The Essential

Went there for my wife's birthday. We sat outside as the weather was perfect. Nice view of downtown and refurbished older buildings. Server was excellent. We had steak tartar for the appetizer. A bit coarser than typical, but good. For her entree my wife had the lobster pasta. She found it flavorful but the lobster was sparse. I had the …

Amazing place, a little annoying that we got sat outside but the decorations and food presentations looked amazing. I ordered the essential hashbrowns with ketchup and it was divine! The coffee was also delicious. Overall an amazing place and a cute little spot for some breakfast. Our server, Evan was always getting stuff out of our way and filling water …

Twice in one day. First ever visit was for lunch. Brought colleagues for dinner the same day. Both experiences were fantastic. Food is delicious. The five grain salad with chicken for lunch was luscious, the Chicken Piri Piri for dinner was food memory in the making - super flavorful and perfectly cooked. Excellent service both times.

Great place. Sat at the bar and the manager, owner and staff all chatted with us and were super friendly and interesting. They made us feel really at home. Food was excellent. The piri piri chicken was more like a sweet and savory sauce than a hot sauce but it sure was delicious. Very good options for beer and wine …

This place is a tucked away cozy treat! From the moment you walk in the door, you feel welcome. The atmosphere and ambience is amazing as well. All of the staff were extremely friendly, and management visited our table to check on us as well. My wife and I had the burger and the chicken dish, both of which were …

One of the best meals I’ve had in a long while! My sister and I, shared the steak, five grain salad and sourdough bread with French butter. Absolutely incredible! The tiramisu for dessert was unreal. Not to sweet but decadent with every bite. The service was as outstanding as the food! The server and manager where very friendly and informative. …

Aesthetically, beautiful. The sourdough bread 1000/10, the entrees were nothing short of amazing! Katie, our table concierge, was very attentive and pleasant. Our experience was top quality all around and would absolutely recommend when you are in the Birmingham area!

This is a great place to have brunch with friends, brunch date with your significant other or even a business brunch date. It works for any type of brunch date. It’s a beautiful spot, great service and great food! The pancakes are phenomenally, the breakfast hash was delicious and the banana bread with the walnut butter is delicious! My bestie …

The Essential has well known dishes but they add a bit of a twist. It's not your everyday pasta or roasted chicken. The sauces, the vegetables, the blends of spices make known dishes come alive in a different but satisfying way. I would suggest to make a reservation to ensure you don't have a long wait time and are able …

Just ate here for the first time this week and loved it so much I took my husband back three days later! The pastas are incredible! The sourdough OMG! The 5 grain salad wow! Simple yet delish! Wonderful service! Parking can be tough so go early if you can.