The Friendly Toast
Leigh Spoon MBA'11
Issue date: 12/8/09 Section: Opinion
It's a simple question often asked when discussing restaurants: "How is it?" People's responses are equally straightforward and frequently limited to: "good," "fine," "okay," and "delicious." With a name like The Friendly Toast, it's no surprise that the answer to the question is "Fun!" This Kendall Square diner could be mistaken for a flea market with its eclectic display of old advertisements and life-sized dolls and lawn ornaments. The owners maximized space in an already large diner-plastering its brightly painted walls with amusing Dr. Scholl's and Sunbeam ads and covering every inch of the floor with casual retro tables and booths.
The Friendly Toast's menu is as much fun as its décor. Cute 1950's cartoons cover the kitschy menu while unique, scrumptious menu options fill its pages. Breakfast and brunch are served all day every day. Portions are huge, prices are reasonable, and the food is anything but ordinary. Why eat pancakes when you can have King Cakes: two giant chocolate and banana pancakes with a layer of peanut butter in between them. No need for syrup as they are finished with whipped cream and bacon. (I didn't know it was possible to put so many of my favorite things on one plate.) It's extreme, but it's worth it.
Whether you order the eggs benedict, the "green eggs and ham," or one of the many "scrambles" they offer, you are sure to be delighted. More concerned with details of taste than those of presentation, The Friendly Toast dishes up overflowing plates of eggs done every which way alongside (or on top of) homemade, thick-cut toast. The cornmeal molasses anadama and cayenne cheddar bread are particularly memorable. Simple classics-most notably the huevos rancheros - are all but simple here. Vegetarians will even find plenty of meatless, tasty options including a tofu scramble. Even those people who cringe at the idea of pressed soy beans will change their tone after tasting this preparation.
Non-breakfast items are just as tasty: juicy hamburgers, specialty sandwiches, and oozing melts. For an out-of-the-ordinary French fry experience order the "Orleans fries": thin, crispy planks of sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar, tabasco and sour cream. Even a heaping portion disappeared in minutes on our table. If you're thirsty there is a full bar which offer a wide array of non-alcoholic and alcoholic delights from their creamy hot raspberry cocoa to a mean (and spicy!) bloody Mary.
On the weekends, expect every table, chair, and inch of the restaurant to be filled with Friendly Toast brunch fanatics. Waits can run as long as an hour and a half-and people stick around to see them through as there is a no reservation policy. To avoid the rush, come early or, better yet, go during the week to satisfy even the biggest appetite.
The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Sq
Cambridge, MA 02139-1595
(617) 621-1200
http://www.thefriendlytoast.net/
The Friendly Toast's menu is as much fun as its décor. Cute 1950's cartoons cover the kitschy menu while unique, scrumptious menu options fill its pages. Breakfast and brunch are served all day every day. Portions are huge, prices are reasonable, and the food is anything but ordinary. Why eat pancakes when you can have King Cakes: two giant chocolate and banana pancakes with a layer of peanut butter in between them. No need for syrup as they are finished with whipped cream and bacon. (I didn't know it was possible to put so many of my favorite things on one plate.) It's extreme, but it's worth it.
Whether you order the eggs benedict, the "green eggs and ham," or one of the many "scrambles" they offer, you are sure to be delighted. More concerned with details of taste than those of presentation, The Friendly Toast dishes up overflowing plates of eggs done every which way alongside (or on top of) homemade, thick-cut toast. The cornmeal molasses anadama and cayenne cheddar bread are particularly memorable. Simple classics-most notably the huevos rancheros - are all but simple here. Vegetarians will even find plenty of meatless, tasty options including a tofu scramble. Even those people who cringe at the idea of pressed soy beans will change their tone after tasting this preparation.
Non-breakfast items are just as tasty: juicy hamburgers, specialty sandwiches, and oozing melts. For an out-of-the-ordinary French fry experience order the "Orleans fries": thin, crispy planks of sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar, tabasco and sour cream. Even a heaping portion disappeared in minutes on our table. If you're thirsty there is a full bar which offer a wide array of non-alcoholic and alcoholic delights from their creamy hot raspberry cocoa to a mean (and spicy!) bloody Mary.
On the weekends, expect every table, chair, and inch of the restaurant to be filled with Friendly Toast brunch fanatics. Waits can run as long as an hour and a half-and people stick around to see them through as there is a no reservation policy. To avoid the rush, come early or, better yet, go during the week to satisfy even the biggest appetite.
The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Sq
Cambridge, MA 02139-1595
(617) 621-1200
http://www.thefriendlytoast.net/
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