Seven a. m. usually finds me groggily groping for a cup of coffee. Any time I drag myself out of the house for a meal before noon, the bar is set especially high by my baseline crabbiness. There is a great deal of hype surrounding Toast on Market (with two locations, on Market Street in Louisville and in New Albany) and despite my grudge against the a. m. hours, Toast exceeded my expectations.
Toast offers brunch fare with a twist. "The King" is peanut butter banana brioche with mascarpone cheese, the lemon souffle pancakes are oft lauded, and the hashbrown casserole receives rave reviews. There are three different types of grilled cheese, and a good selection of salads to round out the lunch options, but breakfast is where Toast really shines. I was especially excited to try their breakfast cocktails. A ginger infused mimosa counts as orange juice right?
The service at Toast was top notch. My party had a small child in tow, and as we sat down she was immediately supplied with coloring sheet and crayons. We imbibed with mimosas and a pumpkin spice latte (a very respectable concoction, not too strong or too sweet) until our food arrived.
The Atlantic omelet was certainly unique. The smooth cream cheese added an unexpected texture with the perfectly fluffy eggs and the imminently fresh salmon. The hashbrown casserole was thick and mealy, and the tomato basil soup shone as an example of how real tomatoes ought to taste. The buttermilk pancakes were not a stand out, but it's hard to go wrong with a plate of pure carbohydrates covered in sweet butter and maple syrup. A small gripe: the syrup was definitely that fake sugary stuff rather than real maple. Despite this, brunch at Toast on Market was a pleasure.
I'd like to raise a cold ginger mimosa to toast Toast on Market for a relaxing brunch, engaging service, and an interesting omelet. Call ahead, this place is usually packed, but it's worth the wait.
Photo: Elizabeth Orrick
