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    Grain Theory

    4.4 (129 reviews)
    Open • 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Grain Theory Photos

    Business Info

    GRAIN THEORY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Grain Theory

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    Non bitter double expresso.
    Bryan D.

    Okay, on a whim, we stopped by after a Firefighter pension conference. The place is clean, relaxed, and the people are friendly. We ordered the buffalo chicken fries and the bratwurst. We also had the Wayfinder beer and a double express (yes, I had both). The fries were perfectly balanced with a touch of heat and a hint of blue cheese flavor. With the Wayfinder Pilsner, it was AMAZING! The bratwurst was traditional in its meat, with sweetness added to the onions. Mustard was mild but added the right amount of flavor. Altogether, I would eat here once a week if I lived in the community. Delicious and highly recommended!

    Double Scorpion IPA
    Alex A.

    Stopped by Grain Theory on our way back to Dallas. When you arrive there is plenty of the parking. Also just in case it is confusing, the brewery is upstairs. You'll want to take the stairs to the second floor and enter the brewery. When you walk in we were transported to a summer themed vibe with tropical themed items hanging from the ceiling and around the brewery. To order you'll need to walk up to the counter. I started by ordering a vanilla latte (which surprisingly, the coffee at grain theory is so good) which was excellent. After that, I returned to the bar to order a double scorpion ipa which had notes of stone fruit, pineapple and lychee. If you are in Abilene, you'll definitely want to make a stop here!

    Bratwurst
    Karen D.

    Food was really good. The bratwurst was full of flavor and the grain mustard along with the bun and sweet onions really brought it home. The order process was a bit clunky. It was our first time in and we weren't initially greeted but the great service when ordering made up for it. This place looks like a great place for groups to hang out and enjoy an evening.

    Patio
    Jennifer H.

    It's a hard to put this place into words! Excellent beer choices and eclectic food selection. Hint~ try the Let's Get Sauced - all the sauces and fries. Amazing!

    Communal table area
    Allison H.

    Wonderful spot downtown! I stopped in for lunch and to get some work done. I was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices on the food menu. The staff were friendly and helpful. I chose the small chicken salad with pulled chicken. I sat at one of the communal tables and started work. The buzzer provided went off quickly, and I was very happy with the portion size of the small salad. It was a family friendly dining experience with great views from the second floor of this historic building. It was lovely but not too loud. I had a great lunch and can't wait to get back to try the burgers! I saw some come out from the window and they looked fantastic. Parking was easy, and the overall experience was very positive. Great job Grain Theory, keep crushing it!

    Fall Grain Bowl and Honey Balsamic Sprouts
    LeeAnne W.

    We visited in September while enjoying a road trip through Abilene. We ordered and shared the fall grain bowl with added peri marinated chicken and chose the avocado dressing to top it; as well as the honey balsamic sprouts (brussels sprouts). Unfortunately, I do not remember which beer my husband ordered (probably a blonde). However, I ordered the Coppola Prosecco Rose and it paired nicely with the bowl and the sprouts. I am so grateful that I did not embarass myself by turning that bowl up and drinking that delicous sauce with amazing seasoning that dressed the sprouts. SO GOOD! My husband and I really enjoyed the abundance of vegetables in the grain bowl. It was very beautiful to behold and was a nice healthy choice. The peri marinated chicken was a nice addition. I was impressed by the coffee selections here and would consider returning and trying the coffee and all of the epic sounding sauces. There is a menu just for their sauces.! That is something I can get behind! You place your order at the counter and pick up your food when it is ready. The staff is friendly and helpful. I asked questions about suggested sauces for the bowl and the lady at the counter recommended the avocado goddess dressing and it did not disappoint.

    Order here
    Theresa E.

    In my humble opinion: Grain Theory June 17. 1:30 pm - party of two. Initially- not knowing about any elevator- the entrance is intimidating. There is an elevator. Therefore being handicap accessible. The room is set up sorta banquet hall style with long bench tables. Order at the "order here" sign. We ordered the space grass and the mellow zealot. Both were very yummy. My drink was amazing and very refreshing. His was strong and slightly bitter. We decided to sit at the bar and order a small loaded fries with bacon. ($10) they were delicious. Unfortunately, despite my want to come back for dinner, we didn't make it. Their food menu is limited, but looks amazing. FYI- they also offer a variety of board games for you as you visit. And the outdoor space is great too. Edit to add: they also serve fresh brewed coffee and gourmet teas.

    Freshly brewed beer and amazing waitstaff

    Steak and eggs oh my goodness Nashville hot chicken sandwich was amazing Pretzel bites with the special must could make and food 5 star

    Buffalo fries

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    3 years ago

    Good food, great atmosphere. Not a huge beer drinker, but their coffees/lattes are awesome and they also have a decent wine selection.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Wonderful atmosphere and great food and drinks. Needs to be on your list when you visit.

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    2 years ago

    Great breakfast tacos on the weekend! Always love their beers on tap. Great room for viewing games, love their porch seating.

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    4 years ago

    I had low expectations for Abilene, fortunately Grain Theory is there. My wife had a sore knee so we used the elevator.

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    4 years ago

    Nice space! Good for hangouts. Yummy food as well. The beer is decent and they also have wine. Overall definitely like the place!

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    4 years ago

    Super chill. Probably my favorite place to go to. Beer and tasty food. Not just bar food. It's a little out of the ordinary. Worth a try.

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    3 years ago

    Food and service was fantastic! Great variety and each item was great. My wife and I can't wait to come back

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    5 years ago

    Popped in to check it out and I'll definitely be back regularly, great food, seating, and an absolute banger Oktoberfest beer!

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    Great beer and food. Sat in the shady patio. We enjoyed the steak frites and the special gyro.

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    Page 3 of 4

    Ask the Community - Grain Theory

    Is there any place close/near by to park a longer rig (truck and camper)?

    There is a park south of there called Everman park. You may be able to park there. It’s a bit of a walk.

    Is there an elevator or anything to help the handicap?

    Yes. An elevator is available at the back of the building on 2nd St next to Roll Shack.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Everything went well. Marvelous atmosphere. Great service and even better food. We had the Prime…read moreRib Dip. Fabulous. More than enough to satiate a hearty appetite. Two dipping sauces. The only bad thing was that we were too full for a dessert. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, "We'll be back!" (Oh yeah, they had a super looking bar as well!)

    Cork and Pig is a trendy spot in Abilene near Abilene Christian University. It's one of those wood…read moreslat, metal sign restaurants that have no character besides being in a generic shopping center that pretends to be fancier than it is, so it just ends up looking like a cold soulless shell. The interior is that frigid, lifeless faux fancy industrial aesthetic that chills your senses and has no character of its own. The menu is what you expect. Nothing special or original just benign takes on traditional fare, like Blackened Ribeyes. We were In Abilene because my family gathered to watch my nephew's football debut at Hardin-Simmons University. My wife ordered the Caesar Salad and Truffle fries. The salad was limp, and the dressing was tangy like it was mixed with Dijon mustard Her Truffle Fries had an okay flavor. The dipping sauces were good but nothing great but the nail in the coffin was the fries were cold. Not cold as in sitting in the warmer cold, we're talking OUT ON THE COUNTER FOR 10 MINUTES OR MORE COLD!! I got the Waygu Smash burger. The burger patties, pickles, and everything inside were good but it was served on a fancy bun that was also cold. Not sitting on the counter for 10 minutes cold, we're talking RIGHT OUT OF THE FRIDGE COLD. Fancy buns should be lightly toasted to make the dense bread bearable. It totally failed my bun to juiciness ratio, and to top it off my fries were also COLD. My daughter got the Ahi Tuna Ponzo. I didn't taste it because I was busy eating my cold bun, cold fries. Plus my wife's Dijon Caesar Salad because she despises mustard. But she seemed to like it, that's why this review is three stars instead of two. She said it was "Slightly nutty and the vinaigrette is sharp and fresh without being overwhelming the tuna is seasoned nicely and it's a fatty cut not fishy at all." Listen, you could say "if it's cold send it back. Make them fix it." But the truth is that it doesn't matter. They sent out two batches of cold truffle fries (my brother in law also ordered some), my cold fries, a fancy bun that was right out of the fridge, and Caesar dressing spiked with Dijon mustard. Sending it back just would have made the experience worse, like being in a chilly hell where all the heat has been stolen so all food is served COLD.

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    4.2(17 reviews)
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    I'm always eager to try a new place in Abilene! I'll start by saying the service was spectacular…read moreand it was incredibly clean inside. Our waiter truly was so personable, attentive, and kind! The outdoor atmosphere is a huge plus here as well. Overall, I'd consider this place a good option for appetizers and drinks specifically. We tried their Bacon Gouda Mac & Cheese bites with the jalopeno ranch and creole sauce to dip in and it was delicious!! Their fried pickles were also delicious! I wasn't as impressed with our meals. I really wish that the Mac & cheese side had been the same as the inside of the Mac & cheese bites and our wraps were on the smaller & dryer side. Their grilled chicken on the other hand was great! This place absolutely has the potential to be 5 stars if the meals were to get a lil extra love to them.

    My wife and I tried this place on a Sunday afternoon. Is this a bar that happens to serve food, but…read moreits specialty is drinks? Or is this a restaurant with an immense bar? If the former is true, it makes sense that the food is not impressive. But if the latter is the case, then I assume there is a problem in the kitchen. If you see this place from the outside, your expectations rise since it is aesthetically pleasant. The inside could be more enchanting but needs consultation from an interior designer. There were two other families in the dining room, yet it took 42 minutes for our food to arrive at our table. How long should it take to open a mixed salad bag from HEB and put it on the plate? On the other hand, two things were fantastic: The meat over the salad (which was on point) and the chicken sandwich bread. I would try this place again because it is not overpriced, and we all deserve a second chance.

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