At The Essential, our Restaurant experience in 1st Ave N, 2215 1st Ave N brings together fresh flavors, thoughtful service, and a space designed for comfort. Guests appreciate our 4.60 rating across 861 reviews, along with accessible facilities and standout great service and quality.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The Essential
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Rodolphe Le Meunier's real nice French butter
crispy rice balls with mozzarella Calabrian chili sauce
garlic breadcrumbs & parmigiano
apples, celery, radishes, bok choy, ricotta salata, peanut & pumpkin seed crunch, yuzu vinaigrette
Liuzi cheese with roasted butternut squash & beets, basil oil, red wine gastrique, pomegranate
pears, ginger, cucumber, sweet chili sauce, semolina cracker
roasted local mushrooms, crème fraiche, thyme, sourdough
thinly sliced Bear Creek beef, crispy shallots & capers, horseradish, tallow mayo, semolina cracker, watercress
'cacio e pepe', spelt flour, miso butter, parmesan brodo, zanzibar peppercorns
goat cheese & sweet potato filled, shiitake, broccoli greens, brown butter, mimolette
bolognese of housemade chorizo, tomato, crème fraiche, manchego
filled with braised duck, carrot curry, tamarind, walnut+raisin agrodolce, radish
gulf lump crab, housemade bacon, Liuzi mascarpone, Indian fennel seed
farro, barley, wheat berry, whipped feta, lettuces, walnuts, crispy quinoa, avocado
two smashed dry aged bear creek beef patties made with sharp american cheddar cheese, russian, dijonaise, shrettuce, pickles, housemade bun with fries
steamed fennel, rainbow carrots, new potatoes, watercress, fine herbs, cafe de paris aioli, lemon
joyce farms chicken with ginger and guajillo marinade, cooked under a 'brick', peanut-lime gremolata, fries
from bear creek with black garlic balsamic, parmesan pink peppercorn butter, fries
chocolate ice cream, almonds, marshmallow that was on fire
animal farm buttermilk, raspberry, cherry, olive oil, flowering thyme
portuguese dessert wine, strawberry, sesame
with a funny little ice cream cone
Hear from our valued guests
Went there for my wife's birthday. We sat outside as the weather was perfect. Nice view of downtown and refurbished older buildings. Server was excellent. We had steak tartar for the appetizer. A bit coarser than typical, but good. For her entree my wife had the lobster pasta. She found it flavorful but the lobster was sparse. I had the chicken piri piri. Excellent flavor. The only negative was that the fries were in the sauce and thus soggy. There were no sweet wines and we made do with a rose that was adequate though not great.
Amazing place, a little annoying that we got sat outside but the decorations and food presentations looked amazing. I ordered the essential hashbrowns with ketchup and it was divine! The coffee was also delicious. Overall an amazing place and a cute little spot for some breakfast. Our server, Evan was always getting stuff out of our way and filling water and fixing us stuff, truly some of the best service I’ve ever had.
Twice in one day. First ever visit was for lunch. Brought colleagues for dinner the same day. Both experiences were fantastic. Food is delicious. The five grain salad with chicken for lunch was luscious, the Chicken Piri Piri for dinner was food memory in the making - super flavorful and perfectly cooked. Excellent service both times.
Great place. Sat at the bar and the manager, owner and staff all chatted with us and were super friendly and interesting. They made us feel really at home. Food was excellent. The piri piri chicken was more like a sweet and savory sauce than a hot sauce but it sure was delicious. Very good options for beer and wine as well. Overall I highly recommend this place. If I'm ever back in Birmingham it will certainly be on the agenda.
This place is a tucked away cozy treat! From the moment you walk in the door, you feel welcome. The atmosphere and ambience is amazing as well. All of the staff were extremely friendly, and management visited our table to check on us as well. My wife and I had the burger and the chicken dish, both of which were amazing. My wife really enjoyed the sourdough bread appetizer. We finished with their in house made sorbets. The blackberry banana and the peach were both so refreshing.
One of the best meals I’ve had in a long while! My sister and I, shared the steak, five grain salad and sourdough bread with French butter. Absolutely incredible! The tiramisu for dessert was unreal. Not to sweet but decadent with every bite. The service was as outstanding as the food! The server and manager where very friendly and informative. I will eat here again and again. Many thanks!
Aesthetically, beautiful. The sourdough bread 1000/10, the entrees were nothing short of amazing! Katie, our table concierge, was very attentive and pleasant. Our experience was top quality all around and would absolutely recommend when you are in the Birmingham area!
This is a great place to have brunch with friends, brunch date with your significant other or even a business brunch date. It works for any type of brunch date. It’s a beautiful spot, great service and great food! The pancakes are phenomenally, the breakfast hash was delicious and the banana bread with the walnut butter is delicious! My bestie and I had a great experience and is now one of our new favorite brunch spots in the city!
The Essential has well known dishes but they add a bit of a twist. It's not your everyday pasta or roasted chicken. The sauces, the vegetables, the blends of spices make known dishes come alive in a different but satisfying way. I would suggest to make a reservation to ensure you don't have a long wait time and are able to dine-in on the day of your choosing.
Just ate here for the first time this week and loved it so much I took my husband back three days later! The pastas are incredible! The sourdough OMG! The 5 grain salad wow! Simple yet delish! Wonderful service! Parking can be tough so go early if you can.
Common questions about The Essential
The Essential is located at 2215 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States , 1st Ave N, 2215 1st Ave N, United States.
You can reach The Essential by calling +1 205-718-7612.
The Essential has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 861 customer reviews.
The Essential features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The Essential features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Kerbside pickup, No-contact delivery, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
The Essential features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
The Essential features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The Essential features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Organic dishes, Small plates, Spirits, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The Essential features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The Essential features the following amenities: Bar on site, Gender-neutral toilets, Restroom.
The Essential features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
The Essential features the following crowd: Tourists.
The Essential features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Lunch reservations recommended, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
The Essential features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The Essential features the following children: Good for kids, Has changing table(s), High chairs.
The Essential features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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