When I've found sandwich places in the past in Chapel Hill, I've been expecting something like what Toast gave to me when I went there. This is the first time in a long time that I've been satisfied with a sandwich place and the plus side is that it's a good 2-3 dollars less than the other places I've tried. The sandwiches are filling, and the variety is good. I recommend getting something from the specials, 'cause we got a panini with ham and pickled hot peppers and it was super delicious. I also got the arugula and portabella panini; that was a little less exciting, but still delicious for a meatless sandwich (I'm a carnivore when it comes to sandwiches). We also got the warm olives and the chicken liver crostini. Holy. Crap. If you like chicken livers, I highly recommend the chicken liver crostini. This was the thing that put this place to 5 stars for me. I'm not sure what liquor/alcohol I tasted in there, but I feel like it's brandy or cognac and tastes pretty much like how I imagine my liver pates to be. This was done right in my opinion, and I love pates/liver spreads. I expected the pickled fennel to have more of a significant role in the crostini, but I'm not complaining. The warm olives were actually something I liked, even though I normally don't like olives. My girlfriend, who usually likes olives, didn't like it. Take that as you will. I wouldn't get it again, though, since I'm still not that much of an olive fan to pay $4 for olives. Another thing I enjoyed was the decor and the people there. They were really friendly, and the place looks great so I felt like I can sit there for a long time and relax with friends.
(5)
James P.
The food is excellent. The sandwiches are really tasty and have lots of great ingredients to accentuate their flavors. The cheese was so melty and good and the crust nicely toasted. My problem with this place is that their portions are really small for the price point. You pay something like $8 for a tiny sandwich with no sides. I'd probably need two sandwiches to actually get full. Also, the seating is very limited and it can be hard to get a table. The tables aren't even that comfy to begin with and the decoration is, in general, a bit lame. I felt rushed to eat too (just my own feelings and not due to the staff), because other customers were getting food and standing in wait for a table.
(3)
Dan B.
Good not great We were sucked in by the positive reviews, but the place certainly has some opportunities. Although the food was very fresh, salads good, and sandwiches tasty, there is no whole-grain bread, the salmon "tramezzini" (Sandwich) was served with "lemon aioli" (mayonnaise) and cream cheese ( a sign of Good food wanna be ) and the soup had too much butter ion it If you haven't been here, keep your expectations in check
(3)
Phil C.
Best Lunch place in Durham. The ingredients you get blow other places away. The soups are amazing. I would eat here everyday if I could.
(5)
Ben C.
Came here for lunch a few times, each time a very enjoyable experience. Their sandwiches are HUGE and have countless combinations. My favorites are proscuitto, mozzarella and tomato, and Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and rapini. The soup is also excellent, though you won't have much room if you pair it with a sandwich. The soup varies, which is a nice touch. Their ingredients are fresh. Also, good value, especially in the location with several other more expensive eateries in close proximity.
(5)
Carter C.
Ugh! So good! The name is so simplistic, I didn't know what to expect. I still don't know quite how to describe it, other than yum! Toast is another little shop that brings some refreshing variety to an already jam packed food scene. For some reason, despite the obvious implications of the name, I expected something more than tasty toast when I first went. The menu, as the name suggests, consists mostly of items that have toasted bread as the basis. Panini's, toastinis and crustini's fill the menu. At first none of the options seemed overly exciting to me. Mushroom, mozzarella and sausage, some veggie options with fennel and shrooms. Despite the simplicity of the ingredients, the food is full of flavor. They make better use of those simple ingredients than many restaurants do of the complex, and exotic sounding items that you often see. The panninis and toastinis are all good, but my favorite by far are the crustinis. I usually get the special with a choice of 3 different types of crustinis and a bowl of the soup of the day. In particular, the local goat cheese with cracked black pepper and honey always makes an appearance on my plate. The basil pesto and italian pepper varieties are also delicious. Their soups have been surprisingly good as well. The wild mushroom, and butternut squash soups were delicious, despite my general aversion to anything that once grew from the ground.
(4)
Amelia Z.
I've been wanting to try Toast for quite a while as I had heard so many good things about it. I finally went on Friday and was not disappointed. There was a line to the door at lunch time but it moved pretty quickly and even though it was busy, the two of us had no trouble finding seating. We were lucky to be able to sit outside and enjoy one of the first nice days of the spring. After ordering and finding a table, our food came out pretty quickly and the server was very friendly. I had the prosciutto panini which came with mozzarella and roasted tomatoes. I will say it was a little too salty and difficult to chew through at the middle. I would probably get something else next time I go. The excellent thing is that there was no shortage of cheese. My friend got the grilled chicken panini and said it was fantastic. We also shared the herb pesto, tomato, and mozzarella crostinis and I highly highly recommend them! The pesto was so delicious!! Overall a pretty solid lunch option. Not great if you're in a hurry but definitely worth the wait if you've got the time!
(4)
A B.
Great lunch spot! Affordable, fast, and local ingredients. Awesome specials. Service is impeccable. Would definitely recommend.
(5)
Sabrina M.
I have been eating lunch at Toast since they opened and I have never been disappointed. Nice staff, fast service, interesting menu, great food. Love the fact that they have vegetarian choices. The soups are always great. So are the salads. Worth standing in line for (and in my experience, the line moves quickly). Get the butternut squash soup in the fall, it's awesome.
(5)
Vivian J.
Cured Salmon was very good. $7.50. Right amount of cream cheese, lots of fresh yummy salmon and the watercress was just right.
(5)
Maggie N.
Had my 2nd try with Toast and both times I was quite happy. I had a spicy tuna panini last time and a prosciutto panini this time. The panini bread was toasted to perfection, just the right amount of crispness without being too dry. I liked the spicy tuna more than the prosciutto, which is a little too salty for my taste. maybe the several layers of prosciutto can be alternated with something else? My friend had a crostini sampler and she was quite happy. The chicken liver was again, very salty, but she enjoyed the other 2. I must note that Toast has the best basic house salad I've ever tried. It's really... basic, just mixed greens, but the greens are fresh and the dressing is amazing - just some simple vinaigrette and olive oil but Toast makes it in some magical way. Ambience: Just a regular, casual food point. Don't expect candlelit romance here. You come straight to order, then take a number and they'll bring the food to you when it's ready. You can serve your own water (lime wedges are available, too!). The place itself is small with about 8 tables, so expect to wait if you come during rush hours. Price: very reasonable. $7 for a panini, extra $2 for a salad or soup. Will come back for sure.
(4)
Joanna T.
They have the best basic green salad in the triangle hands down. BEST SALAD. Perfect condition greens tossed in a homemade simple vinaigrette with some fresh herbs. Shavings of some hard cheese on top. I crave it. If you just have a hankering for something made out of vegetables, especially after a big weekend, this is your go to. Its really good. The sandwiches are pretty decent too. The dining area is a little small and we had to wait a few minutes for a table at peak lunch hour. Luckily husband works in durham and can pick it up on the way home.
(4)
Sonya Z.
Goat cheese, honey, and black pepper crostini is my favorite crostini there. It's a great combination. Portions aren't huge so if you're looking for a heavy or big meal, this isn't necessarily the place, but great place to grab a fresh sandwich or soup.
(4)
Sarah C.
I just don't understand all the glowing reviews. I've been here twice now, and honestly, I think it's awful. The first time I had the kale panini. I love kale but it was terrible. It's supposed to have kale, cheese (ricotta salata), and pickled hot peppers. It had such a small sprinkling of cheese I couldn't even taste it, so basically it was a sandwich that tasted like overly pickled kale and hot peppers on dry toast. I don't know if the kale was actually pickled or just had some kind of vinegar dressing but it was really disgusting. The salad would have been good, but it was WAY overdressed to the point of being limp and soggy. I only went back because when my friend suggested we meet at Toast, I agreed, not realizing it was the same place. I don't think I even knew what it was called the first time I went. Anyway, once I arrived I figured I might as well give it another shot. I ordered the local farm egg, tallegio, and chive sandwich. I had a bite of the corner and it was fine, albeit super bland. But then I took a bite from the middle of the sandwich, and I noticed that the scrambled eggs were runny. Admittedly, I hate runny scrambled eggs more than the average person, so this probably wouldn't bother most people. I just couldn't believe how the staff handled it when I asked them if they could cook it a little more. They refused to acknowledge that the egg was runny, insisting it was just the cheese. It clearly was not the cheese, which is white and not at all similar to runny egg yolk. I tried to tell them that and asked them to open the sandwich and look for themselves, but they wouldn't. They just kept insisting that the egg was very well cooked. The guy at the counter then went to the fridge and took out a little plastic container that was jam packed with scrambled egg. He said, without actually opening the container, "See we precook the egg and we cook it very well, there's no way it could be runny." Um, well if I was grossed out before, looking a container of cold, precooked runny eggs isn't going to help. No wonder they refused to cook my egg any more, they precook it and just scoop it onto the bread. Yuck. They could have just said that instead of trying to deny that the egg was runny without even opening the sandwich to look. (Obviously they didn't want to touch it since they knew they weren't going to make me a new one or anything.) I was shocked at how defensive and dismissive they were and wished I could ask for my receipt back to cross off the tip I had left. The salad was soggy and limp and swimming in dressing again, although as previously stated, it would be a good salad if they could dress it appropriately. My friend had some kind of chicken panini, which he said was dry and just okay. We both agreed we'd never come back again.
(2)
Adam H.
Love the atmosphere, the outside seating options and the Panini's. My one knock comes as a southerner: the lack of brewed sweet tea. HOWEVER, I forgave this offense by virtue of the prepared sugar-water option in lieu of sugar packets (which are never really effective).
(5)
Minnow N.
WOW. i am so disappointed with this place. my experience at Toast today is a PRIME example of how common courtesy, politeness, or just plain ole' just being nice can go A LONG WAY. I came here today at exactly 12 p.m. I know because I checked my watch since I was parked in 30 minute parking. Walked in and ordered ONE sandwich and nothing else to go. I was told to wait at the ramp toward the back of the restaurant. There I waited... waited and waited. Fine, i get it. 12 p.m. is a busy time of day. what i absolutely DO NOT understand was the RUDENESS that was conveyed when I inquired about my order. I approached the cashier, who happened to be the owner of the restaurant (i assume this since i was able to observe her pictures plastered on the walls while waiting on the ramp in the back of the restaurant). I asked politely if she knew if our order was going to be ready. She said, yes they're still working on it. Okay. I wait longer. I returned to the cashier and asked again, politely, can you please check? her response.... "it usually takes 15 minutes on a busy day for to go orders to go out" My response, "it's been 20 minutes", HER response... and i kid you not.. "I have 18 minutes on my clock" REALLY?! ..... really. 18?! WHO CARES? Firstly, 18 is still longer than 15 minutes and not only that 18 is CLOSER to 20 minutes than it is to 15 minutes! Secondly, she was so crass and unapologetic. As if saying that it's been 18 minutes and not 20 minutes is an excuse for their SLOW service???! NO. Lastly, I'd like to point out that at the time of confrontation, my ONE sandwich was STILL not ready! It, in fact, DID take 20 minutes to receive my sandwich. When i finally got to EAT my sandwich... well let's just say the owner had left SUCH a bad taste in my mouth that the sandwich itself was not satisfying. it was oily, the meat was just bologna with a fancy Italian name, sorry lady. it's STILL JUST BOLOGNA... or should i say baloney. It doesn't matter how many stars you get on yelp, if youre rude you lose my business. will this review change any minds from going to Toast? probably not. But at least I had my say and that i can say, FOR SURE, that i will never be dining at Toast ever again.
(1)
Amy B.
Since I moved to Durham over 6 years ago, Toast has been my favorite restaurant. I have never had a bad meal or experience here. It would be very easy to come here and get your favorite every time, however I always look at the specials and usually try one of them. You never know when they will have that yummy soup or panini again. I am looking forward to my next visit there right now!
(5)
David P.
I really feel Toast offers the best sandwiches in Durham. They are crisp, delicious and creative. With the option of 2 rotating soups daily or a generous salad of fresh greens for $2 the combo price is less than $10. The daily specials keep the menu fresh and interesting and there is something for everyone from the meat-eater to the vegan. But perhaps the best part of Toast is the owner, Kelly, whose beautiful smile and sweet, perky personality greet you from the register to make you feel welcome and appreciated.
(5)
Jenny R.
Tasty. Local. Probably a 4.4. Food: 1. Toast offers seasonal specials -- posted on a chalkboard by the cashier. Every meal feels indulgent. 2. On my last trip (July), I got the crostini meal, which includes 3 pairs of crostini (ca. 2" ovular toast + toppings) and a bowl of soup (or a salad, $9.50). The cucumber/buttermilk soup was surprisingly light and flavorful (seasonal). The three crostini pairs: (a) warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper, (b) avacado, lemon, grana padano, (c) a daily special consisting of roasted tomatoes on mozzarella. All tasted even better than they sound. 3. Also, I indulged in a slice of lemon polenta cake topped with berries and whipped cream. The strong lemon flavor was well matched to the sweet berries, and complemented by the light whipped cream. Delicious. 4. They offer high quality fresh brewed unsweet iced tea. Ambiance: You order at a counter, and food is delivered to your table. They remove plates when you've finished your meal. Toast can attract a crowd around lunch time, and the interior is quite noisy when it's crowded. There is outdoor seating -- 4 square tables.
(4)
Andrew F.
The woman who helped me at the register (owner? manager?) was incredibly kind and helpful when I told her it was my first time. She walked me through the menu and recommended items based on my tastes. My panini w/ rapini, Italian sausage, garlic and asiago fresca (is that different from normal asiago?) was perfectly toasted and the cheese was spot-on for gooeyness. The sausage didn't blow my mind, but the greens tasted fresh and were flavorful, adding great depth to the sandwich. WORD TO THE WISE: Every time I've been by Toast at lunchtime (including this visit on New Year's Eve), the place was busy. Fortunately for me on this kind-of-holiday visit, the line was short though all tables were full. Be warned and give yourself plenty of time to try them out. The sandwiches also take a few minutes longer than expected to come out, so factor that in as well. Verdict: Solid panini at a fair price. Interior felt dingy/dirty to me, but if there's no line and I'm looking for a tasty bite, I wouldn't hesitate. Tough competition for attention in the downtown dirty D, but Toast holds its own.
(4)
Luey M.
This cafe was so delicious and the people are really friendly. I recommend the egg and cheese panini and their soups.
(4)
Stephanie R.
Not bad, just not the best food in the area. I don't mind it, but my husband refuses to go back.
(3)
Helen Z.
Toast is still my favorite lunch place in Durham. :) I revisited Toast today which is saying a lot since I normally prefer to try new places rather than revisit old ones. Toast,however, just stood out too much in my mind for me to not go back. Again, confronted with that massive menu, I seriously considered trying something new (namely the portabello). But, I couldn't resist the spicy tuna again. I also ordered the goat cheese with honey crostini. Unfortunately, my nose has been congested as of late so the flavors of both were dulled down but still, what I could taste reinforced the love I have for Toast. Ahh, Toast, I am going to miss you.
(5)
Arch S.
I love this place. The people are so nice. The panini with the rapini and sausage is probably the best sandwich in town. You won't regret going here for lunch.
(5)
Claudine D.
I have to amend my original review since I've been back to Toast several times. With each of those return visits, I became a fan -- a fan of their soup and crostini combo. One visit I had their Calabria onion soup with goat cheese/honey, garlicky mushroom, and chicken liver crostini. The other visit I had their butternut squash soup with goat cheese/honey, garlicky mushroom, and herb pesto crostini. YUM!! The last visit I tried their portobello panini to-go and that was so good too. Now Toast has made the lunchtime rotation during the workweek.
(4)
Fred F.
Minimal. That's undoubtedly what the restauranteur who opened this little spot in downtown Durham had in mind when it came to naming this lunchtime spot. Though I would have been happier if the employees hadn't taken a similar approach when they decided what quality of customer service they were going to give, but I'll get to that later. I visited Toast this afternoon for lunch during an hour long break from a training session in a nearby highrise. My three colleagues and I arrived with 45 minutes to spare, and were greeted by a line about ten people deep. We got the feeling that this place was "fast casual" and having nowhere else to go, decided we'd take our chances. We ordered about ten minutes later, and to be safe, we decided to ask for our orders to-go so that we could decide later whether we should stay and dine or walk and munch. Roughly 20 minutes later, we were given our food in a nicely packed brown bag. Then again, it isn't that hard to pack a brown bag (this becomes important later). With still a few minutes to spare, we decided we would stay and eat quickly at the outside table where we had been sitting and waiting on our food. I tore into my prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato panini and was greeted with something plainer than I had imagined. For as artisan as the place appeared to be with what goes inside the bread, I was surprised to see that they used square (double meaning) white bread. The inside of the sandwich was impressive- I'll give them that. It was gooey and melty and tasty. The prosciutto was salty and it paired well with the savory mozzarella and sweet tomato. Even including the bread, I was happy with my sandwich overall, and I don't feel like, at seven dollars, it was too expensive as some other reviewers have said. If the experience had only been that, Toast would have been a three-star restaurant on the cusp of four stars. But when my colleague walked inside to get a fork and knife, she was confronted by the cashier who said to her, "I thought you all said you were taking it to go. I packed it up all nice for you. Now you're taking up a table that other people could use." Is it not a normal occurrence for people to designate to-go and then decide later? Were we not paying customers who could use their tables? This wanton display took this restaurant down a peg (and a star). I doubt I'll be returning to this establishment anytime soon.
(2)
Stephanie S.
We had a great experience at Toast. My bf and I came at lunchtime on a Saturday. It was pretty crowded, and we probably had to wait in line about 15 minutes. It wasn't a problem though, because it took us that long to decide what to order. We finally decided on the soup of the day (a lentil soup), the pesto/mozzarella/tomato crostini, and the tuscan kale panini. Everything was delicious. My bf liked the panini the most, and I loved the crostini. It was a fun environment, especially for a fun lunch. We will definitely have to come back to try some more menu items (like the goat cheese and honey crostini).
(5)
Klaus N.
We were in Downtown Durham and wanted to try something new. I wanted to try the Salt Box but it was closed until 9 July:( oh well, so my wife had heard good things about Toast so we went there. What a very nice surprise this establishment is. The guy who took our order was very helpful and friendly. But the biggest surprise was the quality of the food. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with which both my wife and I agree is the best grilled cheese sandwich we have ever had! The whole grilled cheese sandwiches too big for my six-year-old :-) The sandwiches my wife and I ordered were also very good. I can highly recommend the warm olives. Yum yum. This dining experience was a very serendipitous experience in the end I am kind of glad The Saltbox was closed for I might not have tried Toast. We are definitely going back.
(5)
Kristin W.
While the food is great, this is not a good place for big groups at lunch time as the seating is very limited and a big table must be cobbled together by slowly accumulating tables nearby...it's like trying to build a Monopoly hotel from houses and we all know how long that can take. Two of us each ordered a soup special with the salad and three crostini combination, so with two crostini per type, we were able to sample all six of the crostini that are regularly on the menu. In decreasing order of preference: - Warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper - delicious balance of savory and sweet - Sicilian caponata, goat cheese, pine nuts - nice mix of eggplant and peppers - Herb pesto, mozzarella, roasted tomato - very tasty pesto - Peperonata, pecorino romano - a nice combination of peppers and cheese - Chicken liver, pancetta, pickled fennel - distinctive taste of liver of without being too overwhelming - Garlicky mushrooms, thyme, gorgonzola - too salty, making it our least favorite
(4)
Adam S.
We enjoyed our meal at Toast last week. We went for lunch and it was very crowded, though it seemed that everyone was able to get a table. I had the rapini & sweet Italian sausage panini, which I'd say was OK but not fantastic. Needed a little more flavor. My wife got the 3 cheese panini which was great. The soup was a tomato-based onion soup which was very good. I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)
Bruce G.
Toast is very, very good. Their pannini's are better than other places where I have had pannini's (Panera Bread for example). I also recently tried their spicy lentel soup and thought it was terrific! Can't quite give Toast 5 stars yet though. For a place that just serves sandwiches, soups and salads, the orders seem to take a really long time to come out. They are always busy(at least at lunch time when I have been). The space seems pretty cramped too. I would suggest investing in a larger space and hiring more help when finances allow.
(4)
Sophia K.
4.5 stars if I could! My only wish is that the side salad had been more interesting. I got the crostini: garlic mushroom (OMG THE BEST), an avocado special which was fresh-tasting, and the goat cheese with honey and cracked pepper (kind of dessert-y and very good). Still dreaming of those mushrooms. Next time I'll probably get one of the paninis and a fizzy soda. The pistachio lemon cookies at the counter are also great!
(4)
Sharon T.
I've been here a few times the food is always awesome, never had a bad moment at this spot .Salads are fresh and Yummy. Destination spot for sure.
(5)
Paul B.
Sandwiches here are the best, not only what they offer year round, but their weekly specialty sandwiches keep you coming back for something new. The soups are some of the best I have had and the salads are fresh and delicious. Also the owner is often behind the counter, with an endearing smile and a voice that could soothe you to sleep.
(5)
David D.
I have tried every panini ($7.50) and every crostini ($2.50)--and I have enjoyed them all. Come here and try as many dishes as you can, especially the crostinis! Food: Very good, affordable (excluding a drink, lunch will cost you $7.70 to $11) Service: Very friendly staff, Quick preparation (food is not pre-made); expect to wait 10 minutes Great place for a casual lunch date.
(5)
J C.
No wonder the line was out of the door ... The meal was excellent. I had lentil and mushroom soup plus a chicken with sweet roasted pepper panini. Both were tasty and memorable. I enjoyed sitting street-side and people watching. It was a perfectly sunny evening with good food and a nice glass of red wine paired to my meal. We'll be back!
(4)
David S.
Had portobello panini. Was delicious but needed some acidity the the tomatoes were not providing. A light balsamic glaze would send the flavor thru the roof. The green salas was fresh and crisp. Dressing was nice and light. Bread was nice and perfectly toasted.
(4)
Jillery Ellen S.
DELISH!!! LUNCH!! WOW!!! HAD crispinis and soup combo. Holy moley!!! Excellent. Also had pistachio cookie shortbread. IM A FAN FOR LIFE!
(5)
Elizabeth A.
Toast makes me wish I lived in Durham! This place is super delish. I stopped by Toast to grab a few sandwiches for a picnic. The menu is small-ish, but I guarantee you'll find something mouth-watering that you love. Menu was divided into 4 sections: paninis (hot pressed sandwiches), tramezzinis (cold deli style sandwiches), bruschettas, and crostinis. I ordered the 3 cheese panini and the daily crostini special: a goat cheese and cherries ditty. The 3 cheese was yummy, but a little on the salty side. The crostinis were TO DIE FOR. The order came with 3, but I could have eaten 50.
(5)
Tori H.
Oh my goodness- I haven't reviewed Toast? Silly me. Toast is a cute little cafe style place. You order at a small counter and they have some seating and tables outside too. It's reeeeallly tight in there during lunch...and if you don't like eating next to people - get it to go...like me! ;) The sandwiches - always great! I've had the chicken panini and chicken salad... the meat and bread always tastes fresh and delicious. The butternut squash soup in the fall/winter is SOOOOOOOO GOOD. Much better than Saladelia (sorry). Last- the employees here are great- always smiling even when it's crazy busy. Kelli, the co-owner, takes orders, and she is always VERY friendly and pleasant. One time I came in almost at closing time with a band I was photographing and Kelli didn't act like it was a big deal and we were all served fresh food and treated great. Glad downtown Durham has this staple!
(4)
Matthew F.
Toast is absolutely fantastic. I've been here many times and have always had a great experience. The menu rotates and is always creative, the food is delicious and the staff are very friendly.
(5)
Eileen T.
This is such a cute place to go to for casual lunch. I liked the wide selection, but I wish there were more descriptions for everything. I got a proscuitto panini and the onion soup, both of which were pretty good. I also tried the goat cheese crostini, at the suggestion of Yelpers, but I didn't enjoy it that much. The texture of the cheese felt weird in my mouth. The food was very expensive for what I got though. I feel like I wouldn't go again because of the prices.
(3)
Josh P.
Great sandwiches and lots of variety. Really enjoyed sampling the different crostini options. Very hipster feel to the place, but a tasty lunch cannot be denied.
(3)
Michael H.
Holy schmoly. I found this place completely by accident, but this is the kind of accident I'm more than happy to be in. Toast brands itself as a "paninoteca", which I think has something to do with Italian sandwiches. I had a "rapini panini" (which I chose mostly because the words rhyme), and it was just about the best sandwich I've ever had. Add in the bowl of hearty homemade soup (I can't remember what kind it was, but I do remember thinking that I could live entirely on that soup), and you have the makings of a very, very happy customer. The price was right, the service was friendly and the atmosphere was urban chic. Perfect date spot. I'm absolutely delighted to see locally-owned establishments that serve really high quality food, and I will definitely be going back to Toast. Five stars, hands down.
(5)
Ron W.
Out of all the dining places around DPAC, Toast is my favorite! Great sandwiches served with a smile... The lovely couple (the Cotters) that runs Toast are always working hard to bring you their wonderful sandwiches. Just had some pesto-tomato-mozzarella crostini and a chicken panini last night and they were both great. None of their delicious lentil soup for me, I learned my lesson after the last DPAC show... :-@ Toast is all about inexpensive, fresh and delicious food, a fantastic combo! Seriously. For the money, Toast can't be beat. I've eaten here at least eight or nine times and have always left happy... A tip of my Yelp cap to Toast, thanks for all the wonderful and reasonably priced food...
(5)
Tiffany J.
I got the grilled chicken panini and it was amazing! They used pesto sauce on the chicken, grilled vegetables, and mozzerrella cheese. You can choose from a variety of Italian sandwiches here, and they're all around $7. An additional $2 will get you a soup or salad. Toast also carries a wide selection of beers. This seems like a great place to bring friends, though it's quite busy on this Friday night. The Tiffany blue-themed interior is very pleasant. My only complaint is that the food took awhile to prepare, but I will come again for sure.
(5)
Justin W.
The anti-panera bread in all the right ways! Been here several times, never a let down. Unique fare that you cannot find anywhere else, lots of local ingredients. Great place for a quick lunch although because it is so good sometimes seating is hard to come buy. Worth it though. If time of year is good outdoor seating is great and right in the middle of downtown. Definitely try it out. We are regulars.
(5)
Sarah W.
In a nutshell: Tiny place, counter-order sandwiches, soups and salads that are ah-mazing! Will definitely take many more lunches here. I ordered the chicken and mozzarella panini, and a bowl of their cauliflower and pine-nut soup. The sandwich was warm and tasty with it's fresh melted mozzarella and sweet peppers, and the soup was an excellent and equally tasty companion. Got there right around 12:30 and the line was almost out the door, but I was told to expect that, There are tables inside and we were lucky to grab an empty one. The place is very small, but who cares? You serve me food like that, and you can open your shop inside of a thimble--I'll still go there and wait!
(4)
Nate L.
One of downtown Durham's best kept secrets... Toast offers a wide variety of panini and sandwiches. Try their chicken panini as it's got a great kick to it that explodes in your mouth. Make sure you jump on a table before you order as this place fills up fast.
(4)
Todd Y.
Don't go hungry!!!! So the food is EXCELLENT... what you get... The place is very tight, so either get there early or expect to wait for a table, especially if you are a party bigger than 2... They only have 2 4-top tables, you might get lucky and find 2 2-tops together and bring them together... Otherwise you are waiting... The food, as I said is very good... The problem is you get what you read.. It's a fair amount of $$$ of a toasted sandwich... It's not your typical pannini which I was actually ok with... The problem is they bring out a plate with a sandwich cut in half... Either add a salad or soup, which many of the patrons were doing, or don't go very hungry... As for our weekly vegan, the choices were a lot more limited than we expected... They do have the mushroom sandwich, but thats about it... I got the Chicken & Roasted Red Pepper... It was very tasty and very well put together... I give it 3 stars, for the size of the place, lack of value and parking (lack of)... Quality it's 5-stars easy!!!
(3)
Laura S.
I've been to Toast a few times now and am reviewing them after my visit last week with my family. PROS: *Fresh, good food *Cute downtown location with outdoor seating across the street in addition to some patio seating CONS: *Very crowded...hard to find room for large parties (by large I mean more than 4) *Menu does not appeal to "plain" eaters...is a bit "foodie" I've always enjoyed my paninis at Toast (egg, cheese, and chive) and their salads are good too. One thing that I do not enjoy about Toast is that it is very crowded at lunch (speaks to the good food I suppose) and it can be really hard to find tables, especially if you are with a group. I went here with my mother and soon to be father-in-law who are both picky eaters and they had a hard time finding something that they could order...they didn't know what half of the ingredients were and it made their experience a little frustrating.
(3)
Anna W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Durham. I go almost once a week, so it's lucky that it's pretty affordable. The kale panini is amazing, as are the soups (always changing, always fresh and delicious), and the crostini. I love when they have the avocado special, but every one that I've tried is good. Even when I go for the panini and soup I still have to order the goat cheese, honey and pepper crostini for "dessert". All around a fantastic place, with great casual atmosphere and super friendly and helpful employees.
(5)
Barbara B.
I finally made a stop at Toast after years of walking past this place (especially since I frequented Dame's just down the block on a regular basis). I knew the Yelp reviews were out of this world so I just went in on blind faith by my onesies, not having look at the menu or anything. And boy I was not disappointed! I went on a Tuesday around 11:30 and it was relatively empty, but things definitely started picking up around noon. The cashier was super friendly, and helped recommend the Chicken Panini with the Butternut Squash soup when I mentioned I had never been there. This was all excellent choices! The flavors in the chicken sandwich were rich and delicious - pesto, roasted peppers, and hints of lime and something I couldn't really identify. However, I really think the best part of the meal was the Butternut Squash soup, which the lady at the counter said did not include cream or milk yet tasted just as rich and creamy. This came with a little sprinkle of cheese on top that was just the perfect finishing touch. I cannot recommend this soup enough!! But unfortunately, I do have to ding it one star because the chicken in my sandwich was really dry and rough and towards the end of my meal when everything cooled, almost inedible. The service here was very friendly - judging by the Yelp reviews, the lady at the counter who recommended the food and brought my order out was Kelli the owner. She was really helpful too when I couldn't connect to the free wifi here and rebooted the router just for me. The price was just about right for the portion size as well. I will definitely be back with friends. And maybe I'll go for some crostinis next time - the choices look positively scintillating!
(4)
Katie T.
Toast has truly established itself as a downtown Durham staple with its delightful dishes (especially the daily specials). Even after several trips to Toast, I stand by this review that Toast takes lunch to a new level. I've tried a variety of paninis and soups (I have yet to branch out to the crostini/tramezzini) because the paninis are just incredible. Most recently, I tried the portabello panini with fontina, arugula, and roasted tomato. Isn't your mouth watering? Their homemade soups have been so flavorful (the pureed cauliflower with pine nuts blew me away) and such a nice complement to the sandwich. The only challenge I see with Toast is that everyone else is learning how good it is too, so it can be hard to nab a table during lunchtime. But, from observation, just be patient and a table will magically open up! In a world of convenience, we can get used the idea that everything should move instantaneously. At Toast, your food is prepared when you order, and that's part of the cornerstone that makes this eatery so special. And for under $10? Patience will definitely be your virtue!
(4)
Matt M.
Toast is a simple and easy favorite. Usually quick and always delicious! Soup and a sandwich on a cold day always makes me happy. They are closed on Sunday, and it always seems like a good day to go. other tha that, I have no complaints.
(4)
Alan S.
Not my favorite. I can't say why exactly, but the sandwich that I got there didn't taste very good. I got the tuna, olivada panini: The filling had a lot of flavor, but it wasn't good flavor, and it was really unidimentional. I guess I only got a single snapshot of what the place is. I give it two stars because I feel somewhat lonely in my low review and thus, I'd be willing to try Toast again, but I definitely wouldn't get the same thing again.
(2)
Heather B.
Toast, you had me at 'the name' Visit: October 4 I had to be in Durham around lunch time today and decided to try a new place. I searched on Yelp and found a few candidates and then I came across Toast. OMG! I am quite passionate about bread and if you take a slice of bread any bread even crappy bread like Wonder Bread and put it in the oven and toast it...it reaches the deepest level of true love. Based on the numerous good reviews and the name, I went to Toast. I arrived in downtown Durham just a few minutes before noon and found a 1-hour parking space on the street about 2 blocks away. Lucky! There were about a half dozen people in line at Toast with the majority of tables occupied. The guy behind me was raving about how awesome Toast is to his companion that had never been there before. Good sign! I smiled over my shoulder and he asked me to help his friend since he loved everything and couldn't recommend one thing over another. I laughed because I wouldn't be much help since I was a Toast Virgin too. I ordered the grilled chicken panini with a side green salad. The paninis are $6.50 and you can add soup or a salad for $2. I think that is very reasonable. I asked for tap water and there were several pitchers of water, some with ice and others ice-free. I don't know if that was intentional, the no ice pitchers, but the room temperature water is very European. I used to think it had to do with energy conservation or something but 3 different European friends (Italian, French, and Belgian) told me it is healthier to drink room temperature beverages. Interesting! So I'm going to believe the water pitchers without ice were by design. I only waited a few minutes before my lunch was served. Oh boy! The bread was beautifully toasted, crisp and warm. Yummy! The grilled chicken panini was layered with chopped red and orange roasted peppers, ooey goey mozzaralla (which tasted like it was fresh mozzarella), and salsa verde. Okay, I'm going to be picky...salsa verde in an authentic Italian sandwich shop? It's all about the name. Right? Right! I would have called it a pesto at least. Diced green herbs with a little bit of oil. Well, whatever it's called it was delicious! There was plenty of sliced chicken to make a hearty meal. I actually brought half of my sandwich home to have for dinner since my hubby is out of town. Overall, it was an awesome sandwich. I really enjoyed the green salad too. It was lettuces with herbs garnished with shaved grana padano cheese. I tasted fresh mint and oregano in the mix. I liked the combination of the sharp cheese with the slightly sweet balsamic dressing. Fabulous! As I was leaving, the guy who is the #1 Fan of Toast (aka the guy in line behind me), asked me how I liked it. I told him I loved it and would be back again.
(4)
Arika S.
Cute little place in downtown Durham for quick lunch or dinner. They have a great wine selection and fresh soups! Tried the three cheese panini, hot olive appetizer, and the portobella sandwich. I highly recommend the hot olives and the three cheese panini. I will definitely be going back here - service was quick and the prices were cheap!
(4)
Thea N.
You know those places that you've been going for years but haven't gotten an opportunity to review on Yelp? This is my place. From the great service, to the amazing food, Toast is the most reliable restaurant in Durham. I guarantee the food you get will be delicious, and the service will be equally magical. Try these: -Goat cheese and honey crostini -Mortadella panini -Chicken salad tramezzini -Grilled cheese Plus there's beer! YUM.
(5)
Naomi K.
Had two paninis: -rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca - proscuitto, mozzarella, tomato The first one sounded more complex, but the flavors weren't as exciting as they sounded. The sausage was not ascetic. Food is about presentation and it looked like a slab of bologna. It didn't seem to have much taste either but the appearance detracted from it. The second sandwich was more simple and far tastier. The bread was nicely toasted and warm and crispy. The soup of the day was delicious and for only $2, it was quite reasonable. The lady at the counter was friendly and inviting. The guy cleaning up tables was working hard to provide for the lunch time crowd. It was a cute place but I wasn't as impressed by the sandwiches. Maybe I ordered the wrong ones, but I feel like Otis and Parker's sandwiches are more impressive.
(3)
Eric D.
Went here for a quick lunch...if that is your intention do not go at lunch. Atmosphere - girly, mint, small tables, crowded, noisy, 80% female clientele (at least at lunch on this day) Food - I ordered a panino w/ grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, and salsa verde. It was a crunchy sandwich that was prepared on artisan bread brushed, rather heavily, w/ olive oil. The chicken was fresh tasting and overall this was a great sandwich. Service - My to go order took forever to get to go. I know they were busy but 30 mins for a panini/ panino is way too long. Overall - a decent sandwich but service was slow and the atmosphere was too hectic to be enjoyable.
(3)
K. M.
Whenever I'm having an off day, eating at Toast makes things so much better. The owners and staff are so authentic and friendly, it's almost like you can taste the love in their soup. I have never been disappointed; in fact I am somehow always amazed every time I eat there at how delicious the food is. My personal favorites are the salad-- so simple and delectable-- and the risotto soup.
(5)
Liana L.
Okay, so I learned that not EVERY single item on the menu is a must-get. I sort of realized this when my friend was picking off the vegetable (it was purple and bitter - don't know what it is) off of the shrimp bruschetta. Apparently it's good with the shrimp, but it's pretty strong if you eat it by itself. (I ate it by itself. It wasn't very good). I came here another time to try the merguez & chickpea bruschetta, which I was really curious about because I loved merguez sausage in Paris, but this was NOT the same thing. Oops. So it may just have been my disappointed expectations, but I actually didn't like the sausage very much. I took a friend here for the first time and we split it, and she actually loved it. So ... it's up to you. I also didn't like how messy it was. That said, I stand by my other reviews; I've gotten AMAZING food here. The grilled chicken panini, the mortadella, and the rapini are all excellent, excellent choices. I think I'm just partial to paninis. Lunch time can be hectic and crowded, but I've always been able to get a seat (in the nick of time though - they're not readily available). Also, get a lovely Italian candy. They're really, really good. (Only if you like hard candies and surprise centers :D). I got the hazelnut one, which was really a party in my mouth. A surprise party.
Best lunch in Durham! Their crostini + soup/salad deal is always perfect. Lots of choices and GREAT vegetarian options. They use fresh, delicious ingredients and I always leave feeling full but not gross. I recommend the pesto/tomato, avocado/grana padano, and honey/goat cheese options. Plus, the lady who runs it is super nice and welcoming. Highly recommend!!
(4)
G. P.
The food is good but not plentiful. My palate was satisfied but my stomach wanted more. I'd definitely go back. The place isn't extremely large so you may want to plan going at a less busy time if you have a large host of companions.
(4)
Laura P.
I love this place. Fresh, inventive, delicious. The three crostini plus salad makes a wonderful lunch. Always a bit crowded, but well worth it.
(4)
John L.
Absolutely excellent! I ended up with a spicy tuna panini and a side salad. Both were perfect, with the spicy tuna panini being particularly good. What also makes Toast wonderful is the outdoor seating: perfect for a casual evening dinner, or for people-watching in Durham as people go to DBAP or DPAC. Overall, awesome.
(5)
Andrea P.
I ate the rapini and Italian sausage panino, accompanied by the mesclun salad with the house red vinaigrette; this meal really hit the spot. My boyfriend had the shrimp and sunchoke sandwich which, thought flavored perfectly with a touch of lemon, fell a bit into that generic "mayonnaise sandwich" category--a slippery slope that's easy to fall onto whenever mayo is involved. He also had the soup of the day, which was flavorful though a bit mushy--yet another common pitfall. Pros: - Flavor and portions--get a tasty bite to eat without feeling defeated by your meal. - Wide range of ingredient options; I didn't think about vegetarians so I can't comment on that, but for omnivores the selection is quite wide. You should be able to find something to hit the spot. - Good location. Cons: - People were stopping at the door and leaving toward noon because the line was way too long. - There's not too much that can be done about this, but most of the tables are very close to each other and so it can be difficult to talk to your party. I don't know, something about the ambience seemed a little off to me; this place was funky, but not necessarily the most appetizing.
(3)
Lindsay S.
It seems like an Italian hipster panini deli place. I found Toast last night as and friend and I were trying to grab a quick dinner before opening night of Hair at DPAC. Within walking distance and with decent reviews, it seemed like a good pick. I'll say that overall I enjoyed it, but am not sure it was an over the moon experience. Part of that was, of course, impacted that we waited 15 minutes for our food which was of course also impacted by the "opening night at Hair" factor. I understood that, but it still was quite a bit of chaos in there. I got the proscuitto, mozzarella, and tomato panini, but instantly tore the tomato off and handed it to my friend because I hate tomatoes and forgot to request that they not put them on there. My friend saved the lost tomatoes and instead enjoyed them on his portobello panini. Mine was good, but a bit hard. At $6.50 apiece I think their paninis are a little overpriced because they're just your average size and though the ingredients are fresh, that's all they cover. My friend also had chicken liver crostinis which scared me, but they were gone in no time so they must have been good. At $2, they seem appropriately priced. We also each had a glass of wine. By glass, I mean the size of a jelly car that Mom poured our juice in as kids. $4 for that didn't impress me much. For dessert we shared a small slice of brown sugar cake with fresh strawberries and cream. This was good, but like I said, small and gone in no time. For $4 considering the freshness and all this may have been decent....but still small. Overall pleasant, but next time I'll try some place new before catching a show. Toast is certainly a cute cafe and genuine if you've avoiding a chain deli type of experience, but there was no wowness for me last night.
(3)
Lester M.
MMmmmm, drool. I love Toast! I mean, what's not to love? To date, I do believe that I've tried all their panini's, crostini's, and pretty much everything else on the menu. What I love is that there are so many delicious combinations. If I'm not in the mood for a panini, then I can always order a variety of crostini's and a salad, which are equally as filling. My favorites are the portobello mushroom panini, and the warn goat cheese with honey crostini. What makes toast even better is that Kelli (the owner) is super friendly and nice. With great service and great food, you really can't go wrong.
(5)
Joel R.
Toast is a good little sandwich place with too few tables, but that's not why my rating is weaker than the field. The people here are lovely, so it's not them, either. Basically, sandwiches are pretty simple fare, but they gotta be delicious. Unfortunately, my mortadella sandwich was kind of flat and my wife's kale (a really interesting sandwich that I was looking forward to trying) was tough and undercooked. The menu does look good, however. Maybe we just picked wrong.
(3)
Monica M.
Great veggie options. The Tuscan kale panini was incredibly delicious! And the butternut quash soup was equally awesome. We showed up around 11:30 and had to wait about 15 minutes for our food; it was more than worth it.
(5)
M P.
Good paninis, but the wait during lunch is too long.
(4)
Anna R.
The panini with local farm egg, tallegio, chives is really rich, filling, and delicious. The first time I had it was with hot sauce and the second was with wine. Both were delicious. The coffee there is also very delicious. I am usually really snobby about coffee but toast does coffee really well. I also love going to toast because of the decor--I think the robin egg blue walls, dark brown furniture, and white tiled ceiling look amazing together!
(5)
Laura S.
One of my favorite places to get lunch. The food is fresh and flavorful. I still have to look up ingredients on my phone before ordering, but it's always delicious. My favorite is the shrimp and sunchoke salad sandwich. The green salad is deceptively simple with a few thin curls of a flavorful hard cheese and surprising hints of herbs. The cured salmon sandwich is also great. I've tried several things and have never been disappointed.
(5)
Leo B.
Simple Italian sandwiches done well which is surprisingly difficult for many to do. They were very accommodating to our children and gave them a fun, tasty and very stretchy Mozzarella cheese sandwich. I loved my prosciutto and mozz and tomato panini though the tomatoes were too hot and the chicken salad was a big hit. My one daughter loved the portobello panini. I wish this was closer and in Raleigh and not Durham! We will eat here again!
(5)
Susan Z.
Aww, fack that, I'm the Duchess of Toast now. Clearly I love this place. I always get the same thing, though. Obviously, I'm boring and lack personality. Or maybe that portobello sandwich is the best thing ever. I crave Toast's portobello panini. Sometimes I get confused and think "Oh man, it sucks being single" but then I realize it's actually just hunger. I just really want a panini from Toast. Oops, silly me :D Every time I come here I *just* miss a rush. But they deal with rushes pretty well.
(5)
Dale G.
I had the most horrible goddamn sandwich of my life here.
(1)
Kathryn E.
I hate to break this chain of glowing "Toasts" to this restaurant but my experience was less than impressive. I went there on a random week night with a friend...she got the shrimp bruschetta, I got the grilled chicken panini. It was fine...nothing special. My sandwich was rather bland, flat (yes, it's a panini but it should have SOME girth to it) and just...meh. I am a hearty eater so I want some meat in my sammies and this was less than impressive.Also, they were charging $2 for a meager side salad with nothing exciting about it so all I had on my plate was a sorry, flat sammie that just didnt stir any excitement. I have no desire to go back. I hear such glowing reports from friends about how awesome this place is and I just didn't catch that vibe.
(2)
Katey Z.
Pass the cheese, please! I don't think I've consumed as much cheese at one sitting as I did at my visit to Toast last Saturday. I was meeting my wedding photographer to discuss our upcoming engagement shoot, and I was prepared to have to stake out a table ahead of time. Fortunately, even at prime lunchtime, it wasn't too crowded to find a spot in the shade outside. I ordered the three-cheese panini and a bowl of onion soup. I was pleased to see that they had not only your standard cheeses, but more interesting ones like my personal favorite--pecorino. That really took the grilled cheese to a new level. The food wasn't very speedy, but I wasn't in a hurry. I turned to the door many times, hoping the wait staff would be visiting our table, but the food, when it eventually came, was worth the wait. My grilled cheese was cooked perfectly and the soup was scrumptious. I hadn't realized that there would be cheese in the soup (maybe I didn't read the description carefully?), but I will say that after that lunch, I wasn't hungry until about 8pm. Such a satisfying lunch for under $10 bucks! I'll definitely hit this place again next time I'm in the mood for a sandwich.
(4)
Alysia A.
After a rousing car ride with Salt n Pepa's "Push It" on loud, and my bodacious ass making the car rock, I was basically starving. My handsome beau and I rolled up to Toast and ordered two sandwiches to share. It was my first time so I really enjoyed checking out the decor and menu. It's was all very cute. We got: 1. rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca. It was amazing, light yet flavorful. The rapini was so fresh and so well seasoned and it layered perfectly with the sausage. I had actually been craving rapini lately so it was lovely to see it offered, and cooked so wonderfully. This sandwich is a 100 star beauty. 2. grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, salsa verde. What a wallop of freshness and seasoned artistry. It is so clear that Toast does not skimp on ingredients or preparation. This sandwich was a fourth of july sparkler of quality and flavor. 3. spicy lentil soup. I am not a huge lentil soup (or many other soups, quite honestly) fan so I "participated" by having a few spoonfuls and enjoyed it as much as a non soup person can enjoy a soup. Toast totally made me smile around my delicious grilled goodness. Not to be that guy, but as they say on Terminator...I'll be back.
(4)
Richard E.
Wonderful lunch place. You can order a little or a lot, and not overeat. I had the egg salad sandwich and spicy lentil soup, both were excellent. Very good salads, too. A nice, clean, friendly neighborhood place.
(5)
Leigh A.
I used to eat here every Saturday and after a 3 year absence from Durham, I came back to the same outstanding food and service. I have tried a good bit of the menu, but due to lactose intolerance, I can't eat some of the things that sound amazing. However, fear not lactards, the NC Shrimp Bruschetta is mind-blowing (IMHO, of course).
(5)
Luke P.
Score! Great lunch spot in downtown Durham, cool place to check out the locals. Nice family and community atmosphere. Had the tasty Tuscan kale panini and daily soup special (mushroom soup). Hoping to come back to try some of their other items.
(4)
Peter D.
Wonderful place for a lunch in downtown Durham--after trying to understand what each of the options meant in english, I settled on the grilled chicken panini, and it tasted great. Lots of flavor, and the grilling was done perfectly. I would highly suggest getting a side of soup or salad, however, as a sandwich is just not enough for a complete meal IMO. In addition, orders took a bit longer than expected, especially since we came in right before lunchtime and there weren't too many customers. There was a huge rush of people after noon (note this was during graduation weekend), and some orders easily took upwards of 20 minutes to complete. However, the service was great, and I don't think you'll run into too much trouble with waiting normally. And of course, the food is delicious.
(4)
Spencer H.
I have been meaning to get here for quite some time now, and I don't know what took me so long to finally do so, but I am glad I did! There were so many delicious Items on the menu that I am glad for the long wait to order. Even by the time I made it up to the cash register I was still bouncing between a few items in my head, however I finally settled on the shrimp and sunchoke salad tramezzini with the side green salad. Lucky for me I was with my wife so also got to taste some of the crostini's. If you don't mind a sizable wait, for excellent original and fresh food, do not hesitate to give this place a try!
(5)
Adriana S.
Had the sweet sausage panini and tomato onion soup..their soup is very delicious and savory..sandwich 3 stars not as flavorful..featured red wine delicious.
(4)
Katie R.
Pretty much can't go wrong. The salmon is piled high, and everything is excessively fresh. If there is cheese included on the sandwich, there will be tons and tons of cheese. Even as a gluten free person, I go there for the incredible soup and salad. Ask for the dressing on the side, because otherwise it is soaked.
(5)
Maddie S.
I love love love Toast! I am a huge foodie and I take all of my visiting friends and family here to show off Durham Restaurants. They support so many local farms and local businesses, the atmosphere is great, staff is super friendly, AND their side salad has a magically light but lovely dressing on it! One of the best places in Durham for sure!
(5)
Jeffery A.
The service was great and the place was very clean and appealing. The food was good but not great. I had a grilled chicken panini that was very flavorful (I would recommend it)and onion soup that was satisfying but had too much cheese in it for me. My guest had a shrimp brucetta and found the bread to be impenetrable. Crunchy is expected but if you can't cut it with a knife, your are in trouble. If not for this, we would have loved this spot.
(3)
Josh B.
Amazing as always! Absolutely love this place! I usually do the 3 crostini and soup combo. I get the special crostini and soup. They are always on point and I do 2 staples. The local goat cheese and warm honey crostini and tomato mozzarella crostini are great. Perfect example of a well run and organized local restaurant. Dining here is always a pleasure!!
(5)
Stacie N.
[ tl;dr: check out the soups, salad, specials board ] Ignore the naysayers. I've been going to Toast almost since it opened, and have had the wonderful fortune to try everything on the menu, and most of the specials that appear regularly. Toast serves a consistently good meal, and the warmest smiles in Durham. As with any restaurant, not every item is out of the park, and different people have different tastes. I, for one, don't love the soppressata panino or the three cheese, but they're two of the more popular ones. Still, even those are a satisfying lunch. On the menu, my personal favorites are the mortadella (if you're surprised this is fancy bologna, then you probably should have asked what mortadella means), the rapini+sausage, the spicy tuna, the farm egg+taleggio, and the portobello panini; the shrimp+sunchoke, the chicken salad, and the cured salmon tramezzini; and the beet+ricotta bruschetta. All panini, tramezzini, and bruschetta from the regular menu are $6.50. Daily rotating specials vary in price, usually $7 or $8. Soups are seasonally appropriate, and pretty much always impressively delicious. Frankly, I think the soups are where Billy Cotter really shows off his abilities. And the salads. Toast serves up a lightly dressed and colorful salad with fresh herbs mixed in and shaved cheese on top. It's in my top three salad experiences, and it's at its peak in late spring/early summer with the local salad greens. Crostini are also awesome, but I always want something more substantial, and it's a bit bread-heavy to order them with a sandwich. Still, if you want to impress a newbie, get the goat cheese, local honey, and cracked pepper crostini. Or the baccala when it turns up on the specials board. I usually get a sandwich plus a soup or salad, and a perfectly brewed iced tea (which you sweeten for yourself with simple syrup). From the regular menu, this is $10.78 with tax. A bit more from the specials menu. Seriously, if you think this is expensive, you haven't been to ANY other restaurant except Cook Out recently. The food is extensively local, fresh, and very high quality. Expect to wait 10-20 minutes for your food. If you're there at lunch, you wait in line and food takes a bit longer. It's not a drive-thru, and the food is worth the wait.
(5)
Emi S.
Always Delicious! The 3 cheese panini with truffle oil a favorite. One of my go-to lunch spots in Durham. It can get busy, it's best to go early.
(4)
Christina B.
I only wish I had more time to see the selection of what there is to eat! But, what I had was delish! I got there late, just as they were closing the kitchen. ugh....But, I did get to enjoy the goat cheese/honey crostini....DELISH! I wanted more! Decent selection of beers, but could have had more. So needless to say, I will have to visit again and earlier in the evening!
(4)
Charlie T.
Great lunch spot, but can get crowded. Crostini with goat cheese, honey and cracked black pepper have become a staple at our house. Eternally grateful. Paninis are very good, as are the soups. I have yet to be disappointed.
(4)
Steph R.
Came at 2 pm, not crowded at all luckily. Loved the three cheese panini and the onion soup special, and the location at Five Points is fantastic. Will definitely come back as much as possible!! And just across the street from Cupcake Bar and The Parlour for dessert ;)
(5)
Jared M.
Toast is a simple sandwich place in downtown Durham. I made my first visit recently on a Wednesday afternoon. There were only a few other customers, so the seating was plentiful. I ordered their prosciutto, mozzarella and tomato panini with a rice and turnip soup. If only reviewing the food, I'd give it four stars. My panini was hot and prepared well. The rice and turnip soup was also quite surprising and I enjoyed it greatly. The portions were of average size, so don't expect to be over-stuffed. Lunch is the ideal time to visit. I decided on three stars for this review because of the ambiance of Toast. They're obviously catering to the hipster crowd. With independent alternative music by artists I've never heard of blaring loudly on the overhead speaker, I knew I'd entered into Hipsterville the moment I opened the door. All of the aforementioned customers within the establishment were on laptops and clearly hipsters in their own right. The decorum is... odd and unbalanced. I felt like I was eating my lunch in a basement cafeteria. While certainly tolerable, it didn't encourage me to take my time with lunch and enjoy the atmosphere. I wanted to eat and get out. If you're a hipster, then Toast is your spot. If you're not a hipster, then you may want to ask for your food to go.
(3)
Teresa P.
Best freakin' sandwich ever. The kale sandwich is amazing. I was not sold on the idea of a kale sandwich (who could be?), but the person taking my order vouched for it. I did not regret my order. The spiciness of the sandwich is really what makes it work. I only wish it were larger, had better weekend hours, and were closer to where I live.
(5)
Luke C.
Jen and I love coming to this eatery in downtown Durham. It's located at the five-points intersection of roads. Upside: My hands down favourite- Portobello Mushroom Panini & Roasted Beet Bruschetta. Small but great place to get lunch. Downside: This place gets packed!! If you see the line of people all the way to the door,... you probably should just walk away. You won't get lunch in the next 30 minutes.
(4)
Nicole J.
I really enjoyed my lunch here. I had spicy chickpea soup and a mushroom panini. Fresh ingredients- mostly local. Prices are reasonable and the food is out in no time!
(5)
Lisa H.
I have tried numerous times to order something other than the tuscan kale panini but what can I say? It is a sandwich that reminds me of a northern greens dish that I just can't get anywhere else. The sweet and hot peppers make the kale jump to life and it's all on the most perfect bread. I always find myself full and usually taking half of my sandwich with me for a snack later in the day. I find this place to be one of the best little spots in walkable downtown to have a quick bite to eat. The prices are reasonable I think I usually spend about $10 with a drink. There is a small area of outdoor seating but have never been forced to eat inside if I wanted a table. The service is always excellent and the owner is typically on-site with a very intentional focus on the customer. I always bring family and friends here when they are visiting from the north. I highly recommend Toast for lunch or anytime on the weekend.
(5)
Dawei L.
Toast is an interesting place for sure. It approaches a rather simple concept(sandwiches) and refines it by narrowing its scope but increasing the details within the sandwich. The do not try to do too much with every sandwich(there is nothing incredibly innovative/unheard of on their menu) and they do try to mix interesting flavors while sticking to some tried and true basics. As a paninoteca(sic?) it focuses on the Italian pressed sandwich. There is a large amount of choices with vegetarian options as well as non paninis(like bruschetta or cold sandwiches). I had the rapini with italian sausage while my friend had the portabello mushroom panini. I also had the potato soup. Rapini/sausage- good flavors, fresh, although the bread crust was a bit over cooked/hard. Definitely a good sandwich, I would have it again, but I didn't find it amazing. Not the most filling thing to have. Potato Soup- It was cheesy and somewhat rich. I would say it was good, but nothing spectacular. It did make the crusts easier to eat and improved the flavor of the rougher parts of the bread. Portabello- More delicate, earthier, and honestly I think it was probably a better handled sandwich, it's just I am very very partial to italian sausage. Overall I would recommend this joint for a fun lunch or light dinner. The lines are usually long since it's one of the most popular spots downtown. I appreciate the ambiance and it's focus on simplicity and quality however, as someone who is not totally in love with sandwiches, I did not find it completely amazing like many of the other reviewers.
(4)
Mohamed N.
"Tasty paninis and other Italian sandwiches in downtown Durham" Although I have to admit that I found the lack of translation for many of the menu items a little pretentious (my comment to my wife was that "I'm obviously not cool enough to eat here"), the service was great, the food was tasty and affordable, and the setting in downtown Durham was nice. I came once before for lunch and also liked it. For dinner this time, I got the grilled chicken panini w/ peppers ($6), and it was quite tasty- actually surprisingly tasted better with each bite. I also got the side salad ($2), which had a variety of different greens and no iceberg lettuce. My wife also liked her Panini (Portobello). We got my son a crostini (see picture), and that was clearly not enough food for anything besides an appetizer for one or maybe two people (which is fair for only $2). But it worked out since we were headed to the Durham Bulls ballpark and going to get more food there anyway. By the way, their website has translations for at least the sandwich types, but still not the ingredients. Come on- really, a lot of people don't know the words rapini, soppressata, mortadella, tramezzini, etc. At least a lot of uncool (or uncouth?) people like me.
(4)
Harold L.
Food here is pretty good, I'm not sure the menu is super accessible though. It's definitely a pretty relaxed place which is nice, but I think it could benefit from a litttle more organization. Generally pretty light fare. I may go back, we'll see.
(3)
E J.
If you like sandwiches and soup, this is it! Those are two of my favorites foods. And this place is like a foodie version of Panera. For $8, you can try three amazing crostinis each with different toppings like 1) goat cheese honey and pepper-a must try!, 2) mushroom and Gorgonzola, 3) and avocado. You also get a bowl of delicious onion soup with a tomato base. Best $8. I wish there was a Toast in Chicago!
(5)
Neeraj D.
We stopped by for a quick lunch while going around town. Usually I am leery of going out for sandwiches because... it's a sandwich. I can make them at home for a fraction of the cost and usually better. But, toast had some mighty good offerings. We had two different sandwiches and soups, which were well made with considerations to the flavors, textures, and the overall experience. This was not the basic, run-of-the-mill mediocrity that I have come to expect. It may not seem as much of a compliment (but to me it is), but I would come back here because I liked the attention they put towards their food. The staff was helpful at explaining the ingredients and ordering process. They were friendly, helpful, and patient while we looked over the menu and asked for explanations and try to pick new, different sandwich combinations to try. This is not just an alternative to Dame's Chicken n' Waffles, down the street, when the line is too long - Toast is a destination onto itself.
(4)
Daniel J.
This place is solid. Not much more, and certainly not less. Just really good grilled sandwiches.
(4)
Aaron K.
The manager made my pregnant wife (35 weeks, very visibly pregnant) who also has a visible knee injury (brace on the outside of her jeans) get up from her seat while waiting for me to place our order. It's my understanding this restaurant runs a high volume business with limited tables but this was absolutely absurd. When my wife asked the manager if he understood she was pregnant and had a knee injury and her husband was in line to order, he simply shrugged his shoulders. I assume the food here is good but this was completely unacceptable. I asked for the owners' contact information so I could contact them privately. He would not provide it. What an unfortunate situation witnessed by other patrons who came outside to offer their sympathies to my visibly upset wife. I hope the owners take note and rectify this situation so it doesn't happen to others in the future.
(1)
Katie R.
Fantastic: The soups are particularly delicious, as are the crostini. The grilled cheese is super cheesy, and therefore greasy- be warned. The salads are a good choice, although sometimes over dressed. My favorite is the cured salmon sandwich, Very fishy. This is a great example of amazing food with great variety, where each ingredient is top choice.
(5)
Justin T.
Don't come here if you're in a hurry or on a tight schedule! It took around 20 minutes for me to get my order. I ordered the Chicken Panini. The food was pretty good but when coupled with the very long wait, I have it say I wasn't impressed.
(2)
Bayard C.
Fresh, high-quality ingredients. Amazing paninis. Delicious side salad was an added bonus. Last time it was crowded but we just ate in the park out front. One of my favorite spots in Durham.
(5)
K V.
Fresh ingredients and unique flavors. The food was not extremely tasty, but the service was awesome and it was such a fun atmosphere. I definitely recommend checking this place out!
(4)
Christopher D.
Nothing I can say here will do this place justice. Toast is always busy from 11:30 to about 1:30. Best place in town, so it's going to be busy! Great staff and owners! I've tried all sorts of different sandwiches from here. My absolute favorite is the Hot Coppa panino, on the special board from time to time. I haven't found a sandwich yet that I haven't liked. I don't try new things often but Toast has opened me up to new tastes, so I'm not worried about trying new things here! They also have a decent selection of wine and beer! If you are in Durham, this place is a MUST!
(5)
Mari H.
Simple and delicious soups, fresh sandwich ingredients and a wide variety of local beers made this a place awesome! I didn't get the salad but saw one leaving the kitchen and it looked huge.
(5)
Laura C.
My favorite lunch spot in Durham. Consistently good food, reasonably priced, and they focus on doing their menu well, instead of trying to be a jack of all trades. My favorite menu items are the spicy lentil soup, Calabrian onion soup, egg panino and avocado crostini. Service is always fantastic too. Never fails.
(5)
Lloyd M.
Almost did not write a review because there were already so many solid ones but I felt I had to. I went for the first time (had heard about it for ages) and was not disappointed. I am not a fan of hot sandwiches, I prefer softer bread, and was very pleased that there were multiple non-panini options (though I almost ventured into panini-land they sounded so good). I had a chicken salad sandwich and a side salad. The chicken salad was great, pretty much pieces of chicken in a light garlic aioli. The salad was mixed greens with cheese. On paper, sounds quite ordinary, but everything was great, fresh and tasty.
(5)
Gail C.
Meh. I really have had better. The decor and name sound like a premier bistro. The menu also looks very inviting and top notch. But looks and name are deceiving. The food had high quality ingredients that the chef took and smashed and over cooked. I had the tramezzini - pancetta, arugula, oven roasted tomato. the tomatoes were smashed into unrecognizable red juicy skins and the pancetta was over cooked and rock hard. The bread was simply white bread with the crust cut off. My wait for this sandwich was about 20 minutes. The restaurant was packed. Maybe the other sandwiches were better, but mine was a gooey hard to eat mess that kept falling apart. If I ever decide to go here again, I am trying a Panini. They will surely stay together. Maybe the other sandwhiches are what others have eaten and given high ratings. Just not impressed.
(2)
Meredith M.
Delicious food... the bread! Ahhh not the place to go if you are avoiding carbs. But still it was delish. Only minus one star because one of our paninis had really soggy bread inside, not sure if that is avoidable but the crispy bread was better! A great place to grab lunch with a couple friends. It gets pretty crowded around lunch time so I'd go a little after :)
(4)
Emily A.
Can you say cuuute and yummy?! I was Yelping for a nice, small lunch spot where a couple friends and I could grab a quick but delicious bite before heading to the airport to go home to the West Coast. I was skeptical at first after reading how this place gets packed easily during lunch but the food and feel was exactly what I was looking for so I couldn't turn it down. Came here around 2pm on a Monday and there were only a few other people there..score! I got the grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, salsa verde panini and it was so fresh. The bread was nice and toasty on the outside and soft inside. The ingredients came together really well thanks to the mozzarella that literally held it into once warm and gooey piece. I like that the sandwich itself wasn't too heavy or greasy, but extremely satisfying enough to not be hungry all the way until I got back to California at midnight. Good stuff!
(4)
Perry H.
This is a great spot for lunch in downtown Durham. I've only visited on the weekends, when its super crowded (not sure if its ever not crowded actually). You line-up to order with seating packed tightly on both sides of the line, so be prepared for a wait (to order and for a table). They do offer take-out which is a good option on a nice day. The food is good - I've had a lot of success with the soup's and the sandwiches are tasty. That said, they don't knock me out either. Until recently, with the opening of Beyu Cafe a couple doors down, there were no options for upscale sandwich & soups in downtown Durham, so Toast filled a big void. Definitely worth a try for yourself...
(4)
Donna H.
My three cheese panini was fantastic, and I also enjoyed the crostini. The service was friendly but it took a long time for our food to show, even though there were only two people waiting on their meals when we walked in. I was initially a little put out by the lack of sweet tea, because hey, we're in the south and we drink that here. Thankfully they've got simple syrup (which, unlike sugar packets, will actually sweeten iced tea). I loved the food, but I'd only recommend Toast when you've got plenty of time. That was the only real drawback.
(4)
Antonia M.
I'm going to leave this short, considering how many reviews Toast already has, many of which echo my experience and thoughts. Toast is a lovely little lunch spot - the atmosphere is very endearing and matches the food. Simple, clean and a bit rustic - with a local flair. The food is amazing - nothing is 'fancy', but excellent quality ingredients are allowed to shine. In particular, I really like the local egg sandwich, but there are many other 'to-eat' items on my list!
(5)
Mel T.
One of our favorites. Never off the mark. Yes, folks sometimes you have to wait. The owners/workers know how to run during the busy lunch time. It is worth the wait. Yes, don't roll in and expect to get a '$5.00" sub and be out in 5-minutes. Expect to get fresh awesomeness. Vegan/veg options exist and they are always hearty and good. We are going to try to hit Toast for dinner more often. One of Durham's true gems.
(5)
Jennifer B.
I have currently fallen into the habit on getting to go food from here every Saturday afternoon after a morning at yoga. I am obsessed with the salad in particular the salad dressing. My partner has fallen in love with the chicken sandwich and I tend to get the soup and salad. I have also noticed lately a lacking in picking up the phone when I call to out in my order which is disappointing but not enough to keep me away. Writing this is making me think about heading there for lunch shortly :)
(5)
Anna L.
So why go to [insert generic sandwich shop here] when you can go to Toast? Really, do you like awesome food? After going here, it will be hard to convince myself to purchase (for almost the same price) another sandwich. Really, it is that good. I had a tough choice narrowing my panini down. So many great sounding choices, but ultimately I ordered the prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato sandwich. Wow! They know how to make a mean ham and cheese sandwich. Deliciousness! By the way, it is so worth the extra two dollars to have the side salad. Really trust me. A bed of mixed greens seasoned with balsamic and topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese. Yum! This really is an awesome place to eat. This is a sandwich place for food snobs but without a pretentious atmosphere. I can't wait to go back and have another awesome lunch.
(5)
Laurie V.
I like this place. Kelli, the owner always takes the orders and she seems so happy and welcoming to every customer who comes in. The cauliflower soup is awesome- there is no cream added, it is just naturally creamy and yummy. Everything I've had there is delcious. A convenient spot to walk to on my lunch break. Take-out orders are not quick, so make sure you have some time if you go there for a quick lunch. Dining in takes some time too, but it's because they are always busy.
(4)
Nene K.
Let me preface this review by saying that I didn't have any of their paninis. However, I did try the goat cheese and honey crostini, another sort of crostini, and the soup of the day. The soup was not mind-blowing, but it was satisfying on a bitterly cold evening in Durham. The salad was simple and artfully done. I LOVE their wine selection and had some sort of Italian wine that I intend to purchase by the bottle one of these days. The crostinis, especially the goat cheese and honey ones, were delicious and three to an order is a perfect serving size for a lighter meal. I was impressed by the familial service -- the cashier seemed genuinely happy to be there. She was very helpful in suggesting a wine to go with my meal. Verdict: Fairly certain that you can't go wrong with Toast if you're into cute cafes that aren't Panera. I will be back to try one of those paninis.
Strange that I'm just now reviewing Toast when I've eaten there probably a dozen times. We go there for work lunches sometimes, and I've dined there with friends, and on my own as well. This is the only paninoteca that I know of in the Triangle. And, let's face it, the panini is god's gift to sandwiches. I more or less order the same thing every time: portobello-fontina-arugula-roasted tomato panini and a Bad Penny (they've got a bunch of local microbrews in bottles here) or sometimes an Izzie soda, depending on the time of day and the odds of someone important smelling my breath. This is the most perfect sandwich there is in all the world. I get it with a green salad, which is simple but delicious. I always leave Toast full, but never feeling like a heifer. I have also tried the warm goat cheese-local honey-cracked black pepper crostini and the herb pesto-mozzarella-roasted tomato crostini. Really, though, no matter what you order, you cannot go wrong. It's impossible! Of all the times I've visited, I swear to you that Kelli Cotter---co-owner with her husband, Billy Cotter---has taken my order every single time. It's so cool to have such friendly, capable, accessible owners of this local gem. The place has limited seating, so you may want to call ahead if you're bringing a group. They've got tons of great outdoor seating, too, which is perfectly positioned at the crux of Five Points, which makes for some of the best people watching in the area.
(5)
Anne L.
Yummy cauliflower soup!
(4)
Ted Z.
Toast is hands down the best quick lunch you can get in downtown Durham. The sandwiches are excellent and made with high-quality ingredients, and are worthy of finer restaurants. My favorites are the Italian sausage with rapini, mortadella with pickled red onion, and pancetta with tomato (yes, I might have a pork addiction). The soups are routinely excellent and often reflect what's in season. They are simple yet flavorful -- recently I've had chilled cucumber and basil (great on a hot day) and lentils with pancetta. Any special that's on the board has usually been a safe bet for me. Beware, though, that peak hours are from 12-1:30 or so. Most tables are taken, it gets fairly loud, and there's usually a line, so try to come early or late for a more relaxed meal. Service is always friendly and attentive, however, and plates usually come out of the kitchen in about 7-8 minutes, regardless of how full the place is.
(5)
Henry S.
Toast is a great, relatively-new place in Durham. They serve a variety of sandwiches, as you may have guessed, but with a little bit of flair. They have all different types of bruschetta that you can put your sandwich on, or panini bread, or just plain toast. Nothing is over $8, so you can leave here without breaking the bank. Beware at lunch time, this restaurant gets overly packed with the work crowd, so come after 3 if you can.
(5)
kellie h.
as a new transplant to the durham area, i was excited to stumble upon toast in the gentrifying downtown. simple decor, friendly service (i suspect the lady at the counter and one of the hard working guys in the open kitchen are the owners) and killer food. first, i love how they use authentic and rare (at least by durham standards) ingredients AND they know how to spell/pronounce them. as a somewhat flexible pescatarian, i was happy to see that they always have at least one vegetarian soup everyday (you'd be surprised how hard it is to find soup w/o chicken stock). and the butternut squash soup was hearty and savory. thick specks of black pepper and a sprinkling of parmaggiano kept it from being too dessert-y, as this falltime soup can sometimes be. my panino of spicy tuna was complimented well with the lemon zest and thinly shaved fennel. it was pressed to perfection, without being too scratchy (what i call the capt'n crunch syndrome. once you're done eating, the roof of your mouth is completely annihilated.) and katy's special-of-the-day panino with roasted ham, roasted apples, some kind of cheese, and spicy mustard kept her quiet the whole meal. we didn't have room for sweets, but they have a cute selection of italian candies and cookies. even though we went at the height of lunch, the restaurant ran smoothly, with lots of smiles and yummy sandwiches. everyone there seemed happy. it's the kind of spot where everything looks amazing and you keep going back to try different stuff, but you could easily find yourself getting addicted to just one thing, over and over. count me in!
(5)
Keil J.
On some days, maybe more than half, this place has the best food I've ever had in my life.
(5)
Sarah L.
SOOOO GOOD!!! I admit, although it came recommended, I had low expectations. But everything was amazing! I had the beet/mint/orange bruschetta with a bowl of their bean soup of the day for $8, both were delicious! Hubby and I shared 2 of the crostinis (you get 2 pieces per order), also delicious. I can still taste the garlic in the pesto one, but loving it! For $20 we had a quick, tasty, local dinner. What more can I ask? I'll be back!
(5)
Daryl I.
What else can be said about this place? High quality ingredients in the hands of a talented chef = great food! The fact that it's very casual and way underpriced only makes it the Durham restaurant any passionate food person cannot miss regardless of their budget. Really nice people run Toast, and be assured that they know their stuff.
(5)
poli E.
Love it! This place has lots of amazing fresh food and I don't think the prices are all that high. Most meals will be around $10 which seems pretty good to me. The portions seem generous too considering the quality of the ingredients. I had the 3 crostini (each one is 2 slices of baguette covered in toppings) and green salad for $8. It was actually a bit too much food for me (but I finished every bite). It would be nice if they had a 2 crostini and salad deal for $6 at lunch (maybe they would do this I did not ask). My only complaint is that it is so far from work and home (so far on foot that is).
(5)
Ben R.
Tucked into a rather unassuming storefront, Toast is a nice little place to have an Italian-style sandwich for lunch. I had the spicy tuna with olivata, fennel, and lemon panini with a side salad. The food took a little while to get to us - about 20 minutes. Slow, considering it was lunch and people will be in a hurry. There weren't a lot of people there either. The tuna was flavorful, with a nice subtle vinegar bite from the minced olives. The bread was perfectly toasted (I would hope they get that right). Side salad had some tasty herbs interspersed in there (I tasted mint and parsley) and was dressed well with a light vinaigrette. That was all good, but the sandwich was kinda monotone. It was just a whole bunch of bites of tangy tuna. Couldn't taste the fennel. Good, but could have used something else - maybe some tomato? All in all, decent experience. I'll give it a 4 because I plan to come back and try another sandwich.
(4)
Brian L.
Procuitto painni was 3 stars, they use regular bread not painni bread. Get the salad with procuitto and the pesto roasted tomato mozzarella crostini...awesome!
(4)
kirol s.
Good, but not great, food. Very friendly and helpful service. I think the paninis are better at Parker & Otis. Nice to have as a downtown option, though.
(3)
sandy c.
reasonable priced paninis $6 and quite tasty too. the decor is cute sandwich shop. they had some biscotti, bagged chips and some cookies. overall a great place to grab lunch. we would definitely go back. i tried the proscuitto, mozzarella, tomato panini's and that was quite good but maybe could have used some basil or a basil pesto. the grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, salsa verde was an excellent sandwich.great flavors. the only suggestion about these sandwich is that the bread could have been thicker. the side salads looked quite fresh and good but we didnt get any this time. try the warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper crostini for a sweet and satisifying snack. the garlicky mushrooms, thyme, gorgonzola crostini was also excellent.
(4)
Michael R.
This is a great little spot to have something good to eat and it's cheap! I tried this spot out with a friend who had been here before. I had a little bit of wine, soup and mushroom crostini. The soup was slurppingly good, it was just enough of wine (a little more than a glass, but less than a carafe). Why would anyone go to one of the chain sandwich shops, when you could dine in Tuscany, is beyond me. I will definitely get back that way. I would have given it five stars, but they didn't have power for my laptop. I guess if they put more money into the decor, the prices would have to go up.
(4)
Lauryn C.
Just like the name you can expect all delicious types of combinations served on you guessed it bread. Stopped in Toast this week before catching a show at DPAC. Luckily it was a rare day in Feb. warm enough to enjoy a seat on their small patio. This is a casual fast restaurant where you order at the counter and they give you a number to bring to the table. They serve specials everyday and a different selection of red and white wine. You can get a glass of wine for $5 or a craft for $7 so obviously I went with the second choice. With all the tasty panini's, crostini's, tramezzini's, and brushetta on the menu I had a tough decision ahead of me. I decided to go with the kale panini. I love all things kale and I couldn't resist this panini with ricotta salata and hot cherry peppers. And let me tell you it did not disappoint I thought I could take half of it home with you but as I stared at the other half I couldn't resist and just had to finish it all. I also ordered a few crostini's to try: the goat cheese and honey, pesto and mozzarella, and avocado special. No complaints I liked everything I tried. I really wish they would open a location in Raleigh it would be a huge success and we don't really have a place like this that I can compare Toast to. I am more then willing to make the drive out to Durham to eat here again though. For a really good and inexpensive dinner Toast is a great place to go.
(5)
Maria L.
I scoped this place out on yelp and came for lunch while exploring downtown Durham. I ordered the soup and 3 crostini combo. The soup of the day was chilled cucumber which was perfect and light for a hot spring day. The crostini I ordered were 1) chicken liver - delicious and rich, topped with a nice piece of bacon and some kind of pickle which added some acid to the fatty flavor; 2) roasted beet - light and bright, probably my favorite of the three but it's a close race; and 3) goat cheese and honey - sweet and creamy, the perfect finish for my plate. Everything I ate I deeply enjoyed and I literally was saying "Mmm" the whole time I was there. The restaurant itself is counter service and a small interior, I can imagine that during peak lunch hours it could be difficult to find seating. The servers were friendly and quick. I will be back (the paninis also looked great)!
(5)
Mike M.
It was ok I wasn't thrilled with what I ordered I may go back it just wasn't what I expected I left there disappointed .
(3)
Anthony M.
I don't know how I haven't gotten around to reviewing Toast yet. Ask me where I want to go out for lunch and the first place that will come to my mind is Toast. If I am picking up a dinner to go one of the first places that will come to mind is Toast. The paninis/crostinis really are a unique, creative mix of ingredients and everything is fresh and often locally grown. The soup is fantastic(!) and makes it worth the trip alone. And how much are you paying for this quality? Just ten bucks, sign me up! I've tried a lot of their menu, I'll be honest, every sandwich is not fantastic but this place definitely still merits five stars because a lot of them are and there has still been something to appreciate with each one I've had. This is a restaurant that cares about quality food and it shows. My standbys are the tuscan kale, chicken, and the portabello paninins. It's a Durham staple that is often crowded for a reason, Toast is the real deal.
(5)
Lizzy L.
Toast has been on my bookmarked list of places to try in downtown Durham for awhile now, and I finally got to check it out on Friday for lunch! We parked on the street and walked over to Toast. The line moves quickly and we were able to order at the counter before finding a table to sit down. The sandwiches average about $7.50 each. We waited....and waited...and waited...and about 20 minutes later, when we could not hold our hunger any longer, we went up to the counter to ask about the status of our sandwiches. They said that it takes awhile to prepare the paninis...Anyways, they finally brought out food out a few minutes later to the tables. I ordered the rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, asiago fresca panini. My friends ordered 1) Three Cheese grana padano, asiago fresca, pecorino, truffle oil panini and 2) tramezzini with egg salad, capers, chives. My panini was delightfully tasty, with crispy toasted bread. The sausage was my fave part. My friends loved the Three Cheese panini and said it was one of the best grilled cheese paninis they've ever had. My other friend thought his egg salad tramezzini was just ok, and that he would prefer a hot panini instead of the cold tramezzini sandwiches. Great place for yummy sandwiches, although service was quite slow.
(4)
Kerianne S.
This is a great lunch spot. Fast service and great ambiance. I ordered the grilled chicken panini, and it was delicious. Best panini I've had so far in the Durham area. Also has free wifi. Edited to add: Toast's soup and salad combo is awesome. They change up the two soup choices daily. I've come here several times over the past month and a half, and had a different soup nearly every time, and I've loved the taste and creative flair of each one. The latest soup I've had is the celery root puree with lemon oil, and it tastes like pure awesomeness.
(5)
Renu A.
Toast is a cute little spot in downtown Durham but I would say my meal was just A-OK. I tried the portobello sandwich with a side of soup. I liked my sandwich but it was something I could have easily made with a ton of cheese and a hot grill...just sayin. It was a chilly day so a warm cheesy sandwich with hot soup definitely hit the spot. I just don't think I would pay the $$ for a soup+sandwich combo, especially when what I had wasn't all that exciting. My friend and I were here at lunch time on a weekend and it got pretty full inside quick so it's obviously a well liked restaurant around here. Definitely worth a try but maybe not a' try again.'
(3)
Jeremy H.
Pleasantly palatable and perfectly picturesque Panini :P If you have an Alexander Hamilton (that's a $10 dolla bill for those who cheated their way through US History) yearning to escape your purse or wallet, and you're near downtown Durham with a hankering for an Italian sando AND soup , then get yourself over to "Toast"! I loved my lunch here yesterday! I had the Grilled Chicken Panini with roasted peppers, ooey-gooey mozzarella, salsa verde and a pesto sauce. I also had the tomatoey Calabrian Onion Soup with croutons and provolone. The panini was truly perfect. The soup was a lil slurp of heaven, one spoonful at a time. Pair the panini and the soup together, and you have a lunch that will definitely satisfy. Trust! My Pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/toas…
(4)
Carroll H.
From the outside, Toast is pretty unassuming looking, but don't let that fool you, the food and service there is great. On the inside the place has something of an upscale vibe to it--not snooty by any stretch, but most of the patrons I saw were very nicely dressed, drinking wine and chatting while eating their sandwiches. I had the daily special Panini (ham, cheese, and pickled hot peppers) and it was outstanding. The sandwich had plenty of ham, cheese, and peppers on it, and the bread was quite good, too. I also had a root beer. The food quality seems excellent, and the time between ordering and them dropping off you food order at your table was very reasonable. Other than that, there's not much to the service there, but for a place like that, would you really expect anything more? The prices seemed a tad high, but they may be in line with prices in the area. I don't have any way to judge whether that's the case or not because I don't live in Durham and don't go there very often. Still, I was more than happy with what I got, so I'm giving them 4 stars.
(4)
Sarah C.
I've lived in Durham more than four years, and of all of the amazing food in this city, Toast rises to the top of the heap for me. I've been probably 20 times over the years, and I've never had anything that was short of perfect. My go-to (as a vegetarian) is the four cheese panini (sooo much better than your average grilled cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it...a perfect blend of melted cheeses and a touch of truffle oil) and whatever the daily veg soup is (their lentil soup rocks my world). I went again yesterday and for the first time tried the salad -- so crisp, fresh and flavorful. Everything is made-to-order and the employees are super nice. The only challenge can be finding seating during a lunch rush -- but now they've recently added outdoor seating, so that alleviates some of that issue. Basically, you really cannot go wrong at Toast, everything everything everything is wonderful!
(5)
N K.
Really not worth the price. Portabello panni was greasy n more cheese than mushroom. Go to Parker n Otis ...they do way better sandwiches there...
(2)
Brooke H.
I could eat lunch here every day. The food is amazing. The crostini and salad combo is the best. You choose 3 plus the salad which has a wonderful vinagarette dressing. The warm goat cheese and honey is amazing!
(5)
Sarah S.
Great little place to grab a delicious sandwich and salad. I stopped in on my way to the airport. I enjoyed their chicken salad with a roasted garlic aioli and a side salad. The sandwich was served on delicious white bread with no crust. My daughter would have loved that gesture, but I love the crust. The chicken salad was very flavorful, and seasoned perfectly. My side salad was simple yet the star! The dressing was so flavorful and with the large shavings of fresh Parmesan I was in heaven.
(4)
Nicole G.
I have to say, I will be returning to this place. I ordered the grilled chicken panini and complimented it with some zapp's potato chips. The young lady who took our order was extremely friendly(always, a plus)! I was checking out other people's plates and wanted to try everything. We went during lunchtime and sat inside. Next time, I'd like to sit outside.
(4)
Angelique A.
Great selection of sandwiches at reasonable prices. Nothing to go out of your way for, but if you're hankering for a sandwich and are closeby, give it a try.
(4)
Claudia M.
First lunch at my internship, looks like a very popular downtown Durham place to have lunch. Service is incredibly friendly and empathetic. The person who serves lunch is incredibly kind. I had a question about the strawberry ricotta cake and she took time to kindly explain what it is made with and assured me that it was delicious. I ordered it but had a moment of hesitation when I saw the price ($4.50- more than fair for a full desert plate) and almost cancelled my order, but the person who took my order, despite the line of people behind me, so despite being incredibly busy, acknowledged my hesitation, and patiently suggested I didn't have to order the cheese cake sand recommend cheaper options of cookies (that looked equally delicious). I didn't cancel my strawberry ricotta cake, but that whole encounter with the kind, smiley person who took my order, left me with such a warm fuzzy feeling. I am now sitting outside waiting for my sandwich (I ordered the sausage panini); it's a 15 min wait to pick up (and for sitting dowb as well), which is not bad fire what seems to be one of the busiest /popular places to have lunch in Durham during week days.
(5)
Melissa A.
Big fan of prosciutto and their panini did not disappoint. Tight fitting restaurant but we made it in at 11:30am just beating the lunch time rush.
(4)
Sungmin S.
I haven't reviewed Toast yet?? Blasphemy. Toast is this cute little shop at five point that serve authentic Italian sandwiches. It's one of the first restaurants Duke underclassmen who think they're so hip for traveling downtown will dine at as well. I like Toast because it's intimate and familiar, yet interesting. Their goat cheese and honey crostini is delish, and the owner Kelli is friendly and fun to chat with. I really like trying the daily specials (sandwich, soup and crostini!), but on their regular menu, the tuscan kale panini is my best pick. I really like the grilled chicken one too, but I try not to get it often because oh, I don't know, I think it's so boring to not explore all the cool paninis on the menu!
(4)
Kurdy P.
I've eaten here a few times and I'm definitely a fan. The place is a no frills place, which is what i like about it. They have fresh ingredients and your food is made to order. They have great selections on specials and their every day menu has a great selection as well. I'm a huge fan of the goat cheese crostini along with the portabello one. I feel that those with big appetites may not be satisfied here but for those who don't this place is perfect. The soup selection is great as well and my favorite is the french onion soup. Parking is a pain in that part of Durham so I tend to go in the evenings and avoid the lunch traffic.
(4)
Eric A.
Not a big panini person, but I had a few bites of a few different items here and it was all really good. Hope to come back soon and get a whole panini to myself!
Really liked this place. Great salad , soup and crostini . Fast and reasonably priced.
(4)
Sarah J.
Oh my heavens!! My husband and I are in town visiting Durham from St Louis, and thanks to yelp we found this hidden jewel. We both ordered the crustini sampler and soup--- and were both blown away! This was hands down one of the best lunch meals either of us has had in a long time! The lemony artichoke soup had a unique, rich flavor (I wanted to lick my bowl clean!), the goat cheese crustini with local honey and cracked pepper was to die for. My favorite was the daily lunch special crustini with avocado, lemon and parmesan. The restaurant is relatively small but has a few tables outside. The service was pretty quick and all of the staff members were really helpful. Bottom line: Will I be back?? Oh gosh, I sure hope so. Please franchise this in St. Louis!
(5)
Adam B.
I've been to Toast a number of times, especially because I know a good sandwich when I see... taste one. The cool things that instantly pop out of my mind is the neat hipster-ish but not annoying pretentious attitude, their passion for being local, and the overall great location that they have downtown. It's right in the middle of everything, and I'd be ecstatic to have their spot. Their sandwiches have interesting twists on some traditional flavors, and you'd be hard pressed to not find something without an aoli, unorthodox spread, or some artisan cheese. My girlfriend loves their portabella sandwiches, and I"m a simple red pepper chicken kind of guy. The cons is that the place is always crazy busy (guess it's not their problem). The best way to take of this problem is to simply call your food order in like 20 mins ahead of time. In the age of the cell phone, this is just the way to go :) Recommended, have a sandwich, sit outside, enjoy the day.
(4)
Chrysa L.
My dining companions absolutely loved it. For me, it was just OK. I had the farm egg, tallegio, and chives panini. Something about it was just a little weird. I (still) am not sure what it was, but at the time I was so famished that I almost did not care what I was eating. One of my friends could not stop raving about the celery soup and was still talking about it the next day. Another friend enjoyed the chicken liver crostini and said it definitely hit the spot. The prices are very reasonable and the staff was beyond kind. It was a cute place, but I think I would try something else should I ever re-visit.
(3)
Sabrina S.
For my birthday, my boyfriend and I decided to go on a "progressive date," in which you have an appetizer at one place, dinner at another, and dessert at another. I had planned everything out and thought downtown Durham would be perfect! We could walk everywhere. I knew where we were going for appetizers, desserts, and even drinks afterwards. I left dinner up to him. And being him, he chose Toast since it was so conveniently located near Mateo where we went for tapas. We walked in and were not impressed by the place at all. It looked a bit dirty to be honest. So he offered to take me somewhere else but we decided to stay cause I thought I heard good things about Toast. Unfortunately, I was confused with the Toast in Charlotte which has rave reviews. Anyway, I ordered the proscuitto/tomato/mozzarella panini and he ordered the kale panini. Neither of our sandwiches were even remotely appetizing. My proscuitto was dried up and super salty and he said his sandwich was basically a pound of over-cooked kale on bread. We had to force ourselves to eat the whole thing. And we didn't even have a saving grace side because they come a la carte! Complete waste of money!! My boyfriend was so upset because he had taken me to such a crappy place for my birthday that he decided to take me to a second dinner just to wash down that terrible kale taste. We still joke about it almost every day, and it's been a week since we've been there. We will never be going back to Toast again. I make better sandwiches myself
(2)
Andy W.
One of my very favorite lunch spots. Great local ingredients and the most friendly restaurant staff I've ever met.
(5)
Jackie T.
Toast rocks...love the small plates. Always fresh and just amazing. I like to get several small choices rather than the pananni but that's just me. The dining area is small but space opens up quickly.
(4)
Jennifer W.
I just moved from Brooklyn, and Toast made me feel right at home. Good crostini with experimental flavors (and everything that incorporates goat cheese gets two thumbs up from me) and an atmosphere that was very green-friendly. I met someone here on a casual business meeting...we were lucky to grab one of the small tables for two! This place starts hopping around lunch, with its close proximity to the American Tobacco Campus. Just don't expect to go home stuffed - this isn't that sort of place.
(4)
Yujin C.
I had the Tramenzzini and soup. I got the one with pancetta, arugula and oven-roasted tomato tramezzini and the spoup special was a celery..something soup. The soup was good. It was nice and creamy with a bit of twang to it. The Traemzzini was good, except, the pancetta was over cooked so it was a bit hard to chew. I think the sandwhich would have been better if the bread was toasted. Since the bread was soft it was a bit messy trying to eat it. Over all I think the food was good but I would not get the pancetta tramenzzini again.
(3)
Natacha S.
Delicious! Went for lunch today with some friends and had the portobello sandwich and the bean soup. Mmm it was the perfect balance and amount of healthy and yummy grub. Left feeling satisfied-full and happy :) also had a sip of the cauliflower soup which was equally delicious!!
(5)
Dina D.
The sandwiches are really good here. And they have variety for a vegetarian, which is nice! It gets crowded here, which is the only downside, with lines.
(4)
Bethany A.
I came here with a big group of people and was a little scared that the restaurant would not be able to accommodate all of us, but since we came late, it was okay. The inside is very simple - with a few tables and chairs and then the counter where you order. Very cute decor, but nothing fancy. There are lots of different options on the menu and all of them are priced pretty reasonably. You can get a salad, a panini, some soup, or crostinis. I want to go back to try the crostinis, but because I was pretty hungry, I opted for a rapini and sweet Italian sausage panini with chilled cucumber soup. The panini was absolutely delicious. The rapini was fresh and crunchy, and provided a great contrast to the creamy melted cheese (not sure what kind it was, but it was really good) and the slight heat of the sausage. The bread was on point too. Overall, just a terrific sandwich. I would 110 % order it again. My friends also said the chicken panini was good. The soup got mixed reviews. Personally I really liked how cucumber-y it tasted and the drizzle of olive oil on top made it really rich. But there was a lot of vinegar in the soup, so some of my friends really didn't like it. Bottom line: don't order it if you don't like sour things. Great sandwiches you can pair with their homemade soup selections at a great price. If you're in downtown Durham and not part the line always standing in front of Dame's, make it a goal to come here.
(4)
Jarrod S.
This place doesn't melt my face off every time, but its a solid establishment that offers an array of what I assume are traditional Italian soups and sandwiches. While there are definitely sandwiches that merit 5 stars, not every one is a homerun and some are barely ground rule doubles. Still the presence of some solid 5's, paired with the owner's cheery bedside manner and some delicious Italian confections for your post sandwich guilt binge win this unique spot a 5 star rating.
(5)
Elizabeth K.
Delicious sandwiches! We got food to-go before going to a matinee at DPAC. I has to wait for our food about 15 min after ordering but it was worth the wait! The lentil soup was yummy and spicy. I got the chicken panini and my husband got the prosciutto. Both were good but I'd recommend the prosciutto. Great beer selection! Oooh, and the chocolate chip cookies were awesome!!!!
(5)
Kevin L.
Jesus H, what a happy accident it was to eat here. With 30 minutes to burn before catching a bus out of town, and with an anguished empty stomach howling, I spotted Toast as my closest and best bet for a grab-and-go meal. While I was only inside for a few hot minutes, I absorbed much about Toast's finer qualities. They are efficient, warm and welcoming, and they have their interior to a science--an artful science--from unobtrusive photographs to the grand 'scriptive definition of toast (vb.) high on the main facing wall. I watched other meals come out, and all was prepared and presented in a clean, impressive fashion. My sandwich was a portobello panini with just the right crunch and full of flavor. The small menu is not short on variety, guaranteeing a must-return to give one or two other options an opportunity. Sticking to their roots, Toast also serves wine. In addition, they have an eclectic variety of drinks, variations on the norm, available for the uninebriated. Toast is all about TASTE. Everyone appeared thoroughly content with their late Friday lazy lunch. What's not to love??
(4)
Damo B.
Simply amazing Paninis and soup. Great place to have lunch or an early dinner.
(4)
Cade L.
Great option for brunch/lunch. Quality ingredients and interesting flavors. I'm a fan of the prosciutto panini. The soups are very fresh and flavorful. There lots of seating but this place does get pretty packed at peak hours, but it's easy to find somewhere to chow down outside if the weather is nice.
(4)
Kevin S.
Atmosphere is very plain. Food is not. Got the chicken, Mozz, and pepper panini. Great spot to grab some light food. Good service, decent selection of menu items, including vegetarian. Hot and cold paninis.
(4)
Rachel M.
I just love this place. The food is great, though you should feel free to ask questions if you don't know what something is or have food preferences. I adore their tuna sandwich. I hate tuna salad, period, but their tuna sandwich doesn't have mayo in it so it's not as much "tuna salad" as actual tuna on a sandwich :) and their soups! NEVER had a bad one. And they actually switch them out (lookin at you Parker and Otis) so it's always something new and different. And for those complaining about price in the other reviews, they are comparable to Havana and P&O in town so they are not out of range for this area of town. If you don't like $7.5 for a sandwich, then consider a different kind of meal. Lastly, my favorite thing about Toast is that I can have food which is warm, comforting, and tasty AND has vegetables in it. I feel like it's easy to make a real meal here that makes you feel like you made a "good choice". It makes it worth it for me.
(5)
Roxanne R.
Toast is amazing due to its high quality ingredients (i.e. cheese, olive, oil, etc.) and fantastic flavor combinations (citrus polenta cake yum!). You can tell that the food is made with thought and passion. The owner is there every time I come, and she makes everyone feel welcome. This is the perfect lunch spot!
(5)
Sarah C.
As a quick update, they serve a chilled tomato bisque that is like eating summer; so when the steamy streets of Durham have you wilting during those long hot months, grab yourself a bowl.
(5)
Lauren R.
It's hard not to like Toast. It's where I bring out-of-town friends (along with Fullsteam, of course) to show them how awesome Durham is. It's in an old building--tall ceilings and wooden floors. The decor is bright but minimalist. They have a fancy board of sandwiches in several different styles (cold, mini open-face crostini, panini, and so on). There often isn't enough seating--but because it's an order-at-the-counter place, I'm not sure how else the restaurant would regulate it. Over the past few years I've tried much of the menu. I haven't absolutely loved everything, but I've found that the ingredients are fresh, the preparation is well executed, and I can always find something to fit my mood. Yes, some of the ingredients are fancy Italian cured meats that the average person wouldn't recognize, but I doubt that someone would have trouble finding a sandwich here--they have everything from egg salad sandwiches to chicken pesto paninis. My biggest complaint is that Toast closes at 8pm, and (especially in the summer) it seems like it would be a great place to grab a bite a bit later -- like before getting a cocktail up the street at Alley 26 or next door at Whiskey.
(5)
Miglena K.
Tasty food, comes out quick, portions are on the smaller size, which I did enjoy because they are rich and flavorful!
(4)
Alice Y.
My boyfriend and I went to Toast for lunch today after reading all these great reviews about the place on Yelp. We were sorely disappointed with our lunch. I ordered the spicy tuna panini with the soup of the day (some lemony artichoke soup). Both were really sour and honestly, unappetizing. I only ate half my sandwich because I couldn't bear the thought of throwing away $9. I had a few spoonfuls of soup thinking maybe it'll grow on me. Definitely did not. My boyfriend ordered the Italian sausage panini. He did not like it either but finished it because it was "edible." He also had the other soup of the day (tomato soup). That was the best thing we ordered and hence deserving of two stars.
(2)
Lori Z.
This is a great little place with indoor and outdoor seating. The European style sandwiches are delicious and creative.
(4)
Dava W.
The best panini I ever had! It had rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca. I paired it with a hearty soup containing arborio rice, parmigiano reggiano and cherry tomatoes, all for $9! It was awesome. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Katharine B.
Cute little panini shop. Stopped in for a bite after the farmer's market and had a delicious panini.
(4)
D M.
I'm guilty of eating at Toast more than a few times. I think each time will be better because of all the great reviews. It does not get better. Toast serves up average food you can find in your kitchen if you're too lazy to venture out. Very disappointing restaurant...nice staff, boring food.
(2)
Jessica B.
Loved this little quaint cozy sandwich place, the service was great and so was the food. I split with my friend both sandwiches, we had the portabello and the chicken fontina sandwich. Both were great and i also tried the onion soup which was really good too. We sat inside as all tables outside were taken.
(4)
Teri P.
I don't know what to say besides "YUM"!! One of the better grilled cheeses of my life. the cucumber soup was delicious. The wait wasn't *too* bad even though it was the height of lunch time, and the staff were delightful and helpful and let me make all kinds of special order requests. It did seem like it took a long time between ordering and getting food, but then again there had been about 15 people in line in front of us and I can't imagine there's a big kitchen back there. Delicious...if I were local, I'd frequent this place as they have lots of imagination where lunch is concerned.
(4)
Meghan B.
I have now been to Toast 5 times in the month of October (obsessive, I know), but they haven't really let me down. I may be the one eater who isn't totally in love with the portabello panini, but the butternut squash panini that was the special this month for Durham's Vegan Challenge was yummmmmy. And if I had my own secretary (aka servant) I would make him pick me up a Toast salad at least 3 times a week. Yes, my servant would be a guy, preferably a George Clooney look-a-like. If you know of any prospective applicants for this position, please forward me their resumes.
(5)
Tara M.
The portobello, fontina, arugula, roasted tomato panini I had for lunch was very tasty! I got there before the lunch rush, so I didn't have to wait long for my food. The gem of my meal was the honey and goat cheese crostini I got! Yummy!
(4)
N M.
We were driving through Durham, and made a pit stop here and had a superb lunch. About the best salad you could imagine, and the sandwiches were ridiculously good. They even had a big local beer selection. Fantastic!
(5)
Keely P.
I spent a lot of last winter eating at toast. I was working at the Arts council building and found that toast had just what I needed before I had to go in for the night. All the variety of sandwiches were greatly appreciated as well as the small batch sodas. I wish it was a little bigger and the prices were a smidge lower. But overall I would go back if I need a good hearty meal whilst in five points.
(3)
Mandy L.
There is nothing on the menu i would not recommend. absolutely adore this place! goat cheese crostini with honey and chicken liver crostini is AMAZING
(5)
Shea M.
OMG....there are no words. Fresh strong flavors in every bite....and so reasonable....I had the goat cheese crostinis and chilled heirloom tomato soup....and it will be hard to top...so so good.
(5)
Rebecca F.
Fantastic quality and quantity! A little small in stature/seating space but so great considering the artisinal quality of the sandwiches and soups. If they have the gazpacho you MUST try it. Sweet with a slight kick, so simple & delicious. A great place to grab a quick bite and a glass of wine before heading over to the DPAC.
(4)
Ben M.
If you have no idea what a paninoteca is, it's fortunately spelled out for you on the wall in a helpful dictionary format. Put shortly, though, it's an Italian sandwich shop. If you don't know what anything else is in there, that's okay. It's all spelled out for you at Toast. This may be why a place with a small, yet challenging menu can have taken off as the worst-kept secret in Durham so fast. Or maybe it's because the sandwiches are amazing. Due to a lack of proper exposure, I thought that paninis were a suitable alternative to a regular sandwich in a place like Panera Bread. Once I had the rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca panini at Toast? I get it. I've only been a few times, and have tried very hard to order something different each time. It's difficult, because everytime I get something it's my new favorite and I want it again. Remember that I called it the worst kept secret in Durham, because even in off hours, there's quite a line to the counter. This should say more about the quality of the food here than anything I can write about how much I adore those sandwiches.
(5)
Garrett W.
Toast is absolutely wonderful. I've eaten there three times since I discovered it last week. I was a huge fan of Chapel Hill's Sandwich until I found Toast. The food here is at least as good as any sandwich place you've ever been, and the location is perfect for an afternoon spent wandering around the city. So far I've had the Grilled Chicken and Salsa Verde, the Procciuto and Tomato, and a special that eludes me at the moment. All were exactly what I wanted at that moment. The woman who works the front of the house (who I assume is the owner) is always bright and chipper and very helpful. I withheld the fifth star because it's pretty daunting to get in during a rush, as there is no table service, which I think they ought to consider during the high volume lunch hour, but I will concede that it IS a deli, and perhaps my hope here is unfair. Eat here; you'll be glad you did.
(4)
Liwei Y.
Excellent sandwiches!!! I love the sandwiches here, probably on of the best sandwich places in Durham!! It's not very expensive either. Only thing is this place is a little small and I hate how it's not open on Sundays. :(
(4)
Carter N.
I had a tasty panini. My only complaint was the the grease/cooking smoke from the kitchen was lingering in the dining area. It sort of permeated into my clothes and made my eyes burn. Luckily my panini was awesome. Just be patient b/c it does take them a few minutes to make it.
(5)
Will C.
Excellent crostini, panini, and $3 beers. The honey crostini was delicious. Sit outside on a nice day.
(4)
Liz J.
Favorite lunch spot! Farm egg panini is amazing, and they have some of the best salads around - simple and delicious!
(5)
Dave S.
Solid lunch spot. I've only been once or twice, but the food was good. It was somewhat reasonably priced too. The only drawback was that it was very, very, very crowded. Plan for that if you decide to go.
(4)
Ben M.
Toast is amazing. The food is routinely awesome - not just good. Their sandwiches are sensational, but try the soups and desserts, too. Having a delicious panini sandwich and a glass of wine is just about the nicest way to end a busy day, and you can't get any better than Toast. To top it all off, the proprietress is so friendly; she always brightens my day. Why are you still reading this? Go get a sandwich!
(5)
Lia S.
Toast is a little diamond in the rough. The food, especially the shrimp and watercress salad, is FANTASTIC. I'm from NYC and have since moved back to NYC and even with the millions of choices available to me, I miss that shrimp salad sandwich. The service is great, everybody is always smiling, and the food is fresh, light, and tasty. The crostinis are also incredible, especially the goat cheese and fig one. Ugh... my mouth is watering... time for a trip back to Durham!
(5)
erin w.
We have become regulars at Toast and I can't say enough about this quaint sandwich shop and perfect lunch spot. My husband eats at Toast at least once, and usually twice, during the work week. His usual suspects are the tuscan kale panini and the chicken salad tramezzini. I order the same thing every time: 3 different crostini (warm goat cheese, pesto/mozz/tom, and vegetarian crostini of the day) and the veggie soup of the day. My favorite things about Toast are that it's very friendly to non meat eaters, it's open in the late afternoon (most places close between lunch and dinner), and the friendly owner is always the one who takes orders. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
S M.
What an amazing find- recommend trying something with goat cheese, but everything we tried was EXCELLENT
(5)
Michelle K.
Delicious! Everything is always absolutely delicious!
(5)
Jon B.
The prices are great, the people who run the place are fantastic, the food is wonderful. What more can you ask for? Only downside - at lunch it gets busy, and the tiny kitchen can get backed up. Nevertheless, fantastic place
(5)
Cate Z.
I can walk to Toast from work. How lucky am I, right? I love their soups, especially on cold days. Their sandwiches are divine in their simplicity and thoughtful combination. The lunch crowd packs in so go early!
(5)
Meg T.
Have only been once but what a great lunch spot. Had a kale/ricotta/pickled pepper panini that was very tasty but kinda spicy. The ribollita soup was deeelish! All the choices seemed super yum and wish I could taste everything on the menu. It's a very (VERY) noisy restaurant, so if this is an issue for you you might want to get it to-go. I hope that the owners will try some things to cut back on the noise. It's a pretty easy thing to mitigate with some clever placement of foam or other insulators. I would say that the noise level might be unbearable for someone wearing hearing aids, with tinnitus, or just plain noise sensitivities. This is just a note, don't let it prevent you from trying the food at Toast because it's def worth some aural discomfort! And the best part is--- it's SUPER AFFORDABLE. Less than $10 for a good sized panini and generous portion of soup.
(4)
Dave S.
Definitely overhyped, all things considered - but given the options, it's a local five, even if a four overall. The ingredients are top-notch, and there's obviously some love put into the food, but I feel like maybe the minds behind the menu overreached just a little. A bit less glitz and a bit more technique could make this place a five. That being said, if you can get in at a time when there's not a totally ridiculous wait, it's definitely worth a try. I look forward to eating here again when I'm in Durham next.
(4)
Amanda U.
Excellent food, nice service, and amazing ingredients.
(5)
Nathan G.
Good Sandwiches, maybe a little pricey, but definitely good food!
(4)
Gloria L.
I had read great reviews of Toast and wanted to try it out. My mother was visiting from out of state and we went by, but they were closed on Saturday afternoons. Last week my boyfriend and his sister (visiting from New Jersey) and I went on a weekday afternoon when we were the only customers. We're all vegetarians or vegans, and we tried different sandwiches but all basically came to the same conclusion: the paninis we had were tepid, not flavorful, ok if you're hungry and have no other option, but not worth the $10 it cost per person. When you compare this to Carrburritos or even Neal's Deli, which only has one vegetarian sandwich but one that's fabulous, it's pretty disappointing what you get for the same price at this place. The reviews I've read about how great this place is must be based on the decor, because the food is simply lacking. I would maybe give it another try for the soups, but a sandwich shop should have good sandwiches.
(1)
Andrew P.
This place was awesome. The first thing I noticed was the rather simple menu (in terms of choices), but then as I read on I saw each choice was full of several delicious local ingredients. I ordered the grilled chicken panini with roasted peppers and mozarella, and the crostini with herb pesto, mozarella and roasted tomato on the side. The staff were all very friendly, the food was great and well priced, and the service was fast (even with someone from a huge group jumping in front of line to order for everyone). I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for awesome food made with local ingredients for a great price!
(5)
Christina G.
Jam-packed for lunch-tme on Saturday. But there still seemed to be enough seating inside and out to contain everyone who wanted to stick around and eat. Punchy and posh minimal decor (the pics on here represent it well). I ordered the three-cheese sandwich -- which (as the name may suggest) was a bit :too: much cheese for me to handle; seriously, it was a little difficult to swallow, there was so much cheese. My crostini on the other hand was delicious (warm goat cheese, black pepper and honey). My date got the italian sausage sandwich which he shared with me -- again, just not uber-impressed. His crostini was a cheese-and-mushroom thing, which was alright. Overall, I just didn't think the food lived up to the outstanding reviews here. I get a much better "wow" out of the delicious sammies over in CH at Sandwhich. And I even prefer the yum-factor at Jack Sprat. Still, I love that this is a quirky local establishment, and the food is definitely fresh, so I'm a supporter.
(3)
Mat F.
One of my favorite restaurants in Durham. Prices are cheap, and all the sandwiches and soups are good. I've gotten the grilled cheese about 94% of trips here, and it is excellent!! I love getting it with the vegetarian soup option, usually lentil or squash. A bunch of different crostinis make for good desserts or alternate savory options
(5)
Sharp H.
Great place for lunch downtown. I've loved all the panini and crostini I've had here. They have a great selection of both, with both innocuous typical ingredients and unusual stuff for the more adventurous that sounds delicious even if you're not bold enough to try something new. They also have a great selection of smaller brands of soda. One of the problems is that it's so popular that you can spend a while waiting and it can be hard to get a seat if you're with a group of more than two, but I can forgive them that because the food is so good.
(4)
Emilia C.
Yumm! Inexpensive, wonderful paninis and soups.
(5)
Lika G.
My husband and I recently went to Toast for weekday lunch, and we really enjoyed it! The atmosphere is bright and uplifting, but still peaceful enough for those who want to sip a cup of coffee and write (or grade) a paper. There was a good mix of people, albeit not too many just yet . (This is a new place after all, and perhaps still somewhat undiscovered?) Some patrons were having a relaxed business meeting, some just reading and/or enjoying good food! The owners made us feel at home - they were both very nice, easy going yet attentive. But what about the food....right? In my humble opinion, what makes a great meal is the quality, not the quantity -- prepared and spiced well so that you don't need an overstuffed stomach to feel satisfied with your meal. So in response to another review: No, the sandwiches are not HUGE; instead, they're *just the right size* for a healthy, delicious meal! AND... isn't that best in the long run? For one, it means less waste! After all, there are lotsa folks out there that do not clean "bigger" plates, and they also don't get doggy bags either. So why not eliminate the waste of throwing away uneaten food, right? (Just my two cents, of course!)
(4)
Jenean E.
I just want to update and say I eat there regularly, and have tried at least half the menu, and Toast is amazing. And affordable. And the owners are really nice. Love.
(5)
William J.
I love sandwiches, and it's that fact that makes me wish I got out to this part of Durham more often. For Toast (capital T). The paninis here are amazing, and that's coming from a guy who normally like his sandwiches cold. They're filling and flavorful and actually have a good texture to them, an all-too-rare thing in the panini business. The prices can be a bit steep, especially for the relatively smaller portions, but it's not really a big deal. You'll be best served by coming here for a quick - but not too quick - snack lunch.
(4)
david s.
second strike and i haven't eaten there yet.... i have tried twice now to go to toast because everyone is talking about it. even did the seach on the iphone and it gave me the incorrect times of their being open. i arrived at 3:03....they close at 3...no leniency. i even wrote an email to them about my experience to no reply. so, i know nothing about the food, and i know a lot about their service. you can read in to this as you see fit....and i'm more than willing to make the effort, are they?
(1)
Laura S.
My fiance and I went to Toast on a Monday morning right when they opened at 11. We were their first order of the day-they accommodated my request to have a custom panini (caprese style panini). The food was delicious. Fiance got a priscuitto panini and proclaimed it "the best panini I've ever had". We will definitely go back-my only complaint is how long our food took-about 15/20 mins for our food when we were the first order of the day so there's no excuse of a back up. Food was phenomenal though!
(5)
Brian C.
The 3 crostini deal with salad keeps me coming back. I generally don't care for goat cheese or dainty morsels, but I can't help myself. It's a light meal that fills me up.
(5)
Sarah D.
Toast must be the best sandwich shop in town. I went for the second time today. The first time I enjoyed crostini and salad that tasted so good that this time I dragged my spouse along. The cashier lady was STILL smiling and cheerful. We each ordered a panini with salad, which my spouse declared "great" *chomp chomp chomp*. My panini was tuscale kale with ricotta and peppers. What a fantastic way to get my serving of leafy greens. My spouse ordered the three-cheese panini and loved it. They have a great selection of cold beverages. There weren't quite enough seats but the turnover was rapid so we found a place to sit in no time. Our lunch came to a total of $21 and arrived hot and fresh within minutes. All in all, a cheerful and efficient place to grab a healthy, luxuriously well-made lunch.
(4)
Dane S.
Toast is a new Italian sandwich shop that has just opened in downtown durham in the Five Points area. I came in the day after their grand opening, apparently right after a rush. The staff are, well, a husband and wife team: the owners! I spent a couple minutes talking with one of them, congratulating them on their new business, and browsing their menu. It is fairly simple in that their are pretty much just sandwiches at lunch; but a plethora of choices. I can't remember what I ordered - the soup and salad combo. It was amazing. High quality eating. The prices are very reasonable, considering the quality of the food. I think I spent $6. I was told, and it appeared to be so, that they offer basically a dual menu: half of the sandwiches are vegetarian (and very likely vegan), and one of the two soups of the day are also vegetarian. Tasty place - I'm definitely gonna revisit.
(5)
Shannon S.
Toast was very yummy. Laura, at Rock, Paper Scissors Salon recommended it, and I decided to give it a try today after my trip to the farmer's market. I had the prosciutto panini and side salad. The tea was refreshing, the panini was yummy, hot and fresh and I loved the salad (I think there was a hint of fresh sea salt). Either way it was yummy, and I will definitely be back.
(5)
Caitlin B.
We came here for lunch while I was visiting a friend in the area. My only complaint really is that the seating was very limited and the line was long, but that's to be expected from a small sandwich shop. I had the special which was a ham panini with apples and mustard that sounds ridiculous but was a really good mix of sweet and...not sweet. Of course I sampled all of my friends' lunches and my favorites were the goat cheese, honey, and cracked pepper crostini and the chicken and roasted red pepper panini. When the weather is nice there is outdoor seating right across the street which comes in handy since there was no way we were going to get a seat inside.
(4)
rebekah m.
Right now, Toast is my favorite restaurant in Durham. The menu offers a variety of hot panini and cold tremzzini, including several vegetarian options such as a kale panina with ricotta and hot/sweet peppers. A sandwich made completely of greens? Ick you say? Actually, it's about the tastiest I've ever consumed. The hot peppers give it just the right amount of kick and the cheese adds a salty contrast. The sides are not your typical fries or salad either. There a variety of crostini available - I recommend the honey and goat cheese or the daliy special. The warm olives with hot pepper and orange peel are to die for, but caution, you'll find yourself licking you fingers in public. The real treat at Toast, however, is the soup. I've yet to figure out how white bean soup can taste so incredibly good... so complex... so I'll go 15 minutes out of my way because the only thing that will satisfy my hunger is soup from Toast. Plus the owners are some of the nicest I've met and they just got their alcohol permit so they have a tasty selection of beers to choose from. If you haven't been to this spot, don't miss it, but just a heads up: they're only open for a bit in Saturday afternoon, are closed on Sunday and close at 8pm on weekdays.
(5)
VIshnu M.
Everything is fresh and perfect. It may be a little pricey for lunch, but it is 100% worth the extra dollars for quality ingredients.
(5)
Michael S.
Funky storefront space in downtown Durham. Specialty is gourmet Italian sandwiches (panini, bruschetta, etc.), many with interesting combinations of ingredients; soups and salads as well. These are not huge heavy meals, which was exactly what we were looking for. Can't beat this place for the price.
(4)
Niel H.
Great quality. A touch pricey for lunch (~$10), but the food is as good as you would expect for that price during lunch. I will definitely be coming back when I want to treat myself for lunch.
(4)
Norrin R.
I can only speak for the paninis, but they're delicious. Service and atmosphere are amazing as well. This is the best option if you're looking for a sandwich in Durham.
(5)
Tia S.
This place is good, but if you're short on time during the lunch hour, go somewhere else. It's crowded & things move rather slowly.
(3)
Tara S.
Took a drive to downtown Durham on this windy Saturday afternoon with the baby and hubbs in tow. As soon as we stepped into 'Toast,' we were greeted with the intoxicating smell of delicious soup and the warm smiles of the extremely nice and helpful staff. Hubbs had the sweet tea, which was really good, sweetened with simple syrup. I'm a Yankee who usually cannot stand that sickeningly sweet tea that gets served up down here, but this was truly delicious and not overly sugary. We tried the goat cheese and honey crostini to start, which was really delicious. The cheese was soft and the honey fresh. The soup of the day was a spicy chickpea soup. This was really scrumptious, a good balance of spices and packed full of flavor. The perfect thing on a chilly spring day. Hubbs had the italian sausage and garlic panini and I had the egg and chive panini. It was honestly hard to even decide what we wanted because everything on the menu looked good. Both sandwiches were very good, you can truly taste the freshness of the ingredients. Next time I'll try something with a tad more flavor though, the eggs were great tasting and subtle with the chives and cheese, but I def want to sink my teeth into their other offerings. Hubbs' sandwich was packed full of flavor. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Melissa B.
I went here with my friend on my Monday off for lunch. We went a little later than the business crowd lunch time, so I was not prepared for the crowd that still lingered in toast. The layout is very narrow, so when it is packed it is a bit overwhelming. We ordered it to go since no seating was available with the plan to sit at the public tables across the street. I got the rapini panini, and it was plenty good. The sausage had a sweet taste to it. The portion was pretty large for a panini sandwich. I was pleased. My friend ordered the egg salad sandwich. It was amazing. I took a bite before she scarfed it down, and it made me wish I had ordered it. I'll go back fo' sho'.
(4)
Dawn B.
I ADORE their simple and delicious salad. Wonderfully fresh greens with a simple light dressing and a nice shaving of Parmesan. I ADORE their crostini and panino and soup. Full of flavor, always fresh, always interesting. I ADORE the service. so unbelievably kind and helpful. You can never go wrong with their specials...they truly are special.
(5)
Lauren G.
It's no secret, I love Toast! The owners are so nice and the food is delicious. Pretty much anything you order will be good, guaranteed. Love that you can get beer, wine, and local sodas as well. Definitely a must on a warm spring or summer afternoon!
(5)
Jayme W.
Fantastic paninis and such wonderful soups. I love their creative combinations!
(5)
Anand P.
I've been eating at toast for almost 4 years now, about once a week :) I think that should suffice. Besides the fact that Billy and Kelly are the warmest people I know, the sandwiches are just great. The menu is small and well done which is what I like about it. The specials are usually terrific (if you are lucky try the meatball sandwich). If you don't know what to get, ask Kelly. The collection of drinks and the wine is great as well. My favorite over the years has been the merguez sausage, the most satisfying difficult-to-eat-daintily sandwich. This is easily Durham's best place to eat (price+quality+people)
(5)
Melanie B.
Get something different each time you go. And "splurge" for the quartino of wine. And then go next door to Whiskey for a night cap, or a really good excuse to not go back to work after lunch.
(5)
Eunice D.
Absolutely AMAZING! 5 stars don't come easy but this place was phenomenal. Great service and perfect food. Can we get Toast in the Bay Area? Please!!
(5)
Bets S.
My favorite sammy place in the Triangle--a few great veggie options. Every time I go, I just... feel better about things, ya know? Simply because of the tuscan kale panini. :) Nice little bottled beer selection don't hurt much either.
(5)
Jane Y.
Toast is your to go place for simple-gourmet-fresh italian sandwiches. The service is awesome, and the dining environment is comfortable. Enjoy a sandwich with a sparkling water while reading the latest copy of Indyweek and REEEElllaxxxxx. I had their 'BLT" metrazzini with heirloom tomatoes. Can I just say, that fresh local produce tastes SO MUCH BETTER than your "walmart" vegetables? It was delicious. It was as simple as it can get, but it hit the right spot. I wasn't even hungry before this sandwich and I still enjoyed it. Check out their menu on the website - I'm sure you'll find something that tickles your fancy. They also have soup specials that i couldn't resist. Like the cold cucumber basil soup. how summatastic!! =)
(4)
Amy H.
Oh my goodness, super scrumptious crostini. I had goat cheese with honey, pesto, and avocado. Just, perfect. I'm drooling slightly as I write this.... The one downside is still the loudness of the place. Seriously, get some sound dampening rugs or something.
(4)
Patrick H.
I guess two stars makes me a yin to everyone else's, uh, well, that thing. Three visits ago had I written this review I'd have rated Toast a 4 or 5. But the last two visits. Let me first say that Toast has fantastic bruchetta and crostini and simply amazing simple green salads with mixed in herbs, nice shaved cheese and a delicious vinaigrette. Also let me say that my first six or so visits have been superb. Finally the woman who runs the joint is as friendly and considerate and joyous as anyone I've ever seen in the biz. All good things. My last two meals, however, left me with rather unfortunate results of a biological nature. Two meals ago I had a roasted eggplant panini with a side of greens. The greens were as amazing as ever. And the flavor of this sandwich was perfect. Two hours later I found myself with a very unpleasantly upset lower intestine. Mind you, I have an iron stomach, hadn't yet eaten anything else in the day, and had been feeling quite healthy. Rationally I can't say it was the panini. But. The evidence is certainly suggestive. My last visit I ordered what should be a classic panino: proscuitto with roasted tomatoes. Now, this is the peak of the tomato season here, and I asked whether the tomatoes were local. Nope. Roasted in the restaurant? Yes. OK that's good, but a little shocked the tomatoes weren't from local gardens. OK, no big deal. But then I started eating the panino and I could not bite through the prosciutto. Which was sliced three times thicker than reasonable. And tough as leather, stewed into a tan rubber. Gone was that glorious tender pink and flavor of a good slice of prosciutto. Now mind you I'm OK with cooking prosciutto unlike some people but maybe if it is paper thin and crisps up when wrapped around a fresh scallop and sauteed or grilled. That's fine. It better be paper thin. This prosciutto should never have been so thick tough or stewed beyond edibility. I ultimately pulled it out of my sandwich. Then it seemed OK but then what was the point? And then two hours later. You guessed it. The runs. Again. I'm a little concerned about the dissonance between the image of quality and the actual food quality. I don't get sick from food often. Twice in two weeks, two hours after two meals at Toast. I'll probably go back, but I won't have a panino at the paninoteca. I'll stick to the crostini and salad.
(2)
Amy B.
Stopped in here for a Saturday lunch, and it was pretty good. I had a soup that was tasty and a shrimp, pancetta and radicchio bruscetta. The bruscetta was kind of hard to eat, because something like shrimp doesn't easily lend itself to a sandwich unless it's contained (in a wrap, or even bound up in a shrimp salad) or maybe if its weighted down (as in a po boy). The pancetta was kind of hard to find. I think I probably made an unwise decision so i'm hoping to stop in another time and try it again. The ingredients are clearly fresh and high quality, and given those factors, the prices are pretty good. I remember leaving kind of hungry, and couldn't tell if it was my selection or that the portions are a little small.
(3)
Stuart S.
Great for lunch! I don't think you can do better for the price--$6 gets you a fresh panini, perfectly toasted and filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, sauce. For an additional $2 you can add a salad or a bowl of soup, so you can get a well-balanced and filling meal for under $10. Also available are several other types of sandwich. Beverages include Counter Culture Coffee. It can get crowded at lunch, but the staff are very friendly and will help find you a place to sit, if you choose to eat in. A great choice in downtown Durham.
(5)
Andrew D.
If you like expensive sandwiches - and I know you do - you will like this place. They make perfect expensive sandwiches.
(4)
Kat M.
Toast is a little downtown gem. My favorite is the portobello panini and my bf swears by their soups. I recently came here with "Photon O" and at her suggestion, ordered the NC shrimp with radicchio: delicious! I love how I can add a healthy herbal side salad for $2. So far everything, I've had at Toast has been great. I've never been to Sandwhich so I can't compare but Toast is a reliable downtown eatery. It's healthy, fresh and tasty. And I'm glad it's there when I'm hungry in downtown Durham!
(4)
Mark B.
I have lived in Durham for a few years and just discovered this place last week. I almost shed a tear that it took me so long to find it. This place serves a meal of the best value that I know of - all fresh, local foods at very reasonable prices. I had the portobello panini and it was great. With salads, wine, and dessert, we still didn't spend more than $20/person. The staff are incredibly welcoming and kind. The cake was amazing - not too much sugar, yet tons of flavor. Do yourself a favor and grab dinner here before going to a show at DPAC. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
John M.
Great Sandwiches. Flavor and ingredients were all great. The restaurant was hot inside and not much room because it was packed.
(4)
Jonathan D.
Fantastic sandwiches. I like the rapini and sweet Italian sausage panini. The bread is well toasted without having any burned flavor. My only disappointment about the place is that it gets loud. There's a high tin ceiling so it can get a little loud at lunch time. Bonus points for having Orangina. edit: the soups are awesome too!
(4)
stacy W.
Susan knows.... the best Portobello Panini in Bull City. My review should have been written a long time ago. but, as with most things, I procrastinated until I decided to put some lists together. Jon and I decided to give this place a try after we got a yummy recommendation from Jenni at Rock Paper Scissors down the street. I just finished getting my hair done and I walked down the street to join Jon and Ovie for a summer dinner. I thought it was packed as I arrived, but it was a gaggle of girls gathered around my then boyfriend and puppy.... (o _ o) it wasn't so crowded after all so ordering was simple enough. We sat outside because we had Ovie and enjoyed several appetizers including a brushetta dish on crostini and a mozzarella salad. nothing too crazy or extraordinary. Then came the Portobello Panini. It will change your opinion of what a Portobello anything should be. The establishment seems a bit on the small side, so I can see why they get so crowded at lunch time. There is plenty of space to eat outside though, and that is usually what I do when it's nice out.
(4)
Kelly L.
Love, love, love it! This place has great everything. My favorite crostini are the goat cheese and honey and the mozzarella and tomato. I have also have the beet bruschetta, it's a little salty but is tasty and good for you too. The salads have a wonderful light dressing. I really like the lightness of all their food. They have daily specials, including a soup. They also have panini, that I hear are fantastic. Honestly, I am so addicted to the crostini that I usually order crostini and a salad. I could eat here everyday.
(4)
Nancy H.
Seeing as Toast is the only panini place in the area, it's fun to come here to change it up every now and then. I've only been once and had a panini, which was pretty good. I was however eyeing our neighbor's combo of panini and salad. The panini's are on the heavier side and it would have been nice to balance it out with something light and fresh. The feel of the place didn't really match their food though, it felt really stark. I think panini, I think warm and cozy.
(3)
Katie W.
I absolutely adore this place. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is lovely. When the weather is nice, I love to sit outside and eat delicious panini, crostini or salads. I have to admit that the first time I came in, I felt a fool looking at the menu. Not for years had I felt so confused by food. How could I not know what these words meant??? But by asking questions and trying things, I am now familiar with all the ingredients and I couldn't imagine never having known the delicious flavor combinations that Toast creates.
(5)
Palak T.
Love, love, love. Love the concept. Love the food. Love the pleasant owner with the sing-song voice who is usually at the cash register. Only wish it was closer to where we lived.
(5)
Caroline Z.
Toast is the fun new lunch spot in downtown Durham - I was there recently for a weekday lunch, and there was a pretty decent crowd, with a few people waiting (but not too long) for tables. The menu is simple enough - paninis, tramezzini (cold sandwiches on white bread), and bruschetta - each for $5 or $6. You can add a salad or one of the two soups of the day for $2. You can also order crostini - two for $1.50. The prices are a little high for a sandwich without a side item, but I think the six crostini and soup deal for $7 is pretty decent. Enough with all the prices, though. The most important thing is that the food is good. I've tried three different soups there and enjoyed all of them, even the ones containing ingredients I usually don't dig, like sausage or fennel. The crostini are excellent as well, and a pretty unique lunch offering. If the phrase "garlicky mushrooms" is as heavenly to you as it is to me, check out the garlicky mushroom, thyme and gorgonzola ones. Yummy.
(4)
Michael S.
Well executed panini offered in some creative ways. Soups were excellent, and while food was a little slow in coming, it was by no means a bother, esp with this quality during weekday lunch
(4)
Photon O.
I can continue to recommend Toast. The other night, I had the tuscan kale and ricotta panini, which was excellent. It had a strong kale flavor, so I wouldn't recommend it to non-kale eaters. I also had a few bites of the merguez sausage and chickpea bruschetta. This might be my favorite thing-- it was soaked in flavor and really really good. We also ate the soup special (italian egg drop soup) and it was very comforting and flavorful.
(4)
Michael M.
My new favorite place for lunch if I'm in Downtown Durham. Despite the line and some people that seemed a bit anxious, the woman taking the orders seemed so happy to be there, and so happy to help you find the best thing for you. The Cauliflower Soup was a special, I hadn't really much though about this as being a 'delicious soup' before, but Toast changed my mind. It had a toasty flavor which probably came from the roasted pecans. A whole bowl for $2! My sandwich panini was good, just not amazing, but consider that it was $6 and it makes this sandwich an extremely great deal. I would be interested to try some of the other stuff they make. Time frame wise, if you have a 30 minute lunch, you have enough time to eat here as long as they bus the tables quick enough. If not get it to go and find a nice spot outside. They did initially bring me the wrong stuff, but quickly fixed the mixup.
(4)
Alison S.
Wow! All the other Yelpers were right about this place...yummmmmm! I went here with a date for a light dinner before a show at DPAC. As others have said--the service was not the speediest. We had at least a full hour before the show and I was still a little worried that our food wouldn't arrive in time. But, it did. And it was AMAZING. I ordered the three crostinis with a salad and my date ordered the three cheese panini with the soup of the day (butternut squash). All of the food was delicious. The goat cheese and honey crostinis were like little bites of heaven! And the panini was oozing cheesy goodness. And the soup just melted in your mouth! Despite my worry about being late for the show, I am sooo glad we tried Toast and we'll definitely be back...with plenty of time to sit and people watch.
(4)
Jennifer T.
I love toast! I've been eating her fairly often since they've opened and I've NEVER been disappointed! the food is AMAZING! i love the goat cheese crosstinis as well as the avocado ones. I also love the chicken salad sandwich! Kelly and Billy are always super sweet and helpful! I think I've maybe been in once when Kelly wasn't behind the counter. shes always there and always smiling. sometimes the orders can seem like it takes a little bit for a to go order but I've never waited more than 10 minutes when is more than reasonable for made to order fresh food! LOVE TOAST!
(5)
Lindsay G.
I really cannot fully express my love for Toast. I first ate here when I was urged by a friend who worked there (there's your disclaimer, but I'd love it even if she hadn't worked there) to try the restaurant because, as she said, it was "cramazing" (her word for crazy-amazing). Since then I try to return whenever I get to downtown Durham. Toast is a paninoteca, which is Italian for "We do delicious things with bread and really high-quality ingredients." Actually it is Italian for sandwich shop, but what can you do. The menu is divided into panini (hot pressed sandwiches), tramezzini (cold sandwiches), bruschetta (like a grilled, open-faced sandwich), and crostini (little bite-sized crunchy pieces of joy). Every day brings new soup specials and at least one non-bread related special, and a dessert special. Other available sides are salads and marinated olives. Sandwiches are six dollars, and you can add a soup or salad for two more dollars. For the quantity and especially the quality of food served at Toast, this is a real bargain. Juice, soda, wine, and what looks like high-quality bottled beers (I, alas, am not a drinker of beer so I cannot judge) are also available. Toast has a bright and homey interior with cheerful turquoise walls and decal stickers that define the word "toast" along one side of the wall. The menu is above the counter, specials to the side. You place your order at the counter, are given a number, take a seat at an available table inside or outside, and wait for the magic to commence. If you are lucky you will place your order with the welcoming and friendly Kelli Cotter, who owns the restaurant with her husband Billy. I took my foodie boyfriend there on a Friday night and he, too, loved Toast. I ordered my usual crostini plate: three crostini choices and a soup or salad for eight dollars. I alternate between soup and salad. The salad at toast is a simple green salad, dressed lightly with herbs and a tangy, flavorful vinaigrette and slices of parmigiano reggiano. This particular dinner I opted for soup, which you really cannot go wrong with, as every soup I have had at Toast is incredible. The foodie boyfriend ordered a panini and another soup special. I am a big fan of the crostini mix and match as I love trying many different flavors and foods. My favorite crostini are the chicken liver, pancetta, and pickled fennel, the herb pesto, mozzarella, and roasted tomato, the garlicky mushrooms, thyme, and gorgonzola, and the warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper crostini. Last night I opted for the chicken liver, the tomato and mozzarella, and the mushrooms, with a bowl of butternut squash soup mixed with gooey parmigiano reggiano. All the food at Toast is chock full of flavor, and what I love about my favorite group of crostini is the lack of subtlety. The chicken liver is full-bodied and flavorful, I have no idea what actually goes into it but I am sure it is full of garlic and onions and other delicious goodies. The pancetta on top adds a nice bit of contrasting texture. I like fennel but I feel that the chicken liver overrides the fennel taste-not that this is a bad thing, as the chicken liver is fantastic. The garlic mushrooms are expertly cooked, incredibly garlicky (the more garlic the better in my opinion) and the gorgonzola on top adds just the right amount of funky flavor. The roasted tomato and mozzarella is probably the most classical option but even that is full bodied and full flavored. The tomato is warm and oozes flavor when you bite into it, and I love the afterbite of the pesto and the mellow texture of the mozzarella on top. The soup I ordered on the side was, as always, a revelation: perfect butternut squash soup that tasted as though there was cream involved but, evidently, no cream whatsoever. Just expert pureeing and a lovely addition of cheese to add grace notes to the natural sweetness of the butternut squash. Also, no cinnamon-y pumpkin pie taste here! Butternut squash all the way. The boyfriend ordered a panini with mortadella, provolone, pickled red onion, aioli and a side of lentil and spicy sausage soup. He, too, expressed great love of his food. High quality meat! High quality cheese! A crunchy texture from the onions and extra flavor from the aioli! Foodie boyfriend was extremely happy, and was equality pleased with the lentil soup. We were too full for dessert, but the special that evening was a lovely looking pound cake dressed with blueberries and fresh whipped cream. I watched a number of these beauties fly by my table. You also cannot go wrong with the non-sandwich special listed on the board. The special the night we went was a poached North Carolina mackerel, but I have tried other to-die-for specials such as short ribs over polenta cake. Seriously folks, Toast is a gem. Take a date or some friends there and make it a night by going next door to the fabulous Whiskey for a post-dinner drink!
(4)
Dayoung K.
Toast was delicious, I'll keep going back. I will say though, the menu items were difficult to read; I found myself on my iphone searching up the names of all the different italian meats and sprouts and such. I'm someone who likes to know exactly what I'm ordering, so I took a long time making my choice, but toast was overall really great. My portobello panini was delicious and I want to go again to try their NC shrimp brushetta next.
(5)
Matt K.
Good break from your typical, boring sandwich lunch. Quirky. Friendly, cheerful staff.
(4)
Bill S.
Portobello was watery and unseasoned, squad soup was interesting but the indelible marjoram leaves on top weren't pleasant. There are better lunch spots in Durham to be sure
(2)
Jennifer A.
Yum! This is one of my favorite lunch places. Everything is so well prepared and delicious. The service is fantastic. When I bring my daughter they always make her a cheese panini with the best fresh mozzarella even though it isn't on the menu. The only negative thing I can say is that it is a bit loud- so sit outside. If you want to try several things I recommend the crostini with the salad.
(4)
Swati M.
good, f resh food. would recommend :)
(4)
Mike M.
I am a giant fan of the sandwich. As a kid I remember experimenting with such crazy things as a peanut butter, lettuce and cheese sandwich. So I am always excited to see a place with a fun, fresh and big list of sandwiches! Once more for good measure -- sandwich!! I've been both times for lunch -- right around 1pm -- and both times I've loved it! I plan on going back to keep sampling whatever they can throw at me. Oh, and I really can't get over the fact that both times the bill has been $10. I just moved from LA and if that's the sort of pricing I can expect here then I think I am in love!
(5)
Curtis M.
I had expired beer. Tuscan kale sandwich didn't taste good, it's just overcooked kale with bits of cheese and jalapeños, I can make that. The soup however, sausage something, was pretty good. Overall, not worth it.
(2)
Sweet T.
We LOVE Toast. Period. Maybe even an Exclamation Point (!) The Food: little bread, big bread, hot bread, cold bread, All Things Bread. This is Gourmet, now, so if you want "just a ham and cheese" you better keep on truckin'. The sandwiches we've had are good if not superb. The crostini are fun because they are so cheap and you can gamble on them. The salads, as well, have been great. One of the best things we've had was some kind of marinated octopus salad. The Location: awesome downtown location with outdoor seating option The decor, as I recall, is simple and functional. Nice windows. The Service: I'm assuming the woman who has always served us from the counter is Kelli, one of the owners, and she has always been super friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. She exudes good vibes. The Price: I think all the sandwiches are $6, the crostini are $2 (they're small) and cups of soup are an extra $2 as well. It is QUITE RARE when this guy (me) feels like he's getting a great deal and at Toast I feel like a King. The King can order whatever he wants, splurge, feast and come out about $10-15 bucks lighter. It's good to be the King. Alright, Okay, what's wrong with Toast? Well....several times we've gotten super stoked to go eat there and they've been closed for family holiday or some other weak, what's-it-got-to-do-with-me-? excuse. The horror. Also- they are closed for dinner SATURDAY NIGHT (?!) and all day Sunday.
(4)
Johanna K.
I LOVE this little spot in Downtown Durham, the owners and staff are super friendly and always have a smile to share. Have a question about the different kinds of sandwiches available? No problem, the owners are more than happy to explain what the differences are and offer up suggestions for you. The Owner/Chef frequents the local farmer's markets regularly so the specials are sure to reflect what's in season. My favorite is their butternut squash soup,liver crustini and the ever decadent 3 cheese panini (comfort food at its best). If you haven't had the chance to eat here, do yourself a favor and check it out.
(5)
David D.
This place is great. I went for the first time this past week and it was awesome! From the bottled cream soda to the side green salad with house dressing, everything was delicious. For those who don't know, Toast is a small order-at-the-counter sandwich shop with about 10-15 tables inside and out. The food is pretty fast, the menu is kinda pricey, but food is out of this world. The service was also really nice although there is only a cashier and expediter. Now that I work in Downtown Durham, I can see this becoming a regular spot for lunch.
(5)
Molly F.
Toast is the best little place for lunch! We had the crostini and a butternut squash soup that was ridiculously good. Perfectly cozy on a cold day. The staff behind the counter was also very friendly even though there was a line out the door.
(5)
Hannah M.
You can order anything on the menu and it will be delicious. The three cheese panini is good, and they always have soups on the board that I recommend ordering with your sandwich.
(5)
Rachel H.
I can't say enough good things about Toast. The food is always great, and the specials keep things interesting. As a vegetarian, I have a few "go to" sandwiches (portobello, egg, and kale) and there's always one vegetarian soup. I'd highly recommend the goat cheese or portobello crostinis as well. It's a great place to bring people when they come to visit Durham!
(5)
Marisa M.
I'm a big fan of the farm egg, tallegio and chives panini, as well as the soups. My favorite runner up is the portobello panini, but I can never bring myself not to order the egg and cheese. So good. One of my favorite places to bring an out-of-towner for a short lunch.
(5)
Sarah H.
I loved the panini I got at Toast, it was the three cheese. It is seriously the best sandwich I have had, maybe ever! The texture was perfect and taste amazing. I hate that I didn't get the salad that would have only been $2 extra because I think that would have been fantastic, what I saw on the plates of other diners looked fresh and delicious. However, I was headed to a concert and didn't want to chance stomach upset. I had a bottled Ginger Ale and didn't care for it but it is just a personal taste thing. I don't care for anything that is smoked. If I had read the bottle before getting it I would have seen that it would have a smoked flavor and would have stayed away from it.
I've eaten here a few times. The ingredients are always fresh and the combinations and creativity in the dishes are always top-notch. The potato leek lemon soup is one of the best things I've ever eaten in my entire life. It can get a bit crowded but only because it is so popular and a must-eat place for Downtown Durham. I do wish they kept the tables and beverage area cleaner. I've seen tables go un-bussed for sometimes as long as 5 minutes before, which- during the lunch rush is disappointing.
(4)
Mariam A.
You know what I hate about toast (the good)? I hate how it scratches the skin on the roof of your mouth when you eat. Somehow this restaurant works their voodoo magic on their paninis such that they are perfectly crispy - crunchy when you bite in but not so rigid that it cuts up the inside of your mouth. I had the Tuscan pale panini and the kale was cooked well enough that it was not brittle in my mouth (can you tell I'm big on texture?). Portion sizes are great. Food is awesome. Service is great. Centrally located and they have outdoor seating. Cannot go wrong here.
(5)
Tina W.
I think a good restaurant can really change your perspectives on food and Toast is definitely one of them. Location: located in downtown Durham. Toast is kinda small but you can recognize them by seeing all the long lines and their unique outdoor seating. They are also close to cupcake stores, dame's waffle and Mateo. Such a huge competition between those outstanding restaurant, Toast still stands out. Service: the lady served us is really nice and understandable. Why? Cuz I know nothing about sandwiches or crostini and she is patiently give me info as well as waiting for me to decided which one I should order. Thanks! The line is long and seats are limited during lunch time. But it's worth waiting because I am about to tell you how good their crostini are. Food: I had crostini combo (choice of 3) with spice lentil soup. I love all my choices. I had the one with beets, which is light, sweet, fresh and delicious; Sicilian caponata, which is bot salty but eggplant is mixed too well with the toast that I cannot say it's bad; last but not least, the chicken liver. My favorite would be chicken liver, which is topped with bacon. The whole experience is like I had this smoothie chicken liver and then a surprised bacon enforced me to have another one more bite and.. It's already gone. Sad but satisfied! Overall: I appreciate the store, which illustrates a well designed Italian(?!) sandwich style? I never thought a small toast can have such an amazing stretch on my taste and cuisine perspective. Thank you and thank you!!
(5)
Connie L.
Got the chicken panini which was nothing special and totally overpriced for what it was. Next time I will definitely try their toast which look so interesting unique and delicious!
(3)
Brooke L.
Took a day trip to Durham from Greensboro and had the pleasure of trying Toast. Such a fun concept for a restaurant! I loved all the options of crostini they offer--wish I would have tried one of each! I ordered the crostini and soup. It came with six crostini (two of each flavor I ordered). I tried the mushroom and gruyere; goat cheese, honey, and black pepper; and the spicy chick pea (one of the daily specials). They were all very tasty, but my favorite was the goat cheese! The soup was good, very flavorful, but the crostini was the star. I will definitely have to plan a return trip to try all of the other crostini options!
(4)
Sasha G.
The food wasn't too bad but it wasn't something that I was jumping up and down about. I definitely think this place is hyped up. I like how they have outdoor and indoor seating but there isn't much space for the amount of people that come here. The interior decor is pretty cute, a nice aqua color. There is no assigned seating - you go up to the register to order then get a number until your food gets brought to you. I ordered 3 crostinis (6 pieces) along with soup.
(2)
Jill O.
For a restaurant in this price-point, bravo!! I was really impressed with the creativity and variety, in addition to the price. I'm so tired of turkey and cheese sandwich offerings at most places, and Toast really changed it up. My husband and I each ordered 3 crostinis and soup. We chose different crostini's and ended up sharing. It felt like a much more expensive meal, also because we dined al fresco. Can't wait to try it again.
(5)
Tanith T.
If I had to sum up this place in one word, it would be this: busy! The line was out the door both times I've eaten here, and it was incredibly noisy and crowded. The menu offerings are tasty and thoughtfully put together, if a bit pricey for what you get. Portions are small to medium sized depending on what you order. Service takes an achingly long time; this is not a stop you can afford to make if you're in a rush. At times they may run out of ingredients, which if you stop to think about it, is not necessarily a bad thing - what they're using is fresh and local, and it won't be sitting around until the next day. They serve soup, salad, sandwiches and a small selection of beer and wine. Also, CounterCulture Coffee - yay! That is always a plus. I enjoyed their spicy tuna sandwich, though it was very spicy indeed, and their goat cheese crostini.
(3)
Jules P.
I love Toast! I have been twice, and enjoyed a total of 6 different crostini (beet was best) and 2 soups (loved a gazpacho!). Everything here is fresh, lovingly prepared, and very pretty. The price is extremely reasonable, especially when compared to other dining options in the area. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy your food outside and watch folks passing by. I have heard that they get busy during the lunch hours, and I can see how -- there aren't many tables. Keep it in mind if you are dining in a hurry!
(4)
Aaron M.
This is good little sandwich shop. I enjoyed their good selection of Panini's. Good location as well. Not much else to say here.
(4)
Adam B.
Very appealing little sandwich shop with a smaller menu, but high quality. They've struck the right balance by having some variety, but not to the point of an overwhelming menu. I went for the chicken with the roasted red peppers and did not regret my choice. The sandwiches don't come with any sides, but there were enough ingredients between the bread slices I didn't feel I needed any. They also have a small but nice selection of craft beers in bottles. Has a kind of old-school vibe and it's not quite like anything else downtown, so it's worth a stop-in. If I worked downtown, I would be here very often for lunch.
(4)
Stefanie S.
A cute place for the area. Love the central downtown location. Parking is easy and nearby. Lunch was a decent time to check it out, wasn't any busier than anywhere else. I ordered something with shrimp that I wouldn't get again, but that doesn't mean I won't try some other things on the menu. Added bonus is access to outdoor seating.
(4)
Stella M.
Nice local business with good sandwiches, soups, and salads at fair prices. They have a good spread of options and daily specials for soup and sandwiches. I love that my salad wasn't saturated in dressing, it had just the right amount, and they put fresh herbs on with the blend of greens!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Ha N.
When I've found sandwich places in the past in Chapel Hill, I've been expecting something like what Toast gave to me when I went there. This is the first time in a long time that I've been satisfied with a sandwich place and the plus side is that it's a good 2-3 dollars less than the other places I've tried. The sandwiches are filling, and the variety is good. I recommend getting something from the specials, 'cause we got a panini with ham and pickled hot peppers and it was super delicious. I also got the arugula and portabella panini; that was a little less exciting, but still delicious for a meatless sandwich (I'm a carnivore when it comes to sandwiches). We also got the warm olives and the chicken liver crostini. Holy. Crap. If you like chicken livers, I highly recommend the chicken liver crostini. This was the thing that put this place to 5 stars for me. I'm not sure what liquor/alcohol I tasted in there, but I feel like it's brandy or cognac and tastes pretty much like how I imagine my liver pates to be. This was done right in my opinion, and I love pates/liver spreads. I expected the pickled fennel to have more of a significant role in the crostini, but I'm not complaining. The warm olives were actually something I liked, even though I normally don't like olives. My girlfriend, who usually likes olives, didn't like it. Take that as you will. I wouldn't get it again, though, since I'm still not that much of an olive fan to pay $4 for olives. Another thing I enjoyed was the decor and the people there. They were really friendly, and the place looks great so I felt like I can sit there for a long time and relax with friends.
(5)James P.
The food is excellent. The sandwiches are really tasty and have lots of great ingredients to accentuate their flavors. The cheese was so melty and good and the crust nicely toasted. My problem with this place is that their portions are really small for the price point. You pay something like $8 for a tiny sandwich with no sides. I'd probably need two sandwiches to actually get full. Also, the seating is very limited and it can be hard to get a table. The tables aren't even that comfy to begin with and the decoration is, in general, a bit lame. I felt rushed to eat too (just my own feelings and not due to the staff), because other customers were getting food and standing in wait for a table.
(3)Dan B.
Good not great We were sucked in by the positive reviews, but the place certainly has some opportunities. Although the food was very fresh, salads good, and sandwiches tasty, there is no whole-grain bread, the salmon "tramezzini" (Sandwich) was served with "lemon aioli" (mayonnaise) and cream cheese ( a sign of Good food wanna be ) and the soup had too much butter ion it If you haven't been here, keep your expectations in check
(3)Phil C.
Best Lunch place in Durham. The ingredients you get blow other places away. The soups are amazing. I would eat here everyday if I could.
(5)Ben C.
Came here for lunch a few times, each time a very enjoyable experience. Their sandwiches are HUGE and have countless combinations. My favorites are proscuitto, mozzarella and tomato, and Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and rapini. The soup is also excellent, though you won't have much room if you pair it with a sandwich. The soup varies, which is a nice touch. Their ingredients are fresh. Also, good value, especially in the location with several other more expensive eateries in close proximity.
(5)Carter C.
Ugh! So good! The name is so simplistic, I didn't know what to expect. I still don't know quite how to describe it, other than yum! Toast is another little shop that brings some refreshing variety to an already jam packed food scene. For some reason, despite the obvious implications of the name, I expected something more than tasty toast when I first went. The menu, as the name suggests, consists mostly of items that have toasted bread as the basis. Panini's, toastinis and crustini's fill the menu. At first none of the options seemed overly exciting to me. Mushroom, mozzarella and sausage, some veggie options with fennel and shrooms. Despite the simplicity of the ingredients, the food is full of flavor. They make better use of those simple ingredients than many restaurants do of the complex, and exotic sounding items that you often see. The panninis and toastinis are all good, but my favorite by far are the crustinis. I usually get the special with a choice of 3 different types of crustinis and a bowl of the soup of the day. In particular, the local goat cheese with cracked black pepper and honey always makes an appearance on my plate. The basil pesto and italian pepper varieties are also delicious. Their soups have been surprisingly good as well. The wild mushroom, and butternut squash soups were delicious, despite my general aversion to anything that once grew from the ground.
(4)Amelia Z.
I've been wanting to try Toast for quite a while as I had heard so many good things about it. I finally went on Friday and was not disappointed. There was a line to the door at lunch time but it moved pretty quickly and even though it was busy, the two of us had no trouble finding seating. We were lucky to be able to sit outside and enjoy one of the first nice days of the spring. After ordering and finding a table, our food came out pretty quickly and the server was very friendly. I had the prosciutto panini which came with mozzarella and roasted tomatoes. I will say it was a little too salty and difficult to chew through at the middle. I would probably get something else next time I go. The excellent thing is that there was no shortage of cheese. My friend got the grilled chicken panini and said it was fantastic. We also shared the herb pesto, tomato, and mozzarella crostinis and I highly highly recommend them! The pesto was so delicious!! Overall a pretty solid lunch option. Not great if you're in a hurry but definitely worth the wait if you've got the time!
(4)A B.
Great lunch spot! Affordable, fast, and local ingredients. Awesome specials. Service is impeccable. Would definitely recommend.
(5)Sabrina M.
I have been eating lunch at Toast since they opened and I have never been disappointed. Nice staff, fast service, interesting menu, great food. Love the fact that they have vegetarian choices. The soups are always great. So are the salads. Worth standing in line for (and in my experience, the line moves quickly). Get the butternut squash soup in the fall, it's awesome.
(5)Vivian J.
Cured Salmon was very good. $7.50. Right amount of cream cheese, lots of fresh yummy salmon and the watercress was just right.
(5)Maggie N.
Had my 2nd try with Toast and both times I was quite happy. I had a spicy tuna panini last time and a prosciutto panini this time. The panini bread was toasted to perfection, just the right amount of crispness without being too dry. I liked the spicy tuna more than the prosciutto, which is a little too salty for my taste. maybe the several layers of prosciutto can be alternated with something else? My friend had a crostini sampler and she was quite happy. The chicken liver was again, very salty, but she enjoyed the other 2. I must note that Toast has the best basic house salad I've ever tried. It's really... basic, just mixed greens, but the greens are fresh and the dressing is amazing - just some simple vinaigrette and olive oil but Toast makes it in some magical way. Ambience: Just a regular, casual food point. Don't expect candlelit romance here. You come straight to order, then take a number and they'll bring the food to you when it's ready. You can serve your own water (lime wedges are available, too!). The place itself is small with about 8 tables, so expect to wait if you come during rush hours. Price: very reasonable. $7 for a panini, extra $2 for a salad or soup. Will come back for sure.
(4)Joanna T.
They have the best basic green salad in the triangle hands down. BEST SALAD. Perfect condition greens tossed in a homemade simple vinaigrette with some fresh herbs. Shavings of some hard cheese on top. I crave it. If you just have a hankering for something made out of vegetables, especially after a big weekend, this is your go to. Its really good. The sandwiches are pretty decent too. The dining area is a little small and we had to wait a few minutes for a table at peak lunch hour. Luckily husband works in durham and can pick it up on the way home.
(4)Sonya Z.
Goat cheese, honey, and black pepper crostini is my favorite crostini there. It's a great combination. Portions aren't huge so if you're looking for a heavy or big meal, this isn't necessarily the place, but great place to grab a fresh sandwich or soup.
(4)Sarah C.
I just don't understand all the glowing reviews. I've been here twice now, and honestly, I think it's awful. The first time I had the kale panini. I love kale but it was terrible. It's supposed to have kale, cheese (ricotta salata), and pickled hot peppers. It had such a small sprinkling of cheese I couldn't even taste it, so basically it was a sandwich that tasted like overly pickled kale and hot peppers on dry toast. I don't know if the kale was actually pickled or just had some kind of vinegar dressing but it was really disgusting. The salad would have been good, but it was WAY overdressed to the point of being limp and soggy. I only went back because when my friend suggested we meet at Toast, I agreed, not realizing it was the same place. I don't think I even knew what it was called the first time I went. Anyway, once I arrived I figured I might as well give it another shot. I ordered the local farm egg, tallegio, and chive sandwich. I had a bite of the corner and it was fine, albeit super bland. But then I took a bite from the middle of the sandwich, and I noticed that the scrambled eggs were runny. Admittedly, I hate runny scrambled eggs more than the average person, so this probably wouldn't bother most people. I just couldn't believe how the staff handled it when I asked them if they could cook it a little more. They refused to acknowledge that the egg was runny, insisting it was just the cheese. It clearly was not the cheese, which is white and not at all similar to runny egg yolk. I tried to tell them that and asked them to open the sandwich and look for themselves, but they wouldn't. They just kept insisting that the egg was very well cooked. The guy at the counter then went to the fridge and took out a little plastic container that was jam packed with scrambled egg. He said, without actually opening the container, "See we precook the egg and we cook it very well, there's no way it could be runny." Um, well if I was grossed out before, looking a container of cold, precooked runny eggs isn't going to help. No wonder they refused to cook my egg any more, they precook it and just scoop it onto the bread. Yuck. They could have just said that instead of trying to deny that the egg was runny without even opening the sandwich to look. (Obviously they didn't want to touch it since they knew they weren't going to make me a new one or anything.) I was shocked at how defensive and dismissive they were and wished I could ask for my receipt back to cross off the tip I had left. The salad was soggy and limp and swimming in dressing again, although as previously stated, it would be a good salad if they could dress it appropriately. My friend had some kind of chicken panini, which he said was dry and just okay. We both agreed we'd never come back again.
(2)Adam H.
Love the atmosphere, the outside seating options and the Panini's. My one knock comes as a southerner: the lack of brewed sweet tea. HOWEVER, I forgave this offense by virtue of the prepared sugar-water option in lieu of sugar packets (which are never really effective).
(5)Minnow N.
WOW. i am so disappointed with this place. my experience at Toast today is a PRIME example of how common courtesy, politeness, or just plain ole' just being nice can go A LONG WAY. I came here today at exactly 12 p.m. I know because I checked my watch since I was parked in 30 minute parking. Walked in and ordered ONE sandwich and nothing else to go. I was told to wait at the ramp toward the back of the restaurant. There I waited... waited and waited. Fine, i get it. 12 p.m. is a busy time of day. what i absolutely DO NOT understand was the RUDENESS that was conveyed when I inquired about my order. I approached the cashier, who happened to be the owner of the restaurant (i assume this since i was able to observe her pictures plastered on the walls while waiting on the ramp in the back of the restaurant). I asked politely if she knew if our order was going to be ready. She said, yes they're still working on it. Okay. I wait longer. I returned to the cashier and asked again, politely, can you please check? her response.... "it usually takes 15 minutes on a busy day for to go orders to go out" My response, "it's been 20 minutes", HER response... and i kid you not.. "I have 18 minutes on my clock" REALLY?! ..... really. 18?! WHO CARES? Firstly, 18 is still longer than 15 minutes and not only that 18 is CLOSER to 20 minutes than it is to 15 minutes! Secondly, she was so crass and unapologetic. As if saying that it's been 18 minutes and not 20 minutes is an excuse for their SLOW service???! NO. Lastly, I'd like to point out that at the time of confrontation, my ONE sandwich was STILL not ready! It, in fact, DID take 20 minutes to receive my sandwich. When i finally got to EAT my sandwich... well let's just say the owner had left SUCH a bad taste in my mouth that the sandwich itself was not satisfying. it was oily, the meat was just bologna with a fancy Italian name, sorry lady. it's STILL JUST BOLOGNA... or should i say baloney. It doesn't matter how many stars you get on yelp, if youre rude you lose my business. will this review change any minds from going to Toast? probably not. But at least I had my say and that i can say, FOR SURE, that i will never be dining at Toast ever again.
(1)Amy B.
Since I moved to Durham over 6 years ago, Toast has been my favorite restaurant. I have never had a bad meal or experience here. It would be very easy to come here and get your favorite every time, however I always look at the specials and usually try one of them. You never know when they will have that yummy soup or panini again. I am looking forward to my next visit there right now!
(5)David P.
I really feel Toast offers the best sandwiches in Durham. They are crisp, delicious and creative. With the option of 2 rotating soups daily or a generous salad of fresh greens for $2 the combo price is less than $10. The daily specials keep the menu fresh and interesting and there is something for everyone from the meat-eater to the vegan. But perhaps the best part of Toast is the owner, Kelly, whose beautiful smile and sweet, perky personality greet you from the register to make you feel welcome and appreciated.
(5)Jenny R.
Tasty. Local. Probably a 4.4. Food: 1. Toast offers seasonal specials -- posted on a chalkboard by the cashier. Every meal feels indulgent. 2. On my last trip (July), I got the crostini meal, which includes 3 pairs of crostini (ca. 2" ovular toast + toppings) and a bowl of soup (or a salad, $9.50). The cucumber/buttermilk soup was surprisingly light and flavorful (seasonal). The three crostini pairs: (a) warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper, (b) avacado, lemon, grana padano, (c) a daily special consisting of roasted tomatoes on mozzarella. All tasted even better than they sound. 3. Also, I indulged in a slice of lemon polenta cake topped with berries and whipped cream. The strong lemon flavor was well matched to the sweet berries, and complemented by the light whipped cream. Delicious. 4. They offer high quality fresh brewed unsweet iced tea. Ambiance: You order at a counter, and food is delivered to your table. They remove plates when you've finished your meal. Toast can attract a crowd around lunch time, and the interior is quite noisy when it's crowded. There is outdoor seating -- 4 square tables.
(4)Andrew F.
The woman who helped me at the register (owner? manager?) was incredibly kind and helpful when I told her it was my first time. She walked me through the menu and recommended items based on my tastes. My panini w/ rapini, Italian sausage, garlic and asiago fresca (is that different from normal asiago?) was perfectly toasted and the cheese was spot-on for gooeyness. The sausage didn't blow my mind, but the greens tasted fresh and were flavorful, adding great depth to the sandwich. WORD TO THE WISE: Every time I've been by Toast at lunchtime (including this visit on New Year's Eve), the place was busy. Fortunately for me on this kind-of-holiday visit, the line was short though all tables were full. Be warned and give yourself plenty of time to try them out. The sandwiches also take a few minutes longer than expected to come out, so factor that in as well. Verdict: Solid panini at a fair price. Interior felt dingy/dirty to me, but if there's no line and I'm looking for a tasty bite, I wouldn't hesitate. Tough competition for attention in the downtown dirty D, but Toast holds its own.
(4)Luey M.
This cafe was so delicious and the people are really friendly. I recommend the egg and cheese panini and their soups.
(4)Stephanie R.
Not bad, just not the best food in the area. I don't mind it, but my husband refuses to go back.
(3)Helen Z.
Toast is still my favorite lunch place in Durham. :) I revisited Toast today which is saying a lot since I normally prefer to try new places rather than revisit old ones. Toast,however, just stood out too much in my mind for me to not go back. Again, confronted with that massive menu, I seriously considered trying something new (namely the portabello). But, I couldn't resist the spicy tuna again. I also ordered the goat cheese with honey crostini. Unfortunately, my nose has been congested as of late so the flavors of both were dulled down but still, what I could taste reinforced the love I have for Toast. Ahh, Toast, I am going to miss you.
(5)Arch S.
I love this place. The people are so nice. The panini with the rapini and sausage is probably the best sandwich in town. You won't regret going here for lunch.
(5)Claudine D.
I have to amend my original review since I've been back to Toast several times. With each of those return visits, I became a fan -- a fan of their soup and crostini combo. One visit I had their Calabria onion soup with goat cheese/honey, garlicky mushroom, and chicken liver crostini. The other visit I had their butternut squash soup with goat cheese/honey, garlicky mushroom, and herb pesto crostini. YUM!! The last visit I tried their portobello panini to-go and that was so good too. Now Toast has made the lunchtime rotation during the workweek.
(4)Fred F.
Minimal. That's undoubtedly what the restauranteur who opened this little spot in downtown Durham had in mind when it came to naming this lunchtime spot. Though I would have been happier if the employees hadn't taken a similar approach when they decided what quality of customer service they were going to give, but I'll get to that later. I visited Toast this afternoon for lunch during an hour long break from a training session in a nearby highrise. My three colleagues and I arrived with 45 minutes to spare, and were greeted by a line about ten people deep. We got the feeling that this place was "fast casual" and having nowhere else to go, decided we'd take our chances. We ordered about ten minutes later, and to be safe, we decided to ask for our orders to-go so that we could decide later whether we should stay and dine or walk and munch. Roughly 20 minutes later, we were given our food in a nicely packed brown bag. Then again, it isn't that hard to pack a brown bag (this becomes important later). With still a few minutes to spare, we decided we would stay and eat quickly at the outside table where we had been sitting and waiting on our food. I tore into my prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato panini and was greeted with something plainer than I had imagined. For as artisan as the place appeared to be with what goes inside the bread, I was surprised to see that they used square (double meaning) white bread. The inside of the sandwich was impressive- I'll give them that. It was gooey and melty and tasty. The prosciutto was salty and it paired well with the savory mozzarella and sweet tomato. Even including the bread, I was happy with my sandwich overall, and I don't feel like, at seven dollars, it was too expensive as some other reviewers have said. If the experience had only been that, Toast would have been a three-star restaurant on the cusp of four stars. But when my colleague walked inside to get a fork and knife, she was confronted by the cashier who said to her, "I thought you all said you were taking it to go. I packed it up all nice for you. Now you're taking up a table that other people could use." Is it not a normal occurrence for people to designate to-go and then decide later? Were we not paying customers who could use their tables? This wanton display took this restaurant down a peg (and a star). I doubt I'll be returning to this establishment anytime soon.
(2)Stephanie S.
We had a great experience at Toast. My bf and I came at lunchtime on a Saturday. It was pretty crowded, and we probably had to wait in line about 15 minutes. It wasn't a problem though, because it took us that long to decide what to order. We finally decided on the soup of the day (a lentil soup), the pesto/mozzarella/tomato crostini, and the tuscan kale panini. Everything was delicious. My bf liked the panini the most, and I loved the crostini. It was a fun environment, especially for a fun lunch. We will definitely have to come back to try some more menu items (like the goat cheese and honey crostini).
(5)Klaus N.
We were in Downtown Durham and wanted to try something new. I wanted to try the Salt Box but it was closed until 9 July:( oh well, so my wife had heard good things about Toast so we went there. What a very nice surprise this establishment is. The guy who took our order was very helpful and friendly. But the biggest surprise was the quality of the food. My daughter ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with which both my wife and I agree is the best grilled cheese sandwich we have ever had! The whole grilled cheese sandwiches too big for my six-year-old :-) The sandwiches my wife and I ordered were also very good. I can highly recommend the warm olives. Yum yum. This dining experience was a very serendipitous experience in the end I am kind of glad The Saltbox was closed for I might not have tried Toast. We are definitely going back.
(5)Kristin W.
While the food is great, this is not a good place for big groups at lunch time as the seating is very limited and a big table must be cobbled together by slowly accumulating tables nearby...it's like trying to build a Monopoly hotel from houses and we all know how long that can take. Two of us each ordered a soup special with the salad and three crostini combination, so with two crostini per type, we were able to sample all six of the crostini that are regularly on the menu. In decreasing order of preference: - Warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper - delicious balance of savory and sweet - Sicilian caponata, goat cheese, pine nuts - nice mix of eggplant and peppers - Herb pesto, mozzarella, roasted tomato - very tasty pesto - Peperonata, pecorino romano - a nice combination of peppers and cheese - Chicken liver, pancetta, pickled fennel - distinctive taste of liver of without being too overwhelming - Garlicky mushrooms, thyme, gorgonzola - too salty, making it our least favorite
(4)Adam S.
We enjoyed our meal at Toast last week. We went for lunch and it was very crowded, though it seemed that everyone was able to get a table. I had the rapini & sweet Italian sausage panini, which I'd say was OK but not fantastic. Needed a little more flavor. My wife got the 3 cheese panini which was great. The soup was a tomato-based onion soup which was very good. I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)Bruce G.
Toast is very, very good. Their pannini's are better than other places where I have had pannini's (Panera Bread for example). I also recently tried their spicy lentel soup and thought it was terrific! Can't quite give Toast 5 stars yet though. For a place that just serves sandwiches, soups and salads, the orders seem to take a really long time to come out. They are always busy(at least at lunch time when I have been). The space seems pretty cramped too. I would suggest investing in a larger space and hiring more help when finances allow.
(4)Sophia K.
4.5 stars if I could! My only wish is that the side salad had been more interesting. I got the crostini: garlic mushroom (OMG THE BEST), an avocado special which was fresh-tasting, and the goat cheese with honey and cracked pepper (kind of dessert-y and very good). Still dreaming of those mushrooms. Next time I'll probably get one of the paninis and a fizzy soda. The pistachio lemon cookies at the counter are also great!
(4)Sharon T.
I've been here a few times the food is always awesome, never had a bad moment at this spot .Salads are fresh and Yummy. Destination spot for sure.
(5)Paul B.
Sandwiches here are the best, not only what they offer year round, but their weekly specialty sandwiches keep you coming back for something new. The soups are some of the best I have had and the salads are fresh and delicious. Also the owner is often behind the counter, with an endearing smile and a voice that could soothe you to sleep.
(5)David D.
I have tried every panini ($7.50) and every crostini ($2.50)--and I have enjoyed them all. Come here and try as many dishes as you can, especially the crostinis! Food: Very good, affordable (excluding a drink, lunch will cost you $7.70 to $11) Service: Very friendly staff, Quick preparation (food is not pre-made); expect to wait 10 minutes Great place for a casual lunch date.
(5)J C.
No wonder the line was out of the door ... The meal was excellent. I had lentil and mushroom soup plus a chicken with sweet roasted pepper panini. Both were tasty and memorable. I enjoyed sitting street-side and people watching. It was a perfectly sunny evening with good food and a nice glass of red wine paired to my meal. We'll be back!
(4)David S.
Had portobello panini. Was delicious but needed some acidity the the tomatoes were not providing. A light balsamic glaze would send the flavor thru the roof. The green salas was fresh and crisp. Dressing was nice and light. Bread was nice and perfectly toasted.
(4)Jillery Ellen S.
DELISH!!! LUNCH!! WOW!!! HAD crispinis and soup combo. Holy moley!!! Excellent. Also had pistachio cookie shortbread. IM A FAN FOR LIFE!
(5)Elizabeth A.
Toast makes me wish I lived in Durham! This place is super delish. I stopped by Toast to grab a few sandwiches for a picnic. The menu is small-ish, but I guarantee you'll find something mouth-watering that you love. Menu was divided into 4 sections: paninis (hot pressed sandwiches), tramezzinis (cold deli style sandwiches), bruschettas, and crostinis. I ordered the 3 cheese panini and the daily crostini special: a goat cheese and cherries ditty. The 3 cheese was yummy, but a little on the salty side. The crostinis were TO DIE FOR. The order came with 3, but I could have eaten 50.
(5)Tori H.
Oh my goodness- I haven't reviewed Toast? Silly me. Toast is a cute little cafe style place. You order at a small counter and they have some seating and tables outside too. It's reeeeallly tight in there during lunch...and if you don't like eating next to people - get it to go...like me! ;) The sandwiches - always great! I've had the chicken panini and chicken salad... the meat and bread always tastes fresh and delicious. The butternut squash soup in the fall/winter is SOOOOOOOO GOOD. Much better than Saladelia (sorry). Last- the employees here are great- always smiling even when it's crazy busy. Kelli, the co-owner, takes orders, and she is always VERY friendly and pleasant. One time I came in almost at closing time with a band I was photographing and Kelli didn't act like it was a big deal and we were all served fresh food and treated great. Glad downtown Durham has this staple!
(4)Matthew F.
Toast is absolutely fantastic. I've been here many times and have always had a great experience. The menu rotates and is always creative, the food is delicious and the staff are very friendly.
(5)Eileen T.
This is such a cute place to go to for casual lunch. I liked the wide selection, but I wish there were more descriptions for everything. I got a proscuitto panini and the onion soup, both of which were pretty good. I also tried the goat cheese crostini, at the suggestion of Yelpers, but I didn't enjoy it that much. The texture of the cheese felt weird in my mouth. The food was very expensive for what I got though. I feel like I wouldn't go again because of the prices.
(3)Josh P.
Great sandwiches and lots of variety. Really enjoyed sampling the different crostini options. Very hipster feel to the place, but a tasty lunch cannot be denied.
(3)Michael H.
Holy schmoly. I found this place completely by accident, but this is the kind of accident I'm more than happy to be in. Toast brands itself as a "paninoteca", which I think has something to do with Italian sandwiches. I had a "rapini panini" (which I chose mostly because the words rhyme), and it was just about the best sandwich I've ever had. Add in the bowl of hearty homemade soup (I can't remember what kind it was, but I do remember thinking that I could live entirely on that soup), and you have the makings of a very, very happy customer. The price was right, the service was friendly and the atmosphere was urban chic. Perfect date spot. I'm absolutely delighted to see locally-owned establishments that serve really high quality food, and I will definitely be going back to Toast. Five stars, hands down.
(5)Ron W.
Out of all the dining places around DPAC, Toast is my favorite! Great sandwiches served with a smile... The lovely couple (the Cotters) that runs Toast are always working hard to bring you their wonderful sandwiches. Just had some pesto-tomato-mozzarella crostini and a chicken panini last night and they were both great. None of their delicious lentil soup for me, I learned my lesson after the last DPAC show... :-@ Toast is all about inexpensive, fresh and delicious food, a fantastic combo! Seriously. For the money, Toast can't be beat. I've eaten here at least eight or nine times and have always left happy... A tip of my Yelp cap to Toast, thanks for all the wonderful and reasonably priced food...
(5)Tiffany J.
I got the grilled chicken panini and it was amazing! They used pesto sauce on the chicken, grilled vegetables, and mozzerrella cheese. You can choose from a variety of Italian sandwiches here, and they're all around $7. An additional $2 will get you a soup or salad. Toast also carries a wide selection of beers. This seems like a great place to bring friends, though it's quite busy on this Friday night. The Tiffany blue-themed interior is very pleasant. My only complaint is that the food took awhile to prepare, but I will come again for sure.
(5)Justin W.
The anti-panera bread in all the right ways! Been here several times, never a let down. Unique fare that you cannot find anywhere else, lots of local ingredients. Great place for a quick lunch although because it is so good sometimes seating is hard to come buy. Worth it though. If time of year is good outdoor seating is great and right in the middle of downtown. Definitely try it out. We are regulars.
(5)Sarah W.
In a nutshell: Tiny place, counter-order sandwiches, soups and salads that are ah-mazing! Will definitely take many more lunches here. I ordered the chicken and mozzarella panini, and a bowl of their cauliflower and pine-nut soup. The sandwich was warm and tasty with it's fresh melted mozzarella and sweet peppers, and the soup was an excellent and equally tasty companion. Got there right around 12:30 and the line was almost out the door, but I was told to expect that, There are tables inside and we were lucky to grab an empty one. The place is very small, but who cares? You serve me food like that, and you can open your shop inside of a thimble--I'll still go there and wait!
(4)Nate L.
One of downtown Durham's best kept secrets... Toast offers a wide variety of panini and sandwiches. Try their chicken panini as it's got a great kick to it that explodes in your mouth. Make sure you jump on a table before you order as this place fills up fast.
(4)Todd Y.
Don't go hungry!!!! So the food is EXCELLENT... what you get... The place is very tight, so either get there early or expect to wait for a table, especially if you are a party bigger than 2... They only have 2 4-top tables, you might get lucky and find 2 2-tops together and bring them together... Otherwise you are waiting... The food, as I said is very good... The problem is you get what you read.. It's a fair amount of $$$ of a toasted sandwich... It's not your typical pannini which I was actually ok with... The problem is they bring out a plate with a sandwich cut in half... Either add a salad or soup, which many of the patrons were doing, or don't go very hungry... As for our weekly vegan, the choices were a lot more limited than we expected... They do have the mushroom sandwich, but thats about it... I got the Chicken & Roasted Red Pepper... It was very tasty and very well put together... I give it 3 stars, for the size of the place, lack of value and parking (lack of)... Quality it's 5-stars easy!!!
(3)Laura S.
I've been to Toast a few times now and am reviewing them after my visit last week with my family. PROS: *Fresh, good food *Cute downtown location with outdoor seating across the street in addition to some patio seating CONS: *Very crowded...hard to find room for large parties (by large I mean more than 4) *Menu does not appeal to "plain" eaters...is a bit "foodie" I've always enjoyed my paninis at Toast (egg, cheese, and chive) and their salads are good too. One thing that I do not enjoy about Toast is that it is very crowded at lunch (speaks to the good food I suppose) and it can be really hard to find tables, especially if you are with a group. I went here with my mother and soon to be father-in-law who are both picky eaters and they had a hard time finding something that they could order...they didn't know what half of the ingredients were and it made their experience a little frustrating.
(3)Anna W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Durham. I go almost once a week, so it's lucky that it's pretty affordable. The kale panini is amazing, as are the soups (always changing, always fresh and delicious), and the crostini. I love when they have the avocado special, but every one that I've tried is good. Even when I go for the panini and soup I still have to order the goat cheese, honey and pepper crostini for "dessert". All around a fantastic place, with great casual atmosphere and super friendly and helpful employees.
(5)Barbara B.
I finally made a stop at Toast after years of walking past this place (especially since I frequented Dame's just down the block on a regular basis). I knew the Yelp reviews were out of this world so I just went in on blind faith by my onesies, not having look at the menu or anything. And boy I was not disappointed! I went on a Tuesday around 11:30 and it was relatively empty, but things definitely started picking up around noon. The cashier was super friendly, and helped recommend the Chicken Panini with the Butternut Squash soup when I mentioned I had never been there. This was all excellent choices! The flavors in the chicken sandwich were rich and delicious - pesto, roasted peppers, and hints of lime and something I couldn't really identify. However, I really think the best part of the meal was the Butternut Squash soup, which the lady at the counter said did not include cream or milk yet tasted just as rich and creamy. This came with a little sprinkle of cheese on top that was just the perfect finishing touch. I cannot recommend this soup enough!! But unfortunately, I do have to ding it one star because the chicken in my sandwich was really dry and rough and towards the end of my meal when everything cooled, almost inedible. The service here was very friendly - judging by the Yelp reviews, the lady at the counter who recommended the food and brought my order out was Kelli the owner. She was really helpful too when I couldn't connect to the free wifi here and rebooted the router just for me. The price was just about right for the portion size as well. I will definitely be back with friends. And maybe I'll go for some crostinis next time - the choices look positively scintillating!
(4)Katie T.
Toast has truly established itself as a downtown Durham staple with its delightful dishes (especially the daily specials). Even after several trips to Toast, I stand by this review that Toast takes lunch to a new level. I've tried a variety of paninis and soups (I have yet to branch out to the crostini/tramezzini) because the paninis are just incredible. Most recently, I tried the portabello panini with fontina, arugula, and roasted tomato. Isn't your mouth watering? Their homemade soups have been so flavorful (the pureed cauliflower with pine nuts blew me away) and such a nice complement to the sandwich. The only challenge I see with Toast is that everyone else is learning how good it is too, so it can be hard to nab a table during lunchtime. But, from observation, just be patient and a table will magically open up! In a world of convenience, we can get used the idea that everything should move instantaneously. At Toast, your food is prepared when you order, and that's part of the cornerstone that makes this eatery so special. And for under $10? Patience will definitely be your virtue!
(4)Matt M.
Toast is a simple and easy favorite. Usually quick and always delicious! Soup and a sandwich on a cold day always makes me happy. They are closed on Sunday, and it always seems like a good day to go. other tha that, I have no complaints.
(4)Alan S.
Not my favorite. I can't say why exactly, but the sandwich that I got there didn't taste very good. I got the tuna, olivada panini: The filling had a lot of flavor, but it wasn't good flavor, and it was really unidimentional. I guess I only got a single snapshot of what the place is. I give it two stars because I feel somewhat lonely in my low review and thus, I'd be willing to try Toast again, but I definitely wouldn't get the same thing again.
(2)Heather B.
Toast, you had me at 'the name' Visit: October 4 I had to be in Durham around lunch time today and decided to try a new place. I searched on Yelp and found a few candidates and then I came across Toast. OMG! I am quite passionate about bread and if you take a slice of bread any bread even crappy bread like Wonder Bread and put it in the oven and toast it...it reaches the deepest level of true love. Based on the numerous good reviews and the name, I went to Toast. I arrived in downtown Durham just a few minutes before noon and found a 1-hour parking space on the street about 2 blocks away. Lucky! There were about a half dozen people in line at Toast with the majority of tables occupied. The guy behind me was raving about how awesome Toast is to his companion that had never been there before. Good sign! I smiled over my shoulder and he asked me to help his friend since he loved everything and couldn't recommend one thing over another. I laughed because I wouldn't be much help since I was a Toast Virgin too. I ordered the grilled chicken panini with a side green salad. The paninis are $6.50 and you can add soup or a salad for $2. I think that is very reasonable. I asked for tap water and there were several pitchers of water, some with ice and others ice-free. I don't know if that was intentional, the no ice pitchers, but the room temperature water is very European. I used to think it had to do with energy conservation or something but 3 different European friends (Italian, French, and Belgian) told me it is healthier to drink room temperature beverages. Interesting! So I'm going to believe the water pitchers without ice were by design. I only waited a few minutes before my lunch was served. Oh boy! The bread was beautifully toasted, crisp and warm. Yummy! The grilled chicken panini was layered with chopped red and orange roasted peppers, ooey goey mozzaralla (which tasted like it was fresh mozzarella), and salsa verde. Okay, I'm going to be picky...salsa verde in an authentic Italian sandwich shop? It's all about the name. Right? Right! I would have called it a pesto at least. Diced green herbs with a little bit of oil. Well, whatever it's called it was delicious! There was plenty of sliced chicken to make a hearty meal. I actually brought half of my sandwich home to have for dinner since my hubby is out of town. Overall, it was an awesome sandwich. I really enjoyed the green salad too. It was lettuces with herbs garnished with shaved grana padano cheese. I tasted fresh mint and oregano in the mix. I liked the combination of the sharp cheese with the slightly sweet balsamic dressing. Fabulous! As I was leaving, the guy who is the #1 Fan of Toast (aka the guy in line behind me), asked me how I liked it. I told him I loved it and would be back again.
(4)Arika S.
Cute little place in downtown Durham for quick lunch or dinner. They have a great wine selection and fresh soups! Tried the three cheese panini, hot olive appetizer, and the portobella sandwich. I highly recommend the hot olives and the three cheese panini. I will definitely be going back here - service was quick and the prices were cheap!
(4)Thea N.
You know those places that you've been going for years but haven't gotten an opportunity to review on Yelp? This is my place. From the great service, to the amazing food, Toast is the most reliable restaurant in Durham. I guarantee the food you get will be delicious, and the service will be equally magical. Try these: -Goat cheese and honey crostini -Mortadella panini -Chicken salad tramezzini -Grilled cheese Plus there's beer! YUM.
(5)Naomi K.
Had two paninis: -rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca - proscuitto, mozzarella, tomato The first one sounded more complex, but the flavors weren't as exciting as they sounded. The sausage was not ascetic. Food is about presentation and it looked like a slab of bologna. It didn't seem to have much taste either but the appearance detracted from it. The second sandwich was more simple and far tastier. The bread was nicely toasted and warm and crispy. The soup of the day was delicious and for only $2, it was quite reasonable. The lady at the counter was friendly and inviting. The guy cleaning up tables was working hard to provide for the lunch time crowd. It was a cute place but I wasn't as impressed by the sandwiches. Maybe I ordered the wrong ones, but I feel like Otis and Parker's sandwiches are more impressive.
(3)Eric D.
Went here for a quick lunch...if that is your intention do not go at lunch. Atmosphere - girly, mint, small tables, crowded, noisy, 80% female clientele (at least at lunch on this day) Food - I ordered a panino w/ grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, and salsa verde. It was a crunchy sandwich that was prepared on artisan bread brushed, rather heavily, w/ olive oil. The chicken was fresh tasting and overall this was a great sandwich. Service - My to go order took forever to get to go. I know they were busy but 30 mins for a panini/ panino is way too long. Overall - a decent sandwich but service was slow and the atmosphere was too hectic to be enjoyable.
(3)K. M.
Whenever I'm having an off day, eating at Toast makes things so much better. The owners and staff are so authentic and friendly, it's almost like you can taste the love in their soup. I have never been disappointed; in fact I am somehow always amazed every time I eat there at how delicious the food is. My personal favorites are the salad-- so simple and delectable-- and the risotto soup.
(5)Liana L.
Okay, so I learned that not EVERY single item on the menu is a must-get. I sort of realized this when my friend was picking off the vegetable (it was purple and bitter - don't know what it is) off of the shrimp bruschetta. Apparently it's good with the shrimp, but it's pretty strong if you eat it by itself. (I ate it by itself. It wasn't very good). I came here another time to try the merguez & chickpea bruschetta, which I was really curious about because I loved merguez sausage in Paris, but this was NOT the same thing. Oops. So it may just have been my disappointed expectations, but I actually didn't like the sausage very much. I took a friend here for the first time and we split it, and she actually loved it. So ... it's up to you. I also didn't like how messy it was. That said, I stand by my other reviews; I've gotten AMAZING food here. The grilled chicken panini, the mortadella, and the rapini are all excellent, excellent choices. I think I'm just partial to paninis. Lunch time can be hectic and crowded, but I've always been able to get a seat (in the nick of time though - they're not readily available). Also, get a lovely Italian candy. They're really, really good. (Only if you like hard candies and surprise centers :D). I got the hazelnut one, which was really a party in my mouth. A surprise party.
(4)Emily Y.
I've been coming to Toast for a while now, and I've pretty much loved every single thing I've ever ordered. For starters, the atmosphere is cute and casual, and the cashier lady is always super-sweet. It can get crowded from time to time with long waits for sandwiches, but I swear it's still worth it. They have a fantastic selection of drinks, too. Things I've tried and loved: the portobello and fontina panini (mushrooms, melted cheese, and arugula--warm and delicious), the shrimp and sunchoke tramezzini (basically a pile of tender shrimp salad on untoasted bread; FYI sunchoke is a crunchy root vegetable), and of course--ALL of their crostini. My favorites must be the warm goat cheese, chicken liver, and garlicky mushrooms, but definitely keep an eye out for the specials. Oh, and to echo every other recent review: GET THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP. It's a warm, thick, oniony, silky and flavorful squash purée that tastes like fall and heaven in a bowl.
(5)Susan G.
Best lunch in Durham! Their crostini + soup/salad deal is always perfect. Lots of choices and GREAT vegetarian options. They use fresh, delicious ingredients and I always leave feeling full but not gross. I recommend the pesto/tomato, avocado/grana padano, and honey/goat cheese options. Plus, the lady who runs it is super nice and welcoming. Highly recommend!!
(4)G. P.
The food is good but not plentiful. My palate was satisfied but my stomach wanted more. I'd definitely go back. The place isn't extremely large so you may want to plan going at a less busy time if you have a large host of companions.
(4)Laura P.
I love this place. Fresh, inventive, delicious. The three crostini plus salad makes a wonderful lunch. Always a bit crowded, but well worth it.
(4)John L.
Absolutely excellent! I ended up with a spicy tuna panini and a side salad. Both were perfect, with the spicy tuna panini being particularly good. What also makes Toast wonderful is the outdoor seating: perfect for a casual evening dinner, or for people-watching in Durham as people go to DBAP or DPAC. Overall, awesome.
(5)Andrea P.
I ate the rapini and Italian sausage panino, accompanied by the mesclun salad with the house red vinaigrette; this meal really hit the spot. My boyfriend had the shrimp and sunchoke sandwich which, thought flavored perfectly with a touch of lemon, fell a bit into that generic "mayonnaise sandwich" category--a slippery slope that's easy to fall onto whenever mayo is involved. He also had the soup of the day, which was flavorful though a bit mushy--yet another common pitfall. Pros: - Flavor and portions--get a tasty bite to eat without feeling defeated by your meal. - Wide range of ingredient options; I didn't think about vegetarians so I can't comment on that, but for omnivores the selection is quite wide. You should be able to find something to hit the spot. - Good location. Cons: - People were stopping at the door and leaving toward noon because the line was way too long. - There's not too much that can be done about this, but most of the tables are very close to each other and so it can be difficult to talk to your party. I don't know, something about the ambience seemed a little off to me; this place was funky, but not necessarily the most appetizing.
(3)Lindsay S.
It seems like an Italian hipster panini deli place. I found Toast last night as and friend and I were trying to grab a quick dinner before opening night of Hair at DPAC. Within walking distance and with decent reviews, it seemed like a good pick. I'll say that overall I enjoyed it, but am not sure it was an over the moon experience. Part of that was, of course, impacted that we waited 15 minutes for our food which was of course also impacted by the "opening night at Hair" factor. I understood that, but it still was quite a bit of chaos in there. I got the proscuitto, mozzarella, and tomato panini, but instantly tore the tomato off and handed it to my friend because I hate tomatoes and forgot to request that they not put them on there. My friend saved the lost tomatoes and instead enjoyed them on his portobello panini. Mine was good, but a bit hard. At $6.50 apiece I think their paninis are a little overpriced because they're just your average size and though the ingredients are fresh, that's all they cover. My friend also had chicken liver crostinis which scared me, but they were gone in no time so they must have been good. At $2, they seem appropriately priced. We also each had a glass of wine. By glass, I mean the size of a jelly car that Mom poured our juice in as kids. $4 for that didn't impress me much. For dessert we shared a small slice of brown sugar cake with fresh strawberries and cream. This was good, but like I said, small and gone in no time. For $4 considering the freshness and all this may have been decent....but still small. Overall pleasant, but next time I'll try some place new before catching a show. Toast is certainly a cute cafe and genuine if you've avoiding a chain deli type of experience, but there was no wowness for me last night.
(3)Lester M.
MMmmmm, drool. I love Toast! I mean, what's not to love? To date, I do believe that I've tried all their panini's, crostini's, and pretty much everything else on the menu. What I love is that there are so many delicious combinations. If I'm not in the mood for a panini, then I can always order a variety of crostini's and a salad, which are equally as filling. My favorites are the portobello mushroom panini, and the warn goat cheese with honey crostini. What makes toast even better is that Kelli (the owner) is super friendly and nice. With great service and great food, you really can't go wrong.
(5)Joel R.
Toast is a good little sandwich place with too few tables, but that's not why my rating is weaker than the field. The people here are lovely, so it's not them, either. Basically, sandwiches are pretty simple fare, but they gotta be delicious. Unfortunately, my mortadella sandwich was kind of flat and my wife's kale (a really interesting sandwich that I was looking forward to trying) was tough and undercooked. The menu does look good, however. Maybe we just picked wrong.
(3)Monica M.
Great veggie options. The Tuscan kale panini was incredibly delicious! And the butternut quash soup was equally awesome. We showed up around 11:30 and had to wait about 15 minutes for our food; it was more than worth it.
(5)M P.
Good paninis, but the wait during lunch is too long.
(4)Anna R.
The panini with local farm egg, tallegio, chives is really rich, filling, and delicious. The first time I had it was with hot sauce and the second was with wine. Both were delicious. The coffee there is also very delicious. I am usually really snobby about coffee but toast does coffee really well. I also love going to toast because of the decor--I think the robin egg blue walls, dark brown furniture, and white tiled ceiling look amazing together!
(5)Laura S.
One of my favorite places to get lunch. The food is fresh and flavorful. I still have to look up ingredients on my phone before ordering, but it's always delicious. My favorite is the shrimp and sunchoke salad sandwich. The green salad is deceptively simple with a few thin curls of a flavorful hard cheese and surprising hints of herbs. The cured salmon sandwich is also great. I've tried several things and have never been disappointed.
(5)Leo B.
Simple Italian sandwiches done well which is surprisingly difficult for many to do. They were very accommodating to our children and gave them a fun, tasty and very stretchy Mozzarella cheese sandwich. I loved my prosciutto and mozz and tomato panini though the tomatoes were too hot and the chicken salad was a big hit. My one daughter loved the portobello panini. I wish this was closer and in Raleigh and not Durham! We will eat here again!
(5)Susan Z.
Aww, fack that, I'm the Duchess of Toast now. Clearly I love this place. I always get the same thing, though. Obviously, I'm boring and lack personality. Or maybe that portobello sandwich is the best thing ever. I crave Toast's portobello panini. Sometimes I get confused and think "Oh man, it sucks being single" but then I realize it's actually just hunger. I just really want a panini from Toast. Oops, silly me :D Every time I come here I *just* miss a rush. But they deal with rushes pretty well.
(5)Dale G.
I had the most horrible goddamn sandwich of my life here.
(1)Kathryn E.
I hate to break this chain of glowing "Toasts" to this restaurant but my experience was less than impressive. I went there on a random week night with a friend...she got the shrimp bruschetta, I got the grilled chicken panini. It was fine...nothing special. My sandwich was rather bland, flat (yes, it's a panini but it should have SOME girth to it) and just...meh. I am a hearty eater so I want some meat in my sammies and this was less than impressive.Also, they were charging $2 for a meager side salad with nothing exciting about it so all I had on my plate was a sorry, flat sammie that just didnt stir any excitement. I have no desire to go back. I hear such glowing reports from friends about how awesome this place is and I just didn't catch that vibe.
(2)Katey Z.
Pass the cheese, please! I don't think I've consumed as much cheese at one sitting as I did at my visit to Toast last Saturday. I was meeting my wedding photographer to discuss our upcoming engagement shoot, and I was prepared to have to stake out a table ahead of time. Fortunately, even at prime lunchtime, it wasn't too crowded to find a spot in the shade outside. I ordered the three-cheese panini and a bowl of onion soup. I was pleased to see that they had not only your standard cheeses, but more interesting ones like my personal favorite--pecorino. That really took the grilled cheese to a new level. The food wasn't very speedy, but I wasn't in a hurry. I turned to the door many times, hoping the wait staff would be visiting our table, but the food, when it eventually came, was worth the wait. My grilled cheese was cooked perfectly and the soup was scrumptious. I hadn't realized that there would be cheese in the soup (maybe I didn't read the description carefully?), but I will say that after that lunch, I wasn't hungry until about 8pm. Such a satisfying lunch for under $10 bucks! I'll definitely hit this place again next time I'm in the mood for a sandwich.
(4)Alysia A.
After a rousing car ride with Salt n Pepa's "Push It" on loud, and my bodacious ass making the car rock, I was basically starving. My handsome beau and I rolled up to Toast and ordered two sandwiches to share. It was my first time so I really enjoyed checking out the decor and menu. It's was all very cute. We got: 1. rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca. It was amazing, light yet flavorful. The rapini was so fresh and so well seasoned and it layered perfectly with the sausage. I had actually been craving rapini lately so it was lovely to see it offered, and cooked so wonderfully. This sandwich is a 100 star beauty. 2. grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, salsa verde. What a wallop of freshness and seasoned artistry. It is so clear that Toast does not skimp on ingredients or preparation. This sandwich was a fourth of july sparkler of quality and flavor. 3. spicy lentil soup. I am not a huge lentil soup (or many other soups, quite honestly) fan so I "participated" by having a few spoonfuls and enjoyed it as much as a non soup person can enjoy a soup. Toast totally made me smile around my delicious grilled goodness. Not to be that guy, but as they say on Terminator...I'll be back.
(4)Richard E.
Wonderful lunch place. You can order a little or a lot, and not overeat. I had the egg salad sandwich and spicy lentil soup, both were excellent. Very good salads, too. A nice, clean, friendly neighborhood place.
(5)Leigh A.
I used to eat here every Saturday and after a 3 year absence from Durham, I came back to the same outstanding food and service. I have tried a good bit of the menu, but due to lactose intolerance, I can't eat some of the things that sound amazing. However, fear not lactards, the NC Shrimp Bruschetta is mind-blowing (IMHO, of course).
(5)Luke P.
Score! Great lunch spot in downtown Durham, cool place to check out the locals. Nice family and community atmosphere. Had the tasty Tuscan kale panini and daily soup special (mushroom soup). Hoping to come back to try some of their other items.
(4)Peter D.
Wonderful place for a lunch in downtown Durham--after trying to understand what each of the options meant in english, I settled on the grilled chicken panini, and it tasted great. Lots of flavor, and the grilling was done perfectly. I would highly suggest getting a side of soup or salad, however, as a sandwich is just not enough for a complete meal IMO. In addition, orders took a bit longer than expected, especially since we came in right before lunchtime and there weren't too many customers. There was a huge rush of people after noon (note this was during graduation weekend), and some orders easily took upwards of 20 minutes to complete. However, the service was great, and I don't think you'll run into too much trouble with waiting normally. And of course, the food is delicious.
(4)Spencer H.
I have been meaning to get here for quite some time now, and I don't know what took me so long to finally do so, but I am glad I did! There were so many delicious Items on the menu that I am glad for the long wait to order. Even by the time I made it up to the cash register I was still bouncing between a few items in my head, however I finally settled on the shrimp and sunchoke salad tramezzini with the side green salad. Lucky for me I was with my wife so also got to taste some of the crostini's. If you don't mind a sizable wait, for excellent original and fresh food, do not hesitate to give this place a try!
(5)Adriana S.
Had the sweet sausage panini and tomato onion soup..their soup is very delicious and savory..sandwich 3 stars not as flavorful..featured red wine delicious.
(4)Katie R.
Pretty much can't go wrong. The salmon is piled high, and everything is excessively fresh. If there is cheese included on the sandwich, there will be tons and tons of cheese. Even as a gluten free person, I go there for the incredible soup and salad. Ask for the dressing on the side, because otherwise it is soaked.
(5)Maddie S.
I love love love Toast! I am a huge foodie and I take all of my visiting friends and family here to show off Durham Restaurants. They support so many local farms and local businesses, the atmosphere is great, staff is super friendly, AND their side salad has a magically light but lovely dressing on it! One of the best places in Durham for sure!
(5)Jeffery A.
The service was great and the place was very clean and appealing. The food was good but not great. I had a grilled chicken panini that was very flavorful (I would recommend it)and onion soup that was satisfying but had too much cheese in it for me. My guest had a shrimp brucetta and found the bread to be impenetrable. Crunchy is expected but if you can't cut it with a knife, your are in trouble. If not for this, we would have loved this spot.
(3)Josh B.
Amazing as always! Absolutely love this place! I usually do the 3 crostini and soup combo. I get the special crostini and soup. They are always on point and I do 2 staples. The local goat cheese and warm honey crostini and tomato mozzarella crostini are great. Perfect example of a well run and organized local restaurant. Dining here is always a pleasure!!
(5)Stacie N.
[ tl;dr: check out the soups, salad, specials board ] Ignore the naysayers. I've been going to Toast almost since it opened, and have had the wonderful fortune to try everything on the menu, and most of the specials that appear regularly. Toast serves a consistently good meal, and the warmest smiles in Durham. As with any restaurant, not every item is out of the park, and different people have different tastes. I, for one, don't love the soppressata panino or the three cheese, but they're two of the more popular ones. Still, even those are a satisfying lunch. On the menu, my personal favorites are the mortadella (if you're surprised this is fancy bologna, then you probably should have asked what mortadella means), the rapini+sausage, the spicy tuna, the farm egg+taleggio, and the portobello panini; the shrimp+sunchoke, the chicken salad, and the cured salmon tramezzini; and the beet+ricotta bruschetta. All panini, tramezzini, and bruschetta from the regular menu are $6.50. Daily rotating specials vary in price, usually $7 or $8. Soups are seasonally appropriate, and pretty much always impressively delicious. Frankly, I think the soups are where Billy Cotter really shows off his abilities. And the salads. Toast serves up a lightly dressed and colorful salad with fresh herbs mixed in and shaved cheese on top. It's in my top three salad experiences, and it's at its peak in late spring/early summer with the local salad greens. Crostini are also awesome, but I always want something more substantial, and it's a bit bread-heavy to order them with a sandwich. Still, if you want to impress a newbie, get the goat cheese, local honey, and cracked pepper crostini. Or the baccala when it turns up on the specials board. I usually get a sandwich plus a soup or salad, and a perfectly brewed iced tea (which you sweeten for yourself with simple syrup). From the regular menu, this is $10.78 with tax. A bit more from the specials menu. Seriously, if you think this is expensive, you haven't been to ANY other restaurant except Cook Out recently. The food is extensively local, fresh, and very high quality. Expect to wait 10-20 minutes for your food. If you're there at lunch, you wait in line and food takes a bit longer. It's not a drive-thru, and the food is worth the wait.
(5)Emi S.
Always Delicious! The 3 cheese panini with truffle oil a favorite. One of my go-to lunch spots in Durham. It can get busy, it's best to go early.
(4)Christina B.
I only wish I had more time to see the selection of what there is to eat! But, what I had was delish! I got there late, just as they were closing the kitchen. ugh....But, I did get to enjoy the goat cheese/honey crostini....DELISH! I wanted more! Decent selection of beers, but could have had more. So needless to say, I will have to visit again and earlier in the evening!
(4)Charlie T.
Great lunch spot, but can get crowded. Crostini with goat cheese, honey and cracked black pepper have become a staple at our house. Eternally grateful. Paninis are very good, as are the soups. I have yet to be disappointed.
(4)Steph R.
Came at 2 pm, not crowded at all luckily. Loved the three cheese panini and the onion soup special, and the location at Five Points is fantastic. Will definitely come back as much as possible!! And just across the street from Cupcake Bar and The Parlour for dessert ;)
(5)Jared M.
Toast is a simple sandwich place in downtown Durham. I made my first visit recently on a Wednesday afternoon. There were only a few other customers, so the seating was plentiful. I ordered their prosciutto, mozzarella and tomato panini with a rice and turnip soup. If only reviewing the food, I'd give it four stars. My panini was hot and prepared well. The rice and turnip soup was also quite surprising and I enjoyed it greatly. The portions were of average size, so don't expect to be over-stuffed. Lunch is the ideal time to visit. I decided on three stars for this review because of the ambiance of Toast. They're obviously catering to the hipster crowd. With independent alternative music by artists I've never heard of blaring loudly on the overhead speaker, I knew I'd entered into Hipsterville the moment I opened the door. All of the aforementioned customers within the establishment were on laptops and clearly hipsters in their own right. The decorum is... odd and unbalanced. I felt like I was eating my lunch in a basement cafeteria. While certainly tolerable, it didn't encourage me to take my time with lunch and enjoy the atmosphere. I wanted to eat and get out. If you're a hipster, then Toast is your spot. If you're not a hipster, then you may want to ask for your food to go.
(3)Teresa P.
Best freakin' sandwich ever. The kale sandwich is amazing. I was not sold on the idea of a kale sandwich (who could be?), but the person taking my order vouched for it. I did not regret my order. The spiciness of the sandwich is really what makes it work. I only wish it were larger, had better weekend hours, and were closer to where I live.
(5)Luke C.
Jen and I love coming to this eatery in downtown Durham. It's located at the five-points intersection of roads. Upside: My hands down favourite- Portobello Mushroom Panini & Roasted Beet Bruschetta. Small but great place to get lunch. Downside: This place gets packed!! If you see the line of people all the way to the door,... you probably should just walk away. You won't get lunch in the next 30 minutes.
(4)Nicole J.
I really enjoyed my lunch here. I had spicy chickpea soup and a mushroom panini. Fresh ingredients- mostly local. Prices are reasonable and the food is out in no time!
(5)Lisa H.
I have tried numerous times to order something other than the tuscan kale panini but what can I say? It is a sandwich that reminds me of a northern greens dish that I just can't get anywhere else. The sweet and hot peppers make the kale jump to life and it's all on the most perfect bread. I always find myself full and usually taking half of my sandwich with me for a snack later in the day. I find this place to be one of the best little spots in walkable downtown to have a quick bite to eat. The prices are reasonable I think I usually spend about $10 with a drink. There is a small area of outdoor seating but have never been forced to eat inside if I wanted a table. The service is always excellent and the owner is typically on-site with a very intentional focus on the customer. I always bring family and friends here when they are visiting from the north. I highly recommend Toast for lunch or anytime on the weekend.
(5)Dawei L.
Toast is an interesting place for sure. It approaches a rather simple concept(sandwiches) and refines it by narrowing its scope but increasing the details within the sandwich. The do not try to do too much with every sandwich(there is nothing incredibly innovative/unheard of on their menu) and they do try to mix interesting flavors while sticking to some tried and true basics. As a paninoteca(sic?) it focuses on the Italian pressed sandwich. There is a large amount of choices with vegetarian options as well as non paninis(like bruschetta or cold sandwiches). I had the rapini with italian sausage while my friend had the portabello mushroom panini. I also had the potato soup. Rapini/sausage- good flavors, fresh, although the bread crust was a bit over cooked/hard. Definitely a good sandwich, I would have it again, but I didn't find it amazing. Not the most filling thing to have. Potato Soup- It was cheesy and somewhat rich. I would say it was good, but nothing spectacular. It did make the crusts easier to eat and improved the flavor of the rougher parts of the bread. Portabello- More delicate, earthier, and honestly I think it was probably a better handled sandwich, it's just I am very very partial to italian sausage. Overall I would recommend this joint for a fun lunch or light dinner. The lines are usually long since it's one of the most popular spots downtown. I appreciate the ambiance and it's focus on simplicity and quality however, as someone who is not totally in love with sandwiches, I did not find it completely amazing like many of the other reviewers.
(4)Mohamed N.
"Tasty paninis and other Italian sandwiches in downtown Durham" Although I have to admit that I found the lack of translation for many of the menu items a little pretentious (my comment to my wife was that "I'm obviously not cool enough to eat here"), the service was great, the food was tasty and affordable, and the setting in downtown Durham was nice. I came once before for lunch and also liked it. For dinner this time, I got the grilled chicken panini w/ peppers ($6), and it was quite tasty- actually surprisingly tasted better with each bite. I also got the side salad ($2), which had a variety of different greens and no iceberg lettuce. My wife also liked her Panini (Portobello). We got my son a crostini (see picture), and that was clearly not enough food for anything besides an appetizer for one or maybe two people (which is fair for only $2). But it worked out since we were headed to the Durham Bulls ballpark and going to get more food there anyway. By the way, their website has translations for at least the sandwich types, but still not the ingredients. Come on- really, a lot of people don't know the words rapini, soppressata, mortadella, tramezzini, etc. At least a lot of uncool (or uncouth?) people like me.
(4)Harold L.
Food here is pretty good, I'm not sure the menu is super accessible though. It's definitely a pretty relaxed place which is nice, but I think it could benefit from a litttle more organization. Generally pretty light fare. I may go back, we'll see.
(3)E J.
If you like sandwiches and soup, this is it! Those are two of my favorites foods. And this place is like a foodie version of Panera. For $8, you can try three amazing crostinis each with different toppings like 1) goat cheese honey and pepper-a must try!, 2) mushroom and Gorgonzola, 3) and avocado. You also get a bowl of delicious onion soup with a tomato base. Best $8. I wish there was a Toast in Chicago!
(5)Neeraj D.
We stopped by for a quick lunch while going around town. Usually I am leery of going out for sandwiches because... it's a sandwich. I can make them at home for a fraction of the cost and usually better. But, toast had some mighty good offerings. We had two different sandwiches and soups, which were well made with considerations to the flavors, textures, and the overall experience. This was not the basic, run-of-the-mill mediocrity that I have come to expect. It may not seem as much of a compliment (but to me it is), but I would come back here because I liked the attention they put towards their food. The staff was helpful at explaining the ingredients and ordering process. They were friendly, helpful, and patient while we looked over the menu and asked for explanations and try to pick new, different sandwich combinations to try. This is not just an alternative to Dame's Chicken n' Waffles, down the street, when the line is too long - Toast is a destination onto itself.
(4)Daniel J.
This place is solid. Not much more, and certainly not less. Just really good grilled sandwiches.
(4)Aaron K.
The manager made my pregnant wife (35 weeks, very visibly pregnant) who also has a visible knee injury (brace on the outside of her jeans) get up from her seat while waiting for me to place our order. It's my understanding this restaurant runs a high volume business with limited tables but this was absolutely absurd. When my wife asked the manager if he understood she was pregnant and had a knee injury and her husband was in line to order, he simply shrugged his shoulders. I assume the food here is good but this was completely unacceptable. I asked for the owners' contact information so I could contact them privately. He would not provide it. What an unfortunate situation witnessed by other patrons who came outside to offer their sympathies to my visibly upset wife. I hope the owners take note and rectify this situation so it doesn't happen to others in the future.
(1)Katie R.
Fantastic: The soups are particularly delicious, as are the crostini. The grilled cheese is super cheesy, and therefore greasy- be warned. The salads are a good choice, although sometimes over dressed. My favorite is the cured salmon sandwich, Very fishy. This is a great example of amazing food with great variety, where each ingredient is top choice.
(5)Justin T.
Don't come here if you're in a hurry or on a tight schedule! It took around 20 minutes for me to get my order. I ordered the Chicken Panini. The food was pretty good but when coupled with the very long wait, I have it say I wasn't impressed.
(2)Bayard C.
Fresh, high-quality ingredients. Amazing paninis. Delicious side salad was an added bonus. Last time it was crowded but we just ate in the park out front. One of my favorite spots in Durham.
(5)K V.
Fresh ingredients and unique flavors. The food was not extremely tasty, but the service was awesome and it was such a fun atmosphere. I definitely recommend checking this place out!
(4)Christopher D.
Nothing I can say here will do this place justice. Toast is always busy from 11:30 to about 1:30. Best place in town, so it's going to be busy! Great staff and owners! I've tried all sorts of different sandwiches from here. My absolute favorite is the Hot Coppa panino, on the special board from time to time. I haven't found a sandwich yet that I haven't liked. I don't try new things often but Toast has opened me up to new tastes, so I'm not worried about trying new things here! They also have a decent selection of wine and beer! If you are in Durham, this place is a MUST!
(5)Mari H.
Simple and delicious soups, fresh sandwich ingredients and a wide variety of local beers made this a place awesome! I didn't get the salad but saw one leaving the kitchen and it looked huge.
(5)Laura C.
My favorite lunch spot in Durham. Consistently good food, reasonably priced, and they focus on doing their menu well, instead of trying to be a jack of all trades. My favorite menu items are the spicy lentil soup, Calabrian onion soup, egg panino and avocado crostini. Service is always fantastic too. Never fails.
(5)Lloyd M.
Almost did not write a review because there were already so many solid ones but I felt I had to. I went for the first time (had heard about it for ages) and was not disappointed. I am not a fan of hot sandwiches, I prefer softer bread, and was very pleased that there were multiple non-panini options (though I almost ventured into panini-land they sounded so good). I had a chicken salad sandwich and a side salad. The chicken salad was great, pretty much pieces of chicken in a light garlic aioli. The salad was mixed greens with cheese. On paper, sounds quite ordinary, but everything was great, fresh and tasty.
(5)Gail C.
Meh. I really have had better. The decor and name sound like a premier bistro. The menu also looks very inviting and top notch. But looks and name are deceiving. The food had high quality ingredients that the chef took and smashed and over cooked. I had the tramezzini - pancetta, arugula, oven roasted tomato. the tomatoes were smashed into unrecognizable red juicy skins and the pancetta was over cooked and rock hard. The bread was simply white bread with the crust cut off. My wait for this sandwich was about 20 minutes. The restaurant was packed. Maybe the other sandwiches were better, but mine was a gooey hard to eat mess that kept falling apart. If I ever decide to go here again, I am trying a Panini. They will surely stay together. Maybe the other sandwhiches are what others have eaten and given high ratings. Just not impressed.
(2)Meredith M.
Delicious food... the bread! Ahhh not the place to go if you are avoiding carbs. But still it was delish. Only minus one star because one of our paninis had really soggy bread inside, not sure if that is avoidable but the crispy bread was better! A great place to grab lunch with a couple friends. It gets pretty crowded around lunch time so I'd go a little after :)
(4)Emily A.
Can you say cuuute and yummy?! I was Yelping for a nice, small lunch spot where a couple friends and I could grab a quick but delicious bite before heading to the airport to go home to the West Coast. I was skeptical at first after reading how this place gets packed easily during lunch but the food and feel was exactly what I was looking for so I couldn't turn it down. Came here around 2pm on a Monday and there were only a few other people there..score! I got the grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, salsa verde panini and it was so fresh. The bread was nice and toasty on the outside and soft inside. The ingredients came together really well thanks to the mozzarella that literally held it into once warm and gooey piece. I like that the sandwich itself wasn't too heavy or greasy, but extremely satisfying enough to not be hungry all the way until I got back to California at midnight. Good stuff!
(4)Perry H.
This is a great spot for lunch in downtown Durham. I've only visited on the weekends, when its super crowded (not sure if its ever not crowded actually). You line-up to order with seating packed tightly on both sides of the line, so be prepared for a wait (to order and for a table). They do offer take-out which is a good option on a nice day. The food is good - I've had a lot of success with the soup's and the sandwiches are tasty. That said, they don't knock me out either. Until recently, with the opening of Beyu Cafe a couple doors down, there were no options for upscale sandwich & soups in downtown Durham, so Toast filled a big void. Definitely worth a try for yourself...
(4)Donna H.
My three cheese panini was fantastic, and I also enjoyed the crostini. The service was friendly but it took a long time for our food to show, even though there were only two people waiting on their meals when we walked in. I was initially a little put out by the lack of sweet tea, because hey, we're in the south and we drink that here. Thankfully they've got simple syrup (which, unlike sugar packets, will actually sweeten iced tea). I loved the food, but I'd only recommend Toast when you've got plenty of time. That was the only real drawback.
(4)Antonia M.
I'm going to leave this short, considering how many reviews Toast already has, many of which echo my experience and thoughts. Toast is a lovely little lunch spot - the atmosphere is very endearing and matches the food. Simple, clean and a bit rustic - with a local flair. The food is amazing - nothing is 'fancy', but excellent quality ingredients are allowed to shine. In particular, I really like the local egg sandwich, but there are many other 'to-eat' items on my list!
(5)Mel T.
One of our favorites. Never off the mark. Yes, folks sometimes you have to wait. The owners/workers know how to run during the busy lunch time. It is worth the wait. Yes, don't roll in and expect to get a '$5.00" sub and be out in 5-minutes. Expect to get fresh awesomeness. Vegan/veg options exist and they are always hearty and good. We are going to try to hit Toast for dinner more often. One of Durham's true gems.
(5)Jennifer B.
I have currently fallen into the habit on getting to go food from here every Saturday afternoon after a morning at yoga. I am obsessed with the salad in particular the salad dressing. My partner has fallen in love with the chicken sandwich and I tend to get the soup and salad. I have also noticed lately a lacking in picking up the phone when I call to out in my order which is disappointing but not enough to keep me away. Writing this is making me think about heading there for lunch shortly :)
(5)Anna L.
So why go to [insert generic sandwich shop here] when you can go to Toast? Really, do you like awesome food? After going here, it will be hard to convince myself to purchase (for almost the same price) another sandwich. Really, it is that good. I had a tough choice narrowing my panini down. So many great sounding choices, but ultimately I ordered the prosciutto, mozzarella, and tomato sandwich. Wow! They know how to make a mean ham and cheese sandwich. Deliciousness! By the way, it is so worth the extra two dollars to have the side salad. Really trust me. A bed of mixed greens seasoned with balsamic and topped with shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese. Yum! This really is an awesome place to eat. This is a sandwich place for food snobs but without a pretentious atmosphere. I can't wait to go back and have another awesome lunch.
(5)Laurie V.
I like this place. Kelli, the owner always takes the orders and she seems so happy and welcoming to every customer who comes in. The cauliflower soup is awesome- there is no cream added, it is just naturally creamy and yummy. Everything I've had there is delcious. A convenient spot to walk to on my lunch break. Take-out orders are not quick, so make sure you have some time if you go there for a quick lunch. Dining in takes some time too, but it's because they are always busy.
(4)Nene K.
Let me preface this review by saying that I didn't have any of their paninis. However, I did try the goat cheese and honey crostini, another sort of crostini, and the soup of the day. The soup was not mind-blowing, but it was satisfying on a bitterly cold evening in Durham. The salad was simple and artfully done. I LOVE their wine selection and had some sort of Italian wine that I intend to purchase by the bottle one of these days. The crostinis, especially the goat cheese and honey ones, were delicious and three to an order is a perfect serving size for a lighter meal. I was impressed by the familial service -- the cashier seemed genuinely happy to be there. She was very helpful in suggesting a wine to go with my meal. Verdict: Fairly certain that you can't go wrong with Toast if you're into cute cafes that aren't Panera. I will be back to try one of those paninis.
(3)Jason B.
The three cheese panini pairs nicely with a cup of the Counter Culture Los Luchadores coffee. (As do probably any of their sandwiches with any of the Counter Culture coffees.) I don't think you can really go wrong here. I am forever grateful to Toast for introducing me to Counter Culture coffee. I had my first cup here not long after they first opened. Thank you, Toast. (I am perhaps just as grateful to the folks at the Café at Rue Cler for directing me towards Toast when I was looking for a cup of drip coffee.)
(5)Helena K.
Strange that I'm just now reviewing Toast when I've eaten there probably a dozen times. We go there for work lunches sometimes, and I've dined there with friends, and on my own as well. This is the only paninoteca that I know of in the Triangle. And, let's face it, the panini is god's gift to sandwiches. I more or less order the same thing every time: portobello-fontina-arugula-roasted tomato panini and a Bad Penny (they've got a bunch of local microbrews in bottles here) or sometimes an Izzie soda, depending on the time of day and the odds of someone important smelling my breath. This is the most perfect sandwich there is in all the world. I get it with a green salad, which is simple but delicious. I always leave Toast full, but never feeling like a heifer. I have also tried the warm goat cheese-local honey-cracked black pepper crostini and the herb pesto-mozzarella-roasted tomato crostini. Really, though, no matter what you order, you cannot go wrong. It's impossible! Of all the times I've visited, I swear to you that Kelli Cotter---co-owner with her husband, Billy Cotter---has taken my order every single time. It's so cool to have such friendly, capable, accessible owners of this local gem. The place has limited seating, so you may want to call ahead if you're bringing a group. They've got tons of great outdoor seating, too, which is perfectly positioned at the crux of Five Points, which makes for some of the best people watching in the area.
(5)Anne L.
Yummy cauliflower soup!
(4)Ted Z.
Toast is hands down the best quick lunch you can get in downtown Durham. The sandwiches are excellent and made with high-quality ingredients, and are worthy of finer restaurants. My favorites are the Italian sausage with rapini, mortadella with pickled red onion, and pancetta with tomato (yes, I might have a pork addiction). The soups are routinely excellent and often reflect what's in season. They are simple yet flavorful -- recently I've had chilled cucumber and basil (great on a hot day) and lentils with pancetta. Any special that's on the board has usually been a safe bet for me. Beware, though, that peak hours are from 12-1:30 or so. Most tables are taken, it gets fairly loud, and there's usually a line, so try to come early or late for a more relaxed meal. Service is always friendly and attentive, however, and plates usually come out of the kitchen in about 7-8 minutes, regardless of how full the place is.
(5)Henry S.
Toast is a great, relatively-new place in Durham. They serve a variety of sandwiches, as you may have guessed, but with a little bit of flair. They have all different types of bruschetta that you can put your sandwich on, or panini bread, or just plain toast. Nothing is over $8, so you can leave here without breaking the bank. Beware at lunch time, this restaurant gets overly packed with the work crowd, so come after 3 if you can.
(5)kellie h.
as a new transplant to the durham area, i was excited to stumble upon toast in the gentrifying downtown. simple decor, friendly service (i suspect the lady at the counter and one of the hard working guys in the open kitchen are the owners) and killer food. first, i love how they use authentic and rare (at least by durham standards) ingredients AND they know how to spell/pronounce them. as a somewhat flexible pescatarian, i was happy to see that they always have at least one vegetarian soup everyday (you'd be surprised how hard it is to find soup w/o chicken stock). and the butternut squash soup was hearty and savory. thick specks of black pepper and a sprinkling of parmaggiano kept it from being too dessert-y, as this falltime soup can sometimes be. my panino of spicy tuna was complimented well with the lemon zest and thinly shaved fennel. it was pressed to perfection, without being too scratchy (what i call the capt'n crunch syndrome. once you're done eating, the roof of your mouth is completely annihilated.) and katy's special-of-the-day panino with roasted ham, roasted apples, some kind of cheese, and spicy mustard kept her quiet the whole meal. we didn't have room for sweets, but they have a cute selection of italian candies and cookies. even though we went at the height of lunch, the restaurant ran smoothly, with lots of smiles and yummy sandwiches. everyone there seemed happy. it's the kind of spot where everything looks amazing and you keep going back to try different stuff, but you could easily find yourself getting addicted to just one thing, over and over. count me in!
(5)Keil J.
On some days, maybe more than half, this place has the best food I've ever had in my life.
(5)Sarah L.
SOOOO GOOD!!! I admit, although it came recommended, I had low expectations. But everything was amazing! I had the beet/mint/orange bruschetta with a bowl of their bean soup of the day for $8, both were delicious! Hubby and I shared 2 of the crostinis (you get 2 pieces per order), also delicious. I can still taste the garlic in the pesto one, but loving it! For $20 we had a quick, tasty, local dinner. What more can I ask? I'll be back!
(5)Daryl I.
What else can be said about this place? High quality ingredients in the hands of a talented chef = great food! The fact that it's very casual and way underpriced only makes it the Durham restaurant any passionate food person cannot miss regardless of their budget. Really nice people run Toast, and be assured that they know their stuff.
(5)poli E.
Love it! This place has lots of amazing fresh food and I don't think the prices are all that high. Most meals will be around $10 which seems pretty good to me. The portions seem generous too considering the quality of the ingredients. I had the 3 crostini (each one is 2 slices of baguette covered in toppings) and green salad for $8. It was actually a bit too much food for me (but I finished every bite). It would be nice if they had a 2 crostini and salad deal for $6 at lunch (maybe they would do this I did not ask). My only complaint is that it is so far from work and home (so far on foot that is).
(5)Ben R.
Tucked into a rather unassuming storefront, Toast is a nice little place to have an Italian-style sandwich for lunch. I had the spicy tuna with olivata, fennel, and lemon panini with a side salad. The food took a little while to get to us - about 20 minutes. Slow, considering it was lunch and people will be in a hurry. There weren't a lot of people there either. The tuna was flavorful, with a nice subtle vinegar bite from the minced olives. The bread was perfectly toasted (I would hope they get that right). Side salad had some tasty herbs interspersed in there (I tasted mint and parsley) and was dressed well with a light vinaigrette. That was all good, but the sandwich was kinda monotone. It was just a whole bunch of bites of tangy tuna. Couldn't taste the fennel. Good, but could have used something else - maybe some tomato? All in all, decent experience. I'll give it a 4 because I plan to come back and try another sandwich.
(4)Brian L.
Procuitto painni was 3 stars, they use regular bread not painni bread. Get the salad with procuitto and the pesto roasted tomato mozzarella crostini...awesome!
(4)kirol s.
Good, but not great, food. Very friendly and helpful service. I think the paninis are better at Parker & Otis. Nice to have as a downtown option, though.
(3)sandy c.
reasonable priced paninis $6 and quite tasty too. the decor is cute sandwich shop. they had some biscotti, bagged chips and some cookies. overall a great place to grab lunch. we would definitely go back. i tried the proscuitto, mozzarella, tomato panini's and that was quite good but maybe could have used some basil or a basil pesto. the grilled chicken, roasted peppers, mozzarella, salsa verde was an excellent sandwich.great flavors. the only suggestion about these sandwich is that the bread could have been thicker. the side salads looked quite fresh and good but we didnt get any this time. try the warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper crostini for a sweet and satisifying snack. the garlicky mushrooms, thyme, gorgonzola crostini was also excellent.
(4)Michael R.
This is a great little spot to have something good to eat and it's cheap! I tried this spot out with a friend who had been here before. I had a little bit of wine, soup and mushroom crostini. The soup was slurppingly good, it was just enough of wine (a little more than a glass, but less than a carafe). Why would anyone go to one of the chain sandwich shops, when you could dine in Tuscany, is beyond me. I will definitely get back that way. I would have given it five stars, but they didn't have power for my laptop. I guess if they put more money into the decor, the prices would have to go up.
(4)Lauryn C.
Just like the name you can expect all delicious types of combinations served on you guessed it bread. Stopped in Toast this week before catching a show at DPAC. Luckily it was a rare day in Feb. warm enough to enjoy a seat on their small patio. This is a casual fast restaurant where you order at the counter and they give you a number to bring to the table. They serve specials everyday and a different selection of red and white wine. You can get a glass of wine for $5 or a craft for $7 so obviously I went with the second choice. With all the tasty panini's, crostini's, tramezzini's, and brushetta on the menu I had a tough decision ahead of me. I decided to go with the kale panini. I love all things kale and I couldn't resist this panini with ricotta salata and hot cherry peppers. And let me tell you it did not disappoint I thought I could take half of it home with you but as I stared at the other half I couldn't resist and just had to finish it all. I also ordered a few crostini's to try: the goat cheese and honey, pesto and mozzarella, and avocado special. No complaints I liked everything I tried. I really wish they would open a location in Raleigh it would be a huge success and we don't really have a place like this that I can compare Toast to. I am more then willing to make the drive out to Durham to eat here again though. For a really good and inexpensive dinner Toast is a great place to go.
(5)Maria L.
I scoped this place out on yelp and came for lunch while exploring downtown Durham. I ordered the soup and 3 crostini combo. The soup of the day was chilled cucumber which was perfect and light for a hot spring day. The crostini I ordered were 1) chicken liver - delicious and rich, topped with a nice piece of bacon and some kind of pickle which added some acid to the fatty flavor; 2) roasted beet - light and bright, probably my favorite of the three but it's a close race; and 3) goat cheese and honey - sweet and creamy, the perfect finish for my plate. Everything I ate I deeply enjoyed and I literally was saying "Mmm" the whole time I was there. The restaurant itself is counter service and a small interior, I can imagine that during peak lunch hours it could be difficult to find seating. The servers were friendly and quick. I will be back (the paninis also looked great)!
(5)Mike M.
It was ok I wasn't thrilled with what I ordered I may go back it just wasn't what I expected I left there disappointed .
(3)Anthony M.
I don't know how I haven't gotten around to reviewing Toast yet. Ask me where I want to go out for lunch and the first place that will come to my mind is Toast. If I am picking up a dinner to go one of the first places that will come to mind is Toast. The paninis/crostinis really are a unique, creative mix of ingredients and everything is fresh and often locally grown. The soup is fantastic(!) and makes it worth the trip alone. And how much are you paying for this quality? Just ten bucks, sign me up! I've tried a lot of their menu, I'll be honest, every sandwich is not fantastic but this place definitely still merits five stars because a lot of them are and there has still been something to appreciate with each one I've had. This is a restaurant that cares about quality food and it shows. My standbys are the tuscan kale, chicken, and the portabello paninins. It's a Durham staple that is often crowded for a reason, Toast is the real deal.
(5)Lizzy L.
Toast has been on my bookmarked list of places to try in downtown Durham for awhile now, and I finally got to check it out on Friday for lunch! We parked on the street and walked over to Toast. The line moves quickly and we were able to order at the counter before finding a table to sit down. The sandwiches average about $7.50 each. We waited....and waited...and waited...and about 20 minutes later, when we could not hold our hunger any longer, we went up to the counter to ask about the status of our sandwiches. They said that it takes awhile to prepare the paninis...Anyways, they finally brought out food out a few minutes later to the tables. I ordered the rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, asiago fresca panini. My friends ordered 1) Three Cheese grana padano, asiago fresca, pecorino, truffle oil panini and 2) tramezzini with egg salad, capers, chives. My panini was delightfully tasty, with crispy toasted bread. The sausage was my fave part. My friends loved the Three Cheese panini and said it was one of the best grilled cheese paninis they've ever had. My other friend thought his egg salad tramezzini was just ok, and that he would prefer a hot panini instead of the cold tramezzini sandwiches. Great place for yummy sandwiches, although service was quite slow.
(4)Kerianne S.
This is a great lunch spot. Fast service and great ambiance. I ordered the grilled chicken panini, and it was delicious. Best panini I've had so far in the Durham area. Also has free wifi. Edited to add: Toast's soup and salad combo is awesome. They change up the two soup choices daily. I've come here several times over the past month and a half, and had a different soup nearly every time, and I've loved the taste and creative flair of each one. The latest soup I've had is the celery root puree with lemon oil, and it tastes like pure awesomeness.
(5)Renu A.
Toast is a cute little spot in downtown Durham but I would say my meal was just A-OK. I tried the portobello sandwich with a side of soup. I liked my sandwich but it was something I could have easily made with a ton of cheese and a hot grill...just sayin. It was a chilly day so a warm cheesy sandwich with hot soup definitely hit the spot. I just don't think I would pay the $$ for a soup+sandwich combo, especially when what I had wasn't all that exciting. My friend and I were here at lunch time on a weekend and it got pretty full inside quick so it's obviously a well liked restaurant around here. Definitely worth a try but maybe not a' try again.'
(3)Jeremy H.
Pleasantly palatable and perfectly picturesque Panini :P If you have an Alexander Hamilton (that's a $10 dolla bill for those who cheated their way through US History) yearning to escape your purse or wallet, and you're near downtown Durham with a hankering for an Italian sando AND soup , then get yourself over to "Toast"! I loved my lunch here yesterday! I had the Grilled Chicken Panini with roasted peppers, ooey-gooey mozzarella, salsa verde and a pesto sauce. I also had the tomatoey Calabrian Onion Soup with croutons and provolone. The panini was truly perfect. The soup was a lil slurp of heaven, one spoonful at a time. Pair the panini and the soup together, and you have a lunch that will definitely satisfy. Trust! My Pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/toas…
(4)Carroll H.
From the outside, Toast is pretty unassuming looking, but don't let that fool you, the food and service there is great. On the inside the place has something of an upscale vibe to it--not snooty by any stretch, but most of the patrons I saw were very nicely dressed, drinking wine and chatting while eating their sandwiches. I had the daily special Panini (ham, cheese, and pickled hot peppers) and it was outstanding. The sandwich had plenty of ham, cheese, and peppers on it, and the bread was quite good, too. I also had a root beer. The food quality seems excellent, and the time between ordering and them dropping off you food order at your table was very reasonable. Other than that, there's not much to the service there, but for a place like that, would you really expect anything more? The prices seemed a tad high, but they may be in line with prices in the area. I don't have any way to judge whether that's the case or not because I don't live in Durham and don't go there very often. Still, I was more than happy with what I got, so I'm giving them 4 stars.
(4)Sarah C.
I've lived in Durham more than four years, and of all of the amazing food in this city, Toast rises to the top of the heap for me. I've been probably 20 times over the years, and I've never had anything that was short of perfect. My go-to (as a vegetarian) is the four cheese panini (sooo much better than your average grilled cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it...a perfect blend of melted cheeses and a touch of truffle oil) and whatever the daily veg soup is (their lentil soup rocks my world). I went again yesterday and for the first time tried the salad -- so crisp, fresh and flavorful. Everything is made-to-order and the employees are super nice. The only challenge can be finding seating during a lunch rush -- but now they've recently added outdoor seating, so that alleviates some of that issue. Basically, you really cannot go wrong at Toast, everything everything everything is wonderful!
(5)N K.
Really not worth the price. Portabello panni was greasy n more cheese than mushroom. Go to Parker n Otis ...they do way better sandwiches there...
(2)Brooke H.
I could eat lunch here every day. The food is amazing. The crostini and salad combo is the best. You choose 3 plus the salad which has a wonderful vinagarette dressing. The warm goat cheese and honey is amazing!
(5)Sarah S.
Great little place to grab a delicious sandwich and salad. I stopped in on my way to the airport. I enjoyed their chicken salad with a roasted garlic aioli and a side salad. The sandwich was served on delicious white bread with no crust. My daughter would have loved that gesture, but I love the crust. The chicken salad was very flavorful, and seasoned perfectly. My side salad was simple yet the star! The dressing was so flavorful and with the large shavings of fresh Parmesan I was in heaven.
(4)Nicole G.
I have to say, I will be returning to this place. I ordered the grilled chicken panini and complimented it with some zapp's potato chips. The young lady who took our order was extremely friendly(always, a plus)! I was checking out other people's plates and wanted to try everything. We went during lunchtime and sat inside. Next time, I'd like to sit outside.
(4)Angelique A.
Great selection of sandwiches at reasonable prices. Nothing to go out of your way for, but if you're hankering for a sandwich and are closeby, give it a try.
(4)Claudia M.
First lunch at my internship, looks like a very popular downtown Durham place to have lunch. Service is incredibly friendly and empathetic. The person who serves lunch is incredibly kind. I had a question about the strawberry ricotta cake and she took time to kindly explain what it is made with and assured me that it was delicious. I ordered it but had a moment of hesitation when I saw the price ($4.50- more than fair for a full desert plate) and almost cancelled my order, but the person who took my order, despite the line of people behind me, so despite being incredibly busy, acknowledged my hesitation, and patiently suggested I didn't have to order the cheese cake sand recommend cheaper options of cookies (that looked equally delicious). I didn't cancel my strawberry ricotta cake, but that whole encounter with the kind, smiley person who took my order, left me with such a warm fuzzy feeling. I am now sitting outside waiting for my sandwich (I ordered the sausage panini); it's a 15 min wait to pick up (and for sitting dowb as well), which is not bad fire what seems to be one of the busiest /popular places to have lunch in Durham during week days.
(5)Melissa A.
Big fan of prosciutto and their panini did not disappoint. Tight fitting restaurant but we made it in at 11:30am just beating the lunch time rush.
(4)Sungmin S.
I haven't reviewed Toast yet?? Blasphemy. Toast is this cute little shop at five point that serve authentic Italian sandwiches. It's one of the first restaurants Duke underclassmen who think they're so hip for traveling downtown will dine at as well. I like Toast because it's intimate and familiar, yet interesting. Their goat cheese and honey crostini is delish, and the owner Kelli is friendly and fun to chat with. I really like trying the daily specials (sandwich, soup and crostini!), but on their regular menu, the tuscan kale panini is my best pick. I really like the grilled chicken one too, but I try not to get it often because oh, I don't know, I think it's so boring to not explore all the cool paninis on the menu!
(4)Kurdy P.
I've eaten here a few times and I'm definitely a fan. The place is a no frills place, which is what i like about it. They have fresh ingredients and your food is made to order. They have great selections on specials and their every day menu has a great selection as well. I'm a huge fan of the goat cheese crostini along with the portabello one. I feel that those with big appetites may not be satisfied here but for those who don't this place is perfect. The soup selection is great as well and my favorite is the french onion soup. Parking is a pain in that part of Durham so I tend to go in the evenings and avoid the lunch traffic.
(4)Eric A.
Not a big panini person, but I had a few bites of a few different items here and it was all really good. Hope to come back soon and get a whole panini to myself!
(4)Amanda A.
Good: Décor was cool. Bathroom was clean. Staff was nice. Onion soup was good. Bad: I asked the lady who took our order what the most popular thing for a vegetarian sandwich was. She asked me if I liked spicy, kale and cheese and I said yes. What I got was a sandwich that had a little smear of cheese in the middle and was full of kale that was so soaked in vinegar that is all I could taste. Some kale was hanging out of the sandwich and it the Panini griller and was burnt black. My husband got a 3 cheese sandwich that while better than mine, was still not really good. Plain. Nothing special. I would think if you serve basically just sandwiches they should be really good. Lots of veggie friendly options.
(3)Brandy G.
Really liked this place. Great salad , soup and crostini . Fast and reasonably priced.
(4)Sarah J.
Oh my heavens!! My husband and I are in town visiting Durham from St Louis, and thanks to yelp we found this hidden jewel. We both ordered the crustini sampler and soup--- and were both blown away! This was hands down one of the best lunch meals either of us has had in a long time! The lemony artichoke soup had a unique, rich flavor (I wanted to lick my bowl clean!), the goat cheese crustini with local honey and cracked pepper was to die for. My favorite was the daily lunch special crustini with avocado, lemon and parmesan. The restaurant is relatively small but has a few tables outside. The service was pretty quick and all of the staff members were really helpful. Bottom line: Will I be back?? Oh gosh, I sure hope so. Please franchise this in St. Louis!
(5)Adam B.
I've been to Toast a number of times, especially because I know a good sandwich when I see... taste one. The cool things that instantly pop out of my mind is the neat hipster-ish but not annoying pretentious attitude, their passion for being local, and the overall great location that they have downtown. It's right in the middle of everything, and I'd be ecstatic to have their spot. Their sandwiches have interesting twists on some traditional flavors, and you'd be hard pressed to not find something without an aoli, unorthodox spread, or some artisan cheese. My girlfriend loves their portabella sandwiches, and I"m a simple red pepper chicken kind of guy. The cons is that the place is always crazy busy (guess it's not their problem). The best way to take of this problem is to simply call your food order in like 20 mins ahead of time. In the age of the cell phone, this is just the way to go :) Recommended, have a sandwich, sit outside, enjoy the day.
(4)Chrysa L.
My dining companions absolutely loved it. For me, it was just OK. I had the farm egg, tallegio, and chives panini. Something about it was just a little weird. I (still) am not sure what it was, but at the time I was so famished that I almost did not care what I was eating. One of my friends could not stop raving about the celery soup and was still talking about it the next day. Another friend enjoyed the chicken liver crostini and said it definitely hit the spot. The prices are very reasonable and the staff was beyond kind. It was a cute place, but I think I would try something else should I ever re-visit.
(3)Sabrina S.
For my birthday, my boyfriend and I decided to go on a "progressive date," in which you have an appetizer at one place, dinner at another, and dessert at another. I had planned everything out and thought downtown Durham would be perfect! We could walk everywhere. I knew where we were going for appetizers, desserts, and even drinks afterwards. I left dinner up to him. And being him, he chose Toast since it was so conveniently located near Mateo where we went for tapas. We walked in and were not impressed by the place at all. It looked a bit dirty to be honest. So he offered to take me somewhere else but we decided to stay cause I thought I heard good things about Toast. Unfortunately, I was confused with the Toast in Charlotte which has rave reviews. Anyway, I ordered the proscuitto/tomato/mozzarella panini and he ordered the kale panini. Neither of our sandwiches were even remotely appetizing. My proscuitto was dried up and super salty and he said his sandwich was basically a pound of over-cooked kale on bread. We had to force ourselves to eat the whole thing. And we didn't even have a saving grace side because they come a la carte! Complete waste of money!! My boyfriend was so upset because he had taken me to such a crappy place for my birthday that he decided to take me to a second dinner just to wash down that terrible kale taste. We still joke about it almost every day, and it's been a week since we've been there. We will never be going back to Toast again. I make better sandwiches myself
(2)Andy W.
One of my very favorite lunch spots. Great local ingredients and the most friendly restaurant staff I've ever met.
(5)Jackie T.
Toast rocks...love the small plates. Always fresh and just amazing. I like to get several small choices rather than the pananni but that's just me. The dining area is small but space opens up quickly.
(4)Jennifer W.
I just moved from Brooklyn, and Toast made me feel right at home. Good crostini with experimental flavors (and everything that incorporates goat cheese gets two thumbs up from me) and an atmosphere that was very green-friendly. I met someone here on a casual business meeting...we were lucky to grab one of the small tables for two! This place starts hopping around lunch, with its close proximity to the American Tobacco Campus. Just don't expect to go home stuffed - this isn't that sort of place.
(4)Yujin C.
I had the Tramenzzini and soup. I got the one with pancetta, arugula and oven-roasted tomato tramezzini and the spoup special was a celery..something soup. The soup was good. It was nice and creamy with a bit of twang to it. The Traemzzini was good, except, the pancetta was over cooked so it was a bit hard to chew. I think the sandwhich would have been better if the bread was toasted. Since the bread was soft it was a bit messy trying to eat it. Over all I think the food was good but I would not get the pancetta tramenzzini again.
(3)Natacha S.
Delicious! Went for lunch today with some friends and had the portobello sandwich and the bean soup. Mmm it was the perfect balance and amount of healthy and yummy grub. Left feeling satisfied-full and happy :) also had a sip of the cauliflower soup which was equally delicious!!
(5)Dina D.
The sandwiches are really good here. And they have variety for a vegetarian, which is nice! It gets crowded here, which is the only downside, with lines.
(4)Bethany A.
I came here with a big group of people and was a little scared that the restaurant would not be able to accommodate all of us, but since we came late, it was okay. The inside is very simple - with a few tables and chairs and then the counter where you order. Very cute decor, but nothing fancy. There are lots of different options on the menu and all of them are priced pretty reasonably. You can get a salad, a panini, some soup, or crostinis. I want to go back to try the crostinis, but because I was pretty hungry, I opted for a rapini and sweet Italian sausage panini with chilled cucumber soup. The panini was absolutely delicious. The rapini was fresh and crunchy, and provided a great contrast to the creamy melted cheese (not sure what kind it was, but it was really good) and the slight heat of the sausage. The bread was on point too. Overall, just a terrific sandwich. I would 110 % order it again. My friends also said the chicken panini was good. The soup got mixed reviews. Personally I really liked how cucumber-y it tasted and the drizzle of olive oil on top made it really rich. But there was a lot of vinegar in the soup, so some of my friends really didn't like it. Bottom line: don't order it if you don't like sour things. Great sandwiches you can pair with their homemade soup selections at a great price. If you're in downtown Durham and not part the line always standing in front of Dame's, make it a goal to come here.
(4)Jarrod S.
This place doesn't melt my face off every time, but its a solid establishment that offers an array of what I assume are traditional Italian soups and sandwiches. While there are definitely sandwiches that merit 5 stars, not every one is a homerun and some are barely ground rule doubles. Still the presence of some solid 5's, paired with the owner's cheery bedside manner and some delicious Italian confections for your post sandwich guilt binge win this unique spot a 5 star rating.
(5)Elizabeth K.
Delicious sandwiches! We got food to-go before going to a matinee at DPAC. I has to wait for our food about 15 min after ordering but it was worth the wait! The lentil soup was yummy and spicy. I got the chicken panini and my husband got the prosciutto. Both were good but I'd recommend the prosciutto. Great beer selection! Oooh, and the chocolate chip cookies were awesome!!!!
(5)Kevin L.
Jesus H, what a happy accident it was to eat here. With 30 minutes to burn before catching a bus out of town, and with an anguished empty stomach howling, I spotted Toast as my closest and best bet for a grab-and-go meal. While I was only inside for a few hot minutes, I absorbed much about Toast's finer qualities. They are efficient, warm and welcoming, and they have their interior to a science--an artful science--from unobtrusive photographs to the grand 'scriptive definition of toast (vb.) high on the main facing wall. I watched other meals come out, and all was prepared and presented in a clean, impressive fashion. My sandwich was a portobello panini with just the right crunch and full of flavor. The small menu is not short on variety, guaranteeing a must-return to give one or two other options an opportunity. Sticking to their roots, Toast also serves wine. In addition, they have an eclectic variety of drinks, variations on the norm, available for the uninebriated. Toast is all about TASTE. Everyone appeared thoroughly content with their late Friday lazy lunch. What's not to love??
(4)Damo B.
Simply amazing Paninis and soup. Great place to have lunch or an early dinner.
(4)Cade L.
Great option for brunch/lunch. Quality ingredients and interesting flavors. I'm a fan of the prosciutto panini. The soups are very fresh and flavorful. There lots of seating but this place does get pretty packed at peak hours, but it's easy to find somewhere to chow down outside if the weather is nice.
(4)Kevin S.
Atmosphere is very plain. Food is not. Got the chicken, Mozz, and pepper panini. Great spot to grab some light food. Good service, decent selection of menu items, including vegetarian. Hot and cold paninis.
(4)Rachel M.
I just love this place. The food is great, though you should feel free to ask questions if you don't know what something is or have food preferences. I adore their tuna sandwich. I hate tuna salad, period, but their tuna sandwich doesn't have mayo in it so it's not as much "tuna salad" as actual tuna on a sandwich :) and their soups! NEVER had a bad one. And they actually switch them out (lookin at you Parker and Otis) so it's always something new and different. And for those complaining about price in the other reviews, they are comparable to Havana and P&O in town so they are not out of range for this area of town. If you don't like $7.5 for a sandwich, then consider a different kind of meal. Lastly, my favorite thing about Toast is that I can have food which is warm, comforting, and tasty AND has vegetables in it. I feel like it's easy to make a real meal here that makes you feel like you made a "good choice". It makes it worth it for me.
(5)Roxanne R.
Toast is amazing due to its high quality ingredients (i.e. cheese, olive, oil, etc.) and fantastic flavor combinations (citrus polenta cake yum!). You can tell that the food is made with thought and passion. The owner is there every time I come, and she makes everyone feel welcome. This is the perfect lunch spot!
(5)Sarah C.
As a quick update, they serve a chilled tomato bisque that is like eating summer; so when the steamy streets of Durham have you wilting during those long hot months, grab yourself a bowl.
(5)Lauren R.
It's hard not to like Toast. It's where I bring out-of-town friends (along with Fullsteam, of course) to show them how awesome Durham is. It's in an old building--tall ceilings and wooden floors. The decor is bright but minimalist. They have a fancy board of sandwiches in several different styles (cold, mini open-face crostini, panini, and so on). There often isn't enough seating--but because it's an order-at-the-counter place, I'm not sure how else the restaurant would regulate it. Over the past few years I've tried much of the menu. I haven't absolutely loved everything, but I've found that the ingredients are fresh, the preparation is well executed, and I can always find something to fit my mood. Yes, some of the ingredients are fancy Italian cured meats that the average person wouldn't recognize, but I doubt that someone would have trouble finding a sandwich here--they have everything from egg salad sandwiches to chicken pesto paninis. My biggest complaint is that Toast closes at 8pm, and (especially in the summer) it seems like it would be a great place to grab a bite a bit later -- like before getting a cocktail up the street at Alley 26 or next door at Whiskey.
(5)Miglena K.
Tasty food, comes out quick, portions are on the smaller size, which I did enjoy because they are rich and flavorful!
(4)Alice Y.
My boyfriend and I went to Toast for lunch today after reading all these great reviews about the place on Yelp. We were sorely disappointed with our lunch. I ordered the spicy tuna panini with the soup of the day (some lemony artichoke soup). Both were really sour and honestly, unappetizing. I only ate half my sandwich because I couldn't bear the thought of throwing away $9. I had a few spoonfuls of soup thinking maybe it'll grow on me. Definitely did not. My boyfriend ordered the Italian sausage panini. He did not like it either but finished it because it was "edible." He also had the other soup of the day (tomato soup). That was the best thing we ordered and hence deserving of two stars.
(2)Lori Z.
This is a great little place with indoor and outdoor seating. The European style sandwiches are delicious and creative.
(4)Dava W.
The best panini I ever had! It had rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca. I paired it with a hearty soup containing arborio rice, parmigiano reggiano and cherry tomatoes, all for $9! It was awesome. I will definitely be back.
(5)Katharine B.
Cute little panini shop. Stopped in for a bite after the farmer's market and had a delicious panini.
(4)D M.
I'm guilty of eating at Toast more than a few times. I think each time will be better because of all the great reviews. It does not get better. Toast serves up average food you can find in your kitchen if you're too lazy to venture out. Very disappointing restaurant...nice staff, boring food.
(2)Jessica B.
Loved this little quaint cozy sandwich place, the service was great and so was the food. I split with my friend both sandwiches, we had the portabello and the chicken fontina sandwich. Both were great and i also tried the onion soup which was really good too. We sat inside as all tables outside were taken.
(4)Teri P.
I don't know what to say besides "YUM"!! One of the better grilled cheeses of my life. the cucumber soup was delicious. The wait wasn't *too* bad even though it was the height of lunch time, and the staff were delightful and helpful and let me make all kinds of special order requests. It did seem like it took a long time between ordering and getting food, but then again there had been about 15 people in line in front of us and I can't imagine there's a big kitchen back there. Delicious...if I were local, I'd frequent this place as they have lots of imagination where lunch is concerned.
(4)Meghan B.
I have now been to Toast 5 times in the month of October (obsessive, I know), but they haven't really let me down. I may be the one eater who isn't totally in love with the portabello panini, but the butternut squash panini that was the special this month for Durham's Vegan Challenge was yummmmmy. And if I had my own secretary (aka servant) I would make him pick me up a Toast salad at least 3 times a week. Yes, my servant would be a guy, preferably a George Clooney look-a-like. If you know of any prospective applicants for this position, please forward me their resumes.
(5)Tara M.
The portobello, fontina, arugula, roasted tomato panini I had for lunch was very tasty! I got there before the lunch rush, so I didn't have to wait long for my food. The gem of my meal was the honey and goat cheese crostini I got! Yummy!
(4)N M.
We were driving through Durham, and made a pit stop here and had a superb lunch. About the best salad you could imagine, and the sandwiches were ridiculously good. They even had a big local beer selection. Fantastic!
(5)Keely P.
I spent a lot of last winter eating at toast. I was working at the Arts council building and found that toast had just what I needed before I had to go in for the night. All the variety of sandwiches were greatly appreciated as well as the small batch sodas. I wish it was a little bigger and the prices were a smidge lower. But overall I would go back if I need a good hearty meal whilst in five points.
(3)Mandy L.
There is nothing on the menu i would not recommend. absolutely adore this place! goat cheese crostini with honey and chicken liver crostini is AMAZING
(5)Shea M.
OMG....there are no words. Fresh strong flavors in every bite....and so reasonable....I had the goat cheese crostinis and chilled heirloom tomato soup....and it will be hard to top...so so good.
(5)Rebecca F.
Fantastic quality and quantity! A little small in stature/seating space but so great considering the artisinal quality of the sandwiches and soups. If they have the gazpacho you MUST try it. Sweet with a slight kick, so simple & delicious. A great place to grab a quick bite and a glass of wine before heading over to the DPAC.
(4)Ben M.
If you have no idea what a paninoteca is, it's fortunately spelled out for you on the wall in a helpful dictionary format. Put shortly, though, it's an Italian sandwich shop. If you don't know what anything else is in there, that's okay. It's all spelled out for you at Toast. This may be why a place with a small, yet challenging menu can have taken off as the worst-kept secret in Durham so fast. Or maybe it's because the sandwiches are amazing. Due to a lack of proper exposure, I thought that paninis were a suitable alternative to a regular sandwich in a place like Panera Bread. Once I had the rapini, sweet Italian sausage, roasted garlic, and asiago fresca panini at Toast? I get it. I've only been a few times, and have tried very hard to order something different each time. It's difficult, because everytime I get something it's my new favorite and I want it again. Remember that I called it the worst kept secret in Durham, because even in off hours, there's quite a line to the counter. This should say more about the quality of the food here than anything I can write about how much I adore those sandwiches.
(5)Garrett W.
Toast is absolutely wonderful. I've eaten there three times since I discovered it last week. I was a huge fan of Chapel Hill's Sandwich until I found Toast. The food here is at least as good as any sandwich place you've ever been, and the location is perfect for an afternoon spent wandering around the city. So far I've had the Grilled Chicken and Salsa Verde, the Procciuto and Tomato, and a special that eludes me at the moment. All were exactly what I wanted at that moment. The woman who works the front of the house (who I assume is the owner) is always bright and chipper and very helpful. I withheld the fifth star because it's pretty daunting to get in during a rush, as there is no table service, which I think they ought to consider during the high volume lunch hour, but I will concede that it IS a deli, and perhaps my hope here is unfair. Eat here; you'll be glad you did.
(4)Liwei Y.
Excellent sandwiches!!! I love the sandwiches here, probably on of the best sandwich places in Durham!! It's not very expensive either. Only thing is this place is a little small and I hate how it's not open on Sundays. :(
(4)Carter N.
I had a tasty panini. My only complaint was the the grease/cooking smoke from the kitchen was lingering in the dining area. It sort of permeated into my clothes and made my eyes burn. Luckily my panini was awesome. Just be patient b/c it does take them a few minutes to make it.
(5)Will C.
Excellent crostini, panini, and $3 beers. The honey crostini was delicious. Sit outside on a nice day.
(4)Liz J.
Favorite lunch spot! Farm egg panini is amazing, and they have some of the best salads around - simple and delicious!
(5)Dave S.
Solid lunch spot. I've only been once or twice, but the food was good. It was somewhat reasonably priced too. The only drawback was that it was very, very, very crowded. Plan for that if you decide to go.
(4)Ben M.
Toast is amazing. The food is routinely awesome - not just good. Their sandwiches are sensational, but try the soups and desserts, too. Having a delicious panini sandwich and a glass of wine is just about the nicest way to end a busy day, and you can't get any better than Toast. To top it all off, the proprietress is so friendly; she always brightens my day. Why are you still reading this? Go get a sandwich!
(5)Lia S.
Toast is a little diamond in the rough. The food, especially the shrimp and watercress salad, is FANTASTIC. I'm from NYC and have since moved back to NYC and even with the millions of choices available to me, I miss that shrimp salad sandwich. The service is great, everybody is always smiling, and the food is fresh, light, and tasty. The crostinis are also incredible, especially the goat cheese and fig one. Ugh... my mouth is watering... time for a trip back to Durham!
(5)erin w.
We have become regulars at Toast and I can't say enough about this quaint sandwich shop and perfect lunch spot. My husband eats at Toast at least once, and usually twice, during the work week. His usual suspects are the tuscan kale panini and the chicken salad tramezzini. I order the same thing every time: 3 different crostini (warm goat cheese, pesto/mozz/tom, and vegetarian crostini of the day) and the veggie soup of the day. My favorite things about Toast are that it's very friendly to non meat eaters, it's open in the late afternoon (most places close between lunch and dinner), and the friendly owner is always the one who takes orders. You won't be disappointed!
(5)S M.
What an amazing find- recommend trying something with goat cheese, but everything we tried was EXCELLENT
(5)Michelle K.
Delicious! Everything is always absolutely delicious!
(5)Jon B.
The prices are great, the people who run the place are fantastic, the food is wonderful. What more can you ask for? Only downside - at lunch it gets busy, and the tiny kitchen can get backed up. Nevertheless, fantastic place
(5)Cate Z.
I can walk to Toast from work. How lucky am I, right? I love their soups, especially on cold days. Their sandwiches are divine in their simplicity and thoughtful combination. The lunch crowd packs in so go early!
(5)Meg T.
Have only been once but what a great lunch spot. Had a kale/ricotta/pickled pepper panini that was very tasty but kinda spicy. The ribollita soup was deeelish! All the choices seemed super yum and wish I could taste everything on the menu. It's a very (VERY) noisy restaurant, so if this is an issue for you you might want to get it to-go. I hope that the owners will try some things to cut back on the noise. It's a pretty easy thing to mitigate with some clever placement of foam or other insulators. I would say that the noise level might be unbearable for someone wearing hearing aids, with tinnitus, or just plain noise sensitivities. This is just a note, don't let it prevent you from trying the food at Toast because it's def worth some aural discomfort! And the best part is--- it's SUPER AFFORDABLE. Less than $10 for a good sized panini and generous portion of soup.
(4)Dave S.
Definitely overhyped, all things considered - but given the options, it's a local five, even if a four overall. The ingredients are top-notch, and there's obviously some love put into the food, but I feel like maybe the minds behind the menu overreached just a little. A bit less glitz and a bit more technique could make this place a five. That being said, if you can get in at a time when there's not a totally ridiculous wait, it's definitely worth a try. I look forward to eating here again when I'm in Durham next.
(4)Amanda U.
Excellent food, nice service, and amazing ingredients.
(5)Nathan G.
Good Sandwiches, maybe a little pricey, but definitely good food!
(4)Gloria L.
I had read great reviews of Toast and wanted to try it out. My mother was visiting from out of state and we went by, but they were closed on Saturday afternoons. Last week my boyfriend and his sister (visiting from New Jersey) and I went on a weekday afternoon when we were the only customers. We're all vegetarians or vegans, and we tried different sandwiches but all basically came to the same conclusion: the paninis we had were tepid, not flavorful, ok if you're hungry and have no other option, but not worth the $10 it cost per person. When you compare this to Carrburritos or even Neal's Deli, which only has one vegetarian sandwich but one that's fabulous, it's pretty disappointing what you get for the same price at this place. The reviews I've read about how great this place is must be based on the decor, because the food is simply lacking. I would maybe give it another try for the soups, but a sandwich shop should have good sandwiches.
(1)Andrew P.
This place was awesome. The first thing I noticed was the rather simple menu (in terms of choices), but then as I read on I saw each choice was full of several delicious local ingredients. I ordered the grilled chicken panini with roasted peppers and mozarella, and the crostini with herb pesto, mozarella and roasted tomato on the side. The staff were all very friendly, the food was great and well priced, and the service was fast (even with someone from a huge group jumping in front of line to order for everyone). I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for awesome food made with local ingredients for a great price!
(5)Christina G.
Jam-packed for lunch-tme on Saturday. But there still seemed to be enough seating inside and out to contain everyone who wanted to stick around and eat. Punchy and posh minimal decor (the pics on here represent it well). I ordered the three-cheese sandwich -- which (as the name may suggest) was a bit :too: much cheese for me to handle; seriously, it was a little difficult to swallow, there was so much cheese. My crostini on the other hand was delicious (warm goat cheese, black pepper and honey). My date got the italian sausage sandwich which he shared with me -- again, just not uber-impressed. His crostini was a cheese-and-mushroom thing, which was alright. Overall, I just didn't think the food lived up to the outstanding reviews here. I get a much better "wow" out of the delicious sammies over in CH at Sandwhich. And I even prefer the yum-factor at Jack Sprat. Still, I love that this is a quirky local establishment, and the food is definitely fresh, so I'm a supporter.
(3)Mat F.
One of my favorite restaurants in Durham. Prices are cheap, and all the sandwiches and soups are good. I've gotten the grilled cheese about 94% of trips here, and it is excellent!! I love getting it with the vegetarian soup option, usually lentil or squash. A bunch of different crostinis make for good desserts or alternate savory options
(5)Sharp H.
Great place for lunch downtown. I've loved all the panini and crostini I've had here. They have a great selection of both, with both innocuous typical ingredients and unusual stuff for the more adventurous that sounds delicious even if you're not bold enough to try something new. They also have a great selection of smaller brands of soda. One of the problems is that it's so popular that you can spend a while waiting and it can be hard to get a seat if you're with a group of more than two, but I can forgive them that because the food is so good.
(4)Emilia C.
Yumm! Inexpensive, wonderful paninis and soups.
(5)Lika G.
My husband and I recently went to Toast for weekday lunch, and we really enjoyed it! The atmosphere is bright and uplifting, but still peaceful enough for those who want to sip a cup of coffee and write (or grade) a paper. There was a good mix of people, albeit not too many just yet . (This is a new place after all, and perhaps still somewhat undiscovered?) Some patrons were having a relaxed business meeting, some just reading and/or enjoying good food! The owners made us feel at home - they were both very nice, easy going yet attentive. But what about the food....right? In my humble opinion, what makes a great meal is the quality, not the quantity -- prepared and spiced well so that you don't need an overstuffed stomach to feel satisfied with your meal. So in response to another review: No, the sandwiches are not HUGE; instead, they're *just the right size* for a healthy, delicious meal! AND... isn't that best in the long run? For one, it means less waste! After all, there are lotsa folks out there that do not clean "bigger" plates, and they also don't get doggy bags either. So why not eliminate the waste of throwing away uneaten food, right? (Just my two cents, of course!)
(4)Jenean E.
I just want to update and say I eat there regularly, and have tried at least half the menu, and Toast is amazing. And affordable. And the owners are really nice. Love.
(5)William J.
I love sandwiches, and it's that fact that makes me wish I got out to this part of Durham more often. For Toast (capital T). The paninis here are amazing, and that's coming from a guy who normally like his sandwiches cold. They're filling and flavorful and actually have a good texture to them, an all-too-rare thing in the panini business. The prices can be a bit steep, especially for the relatively smaller portions, but it's not really a big deal. You'll be best served by coming here for a quick - but not too quick - snack lunch.
(4)david s.
second strike and i haven't eaten there yet.... i have tried twice now to go to toast because everyone is talking about it. even did the seach on the iphone and it gave me the incorrect times of their being open. i arrived at 3:03....they close at 3...no leniency. i even wrote an email to them about my experience to no reply. so, i know nothing about the food, and i know a lot about their service. you can read in to this as you see fit....and i'm more than willing to make the effort, are they?
(1)Laura S.
My fiance and I went to Toast on a Monday morning right when they opened at 11. We were their first order of the day-they accommodated my request to have a custom panini (caprese style panini). The food was delicious. Fiance got a priscuitto panini and proclaimed it "the best panini I've ever had". We will definitely go back-my only complaint is how long our food took-about 15/20 mins for our food when we were the first order of the day so there's no excuse of a back up. Food was phenomenal though!
(5)Brian C.
The 3 crostini deal with salad keeps me coming back. I generally don't care for goat cheese or dainty morsels, but I can't help myself. It's a light meal that fills me up.
(5)Sarah D.
Toast must be the best sandwich shop in town. I went for the second time today. The first time I enjoyed crostini and salad that tasted so good that this time I dragged my spouse along. The cashier lady was STILL smiling and cheerful. We each ordered a panini with salad, which my spouse declared "great" *chomp chomp chomp*. My panini was tuscale kale with ricotta and peppers. What a fantastic way to get my serving of leafy greens. My spouse ordered the three-cheese panini and loved it. They have a great selection of cold beverages. There weren't quite enough seats but the turnover was rapid so we found a place to sit in no time. Our lunch came to a total of $21 and arrived hot and fresh within minutes. All in all, a cheerful and efficient place to grab a healthy, luxuriously well-made lunch.
(4)Dane S.
Toast is a new Italian sandwich shop that has just opened in downtown durham in the Five Points area. I came in the day after their grand opening, apparently right after a rush. The staff are, well, a husband and wife team: the owners! I spent a couple minutes talking with one of them, congratulating them on their new business, and browsing their menu. It is fairly simple in that their are pretty much just sandwiches at lunch; but a plethora of choices. I can't remember what I ordered - the soup and salad combo. It was amazing. High quality eating. The prices are very reasonable, considering the quality of the food. I think I spent $6. I was told, and it appeared to be so, that they offer basically a dual menu: half of the sandwiches are vegetarian (and very likely vegan), and one of the two soups of the day are also vegetarian. Tasty place - I'm definitely gonna revisit.
(5)Shannon S.
Toast was very yummy. Laura, at Rock, Paper Scissors Salon recommended it, and I decided to give it a try today after my trip to the farmer's market. I had the prosciutto panini and side salad. The tea was refreshing, the panini was yummy, hot and fresh and I loved the salad (I think there was a hint of fresh sea salt). Either way it was yummy, and I will definitely be back.
(5)Caitlin B.
We came here for lunch while I was visiting a friend in the area. My only complaint really is that the seating was very limited and the line was long, but that's to be expected from a small sandwich shop. I had the special which was a ham panini with apples and mustard that sounds ridiculous but was a really good mix of sweet and...not sweet. Of course I sampled all of my friends' lunches and my favorites were the goat cheese, honey, and cracked pepper crostini and the chicken and roasted red pepper panini. When the weather is nice there is outdoor seating right across the street which comes in handy since there was no way we were going to get a seat inside.
(4)rebekah m.
Right now, Toast is my favorite restaurant in Durham. The menu offers a variety of hot panini and cold tremzzini, including several vegetarian options such as a kale panina with ricotta and hot/sweet peppers. A sandwich made completely of greens? Ick you say? Actually, it's about the tastiest I've ever consumed. The hot peppers give it just the right amount of kick and the cheese adds a salty contrast. The sides are not your typical fries or salad either. There a variety of crostini available - I recommend the honey and goat cheese or the daliy special. The warm olives with hot pepper and orange peel are to die for, but caution, you'll find yourself licking you fingers in public. The real treat at Toast, however, is the soup. I've yet to figure out how white bean soup can taste so incredibly good... so complex... so I'll go 15 minutes out of my way because the only thing that will satisfy my hunger is soup from Toast. Plus the owners are some of the nicest I've met and they just got their alcohol permit so they have a tasty selection of beers to choose from. If you haven't been to this spot, don't miss it, but just a heads up: they're only open for a bit in Saturday afternoon, are closed on Sunday and close at 8pm on weekdays.
(5)VIshnu M.
Everything is fresh and perfect. It may be a little pricey for lunch, but it is 100% worth the extra dollars for quality ingredients.
(5)Michael S.
Funky storefront space in downtown Durham. Specialty is gourmet Italian sandwiches (panini, bruschetta, etc.), many with interesting combinations of ingredients; soups and salads as well. These are not huge heavy meals, which was exactly what we were looking for. Can't beat this place for the price.
(4)Niel H.
Great quality. A touch pricey for lunch (~$10), but the food is as good as you would expect for that price during lunch. I will definitely be coming back when I want to treat myself for lunch.
(4)Norrin R.
I can only speak for the paninis, but they're delicious. Service and atmosphere are amazing as well. This is the best option if you're looking for a sandwich in Durham.
(5)Tia S.
This place is good, but if you're short on time during the lunch hour, go somewhere else. It's crowded & things move rather slowly.
(3)Tara S.
Took a drive to downtown Durham on this windy Saturday afternoon with the baby and hubbs in tow. As soon as we stepped into 'Toast,' we were greeted with the intoxicating smell of delicious soup and the warm smiles of the extremely nice and helpful staff. Hubbs had the sweet tea, which was really good, sweetened with simple syrup. I'm a Yankee who usually cannot stand that sickeningly sweet tea that gets served up down here, but this was truly delicious and not overly sugary. We tried the goat cheese and honey crostini to start, which was really delicious. The cheese was soft and the honey fresh. The soup of the day was a spicy chickpea soup. This was really scrumptious, a good balance of spices and packed full of flavor. The perfect thing on a chilly spring day. Hubbs had the italian sausage and garlic panini and I had the egg and chive panini. It was honestly hard to even decide what we wanted because everything on the menu looked good. Both sandwiches were very good, you can truly taste the freshness of the ingredients. Next time I'll try something with a tad more flavor though, the eggs were great tasting and subtle with the chives and cheese, but I def want to sink my teeth into their other offerings. Hubbs' sandwich was packed full of flavor. We will definitely be back!
(4)Melissa B.
I went here with my friend on my Monday off for lunch. We went a little later than the business crowd lunch time, so I was not prepared for the crowd that still lingered in toast. The layout is very narrow, so when it is packed it is a bit overwhelming. We ordered it to go since no seating was available with the plan to sit at the public tables across the street. I got the rapini panini, and it was plenty good. The sausage had a sweet taste to it. The portion was pretty large for a panini sandwich. I was pleased. My friend ordered the egg salad sandwich. It was amazing. I took a bite before she scarfed it down, and it made me wish I had ordered it. I'll go back fo' sho'.
(4)Dawn B.
I ADORE their simple and delicious salad. Wonderfully fresh greens with a simple light dressing and a nice shaving of Parmesan. I ADORE their crostini and panino and soup. Full of flavor, always fresh, always interesting. I ADORE the service. so unbelievably kind and helpful. You can never go wrong with their specials...they truly are special.
(5)Lauren G.
It's no secret, I love Toast! The owners are so nice and the food is delicious. Pretty much anything you order will be good, guaranteed. Love that you can get beer, wine, and local sodas as well. Definitely a must on a warm spring or summer afternoon!
(5)Jayme W.
Fantastic paninis and such wonderful soups. I love their creative combinations!
(5)Anand P.
I've been eating at toast for almost 4 years now, about once a week :) I think that should suffice. Besides the fact that Billy and Kelly are the warmest people I know, the sandwiches are just great. The menu is small and well done which is what I like about it. The specials are usually terrific (if you are lucky try the meatball sandwich). If you don't know what to get, ask Kelly. The collection of drinks and the wine is great as well. My favorite over the years has been the merguez sausage, the most satisfying difficult-to-eat-daintily sandwich. This is easily Durham's best place to eat (price+quality+people)
(5)Melanie B.
Get something different each time you go. And "splurge" for the quartino of wine. And then go next door to Whiskey for a night cap, or a really good excuse to not go back to work after lunch.
(5)Eunice D.
Absolutely AMAZING! 5 stars don't come easy but this place was phenomenal. Great service and perfect food. Can we get Toast in the Bay Area? Please!!
(5)Bets S.
My favorite sammy place in the Triangle--a few great veggie options. Every time I go, I just... feel better about things, ya know? Simply because of the tuscan kale panini. :) Nice little bottled beer selection don't hurt much either.
(5)Jane Y.
Toast is your to go place for simple-gourmet-fresh italian sandwiches. The service is awesome, and the dining environment is comfortable. Enjoy a sandwich with a sparkling water while reading the latest copy of Indyweek and REEEElllaxxxxx. I had their 'BLT" metrazzini with heirloom tomatoes. Can I just say, that fresh local produce tastes SO MUCH BETTER than your "walmart" vegetables? It was delicious. It was as simple as it can get, but it hit the right spot. I wasn't even hungry before this sandwich and I still enjoyed it. Check out their menu on the website - I'm sure you'll find something that tickles your fancy. They also have soup specials that i couldn't resist. Like the cold cucumber basil soup. how summatastic!! =)
(4)Amy H.
Oh my goodness, super scrumptious crostini. I had goat cheese with honey, pesto, and avocado. Just, perfect. I'm drooling slightly as I write this.... The one downside is still the loudness of the place. Seriously, get some sound dampening rugs or something.
(4)Patrick H.
I guess two stars makes me a yin to everyone else's, uh, well, that thing. Three visits ago had I written this review I'd have rated Toast a 4 or 5. But the last two visits. Let me first say that Toast has fantastic bruchetta and crostini and simply amazing simple green salads with mixed in herbs, nice shaved cheese and a delicious vinaigrette. Also let me say that my first six or so visits have been superb. Finally the woman who runs the joint is as friendly and considerate and joyous as anyone I've ever seen in the biz. All good things. My last two meals, however, left me with rather unfortunate results of a biological nature. Two meals ago I had a roasted eggplant panini with a side of greens. The greens were as amazing as ever. And the flavor of this sandwich was perfect. Two hours later I found myself with a very unpleasantly upset lower intestine. Mind you, I have an iron stomach, hadn't yet eaten anything else in the day, and had been feeling quite healthy. Rationally I can't say it was the panini. But. The evidence is certainly suggestive. My last visit I ordered what should be a classic panino: proscuitto with roasted tomatoes. Now, this is the peak of the tomato season here, and I asked whether the tomatoes were local. Nope. Roasted in the restaurant? Yes. OK that's good, but a little shocked the tomatoes weren't from local gardens. OK, no big deal. But then I started eating the panino and I could not bite through the prosciutto. Which was sliced three times thicker than reasonable. And tough as leather, stewed into a tan rubber. Gone was that glorious tender pink and flavor of a good slice of prosciutto. Now mind you I'm OK with cooking prosciutto unlike some people but maybe if it is paper thin and crisps up when wrapped around a fresh scallop and sauteed or grilled. That's fine. It better be paper thin. This prosciutto should never have been so thick tough or stewed beyond edibility. I ultimately pulled it out of my sandwich. Then it seemed OK but then what was the point? And then two hours later. You guessed it. The runs. Again. I'm a little concerned about the dissonance between the image of quality and the actual food quality. I don't get sick from food often. Twice in two weeks, two hours after two meals at Toast. I'll probably go back, but I won't have a panino at the paninoteca. I'll stick to the crostini and salad.
(2)Amy B.
Stopped in here for a Saturday lunch, and it was pretty good. I had a soup that was tasty and a shrimp, pancetta and radicchio bruscetta. The bruscetta was kind of hard to eat, because something like shrimp doesn't easily lend itself to a sandwich unless it's contained (in a wrap, or even bound up in a shrimp salad) or maybe if its weighted down (as in a po boy). The pancetta was kind of hard to find. I think I probably made an unwise decision so i'm hoping to stop in another time and try it again. The ingredients are clearly fresh and high quality, and given those factors, the prices are pretty good. I remember leaving kind of hungry, and couldn't tell if it was my selection or that the portions are a little small.
(3)Stuart S.
Great for lunch! I don't think you can do better for the price--$6 gets you a fresh panini, perfectly toasted and filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, sauce. For an additional $2 you can add a salad or a bowl of soup, so you can get a well-balanced and filling meal for under $10. Also available are several other types of sandwich. Beverages include Counter Culture Coffee. It can get crowded at lunch, but the staff are very friendly and will help find you a place to sit, if you choose to eat in. A great choice in downtown Durham.
(5)Andrew D.
If you like expensive sandwiches - and I know you do - you will like this place. They make perfect expensive sandwiches.
(4)Kat M.
Toast is a little downtown gem. My favorite is the portobello panini and my bf swears by their soups. I recently came here with "Photon O" and at her suggestion, ordered the NC shrimp with radicchio: delicious! I love how I can add a healthy herbal side salad for $2. So far everything, I've had at Toast has been great. I've never been to Sandwhich so I can't compare but Toast is a reliable downtown eatery. It's healthy, fresh and tasty. And I'm glad it's there when I'm hungry in downtown Durham!
(4)Mark B.
I have lived in Durham for a few years and just discovered this place last week. I almost shed a tear that it took me so long to find it. This place serves a meal of the best value that I know of - all fresh, local foods at very reasonable prices. I had the portobello panini and it was great. With salads, wine, and dessert, we still didn't spend more than $20/person. The staff are incredibly welcoming and kind. The cake was amazing - not too much sugar, yet tons of flavor. Do yourself a favor and grab dinner here before going to a show at DPAC. You won't be disappointed.
(5)John M.
Great Sandwiches. Flavor and ingredients were all great. The restaurant was hot inside and not much room because it was packed.
(4)Jonathan D.
Fantastic sandwiches. I like the rapini and sweet Italian sausage panini. The bread is well toasted without having any burned flavor. My only disappointment about the place is that it gets loud. There's a high tin ceiling so it can get a little loud at lunch time. Bonus points for having Orangina. edit: the soups are awesome too!
(4)stacy W.
Susan knows.... the best Portobello Panini in Bull City. My review should have been written a long time ago. but, as with most things, I procrastinated until I decided to put some lists together. Jon and I decided to give this place a try after we got a yummy recommendation from Jenni at Rock Paper Scissors down the street. I just finished getting my hair done and I walked down the street to join Jon and Ovie for a summer dinner. I thought it was packed as I arrived, but it was a gaggle of girls gathered around my then boyfriend and puppy.... (o _ o) it wasn't so crowded after all so ordering was simple enough. We sat outside because we had Ovie and enjoyed several appetizers including a brushetta dish on crostini and a mozzarella salad. nothing too crazy or extraordinary. Then came the Portobello Panini. It will change your opinion of what a Portobello anything should be. The establishment seems a bit on the small side, so I can see why they get so crowded at lunch time. There is plenty of space to eat outside though, and that is usually what I do when it's nice out.
(4)Kelly L.
Love, love, love it! This place has great everything. My favorite crostini are the goat cheese and honey and the mozzarella and tomato. I have also have the beet bruschetta, it's a little salty but is tasty and good for you too. The salads have a wonderful light dressing. I really like the lightness of all their food. They have daily specials, including a soup. They also have panini, that I hear are fantastic. Honestly, I am so addicted to the crostini that I usually order crostini and a salad. I could eat here everyday.
(4)Nancy H.
Seeing as Toast is the only panini place in the area, it's fun to come here to change it up every now and then. I've only been once and had a panini, which was pretty good. I was however eyeing our neighbor's combo of panini and salad. The panini's are on the heavier side and it would have been nice to balance it out with something light and fresh. The feel of the place didn't really match their food though, it felt really stark. I think panini, I think warm and cozy.
(3)Katie W.
I absolutely adore this place. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is lovely. When the weather is nice, I love to sit outside and eat delicious panini, crostini or salads. I have to admit that the first time I came in, I felt a fool looking at the menu. Not for years had I felt so confused by food. How could I not know what these words meant??? But by asking questions and trying things, I am now familiar with all the ingredients and I couldn't imagine never having known the delicious flavor combinations that Toast creates.
(5)Palak T.
Love, love, love. Love the concept. Love the food. Love the pleasant owner with the sing-song voice who is usually at the cash register. Only wish it was closer to where we lived.
(5)Caroline Z.
Toast is the fun new lunch spot in downtown Durham - I was there recently for a weekday lunch, and there was a pretty decent crowd, with a few people waiting (but not too long) for tables. The menu is simple enough - paninis, tramezzini (cold sandwiches on white bread), and bruschetta - each for $5 or $6. You can add a salad or one of the two soups of the day for $2. You can also order crostini - two for $1.50. The prices are a little high for a sandwich without a side item, but I think the six crostini and soup deal for $7 is pretty decent. Enough with all the prices, though. The most important thing is that the food is good. I've tried three different soups there and enjoyed all of them, even the ones containing ingredients I usually don't dig, like sausage or fennel. The crostini are excellent as well, and a pretty unique lunch offering. If the phrase "garlicky mushrooms" is as heavenly to you as it is to me, check out the garlicky mushroom, thyme and gorgonzola ones. Yummy.
(4)Michael S.
Well executed panini offered in some creative ways. Soups were excellent, and while food was a little slow in coming, it was by no means a bother, esp with this quality during weekday lunch
(4)Photon O.
I can continue to recommend Toast. The other night, I had the tuscan kale and ricotta panini, which was excellent. It had a strong kale flavor, so I wouldn't recommend it to non-kale eaters. I also had a few bites of the merguez sausage and chickpea bruschetta. This might be my favorite thing-- it was soaked in flavor and really really good. We also ate the soup special (italian egg drop soup) and it was very comforting and flavorful.
(4)Michael M.
My new favorite place for lunch if I'm in Downtown Durham. Despite the line and some people that seemed a bit anxious, the woman taking the orders seemed so happy to be there, and so happy to help you find the best thing for you. The Cauliflower Soup was a special, I hadn't really much though about this as being a 'delicious soup' before, but Toast changed my mind. It had a toasty flavor which probably came from the roasted pecans. A whole bowl for $2! My sandwich panini was good, just not amazing, but consider that it was $6 and it makes this sandwich an extremely great deal. I would be interested to try some of the other stuff they make. Time frame wise, if you have a 30 minute lunch, you have enough time to eat here as long as they bus the tables quick enough. If not get it to go and find a nice spot outside. They did initially bring me the wrong stuff, but quickly fixed the mixup.
(4)Alison S.
Wow! All the other Yelpers were right about this place...yummmmmm! I went here with a date for a light dinner before a show at DPAC. As others have said--the service was not the speediest. We had at least a full hour before the show and I was still a little worried that our food wouldn't arrive in time. But, it did. And it was AMAZING. I ordered the three crostinis with a salad and my date ordered the three cheese panini with the soup of the day (butternut squash). All of the food was delicious. The goat cheese and honey crostinis were like little bites of heaven! And the panini was oozing cheesy goodness. And the soup just melted in your mouth! Despite my worry about being late for the show, I am sooo glad we tried Toast and we'll definitely be back...with plenty of time to sit and people watch.
(4)Jennifer T.
I love toast! I've been eating her fairly often since they've opened and I've NEVER been disappointed! the food is AMAZING! i love the goat cheese crosstinis as well as the avocado ones. I also love the chicken salad sandwich! Kelly and Billy are always super sweet and helpful! I think I've maybe been in once when Kelly wasn't behind the counter. shes always there and always smiling. sometimes the orders can seem like it takes a little bit for a to go order but I've never waited more than 10 minutes when is more than reasonable for made to order fresh food! LOVE TOAST!
(5)Lindsay G.
I really cannot fully express my love for Toast. I first ate here when I was urged by a friend who worked there (there's your disclaimer, but I'd love it even if she hadn't worked there) to try the restaurant because, as she said, it was "cramazing" (her word for crazy-amazing). Since then I try to return whenever I get to downtown Durham. Toast is a paninoteca, which is Italian for "We do delicious things with bread and really high-quality ingredients." Actually it is Italian for sandwich shop, but what can you do. The menu is divided into panini (hot pressed sandwiches), tramezzini (cold sandwiches), bruschetta (like a grilled, open-faced sandwich), and crostini (little bite-sized crunchy pieces of joy). Every day brings new soup specials and at least one non-bread related special, and a dessert special. Other available sides are salads and marinated olives. Sandwiches are six dollars, and you can add a soup or salad for two more dollars. For the quantity and especially the quality of food served at Toast, this is a real bargain. Juice, soda, wine, and what looks like high-quality bottled beers (I, alas, am not a drinker of beer so I cannot judge) are also available. Toast has a bright and homey interior with cheerful turquoise walls and decal stickers that define the word "toast" along one side of the wall. The menu is above the counter, specials to the side. You place your order at the counter, are given a number, take a seat at an available table inside or outside, and wait for the magic to commence. If you are lucky you will place your order with the welcoming and friendly Kelli Cotter, who owns the restaurant with her husband Billy. I took my foodie boyfriend there on a Friday night and he, too, loved Toast. I ordered my usual crostini plate: three crostini choices and a soup or salad for eight dollars. I alternate between soup and salad. The salad at toast is a simple green salad, dressed lightly with herbs and a tangy, flavorful vinaigrette and slices of parmigiano reggiano. This particular dinner I opted for soup, which you really cannot go wrong with, as every soup I have had at Toast is incredible. The foodie boyfriend ordered a panini and another soup special. I am a big fan of the crostini mix and match as I love trying many different flavors and foods. My favorite crostini are the chicken liver, pancetta, and pickled fennel, the herb pesto, mozzarella, and roasted tomato, the garlicky mushrooms, thyme, and gorgonzola, and the warm goat cheese, local honey, cracked black pepper crostini. Last night I opted for the chicken liver, the tomato and mozzarella, and the mushrooms, with a bowl of butternut squash soup mixed with gooey parmigiano reggiano. All the food at Toast is chock full of flavor, and what I love about my favorite group of crostini is the lack of subtlety. The chicken liver is full-bodied and flavorful, I have no idea what actually goes into it but I am sure it is full of garlic and onions and other delicious goodies. The pancetta on top adds a nice bit of contrasting texture. I like fennel but I feel that the chicken liver overrides the fennel taste-not that this is a bad thing, as the chicken liver is fantastic. The garlic mushrooms are expertly cooked, incredibly garlicky (the more garlic the better in my opinion) and the gorgonzola on top adds just the right amount of funky flavor. The roasted tomato and mozzarella is probably the most classical option but even that is full bodied and full flavored. The tomato is warm and oozes flavor when you bite into it, and I love the afterbite of the pesto and the mellow texture of the mozzarella on top. The soup I ordered on the side was, as always, a revelation: perfect butternut squash soup that tasted as though there was cream involved but, evidently, no cream whatsoever. Just expert pureeing and a lovely addition of cheese to add grace notes to the natural sweetness of the butternut squash. Also, no cinnamon-y pumpkin pie taste here! Butternut squash all the way. The boyfriend ordered a panini with mortadella, provolone, pickled red onion, aioli and a side of lentil and spicy sausage soup. He, too, expressed great love of his food. High quality meat! High quality cheese! A crunchy texture from the onions and extra flavor from the aioli! Foodie boyfriend was extremely happy, and was equality pleased with the lentil soup. We were too full for dessert, but the special that evening was a lovely looking pound cake dressed with blueberries and fresh whipped cream. I watched a number of these beauties fly by my table. You also cannot go wrong with the non-sandwich special listed on the board. The special the night we went was a poached North Carolina mackerel, but I have tried other to-die-for specials such as short ribs over polenta cake. Seriously folks, Toast is a gem. Take a date or some friends there and make it a night by going next door to the fabulous Whiskey for a post-dinner drink!
(4)Dayoung K.
Toast was delicious, I'll keep going back. I will say though, the menu items were difficult to read; I found myself on my iphone searching up the names of all the different italian meats and sprouts and such. I'm someone who likes to know exactly what I'm ordering, so I took a long time making my choice, but toast was overall really great. My portobello panini was delicious and I want to go again to try their NC shrimp brushetta next.
(5)Matt K.
Good break from your typical, boring sandwich lunch. Quirky. Friendly, cheerful staff.
(4)Bill S.
Portobello was watery and unseasoned, squad soup was interesting but the indelible marjoram leaves on top weren't pleasant. There are better lunch spots in Durham to be sure
(2)Jennifer A.
Yum! This is one of my favorite lunch places. Everything is so well prepared and delicious. The service is fantastic. When I bring my daughter they always make her a cheese panini with the best fresh mozzarella even though it isn't on the menu. The only negative thing I can say is that it is a bit loud- so sit outside. If you want to try several things I recommend the crostini with the salad.
(4)Swati M.
good, f resh food. would recommend :)
(4)Mike M.
I am a giant fan of the sandwich. As a kid I remember experimenting with such crazy things as a peanut butter, lettuce and cheese sandwich. So I am always excited to see a place with a fun, fresh and big list of sandwiches! Once more for good measure -- sandwich!! I've been both times for lunch -- right around 1pm -- and both times I've loved it! I plan on going back to keep sampling whatever they can throw at me. Oh, and I really can't get over the fact that both times the bill has been $10. I just moved from LA and if that's the sort of pricing I can expect here then I think I am in love!
(5)Curtis M.
I had expired beer. Tuscan kale sandwich didn't taste good, it's just overcooked kale with bits of cheese and jalapeños, I can make that. The soup however, sausage something, was pretty good. Overall, not worth it.
(2)Sweet T.
We LOVE Toast. Period. Maybe even an Exclamation Point (!) The Food: little bread, big bread, hot bread, cold bread, All Things Bread. This is Gourmet, now, so if you want "just a ham and cheese" you better keep on truckin'. The sandwiches we've had are good if not superb. The crostini are fun because they are so cheap and you can gamble on them. The salads, as well, have been great. One of the best things we've had was some kind of marinated octopus salad. The Location: awesome downtown location with outdoor seating option The decor, as I recall, is simple and functional. Nice windows. The Service: I'm assuming the woman who has always served us from the counter is Kelli, one of the owners, and she has always been super friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. She exudes good vibes. The Price: I think all the sandwiches are $6, the crostini are $2 (they're small) and cups of soup are an extra $2 as well. It is QUITE RARE when this guy (me) feels like he's getting a great deal and at Toast I feel like a King. The King can order whatever he wants, splurge, feast and come out about $10-15 bucks lighter. It's good to be the King. Alright, Okay, what's wrong with Toast? Well....several times we've gotten super stoked to go eat there and they've been closed for family holiday or some other weak, what's-it-got-to-do-with-me-? excuse. The horror. Also- they are closed for dinner SATURDAY NIGHT (?!) and all day Sunday.
(4)Johanna K.
I LOVE this little spot in Downtown Durham, the owners and staff are super friendly and always have a smile to share. Have a question about the different kinds of sandwiches available? No problem, the owners are more than happy to explain what the differences are and offer up suggestions for you. The Owner/Chef frequents the local farmer's markets regularly so the specials are sure to reflect what's in season. My favorite is their butternut squash soup,liver crustini and the ever decadent 3 cheese panini (comfort food at its best). If you haven't had the chance to eat here, do yourself a favor and check it out.
(5)David D.
This place is great. I went for the first time this past week and it was awesome! From the bottled cream soda to the side green salad with house dressing, everything was delicious. For those who don't know, Toast is a small order-at-the-counter sandwich shop with about 10-15 tables inside and out. The food is pretty fast, the menu is kinda pricey, but food is out of this world. The service was also really nice although there is only a cashier and expediter. Now that I work in Downtown Durham, I can see this becoming a regular spot for lunch.
(5)Molly F.
Toast is the best little place for lunch! We had the crostini and a butternut squash soup that was ridiculously good. Perfectly cozy on a cold day. The staff behind the counter was also very friendly even though there was a line out the door.
(5)Hannah M.
You can order anything on the menu and it will be delicious. The three cheese panini is good, and they always have soups on the board that I recommend ordering with your sandwich.
(5)Rachel H.
I can't say enough good things about Toast. The food is always great, and the specials keep things interesting. As a vegetarian, I have a few "go to" sandwiches (portobello, egg, and kale) and there's always one vegetarian soup. I'd highly recommend the goat cheese or portobello crostinis as well. It's a great place to bring people when they come to visit Durham!
(5)Marisa M.
I'm a big fan of the farm egg, tallegio and chives panini, as well as the soups. My favorite runner up is the portobello panini, but I can never bring myself not to order the egg and cheese. So good. One of my favorite places to bring an out-of-towner for a short lunch.
(5)Sarah H.
I loved the panini I got at Toast, it was the three cheese. It is seriously the best sandwich I have had, maybe ever! The texture was perfect and taste amazing. I hate that I didn't get the salad that would have only been $2 extra because I think that would have been fantastic, what I saw on the plates of other diners looked fresh and delicious. However, I was headed to a concert and didn't want to chance stomach upset. I had a bottled Ginger Ale and didn't care for it but it is just a personal taste thing. I don't care for anything that is smoked. If I had read the bottle before getting it I would have seen that it would have a smoked flavor and would have stayed away from it.
(5)june k.
We loved this sandwich joint! My husband and I went with a friend for dinner. Friend and I got the portobello mushroom panini and my husband got the Italian sausage sandwich. Portobello sandwich was yummmmy!!! Pieces of sundried tomatoes with each bite and the mushroom was lightly salted but had enough natural flavor to make the sandwich just right. The Italian sausage sandwich was also very good with lots of cheese and some greens (arugula?). Also got a cold tomato purée soup with croutons and a warm vegetable and cheese soup. Both soups were very good and very dippable with whatever bread was left from the paninis!
(4)Lauren D.
I've eaten here a few times. The ingredients are always fresh and the combinations and creativity in the dishes are always top-notch. The potato leek lemon soup is one of the best things I've ever eaten in my entire life. It can get a bit crowded but only because it is so popular and a must-eat place for Downtown Durham. I do wish they kept the tables and beverage area cleaner. I've seen tables go un-bussed for sometimes as long as 5 minutes before, which- during the lunch rush is disappointing.
(4)Mariam A.
You know what I hate about toast (the good)? I hate how it scratches the skin on the roof of your mouth when you eat. Somehow this restaurant works their voodoo magic on their paninis such that they are perfectly crispy - crunchy when you bite in but not so rigid that it cuts up the inside of your mouth. I had the Tuscan pale panini and the kale was cooked well enough that it was not brittle in my mouth (can you tell I'm big on texture?). Portion sizes are great. Food is awesome. Service is great. Centrally located and they have outdoor seating. Cannot go wrong here.
(5)Tina W.
I think a good restaurant can really change your perspectives on food and Toast is definitely one of them. Location: located in downtown Durham. Toast is kinda small but you can recognize them by seeing all the long lines and their unique outdoor seating. They are also close to cupcake stores, dame's waffle and Mateo. Such a huge competition between those outstanding restaurant, Toast still stands out. Service: the lady served us is really nice and understandable. Why? Cuz I know nothing about sandwiches or crostini and she is patiently give me info as well as waiting for me to decided which one I should order. Thanks! The line is long and seats are limited during lunch time. But it's worth waiting because I am about to tell you how good their crostini are. Food: I had crostini combo (choice of 3) with spice lentil soup. I love all my choices. I had the one with beets, which is light, sweet, fresh and delicious; Sicilian caponata, which is bot salty but eggplant is mixed too well with the toast that I cannot say it's bad; last but not least, the chicken liver. My favorite would be chicken liver, which is topped with bacon. The whole experience is like I had this smoothie chicken liver and then a surprised bacon enforced me to have another one more bite and.. It's already gone. Sad but satisfied! Overall: I appreciate the store, which illustrates a well designed Italian(?!) sandwich style? I never thought a small toast can have such an amazing stretch on my taste and cuisine perspective. Thank you and thank you!!
(5)Connie L.
Got the chicken panini which was nothing special and totally overpriced for what it was. Next time I will definitely try their toast which look so interesting unique and delicious!
(3)Brooke L.
Took a day trip to Durham from Greensboro and had the pleasure of trying Toast. Such a fun concept for a restaurant! I loved all the options of crostini they offer--wish I would have tried one of each! I ordered the crostini and soup. It came with six crostini (two of each flavor I ordered). I tried the mushroom and gruyere; goat cheese, honey, and black pepper; and the spicy chick pea (one of the daily specials). They were all very tasty, but my favorite was the goat cheese! The soup was good, very flavorful, but the crostini was the star. I will definitely have to plan a return trip to try all of the other crostini options!
(4)Sasha G.
The food wasn't too bad but it wasn't something that I was jumping up and down about. I definitely think this place is hyped up. I like how they have outdoor and indoor seating but there isn't much space for the amount of people that come here. The interior decor is pretty cute, a nice aqua color. There is no assigned seating - you go up to the register to order then get a number until your food gets brought to you. I ordered 3 crostinis (6 pieces) along with soup.
(2)Jill O.
For a restaurant in this price-point, bravo!! I was really impressed with the creativity and variety, in addition to the price. I'm so tired of turkey and cheese sandwich offerings at most places, and Toast really changed it up. My husband and I each ordered 3 crostinis and soup. We chose different crostini's and ended up sharing. It felt like a much more expensive meal, also because we dined al fresco. Can't wait to try it again.
(5)Tanith T.
If I had to sum up this place in one word, it would be this: busy! The line was out the door both times I've eaten here, and it was incredibly noisy and crowded. The menu offerings are tasty and thoughtfully put together, if a bit pricey for what you get. Portions are small to medium sized depending on what you order. Service takes an achingly long time; this is not a stop you can afford to make if you're in a rush. At times they may run out of ingredients, which if you stop to think about it, is not necessarily a bad thing - what they're using is fresh and local, and it won't be sitting around until the next day. They serve soup, salad, sandwiches and a small selection of beer and wine. Also, CounterCulture Coffee - yay! That is always a plus. I enjoyed their spicy tuna sandwich, though it was very spicy indeed, and their goat cheese crostini.
(3)Jules P.
I love Toast! I have been twice, and enjoyed a total of 6 different crostini (beet was best) and 2 soups (loved a gazpacho!). Everything here is fresh, lovingly prepared, and very pretty. The price is extremely reasonable, especially when compared to other dining options in the area. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy your food outside and watch folks passing by. I have heard that they get busy during the lunch hours, and I can see how -- there aren't many tables. Keep it in mind if you are dining in a hurry!
(4)Aaron M.
This is good little sandwich shop. I enjoyed their good selection of Panini's. Good location as well. Not much else to say here.
(4)Adam B.
Very appealing little sandwich shop with a smaller menu, but high quality. They've struck the right balance by having some variety, but not to the point of an overwhelming menu. I went for the chicken with the roasted red peppers and did not regret my choice. The sandwiches don't come with any sides, but there were enough ingredients between the bread slices I didn't feel I needed any. They also have a small but nice selection of craft beers in bottles. Has a kind of old-school vibe and it's not quite like anything else downtown, so it's worth a stop-in. If I worked downtown, I would be here very often for lunch.
(4)Stefanie S.
A cute place for the area. Love the central downtown location. Parking is easy and nearby. Lunch was a decent time to check it out, wasn't any busier than anywhere else. I ordered something with shrimp that I wouldn't get again, but that doesn't mean I won't try some other things on the menu. Added bonus is access to outdoor seating.
(4)Stella M.
Nice local business with good sandwiches, soups, and salads at fair prices. They have a good spread of options and daily specials for soup and sandwiches. I love that my salad wasn't saturated in dressing, it had just the right amount, and they put fresh herbs on with the blend of greens!
(4)