A standard toaster is definitely the way to go if you are looking for evenly toasted toast. A toaster oven just can’t handle the job, producing uneven results with lines across the bread. So if it is excellent toast you are after, check out these models. I focused on 4 slice toasters because all of these models allow you to just toast two slices if you need to but then you have the capacity to make more toast if necessary. Some of these toasters come in 2-slice models.
Features to look for include wide slots for bagels, a bagel function that toasts one side and warms the other, a variety of thermostat controls, the ability to manually lift the toast higher if necessary, and easy clean up. Stylishness comes into play if you are going to leave your toaster on the counter so check out some of the cool, retro designs available. Be aware that some of these toasters are quite large so they will consume a fair amount of counter space.