If you think brunch should involve more than a couple of eggs and a side of toast, The Friendly Toast Local favorite: The Friendly Toast in downtown Burlington might be right up your alley.
Located just off Church Street Marketplace on St. Paul Street, The Friendly Toast is anything but your traditional breakfast joint. The menu is playful, the portions are generous, and the dining room looks like a retro diner collided with an antique shop. In the best possible way.
And then there are the cocktail flights. Boozy iced coffee flights? Mimosa flights? Yes, please.
I love a good diner, but I’m also a fan of restaurants that have a little fun with their menus and decor. The Friendly Toast manages to combine classic breakfast comfort food with some pretty entertaining twists, making it a great choice for a weekend brunch with friends.
A Retro Diner With Plenty of Personality
The Friendly Toast opened its Burlington location in 2018, bringing a concept that originated in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1994 to the Green Mountain State.
Walk inside and you’re greeted by an explosion of color. Bright walls, vintage signs, eclectic artwork and mismatched decor give the restaurant a playful, slightly nostalgic atmosphere.
There’s plenty to look at while you’re waiting for your food.
I love restaurants that aren’t afraid to have some personality. Give me bold colors, quirky decorations and a little humor over another predictable, minimalist dining room.
The Friendly Toast certainly doesn’t take itself too seriously.
And the atmosphere is lively, particularly on weekends when the restaurant fills with groups of friends, families and visitors exploring Burlington.
The Boozy Coffee Flights Are a Must-Try
Let’s talk about one of the biggest reasons I’d recommend The Friendly Toast for a girls’ brunch. The boozy iced coffee flight.
Instead of committing to one cocktail, you can sample four different spiked coffee drinks, served in smaller portions.
The Caffeine Dreams flight has featured an espresso martini, Dulce Daydream, Berry Caffeinated and Maple Bourbon Cold Brew. It’s a fun way to try several combinations without ordering four full-sized drinks.
And if you’re someone who loves an espresso martini, this is a pretty entertaining alternative.
I’m always drawn to coffee cocktails, particularly when there’s a little creativity involved. The maple bourbon cold brew is an appealing Vermont-inspired option.
Just remember these are cocktails, not ordinary iced coffees!
Mimosa Flights for Your Next Burlington Brunch
If coffee cocktails aren’t your thing, The Friendly Toast also offers mimosa flights.
The classic flight includes four variations on the traditional sparkling wine and juice combination, with flavors that change seasonally.
Recent menus have included blood orange, berry and citrus-inspired options, along with spritzes that go beyond the usual orange juice and prosecco.
I’d order a flight to share with a friend, particularly if you’re planning a leisurely brunch rather than a quick breakfast before work.
The restaurant also serves Bloody Marys, individual brunch cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.
With such an extensive cocktail menu, I’d recommend checking the seasonal specials before deciding what to order.
What to Eat at The Friendly Toast
The food menu is just as playful as the drinks.
You’ll find plenty of traditional breakfast options, including eggs Benedict, omelets, pancakes and French toast. But there are also some more creative dishes that make choosing difficult.
The Hash Quiche is one of the restaurant’s longtime favorites, featuring a crispy hash-brown crust filled with eggs and other breakfast ingredients.
Meg’s American Breakfast Burrito is another substantial option, with scrambled eggs, bacon, American cheese, crispy potatoes and garlic aioli, served with home fries.
And if you’re in the mood for something sweet, look for the French toast and pancake specials. Seasonal menus have featured pumpkin pancakes with cream cheese icing and other dessert-inspired breakfast creations.
I also love the idea of ordering appetizers at brunch.
The menu includes churro-style French toast sticks served with dulce de leche and chocolate ganache, along with oversized cheddar tater tots and breakfast empanadas.
It’s certainly not the place I’d visit for a particularly light breakfast, but that’s part of the appeal.
The menu also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-friendly options, making it easier to accommodate a group with different preferences.
The Friendly Toast Beyond Vermont
While Burlington has the only Friendly Toast location in Vermont, the restaurant has expanded throughout New England.
The original location opened in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1994, and the company now operates restaurants in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and additional New Hampshire communities.
You’ll find locations in Boston, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill and several other Massachusetts towns, along with Portland, Maine; West Hartford, Connecticut; and Bedford, Nashua, Salem and Concord, New Hampshire.
The colorful interiors and playful menus are part of the brand throughout its locations, although individual restaurants have their own layouts and decor.
So if you’ve enjoyed brunch in Burlington, you can find The Friendly Toast on your next New England getaway, too.
What to Know Before You Go
- Location
- The Friendly Toast is located at 86 St. Paul Street in downtown Burlington, Vermont, a short walk from Church Street Marketplace.
- Hours
- Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
- What to Order
- The boozy iced coffee flight or mimosa flight for drinks. For food, try the Hash Quiche, breakfast burrito or one of the seasonal pancake specials.
- Cocktail Flights
- The current published menu lists both the mimosa flight and Caffeine Dreams coffee cocktail flight at $19. Flavors and prices can change.
- Reservations & Waitlist
- Weekend brunch can get busy. Check the restaurant’s online reservation and waitlist options before arriving.
- Dietary Options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-friendly and dairy-free options are available. Discuss allergies directly with the staff.
- Parking
- Metered street parking and downtown Burlington parking garages are available nearby.
- Other Locations
- The Friendly Toast operates throughout New England, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut.
- Phone
- 802-255-8523
The Friendly Toast is a fun addition to Burlington’s brunch scene, particularly if you’re meeting friends for a leisurely meal or celebrating something.
I love the colorful diner atmosphere, the oversized breakfast dishes and the fact that you can order a flight of boozy iced coffees before noon.
And with Church Street just around the corner, you can walk off some of that brunch while browsing downtown Burlington’s shops afterward
Talk with locals
Comments
Be the first to chime in
Been here? Your tip could save the next visitor a wrong turn.