(1)Brian B.
One of my favorite spots for breakfast. The French Toast Orgy is a must. Usually a line on the weekends, but tends to move very quick. For a couple of people, there is usually seating at the bar available. This place is a must every time I am in Chicago.
(5)Alex F.
To be fair, I didn't actually eat here...the reason, the host pissed us off so much, that we left after ordering coffee. It was a hot Sunday, early 9:30 when we got to Toast. There was a wait, NP. When the host called us in, he seated us at the counter, problem. We didn't want to sit at the counter and told him that we would be happy to wait for a table. We got in reply to our request a 2 minute lecture about how he had bumped us up the list (really? there was no one else outside), about how we would have to wait another 45 min for a table (really? there is an open one behind us and about 3 tables that are almost done with their meals), and how the counter was the most popular area in the restaurant (really? cause those chairs are super uncomfortable). He basically refused to let us wait for a table. Really? So after being bullied by the host, we ordered coffee. And then we left (we paid for the coffee AND left a tip) I think the host was a little shocked. Really? You bullied us and wouldn't let us wait for a table. I am too old and have worked in restaurants for too long to be treated that way. Sorry guys, you get a fail. A restaurant is about food AND service. Part of service is not giving the customer a hard time. We were happy to wait for as long as needed for a table, we weren't rude or being fussy, we just wanted a table...that's not too much to ask or accommodate.
(1)Jen G.
Chicago brunch...how I miss thee!! Toast 2 was great. We had to wait about 40 min for a party of 6 on Sat at 10:30 -- not bad! The food was so good. I had the pancake orgy. Oh, soooo good. 3 different kinds of pancakes, each so tasty. There was really good fresh fruit around the pancakes and then on top there was yogurt, some of the best granola I've ever had, and honey. Man -- it was delicious! The breakfast burrito was also very good. Another person with us got the pesto scramble -- this looks delicious and from the noises my friend made, I am pretty confident that it was! And, another person had the BELT. Apparently at toast 1 this isn't the heartiest sandwich. But here it was beautiful. It was huge and really good looking! SOmoene at a different table got the stuffed french toast. Wow, that is what I want next time... Chicago brunch is one of the things I really miss about chicago...
(4)Johnny W.
Very, very good. I recommend any of their scrambles; one plate is enough to feed two. Get there realtively early (pre-9 a.m.) on weekends to avoid waiting in line.
(4)Maurizio C.
This place is great , 2.50 for cup of coffee, breakfast yum especially chicken sausage, lunch sandwiches are out of this world! This place kills bongo room(5.00 for mocha, get real losers)! Waitstaff is happy and friendly.
(5)Kelsey K.
2 word, my friend, 2 words: damn good. Went there and got the breakfast burrito (which was served in a spinach tortilla, DOUBLE BONUS!) which was huge and delectable! My man got the Pesto Scramble and that was totally rock star, whoo-ee! My only complaints are that the front stairs are a little tricky (but you can't fault the restaurant for that, just warning you to watch your step when you leave!) and that the crepes were a little crunchier than the ones I used to eat in France... but really??? It only gets 4 stars because the 5-star rating is reserved for Pura Belleza, home of the best breakfast in Chicago. Dee-lish!! Can't wait to go back!!
(4)bill s.
Maybe 3 1/2 stars. Had breakfast there this morning with my wife and son. The "kid" lives in the neighborhood and we spent Easter with him and his wife. Been to many the breakfast places in the area (Bongo Room, Caffe de Luca, Feast, & Milk & Honey on Division). Attentive service, food was quite good, although my peppers and eggs could have been a bit hotter. No lines, no waiting, but at 10am on a Monday would not expect one. MY wife had the french toast with berries. Quite nice but looked like a duplicate of the version served at de Luca. Probably still like de Luca the best; maybe because it is closest to the kid's house and it is the first place I ever went to once he moved to Bucktown. Did not find it so special that I would wait an hour on weekends (same thing about the Bongo room. Been there 3 times, all on weekday mornings), but frankly I cannot think of any place that I would wait an hour to get into unless Rick Bayless, Tony Manutano, Grant Achtaz, and Graham Elliot were all in the same place having a demonstration and someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)arun r.
I went there last Sunday for breakfast as it was closer to my new place and I'm extremely happy with their food and service. The waiting time was about 45 minutes but food was worth the wait. I had an egg benedict and a mascarpone stuffed french toast and both were delicious. French toast was the one of the best I had in years. I'm going there again!!!!
(5)Kyle B.
Maybe it's because I generally have bad luck anyways but this, to me, was not worth the wait. They definitely had delicious food, but the wait was entirely too long (good for them I suppose) and the food was not incredible enough for me to think that it was worth it. Additionally, I made it about halfway through my meal and found a hair gracefully flowing atop my french toast. I will say that the waiter was apologetic and offered me a new plate free-of-charge. It just really made me lose some of the excitement I had for wanting to go to this place. To wait so long to get in and have a hair issue with my food is points off in my book. I would probably go here again, but it would have to be during off hours and with a very small group (of 1-2 people). Otherwise it just feels crowded and rushed.
(3)Chris C.
What can I say that has not already been said about toast. Pretty much nothing :). So I will this the very short and sweet the place is small and intimate which is great. It is BYOB but you better get there during the times 9-10am because if you are let it be a wait. The food is good I am getting fat just thinking about it lol! The French Toast is what they are know for so make sure you try that first then explore from there :-)
(4)Ms L.
The male host here is hilarious. My friend and I went for brunch on a day where there was a not-so-nice couple in front of us...he handled them in the snarky, yet friendly manner that I love among hosts (I used to be one in my former life). They didn't pick up on the sarcasm, but it tickled me and made me feel right at home. A great start to what was a fantastic meal. If you do nothing else here - go for the pancake flight, with scrambled eggs & bacon. Sure, it's a bajillion calories...but if you're gonna go that route - do it in style. I'm a stickler for eggs...if I say scrambled well, that doesn't mean brown/burnt. Most places don't get that...Toast Two did. For that alone I would grant 5 stars -- the only other place I've had the perfect eggs experience was a place in NYC about 5 years ago...and yes, that proves how hard to please I am. Perfect bacon (to me) means light on the grease, keep the size (i.e. a straight piece, not a short, curled up one that's bubbled with lots of fat) and make sure it's crispy. Again, Toast Two *nailed it*. I swear, if this was the Olympics, they'd be the Mary Lou Retton of breakfast. To recap: Perfect eggs - check Hilarious Host - check Great bacon - check Pancake flight that's amazing to look at and eat - check Why are you still reading this -- go get some Toast Two!!
(4)Sergio T.
One of the better breakfast/brunches in Chicago. Awesome pesto eggs scramble. Expect a wait after 1030am, but amazing!
(5)Kristina B.
yummmm. a co-worker recommended this place to me, and i'm so glad i got a chance to check it out! we went on a sunday around 11, and waited about 40 minutes, as to be expected, no biggie. when we were seated, no one came around to give us menus for about 5 minutes. when we flagged down the host to get some menus, he also offered to open our bottle of champagne, which was great. once we got our menus, it took me a while to decide, because there were so many amazing looking things on the menu. my friend went with the eggs benedict with prosciutto, and i decided on the stuffed french toast - one each of the mexican chocolate, strawberry, and mascarpone cheese. we both LOVED what we chose - we also split a side of apple gouda chicken sausage, which was grilled to perfection. my only complaint is that we rarely saw our waiter, and it was hard to flag someone down. other than that, it was a nice experience and i thoroughly enjoyed my meal! the mascarpone stuffed french toast was my favorite out of all three ;)
(4)Laura L.
There's no better eggs benedict ... your truffle hollandaise is more than amazing. Have the brioche toast with their butter and fresh jam along with Julius Meinl coffee and a the french toast orgy for brunch "dessert." I love you Toast ... and all of the cute toasters you display.
(5)Bryan B.
This is definitely one of the top three breakfast restaurants in Chicago. The menu is about as creative as you can get for breakfast. My favorite is the French Toast orgy (3 thick pieces of French Toast individually stuffed with strawberry puree, Mexican chocolate or mascarpone cheese). Julius Meinl coffee. Yukon Gold breakfast potatoes. Freshly squeezed O.J. They don't open until 8am (kinda weird for a breakfast place), but go early to avoid the wait. Long lines develop as the Bucktown residents awake.
(5)Char Y.
Not a good experience at all. I was very excited about this place, since there were so many positive reviews, even though I noticed that everyone complains of the long wait. But no one mentioned of the long wait after you order the food. We were seated immediately (YAY!) but had to wait 40+ minutes for our food, I do understand that there were only 2 cooks, but that's a long wait for breakfast. On top of that our food was a disappointment. The sliders were tasteless & small, and the french toast mushy. I was quite sad because I LOVE french toast & everyone raved about theirs, but they were just mushy sticks of unknown substance. next to the french toasts was the fruits, and i saw a bug walked out of the fruits onto the plate, and died. SERIOUSLY!!! i was completely grossed out and pointed it out to our waiter, and he wordlessly took the plate back.
(1)HOLLY M.
Probably the best Hollandaise Sauce I have ever had smothered my Eggs Benedict. A hint of truffle and lemon put that sauce into one of the most amazing flavors I can recall in resent memory. I'm still in a food coma but am already looking forward to returning to this restaurant. I will be prepared to wait the 30-45 minutes happily if it means I get that sauce again....drool.
(5)Lorenzo F.
The food is good, but nothing special. The service mediocre at best. That being said, today I'm writing because of a recent experience I had. I had a queue of Groupons that I needed to use up by Friday, 6/17, so I called on a Sunday afternoon about 20 mins before close (didn't realize they closed when they did). Anyway, I spoke to the manager (which I learned once I arrived), and asked her if she could seat us. She says if you get here in the next 5 mins, so we rush there, get there maybe 6 mins later, and she refused to seat us. Now, I understand they have a policy about closing 15 mins before they're posted time, but why not just change your posted close time to when they ACTUALLY close (oh...it's in the "fine print" that they close their kitchen 15 mins before). I guess I assume that if I'm still finishing my coffee or toast at the exact close time, that I'm not going to be walked out to the curbside. I usually assume that close time is when they'll stop seating people / taking new customers (i.e. close their doors to the OUTSIDE public). Anyway, that may be a common practice, and not why I'm writing. I'm writing because of the attitude and service of their so called manager. I called, she said if you get here in the next 5 mins, I say, "okay, already on my way (so...maybe she should have been expecting us?)", then I get there and she says no (with a smirk). I was extremely upset that she wasted our time and did not care one bit. Therefore, I refuse to say much good about this place (and to be fair, location and/or their manager). I went ahead and used up the last of the Groupons today (the last day), and again, I was not impressed by the food or service. Now I can write this place off my list, and take my business somewhere where they value their customers. Chicago has too many great brunch places to settle for a place like this.
(1)T S.
The food was great. I ordered the pancake orgy which came with 3 different pancakes and granola, fruit and yogurt on top. It doesn't look like much when brought to you, but boy is it filling. Also tried the grilled cheese sandwich and that too was awesome. The service was "there" and not all over you. The workers were pleasant to interact with. Average price per person is around $11. Overall I'd rate it 8.5/10
(4)Lauren D.
I have walked by Toast many times but today was the first time I made it inside. Having read and heard many great things about this breakfast establishment, I came in with pretty high hopes for what sort of delicious food would pass through my mouth. Now I would not go so far as to call myself a brunch expert, although I would say I'm a pretty good judge of anything that tastes good with syrup and butter. Anyhow, Toast doesn't really stand out by way of decor or ambiance. It's a breakfast place. It is bright and cheerful though, which is generally a plus. The servers were all very smiley. We were quoted a 30 minute wait and were seated in less than 20, and service was great. I tried the Stuffed French Toast and probably would have left stuffed had I eaten the entire plate. That consists of 3 pieces of French toast in a sort of square "roll" type creation - one stuffed with Mexican chocolate, one stuffed with mascarpone, and one stuffed with strawberry fraische or some sort of gourmet concoction of some sort. It was tasty, although I don't think those 3 flavors went very well together. There were lots of other foods floating by that looked delicious as well. I was not "wowed" by my first visit, but am conflicted about whether or not an appreciator of the simpler breakfast foods can ever really be "wowed." I will try Toast another time for sure.
(3)Susan K.
I was looking forward to trying this place b/c I had walked by several times since moving to the area. So I convinced 3 of my friends to join me for breakfast here one Sunday morning. I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed. To start with, the waiter was not very friendly at all. The service is slow and when we finally got our food, they got my order wrong and I only ordered pancakes. I didn't complain to the waiter b/c I didn't want to deal with him and wait another 20 minutes for pancakes, plus my friends all had their food. The coffee didn't taste like it was brewed right; as if they didn't use enough coffee grinds. I know the difference between good and bad coffee, I was a barista for several years. There are many places that offer better food and better service. I won't be go back.
(2)Larissa A.
I tell everyone to make sure they get toast with their meal at toast, because, well, they're toast is the best. I'm addicted to their bread, which -- truth be told -- is really fairly ordinary for nice brunch places, but with toasters lining the wall, you just HAVE to eat their toast. Seriously, though, their menu is amazing. I've had a few greasy scrambles, but for the most part, the food is extraordinary. The chorizo and cheddar scramble I ate yesterday was perfectly made, and they were great about customizing it. Friends at the table all ordered fantastic foods from their pancake orgy (which is good enough to fit its name) to marscapone stuffed pancakes drizzled with honey butter. They even have turkey and vegetarian sausage, both of which are delicious! The staff is friendly, and was great about making us feel at home even while we waited for 45 minutes in a torrential downpour. The coffee is good (although, their decaf is oddly better than their regular) and their outdoor patio is great for the summer. Go here. Eat good food. Leave happy.
(4)Raphael D.
If you've never been here before you really should start with the stuffed french toast. Its pretty much what makes this place after the benedicts and other stuff. You'll feel like a glutton after eating such a sinful plate of french toastyness but its worth every bite. They serve Julius Meinl coffee too which is not something you see very often. If you don't want to wait for a table try going later in the day saturday or sunday or try going on a weekday.
(4)Jennifer B.
BYOB Brunch? It's like God wanted us to pour some champagne in those juice glasses.... I think Toast Two should really be called Toast #1 (with the foam finger, naturally). While this brunch spot is rather small like it's sister Lincoln Park spot, this location just has all sorts of charm. For as busy as they are, the wait is never extremely long. We came at 10am on Saturday (primetime!) and the wait was only 10 minutes for a table. While at Toast you never feel rushed, and the patrons are a nice mix of hungover twenty-somethings and little kids trying their first bites of strawberry-infused french toast. The food at Toast Two can rival any brunch place in Chicago. I would recommend this adorable spot to anyone...even if Bucktown is a couple neighborhoods away...you won't be disappointed!
(5)Mike F.
The best brunch I've had in Chicago. They serve Julius Meinl coffee, which is my favorite. The combination is transcendental. Order anything with the word "orgy" and it will truly be orgasmic. Well not truly, but it will be really really good. The pancake orgy is three different types of pancakes. The french toast orgy is three different kinds of stuffed french toast. Both are completely surrounded by fresh berries, and topped not with syrup, but yogurt and honey. The first time I went, wasn't sure what I'd think about that as a topping -- trust me, it blows syrup away. If you don't get here before 9AM on a weekend, you'll wait -- it is what it is, plan for it. And even getting there between 8:30 and 9AM, I still haven't scored a back patio table. That's the price you pay for brunch this good.
(5)E C.
First of all, there's free street parking! Yippee! :) As already stated by many, many people, the food is delicious and the prices are fair. I met a friend for lunch, and we were both very happy with our dishes. I ordered the French Toast Orgy and got one of each filling (chocolate, mascarpone, and strawberry), and my friend got the prosciutto eggs benedict. The portions were bigger than most other breakfast places, which made the both of us happy. :) We also got the Julius Meinl coffee--decaf for her, regular for me. That was some good coffee, and thank goodness for refills. :) The thing that I really want to commend Toast Two for, however, is their customer service. My friend was running a bit late, so I ended up waiting for a bit. A worker there--tall, tattoos, perhaps the owner?--checked up on me a couple times, first to take any drink orders and then to offer something to munch on while I wait. I didn't want to because I already felt bad for having been sitting there with only a cup of coffee, but he offered and served fresh cinnamon toast with butter and jam--on the house! His response to all this was that he didn't like to see people (waiting) hungry. :) I was and still am pretty floored by his kindness and gesture. (Thank you, sir. The toast was delicious. :)) I will be visiting Toast Two from now on. :)
(5)Paul S.
French stuffed toast orgy (in yo mouf!): 45 minute wait no biggie smalls. Host had a stink-face, but he was probably one of the numb skulls out for Chicago's St. Patricks Day (the Saturday prior to). No harm done. Sitting at the counter is key here -coffee with a quickness. Our server was great and suggested that we could choose ALL THREE flavors of stuffed toast! The food: French Toast Orgy; puréed fresh strawberry, mascarpone and Mexican chocolate, topped w/ vanilla yogurt, house made berry granola, fresh fruit and drizzled w/ honey, side of grilled chicken sausage stuffed w/ apple & gouda, house potatoes. Fresh o.j. and coffee, OH YEAH! Possibly the best breakfast in a while.
(5)Gustavo L.
First place I've had brunch in Chicago that felt like home away from home! The server was super-friendly and the menu selection was great. You cannot go wrong with the stuffed french-toast; I've been craving it since my first visit.
(5)Marti G.
WOW...AMAZING FRENCH TOAST AGAIN! I am just loving French Toast lately and this one may have won my #1 prize -- delicious with cinnamon --- so GOOD. We were told that the stuffed french toast was the BEST so we made our way today to try it out. The first impression of the place wasn't anything special -- as the decor and atmosphere was kind of bland and it's pretty small -- but the 20-30 minute wait was totally worth it. The guy at the front desk was funny and nice and sat us a little quicker than we had been told our wait would be which was cool. The eggs are the BEST eggs I have had and we eat at breakfast places all the time. The house potatoes are awesome! So for food it's a 5 STAR -- the service was excellent. My only con is the atmosphere...maybe some paint and some music would spice it up a little. This is one of my NEW favorites -- I will be visiting often.
(4)Brenna O.
After just one visit to Toast Two, I am in love. First of all, I loved how their sign is just one big piece of toast a la Prince changing his name to a symbol. Second, we went on a Monday morning during a glorious day off from work, so we didn't have to deal with what sounds like a very large weekend brunch crowd. Third, PANCAKE AND FRENCH TOAST ORGIES! Our waiter was friendly and laid back, and we got our food quickly. After reading other recommendations on-line, we made sure to ask for the yogurt on the side with our breakfast orgies because it's tangy and can overpower the rest of the plate. It was such a fun and decadent experience and made me tingly all over. NOMNOMNOM! If you can, try and hit this place up during the week because the dining room is kind of small and it sounds like it's super busy on the weekends. It's totally worth it!
(5)Tim W.
I've been going to this place for a while now, since I live in the neighborhood. The place is fairly small, but extremely popular, so the wait during peak times can be 30 minutes or more. During the summer, the open up a nice back patio, which helps with wait times. Their omelets are tasty, but what they're really known for are their pancakes. The pancake orgy is probably their most popular, featuring three different kinds of big pancakes with layers of yogurt in-between. Topped with TONS of fresh berries, this is one to remember. Breakfast isn't the only tasty dish here. They also have some great lunch food. Their sandwiches feature different types of fresh breads and flavorful sauces. I love the pesto. Service is fast and friendly. I never have to ask for a refill on my coffee. Tip: If you have a small party (2 or 3), ask to be seated at the bar area, and you'll get a seat much faster.
(5)Sharon H.
I never thought I'd want to be involved in an orgy! But after my breakfast here the other day, I'm game for French toast orgy any time of day! The marscapone was the best I agree followed by the chocolate. When I do it again, ill definitely do 2 marscapone and a chocolate. Even the fruit around the toast was fantastic! Definitely can be a split meal! The service on the other hand...not a fan. We felt brushed off several times waiting for out table. It was by the owner!
(4)Megan L.
Incomprehensably (that's a word, right? sort of?), I had never been to Toast until yesterday morning. Luckily, a friend and I were both up early on a Sunday and he had a Groupon to use... off we went! We were prepared for a wait (brunch in Bucktown - seriously, it can take forever), but it was only a few minutes before we were seated in the very lovely patio in back. What a perfect way to start the day in the beautiful Indian Summer we're having! Cute and cozy, with planter boxes that are still blooming. On to the food. I couldn't pass up the steak benedict (eggs benedict, but substitute steak for the ham/canadian bacon). Good choice! They make their own hollandaise which is a bit more lemony than what you'll normally get - and it is delicious! I was also craving sweet, so my friend and I split a side of pancakes. Light and fluffy - totally what I wanted. My friend had an omelet with chorizo, cheese, and jalapenos. He was also happy with his food (I didn't try it, so I can't rate it for myself). I'm glad I finally got around to trying Toast - and hopefully I'll get back there soon!
(4)Jessica G.
Had a lovely experience here for new year's brunch but have a few (tiny) bones to pick. My group arrived prior the 11 am crowds and the staff was lovely. Our service was prompt and our coffee and water cups were always full. Coat rack also a plus. Everyone at our table ordered french toast in various forms and I got the breakfast burrito. The stuffed french toast was quite tasty. Unfortunately the table syrup was not maple syrup. And there was an upcharge to get said maple syrup. The breakfast burrito was ok. But was $9 and nothing compared to the glorious breakfast burrito served at Lula. The breakfast potatoes were cooked quite nicely, but lacked seasoning. Easily remedied with salt and ketchup but still disappointing. Overall, a great neighborhood option with a darling interior. But not a place I would seek out again. Overpriced for food that could take a lesson from other Chicago brunch spots (lula, southport grocery, etc). Also, the ladies bathroom hand dryer could use a nice upgrade.
(3)Amanda Z.
Weekday brunch: Take eighty-seven. Scene: Toast Two. Cast: Usual suspects. Preview: Hot coffee, refreshed often with real cream. Main Feature: Split: Pumpkin pancakes with nutmeg whipped cream and the Andouille Omelet (chicken sausage plus bell peppers plus Chihuahua cheese.) The pumpkin pancakes were sinfully delicious, yet surprisingly not overly sweet. I'm not even the world's biggest pumpkin fan, but on a dreary fall day, not much sounded better than warm comforting cakes with fancy whipped cream. Well done. The omelet was rich and wonderful. Perfect to split. Bonus points for the English muffin option with real butter. Also featuring the "Moms of Bucktown." Including the cutest babies ever who loved to smile for us. Oh yeah, and breast feeding. At the table. But said breast feeding resulted in the cute little happy smile flaunted at us, so I won't complain. Good food, good service. I'll be back. But on the weekday. Cuz I don't wait for brunch. Critics say: Yes, do it again. Solid brunch experience. Oh, and don't drink the water. I think it causes a baby. (kidding)
(4)Charlene S.
Never lets me down. Always my number 1 choice for brunch The wait: The wait is a bit long, but not excessive like the Bongo Room and def worth the wait. And they don't try to rush you out. The atmosphere: I like the Bucktown location a bit more than the Lincoln Park one, I jsut like the layout of the restaurant. The food is great at both places. I like the LP because of the location. While you wait, you could walk to the cute shops to pass the time. Both locations are small, but the one is Bucktown has patio seating, which is great in the summer (except little buds from the trees above kept falling on us and our food) The peeps: the Bucktown locals The food: savory and sweet. I can never decide. I'll order sweet if someone at the table orders savory. -The french toast orgy: stuffed with mascarpone, chocolate, or a fruit compote. I choose 2 mascarpone and 1 chocolate. With granola, honey, yogurt, berries... I'm drooling. -Eggs benedict... solid -Coffee.... delicious. Strong, made well. -Egg white omelette with pesto and chicken... amazing. -Good fruit. Just a great place, good service, cute quaint atmosphere, good quality and consistency. Anything with the word "orgy" is worth trying!
(5)Amanda P.
Love the french toast, the OJ and the Coffee. Others have tried other things and said it's pretty good but not worth the wait. However, I will keep going back for the stuffed french toast.
(4)Dominique B.
Ok so I've been back, like a million times. They got a new host guy a few months back, and he rocks! He's super conversational and totally cool about getting a list going. Since he knows us now, no issues getting in, or getting a spot at the counter. But again it goes to my previous review, where if they don't know you it can be a LONG wait. In addition, they still have that stupid "if you whole party isn't here" rule! Ahhhh it drives me nuts, even if they are around the corner. What's the dif? So annoying, but can't hate on the food. So yummy!
(4)Marie B.
So, I'm hanging out with my favorite person (those in the know...know who this is) and we decide we're famished...we popped in toast and were pleasantly surprised. I had a wonderful plate of eggs scrambled with pesto and proscuitto...yummy. Also, unlike alot of breakfast places, the potaotes were fresh and perfectly prepared. My only disappointment...the toast was a bit dry...and they only gave me one little pad of jelly/jam. But, it was "all good" because their tea was delightful, the eggs fab and the company wonderful... What better way to spend a leisurely holiday?
(4)Meridith E.
How did I not know that there was a 2nd location in Bucktown when I lived less than 2 blocks away from it for the past year? I had loved the LP location and love the Bucktown location as well. They offer specials each week ranging from the sweet to savory. Vegetarians and meatlovers alike will find something there. Breakfast is my favorite weekend indulgence, and Toast has one of the best brunches that I have had in Chicago. When my friend was in town from France, I brought him there and he ate in complete happy silence! Look for the piece of Toast on Damen and run in...be prepared, as there's usually a wait. Making me hungry just thinking about it.
(4)Lauren D.
Dear French Toast Orgy - Your layers of goodness, piled high with fruit and granola beckon me every time I see your name on the menu. I dream of your sweet cheesy, chocolate and strawberry filled goodness. I only wish you weren't so enormous and delicious. Every time I leave Toast, I feel like I need a 4 hour nap. The food is good, maybe a little too good, because I always feel compelled to devour everything on my plate and maybe a bit off my neighbor's plate too. Cute cozy brunch place, with smiling servers and delicious food. The coffee is Julius Meinel (YAY!) and I have yet to eat something here that didn't give me foodie dreams for a week.
(5)Seamus F.
This place is a damn fine brunch every weekend we've tried it over two years. Resisted reviewing it before since it's already busy enough but have had such consistently good food and great service from the servers that had to throw them a hat tip. Patio is great if the weather is cooperating too. The only blemish is that if you don't get there early on a weekend there can be a solid wall of stroller people ahead of you, and a long wait ensues. The only blemish I've had in the last six months there is that the guy who works the counter seats can be a pain, but food to good to stay away so we just get there early for table service. Coffee is kick-ass Julius Meinl, Eggs Benedict always solid, the featured omelet is sometimes amazing, even simple red pepper, cheese, and egg scramble is very good. Same menu as the Webster location, but just a better vibe at this spot, probably due to the larger room and outdoor options when it's nicer out.
(5)Claire Y.
3.5 stars. Surprisingly, to our delight, our wait time for a weekend brunch was only about 10 minutes. We were seated at the bar (faster seating), which we didn't mind one bit. Our veggie benedict and pesto scramble were quite delicious. As a pesto snob, I must say their pesto was rather excellent. The side of potatoes was perfectly cooked with just enough char. The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice was refreshing. It's a solid neighborhood brunch joint. I probably won't frequent it much since I don't live in the area. Nevertheless, I do hope there will be a second visit some day --- perhaps the other location in Lincoln Park.
(3)Kristin S.
With a smoked salmon scramble, the perfectly layered breakfast sandwich and a nutella-filled crepe, Toast has made it's way into my brunch hall of fame. Now if I could just get rid of the 500 other people who love it, too. I came here with my boyfriend's family who were in from out of town. We had to wait the obligatory 30-45 minutes since there were 5 of us, but it was a nice day, so we walked around the neighborhood until it was time to eat. Either everyone ordered extremely well, or this place is the real deal. Out of 5 of us, every person was "mmm"-ing and "oh, wow"-ing all over the place. I ordered the breakfast sandwich which was perfection, with the soft, but chewy bread being the star that held everything together. I also tried the stuffed french toast (mascarpone is the BOMB), the smoked salmon omelet and the roasted pepper omelet (which sounds pretty ordinary, but holy cow! The flavors were so fresh and very strong). The decor is very fun and playful without being kitschy. The service was also attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back, but I'll probably go when I'm in a small group to try and avoid the long waits.
(5)dan l.
Believe me, I never thought I would ever leave this place just one star but the french toast I had today for brunch was by far, hands down, bar none, without a doubt, the worst I've ever eaten. It was the stuffed version with Mexican chocolate inside. How could this possibly be bad?? Well for starters the bread wasn't even soggy, but wet. It had been left in the batter far too long and was hardly cooked on top of that. Some of the fruit was past ripe and the chocolate was a bit mild for my taste but that's not their fault. Well regardless, it was very disappointing. Three or four years ago I had brunch at their other location and tried the pancake orgy which I recall being pretty good. Maybe just a fluke. That being said, I don't feel terribly motivated to go back after my experience today. A real bummer..
(1)Ashley D.
one of the best brunches i've had. everything on the menu sounds amazing and i had such a hard time choosing what i wanted to eat. then right when i thought i finally decided, we get inside and see the specials board. chili cheese omelet. damn. this omelet was one of the best breakfast entrees i've had. any other place would have put some standard chili on top of some eggs but everything about this omelet was well thought out. all of the flavors in the chili were well developed and you could definitely taste each of its components. it would have been a great meal on its own but i couldn't imagine a better topping for the eggs. the potatoes were very tasty too. and of course the toast! i couldn't decide on which bread i wanted so the waitress let me split and try one challah and one whole grain piece. definitely preferred the whole grain. and as simple as it sounds, they really do know how to do a good toast job on a piece of bread. my friends also seemed to really enjoy what they ordered but honestly i was kinda in the zone with my own food. it's just too bad it was a special and they don't serve it everyday. the place is also super cute inside and our waitress was great. the only gripe was we ended up waiting quite a bit outside for a table even though there seemed to be one open but apparently "reserved" or something. it sounded kinda weird but i guess that's policy. either way, i still had a great start to my sunday here.
(4)Nicolas H.
Great selection, reasonable prices and friendly service. Not much here to complain about, especially when the patio opens and you can eat outside. The stuffed french toast is something I've never had before but really enjoyed and the portion was huge. I also had the Croque Monsieur which was cooked perfectly with the overabundance of butter. Looking forward to repeat visits to taste some of the other creations...
(5)Eman S.
This place is right down the street from me and my wife loves it, but I do not think it is that good. We are lucky because we never have to wait there because when there is a 45-minute wait (which happens often on the weekend) we just put our name in and go home. The thing that I don't like is that the food is just okay. There is nothing that stands out or makes a 45-minute wait worth it. I have eaten here four or five times and really only go because of the ease of access and because my wife loves it. I wish they had even one dish I could crave, but there isn't.
(3)Milena M.
Living up to its name, this is the best toast that I have ever had. I seriously don't know what they did to it, but it was delicious. The pancakes were so good we didn't need the butter or syrup. I had the pesto eggs and they were delicious. The coffee was very fresh and the servers are super friendly. They have a ton of toasters decorating the restaurant. It gets really crowded around brunch time so you may want to go during off peak hours if you don't want to wait. A definite must go at least once.
(5)Samson P.
We came in on a Saturday and of course it was packed. My girlfriend went in first to try to get a seat while I was parking. Well, just a note they do not seat incomplete parties, and the host said he was very "cutthroat" about it. Anyway, we waited 20 minutes and then were seated in the back. A word of advice. Try avoid seating in the patio out back unless you like eating next to the dumpsters in the alley and surrounding flies. If you sit right by the fence you can actually smell the garbage. Gross. But this experience alone wasn't enough for us to give toast a bad rating because the food is actually pretty good, generous, and reasonably priced. I went with my girlfriend and ordered the stuffed french toast with fruit and mascarpone, eggs benedict with prosciutto and a side of chicken sausage (yum). This location is also better than its Lincoln Park location.
(4)Katie M.
I went to Toast Two a few days ago for brunch with a friend and my sister, who was visiting from out of town. There was a slight wait for the meal, which was perfectly understandable. Once seated, we ate our meals which were perfectly good besides certainly being overpriced. Still, the veggie eggs benedict that I ordered was enjoyable and the side of house potatoes were delicious and filling. After they took our plates away, the waitress brings the check to us without asking if we want anything else. We were planning on ordering more, so we thought it was rude but nonetheless, we continued to catch up. 20-some minutes later, we pay and decide to leave the waitress a 40% tip because we knew we were staying late to chat. 15 minutes later, a woman comes up and basically tells us to leave because we were staying at the table for too long and they apparently had to seat a large group.... despite the fact that there was no large group waiting outside or inside the restaurant and there were plenty of other open seats. They offered to give us a free drinks, which we declined and then we awkwardly left. It was ABSURDLY rude! We weren't acting disrespectfully, we were just talking. None of us had ever been told to leave a restaurant before. It was embarrassing and beyond unprofessional. Over all, the food was overpriced although good. But the staff was beyond horrendous. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(2)kendra s.
I've decided to not review Toast Two until I had been there multiple times. Each time the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Yes, you will probably wait, but I knew that coming in, so that does not bother me one bit. The food is always amazing, but not so heavy on your stomach. I've never ordered the same thing twice (as of currently) and I've always left with a good taste. I always recommend Toast Two to friends and co-workers. This last time I even took my parents. I will be looking forward to many more delicious visits,
(5)Mary S.
The food was really good, but service was bad. Not a huge deal, but it was really slow. I wasn't crazy about the decor. Felt like I was sitting in a big beige box. So back to the food. I had the pesto scramble. It was very tasty. Oily and probably not too healthy, but delicious. Lots of flavor. If you like basil, you'll love it. The potatoes could use a little burst of flavor or seasoning, but they're decent. The buttery toast was also really good and the jam was not just your average jar stuff. Coffee was pretty good, but I didn't get my warm up until just before I left...I'll let that slide. 3.5 stars for the food. If I'm in that area and not in a hurry, I'll definitely go back. I think they have a BYOB thing too....they'll make your mimosa if you bring the booze or something. Too bad I missed out on that. Maybe next time.
(3)Lois A.
I've never been to either Toast without having to wait but it has always been worth it. The B.E.L.T with applewood smoked bacon always tastes good and whenever I order that I have a large glass of cranberry juice with it. Good coffee, great french toast and really good buffalo sliders. The crabby benedict is also very good. Service is always excellent and so is everything I've ever tried and I've been here a lot. It's worth an extra few minutes of waiting to make sure you get a patio spot in the summer. I was so happy when I first found out there was a bucktown location. The Toast on Webster gets PACKED.
(4)Lisa P.
I know there's a ton of reviews on here already, but I just have to add that I enjoy Toast as a treat! Coworkers and I usually meet here a couple times a year and we've enjoyed it every time. The mascarpone filled french toast is heavenly. I only order one so I don't have a sugar overload and can share with the table. My main order was the spinach, goat cheese, and tomato omelet which was great. Although it's crazy busy, when we meet and want to chat it doesn't feel rushed at the table. I like this place better than Bongo Room, but think it's up there with Southport Grocery.
(4)Rachel L.
Toast is a solid choice for weekend brunch, though be sure to factor in a signigicant wait time if you arrive at 10ish. Their eggs benedict is fabulous, as is the breakfast burrito. I almost alway choose savory over sweet but I'll admit to inviting friends to brunch here who I can bank on choosing sweet breakfast options, just so I can snag a nibble or two of their delicious french toast or pancake creations. Good coffee, service has been mostly consistent from my experience, bright and sunny interious, and prices are comparable to other places in the area. But that wait....ugh.
(4)Leanne M.
Don't hate me... I've been wanting to try Toast officially for 5 years now but it turns out... there's nothing for me to eat. :( The two vegan-izable options my server pointed out: oatmeal, and chili, weren't exactly what I was hoping for... would a vegan version of the breakfast burrito or a skillet be so tough to muster? All the ingredients were there- it's just in the mix? I was really hoping to enjoy my visit here... I was, but instead I'm still hungry... In sum: Toast Two. Adorable, but not so vegan friendly. Sigh.
(2)Matt Z.
BEST Breakfast Burrito in Town! AMAZING! Pesto scramble is pretty friction delicious also!
(5)John B.
Come prepared to wait, because you will. Certainly on a weekend. But since last Sunday was a bee-yootiful day, that wasn't a problem. Toast will try to kill you with their food. But in a kind, loving way. Case in point: stuffed French toast. You heard me. Eggy, creamy French toast stuffed with chocolate, strawberry puree, or mascarpone cheese. Served with fresh berries (and grapes, it seems) and a side of syrup. Because a little more sugar won't kill you. You get three "sticks," which amounts to maybe one big slice of bread, but believe me, it's plenty. If it's not, you can go with the French toast orgy, which is all of the above, but topped with yogurt and granola and drizzled with honey. Squeal like a pig! I went with a side of bacon and potatoes, which was a little bit of a disappointment. The bacon was overdone for my taste, and the potatoes were kind of gooey. So it goes. There are enough selections on the menu that everyone in our group ended up with very different choices: crab Benedict, Mexican omelette, and pesto scramble. The Hollandaise sauce on the Benedict was perfect: thick and creamy, with enough lemon to give it a nice bite. Unlike its Lakeview sister, Toast Two is BYOB. So head to the liquor store while you're waiting and pick up a bottle of shampoo. They will gladly provide a pitcher of OJ, as well as glasses garnished with orange slice and strawberry. Woo hoo!
(4)P S.
Nicely done, Toast! After years of walking, bussing and driving by it seemed you always had a line out the door so naturally I thought the neighborhood must know something I did not. True that. I met some lovely Yelpers early-ish one gorgeous Sunday afternoon and found, surely enough, a line. Luckily we had enough time to make a booze cruise before seating and were able to pick up a few bottles of bubbly for mimosas (BYO, we forgot). A walk back and a relatively short wait later, we were called in. I was prepared for an elbow-to-elbow situation given the reviews I'd read but it was actually quite roomy and not *too* loud. Our server was prompt and very sweet, and hooked us up with a pitcher of oj for our champagne ($12 for four glasses, about two mimosas each depending on your booze ratio). We ordered, the food came fast and it was faaaaaaanfreakintastic. Delicious crab Benedict? Check! Delicious potatoes? Oh heck yes check! Applewood-smoked bacon? A little overdone for my taste but check check! My companions seemed to totally enjoy their items as well (I sampled the marscapone-stuffed french toast and...yeah... check as well). It's a little pricey but probably more average than not for the area, space and quality of the food. The service was great though, and on a perfect day such as this, we didn't mind the wait. I'll be back! Oh and a potential de-starring factor for you to be aware of: they "can't" (more like won't I suspect) split your check into both a card and cash, it has to be one or the other or two cards. Heads up.
(4)Meg O.
So I suppose we'll chalk this whole experience up to my sense of whimsy, and its epic fail...well, its epic fail AT Toast, at least, and its charming transition into a moveable feast. Moral of the story? Taking my ideas seriously will sometimes lead to delightfully bizarre consequences. Also, as you're reading, be sure not to miss my plug for the Map Room! Anyway, my friend Peter has a bearded dragon named Toast, and her supposed birthday is May 5th. When I learned of this, my immediate reaction was, "OMG! We have to take Toast to Toast for her birthday! She'll wear a ribbon around her neck and we'll feed her stuffed french toast with mascarpone cheese and marmalade!" Now, dear reader, you and I might hear this 'suggestion' and laugh, but Peter took me up on it, completely, even made it an event on Facebook. I hadn't even been to Toast in over three years, but somehow believed that if we could hide Toast the bearded dragon in a bag, everything would be okay. Although as we took off from Logan Square to go to Bucktown, I started wishing that Toast's name was Lula. We strolled up to Toast--the restaurant--and put our names in. We were told that it would be a 45 minute wait, annoying but par for the course at 11:00 on a Sunday in Bucktown. I desperately needed coffee, and, as we were heading towards the Starbuck's on Armitage, brilliantly remembered that the Map Room serves coffee in the morning! Yes--iced Intelligentsia! Peter and I walked in, Toast in clear sight, and the three of us were welcomed with open arms. Nobody cared that we had a bearded dragon--and she was even sans ribbon; we just sat at a high table and I sipped my coffee and Peter sipped his Red soda, and everyone thought Toast was adorable. "I'm sure they'll let her in at Toast! I would definitely let her in!" Emboldened by the small, pro-bearded lizard crowd at the Map Room, Peter and I walked back to Toast and were immediately seated. I ordered Julius Meinl coffee--YUM!--and the Pesto Scramble, and Peter got buffalo sliders. There was this charming young man at the table next to us who had just gotten an enormous plate of French Toast Orgy put down in front of him, and he immediately offered us some. I was going to be cheeky and comment that perhaps he thought he was up the street at Bristol, seated at the communal table, but am now so glad that I was earnestly gracious. As I was nearly finished with my first cup of coffee, the manager came over and said that we had to leave! "Take the Iguana out of here!" So Peter got up and took Toast the bearded dragon outside. I waved over our waitress, Michelle, and sheepishly asked if we could have our order to go. Michelle was a rock star! Not only was she apologetic and sweet and totally unfazed by the fact that her table had been kicked out of the restaurant for bringing a LIZARD into the restaurant, she gave me a huge cup of coffee to go, and filled our bag with lots of jelly, butter, and ketch-up! Hurray for Michelle, and hurray for nice guy seated next to me! By this time, he had nearly finished his French Toast Orgy, but, after hearing my tale of woe, asked, "So, what does Toast eat?" "She loves grapes and kumquats and sometimes eats veggie pellets that are cricket-flavored," I replied. The next thing I knew, nice guy had obtained a small Julius Meinl coffee cup and filled it with the grapes from his French Toast Orgy! "Tell Toast Happy Birthday," he smiled. So I walked out to find Peter chatting with two more completely sympathetic young women on the sidewalk. They agreed that perhaps a picnic was better on such a fine day, and everyone was pleased by the addition of the grapes. Peter and I strolled down Damen to Churchill Park and sat ourselves down to our picnic. Toast enjoyed the sunlight and the grass, and we enjoyed watching all the puppy dogs playing in the dog park. "This is so much better than eating at Toast," Peter smiled as I spread out our brunch. My pesto scramble was delicious for awhile, but then got REALLY salty. The challah toast was delicious. Peter and I smeared some of the blackberry jelly onto Toast's nose so she could lick it off. The whole thing was adorable. Overall, celebrating Toast's birthday was a huge success. If you actually want to sit in an establishment with your bearded dragon, stick to the Map Room. And remember that those odd bedfellows at nearby tables can turn out to be the best.
(3)Sarah B.
I was invited by the very dear Penny S. to join her and a couple of other Yelpers for brunch at Toast Two and I jumped at the offer. I'm not a morning person but this Sunday brunch thing is making me a changed woman. There was a bit of a wait but it was nice outside and my company provided some fun conversation so I didnt mind. It also gave us a minute to go to the corner liquor store and grab a couple bottles of champers for mimosas. (BYOB) The inside is bright and cheery and for being small I did not feel cramped. Our server was very sweet and chill. We ordered OJ for our champagne and she brought out tumblers with an orange slice and the brightest red strawberries on the glass. YUM! I had an omelette with jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and cheese. It was really good but not spicy enough for me. The balance of flavors was nice, though. My companions all seemed to enjoy their food as well. I had an appointment to get to so I couldnt linger and I kindof felt that if we wanted to, we wouldnt have been able to sit for long anyway, considering how small the place is. Bonus: easy street parking. :)
(3)Kortney M.
Its really just ok. You wait for over an hour on a Sunday to get inside and be rushed after having JUST ok food. I dont get why all of you think this place is good, nothing stands out from EVERYOTHER BRUNCH PLACE! Oh, theyre rude to you, maybe thats it? None of their food was even memorable enough for me to care about putting it in a review.
(2)Brett F.
After frequenting Toast (and Toast Two) for years and years I can not believe that I've just recently learned this location on Damen is BYOB... Score! I'd give 6 friggin' stars if I could!!
(5)Tina B.
I guess I just don't understand what the big fucking deal is. They serve breakfast stuff in a tiny little cramped place and people line up clamoring to get in here like they're giving away free bread or something. They're not. They are selling overpriced bread covered with a lot of glob, like grapes and jelly and granola and shit all over it. It's just way too early for all of that action. And even with that more-is-more philosophy, I can never seem to remember what I actually ordered the next day - it's like they slipped my wallet a roofie and then stuffed it full of bread.
(2)Helena B.
Given the long wait, I expected a little something more from our experience at Toast. The food was good, but not as fantastic as I'd been expecting. The French Toast did not seem that different from what I could get elsewhere. The main drawback, for me, was the restaurant set-up itself - very cramped. I sat at the bar, which I generally don't mind doing, but I felt smooshed and in the way the entire time at this particular bar. It made me want to hurry, and if there is one meal that shouldn't be hurried - it's brunch! I just wanted to pay and get out of there, not sit, chat, and enjoy brunch with my friend.
(2)Nicki W.
I very much enjoy this brunch spot. The menu items are creative, filling and totally satisfying. The vibe in here is so small town, with a diner feel but with style and class. This space is very small and on the weekends there's always a jumble of baby strollers and families hoarding around the door, but that's a good sign right? For sure. I would prefer to go during the week when I don't have to deal with screaming children and people crammed at tables listening to my conversation so that's the way I do it. I like to sit right by the window so I can check out the fantastic people watching along Damen while sipping on my java and freshly squeezed orange juice. They also have Strawberry Lemonade which is SWEET (as in cool, but yes of course it's sweet too). They have a small staff over there and that adds to the "neighborhood" thing they have going on. The waitresses are always cheerful and quick. Onto the food. Here are some highlights that I would recommend that you try. I'm a big Pancake and French Toast person so when I notice they do "stuffed" pancake and french toast options which they dub with the suffix "Orgy" I was giddy like a schoolgirl. Of course, Chocolate is the obvious amazing choice, but you should also try the banana pancakes (because when is that ever a bad idea?) The portions are huge and I'm rarely ever able to finish all of what I order. The crepes are also to die for. I was excited to see that they serve Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon (because that's the best kind of bacon there is...seriously). If you aren't in the mood for something as filling, I would go for the Pepper Eggs, they are scrambled with red and yellow peppers, cheddar cheese served with their house potatoes and toast. Their potatoes are really great with just the right amount of seasoning. Since I'm on the kick of egg talk, I might as well get into the Omelette talk. They have interesting choices like Smoked Salmon Omelettes, Spinach,Goat Cheese and Tomato and my favorite, the Omlette Lorraine with applewood smoked bacon, gruyere cheese, onion and chives. The Omelettes are huge and served with Toast. They also have lunch items but I've yet to try them, so when I do, I shall report back. All in all a solid brunch spot. Check it out!
(4)Aliya J.
I live in New York City now, but I still miss my FAVORITE breakfast place in the whole world! Toast is seriously amazing. The food is always consistent. The service is always fast. And all of it tastes so good! The French Toast Orgy stuffed with mascarpone cheese is to die for!
(5)Poof A.
Went here for brunch this morning and I will be back! We arrived just before 9:30 and were seated without a wait (at the last available table! Nice timing) Unfortunately (well, unfortunately for this review, not unfortunately for our tastebuds) my brunch date and I ordered the same thing- apple, pear, and brie crepes with a side of sausage (although he ordered a chicken sausage and I ordered the veggie variety- both were tasty). The crepes were delicious, perfectly-textured, and I always appreciate a brunch choice outside of the usual toast, eggs and potato trifecta (although they have that too!) The coffee was good, but could have been refilled more than once- I got the feeling they were trying to get us to finish up and head out. Still, the food was delicious and I look forward to trying some of the other items on the menu (pancake orgy, anybody?) Oh, and it's BYOB!!
(4)Jason C.
Great French toast. The chicken sausage was fantastic as well. Be prepared to wait on for a while but the payoff is well worth it.
(5)caroline e.
FOOD: I love a good savory breakfast, and I gotta say that Toast Too always comes through. The pesto eggs are good, the eggs benedict is above average and the Crabby Benedict is awesome. Though I'd recommend getting the hollandaise on the side as they can get a little heavy handed with it. And they win a gold star for having great decaf coffee! I have to admit I've never eaten a sweet breakfast at Toast, though after reading some reviews I might have to try it next time. SERVICE: I've been here a good half dozen times and never experienced rude service. It's true that they'll usually tell you the wait is longer than it actually is. Though I think they're just being conservative so you're pleasantly surprised at the shorter wait instead of angry about a longer one. I have actually waited for 2 hours at the LP location. Ridiculous! Why put yourself through that craziness when you can get the same great quality food with a much shorter wait at TT?
(4)Purvi R.
yum yum yum mmmmm YUM. A cute little brunching venue in (Bucktown? I think? I am not from here). We arrived here after the Carerra de los Muertos (SORRY to all Spanish speakers) 5k race and were in the mood to scarf down some delicious eggs. This place did NOT disappoint. We were seated almost immediately which rocked (there was a wait when we left, but we were on the early side - so come early). Their great JM coffee brought us back to life after our brilliant idea to wake up at 6am and run a race on Halloween morning. I selected the breakfast burrito after much changing-of-mind and I was happy I did. The homemade salsa alone gave me reason to recommend this place to others, incredible! And the breakfast potatoes that I poached off my friend's plates were great. Both of them looovvved their eggs benedict, btw. Not too shabby when the bill came (approx 12 minutes after we ordered, seeing as we inhaled our food) - I think we each got our for around $20. Bingo! All in all, in a city full of great breakfast/brunch options, I'll remember this one next time I'm in town!
(4)Peter K.
good place
(4)Ali O.
nom nom nom nom I must have been very very very good lately, because this morning I found myself in breakfast heaven. I've wanted to try Toast for a while now (okay...probably a few years) and this weekend was the perfect opportunity. Scared of the tremendous wait, our party of three decided to try and beet the brunch rush. 10 am must be the sweet spot, because there were empty tables when we arrived and we were seated right away. By 10:30, people were lining up outside. Suckers. I checked out the Yelp reviews before going (naturally) and I was tempted to take Jessica B's advice and order the two eggs so I could try a little bit of everything. But, I could not fool myself . . . .I was there to dive head first into a big luscious gooey buttery fabulous stack of pancakes. And that was exactly what I did. I ran a train on those pine nut and mascarpone pancakes with lavender sprinkled on top. IN YOUR FACE. These pancakes were so good that at dinner time I was kicking myself for not taking my left overs home. Seriously. I will be back.
(5)Natalie M.
I gave my original review of Toast Two 3stars(see below) but believing that my fellow Yelpers would NOT lead me astray I decided to come back and try something else. WOW, Im so happy I did! My 2nd visit to Toast Two was almost 2x better as my first. I had the buckwheat blueberry pancakes, which, although others may find them too "wheat-y" they were just my flavor, with egg whites and coffee(really, really good coffee!). My Mom had their Pina Colada Pancakes(a special)- My Mom is NOT a pancake person, but she said they were so good she ate EVERY SINGLE BITE. She also had the chicken sausage which she liked a lot. One thing I must say about Toast Two is that their food is VERY appealing to the eye, and very reasonable- my short stack(2 LARGE pancakes) was only $5, and egg whites $2- breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day, but dont often get fresh food THIS cheap. I do wish there was more parking in the Bucktown area- if there was I wouldve given them an extra star.
(4)Michael T.
It seems like this place is well-loved by the sort of person who really enjoys writing "creative" Yelp reviews. I was totally underwhelmed. I ordered the plain french toast (with berries and all that), figuring that I should go with what I thought would be the flagship dish of a place called "toast," and it was very dry. Almost tasted as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp for an hour and a half. Certainly not worth $9; maybe worth $3. My girlfriend got a breakfast burrito, which was equally disappointing. It was basically a crap ton of undercooked, under-seasoned scrambled eggs with some diced onion and green pepper in a wrap. Again: may just have ordered the weak items.
(3)Jean C.
I am a big breakfast person. And when I went here with my neighbor on a Monday, we were ignored. It wasn't really busy but people who came in after us were seated before us. Kind of upsetting. When we asked the server about it, she was indifferent and passed us onto the manager who could have cared even less then the server. We discussed if we should stay or leave but ended up staying. We both ordered coffee (good!) and the Eggs Benedict. I do like the truffle hollandaise sauce with prosciutto but wasn't as floored by it as I thought I would be. The food came out quickly which was nice. Cheap eats for sure. I came back with my husband twice and on the second time, he got food poisoning from their breakfast burrito! He was out for 3 days. So, needless the say, we will not be coming back anytime soon. Which is unfortunate because I really wanted to try the pancake orgy. :-(
(2)Kim A.
It takes a lot for breakfast to absolutely blow me away. I wasn't blown away, but wholly satisfied. I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the dishes, and the fact that they offered a special (which I had and was delicious!). It's easy to pander to the "bacon and eggs" brunch crowd. The indigents were fresh and seasonal, and the staff really friendly. This is defiantly one of those spots that you most certainly must hit up if you're within walking distance, but I'd say I'd be hard pressed to drive or take public transportation here. Also, be mindful that if you do come here on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you'll probably have to wait for a table. And, if you're not a fan of kids, this probably isn't the place for you. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but haters of "alt human accessories" need not apply.
(3)Jenna S.
I can agree with some of the other 2 star reviews here, Toast Two did not win me over. First, let's start with the good things: -The wait, we were told 30 minutes--but were seated within 20. Yay! -The staff, sure they were nice...but not over the top friendly. -The joint is cutetsy! Loved all the little toasters lined up across the top of the wall. Then we can move on the negatives: -We sat at the bar, but because of the ceiling light were blinded by the sun shining in. Yes, I realize that's not their fault, but c'mon...put up some blinds or something to block the rays of death coming in. I could barely even see what I was eating, let alone read the paper on a Sunday morning! -The wait for food. UGH! It felt like it took FOREVER. Granted, it was a Sunday morning at 10:30 AM...but really, 40 minutes for two omelettes?! -The omelet itself was bland. I had the Lorraine, which had apple wood smoked bacon, gruyere, chives, and onions. About the only thing good was the CHEESE because there was plenty of it. The bacon was disgusting, I imagined crispy smokey bacon...and instead I got limp chunks of fat. I don't think this was a applewood smoked bacon, but rather a run of the mill hormel Aldi special bacon. GROSS! I had to pick it out. The breakfast potatoes spread sparingly on the side of my plate were COLD. And my side of chicken apple sausage was good, but those were like the size of bratwursts. -The bill: $41 for 2 omelettes, 2 coffees and 2 orders of chicken sausage. Who knows, maybe their "sweet" items are better tasting?! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say we MIGHT return, only to try the french toast or pancakes. But, bottom line, the food was average at best...but certainly didn't warrant a $48 bill with tax and tip. For that price, I'd rather have Sola, Lula, or even the Publican for heaven's sake!
(3)Borracho G.
Love what they do to the breakfast here. If you enjoy chorizo con huevos, then you are set, because they serve a great tasting order. Ask them to substitute the toast for a spinach tortilla and eat them the right way, with your hands. If you also love breakfast that can pass as a dessert then order the pancake orgy or french toast orgy. Just don't say "I will have the french toast orgy minus the french toast", nobody laughs and the cute server doesn't find you funny to begin with.
(4)danny e.
tasty, chicy, big ol giant fun toast as a blade sign. There was a big of a wait for in the middle of the day. I got the giant monster stuffed french toast, strawberry and chocolate. They were really good, I couldn't even finish them. The chocolate tasted like mexican chocolate which was nice and surprising. The place is cool but really small.
(4)Stacey A.
B reakfast foods are my favorite R eally amazing menu - everything sounds good U nbelievably perfect breakfast potatoes N utella, strawberry, and marscapone are what fill the french toast C an't stop thinking about the omelette my roommate had H oly crap, I love this place Toast in Lincoln Park serves booze. Toast Two in Wicker Park does not - but is larger, sunnier, and quieter - and way less full of Depaul Trixies in Training.
(4)Adam V.
So here we go... I live right up the street from Toast and used go there all the time. It's DECENT food, but for the price it is absurd. I wish badly there were another decent breakfast spot around bucktown that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get a cup of joe and some eggs. $10.00+ for an omelet? Quick secret, a single egg cost about $0.20 at most.... Don't price gouge me Toast, you pirates! That felt good, anyway, recently my brother, a close friend and I decided NEVER to go back to Toast again. Allow me to start off by mentioning that I have been in the hospitality/restaurant industry for over 10 years. I bused tables and washed dishes as a 14 year old, I've served tables during college and have worked several back of the house jobs in professional kitchens. You don't want my resume here... I'm just saying... So we go into Toast and the usual male server that has flipped me attitude on our last visit was our server. "Let's give him another chance", I say to the fellas. We order our food and don't see the guy again until our altercation. Someone else actually even brought us our food. The three of us were about 2 bites into our meal when our server came to our table (he refused to give me his name... ch!). He asked how things were and I said fine. My brother then asked the fellow for Tobasco sauce. Saying, "may I please have some Tobasco sauce" must be code for something much worse and sinister... To my bothers request, the server yelled "HOW IIIISSSSS EVERYTHIIIING!" Bewildered by the servers outburst, my brother said "Great, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" The server again, dumbing himself down as if speaking to an infant says loudly again "HOOOW....IIIISSSS....EVERYTHING?" My brother says now, "its great! Everything is awesome, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" Finally the server turned and stormed off... The table next to us then turned to us and explained that the same server had been being less than friendly to them, as well. My brother is severely soft spoken, so I suppose it makes sense that I inherited most of the aggressive genes from our Dutch heritage. I was fed up and wasn't going to stand for the obnoxious treatment for one more second. Upon the servers return to our table, I inquired as to what the problem was and why he treated my brother in that fashion. I informed him of my history in the restaurant industry and how I understand the frustrations of serving from time to time, but that his treatment was unreasonable. To this he exclaimed "I'm not your slave". This attitude was SEVERELY unwarranted. To this i dropped my napkin on the table and calmly asked for the manager. He explained primarily that the manager was not there. I happen to notice the female owner was not present, as she usually is. So then, surprised, I asked "No manager? Then who's in charge around here, I want to speak to them." Here it is... He says "Too bad..... I'M the manager" I had enough now and gathered my brother and friend and decided we were leaving, we had barely touched our meal and were not going to pay nor ever return. "He said, good, don't return, we'll be fine without you.. and I'm calling the police if you don't pay!!" -this is where i close my eyes, breath slowly and try to count to ten..... At this my friend tells me to go ahead and leave and he would wait for the police.... the police never showed (obviously, what a tool), but the owner did. She gave my friend the meal for free, calling it "even now".... NO... after this review, we might be a little closer to even. The service at Toast is SO horrible I urge none to ever give it a cent of your money.
(1)Annie G.
Yummm, Toast. If I wasn't sitting in a pile of my dirty tissues, red-nosed and achy, I'd probably be proposing a trip to Toast right now to my husband. This place gets four stars for being so consistently good. Only once in my dozens of outings there have I experienced the rude service mentioned already in these reviews; our waitress was obviously hungover and wretched but that was once, our tip told her as much, and we've never had her since. But back to the positives: start to finish, anything here that touches my tongue is fantastic. The coffee is bold and fresh and can cure any hangover. While the sweet breakfasts look out of this world, I have to stick to my morning staples: eggs, potatoes, and toast. I love the mexican special they often have -- cilantro and jalap. egg scramble with salsa, house potatoes and wheat toast dry. Always dry. I'm often inclined to order a cup of fruit, too, because this is a place that doesn't skimp on fruit: berries, bananas and grapes. Yumm! I love that they don't serve dingy plates of un-ripe melons and cantaloupe. Sure, there is often a wait when you go during warmer months, mid-morning. But that's not uncommon in this stoller-ville neighborhood. Do yourself a favor and wait. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Christine K.
Absolutely love this place. Sometimes finding parking around this area can take some time (really I should walk here since it's "close" but I'm lazy on Saturday mornings), but I can usually find it. The food is great, they have tasty coffee and the waitstaff is super nice! You can't ask for more. If it weren't for the line out the door, I'd give it 5 stars. :)
(4)Catherine R.
Great service, great food, great price. Bacon, gruyere, carmelized onion omlette. 'Nuff said.
(4)Melissa N.
I. Love. Toast. This place is delish. Our go to brunch place conveniently located within walking distance from the apartment. I have never been disappointed with any selection. My favorite is the french toast orgy (trio of stuffed french toast: strawberry, marscapone and chocolate, topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.) Amazing. Always amazing!
(5)Vanessa P.
It's usually a 30-60 min wait on Saturdays and Sundays. It's worth it. The food is always so good and I could wax poetic about the pesto scramble and the stuffed french toast. Service is usually top notch too.
(4)Wendy G.
Every time I try something new and I always enjoy it.
(5)Michelle L.
As a breakfast fanatic - TOAST - Truly is "as good as it gets"! Not only is the french toast beyond orgasmic, but the breakfast burrito is absolutely delicious. Very friendly staff and were good with my 8 month old. No matter what I order on their menu, I can't go wrong!!! LOVE IT!!
(5)Lyn B.
The marscapone french toast is very good. Other than that, you're not missing much. The wait can be really long, and it's just not worth it. I'd go back if someone really wanted to, but the service/atmosphere/food combo was just okay.
(3)Sarah Louise W.
I ate here once a year ago and again this past weekend. I recalled it being a bit more delicious the first time. This review is of this past weekend. Negatives: No more lavender French toast? Sadness. Not every egg dish comes with toast, which is a little weird. The vegetarian Eggs Benedict were awful. I had never had Eggs Benedict before, and it had artichoke and spinach on it which I love, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. It was a shame because I ordered this instead of 3 other dishes, all of which I surely would have enjoyed a lot more. Like the reviewer below, mine too was swimming in hollandaise, which I immediately disliked the taste of and after a while the smell made me ill. Since there was no toast (!) I at least ate the eggs I could salvage and the potatoes (also disappointing, a bit flavourless). My boyfriend got the french toast with mixed berries and a side of bacon. The bacon was good, and perfectly crisp, but $4? For 4 slices? Hmm, a bit much. His french toast filled him up, though, and since my dish was gross I nibbled some of the black berries he discarded (what a fool). I loved the coffee, though, and all is right in the world when I have some coffee. A lot of the sandwiches also looked good on the menu (and I sneaked peeks at what my fellow diners ordered), so if I come back I'm getting plain eggs or lunch. But I don't know when that will be, since apparently there are a lot better brunch places I have yet to try.
(3)Sara B.
Eggs or sweets? Eggs or sweets? I can never choose. In fact, the only things I never hem and haw about at brunch are coffee and booze. Yes and yes, with multiple rounds of both, please. Beyond that, it's usually a drawn-out process of salivating over each item, debating relative merits, and eventually choosing wildly when the waitress looks my way. Hey, it works. Which brings me to Toast II, which DOES NOT HAVE A BAR. And for which it loses a full star. Sorry, the powers that be have spoken. I need a bar, particularly at vacation brunch. However, what Toast II lacks in booziness it (almost) makes up for in deliciousness, which brings me to the eggy/sweet dilemma. A longtime eggs Benedict slut, I was torn: Try my favorite brunch feast, this time promised with prosciutto and truffle hollandaise, or take on the french toast orgy? Well, as mom always says, never turn down an orgy...just invite some more to join in! (Eds. note: My mom never actually said that. That would be weird.) Anyway, my friend and I made the wise choice of ordering both and sharing. It was decadent. It was rich. It would have been perfect...with a cocktail.
(4)Jen A.
Yummy yummy. The only thing that knocks Toast Two off the five-star pedestal it belongs on is the fact that this location (as opposed to the other Toast) lacks a bar. I don't think I'd mind so much if the menu wasn't the same, but it made me a wee bit sad that I saw beverages I couldn't order. All that aside, OH MY. I don't like French toast. I just don't. But I tried a few bites of my roommate's French Toast Orgy and I'm pretty sure that I'd make an exception and order one for myself next time. It's really that good, and I wish the English language had a better array of synonyms for "awesome" that I could apply to it. The breakfast potatoes are also delish, and they're worth getting a la carte if your entree doesn't include them. I actually enjoyed them so much that I tried to replicate the recipe at home, which is pretty much the highest form of praise I have for food. I was actually so wrapped up in the food experience that I initially neglected to notice how cute the place is. It's adorable. There are toasters all over the place, and I love it.
(4)Kathy P.
The battle between savory and sweet rages on at Toast. Luckily, I was there with a group and we were evenly split, giving us the chance to sample a bit of everything. Good thing the portions are generous! I had the breakfast burrito, which was excellent, though it could've been spicier (couldn't taste the jalapenos) and there were no beans. Que sera, sera, burrito. My friend ordered the veggie eggs benedict and was pleased as punch. The big, fat draw at Toast is (duh) the French Toast which is available stuffed with such delights as chocolate, pureed strawberries, and marscapone, to name a few. The French Toast is served in huge chunks which are perfect for sharing with your favorite brunch companions. The marscapone was really rich, and I can't imagine making a whole meal of it. The chocolate is, of course, desserty, and the strawberry puree is jam-jam-jammy. Needless to say, we all left full and happy and ready to brave the rain outside. Toast also serves Julius Meinl coffee which is, of course, the next best thing to being at Julius Meinl. Service was attentive and friendly on this busy Saturday morning. Get there early because the line was out the door by the time we left around 10:30.
(3)Destiny T.
First time trying this place and I would definitely return! I played it safe and got the two eggs meal with house potatoes, toast and a side of short stack buttermilk pancakes. They were not skimpy on the food. In fact I wasn't able to even eat my toast and half of my pancakes because I was full mid-meal (and I can eattt lol). Usually, I'm not a fan of house potatoes but they made them nice and flavorful and crispy. The scrambled eggs were probably one of the best scrambled eggs I have ever had from a restaurant (they were seasoned already and were yellow and fluffy). The pancakes were delicious; adding additional butter is not necessary which I love because I'm always too eager to eat my food to want to take the time out to put butter on my already buttermilk pancakes lol. The waiters are also very friendly and approachable. Only downside is that it can be difficult to find parking on Damen. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this breakfast place! You can tell that they take pride in their food and use fresh ingredients which is always important to me!
(5)Stephen L.
The mascarpone stuffed French toast... My god, it was delicious. The chicken Apple Gouda sausage was the best sausage I have had in a long time.Espresso game is average and it took a while for me to get my food. Staff is friendly and helpful.
(4)Morganne B.
This was the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to come when we were too hungover to go to work the day after taking our medical boards exam and skipped. We were lucky not many people were out on this gloomy looking Friday but thankfully there was no wait and we were seated immediately. The special omelet, with prosciutto, tomatoes and cheddar was just the ticket. Olive salty salty prosciutto on its own but in an omelet with some hot sauce on top was even better. My boyfriend loved his crabby benedict; he loved it so much he ordered a side of chorizo to put on top. He said his potatoes maybe weren't cooked as much as they should've been and didn't finish them, but otherwise this place was on point. Coffee mug was never empty and the service was fast. I'm not sure if I would wait in line for so long as I've often seen people do here, but I definitely will come back and bring mimosas once this hangover subsides!
(4)Elisabeth C.
My brother emailed me one day that he was flying into Chicago for a bachelor party, and could I pick him up from O'Hare? He'd make it worth my while by buying me breakfast. Of course I obliged, but what he didn't know was that my sister and two of her three daughters were in town for the weekend visiting me, so he had a rather large party for breakfast! Despite coming at peak hours on a Saturday morning, Toast Two was able to accommodate all five of us immediately. The service was great (and to be honest, brunch with young children is not always the best experience). The food was also delicious. I had the french toast orgy, my sister had the eggs benedict, and my brother had the breakfast burrito. And he wasn't at all annoyed about having to buy breakfast for all four of us since it meant he got to see his nieces.
(5)Jamie B.
Good breakfast place in Bucktown. I've been here many times over the last few years and it's always been speedy and consistent. I enjoy the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. The pancakes are also tasty. Good option on the neighborhood.
(4)Deanna N.
Very cute place. No reservations and BYOB, which means no bloody marry's or mimosas served. I had a delicious crepe with brown sugar and strawberries for $6. The bacon was disappointingly thin. I think the stellar items here maybe the french toast hence the name. Definitely a hipster hangout in Bucktown.
(4)Glenn B.
The staff is friendly and quick. Service was great. The food was exceptionally good! I hate to say even better than the deep dish pizza we had come to Chicago to try. Had the breakfast burger with Swiss cheese. Patty was perfectly cooked to order. All the ingredients came together and complimented each other well. The egg gave it an unreal richness! Also ordered the French toast orgy with one of each flavor! The strawberry and marscapone filled ones were delicious. Not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I can't say I enjoyed it. Overall, great breakfast place and a definite must try!
(5)Bao L.
Stuffed french toast on fleek. I had breakfast here and couldn't decide between the Pancake Orgy and the French Toast Orgy, so I asked the waitress what she recommended between the 2. Before I could finish my sentence, she said French Toast Orgy, so French Toast Orgy it was. I must say, the French Toast Orgy here is AMAZING and I'm glad she recommended it. It comes w/ 3 pieces of stuffed french toast: strawberry puree, mascarpone, and Mexican chocolate, all topped with vanilla yogurt, granola, berries, powdered sugar, and a drizzle of honey. There's a lot going on on the plate, but it all works well together. It was plenty sweet (in a good way), so I didn't even need to add syrup to it. The berries are fresh and the yogurt and granola add great texture to the stuffed french toast. All 3 were good, but my favorite was the strawberry puree, followed by the mascarpone, and then the Mexican chocolate. Toast Two is close to my house, so I definitely want to come back to try the Pancake Orgy and Pesto Scramble
(4)Stephen M.
Went here for brunch and it hit the spot. I got the breakfast burger which was very good. Girlfriend got the chorizo Benedict but the English muffin was burnt. Ok prices for what you get, good service, and only had to wait 10 min for brunch on a Sunday. Next time I need to try the stuffed French toast, It looked good!
(4)Sara T.
Still one of my favorite brunch spots! It's pretty much got the whole package -- good food, good coffee, friendly staff, and love the bright, modern country styled interior. The pesto egg dish and brie with pear and apple crepe were both stellar.
(4)Rebecca R.
Had a great meal at my neighborhood spot. It is typically packed, so I was able to meet a friend here moments after the opened on a week day during my winter break. We sat at the counter and had a great meal with great service. I ordered chilaquiles off the special board while my partner in crime ordered delicious looking pancakes off the menu. We were both super pleased with the meal, coffee, and feeling of the place. The couple next to us offered us their almost empty bottle of champaign, so apparently it is also BYOB. Enjoy! I'll be back!
(5)Evie H.
I was super excited to come here for brunch especially because 1) I love the name 2) I love the store front even more. Our wait was about 40 minutes on a Sunday at noon and then it was probably another 20 minutes before we got our food after we ordered. A little lengthy for me. I got the French toast orgy with one of each flavor - dark chocolate, marscapone, and strawberry. I thought I would like the dark chocolate the most but it turned out it was my least favorite. It was kind of mushy and stuck at an awkward in between of trying to be sweet, but not sweet enough. Turns out the marscapone was my favorite! The regular stuffed french toast is basically the same plate but just without the yogurt and granola toppings. The service was okay. They were very accommodating for one of my friends who had a lot of specific requests for her burger. One of our waiters was very odd though and he kept on asking if we wanted more coffee and water even though we repeatedly said no. He also very awkwardly tried to maneuver the water pitcher around us which I didn't understand at all because it really wasn't that difficult to do. All in all, it's a solid brunch spot but because it's also a smaller place, be prepared to wait on weekends.
(4)Melanie P.
After living down the street from Toast for years, we finally decided to brave the crowds and give it a try. Arrived at 9:45am on a Sunday, and were seated immediately in the very busy restaurant. (We went because it was COLD and knew that the crowds might be lighter). SO GLAD WE DID! We have already been back for the second time in one week (this time a Thursday morning which was comfortably quiet!). The Croque Madam, the BELT, the breakfast burrito with chorizo, all DELICIOUS!! The bread on the BELT made this sandwich for me. Buttery and perfectly toasted outside, super soft inside. Tried a latte upon the recommendation of our waiter (who doubled as a barista?!) during our second visit. It was excellent! Service was solid during even during a busier Sunday. Avoided this place because I hate to wait, but will return again and again because when you time it right, it's outta sight!
(5)Lauren B.
What a great spot for brunch! Love the omelette and sandwich selection. We had a wonderful waitress named Jennifer, who took great care of us. My only qualm is the fact that it is BYOB but you have to use their beverages and I'm sorry but $8 for a small carafe of OJ is not realistic... Other than that our food was great! It's gets pretty busy so def make a reservation during the weekend!
(5)Aja G.
Classically good breakfast. When you want some fluffy scrambled eggs, a decent size side of bacon and some damn good toast then Toast one or two is your place. This location is set up much life the originally in DePaul country: about 15 tables crammed against a wall, a breakfast bar and a lot of natural light. There are come things I wish Toast Two would offer like a build your own omelet option or meat with pancakes. But when you want some cozy down home breakfast Toast Two is your place.
(4)Anna G.
Came back to Toast Two after a long absence and it confirmed what I remembered it being: just an average brunch place. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, the service even better, but overall nothing I can't get at any other brunch place. My friend and I went at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and our wait time was between 20-30 minutes. (If we had agreed to sit at the counter, the wait would have only been 5 minutes.) I definitely wouldn't wait any longer than that.
(3)Lati T.
Brunch when I have time, i come here! Super friendly staff...and the stuffed french toast is so good!!
(5)Rice D.
Been here many times, as I live right across the street. I called this morning (Monday, 2/2) and asked to place a takeout order. A male responded with "We're not doing take out orders right now" [CLICK]. No goodbye, no info regarding if they'd be taking orders later today, a week from now, a month from now etc. I understand if you're swamped, but it's Monday morning and there was a HUGE snowstorm all weekend. I can see Toast from my window and it's not busy at all. My advice to the guy answering the phone would be to not take your bad mood out on the customer. My advice to Toast would be to not let that guy answer the phone any more. It's not often you encounter such a bad response from a business you're trying to patronize. If this is how Toast treats their customers, I will take my food request elsewhere.
(1)Daisy K.
I know this place is a solid 4 stars with several hundred reviews, but for some reason when I took a bite out of my breakfast burrito I literally said out loud "What?".. As in, how was this burrito everything I so desperately need right now. Go. If they can make a simple burrito delicious, than I would imagine everything else on the menu would follow suit. I will say though, that $2 dollars seems high for an avocado add on, but whatevs, I was feeling generous & it was packed with delicious perfectly ripe avocado. Staff was friendly and very attentive too! 5 well deserved stars.
(5)Beth C.
I'm really surprised at how well this place has been reviewed overall. I went here for breakfast last Sunday with a friend. I'm new to the area and noticed that there are almost always people waiting for a table on the weekends for brunch so I checked out the menu online and thought it sounded like a great classic brunch stop. If a restaurant is going to be strictly breakfast/brunch place (no bar, no bottomless mimosas, no shtick) then surely the food must be great. Or so I thought. The wait for a table was going to be 30 minutes on a Sunday around 10 a.m. But a couple of spots opened up at the counter, so we sat there immediately. We were offered and served coffee pretty quickly. I think the service was good. Not overly personal or friendly but polite and efficient. The food is where things fell apart. I ordered the two egg breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon, breakfast potatoes). My scrambled eggs were way overcooked and the potatoes were hard. My friend ordered the French Toast. It certainly looked pretty when it came it out. But it, too, was completely overcooked and dried out. There are a lot of other brunch options in the area. I have no plans to return here.
(2)Ashley C.
I'd give Toast Two 3.5 stars. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but it is a solid neighborhood place. We were trying to find a place to go when my sister was visiting. She loves breakfast food. Toast Two was a solid option. We arrived at about 10:15 and only had to wait a little bit for a table. The place was packed and rather loud (read: not the best hangover breakfast spot). I had a the eggs benedict. It was very good but nothing mind blowing. My sister was pleased with her option (which was made gluten free to order). The portions were also huge! I was also told that their coffee was solid as well. Overall, a solid brunch basic spot.
(3)Jenny G.
We went here for a birthday Brunch. Service was great, menu was even better!!! I had the breakfast burrito, shared the strawberry stuffed French toast and my boyfriend had an omelet. There was so much to choose from that we have already decided we will be going back soon to try something new! PLUS; Its BYOB.. They have orange juice and a Bloody Mary mix available so all you need to bring is the vodka!
(5)Kayla S.
Does Toast Two need another stellar review? Nah, but what the hell, it's delicious! The cinnamon raisin toast. Wow. Served warm and HAS to be made in the restaurant. Literally the best piece of toast I have ever had in my entire life. Eggs Benedict was good. Egg cooked to perfection. We wanted more meat so we ordered sides of sausage. Oh, and the best part, BYO mimosas, baby! And the orange juice glasses that come with the carafe are brought with a little strawberry on top. My friend had some sort of scramble and the potatoes were just so perfect. The right amount of crispy and seasoned well. I came with my husband some time back and it was pretty good, this most recent time just affirmed Toast Two as a solid brunch spot forever. Most definitely will return!
(5)N A.
I had breakfast here on Monday June 15, 2015. I was getting my last real meal before flying out of town. I had never been here but I left thinking that if I ever find myself in the area, I will certainly visit again. I had coffee (plenty of it!) and their "B.E.L.T." sandwich. It was GOOD! It came with potato quarters on the side. The service was good too. The lady working there kept my coffee topped and made sure all was well. Great service. The decor is nice too. Modern "home" feel. Lot's of cute decor depicting toast in various ways. Highly recommend for a sit down breakfast solo or with a group.
(5)Ramona Q.
Great place, good coffee, good food. Stuffed french toast (marscapone) is my favorite. There is almost always a wait on weekends.
(5)Jessica P.
My friend and I both got stuffed French toast, mine with dark chocolate and hers with mascarpone. Mine was ridiculously delicious and she only had good things to say about hers. I will say this: don't go for the dark chocolate unless you have a serious sweet tooth, it was not for the faint of heart. You get three chunks of toast and o could only manage one, despite how delicious it was. They aren't messing around with the portion size here. We went around 11:30 on MLK day, and the place was accordingly bursting at the seams. I believe we eventually got seated a little after noon, which wasn't bad at all. We were seated at the counter, and the server was very pleasant and quick with the refills of coffee. I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about this place. I will have to go back and try something savory.
(5)Matt V.
Food was great. Heat not working so food was cold before I finished. Need to fix the heat
(3)Unna N.
Pesto scramble was in a small pool of oil, same with the potatoes. Overall delicious, but only three stars for the oil. The jam for the English muffin was really delicious. The orange juice is freshly squeezed and full of good pulp. The flowers on the table are real :)
(3)Brian C.
Awesome breakfast! I had the Chilaquiles plate it was wonderful. Good atmosphere, friendly place. Highly recommended.
(5)Jack F.
Pretty good brunch spot. The place itself is a bit small, but you get seated pretty quickly. Try the Lorraine Omelet. Great stuff!
(4)Jess D.
I arrived and put in my name for a party of two at around 1:30 on a Sunday. The place was PACKED. There wasn't even anywhere to stand in the miniscule entryway, so my cousin and I took a walk in the freezing cold and checked out some little shops just to warm up. Quoted a wait time of half an hour, we headed back to check in just after 2:00. Nope. Still nowhere to even stand inside. When I asked for an update, the hostess was totally snotty. Then, when it finally cleared up enough for us to at least stand inside where it was warm, she ignored us completely. No, "sorry for the wait". No, "it'll just be a bit longer". Nothin'. We were just about to leave and go get sushi across the street when we were finally seated. Around 2:45. The atmosphere and decor were cute, if a little kitschy for my taste, but the seating was just absurdly close together. I could barely manage to squeeze between the two tables to access my bench seat against the wall without taking out the water glasses of the diners beside us. The savory options sound tempting, but I really wanted the namesake toast. I had a dish with a sampling of different stuffed french toast, the French Toast Orgy. A lofty name for an okay plate. It arrived relatively quickly and it was good. But not quite good enough to make it worth the ridiculously long wait and the awkwardly cramped seating arrangement. In short...Since they don't take reservations, you can simply accept a long wait time for apathetic service and mediocre food with a somewhat inflated price tag or... Call up a hankering for sushi instead of brunch and head across the street.
(2)Jennifer B.
Came in because of the prior yelp reviews and was not let down, at all!!! Came in and was busy with no tables, but servers rearranged some seating and got my party of 3 in right away. A bit snug with the table next to us, but it's all good. Best French toast ever - go for French toast orgy
(5)Krista S.
Fabulous fabulous service!!!!! Food is fresh and on point for a nice brunch spot. Coffee is nice and strong. A helpful tip is that you cannot be seated until your whole party is there which is understandable considering its popularity (especially on weekends). They are know for their stuffed French toast. My husband ordered 1 of each type (strawberry, chocolate, and mascarpone) and like the server suggested the mascarpone was his favorite. I had the b.e.l.t. with avocado- great fresh bread and nice ripe avocado!
(4)demika c.
The breakfast is consistently good! My favorite is the orgy pancakes. They're delicious and worth waiting for.
(4)XTreats X.
Great food! I gave it the extra star because they serve Bow Truss coffee at $2.50 with free refills... That alone makes it worth it, not to mention the huevos with chorizo & cheddar! GO!
(5)Bryce S.
Good breakfast place. I got one of their top menu items: the B.E.L.T and really enjoyed it! If you're in Bucktown, you should definitely stop in!
(4)Lizette Y.
This is a pretty decent breakfast place. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table, not too bad in my book. The decor and space are pretty interesting. The location has enormously high ceilings but seating area is quite small. Walls are a bright, sunny yellow and vintage toasters adorn the tops of the cabinets, really cute. We were promptly seated and the server brought our coffee to the table immediately. I ordered the veggie benedict, my boyfriend ordered the crabby benedict, and we split a French toast orgy. I know, that seems like a lot, but we wanted to get a good sampling of what they had available and had plenty to take home with us. The benedicts were great, very flavorful and the poached egg was cooked perfectly (a big plus since it's hard to do!). The French toast orgy was yummy and included chocolate, strawberry, and marscapone flavors. Immediately we noticed that these delicious flavorings were either baked into the toast or included inside the batter, as they were consistently flavored throughout the toast, not just drizzled on top. The chocolate and marscapone were my faves, and the strawberry was good too, tasted very fresh like they had just pureed the berries before adding it to the batter. Overall the food was good and so was the service. Not outstanding but I'd go back to try other interesting items on the menu - crepes with pear, brie, and apple; anything with SOY CHORIZO and VEGGIE SAUSAGE (holla to my fellow vegetarians); and pancakes with marscapone, pine nuts, and anise.
(3)Francesca S.
Totally toasty! - Pancake Orgy....berrylicious - Pesto & Prosciutto omelette....salivating This is the second time I've been here and it still continues to hit the sweet spot. Both dishes were made to perfection. We also ordered hot cider and hot chocolate that kept us warm in Chiberia. I decided to order the cinnamon raisin toast to accompany my eggs. As always, it was toasted to the right amount. Chose to sit at the breakfast bar this morning. Loved looking at all the wall art especially the retro toasters. Plenty of other good sounding dishes to order next time. I can't wait to wake up craving for a delicious Bucktown breakfast.
(4)Jim C.
Really strained service this Sunday. Had to remind waitress of our drinks and the toast that should come as a side for both entrees (it's in the name!) that we got as we left. It's not the waitress's fault, she was the only one on a Sunday that we saw, and wound up comping our drinks. The other brunch options were solid, lots of savory options with eggs, good portions, well cooked veggie additions. Where it lacks is the sweet section, which I know others will disagree on. The pancake and French toast options are good but just differ in their toppings. That's not going to compare to a lot of spots in Chicago- but hey, they have something called an orgy so it's not all bad. This will be a good backup from here on out.
(3)Sasha R.
This place was amazing the food was great.... I am a very picky eater and this place surpassed it all. Our waiter was extremely nice as well... Also make sure you get the stuffed toast! Get the cheese one (can't remember the name) you will not regret it!
(5)Steve S.
The place is small and the wait can be long BUT it's one of the best breakfast restaurant I have eaten at
(5)Jeannine H.
Not quite sure I understand all the 4 and 5 star love for this spot...except it is one of these oh so trendy LP-Bucktown spots that is on everyone's MUST list. However I was completely underwhelmed by the quality of the food. I had the stuffed French toast (which you figure should be a yummy, amazing signature dish at a place named "Toast") and while the concept is interesting overall the flavor was NOT there. I didn't know it was possible for french toast (especially when it was stuffed with something) to be so bland. And the bacon...I was simply shocked...it was so dry, and flavorless that I sent it back...HOW DO YOU MESS UP BACON!!! I did however have good service (of course it was a tuesday morning around 11) so that is a big plus. All in all as I said in a previous review...in a city like Chicago where EXCELLENT brunch spots abound...you may want to skip the hype and skip this place.
(2)Aurore L.
If there is a better way to start off your week than by having a lazy brunch after the Oscars night and a mini ice-storm, I want to know all about it. First win: free and ample parking. The hipsters wannabe are at work (or pretend to be); you just have to deal with the hip moms and their intergalactic strollers. I am sure you can make waffles and kill a whole bunch of nasty aliens with these things. Minus today: slippery pavements. Ouch. Second win: Julius Meinl coffee. A real plus for this European snob. Perfection in a cup, served with real cream. Third win: a killer menu. All the usual suspects, often with a twist. Hard to choose. And specials to top it off. I chose one of these and got the 'huevos verde' (green eggs si no entiendes Español) made of a cilantro and jalapaño pesto and chihuaha cheese. Hot and yummy tasting. Perfect breakfast potatoes. Wonderful challah bread. The B.E.L.T. (bacon egg lettuce tomato) was quite nice too and was served on a brioche bun. Fourth win: reasonably priced and served with a smile. Having broken my fast I am ready for the day, the week and - maybe - the new coming month.
(4)Selena A.
I stumbled across this place with my roommate last fall and I fell in love! The food is amazing and its located in one of Chicago's most upbeat neighborhoods. The staff is very attentive and did I mention how delicious the food is? I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys an early breakfast, brunch or late lunch!
(5)Hilary P.
I can't believe I've been going to Toast for 4 years now but it's still my favorite breakfast in the country. That's right, the whole damn country! I've expanded to the eggs benedict from time to time as well since it's incredible but everything here really is delicious so you really can't go too wrong. This is the one place that every trip to Chicago, we manage to work in at least one breakfast at no matter how hectic our schedule is and I don't see that changing any time soon.
(5)Katie R.
service is good, coffee is good, atmosphere is good. i had the pancake orgy which was yummy but not great - and honestly the idea of yogurt on pancakes with granola was a good one, but unfortunately doesn't convey to the dish (someone made a suggestion of getting the yogurt on the side - i wish i had thought of that when i was there). it came with a ton of fruit. will it be the plain old fruit and granola with toast or the crazy ass brick-sized&shaped french toast that woos me over next?
(4)Aly H.
Toast was...a little dry. After seeing rave reviews, my boyfriend and I decided to make the trip to Bucktown to Toast to experience the great pancake orgy and other deliciousness. However, we were a bit let down and have been to far superior a brunch place at hubs such as Lou Mitchells and Milk and Honey. Here were our likes and dislikes: Likes: -Prompt coffee service. It was frigid Chicago morning thus warmth (both inner and outer) were our primary needs. -Immediate seating at the bar. Without that, our wait would have been 30 minutes- and we were only 2! -Solid egg white veggie omelet with marble rye toast. Moist and cheesy, this omelet perfectly balanced sinful with healthful. It's a pity that the sweet dishes get all the credit here, because there was surely something to be said for the quality of this dish. -Serving vanilla yogurt on top of pancakes - yum! Dislikes: -Somewhat aloof host. Granted it was busy (but isn't it always at 10:30am during Sunday brunch?) but the host offered no smile, smirk, or any hint of pleasure at the presence of paying customers. Not a good mood-setter when you feel like an annoyance the moment you walk in the door. -Lack of waiting area/space in general. This place is Cramped with a capital C. While we were seated at the bar, the constant opening and closing of the front door left a constant draft and I felt bad for those waiting for a table as there was no waiting area and they were seriously encroaching on other diner's "space." -An anticlimatic "pancake orgy." We had heard of its sinfulness and deliciousness and yet were met with...well...pancakes :/ All 3 flavors were stacked on top of one another and all that could be discerned was the lemon poppyseed (very good btw). But that little blip of goodness misses the point that this pancake orgy was supposed to make. It was supposed to make the angels sing and glorify the pancake gods with its harmonious and unique flavors. This just seemed like a stack of flavored pancakes and I missed the banana altogether. Overall, Toast was a shmeh brunch and left us feeling a bit let down. We probably won't be back as we continue on our constant quest to find the best brunch places in Chitown.
(2)Kyle W.
Toast 2, in my mind, was very average. My girlfriend's chilaquiles tasted great but were lacking in the visual presentation department. I had the chicken burger and it was good. Service was very good and friendly and we did not have to wait for a spot at the bar.
(3)bria s.
Love the Veggie Eggs Benedict and some of the best coffee I've ever had! I like the natural lighting and the window seats. Possibly my favorite breakfast spot.
(5)Johnny T.
*Sniff, Snniifff* Ahh, there's nothing quite like the smell of HOT GARBAGE on a warm summer's day as a biblical plague of flies descends upon you, your friends and your food. Just a suggestion: maybe you should move the gigantic trash cans on the other side of the fence to another location. You see, as effective as the wood fence is at blocking the view to the alley, it's not so effective at blocking the smell of smoldering garbage or the enormous tsetse fly invasion that was, obviously, bent on world domination (and winning). The waitress was a sweet heart (really) and my food - when I didn't think about anything that was happening around me, else I'd gag - was good. But the paranoia I developed at the prospect of catching trypanosomiasis and the head injury my friend, Payal, incurred when the stench caused her to pass out...those were not good. Not.Good. But, maybe it was our fault. After waiting so long for a table, we jumped at the first one that was available. Granted, Donnie & Marie, Pat Boone and the New Kids on the Block were all sitting inside in air-conditioned, non-smelly splendor while Preet, Payal, Flavor Flav, Menudo and I sat outside in the blinding sun, heat, stench and insect invasion. But, I am sure that is all just a crazy coincidence. Thanks, Toast. You're the best. I can't wait to come back. Will it be frogs falling from the sky next time?
(2)cassie r.
Ooooooh, bread. Rich, hearty, stick to your ribs kinda bread. Toasted and slathered in butter and jam. THIS is a beautiful thing. Since their moniker exalts the simple yet all important brunch necessity, I should have known they'd do it well. When I saw "Challah" on their menu, I knew it was gonna be good. And it SO was. I chose their special of the day for the rest of my breakfast meal - mango jalapeno sausage, cheddar and peppers wrapped in an egg white omelette. I love omelettes - especially discovering a uniquely delicious way of serving them. This place is uber small, and already full at 8:30 a.m. A short or even long wait is a small sacrifice for the chance to enjoy any one of their tempting menu options.
(4)Scott N.
As far as breakfast goes, this place is right up at the top of my list! Amazing food, very nice staff -- they even brought me coffee while I waited on my table. Had the breakfast burrito -- yummy!
(4)Alex R.
I must concur, the stench outback was a bit overwhelming for me---but my company did not agree. The flavors were bountiful, and the ingrediants incredibly fresh. In fact my visitors even went back on their own during their stay (but ate inside)! The filled french toast looked interesting, but we never tried....Had the pepper eggs, omlete lorainne, were wonderful. The fruit, immpecable!
(4)John D.
Love the French Toast Orgy. The 1 star is because the host seated personal friends ahead of our table after having waited 30+ mins, in the cold, after walking 2 miles uphill. Ok not really but the point is I'll never come back to Toast. There are too many great places that don't show that kind of disrespect to the customer. At least if you're going to pull a douchebag move like that don't make it so obvious.
(1)Dan D.
Came here expecting overpriced so-so breakfast food, and I walked away thinking it is AWESOME food that is priced higher simply because it is so innovative and tasty. Details: I ordered the "French Toast Orgy." Like many of the other Yelpers have said, it is just a masterpiece of stuffed-french-toast with different fillings that are literally cooked right into the bread (blueberries is my favorite one they offer). And no syrup needed. Yup, thats right. NO SYRUP! Instead, they place nuts, powered sugar, honey, and a little bit of yogurt as a dressing. Wow, I am permanently freed from the chains of maple-syrup (suck it Vermont!.... naw, jk, I still like ya Vermont....). Also, we had the omelette that contains a smorgeshborg (?) of applewood bacon, chives, peppers, some more veggies, and a beautiful white european cheese that I cannot pronounce (and will not even TRY to spell). Fantastic. Both entrees cost $10 a plate. Seems a bit high for breakfast, but both were wonderful and creative. For that, I am more than willing to splurge now and then. Cheers my friends!
(4)Jon O.
Y'know what? It's pretty good. Toast has been a presence in brunch talk since I moved to Wicker Park in 2008. It's delicious! They have Julius Meinl coffee! My friend saw Jeff Tweedy there! It sounds like an "event" brunch to be sure. Well, I'd been there two or three times before and hadn't been totally blown away. I took my mom there on her recent trip to Chicago to re-evaluate. And the verdict is... it's pretty good. This isn't to discount the quality of the food! I had a beef tenderloin sandwich (the special of the day), and it was great. My co-diners opted for an omelette and a scramble, and they were likewise pleased. The menu is what I'd consider "the basics done right". Not "basic" in the sense of Sunrise Cafe or other diner-style brunch places, but variety within the typical categories of pancakes, sandwiches, egg dishes, etc. However, the experience of eating at Toast leaves a little to be desired. For one, the place is small - they packed about as many tables and counter seats in as they could, but that's still only about 30 seats, and it's consequently a very loud place with a long waiting list and no waiting room. Prices are decent, and the service was harried but eventually polite. If you're going, I recommend a willingness to sit at the counter - on multiple occasions, it's been the difference between a 10 minute wait and a 40 minute wait. If you have a weekday off and getting here won't be a problem for you, I can heartily recommend Toast. However, if you're looking for an especially interesting brunch, or have no interest in 40 minute waits on the weekend, you would be better served going elsewhere.
(3)Tiffany T.
My favorite brunch place that does not serve alcohol! Toast is absolutely delcious no matter what you order. I adore their stuffed french toast, but I am mostly partial to the strawberry stuffed french toast. My boyfriend loves their chicken sausages and pancakes, he always raves about them. Julius Mienhl coffee is great, freshly squeezed orange juice is delightful, I only wished they served mimosas.
(4)David F.
The burger menu is pathetic as they only have bland chicken and veggie burgers. Where's the beef!? All they have is buffalo which is honestly not for everyone. Their French toast is good but the Mexican chocolate they use is powdered it's basically Mexican nesquik and its not very rich or thick. 2 stars bc there r other menu items worth trying
(2)Rachel S.
So cute with all the little toasters and chicken wallpaper and such. But, a word to the wise, if you intend to eat here for brunch, come here early! The waits can get ridiculous and there is nowhere to wait inside. You're forced to awkwardly stand in everyone's way. I got here with my friends at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. We waited almost an hour in this nowhere-to-comfortably-stand war zone. That being said, the food and coffee were tasty, although I felt the menu could have stood a bit more ingenuity. A touch boring, given the wide and varied offerings this city has for brunch.
(3)Shauna N.
Super delicious! Make sure to try something new. Also, get there early--there is ALWAYS a wait!
(5)Colleen C.
A rainy Friday morning... *punctuated with pumpkin pancakes dolloped with nutmeg whip cream. *percolated with Julius Meinl coffee, fresh REAL cream, quick steppin' refills. *giggled by Amanda C *bubbled by Diet Coke. *Courtesy of Toast 2. Weekday brunching encouraged...this is a high-risk zone for waiting on weekends. Also, please keep in mind that something in the air creates children all over the place in Bucktown brunch spots, so protect accordingly. It's a baby factory. They like pancakes, too...apparently!
(4)Tyler J.
Great breakfast food and coffee. Price seemed a bit high for the quality, but overall a good experience.
(4)Kymberly J.
Completely worth the long wait! Luckily for us gals, Toast is sandwiched by two clothing boutiques so we can browse while we wait - even on Sunday morning! The only deal is that if you arent there to hear your name being read, the host moves on after 5 seconds. We sat in the quaint back patio with patches of sun coming through the trees and peaking around the umbrellas that even on a hot Chicago Afternoon youre not roasting. The food was deeeeelicious! I had pancakes with lavender buds, marscipone, pine nuts and berries. I am more of a savory breakfast person but I saw this on the menu and it called my name. In an ideal world I would be able to get a smaller portion pancakes with an egg or bacon to balance out the sweet... The BF got french toast which were cut into strips and each had a different flavor. I tried the mexican chocolate...OMG! BYOB! There is a liquor store right down the street. Buy your vodka there and add it their bloody mary mix or get your own and save the $5.00 per glass per mix.
(5)Anonymous F.
I don't know whether they were just having an off day, but our food was bad. I mean, I didn't even want to finish my food, it was so bad. The flavors and the textures were just wrong. My friend's food sucked as well, and the people at the next table appeared to be complaining about their food too. I gave it an extra star because of the atmosphere, but I would never go back here.
(2)kevin M.
This place is excellent!! Its a clean place and the wait staff is great. They are pricey for breakfast but they have such good coffee and french toast, you just have to splurge. My friend was in town so we stopped in for a late breakfast and the bill was around $39. I would go back but only for lunch.
(4)Annette J.
MMM French toast orgy. Naughty? Yes. Delicious? OH YES. Three pieces of French toast each stuffed with a wonderful surprise (strawberry puree, mascarpone cheese, and chocolate) topped with yogurt, granola, fresh fruit and honey. I am actually eating some yogurt, granola and blueberries right now and how I wish I had a nice piece of Toast French toast underneath! Sadly this is not the case. But Toast can get that for you if you want it. If you are willing to wait, that is. The wait here can be a killer. Unfortunately Toast does not take reservations so be prepared to stand around. The space is small but there is bar seating if you are fast enough to grab it. Admittedly I'm not the world's earliest riser so my brunch dates tend to start a little late which is a benefit at Toast. The later you go the quicker it is to get a table. That has been my experience at least. The fruit is fresh and tasty. I hate melon so I appreciate that they do not use melon filler in their fruit cups and French toast orgy like most breakfast joints do. Berries! Yay! While I tend to always go for the orgy their savory foods are delicious as well. Great breakfast sandwiches! Coffee is pretty good although their hot chocolate is somewhat lacking. I'm a chocolate snob so a cup of Hershey's syrup hot chocolate just ain't gonna cut it for me. But other beverages I've had here have been great! Overall one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. I strangely find myself at this location more than the Lincoln Park one even though I live closer to the Webster spot but both are great. I believe the Webster location has a liquor license so if a cocktail with your eggs Benedict is important to you then perhaps make your way there.
(4)Sean S.
We're from out of town and yelp pointed us here. Went on a weekday and it was full but we were seated quickly. The service was awesome and the food was delightful. The 5 of us all chose something different and shared bites. That was a great way to do it. It's a great option for a breakfast spot outside of downtown in a new neighborhood.
(5)Melly C.
This place was amazing, I had the stuffed fresh toast, hot apple cider, and bacon on the side. Everything tastes spectacular and we got there during a busy time in the day, but we still were able to sit at the counter. I liked all the different toasters they have, I want that Hello Kitty one! Food was prepared quickly and I am a huge fan of the strawberry stuffed french toast. I'll come here again but I am going to have a hard time choosing what to get,I know it!
(5)Abbey A.
this place is NOT vegan friendly, not a single item on the menu. i can't vouch for how their food tastes, but they claim to be vegan friendly both online and when i called in ahead of time.
(1)Becky S.
I come to Toast with people who have never eaten there. It's futile to come any time between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on a weekend, so it's usually a late brunch kind of destination. The food is great, and you get huge portions for a reasonable price. I don't find Toast to be the sort of place I can visit more than a few times a year, though--it's sensory overload, and the wait and difficulty parking is usually more formidable than the food. Still. Inevitably, it's worth it with friends visiting from out of town when their eyes widen and they begin salivating at the prospect of the "french toast orgy".
(4)Carol K.
A-Ok. That's the perfect description of my recent breakfast visit to Toast Two. Okay. Not great, phenomenal, life changing or amazing. Not crappy, awful, "should have slept in", bad. Just okay. We got here before the mad rush on a cool Sunday morning. Eating outside was out of the question so I was thrilled to see a two top with our name on it as we walked in just before 9am. We ordered and sat waiting to get anything. Coffee, people! Want a great review? Bring me coffee! Now! But bring it with real cream for my dining companion as he hates anything but half and half or real cream, and that milk that came in that little pitcher did nothing to assuage the need. COFFEE!! I NEED COFFEE!! A cup arrived. It was gone in a flash- almost inhaled and then the forever wait for cup number two. Where are they going for my coffee . . . .Brazil? Thank heaven our food came up then- Eggs Benny for me and a Breakfast Burrito for the man who sat across from me still glowering about the lack of cream. They were both good but not great. The hollandaise sauce on my eggs was a little too lemony but the chopped tomatoes on top were a nice touch. And the potatoes that came with it? Not so good. Kind of soggy and boring. The burrito was definitely the better choice. Our server was literally missing in action during our visit. I can't be the only one who needs tons of coffee in the morning. The fact that they had to take my cup, go back and pour the coffee out of a carafe behind the bar and then return with one cup every time someone wanted a refill was a problem. Breakfast for two ran around $36. A bit pricey in my opinion for the food served. Parking on Damen on a Sunday morning? Easy, Peasy. But the biggest opportunity? Service. Don't mess with me in the morning. I'm not a morning type of gal. Just get me tons of coffee with no hassle (and real cream) and food that I rave about and you and I will get along fine. Now about about another cup of that java?
(3)Michael L.
The eggs Benedict are delightful!!!
(5)Anna K.
Very good food. I liked the atmosphere and our server was fantastic. I had the granola and it was definitely some of the best granola I've ever had. We got there super early so there was no wait but I could tell that later on during the busy breakfast hours you'd definitely have to wait. Good stuff.
(5)Latrese W.
I simply must do a review of Toast Two after they were gracious enough to let us stay even though we were walking in just as they were closing. The french toast orgy was well, orgasmic. The coffee was tasty which is often rare in breakfast places that tend to focus more on the food. Since we were their final seating, I didn't finish my coffee and even took the extra coffee to go.
(5)MARISOL P.
I've been to Toast a number of times and have always enjoyed myself. It had been a year since our last visit but this week we had breakfast twice. I was very disappointed. We had Gregory as our waiter the first time during breakfast with friends. They guy is very rude and should probably apply at Ed Debevics. The second time he was not our waiter but was the host. He told us it would be 20 minutes. It was over 20 minutes! Someone possibly the manager's friends were seated before us. Then a few other people (three other groups) who had just walked in were seated before us. I was waiting outside since it was a nice day. I went in to check on why it was taking so long and Gregory said that a table hadn't cleared up. Five minutes later he said that there was a table in the back (their supposed "patio"). Keep in mind as Chunk S's review, it is next to the dumpster's and yes flies were also around. It was a warm day and the dumpsters were foul. So we went to the back and there was there were four tables open. Wait a jerk I thought! I was so upset that we waited so long due to this guys attitude. It doesn't take much to deter me from going to places especially with service like this! Gregory must go! He ruined what once was a great place for my family, friends and I.
(1)Christina G.
Be forewarned, the wait here is terribly irritating. In particular, I would definitely not come back here in the winter. This place is tiny, and everyone waiting for a table is standing around squished together up front and the door keeps opening and the wind gusts in and there's little kids running up and hugging your leg out of nowhere and you want to be annoyed but then finally they sit you down and they bring you coffee and it's a little bit worth it. I believe they use Intelligentsia coffee which is strong, but really good. I had the pesto scramble, which was excellent. Someone at the table had the stuffed French toast, the one with the mascarpone (a sweet Italian cream cheese) was to die for. Someone else got the eggs Benedict, over crab cakes with real crab and she loved them, and the fourth person got a chicken sandwich called "El Bucktowno" and he is a hearty eater but only finished half. Overall we all left stuffed and I don't think I ate another meal the rest of the day; I was done.
(4)Daniel W.
I've been here a number of times. It is down the street from where I live. It's always been really really good. It can get really really crowded though, prepare to wait or in worst case senario, sit at the table next to the door and people will stand on top of you while you eat. The patio out back is the exact opposite, roomy and quite... to bad its getting cold. I took my parents there once and my dad ordered the French toast orgy. He wouldnt say Orgy, so he had to point to it. Good times.
(4)Tracey S.
This is it for me as far as breakfast goes. I have been here 5 or six times and have loved everything. The omelets the pancakes, you really can't go wrong. My favorite dish is the pesto scramble that I get with fruit instead of potatoes and a side of cinnamon raisin toast. Everything is so incredibly fresh and good. That includes the coffee. The service is good, but can be on the slower side. However I don't deduct points, because on the weekends I am never in a rush to get through breakfast.
(5)Tiffany K.
the two times i've been here, there's always a painfully long wait. painful because by the time i get here, i'm so hungry!! also, the two times i've been here, we've had the same waitress. i don't know her name but she's friendly and service is awesome. actually, now that i think about it, my first time here, i had the buttermilk pancake. only a couple bites because i was way too hungover to eat a full meal. i do remember seeing what my friends ordered and it looked so good that i had to come back. soooo, my second time back (completely sober) i had the huevos w/ chorizo & cheddar omlette. i love omlettes! it was very good. i ate the whole thing even the sourdough bread. deeeeeeeelish!
(4)Kristy N.
Had a groupon here and went in for brunch last Friday with some friends that were in town. We sat on their (hidden) patio out back. Their menu is pretty huge and everyone enjoyed their food. I had the omelet with goat cheese which was nothing special but still good. The breakfast burrito was also tasty. The clear winner was the pesto scramble. It was pretty rich but extremely delish. Great service. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(4)Liz S.
I met up with my old roommate for brunch at Toast Two and I have to say, I don't think I'm all that impressed. I don't think this place is the most comfortable place to have brunch, or any meal for that matter. First of all, people who are waiting for tables are literally on top of the people at the tables. Not to mention, if you sit for five minutes longer than it took to pay the bill you'll start getting the stink eye. Second, half the reason the wait is so long is because the staff are slow. Trust me....I enjoy it when the servers aren't asking you every ten seconds what you want, is everything okay, are you finished, etc. But when it takes 10 minutes to put in an order, when you're clearly ready to, that's a problem. The food that I had, Eggs Benedict (with prosciutto instead of Canadian bacon) wasn't as good as I had hoped it would've been. They crisp up the prosciutto, which make sit difficult to cut and a bit stringy. It might've worked better if they would've just left the prosciutto alone. I really doubt I'll be back here. The food wasn't amazing and the wait isn't worth it.
(2)Timothy W.
My fiancee and I dine in or pickup from here every weekend. Best breakfast in the city; you can always count on a solid meal. Their BELT (breakfast sandwich) is fantastic -- on a french roll and a classic. Their pancakes are perfect and light, and the specials they have are creative and very very good. You cannot go wrong here! Everything is done well, and the service is fantastic! Greg, the host, is our buddy and has a great sense of humor. You may have to wait on weekends, but well worth it. Nice outdoor seating area as well. A+
(5)Mari K.
If the original Toast and Toast Two were sisters, this would definitely be the more attractive one. The restaurant feels brighter, roomier, and overall...pleasant-er. =) As for the food, it's good. I ordered the french toast orgy... 3 stuffed french toasts with yogurt and granola. Definitely enough for 2 breakfasts... too bad french toast doesn't survive too well in the fridge. Service was fine.. no complaints. Don't worry if there's a wait. There are PLENTY of cute boutiques and shops nearby to browse through while waiting... and plenty to return back to when you're trying to walk off what you ate.
(3)jen m.
Decided to stop here on a sunny Saturday morning and was prepared to wait 30 mins for a table but lucky me! We were seated after just 5 mins. It took some maneuvering to get to my seat. The tables were so close to each other that I almost knocked over a plate of avocados that someone was enjoying! With the table so close together, it also makes for some good eavesdropping. lol. But the skylights make the space so warm and bright. I have a strong affection for their mascarpone stuffed french toast. It's nice that they don't scrimp on the fruits that compliment the mascarpone wonderfully. A lil french toast + a piece of fruit = a perfect bite. They serve Julius Meinl products and they make a mean cup of strawberry tea! But skip the thick cut apple smoked bacon. It was overdone and they should have just labeled it "bacon", no hint of the apple smokiness nor was it thick. The Tijuana wasn't too memorable either. But I'm not an omelet fan, it's too easy of a dish to make at home and have it taste exactly the same as the restaurant versions.
(3)kim h.
We were starving. It was 10:50 am on a Tuesday (June 22), many seats open inside and out. The decision was a Lorraine Omelet ,Stuffed French Toast, side of bacon, coffee and lemonade. We never got to experience to food. -NO ONE EVER WAITED ON US!!! IGNORED FOR 20 MINUTES. We were seated on the patio by the host. Despite two servers walking past us at least 6 times (I did not count from the very beginning), no one ever acknowledged our presence let alone said hello or indicated that they would ever wait on us. At the 20 minute point we got up and left. The host offered for us to come into the main restaurant, but I had no desire to be waited on by the same staff who had just ignored us for 20 minutes. No Manager was available on site. I was over it. No longer have the desire to EVER eat there. Went over to the BONGO ROOM. Had a delicious breakfast. were waited on in less that 5 minutes despite the crowds,
(1)Matt J.
This Wicker Park restaurant has some things going for it; decent street parking if you get there early, fairly cheap prices (compared to other joints), and good Julius Meinl coffee. The decor is fancy kitsch but the main room suffers from bad acoustics. A couple of screaming babies don't help matters either. I had the croque monsieur which was good and the potatoes. The potatoes were the blandest I've ever had. Not a hint of any spice other than pepper. It's nice to know that lunch is available all the time. The service was slow and that's sad for eating there at 8:15 this morning. I'd hate to see how it is closer to noon. The entrance has a few stairs that can be a little treacherous in the snow. Be careful.
(3)Chance T.
Hands down the besy brunch in Wicker Park/ Bucktown Busy on the weekends (for a good reason) Heavy and awkward entrance doors, but exceelent food and staff! Perfect aqnd magically delicious!
(5)Kelly R.
We come here all the time for breakfast when in Chicago. The french toast with fruit is just enough and the pesto scramble is dee-lish. They have a great kid's menu, I was very tempted to order the S'mores pancakes for myself! The staff is super friendly and very helpful.
(4)Meriel C.
Loved this place! Had the French Toast Orgy and it was to die for. I was in heaven. They give you plenty so I had the left overs for dinner. This place is small so recommend that you arrive early if you don't want to wait. I got there at about 8:30 on a Sunday morning and was seated right away.
(4)Lauren K.
Yummy stuff! Though I feel some of the dishes are a bit over priced, I was pleased to see portion sizes were huge, so it all works out. Nice service. Absolutely lovely waitress. When my only vegetarian side option was fruit, I was a bit disappointed. Fruit in winter months usually means grapes, off-season hard melon pieces, maybe even thawed out frozen strawberries. BUT I was pleasantly surprised when I got a lot of black raspberries, blueberries, FRESH strawberries and about half a banana. And grapes that didn't taste like they set out for a long time. Oh and I love any place that serves challah toast! And though I ordered two eggs, it seemed more like three. Very tasty.
(4)betsy b.
I'd come here for an orgy anytime. I've tried both the pancake and french toast and it's hard to pick a favorite. There's so much to choose from on the menu whether you're in the mood for sweet or savory. If only the place wasn't so small and tight. It's best to show up early on weekends to avoid a wait.
(4)Julie B.
Meh. With so many great brunch places in the city, why bother with one that's just so so. The entryway is tiny, so when it's cold outside, everyone is crammed right inside the front door. Total cluster. The food was totally average. I had the eggs benedict with prosciutto, but instead of being thinly sliced and raw, like I was expecting, it was cooked, super salty, and thick. The hollandaise was a bit too lemony for my liking, but whatever. My friend had the veggie benedict and raved about it - it did look exceptionally better than mine. Other friend had some chorizo omelet that looked revolting. We shared the french toast trio for dessert and again, totally blah. I didn't care for any of the flavors, really can't understand why people rave about this. If you like chocolate french toast, go to Kingsbury Cafe - 100x better. Then when the host brought our check, we put our 3 cards in there to split 3 ways. He comes back and tells us max 2 cards per check. So then one of us pays with cash and the other 2 leave their cards in. He was standing there watching us do this, goes away, comes back and says we can't split one check across cards and cash. WTF?? What kind of stupid rules are these? I've worked in plenty of restaurants and never heard of anything like that. The bright spot of the place was the waiter, who was really nice and very attentive. And we got a good laugh from the girl at the next table who nicked our half-empty carafe of OJ when we got up to leave. Really, girl? Klassy.
(2)Jill and Ying J.
In the myriad of one-word brunch eateries in Chicago lies Toast, a gem of a restaurant, where the food is as airy, light, and uplifting as is the decor. We chose this one in Bucktown after reading about some of the less than delightful personalities at the Lincoln Park location, and since we came on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush, all the negatives highlighted in other reviews were completely absent. The staff was courteous, polite, and friendly. The inside is decorated with a spring-like feel that breaths life into your hungry hungry soul. The 2 floor high ceilings create an illusion of a much larger place, desperately appreciated on crowded weekends, we're sure. The food, of course, is the star of the show. We had the French Toast Orgy (seriously, how could you NOT order an orgy when it's legally offered to you without risk of certain diseases?) and the seared ahi tuna sandwich. The french toast medley was fantastic. Starring 3 giant pieces of toast, strawberry, chcolate, and marscapone, with a perfectly seared crispy outside and moist, sweet, and individually tasteful inside, the orgy was also accompanied by 4 varieties of fruits flanking the outside, awaiting their turn. On top of it all, it was smothered by a layer of delicious oats, sunflower seeds, and a creamy sweet honey-infused concoction. The seared ahi tuna was more classic, a giant piece of tuna seared on the outside, medium on the inside, flanked by 2 pieces of perfectly toasted bread, with grilled fennel and all, again, smothered perfectly with a sauce of saffron, tomatoes, and other delights. The menu is expansive, the food is delightful, and the staff was courteous. We will definitely be back to explore more of their menu...on weekdays if we could help it though.
(5)Megan G.
Crowdy, trendy, long waits, slow service, loud - yes Yummy, warm, charming, worth it all - yes If you walk by and there are no people waiting on the street then chances are your wait won't be too long. The hostess will bring you hot coffee to sip on while you wait in their tiny front area, which is a major plus! The menu isn't huge but it covers all of the bases. I have tried the french toast trio which was good, but more of a desert, the lemon poppyseed pancakes which were fantastic and some omelet thing with cheese and (mmmmm) bacon. Delish! I can't wait to try the breakfast burrito because it looks, well, right up my ally.
(4)Maria G.
The hubby and I live closer to the Toast in Lincoln Park, but since it's always soooo crowded, we thought to try this one. Let me say the service, people, coffee (and must in the AM) and food at both locations is are simply OUTSTANDING...seriously had to use that word 'cause it's that GOOD! But (insert tense music here) this locaton has a patio and is much bigger. For those reasons, I like this location better, but reccomend both. Check them out for yourself!
(4)kim w.
Had a friend visit Toast a while back and she urged me to check it out. Exciting to see such an open, airy room. The counter was unoccupied but looked inviting. A cute friendly model-esque redhead worked the door and sat my guest and I quickly- only two available tables to choose from, full house but not too crowded. The place was bustling with Bucktown professional couples, those couple types entertaining their in-laws and hyped/yacky after-class yoga girls. We grabbed a warm window seat; the seat in the window had a gob of pillows behind the back but the butt/seat was truly uncomfortable and not much space on either side of the table- a case where you're closer to the strangers next to you and strain to hear what your own guest is saying. We were cursed by and closest to the yacky yoga gals flooding with energy post-class but complaining about everything under the sun: jobs, shoes, co-workers, blah, gag. Our server was slow and short-winded. The orange juice was just... fine. Again, the building structure and room design was inviting but the clientele was an off-balance mix. The menu was... okay. Standard brunchy fare. I ordered the Crab Benedict. The hollandaise was REALLY super lemony which was... okay... for the crab. Coffee refills were always timely thankfully. We did ask to move to a different area of the restaurant promptly after YACKIES got louder and even more negative. (EEEEK. Shut up! Be aware of your surroundings and proximity to other diners. Tacky Yacks! Go back to yoga and learn something other than standing and breathing on a mat.) Staff was eager to adjust and apologized for the awkwardness. It happens on occasion I suppose. My guests - a local chef- was utterly unimpressed and mentioned little to validate our experience: Just that he has a silly rule about NOT frequenting brunch joints with one-word brunchy names like Toast or Orange or Yolk. Decent-okay/fine-enough food. Some favor and substance to fill a belly. Nothing exceptional. We won't be returning.
(2)Kim J.
I had a good brunch here with some friends a few weeks ago. We apparently arrived just before the rush as we got the last table in the house. Sadly, it was right by the door and I felt like people were on top of us for our entire meal. I can't imagine how crowded it would be in winter, when no one would be willing to wait outside! Our waitress was friendly but a bit scattered. She had a lot going on and was a bit slow. I had to flag down a busboy to get a coffee refill (and the coffee wasn't even anything to write home about!). And it took our food almost 40 minutes to come out, and when it did come out, I could tell it had been sitting awhile as my plate was scorching! The food was quite good, which was really the saving grace of our experience. The big winner seemed to be the smoked salmon omelette - lox in an omelette sounded kind of weird to me but it turned out to be delicious It had fresh smoked salmon and cream cheese and capers - yum! The Lorraine omelette was also a hit among our group. It had bacon. 'Nuff said. Were it not for the service issues and the issues with the crowd, this would've been a fantastic brunch. I'd give it another chance, because I think it could be great. But it just wasn't.
(3)Jing C.
One of the more inventive brunch spots in Chicago. I've never ordered anything I haven't liked here. The decor is friendly for a brunch spot but expect a wait if you get here after 11am.
(4)Melissa H.
This is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Bucktown/Wicker Park area! My husband is a big fan of the chicken sausage. My favorite is the Tijuana Omelette. The food and service have always been great even though it gets so crowded for breakfast. Have yet to go back for lunch, but that's definitely on the list.
(5)Bobby N.
Food was delicious and service was great. They accommodated a large party quickly and the food was delicious. Amazing coffee too!
(5)Diana P.
Toast Two is my favorite Brunch place in the city. Everything on the menu is amazing, fresh and delicious. They have wonderful coffee and great selection of tea. My boyfriend and I have tried at least half of their menu and loved every bite of it. Our favorites are the Stuffed french toast (all three flavors), B.E.L.T, and the omelette lorraine. I'm usually not a fan of pancakes, but i loved the pancake orgy. Everyone who works here is extremely pleasant and kind. Beware: Toast can get packed very quick! My boyfriend and I like to get there right when they open. I would recommend getting there early if you don't like to wait.
(5)Linda L.
Absolutely great brunch place. This cozy little restaurant located in Bucktown is definitely a place you need to try out at least once. I haven't tried the other Toast (located in Wicker Park) but I'm a true fan of this place. It does get busy on the weekend, I went with my girlfriend for a casual outing and girl chat feast. The wait was about 45 minutes on a rainy Saturday around 11-ish. Its also BYOB and appeals to all, young and older, can't get any better. We ordered Veggie Eggs Benedit and pesto scrambled eggs and a side of pancakes. And we finished every bite. Best eggs benedict I've ever tried! Go try it for yourself ;)
(4)Liz H.
If I am going to brunch in Bucktown, I am going to Toast. It is my favorite spot by far. I have uploaded a couple pictures of the food so you can see just how awesome it is. On a recent trip, one friend had the french toast orgy --- chocolate stuffed French toast cover with yogurt granola and berries. My sister and I shared awesome eggs benedict and the most unique pancake with anise, mandarin oranges, strawberries pine nuts and lavender! Crazy sounding, yes, but OH SO GOOD! Either get there early, go when the weather is bad or be prepared to wait. Toast is not a hidden gem in Bucktown. The locals know about it and go frequently, but in my opinion even an hour long wait is well worth it when coming to Toast!
(5)J D.
WAAAAAAAAAY better than the toast in lincoln park. Kinda bizarre since it's the same menu. Usual suspects of lengthy wait, tight quarters...why IS this city so obsessed with brunch? My boy and I were lucky to walk in just as a two top cleared out so we were seated RIGHT AWAY! ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON! pause for awe. I had the special, pesto omelet/scramble with prosciutto. WOW, a bit rich even for me, I just barely finished it. Homefries were alright...meh. Boy had the three different kinds of french toast (orgy?) Once again WOW. My fave was the chocolate though the vanilla also very tasty. The french toast is more like super thick slabs of fluff, yeasty, chewy brioche, a must try (and I am ALWAYS an eggs for brunch person). Only go on the weekends if you're prepared to wait forever to eat. Even though we sat right away, it took a bit for the server to come over and for our food to actually come. Decent coffee.
(4)jenise r.
I always try and come here before work but there's always a huge line on the weekends. I don't wait to eat when I'm hungry & in a somewhat rush, so sorry toast. But today (tuesday) me and a pal went for breakfast and hooray no line! I ordered the Pesto Scramble (im a sucker for pesto) which has prosciutto and some cheese I didn't get the name of all mixed in. It was pretty tasty, it also came with the house potatoes which were really good and some toast. Service was great and quick and I think my friend enjoyed her meal as well. I'll come here again.
(3)Jessica F.
Stuffed French Toast. I don't know what image that conjures up in your mind, but if it does not involve some kind of watery filling, then the French Toast Orgy is not for you. Calling it a "filling" isn't even the right word because that implies that it had another dimension beyond the first two. I didn't put the yogurt and granola on the top and could barely taste the flavors of the chocolate and marscapone. The strawberry one tasted like real strawberry and was a bit tart. I get it. Maybe the added yogurt and granola make it a five star meal and I missed out due to my purist ways. I don't know and won't be finding out. Then let's talk about the service. We went in on a Monday around 10am. There were maybe 2 other "couples" there but it took forever to get waited on. I had to stare down and lock eyes with my waitress to get her to come over -- twice. Not cool when there are only 6 people in the place. I really wanted to have an amazing mouth time at Toast but it just wasn't happening.
(2)Julianna M.
I'm pretty sure, if I held a gun to his head and forced him to choose between me and the French Toast Orgy, my husband would choose the French Toast. Yes, the food here is extra tasty, sugary, bad for you and all that brunchy goodness. Yes, the scene is a madhouse on the weekends. Folks, here's a tidbit of wisdom for you. Live relatively close to Toast? Want French Toast or pancakes but don't want to wait for an hour for them? Call Toast. Order takeout. Take it home, eat it in your jammies in front of the TV.
(4)Jonathan F.
What a great little spot! It's bright, cheery, and the staff is friendly. Coffee was always full, OJ was good. Like Beth M I have to give it 3.75 stars...the hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict had a little too much lemon in my opinion, but the rest of the food made up for it. The potatoes were pretty good - overall they could have just kicked the oil down a tablespoon for my taste. I went by myself (hey it's down the street) and there were quite a few people doing the same. I was reading for about an hour, and it was nice because the staff didn't interrupt me to hand me the check or pour coffee, they just quietly placed it on the table and kept refilling. Despite the sauce, I will come back here. It seems like a great neighborhood place to be.
(4)Ashley S.
Sooooo good! We were almost the last people seated on a Saturday(they close at 4). After getting lost on our trek there the host was really nice (and particularly nice to my friend) and gave us some water while we waited to be seated. The food was among one of the top brunch meals I've had! We both had the special scramble of the day, similar to their huevos scramble but I got avocado instead of meat. My friend also got the pancakes (she was hungry that day). Everything tasted great, definitely on my list for my next trip to Chicago!
(5)Virginia T.
Really more like 3.75 stars.... Everyone's biggest complaint about this place was the small seating area(s) and the long wait times....I went on my day off (Wednesday) at around 11:30 and we were one of 3 tables. :) The stuffed french toast (marscapone) with berries was great (not spectacular). The juice was fresh tasting but slightly more pulp-y than I like. The coffee was good, but my refill was tepid- promptly fixed with a brand new, steaming hot cup by the waitress. But the Cobb Club Sandwich (grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, lettuce & tomato w/ a dijon mayo served on thick toasted challah bread) was AMAZING. The service was really great too. Even though it's a bit pricey (and I *hear* rather crowded-especially on weekends) the service and the food would be well worth the second trip.
(4)Lisa A.
So I've always loved this place and not sure why I haven't reviewed it. I've been a fan of Toast (the one on Webster) since 2003. And today I was reminded again why I loved this place to so much. I saw Toast Two during a day of running errands and then I had the day off today and thought...this is a perfect day to go and enjoy my favorite...FRENCH TOAST ORGY. It was just as I remembered it. Fresh, tasty, and filling. For $10 bucks its a good deal. I had left overs. The service was outstanding and I grew up not too far from this neighborhood so it feel perfect. Go and enjoy this yummy place. You won't regret it!
(5)Rochelle C.
Before Kid - My husband and I loved coming to Toast. Great food - amazing apple/pear/brie crepe and their pumpkin pancakes are terrific. Great coffee too. Would have been a 5 star review...back then. After Kid - Went to Toast Two a few days ago for breakfast with my toddler. The restaurant has always seemed kid-friendly so I was excited to take my kid here, and also very much looking forward to their amazing apple/pear/brie crepe. I ordered a kid's stack of blueberry pancakes for my toddler. When they came out, they had what appeared to be a whole bag of powered sugar on them. They were just covered in powered sugar...total mess. I explained to the waitress that I didn't really want my child to have powered sugar esp. not this much of it. She said that all of the pancakes have sugar on top (doesn't mention this in the kid's menu and wasn't told this when I ordered) . So the point is - the food is terrific for adults. If you are looking for a healthy breakfast for your little one, make sure to specify that you don't want a dumping of powered sugar all over the kid's pancakes that you just ordered. It's a surprise that the generous use of sugar isn't mentioned on the menu or by the server considering how health conscious many parents are concerning their children. Plus - the server (young lady with large black glasses) was a bit annoyed and acted like she couldn't understand why I wouldn't directly feed a pound of sugar to my little one. We received new pancakes, but never saw our server again. So her lack of understanding played a role in only give the restaurant 3 stars.
(3)Carol J.
I've never had anything but excellent service here, from everyone from the friendly service to the smiling bussers and even the cleaning guys who wave hello. They are five stars in my book except I only eat one thing when I come here and that is the Coq Monsiuer (sp) which I usually only eat in Paris because, well, when in Rome. But usually someone starts stealing my delightful little Mister because they like it better than theirs. Which gives me room to think-is their omelette, waffle, skillet thingy not so good? Doubt it. Lines are so crazy here, I thought of starting brunch service to act as their waiting room but its gonna be awhile before I can step into their realm which is fine with me. Oh wtf, Five stars for the awesome hash browns and choice of hot beverages!
(5)Diana F.
In the two times I have been here, I have fallen in love with my food. Yes, real love. I wanted to marry it and then have babies with it. I've had the stuffed french toast (wow...wow...wow) the pesto scramble...wow again...I've had the crab benedict which was SOOOO GOOOD and the regular benedict which did not disappoint....the oj is yummy the coffee is good...the restaurant is cute, the service is great. I absolutely love it.
(5)Maura S.
Had a very enjoyable late lunch at Toast. I went with the grilled cheese, which included three different kinds of cheese- can't go wrong there. Mmmm. I think I'll be back for breakfast...
(4)one thousand songs s.
Orgylicous. Why on earth did my so-called friends send me to Feast when this place is (i) closer to where I was staying (ii) tastier with a better menu (iii) less likely to be filled with screaming toddlers. We actually "found" this place after the waitress at Maps of the World sent us over. She was likely trying to get rid of us, but I figure it was a fair trade, although for who I'm not sure. We had eggs, a pancake orgy, sausages filled with cheese and yes, we even sampled some of the food. Two thumbs up - how else can you have an orgy?! Drawbacks (i) they didn't give us crayons to colour with (ii) they aren't licensed - brunch without the opportunity to have a bloody mary is like serving pancakes and french toast and not having real maple syrup (iii) THEY SERVE PANCAKES AND FRENCH TOAST AND DO NOT SERVE REAL MAPLE SYRUP. 1000Songs
(4)Casey C.
We visited on a weekday and had a very short wait for a table. The hostess was nice and welcoming and our waiter got our drinks for us immediately. So, unlike other reviews I have read the service was really amazing. Then the food came and we were even more impressed. I had an egg scramble(Tijuana) which was delicious. Even my daughter who doesn't eat eggs liked it!! She had the stuffed french toast trio, which was also excellent. The Mexican chocolate didn't have the best flavor, but it didn't taste bad either. The Nutella crepe with pecans was also yummy and reasonably priced. We didn't have a single thing that tasted bad from coffee to jam. The service was also welcoming and attentive. We will definitely be back to try other inviting menu choices :)
(5)Alexis F.
Great local place. Don't leave without trying the tenderloin benedict!
(5)kelly z.
Sometimes brunch restaurants have that one dish that make them great. Toast's entire menu is just that. We had the vegetarian omlet, homestyle potatoes, buttermilk pancakes and, of course, toast. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The potatoes had their own flair. The powdered sugar dusted pancakes were so sweet, they didn't even require syrup. The service was also amazing. It wasn't very busy, so we had the perfect amount of attention at the table.
(5)Kristen S.
Toast Two is pretty much always crowded and it's for a reason! A great menu and great service keeps me coming back over and over again. As a person who is gluten intolerant, you would wonder why I would go to a restaurant aptly named Toast. Fair enough. The toast IS amazing. Prior to being gluten free, I enjoyed the sourdough toast (which has been "sold out" on more than one visit.... so keep trying to get it). But now that I can no longer have wheat and gluten, I still enjoy Toast without the namesake. The omelettes and eggs are fantastic, as is the coffee and espresso drinks. I always get some fruit and the chicken sausage stuffed with apple and gouda cheese is to-die-for. My favorite omelette is stuffed with tomato, spinach, and goat cheese. Be prepared to wait and be prepared to be cozy with your dining neighbors. The only complaint about Toast Two is the seating area. Very cramped. Reasonably priced at about $20-30 for two people including some espresso drinks, Toast Two is worth the wait.
(4)Eliza M.
3.75 stars I guess I had really high expectations for Toast Two. I was expecting it to knock my socks off. I had the eggs benedict and was really jazzed on the truffle hollandaise sauce. It was....not that impressive. Also shared the apple, pear and brie crepe and sampled a friend's french toast orgy which was my favorite of the three. I will, however, be back to try the breakfast burrito. The sign is a piece of toast.
(4)Sara B.
I loved this place. Know that brunch restaurants are my favorite type of established, not steak houses, so read this accordingly. I have something saavy and something sweet, and both were great. The Ahi sandwich was awesome, and it was a healthy size of fish. It was served with my favorite kind of homecooked potatoes, which weren't fried and didn't taste like they had been overcooked in grease. I had the strawberry crepe which I had them nutella to. It was awesome and the perfect size, not too big and not too small. I didn't have them, but the pumpkin pancakes also looked awesome, a number of people were eating them around me. Highly recommend this place if you like cute, brunch restaurants with food that tends to be on the sweeter size.
(5)Angela Z.
I am a HUGE fan of the Toast on Webster so I came here a couple times as the Webster one usually has a longer wait. Everything here is still as great as the Webster one EXCEPT!!!!!! for the egg benedict, which has always been my favorite eggs benedict in the city. :( For some reason at this location, the hollandaise just doesn't have that magical lemony truffle taste that the Webster location's has. When I eat the one at the Webster location, my eyes roll back in my head and it's completely unique to any other hollandaise I've ever had. The Damen location's isn't bad, but it tastes like something you could get anywhere else. However, the pancakes, juice and service are all still great here. Just wish they could get the recipe down from their Webster peeps for that hollandaise! :)
(3)Nikki L.
The wait was long! Too long! I had the stuffed french toast with the trio of fillings. The only one I really enjoyed was the marscapone filling. The chocolate stuffed one was sour? I've never had sour chocolate before and it was gross. The strawberry one was too tart as well. I sent it back for 2 more marscapone ones. Not only did we wait almost 45 minutes for our breakfast but I had to wait another 25 for my replacement french toast. The server almost didn't replace my meal...but once I told her the chocolate was sour, she had a change of heart...why wouldn't any restaurant NOT replace something that a customer didn't eat because they didn't like? That'd be bad service! Overall, not terribly impressed, I went home with a sour stomach probably due to the sour chocolate.
(2)Jen S.
I recently purchased a groupon for Toast, and I was guessing we would experience a long wait when my friend and I went on a Saturday morning around 9:30. We waited about half an hour, which I don't think is bad. The waitress was extremely friendly and offered great service. I have the omelette lorraine (smoked applewood bacon, guyere cheese and chives), which was delicious. Their potatoes and toast were amazing as well.
(4)Megan M.
Un-Bloody-Believable. My favorite brunch comrades and I stumbled into this glorious oasis last sunday morning. The wait was tolerable (30 minutes) and it was a beautiful day. We were seated on the back patio (which may be my only complaint. There were three of us, and we were seated at two tables seperated by a good five inch gap. Awkward.) Julius Meinl coffee? Yes! There wasnt a bad bite between our three entrees (Pesto scramble with proscuitto, pancakes with honey and pine nuts, and a breakfast burrito), and the waitress, while timid, was attentive. I can't wait to go back for a french toast orgy!
(5)Jessica M.
Talked about highly by friends, but not overly impressed in the end. DRINK: We started with coffee, which was really good - I am picky about a good cup of coffee, and that alone gets 5 stars. FOOD: loses one star My friend said their stuffed french toast is killer and suggests it. However, I wasn't in the mood for sweet and it looked so fattening I had to pass. I ordered an omelet with goat cheese, tomatoes and spinach, side of potatoes and cinnamon toast. The omelet had a funky taste to it, not sure if it was the oil they use or if they were egg beaters or something. I ended up picking out the fillers a little, and maybe only ate half. Probably the worst omelet I've had unfortunately. The potatoes were excellent, toast was sweet and good. Tried a bite of my friends marscapone french toast at the end of the meal and it was pretty good - maybe should have ordered that and only ate half. SERVICE: loses one star Three of us came here on a Thursday at 9:30am, which was not very busy maybe 4 other tables and us. Service was slow - had to ask for more coffee and they only came around 3 times in almost 2 hours to check on us - pretty bad for such a small place and not busy. The waitress also messed up the order slightly, gave my potatoes to my friend on her plate and had to take them back to the kitchen to switch. Overall, so so service.
(3)lola d.
O.K people: Toast is good. It is an excellent place to eat brunch, lunch, and so much more. Here are a couple of pointers that will make your toast experience a lot more smoother: Do not visit Toast on a Saturday or a Sunday and get all angry because you are not sat in 5 minutes--the restaurant is SMALL! The food will take a good 15-25 minutes to reach your table after you order on a Saturday or Sunday--so don't go there starving! How do I know this? I am a long time patron, who avoids the joint on weekends and embraces it on weekdays. The staff is amazing and always makes me feel welcomed and the food keeps me coming back for more. What else do I need to say?
(4)Laura R.
The french toast orgy is quite possibly the most amazing/delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life. It's three sticks of stuffed french toast (mascarpone, strawberry, and chocolate, I usually go all mascarpone) covered generously in yogurt, granola and fresh fruit. And their fresh fruit is not your standard grapes with over-ripe melon blend, we're talking delicious blackberries and raspberries here. I cannot stand to wait a long time for brunch but I am willing to sit my ass down on the freezing or boiling hot sidewalk (nowhere else to wait here) just for the french toast orgy. However I've noticed there usually isn't a line closer to 2 when they close.
(5)Isabella M.
This is a favorite spot of mine. I come here often. Here are some dishes I have tried: French Toast Orgy - the mexican chocolate french toast was a bit too rich, the strawberry is insanity and the mascarpone is equally succulent. Don't add syrup to these, people. You will regret it. I would almost be inclined to tell them to hold the granola, as it becomes a lot to ingest and maintain productivity for the remainder of my Sunday. Mascarpone Pancakes w/ pine nuts and anise and other things - This is my all time favorite here. The pancakes are crips on the edges, the flavors blend very well. I am in love. Breakfast Burrito - It's good. But seriously, why are you ordering this when you can have the mascarpone pancakes? Pesto Scamble - This was intense and I'm not sure I would order it again, or at least not as hungover as I was. Very good, very rich. House Potatoes - This is where I reach my dilemma. I love the house potatoes here. They come as a side with most of the savory items. Yet, I prefer the sweet dishes. I suggest the best of both worlds, would be to order this as a side. And i have been known to do so. I've also been to the Lincoln Park location and I'm not sure if I'm just partial to my own neighborhood.... but they were a little stuck up there!! I do like that they have drinks but that's probably the only upside to the place.
(4)Aileen O.
Toast Two has eclipsed Lincoln Park's Toast as my favorite brunch spot! The space is more spacious and has more character than its counterpart. I loved the retro feel. There were vintage toasters and toaster decor decorating the walls. The high ceilings also opened up the place. Despite the dreary weather outside, the place received a good amount of light which was very nice. Service was prompt and friendly. We went on a Monday so there was no crazy rush. We were able to take our time and the wait stuff was patient with our indecisiveness (too many good menu items!). Get the French Toast orgy with marscarpone filling. You'll get three gigantic slabs of stuffed french toast. The pureed strawberry was okay, but the strawberry taste wasn't as defined. I also recommend getting the yogurt and granola on the side, rather than slathered on top. It's less messy and more visually appealing. My friend and I split this dish and combined with our side of house potatoes, we were perfectly sated. With Toast's wait times sometimes topping two hours, I'd recommend visiting the Bucktown spot. Seems less crowded to me!
(5)Gracie B.
A plate of warm gingerbread pancakes on a cold snowy winter vacation afternoon... Does it get any better? I seriously doubt it. Mama Marie and I stopped here for a late breakfast. I had the seasonal gingerbread pancakes which were absolutely great. Moist, fluffy and not heavy, they were lovely. I also had the chicken sausage which was a great compliment. Service was friendly and casual - almost too casual...I normally leave breakfast jittery, instead, I had to ask them to refill my coffee. But I'll forgive that and only dock a star off of what would otherwise had been a great meal
(4)Andreea O.
Really delicious breakfast...there wasn't one thing that my boyfriend and I got that wasn't either really good, either excellent...starting with the fresh strong coffee and ending with the french toast orgy...yummmyy Definitely recommend the pesto scramble, with panceta and tomatoes...oh so good, comes with these awesome potatoes... The only thing that I didn't like as much was the seating situation....it's a small place and tables are crowded next to each other and it could get loud.
(4)Brooke W.
Not often do we stray from our favorite breakfast joint the B.C. (breakfast club), but this morning we found ourselves in Bucktown... I didnt feel like breakfast, but rather lunch food, so I ordered the ahi tuna sandwhich. My boyfriend ordered the special, eggs with some green sauce. Overall the food was bland. Dont order the tuna, it's covered with way too much sage. I expressed my disappointment to the waitress and she didnt have much to offer. Not a "can I bring you something else" Obviously hired for her looks and not her ability to wait on people. Foodie beware. Not the best breakfast in this city.
(1)Bridget L.
The food is good, and I enjoyed my "pancake orgy," but the place is small and gets very crowded. We actually got there really early and the place was empty, but the host refused to seat us until we had our entire party join us, which was only two more people. It was like that scene in the movie Meet the Parents when Ben Stiller is waiting to get on the airplane...Hahaha. Eventually the host sat us because I think she realized that making a hugely pregnant lady stand by a cold door with a toddler in tow in an empty restaurant was pretty silly. But our server was great and the food was very yummy. although a little pricey. I don't live anywhere near Bucktown, so not sure I'd travel all that way just for Toast Two, but if I am in the area, I'd give it another shot.
(3)James C.
So what's the difference between this place and other breakfast places? Nothing. One thing that kinda turns me off is the fact that these little brunch places (that are SO popular with the ladies) is the fact that they're ridiculously expensive for no god awful reason. Why does this place cost just as much as eating dinner? I just don't get it. I ordered a Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo (I always get breakfast burritos if there's nothing on the menu I like) and my gf decided to have the French Toast stuffed with Mascarpone. What the hell is mascarpone? It honestly tasted like nothing. Call me an uncultured low class breakfast burrito eating dummy but the french toast tasted like light fluffy bread... and the mascarpone that was inside the light fluffy bread tasted like creamy nothing. We also shared a side of their potatoes which were nothing too great... just potatoes. The best part about this meal was that it cost me $30 bucks. I love spending $30 bucks for a burrito that I scarfed down in 3 minutes and light fluffy toast with creamy nothingness inside with little pieces of fruit around it. Maybe I'm just not into breakfast (which I'm not) and I'm definitely not into expensive breakfast/brunch places. This place is just OK for me. If I had a choice, I'd go to YOLK where they have a great menu... it's just too bad their location sucks for me cause it's so far into the city. If you like breakfast/brunch and you have the cash for it, I'd recommend this place. The people/person who took our order was super nice and had a very inviting vibe to her but other than that, the food was just average. Maybe I'm expecting too much for a breakfast joint... but if I'm gonna spend $11 for a breakfast burrito that wasn't all that great, I'd better get something else too... like.. I dunno.. a side of potatoes for free. Actually... yeah... why didn't my breakfast burrito come with hash browns or something. Even McDonalds gives you hashbrowns with your two breakfast burritos! Booooooooo for toast. I'm probably not gonna go there again. I'll let my gf go with her other friends that like to spend way too much money for toast they can drench with syrup.
(2)K B.
My bro and I came here. This was a sweet brunch spot, and super cheap - we ate for around $10 each. My bro had the B.E.L.T. with everything (it's huge! and he loved it), and I had the omelette lorraine which rocked. Will totally be going back.
(4)B.D. K.
Actually went to Toast in LP, but either way this place never ceases to impress (4.5 stars). I had a Spanish omelette and it may have been the best omelette I've ever had - hmm, or, let's say at least in the last few years... Thought it was better than the french toast orgy as well. They're eggs always taste really light and fresh. I can't remember the name but it has jalapenos in it.
(4)Hannah K.
This place is so amazing and I love the atmosphere too. THe one in Lincoln Park is just as cute. Favorite meal: the B.E.L.T. and the stuffed french toast (prefer the mascarpone cheese one)
(5)Amy S.
Breakfast burrito is awesome. Pumpkin pancakes were the special of the day and they were loaded with whipped cream (no butter or syrup needed). They were the best pancakes I've ever had!
(4)Kaelan W.
Worth the long wait, Toast Two has the same great food as the Lincoln Park location with slightly shorter waits and a killer garden for summer dining. The food can't be improved upon, but I would love to see both of the Toast locations go the way of other wait-worthy brunch places and offer free coffee and some outdoor seating to the huddled masses.
(4)hannah o.
We visited the Bucktown location on a recent trip to Chicago. It was very tasty. We got the marscapone french toast which was probably in my top 10 favorite french toast dishes. The only irritating thing is they could only split the check 2 ways, but it turned out fine because I just put it all on my card and my friends paid me back. Policies are policies. Overall, great experience--great atmosphere, tasty food, good service.
(4)Denise C.
We did wait quite a while on a Saturday at about 11:30 (about 25 minutes) and were seated at the counter. The counter seating is not very comfortable and we had to put our purses on the floor. (get purse hooks for under the counter, Toast Two!). The coffee was delicious, the service was a bit chilly but efficient. I ordered the Tijuana omelet which was really delicious and hit the spot. The toast was fantastic (as it should be). The potatoes were just so-so and not worth the calories. My friend had the Lorianne omelet which she thought was incredible and finished every bit. Overall, it was a good breakfast but nothing over-the-top great.
(4)Drea E.
Yeah, we went back for round 2 and it was OK. Not spectacular, not terrible, just fine. We split the omelet Lorraine which would have been fantastic had the bacon been cooked more. As it was, chewy bits of undercooked bacon peppered throughout the omelet kind of ruined every bite.
(3)Kate S.
Decent brunch food and selection, nothing as special as, say, Lula's, but alright. Not quite sure why anyone would wait for an hour to eat here, but if there's seating it's a-ok. But, TERRIBLE COFFEE! Wow, I may as well have been at a golden nugget, and they may actually have better coffee there anyway. BLEH!
(3)Carrie L.
Here's the deal. I went to the Lincoln Park Toast a while ago and had the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and it was about the most delicious thing my mouth has ever encountered. I went with a friend from Pittsburgh, and as she was back in the city this month, we decided to visit the one in Bucktown. Very excited about the french toast, she ordered the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and I ordered the stuffed french toast with pureed strawberry. And there ends the good experience... Our meals came out, and mine was soggy and pink. When I tried a bite, it tasted like mushy egg bread with a bitter strawberry taste. Thinking I had perhaps tried the worst bite first, I gave it a few more shots until I decided to save the calories. Although my friend's meal was much better than mine, it was still a little dry and not the french toast manna I remembered. I'm not sure if my memory was better than the actual first experience, or if the Bucktown Toast simply isn't as good. But, in a city with countless great brunch spots, I'll go elsewhere for good stuffed french toast. The chicken and gouda sausauge, on the other hand, was delish. In short, skip the strawberry stuffed french toast and pick something savory!
(2)Jillian D.
two words: pancake orgy oh bacchus would delight! my girlfriend and i brunched here on sunday then went to buy running shoes (bad idea. bad idea.) at nearby running away multisport (see later review). we both ordered the decadent orgy. we both left feeling the need to light up (if we were smokers. and not runners.) yes my friends. it was *that* good. you get three flavorful, plate-sized hot cakes, topped with yogurt, honey and homemade granola, surrounded by fresh berries. (i know - right??!!!) i dare you to finish - i certainly couldn't go through with the entire orgy. that would have been gluttonous. but i would have loved every gooey bite!! if you're more of the savory breakfast type ( i usually am), there are ample opportunities to indulge that craving, from omelets to benedicts to huevos rancheros and beyond. and cup after cup of julius meinl coffee is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
(4)Jess S.
Your weekend brunch wait scares me. But I still love you. I usually end up getting the omelettes for fear anything "stuffed" will make me crazed with sugar. The delicious food trumps the usually crummy service and drafty and cramped interior And I wish the damn line wasn't so long.
(5)Katie L.
Great coffee here, and the stuffed french toast is delicious! The staff does a great job of working their way through the crowded tables to refill water and drinks. They have a nice back deck which you get to by walking between the buildings-not through the restaurant itself, which is kind of cute. I'm looking forward to it being spring soon so I can go back there again! One of these days I'm going to have to try their lunch menu, but I'm always so tempted by the breakfast side of the offerings that I haven't yet. Overall, one of my favorite places in Chicago for breakfast. It is crowded, but the high ceilings and skylights at least make it feel less claustrophobic.
(5)Eliot J.
the hostess and our waitress were one and the same today. she was helpful and friendly. the food came out in about 10 minutes or less. decently priced for what it's considered - a trendy and popular brunch spot. unique food options for the most part. expect a wait during peak hours.
(3)Mike S.
Toast was amazing, if for no other reason than for the juice. The apple just tasted like *gasp* real apples, and didn't taste like sugar water with apple flavoring. The orange juice tasted just as fresh and authentic. I'm not even a big juice drinker, but I would come here for the juice alone. As far as food goes, the brunch was really tasty as well. The menu had a lot of great options, so much that I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down to one. The breakfast burrito, which I finally settled on, was huge and delicious. Especially with some Cholula on it. The cheesy chicken sausage was yummy too, and the nutella-stuffed crepes were top-notch too. Probably the only thing better would have been nutella-stuffed nutella, but I guess I can just have that at home. Brunch may get crowded, but I'm a late eater anyways. Eat here!
(5)Alex M.
The first time I went to Toast, the weather was just toying around with the idea of extending its summer. After a short wait, the hostess whisked us to an outdoor patio! A patio! We hadn't even known or asked, but were seated at a great table, brought ample coffee, reinforcements of orange juice, and overwhelmingly delicious breakfast. Eggs, stuffed french toast, meat, you name it, someone ordered it. Subsequent visits revealed a good bathroom, hip interior seating, and waiters just as friendly as our original lanky western wearin' server.
(5)Hayden J.
As others have mentioned, expect to wait on the weekends. Since I live in the neighborhood, I decided to grab my order to go and take in some Saturday morning TV. I got the French Toast Orgy which is three french toasts that are filled with your choice of chocolate, strawberry, or mascarpone and topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, grapes, granola, and honey. I couldn't decided on the filling so I got one of each. My favorite was the mascarpone (sorta like cream cheese) filling and the strawberry. The chocolate was a little too sweet for my taste. All and all, this was a delicious meal and quite a challenge for one to finish on their own. (I posted a photo of my meal that was taken near the stopping point.)
(5)Lady L.
Yummy breakfast in Bucktown. I don't even try getting in on weekends but if you are lucky and are able to go out to breakfast during the week, make it to Toast. All of the pancake/french toast stuff is good. Also, they've got a good selection of savory items on the menu, which is good considering Bongo Room lacks that in their menu. Definitely a must try.
(4)Brian M.
When we lived in Bucktown (2002-2005) This was our home-turf for breakfast... we couldn't get enough. Love the oatmeal, and anything that they do with French Toast. Since leaving Chicago, we have been to Boston, and now Tucson, Arizona - we have been searching for a "Toast-like" breakfast spot, and have been unsuccessful! Congrats to the team at Toast (all of them) hopefully you are still having the success you did years ago.
(5)Kami T.
The menu was departure from typical brunch places. They offered a twist on the usual flavors for breakfast, and it was executed well. The portion size was also surprisingly big. A big plus for me is that they offered sugar-free syrup. We had to wait 1 hour, but that's to be expected for brunch on a sunday. Overall, it was a great experience!
(4)t.n. t.
I have an addiction! The pancake orgy and the breakfast burrito are a must!!! I prefer to go here in the summer when the back patio is open so that I have some privacy. My boyfriend and I miss this place when we haven't been in awhile. The portions and quality have decreased a bit in recent time, but its still good!!
(5)candace l.
There are so many good choices on the menu, but don't be afraid to try the daily specials. You will not be disappointed. This place is a hit so expect to wait and wait and wait for a table. But it will be worth it, I promise! Fantastic food and friendly service.
(5)Blah B.
Love this place. Have had some pretty awesome experiences here with my boys! I tend to always order one of the specials for the day and they never disappoint. Love the fact that you can come here during the week as well and have some quality time with friends or family!!!
(4)eden s.
Yes, the waitstaff is super snotty hipsters and prices are above average, but that's fine bc they have the best eggs & chorizo in the city. I love their potatoes too. And their fresh OJ is always so refreshing. The pancakes are fluffy and delightful. It's the best breakfast place in the city. Expect a wait of 30 minutes or more. Kid-friendly - kind of. The waitstaff hates kids pretty much...or maybe they just hate life in general. They are always so crabby. There is one standout waitress -- Michelle, I think. She has been there for years. African American gal. Always very sweet contrary to her counterparts. Ask for her section if she is there. Despite some of these negative things, I still love Toast.
(5)Leang E.
This place is really small, so I wouldn't recommend a group larger than 4 to be honest. I wonder if there would still be a line of people if the place was bigger. It was the weekend and we did have to wait outside for brunch. We were told an hour long wait, but got in sooner since we were willing to sit at the counter. I like the homey feel that the place has to it. It is reminiscent of a nicer diner in the movies. Our server was really nice as well as the hostess. I ordered the breakfast that included eggs over medium, the chicken gouda sausage, thick sliced bacon, potatoes, and wheat toast. I ate half of it and took the rest home. It was very tasty, but slightly more expensive but worth it. The sausage was unique and they have huge portions here. You can also get coffee before you are seated so you can drink it outside while you wait. I think I live even closer to this place.
(4)Janette L.
Despite it's namesake, I have yet to try the french toast. I have a weird love for breakfast burritos and I think this place has one of the best in the city. Space is small so be prepared to wait. Perfect for couples and very small groups. I have been here a few times and thought the service was good - they always kept my coffee mug full! Remember to check out the specials written on the chalkboard hanging on the wall - some unique and tasty dishes (i.e eggs+pesto).
(4)Suzzane B.
My boyfriend and I get breakfast together all.the.time. We were super sad that our regular spot Cafe de Lucca closed down (down the street) and so we tried this place on a whim instead. I think it's safe to say, it is for sure our new regular and much loved place to go. We love that we run into people frequently here that we know from the neighborhood or just around town in general, and I personally love that they remember us as familiar faces and even are starting to know what our usual orders are. But more importantly, I just love that they are a locally owned joint that offers great food at a great price and always provide stellar customer service to us regardless of being 'regulars' now or not. They greet us with a friendly smile every time, and even something so simple as the check holders they give us at the end of our meal have the saying on it "Good food with good friends" (or something to that effect) because that's how they make us feel every time. We will definitely be enjoying breakfast here for years and years to come (oh, and the lunch options are spectacular too!).
(5)Akeisha W.
I enjoyed breakfast here a couple of days ago. They were ver friendly and fast. The atmosphere was pleasant and food was good. Definitely going to try the french toast orgy next time. I had and omelet and it was good. I will be back.
(4)brian u.
We moved 1/2 block away from Toast II. It was the best thing we ever did! As long as you are there before the mob (Sat and Sun before 9:30ish) you get a quick table or a seat at the bar. Lucky grab last week on the beautiful, tranquil back patio. Everything on the menu is fantastic! Have had several of the items and always score a taste from fellow diners if it's something I haven't had. Unfortunately makes Clarke's Diner (see earlier review) a little less tempting and a whole three blocks away!
(5)charlotte G.
Went for brunch on a holiday Monday around noon - only a very short wait for a table of four! Very cute place, but not too girly that you couldn't bring guys. The menu had many different options - we all stuck with the more breakfast type food. Everything was great! And very large portions too. Maybe I am just used to NYC prices but everything seemed very cheap - I got a side of pancakes with my meal, no extra charge! I guess they don't have a liquor license yet so alcohol was not available yet.
(4)Trevor R.
If you happen to be a hungry Texan lost in Chicago, and you stumble upon a sign in the shape of a slice of toast, I highly recommend that you enter the establishment below and enjoy their hearty, eggy breakfast burrito. The house salsa is pretty darn good, but the old standbys Tabasco and Cholula are on-hand as well. You may have to wait 10-15 minutes for a table, but if the summer heat is getting to you, the equally tasty hostess will be happy to bring you some water. ;-)
(4)Nancy H.
A cute brunch place just north of Armitage on Damen. It's a long restaurant, so they make use of booth seating along the wall. The wait for a late lunch was approximately 30 minutes for a party of three on a Sunday, and they don't take reservations. The prices are average for breakfast, but what surprised me is that crepes are only $5-7. I ordered the cobb club sandwich, which is grilled chicken, lots of bleu cheese (that I scraped off), avocado, tomatoes, and salad greens, and it was excellent! I think they season or butter the toasted bread. I substituted the potato salad that accompanies all sandwiches for a small fruit cup for $1 more ($9.50 total) but so worth it - the sliced bananas and strawberries and whole blackberries were so fresh and sweet. I noticed the stuffed french toast with fruit was a popular hit. I was most impressed by the presentation of the food. Everything comes out on white shiny plates, and there is absolutely no messiness. Sandwiches are cut straight, there are no random crumbs on your plate, and each meal is colorful - all so picture perfect. I'd come back again.
(4)Laura I.
I used to come here more but don't even think of coming these days. It does have pretty good food but what I can't get past is how PACKED it becomes and how PACKED they seat everyone. You're basically sitting at some stranger's table throughout your meal and there's barely enough room to let one thigh go in between the tables to get to the cushioned seats. I always go here expecting good but leave feeling like a sardine who's finally been freed. If only they could get more oil in this joint so we could all breathe!
(3)Becky W.
I met a friend here for breakfast yesteray. I ordered the pancake orgy and swapped the banana pancake for a blueberry. It was good. I was a little skeptical about the yogurt on top of pancakes, but It was sprisingly delicious. Negatives are the thimble of warm orange juice I got for $2, and I really love fresh squeezed OJ, so that was a disappointment. And also it was majorly crowded, and we got sat at the table right next to the door so the people waiting were encroaching on my booth space and letting their children run around. I'd give it another try because it tasted good and it was bright and sunny, but I think I'm more of a low-key brunch spot kind of girl.
(3)Rachel E.
toast two is definitely in my top 3 places for breakfast/brunch. the food is fantastic; the service is always pleasant; and, although the seating is a little cramped, it doesn't get too busy during the week. probably my favorite breakfast potatoes in town.
(4)Jacque w.
I just don't get it. I had heard that Toast was wonderful. I had seen it on tv and had read reviews that it was one of the best around. This is not the experience I had ! I went with a friend who ordered the Pepper eggs, I ordered the Lorraine Omelet. My friends eggs were tasty, but nothing special. My omelet was very dry, very small and looked very bland on the plate. My friends eggs were accompanied by potatoes and toast. My omelet just came with toast. It just needed something else on the plate, because it seemed almost unfinished. You would think that a place named Toast would have some stand out breads, but this was just your run of the mill grocery store bread. I think there are many better places to eat than Toast, I would not go back.
(2)Destiny T.
First time trying this place and I would definitely return! I played it safe and got the two eggs meal with house potatoes, toast and a side of short stack buttermilk pancakes. They were not skimpy on the food. In fact I wasn't able to even eat my toast and half of my pancakes because I was full mid-meal (and I can eattt lol). Usually, I'm not a fan of house potatoes but they made them nice and flavorful and crispy. The scrambled eggs were probably one of the best scrambled eggs I have ever had from a restaurant (they were seasoned already and were yellow and fluffy). The pancakes were delicious; adding additional butter is not necessary which I love because I'm always too eager to eat my food to want to take the time out to put butter on my already buttermilk pancakes lol. The waiters are also very friendly and approachable. Only downside is that it can be difficult to find parking on Damen. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this breakfast place! You can tell that they take pride in their food and use fresh ingredients which is always important to me!
(5)Morganne B.
This was the perfect place for my boyfriend and I to come when we were too hungover to go to work the day after taking our medical boards exam and skipped. We were lucky not many people were out on this gloomy looking Friday but thankfully there was no wait and we were seated immediately. The special omelet, with prosciutto, tomatoes and cheddar was just the ticket. Olive salty salty prosciutto on its own but in an omelet with some hot sauce on top was even better. My boyfriend loved his crabby benedict; he loved it so much he ordered a side of chorizo to put on top. He said his potatoes maybe weren't cooked as much as they should've been and didn't finish them, but otherwise this place was on point. Coffee mug was never empty and the service was fast. I'm not sure if I would wait in line for so long as I've often seen people do here, but I definitely will come back and bring mimosas once this hangover subsides!
(4)Elisabeth C.
My brother emailed me one day that he was flying into Chicago for a bachelor party, and could I pick him up from O'Hare? He'd make it worth my while by buying me breakfast. Of course I obliged, but what he didn't know was that my sister and two of her three daughters were in town for the weekend visiting me, so he had a rather large party for breakfast! Despite coming at peak hours on a Saturday morning, Toast Two was able to accommodate all five of us immediately. The service was great (and to be honest, brunch with young children is not always the best experience). The food was also delicious. I had the french toast orgy, my sister had the eggs benedict, and my brother had the breakfast burrito. And he wasn't at all annoyed about having to buy breakfast for all four of us since it meant he got to see his nieces.
(5)Jamie B.
Good breakfast place in Bucktown. I've been here many times over the last few years and it's always been speedy and consistent. I enjoy the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. The pancakes are also tasty. Good option on the neighborhood.
(4)Deanna N.
Very cute place. No reservations and BYOB, which means no bloody marry's or mimosas served. I had a delicious crepe with brown sugar and strawberries for $6. The bacon was disappointingly thin. I think the stellar items here maybe the french toast hence the name. Definitely a hipster hangout in Bucktown.
(4)Glenn B.
The staff is friendly and quick. Service was great. The food was exceptionally good! I hate to say even better than the deep dish pizza we had come to Chicago to try. Had the breakfast burger with Swiss cheese. Patty was perfectly cooked to order. All the ingredients came together and complimented each other well. The egg gave it an unreal richness! Also ordered the French toast orgy with one of each flavor! The strawberry and marscapone filled ones were delicious. Not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I can't say I enjoyed it. Overall, great breakfast place and a definite must try!
(5)Bao L.
Stuffed french toast on fleek. I had breakfast here and couldn't decide between the Pancake Orgy and the French Toast Orgy, so I asked the waitress what she recommended between the 2. Before I could finish my sentence, she said French Toast Orgy, so French Toast Orgy it was. I must say, the French Toast Orgy here is AMAZING and I'm glad she recommended it. It comes w/ 3 pieces of stuffed french toast: strawberry puree, mascarpone, and Mexican chocolate, all topped with vanilla yogurt, granola, berries, powdered sugar, and a drizzle of honey. There's a lot going on on the plate, but it all works well together. It was plenty sweet (in a good way), so I didn't even need to add syrup to it. The berries are fresh and the yogurt and granola add great texture to the stuffed french toast. All 3 were good, but my favorite was the strawberry puree, followed by the mascarpone, and then the Mexican chocolate. Toast Two is close to my house, so I definitely want to come back to try the Pancake Orgy and Pesto Scramble
(4)Stephen M.
Went here for brunch and it hit the spot. I got the breakfast burger which was very good. Girlfriend got the chorizo Benedict but the English muffin was burnt. Ok prices for what you get, good service, and only had to wait 10 min for brunch on a Sunday. Next time I need to try the stuffed French toast, It looked good!
(4)Sara T.
Still one of my favorite brunch spots! It's pretty much got the whole package -- good food, good coffee, friendly staff, and love the bright, modern country styled interior. The pesto egg dish and brie with pear and apple crepe were both stellar.
(4)Rebecca R.
Had a great meal at my neighborhood spot. It is typically packed, so I was able to meet a friend here moments after the opened on a week day during my winter break. We sat at the counter and had a great meal with great service. I ordered chilaquiles off the special board while my partner in crime ordered delicious looking pancakes off the menu. We were both super pleased with the meal, coffee, and feeling of the place. The couple next to us offered us their almost empty bottle of champaign, so apparently it is also BYOB. Enjoy! I'll be back!
(5)Evie H.
I was super excited to come here for brunch especially because 1) I love the name 2) I love the store front even more. Our wait was about 40 minutes on a Sunday at noon and then it was probably another 20 minutes before we got our food after we ordered. A little lengthy for me. I got the French toast orgy with one of each flavor - dark chocolate, marscapone, and strawberry. I thought I would like the dark chocolate the most but it turned out it was my least favorite. It was kind of mushy and stuck at an awkward in between of trying to be sweet, but not sweet enough. Turns out the marscapone was my favorite! The regular stuffed french toast is basically the same plate but just without the yogurt and granola toppings. The service was okay. They were very accommodating for one of my friends who had a lot of specific requests for her burger. One of our waiters was very odd though and he kept on asking if we wanted more coffee and water even though we repeatedly said no. He also very awkwardly tried to maneuver the water pitcher around us which I didn't understand at all because it really wasn't that difficult to do. All in all, it's a solid brunch spot but because it's also a smaller place, be prepared to wait on weekends.
(4)Stephen L.
The mascarpone stuffed French toast... My god, it was delicious. The chicken Apple Gouda sausage was the best sausage I have had in a long time.Espresso game is average and it took a while for me to get my food. Staff is friendly and helpful.
(4)Melanie P.
After living down the street from Toast for years, we finally decided to brave the crowds and give it a try. Arrived at 9:45am on a Sunday, and were seated immediately in the very busy restaurant. (We went because it was COLD and knew that the crowds might be lighter). SO GLAD WE DID! We have already been back for the second time in one week (this time a Thursday morning which was comfortably quiet!). The Croque Madam, the BELT, the breakfast burrito with chorizo, all DELICIOUS!! The bread on the BELT made this sandwich for me. Buttery and perfectly toasted outside, super soft inside. Tried a latte upon the recommendation of our waiter (who doubled as a barista?!) during our second visit. It was excellent! Service was solid during even during a busier Sunday. Avoided this place because I hate to wait, but will return again and again because when you time it right, it's outta sight!
(5)Lauren B.
What a great spot for brunch! Love the omelette and sandwich selection. We had a wonderful waitress named Jennifer, who took great care of us. My only qualm is the fact that it is BYOB but you have to use their beverages and I'm sorry but $8 for a small carafe of OJ is not realistic... Other than that our food was great! It's gets pretty busy so def make a reservation during the weekend!
(5)Aja G.
Classically good breakfast. When you want some fluffy scrambled eggs, a decent size side of bacon and some damn good toast then Toast one or two is your place. This location is set up much life the originally in DePaul country: about 15 tables crammed against a wall, a breakfast bar and a lot of natural light. There are come things I wish Toast Two would offer like a build your own omelet option or meat with pancakes. But when you want some cozy down home breakfast Toast Two is your place.
(4)Anna G.
Came back to Toast Two after a long absence and it confirmed what I remembered it being: just an average brunch place. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, the service even better, but overall nothing I can't get at any other brunch place. My friend and I went at 10:30 on a Saturday morning and our wait time was between 20-30 minutes. (If we had agreed to sit at the counter, the wait would have only been 5 minutes.) I definitely wouldn't wait any longer than that.
(3)Lati T.
Brunch when I have time, i come here! Super friendly staff...and the stuffed french toast is so good!!
(5)Rice D.
Been here many times, as I live right across the street. I called this morning (Monday, 2/2) and asked to place a takeout order. A male responded with "We're not doing take out orders right now" [CLICK]. No goodbye, no info regarding if they'd be taking orders later today, a week from now, a month from now etc. I understand if you're swamped, but it's Monday morning and there was a HUGE snowstorm all weekend. I can see Toast from my window and it's not busy at all. My advice to the guy answering the phone would be to not take your bad mood out on the customer. My advice to Toast would be to not let that guy answer the phone any more. It's not often you encounter such a bad response from a business you're trying to patronize. If this is how Toast treats their customers, I will take my food request elsewhere.
(1)Daisy K.
I know this place is a solid 4 stars with several hundred reviews, but for some reason when I took a bite out of my breakfast burrito I literally said out loud "What?".. As in, how was this burrito everything I so desperately need right now. Go. If they can make a simple burrito delicious, than I would imagine everything else on the menu would follow suit. I will say though, that $2 dollars seems high for an avocado add on, but whatevs, I was feeling generous & it was packed with delicious perfectly ripe avocado. Staff was friendly and very attentive too! 5 well deserved stars.
(5)Beth C.
I'm really surprised at how well this place has been reviewed overall. I went here for breakfast last Sunday with a friend. I'm new to the area and noticed that there are almost always people waiting for a table on the weekends for brunch so I checked out the menu online and thought it sounded like a great classic brunch stop. If a restaurant is going to be strictly breakfast/brunch place (no bar, no bottomless mimosas, no shtick) then surely the food must be great. Or so I thought. The wait for a table was going to be 30 minutes on a Sunday around 10 a.m. But a couple of spots opened up at the counter, so we sat there immediately. We were offered and served coffee pretty quickly. I think the service was good. Not overly personal or friendly but polite and efficient. The food is where things fell apart. I ordered the two egg breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon, breakfast potatoes). My scrambled eggs were way overcooked and the potatoes were hard. My friend ordered the French Toast. It certainly looked pretty when it came it out. But it, too, was completely overcooked and dried out. There are a lot of other brunch options in the area. I have no plans to return here.
(2)Ashley C.
I'd give Toast Two 3.5 stars. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but it is a solid neighborhood place. We were trying to find a place to go when my sister was visiting. She loves breakfast food. Toast Two was a solid option. We arrived at about 10:15 and only had to wait a little bit for a table. The place was packed and rather loud (read: not the best hangover breakfast spot). I had a the eggs benedict. It was very good but nothing mind blowing. My sister was pleased with her option (which was made gluten free to order). The portions were also huge! I was also told that their coffee was solid as well. Overall, a solid brunch basic spot.
(3)Jenny G.
We went here for a birthday Brunch. Service was great, menu was even better!!! I had the breakfast burrito, shared the strawberry stuffed French toast and my boyfriend had an omelet. There was so much to choose from that we have already decided we will be going back soon to try something new! PLUS; Its BYOB.. They have orange juice and a Bloody Mary mix available so all you need to bring is the vodka!
(5)Kayla S.
Does Toast Two need another stellar review? Nah, but what the hell, it's delicious! The cinnamon raisin toast. Wow. Served warm and HAS to be made in the restaurant. Literally the best piece of toast I have ever had in my entire life. Eggs Benedict was good. Egg cooked to perfection. We wanted more meat so we ordered sides of sausage. Oh, and the best part, BYO mimosas, baby! And the orange juice glasses that come with the carafe are brought with a little strawberry on top. My friend had some sort of scramble and the potatoes were just so perfect. The right amount of crispy and seasoned well. I came with my husband some time back and it was pretty good, this most recent time just affirmed Toast Two as a solid brunch spot forever. Most definitely will return!
(5)N A.
I had breakfast here on Monday June 15, 2015. I was getting my last real meal before flying out of town. I had never been here but I left thinking that if I ever find myself in the area, I will certainly visit again. I had coffee (plenty of it!) and their "B.E.L.T." sandwich. It was GOOD! It came with potato quarters on the side. The service was good too. The lady working there kept my coffee topped and made sure all was well. Great service. The decor is nice too. Modern "home" feel. Lot's of cute decor depicting toast in various ways. Highly recommend for a sit down breakfast solo or with a group.
(5)Ramona Q.
Great place, good coffee, good food. Stuffed french toast (marscapone) is my favorite. There is almost always a wait on weekends.
(5)XTreats X.
Great food! I gave it the extra star because they serve Bow Truss coffee at $2.50 with free refills... That alone makes it worth it, not to mention the huevos with chorizo & cheddar! GO!
(5)Bryce S.
Good breakfast place. I got one of their top menu items: the B.E.L.T and really enjoyed it! If you're in Bucktown, you should definitely stop in!
(4)Matt V.
Food was great. Heat not working so food was cold before I finished. Need to fix the heat
(3)Jessica P.
My friend and I both got stuffed French toast, mine with dark chocolate and hers with mascarpone. Mine was ridiculously delicious and she only had good things to say about hers. I will say this: don't go for the dark chocolate unless you have a serious sweet tooth, it was not for the faint of heart. You get three chunks of toast and o could only manage one, despite how delicious it was. They aren't messing around with the portion size here. We went around 11:30 on MLK day, and the place was accordingly bursting at the seams. I believe we eventually got seated a little after noon, which wasn't bad at all. We were seated at the counter, and the server was very pleasant and quick with the refills of coffee. I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about this place. I will have to go back and try something savory.
(5)Jess D.
I arrived and put in my name for a party of two at around 1:30 on a Sunday. The place was PACKED. There wasn't even anywhere to stand in the miniscule entryway, so my cousin and I took a walk in the freezing cold and checked out some little shops just to warm up. Quoted a wait time of half an hour, we headed back to check in just after 2:00. Nope. Still nowhere to even stand inside. When I asked for an update, the hostess was totally snotty. Then, when it finally cleared up enough for us to at least stand inside where it was warm, she ignored us completely. No, "sorry for the wait". No, "it'll just be a bit longer". Nothin'. We were just about to leave and go get sushi across the street when we were finally seated. Around 2:45. The atmosphere and decor were cute, if a little kitschy for my taste, but the seating was just absurdly close together. I could barely manage to squeeze between the two tables to access my bench seat against the wall without taking out the water glasses of the diners beside us. The savory options sound tempting, but I really wanted the namesake toast. I had a dish with a sampling of different stuffed french toast, the French Toast Orgy. A lofty name for an okay plate. It arrived relatively quickly and it was good. But not quite good enough to make it worth the ridiculously long wait and the awkwardly cramped seating arrangement. In short...Since they don't take reservations, you can simply accept a long wait time for apathetic service and mediocre food with a somewhat inflated price tag or... Call up a hankering for sushi instead of brunch and head across the street.
(2)Jennifer B.
Came in because of the prior yelp reviews and was not let down, at all!!! Came in and was busy with no tables, but servers rearranged some seating and got my party of 3 in right away. A bit snug with the table next to us, but it's all good. Best French toast ever - go for French toast orgy
(5)Krista S.
Fabulous fabulous service!!!!! Food is fresh and on point for a nice brunch spot. Coffee is nice and strong. A helpful tip is that you cannot be seated until your whole party is there which is understandable considering its popularity (especially on weekends). They are know for their stuffed French toast. My husband ordered 1 of each type (strawberry, chocolate, and mascarpone) and like the server suggested the mascarpone was his favorite. I had the b.e.l.t. with avocado- great fresh bread and nice ripe avocado!
(4)demika c.
The breakfast is consistently good! My favorite is the orgy pancakes. They're delicious and worth waiting for.
(4)Lizette Y.
This is a pretty decent breakfast place. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table, not too bad in my book. The decor and space are pretty interesting. The location has enormously high ceilings but seating area is quite small. Walls are a bright, sunny yellow and vintage toasters adorn the tops of the cabinets, really cute. We were promptly seated and the server brought our coffee to the table immediately. I ordered the veggie benedict, my boyfriend ordered the crabby benedict, and we split a French toast orgy. I know, that seems like a lot, but we wanted to get a good sampling of what they had available and had plenty to take home with us. The benedicts were great, very flavorful and the poached egg was cooked perfectly (a big plus since it's hard to do!). The French toast orgy was yummy and included chocolate, strawberry, and marscapone flavors. Immediately we noticed that these delicious flavorings were either baked into the toast or included inside the batter, as they were consistently flavored throughout the toast, not just drizzled on top. The chocolate and marscapone were my faves, and the strawberry was good too, tasted very fresh like they had just pureed the berries before adding it to the batter. Overall the food was good and so was the service. Not outstanding but I'd go back to try other interesting items on the menu - crepes with pear, brie, and apple; anything with SOY CHORIZO and VEGGIE SAUSAGE (holla to my fellow vegetarians); and pancakes with marscapone, pine nuts, and anise.
(3)Francesca S.
Totally toasty! - Pancake Orgy....berrylicious - Pesto & Prosciutto omelette....salivating This is the second time I've been here and it still continues to hit the sweet spot. Both dishes were made to perfection. We also ordered hot cider and hot chocolate that kept us warm in Chiberia. I decided to order the cinnamon raisin toast to accompany my eggs. As always, it was toasted to the right amount. Chose to sit at the breakfast bar this morning. Loved looking at all the wall art especially the retro toasters. Plenty of other good sounding dishes to order next time. I can't wait to wake up craving for a delicious Bucktown breakfast.
(4)Jim C.
Really strained service this Sunday. Had to remind waitress of our drinks and the toast that should come as a side for both entrees (it's in the name!) that we got as we left. It's not the waitress's fault, she was the only one on a Sunday that we saw, and wound up comping our drinks. The other brunch options were solid, lots of savory options with eggs, good portions, well cooked veggie additions. Where it lacks is the sweet section, which I know others will disagree on. The pancake and French toast options are good but just differ in their toppings. That's not going to compare to a lot of spots in Chicago- but hey, they have something called an orgy so it's not all bad. This will be a good backup from here on out.
(3)Sasha R.
This place was amazing the food was great.... I am a very picky eater and this place surpassed it all. Our waiter was extremely nice as well... Also make sure you get the stuffed toast! Get the cheese one (can't remember the name) you will not regret it!
(5)Steve S.
The place is small and the wait can be long BUT it's one of the best breakfast restaurant I have eaten at
(5)Jennifer P.
Definitely order breakfast. Do not come here to order from the lunch menu. I had a crazy weekend, starting with being whisked away to a surprise brunch experience by a very dear friend. I have yet to explore Chicago for breakfast joints, and Toast was one of his suggestions that he decided against. However, I took mental note because I love diners and I have yet to find a place fit for my expectations in the city. Toast does not fit the bill. Rocking serious hangovers, my new friend and I decided that a substantial breakfast would assist in stopping our dizzy heads and perhaps reset our cloudy and unmotivated attitudes. He ordered the veggie burger, and I got the El Bucktowno. What came to our table looked much different from what we had pictured inside our heads. His veggie burger looked like someone cut out small pieces of construction paper, took a bunch of Elmer's glue, and made a patty out of the clippings, and threw it in a bun. I almost burned my mouth on the over-cooked chicken in my sandwich, and there was so much zucchini, it was hard to keep it inside the bun. For both of us, there was no flavor in our selections at all. No one was saying it needed to be deep fried; but you can marinate chicken and you can also use spices. My friend and I are form the suburbs, and we are not used to sitting so close to other diners. At toast, you feel like a fish in a can of sardines. I have learned to get used to it. I can even take the noise level. However, you sit me next to two loud and pretentious hipster girls who pretty much favor the sound of their own voice over actually listening to what their breakfast companion is saying; I will draw the line. My friend and I kept looking at each other, eyes practically bleeding at being subjected to their conversation. There was no choice. We had to listen to them and we couldn't even talk because it would have meant that we needed to raise our voices even more to hear each other. We resorted to texting each other with jokes regarding their sense of fashion, and perhaps both of them lacking men in their lives. Who would even stomach a date with these girls? There were, however, some very attractive men that dined here. I am not usually one to check out guys with tattoos and gauged earrings; but my visit to Toast changed my mind. Our waitress was amazing. She was so gracious and patient with everyone. I don't know how she does it, but she treated everyone like they were royalty. I didn't catch her name, but she had blond hair and cat-eye glasses. We made sure she got a decent tip. My tip to the reader would be to stick to breakfast if you eat at Toast. The rest of my weekend, my friend and I spent at the mercy of frequent trips to the bathroom.
(3)Freddie M.
This place is a great find for breakfast lovers. I was incredibly impressed with the overall quality of food and the cozy atmosphere. I had the Loraine, while my girlfriend had the breakfast burger. The hot chocolate and lemon tea made yummy drinks. Next time I will try the BYO Bloody Mary. Service was great and they were relatively fast for a busy Sunday morning. I wish it were a little larger so the tables were not on top of one another, however, I suppose it would not have that cozy feel anymore. The vaulted ceilings helped anyway:) This is a definite must stop when in Bucktown
(5)Sarah R.
Great breakfast. Coffee is good, orange juice is good. Servers were very friendly and attentive. My dad liked the decor of the restaurant and we had fun looking at all the vintage toasters. Went during the week so it wasn't as crowded.
(4)Lily Z.
I went here this afternoon with the boy. First off, the place is tiny. There's hardly any space to wait for a table. The host did not seem friendly. I couldn't blame him. Standing in front of a freezing cold door all day would make me crabby as hell. But it was like a quiet crabby-ness? We were seated and ordered the pancake orgy and pesto scramble. He liked his pesto scramble a lot and I agreed. We both thought it was just going to be eggs with pesto thrown on top. Nope, it was blended with the egg and it still retained its nice pesto flavor. He really liked his cinnamon raisin toast. His potatoes could have been crisper. His OJ was tasted like Tampico. I was happy with my pancake orgy at first. The yogurt was good, but then again you can't really go wrong with vanilla yogurt, fruit and granola. The marscapone was nice, but kind of lacking in flavor. I couldn't handle the strawberry french toast. It was just too mushy for me. I understand that there's strawberry inside, but it just looked like mush to me. I even scraped some of it out to see if I would like it better, but I didn't. Perhaps if I'm in the mood for brunch again, I'll get the regular French toast with berries on top. Overall, I think Toast is a solid place for brunch. A bit cramped because I was scared that the guy next to me would knock over the vase of flowers into my french toast. They need to work on their heating/winter door or something. It was bitterly cold every time the door was opened. The outside canvas door did nothing. I would definitely choose this place over Janik's on division.
(4)Jerome M.
This is one of my favorite breakfast/lunch spots. Great food all around! AND, they have Pepper Plant hot sauce, which you HAVE to put on some fried potatoes! Wait hasn't been the worse, outdoor seating in Summer is rad. Cool enough staff. Coffee is probably their weakest point, but a good benedict makes up for it.
(5)Joe E.
Came here on Labor Day weekend with a few friends. Our wait was about 20 mins, even though we were told it would be 30. Yay. This place is BYOB, and it's actually quite small. We were seated on the patio on back. It was very nice to have the shade from the umbrella, because it was pretty hot in the sun. Everyone ordered Iced Coffee besides my bro and me. He went with the standard coffee and I went with water. For the entrees, my friends had the cobb club, the cobb salad, the bison sliders with potato salad, and the burger of the day (a breakfast burger type with sausage, egg, arugla, and potatoes). My brother and I ordered omelettes with multigrain toast and fruit. We also split a short stack (2 pancakes, so one each) of the whole wheat cakes. I went with the vegetarian omelette, which had shrooms, broccoli, peppers, onion, and gruyere cheese. I had it with egg whites too. My bro went with the mexican type omelette (Tijuana, I believe). It had peppers, jalapenos, and I'm forgetting the rest, but he enjoyed it. Fruit bowl had bananas, berries, and grapes. Not a fan of the 3.00 upcharge to have fruit instead, but that's the price I pay for being a bit healthier. Egg whites I understand, though (1.50 upcharge). The toast was perfect, the pancake was good (6 dollars for a shortstack? COME ON). Omelette was good, but nothing out of this world. Waitress wasn't very attentive, but she was nice. It was 35 bucks for my bro and me. A little expensive for my liking, especially since we didn't get that much food. Should have paid ten dollars less (Thanks Chicago). Overall, I'd probably go back. I've had a few breakfast/brunch places in Chicago, and Toast is better than average.
(4)Pat E.
Welp Yelp, my first Chicago brunch experience with my best friends was a success. After deciding through an extensive Yelp search, I decided to make an executive decision (Kurt Russell and Halle Berry, anyone?) and head to Toast Two. Since my friends live near Bucktown, I wanted to walk but being with hung over 20 somethings, we decided to hop in my brothers Buick and head over. After parallel parking, we were told it would be a 30 to 45 mins for a table. The wait was only about 20 mins. This place is small but there is a patio in back which is where we were led to sit. I was not expecting to dine al fresco but we loved the Julius Melini coffee umbrellas providing shade. Our large testosterone filled group was ready our order food after getting iced coffees, coffee (this is why I'm hot) and waters. I went with the Tijuana omelette, fruit instead of potatoes, multigrain toast, and a side of whole wheat cakes to split with my twin brother. We were the only two that were not hung over as I mentioned before. Brother ordered the vegetarian omelette. Rest of the table enjoyed a Cobb Salad, Cobb Club Sandwich sliders, burger of the day, and their iced coffees. Food was great! Service was okay, but what do you expect? Refills had to be constantly asked for, especially on water. The menu is simple. Besides the service I found two pancakes for six bucks a bit much. Sure they were whole grain and delicious, but I thought an order was three or four. To our odd waitress, it was great to see you. I wish you were around more today. Bus boy was great at refills. I would go back to sit back on the patio again. Wish I could have buttered up this review a bit more, but Toast Two should be on your list of Bucktown hot spots. It is BYOB. I hate places that upcharge for fruit, but I understand. It's a business. As my friends mentioned, this is the kind of place a couple of cheeseburgers in paradise can chill on a Sunday afternoon.
(4)Erica A.
Checked this place out on out vacation due to a friends suggestion. It didn't disappoint! We got there around opening time, so luckily there was no wait at all. Our waitress was super helpful when it came to explaining the menu. The crepes were delicious as well as the special my husband got. Can't remember what it was called but it was an omelette that contained sautéed tortilla chips, weird combo but tasted amazing. We'll definitely be hitting this place up on our next journey to Chicago!
(4)Unna N.
Pesto scramble was in a small pool of oil, same with the potatoes. Overall delicious, but only three stars for the oil. The jam for the English muffin was really delicious. The orange juice is freshly squeezed and full of good pulp. The flowers on the table are real :)
(3)Brian C.
Awesome breakfast! I had the Chilaquiles plate it was wonderful. Good atmosphere, friendly place. Highly recommended.
(5)Jack F.
Pretty good brunch spot. The place itself is a bit small, but you get seated pretty quickly. Try the Lorraine Omelet. Great stuff!
(4)Goo C.
Looking for a place to eat stopped in for some brunch and behold excellent food. quick friendly service. definitely will be back
(4)Norbert S.
Went there on Sunday, and we sit by the bar. Food was great as always, service was ok. It was my third brekfast there i would definitely recomend this restaurant.
(3)Antaash U.
After driving by Toast Two for almost a year on my way to my tennis club, and completely missing it (clearly I'm not the most observant), I finally spotted it a few weeks ago and happened to go yesterday for breakfast. Apparently, Bongo Room doesn't open until 9, and we were ready for breakfast by 8:30! Since we weren't willing to wait around, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to try Toast Two. Unfortunately when we got there there were no tables available but the hostess did offer us the opportunity to immediately sit at the bar, which we took. Celebrating the late arrival of fall, I immediately decided on the Pumpkin Pancakes with pumpkin whipped cream on the side. My BF decided to order the Tijuana scramble with an English muffin (his choice) and breakfast potatoes. Both were really good! We ended up swapping our dishes with one another so we could have a fair share of the sweet with the savory. It was perfect. I just wish the seats at the bar had back rests because I would have enjoyed my meal more if I had been comfortable. I almost scarfed my entire meal down so I wouldn't have to sit on the stool any longer. I guess this just means I need to go back in the hopes of getting to sit at a real table with comfortable chairs and see if Toast Two can earn its 5th star :).
(4)Mith R.
"Buttermilk pancakes w/ toasted pine nuts over mascarpone cream, flavored w/ honey and anise drizzled w/ melted butter and honey w/ lavender flowers" I know this sounds like a lot...but they are hands-down THE BEST pancakes you'll ever have. I go back here almost exclusively to eat these. TRY THEM!
(4)Chicago A.
I ordered the French Toast Orgy....sadly it was the kind of Orgy you don't wanna get involved in. The three pieces of toast were different temperatures...the chocolate was straight up cold, which made me wonder how long it had been sitting out compared to the other two. There was way too much stuff on it....but really the fact that some of the bread was straight up cold killed it for me.
(2)Adam R.
My wife and I ate here while visiting the city. Breakfast was delicious. I had the two eggs breakfast, and wife had the Omelette Lorraine. I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the neighborhood.
(5)Victoria C.
I have been to toast a few times and service has always been okay. To be fair, I have never had a problem with the food. The pesto eggs/scramble with prosciutto is excellent, stuffed toast is great, and the omelettes are tasty as well. My problem with Toast is the service. This last time I went particularly. My friend and I didn't realize we were early, but got there 20 minutes beforehand. I saw people inside so I knocked when the door was locked the manager/owner (I assume, not sure) gave me the 10 minute signal with her hands. I said ok no problem. We came back 17 minutes later (a couple minutes before open) and she gave us a 5 minute sign and looked angry at as, although we were following what she said. I understand we were early 3 minutes early the last time, but it was 4 degrees outside and she wouldn't let us in to sit down and warm up. We didnt need to be served right away. We decided to go to Meli instead.
(2)Jon O.
I went for brunch day after new years and the food here is very good imo. We had to wait a little while to get a table since the place is a little on the small side and seating is fairly limited. Once we were seated thought the service was quick and friendly and we didn't have to wait for anything at all. I think part of that is them trying to turn over tables quickly but whatever it was nice to have attentive people working there. For brunch I ordered the crab eggs benedict and a side order of blueberry pancakes. The eggs benedict was delicious and came with a side of fried potatos. The pancakes were also great as well. I'm looking forward to going back here. Also, for two people the total bill came out to around 30$ but since we got a bunch of food I'd say it was a good value.
(4)Ashley R.
Toast has been the most consistently delightful brunch spot I've frequented on the west side I've been to in the 5 years I've called Chicago home. The staff is attentive (shout out to Brandon!) and welcoming, and the food is both delicious and generously doled out. The eggs Benedict are the best I've ever tried due to an extra lemony truffle spiked hollandaise. Also noteworthy is their messy but oh-so satisfying breakfast burger with pesto aioli and a fried egg, the cowboy chili omelette when it's on special, and their pesto prosciutto scramble is heavenly. This location may not serve booze, but it's BYOB. They keep the coffee fresh and comin' (It's Bowtruss now!) and the daily tunes range from rockabilly to Ryan Adams. I'll be a customer for life.
(5)Karolina M.
Expect a long wait for brunch on a Saturday. Other than that the service and food were great.
(4)Cris O.
I really wish I could rate this place better, but the lack of inconsistent flavors between the Lincoln Park and Bucktown location leaves me disappointed and sad. :/ I came here (Bucktown location) with my husband Nov, 17th. We were beyond excited to again try the famous and delicious "french toast orgy", for we had tried it 2 times over at the Lincoln Park location. Everything about the 3 different flavors, (mascarpone, mexican chocolate, and strawberry was fantastic!) This is of course only when we had it at the Lincoln P. Toast. However, we can't say the same about our food experience when we decided to stop at the Bucktown location. We live less than 10 minutes away, yet I highly doubt we will be back. The french toast stuffing flavors lacked INCREDIBLY. I hardly was able to taste the chocolate flavor filling; the chocolate flavor was very diluted. They added so little chocolate cocoa flavor, that it so seems the cooks pitch in from their own pocket just to make the dollar stretch. To top it off their mascarpone filling was very soggy and they hardly added any. (a PICTURE is attached). I truly wish I could say this was only my plate but unfortunately my husband ordered the orgy and he felt the same way about his filling flavor and the amount they add to each toast stick. We weren't expecting anything far beyond what we have eaten at the L.P location: just regular good tasting with a mild amount of filling. It was so disappointing to come to this location's Toast. You would think that one of the things they are famous for would be on point at both locations. Bucktown's location needs to step it up and stick to the original recipe without being cheap with their flavors and amount served. Next time, I rather drive further, wait as long and gladly go through troubles with finding parking at the Lincoln Park location, than to come to this location and be disappointed with my dish.
(2)Mark H.
Even if you're a diner aficionado you would still agree this small place packs a solid punch to the best of all the local breakfast spots. Wasn't my first pick but rather 2nd choice but glad to have made the decision. From the French toast orgy to their breakfast burrito, the menu is full of interesting choices. And yes orgy. It's actually a menu choice. Kind of like the everything bagel with a nice assortment of fruit and sweets. Prices are fair considering the neighborhood. Got lucky with only a 10 min wait on a Sunday brunch. Could be a regular stop if you're tired of overpaying and over waiting at the other joints on Milwaukee and also on Division.
(4)Amanda B.
DELICIOUS! My first experience here was yummy! I had the stuffed french toast and it is definitely one of my new favorites. I pretty much wanted to try everything on the menu so I am definitely going to be returning. The service was good, checked up on us but also wasn't too persistent and interrupting my conversations every 10 minutes (pet peeve of mine). I can't wait to return !
(5)Aaron G.
I went here Saturday afternoon and there was no wait. There was free parking outside too. The service was on point and the food was very well prepared. I had the chorizo Benedict and some of my girl friends Tijuana omelette, both great!
(5)Greg W.
Pretty disappointed. Orders came out wrong. Ordered potatoes crispy, came out soggy. We sent them back. They must've dropped 'em in the fryer. They came back crispy and soaked in grease. Hollandaise was way too lemony. Mom's salmon omelet was pretty good. Dad ordered fried egg sandwich, and it came out two eggs over easy. I've been here before and really enjoyed it. Wonder if they're under new management or just an off day. Outdoor seating was pretty nice.
(1)Ezeibe A.
Good food, kid friendly!
(4)Sid B.
Excellent. This is how you pull off modern gourmet American breakfast. I had the omelette chicken jalapeño sausage with cheddar yellow and red peppers and onion. Delicious. I highly recommend the pancake orgy. Insane! Dear Bongo room, THIS is how you pull it off. Strongly recommended. Dishes were appropriately priced. I came on a Saturday and the wait was 15 min max. Well managed joint which means they're turning over tables quickly and the kitchen is pushing out food fast for all patrons. I understand now why the wait is only 15 min for a party of 2 and not an hour. Coming back again!
(5)Philip P.
This is a great breakfast spot to come to after a long than a few friends I started breakfast naturally at 2:00 with some homemade oatmeal and quickly moved into the pancake orgy, yes pancake orgy, which had fresh fruit, granola, some other delicious additives and a drizzle of honey. This place also had some stuffed French toast the looked great but I unfortunately did not try.
(3)Jay N.
Parking can be difficult in this neighborhood with all the other businesses and restaurants in the area. I had heard good things about Toast and this location so I had an opportunity to check this place out before going on the Vienna Beef hot dog tour. We went on a weekday morning so it wasn't that busy inside except for a few single visitors and a couple of moms with their kids in strollers. The decor is pretty simple and plenty of vintage toasters. The Julius Meinl coffee is decent except for the presentation that you get from the original cafes. We ordered the pancake orgy, an order of huevos chorizo and cheddar, along with a standard breakfast of eggs bacon potatoes and toast. The breakfast items were pretty standard and none of them really stood out. I expected more from the pancakes and they sort of blended into each other with the individual components not sticking out on its own. The portions were good and service was good since it wasn't that busy. But the key for me was that I never felt like this place would be worth it to stand in line for or drive around to find a parking space when there are so many similar places around the city. If you're here on a weekday, then stop on in. But it's not a stand out for any particular items or the environment.
(3)Brett P.
The best brunch place in the area. Probably in the city. If you are in the mood for something completely gluttonous but amazing, try the french toast orgy. That said, everything I have had there is great. Can't go wrong.
(5)Nicholaus H.
Filet Benedict is glorious. Everything else looks amazing. I wouldn't know. I've been here 3 times and had the same thing. I crave it.
(5)Kavi P.
Been here a couple times now, the menu is pretty standard - food is alright. No complaints really, but i would probably enjoy trying other places for the same price...
(3)Justine G.
For pancakes and French toast head over to Toast II. Nothing pretentious, just straight forward breakfast & brunch options with a bit of something special. First, this place is great for families with kids (kid size portions available). Otherwise it's nice to sit at the counter. Aside from the cold draft, food was delicious. Decided to not order my usual omelette and go for their stuffed French toast. Mascarpone is definitely the best of option. I got all three flavors (Mascarpone, strawberry, & dark chocolate) served with blueberries, black berries, strawberries, & grapes. Next time I'll definitely just go with a kid size version and order a savory dish to complete that sweet & savory combo. Chill atmosphere & good brunch.
(4)Dawn H.
We've been here several times and had good food and good service, hence the 3 stars instead of 1. Definitely some missteps at my most recent visit, ie moldy fruit cup and served the wrong drink, both of which I could have overlooked. But...kicker for me was when I brought out apple slices and cheerios for my daughter, they told me no outside food was allowed, despite the fact I had ordered her her own meal. She's two years old, come on. Going elsewhere from now on.
(3)Joyce C.
On our way to another brunch place in the completely opposite direction as Toast Two. We decided literally on the highway before the exit that we were going to try this place instead. Am I glad we picked this place over the other!! First off, we went on a random weekday. We found parking right away but were surprised that it was packed. Luckily there was one table and we got seated right away. So the space. It's kinda old school. Nothing exciting. And it's kinda small. Like I don't think there could be more than 40 people in there at any given time. But it's cutely decorated with toasters. And there is a bar I think in the back. The food. My husband got the crab benedict, I got the omelette lorraine and we split the pancake orgy. In order of favorites - pancake orgy, crab benedict and omelette lorraine, BUT everything was pretty good. I was surprised that we liked the pancakes so much- we don't usually order pancakes (or other sweet breakfast items) unless it comes with the meal. This was definitely worth it. It was flavorful, had a variety of flavors with fresh fruit, granola and honey drizzed in it- it was AWESOME! And the coffee was awesome too- I think they used Julius Meinl, which I'm not usually a fan of but this dark roast was delicious... The only gripe was that the food took a while to get. It seems the kitchen was backed up that day or something. Not sure. I would def come back!
(5)Zimin M.
great breakfast joint. love their French Toast Orgy with yogurt on top. Coffee is good and strong
(4)Candace S.
Toast is still, and will always be one of the best brunch places in town. The French toast orgy always keeps me coming back and is just as good every time. Although the space is small and a wait is often required, it is worth every minute for this quaint little brunch spot in Bucktown. I haven't had a bad thing on the menu!
(5)Adam D.
Cool little diner with awesome skylights. Busy place and seating is limited
(4)George R.
My girlfriend and I came here for brunch for her birthday. There was no wait, and we were seated quickly. The place had kind of a homey decor, lined with different toasters on some shelves, but there was not a ton of seating. We both ordered the stuffed french toast orgy. Hers was stuffed with Mexican chocolate, mine was stuffed with mascarpone. We both agreed that mine was definitely a lot better than hers. The other food people were ordering looked good too. Service was prompt, and prices were fair. I'm not sure I'd come out of my way to come back here, but I'd definitely go again if I was nearby.
(3)Gustavo L.
First place I've had brunch in Chicago that felt like home away from home! The server was super-friendly and the menu selection was great. You cannot go wrong with the stuffed french-toast; I've been craving it since my first visit.
(5)Nicole W.
I love this area of town. I'm more than happy to walk about (credit card in hand), shop, eat, drink, get my nails did, etc. Toast is the perfect start to a commerce filled day down Damen. As others have mentioned, the place can get quite packed, especially on weekends. But if you're like me and you just love breakfast, do yourself a favor and hit up Toast Two during the weekdays. The tables are pretty close together, so please shower for the good of the whole restaurant and your inadvertent dining partner next to you. At least layer on a swipe or two of deodorant. But I digress. The eats at Toast are solid. If you're a fan of the sweet stuff, try the stuffed French toast: three sizable, battered to perfection pieces of goodness stuffed with chocolate, strawberry goodness and marscapone. Three separate stuffs, all meld together to form a harmonious dish of fatty deliciousness. Still hungry? Definitely get a size of chicken sausage. It's flavorful and offers that perfect snap that I so crave in encased meats. For a tasty and fairly affordable breakfast in a fab downtown neighborhood, Toast Two is where it's at.
(4)Rubin K.
With all the food requests I gave on this trip, I had to grant other people a few of their wishes, so per her request, we ended up here on a Sunday morning. What started out as a good morning quickly turned sour when our wait time went beyond what they said for 5 people. Not only that, there was an empty table that could fit us right next to the window that was clear for 20 minutes. I asked if we could just sit there, and they said it was reserved or something. Angry and hungry, my alter ego hungry Hans came out...and it wasn't pretty. By the time we sat down, we already knew what we wanted as we had plenty of time outside to figure it out. Me and my friend split the French Toast Orgy and Nutella crepe thing. Note: be careful about your wording when you say something like this because someone asked me what I was getting and I said "we were splitting an orgy and..." I didn't even need to complete the sentence. We got to try all 3 flavors with the orgy, but you could request just one if you like. I believe there was a mexican chocolate one, a strawberry, and a marscapone. I think I liked the marscapone and Chocolate on the best, but my friend really liked the marscapone. To each their own, but I like the the variety of getting all 3. They balance each other out. As for the crepe, I thought it was good, but a bit dry. There were a lot of pecans around it, which were nice, but as a whole, I thought the dish was a bit dry. I needed something. Even a little dollop of whipped cream would have been nice. I tried my friends' dishes and they were good too. The veggie goat cheese one was awesome. And as the name implies, the toast was surprisingly good. I enjoyed the perfect brown-ness on them. I think I would prefer Yolk over this, but this was also a good option. It probably wouldn't be my first choice to go back to, but a solid one nonetheless.
(4)Helena B.
Given the long wait, I expected a little something more from our experience at Toast. The food was good, but not as fantastic as I'd been expecting. The French Toast did not seem that different from what I could get elsewhere. The main drawback, for me, was the restaurant set-up itself - very cramped. I sat at the bar, which I generally don't mind doing, but I felt smooshed and in the way the entire time at this particular bar. It made me want to hurry, and if there is one meal that shouldn't be hurried - it's brunch! I just wanted to pay and get out of there, not sit, chat, and enjoy brunch with my friend.
(2)Vanitha S.
In Chicago brunch can sometimes be boring or repetitive depending on where you go. Toast was definitely memorable! I came on a weekday so fortunately didn't have to worry about a wait. It is really cozy in here and the tables are squeezed together to get maximum patronage but it didn't seem bad. I ordered a chai which was pretty tasty and frothy. The scrambles and omelette menu looked so creative that it was hard to decide! I finally chose the Tijuana omelette with egg whites. Now sometimes egg dishes with whites can be flat and a little blah tasting, but whatever they did to my omelette (cream maybe??) was magic as it was soft and fluffy. The flavor combo of chihuahua cheese and veggies was delicious. The house potatoes were not heavy and oily and their multigrain toast delicious. I licked my plate! Next time I will listen to Justine's idea tip which is brilliant--if ordering a kid sized French toast with your savory dish! Must do that next time.
(4)Mike K.
Staff at the counter is really cool. Great Omelets and oatmeal. Bacon is awesome. And best of all they serve Bowtruss coffee
(5)Michael B.
Can't say enough about the fast service and good food. It was crazy packed and several in front of us and only waited about 10 minutes for a table. The crabby Benedict was fantastic.
(5)Lexie V.
Yum! The pancake orgy was so freaking good that I've been trying to figure out how to make something comparable for myself at home. So far no luck so I will keep coming back. One thing I did not know is that it is BYOB. I wish I knew this because I REALLY wanted to have a bloody mary but I did not happen to have a bottle of vodka on me (which is probably a good thing).
(5)HOLLY M.
Probably the best Hollandaise Sauce I have ever had smothered my Eggs Benedict. A hint of truffle and lemon put that sauce into one of the most amazing flavors I can recall in resent memory. I'm still in a food coma but am already looking forward to returning to this restaurant. I will be prepared to wait the 30-45 minutes happily if it means I get that sauce again....drool.
(5)Lauren D.
Dear French Toast Orgy - Your layers of goodness, piled high with fruit and granola beckon me every time I see your name on the menu. I dream of your sweet cheesy, chocolate and strawberry filled goodness. I only wish you weren't so enormous and delicious. Every time I leave Toast, I feel like I need a 4 hour nap. The food is good, maybe a little too good, because I always feel compelled to devour everything on my plate and maybe a bit off my neighbor's plate too. Cute cozy brunch place, with smiling servers and delicious food. The coffee is Julius Meinel (YAY!) and I have yet to eat something here that didn't give me foodie dreams for a week.
(5)Yen D.
Really enjoyed it, would have hated to wait for it. We walked in on a weekday morning for brunch and were seated immediately. The place was almost full but not packed. I love the high ceiling; it reminds me of a barn, and the toasters decorating the entryway are adorable and quirky. The whole place felt light and airy and like breakfast. So it's funny that we ordered the heaviest items on the menu (I can't imagine it getting heavier): the french toast orgy and the vegetable eggs benedict, adding avocado and mozzarella. (Actually it would've been heavier if we'd gotten a meat benedict). First, OH MY GOD THE LEMON HOLLANDAISE SAUCE YOWZA it's awesome. I love benedict, but I've never had a lemon hollandaise. The tangy lemon is just perfect with the creamy rich yolk-y hollandaise. It went great on the pile of veggies (yum lemony artichoke hearts and spinach) and avocado and mozzarella. We probably didn't need the mozzarella but it was yummy. And the egg was very well poached. The muffin was not very good though; tasted like chewy bread. Wish it had those big sauce-holding nooks and crannies that English muffins should have, and/or was more toasted. Served with potatoes which are fine. Next, the french toast orgy. We wanted to order an orgy and aren't huge pancake fans, so french toast it was! You have a choice of three stuffings: mascarpone, strawberry, mexican chocolate. We nixed the chocolate and got two pieces filled with mascarpone and one with strawberry. They're topped with powdered sugar, vanilla yogurt, granola, and berries. The berries were great, and the yogurt was also pretty good. The granola was a little too chewy to give enough textural contrast with the toast: it just tasted like harder french toast on french toast. I could not finish this. I had OJ, fresh squeezed and delicious, he had some good coffee, and we had great service by a woman with short hair and tattoos. I didn't get her name but I really liked her attentiveness, kindness, and helpfulness (she told us that we could mix and match our french toast, which was nice, and she checked in on us often but not too often). Overall, quite good! Yay I'm a fan! It's quite good, but not worth a wait of more than 10 minutes (I mean, you might as well just make your own breakfast at that point. It's good but not AMAZING).
(4)Jasmin V.
A BYOB breakfast place so bring your own. French toast orgy really amazing! There are three choices of flavors. I decided to try all three. I would definitely recommend getting all three Marscapone. The strawberry was not good at all. I was very excited for the chocolate but it was not very chocolatey. Maybe if it was Nutella (hint hint for any owners/workers reading this) then I would order it again but next time I'll go for all cheese! I also had a bite of my friend's pesto omelet. Mmmm so good I almost traded my french toast orgy...keyword almost...
(4)Loni H.
Love the service. Love the veggie breakfast burrito. Atmosphere is great. The pretty owner is a nice gal and her staff is supercool. Everyone I have gone with has enjoyed their selections ... And they are really nice about editing your food if you prefer something added/ removed :-D 5 stars after 5 or so visits -unflawed.
(5)Basil D.
Well, I went to Toast Two for the first time today, but I had been to the original "Toast" a few years ago. I had the B.E.L.T Breakfast sandwich. It was $8. It was good, that's it, nothing better than that. Guys, this breakfast sandwich is NOT an original concept, so spice it up a bit! Make it different!! The BELT is on ciabatta bread, which admittedly, is the BEST way to have it (I've had the exact same sandwich in tons of breakfast restaurants!). The choice of lettuce was perfect. The applewood smoked bacon was good too. There was one small egg that covered only half the sandwich inside...that was disappointing. I've never seen such a tiny fried egg! Now, if you're serving ciabatta bread on a sandwich, why in GOD'S NAME would you serve a side of potatoes?? Why not fruit as a side? I ordered avocado for my sandwich on the side, for TWO DOLLARS!! It wasn't even a whole avocado. Guys, c'mon! It was about a 1/3rd of an avocado, for two freaking dollars. To make it different, why not put a sauce on it, some mayo, or chipotle mayo or mango chutney cream cheese something.... Give it a little more flavor than just slapping crap together for a sandwich if it's going to be EIGHT DOLLARS!!!!!! Now, my friend had the stuffed french toast with the granola and yogurt on top. I had a taste of that, and it was pretty amazing. Please put that kind of creativity into your other dishes if you want premium price, and for people to have a truly unique experience. I also had the Julius Meinl coffee.... the ONLY kind of coffee to have in Chicago (sorry Intelligentia snobs...overrated), and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice which was fantastic. Maybe if I have the French Toast next time I go, and I will go, good locations, I'll give it another star. If the price point were lower, I'd bump it up a star, but not worth it for the price under normal circumstances.
(2)Ryan C.
This place blows. My wife and I have been wanting to go here for a long time, so we finally decided to give it a Sunday brunch try. We immediately regretted it. The place is so small and crammed, and the way the seats are, you are basically sitting on top of the people next to you, just hearing everything they are saying. The tables are so close to each other that to get to the booth seat you have to stick your butt right in your neighbors face. Awkward. The service is incredibly slow as well. I ordered the chilaquiles and added chorizo, it was decent. My wife got the eggs Benedict. Super gross. Why would you make your hollandaise sauce so lemony? Ruined her dish. The potatoes that came with were ok. We know we will never go back. The food wasn't good enough to overcome the horrible atmosphere and lay out.
(1)Lindsey S.
I just wasn't a fan of what I ordered. The stuffed French toast. It wasn't awful I just couldn't do the warm fruit. Service wasn't awful. It was extremely busy on the Saturday morning we got there but were seated in about fifteen minutes. My husband did really enjoy the pancake orgy.
(3)Donisha L.
Two words for Toast Two: FOOD - COMA. I had friends in town from New York this weekend and we were actually headed to Lula's Cafe closer to my Logan Square hood. Sadly they were closed (strange for a Tuesday), but glad I stumbled across another brunch gem. My friends both had Eggs Benedict, which looked absolutely amazing. I opted for a healthier option (at least in my mind) with the peppered eggs and a side of chicken sausage. The chicken sausage was a magically delicious savory hint of apple goodness. We were fighting over the last piece like two homeless alley cats....man that sausage was amazing! Cute, quaint, looks like my grandma's kitchen, easy street parking during the weekday. Just say YES to Toast Two!
(4)Dan E.
The food is generally good, but I have had long waits and poor service on a couple of occasions at this location. Not sure what the deal is, but it's not worth the wait with so many other great breakfast places in Chicago.
(3)Steve H.
I only Yelp if I know a place, love a place, and can't help but spread the word. My wife and I have been to Toast well over a dozen times (probably closer to two dozen - don't judge) since moving to Bucktown. It's our go-to place for a Saturday morning brunch date or a meal with visiting out-of-towners. The staff is always kind, especially on busy mornings. On numerous occasions, we have been served coffee while we wait. I don't know any other place that does that. It's affordable and delicious. It's also pretty fun to hear my mother-in-law order a "french toast orgy."
(5)Lola K P.
Cute updated diner-style with high ceilings that gives it the illusion of being much bigger than it is. Solid neighborhood breakfast joint with very good prices. Everyone was so pleasant, from the front desk to the waitress. We sat right by the window, which was very nice. The virgin Bloody Mary was good, practically had a whole salad in it (another Chicago specialty we'll miss). I had the crabby benedict, which was quite good, just the right amount of hollandaise. My thick cut bacon was perfectly crispy. Hubby and I shared that and the plain french toast with berries, good. Our friends have visited before and got their usual breakfast burrito and omelet, and said they were great as usual. Very good all around.
(4)Preston J.
My favorite breakfast place in the city. The place is small, so expect to wait 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere inside is cute and clean. My favorites are the Eggs Benedict (all 3 varieties) or the french toast orgy (a mountain of tastes).
(5)Ashley B.
A friend of mine suggested brunch at this place so my boyfriend and I came along and it was pretty awesome! I had been to Yolk, Eggsperience, Nookies, and a few other places in the city and this place seemed right on the money. I ordered the breakfast burrito and it was delicious, especially since I requested to add chorizo. It was spicy, filling, and I needed a nap afterwards which to me, suggests it was a success. The boyfriend got the pancake orgy: a lemon poppyseed, regular, and blueberry muffins with granola, yogurt, honey, and syrup on top. Needless to say it was ridiculously rich (the yogurt on a side is probably a good idea) but definitely delicious. I want to come back! Only next time I'll have a bottle of champagne on hand to mix with my delicious homemade OJ!
(4)Mallory H.
My girlfriend and I just had brunch at the Bucktown location of Toast and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We sat at the counter, the stools have little pegs for your legs which is great for us shorties out there! The overall ambiance is cozy and our server was super sweet - the staff in general was very accommodating and genuine. As for the food, we went with the basics and everything was prepared perfectly. My girl went with the buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries. The serving size was plentiful and the berries were super fresh. I had scrabbled eggs, house potatoes and chicken sausage which was incredibly juicy and had the prefect grilled taste that took me to a place of summer and BBQ, vastly different from the snow and negative degree temps we've had lately. We were even offered a fresh cup of coffee to take home. Maybe I've just been going to all the wrong breakfast places, but I really appreciated this and took our server up on her offer. We will definitely be back! Only tip is to arrive before 11, after that you are most likely in for a long wait, but it's worth it :)
(5)Ellen V.
Years ago we went there for breakfast on Sat, the food was excellent , but waiting time was to kill your day. These days I have an opportunity to enjoy my 'solo' breakfast during week days. Sitting by the bar , chatting with the owner and folks around - perfect way to start a day. French Toast, pancakes, crepes all are done to perfection! And so far one of the best Eggs Benedict in town. So, why 4 starts? Coffee.... Few months ago they changed the vendor, looks like most of the folks are happy with the new one, but I left out without my morning coffee.
(4)Meredith K.
We have been coming here for years. Its my dad's favorite place for Sunday breakfast. I say breakfast b/c we're always here before 9. Anything after and you're waiting for awhile. The coffee is good and so are the omelets. I usually get the veggie. If you're feeling decadent then get the french toast orgy. Its crazy!! I've had the crepes and they're sweet. And the seasonal pancakes are good too. I wouldn't come here without my dad but its where my dad ALWAYS wants to go.
(4)Claudia D.
The offerings sound great and include Steel Cut Oatmeal and fresh fruit. Daily specials. The husband has, however, been disappointed 2-3 times with his sandwich selection, and with the preparation of his omelets/eggs. He likes his eggs soft, they always are too hard. He likes his Croque Monseur, but not the one here. The pancakes are often dry. The Steel Cut Oatmeal is good, but not great. The prices are a bit high. The service is good. Parking is easy during the week on the street.
(2)Maureen R.
Toast...I will never forget you. First the wait. Did you have to do that to me! And when it's a little cold I thought...eh-we can go somewhere else. But no, rumor is I wouldn't be disappointed with you! And waiting was well worth it. There were 3 of us and everything we ordered turned out amazing!!! The French Toast Orgy pretty much describes it in the title (insert Meg Ryan here). Also the French Toast stuffed with mascarpone was delicious! Although I may be partial to anything pesto...the Pesto Scramble was also tasty!! Go for brunch. Bring a book. Wait the wait. Do it. I will hopefully be seeing you soon...
(5)Raymond S.
Being down the street from two great brunch places in Red Door and Bristol, Toast Too had a lot to live up to due to proximity. The place is small but me and my brah got seated immediately (1:45 p.m. Sat). No waiting area so I imagine it would suck coming around prime hours and having to wait. I got the French Toast Orgy and I knew it would be a bad idea. For one because it's praised by Yelpers and to be quite honest, the consensus usually ends up sucking. Secondly I normally get french toast at other establishments including some of the best offered in Chicago so it had to go up against Batter and Berries and Bristol. The dish was extremely bland, the texture wasn't very pleasurable and the yogurt brought the flavor quotient down a few notches. All three flavors sucked. The other dish ordered was the breakfast burrito but lets be serious, it's impossible to screw up a flour tortilla stuffed with chorizo, eggs and cheese. It was tasty and had a nice spice kick to it. I can praise them for their prices, which were generally affordable for the main dishes. The coffee was just decent, and for $4 we got 4 flimsy pieces of Oscar Meyer bacon. I see no reason to visit this place unless the wait for Red Door and Bristol is unbearable.
(2)Melissa K.
I went here for the first time this past Sunday on heavy recommendations from co-workers. I was NOT disappointed. The place was really small, and I had a 45 minute wait, but I was warned before so was prepared. Once we got it it was a quick seat & a hottie waitress, and it was smooth sailing and good eats from there! I ordered the Cobb Club sandwich with the House Potatoes; My friend ordered the stuffed French Toast with Marscapone Cheese & her Guy ordered the Grilled Tenderloin Benedict - all looked so tasty - and my sandwich was killer. I will definitely be coming back to this place
(4)Joshua M.
In my last review, I detailed an awful experience I had with this place. An awful waiter, awful service, awful food, the whole nine yards. I got invited out to brunch here, and I put my resentment aside to try this place out again. Boy am I glad I did. It was honestly fantastic this time. Our server was a tall man with lots of tattoos (the bill said Brandon, but who knows if that's his name. It said "Brandon" last time, and our last "Brandon" sucked). He really went above and beyond. We had someone at our table who wasn't feeling well and just couldn't stomach eating. He brought us some soda water with lemon and salt for him, which really helped settle his stomach. The food and service were both spectacular. My tenderloin benedict was perfectly-charred and pretty close to the medium rare I ordered (I'll forgive a few extra degrees on a medium rare for a nice char). Everyone at our table raved about their food, myself included. This place really turned it around for me. I'll be sure to give them more brunching opportunities in the future.
(5)Taufiq H.
Very nice atmosphere. Usually long wait times over weekends. Outdoor seating in back. Superb breakfast!
(4)Ramya P.
Really good breakfast spot but not worth the 1 hour wait-time The space is actually a lil' congested but the high ceilings make it appear more spacious. Service was fast and attentive. Eggs benedict is amazing, the lemon truffle hollandaise sauce is divine and the potatoes on the side are roasted perfectly. The omelet is nothing special but good nonetheless.
(4)Michael U.
Getting back to breakfast proper I gave my aunt the choice between Toast and Jam - though I hear the two go well together these are two separate restaurants in Chicago's breakfast/brunch scene - a scene I personally believe is the best in the country. Arriving at the small shop - the second of Jeanne Roser's (who was indeed present that day working the counter and pouring coffee) locations just after 9:30 we entered and were seated immediately. Menus were presented, specials described, water poured - top notch service. With aunt ordering orange juice (fresh squeezed and only $3 for a good sized glass) and myself going for coffee - a strong breakfast blend with mostly floral notes and a decent acidity - we perused the unique menu full of the standard breakfast, lunch, and brunch foods plus some really unique options. Decisions made we placed our orders and waited approximately 15 minutes while chatting and browsing the kitschy interior (toasters EVERYWHERE) before our food was delivered. For my aunt her selection was the "pancake orgy" featuring a stack of three thick and buttery yet perfectly golden and chewy pancakes topped with raspberry granola, creamy yougurt, and a drizzle of honey. With each pancake featuring a different flavor we both rather suspected they would be served linearly instead of as a stack, but on tasting we were both impressed by how each pancake tasted entirely different but also worked as a whole. Featuring a mild apple cinnamon pancake on top, a zippy and sour lemon poppy seed in the middle, and a banana pecan on the bottom I personally liked the banana pecan best (perhaps the post-New Orleans bias?) while aunt fancied the apple cinnamon. Offered a bite early in the meal my aunt is thankfully weak and couldn't finish much so I was able to later add some maple syrup and finish off the banana pecan cake. For myself the decision was easy - French Toast Orgy. Served essentially as a single 2 inch thick slice of stuffed brioche divided into three "fingers" the dish was again topped with an ample helping of raspberry granola, savory and smooth yogurt, and honey - I also added ample maple syrup, pure unless my taste buds deceive me. Featuring three different styles I first tasted the chocolate - mild hints of cocoa, great crispy and textural exterior with a melt in the mouth interior. Second I tasted the mascarpone and it turned out to be my favorite of the group with the sweetened cheese forming a pockets of creaminess inside the already buttery and smooth bread-pudding textured toast. My final taste was stuffed with pureed strawberry and while not quite as delectable as the other two (lacking the creaminess) I loved the tart contrast - eating it with the chocolate toast was superb. Very pleased with the griddled goods my aunt and I were equally enamored with the copious amount of fresh berries delivered with the breakfasts - in Los Angeles or New York the fruits included would've likely more than doubled the price of the meal. Paying the bargain tab and leaving a large tip we made our way to the streets and our easily obtained free parking spot very pleased with the Toast experience - between Bongo Room, Toast, M.Henry, and the myriad spots serving weekend brunch Chicago still reigns as my favorite breakfast city by far.
(5)Kyle S.
Fantastic food. The feast potatoes are wonderful. Coffee was good, bacon crisp, but there was something not quite right with the sausage. I like it spicier maybe, it was still good though. I really liked this place.
(4)Matteo I.
Food is great, differentiated. Service is friendly and down-to-earth. Great space, good buzz and atmosphere (especially if you bring sparkling wine for mimosas, it's BYOB). 3 stars for one reason that ruined my experience. The waiting list and seating process is not very streamlined. All members of your party must be present in order to be put in line for the next table available. It gets worse for parties over 2 people in number. So even though you may have waited for 45 minutes minus one member of your party (my case), you'll have to wait potentially 30 minutes or more on top of that to get a table, while others who arrived after you are seated before you. My wait total was 1hr 25min beginning at 10:15am on a Sunday morning for brunch. Still they did their best to follow their process, just a key management fix for the future. Definitely going back, but I will be planning ahead! Make sure your champagne is chilled somehow as you wait!
(3)Osiris V.
After years of anticipation I finally stopped in here. Between my moms and my sister we all tasted some of the Eggs Benedict, Tijuana omelet (jalapeños, onion, tomato, chihuahua cheese and cilantro) and the French Toast orgy. The french toast orgy was very naughty, it did all kinds of things in my mouth. We ordered the one stuffed with marscapone, then they topped it with yogurt and their home made granola. I enjoyed every bite! The omelet was something that I'd make at home, and I'm not a fan of Eggs Benedict. The service was exceptional. The cups of water and coffee at our table were always full, all the empty plates were taken promptly. I am a definite fan of Toast Two but unless I'm in the city early in the a.m., I don't think I'd make the trip out there just for the french toast. I'm sure a breakfast joint here in the burbs would offer me tasty choices as well.
(4)Caroline A.
I cannot believe it took me this long to get to Toast Two. After reading about their French Toast Orgy recently, I had not been able to get it out of my head! We got to the restaurant at 10:30 on a Saturday and only had to wait 20 minutes. Not bad at all. Six hungry ladies gathered and had mimosas with super fresh gargantuan strawberries! The menu is full of super fat, calorie dense, sugary and savory brunch favorites... and the worst part is that you kind of want it all. I went with the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette. And I almost ate the whole thing. I also had a bite of the marscapone stuffed french toast and it was sinfully delicious. Bonus points for being able to switch to egg whites only and having a few healthy options. The staff is super friendly, and we had lovely service. We stayed for a while catching up and didn't feel rushed at all. Enjoy and have a food coma shnap afterward.
(5)Kimberly K.
Had a groupon for Toast. My son and I decided to check it out. We went on a weekday. Food was good as was service. Tables are very close and there aren't a lot of them, but that's not unusual. It was a bit noisy. Cute place, good food. Definitely a place to check out. Oh and they do serve lunch.
(3)Angie M.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've had fantasies about the grilled chicken sausage stuffed with apple & gouda. It's the stuff dreams are made of. It's hands down my single most favorite breakfast/brunch item on any menu in Chicago. Yum. I've explored pretty much the entire menu at Toast Two and I feel confident in saying it delivers on every single level imaginable. Do you like eggs for breakfast? The spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelet is superb. Perhaps you're more of a basic breakfast person? Get the two eggs any way you like them, served w/ one side (I clearly recommend the chicken sausage), house potatoes and toast. The scrambled eggs are perfect and topped with a beautifully tasty sprinkle of chives. If sinful carbs are on the agenda, you cannot go wrong by ordering the French Toast Orgy. Sounds dirty, right? It is. Imagine a plate piled high with French toast stuffed with puréed fresh strawberry, mascarpone and Mexican chocolate topped with vanilla yogurt, house made berry granola, fresh fruit and drizzled with honey. Try rolling around in that breakfast and tell me what you think! Word of caution: Wear expandable waist pants. Or a loose belt. Toast serves up some amazing specials every day, too. They always have a pancake special and if you're lucky, it (and it's Fall) you might score the pumpkin pancakes. They're huge, luscious and out of this word. I may or may not have once ordered them along with a spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelet. Don't judge me. The only beef I have with Toast Two is that it's teeny tiny and they don't take reservations so if you show up at a popular brunching hour (any time between 10am-1pm), you're looking at a substantial wait. I recommend getting there early or even making your trip to Toast Two a solo mission and trying to score a seat at the bar.
(5)Sara P.
I had a great eggs benedict dish here. This dish, plus the potatoes served with it, was delicious. The coffee was also great. My friend and I did not have to wait too long on a Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Service was friendly. A little expensive, but I do not want to make hollandaise at home, so it was very good. I hope to return in the near future.
(5)Hana W.
This is by far one of the best brunch spots in the city. Whether you sit inside or out on the patio I have received exceptional service. It is a byob restaurant with large pitchers of orange juice to take care of all our mimosa needs. We began our meal with the orgasmic stuffed French toast. Each piece could stand as a meal of it's own , but brilliently complimented each other. I have ordered a number of other dishes such as the Cobb sales, pesto scramble, ahi tuna sandwich, just to name a few. I have enjoyed absolutely everything. In addition we had one server assistant Gordie, who went over and above with his service. He always approached our table with a genuine smile and accommodated all of our needs. If you are looking for a great neighborhood breakfast spot, visit toast two. There is sometimes a small wait list, but it is worth it.
(5)Steve W.
A place called "Toast," should have very good Toast, and Toast Two certainly does. I really enjoy the hearty, multigrain toast I have with my breakfast here. Is talking about toasted bread boring? No? Ok, wonderful. The dining room is quaint, with a nice al fresco area out back. There area few old toasters, and comfy "breakfast" art on the walls. The menu features a few egg benedicts, omelettes, french toasts, and pancakes. They also serve Julian Meinl coffee, which is delicious. The Chilaquiles were a special one morning, and they were very delicious. In a peppery Verde sauce, the chips were a little softer than traditional chilaquiles, but still held on to a little texture. All the food I've tried at Toast Two has been well prepared, tasty, and far from typical greasy breakfast fare.
(4)B H.
Love this place. It's one of our favorite brunch spots in the city. The French Toast Orgy is awesome. If I had to complain about something, it's that there's no place to wait. This is a popular place so a 20+ minute wait is not unheard of. In the summer, people usually hang out on the sidewalk. In the winter you have to cram into the doorway. You have to squish right between the table nearest the door and between the host stand. This doubly sucks when you're seated at the table nearest to the door.
(4)Bryan Y.
I ate here with my roommates last Saturday and it was amazing! The breakfast tasted so fresh. Here is what we ordered: 1. Breakfast burrito: the veggie/multi grain wrap hit the spot 2. Eggs benedicts and Steak: They poached the egg perfectly. Steak was very tender 3. Bacon Omelet: enjoyed the bacon and potatoes 4. Stuff French toast: the toast was very fluffy. I enjoyed the cream stuff flavor the most It had nice little home feel environment. We sat in the patio which felt like I was having breakfast at a friends house. I would definitely come here again. Also, if you come with a group they only accept a maximum of 2 credit cards. They don't allow you to use a combination of cash and card. So it either 2 credit cards or all cash.
(5)Leah D.
Why are you reading this review? Go to Toast right now and get stuffed french toast with marscapone. It's the best. Their savory breakfasts are equally delicious, but the french toast is out of this world! Great coffee, great service. We usually sit at the counter and have always had excellent service and amazing breakfast! Oh and it's BYOB!
(5)Andrea R.
I've been a longtime fan of the original Toast* in Lincoln Park, but just tried it's Bucktown location for the first time this week. It was hustling and bustling on a Wednesday afternoon just a few days before Xmas- most likely with people off for the holiday. I had the lil one with me so I was a bit worried it would be a long wait, but they had us seated pretty fast. Bucktown Toast is pretty similar to it's big sis: a tiny restaurant crammed with tables a bit too close to each other, mediocre service and a menu full of yummy breakfast and lunch eats. I usually stick with their granola/fruit bowl, but just last week discovered the pesto scramble. So good that I had it 2 days in a row- once in LP and then the next day here in Bucktown. I preferred mine without the prosciutto and in the name of healthiness substituted their delish potatoes for fruit, which they charged a ridiculous fee of $3. I also got a side of cinnamon raisin toast, which was awesome...then again I'd expect nothing less for a restaurant named "Toast." ---------- * Toast: yelp.com/biz/toast-chica…
(4)Lynn N.
Coming from an area with no BYOBs, I welcomed Toast Two's BYOB policy and lovely carafes of orange juice that came with strawberry-rimmed glasses. My Tijuana omelet (with avocado added) also came out pretty tasty with stretchy chihuhua cheese, onions, pockets of avocado, and a gentle pinch of cilantro. So why only three stars? First of all, my omelet cost $10 outright and $12 with the avocado added. Even for my DC standards, that seems kind of pricey for a run-of-the-mill omelet. Secondly, and more importantly, I had a beef with the toast at Toast (Two). While they offered many kinds of toast, I learned very quickly that brioche should only be used for french toast. Also, they only offered strawberry jam with it. When I asked if they had any other kind, they said no. Seriously?! Toast is as tight with jam as jelly is with peanut butter. Please, Toast, offer your bread more jam friends to hang out with.
(3)Ana C.
One of my favorite breakfast places. It is honestly a hidden gem. I love their omelets you can really taste all the fresh ingredients. One week I went here about three times that is how much I fell in love with it. They also give you endless coffee and oh my god it is delicious not your typical old coffee sitting for 3 days in the pot kind of coffee. I left feeling full and energized with all the cups of coffee. On one trip I had some coffee left and the server was so kind as to bring a to go cup for the coffee. I was the happiest super good food and friendly staff. One con which doesn't take away any star is that there usually is a wait time especially now that the outdoor sitting area will soon be unavailable.
(5)Sherie P.
Yes, it's called Toast. No, I didn't actually have toast! But what I did have was very good. I though I was going to have to give a not so good review, but Toast changed my mind. A girlfriend of mine organized a slightly large party for such a small place. There were 12 of us meeting there for brunch at 11 on Sunday. I know...their busy time. But when she called weeks ahead of the date, they said it would be no problem... The week of, Oh, it might be a problem.... And when she arrived an hour early to ensure we got seats may or may not be a problem?? But as 11 soon approached the lovely hostess came to check in on us while we waited and ensure that we would be sat at 11. It was a few minutes later but the timing was perfect. She was great and totally made up for the indecisiveness and attitude of the others. Did I mention it was BYOB? We brought our bottle of champagne and they brought the cups and juice right away. YUM. The perfect way to start a brunch is with a sip of coffee and a sip of Mimosa. Next time I've got to bring Vodka to make myself a bloody mary! Since it was such a "big" group we got a wide sampling of food. My friend got the pumpkin pancakes! YUM! They were so light and fluffy. They just melted in my mouth. Several people got omelettes which they all loved and the benedict was a hit. I got the breakfast burrito. Of course I had to add chorizo to it. YUM! It was spicy and eggy. The tortilla was filled to the brim. It was the perfect size for me to eat it all but not feel over stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the salsa they brought with it. It was like tomato water with a spec of cilantro floating in it. Really?? That's NOT salsa. But the hot sauce the waiter brought more than made up for it. Will I go back? Definitely. I am dying to try the Pancake Orgy!
(4)Annalea T.
Seriously this might be my favorite brunch place in the city of Chicago. Both locations are great- this one is closer for me so I prefer it, the only downside is at this location they don't have booze. Best eggs Benedict I have ever had in my life- lemony truffle hollandaise with house potatoes and tenderloin cooked to perfection with the best eggs and English muffin. Wow, just thinking of it makes my mouth water! I always love to find any excuse to go here. I love the staff too. Vinny is my favorite here, he loves to strike up conversation & always gives wonderful service. They have Julius meinl coffee here which is also excellent. This is a place I don't hesitate to take my out of town visitors :) always a must!!
(5)Neha N.
This place is walkable for me.....and I'm so grateful. I came here on a Sunday around 11, and got seated in ten minutes. The server was kind and attentive. I got the pancake orgy (3 types of pancake) which was sooo delicious. This place is vegetarian friendly, unlike a lot brunch places around the city. Not too pricey and enough food if you want to take it home (but whose gonna take soggy pancakes home). Also, they are BYOB, but you have to purchase orange juice in order to make the mimosas which can end up being pricey...
(5)David R.
November 6, 2010 - Per the website the last seating is at 3:45 pm being that they close at 4pm on Saturday. I have a Foursquare check-in at 3:21...my friend and I walked in and were told they will be closing in five minutes. I had looked forward eating here. I failed to notice the last seating time when I picked this place since I found in on Yelp Mobile for Android and saw the 4pm closing time, I figured we made it in time to dine here....oh well!
(1)Jason D.
Toast has been on my hit list since I first moved to Bucktown a year ago. I finally found no wait and decided to take my house guests there. I ordered the Pesto Scramble and it didn't disappoint. The dish was very tasty with little bits of prosciutto and the pesto flavor wasn't overbearing. The eggs came with a side of potato's which were cooked perfectly, crispy but not overdone. The potato's however were not served as hot as I would of liked. Five Star Eggs, Three Star Potato's With the Pesto scramble, I ordered the short stack side, full size pancakes covered with powder sugar. Very tasty but this order could feed one by itself, so in addition the Pesto Scramble this proved to be a lot of food. Four Star Pancakes. Toast is very good breakfast joint. I enjoyed the home-style ambiance and the wait staff was very friendly. I would recommend it so long as there is no wait, as we were eating we overheard the hostess notifying people of a 25 minute wait.
(4)Liz K.
Not one of my brunch faves. I don't blame them for not having my favorite breakfast dish (smoked salmon eggs benedict), but maybe I shouldn't have had such high hopes for my replacement dish (smoked salmon omelette). It just that when I order smoked salmon, I expect it to be reasonably present in the dish. I couldn't really taste it at all. My man friend was equally unimpressed with his eggs and bacon. The lack of flavor, high prices, and wait are enough for me to cross this off the list and not try it again.
(2)Jaye J.
At this point, I've dined here quite a few times and had several menu items. Sure, sometimes I had to swipe them off of Mr. J's plate, but still... Yup, there is a wait on weekends. Prepare for up to an hour. In nice weather, our usual routine is to put in our names, get coffee somewhere, and walk around the 'hood. I'm not a fan of more than a 15 minute wait anywhere, so in the winter, we usually just don't make it here. The decor is simple and cute. Service has been overall excellent. Helpful suggestions from the servers, polite hosts and unobtrusive bussers. The only time we experienced anything less was our last visit on Apr 1. The host acted put-out to have to set us and the server was just barely adequate. Perhaps I'm just spoiled by otherwise more engaged service from Toast II, and it was near the end of their day. In general though, I have always been pleased. As another reviewer noted, the hollandaise here is perfection. Creamy, rich, and just enough tang. That gloppy over-lemoned mess you usually get places is not found here. Apparently I am the only person not in love with the "orgy" dishes. I find them odd-too dry in some places, too soggy in others and the yogurt seems too drippy and sour and the granola and french toast mixture just turns to a mushy chunky slosh on y plate mixed with bland tasting marscapone and overly sweet strawberries. I really hated it. However, I suppose it does have that comfort food things-a-6-year-old-would-eat craziness to it, and my Mother in Law really enjoyed it. The first thing I ever had there was the pancake of the day which, at that time was a dark chocolate chip pancake with a chili whipped cream. This is the stuff my fantasies are made of. I love butter. Like Paula Deen love for butter, but these were so rich and creamy all I had to do was let the whipped cream melt onto the cakes and I was happy. The dark chocolate chips were not too sweet and offset nicely by the chili which was not hot at all. The pancakes themselves were a perfect texture. I have since tried other pancakes, and they are all good-however this combo could make them famous! Last time, I got the pesto scramble which was delicious. Scrambled in prosciutto and topped with Gruyere cheese and served with house potatoes it was substantial and delicious. Mr. J had the egg of the day which was similar to mine but with a different cheese (chihuahua?) and green chili sauce with green peppers. Also good. The crabby Benedict is better than most places with nice sized hunks of crab and the regular Benedict are also delicious. In all the egg dishes-my only complaint is that the eggs could use a bit less cook time. Both Benedicts and scrambles/omelettes the eggs are just the wrong side of done and border on rubbery. The coffee is good. The OJ is a real treat. The prices area bit of a splurge, but the portions are good sized and the food is really enjoyable. I feel like I can take anyone here and I have: from my trendy girlfriends, to pals after a long night of parties, to out of towners to get a feel for the 'hood to just me and my hubby for a nice breakfast. Even my in-laws who aren't adventurous eaters, but don't mind coming a bit out of the box. The food is familiar enough to be satisfying but different enough that you know you are eating breakfast you wouldn't have whipped up yourself in an atmosphere that is usually has a bit of bustle to awaken you but not too much trendiness.
(5)Kori E.
So, so, so good! I love brunch on Sunday mornings and I am lucky enough to live a block away from this magnificent brunch spot. Yes, there is always a wait, so definitely get there early and put your name in. The wait is definitely worth it!! I had the BELT, a Bacon, Egg, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich on a french roll. I am a sucker for breakfast sandwiches and this was probably by far the best one I have had in a really long time. It was very fresh, the bread was soft (which was surprising since it said it was a french roll, it looked more ciabatta) the egg was perfectly cooked and the bacon was the perfect touch. I devoured the entire sandwich. My boyfriend ordered lunch and he got the tuna steak sandwich with a side of the apple chicken sausage. His was equally as tasty as mine. I am definitely getting the french toast the next time we come here...hopefully this weekend!!
(5)Rachel S.
So cute with all the little toasters and chicken wallpaper and such. But, a word to the wise, if you intend to eat here for brunch, come here early! The waits can get ridiculous and there is nowhere to wait inside. You're forced to awkwardly stand in everyone's way. I got here with my friends at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. We waited almost an hour in this nowhere-to-comfortably-stand war zone. That being said, the food and coffee were tasty, although I felt the menu could have stood a bit more ingenuity. A touch boring, given the wide and varied offerings this city has for brunch.
(3)Shauna N.
Super delicious! Make sure to try something new. Also, get there early--there is ALWAYS a wait!
(5)Colleen C.
A rainy Friday morning... *punctuated with pumpkin pancakes dolloped with nutmeg whip cream. *percolated with Julius Meinl coffee, fresh REAL cream, quick steppin' refills. *giggled by Amanda C *bubbled by Diet Coke. *Courtesy of Toast 2. Weekday brunching encouraged...this is a high-risk zone for waiting on weekends. Also, please keep in mind that something in the air creates children all over the place in Bucktown brunch spots, so protect accordingly. It's a baby factory. They like pancakes, too...apparently!
(4)Tyler J.
Great breakfast food and coffee. Price seemed a bit high for the quality, but overall a good experience.
(4)Kymberly J.
Completely worth the long wait! Luckily for us gals, Toast is sandwiched by two clothing boutiques so we can browse while we wait - even on Sunday morning! The only deal is that if you arent there to hear your name being read, the host moves on after 5 seconds. We sat in the quaint back patio with patches of sun coming through the trees and peaking around the umbrellas that even on a hot Chicago Afternoon youre not roasting. The food was deeeeelicious! I had pancakes with lavender buds, marscipone, pine nuts and berries. I am more of a savory breakfast person but I saw this on the menu and it called my name. In an ideal world I would be able to get a smaller portion pancakes with an egg or bacon to balance out the sweet... The BF got french toast which were cut into strips and each had a different flavor. I tried the mexican chocolate...OMG! BYOB! There is a liquor store right down the street. Buy your vodka there and add it their bloody mary mix or get your own and save the $5.00 per glass per mix.
(5)Annette J.
MMM French toast orgy. Naughty? Yes. Delicious? OH YES. Three pieces of French toast each stuffed with a wonderful surprise (strawberry puree, mascarpone cheese, and chocolate) topped with yogurt, granola, fresh fruit and honey. I am actually eating some yogurt, granola and blueberries right now and how I wish I had a nice piece of Toast French toast underneath! Sadly this is not the case. But Toast can get that for you if you want it. If you are willing to wait, that is. The wait here can be a killer. Unfortunately Toast does not take reservations so be prepared to stand around. The space is small but there is bar seating if you are fast enough to grab it. Admittedly I'm not the world's earliest riser so my brunch dates tend to start a little late which is a benefit at Toast. The later you go the quicker it is to get a table. That has been my experience at least. The fruit is fresh and tasty. I hate melon so I appreciate that they do not use melon filler in their fruit cups and French toast orgy like most breakfast joints do. Berries! Yay! While I tend to always go for the orgy their savory foods are delicious as well. Great breakfast sandwiches! Coffee is pretty good although their hot chocolate is somewhat lacking. I'm a chocolate snob so a cup of Hershey's syrup hot chocolate just ain't gonna cut it for me. But other beverages I've had here have been great! Overall one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. I strangely find myself at this location more than the Lincoln Park one even though I live closer to the Webster spot but both are great. I believe the Webster location has a liquor license so if a cocktail with your eggs Benedict is important to you then perhaps make your way there.
(4)Sean S.
We're from out of town and yelp pointed us here. Went on a weekday and it was full but we were seated quickly. The service was awesome and the food was delightful. The 5 of us all chose something different and shared bites. That was a great way to do it. It's a great option for a breakfast spot outside of downtown in a new neighborhood.
(5)Melly C.
This place was amazing, I had the stuffed fresh toast, hot apple cider, and bacon on the side. Everything tastes spectacular and we got there during a busy time in the day, but we still were able to sit at the counter. I liked all the different toasters they have, I want that Hello Kitty one! Food was prepared quickly and I am a huge fan of the strawberry stuffed french toast. I'll come here again but I am going to have a hard time choosing what to get,I know it!
(5)Abbey A.
this place is NOT vegan friendly, not a single item on the menu. i can't vouch for how their food tastes, but they claim to be vegan friendly both online and when i called in ahead of time.
(1)Hilary P.
I can't believe I've been going to Toast for 4 years now but it's still my favorite breakfast in the country. That's right, the whole damn country! I've expanded to the eggs benedict from time to time as well since it's incredible but everything here really is delicious so you really can't go too wrong. This is the one place that every trip to Chicago, we manage to work in at least one breakfast at no matter how hectic our schedule is and I don't see that changing any time soon.
(5)Carol K.
A-Ok. That's the perfect description of my recent breakfast visit to Toast Two. Okay. Not great, phenomenal, life changing or amazing. Not crappy, awful, "should have slept in", bad. Just okay. We got here before the mad rush on a cool Sunday morning. Eating outside was out of the question so I was thrilled to see a two top with our name on it as we walked in just before 9am. We ordered and sat waiting to get anything. Coffee, people! Want a great review? Bring me coffee! Now! But bring it with real cream for my dining companion as he hates anything but half and half or real cream, and that milk that came in that little pitcher did nothing to assuage the need. COFFEE!! I NEED COFFEE!! A cup arrived. It was gone in a flash- almost inhaled and then the forever wait for cup number two. Where are they going for my coffee . . . .Brazil? Thank heaven our food came up then- Eggs Benny for me and a Breakfast Burrito for the man who sat across from me still glowering about the lack of cream. They were both good but not great. The hollandaise sauce on my eggs was a little too lemony but the chopped tomatoes on top were a nice touch. And the potatoes that came with it? Not so good. Kind of soggy and boring. The burrito was definitely the better choice. Our server was literally missing in action during our visit. I can't be the only one who needs tons of coffee in the morning. The fact that they had to take my cup, go back and pour the coffee out of a carafe behind the bar and then return with one cup every time someone wanted a refill was a problem. Breakfast for two ran around $36. A bit pricey in my opinion for the food served. Parking on Damen on a Sunday morning? Easy, Peasy. But the biggest opportunity? Service. Don't mess with me in the morning. I'm not a morning type of gal. Just get me tons of coffee with no hassle (and real cream) and food that I rave about and you and I will get along fine. Now about about another cup of that java?
(3)Michael L.
The eggs Benedict are delightful!!!
(5)Jo W.
We ended up here on accident, but I'm really glad we came. It was a Friday morning so it wasn't that busy when we arrived, but there was a line by the time we left. French toast used to be my go-to brunch dish, but I hadn't had it in ages. Since "toast" is in the name I decided to go for it, and I'm glad I did - it was perfection, and now I'm back to having daydreams about french toast all day long... Service was excellent. So excellent, here's where they earned their 5th star: I was brunching with my vegan friend, and Toast Two isn't vegan, nor do they have any listed vegan options on their menu. My friend was going to order something really basic and boring, and mentioned she was vegan. Our server told her she could make the breakfast burrito vegan for her, so my friend went with that. Apparently this was a good move, because my friend inhaled that burrito and kept commenting how good it was. So, vegan diners, take note - ask and ye shall receive! I was super happy with brunch here and would come back, but I'd come on an off day and time because I'm not a fan of standing in any line, no matter how good the food is.
(5)Mayra H.
We ate more food than what fit on a table. and when I say "we" I mean just me & my mentee Cynthia aka my other lil sis. ambiance was cool, service was great, food was awesome. we ordered crepes, French toast (fresh fruit made it yummy), eggs, the works.... We ate like we had never eaten before but all and all we did have to ultimately sacrifice and leave some of it behind. you do have to wait awhile to be seated, depending on the day, so make sure you bring something to read or at the very least like the person you're eating with enough to talk to them for up to an extra 45-60 min. :) *I went back with my mini me & J but they didn't like the hollandaise sauce. ((so note to self: we need to find some good hollandaise sauce))
(5)Patrick L.
OMG I think I got drunk on their chilaquiles- best I have ever had-
(5)Chijen Y.
Maybe this place can't afford to clean their grossly smelly bathroom or hire a repair man to come to fix the toilet paper dispenser that's hanging off the wall because their heat bill is so high from "toasting" all their patrons. Ridiculously hot in there, but anyway, on to the important stuff... I tried to order the highest nutritionally sound items on the menu... "artichoke" soup tasted like saur kraut... it was good, but no hint of artichoke there... and ewww. Niscoise salad?!! I should have taken a picture of this pale poorly put together salad...gross frozen fish lacking flavor and color... but that wouldn't have helped explain why the greenbeans tasted of slight pinesol??! Blech. Will not be going back. My assumption, based on the look on the waiter's face when I told him that the salad wasn't good is that its not the first one he had to take back. Partner ordered crab benedict and pancakes. They didn't seem to screw that up.
(1)Praveen S.
Good brunch place. Tasty burgers, even the vegetarian one was good. Good coffee and service. will visit again.
(4)Kendal K.
Best brunch in Bucktown! Love! Get the French Toast Orgy!
(5)Jessie B.
I have died & gone to brunch heaven. Plus it is BYOB. I'm speechless here.
(5)Kelsey F.
A BYOB Brunch spot with amazing food and options for everyone! Why don't we have one of these in Boston??! I got the spinach and goat cheese omelet which was yummy. Everyone else really liked there meals as well. The french toast orgy sounded like heaven but I wasn't in that indulgent of a mood. Oh and they're OJ is fresh squeezed and perfect to add to some champagne. Toast Two you Rule!
(4)Katie R.
service is good, coffee is good, atmosphere is good. i had the pancake orgy which was yummy but not great - and honestly the idea of yogurt on pancakes with granola was a good one, but unfortunately doesn't convey to the dish (someone made a suggestion of getting the yogurt on the side - i wish i had thought of that when i was there). it came with a ton of fruit. will it be the plain old fruit and granola with toast or the crazy ass brick-sized&shaped french toast that woos me over next?
(4)Jen G.
We love brunch. We brunch every Sunday. And Toast is definitely a brunch staple for us. If you go during peak hours, there will be a wait, but it's totally worth it. I recommend the Stuffed French Toast. The flavors are Mexican Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mascarpone. I'm not a fan of strawberry products, so I always order two Chocolate and one Mascarpone. It comes with berries and a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. They bring syrup to the table for you as well, and I recommend using at least a little because it will balance the moisture level and the sweetness actually balances the fillings (they aren't as sweet as you would think). I have ordered other items on the menu as well, and they are all delicious, but this has become my mainstay. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and the decor/atmosphere is whimsical and comfy.
(5)Jeannine H.
Not quite sure I understand all the 4 and 5 star love for this spot...except it is one of these oh so trendy LP-Bucktown spots that is on everyone's MUST list. However I was completely underwhelmed by the quality of the food. I had the stuffed French toast (which you figure should be a yummy, amazing signature dish at a place named "Toast") and while the concept is interesting overall the flavor was NOT there. I didn't know it was possible for french toast (especially when it was stuffed with something) to be so bland. And the bacon...I was simply shocked...it was so dry, and flavorless that I sent it back...HOW DO YOU MESS UP BACON!!! I did however have good service (of course it was a tuesday morning around 11) so that is a big plus. All in all as I said in a previous review...in a city like Chicago where EXCELLENT brunch spots abound...you may want to skip the hype and skip this place.
(2)Aurore L.
If there is a better way to start off your week than by having a lazy brunch after the Oscars night and a mini ice-storm, I want to know all about it. First win: free and ample parking. The hipsters wannabe are at work (or pretend to be); you just have to deal with the hip moms and their intergalactic strollers. I am sure you can make waffles and kill a whole bunch of nasty aliens with these things. Minus today: slippery pavements. Ouch. Second win: Julius Meinl coffee. A real plus for this European snob. Perfection in a cup, served with real cream. Third win: a killer menu. All the usual suspects, often with a twist. Hard to choose. And specials to top it off. I chose one of these and got the 'huevos verde' (green eggs si no entiendes Español) made of a cilantro and jalapaño pesto and chihuaha cheese. Hot and yummy tasting. Perfect breakfast potatoes. Wonderful challah bread. The B.E.L.T. (bacon egg lettuce tomato) was quite nice too and was served on a brioche bun. Fourth win: reasonably priced and served with a smile. Having broken my fast I am ready for the day, the week and - maybe - the new coming month.
(4)Selena A.
I stumbled across this place with my roommate last fall and I fell in love! The food is amazing and its located in one of Chicago's most upbeat neighborhoods. The staff is very attentive and did I mention how delicious the food is? I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys an early breakfast, brunch or late lunch!
(5)Aly H.
Toast was...a little dry. After seeing rave reviews, my boyfriend and I decided to make the trip to Bucktown to Toast to experience the great pancake orgy and other deliciousness. However, we were a bit let down and have been to far superior a brunch place at hubs such as Lou Mitchells and Milk and Honey. Here were our likes and dislikes: Likes: -Prompt coffee service. It was frigid Chicago morning thus warmth (both inner and outer) were our primary needs. -Immediate seating at the bar. Without that, our wait would have been 30 minutes- and we were only 2! -Solid egg white veggie omelet with marble rye toast. Moist and cheesy, this omelet perfectly balanced sinful with healthful. It's a pity that the sweet dishes get all the credit here, because there was surely something to be said for the quality of this dish. -Serving vanilla yogurt on top of pancakes - yum! Dislikes: -Somewhat aloof host. Granted it was busy (but isn't it always at 10:30am during Sunday brunch?) but the host offered no smile, smirk, or any hint of pleasure at the presence of paying customers. Not a good mood-setter when you feel like an annoyance the moment you walk in the door. -Lack of waiting area/space in general. This place is Cramped with a capital C. While we were seated at the bar, the constant opening and closing of the front door left a constant draft and I felt bad for those waiting for a table as there was no waiting area and they were seriously encroaching on other diner's "space." -An anticlimatic "pancake orgy." We had heard of its sinfulness and deliciousness and yet were met with...well...pancakes :/ All 3 flavors were stacked on top of one another and all that could be discerned was the lemon poppyseed (very good btw). But that little blip of goodness misses the point that this pancake orgy was supposed to make. It was supposed to make the angels sing and glorify the pancake gods with its harmonious and unique flavors. This just seemed like a stack of flavored pancakes and I missed the banana altogether. Overall, Toast was a shmeh brunch and left us feeling a bit let down. We probably won't be back as we continue on our constant quest to find the best brunch places in Chitown.
(2)Kyle W.
Toast 2, in my mind, was very average. My girlfriend's chilaquiles tasted great but were lacking in the visual presentation department. I had the chicken burger and it was good. Service was very good and friendly and we did not have to wait for a spot at the bar.
(3)bria s.
Love the Veggie Eggs Benedict and some of the best coffee I've ever had! I like the natural lighting and the window seats. Possibly my favorite breakfast spot.
(5)Niraj G.
Veggie eggs benedict was pretty good but not better than other places. The veggie chilli was suprisingly good and definitely recommend it.
(4)arun r.
I went there last Sunday for breakfast as it was closer to my new place and I'm extremely happy with their food and service. The waiting time was about 45 minutes but food was worth the wait. I had an egg benedict and a mascarpone stuffed french toast and both were delicious. French toast was the one of the best I had in years. I'm going there again!!!!
(5)Johnny T.
*Sniff, Snniifff* Ahh, there's nothing quite like the smell of HOT GARBAGE on a warm summer's day as a biblical plague of flies descends upon you, your friends and your food. Just a suggestion: maybe you should move the gigantic trash cans on the other side of the fence to another location. You see, as effective as the wood fence is at blocking the view to the alley, it's not so effective at blocking the smell of smoldering garbage or the enormous tsetse fly invasion that was, obviously, bent on world domination (and winning). The waitress was a sweet heart (really) and my food - when I didn't think about anything that was happening around me, else I'd gag - was good. But the paranoia I developed at the prospect of catching trypanosomiasis and the head injury my friend, Payal, incurred when the stench caused her to pass out...those were not good. Not.Good. But, maybe it was our fault. After waiting so long for a table, we jumped at the first one that was available. Granted, Donnie & Marie, Pat Boone and the New Kids on the Block were all sitting inside in air-conditioned, non-smelly splendor while Preet, Payal, Flavor Flav, Menudo and I sat outside in the blinding sun, heat, stench and insect invasion. But, I am sure that is all just a crazy coincidence. Thanks, Toast. You're the best. I can't wait to come back. Will it be frogs falling from the sky next time?
(2)cassie r.
Ooooooh, bread. Rich, hearty, stick to your ribs kinda bread. Toasted and slathered in butter and jam. THIS is a beautiful thing. Since their moniker exalts the simple yet all important brunch necessity, I should have known they'd do it well. When I saw "Challah" on their menu, I knew it was gonna be good. And it SO was. I chose their special of the day for the rest of my breakfast meal - mango jalapeno sausage, cheddar and peppers wrapped in an egg white omelette. I love omelettes - especially discovering a uniquely delicious way of serving them. This place is uber small, and already full at 8:30 a.m. A short or even long wait is a small sacrifice for the chance to enjoy any one of their tempting menu options.
(4)Scott N.
As far as breakfast goes, this place is right up at the top of my list! Amazing food, very nice staff -- they even brought me coffee while I waited on my table. Had the breakfast burrito -- yummy!
(4)Alex R.
I must concur, the stench outback was a bit overwhelming for me---but my company did not agree. The flavors were bountiful, and the ingrediants incredibly fresh. In fact my visitors even went back on their own during their stay (but ate inside)! The filled french toast looked interesting, but we never tried....Had the pepper eggs, omlete lorainne, were wonderful. The fruit, immpecable!
(4)John D.
Love the French Toast Orgy. The 1 star is because the host seated personal friends ahead of our table after having waited 30+ mins, in the cold, after walking 2 miles uphill. Ok not really but the point is I'll never come back to Toast. There are too many great places that don't show that kind of disrespect to the customer. At least if you're going to pull a douchebag move like that don't make it so obvious.
(1)Dan D.
Came here expecting overpriced so-so breakfast food, and I walked away thinking it is AWESOME food that is priced higher simply because it is so innovative and tasty. Details: I ordered the "French Toast Orgy." Like many of the other Yelpers have said, it is just a masterpiece of stuffed-french-toast with different fillings that are literally cooked right into the bread (blueberries is my favorite one they offer). And no syrup needed. Yup, thats right. NO SYRUP! Instead, they place nuts, powered sugar, honey, and a little bit of yogurt as a dressing. Wow, I am permanently freed from the chains of maple-syrup (suck it Vermont!.... naw, jk, I still like ya Vermont....). Also, we had the omelette that contains a smorgeshborg (?) of applewood bacon, chives, peppers, some more veggies, and a beautiful white european cheese that I cannot pronounce (and will not even TRY to spell). Fantastic. Both entrees cost $10 a plate. Seems a bit high for breakfast, but both were wonderful and creative. For that, I am more than willing to splurge now and then. Cheers my friends!
(4)Jon O.
Y'know what? It's pretty good. Toast has been a presence in brunch talk since I moved to Wicker Park in 2008. It's delicious! They have Julius Meinl coffee! My friend saw Jeff Tweedy there! It sounds like an "event" brunch to be sure. Well, I'd been there two or three times before and hadn't been totally blown away. I took my mom there on her recent trip to Chicago to re-evaluate. And the verdict is... it's pretty good. This isn't to discount the quality of the food! I had a beef tenderloin sandwich (the special of the day), and it was great. My co-diners opted for an omelette and a scramble, and they were likewise pleased. The menu is what I'd consider "the basics done right". Not "basic" in the sense of Sunrise Cafe or other diner-style brunch places, but variety within the typical categories of pancakes, sandwiches, egg dishes, etc. However, the experience of eating at Toast leaves a little to be desired. For one, the place is small - they packed about as many tables and counter seats in as they could, but that's still only about 30 seats, and it's consequently a very loud place with a long waiting list and no waiting room. Prices are decent, and the service was harried but eventually polite. If you're going, I recommend a willingness to sit at the counter - on multiple occasions, it's been the difference between a 10 minute wait and a 40 minute wait. If you have a weekday off and getting here won't be a problem for you, I can heartily recommend Toast. However, if you're looking for an especially interesting brunch, or have no interest in 40 minute waits on the weekend, you would be better served going elsewhere.
(3)Tiffany T.
My favorite brunch place that does not serve alcohol! Toast is absolutely delcious no matter what you order. I adore their stuffed french toast, but I am mostly partial to the strawberry stuffed french toast. My boyfriend loves their chicken sausages and pancakes, he always raves about them. Julius Mienhl coffee is great, freshly squeezed orange juice is delightful, I only wished they served mimosas.
(4)David F.
The burger menu is pathetic as they only have bland chicken and veggie burgers. Where's the beef!? All they have is buffalo which is honestly not for everyone. Their French toast is good but the Mexican chocolate they use is powdered it's basically Mexican nesquik and its not very rich or thick. 2 stars bc there r other menu items worth trying
(2)Stephanie E.
Do Not Go To Toast. My boyfriend and I went to Toast for brunch last weekend and received the worst service we have ever received. After we ordered and tried to pay with our Groupon on my boyfriend's Droid App, the manager said they were unable to use Groupon's off of a Droid although, as we pointed out to him, the Groupon itself explicitly said you could. Moreover, the manager refused to apologize and made me walk 40 minutes to my house (while my boyfriend sat by himself at the counter) to get my ITouch which they did except. Later that day we called Groupon to confirm, and they told us that the Toast manager was completely wrong. We called Toast back to tell them, and the manager was again completely rude and unapologetic. Honestly this was the worse service I have ever received in my life. I hope anyone reading this review takes note and NEVER GOES TO TOAST. Horrible staff. Perhaps it would have been alright (ok, no it wouldn't - that is how bad the service experience was) if the food was good, but the food is only average. So as a summary, TERRIBLE TERRIBLE & RUDE.
(1)Brian B.
One of my favorite spots for breakfast. The French Toast Orgy is a must. Usually a line on the weekends, but tends to move very quick. For a couple of people, there is usually seating at the bar available. This place is a must every time I am in Chicago.
(5)Alex F.
To be fair, I didn't actually eat here...the reason, the host pissed us off so much, that we left after ordering coffee. It was a hot Sunday, early 9:30 when we got to Toast. There was a wait, NP. When the host called us in, he seated us at the counter, problem. We didn't want to sit at the counter and told him that we would be happy to wait for a table. We got in reply to our request a 2 minute lecture about how he had bumped us up the list (really? there was no one else outside), about how we would have to wait another 45 min for a table (really? there is an open one behind us and about 3 tables that are almost done with their meals), and how the counter was the most popular area in the restaurant (really? cause those chairs are super uncomfortable). He basically refused to let us wait for a table. Really? So after being bullied by the host, we ordered coffee. And then we left (we paid for the coffee AND left a tip) I think the host was a little shocked. Really? You bullied us and wouldn't let us wait for a table. I am too old and have worked in restaurants for too long to be treated that way. Sorry guys, you get a fail. A restaurant is about food AND service. Part of service is not giving the customer a hard time. We were happy to wait for as long as needed for a table, we weren't rude or being fussy, we just wanted a table...that's not too much to ask or accommodate.
(1)Paul S.
French stuffed toast orgy (in yo mouf!): 45 minute wait no biggie smalls. Host had a stink-face, but he was probably one of the numb skulls out for Chicago's St. Patricks Day (the Saturday prior to). No harm done. Sitting at the counter is key here -coffee with a quickness. Our server was great and suggested that we could choose ALL THREE flavors of stuffed toast! The food: French Toast Orgy; puréed fresh strawberry, mascarpone and Mexican chocolate, topped w/ vanilla yogurt, house made berry granola, fresh fruit and drizzled w/ honey, side of grilled chicken sausage stuffed w/ apple & gouda, house potatoes. Fresh o.j. and coffee, OH YEAH! Possibly the best breakfast in a while.
(5)Jen G.
Chicago brunch...how I miss thee!! Toast 2 was great. We had to wait about 40 min for a party of 6 on Sat at 10:30 -- not bad! The food was so good. I had the pancake orgy. Oh, soooo good. 3 different kinds of pancakes, each so tasty. There was really good fresh fruit around the pancakes and then on top there was yogurt, some of the best granola I've ever had, and honey. Man -- it was delicious! The breakfast burrito was also very good. Another person with us got the pesto scramble -- this looks delicious and from the noises my friend made, I am pretty confident that it was! And, another person had the BELT. Apparently at toast 1 this isn't the heartiest sandwich. But here it was beautiful. It was huge and really good looking! SOmoene at a different table got the stuffed french toast. Wow, that is what I want next time... Chicago brunch is one of the things I really miss about chicago...
(4)Johnny W.
Very, very good. I recommend any of their scrambles; one plate is enough to feed two. Get there realtively early (pre-9 a.m.) on weekends to avoid waiting in line.
(4)Maurizio C.
This place is great , 2.50 for cup of coffee, breakfast yum especially chicken sausage, lunch sandwiches are out of this world! This place kills bongo room(5.00 for mocha, get real losers)! Waitstaff is happy and friendly.
(5)Kelsey K.
2 word, my friend, 2 words: damn good. Went there and got the breakfast burrito (which was served in a spinach tortilla, DOUBLE BONUS!) which was huge and delectable! My man got the Pesto Scramble and that was totally rock star, whoo-ee! My only complaints are that the front stairs are a little tricky (but you can't fault the restaurant for that, just warning you to watch your step when you leave!) and that the crepes were a little crunchier than the ones I used to eat in France... but really??? It only gets 4 stars because the 5-star rating is reserved for Pura Belleza, home of the best breakfast in Chicago. Dee-lish!! Can't wait to go back!!
(4)bill s.
Maybe 3 1/2 stars. Had breakfast there this morning with my wife and son. The "kid" lives in the neighborhood and we spent Easter with him and his wife. Been to many the breakfast places in the area (Bongo Room, Caffe de Luca, Feast, & Milk & Honey on Division). Attentive service, food was quite good, although my peppers and eggs could have been a bit hotter. No lines, no waiting, but at 10am on a Monday would not expect one. MY wife had the french toast with berries. Quite nice but looked like a duplicate of the version served at de Luca. Probably still like de Luca the best; maybe because it is closest to the kid's house and it is the first place I ever went to once he moved to Bucktown. Did not find it so special that I would wait an hour on weekends (same thing about the Bongo room. Been there 3 times, all on weekday mornings), but frankly I cannot think of any place that I would wait an hour to get into unless Rick Bayless, Tony Manutano, Grant Achtaz, and Graham Elliot were all in the same place having a demonstration and someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)Kyle B.
Maybe it's because I generally have bad luck anyways but this, to me, was not worth the wait. They definitely had delicious food, but the wait was entirely too long (good for them I suppose) and the food was not incredible enough for me to think that it was worth it. Additionally, I made it about halfway through my meal and found a hair gracefully flowing atop my french toast. I will say that the waiter was apologetic and offered me a new plate free-of-charge. It just really made me lose some of the excitement I had for wanting to go to this place. To wait so long to get in and have a hair issue with my food is points off in my book. I would probably go here again, but it would have to be during off hours and with a very small group (of 1-2 people). Otherwise it just feels crowded and rushed.
(3)Susan K.
I was looking forward to trying this place b/c I had walked by several times since moving to the area. So I convinced 3 of my friends to join me for breakfast here one Sunday morning. I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed. To start with, the waiter was not very friendly at all. The service is slow and when we finally got our food, they got my order wrong and I only ordered pancakes. I didn't complain to the waiter b/c I didn't want to deal with him and wait another 20 minutes for pancakes, plus my friends all had their food. The coffee didn't taste like it was brewed right; as if they didn't use enough coffee grinds. I know the difference between good and bad coffee, I was a barista for several years. There are many places that offer better food and better service. I won't be go back.
(2)Larissa A.
I tell everyone to make sure they get toast with their meal at toast, because, well, they're toast is the best. I'm addicted to their bread, which -- truth be told -- is really fairly ordinary for nice brunch places, but with toasters lining the wall, you just HAVE to eat their toast. Seriously, though, their menu is amazing. I've had a few greasy scrambles, but for the most part, the food is extraordinary. The chorizo and cheddar scramble I ate yesterday was perfectly made, and they were great about customizing it. Friends at the table all ordered fantastic foods from their pancake orgy (which is good enough to fit its name) to marscapone stuffed pancakes drizzled with honey butter. They even have turkey and vegetarian sausage, both of which are delicious! The staff is friendly, and was great about making us feel at home even while we waited for 45 minutes in a torrential downpour. The coffee is good (although, their decaf is oddly better than their regular) and their outdoor patio is great for the summer. Go here. Eat good food. Leave happy.
(4)Raphael D.
If you've never been here before you really should start with the stuffed french toast. Its pretty much what makes this place after the benedicts and other stuff. You'll feel like a glutton after eating such a sinful plate of french toastyness but its worth every bite. They serve Julius Meinl coffee too which is not something you see very often. If you don't want to wait for a table try going later in the day saturday or sunday or try going on a weekday.
(4)Jennifer B.
BYOB Brunch? It's like God wanted us to pour some champagne in those juice glasses.... I think Toast Two should really be called Toast #1 (with the foam finger, naturally). While this brunch spot is rather small like it's sister Lincoln Park spot, this location just has all sorts of charm. For as busy as they are, the wait is never extremely long. We came at 10am on Saturday (primetime!) and the wait was only 10 minutes for a table. While at Toast you never feel rushed, and the patrons are a nice mix of hungover twenty-somethings and little kids trying their first bites of strawberry-infused french toast. The food at Toast Two can rival any brunch place in Chicago. I would recommend this adorable spot to anyone...even if Bucktown is a couple neighborhoods away...you won't be disappointed!
(5)Mike F.
The best brunch I've had in Chicago. They serve Julius Meinl coffee, which is my favorite. The combination is transcendental. Order anything with the word "orgy" and it will truly be orgasmic. Well not truly, but it will be really really good. The pancake orgy is three different types of pancakes. The french toast orgy is three different kinds of stuffed french toast. Both are completely surrounded by fresh berries, and topped not with syrup, but yogurt and honey. The first time I went, wasn't sure what I'd think about that as a topping -- trust me, it blows syrup away. If you don't get here before 9AM on a weekend, you'll wait -- it is what it is, plan for it. And even getting there between 8:30 and 9AM, I still haven't scored a back patio table. That's the price you pay for brunch this good.
(5)E C.
First of all, there's free street parking! Yippee! :) As already stated by many, many people, the food is delicious and the prices are fair. I met a friend for lunch, and we were both very happy with our dishes. I ordered the French Toast Orgy and got one of each filling (chocolate, mascarpone, and strawberry), and my friend got the prosciutto eggs benedict. The portions were bigger than most other breakfast places, which made the both of us happy. :) We also got the Julius Meinl coffee--decaf for her, regular for me. That was some good coffee, and thank goodness for refills. :) The thing that I really want to commend Toast Two for, however, is their customer service. My friend was running a bit late, so I ended up waiting for a bit. A worker there--tall, tattoos, perhaps the owner?--checked up on me a couple times, first to take any drink orders and then to offer something to munch on while I wait. I didn't want to because I already felt bad for having been sitting there with only a cup of coffee, but he offered and served fresh cinnamon toast with butter and jam--on the house! His response to all this was that he didn't like to see people (waiting) hungry. :) I was and still am pretty floored by his kindness and gesture. (Thank you, sir. The toast was delicious. :)) I will be visiting Toast Two from now on. :)
(5)Marti G.
WOW...AMAZING FRENCH TOAST AGAIN! I am just loving French Toast lately and this one may have won my #1 prize -- delicious with cinnamon --- so GOOD. We were told that the stuffed french toast was the BEST so we made our way today to try it out. The first impression of the place wasn't anything special -- as the decor and atmosphere was kind of bland and it's pretty small -- but the 20-30 minute wait was totally worth it. The guy at the front desk was funny and nice and sat us a little quicker than we had been told our wait would be which was cool. The eggs are the BEST eggs I have had and we eat at breakfast places all the time. The house potatoes are awesome! So for food it's a 5 STAR -- the service was excellent. My only con is the atmosphere...maybe some paint and some music would spice it up a little. This is one of my NEW favorites -- I will be visiting often.
(4)Brenna O.
After just one visit to Toast Two, I am in love. First of all, I loved how their sign is just one big piece of toast a la Prince changing his name to a symbol. Second, we went on a Monday morning during a glorious day off from work, so we didn't have to deal with what sounds like a very large weekend brunch crowd. Third, PANCAKE AND FRENCH TOAST ORGIES! Our waiter was friendly and laid back, and we got our food quickly. After reading other recommendations on-line, we made sure to ask for the yogurt on the side with our breakfast orgies because it's tangy and can overpower the rest of the plate. It was such a fun and decadent experience and made me tingly all over. NOMNOMNOM! If you can, try and hit this place up during the week because the dining room is kind of small and it sounds like it's super busy on the weekends. It's totally worth it!
(5)Tim W.
I've been going to this place for a while now, since I live in the neighborhood. The place is fairly small, but extremely popular, so the wait during peak times can be 30 minutes or more. During the summer, the open up a nice back patio, which helps with wait times. Their omelets are tasty, but what they're really known for are their pancakes. The pancake orgy is probably their most popular, featuring three different kinds of big pancakes with layers of yogurt in-between. Topped with TONS of fresh berries, this is one to remember. Breakfast isn't the only tasty dish here. They also have some great lunch food. Their sandwiches feature different types of fresh breads and flavorful sauces. I love the pesto. Service is fast and friendly. I never have to ask for a refill on my coffee. Tip: If you have a small party (2 or 3), ask to be seated at the bar area, and you'll get a seat much faster.
(5)Sharon H.
I never thought I'd want to be involved in an orgy! But after my breakfast here the other day, I'm game for French toast orgy any time of day! The marscapone was the best I agree followed by the chocolate. When I do it again, ill definitely do 2 marscapone and a chocolate. Even the fruit around the toast was fantastic! Definitely can be a split meal! The service on the other hand...not a fan. We felt brushed off several times waiting for out table. It was by the owner!
(4)Megan L.
Incomprehensably (that's a word, right? sort of?), I had never been to Toast until yesterday morning. Luckily, a friend and I were both up early on a Sunday and he had a Groupon to use... off we went! We were prepared for a wait (brunch in Bucktown - seriously, it can take forever), but it was only a few minutes before we were seated in the very lovely patio in back. What a perfect way to start the day in the beautiful Indian Summer we're having! Cute and cozy, with planter boxes that are still blooming. On to the food. I couldn't pass up the steak benedict (eggs benedict, but substitute steak for the ham/canadian bacon). Good choice! They make their own hollandaise which is a bit more lemony than what you'll normally get - and it is delicious! I was also craving sweet, so my friend and I split a side of pancakes. Light and fluffy - totally what I wanted. My friend had an omelet with chorizo, cheese, and jalapenos. He was also happy with his food (I didn't try it, so I can't rate it for myself). I'm glad I finally got around to trying Toast - and hopefully I'll get back there soon!
(4)Jessica G.
Had a lovely experience here for new year's brunch but have a few (tiny) bones to pick. My group arrived prior the 11 am crowds and the staff was lovely. Our service was prompt and our coffee and water cups were always full. Coat rack also a plus. Everyone at our table ordered french toast in various forms and I got the breakfast burrito. The stuffed french toast was quite tasty. Unfortunately the table syrup was not maple syrup. And there was an upcharge to get said maple syrup. The breakfast burrito was ok. But was $9 and nothing compared to the glorious breakfast burrito served at Lula. The breakfast potatoes were cooked quite nicely, but lacked seasoning. Easily remedied with salt and ketchup but still disappointing. Overall, a great neighborhood option with a darling interior. But not a place I would seek out again. Overpriced for food that could take a lesson from other Chicago brunch spots (lula, southport grocery, etc). Also, the ladies bathroom hand dryer could use a nice upgrade.
(3)Amanda Z.
Weekday brunch: Take eighty-seven. Scene: Toast Two. Cast: Usual suspects. Preview: Hot coffee, refreshed often with real cream. Main Feature: Split: Pumpkin pancakes with nutmeg whipped cream and the Andouille Omelet (chicken sausage plus bell peppers plus Chihuahua cheese.) The pumpkin pancakes were sinfully delicious, yet surprisingly not overly sweet. I'm not even the world's biggest pumpkin fan, but on a dreary fall day, not much sounded better than warm comforting cakes with fancy whipped cream. Well done. The omelet was rich and wonderful. Perfect to split. Bonus points for the English muffin option with real butter. Also featuring the "Moms of Bucktown." Including the cutest babies ever who loved to smile for us. Oh yeah, and breast feeding. At the table. But said breast feeding resulted in the cute little happy smile flaunted at us, so I won't complain. Good food, good service. I'll be back. But on the weekday. Cuz I don't wait for brunch. Critics say: Yes, do it again. Solid brunch experience. Oh, and don't drink the water. I think it causes a baby. (kidding)
(4)Charlene S.
Never lets me down. Always my number 1 choice for brunch The wait: The wait is a bit long, but not excessive like the Bongo Room and def worth the wait. And they don't try to rush you out. The atmosphere: I like the Bucktown location a bit more than the Lincoln Park one, I jsut like the layout of the restaurant. The food is great at both places. I like the LP because of the location. While you wait, you could walk to the cute shops to pass the time. Both locations are small, but the one is Bucktown has patio seating, which is great in the summer (except little buds from the trees above kept falling on us and our food) The peeps: the Bucktown locals The food: savory and sweet. I can never decide. I'll order sweet if someone at the table orders savory. -The french toast orgy: stuffed with mascarpone, chocolate, or a fruit compote. I choose 2 mascarpone and 1 chocolate. With granola, honey, yogurt, berries... I'm drooling. -Eggs benedict... solid -Coffee.... delicious. Strong, made well. -Egg white omelette with pesto and chicken... amazing. -Good fruit. Just a great place, good service, cute quaint atmosphere, good quality and consistency. Anything with the word "orgy" is worth trying!
(5)Amanda P.
Love the french toast, the OJ and the Coffee. Others have tried other things and said it's pretty good but not worth the wait. However, I will keep going back for the stuffed french toast.
(4)Dominique B.
Ok so I've been back, like a million times. They got a new host guy a few months back, and he rocks! He's super conversational and totally cool about getting a list going. Since he knows us now, no issues getting in, or getting a spot at the counter. But again it goes to my previous review, where if they don't know you it can be a LONG wait. In addition, they still have that stupid "if you whole party isn't here" rule! Ahhhh it drives me nuts, even if they are around the corner. What's the dif? So annoying, but can't hate on the food. So yummy!
(4)Marie B.
So, I'm hanging out with my favorite person (those in the know...know who this is) and we decide we're famished...we popped in toast and were pleasantly surprised. I had a wonderful plate of eggs scrambled with pesto and proscuitto...yummy. Also, unlike alot of breakfast places, the potaotes were fresh and perfectly prepared. My only disappointment...the toast was a bit dry...and they only gave me one little pad of jelly/jam. But, it was "all good" because their tea was delightful, the eggs fab and the company wonderful... What better way to spend a leisurely holiday?
(4)Meridith E.
How did I not know that there was a 2nd location in Bucktown when I lived less than 2 blocks away from it for the past year? I had loved the LP location and love the Bucktown location as well. They offer specials each week ranging from the sweet to savory. Vegetarians and meatlovers alike will find something there. Breakfast is my favorite weekend indulgence, and Toast has one of the best brunches that I have had in Chicago. When my friend was in town from France, I brought him there and he ate in complete happy silence! Look for the piece of Toast on Damen and run in...be prepared, as there's usually a wait. Making me hungry just thinking about it.
(4)Seamus F.
This place is a damn fine brunch every weekend we've tried it over two years. Resisted reviewing it before since it's already busy enough but have had such consistently good food and great service from the servers that had to throw them a hat tip. Patio is great if the weather is cooperating too. The only blemish is that if you don't get there early on a weekend there can be a solid wall of stroller people ahead of you, and a long wait ensues. The only blemish I've had in the last six months there is that the guy who works the counter seats can be a pain, but food to good to stay away so we just get there early for table service. Coffee is kick-ass Julius Meinl, Eggs Benedict always solid, the featured omelet is sometimes amazing, even simple red pepper, cheese, and egg scramble is very good. Same menu as the Webster location, but just a better vibe at this spot, probably due to the larger room and outdoor options when it's nicer out.
(5)Claire Y.
3.5 stars. Surprisingly, to our delight, our wait time for a weekend brunch was only about 10 minutes. We were seated at the bar (faster seating), which we didn't mind one bit. Our veggie benedict and pesto scramble were quite delicious. As a pesto snob, I must say their pesto was rather excellent. The side of potatoes was perfectly cooked with just enough char. The freshly squeezed grapefruit juice was refreshing. It's a solid neighborhood brunch joint. I probably won't frequent it much since I don't live in the area. Nevertheless, I do hope there will be a second visit some day --- perhaps the other location in Lincoln Park.
(3)Kristin S.
With a smoked salmon scramble, the perfectly layered breakfast sandwich and a nutella-filled crepe, Toast has made it's way into my brunch hall of fame. Now if I could just get rid of the 500 other people who love it, too. I came here with my boyfriend's family who were in from out of town. We had to wait the obligatory 30-45 minutes since there were 5 of us, but it was a nice day, so we walked around the neighborhood until it was time to eat. Either everyone ordered extremely well, or this place is the real deal. Out of 5 of us, every person was "mmm"-ing and "oh, wow"-ing all over the place. I ordered the breakfast sandwich which was perfection, with the soft, but chewy bread being the star that held everything together. I also tried the stuffed french toast (mascarpone is the BOMB), the smoked salmon omelet and the roasted pepper omelet (which sounds pretty ordinary, but holy cow! The flavors were so fresh and very strong). The decor is very fun and playful without being kitschy. The service was also attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back, but I'll probably go when I'm in a small group to try and avoid the long waits.
(5)dan l.
Believe me, I never thought I would ever leave this place just one star but the french toast I had today for brunch was by far, hands down, bar none, without a doubt, the worst I've ever eaten. It was the stuffed version with Mexican chocolate inside. How could this possibly be bad?? Well for starters the bread wasn't even soggy, but wet. It had been left in the batter far too long and was hardly cooked on top of that. Some of the fruit was past ripe and the chocolate was a bit mild for my taste but that's not their fault. Well regardless, it was very disappointing. Three or four years ago I had brunch at their other location and tried the pancake orgy which I recall being pretty good. Maybe just a fluke. That being said, I don't feel terribly motivated to go back after my experience today. A real bummer..
(1)Ashley D.
one of the best brunches i've had. everything on the menu sounds amazing and i had such a hard time choosing what i wanted to eat. then right when i thought i finally decided, we get inside and see the specials board. chili cheese omelet. damn. this omelet was one of the best breakfast entrees i've had. any other place would have put some standard chili on top of some eggs but everything about this omelet was well thought out. all of the flavors in the chili were well developed and you could definitely taste each of its components. it would have been a great meal on its own but i couldn't imagine a better topping for the eggs. the potatoes were very tasty too. and of course the toast! i couldn't decide on which bread i wanted so the waitress let me split and try one challah and one whole grain piece. definitely preferred the whole grain. and as simple as it sounds, they really do know how to do a good toast job on a piece of bread. my friends also seemed to really enjoy what they ordered but honestly i was kinda in the zone with my own food. it's just too bad it was a special and they don't serve it everyday. the place is also super cute inside and our waitress was great. the only gripe was we ended up waiting quite a bit outside for a table even though there seemed to be one open but apparently "reserved" or something. it sounded kinda weird but i guess that's policy. either way, i still had a great start to my sunday here.
(4)Nicolas H.
Great selection, reasonable prices and friendly service. Not much here to complain about, especially when the patio opens and you can eat outside. The stuffed french toast is something I've never had before but really enjoyed and the portion was huge. I also had the Croque Monsieur which was cooked perfectly with the overabundance of butter. Looking forward to repeat visits to taste some of the other creations...
(5)Eman S.
This place is right down the street from me and my wife loves it, but I do not think it is that good. We are lucky because we never have to wait there because when there is a 45-minute wait (which happens often on the weekend) we just put our name in and go home. The thing that I don't like is that the food is just okay. There is nothing that stands out or makes a 45-minute wait worth it. I have eaten here four or five times and really only go because of the ease of access and because my wife loves it. I wish they had even one dish I could crave, but there isn't.
(3)Milena M.
Living up to its name, this is the best toast that I have ever had. I seriously don't know what they did to it, but it was delicious. The pancakes were so good we didn't need the butter or syrup. I had the pesto eggs and they were delicious. The coffee was very fresh and the servers are super friendly. They have a ton of toasters decorating the restaurant. It gets really crowded around brunch time so you may want to go during off peak hours if you don't want to wait. A definite must go at least once.
(5)Samson P.
We came in on a Saturday and of course it was packed. My girlfriend went in first to try to get a seat while I was parking. Well, just a note they do not seat incomplete parties, and the host said he was very "cutthroat" about it. Anyway, we waited 20 minutes and then were seated in the back. A word of advice. Try avoid seating in the patio out back unless you like eating next to the dumpsters in the alley and surrounding flies. If you sit right by the fence you can actually smell the garbage. Gross. But this experience alone wasn't enough for us to give toast a bad rating because the food is actually pretty good, generous, and reasonably priced. I went with my girlfriend and ordered the stuffed french toast with fruit and mascarpone, eggs benedict with prosciutto and a side of chicken sausage (yum). This location is also better than its Lincoln Park location.
(4)Katie M.
I went to Toast Two a few days ago for brunch with a friend and my sister, who was visiting from out of town. There was a slight wait for the meal, which was perfectly understandable. Once seated, we ate our meals which were perfectly good besides certainly being overpriced. Still, the veggie eggs benedict that I ordered was enjoyable and the side of house potatoes were delicious and filling. After they took our plates away, the waitress brings the check to us without asking if we want anything else. We were planning on ordering more, so we thought it was rude but nonetheless, we continued to catch up. 20-some minutes later, we pay and decide to leave the waitress a 40% tip because we knew we were staying late to chat. 15 minutes later, a woman comes up and basically tells us to leave because we were staying at the table for too long and they apparently had to seat a large group.... despite the fact that there was no large group waiting outside or inside the restaurant and there were plenty of other open seats. They offered to give us a free drinks, which we declined and then we awkwardly left. It was ABSURDLY rude! We weren't acting disrespectfully, we were just talking. None of us had ever been told to leave a restaurant before. It was embarrassing and beyond unprofessional. Over all, the food was overpriced although good. But the staff was beyond horrendous. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(2)kendra s.
I've decided to not review Toast Two until I had been there multiple times. Each time the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Yes, you will probably wait, but I knew that coming in, so that does not bother me one bit. The food is always amazing, but not so heavy on your stomach. I've never ordered the same thing twice (as of currently) and I've always left with a good taste. I always recommend Toast Two to friends and co-workers. This last time I even took my parents. I will be looking forward to many more delicious visits,
(5)Leanne M.
Don't hate me... I've been wanting to try Toast officially for 5 years now but it turns out... there's nothing for me to eat. :( The two vegan-izable options my server pointed out: oatmeal, and chili, weren't exactly what I was hoping for... would a vegan version of the breakfast burrito or a skillet be so tough to muster? All the ingredients were there- it's just in the mix? I was really hoping to enjoy my visit here... I was, but instead I'm still hungry... In sum: Toast Two. Adorable, but not so vegan friendly. Sigh.
(2)Matt Z.
BEST Breakfast Burrito in Town! AMAZING! Pesto scramble is pretty friction delicious also!
(5)Mary S.
The food was really good, but service was bad. Not a huge deal, but it was really slow. I wasn't crazy about the decor. Felt like I was sitting in a big beige box. So back to the food. I had the pesto scramble. It was very tasty. Oily and probably not too healthy, but delicious. Lots of flavor. If you like basil, you'll love it. The potatoes could use a little burst of flavor or seasoning, but they're decent. The buttery toast was also really good and the jam was not just your average jar stuff. Coffee was pretty good, but I didn't get my warm up until just before I left...I'll let that slide. 3.5 stars for the food. If I'm in that area and not in a hurry, I'll definitely go back. I think they have a BYOB thing too....they'll make your mimosa if you bring the booze or something. Too bad I missed out on that. Maybe next time.
(3)Lois A.
I've never been to either Toast without having to wait but it has always been worth it. The B.E.L.T with applewood smoked bacon always tastes good and whenever I order that I have a large glass of cranberry juice with it. Good coffee, great french toast and really good buffalo sliders. The crabby benedict is also very good. Service is always excellent and so is everything I've ever tried and I've been here a lot. It's worth an extra few minutes of waiting to make sure you get a patio spot in the summer. I was so happy when I first found out there was a bucktown location. The Toast on Webster gets PACKED.
(4)Lisa P.
I know there's a ton of reviews on here already, but I just have to add that I enjoy Toast as a treat! Coworkers and I usually meet here a couple times a year and we've enjoyed it every time. The mascarpone filled french toast is heavenly. I only order one so I don't have a sugar overload and can share with the table. My main order was the spinach, goat cheese, and tomato omelet which was great. Although it's crazy busy, when we meet and want to chat it doesn't feel rushed at the table. I like this place better than Bongo Room, but think it's up there with Southport Grocery.
(4)Rachel L.
Toast is a solid choice for weekend brunch, though be sure to factor in a signigicant wait time if you arrive at 10ish. Their eggs benedict is fabulous, as is the breakfast burrito. I almost alway choose savory over sweet but I'll admit to inviting friends to brunch here who I can bank on choosing sweet breakfast options, just so I can snag a nibble or two of their delicious french toast or pancake creations. Good coffee, service has been mostly consistent from my experience, bright and sunny interious, and prices are comparable to other places in the area. But that wait....ugh.
(4)Tina B.
I guess I just don't understand what the big fucking deal is. They serve breakfast stuff in a tiny little cramped place and people line up clamoring to get in here like they're giving away free bread or something. They're not. They are selling overpriced bread covered with a lot of glob, like grapes and jelly and granola and shit all over it. It's just way too early for all of that action. And even with that more-is-more philosophy, I can never seem to remember what I actually ordered the next day - it's like they slipped my wallet a roofie and then stuffed it full of bread.
(2)John B.
Come prepared to wait, because you will. Certainly on a weekend. But since last Sunday was a bee-yootiful day, that wasn't a problem. Toast will try to kill you with their food. But in a kind, loving way. Case in point: stuffed French toast. You heard me. Eggy, creamy French toast stuffed with chocolate, strawberry puree, or mascarpone cheese. Served with fresh berries (and grapes, it seems) and a side of syrup. Because a little more sugar won't kill you. You get three "sticks," which amounts to maybe one big slice of bread, but believe me, it's plenty. If it's not, you can go with the French toast orgy, which is all of the above, but topped with yogurt and granola and drizzled with honey. Squeal like a pig! I went with a side of bacon and potatoes, which was a little bit of a disappointment. The bacon was overdone for my taste, and the potatoes were kind of gooey. So it goes. There are enough selections on the menu that everyone in our group ended up with very different choices: crab Benedict, Mexican omelette, and pesto scramble. The Hollandaise sauce on the Benedict was perfect: thick and creamy, with enough lemon to give it a nice bite. Unlike its Lakeview sister, Toast Two is BYOB. So head to the liquor store while you're waiting and pick up a bottle of shampoo. They will gladly provide a pitcher of OJ, as well as glasses garnished with orange slice and strawberry. Woo hoo!
(4)P S.
Nicely done, Toast! After years of walking, bussing and driving by it seemed you always had a line out the door so naturally I thought the neighborhood must know something I did not. True that. I met some lovely Yelpers early-ish one gorgeous Sunday afternoon and found, surely enough, a line. Luckily we had enough time to make a booze cruise before seating and were able to pick up a few bottles of bubbly for mimosas (BYO, we forgot). A walk back and a relatively short wait later, we were called in. I was prepared for an elbow-to-elbow situation given the reviews I'd read but it was actually quite roomy and not *too* loud. Our server was prompt and very sweet, and hooked us up with a pitcher of oj for our champagne ($12 for four glasses, about two mimosas each depending on your booze ratio). We ordered, the food came fast and it was faaaaaaanfreakintastic. Delicious crab Benedict? Check! Delicious potatoes? Oh heck yes check! Applewood-smoked bacon? A little overdone for my taste but check check! My companions seemed to totally enjoy their items as well (I sampled the marscapone-stuffed french toast and...yeah... check as well). It's a little pricey but probably more average than not for the area, space and quality of the food. The service was great though, and on a perfect day such as this, we didn't mind the wait. I'll be back! Oh and a potential de-starring factor for you to be aware of: they "can't" (more like won't I suspect) split your check into both a card and cash, it has to be one or the other or two cards. Heads up.
(4)Meg O.
So I suppose we'll chalk this whole experience up to my sense of whimsy, and its epic fail...well, its epic fail AT Toast, at least, and its charming transition into a moveable feast. Moral of the story? Taking my ideas seriously will sometimes lead to delightfully bizarre consequences. Also, as you're reading, be sure not to miss my plug for the Map Room! Anyway, my friend Peter has a bearded dragon named Toast, and her supposed birthday is May 5th. When I learned of this, my immediate reaction was, "OMG! We have to take Toast to Toast for her birthday! She'll wear a ribbon around her neck and we'll feed her stuffed french toast with mascarpone cheese and marmalade!" Now, dear reader, you and I might hear this 'suggestion' and laugh, but Peter took me up on it, completely, even made it an event on Facebook. I hadn't even been to Toast in over three years, but somehow believed that if we could hide Toast the bearded dragon in a bag, everything would be okay. Although as we took off from Logan Square to go to Bucktown, I started wishing that Toast's name was Lula. We strolled up to Toast--the restaurant--and put our names in. We were told that it would be a 45 minute wait, annoying but par for the course at 11:00 on a Sunday in Bucktown. I desperately needed coffee, and, as we were heading towards the Starbuck's on Armitage, brilliantly remembered that the Map Room serves coffee in the morning! Yes--iced Intelligentsia! Peter and I walked in, Toast in clear sight, and the three of us were welcomed with open arms. Nobody cared that we had a bearded dragon--and she was even sans ribbon; we just sat at a high table and I sipped my coffee and Peter sipped his Red soda, and everyone thought Toast was adorable. "I'm sure they'll let her in at Toast! I would definitely let her in!" Emboldened by the small, pro-bearded lizard crowd at the Map Room, Peter and I walked back to Toast and were immediately seated. I ordered Julius Meinl coffee--YUM!--and the Pesto Scramble, and Peter got buffalo sliders. There was this charming young man at the table next to us who had just gotten an enormous plate of French Toast Orgy put down in front of him, and he immediately offered us some. I was going to be cheeky and comment that perhaps he thought he was up the street at Bristol, seated at the communal table, but am now so glad that I was earnestly gracious. As I was nearly finished with my first cup of coffee, the manager came over and said that we had to leave! "Take the Iguana out of here!" So Peter got up and took Toast the bearded dragon outside. I waved over our waitress, Michelle, and sheepishly asked if we could have our order to go. Michelle was a rock star! Not only was she apologetic and sweet and totally unfazed by the fact that her table had been kicked out of the restaurant for bringing a LIZARD into the restaurant, she gave me a huge cup of coffee to go, and filled our bag with lots of jelly, butter, and ketch-up! Hurray for Michelle, and hurray for nice guy seated next to me! By this time, he had nearly finished his French Toast Orgy, but, after hearing my tale of woe, asked, "So, what does Toast eat?" "She loves grapes and kumquats and sometimes eats veggie pellets that are cricket-flavored," I replied. The next thing I knew, nice guy had obtained a small Julius Meinl coffee cup and filled it with the grapes from his French Toast Orgy! "Tell Toast Happy Birthday," he smiled. So I walked out to find Peter chatting with two more completely sympathetic young women on the sidewalk. They agreed that perhaps a picnic was better on such a fine day, and everyone was pleased by the addition of the grapes. Peter and I strolled down Damen to Churchill Park and sat ourselves down to our picnic. Toast enjoyed the sunlight and the grass, and we enjoyed watching all the puppy dogs playing in the dog park. "This is so much better than eating at Toast," Peter smiled as I spread out our brunch. My pesto scramble was delicious for awhile, but then got REALLY salty. The challah toast was delicious. Peter and I smeared some of the blackberry jelly onto Toast's nose so she could lick it off. The whole thing was adorable. Overall, celebrating Toast's birthday was a huge success. If you actually want to sit in an establishment with your bearded dragon, stick to the Map Room. And remember that those odd bedfellows at nearby tables can turn out to be the best.
(3)Sarah B.
I was invited by the very dear Penny S. to join her and a couple of other Yelpers for brunch at Toast Two and I jumped at the offer. I'm not a morning person but this Sunday brunch thing is making me a changed woman. There was a bit of a wait but it was nice outside and my company provided some fun conversation so I didnt mind. It also gave us a minute to go to the corner liquor store and grab a couple bottles of champers for mimosas. (BYOB) The inside is bright and cheery and for being small I did not feel cramped. Our server was very sweet and chill. We ordered OJ for our champagne and she brought out tumblers with an orange slice and the brightest red strawberries on the glass. YUM! I had an omelette with jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and cheese. It was really good but not spicy enough for me. The balance of flavors was nice, though. My companions all seemed to enjoy their food as well. I had an appointment to get to so I couldnt linger and I kindof felt that if we wanted to, we wouldnt have been able to sit for long anyway, considering how small the place is. Bonus: easy street parking. :)
(3)Kortney M.
Its really just ok. You wait for over an hour on a Sunday to get inside and be rushed after having JUST ok food. I dont get why all of you think this place is good, nothing stands out from EVERYOTHER BRUNCH PLACE! Oh, theyre rude to you, maybe thats it? None of their food was even memorable enough for me to care about putting it in a review.
(2)Chris C.
What can I say that has not already been said about toast. Pretty much nothing :). So I will this the very short and sweet the place is small and intimate which is great. It is BYOB but you better get there during the times 9-10am because if you are let it be a wait. The food is good I am getting fat just thinking about it lol! The French Toast is what they are know for so make sure you try that first then explore from there :-)
(4)Ms L.
The male host here is hilarious. My friend and I went for brunch on a day where there was a not-so-nice couple in front of us...he handled them in the snarky, yet friendly manner that I love among hosts (I used to be one in my former life). They didn't pick up on the sarcasm, but it tickled me and made me feel right at home. A great start to what was a fantastic meal. If you do nothing else here - go for the pancake flight, with scrambled eggs & bacon. Sure, it's a bajillion calories...but if you're gonna go that route - do it in style. I'm a stickler for eggs...if I say scrambled well, that doesn't mean brown/burnt. Most places don't get that...Toast Two did. For that alone I would grant 5 stars -- the only other place I've had the perfect eggs experience was a place in NYC about 5 years ago...and yes, that proves how hard to please I am. Perfect bacon (to me) means light on the grease, keep the size (i.e. a straight piece, not a short, curled up one that's bubbled with lots of fat) and make sure it's crispy. Again, Toast Two *nailed it*. I swear, if this was the Olympics, they'd be the Mary Lou Retton of breakfast. To recap: Perfect eggs - check Hilarious Host - check Great bacon - check Pancake flight that's amazing to look at and eat - check Why are you still reading this -- go get some Toast Two!!
(4)Sergio T.
One of the better breakfast/brunches in Chicago. Awesome pesto eggs scramble. Expect a wait after 1030am, but amazing!
(5)Kristina B.
yummmm. a co-worker recommended this place to me, and i'm so glad i got a chance to check it out! we went on a sunday around 11, and waited about 40 minutes, as to be expected, no biggie. when we were seated, no one came around to give us menus for about 5 minutes. when we flagged down the host to get some menus, he also offered to open our bottle of champagne, which was great. once we got our menus, it took me a while to decide, because there were so many amazing looking things on the menu. my friend went with the eggs benedict with prosciutto, and i decided on the stuffed french toast - one each of the mexican chocolate, strawberry, and mascarpone cheese. we both LOVED what we chose - we also split a side of apple gouda chicken sausage, which was grilled to perfection. my only complaint is that we rarely saw our waiter, and it was hard to flag someone down. other than that, it was a nice experience and i thoroughly enjoyed my meal! the mascarpone stuffed french toast was my favorite out of all three ;)
(4)Laura L.
There's no better eggs benedict ... your truffle hollandaise is more than amazing. Have the brioche toast with their butter and fresh jam along with Julius Meinl coffee and a the french toast orgy for brunch "dessert." I love you Toast ... and all of the cute toasters you display.
(5)Bryan B.
This is definitely one of the top three breakfast restaurants in Chicago. The menu is about as creative as you can get for breakfast. My favorite is the French Toast orgy (3 thick pieces of French Toast individually stuffed with strawberry puree, Mexican chocolate or mascarpone cheese). Julius Meinl coffee. Yukon Gold breakfast potatoes. Freshly squeezed O.J. They don't open until 8am (kinda weird for a breakfast place), but go early to avoid the wait. Long lines develop as the Bucktown residents awake.
(5)Char Y.
Not a good experience at all. I was very excited about this place, since there were so many positive reviews, even though I noticed that everyone complains of the long wait. But no one mentioned of the long wait after you order the food. We were seated immediately (YAY!) but had to wait 40+ minutes for our food, I do understand that there were only 2 cooks, but that's a long wait for breakfast. On top of that our food was a disappointment. The sliders were tasteless & small, and the french toast mushy. I was quite sad because I LOVE french toast & everyone raved about theirs, but they were just mushy sticks of unknown substance. next to the french toasts was the fruits, and i saw a bug walked out of the fruits onto the plate, and died. SERIOUSLY!!! i was completely grossed out and pointed it out to our waiter, and he wordlessly took the plate back.
(1)Brett F.
After frequenting Toast (and Toast Two) for years and years I can not believe that I've just recently learned this location on Damen is BYOB... Score! I'd give 6 friggin' stars if I could!!
(5)Lorenzo F.
The food is good, but nothing special. The service mediocre at best. That being said, today I'm writing because of a recent experience I had. I had a queue of Groupons that I needed to use up by Friday, 6/17, so I called on a Sunday afternoon about 20 mins before close (didn't realize they closed when they did). Anyway, I spoke to the manager (which I learned once I arrived), and asked her if she could seat us. She says if you get here in the next 5 mins, so we rush there, get there maybe 6 mins later, and she refused to seat us. Now, I understand they have a policy about closing 15 mins before they're posted time, but why not just change your posted close time to when they ACTUALLY close (oh...it's in the "fine print" that they close their kitchen 15 mins before). I guess I assume that if I'm still finishing my coffee or toast at the exact close time, that I'm not going to be walked out to the curbside. I usually assume that close time is when they'll stop seating people / taking new customers (i.e. close their doors to the OUTSIDE public). Anyway, that may be a common practice, and not why I'm writing. I'm writing because of the attitude and service of their so called manager. I called, she said if you get here in the next 5 mins, I say, "okay, already on my way (so...maybe she should have been expecting us?)", then I get there and she says no (with a smirk). I was extremely upset that she wasted our time and did not care one bit. Therefore, I refuse to say much good about this place (and to be fair, location and/or their manager). I went ahead and used up the last of the Groupons today (the last day), and again, I was not impressed by the food or service. Now I can write this place off my list, and take my business somewhere where they value their customers. Chicago has too many great brunch places to settle for a place like this.
(1)T S.
The food was great. I ordered the pancake orgy which came with 3 different pancakes and granola, fruit and yogurt on top. It doesn't look like much when brought to you, but boy is it filling. Also tried the grilled cheese sandwich and that too was awesome. The service was "there" and not all over you. The workers were pleasant to interact with. Average price per person is around $11. Overall I'd rate it 8.5/10
(4)Lauren D.
I have walked by Toast many times but today was the first time I made it inside. Having read and heard many great things about this breakfast establishment, I came in with pretty high hopes for what sort of delicious food would pass through my mouth. Now I would not go so far as to call myself a brunch expert, although I would say I'm a pretty good judge of anything that tastes good with syrup and butter. Anyhow, Toast doesn't really stand out by way of decor or ambiance. It's a breakfast place. It is bright and cheerful though, which is generally a plus. The servers were all very smiley. We were quoted a 30 minute wait and were seated in less than 20, and service was great. I tried the Stuffed French Toast and probably would have left stuffed had I eaten the entire plate. That consists of 3 pieces of French toast in a sort of square "roll" type creation - one stuffed with Mexican chocolate, one stuffed with mascarpone, and one stuffed with strawberry fraische or some sort of gourmet concoction of some sort. It was tasty, although I don't think those 3 flavors went very well together. There were lots of other foods floating by that looked delicious as well. I was not "wowed" by my first visit, but am conflicted about whether or not an appreciator of the simpler breakfast foods can ever really be "wowed." I will try Toast another time for sure.
(3)Nicki W.
I very much enjoy this brunch spot. The menu items are creative, filling and totally satisfying. The vibe in here is so small town, with a diner feel but with style and class. This space is very small and on the weekends there's always a jumble of baby strollers and families hoarding around the door, but that's a good sign right? For sure. I would prefer to go during the week when I don't have to deal with screaming children and people crammed at tables listening to my conversation so that's the way I do it. I like to sit right by the window so I can check out the fantastic people watching along Damen while sipping on my java and freshly squeezed orange juice. They also have Strawberry Lemonade which is SWEET (as in cool, but yes of course it's sweet too). They have a small staff over there and that adds to the "neighborhood" thing they have going on. The waitresses are always cheerful and quick. Onto the food. Here are some highlights that I would recommend that you try. I'm a big Pancake and French Toast person so when I notice they do "stuffed" pancake and french toast options which they dub with the suffix "Orgy" I was giddy like a schoolgirl. Of course, Chocolate is the obvious amazing choice, but you should also try the banana pancakes (because when is that ever a bad idea?) The portions are huge and I'm rarely ever able to finish all of what I order. The crepes are also to die for. I was excited to see that they serve Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon (because that's the best kind of bacon there is...seriously). If you aren't in the mood for something as filling, I would go for the Pepper Eggs, they are scrambled with red and yellow peppers, cheddar cheese served with their house potatoes and toast. Their potatoes are really great with just the right amount of seasoning. Since I'm on the kick of egg talk, I might as well get into the Omelette talk. They have interesting choices like Smoked Salmon Omelettes, Spinach,Goat Cheese and Tomato and my favorite, the Omlette Lorraine with applewood smoked bacon, gruyere cheese, onion and chives. The Omelettes are huge and served with Toast. They also have lunch items but I've yet to try them, so when I do, I shall report back. All in all a solid brunch spot. Check it out!
(4)Aliya J.
I live in New York City now, but I still miss my FAVORITE breakfast place in the whole world! Toast is seriously amazing. The food is always consistent. The service is always fast. And all of it tastes so good! The French Toast Orgy stuffed with mascarpone cheese is to die for!
(5)Poof A.
Went here for brunch this morning and I will be back! We arrived just before 9:30 and were seated without a wait (at the last available table! Nice timing) Unfortunately (well, unfortunately for this review, not unfortunately for our tastebuds) my brunch date and I ordered the same thing- apple, pear, and brie crepes with a side of sausage (although he ordered a chicken sausage and I ordered the veggie variety- both were tasty). The crepes were delicious, perfectly-textured, and I always appreciate a brunch choice outside of the usual toast, eggs and potato trifecta (although they have that too!) The coffee was good, but could have been refilled more than once- I got the feeling they were trying to get us to finish up and head out. Still, the food was delicious and I look forward to trying some of the other items on the menu (pancake orgy, anybody?) Oh, and it's BYOB!!
(4)Jason C.
Great French toast. The chicken sausage was fantastic as well. Be prepared to wait on for a while but the payoff is well worth it.
(5)caroline e.
FOOD: I love a good savory breakfast, and I gotta say that Toast Too always comes through. The pesto eggs are good, the eggs benedict is above average and the Crabby Benedict is awesome. Though I'd recommend getting the hollandaise on the side as they can get a little heavy handed with it. And they win a gold star for having great decaf coffee! I have to admit I've never eaten a sweet breakfast at Toast, though after reading some reviews I might have to try it next time. SERVICE: I've been here a good half dozen times and never experienced rude service. It's true that they'll usually tell you the wait is longer than it actually is. Though I think they're just being conservative so you're pleasantly surprised at the shorter wait instead of angry about a longer one. I have actually waited for 2 hours at the LP location. Ridiculous! Why put yourself through that craziness when you can get the same great quality food with a much shorter wait at TT?
(4)Purvi R.
yum yum yum mmmmm YUM. A cute little brunching venue in (Bucktown? I think? I am not from here). We arrived here after the Carerra de los Muertos (SORRY to all Spanish speakers) 5k race and were in the mood to scarf down some delicious eggs. This place did NOT disappoint. We were seated almost immediately which rocked (there was a wait when we left, but we were on the early side - so come early). Their great JM coffee brought us back to life after our brilliant idea to wake up at 6am and run a race on Halloween morning. I selected the breakfast burrito after much changing-of-mind and I was happy I did. The homemade salsa alone gave me reason to recommend this place to others, incredible! And the breakfast potatoes that I poached off my friend's plates were great. Both of them looovvved their eggs benedict, btw. Not too shabby when the bill came (approx 12 minutes after we ordered, seeing as we inhaled our food) - I think we each got our for around $20. Bingo! All in all, in a city full of great breakfast/brunch options, I'll remember this one next time I'm in town!
(4)Peter K.
good place
(4)Ali O.
nom nom nom nom I must have been very very very good lately, because this morning I found myself in breakfast heaven. I've wanted to try Toast for a while now (okay...probably a few years) and this weekend was the perfect opportunity. Scared of the tremendous wait, our party of three decided to try and beet the brunch rush. 10 am must be the sweet spot, because there were empty tables when we arrived and we were seated right away. By 10:30, people were lining up outside. Suckers. I checked out the Yelp reviews before going (naturally) and I was tempted to take Jessica B's advice and order the two eggs so I could try a little bit of everything. But, I could not fool myself . . . .I was there to dive head first into a big luscious gooey buttery fabulous stack of pancakes. And that was exactly what I did. I ran a train on those pine nut and mascarpone pancakes with lavender sprinkled on top. IN YOUR FACE. These pancakes were so good that at dinner time I was kicking myself for not taking my left overs home. Seriously. I will be back.
(5)Natalie M.
I gave my original review of Toast Two 3stars(see below) but believing that my fellow Yelpers would NOT lead me astray I decided to come back and try something else. WOW, Im so happy I did! My 2nd visit to Toast Two was almost 2x better as my first. I had the buckwheat blueberry pancakes, which, although others may find them too "wheat-y" they were just my flavor, with egg whites and coffee(really, really good coffee!). My Mom had their Pina Colada Pancakes(a special)- My Mom is NOT a pancake person, but she said they were so good she ate EVERY SINGLE BITE. She also had the chicken sausage which she liked a lot. One thing I must say about Toast Two is that their food is VERY appealing to the eye, and very reasonable- my short stack(2 LARGE pancakes) was only $5, and egg whites $2- breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day, but dont often get fresh food THIS cheap. I do wish there was more parking in the Bucktown area- if there was I wouldve given them an extra star.
(4)Michael T.
It seems like this place is well-loved by the sort of person who really enjoys writing "creative" Yelp reviews. I was totally underwhelmed. I ordered the plain french toast (with berries and all that), figuring that I should go with what I thought would be the flagship dish of a place called "toast," and it was very dry. Almost tasted as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp for an hour and a half. Certainly not worth $9; maybe worth $3. My girlfriend got a breakfast burrito, which was equally disappointing. It was basically a crap ton of undercooked, under-seasoned scrambled eggs with some diced onion and green pepper in a wrap. Again: may just have ordered the weak items.
(3)Jean C.
I am a big breakfast person. And when I went here with my neighbor on a Monday, we were ignored. It wasn't really busy but people who came in after us were seated before us. Kind of upsetting. When we asked the server about it, she was indifferent and passed us onto the manager who could have cared even less then the server. We discussed if we should stay or leave but ended up staying. We both ordered coffee (good!) and the Eggs Benedict. I do like the truffle hollandaise sauce with prosciutto but wasn't as floored by it as I thought I would be. The food came out quickly which was nice. Cheap eats for sure. I came back with my husband twice and on the second time, he got food poisoning from their breakfast burrito! He was out for 3 days. So, needless the say, we will not be coming back anytime soon. Which is unfortunate because I really wanted to try the pancake orgy. :-(
(2)Kim A.
It takes a lot for breakfast to absolutely blow me away. I wasn't blown away, but wholly satisfied. I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the dishes, and the fact that they offered a special (which I had and was delicious!). It's easy to pander to the "bacon and eggs" brunch crowd. The indigents were fresh and seasonal, and the staff really friendly. This is defiantly one of those spots that you most certainly must hit up if you're within walking distance, but I'd say I'd be hard pressed to drive or take public transportation here. Also, be mindful that if you do come here on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you'll probably have to wait for a table. And, if you're not a fan of kids, this probably isn't the place for you. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, but haters of "alt human accessories" need not apply.
(3)Jenna S.
I can agree with some of the other 2 star reviews here, Toast Two did not win me over. First, let's start with the good things: -The wait, we were told 30 minutes--but were seated within 20. Yay! -The staff, sure they were nice...but not over the top friendly. -The joint is cutetsy! Loved all the little toasters lined up across the top of the wall. Then we can move on the negatives: -We sat at the bar, but because of the ceiling light were blinded by the sun shining in. Yes, I realize that's not their fault, but c'mon...put up some blinds or something to block the rays of death coming in. I could barely even see what I was eating, let alone read the paper on a Sunday morning! -The wait for food. UGH! It felt like it took FOREVER. Granted, it was a Sunday morning at 10:30 AM...but really, 40 minutes for two omelettes?! -The omelet itself was bland. I had the Lorraine, which had apple wood smoked bacon, gruyere, chives, and onions. About the only thing good was the CHEESE because there was plenty of it. The bacon was disgusting, I imagined crispy smokey bacon...and instead I got limp chunks of fat. I don't think this was a applewood smoked bacon, but rather a run of the mill hormel Aldi special bacon. GROSS! I had to pick it out. The breakfast potatoes spread sparingly on the side of my plate were COLD. And my side of chicken apple sausage was good, but those were like the size of bratwursts. -The bill: $41 for 2 omelettes, 2 coffees and 2 orders of chicken sausage. Who knows, maybe their "sweet" items are better tasting?! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say we MIGHT return, only to try the french toast or pancakes. But, bottom line, the food was average at best...but certainly didn't warrant a $48 bill with tax and tip. For that price, I'd rather have Sola, Lula, or even the Publican for heaven's sake!
(3)Borracho G.
Love what they do to the breakfast here. If you enjoy chorizo con huevos, then you are set, because they serve a great tasting order. Ask them to substitute the toast for a spinach tortilla and eat them the right way, with your hands. If you also love breakfast that can pass as a dessert then order the pancake orgy or french toast orgy. Just don't say "I will have the french toast orgy minus the french toast", nobody laughs and the cute server doesn't find you funny to begin with.
(4)danny e.
tasty, chicy, big ol giant fun toast as a blade sign. There was a big of a wait for in the middle of the day. I got the giant monster stuffed french toast, strawberry and chocolate. They were really good, I couldn't even finish them. The chocolate tasted like mexican chocolate which was nice and surprising. The place is cool but really small.
(4)Stacey A.
B reakfast foods are my favorite R eally amazing menu - everything sounds good U nbelievably perfect breakfast potatoes N utella, strawberry, and marscapone are what fill the french toast C an't stop thinking about the omelette my roommate had H oly crap, I love this place Toast in Lincoln Park serves booze. Toast Two in Wicker Park does not - but is larger, sunnier, and quieter - and way less full of Depaul Trixies in Training.
(4)Adam V.
So here we go... I live right up the street from Toast and used go there all the time. It's DECENT food, but for the price it is absurd. I wish badly there were another decent breakfast spot around bucktown that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get a cup of joe and some eggs. $10.00+ for an omelet? Quick secret, a single egg cost about $0.20 at most.... Don't price gouge me Toast, you pirates! That felt good, anyway, recently my brother, a close friend and I decided NEVER to go back to Toast again. Allow me to start off by mentioning that I have been in the hospitality/restaurant industry for over 10 years. I bused tables and washed dishes as a 14 year old, I've served tables during college and have worked several back of the house jobs in professional kitchens. You don't want my resume here... I'm just saying... So we go into Toast and the usual male server that has flipped me attitude on our last visit was our server. "Let's give him another chance", I say to the fellas. We order our food and don't see the guy again until our altercation. Someone else actually even brought us our food. The three of us were about 2 bites into our meal when our server came to our table (he refused to give me his name... ch!). He asked how things were and I said fine. My brother then asked the fellow for Tobasco sauce. Saying, "may I please have some Tobasco sauce" must be code for something much worse and sinister... To my bothers request, the server yelled "HOW IIIISSSSS EVERYTHIIIING!" Bewildered by the servers outburst, my brother said "Great, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" The server again, dumbing himself down as if speaking to an infant says loudly again "HOOOW....IIIISSSS....EVERYTHING?" My brother says now, "its great! Everything is awesome, can I have some Tobasco sauce?" Finally the server turned and stormed off... The table next to us then turned to us and explained that the same server had been being less than friendly to them, as well. My brother is severely soft spoken, so I suppose it makes sense that I inherited most of the aggressive genes from our Dutch heritage. I was fed up and wasn't going to stand for the obnoxious treatment for one more second. Upon the servers return to our table, I inquired as to what the problem was and why he treated my brother in that fashion. I informed him of my history in the restaurant industry and how I understand the frustrations of serving from time to time, but that his treatment was unreasonable. To this he exclaimed "I'm not your slave". This attitude was SEVERELY unwarranted. To this i dropped my napkin on the table and calmly asked for the manager. He explained primarily that the manager was not there. I happen to notice the female owner was not present, as she usually is. So then, surprised, I asked "No manager? Then who's in charge around here, I want to speak to them." Here it is... He says "Too bad..... I'M the manager" I had enough now and gathered my brother and friend and decided we were leaving, we had barely touched our meal and were not going to pay nor ever return. "He said, good, don't return, we'll be fine without you.. and I'm calling the police if you don't pay!!" -this is where i close my eyes, breath slowly and try to count to ten..... At this my friend tells me to go ahead and leave and he would wait for the police.... the police never showed (obviously, what a tool), but the owner did. She gave my friend the meal for free, calling it "even now".... NO... after this review, we might be a little closer to even. The service at Toast is SO horrible I urge none to ever give it a cent of your money.
(1)Annie G.
Yummm, Toast. If I wasn't sitting in a pile of my dirty tissues, red-nosed and achy, I'd probably be proposing a trip to Toast right now to my husband. This place gets four stars for being so consistently good. Only once in my dozens of outings there have I experienced the rude service mentioned already in these reviews; our waitress was obviously hungover and wretched but that was once, our tip told her as much, and we've never had her since. But back to the positives: start to finish, anything here that touches my tongue is fantastic. The coffee is bold and fresh and can cure any hangover. While the sweet breakfasts look out of this world, I have to stick to my morning staples: eggs, potatoes, and toast. I love the mexican special they often have -- cilantro and jalap. egg scramble with salsa, house potatoes and wheat toast dry. Always dry. I'm often inclined to order a cup of fruit, too, because this is a place that doesn't skimp on fruit: berries, bananas and grapes. Yumm! I love that they don't serve dingy plates of un-ripe melons and cantaloupe. Sure, there is often a wait when you go during warmer months, mid-morning. But that's not uncommon in this stoller-ville neighborhood. Do yourself a favor and wait. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Christine K.
Absolutely love this place. Sometimes finding parking around this area can take some time (really I should walk here since it's "close" but I'm lazy on Saturday mornings), but I can usually find it. The food is great, they have tasty coffee and the waitstaff is super nice! You can't ask for more. If it weren't for the line out the door, I'd give it 5 stars. :)
(4)Catherine R.
Great service, great food, great price. Bacon, gruyere, carmelized onion omlette. 'Nuff said.
(4)Melissa N.
I. Love. Toast. This place is delish. Our go to brunch place conveniently located within walking distance from the apartment. I have never been disappointed with any selection. My favorite is the french toast orgy (trio of stuffed french toast: strawberry, marscapone and chocolate, topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.) Amazing. Always amazing!
(5)Vanessa P.
It's usually a 30-60 min wait on Saturdays and Sundays. It's worth it. The food is always so good and I could wax poetic about the pesto scramble and the stuffed french toast. Service is usually top notch too.
(4)Wendy G.
Every time I try something new and I always enjoy it.
(5)Michelle L.
As a breakfast fanatic - TOAST - Truly is "as good as it gets"! Not only is the french toast beyond orgasmic, but the breakfast burrito is absolutely delicious. Very friendly staff and were good with my 8 month old. No matter what I order on their menu, I can't go wrong!!! LOVE IT!!
(5)Lyn B.
The marscapone french toast is very good. Other than that, you're not missing much. The wait can be really long, and it's just not worth it. I'd go back if someone really wanted to, but the service/atmosphere/food combo was just okay.
(3)Sarah Louise W.
I ate here once a year ago and again this past weekend. I recalled it being a bit more delicious the first time. This review is of this past weekend. Negatives: No more lavender French toast? Sadness. Not every egg dish comes with toast, which is a little weird. The vegetarian Eggs Benedict were awful. I had never had Eggs Benedict before, and it had artichoke and spinach on it which I love, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. It was a shame because I ordered this instead of 3 other dishes, all of which I surely would have enjoyed a lot more. Like the reviewer below, mine too was swimming in hollandaise, which I immediately disliked the taste of and after a while the smell made me ill. Since there was no toast (!) I at least ate the eggs I could salvage and the potatoes (also disappointing, a bit flavourless). My boyfriend got the french toast with mixed berries and a side of bacon. The bacon was good, and perfectly crisp, but $4? For 4 slices? Hmm, a bit much. His french toast filled him up, though, and since my dish was gross I nibbled some of the black berries he discarded (what a fool). I loved the coffee, though, and all is right in the world when I have some coffee. A lot of the sandwiches also looked good on the menu (and I sneaked peeks at what my fellow diners ordered), so if I come back I'm getting plain eggs or lunch. But I don't know when that will be, since apparently there are a lot better brunch places I have yet to try.
(3)Sara B.
Eggs or sweets? Eggs or sweets? I can never choose. In fact, the only things I never hem and haw about at brunch are coffee and booze. Yes and yes, with multiple rounds of both, please. Beyond that, it's usually a drawn-out process of salivating over each item, debating relative merits, and eventually choosing wildly when the waitress looks my way. Hey, it works. Which brings me to Toast II, which DOES NOT HAVE A BAR. And for which it loses a full star. Sorry, the powers that be have spoken. I need a bar, particularly at vacation brunch. However, what Toast II lacks in booziness it (almost) makes up for in deliciousness, which brings me to the eggy/sweet dilemma. A longtime eggs Benedict slut, I was torn: Try my favorite brunch feast, this time promised with prosciutto and truffle hollandaise, or take on the french toast orgy? Well, as mom always says, never turn down an orgy...just invite some more to join in! (Eds. note: My mom never actually said that. That would be weird.) Anyway, my friend and I made the wise choice of ordering both and sharing. It was decadent. It was rich. It would have been perfect...with a cocktail.
(4)Jen A.
Yummy yummy. The only thing that knocks Toast Two off the five-star pedestal it belongs on is the fact that this location (as opposed to the other Toast) lacks a bar. I don't think I'd mind so much if the menu wasn't the same, but it made me a wee bit sad that I saw beverages I couldn't order. All that aside, OH MY. I don't like French toast. I just don't. But I tried a few bites of my roommate's French Toast Orgy and I'm pretty sure that I'd make an exception and order one for myself next time. It's really that good, and I wish the English language had a better array of synonyms for "awesome" that I could apply to it. The breakfast potatoes are also delish, and they're worth getting a la carte if your entree doesn't include them. I actually enjoyed them so much that I tried to replicate the recipe at home, which is pretty much the highest form of praise I have for food. I was actually so wrapped up in the food experience that I initially neglected to notice how cute the place is. It's adorable. There are toasters all over the place, and I love it.
(4)Kathy P.
The battle between savory and sweet rages on at Toast. Luckily, I was there with a group and we were evenly split, giving us the chance to sample a bit of everything. Good thing the portions are generous! I had the breakfast burrito, which was excellent, though it could've been spicier (couldn't taste the jalapenos) and there were no beans. Que sera, sera, burrito. My friend ordered the veggie eggs benedict and was pleased as punch. The big, fat draw at Toast is (duh) the French Toast which is available stuffed with such delights as chocolate, pureed strawberries, and marscapone, to name a few. The French Toast is served in huge chunks which are perfect for sharing with your favorite brunch companions. The marscapone was really rich, and I can't imagine making a whole meal of it. The chocolate is, of course, desserty, and the strawberry puree is jam-jam-jammy. Needless to say, we all left full and happy and ready to brave the rain outside. Toast also serves Julius Meinl coffee which is, of course, the next best thing to being at Julius Meinl. Service was attentive and friendly on this busy Saturday morning. Get there early because the line was out the door by the time we left around 10:30.
(3)Anna K.
Very good food. I liked the atmosphere and our server was fantastic. I had the granola and it was definitely some of the best granola I've ever had. We got there super early so there was no wait but I could tell that later on during the busy breakfast hours you'd definitely have to wait. Good stuff.
(5)Latrese W.
I simply must do a review of Toast Two after they were gracious enough to let us stay even though we were walking in just as they were closing. The french toast orgy was well, orgasmic. The coffee was tasty which is often rare in breakfast places that tend to focus more on the food. Since we were their final seating, I didn't finish my coffee and even took the extra coffee to go.
(5)MARISOL P.
I've been to Toast a number of times and have always enjoyed myself. It had been a year since our last visit but this week we had breakfast twice. I was very disappointed. We had Gregory as our waiter the first time during breakfast with friends. They guy is very rude and should probably apply at Ed Debevics. The second time he was not our waiter but was the host. He told us it would be 20 minutes. It was over 20 minutes! Someone possibly the manager's friends were seated before us. Then a few other people (three other groups) who had just walked in were seated before us. I was waiting outside since it was a nice day. I went in to check on why it was taking so long and Gregory said that a table hadn't cleared up. Five minutes later he said that there was a table in the back (their supposed "patio"). Keep in mind as Chunk S's review, it is next to the dumpster's and yes flies were also around. It was a warm day and the dumpsters were foul. So we went to the back and there was there were four tables open. Wait a jerk I thought! I was so upset that we waited so long due to this guys attitude. It doesn't take much to deter me from going to places especially with service like this! Gregory must go! He ruined what once was a great place for my family, friends and I.
(1)Christina G.
Be forewarned, the wait here is terribly irritating. In particular, I would definitely not come back here in the winter. This place is tiny, and everyone waiting for a table is standing around squished together up front and the door keeps opening and the wind gusts in and there's little kids running up and hugging your leg out of nowhere and you want to be annoyed but then finally they sit you down and they bring you coffee and it's a little bit worth it. I believe they use Intelligentsia coffee which is strong, but really good. I had the pesto scramble, which was excellent. Someone at the table had the stuffed French toast, the one with the mascarpone (a sweet Italian cream cheese) was to die for. Someone else got the eggs Benedict, over crab cakes with real crab and she loved them, and the fourth person got a chicken sandwich called "El Bucktowno" and he is a hearty eater but only finished half. Overall we all left stuffed and I don't think I ate another meal the rest of the day; I was done.
(4)Daniel W.
I've been here a number of times. It is down the street from where I live. It's always been really really good. It can get really really crowded though, prepare to wait or in worst case senario, sit at the table next to the door and people will stand on top of you while you eat. The patio out back is the exact opposite, roomy and quite... to bad its getting cold. I took my parents there once and my dad ordered the French toast orgy. He wouldnt say Orgy, so he had to point to it. Good times.
(4)Tracey S.
This is it for me as far as breakfast goes. I have been here 5 or six times and have loved everything. The omelets the pancakes, you really can't go wrong. My favorite dish is the pesto scramble that I get with fruit instead of potatoes and a side of cinnamon raisin toast. Everything is so incredibly fresh and good. That includes the coffee. The service is good, but can be on the slower side. However I don't deduct points, because on the weekends I am never in a rush to get through breakfast.
(5)Tiffany K.
the two times i've been here, there's always a painfully long wait. painful because by the time i get here, i'm so hungry!! also, the two times i've been here, we've had the same waitress. i don't know her name but she's friendly and service is awesome. actually, now that i think about it, my first time here, i had the buttermilk pancake. only a couple bites because i was way too hungover to eat a full meal. i do remember seeing what my friends ordered and it looked so good that i had to come back. soooo, my second time back (completely sober) i had the huevos w/ chorizo & cheddar omlette. i love omlettes! it was very good. i ate the whole thing even the sourdough bread. deeeeeeeelish!
(4)Kristy N.
Had a groupon here and went in for brunch last Friday with some friends that were in town. We sat on their (hidden) patio out back. Their menu is pretty huge and everyone enjoyed their food. I had the omelet with goat cheese which was nothing special but still good. The breakfast burrito was also tasty. The clear winner was the pesto scramble. It was pretty rich but extremely delish. Great service. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.
(4)Liz S.
I met up with my old roommate for brunch at Toast Two and I have to say, I don't think I'm all that impressed. I don't think this place is the most comfortable place to have brunch, or any meal for that matter. First of all, people who are waiting for tables are literally on top of the people at the tables. Not to mention, if you sit for five minutes longer than it took to pay the bill you'll start getting the stink eye. Second, half the reason the wait is so long is because the staff are slow. Trust me....I enjoy it when the servers aren't asking you every ten seconds what you want, is everything okay, are you finished, etc. But when it takes 10 minutes to put in an order, when you're clearly ready to, that's a problem. The food that I had, Eggs Benedict (with prosciutto instead of Canadian bacon) wasn't as good as I had hoped it would've been. They crisp up the prosciutto, which make sit difficult to cut and a bit stringy. It might've worked better if they would've just left the prosciutto alone. I really doubt I'll be back here. The food wasn't amazing and the wait isn't worth it.
(2)Timothy W.
My fiancee and I dine in or pickup from here every weekend. Best breakfast in the city; you can always count on a solid meal. Their BELT (breakfast sandwich) is fantastic -- on a french roll and a classic. Their pancakes are perfect and light, and the specials they have are creative and very very good. You cannot go wrong here! Everything is done well, and the service is fantastic! Greg, the host, is our buddy and has a great sense of humor. You may have to wait on weekends, but well worth it. Nice outdoor seating area as well. A+
(5)Mari K.
If the original Toast and Toast Two were sisters, this would definitely be the more attractive one. The restaurant feels brighter, roomier, and overall...pleasant-er. =) As for the food, it's good. I ordered the french toast orgy... 3 stuffed french toasts with yogurt and granola. Definitely enough for 2 breakfasts... too bad french toast doesn't survive too well in the fridge. Service was fine.. no complaints. Don't worry if there's a wait. There are PLENTY of cute boutiques and shops nearby to browse through while waiting... and plenty to return back to when you're trying to walk off what you ate.
(3)jen m.
Decided to stop here on a sunny Saturday morning and was prepared to wait 30 mins for a table but lucky me! We were seated after just 5 mins. It took some maneuvering to get to my seat. The tables were so close to each other that I almost knocked over a plate of avocados that someone was enjoying! With the table so close together, it also makes for some good eavesdropping. lol. But the skylights make the space so warm and bright. I have a strong affection for their mascarpone stuffed french toast. It's nice that they don't scrimp on the fruits that compliment the mascarpone wonderfully. A lil french toast + a piece of fruit = a perfect bite. They serve Julius Meinl products and they make a mean cup of strawberry tea! But skip the thick cut apple smoked bacon. It was overdone and they should have just labeled it "bacon", no hint of the apple smokiness nor was it thick. The Tijuana wasn't too memorable either. But I'm not an omelet fan, it's too easy of a dish to make at home and have it taste exactly the same as the restaurant versions.
(3)kim h.
We were starving. It was 10:50 am on a Tuesday (June 22), many seats open inside and out. The decision was a Lorraine Omelet ,Stuffed French Toast, side of bacon, coffee and lemonade. We never got to experience to food. -NO ONE EVER WAITED ON US!!! IGNORED FOR 20 MINUTES. We were seated on the patio by the host. Despite two servers walking past us at least 6 times (I did not count from the very beginning), no one ever acknowledged our presence let alone said hello or indicated that they would ever wait on us. At the 20 minute point we got up and left. The host offered for us to come into the main restaurant, but I had no desire to be waited on by the same staff who had just ignored us for 20 minutes. No Manager was available on site. I was over it. No longer have the desire to EVER eat there. Went over to the BONGO ROOM. Had a delicious breakfast. were waited on in less that 5 minutes despite the crowds,
(1)Matt J.
This Wicker Park restaurant has some things going for it; decent street parking if you get there early, fairly cheap prices (compared to other joints), and good Julius Meinl coffee. The decor is fancy kitsch but the main room suffers from bad acoustics. A couple of screaming babies don't help matters either. I had the croque monsieur which was good and the potatoes. The potatoes were the blandest I've ever had. Not a hint of any spice other than pepper. It's nice to know that lunch is available all the time. The service was slow and that's sad for eating there at 8:15 this morning. I'd hate to see how it is closer to noon. The entrance has a few stairs that can be a little treacherous in the snow. Be careful.
(3)Chance T.
Hands down the besy brunch in Wicker Park/ Bucktown Busy on the weekends (for a good reason) Heavy and awkward entrance doors, but exceelent food and staff! Perfect aqnd magically delicious!
(5)Kelly R.
We come here all the time for breakfast when in Chicago. The french toast with fruit is just enough and the pesto scramble is dee-lish. They have a great kid's menu, I was very tempted to order the S'mores pancakes for myself! The staff is super friendly and very helpful.
(4)Meriel C.
Loved this place! Had the French Toast Orgy and it was to die for. I was in heaven. They give you plenty so I had the left overs for dinner. This place is small so recommend that you arrive early if you don't want to wait. I got there at about 8:30 on a Sunday morning and was seated right away.
(4)Lauren K.
Yummy stuff! Though I feel some of the dishes are a bit over priced, I was pleased to see portion sizes were huge, so it all works out. Nice service. Absolutely lovely waitress. When my only vegetarian side option was fruit, I was a bit disappointed. Fruit in winter months usually means grapes, off-season hard melon pieces, maybe even thawed out frozen strawberries. BUT I was pleasantly surprised when I got a lot of black raspberries, blueberries, FRESH strawberries and about half a banana. And grapes that didn't taste like they set out for a long time. Oh and I love any place that serves challah toast! And though I ordered two eggs, it seemed more like three. Very tasty.
(4)betsy b.
I'd come here for an orgy anytime. I've tried both the pancake and french toast and it's hard to pick a favorite. There's so much to choose from on the menu whether you're in the mood for sweet or savory. If only the place wasn't so small and tight. It's best to show up early on weekends to avoid a wait.
(4)Julie B.
Meh. With so many great brunch places in the city, why bother with one that's just so so. The entryway is tiny, so when it's cold outside, everyone is crammed right inside the front door. Total cluster. The food was totally average. I had the eggs benedict with prosciutto, but instead of being thinly sliced and raw, like I was expecting, it was cooked, super salty, and thick. The hollandaise was a bit too lemony for my liking, but whatever. My friend had the veggie benedict and raved about it - it did look exceptionally better than mine. Other friend had some chorizo omelet that looked revolting. We shared the french toast trio for dessert and again, totally blah. I didn't care for any of the flavors, really can't understand why people rave about this. If you like chocolate french toast, go to Kingsbury Cafe - 100x better. Then when the host brought our check, we put our 3 cards in there to split 3 ways. He comes back and tells us max 2 cards per check. So then one of us pays with cash and the other 2 leave their cards in. He was standing there watching us do this, goes away, comes back and says we can't split one check across cards and cash. WTF?? What kind of stupid rules are these? I've worked in plenty of restaurants and never heard of anything like that. The bright spot of the place was the waiter, who was really nice and very attentive. And we got a good laugh from the girl at the next table who nicked our half-empty carafe of OJ when we got up to leave. Really, girl? Klassy.
(2)Jill and Ying J.
In the myriad of one-word brunch eateries in Chicago lies Toast, a gem of a restaurant, where the food is as airy, light, and uplifting as is the decor. We chose this one in Bucktown after reading about some of the less than delightful personalities at the Lincoln Park location, and since we came on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush, all the negatives highlighted in other reviews were completely absent. The staff was courteous, polite, and friendly. The inside is decorated with a spring-like feel that breaths life into your hungry hungry soul. The 2 floor high ceilings create an illusion of a much larger place, desperately appreciated on crowded weekends, we're sure. The food, of course, is the star of the show. We had the French Toast Orgy (seriously, how could you NOT order an orgy when it's legally offered to you without risk of certain diseases?) and the seared ahi tuna sandwich. The french toast medley was fantastic. Starring 3 giant pieces of toast, strawberry, chcolate, and marscapone, with a perfectly seared crispy outside and moist, sweet, and individually tasteful inside, the orgy was also accompanied by 4 varieties of fruits flanking the outside, awaiting their turn. On top of it all, it was smothered by a layer of delicious oats, sunflower seeds, and a creamy sweet honey-infused concoction. The seared ahi tuna was more classic, a giant piece of tuna seared on the outside, medium on the inside, flanked by 2 pieces of perfectly toasted bread, with grilled fennel and all, again, smothered perfectly with a sauce of saffron, tomatoes, and other delights. The menu is expansive, the food is delightful, and the staff was courteous. We will definitely be back to explore more of their menu...on weekdays if we could help it though.
(5)Megan G.
Crowdy, trendy, long waits, slow service, loud - yes Yummy, warm, charming, worth it all - yes If you walk by and there are no people waiting on the street then chances are your wait won't be too long. The hostess will bring you hot coffee to sip on while you wait in their tiny front area, which is a major plus! The menu isn't huge but it covers all of the bases. I have tried the french toast trio which was good, but more of a desert, the lemon poppyseed pancakes which were fantastic and some omelet thing with cheese and (mmmmm) bacon. Delish! I can't wait to try the breakfast burrito because it looks, well, right up my ally.
(4)Maria G.
The hubby and I live closer to the Toast in Lincoln Park, but since it's always soooo crowded, we thought to try this one. Let me say the service, people, coffee (and must in the AM) and food at both locations is are simply OUTSTANDING...seriously had to use that word 'cause it's that GOOD! But (insert tense music here) this locaton has a patio and is much bigger. For those reasons, I like this location better, but reccomend both. Check them out for yourself!
(4)kim w.
Had a friend visit Toast a while back and she urged me to check it out. Exciting to see such an open, airy room. The counter was unoccupied but looked inviting. A cute friendly model-esque redhead worked the door and sat my guest and I quickly- only two available tables to choose from, full house but not too crowded. The place was bustling with Bucktown professional couples, those couple types entertaining their in-laws and hyped/yacky after-class yoga girls. We grabbed a warm window seat; the seat in the window had a gob of pillows behind the back but the butt/seat was truly uncomfortable and not much space on either side of the table- a case where you're closer to the strangers next to you and strain to hear what your own guest is saying. We were cursed by and closest to the yacky yoga gals flooding with energy post-class but complaining about everything under the sun: jobs, shoes, co-workers, blah, gag. Our server was slow and short-winded. The orange juice was just... fine. Again, the building structure and room design was inviting but the clientele was an off-balance mix. The menu was... okay. Standard brunchy fare. I ordered the Crab Benedict. The hollandaise was REALLY super lemony which was... okay... for the crab. Coffee refills were always timely thankfully. We did ask to move to a different area of the restaurant promptly after YACKIES got louder and even more negative. (EEEEK. Shut up! Be aware of your surroundings and proximity to other diners. Tacky Yacks! Go back to yoga and learn something other than standing and breathing on a mat.) Staff was eager to adjust and apologized for the awkwardness. It happens on occasion I suppose. My guests - a local chef- was utterly unimpressed and mentioned little to validate our experience: Just that he has a silly rule about NOT frequenting brunch joints with one-word brunchy names like Toast or Orange or Yolk. Decent-okay/fine-enough food. Some favor and substance to fill a belly. Nothing exceptional. We won't be returning.
(2)Kim J.
I had a good brunch here with some friends a few weeks ago. We apparently arrived just before the rush as we got the last table in the house. Sadly, it was right by the door and I felt like people were on top of us for our entire meal. I can't imagine how crowded it would be in winter, when no one would be willing to wait outside! Our waitress was friendly but a bit scattered. She had a lot going on and was a bit slow. I had to flag down a busboy to get a coffee refill (and the coffee wasn't even anything to write home about!). And it took our food almost 40 minutes to come out, and when it did come out, I could tell it had been sitting awhile as my plate was scorching! The food was quite good, which was really the saving grace of our experience. The big winner seemed to be the smoked salmon omelette - lox in an omelette sounded kind of weird to me but it turned out to be delicious It had fresh smoked salmon and cream cheese and capers - yum! The Lorraine omelette was also a hit among our group. It had bacon. 'Nuff said. Were it not for the service issues and the issues with the crowd, this would've been a fantastic brunch. I'd give it another chance, because I think it could be great. But it just wasn't.
(3)Jing C.
One of the more inventive brunch spots in Chicago. I've never ordered anything I haven't liked here. The decor is friendly for a brunch spot but expect a wait if you get here after 11am.
(4)Melissa H.
This is one of our favorite breakfast spots in Bucktown/Wicker Park area! My husband is a big fan of the chicken sausage. My favorite is the Tijuana Omelette. The food and service have always been great even though it gets so crowded for breakfast. Have yet to go back for lunch, but that's definitely on the list.
(5)Bobby N.
Food was delicious and service was great. They accommodated a large party quickly and the food was delicious. Amazing coffee too!
(5)Diana P.
Toast Two is my favorite Brunch place in the city. Everything on the menu is amazing, fresh and delicious. They have wonderful coffee and great selection of tea. My boyfriend and I have tried at least half of their menu and loved every bite of it. Our favorites are the Stuffed french toast (all three flavors), B.E.L.T, and the omelette lorraine. I'm usually not a fan of pancakes, but i loved the pancake orgy. Everyone who works here is extremely pleasant and kind. Beware: Toast can get packed very quick! My boyfriend and I like to get there right when they open. I would recommend getting there early if you don't like to wait.
(5)Linda L.
Absolutely great brunch place. This cozy little restaurant located in Bucktown is definitely a place you need to try out at least once. I haven't tried the other Toast (located in Wicker Park) but I'm a true fan of this place. It does get busy on the weekend, I went with my girlfriend for a casual outing and girl chat feast. The wait was about 45 minutes on a rainy Saturday around 11-ish. Its also BYOB and appeals to all, young and older, can't get any better. We ordered Veggie Eggs Benedit and pesto scrambled eggs and a side of pancakes. And we finished every bite. Best eggs benedict I've ever tried! Go try it for yourself ;)
(4)Liz H.
If I am going to brunch in Bucktown, I am going to Toast. It is my favorite spot by far. I have uploaded a couple pictures of the food so you can see just how awesome it is. On a recent trip, one friend had the french toast orgy --- chocolate stuffed French toast cover with yogurt granola and berries. My sister and I shared awesome eggs benedict and the most unique pancake with anise, mandarin oranges, strawberries pine nuts and lavender! Crazy sounding, yes, but OH SO GOOD! Either get there early, go when the weather is bad or be prepared to wait. Toast is not a hidden gem in Bucktown. The locals know about it and go frequently, but in my opinion even an hour long wait is well worth it when coming to Toast!
(5)J D.
WAAAAAAAAAY better than the toast in lincoln park. Kinda bizarre since it's the same menu. Usual suspects of lengthy wait, tight quarters...why IS this city so obsessed with brunch? My boy and I were lucky to walk in just as a two top cleared out so we were seated RIGHT AWAY! ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON! pause for awe. I had the special, pesto omelet/scramble with prosciutto. WOW, a bit rich even for me, I just barely finished it. Homefries were alright...meh. Boy had the three different kinds of french toast (orgy?) Once again WOW. My fave was the chocolate though the vanilla also very tasty. The french toast is more like super thick slabs of fluff, yeasty, chewy brioche, a must try (and I am ALWAYS an eggs for brunch person). Only go on the weekends if you're prepared to wait forever to eat. Even though we sat right away, it took a bit for the server to come over and for our food to actually come. Decent coffee.
(4)jenise r.
I always try and come here before work but there's always a huge line on the weekends. I don't wait to eat when I'm hungry & in a somewhat rush, so sorry toast. But today (tuesday) me and a pal went for breakfast and hooray no line! I ordered the Pesto Scramble (im a sucker for pesto) which has prosciutto and some cheese I didn't get the name of all mixed in. It was pretty tasty, it also came with the house potatoes which were really good and some toast. Service was great and quick and I think my friend enjoyed her meal as well. I'll come here again.
(3)Jessica F.
Stuffed French Toast. I don't know what image that conjures up in your mind, but if it does not involve some kind of watery filling, then the French Toast Orgy is not for you. Calling it a "filling" isn't even the right word because that implies that it had another dimension beyond the first two. I didn't put the yogurt and granola on the top and could barely taste the flavors of the chocolate and marscapone. The strawberry one tasted like real strawberry and was a bit tart. I get it. Maybe the added yogurt and granola make it a five star meal and I missed out due to my purist ways. I don't know and won't be finding out. Then let's talk about the service. We went in on a Monday around 10am. There were maybe 2 other "couples" there but it took forever to get waited on. I had to stare down and lock eyes with my waitress to get her to come over -- twice. Not cool when there are only 6 people in the place. I really wanted to have an amazing mouth time at Toast but it just wasn't happening.
(2)Julianna M.
I'm pretty sure, if I held a gun to his head and forced him to choose between me and the French Toast Orgy, my husband would choose the French Toast. Yes, the food here is extra tasty, sugary, bad for you and all that brunchy goodness. Yes, the scene is a madhouse on the weekends. Folks, here's a tidbit of wisdom for you. Live relatively close to Toast? Want French Toast or pancakes but don't want to wait for an hour for them? Call Toast. Order takeout. Take it home, eat it in your jammies in front of the TV.
(4)Jonathan F.
What a great little spot! It's bright, cheery, and the staff is friendly. Coffee was always full, OJ was good. Like Beth M I have to give it 3.75 stars...the hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict had a little too much lemon in my opinion, but the rest of the food made up for it. The potatoes were pretty good - overall they could have just kicked the oil down a tablespoon for my taste. I went by myself (hey it's down the street) and there were quite a few people doing the same. I was reading for about an hour, and it was nice because the staff didn't interrupt me to hand me the check or pour coffee, they just quietly placed it on the table and kept refilling. Despite the sauce, I will come back here. It seems like a great neighborhood place to be.
(4)Ashley S.
Sooooo good! We were almost the last people seated on a Saturday(they close at 4). After getting lost on our trek there the host was really nice (and particularly nice to my friend) and gave us some water while we waited to be seated. The food was among one of the top brunch meals I've had! We both had the special scramble of the day, similar to their huevos scramble but I got avocado instead of meat. My friend also got the pancakes (she was hungry that day). Everything tasted great, definitely on my list for my next trip to Chicago!
(5)Virginia T.
Really more like 3.75 stars.... Everyone's biggest complaint about this place was the small seating area(s) and the long wait times....I went on my day off (Wednesday) at around 11:30 and we were one of 3 tables. :) The stuffed french toast (marscapone) with berries was great (not spectacular). The juice was fresh tasting but slightly more pulp-y than I like. The coffee was good, but my refill was tepid- promptly fixed with a brand new, steaming hot cup by the waitress. But the Cobb Club Sandwich (grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, blue cheese, lettuce & tomato w/ a dijon mayo served on thick toasted challah bread) was AMAZING. The service was really great too. Even though it's a bit pricey (and I *hear* rather crowded-especially on weekends) the service and the food would be well worth the second trip.
(4)Lisa A.
So I've always loved this place and not sure why I haven't reviewed it. I've been a fan of Toast (the one on Webster) since 2003. And today I was reminded again why I loved this place to so much. I saw Toast Two during a day of running errands and then I had the day off today and thought...this is a perfect day to go and enjoy my favorite...FRENCH TOAST ORGY. It was just as I remembered it. Fresh, tasty, and filling. For $10 bucks its a good deal. I had left overs. The service was outstanding and I grew up not too far from this neighborhood so it feel perfect. Go and enjoy this yummy place. You won't regret it!
(5)Rochelle C.
Before Kid - My husband and I loved coming to Toast. Great food - amazing apple/pear/brie crepe and their pumpkin pancakes are terrific. Great coffee too. Would have been a 5 star review...back then. After Kid - Went to Toast Two a few days ago for breakfast with my toddler. The restaurant has always seemed kid-friendly so I was excited to take my kid here, and also very much looking forward to their amazing apple/pear/brie crepe. I ordered a kid's stack of blueberry pancakes for my toddler. When they came out, they had what appeared to be a whole bag of powered sugar on them. They were just covered in powered sugar...total mess. I explained to the waitress that I didn't really want my child to have powered sugar esp. not this much of it. She said that all of the pancakes have sugar on top (doesn't mention this in the kid's menu and wasn't told this when I ordered) . So the point is - the food is terrific for adults. If you are looking for a healthy breakfast for your little one, make sure to specify that you don't want a dumping of powered sugar all over the kid's pancakes that you just ordered. It's a surprise that the generous use of sugar isn't mentioned on the menu or by the server considering how health conscious many parents are concerning their children. Plus - the server (young lady with large black glasses) was a bit annoyed and acted like she couldn't understand why I wouldn't directly feed a pound of sugar to my little one. We received new pancakes, but never saw our server again. So her lack of understanding played a role in only give the restaurant 3 stars.
(3)Carol J.
I've never had anything but excellent service here, from everyone from the friendly service to the smiling bussers and even the cleaning guys who wave hello. They are five stars in my book except I only eat one thing when I come here and that is the Coq Monsiuer (sp) which I usually only eat in Paris because, well, when in Rome. But usually someone starts stealing my delightful little Mister because they like it better than theirs. Which gives me room to think-is their omelette, waffle, skillet thingy not so good? Doubt it. Lines are so crazy here, I thought of starting brunch service to act as their waiting room but its gonna be awhile before I can step into their realm which is fine with me. Oh wtf, Five stars for the awesome hash browns and choice of hot beverages!
(5)Diana F.
In the two times I have been here, I have fallen in love with my food. Yes, real love. I wanted to marry it and then have babies with it. I've had the stuffed french toast (wow...wow...wow) the pesto scramble...wow again...I've had the crab benedict which was SOOOO GOOOD and the regular benedict which did not disappoint....the oj is yummy the coffee is good...the restaurant is cute, the service is great. I absolutely love it.
(5)Maura S.
Had a very enjoyable late lunch at Toast. I went with the grilled cheese, which included three different kinds of cheese- can't go wrong there. Mmmm. I think I'll be back for breakfast...
(4)one thousand songs s.
Orgylicous. Why on earth did my so-called friends send me to Feast when this place is (i) closer to where I was staying (ii) tastier with a better menu (iii) less likely to be filled with screaming toddlers. We actually "found" this place after the waitress at Maps of the World sent us over. She was likely trying to get rid of us, but I figure it was a fair trade, although for who I'm not sure. We had eggs, a pancake orgy, sausages filled with cheese and yes, we even sampled some of the food. Two thumbs up - how else can you have an orgy?! Drawbacks (i) they didn't give us crayons to colour with (ii) they aren't licensed - brunch without the opportunity to have a bloody mary is like serving pancakes and french toast and not having real maple syrup (iii) THEY SERVE PANCAKES AND FRENCH TOAST AND DO NOT SERVE REAL MAPLE SYRUP. 1000Songs
(4)Casey C.
We visited on a weekday and had a very short wait for a table. The hostess was nice and welcoming and our waiter got our drinks for us immediately. So, unlike other reviews I have read the service was really amazing. Then the food came and we were even more impressed. I had an egg scramble(Tijuana) which was delicious. Even my daughter who doesn't eat eggs liked it!! She had the stuffed french toast trio, which was also excellent. The Mexican chocolate didn't have the best flavor, but it didn't taste bad either. The Nutella crepe with pecans was also yummy and reasonably priced. We didn't have a single thing that tasted bad from coffee to jam. The service was also welcoming and attentive. We will definitely be back to try other inviting menu choices :)
(5)Alexis F.
Great local place. Don't leave without trying the tenderloin benedict!
(5)kelly z.
Sometimes brunch restaurants have that one dish that make them great. Toast's entire menu is just that. We had the vegetarian omlet, homestyle potatoes, buttermilk pancakes and, of course, toast. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The potatoes had their own flair. The powdered sugar dusted pancakes were so sweet, they didn't even require syrup. The service was also amazing. It wasn't very busy, so we had the perfect amount of attention at the table.
(5)Kristen S.
Toast Two is pretty much always crowded and it's for a reason! A great menu and great service keeps me coming back over and over again. As a person who is gluten intolerant, you would wonder why I would go to a restaurant aptly named Toast. Fair enough. The toast IS amazing. Prior to being gluten free, I enjoyed the sourdough toast (which has been "sold out" on more than one visit.... so keep trying to get it). But now that I can no longer have wheat and gluten, I still enjoy Toast without the namesake. The omelettes and eggs are fantastic, as is the coffee and espresso drinks. I always get some fruit and the chicken sausage stuffed with apple and gouda cheese is to-die-for. My favorite omelette is stuffed with tomato, spinach, and goat cheese. Be prepared to wait and be prepared to be cozy with your dining neighbors. The only complaint about Toast Two is the seating area. Very cramped. Reasonably priced at about $20-30 for two people including some espresso drinks, Toast Two is worth the wait.
(4)Eliza M.
3.75 stars I guess I had really high expectations for Toast Two. I was expecting it to knock my socks off. I had the eggs benedict and was really jazzed on the truffle hollandaise sauce. It was....not that impressive. Also shared the apple, pear and brie crepe and sampled a friend's french toast orgy which was my favorite of the three. I will, however, be back to try the breakfast burrito. The sign is a piece of toast.
(4)Sara B.
I loved this place. Know that brunch restaurants are my favorite type of established, not steak houses, so read this accordingly. I have something saavy and something sweet, and both were great. The Ahi sandwich was awesome, and it was a healthy size of fish. It was served with my favorite kind of homecooked potatoes, which weren't fried and didn't taste like they had been overcooked in grease. I had the strawberry crepe which I had them nutella to. It was awesome and the perfect size, not too big and not too small. I didn't have them, but the pumpkin pancakes also looked awesome, a number of people were eating them around me. Highly recommend this place if you like cute, brunch restaurants with food that tends to be on the sweeter size.
(5)Angela Z.
I am a HUGE fan of the Toast on Webster so I came here a couple times as the Webster one usually has a longer wait. Everything here is still as great as the Webster one EXCEPT!!!!!! for the egg benedict, which has always been my favorite eggs benedict in the city. :( For some reason at this location, the hollandaise just doesn't have that magical lemony truffle taste that the Webster location's has. When I eat the one at the Webster location, my eyes roll back in my head and it's completely unique to any other hollandaise I've ever had. The Damen location's isn't bad, but it tastes like something you could get anywhere else. However, the pancakes, juice and service are all still great here. Just wish they could get the recipe down from their Webster peeps for that hollandaise! :)
(3)Nikki L.
The wait was long! Too long! I had the stuffed french toast with the trio of fillings. The only one I really enjoyed was the marscapone filling. The chocolate stuffed one was sour? I've never had sour chocolate before and it was gross. The strawberry one was too tart as well. I sent it back for 2 more marscapone ones. Not only did we wait almost 45 minutes for our breakfast but I had to wait another 25 for my replacement french toast. The server almost didn't replace my meal...but once I told her the chocolate was sour, she had a change of heart...why wouldn't any restaurant NOT replace something that a customer didn't eat because they didn't like? That'd be bad service! Overall, not terribly impressed, I went home with a sour stomach probably due to the sour chocolate.
(2)Jen S.
I recently purchased a groupon for Toast, and I was guessing we would experience a long wait when my friend and I went on a Saturday morning around 9:30. We waited about half an hour, which I don't think is bad. The waitress was extremely friendly and offered great service. I have the omelette lorraine (smoked applewood bacon, guyere cheese and chives), which was delicious. Their potatoes and toast were amazing as well.
(4)Megan M.
Un-Bloody-Believable. My favorite brunch comrades and I stumbled into this glorious oasis last sunday morning. The wait was tolerable (30 minutes) and it was a beautiful day. We were seated on the back patio (which may be my only complaint. There were three of us, and we were seated at two tables seperated by a good five inch gap. Awkward.) Julius Meinl coffee? Yes! There wasnt a bad bite between our three entrees (Pesto scramble with proscuitto, pancakes with honey and pine nuts, and a breakfast burrito), and the waitress, while timid, was attentive. I can't wait to go back for a french toast orgy!
(5)K B.
My bro and I came here. This was a sweet brunch spot, and super cheap - we ate for around $10 each. My bro had the B.E.L.T. with everything (it's huge! and he loved it), and I had the omelette lorraine which rocked. Will totally be going back.
(4)B.D. K.
Actually went to Toast in LP, but either way this place never ceases to impress (4.5 stars). I had a Spanish omelette and it may have been the best omelette I've ever had - hmm, or, let's say at least in the last few years... Thought it was better than the french toast orgy as well. They're eggs always taste really light and fresh. I can't remember the name but it has jalapenos in it.
(4)Hannah K.
This place is so amazing and I love the atmosphere too. THe one in Lincoln Park is just as cute. Favorite meal: the B.E.L.T. and the stuffed french toast (prefer the mascarpone cheese one)
(5)Amy S.
Breakfast burrito is awesome. Pumpkin pancakes were the special of the day and they were loaded with whipped cream (no butter or syrup needed). They were the best pancakes I've ever had!
(4)Kaelan W.
Worth the long wait, Toast Two has the same great food as the Lincoln Park location with slightly shorter waits and a killer garden for summer dining. The food can't be improved upon, but I would love to see both of the Toast locations go the way of other wait-worthy brunch places and offer free coffee and some outdoor seating to the huddled masses.
(4)hannah o.
We visited the Bucktown location on a recent trip to Chicago. It was very tasty. We got the marscapone french toast which was probably in my top 10 favorite french toast dishes. The only irritating thing is they could only split the check 2 ways, but it turned out fine because I just put it all on my card and my friends paid me back. Policies are policies. Overall, great experience--great atmosphere, tasty food, good service.
(4)Denise C.
We did wait quite a while on a Saturday at about 11:30 (about 25 minutes) and were seated at the counter. The counter seating is not very comfortable and we had to put our purses on the floor. (get purse hooks for under the counter, Toast Two!). The coffee was delicious, the service was a bit chilly but efficient. I ordered the Tijuana omelet which was really delicious and hit the spot. The toast was fantastic (as it should be). The potatoes were just so-so and not worth the calories. My friend had the Lorianne omelet which she thought was incredible and finished every bit. Overall, it was a good breakfast but nothing over-the-top great.
(4)Carrie L.
Here's the deal. I went to the Lincoln Park Toast a while ago and had the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and it was about the most delicious thing my mouth has ever encountered. I went with a friend from Pittsburgh, and as she was back in the city this month, we decided to visit the one in Bucktown. Very excited about the french toast, she ordered the stuffed french toast with marscapone cheese, and I ordered the stuffed french toast with pureed strawberry. And there ends the good experience... Our meals came out, and mine was soggy and pink. When I tried a bite, it tasted like mushy egg bread with a bitter strawberry taste. Thinking I had perhaps tried the worst bite first, I gave it a few more shots until I decided to save the calories. Although my friend's meal was much better than mine, it was still a little dry and not the french toast manna I remembered. I'm not sure if my memory was better than the actual first experience, or if the Bucktown Toast simply isn't as good. But, in a city with countless great brunch spots, I'll go elsewhere for good stuffed french toast. The chicken and gouda sausauge, on the other hand, was delish. In short, skip the strawberry stuffed french toast and pick something savory!
(2)Jillian D.
two words: pancake orgy oh bacchus would delight! my girlfriend and i brunched here on sunday then went to buy running shoes (bad idea. bad idea.) at nearby running away multisport (see later review). we both ordered the decadent orgy. we both left feeling the need to light up (if we were smokers. and not runners.) yes my friends. it was *that* good. you get three flavorful, plate-sized hot cakes, topped with yogurt, honey and homemade granola, surrounded by fresh berries. (i know - right??!!!) i dare you to finish - i certainly couldn't go through with the entire orgy. that would have been gluttonous. but i would have loved every gooey bite!! if you're more of the savory breakfast type ( i usually am), there are ample opportunities to indulge that craving, from omelets to benedicts to huevos rancheros and beyond. and cup after cup of julius meinl coffee is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
(4)Jess S.
Your weekend brunch wait scares me. But I still love you. I usually end up getting the omelettes for fear anything "stuffed" will make me crazed with sugar. The delicious food trumps the usually crummy service and drafty and cramped interior And I wish the damn line wasn't so long.
(5)Katie L.
Great coffee here, and the stuffed french toast is delicious! The staff does a great job of working their way through the crowded tables to refill water and drinks. They have a nice back deck which you get to by walking between the buildings-not through the restaurant itself, which is kind of cute. I'm looking forward to it being spring soon so I can go back there again! One of these days I'm going to have to try their lunch menu, but I'm always so tempted by the breakfast side of the offerings that I haven't yet. Overall, one of my favorite places in Chicago for breakfast. It is crowded, but the high ceilings and skylights at least make it feel less claustrophobic.
(5)Eliot J.
the hostess and our waitress were one and the same today. she was helpful and friendly. the food came out in about 10 minutes or less. decently priced for what it's considered - a trendy and popular brunch spot. unique food options for the most part. expect a wait during peak hours.
(3)Drea E.
Yeah, we went back for round 2 and it was OK. Not spectacular, not terrible, just fine. We split the omelet Lorraine which would have been fantastic had the bacon been cooked more. As it was, chewy bits of undercooked bacon peppered throughout the omelet kind of ruined every bite.
(3)Kate S.
Decent brunch food and selection, nothing as special as, say, Lula's, but alright. Not quite sure why anyone would wait for an hour to eat here, but if there's seating it's a-ok. But, TERRIBLE COFFEE! Wow, I may as well have been at a golden nugget, and they may actually have better coffee there anyway. BLEH!
(3)Mike S.
Toast was amazing, if for no other reason than for the juice. The apple just tasted like *gasp* real apples, and didn't taste like sugar water with apple flavoring. The orange juice tasted just as fresh and authentic. I'm not even a big juice drinker, but I would come here for the juice alone. As far as food goes, the brunch was really tasty as well. The menu had a lot of great options, so much that I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down to one. The breakfast burrito, which I finally settled on, was huge and delicious. Especially with some Cholula on it. The cheesy chicken sausage was yummy too, and the nutella-stuffed crepes were top-notch too. Probably the only thing better would have been nutella-stuffed nutella, but I guess I can just have that at home. Brunch may get crowded, but I'm a late eater anyways. Eat here!
(5)Alex M.
The first time I went to Toast, the weather was just toying around with the idea of extending its summer. After a short wait, the hostess whisked us to an outdoor patio! A patio! We hadn't even known or asked, but were seated at a great table, brought ample coffee, reinforcements of orange juice, and overwhelmingly delicious breakfast. Eggs, stuffed french toast, meat, you name it, someone ordered it. Subsequent visits revealed a good bathroom, hip interior seating, and waiters just as friendly as our original lanky western wearin' server.
(5)Hayden J.
As others have mentioned, expect to wait on the weekends. Since I live in the neighborhood, I decided to grab my order to go and take in some Saturday morning TV. I got the French Toast Orgy which is three french toasts that are filled with your choice of chocolate, strawberry, or mascarpone and topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, grapes, granola, and honey. I couldn't decided on the filling so I got one of each. My favorite was the mascarpone (sorta like cream cheese) filling and the strawberry. The chocolate was a little too sweet for my taste. All and all, this was a delicious meal and quite a challenge for one to finish on their own. (I posted a photo of my meal that was taken near the stopping point.)
(5)Lady L.
Yummy breakfast in Bucktown. I don't even try getting in on weekends but if you are lucky and are able to go out to breakfast during the week, make it to Toast. All of the pancake/french toast stuff is good. Also, they've got a good selection of savory items on the menu, which is good considering Bongo Room lacks that in their menu. Definitely a must try.
(4)Brian M.
When we lived in Bucktown (2002-2005) This was our home-turf for breakfast... we couldn't get enough. Love the oatmeal, and anything that they do with French Toast. Since leaving Chicago, we have been to Boston, and now Tucson, Arizona - we have been searching for a "Toast-like" breakfast spot, and have been unsuccessful! Congrats to the team at Toast (all of them) hopefully you are still having the success you did years ago.
(5)Kami T.
The menu was departure from typical brunch places. They offered a twist on the usual flavors for breakfast, and it was executed well. The portion size was also surprisingly big. A big plus for me is that they offered sugar-free syrup. We had to wait 1 hour, but that's to be expected for brunch on a sunday. Overall, it was a great experience!
(4)t.n. t.
I have an addiction! The pancake orgy and the breakfast burrito are a must!!! I prefer to go here in the summer when the back patio is open so that I have some privacy. My boyfriend and I miss this place when we haven't been in awhile. The portions and quality have decreased a bit in recent time, but its still good!!
(5)candace l.
There are so many good choices on the menu, but don't be afraid to try the daily specials. You will not be disappointed. This place is a hit so expect to wait and wait and wait for a table. But it will be worth it, I promise! Fantastic food and friendly service.
(5)Blah B.
Love this place. Have had some pretty awesome experiences here with my boys! I tend to always order one of the specials for the day and they never disappoint. Love the fact that you can come here during the week as well and have some quality time with friends or family!!!
(4)eden s.
Yes, the waitstaff is super snotty hipsters and prices are above average, but that's fine bc they have the best eggs & chorizo in the city. I love their potatoes too. And their fresh OJ is always so refreshing. The pancakes are fluffy and delightful. It's the best breakfast place in the city. Expect a wait of 30 minutes or more. Kid-friendly - kind of. The waitstaff hates kids pretty much...or maybe they just hate life in general. They are always so crabby. There is one standout waitress -- Michelle, I think. She has been there for years. African American gal. Always very sweet contrary to her counterparts. Ask for her section if she is there. Despite some of these negative things, I still love Toast.
(5)Leang E.
This place is really small, so I wouldn't recommend a group larger than 4 to be honest. I wonder if there would still be a line of people if the place was bigger. It was the weekend and we did have to wait outside for brunch. We were told an hour long wait, but got in sooner since we were willing to sit at the counter. I like the homey feel that the place has to it. It is reminiscent of a nicer diner in the movies. Our server was really nice as well as the hostess. I ordered the breakfast that included eggs over medium, the chicken gouda sausage, thick sliced bacon, potatoes, and wheat toast. I ate half of it and took the rest home. It was very tasty, but slightly more expensive but worth it. The sausage was unique and they have huge portions here. You can also get coffee before you are seated so you can drink it outside while you wait. I think I live even closer to this place.
(4)Janette L.
Despite it's namesake, I have yet to try the french toast. I have a weird love for breakfast burritos and I think this place has one of the best in the city. Space is small so be prepared to wait. Perfect for couples and very small groups. I have been here a few times and thought the service was good - they always kept my coffee mug full! Remember to check out the specials written on the chalkboard hanging on the wall - some unique and tasty dishes (i.e eggs+pesto).
(4)Suzzane B.
My boyfriend and I get breakfast together all.the.time. We were super sad that our regular spot Cafe de Lucca closed down (down the street) and so we tried this place on a whim instead. I think it's safe to say, it is for sure our new regular and much loved place to go. We love that we run into people frequently here that we know from the neighborhood or just around town in general, and I personally love that they remember us as familiar faces and even are starting to know what our usual orders are. But more importantly, I just love that they are a locally owned joint that offers great food at a great price and always provide stellar customer service to us regardless of being 'regulars' now or not. They greet us with a friendly smile every time, and even something so simple as the check holders they give us at the end of our meal have the saying on it "Good food with good friends" (or something to that effect) because that's how they make us feel every time. We will definitely be enjoying breakfast here for years and years to come (oh, and the lunch options are spectacular too!).
(5)Akeisha W.
I enjoyed breakfast here a couple of days ago. They were ver friendly and fast. The atmosphere was pleasant and food was good. Definitely going to try the french toast orgy next time. I had and omelet and it was good. I will be back.
(4)brian u.
We moved 1/2 block away from Toast II. It was the best thing we ever did! As long as you are there before the mob (Sat and Sun before 9:30ish) you get a quick table or a seat at the bar. Lucky grab last week on the beautiful, tranquil back patio. Everything on the menu is fantastic! Have had several of the items and always score a taste from fellow diners if it's something I haven't had. Unfortunately makes Clarke's Diner (see earlier review) a little less tempting and a whole three blocks away!
(5)charlotte G.
Went for brunch on a holiday Monday around noon - only a very short wait for a table of four! Very cute place, but not too girly that you couldn't bring guys. The menu had many different options - we all stuck with the more breakfast type food. Everything was great! And very large portions too. Maybe I am just used to NYC prices but everything seemed very cheap - I got a side of pancakes with my meal, no extra charge! I guess they don't have a liquor license yet so alcohol was not available yet.
(4)Trevor R.
If you happen to be a hungry Texan lost in Chicago, and you stumble upon a sign in the shape of a slice of toast, I highly recommend that you enter the establishment below and enjoy their hearty, eggy breakfast burrito. The house salsa is pretty darn good, but the old standbys Tabasco and Cholula are on-hand as well. You may have to wait 10-15 minutes for a table, but if the summer heat is getting to you, the equally tasty hostess will be happy to bring you some water. ;-)
(4)Nancy H.
A cute brunch place just north of Armitage on Damen. It's a long restaurant, so they make use of booth seating along the wall. The wait for a late lunch was approximately 30 minutes for a party of three on a Sunday, and they don't take reservations. The prices are average for breakfast, but what surprised me is that crepes are only $5-7. I ordered the cobb club sandwich, which is grilled chicken, lots of bleu cheese (that I scraped off), avocado, tomatoes, and salad greens, and it was excellent! I think they season or butter the toasted bread. I substituted the potato salad that accompanies all sandwiches for a small fruit cup for $1 more ($9.50 total) but so worth it - the sliced bananas and strawberries and whole blackberries were so fresh and sweet. I noticed the stuffed french toast with fruit was a popular hit. I was most impressed by the presentation of the food. Everything comes out on white shiny plates, and there is absolutely no messiness. Sandwiches are cut straight, there are no random crumbs on your plate, and each meal is colorful - all so picture perfect. I'd come back again.
(4)Laura I.
I used to come here more but don't even think of coming these days. It does have pretty good food but what I can't get past is how PACKED it becomes and how PACKED they seat everyone. You're basically sitting at some stranger's table throughout your meal and there's barely enough room to let one thigh go in between the tables to get to the cushioned seats. I always go here expecting good but leave feeling like a sardine who's finally been freed. If only they could get more oil in this joint so we could all breathe!
(3)Becky W.
I met a friend here for breakfast yesteray. I ordered the pancake orgy and swapped the banana pancake for a blueberry. It was good. I was a little skeptical about the yogurt on top of pancakes, but It was sprisingly delicious. Negatives are the thimble of warm orange juice I got for $2, and I really love fresh squeezed OJ, so that was a disappointment. And also it was majorly crowded, and we got sat at the table right next to the door so the people waiting were encroaching on my booth space and letting their children run around. I'd give it another try because it tasted good and it was bright and sunny, but I think I'm more of a low-key brunch spot kind of girl.
(3)Rachel E.
toast two is definitely in my top 3 places for breakfast/brunch. the food is fantastic; the service is always pleasant; and, although the seating is a little cramped, it doesn't get too busy during the week. probably my favorite breakfast potatoes in town.
(4)Jacque w.
I just don't get it. I had heard that Toast was wonderful. I had seen it on tv and had read reviews that it was one of the best around. This is not the experience I had ! I went with a friend who ordered the Pepper eggs, I ordered the Lorraine Omelet. My friends eggs were tasty, but nothing special. My omelet was very dry, very small and looked very bland on the plate. My friends eggs were accompanied by potatoes and toast. My omelet just came with toast. It just needed something else on the plate, because it seemed almost unfinished. You would think that a place named Toast would have some stand out breads, but this was just your run of the mill grocery store bread. I think there are many better places to eat than Toast, I would not go back.
(2)Olivia H.
I just MUST comment on Meg O,'s review, who regaled us with the tale of the bearded dragon Toast's birthday. It is NEVER, EVER okay to bring an animal into a dining establishment without first clearing it with the management, and a responsible, law and health code abiding restaurant would never allow that. (For that matter, in my opinion it is flat out not appropriate to bring an animal into a dining establishment, guide dogs and the like aside). Were the health inspector to arrive whilst Toast was having his little trip to Toast, there could be ramifications for the dining establishment. I am more disturbed by the Map Rooms allowance of the lizard than Toast's request for them to leave. Please, don't take this as pure animal hatred, I have animal companions myself and feel very strongly that sharing your lives with various critters can be great for your health and psyche. But that does not give one the right to tote their pet around wherever they like. Rant aside, I love Toast, and highly recommend it, especially on weekdays when you can avoid the massive crowd. The smoked salmon omelet with dill havarti and capers is to die for, and I find myself ordering it over and over, even when I sternly tell myself to try something new. For those of you who love chocolate for breakfast, try the Nutella Crepes (because everything is delicious with Nutella).
(5)Eitan S.
nice local breakfast. food is okay, reminds me of Nookie, very American. too much hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedicts. steak & eggs were decent.
(4)Lezah G.
This could easily be a 4 or 5 star place but the indifferent service made me subtract 2-3 stars. The menu has great stuff on it. Our food was pretty good. Mine was the best--I had eggs benedict which was great. The other dishes were above average. Why only two stars then? Well, the place is called TOAST. One of us ordered a meal that came with a brioche. She was expecting a knotted type of roll but she got what looked like Texas toast. The menu should have said brioche bread, not a brioche. My brother ordered a side of raisin bread toast. He got two tiny pieces of bread that looked like the pieces of bread next to the heel of the loaf. They were about two bites each. The waitress was completely indifferent when we mentioned something about the TOAST. The place is called TOAST. All she said was that was what they served. Would it have killed her to go back to the kitchen and put two more slices of the tiny bread in the toaster and brought it out? Greek diners do a better job. Would it have killed her to offer something other than the Texas toast/Brioche? These are not big ticket items and it was Monday morning. There were no lines waiting to get it. Thank goodness we were using a groupon!
(2)Anonymous F.
I don't know whether they were just having an off day, but our food was bad. I mean, I didn't even want to finish my food, it was so bad. The flavors and the textures were just wrong. My friend's food sucked as well, and the people at the next table appeared to be complaining about their food too. I gave it an extra star because of the atmosphere, but I would never go back here.
(2)kevin M.
This place is excellent!! Its a clean place and the wait staff is great. They are pricey for breakfast but they have such good coffee and french toast, you just have to splurge. My friend was in town so we stopped in for a late breakfast and the bill was around $39. I would go back but only for lunch.
(4)Jenni Q.
We walked in around 230pm on a Sunday and luckily a table had just opened up so we didn't have to wait at all. Always a good start to a weekend brunch :) Everything on the menu looked so good we had trouble making up our minds even as we were placing our orders. I was debating between the B.E.L.T (bacon+eggs+mixed greens+tomato sandwich) or the grilled ahi tuna sandwich. I wanted to try something other than my usual breakfast sandwich so ended up getting the ahi tuna sandwich which came with this really great zesty sauce, sauteed chopped tomatoes and onions and the best ciabatta bread ever. The huge serving of tuna was a little overcooked but still tasted great. My boyfriend got the ground chicken mixed with cheese sandwich and really enjoyed his dish as well and we both LOVED the breakfast potatoes (I would recommend skipping the potato salad). Also tried the soup of the day - watermelon gazpacho - which was more savory than I thought it would be. I'm not a fan of cold soups but my bf thought it was very original and delicious. We will definitely be back to try some of the other items we wish we could have gotten!
(4)chris c.
ordered the french toast orgy and they forgot about the granola and vanilla yogurt. the person at the front counter was apathetic at best and really did not help us look out for a table. He also refused to take down my number to call me when there's a table. we had to point out to him that there were empty tables before we were seated. even after pointing out to him the empty table and asking if we could have it, his response was "possibly". bad service ruins the whole experience. not pleased.
(1)Ian A.
I debated a one star but really want to save that for the worse of the worse. I just don't get the lines or the great reviews this place has. The food is really not that good! In fact sometimes it's been downright bad. The staff holds the "it's a privilege to even be here" attitude and is about as rude is you'll find for breakfast. This particular location doesn't serve bloody marries or other breakfast drinks like their other location does and can be another turn away for some people.
(2)Joe W.
I love breakfast. Lots of breakfast. Things like stuffed french toast or a pancake orgy, both with mounds of fresh fruit around it and a good cup of coffee exceed any breakfast expectations you've ever had. It gets busy, so buck up and come early. Toast Two makes breakfast an art.
(5)Event Horizon L.
I have two words for you : yum, yum
(4)Bess R.
My review is only for takeout since I NEVER brave the lines at this place on the weekends. They have many yummy breakfast/brunch foods, though I prefer breakfast. Usually get the awesomely huge pancakes (love banana nut, but they always have a few different flavors) or the goat cheese, spinach and tomato omelet with a side of chicken sausage. Oh mamma, that is good stuff. Not as big of a fan of the lunch options (bad experience with the frisee salad), but my ladyfriends seem to like the turkey burger a lot.
(4)Becky S.
I come to Toast with people who have never eaten there. It's futile to come any time between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on a weekend, so it's usually a late brunch kind of destination. The food is great, and you get huge portions for a reasonable price. I don't find Toast to be the sort of place I can visit more than a few times a year, though--it's sensory overload, and the wait and difficulty parking is usually more formidable than the food. Still. Inevitably, it's worth it with friends visiting from out of town when their eyes widen and they begin salivating at the prospect of the "french toast orgy".
(4)Stacy K.
I have been going to Toast for a decade but my last two visits will have been my last ever. Today's visit was inexcusable. I had the spinach, goat cheese and tomato omelette with potatoes and rye toast. Now mind you the coffee was great and the toast and jam good but the eggs and potatoes were so salty that I couldn't even eat them and the goat cheese in the eggs was broken and gritty. The server took my plate when I told him and....NEVER RETURNED! I got up to use the restroom and when I came back, my table had been cleared- coffe, toast, water - GONE! I told the gentleman at the register what happened and he handed me my bill and said that he couldn't do anything because the manager wasn't there. He did ask me if I'd like a coffee to go. Really?!? No - what I'd like to have is an edible breakfast. It's a shame - this was once a great reliable breakfast spot. But I guess all good things must come to an end. Adieu, Toast.
(1)Andy R.
favors the sweet toothed and sober folk wait not worthwhile
(3)Jessica M.
Talked about highly by friends, but not overly impressed in the end. DRINK: We started with coffee, which was really good - I am picky about a good cup of coffee, and that alone gets 5 stars. FOOD: loses one star My friend said their stuffed french toast is killer and suggests it. However, I wasn't in the mood for sweet and it looked so fattening I had to pass. I ordered an omelet with goat cheese, tomatoes and spinach, side of potatoes and cinnamon toast. The omelet had a funky taste to it, not sure if it was the oil they use or if they were egg beaters or something. I ended up picking out the fillers a little, and maybe only ate half. Probably the worst omelet I've had unfortunately. The potatoes were excellent, toast was sweet and good. Tried a bite of my friends marscapone french toast at the end of the meal and it was pretty good - maybe should have ordered that and only ate half. SERVICE: loses one star Three of us came here on a Thursday at 9:30am, which was not very busy maybe 4 other tables and us. Service was slow - had to ask for more coffee and they only came around 3 times in almost 2 hours to check on us - pretty bad for such a small place and not busy. The waitress also messed up the order slightly, gave my potatoes to my friend on her plate and had to take them back to the kitchen to switch. Overall, so so service.
(3)lola d.
O.K people: Toast is good. It is an excellent place to eat brunch, lunch, and so much more. Here are a couple of pointers that will make your toast experience a lot more smoother: Do not visit Toast on a Saturday or a Sunday and get all angry because you are not sat in 5 minutes--the restaurant is SMALL! The food will take a good 15-25 minutes to reach your table after you order on a Saturday or Sunday--so don't go there starving! How do I know this? I am a long time patron, who avoids the joint on weekends and embraces it on weekdays. The staff is amazing and always makes me feel welcomed and the food keeps me coming back for more. What else do I need to say?
(4)Isabella M.
This is a favorite spot of mine. I come here often. Here are some dishes I have tried: French Toast Orgy - the mexican chocolate french toast was a bit too rich, the strawberry is insanity and the mascarpone is equally succulent. Don't add syrup to these, people. You will regret it. I would almost be inclined to tell them to hold the granola, as it becomes a lot to ingest and maintain productivity for the remainder of my Sunday. Mascarpone Pancakes w/ pine nuts and anise and other things - This is my all time favorite here. The pancakes are crips on the edges, the flavors blend very well. I am in love. Breakfast Burrito - It's good. But seriously, why are you ordering this when you can have the mascarpone pancakes? Pesto Scamble - This was intense and I'm not sure I would order it again, or at least not as hungover as I was. Very good, very rich. House Potatoes - This is where I reach my dilemma. I love the house potatoes here. They come as a side with most of the savory items. Yet, I prefer the sweet dishes. I suggest the best of both worlds, would be to order this as a side. And i have been known to do so. I've also been to the Lincoln Park location and I'm not sure if I'm just partial to my own neighborhood.... but they were a little stuck up there!! I do like that they have drinks but that's probably the only upside to the place.
(4)Aileen O.
Toast Two has eclipsed Lincoln Park's Toast as my favorite brunch spot! The space is more spacious and has more character than its counterpart. I loved the retro feel. There were vintage toasters and toaster decor decorating the walls. The high ceilings also opened up the place. Despite the dreary weather outside, the place received a good amount of light which was very nice. Service was prompt and friendly. We went on a Monday so there was no crazy rush. We were able to take our time and the wait stuff was patient with our indecisiveness (too many good menu items!). Get the French Toast orgy with marscarpone filling. You'll get three gigantic slabs of stuffed french toast. The pureed strawberry was okay, but the strawberry taste wasn't as defined. I also recommend getting the yogurt and granola on the side, rather than slathered on top. It's less messy and more visually appealing. My friend and I split this dish and combined with our side of house potatoes, we were perfectly sated. With Toast's wait times sometimes topping two hours, I'd recommend visiting the Bucktown spot. Seems less crowded to me!
(5)Gracie B.
A plate of warm gingerbread pancakes on a cold snowy winter vacation afternoon... Does it get any better? I seriously doubt it. Mama Marie and I stopped here for a late breakfast. I had the seasonal gingerbread pancakes which were absolutely great. Moist, fluffy and not heavy, they were lovely. I also had the chicken sausage which was a great compliment. Service was friendly and casual - almost too casual...I normally leave breakfast jittery, instead, I had to ask them to refill my coffee. But I'll forgive that and only dock a star off of what would otherwise had been a great meal
(4)Andreea O.
Really delicious breakfast...there wasn't one thing that my boyfriend and I got that wasn't either really good, either excellent...starting with the fresh strong coffee and ending with the french toast orgy...yummmyy Definitely recommend the pesto scramble, with panceta and tomatoes...oh so good, comes with these awesome potatoes... The only thing that I didn't like as much was the seating situation....it's a small place and tables are crowded next to each other and it could get loud.
(4)Laura R.
The french toast orgy is quite possibly the most amazing/delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life. It's three sticks of stuffed french toast (mascarpone, strawberry, and chocolate, I usually go all mascarpone) covered generously in yogurt, granola and fresh fruit. And their fresh fruit is not your standard grapes with over-ripe melon blend, we're talking delicious blackberries and raspberries here. I cannot stand to wait a long time for brunch but I am willing to sit my ass down on the freezing or boiling hot sidewalk (nowhere else to wait here) just for the french toast orgy. However I've noticed there usually isn't a line closer to 2 when they close.
(5)Brooke W.
Not often do we stray from our favorite breakfast joint the B.C. (breakfast club), but this morning we found ourselves in Bucktown... I didnt feel like breakfast, but rather lunch food, so I ordered the ahi tuna sandwhich. My boyfriend ordered the special, eggs with some green sauce. Overall the food was bland. Dont order the tuna, it's covered with way too much sage. I expressed my disappointment to the waitress and she didnt have much to offer. Not a "can I bring you something else" Obviously hired for her looks and not her ability to wait on people. Foodie beware. Not the best breakfast in this city.
(1)Bridget L.
The food is good, and I enjoyed my "pancake orgy," but the place is small and gets very crowded. We actually got there really early and the place was empty, but the host refused to seat us until we had our entire party join us, which was only two more people. It was like that scene in the movie Meet the Parents when Ben Stiller is waiting to get on the airplane...Hahaha. Eventually the host sat us because I think she realized that making a hugely pregnant lady stand by a cold door with a toddler in tow in an empty restaurant was pretty silly. But our server was great and the food was very yummy. although a little pricey. I don't live anywhere near Bucktown, so not sure I'd travel all that way just for Toast Two, but if I am in the area, I'd give it another shot.
(3)James C.
So what's the difference between this place and other breakfast places? Nothing. One thing that kinda turns me off is the fact that these little brunch places (that are SO popular with the ladies) is the fact that they're ridiculously expensive for no god awful reason. Why does this place cost just as much as eating dinner? I just don't get it. I ordered a Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo (I always get breakfast burritos if there's nothing on the menu I like) and my gf decided to have the French Toast stuffed with Mascarpone. What the hell is mascarpone? It honestly tasted like nothing. Call me an uncultured low class breakfast burrito eating dummy but the french toast tasted like light fluffy bread... and the mascarpone that was inside the light fluffy bread tasted like creamy nothing. We also shared a side of their potatoes which were nothing too great... just potatoes. The best part about this meal was that it cost me $30 bucks. I love spending $30 bucks for a burrito that I scarfed down in 3 minutes and light fluffy toast with creamy nothingness inside with little pieces of fruit around it. Maybe I'm just not into breakfast (which I'm not) and I'm definitely not into expensive breakfast/brunch places. This place is just OK for me. If I had a choice, I'd go to YOLK where they have a great menu... it's just too bad their location sucks for me cause it's so far into the city. If you like breakfast/brunch and you have the cash for it, I'd recommend this place. The people/person who took our order was super nice and had a very inviting vibe to her but other than that, the food was just average. Maybe I'm expecting too much for a breakfast joint... but if I'm gonna spend $11 for a breakfast burrito that wasn't all that great, I'd better get something else too... like.. I dunno.. a side of potatoes for free. Actually... yeah... why didn't my breakfast burrito come with hash browns or something. Even McDonalds gives you hashbrowns with your two breakfast burritos! Booooooooo for toast. I'm probably not gonna go there again. I'll let my gf go with her other friends that like to spend way too much money for toast they can drench with syrup.
(2)Danielle R.
I've been to the original Toast in Lincoln Park as well as "Toast 2" and I've never had a complaint about the food. My boyfriend swears by the breakfast burrito but I tend to go for the.....well, toast! Their French toast really is divine. After going in for the stuffed variety I have since returned to the one that is just served with fresh berries so I leave pleasantly full without the sugar coma. Food = yum but the wait = misery. I dread walking up and asking about the wait....because there is ALWAYS a wait and it's always seems to be over an hour and really.....the food is good, but I don't know if it's worth it to wait that long for breakfast!
(4)Megan M.
Another breakfast spot with a long wait, but it is so worth it! The stuffed french toast is amazing and covered with fresh fruit. Their breakfast burrito is the best I've ever had. And the coffee is good too. The only issue I have is that the rush you through the meal once you are seated. I understand why they do it, but if I wait over an hour for a table, don't give me the check five minutes after I get my food.
(5)Valerie A.
This is a great brunch place. Really the only downsides are that the line can be long on Saturday, when I typically go, and the tables are a little close together since it's a rather small place. The last time I went to Toast the coffee was only ok, but my omelette and sausage were very good. Also, the decor is super cute. Rooster wallpaper!
(4)missallfun H.
The hostess is miserable. Her energy is toxic, so be careful. I have only been to this location 4 times. everytime I leave dissapointed and my mood altered by the bad vibe the place has. Ive boycotted this place each time and have only given it other chances because of friends buying into the hype. Yes the french toast orgy is good but its as if there are tears put into your cafe. The staff is just a mess and ruins the magic of the kitchen. Maybe Lincoln park has it together?
(2)Jennifer v.
This is my favorite brunch place in Chicago! There is not a single menu item that I wouldn't recommend, which is a feat. My favorites- the Vegetarian Eggs Benedict and the French Toast Orgasm. Staff is always friendly and the service is quick. The decor is bright and just what anyone needs with a good meal. The line can be long depending on the time/day, but it's always worth the wait. There are plenty of stores to go poking into or you can just pick up a mug of coffee and mingle with the waiting patrons. Friends and I wish we lived closer so we could walk over more often. Can't complain about a single visit!
(5)James W.
This is my favorite breakfast place. Love the marcapone french toast and the eggs benedict. The space is a little small and on weekends the wait can be long but the food is worth it. Also a little pricey.
(4)Maximus T.
One day after mass me and my sister stopped by Toast and enjoyed it very much. I had the eggs benedict and my sister has blueberry wheat pancakes ad eggs we finished everything down to the last crumb. The one cons about this was the wait and that the tables are too close to each other making customers have no privacy.
(4)Gavin G.
ok, so the food was pretty good. and the pancakes were in monstrous proportion. the wait to be seated here sucked really bad. granted, it was a sunday and we arrived around noon. our friend arrived around 11:45 and got our party on the list, and was told "about 45 minutes" but we didn't sit down until almost 1pm. alright, so waiting i can deal with. but the place is packed, and i mean packed with people waiting, asses to elbows. and some of them repeatedly whined to the hostess about having to wait for their 10 person party to get a table while couples were getting open tables. hello assholes, 10 people won't fit at a 2 person table! food was good and i'd go back, but i'm sure as hell not going back on a sunday to deal with a bunch of people who feel self-important because mommy got them a 3-BR condo and a BMW.
(3)stephanie s.
It was good pancake. Really, only the most horrible of grease spoons can mess up a pancake. That said, I am not 100 percent sure why this place always has lines of people waiting to get in. I've had better cakes from nondescript diner-type restaurants. If I was a meat and/or egg eater, I may have been better clued in to the majesty that is Toast, but as a veggie pancake eater, I was not incredibly impressed. Sure is cute in there, though. We went once and never felt the need to go back, but not for any other reason that I can get cheaper, tastier cakes elsewhere. I will say that the fruit on my cakes was remarkably fresh. I wouldn't necessarily call our server that day friendly, but she was polite and efficient, which is just fine.
(3)Michelle R.
One of my favorite breakfast restaurants. They have french toast to die for, yummy crepes, and scrumpchy omelette's. There is usually a wait, but it's well worth it.
(5)Stephanie H.
Great Brunch, I've only been once though. Will go back, Downside is the wait.
(4)Jay D.
Possibilty one of the best breakfasts in the City of Chicago. If I didn't care about my health I would eat here every day. I'm a big fan of the chocolate stuffed french toast, the Eggs Danny, the strawberry lemonade, and the specials. I haven't had any lunch items, but breakfast/brunch hits the spot every time. The only complaint I have about this place is the wait, but then again I'd say its justifiable...just don't come famished at 11am on a Sunday morning.
(4)Samara B.
Love love love! I have never hated Anything I have tried here and am always a fan of BYOB for mimosas. Cute, friendly, and amazing breakfast!
(5)Lizzie O.
my husband and i tried toast today for the first time, and we were pleasantly suprised. it was busy for a sunday morning (naturally) but we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes. our waitress was prompt with the coffee and our meals. service was very friendly. the huevos verdes with cilantro pesto sauce was a delight for my mouth, and suprisingly not too expensive ($8.00 and that included potatoes and 2 slices of toast). the only downside is that it was a *little* on the noisy side... but, a good sign that business is going well. we will definitely be coming back to try other delectable meals :)
(4)mike l.
holy crap. Just go and wait, it's worth it.
(5)cara r.
I'm not sure if I was just off when I visited Toast - I had kind of a lot to drink the night before - but I didn't love it. I had the fresh fruit and yogurt, but it was in late June, when raspberries and cherries and strawberries are abundant and all I got was honeydew and musk melon! This tells me that the powers-that-be at Toast aren't taking advantage of Green City Market and the other AMAZING farmer's markets in the city to get me seasonal, locally grown produce. I'm sure we'll be back at some point - the boy does live three blocks from Toast Two, and hopefully I'll be less hungover and more pleased.
(2)Melinda C.
While the food is unremarkable, it's a comfortable place to sit, eat, and chat with friends. Great ambiance - sunny interior. However, the eggs benedict were good but nothing exceptional. The hugely-portioned pancakes might be a better bet. Fairly large variety of dishes to choose from. Parking on a Sunday was surprisingly easy - a very pleasant surprise.
(3)C. M.
a friend and i were trying to find the perfect place for our sunday brunch and finally settled on toast in bucktown. when we walk in the guy sitting down with barely any tables said they were closed. since the website said they closed at 4, and it was only around 3:20, why would he have said that? i was really curious why he turned us away - and why he had to be such a jerk in the process. bad business, get rid of that guy.
(1)Stephanie P.
I am a huge fan of toast--especially the pesto scramble and the mascarpone pancakes. I have had terrible experiences at the webster street location but toast two on damen has always been good to me.
(5)Jessica B.
I simply cannot say enough good things about Toast. I am very hard to please when it comes to breakfast/brunch because i want a little of everything-eggs, pancakes, toast, hash browns.Toast has nailed breakfast. I always order the two eggs, because it comes with toast, potatoes, and one side (I always get pancakes, they're amazing). The eggs are awesome, definitely some of the best i've had. I was a little thrown off by their lack of Grape jelly 2 weeks in a row. How does a place named Toast not have Grape Jelly?!?! My boyfriend gets the omelet or benedict both of which are delicious. The decor is simple, and its always bright inside. The seating is a little cramped, which is why i prefer to sit at the counter. The hostess is a little rude, and the staff could be a little more attentive, but since this is the one place in Chicago that I've been where i get exactly what i want, without having to argue with the wait staff, or substitute something, i have to give this 5 stars.
(5)KM S.
I cannot stand this place. Soooo overrated. It needs to stay in LP and leave Bucktown. They are so incredibly rude. I don't know why people would stand in line and wait to be treated so rudely here. Besides the horrible service---the food isn't all that. So many better places in the area besides this overhyped place.
(1)Arlene M.
this place is great! when i went here i got their eggs with chorizo and i believe it was called a pancake orgy? i dunno- it was one of each of their pancakes. Well either way- it was GREAT!
(4)Ebru Y.
Holy pancakes! Had to be one of the best if not THE best. Eggs were equally good but I just can't get over the pancakes! Okay really I ordered the eggs with peppers and it was love at first bite :) my sister and I also ordered two pancakes which were supposed to be one with chocolate chip and one with banana and pecan, they ended up making both of them banana, pecan and chocolate chip, and when we were served, we were in heaven! I am always going to get them that way from now on, I am glad they made that mistake! The ambiance is very cozy and comfortable Service was very friendly and pretty fast for a busy day.
(5)A. M.
I took my sister here for breakfast yesterday. She was quite pleased with their non-egg options. I love Toast because their omelettes are always cooked to perfection. They are bursting with fresh ingredients, and they are never undercooked. I think the Bucktown location is slightly larger than the Lincoln Park one, and it seems to get busy just a tad bit later. I also love how bright the Bucktown location is - creates a very happy breakfast/brunch atmosphere.
(4)Amanda G.
I realize that brunch in Bucktown/Wicker Park is usually overrated, but not at Toast. The food is super-delicious (I love the Breakfast Burrito). Go early or plan to wait outside since there is no room inside. Definitely worth it!
(5)Amanda A.
In the search for a new brunch place and also one in walking distance of my sister's Humbolt Park condo - I happened upon this place in yelp. The wait was similar to the rest of the trendy little breakfast spots in town immediately apparent by the smalls groups of people waiting outside as we approached the literal piece of toast hanging above the entrance. The wait ended up being less than the 45 minutes quoted and in the meantime there were several cute shops in the area to browse in before breakfast. I wanted just about everything on the menu but settled on the breakfast burrito- my standby favorite almost everywhere. It was excellent and the fresh jalepenos gave it a nice kick. The fruit cup I ordered had great variety and all perfectly in season for a fraction of the cost of most of its restaurant counterparts. My sisters spinach, tomato and gouda omelette with challah toast was equally delicious and we both agreed that next time the french toast orgy would be in order! I've heard mixed reviews about its other location - but this was a hit.
(4)Steph M.
This is not a great place to eat. We met friends here two weeks ago. We waited. And waited. Thank god it was warm and we could wait outside because there is no place to wait inside. Our waitress whispered and we couldnt hear her. As another poster mentioned, the flavors and textures were all wrong. I had the crepes - they sucked. The mascarpone filled French Toast wasnt more than ok, but then again, it was the whole flavor-texture thing. I can see why the trend-seeking yuppies like this place - it's cute decor and seemingly one-off menu would make it unique if the food was worth the plate it was served on. Breakfast for 4 with a tip came to about $70. What a waste!!! Save your money.
(2)Jennifer K.
Worst service in the city. I have lived here for 12 years and the staff is laughable....seriously they laughed at me when I was waiting an HOUR for my food. It was Wednesday at 1pm. So we are not talking about their busy weekend brunch times. They are rude and I don't think their food is worth the hype. I will never ever go again.
(1)Dave B.
Great breakfast spot. Typical wait on weekends but this one is worth it. Go with French Toast or Fruit Panacakes and you'll be a happy camper the rest of the day. Tip once seated, if someone around you orders the eggs benedict ask them to put it on the other side of the table so as not to have the aroma waft over and ruin the great start to your day.
(5)cb b.
when every i go out to breakfast I choose this place. it is fun they have great pancakes, muffins, crepes and good service. They are only open until 2 pm and they have an outside deck. On the weekends you need to get there early or you will be standing in line - guaranteed!
(4)Ryan P.
Eeehhhh. I go to Toast as a last resort, it's mediocre at best.
(2)Amanda D.
Wow!! I've been here probably 7 times. I LOVE their stuffed french toast. The pancakes are also pretty good. Just be sure to get here early-it gets crowded!!!
(4)jenn m.
wowzaa. love this place. very cute, great skylights. the stuffed french toast with marscapone is my favorite. they serve it with all kinds of berries. great selection of coffee and teas. i like a latte. they also have another great dish called Huevos W/ Chorizo & Cheddar is reallyyy yummy. definitely go on a weekday later ... no crowds ... no one in eye shot of conversation. love it.
(4)Mike D.
I've always liked the food here, the service is never bad, and its not terribly overpriced. I have found that some of their specialty dishes to be a bit flat. That is my only complaint.
(4)Katherine R.
Although you will wait on the weekends this small breakfast spot is worth the wait- so don't go hungover like I did! Outstanding eggs benedict; instead of canadian bacon, thinly sliced prosciutto with homemade hollandaise sauce on a bed of sauteed spinach (on a homemade english muffin) served with homemade potatoes. Fantastic and worth the wait despite my killer hangover!!
(5)Christina G.
Okay, so I don't really like the seating arrangement, because it makes it impossible for anyone to not overhear your conversation at the next table over, which is about 1 foot away from you. However, the food is pretty good. I have eaten here quite a bit, and I have to say that everything I had was good except for the eggs benedict. It was a little too lemony for me, but i don't love eggs benedict that much either. The pesto scramble, breakast burritto, and pancake orgy are all excellent. The place could be a little less expensive, but it is a nice breakfast treat once in a while.
(3)Alice K.
Best service and the bestest french toast I've ever had.
(5)Gwen D.
I try to eat very balanced meals, lots of fruit, veggies, fish, some bread and occasionally meat. So I like to come here for the scrambled eggs with chorizo. This dish is disgustingly good, and worth feeling like I ate an entire elephant afterwards. Service is typically quite quick, and occasionally off (mixups on the bill or with my tea), but totally forgivable. The coffee cups are always filled, and more hot water for my tea is constantly offered. They open at 8am on certain days too, which is great, if you have to be at work bright and early. It's bright, but not too bright, and simple and the dishes are HUGE. Actually, too big. I think they could offer less food for less money, because I never can eat all mine, and feel bad wasting it (but who brings eggs home as leftovers? That's just gross).
(4)Ariel B.
This is one of our favorite brunch spots in the neighborhood. Their stuffed french toast is a treat anytime I go there. The atmosphere is great. The only downside is the long wait.
(5)Ishaq L.
I've only had the Egg Burrito both times I've gone, and I've been satisfied both times. My wife's tried a couple different dishes (veggie omellete and pancakes) and been pleased with her choices. The servings are quite generous, so don't let your eyes order for you. The wait can be a little excessive if you show up after 10 on a weekend...like most people.
(4)Cheryl S.
very disappointing.... who doesn't have WiFi these days anyway. Well this is how it all started. Couldn't get any work done. From there, the waitress seemed to be more annoyed that I asked for WiFi from both her and the gal at the front because both didn't know off hand. Anyway as for the food. I ordered the steak Benedict on her recommendation and yes it was good. Just nothing special. toast was a great place years back when no restaurants cared about doing breakfast well. Now, it seams the rest have passed this place up. Oh well, lots more to chose from as I said.
(2)Rafael M.
My first visit to "Toast" in Bucktown did not disappoint! The food and drink were wonderful! The service was outstanding definitely 5-stars. We sat at the bar and our server "Jeny" was super awesome! I had the Traditional Eggs Benedict and Strawberry Stuffed French Toast with Coffee. Great visual presentation and the taste was superb! I would rank "Toast" in the top 3 breakfast places in Chicago. Parking was convenient and prices were competitive. I would highly recommend "Toast" on there level of service alone. Warm, friendly and very genuine.
(4)Allison V.
Met a friend for brunch. I ordered the BELT with goat cheese and even though I pointed to it in the menu as I ordered it, repeated my order and even clarified the goat cheese it still came out wrong. Who orders a plain old BLT with goat cheese on plain bread....I wanted a breakfast sandwich. I notified the server and he was not apologetic, he did not even want to accept responsibility for it at first. Then he offered to take it back to the kitchen...no way. I just ate the sandwich, which was pretty okay, just not what I had wanted. A pleasant surprise came when I was comped $2.50 for my coffee. Whatever. I also received an apology when the bill was brought to the table. I will go back here and try it again. The food is very tasty. Coffee is strong. Service is pretty friendly. Bike parking on the street.
(4)Roberto F.
Just a quick review on why I love this place so much and why you should come and have brunch here. First of all the food is amazing here, I've been here three times already and we always get something different and we never leave disappointed. The Pancake Orgy and the Salmon omelette are my personal favorites. Second great thing is the the coffee, because I love Julius Meinl. And last but not least they have amazing people working here. They do everything they can to make sure you have a great start to your day. Other Comments: Baby/Kid friendly, with plenty of crayons to play with BYOB!
(5)Dianne S.
I'm a huge fan of bacon. That being said, I can't believe that I've only recently tried their b.e.l.t. (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato) sandwich. Why didn't I think of that? Yes it's messy, but the thick French roll helped soak up my ooey gooey over medium fried egg. I'm a sucker for topping anything with a fried egg. This sammie ($9) packing with some serious thick applewood bacon-crunchy yet meaty at the same time. House potatoes were deelish! More soft and creamy than fried and crunchy. Friendly. Attentive. Overall awesome service. This may be due to the fact that I usually show up with my friends who live 2 blocks away and a regulars, but hey...I'll take it.
(5)Alma C.
Great brunch spot that's survived and thrived after years of cut-throat brunch competition in Chicago, and Chicagoans love to brunch. Toast has a good mix of sweet (pancake orgy) and savory (breakfast burrito) so even picky friends will be able to find something they like on the menu. Coffee is Julius Meinl, a decent Viennese chain that makes for a rich roast (but it ain't no Cafe Sperl). Try it, you'll like it.
(4)Ellarey M.
I love sweet breakfasts, and when my sister told me we would be coming here for brunch, I immediately looked up the menu to see what infectiously sweet breakfast delicacy I could order. Enter the french toast orgy. Three large french toast sticks (? no better word to describe except maybe logs) each stuffed with a different filling - strawberry, mascarpone, and chocolate, covered with yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit (in my case, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries). I washed everything down with a glass of fresh OJ. Everything was good, but I will say that I didn't much like the chocolate stuffed french toast. The filling made the toast a little too mushy and didn't have the best flavor. Mascarpone was by far my fave. If I come again, I think I'll have the pancake orgy, so that I can still get the great texture of granola on top and not have to worry about overly mushy toast.
(4)Jess L.
I waited an hour, which kind of stunk at the time, but the food made up for itself. The breakfast burrito is nicely sized, and the pesto scramble also won our hearts and minds. Oh, and they don't call it a French toast orgy for nothing... You will regret it if you don't get one portion at the table. The service is a bit slow, and I can't say much for the ambiance, but I am definitely glad I tried it once!
(4)Alicia M.
I was in the Bucktown area visiting a friend and we wanted to find somewhere to eat. My friend's brother passed us a Groupon he had for Toast, and off we went! (Thanks again Groupon...I might start every review from now on with "thanks, Groupon") I selected a vegetarian egg white scrambler, which came with their home made hash brown things (red skin potatoes) and toast. It was the perfect size, and man was it delicious. My friend ordered the club, which was huge but looked like it was made with love and all fresh ingredients :) My friend gave the club a big thumbs up Luckily, we didn't have 4 kids with us in a quadruple-wide stroller so we could just sit at the counter and eat while the housewives waited. Definitely be prepared to wait if you aren't willing to sit at the counter. And Julius Meinl coffee? hell yeah! The decor was cute, the service was exceptional and the staff was very friendly. If I'm in Bucktown for brunch again, I will be back!
(4)Sandra M.
You have to be really good to get give stars from me. The french toast orgy was the bomb. Three different flavored stuffed french toasts topped with yogurt, granola, fruit, then drizzled with honey. The waiter was ok separating everything for me because the portion was huge and I knew I wouldn't finish it. This way I would be able to take half home for tomorrows breakfast and it wouldn't get soggy. The bread was homemade and was injected with the fillings. Great taste. The coffee was really good too. Wish we had a Toast Two in my neighborhood. Hint hint.
(5)