The Abbey

Honestly this place was great. Went for a late dinner with friends. Had to wait about 20mins before being sat but given how busy everything else was that is really good. We tried a plethora of options including the deviled eggs, fries, croquets, a couple burgers, and two salads. The menu changes somewhat regularly so check online for the most up to date options. Honestly one of the best salads I've had in a while. They have a great beer/cocktail selection as well. Staff was super friendly. Just a really cool place. Can't wait to go back.

I've known about this place my whole life, but decided to give it a try for the first time last weekend. We walked inside, and I instantly was hit with a semi-odd smell. It wasn't bad per se, but prevalent. It smelled a bit smokey as in smoked meat/cheese. We were seated right away. The restaurant is quite small, with a few tables and bar, but plentiful in outdoor seating. We started with water, which tasted good. Then my mom ordered a salmon salad, which she said was very tasty and fresh. The fish was also not very fishy (haha) which was a good sign. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, it was so so. The chicken was flavorful and juicy, but it was an interesting combination with the smoked Gouda, not one I'd choose again. I feel like the Gouda overpowered the rest of the sandwich. It would have been tastier with a more neutral cheese like Swiss or Pepper Jack, as well as some avocado which I believe used to come on the sandwich but was a removed topping as of late. I also wasn't a huge fan of the sesame bun, and it was kind of burnt on my sandwich. I think this sandwich has a lot of potential, but it didn't really hit my fancy. The fries however, were absolutely delicious. Especially with the truffle & garlic mayo combo. Mmmm!Additionally, while the service was good, I had a bit of an upset stomach eating here. I think the smokiness of the sandwich, and the cheese, was a bit hard to digest. I read a previous review that said the same about this sandwich. I would recommend sticking to the salads, they are really fantastic.

We are a late lunch/early dinner here about a week ago, and enjoyed it. We were able to get a table immediately and without a reservation.Robin was taking care of us as our waitress and did a great job!As for the food, it was delicious! Five stars for both the mussels as well as pan seared cod. Both were delicious!!The inside of the restaurant had a good setup too.We would come back!

Fresh food for lunch, both devil eggs and Brussels were tasty and I paid $17; service was also good.

Located right on Beacon Street in Brookline makes it very easy to walk to, take the bus, train, or park at a street meter. The inside is small but cozy. Not too big, but not too small either. The space seems like it could be fun at night to grab a drink here with some friends. I definitely want to check it again out at dinner and also after dinnertime. I came for lunch and got the Thanksgiving Panini and there was definitely crunch in every bite, but it was a little messy to eat. It comes with thick slices of turkey, topped with cranberry, stuffing, melted cheese, and arugula. It felt more like turkey and stuffing with cheese. I wasn't getting the full Thanksgiving effect in every bite. The fries were good, but nothing special. If you're into thin stringy fries then this is your place. The menu itself is pretty adventurous so it's worth mentioning that the options lean more towards an acquired taste when you come here.

Our party of four had a leisurely lunch at the Abbey on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Named for an Irish theatre, it is one of three restaurants with outdoor seating, right in a row. Our dog also enjoyed joining the meal. The waiter kindly brought out water with ice cubes for her to drink, much needed as the weather warmed up.My wife and her college roommate spent a summer in Brookline 49 years ago. They wanted to return to take a look at their old apartment. It was still there. Then we were looking for a place to eat. I consulted Yelp. People said it was a good choice. So credit this social media platform. I return the favor with this posting.We shared family style. I was able to sample all four dishes. That would be, for me, the cod over a scallion potato pancake; shishito peppers; calamari over arugula salad; and French fries that accompanied a turkey panini (I did not partake of the sandwich itself). Here are notes. The cod was flaky but firm, served in its own miniature cast iron pan. Although I am not a fan of cod, because it is bland, this had enough meaty texture to be satisfying, which I had predicted based on the description. The pancake was filling, a thick patty, not at all like a Chinese scallion pancake, but a potato pancake. It was served with a cream sauce. The shishito peppers had an aioli drizzled on each piece. You could ask for it without, no doubt. The calamari was battered well, which is to say lightly but thoroughly. The French fries were exemplary. Everyone ate until they could not consume further. The waiter was gracious. He mentioned he had a dog who was a spitting image of ours (what is the origin of that phrase, spitting image?), who passed away a year ago. For a casual place in a suburban setting, this establishment would be as good as it gets.

The Abbey was an easy going place to grab a drink and some good food (the deviled eggs with crispy shallot were worth getting a second order). The bartender was friendly and offered some great beer recommendations. We went mid-evening in the middle of the week. It wasn't overly crowded but was steadily busy. The noise wasn't too bad after one table sitting behind us had left.

This is such a cute cozy spot! It's small but not crammed and the space has a lot of charm to it. It also smells delicious inside!The food was good, but didn't really live up to my expectations. I was excited to try the bison bolognese after reading the rave reviews, but the bison flavor wasn't very present and the sauce was more carroty than tomato-y red. The balsamic drizzle was an interesting (yet welcome) touch, but I wouldn't say the dish was worth $27. I so badly wanted the thanksgiving panini to be well rounded in flavor, but it really lacked. It could have used a LOT more cranberry and arugula, and the turkey was a bit bland. I will say the crunch factor was great and they were generous with the amount of meat, but again, there wasn't enough going on. The truffle fries were fine, a bit too thin for my liking. Overall, I would say the charm and the unique menu would have me coming back. It could have just been an off day today, but there is real potential here :)

kale salad was lovely and my friends who got sandwiches really enjoyed. they have great fries here as well! service was very friendly. my only request is more comfortable outdoor seating chairs but i enjoyed my experience overall!!

Been going to The Abbey for years and it's ALWAYS great. The service is top notch, the drink menu is extensive, and the food is delicious. I think it's the best burger in Washington Square/Cleveland Circle.You HAVE to try the kale and brussels sprout salad with a duck egg, bacon and avocado. It's my favorite salad hands down. I'm also a huge fan of the bison bolognese and cuban panini. You really can't go wrong here -- it's some of the best elevated bar food in the area.