The Friendly Toast, New England’s favorite all-day brunch and bar spot, is marking a new era of culinary excellence with the introduction of a revitalized food and drink menu. Building upon the familiar menu guests know and enjoy, this refresh brings a higher level of food quality and execution through partnerships with thoughtfully selected producers and artisans, expanded use of scratch-made recipes and the implementation of time-honored culinary techniques. The Friendly Toast unveiled its new drink menu on March 16, with an updated food menu set to debut Monday, March 30. Both menus will be available at all 14 locations throughout New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
“We are sourcing from producers and artisans who share our commitment to quality, integrity and flavor,” said Joshua Smith, Vice President of Culinary Operations, The Friendly Toast. “It’s important to us that we only serve high-quality, real-ingredient meals that we would want our own families to eat.”
The updated food menu, overseen by Smith, retains longtime staples like the Brioche French Toast while adding new dishes such as Caesar’s Revenge, made with citrus chicken paillard with shaved romaine, cotija cheese, crispy tortilla strips, Tajin, and house-made Caesar dressing, and Hot Honey Chicken Bites, made with buttermilk-brined, hand-breaded chicken, Mike’s Hot Honey and dill pickles. Ingredients are sourced from a range of specialty producers, including Pain D’Avignon, North Country Smokehouse and Natalie’s Orchid Island Juices, among others.
As part of its new drink menu, The Friendly Toast has expanded its alcoholic offerings to include beer and wine throughout its entire footprint, featuring selections like Maine Beer Co.’s Lunch IPA and Kendall‑Jackson Chardonnay. The updated menu introduces specialty mocktails such as the Spicy Norita, made with Tajin, Mineragua, muddled jalapeño, lime and Mike’s Hot Honey, as well as classic cocktails like the Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini. Friendly Flights are also available, featuring options like the Mimosa Flight, Secret Garden Flight with fruity and botanical flavors and the Caffeine Dreams Flight for coffee enthusiasts. The expanded menu offers guests a wider variety of beverages to complement their meals.
This new era follows the recent appointment of Shawn Utke as CEO of The Friendly Toast. A seasoned industry leader, Utke previously served as CEO of Tatte Bakery & Café and was brought on to guide the company’s next phase of growth, innovation and elevated guest experience.
“This update is about enhancing what guests already enjoy about The Friendly Toast while remaining true to our roots,” said Shawn Utke, CEO, The Friendly Toast. “We have been intentional about evolving the menu in ways that feel seamless rather than disruptive, incorporating more local and seasonal ingredients and expanding our in-house preparation. These thoughtful changes allow us to elevate quality and consistency while preserving the sense of connection, comfort and place that has always been central to the heart of our restaurants.”
To learn more about The Friendly Toast, visit www.thefriendlytoast.com.
