The Abbey

Been visiting this establishment for the past 2 years and Ive had no complaints. They pour a solid pint of Guinness and are one of the few places that have their kitchen open until 1:30 AM. I hope one day they also add dessert to their menu. My favorites are the grilled cheese and spicy tomato bisque. Incredible! Shredded Brussel sprouts are something that I didn’t know existed until I tried it out here. That was pleasant surprise in how well it tastes. If you ever need a small bite with your drink then you can’t go wrong with their truffle fries. Definitely recommend!

I’ve been here twice and both times were pleasant. Staff was friendly. They have a unique menu with a lot of variety, the food is mostly a classy/upscale on classic items. The second time my GF and I stopped in just for cocktails and a snack of truffle fries and I recommend them. The also have a bunch of interesting cocktails on the menu to try. Sat outside once and it was a nice spot for people watching.

Decent little pub spot in Brookline. Varied menu and great servers. Burger was good.

Very cute outdoor seating. I LOOOVE the fries here. The food combinations are pretty interesting and executed well. The croquettes and arancini are TINY but interesting taste. The spicy tomato bisque had just enough spice to be spicy to me (I can't handle spice). The gnocchi I had last time was good.

I have been coming here for years and was devastated by our experience the other night on 5/16. We had ordered food and were hanging out at the bar. We asked the bartender to please check on the food after 45 minutes. He then looked at the computer and began to argue with me that it was only 40 minutes. I asked him if that made a difference, and then he immediately got an attitude with me and escalated things. He then told us we could leave, and refused to have a manager handle the issue or speak with us like adults. After sticking it to us about the 5 minute difference of wait time, he refused to give his name knowing how rude he had been. I would have rather resolved the issue being a long-time customer who works in the service industry. I have nothing but respect for hardworking staff who take care of their people. The way the bar tender brushed us off and disregarded us was beyond rude. After 5 years of supporting this establishment (that has really gone downhill over the past year), I don't recommend anyone waste their time or money here. I genuinely think this staff member wanted to scare off customers, and it worked!

Wonderful little place in beautiful Brookline. I have been here a few times several years ago. Came back here today with my family and it brought back many great memories. The food was as delicious as I remembered — fresh ingredients, tasty, well presented. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is clean and has a very pleasant ambience. We ordered the bison bolognese, the steak and fries, Japanese chicken dumplings and chicken wings. All yummy! We will definitely come back next time we’re in town.

Delicious food and drinks, very nice staff, cozy space, and pleasant vibes. Sautéed mussels were especially good. On the pricy side, but good for a night out. Only odd thing is that they don't serve dessert, but that's fine. Would go again.

Very chill vibs. The server/bartender was casual and welcoming. Our first time there. Just watching the interaction between him and the regulars (knew their order, names, etc) made it very inviting. We ordered the bison bolognese, truffle fries, and burger. Bolognese hit the spot and the garlic mayo dip was so good! (Recommend) Personally didn't try the burger, but my spouse liked it.

Excellent food and service...My son had a cheddar burger cooked to perfection ... delish I had mussels OMG the sauce they were in was amazing ... toasted bread to dip ... I'll be back

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.

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.

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.

Cozy bar vibe, decent amount of seating inside and a nice selection of outdoor seating. It was a little crammed at the bar, but not too bad. Service was quick, I had a beer in my hand about a minute after sitting down and my food came out in about 15 minutes too. I ordered the chicken meatloaf sandwich, which was an interesting twist on a classic. The pickles on the sandwich were fantastic. The fries were pretty standard for what you would expect at a pub.

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 :)

This review is for the Brookline location of The Abbey. The Abbey doesn't do reservations or call ahead. We showed up around 6:00ish on a Saturday night and were told there was a 20 - 30 minute wait. We were welcome to sit at the bar, but there was no place for four people to sit together, so we lurked near the door and chatted, ducked customers walking in and out and staff taking orders, running food and clearing plates. It's a small space when all the tables are full and people are a few deep at the bar, but that just added to the ambiance. I was seated facing the wall so I didn't see quite how busy it got, but the noise was at "lively" level. We could still have a conversation but needed to speak up to be heard across the table. We were able to snag a table after about 30 minutes. The basics first: The drinks, food and service were fantastic! This is our second time here, the first being ages ago when they had the covered tables outside early in the pandemic. I've been wanting to come back forever, but don't usually get to this part of Brookline. I need to change that or head to Cambridge too! I started with a winter sangria (red wine, brandy, spiced rum, apricot and allspice) that was delicious. They have a pretty extensive gluten free menu, which is nice. My friend wanted the GF pasta Bolognese, but she is dairy free to so that was not an option. We ordered two of the slow-braised short rib "French dip" egg rolls with gruyere, horseradish aioli, and red wine demi for the table. Loved this! I never finish apps and I inhaled this. I was fine with that, I could just put my main in a take home container. We also got the black kale & Brussels sprouts salad, avocado, pepitas, Crispy bacon, and a fried duck egg. Even if you think you don't like kale and or Brussels sprouts, get this dish! I got the "Thanksgiving" panini (house roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, cheddar, arugula, cranberry aioli, hand-cut fries). It was delicious and can't wait for the leftovers. The hanger steak frites came topped with watercress and a madeira sauce. It was the most tender steak that I've ever had. For sides my friends also ordered shredded Brussels sprouts and pan roasted cauliflower with capers and pecorino as sides. Not to be missed are the hand cut fries that are the embodiment of French fries perfection. They are a must order, either plain or with truffles and cheese. Fried potato nirvana! As I said, the place was packed, but service was attentive and Ty (sp?), our server made sure allergy info was provided to the kitchen. He made great suggestions for items to try. The Brookline location does not serve dessert (sad panda) but the Cambridge location does. Good to note for next time! Did I mention that the kitchen is open until 1:30 AM every night? Perfect for late night bites.

The Abbey was great! We went here for apps before a game we were going to. Their short rib egg roles were very creative and yummy. The pretzels weren't homemade so I'd say they were the least exciting. The mushroom soup was the star, amazing and served piping hot. Their spicy margarita was good and everything came out timely. The only seat available was right outside the kitchen on some bar stools but it was awesome to watch their chef cook.

too much cheese not enough skrimp stinky guy next to us . More characters ......... shrimps is bugs

I've had some very good dinners here, but I was disappointed when I went for lunch. I ordered a salad; my companion ordered the same salad with salmon. Both salads came with salmon. I ordered a different salad dressing, but my salad came without dressing and I had to ask again. The salad was mediocre. Service was poor. Prices are on the high side.

Really good vibes in this Brookline Mainstay the dishes all popped with flavor and the Charring was sublime. The sauces and dips were expertly made and the food was cooked to perfection. I loved everything about this place the service was the best shout out to Julie (our server) she is the bomb. Steak frittes chared and juicy with a madeira sauce the wings were plump but cooked perfectly with an awesome sauce combination and the mussels were excellent tasted really clean not muddy with a a great garlic butter and wine sauce. My son ordered some short rib dumplings which were very good and definitely a novelty the sauce that accompanied them was awesome but subtle. Come see them if you haven't already and... Thank me later.

We walked in without a reservation and no fussing, we were sat down right away. Water appeared at the table along with menus. Drink order taken and then appetizers. We ordered two local green salads -- totally delicious and a perfect portion. We both ordered the pappardelle -- perfectly cooked and seasoned. Again fast and perfect portions. The service was some of the best as we may have had 8 different people come by to move things along. Was a perfect Sunday evening meal.

My friends and I came on Friday night at about 6pm and were able to get seated outdoors immediately. We ordered the shishito peppers, chicken wings with ranch, steamed mussels, truffle fries, rangoons, and gnocchi. The mussels were overcooked as they shrunk in size and tasted tougher than they should. It was honestly lacking flavor too. I did enjoy the bread that came with it though, but I am just biased to bread. The chicken wings were alright; they were relatively juicy, but overwhelming with sauce draped all over it. The rangoons were yummy, but the portions are way too small for what you are paying for. The truffle fries were too thin for my liking and overly fried. They were so hard that when you stab them with a fork, the inside is completely hollow and dry. The truffle taste being prominent was probably the only redeeming factor. The gnocchi were the best thing we ordered from here. I would've gobbled up this entire dish on my own if we were not doing family style. It had the perfect amount of flavor and texture, and I enjoyed every part of it including the cherry tomatoes, peas, etc. I also enjoyed their drinks. Unfortunately, they were out of the drink of the day, so I ordered something else off their cocktail menu. Overall, the portions are way too small at this restaurant for me to end up leaving full, but I would recommend coming here for small bites and the drinks. The cocktails made up for the night as I did greatly enjoy both the taste and appearance. It is nice that they rotate their menu every now and then to keep things fresh.

Wanted to update my review ! We still only get takeout. My husband and I order from here often and when we do, we either both get the grilled chicken sandwich, which is delicious (I love the toasted brioche and the bacon). Or he gets the pressed Italian (his favorite) and I get the tomato soup. Sometimes with grilled cheese. Sometimes just grilled bread. I don't have a stomach (not an expression. It's cancer's fault) so the grilled cheese is delicious but a bit much. The soup though is delicious. Has a great kick to it. It survives my walk home. I only live a few blocks away but they package it well for my walk. Very kind service. Love coming here.

Very good! So nice to be able to go to a good restaurant with gluten free options that aren't a salad. Separate gluten free menu, which made me very confident that the food would be safe. Great options available and good drinks. The restaurant can be a bit cramped, especially around the bar. But, the servers were great and moved us to a different table when it became available. Only other drawback was that it was more expensive.

Good food, good service, fair prices, convenient parking. Highly recommended. We'll be back!

Went here with a few coworkers after working at the hospital this past Sunday night. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. I had had a pretty shitty day at work, so my my expectations were very low. However, I had such a fantastic experience here. Not only was the food ACTUALLY really yummy, the service was impeccable!!! We sat at the bar, so I'm not sure if that made a difference ... but it was great. The staff was friendly and attentive. No cup left empty ... unless by choice. It's always nice to come across a place with good customer service and people working hard at their jobs. They really made my night. As for the food, it wasn't just bar food. It tasted really thought out and not basic. Prices were reasonable too. I'll definitely go back!!!

Guys killed it! Came in at 1130pm after a difficult shift at work. Met with a hearty hello and service immediately. Fresh hot made to order delicious food at 1130... not lying! It will be my late night go to every time when I'm in the area.

Casual and relax ambient. Food choice is not too much but all plates are classic. Service is a little slow but very polite.

The ambiance of this place is wonderful, the perfect level of dimly lit while still being able to see the menus and your date. Exposed brick wall behind the bar, lovely hardwood, overall very warm and cozy. The best thing we ate were the short rib dumplings with a red wine demi dipping sauce (of course i was too hungry to take a photo). They came four perfectly fried dumplings to an order, were packed with flavor, and the horseradish creme was not overpowering, which I feared. They are a must have! Though the fish was cooked flawlessly, I can't say I'd recommend the cod dish. It lacked balance, the dish was so heavy and rich, screaming for a vegetable or at least some acid. I looked forward to the scallion potato pancake, however it lacked flavor and seasoning. My partner loved the sandwich and recommends it, should it be available as a special in the future. The drinks were refreshing and well balanced, will definitely be returning at least to cocktail and have those dumplings again!

The specials are worth getting always. The food is delicious and drinks are good. ambience is nice and great for dates. After coming here about a dozen times I've never had an issue with their service and they're the only ones who are open and still serve great food past midnight. They get a 6/5 stars.

Stumbled upon this place the other day and enjoyed a lovely meal. I ordered the special which was a well-cooked roasted chicken served with an especially yummy sauce and crispy onions. The potatoes and green beans that came along with the dish were equally as appetizing. The rest of my party ordered the Cuban sandwiches which they all enjoyed. They upgraded their side of fries to truffle fries which I stole plenty of (they were so delicious, especially with the aioli sauce). The cocktails were all great and our server had an amazing presence (I wish I could remember is name) - would definitely love to come back !!!

Very good, big serving sizes, and they serve food until pretty late. I ordered the Thanksgiving panini. I'm pretty sure they forgot the cranberry sauce but I didn't get a chance to ask them to fix it, as they were extremely busy and we were sitting at the bar. The servers were not very attentive, but I understand they were busy as it was a Saturday night. I would go back for the food!

Now I've been here a couple of times but I'm not sure what was different this time but... WOW. I was so hungry late last night and I'm usually disappointed by my options late at night on a weekday... I found the Abbey and wasn't aware it was open until 1:30am daily (which is amazing cause I eat late all the time and there's very few options). I came in when I was passing by with a friend. I ordered everything that sounded good but the taste went beyond expectations. From the smells of the kitchen I knew it would be good but I had no idea it would be THIS good. Every bite was incredible. Above the amazing food the atmosphere is very intimate and inviting. The bartender/server we had was incredibly attentive and most of all did everything that was asked of him and didn't forget one thing (which is rare for me cause I can be a complicated orderer). I want to come back already but I would highly recommend! As I mentioned I haven't been over in a while so I forgot how the drinks were but if it's even half as good as the food quality... I trust those won't disappoint either. Thanks for everything!

Cozy and inviting atmosphere, excellent cocktails, food that is consistently superb, plus friendly and attentive staff. This place never disappoints.

Love the food and atmosphere, great mixed drinks. I've banned myself though because I got drunk and hit on a waiter, who was not interested, and I am mortified.

Ron is the man! Go visit Ron! This place has the best bolognese too. Love that they do late night food, always a great option if you're in the area.

I might be wrong for this review, but I have one reason and one reason only for 5stars. Siracha Deviled Eggs. I couldn't care less of a donkeys dick with anything else on that menu. I will only order that one thing and boy does it slap. People are nice too I guess (hits the ambiance clause?). Good shit, don't take it off.

Staff is so nice. Love the outdoor seating. Inside is good ambiance. Burgers are good. Food is alright, not amazing. But decent.

Slow service. Food not cooked as I requested. Shaved Brussels sprouts tasted like cardboard. Beer was good. With all the restaurant choices in this neighborhood, go elsewhere.

Service was okay.. maybe it's just Boston service but yeah. I sat outside. I felt a tingling sensation, look down, and bam, ants biting me. At least they weren't fire ants. I ordered the bison bolognese. It was good. A little bit of a kick. Warm, chewy pasta. A good hearty portion. I thought finally, something yummy to eat in Brookline. It started thundering/lightning and everyone on the patio was asked to leave. I was only 20% in and had to rush to eat. Next time, I think I'll just order TOGO

The food here was so delicious! I savored every bite of the bison bolognese. Tender meat, and just the right amount of sauce. Pasta was also cooked to perfection. I took some of my partners fries and also loved them.

My favorite spot in Brookline. I've been coming here for years. The food, service and atmosphere are always fantastic. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. These guys are amazing at what they do.

Big fan of coming to this place and sitting at the table that has a view of the kitchen. Very cool to watch them prepare the food. The wait staff is always super pleasant and they have pretty tasty cocktails. I'll typically get the Caesar salad with chicken, Brussel sprouts, wings, or cauliflower and they never disappoint!

My favorite restaurant in Brookline. And I love the Brookline restaurant scene. You can't beat the staff here! The bartenders feel like family, and I enjoy the company of the locals and frequent visitors from surrounding communities.

This place is small inside, yet offers outside dining out on the sidewalk with a covered area. The cocktails are spot on delicious and intoxicating, as they should be. The food is outstanding! The spicy tomato bisque was amazing and paired well with the grilled cheese. Duh! The truffle fries with roasted garlic mayo are amazingly tasty. Let's not forget the siracha deviled eggs with bacon, simply divine. Love this place!

Great neighborhood restaurant. Good food and nice people. Comfortable ambiance. Not too noisy.

Great burgers!!! Great and friendly service! We sat outside and was refreshing. We noticed the restaurant to be packed this particular night so we preferred outside. However that said it's a rustic bar atmosphere.

Years later, I finally returned to The Abbey, and we loved it. Super-friendly servers! Great food -- burger, chicken and white bean soup, a broccoli salad with salmon. And a fun, bustling atmosphere. Loved it!

The Abbey is my absolute favorite neighborhood spot. Delicious food, great drinks, amazing service!

The food was great and very tasty all around. Beer and Wine also great. Service was amazing very friendly and easy to talk to. The atmosphere was very unique and chill, it's dimly lit at night and has a very cool kitchen view and nice music in the back ground.

Food was decent, a bit pricey for what you're getting. Good service, good atmosphere. Overall could see myself returning but definitely not rushing back.

Bison Bolognese. Review over. Just kidding! But for real - get the Bison Bolognese. It is so yummy and fresh. I've gotten it several times (and gone out of my way to do so) and recently brought my boyfriend in to try it too. We decided to get the deviled eggs and split the bolognese. They brought it out already portioned in half and looking (and tasting) delicious! Our waitress, Emily, was a dream. If I'm honest (which... obvi), the woman who initially sat us and took our drink orders was having a day. We walked into a packed house and told her we would wait for a table. She told us approximately how long it would be (we were next to be seated) and asked if we wanted drinks in the meantime. Literally 2 minutes later, she did the same thing. We were the only ones standing there. And we had the same conversation in the same order. It was like a glitch in the mainframe of her mind. Later, she asked if we wanted water and never brought it. In swooped Emily - goddess and savior! She took care of us the rest of the night and was attentive, helpful and very pleasant. Give that woman a raise! Overall, the deviled eggs were good - could have used a bit more spice. Bolognese was amaze-balls and we got truffle fries thrown in and it's like I died and went to truffle fry heaven. Perfect fries. Perfect flavor. I want them in my belly again. The vibe is kind of dark pub with (way) better food, good drinks and lots of beer options. Check it out!

UPD; I have been here many times since. Its a great option for lunch and dinner, not my favorite among the local eateries but a solid 4. Since they do not take reservations, its a sure place to get a table even on a busy night.

Very good food . Love the indoor and outdoor seating atmosphere. Bar area is nice too for watching a game . The restaurant has nice wall art . I highly recommend the burger it was well cooked and seasoned.

Decent food & drinks, although I wish they had more vegetarian options. Good casual spot, my favorite item on the menu are the truffle fries!

Tried the Abbey for the first time after seeing good reviews. I had the grilled chicken sandwich and got food poisoning, up all night and had to call out of work the next day. My wife got the burger medium well, after seeing a neighbor table have a very pink burger. Her burger came out black on the outside and very pink from the black crust to the center. She said all she could taste was the charred part. I never make yelp reviews, but I have no idea how this place is so well reviewed.

I came here for dinner with a few friends. The place was small but had a few outdoor seatings. Service was great. We started with truffle fries, which I thought was okay but my friends loved it. I couldn't taste the truffle. We also had the mussels with coconut curry, it was not spicy at all the curry flavor was mild. It was my favorite appetizer we ordered, I highly recommend. We also ordered Brussels sprouts which was shaved, I thought it was okay. If shaved I want more flavor but it was pretty bland. For entree I had the homemade spinach gnocchi. It was really good with the tomatoes. Be careful cause inside the tomatoes is hot. I love the amount of cheese they give you, perfect when you mix it up a bit before eating. Definitely will order the gnocchi again

I have been coming to The Abbey since before the pandemic even began, like 2018. I'm a very randomly impulsive Yelp user so I haven't reviewed them even though I'm here like 3x a month. They brought back the steak frites they removed from the menu before the pandemic, and now I can come here 6x a month. I love everything about the abbey Brookline. I've been a restaurant geek all my adult life and I have nothing but love for the abbey and their excellent staff especially Ron and Julie. (Literally their entire staff is fantastic) STEAK FRITES ARE BACK!!! (Please add more Madeira sauce to the plate though, and the plate used to be large and round, so the fries would be soaked by end of dinner, current plate is too narrow, lost some fries to the table in my excitement!).