Review: Toast (Upper West)

My first walk through NYC's Upper West Side revealed the wide variety of foods that I had always imagined the city would present. I passed a pizza/gyros/taco joint, a Korean spot offering $5 lunches, and a couple of beautiful fruit stands and markets.

As we approached Toast, I knew it was the place to eat. The name promised a certain American cOmfort food filled with the carbs I grew up on. Combined with a full alcohol menu that my friends were seeking, and we were sold.

Inside, Toast felt like a quaint college hang out. We sat in the front dining area, which was equipped with only a few tables. Lit candle centerpieces kept up the high-class feel we had looked for in our first NYC restaurant.

The menu, with classics like burgers and fries coupled with healthy combinations like hummus and veggie sandwiches, seemed to have something for everyone.

I ordered the portobello sandwich with a musclin side salad. The plate had a simple beauty, with my sandwich perfectly sliced in half and the salad seemingly bursting off of the plate.

I started with the salad, which was visually appealing with its mix of delicious greens. The dressing had a tastefully balanced flavor: just enough acidic citrus flavor to complement the buttery flavor of the greens. The flavor was further enhanced by raw spears of carrot and fresh diced tomatoes. The carrots and tomatoes brought a needed raw and clean element to the salad, and ultimately to the plate.

The sandwich, on the other hand, was underwhelming. The portobello mushroom lacked proper seasoning, resulting in an overall bland sandwich. The baguette, however, had a perfectly crispy crust and the slightly yeasty flavor I expect from good bread.

My (non-vegetarian) friends, who had all ordered burgers and steak sandwiches, oohed and aahed over their lamb burgers, skirt steak sandwiches, and classic hamburgers. I have an inkling that this is just one of those restaurants that is great for non-veg, but doesn't know how to season vegetarian food. I digress.

In the end, I spent about $15 for my sandwich and salad, including tip. A bit on the pricey side, but no worse than TGI Friday's.

Pros:
Nice atmosphere
Great salad
Menu Variety

Cons:
Bland veg food
Slightly pricey