The Friendly Toast — Restaurant in Danvers

I’ve heard nothing but good things about this place. After my first experience, i can’t personally say the same.

Starting with the host, who is the first person a guest see when they walk in the door. No smile, no welcome statements, backwards baseball cap, nothing to make us feel welcome, only a million mile stare at me waiting for me to tell him how many people we had in our party. Also, he has no idea how to quote a wait.

Our server was awesome, she made sure that we got everything we needed.

Moving onto food. My family didn’t want to say anything, because we had already waited well over 25 minutes, but most of our food was cool, temp wise(i don’t want to say ice cold because that’s a common exaggeration, but the food was very far from hot. Sent mine back, server got it taken care of for me, sweet. But the girl who delivered the food knocked over my 11 year olds soda and spilled it all over her, which immediately changed the mood for the rest of the meal, especially since she didn’t even acknowledge the fact the she was the cause for the mess and my daughters embarrassment. My food finally came back, no manager visit to acknowledge the food mishap(and subsequent spill that the girl clearly did not say she caused).

Finally got the check while i was still eating, after most my family had finished and left for target to get my kid a new outfit that was dry, and at that point still no appearance by the manager, who had actually walked by us several times. Looked at the check and was not super thrilled my daughter was charged after getting a drink spilled all over her, and got a discount on my food that had clearly been sitting in the window for far too long to the point that i sent it back, watched my family eat and finish their food before getting mine back.

Maybe im being overly critical because im a restaurant guy, but literally everything outside of the actual service was...

Made a reservation for 2pm yesterday. All of us were there around 1:50 except one person. They couldn't seat us until we were all there which is probably the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. Please don't do that and be greedy like other restaurants. We let 2 parties with disabilitied people go ahead of us as well as 2 other parties. By the time we got sat we had 2 sit in 2 separate booths with 2 seperate servers for a party of 8-9. Place was ok. Really weird rule's that they can't sit you if you aren't all there. That's whacked. They donthat down south and people lose business that way. Ordered a sprite and they have pepsi products which starry is like bubble water and was gross. Some of the food is way to sweet and sugary for me. The french toast and maple syrup was pure sugar and had to force myself to say it was good and eat atleast half of it. My teeth were hurting badddd. Couldn't taste any cinnamon or bread just pure sugar. The home fries weree good just really over burned with no onions and spices. small portions with ok prices also. I won't come back after this experience. Not sorry. I am a vegetarian and yes they had some options but not enough. It was all way to sugary and barely any flavor for me. I am not a kid. Breakfast is my go to also. Mom and pop shops are rhe best way to go. Not these chain places. No offense. The rules of sitting us until everyone was there wasn't ok. gave up our seats for 2 disabled parties and they couldn't sit us all together either way. the table next to us cleared out right as we sat and we could have attached the table to the booth and all sat together. My brother is moving to florida and it would have been nice to sit with him...

The food is the reason you come here!!! the variety of dishes is amazing. Breakfast and brunch. We had an appetizer called "some like it hot" (names are trendy and often have no real description of the food). These are giant tater tots infused with cheese, perfectly crisp, on a bed of a cheese sauce and topped with pickled onion and parsely. Amazing. I would come here again just for these. My wife had a single large pancake, bacon, pan potatoes, and toast. she loved it. I had a curry bowl called "Curry Your Enthusiasm." outstanding rice bowl with pickled onions and various vegetables. Our server, Fiona, was knowledgeable and perfectly timed service. she was friendly and passionate about her job and where she worked. Vegan friendly. and they separate pans for allergy concerns and vegan concerns. Decor is a retro-trendy late 50s style. Colorful, kid friendly, and lots to look at. very little "cookie cutter" decor. Not one thing was duplicated. Even the lamps are all different. it feels a bit cramped, plates are all plastic, "kid" friendly. Real silverware and coffee cups. loud space, not conducive to private conversations. chairs are a bit uncomfortable but fit the trendy plastic coated 50s diner decor. I highly recommend it if you have never tried it. It's quite pricey. About $40 per person without alcohol. But, I will return to try some more...