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Urban Standard
2320 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States
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Urban Standard
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Br
Review №1

A very rustic-chic space with a cozy and vibrant feel once you walk in offering coffee, pastries, and much more. Popular with locals and the college crowds. Went for breakfast and it was good for the most part just didn’t like you had to purchase add ons to your main dish instead of them coming included; like the skillet potatoes and the traditional toppings in a omelette. The vanilla cappuccino was good, not the best, no rich thick foam layer which I always enjoy. On the other hand, their strawberry and lemon scones are excellent. A rich, buttery taste with a crunchy texture goes quite with coffee. Enjoy my foodie connoisseurs!

Ma
Review №2

Great coffee and awesome work space. We rolled through town ten minutes before close and they still took great care of us. Will be back for a more lengthy visit. ❤️

Jo
Review №3

Great place for breakfast and lunch right in the middle is Central Birmingham. Great biscuits, cheese grits, and locally sourced sausage make up the Breakfast Plate I had. Couple that with their house made Chai Latte and you will not be disappointed. Will definitely be back here in my next visit.

Em
Review №4

They have coffee drinks and food available. I had a mocha and it was okay, it had an interesting flavor that I cant exactly pinpoint, a litter bitter, not my favorite. I wanted to order grits but they were out. This is not a bad option in my opinion but would not be my first choice.

M.
Review №5

Fresh, healthy options in a relaxed, casual setting. Great place to sit and work. Portion sizes are surprisingly large and a good value. House granola and yogurt was excellent.

La
Review №6

Great atmosphere. Prices a little high for coffee & breakfast but everything was delicious. Would definitely recommend.

Je
Review №7

Banana Nutella muffin ($3) was delicious. Taking a star away bc the drinks were served in plastic cups, not cool mugs.

Jo
Review №8

Laid back coffee shop...caramel latte was superb!

Ro
Review №9

Seriously the best maple donut ever! Moist, flavorful. And the coffee was awesome too. And the grits were good and Im not a grit fan at all. Some people commented on it being a hipster coffee shop-after being in Seattle and Portland and other hipster California areas-Id say this place is a light version and shouldnt deter anyone from going to eat those donuts and the great coffee.

Al
Review №10

Nice place!Good service!The atmosphere is cool!Drip coffee soooo gooood!Food: at first it tasted weird, but then it got changed and tasted good 😂

C
Review №11

Great place for breakfast and lunch right in the middle is Central Birmingham. Great biscuits, cheese grits, and locally sourced sausage make up the Breakfast Plate I had. Couple that with their house made Chai Latte and you will not be disappointed. Will definitely be back here in my next visit. Absolutely love this place. Lots of seating, the food and coffee are incredible. The grilled chicken panino and mocha are my favorites, but breakfast and other lunch / coffee items are also great. Good atmosphere to study, go on a date, or have a casual business meeting. The staff is friendly as well. Highly recommend.

Le
Review №12

My favorite coffee shop in Birmingham. Great quality and comfortable environment. The food is incredible and fresh. The coffee is high quality. The staff are incredible.

Em
Review №13

Pretty wonderful take on a grilled cheese. Also had a cup of coconut miso soup. That was super rich and had mushrooms (gross. No warning. But I just removed them). Atmosphere is pretty chill and the main waiter is very polite and accommodating. Decor and music is what one would expect of a city coffee shop ;) great visit. Also, the coffee isnt too shabby, either.

Wy
Review №14

Coffee is great. The avocado toast was amazing!

De
Review №15

This locally owned coffee shop has a very casual atmosphere with an urban modern feel to it. There are a variety of seating; chairs, couches, and tables where you can work on your laptop, read a paper, or just grab a coffee and snack. They have the best grits Ive had (add cheese and conecuh sausage!). And most importantly, they go out of the way to satisfy your experience!! Great place.

St
Review №16

Absolutely love this place. Lots of seating, the food and coffee are incredible. The grilled chicken panino and mocha are my favorites, but breakfast and other lunch / coffee items are also great. Good atmosphere to study, go on a date, or have a casual business meeting. The staff is friendly as well. Highly recommend.

Da
Review №17

Tried the cortado and caramel cappuccino. Both were good with smooth and light espresso notes. A very nice cup.

De
Review №18

Cool vibe. Decent place to work on a few things.

Je
Review №19

Excellent coffee and atmosphere! Great selection on the breakfast menu. The only downside that I can think of is that it closes at 6pm!

Da
Review №20

Decent sandwiches and beers. Quaint coffee shop vibe with quirky decor.

Kr
Review №21

I was just there for coffee. Which was fresh brewed and very good (just got the house blend; I never get any of the fancier stuff). Wall decor is urban-trendy, very original. Tables sort of strewn about, not in regimented rows! Not even the same design. A few folks in there working on computers; probably using it as a temp office or study hall, which adds to the atmosphere.

Ly
Review №22

Stylish coffee spot with great food options! Cant beat the biscuits and grits 😍

Me
Review №23

Food: 2 out of 5Service: Really sweet people. 5 out of 5We were passing through at breakfast, ordered the tofu scramble and avocado toast. Worst tofu scramble I think weve ever had. And for anyone thinking duh its tofu, fair...but, there is a way to cook with it that can make it taste flavorful and really however you want it to taste. I feel the chef who made this recipe has 0 creativity. Also the portion was so tiny.

Da
Review №24

Good coffee in a nice space

Da
Review №25

The staff is SO NICE and very very helpful! They were kind about explaining the vegan and vegetarian options. I got the vegan breakfast plate and it was amazing!

Mi
Review №26

Great grits with cheese breakfast. Coffee was good too, and the decor was nice. Sad to see plastic cups being used for patrons drinking water.

Pa
Review №27

The iced matcha latte is out of this world. Ended up having to get a refill! Will definitely visit again. Chill vibes and great staff.

Al
Review №28

Kind of obsessed with this place

Wa
Review №29

Maybe my favorite coffee shop in town. Warm atmosphere, friendly folks working. Eclectic decorations, but not too crazy. The coffee is good and the barista are talented, but food is where they really shine. The quality of food they put out is bomb. I love this place.

Ne
Review №30

I went because it was supposed to have vegan options. They overcharged is for one order, and the “tofu scramble” was oily fried cubes of flavorless tofu. The grits and biscuits were good, but I’m pretty sure they weren’t vegan. I really wanted to volunteer to teach the chef how to make a tofu scramble- it’s not hard. Smash it, put in some yummy spices and veggies, and scramble it in minimal oil. Turmeric makes it yellow like eggs. I hope they read this. I gave it an extra star because the servers were really pleasant.

To
Review №31

Saturday morning for breakfast. First time here. 30 minutes after ordering, a staff member dropped by to let us know it would only be another moment. 20 minutes later, Im out of time and MUST go. Not trying to be rude and asked for a refund.There was now a long line. While in line, the kitchen yelled out that they were out of grits and a moment later, out of potatoes. They have like 6 items on the menu so Im not sure how you run out of them but whatever, I was leaving. I overheard the woman getting my refund mumble to the cashier that we must have expected fast service. It had been nearly an hour for some fried eggs grits, and potatoes. I wasnt being rude or unreasonable but I suppose that kind of wait is normal. That is why Im leaving the review at all. Im sure theyre really good. They have great reviews. Just clear your schedule and youre golden.

Ca
Review №32

One of the only real vegan choices in Birmingham. The food is delicious and clean. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The coffee and tea is great. All in all one of the best places for lunch or coffee in town. I wish they had vegan desserts, but maybe that will be something for after they reopen.

La
Review №33

Yes yes yes! I miss this place so much. I went there almost daily when I lived nearby. The best coffees and snacks! I loved the scones the best!

Ji
Review №34

This is my favorite place to get a latte in Birmingham and the food is great too! The atmosphere is always comfortable and inviting and the staff is friendly. Everything about the aesthetic from the music, to the visual layout and decor embodies what I imagine a coffee shop in the city would be like and its consistently been a favorite place to meet with family, friends, and clients or even just hang out by myself.

K
Review №35

Someone in the kitchen is angry. I ordered the plain skillet potatoes for $3 then added $3 worth of toppings thinking it would make a nice vegan breakfast. But I can hardly find any potato pieces in that little bowl that was served - MAYBE theres 1/4 of a regular potato in there?? I asked about it and kitchen said YEP, thats right. To me, it feels very stingy - like on purpose stingy. Its a potato, not steak.Last visit here 6 mos ago I had a muffin so dry it seemed stale. Tablemates agreed. Kitchen said it wasnt.Im done getting food here. Coffee is good but I wont go out of my way to get it.

Gu
Review №36

So glad they have reopened.A little chilled inside for my european skin but I just take a sweater and its my favorite place downtown for coffee.

Cl
Review №37

The best place. So dear to my heart. I love the atmosphere, the coffee, the food and the memories. A Birmingham treasure!

Ty
Review №38

Urban Standard is a Birmingham staple. The folks that work there are fantastic and so is the coffee. Go for lunch and have something great on the menu. My favorite is the veggie Reuben, and there are plenty of omnivore and vegetarian-friendly options. Great area along 2nd Ave N too.

Dr
Review №39

Fresh average food. House salad didnt meet expectations. It was described as having seasonal ingredients on a field of leaves. I found the leaves and 1 1/2 cherry tomatoes. Oh, my husband just confessed eating a half of one cherry tomato 🍅Could be better for coffee but I didnt have any.

Je
Review №40

A bit pricey. Services wasnt very friendly or helpful. Willing to try again.... :/

Ja
Review №41

Dont come here. I ordered a soup and salad with a small group of people. Everyone was done eating their meals and no sign of my food which required no cooking. Only come here if you plan on paying for food you will not get. They did give me a refund. But it should not have come to that. Horrible business. 11:51 purchase. 1:15pm refund time for a soup and salad...

Jo
Review №42

We stopped by here one Saturday evening for a cup of coffee and a cupcake. Simply excellent coffee, and the snacks were very tasty! The interior was very unique and you could tell a lot of thought and effort went into it. Well definitely return for more.

Au
Review №43

Great atmosphere with lots of natural light. Food was good, coffee good, and lots of vegan/vegetarian options.

We
Review №44

I love Urban Standard, but I feel like it lacks something. The bottom line is that their coffee is good, as well as the tea. If all you care about is that, youll like this place. The atmosphere is pleasant, although I feel like Urban Standard follows the stereotypical image of a hipster coffee shop a bit too closely. If you imagined a coffee shop in Portland, the image in your head would probably look a lot like Urban Standard. This isnt a bad thing. It just makes things a bit boring to me. Speaking of boring, I think the menu is a bit disappointing. Everything on the menu is good, but I feel like it wouldnt take long to get bored with it. Theres just not a lot there. Urban Standard is far from being a bad coffee shop - Id recommend it in a heartbeat. It just isnt my favorite.

Ca
Review №45

Urban Standard is definitely a gem of Birmingham! Great coffee, good food, and friendly service! The biscuits and red eye gravy dish is most excellent!

Al
Review №46

Perfectly brewed coffee. Baristas were professional. Very warm atmosphere and makes you want to stay the whole day just sitting, relaxing and reading your favorite book.

Er
Review №47

Best dirty chai around! This quaint coffee shop has simple but tasty lunches and yummy pastries. The neighborhood is finally gaining some popularity with some quirky boutiques, notable bakeries, neat antique shops and of course a handful of hipster style coffee stops.If you ever stop here and find they have buttermilk pie it is a must have!

Ho
Review №48

Drinks are good. I like the hot tea. Better quality products than Starbucks. Sit-down coffee shop. Very hipster and urban environment. Love the neat wall decor.

Br
Review №49

Sadly this place has closed due to COVID-19. Went by today (10/5/2020) and saw the sign on the door

Ha
Review №50

Love this place. Excellent atmosphere, large windows so it’s very bright, good food. Price range is on par with other Birmingham coffee shops. Coffee is good, not amazing, but good. WiFi has been recently updated and is so much better. It can be a little chilly inside at times. Plenty of plugs for computer work.

Am
Review №51

Very cool place!!! We stopped through on our way to Memphis and had lunch. Unique food and great desserts! Coffee is good but limited in flavors (but they are in the progress of adding more). Will definitely stop in again if in Birmingham!

Ma
Review №52

I come here all the time because if how convenient it is. Im able to walk to it from work. The staff is always super friendly and accommodating. The coffee is good and the food is good. Its a bit pricy though. I love this place.

Ja
Review №53

The grits were the best Id ever had. The service was also great. Thank you Urban Standard!!!

An
Review №54

Spacious interior and good coffee. Would haven been even better if they use non-disposable for customers sitting in, though I understand it’s not standard practice in the US.

Je
Review №55

Best iced coffee. Urban Veggie Burger is delicious. Thank you for having great vegan and vegetarian options! Staff is always super friendly too.

Mi
Review №56

Still think this is the best coffee shop in Birmingham. Their coffee isnt overly acidic or burned. Staff is super friendly and helpful. The food Ive had there has been pretty good as well. Excellent chillout spot.

Br
Review №57

Great coffee. Great atmosphere. Good food. Really neat store. Service has always been friendly.

Di
Review №58

Great for healthy breakfast. And good coffee

Jo
Review №59

Its like an oasis in the desert that is Birmingham. Great coffee, great vibes, lots of young people around. In this ghost of a town its the only place around with life.

Sa
Review №60

I really like the vibe of the place (its hipster-y and trendy), but the coffee is just not that great. As a place to study, its fine, but if you want really good coffee, go to Saturn or Revelator, not here. That said, the staff is always really friendly, and theyll even let you hang out a bit after closing (which is good, since they close incredibly early), but for a coffee shop, the coffee is the least impressive part of the place, which isnt awesome.

Al
Review №61

Very cute place! Went for breakfast and ordered some grits along with eggs and a biscuit that came with some type of spread, I forget the name of it! Kind of tasted like bacon but oh my goodness! Soooooooo good! I love the place, will definitely go back when I come back to town

Ha
Review №62

Funky and great food! My husband and I went around 12:30 and were served immediately. We ordered the Grilled Chicken Panino and the Polish Sidewalk Sandwich. The panino was FABULOUS and I loved the balsamic jam. The atmosphere is unique and hipster, and the desserts (buttermilk donut) were delicious!

Ma
Review №63

Tremendous coffe, outstanding breakfast. Amazing hidden gem.

Br
Review №64

I love this place! Cool, mellow atmosphere which is conducive to studying or working. Healthy lunch options, the coffee is always good, and their cupcakes are amazing!

Ka
Review №65

Great pastries! Also love their ceasar salad and grilled cheese sandwich.

Am
Review №66

The perfect place for a hearty, healthy or light breakfast in a relaxed ambiance. Super friendly staff.

Me
Review №67

Lovely spot to remotely work and relax. Creativity abounds in the decor. And great coffee. My only suggestion is updating restrooms to gender neutral.

Co
Review №68

This is my favorite coffee shop in Birmingham. A great place for meetings, grabbing food, or reading a book. Top quality coffee and service.

Je
Review №69

Coffee was good. Nothing fancy but was hot, bold and fresh; exactly what I wanted.

Ko
Review №70

Great atmosphere, great food, and great coffee. If youre looking for a place to read or write and enjoy a hot cup, this is your place. The service is quick, friendly, and very accommodating. Had the pleasure of attending a few of their live music events and it has always been a great experience.

Br
Review №71

The breakfast is outstanding! If you live or work in the city center, Id definitely check this place out one morning. Oh, and the coffee is quite good as well.

Re
Review №72

Good breakfast vegan options. I suggest that they bring on some vegan pastry options, additionally clean up messy pastry showcase.

Le
Review №73

Really cool vibe with unique, tasty foods. I am able to be creative and get a lot of work done when Im here, so its always a nice stop. And donuts.

Da
Review №74

They serve Primavera coffee here, which is frankly the only coffee that I can actually drink, and is very good. They also have a good variety of teas and pastries that are absolutely delicious (best strawberry cupcake ever!). The main thing I like here though is the food. Whenever I eat here I try something different on the menu, and have not been let down yet. The amount of effort put into crafting a delicious combination of flavors in all of their offerings is clear, and is fantastic for the amount that you pay. The only downside, is that it can fill up easily some days, and the line can be slow when there is only one person running a register.

Ma
Review №75

This place is a Birmingham institution. Great coffee and food and a wonderful staff. I love it.

Sh
Review №76

I was driving through Alabama and stopped here. Great house made veggie burger and fries. Well worth the extra time off the interstate.

Ch
Review №77

One of the best croissant sandwiches I ever had. Beautiful room design, and awesome atmosphere.

Mi
Review №78

My visit was not at a peak lunch time, but included outstanding service, well prepared food, and decent prices. The store is basically a cafe/coffee shop. There are great seating options for both large parties and study sessions. I did not purchase coffee, but they do use Counter Culture Coffee for their drinks.

Ju
Review №79

Excellent coffee. Slightly higher than standard pricing. Local and relaxing. Good place to spend an afternoon with friends

Ja
Review №80

Excellent coffee. Slightly higher than standard pricing. Local and relaxing. Good place to spend an afternoon with friends

Ga
Review №81

I had been meaning to check this coffee shop out for a while now & I can not believe I missed out on it for so long. Good atmosphere. Good coffee. & Good dishes.

Ra
Review №82

Staff was super friendly and the food was excellent! The atmosphere was welcoming and down to earth; defiantly recommend if youre looking for a unique place to grab a bite or warm beverage. The chi latte was one of the best Ive ever had and the biscuits were amazing!

To
Review №83

Very well priced, tasty brews, and comfy seats. What more could you want?

Je
Review №84

My favorite coffee shop in Birmingham. Its a great, chill place with a hip vibe and quiet atmosphere. The breakfasts are pretty good, and the lattes are my go-to!

Hu
Review №85

Small serving of macchiato....latte was good. Helpful and kind staff...chill place. I wanted to keep this to myself, but the oatmeal muffins are veeeeerrrrrry good. Manager was also here and he was exceptionally attentive. Also, theres very nice artwork and sculptures throughout this place....BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA IS COMING UP!!!

Er
Review №86

Coffee is good, super friendly staff, and cool atmosphere. But the food is beyond delicious! If I could eat one of their reuben sandwiches every single day I would! It is an absolute must try!

Se
Review №87

Great coffee and a bomb grilled cheese. For sure some of the best coffee the Ham has to offer.

Ch
Review №88

Really nice place, very kind waiters, delicious food with good vegetables!! And excellent tea.I loved my lunch in Urban Standard!

Je
Review №89

We waited quite a long time for our food and were growing annoyed as we had somewhere to be. However, once the employees realized the mix up they were extremely apologetic, offering us a free pastry and insisting upon a full refund. Excellent customer service and the food and drinks were delicious as well!

Ka
Review №90

Good food, Great service and amiable staff. Atmosphere was warm and comfy seats. Well be come back again.

Ma
Review №91

I love their Cuban sandwich and deserts.

Za
Review №92

Tasty pastries and doughnuts, and good coffee. Light and healthy lunch options to go with it. It has a great vibe and is perfect for studying, reading, or just hanging out.

Ke
Review №93

Amazing coffee and breakfast, can’t recommend it enough!

Am
Review №94

Great food. I enjoy going here for lunch. Plus, they make the best chai latte Ive had in town.

Co
Review №95

I love it I get coffee there almost everyday

Mo
Review №96

Great coffee. Great food. Cute set up. Good location.

Ta
Review №97

The barista was really sweet and the cookie and coffee was great.

D
Review №98

1 star for good coffee+1 star for having a urban loft feel without looking like youre trying too hard+1 star for friendly customer service+2 stars for not being another starbucks-------Total : 5 stars

Ly
Review №99

Food took a long time, but other than that, it was a great place to hang out.

Dy
Review №100

Don’t go unless you have 30+ mins to wait on food. Doesn’t matter how many people in the building, I believe they were told to not start cooking food till 20 mins have passed.

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.5 Rating
  • Address:2320 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States
  • Site:http://www.urbanstandard.com/
  • Phone:+1 205-250-8200
Categories
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast restaurant
  • Cafe
  • Lunch restaurant
Working hours
  • Monday:7AM–5PM
  • Tuesday:7AM–5PM
  • Wednesday:7AM–5PM
  • Thursday:7AM–5PM
  • Friday:8AM–5PM
  • Saturday:Closed
  • Sunday:7AM–5PM
Service options
  • Outdoor seating:Yes
  • Takeout:Yes
  • Dine-in:No
Highlights
  • Live music:Yes
Offerings
  • Beer:Yes
  • Coffee:Yes
  • Comfort food:Yes
  • Happy hour food:Yes
  • Organic dishes:Yes
  • Prepared foods:Yes
  • Small plates:Yes
  • Vegetarian options:Yes
  • Wine:Yes
Dining options
  • Breakfast:Yes
  • Lunch:Yes
  • Catering:Yes
  • Dessert:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
  • Restroom:Yes
  • Wi-Fi:Yes
Crowd
  • Family-friendly:Yes
Payments
  • Cash-only:Yes
  • Debit cards:Yes
  • NFC mobile payments:Yes
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