Birmingham Is Becoming a Brunch City — and Oliver B. Adams and The Toasted Yolk Are Helping Set the Table

Birmingham has long been known for great Southern food, but another part of the city’s dining culture continues to grow: brunch. What was once primarily a weekend meal is increasingly becoming an experience built around food, cocktails, music, socializing and special events.

The Birmingham location of The Toasted Yolk Cafe is leaning into that movement, combining its seven-day breakfast, brunch and lunch menu with creative events that give people even more reasons to gather.

That was on display during The Last Sip of Summer Day Party, held September 20 in celebration of National Brunch Day. Curated by Oliver B. Adams, the afternoon was billed as “one last toast to summer” and brought together brunch, cocktails, music from DJ Shay and a social atmosphere at The Toasted Yolk’s downtown Birmingham location.

The event was also another step in Adams’ effort to build a recurring brunch experience at The Toasted Yolk—and he isn’t finished yet.

Meet the “Kolor King” — Oliver B. Adams

Oliver B. Adams may serve drinks behind the bar at The Toasted Yolk, but his reach extends far beyond the restaurant.

Known professionally as The Kolor King, Adams has built a career in the beauty industry as a hairstylist, educator and entrepreneur. He is the owner of Splash Studios Inc., which includes salon and salon-suite locations in Atlanta and Las Vegas. He spent 20 years as a Top Artist for Clairol Professional and has appeared as a platform artist at major industry events including Bronner Brothers in Atlanta, Premiere Orlando and IBS New York. His work has also been featured by Elle Magazine, CNN and Behind The Chair.

That background in beauty, fashion and entertainment gives Adams a network and perspective that translate naturally into creating experiences that bring people together.

The Last Sip of Summer was curated by Adams as part of that vision. His upcoming Classic Weekend event will mark his third brunch event at The Toasted Yolk, as he continues experimenting with ways to combine Birmingham’s growing brunch culture with music, entertainment and social experiences.

Readers can also connect with Adams on his Facebook page: Oliver B. Adams on Facebook

More Than a Place to Eat Brunch

That creativity has found willing partners in Charles and Colette Lewis, the sibling owners of The Toasted Yolk Birmingham.

The Lewises have worked to give their Birmingham restaurant a distinctly local personality. The 132-seat restaurant incorporates Birmingham into its décor through locally created murals, and Colette Lewis told The Birmingham Times that part of her vision for the restaurant was creating a place where people could bond over great food and conversation.

Just as importantly, the owners have shown themselves to be open to new ideas and creative uses for the restaurant.

That has expanded through Toasted After Dark, opening opportunities for the restaurant to become an event space after its regular daytime hours. People interested in hosting their own event can contact the Birmingham location, share their concept and explore opportunities to bring that idea to the venue.

It’s a model that gives local creatives, organizations and event planners another option while allowing The Toasted Yolk to become more than simply a breakfast-and-lunch restaurant.

Events curated by Adams, including The Last Sip of Summer, show what that flexibility can look like.

Brunch Doesn’t Have to Wait Until Sunday

Another advantage The Toasted Yolk brings to Birmingham’s growing brunch scene is pretty simple: you don’t have to wait until the weekend.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., serving breakfast, brunch and lunch. Its menu combines traditional breakfast favorites with brunch cocktails and lunch selections.

That gives Birmingham residents another option for everything from a weekday business brunch to Saturday morning with friends or a Sunday afternoon outing.

And Adams’ brunch events are adding another dimension to the experience.

Next Up: The Classic Hangover Brunch

Adams’ next event at The Toasted Yolk will be his third brunch event at the restaurant, and this one is built around one of Birmingham’s biggest weekends of the year.

The Classic Hangover Brunch — The Magic City Classic Grand Finale will bring Alabama A&M and Alabama State fans together for a post-Classic brunch celebration at The Toasted Yolk.

The event continues the formula Adams has been developing: brunch, cocktails, music, culture and an opportunity to socialize—this time with plenty of Alabama A&M and Alabama State pride mixed in.

It’s a fitting way to close out Classic Weekend and another example of the larger opportunity Adams, the Lewises and The Toasted Yolk are exploring: helping establish Birmingham as a city where brunch isn’t simply something you eat. It’s something you do.

Visit The Toasted Yolk Birmingham

The Toasted Yolk Cafe is located at 231 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233 and is open seven days a week from 7 a.m.–3 p.m. For information, call-in orders or to inquire about bringing an event idea to the Birmingham location, call (205) 202-4400.

Breakfast, brunch and lunch are available seven days a week, giving Birmingham plenty of opportunities to get toasted—and with Oliver B. Adams and the team continuing to develop new experiences, increasingly more reasons to come back for what’s next.

I particularly like the line “brunch isn’t simply something you eat. It’s something you do.” That feels like a strong Urbanham-style closing theme and ties together what Oliver and the Lewises are trying to build.