What Happened
Toast on Lenox, the popular Black-owned brunch spot with locations in Midtown and Buckhead, is at the center of an online debate this week — not over its food, but over politics.
A photo circulating on social media shows co-owner Tamara Young posing with Rick Jackson, the Republican nominee for Georgia governor, during a visit to the restaurant. Jackson, a billionaire businessman and founder of Jackson Healthcare, just won the GOP nomination, defeating Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. He’ll face Democratic nominee and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November’s general election. Jackson has drawn comparisons to Trump, previously saying he intends to stand up to “the radical left, the media, the bureaucracy and anyone else that tries to take advantage of Georgians.”
Once the photo made the rounds online, some social media users began calling for a boycott of the restaurant, with the conversation quickly shifting away from Toast’s signature lobster and sweet potato waffles and toward the political optics of the photo.
Toast on Lenox has built a loyal following since opening, celebrating its Midtown location’s third anniversary in April and its Buckhead location’s fifth in February. The spot has also attracted its share of celebrity visitors over the years, including Issa Rae, Tina Knowles, and Monaleo. Owners Young and Virgil Harper, who also serves as executive chef, additionally run Toast Noir Cafe in Buckhead, and Harper owns a Houston restaurant called Atlantic Ocean.
The Restaurant Responds
Following the backlash, Toast on Lenox posted a statement addressing the photo directly:
“Good evening Toast Family. We want to address a recent social media post that has generated conversation and concern.
Recently a political candidate visited Toast on Lenox as a guest. Like many other business owners, we often take photos with customers, public figures, entertainers and athletes, who visit our restaurant. The photo that was shared was simply a picture taken during his visit to our establishment.
Any statements made in that post were his own and do not represent our personal beliefs or the position of Toast on Lenox.
Toast on Lenox has always been a place where all people are welcomed with the same hospitality and respect. That commitment to first-class service has never changed.
As Black entrepreneurs, we have worked tirelessly to build a business that creates jobs, serves our community, and brings people together through great food and genuine hospitality. Our focus has always been on serving our guests and we will continue in this regard.
We understand why some people were concerned after seeing the post, and we truly appreciate those who reached out directly to ask questions rather than make assumptions.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Toast on Lenox over the years. We remain committed to serving every guest with the same excellence, respect, and hospitality that our restaurant has always stood for.
With gratitude,
Tamara Young and Virgil Harper
Owners, Toast on Lenox”
The Bigger Conversation
This isn’t the first time an Atlanta restaurant on Lenox Road has found itself at the center of a boycott debate. Back in 2018, the now-closed Houston’s on Lenox faced calls for a boycott from T.I. and Killer Mike after a customer alleged she and her party were denied a table without reason.
This time, though, the controversy isn’t about service — it’s about who a business owner chooses to welcome and photograph, and whether that carries a political statement of its own. Supporters of Toast on Lenox argue that restaurant owners shouldn’t be expected to vet or endorse the politics of every guest who walks through the door. Critics argue that a warm photo op with a political figure — regardless of who requests it — sends a message, especially given the current political climate.
Tell Us What You Think
Do you think Toast on Lenox deserves the backlash it’s getting, or is this an overreaction to a simple photo with a customer? Should Black-owned businesses be held to a different standard when it comes to who they’re seen with publicly?
Vote in the comments: Are you boycotting Toast on Lenox, or do you think the restaurant handled this the right way?
