Restaurant Review: Toast

Now that I've had my first DSLR for a few months, I've had the opportunity to shoot new recipes, ingredients, and food products. While I am stubbornly trying to use manual settings only, I also have to admit that the photo quality isn't that good. That said, I'm still learning, and if I waited until my photos were perfect before drafting a post, I wouldn't be able to share about one of the best meals I've had in months. Without further ado, here is my review of Toast.

(photo credit: user Kent P. via Yelp)

I actually went to Toast for the first time on the same day that I got my camera. Since I go to school in Harlem and my friend (the Seller) lives in the area, he suggested meeting up after work. It was the end of a long day and we were both famished, so he suggested meeting at a restaurant in the area called Toast. 

Located off 125th street and Broadway, Toast seemed like an interesting place to visit. When we entered under the funky food-themed sign into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the happy buzzing of the locals watching TV, admiring the artwork, and catching up with one another over drinks. The second that struck me (which, as a born and raised New Yorker, I don't always notice) was how diverse everyone was: the host who sat us had a thick vaguely Slavic accent that I couldn't quite place; when the kitchen doors swung open, I could faintly hear the cooks calling out to each other in Spanish, and the customers seemed to be demographically mixed. In one corner was a bald, regal-looking Black woman holding court, at the bar were a few Midwestern hipsters and a couple of suits from Midtown, and then you had us: two young Latino college kids.

Would our paths have crossed otherwise? I asked myself. Apart from being on the same train car, perhaps? But probably not. In any case, I took a second to appreciate that all of us were convened in a tiny Harlem restaurant for one simple thing: tasty food.

Once we were seated, I quickly scanned Yelp for recommendations, the majority of which lauded its brunch options. I, being a breakfast girl, was rather tempted until something else caught my eye: a stuffed lamb burger and fries. My stomach immediately growled. 

After we ordered our food, I asked my friend his impressions of the place. He replied that he used to come here more often, but for the appetizer more than the meals. He considered the food "decent," I think to temper my expectations in case I didn't end up liking what I ordered. By the time our food came, we were both hungry and ready to eat. I was pleasantly surprised with myself, considering that I had ordered something a bit out of the ordinary: a medium-well, feta stuffed lamb burger on a brioche bun with tzatziki sauce on the side and fries. I generally liked all of those things, except that I'm not a huge fan of feta in large amounts and find brioche buns boring and often ill-suited to the juiciness of a good burger, so I hoped that I didn't order the wrong thing. 

Pictured: Toast's stuffed lamb burger and fries.

 

As you can see from the pictures, I didn't remember to take pictures until after I started eating, nor did I even take the time to fiddle with my settings beforehand. But I can assure you, it was amazing. Juicy, well-seasoned, and filling, this lamb burger was the easily the highlight of my week. The tzatziki, offered on the side, was a cool and garlicky addition that definitely took the burger up a notch. 

I was definitely pleased with my order-- so much so, that I barely paid attention to the fries (a first for me). They were good, too, hot and thick-cut, which I prefer, but I enjoyed the burger so much that I honestly could have passed on them or ordered a salad instead. 

In the interest of experiencing great food, we decided to share; and my friend immediately expressed regret that he didn't order the same thing, despite liking his meal. I, on the other hand, loved his chicken penne pasta. It was simple and creamy, chock full of sun-dried tomato pesto, and finished with fresh parmesan and black pepper, I could have easily eaten an entire pot if it were offered to me. It was comfort in a bowl.

At the end of the evening, we were both pretty impressed with Toast. Great food, inexpensive prices, and a relaxed atmosphere make this place a new favorite in my book and one of Harlem's underrated gems. I definitely recommend it and look forward to going back next time I'm in the area.