One of the best breakfast places in b'ham. Finally cool enough outside to enjoy the patio. Scrambled egg salad is a good choice. Be sure to ask about specials and take a 'pop tart' home. read more

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great taste. nice atmosphere. I was in a rush to the jobsite and figured i would stop by for something different. I wasnt disappointed.

This was such a pleasant surprise in such a cool part of Birmingham. Real old buildings and cobble stone streets. Very nice ambiance. Small cozy bistro with a great patio. Loved the Bloody Mary and the food was delicious. Got the steak and eggs with the salsa verde. Can't beat it. The grits and bacon were an amazing add on. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend brunch there. read more

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Went here for a late breakfast, had a very nice server. The special was steak & eggs, highly recommend if they have it! I'm glad I got it. The eggs were too runny for me but I should have asked for scrambled well done. There's nothing iced on the menu however our server said he can make anything iced, this is always a roll of the dice in my book but I ordered a iced latte, it was very good and not watered down by the ice which I appreciated. The only con is there is no great place to wait & the patio is pretty hot and it was very very busy but that doesn't change the fact it's a 5 star place. read more

The Essential - Hash - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I don't get it. Everything was OK, but not for the price. The swordfish was overcooked and underseasoned. The wait was absurd; a half hour at the table before we had a waiter come. When I went to ask for someone to help, one of the employees was eating at the bar and everyone was chatting. They looked at me like I wasn't cool enough to be there. Disorganized, over-rated restaurant. The pasta was OK. read more

YASSSS! I LOVE The Essential! The Essential is a hip place on the Northside of Downtown Birmingham with a unique feel and some truly inspired fare. They offer a modern take on traditional Italian dishes along with a delectable assortment of pastries, baked fresh daily. I've been several times and sat at the bar each time and had a perfect dining experience. They have an inspired selection of spirits as well. My favorite is the ham sandwich but don't judge. This sandwich is NOT your typical white bread and prepackaged lunch meat. They bake the bread in house, add in a house-made onion jam, high-quality ham and melty gooey cheese. They even add in a side of house-made chips to round it out. It's such a good meal that's sure to satisfy! read more

This was such an amazing brunch place and luckily close to where I was staying in Birmingham! They were open at 9 AM which was great, because we didn't have to wait all morning for an awesome brunch place. We sat on the heated patio outside and had huevos rancheros and the hash. Both were amazing! The staff was really friendly and the food came out at the perfect time. read more

The Essential has been on my BHAM foodie list for years & we finally got to try it out on our anniversary! We decided to get a reservation because this is one of the hottest spots downtown. They allowed us to reserve two weeks out. We waited at the bar while they readied our table and we got some yummy drinks. I asked for the last cocktail option "make me something fun." I told the bartender what I liked and he made me a fruity, tangy, vodka concoction. Highly recommend bartender's choice! We got seated soon after our drinks arrived and started with the sourdough bread with ricotta. So yummy and fresh! The menu items had me wanting to order multiple entrees... thankful I have a sweet husband that shares! He ordered the crab fried rice and I ordered the cacio e Pepe with shrimp. The shrimp were so fresh and the homemade noodles did not disappoint. BUT, after trying the crab friend rice I had an obvious favorite... half way through dinner we traded plates and I got to enjoy the amazing fresh crab, perfectly cooked rice, yummy veggies, all on a bed of yummy, crisp, kale. Y'all, so good!!! The restaurant did get pretty loud which I was not expecting but the food and overall atmosphere overshadowed the noise level. We did not save room for dessert BUT I will be trying the croissant ice cream during the next visit! read more

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We have eaten here for lunch and dinner - which were both amazing. However, today we enjoyed brunch here for the first time - and it was phenomenal. The breakfast hash has pickled peppers in it which was an incredibly unique flavor profile and was truly amazing. The sausage biscuit was ! We also had the house made PopTart, strawberry, and all other pop tarts wish they could be this. Absolutely our new fav weekend breakfast spot!! Also. I love the fact that they open at 9a. We are often going to Pepper Place on Sat mornings and struggle to find places that open before 10 or 11. That was a BIG help for us, and another reason we will be back! read more

The Essential - House made Strawberry PopTart - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Really great lunch. I typically venture her for their amazing brunch but decided to give it a try for lunch. I'm glad I did. The Caesar salad was the perfect size. My friend has the crispy fish sandwich and I certainly loathed my choice to eat clean for that meal. I'll definitely be back to try that sandwich! read more

The Essential - Caesar salad with shrimp. - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The must-go restaurant if you visit Birmingham. Located on the beautiful Morris Avenue! Love this place! And their lattes! read more

With a European-style patio and menu, this Morris Avenue spot in B'ham was needed! Parking can be a little difficult, but you can find a spot within the block. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the wallpaper (go, and you'll understand) is mesmerizing! The space is smaller, along with the tables. There is a bar upon walking in that is a great option on busier days. And the main seating area and outdoor patio on the right. We visited for breakfast, and it was delicious! I got the quiche of the day, which was sweet pepper and feta. And, my husband and I split one of their homemade poptart's. The freshness of the food was so impressive! The quiche's crust was so crisp and light- the eggs were flavorful and rich. The poptart was incredible and explains its great reputation on social media! Oh- and the coffee was great with free refills. We will definitely be back. The Essential is a great spot to visit with a girlfriend or a quaint meal with a significant other. Definitely one of the best brunch spots in Birmingham! read more

Worth the wait! This charming spot gets packed for breakfast. We were wanting a delicious brunch before the Alabama vs Gonzaga game. This was perfect. We split the French toast (rich but not to sweet) and the chicken biscuit. The food was delicious. A perfect pairing of sweet and savory! I wish the Bloody Mary was a touch more flavorful! It still paired well! read more

An excellent addition to Bham that is a European-style restaurant. I enjoyed having brunch here with my wife for the new year. As far as layout for a smaller place, The Essential does it well with a bar area as soon as you walk in, many other tables, and a beautiful outside patio area. Compliment that patio with it being located out by the historic cobblestone street of Morris Avenue, and you've got a great atmosphere when weather is nice. Be sure to also check or the catchy and trendy decor. The food and service was excellent even for a busy morning like New Years Eve. We were greeted with a smile and our orders were prompt and prepared well. My wife and I split the "pop tart" while waiting on our orders and it was delicious. I ordered the Essential Hash and my wife got the quiche with salad. The hash consisted of all of my favorite things: potatoes, sausage, egg, onions, peppers, salsa, and even pickles! I tried a bite of my wife's quiche and salad and I also give it five stars. The coffee was also good; I've had a little better but that won't let me go down a star on this one. All in all, I highly recommend this place, and I will definitely return sometime soon. I'd love to catch lunch or dinner next time, and maybe catch a day in the Spring to enjoy the patio. read more

Delicious food, kind servers, and fantastic bartenders and bar! Cute space and perfect for a casual or romantic night out. Sitting at the bar, inside, or in their outdoor seating area, you're sure to have a blast at this gem of a place. read more

This is one of my very favorite places in Birmingham. My husband and I try to have a date night here at least every couple weeks, and we are always impressed. Our usual picks are the rigatoni, whatever is new on the menu, and delicious desserts with espresso martinis to finish the meal. The brunch is just as fantastic! read more

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Brunch is amazing! Have tried multiple menu options and all are tops. Love the staff and highly recommend!

Lovely place. Had the cacio e pepe and it was wonderful. Great desserts. Worth a try for sure.

The Essential is in the top two places my fiancé and I go for dinner dates, especially in the past year. We like that their menu changes often, but that certain, beloved dishes are always available. They do an incredible job of highlighting locally sourced produce and meats in their dishes. They also excel at reinventing humble dishes like pot pie, pastrami sandwich, and fried rice. read more

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Wow this place was great. Came here for brunch. The service the food and the drinks did not disappoint. Jordon was on point with his table service, the bar was great at bringing drinks and the food was FANTASTIC. I can't wait to come back for Dinner, that menu looks great! read more

Worthy of the 50 minutes long wait to get in for The Sunday Brunch. We absolutely loved what we had, and the drinks were just sublime. It's a small restaurant with limited seating inside and outside but the food is as delectable as can be. The service was great, very warm reception and the place beautiful in all aspects. Just loved it. Parking available in garages nearby for a fee. read more

The Essential offers up a delicious meal in a beautiful space! A girlfriend and I enjoyed a fantastic dinner here last night. We started with refreshing mock-tails that the bartender created for us (basically grapefruit spritzer - yum!). We then shared the crispy brussels and mushroom toast. Wowee, both were exceptional. The brussels were super crispy and have a nice soy-peanut dressing. The mushroom toast was loaded with creme-fraichey mushrooms atop of fluffy sourdough. We both ordered the bucatini house-made pasta dish as our entree - yum, yum, yum! We closed out the night with more deliciousness in the shape of carrot cake. It had a wonderful blend of spices that complemented the creamy cream cheese icing. It went wonderfully with our decaf coffees. Not only did we enjoy a delicious meal, but the service is super friendly and gives great recommendations. I also love the homey, friendly atmosphere. read more

On a road trip and stopped through BHam. Found The Essential actually through Yelp. Server told us a lot of regulars frequent the spot. The service was excellent. The food was phenomenal. I got the peri peri chicken which is a classic there and the chicken was soooo tender and flavorful. My husband got the coulotte steak with loaded sweet potato and again- soooo tender. Would definitely come back if I lived here. read more

The Essential - Peri Peri 1/2 Chicken Piri Piri - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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We had a very enjoyable late lunch at The Essential when we visited Birmingham last fall. I will plan to go again the next time we are in the Magic City. read more

Super cute spot! There has usually been a wait when I go, so prepare ahead for that! Waitress was so nice and great service! read more

The Essential - The Hash - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Food was cold when it was served.i ordered salmon Benedict and it was probably my least favorite version so far. Cute atmosphere

Great atmosphere, great food and the staff was so nice I will definitely come back here

Good service and good atmosphere. There was some confusion about our reservation and arrival time but they took care of that professionally

I went here for brunch last week and can't stop thinking about it. There was a wait as was expected on a Saturday afternoon, but they call you by phone, so you can walk around the Morris ave/1st ave area in the meantime. We sat outside which was also nice. The staff are very accommodating, and food service is fairly quick. We stuck with water and coffee to drink. The coffee is served with rock sugar which is very cute if nothing else. They also have standard brunch drinks, beer, and fresh OJ. For our meals we had the biscuit sandwich and eggs Benedict. The biscuit was very good, but unfortunately they were out of sausage at the time and substituted bacon. Still good, but I was looking forward to their house made sausage. The eggs Benedict, however, was one of the best I've ever had. The English muffin is made in house! Eggs were cooked perfectly. If I go back I would definitely go for this again! read more

The Essential - Biscuit sandwich and grits - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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3rd visit. So we called ahead for a party of 10 they told us we couldn't reserve for 10 to show up at the time we needed and they would have room. So when I showed up they said we should have a reserved for 8 and they would have accommodated but they didn't actually tell us that 3 days ago when we called. They also wouldn't let us sit at the bar while waiting. A very frustrating experience to start. They ended up seating us fairly quickly and the food was delicious read more

The Essential - Bucatini friend had the mussels and the sauce was amazing - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great spot for dinner and brunch. Food is very flavorful and love their specials. Lots of gluten free options as well! Cocktails are great, very creative. A warm and inviting atmosphere. read more

An "essential" new coffee shop for the magic city. It's located in the heart of the city, on Morris Avenue. If you haven't been here, you'll be greeted by cobblestone streets, offices and the historic peanut depot. I came by to grab a cortado and snap some morning photos for you guys. The atmosphere here has an upscale hipster vibe, and the staff was friendly and accommodating. Watch your fingers in the door as you leave, there is a low clearance where you could easily smash them. Overall, I really liked the interior vibe and the taste of the coffee is perfecto! read more

We love it here! The staff is so friendly, the food is always so very good, and the environment is the classy and sophisticated atmosphere that makes any date night wonderful. We love their weekend brunch as well! read more

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Fresh, homemade pasta was delicious & perfectly portioned. Cocktail menu was interesting & they had a nice array of pastries & desserts to choose from. The brown butter snickerdoodle was pretty good!! Definitely a new must try off Morris Ave! read more

The Essential - Gemelli with creamed corn & mushrooms! Delicious! - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Lunch, dinner, brunch - all are terrific! Just tried the Piri Piri Chicken for the first time and it was AMAZING! Never had anything like it! One of my faves in the city. read more

Came back again with my grandma for morning pastries. We started off with their strawberry and Nutella homemade pop tarts! Let me tell you, we finished those in record time. The dough was flaky and had a snap to them. We followed it up by their Apple danish, usually not a big apple person, but this melted in your mouth with a light pastry crisp. To top all of that off, we had their hot chocolate, that came it beautifully plus it was the perfect mix of cream and chocolate. read more

The Essential - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Love this place ! Service can be a bit slow , but the ambiance makes you forget about time anyway (it's like real life France). Food portions are on the smaller side but everything I've tried here has been good (especially the burger ). read more

We really enjoyed the patio and the food. The service was wonderful the location is just out of the way enough to feel intimate. I certainly recommend giving them a chance. read more

Simply amazing! I had the steak and eggs with a side of bacon and it was spectacular. The service was also top notch. I definitely recommend The Essential for your weekend brunch. You won't be disappointed! read more

The Essential - Steak and eggs - Bars Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Get the mushroom pasta! It's absolutely amazing and the environment is super cozy and modern.