Toast Ballard

Came here for breakfast and had the BLT waffle, it was amazing! My husband got the blueberry and that was yummy as well. I just wasn’t a fan of the coffee it seemed a bit weak for my taste.

Hmmmm toasty waffles!
Found this place last year when I was on this mission «waffles». I wanted something other than chicken and waffles and I also didn’t want the usual waffles with insert any kind of fruity topping with whipped cream. I also want it at a cute little spot as opposed to a big diner. Enter toast!
It’s like a lounge/​coffee shop. It’s on the busy street but you can still manage a free parking spot or two. Free wifi, coffee, waffles and even some sandwiches. But obviously I’m having waffles!
They have various toppings from BLT, cinnamon sugar/​fruit to apple and bacon! You can choose savory or sweet. Or half and half and get both! Yummm!
BLT ~ visually appealing. And tasty.
Cinnamon and berries: brown sugar rule!
The Washington~ This was my favorite. Perfect combination of pancetta, pear, cheese and waffle! Oh so tasty!!! And beautiful too.
And they have big cappucinis! Half waffle is $ 6 or get a full for $ 10. Add a mimosa on top for $ 4. Talk about a steal :) They also have toasts! I mean obviously! It’s a mellow cute spot with two of my favorite things. Put me down as a fan! :)

Considering it is a waffle, it was quite expensive. I also believe my waffle was not fully cooked. This being the case, I was planning on taking it back but I had already eaten about half of it by the time I discovered that it was still raw. I kind of figured it wasn’t worth the trouble so I just ate it. It was the Nutella waffle and I believe it was about $ 10 with tax.
It was a good atmosphere and the chai tea latte was made very nicely.
I think the only problem is the prices here. The waffle with Nutella should’ve been maybe priced at $ 6.50. I don’t think I would come back based on the prices. Isn’t a bad place, but one waffle for $ 10 really isn’t worth it.

I know I just wrote an update but I will have to again due to their recent change in drink size offering.
As of this last weekend, their largest drink size is 8 oz. I tried to order a 16 oz. latte and the baristo told me that they switched to «more traditional» coffee offerings. I asked what this meant and he didn’t have more information before the fact that it is «new wave».
Ok, I understand the artisanal, post– SBUX coffee wave where coffee is single origin, etc. and costs $ 4+ /​cup for pour over and added milk and sugar is frowned upon.
I do think it’s strange to drastically switch the menu from offering all sizes to 8 oz. being the largest drink offered with no warning to the clientele. The coffee menu simply lists the drink description and one flat price with no sizes listed.
I don’t like being forced to have a tiny cup of coffee when I want a bigger one to start my day. I got the same amount of espresso but I like the steamed milk in a latte. Maybe I’m part of the problem…
The service is very nice here and they offer a good product. I personally like a 16 oz. drink so I will probably be frequenting a coffee shop that offers 16 oz. drinks.
It is their prerogative as a business to make this change but I do know it has affected my desire to continue to frequent them. Maybe I’m not the only one who feels this way as there was only one other person in the coffee shop.
I hope they make it and are successful but I do think this menu change was a mistake.

Solid breakfast sammie! Got the ham and cheese, with delicious garlic chives biscuit and only $ 5! Can’t wait to go back and try their waffles!

Pier One floor model!
$ 10 waffles!
$ 3 toast resembling Little Caesar’s!
Ok coffee!
Bus your own linens!

A nice attempt at copying a few of the SF toast spots. I wasn’t that impressed with their apple spiced butter, but maybe it was an unlucky day.
While it can’t compare to SF’s The Mill or Trouble (oh how I miss you), I’ll give this place another shot since this is all we have here.

I’m a fan of this place! Not only their interior looks great, but the service and the food too was on point!
My boyfriend and I came here yesterday and it was rainy too so we weren’t expecting the place to be full. There were two guys working there and they seemed really friendly and welcoming. The guy who took our order (I don’t know his name) was the sweetest. He also served our food to us and thanked us for coming in that day. To me, I felt very welcoming and it proves that they care about their business.
We ordered the ‘Filbert’ waffle which contains Nutella, vanilla yogurt and candied nuts (looked like hazelnuts and pecan). At first, I was afraid to get it because I didn’t know how it would taste with the vanilla yogurt. It’s been a while since I had yogurt in general, but I was willing to take the challenge and wanted something unique other than just getting a plain Nutella waffle and I’m glad I did! It tasted delicious and the nuts help fill you up too! When you order, you have the option of getting the waffle in half (which is $ 6, I believe) and full ($ 10). Since it was the two of us, we wanted to get it in full so that we can have the half. The guy even asked if we wanted a separate plate, but we said no. The presentation was on point too, which is a huge plus for me. I’m a sucker for nice interiors, cafes, waffles, and nice food presentations.
I will be definitely coming back here and hoping to try the S’more waffle next time. I believe I saw it on their menu, correct me if I’m wrong. I want to also try their coffees next time too!

4.5 stars really!
I thought my friend was kidding. A toast store? Does it get any more Seattle than this? Apparently not. I had this amazing blueberry waffle where the fresh berries were covered in, I dunno, crack?, the waffle was perfectly sized, crispy and soooo good. And the whipped cream should have come by the bucket full, but mercifully was a small container so I didn’t roll out of there.
I took away a bit for the lack of drinks for us non-​coffee drinkers. I know… coming to Seattle and not drinking coffee… what’s wrong with me? And the slightly oogy table slime that was left about even when the place wasn’t busy but don’t get me wrong. I’m coming back with my own Diet Coke, because Damn Tito, this place is good!

The motif looks super cheap, the only allure is the chandelier, but other than that this place is trying to hard to be something that it’s not, which is a posh breakfast joint.
As far as the food, it’s ok, but not extraordinary. I think the food just doesn’t look appetizing at all. They didn’t even have any chai and were limited on drinks the last time I went there.
There are better breakfast spots around the area.

I had pretty high expectations, but the food variety, ambiance, and customer service was BLEAK. This place is, at best, just a coffee shop.

Delicious waffles and breakfast sandwiches! Serving the best roasters in Seattle! (Slate, Veltons, and Kuma) this place is one of ballards best kept secrets! Also their beer happy hour is great! Flat bread pizza with a stoup ipa is pretty unbeatable!

Awesome coffee, much better than the average Ballard café. They usually have a few different bean options for you to choose from too, which is cool. Both times that I’ve been, their clover brewing machine was broken, but they offer regular drip and aeropress. I had a cappuccino which I thought was pretty good, but not amazing. Whatever I had on the aeropress was fantastic though. They stock coffee from Kuma, Slate, Veltons, and maybe some others, so you’re getting top notch stuff.
The actual toast itself was alright, I’ve had much better in the fancy-​toast category. I wasn’t really into the bread itself.
The café itself is also nice. There is plenty of room to spread out and get some work done and is very well lit by windows compared to most cafes around here, which I appreciate.
Service has always been exceptionally warm and helpful, though I haven’t come in during a busy time yet.

Washington Waffle!!! May be the best waffle I’ve ever had. Seriously. When I first received the waffle without syrup, I was a little nervous, but I could not have been more pleased. The combination of apples, ham, jam & cheese was divine! Not dry, not too salty, not too sweet. I got the whole waffle for $ 10 which I think is a great price for a meal. AND I had a bite of my friend’s bacon jelly… yummmmmm. Will definitely be back when in Ballard!

Cute little place tucked away in Ballard! The inside is fresh and classy with a crystal chandelier. I thought is was going to be more of a brunch restaurant, but it’s actually leans towards a quiet coffee shop and a great place to work. The coffee is excellent, serving skate coffee. Since it is autumn, go for the pumpkin spice latte! Delicious! Food wise, I was a little disappointed. I didn’t get to try any of the toast items (will next time) but I did get a full order of waffles which was $ 10!!! Expensive in my opinion for a standard waffle which was not out of this world, yet still scrumptious. I’ll be going back here probably to study and grab some coffee.

This is the first time I visited Toast Café since they changed owners and really the first time in general. It was really cute on the inside, I can see it as a really good place to study or do work or just come in to grab some coffee or food.
I came on the night of their grand reopening and they were giving out samples of some of their menu items. Two words: bacon jam. Oh my goodness. The moment this goodness hit my taste buds, I just wanted more of it. It was on their Toast Club Flatbread, I definitely recommend it!!! I also had a sample of their bacon jam toast (of course), with cheese melted on top, equally good and had a sample of their Blueberry Cobbler waffle. Delish!!! I wish I had a big enough stomach to try everything they had.
I found out that they do make everything to order and their jams from scratch, so don’t be too quick to complain if things take a «long» time, it’s being made fresh for you! I’m definitely coming back to try the other waffles and sandwiches on the menu.
I didn’t get a chance to try any of their drinks but heard their chai tea is really good. My fave. Did I mention bacon jam?

A few months ago I would have given this place 5+ stars, but since Frank and Amy sold the business, it’s just not the same. I discovered Toast last May after moving in two blocks from it. Frank and Amy had great energy and took pride in the food and coffee they served. I loved the quality of the food/​drinks, atmosphere they created and the service they provided soooo much, I rented it out and had my 30^th birthday party there!
With new ownership, they’ve taken away staple menu items (one which I ordered 3 times a week and was assured multiple times would still be available), they switched the coffee and not one single person working there knows how to make a latte (or any espresso shot) without it tasting burnt and bitter, which happens when the beans are over roasted and/​or someone doesn’t know when to pull the shot.
I’ve been patient with the switch over and was hoping things would get better, but it’s simply not the same. I’m extremely disappointed as I live walking distance to Toast, visit it multiple times a week and felt very loyal to Frank and Amy. Sadly, the Toast I loved is dead. Time to find a new neighborhood spot.
UPDATE/​RESPONSE TO OWNERS COMMENT:
Thanks for replying, Stacy. The barista working Friday morning told me you switched the coffee when she asked if I’d like my latte remade. I’m glad to hear you haven’t switched roasters, but it also makes me sad, as the espresso hasn’t tasted the same in the last two months, and that was the main reason I came to Toast.
I understand removing items that weren’t as popular. But I was assured by you on a few different occasions that you would still have sausage, so getting my favorite breakfast sandwich wouldn’t be an issue. Though every time I’ve come in since you told me that, I haven’t been able to order it for one reason or another.
I’m a VERY loyal customer and love supporting local, family businesses, but it was very disappointing when the two things I came in for multiple times a week were no longer offered or tasted terribly different.

I ordered a waffle but next time I’m going to try the toast. The special of the day was strawberry basil jam waffle and it was over $ 10! You could get a waffle with fruit and all the fixings for that price somewhere else. It would have been worth it if it were an amazing waffle, but it was basically strawberry jam (couldn’t taste the basil) with some goat cheese. The waffles were too light and airy — I wish they could have been more dense and chewy.

We went Saturday morning and it seemed to be only one person in the kitchen and one serving/​at the counter. It was about 25 minutes until our waffles came out… only to sit at the counter for 10 minutes, getting really soggy. When the cook finally brought them over to us himself (the counter was getting piled up with too much food) we said we still hadn’t got our coffee– he just said the other guy was too busy and didn’t even mention it to him. It’s not just the inconvenience and annoyance of not having coffee that you ordered after half an hour, it’s that reminding someone a second time that you ordered coffee feels awful and socially awkward.
The food from what I could gather when already soggy seemed fine– definitely something I would enjoy if the place was run well. They need to have more people working on a Saturday morning, and on top of that make it more self-​serve by calling out names to pick up food, maybe even have coffee containers at the counter because that was taking the majority of the guy’s time. If you’re going for minimal service then you need to have it set up so it works.

Hummingbird. Got it, shared it, enjoyed it! It’s sweet and savory in one. Bombbb. Most of the toast options were $ 3 each… deals on wheels. Ordered the cinnamon toast, pretty tasty for $ 2 but next time definitely getting a different one. I’d recommend for two people ordering 2 half size waffles and a toast (if you’re looking at dessert!)
Friendly lady. Bright with cute pillow seats.