A review of "Toast"

Tanja Barnhardt resides in northern New Jersey along with her two daughters, age 11, and 17. She is a self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys culinary delights of all types. Her favorites are Italian and Cuban food. Her weakness is cake of any kind, especially pound cake. She enjoys traveling, reading, music, and watching cooking shows. She recently acquired her Associates in Social Science in order to inspire her daughters and is currently attempting to attain her Bachelors before her eldest graduates from high school. Her daughters are her primary focus in life and she spends every waking moment doting on them in hopes that they can achieve their goals. Nothing gives her greater pride than when she sees a poem published by her aspiring poetess or when her little athlete goes up to bat. With a limited budget, eating out once a week has been the one indulgence that has been consistent. Finding a restaurant that is reasonable and family friendly is extremely important.

“A new way to enjoy Toast”

On those lazy weekends when no one really wants to venture into the kitchen and prepare a meal but a bowl of cereal just won’t do, it’s nice to have options to fulfill those minor indulgences. Living in a town that boasts some of the states finest eateries is certainly a bonus. As a single mom with a stringent budget, it’s also nice to be able to go to a family friendly restaurant that provides lower cost options. I tend to shy away from restaurants that don’t offer cost saving options when it can easily boost the tab to $30 if there are no kids portions. I imagine in today’s economy that’s a consideration for most.

Nestled on a busy street in downtown suburbia, “Toast” is a cozy two story, family friendly restaurant in Montclair New Jersey that makes you feel right at home as soon as you grace their doorway. The restaurant was selected as runner up in a poll for restaurants with the best Pancakes by readers in NJ Monthly Magazine 2011 (Safirstein), and rightfully so. During the week it’s pretty easy to find seating but plan on waiting a while to be seated for brunch on the weekend. It’s one of the more popular local weekend eateries and there’s sometimes a line down the block. Restaurant goers don’t seem to mind the wait though because in a town with a high turnover rate for restaurants, “Toast” seems to have found their niche and has developed a following among the thirty-something townsfolk in an eclectic artsy town that boasts some of the best restaurants in the state. Diners range in age from high school students to retirees and everything in between. There are families with small children, couples with none, and parents engrossed in conversation with their teenagers. I often see groups of teen girls on a lunch break or working folk on an extended lunch. All seem to be enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and food.

I can still recall my first experience there. I was a little wary as the space that they had taken over was previously occupied by one of my favorite special occasion eateries, Top Notch. I had spent numerous birthdays and other family gatherings in that space. It’s a beautiful location, prime real estate right on the main roadway in town. The restaurant is housed in a converted split level house that has been beautifully restored in a rustic, shabby chic manner. There are hardwood floors and oversized leather booths with marble tables downstairs featuring French doors with a beautiful view of the Avenue. Upstairs are wood tables with a balcony that overlooks the downstairs dining area. The walls are sponge painted a calming sky blue color and adorned with professional family photos and oversized country style mementos. Each table is decorated with a simple, tasteful bouquet of fresh flowers.

The wait staff is extremely cordial and helpful. They are casually dressed in a customized brown t-shirt that reads “peace love pancakes”, some even have coordinating sneakers. They will offer suggestions about the menu, always a good sign, and frequently return to the table to refill water or check diner’s status. Each table is served a carafe of water with fresh lemons, which I have always considered a nice touch.

The restaurant is open daily from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm to allow the owner time to spend the dinner hour with their own families. They serve traditional American breakfast fare, brunch and lunch. The menu has an assortment of the regulars but expect to be pleasantly surprised by the variety. The most aspect for families with children is the cost; there are several options from a bowl of cereal right up to an authentic Belgian waffle, all with smaller portion/lower cost options for children. In this economy, this is often a consideration when making a decision on where to dine. Don’t expect the menu to be limited to the IHOP/Diner favorites. There are choices for the more discriminating palate such as Spinach, Feta and Mushroom Omelet, Filet Mignon Benedict, and the cherry on top: the family secret recipe Pancakes.

It was my extreme pleasure on this most recent visit to enjoy their signature Belgian Waffle. The texture of the waffle was sublime, light and airy with almost a dessert like texture. The waffle was served with pure Vermont maple syrup, fresh strawberries and creamy butter. Another one of my favorites is the Brookdale Cheesesteak, served on a roll with cheese, onions, peppers and mushrooms with a choice of regular shoestring or sweet potato fries. My only regret about this dish is that they seem to use canned mushrooms as opposed to fresh. With current gas prices, that trip to Philly can be put on hold. The quality is consistent, with each meal just as enjoyable as the last. There’s fresh cream for the coffee; they even have red velvet pancakes on the menu. I love that the iced tea is served in a mason jar and that they give you a full pitcher of water with lemon; simple yet elegant. Not only is the food aesthetically pleasing, there are health conscious options. Often dieters are left without choices when dining out, but not here. The menu offers steel cut oatmeal or Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and granola, lighter options that won’t leave you needing a nap once you’ve finished eating. They also offer gluten free selections and a vegan menu.

Anyone deciding to indulge in the culinary delights that Toast provides might benefit from selecting a table away from the door. Although picturesque, the French Doors on the first floor tend to make dining a bit drafty in the colder months. The restaurant is serene and peaceful on weekdays but weekends may feature live music on the second floor of the scenic eatery. They do not have a liquor license however you can enjoy a BYOB champagne brunch or rent space for small gatherings. No matter which day you choose to venture out to Toast, you’re sure to enjoy your meal; Toast aims high and they usually make their mark.

Works Cited

Bangia, Monica Puri. "Restaurant Review: Tried-and-True Toast - Montclair, NJ Patch." Montclair, NJ Patch. 8 July 2010. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. .

Gorce, Tammy La. "Lift Your Coffee Cup - New York Times." The New York Times. 19 Aug. 2007. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. .

Harrison, Karen Tina. "Toast - Njmonthly.com." NJ and Best of New Jersey – Restaurants, Events, Doctors, Schools, Top High Schools – NJMonthly.com. 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. .

Politano, Teresa. "On the Side: Toast in Montclair Offers Peace, Love and Pancakes | NJ.com." NJ.com. 18 Dec. 2009. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. .

Politano, Teresa. "Restaurant Review: Toast Has Reason to Boast | NJ.com."NJ.com. 11 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. .

Saferstein, Rosie. "Best of New Jersey 2011: Food and Drink." NJ and Best of New Jersey – Restaurants, Events, Doctors, Schools, Top High Schools – NJMonthly.com. 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 27 Jan. 2012. .