The Essential Menu Prices

Trendy contemporary American cafe offering lunch, dinner & weekend brunch, plus specialty cocktails.

  4.7 – 452 reviews  $$ • Restaurant

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Menu

Pasta
Gemelli Cacio E Pepe, Tellicherry Peppercorns $12.00
Bucatini With Mustard Greens, Chili, Garlic, And Benton’s Country Ham $14.00
Paccheri With Shiitake, Beech, Oyster Mushrooms, Tarragon $16.00
Rigatoni With Chorizo Bolognese, Cultured Cream, Manchego $17.00
Canestri With Gulf Shrimp, Soffrito, Castelvetrano Olives, Dill $18.00
Dessert
‘Rocky Road’ Ice Cream With Croissant Crouton $6.00
Chocolate Pots De Crème $7.00
Carrot Cake With Swiss Meringue Buttercream, Cream Cheese, Pecans, Toasted Coconut $7.00
Strawberry Shortcake With Brown Butter Streusel And Strawberry Malt Ice Cream $8.00
Drinks – Sparkling
E. Dupont “Bouché”
Sparkling cider | pays d’auge, france
Frv
Sparkling rosé | beaujolais, france
Deligeroy
Sparkling white | loire valley, france
Drinks – White
Broabent
Vinho verde | minho, portugal
Fattoria Laila
Verdicchio | marche, italy
Novellum
Chardonnay | languedoc-roussillon, france
Brocard
White burgundy | burgundy, france
Burgans
Albariño | galicia, spain
Drinks – Pink
Kruger “Rumor”
Pinot noir rosé | nahe, germany
Drinks – Red
Domaine Filliatreau
Saumur-champigny | loire valley, france
Angelin
Langhe nebbiolo | piedmont, italy
Poggio Anima ‘Belial’
Sangiovese | tuscany, italy
Bouchard
Pinot noir | burgundy, france
Hecht & Bonnier ‘Minervois’
Grenache, syrah | langeudoc-roussillon, france
$45.00
Miraja
Ruche di monferrato | piedmont, italy
$50.00
Le Haut Medoc D’issan
Cabernet sauvignon, merlot | bordeaux, france
$60.00
Drinks – Cocktails
Americano
Refreshing bittersweet aperitif
$10.00
Derby Cocktail
Fruity bourbon classic
$10.00
Morocco Mole
Sparkling strawberry cocktail
$10.00
20th Century
Light gin sour with crème de cacao
$8.00
Ti Punch
Classic rum punch with lime and cane sugar
$12.00
Roger T. Bannon
Light martini with spice notes and a hint of sweetness
$9.00
Mr. Jinks
Manhattan like nightcap with tequila and coffee
$9.00
Monbazillac
French dessert wine with notes of peach and berries
$9.00
Drinks – Beer
Prairie ‘Standard’
Farmhouse ale
$5.00
Good People Ipa $5.00
Southern Star ‘Bombshell Blonde’
American blonde ale
$5.00
Moody Tongue
Grapefruit pilsner
$6.00
Tecate
Muy buena cerveza
$3.50
The Essential
Sourdough Bread
From bandit patisserie, herb butter
$4.00
Soup Of The Day $4.00
Frittelle
Manchego and black pepper
$7.00
Country Pate
Walnuts, cherries, sherry, benton’s ham, tapenade, sourdough, cardamom pickles
$10.00
Chicken Liver Mousse
Buttermilk sage crackers
$7.00
Pimento Cheese
Smoked cheddar, pickles, buttermilk crackers
$7.00
Grilled Baby Carrots
Whipped tahini, chili crisp, local honey, fresh herbs
$9.00
Mushroom Toast
Beurre blanc, fresh thyme, sourdough toast
$10.00
Beef Tartare
Tater tot, kimchi, mustard, pickles
$12.00
Little Gem Salad
Creamy lemon vinaigrette, pistachios, wiscorino
$8.00
Chop Salad
Kale, cabbage, apples, sarvechhio, pepitas
$10.00
5 Grain Salad
Freekeh, wheat berries, barley, quinoa, greens, avocado, walnuts, whipped feta
$14.00
Ham Sandwich
Smoked jambon, onion jam, gruyere, dijonaise, sourdough, potato chips
$14.00
Fish Sandwich
Napa cabbage slaw, dilly mayo, brioche bun, potato chips
$16.00
Essential Burger
8oz grass-fed beef, cheddar, caramelized onions, dijonaise, dill pickles, brioche bun, fries
$16.00
Seafood Stew
Soffrito, vinho verde, fresh herbs, aioli, sourdough
$18.00
Half Chicken Piri Piri
Peanuts from next door, lime gremolata, and fries
$22.00
Heritage Pork Chop
Roasted apples, carrots, and turnips with dijon vinaigrette
$26.00
Steak Aux Champignon
Prime ny strip, roasted sweet potato and greens, mushroom-peppercorn sauce
$27.00
The Essential Dinner
Cheese Straws
Smoked paprika, cheddar
$2.00
Crispy Taters
Fresh herbs, duke’s mayo
$5.00
Sourdough Bread
Honey butter
$4.00
Green Salad
Sarvecchio, croutons, red wine vinaigrette
$7.00
Eggplant Frites
Salsa roja
$9.00
Peppers And Okra
Sesame, sea salt
$7.00
Chicken Liver Eclair
Chicken liver mousse, onion jam, pistachios
$10.00
Heirloom Tomatoes
Ricotta, basil, fried bread
$9.00
Summer Pie
Tomatoes, squash, custard, brisee
$12.00
Crab Tartine
Butter beans, yellow corn, aioli, herb salad, sourdough
$14.00
Spaghetti
Yellow corn, fennel, cilantro
$15.00
Rigatoni
Chorizo, cultured cream, manchego
$17.00
Bucatini
Zucchini, tomato, castelvetrano olives, sarvecchio, basil
$15.00
Cacio E Pepe
Spaghetti, sarveccio, tellicherry peppercorns, olive oil
$14.00
Heritage Chicken
Ravigote, shallots
$22.00
Pork Shoulder
Cucumbers, peanuts from next door, peach salsa
$22.00
Fish Of The Day
Fennel, zucchini, beurre blanc
$25.00
Bar Steak
Panzanella, peppercorn butter
$29.00
Peach Basil Ice Cream
Brown butter crumb
$6.00
Blackberry Almond Cake
Ginger ice cream, almond streusel
$7.00
Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse
Mini macs
$7.00
Cookie Plate
Daily selection
$5.00
Lemon Tart
Torched meringue, blueberries
$8.00
Others
Cheese Straws $3.00
Frittelle With Manchego And Black Pepper $7.00
Radishes With Lemon Chili Butter And Sea Salt $7.00
Chicken Liver Mousse With Buttermilk Sage Crackers $7.00
Beets With Goat Cheese, Pistachio Granola, Strawberry Vinegar $9.00
Fried Spring Onions With Honey Mustard Sauce $3.00
Snap Pea Cobb Salad With Benton’s Ham And Wiscorino $10.00
Beef Tartare, Tater Tot, Kimchi, Mustard, Pickles $12.00
5 Grain Salad With Freekeh, Wheat Berries, Barley, Greens, Avocado, Walnuts, Whipped Feta $14.00
Ham Sandwich, Onion Jam, Gruyere, Dijonaise, Potato Chips $14.00
Fish Sandwich, Cabbage Slaw, Paprika Mayo, Brioche Bun $16.00
Half Chicken Piri Piri With Peanut Lime Gremolata And Crispy Potatoes $22.00
Fish Of The Day, Ramp Confit, Watercress Pistou, Lima Beans, Lemon Oil

… View more

Menu Photos

Order and Reservations

Reservations: resy.com

Contact The Essential

Address: 2018 Morris Ave, Birmingham, AL 35203

Phone: (205) 703-3012

Website: https://essentialbham.com/

Hours

Wednesday 11AM–10PM
Thursday 11AM–10PM
Friday 11AM–10PM
Saturday 9AM–10PM
Sunday 9AM–2PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11AM–10PM

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