I purchased this toaster based on recent positive reviews but unfortunately I ended up returning it due to poor performance. While I liked the unique design, I found that the toaster slots are not wide enough to accomodate certain brands of bread and that the toaster does not toast evenly. Increasing the heat setting only burns one side while leaving the other side relatively untoasted. On occasion, the toaster will shoot the toast into the air and onto the floor. While definitely a crowd pleaser for kids, you may risk wasting a lot of bread.

While this toaster has an extra set of levers (in the middle of the front panel) to push up small pieces of bread, there may be an initial learning curve for this toaster, especially for those that are used to the classic toaster design.

The bagel feature works well and doesn't overly burn or unevenly toast one side more than the other. Like other reviewers have mentioned, this toaster is wide so ample counter space is necessary.

This toaster is HUGE! Be prepared to make lots of room on your counter. However, it is worth it. We tried several others. Never knew a toaster could be such a complicated purchase. This one is simple to use. Love the lifters and the english muffins actually get toasted perfectly (crispy) on the first try. Had to toast them twice on the highest setting to get them crispy with our old toaster. The cuisinart we tried from Costco made stripes on the toast ranging from untoasted to brown to burnt, even on the low setting.

We've had this toaster for a year now and it gets used DAILY for bagels, toast, Eggo waffles, etc. The design is great and it never disappoints EXCEPT with frozen french toast but I don't think that stuff toasts very well to begin with because it's so thick in the middle: exactly where we have trouble. Everything else toasts even and beautiful, ESPECIALLY BAGELS and EGGO WAFFLES!!

On a side note: frozen pancakes require warming in the microwave per their instructions. I'm not sure why frozen french toast doesn't require the same thing.

This Avante 4-slice toaster is well worth the money. The counter size is just right. The toaster is slanted and with the lift out feature no burned fingers.

A good product. Easy to use and clean. Produces reproducible results time after time. Easily adapts to different type/sizes of bread, rolls, and bagels. Highly recommended.