Trendy contemporary American cafe offering lunch, dinner & weekend brunch, plus specialty cocktails. Based on 578 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.7 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Curbside pickup ✔️ No delivery
Address:
2215 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 718-7612
Hours
| Thursday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–2 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–10 PM |
Menu
… View more
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
Reviews
Steven Smith
Came here for brunch on a Saturday morning and it was amazing! We got to sit at the bar and it was great. Definitely recommend getting there early or making a reservation. Staff was very attentive and the food was awesome! The Salmon Benedict was possibly the best I’ve had and the French toast my wife got looked delicious, and it must have because she devoured it. The Irish coffee was really good, and my wife enjoyed the mimosa. Will definitely be coming back!
… more
Laura Williams
My sister and I went for brunch today and the food was delicious! It’s a little loud inside but you can also sit outside. We were told it would be 20 mins but it was only about 5. The decor is beautiful and all the staff was amazing!
… more
Charlie Callari
Tonight was their first night in the new location. They are now located at 2215 1st Avenue, North. Great food here… I had the gnocchi and my wife had the burger. Both were phenomenal. Highly recommend.
… more
Samuel Edmondson
I went to The Essential for brunch, and it was amazing! I loved the brioche French toast. The whipped cream, ricotta, blueberry, and syrup went together so well on there. The espresso martini was delicious. The chicken biscuit was pretty good, and I liked the grits a lot. The service was also fantastic.
… more
Christine Celis
Wow! The Essential was amazing!!! We ordered drinks at the bar since there was a short wait. The bartender was extremely kind to make my son a fun mocktail. My latte was great. The food…a whole new level of deliciousness. The ricotta on the french toast was divine. All of the meals we ordered were noteworthy, the atmosphere great, and the service superior. A great treat to our short vacation in Birmingham.
… more
Hunter Kestner
Let me start by saying the food was great. My main issue was the service from the server. My partner and I went there for dinner. When we walked in we were greeted from the hostess and what appeared to be the bartender. We were immediately seated. It took 30 minutes for him to come by our table and even then we felt very rushed. Ilet him know what food I wanted and when I was about to order my wine, he started to walk away. I had to get his attention and only then could I order the wine. Throughout the night he never checked on us, even after we got our food. He would check on the other tables, see if they wanted a refill on their drinks and even offering dessert, meanwhile we didn’t even have water, we had to stop him just so we can get water. We were going to order desert but when he finally came back to the table he just dropped off the check. We decided we were a bit uncomfortable because of the way he treated us and paid the check so we could leave. I’m not sure if he had any sort of issue with my partner and I or if he was just having a bad night. I would like to give this place another chance but I am not sure I would want the same server.
… more
Sara Bauer
Visited here for brunch a few weeks ago and it was fantastic! I saw the chicken biscuit posted on their Instagram and was just craving it. It was delicious! The mimosas are strong and the lattes are flavorful too! The vibes inside were also popping with the music and atmosphere. I would definitely go back and try a different entrée.
… more
Joshua Smith
It’s perfect. The staff are equal parts kind, helpful, knowledgeable and gracious. They practice gratitude and make us feel welcome and wanted as patrons. Obviously, they create and protect their culture, hire and train properly and have created the perfect menu as a stunning counter-point to the beauty they have crafted internally. I am grateful for their contribution to the area.
… more
Ann B
Nice restaurant with inside seating and a covered patio. Prompt and courteous service. Five grain salad with added protein (fish) was great! My coworker enjoyed the pork tenderloin scallopini. We also had the sourdough toasted bread with butter, which was sinfully good.
… more
April Bennington
Great atmosphere, delicious food, service not quite 5 star.
… more
… View more