FIRST LOOK – The Toasted Yolk Cafe
A new breakfast and lunch spot opens on South Tamiami Trail
It goes by A LOT of aliases. Here’s just a small sampling: Eggs in a Frame, Eggs in a Nest, Hole in One, One-Eyed Pete, and Toad in a Hole. But the name I know this dish by is Egg in a Hole.
I grew up eating this as a kid. And my son grew up eating this as a kid. That makes it a family thing, I guess. It’s one of those breakfast dishes that is not only delicious, but it’s fun to eat! It also makes use of two common breakfast ingredients in the most efficient way possible. 🍞🥚
I’m fairly confident that some (or maybe even most) of you may have eaten this quirky egg & toast dish too. Making this at home will obviously not test anyone’s culinary skills. But even though it’s simple, it still can be a little tricky to execute.
Toasting the bread perfectly (on both sides!) and making sure the egg is cooked to your liking takes a bit of timing and technique. No, it’s not the same technique that it takes to make a souffle or beef bourguignon. But some modest kitchen skills are required.
I like eating breakfast out. And I’ve eaten “The Most Important Meal of the Day” in all types of places, probably like you! Things just taste “different” in a restaurant. Same exact ingredients, but an entirely different experience. Why is that?…
I’ve surfed a bunch of breakfast menus during all of those outings. But it wasn’t until last weekend that I ran across the breakfast of my youth that didn’t require me to prepare it. Yes ladies and gentlemen, there is a restaurant in Sarasota that serves an Egg in a Hole! 🤲
On South Tamiami Trail, rising from the recently darkened former Irish 31, is the Toasted Yolk Cafe (3750 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 444-0049). And on its breakfast menu is its namesake dish, the Toasted Yolk. I saw it and knew that fate had brought us together! (Well, kind of 😁)
Yes, the Toasted Yolk is a chain (Easy now. They employ lots of locals). It’s based out of Texas and has close to 30 locations. Even knowing that it’s a chain, it doesn’t give off that corporate, cookie-cutter feel like many chains do. It seems… more singular (if that makes sense).
They have completely redone the interior. It’s super light and bright.
The outside dining has been spruced up too. 📝The outdoor seating does come pretty close to Tamiami Trail, so there is a fair amount of road noise if you opt for outside dining. My friend and I ate outdoors and didn’t find it to be an issue. But everyone is a bit different.
Their staff was friendly and attentive. The kitchen had it together. Our food came out pretty quickly (especially considering the size of the crowd gathered there on this Sunday morning!).
A nice mix of Sarasota was represented at the Toasted Yolk that morning. Some young, some not. Some folks coming from church, some just out enjoying a breakfast “date.” Some families, some solos (They kept the bar from the old restaurant. Perfect for breakfast or lunch by yourself!)
Yes, all of that is great. And it’s all part of the recipe for a successful restaurant. The other ingredient that is just as important or maybe even more important, is the food.
When you have certain foods that are connected to childhood memories, it can mean a lot of things. Sometimes the look-back isn’t so pleasant. Other times the imprint is so positive that it sets the bar extremely high. So, let’s get to the question. Did my Egg in a Hole (aka Toasted Yolk) live up to that high bar?…
Let’s break it down. The toast; perfectly griddled and buttered sourdough bread. The egg; cooked exactly medium (hey, you can have it the way YOU want it!). Add some thick slab bacon and a super savory hashbrown casserole to the plate, and you’ve really got something! 🍳
📝The menu for lunch looked just as good as the breakfast selections. If you happen to have lunch there, please drop us a note or leave a comment on our FB Page to let us know how you liked it.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The Toasted Yolk Cafe is the new kid on the breakfast/lunch block. It’s a casual and bustling place to have either meal. Our experience was a pretty positive one. There will probably be a few growing pains as they settle into their new home. But it seems like this South Trail eatery is heading in the right direction! ⬆️
⭐⭐ Just in case you’d like to make your own Egg in a Hole at home and need some instruction, here’s a link to the super easy-to-make recipe! 🍳🥚
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. (If you have an event, send us the details! (EMAIL IT)
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH – Cheese & Wine – Mademoiselle Paris (Downtown)
FEB 21 – Gainey Vineyards Wine Dinner – Sunnyside Cafe
FEB 22 – Lapostolle Wine Dinner – Michael’s Wine Cellar
FEB 23 – Alsace Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris UTC
FEB 23 – Truchard Wine Dinner – Michael’s Wine Cellar
FEB 24 – Chappellet Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
FEB 28 & MAR 1 – Legacy Chef Wine Dinner (Ray Arpke) – Café L’Europe
MAR 1 – Israeli Chef Night w/Chef Lior Lev Sercarz – Michael’s On East
MAR 1 – Hartford Court Wine Luncheon – Harry’s Continental Kitchen’s
MAR 3– Whiskey & War Stories – GROVE Restaurant
MAR 11 – Saturday Open House Wine Tasting – Michaels’s Wine Cellar
MAR 16 – Tullamore Dew Whiskey Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
MAR 31 – SPARCC Runway Fashion Show – INFORMATION
APR 1 – Wine Brunch & Charity Auction – Florida Winefest & Auction
APR 15 – Food Trucks, Tunes, & Brews 5 – INFORMATION
APR 20 TO 24 – Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival – INFORMATION
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🧑🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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