The Friendly Toast

March 23, 2007: Restaurant Review

Diners are a great American past time, usually full of satisfying but unhealthy foods, tacky decorations, intriguing staff, and conversations that couldn't happen anywhere else. The Friendly Toast in Portsmouth, NH could be called a diner with a few twists.

When I walked into the Friendly Toast, I was thrilled. Intriguing decorations cover the walls, ceiling, and tables from I love Lucy lamps to surfboards and mannequins. My friends and I took menus at the door and sat ourselves as instructed by signs at the entrance. If you want your hand held through the dining experience, this place isn't for you. Our waiter, the only one apparently, was a 30 something hipster along with the rest of the staff and wasn't the most attentive or personable which some patrons may find off putting. I ordered a two egg sandwich on wheat toast with American cheese, sausage and a side of home fries for $6.75. I was expecting a normal, small, sandwich but I was happily wrong. The Friendly Toast bakes their own gigantic bread, fresh everyday. Each slice was the size of my stretched hand and two to three times thicker than an average slice of bread. The sandwich was delicious and perfectly cooked and the home fries were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and had a nice spicy seasoning. Three of my friends ordered the Basic Breakfast which brought them a plate of two eggs, home fries, a choice of bacon or sausage and more huge toast for a reasonable $6. Another friend ordered the Orange French Toast which was cinnamon bread in an orange flavored batter topped with a raspberry glaze for $10. The only issue we faced was the service as we had to find our own sugar from another table and the waiter took 15 minutes and two reminders to bring us ketchup for the tasty home fries.

The prices seemed a bit steep until I saw the serving sizes which more than justified the cost. Our bill for five came to under $40 including tip. The Friendly Toast also does more than the standard breakfasts. They offer a Green Eggs and Ham which is two eggs on ham and toast with green herb sauce and New Hampshire's Finest, scrambled eggs or tofu with local goat cheese, scallions, asparagus and bacon. A large lunch and dinner menu is also available and offers huge sandwiches such as a chorizo and Cuban bean burrito and nine ounce burgers with every topping imaginable. The Friendly Toast has a large number of vegetarian and vegan friendly meals and many others can be made differently for non meat eaters by the very accommodating and imaginative chef.

The restaurant is located at 121 Congress St. in Downtown Portsmouth and is open daily for all three meals as well as from Friday morning through Sunday evening 60 hours straight.

So whether you're feeling a craving for a huge breakfast platter or a big veggie burger, check out The Friendly Toast about an hour north of Lowell.

~ Julia Gavin ("Buzz" Reviewer)