Toast — Restaurant in Portland

I love their food. The tarts are excellent, the potato rostis are one of the best things I have ever eaten. Fantastic mixed drinks, great service, overall just a wonderful experience. But... Every single time I eat here I have the worst GI issues I've ever had, horrific intestinal cramping and concomitant explosive enteritis. If it were just me, I'd chalk it up to some previously unknown food sensitivity. Unfortunately, any and all guests I have ever brought have had the same problems. They are always in love with the food, but on the drive back start to indicate some urgency, indicating the speed of my driving is too slow or that I am hitting too many potholes. To the point where I've had to make emergency pit stops for them at fast food restaurants and gas stations to avoid stains on my passenger seat. Several people I have recommended Toast to have reported the exact same symptoms after eating there - great meal but came with unwanted aftereffects.

I don't know what the problem could be but it seems consistent across the menu. Maybe the oil they use, or something in their seasoning. The silver lining is that by all accounts it's a "one and done" type episode, no lingering effects after the body has forcibly expelled whatever the reactive ingredient is.

I have been eating here for years, always hopeful that it'll finally be okay. I even tried eating there daily to try and build up some kind of tolerance, to no avail. That should tell you how good the food is, that I would subject myself to the effects repeatedly. Alas my last visit a couple weeks ago was consistent with prior experiences. Love the food and drinks and waitstaff but probably never going to visit again.

Despite the long-winded (hah!) cautionary tale, I still think everyone should try them. I am certain that you will enjoy the food and I sincerely hope you don't have any negative postprandial...

The waiter seemed to relish his opportunity to inform me that the restaurant did not serve decaf. He also came across as authoritatively schoolmarmish in the way he clarified my order when I asked for a small OJ. He said, rather curtly, "we only have child size or regular." Ooo, attitude. Nice.

Obviously, I was being "childish" to ask for a small. Thank you, Toast management. Love that marketing gimmick to urge folks to order bigger OJ's through belittlement.

I ordered the Benny. The interior of the rosti potatoes were raw to the point of almost upsetting my stomach (they are a nightshade vegetable, after all). Through some miracle, my rosti was both undercooked and overcooked (quite a few strands beyond hard in the crispy spectrum). How is this possible? The worst of both worlds.

The english muffin was subpar quality and tough; it was hard to cut with the provided table knife. A small serrated knife would have been more appropriate given the toughness of the English muffin halves.

Would I have written this review if the waiter hadn't been so abrasive at first? Probably not. But he did try to make up for it by being very attentive throughout the course of my meal. I guess my face belied the fact that I didn't find his flamboyant entitlement complex endearing.

On the up side, the poached eggs were cooked to perfection, a skill that is neither easy nor commonplace in Portland brunch spots. The Hollandaise sauce was adequate but...

Pork Belly, Duck Eggs, & 3 types of Bloody Mary's! Enough said...

Excellent little restaurant (actually not so small once inside) one can easily overlook as just another breakfast diner... well, it's that and MUCH MORE. With their own house baked breads, creative plates and cocktails, plus personable service, Toast is a true neighborhood gem that I look forward to returning to again and again.

I had my eye on the 'Belly B' from the get go. Unfortunately, they were out of duck eggs when we went in, but that didn't put a damper on the deliciousness yet to come at all! I ordered the 'Badass Sandwich' on their perfectly toasted, thick-sliced Rosti bread, including several savory bacon strips, a light layer of goat cheese (enough for most, I coulda used a bit more), field greens, and 2 eggs... Woah! Talk about a game stopper!! It definitely filled me up along with the accompanying hash brown patty, which, as you can see, was also fantastic in flavor, texture, and finishing cook time. My buddy ordered 'So Benny Choices' with their sausage and had no regrets. Also a Morning Glory cocktail with Black currant, lemonade, ginger syrup and tequila that he thoroughly enjoyed!

Our server and the chef/cook were all pleasant and polite, adding immensely to the extremely positive experience. I have already recommended Toast to multiple people and shall continue to! Thanks for the great grub and...