The Toast Craft Kitchen & Cocktails — Restaurant in Surprise

I always give kudos to a restaurant where the chef comes out from the kitchen and talks to diners about their meal. The chef at The Toast Craft Kitchen and Cocktails at 17058 W. Bell Rd. Suite 104 in Surprise Arizona came to our table to ask my wife whether she was enjoying the steak special. Her answer was that the steak was excellent. I agreed after she gave me a generous piece of meat. The beets on her plate were extremely good as well though the asparagus wasn’t quite ready to eat. The Polenta was also superb so she was willing to forget about the asparagus. The sauce under the steak was just right as an accompaniment. My reviews sometimes include suggestions. As you can see with the photo of the chicken kebab, the photo shows a medium amount of food on half of a tortilla. I’ll admit the tortilla is very large and I understand it’s made at the restaurant. I could have spread the kebab across the tortilla and probably should have done so. Instead I rolled the tortilla and I could barely taste the chicken. There was just too much tortilla. I would have been happy with a much smaller tortilla. Give me two medium size tortillas with one chicken kebab and one steak kebab. You have the talent to really do it right. I know this because your preparation of Brushcetta is fantastic! The goat cheese tomato, basil, and balsamic reduction was worth savoring for every bite. Each of the servings was on sourdough bread. The smoked salmon, tomato, and red onion Brushcetta was so good, I can see eating this often. I highly recommend the Brushcetta appetizer. I was disappointed with the size of the Margarita for the price. Small glass filled with ice needs rethinking. Give me more liquid, less ice in a larger glass. I liked the actual drink, but there was so little of it in the glass, I guess I have to think the cost of the liquor is the problem. Seating customers is an art and one of the first impressions of our overall dining experience so please make sure to train staff to understand the significance of the art. Many restaurants have tables in areas where customers do not want to sit. I don’t want to sit at a small table in a highly traveled area or where the table is crammed into a corner right near the kitchen. If I see a booth that hasn’t been cleaned and an employee tries to put my party at a tiny table because it’s ready and the much bigger and more comfortable booth table is not ready, I’m not going to be happy. When we tell the staff that we’ll wait while the booth table is cleaned, I’m not happy because this is something good employee training should prepare staff to recognize. Little things need to be read by staff so when we spend in excess of $100, we have such a marvelous experience, we can truly rave about The Toast as a classy place where it’s good to great food with excellent service. I don’t put a lot of emphasis on atmosphere, but I do hope for an hour of fabulous food and great service. Although our server was not knowledgeable of wine, he was excellent in enthusiasm and we felt good about him serving us. I can tell the Toast staff works very hard to make its diners happy and content with their experience so my review is from an observer wanting these hard workers to take the next...

I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately there are a few critical errors. The first is absolutely that, the rest are subjective but suffice to say coming from an educated place. I’m no stranger to technical abilities in the kitchen.

You advertise rice pilaf. Nothing wrong with that, but it has nuts. You need to disclose that. You do not want to be on the receiving end of that phone call. Nut allergies are no joke. Had someone dove in with a nut allergy things could end very very bad for you.

The second is that sauce. What on earth was that? It was advertised as tahini. It tasted like you mixed peanut butter and hummus. It was way too sweet, lacked that garlic and lemon that tahini is known for and literally tasted like peanut butter. Tahini is sesame seeds and can have the consistency of peanut butter, but if I wanted peanut butter I would have ordered it. Maybe add more ice water at the end and thin it out. It was way too thick. And next time marinade that garlic in lemon. Let it shine through!! It wasn’t a bad sauce, don’t get me wrong. It just wasn’t tahini. And please show restraint. With tahini less is more and you covered the meal with that sauce. I’ll stop on the criticism there. I don’t work there.

The pita was NOT house made as advertised. I’ve made plenty of pita. Not only was that not house made, it was tough, chewy, and absolutely horrible. Two bites in and I tossed the rest. The tomatoes were also a letdown. They were reduced, not cooked but reduced to sludge. If you get em that far make a sauce with them.

On a final note the chicken was cooked beautifully. That meal would have been excellent if your tahini was tahini, and you restrained it back. When you use that much sauce you’re trying to hide the rest of the meal. You don’t need too.

In closing, usually small tucked away places are the best. This did not live up to it. Sorry, I really wanted to like it. I wanted to make the drive back again. Unfortunately I will not....

Stumbling upon The Toast Craft Kitchen & Cocktails in Surprise, AZ, felt like uncovering a hidden gem in the neighborhood. This spot exudes the warm, inviting vibe of a place where you're likely to bump into a friend over a craft cocktail or a specialty coffee at their charming coffee bar. The interior boasts an open layout adorned with French-inspired art and contemporary lighting, creating a sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance. The seating arrangement includes a few cozy booths and an assortment of freestanding and high-top tables, catering to both dining and casual drink sipping.

The culinary experience at The Toast is nothing short of fantastic. We indulged in the FRIED GOAT CHEESE BALLS, an exquisite appetizer drizzled with Truffle honey and sprinkled with chopped pistachios—a delight when accompanied by a glass of deep red wine. The CUBANO sandwich, with its tender shredded green chili pork and perfectly paired accompaniments, alongside thin rosemary French fries served in a quaint fry basket, was a standout. The CHOP salad was another highlight, a harmonious blend of fresh ingredients and flavors that left us thoroughly impressed.

However, the dining experience wasn't without a couple of slight flaws. The two-top tables felt a tad too close, compromising privacy and comfort. A greater variety of seating options could enhance the overall ambiance. Additionally, the pricing of the goat cheese balls seemed disproportionate compared to the value of other menu items. Service-wise, our server could have been more attentive with water refills, a small detail that didn't go unnoticed.

Despite these minor critiques, The Toast Craft Kitchen & Cocktails left a lasting impression. The exceptional food, lovely interior and welcoming atmosphere make it a must-visit...