I love the Abbey! Cute atmosphere, great location, and delicious food. It's definitely somewhere that I like to try a few different appetizers instead of an entree, but it's difficult because everything looks so delicious and the menu changes a lot. The servers are very attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. They have a great beer selection and delicious cocktails. I love the deviled eggs and the lamb lollipops. The bison bolognese is one of their specialties and it's delicious with a great kick to it. They're also open late night! I don't live in the area so haven't taken advantage of that, but it's great to know that they serve the full dinner menu until 1:30 AM. I hope to take advantage of that some time! read more

The food was good, if a bit salty. Service was good when we got it, as it was clear they were understaffed with bartender running around trying to do many things at once. They had a long wait which most likely could be solved with an extra server who could ensure people don't sit around for 15+ minutes waiting for their bill. I'd come back to this location on a less busy than a weekend day. read more

Pro tip: If you sit on the bar stools that face the kitchen when it's late, the cook will treat you to left over fries and other tasty treats if you ask nicely. :) They have a couple of seats outside, but they're just on the sidewalk. Also, the seats aren't very comfortable. Sit inside by the window if you want to people watch. This is a great place for drinks, especially if you're a whiskey and scotch drinker. The kitchen is open late, until 1 AM I believe. The food is fantastic, especially the small plates. read more

I can't give enough high praise to this place! It's a go to for dates or dinner with friends. It can get a little noisy, but the food is delicious and the service great. The staff are friendly & well versed on the menu, able to answer any questions. My go to's are the burger (with truffle fries of course), the bison Bolognese, & the chicken. Highly recommend read more

3.5 stars. leaving 4 just doesn't sit well with me. The biggest problem I have with the Abbey is that everything seems to be just a little pricier than I would like. Food and drinks are on par with fare you would find downtown venturing into Back Bay and the financial district, but the location and decor fall a bit short, hence my uneasiness over the price tag to star ratio. As others have commented, Bison Bolognese. enough said. The lamb lolipops are darling, though i am a sucker for anything that comes with blue cheese. Truffle fries to finish, and you've got yourself a meal. Be prepared to wait a while for a table or a seat at the bar. This venue is small and seems to be the place to be in Washington square both on week nights and evenings. edit--came here last night and remembered why this place irritates me to no end. Packed as hell and TWO 6 person booth/tables have only 2 asses in them. And a 4 top that can easily be split into two 2 tops is reserved for a couple of 2. are you F-ing kidding me?! get it together. I was this close to just asking one of the couples at a 6 top if they wouldnt mind if my date and i sat on the opposite corner....ridic. read more

The Abbey is a cozy place to get dinner or drinks in Washington Square. Their menu has an assortment of small plates, appetizers and entrees that are creative and delicious. I have been there during the summer, where we were able to enjoy truffle fries and rose on the patio. I have also been there in the winter, and stayed cozy at the table by the kitchen where we got to watch the chefs cook up specialties such as the bolognese, mussels and steak frites. I always have a hard time deciding what to order because there are so many appealing options, but last time I went with the shrimp and grits and loved every bite. The service is always excellent and their wine and beer list is fabulous. I recommend heading over to the Abbey and securing a table on the patio if the weather is nice, or belly up to the bar, because you are going to want to stay for a while. read more

The Abbey has a delicious menu and a delightful staff. We sat outside because the inside was busy and as soon as a table opened up they let us in! It was well lit and had good ambiance. I had the roasted cod - it flaked right off and I ate every single piece on my plate. The plating design was elegant. The drinks weren't skimpy and overall it's definitely a great place for a dinner date! read more

I really wanted to love this place but it just didn't do it for me. I've given it 3 tries and I have to say it's only a 3 star joint. Good things: Awesome service - Friendly, fast. I think they must share tips there because there are always different faces at your table. LOVE the vibe. It's really dark and chill. The crowd is typically in late 20s to mid 30s. Great drink list. They have a lot of local micro brews and a very hefty wine list. Bad things: Food. It's just underwhelming. I've tried the steak frites, the potato bisque, 2 different pizzas, the mussels and the cod fritters. None of these items were that good. I will give them credit because they do have a pretty good burger and I did like their sausage spring roll. Unfortunately a couple of good items on the menu isn't going to push this place over the 3 star hump. Oh, and no dessert. I would definitely go back for a drink and maybe once more to try the lunch entrees. Kind of hoping they are just having some menu growing pains. Sob...a little sad about this one but haven't written it off just yet. read more

I was treated to a late lunch here after my technologically-challenged roommate decided to get a smartphone and needed some serious tutelage. We struck a bargain- lunch for tech support/instruction. As I live in Washington Square, I had walked by the place while it was under construction numerous times. One of the perks of living where I do is that there is a fairly decent selection of restaurants/bars, and I was more than happy to see one that was even closer to walking (or stumbling, as the case may be) distance. I had a (bunless) burger and fries that my roommate paid all of ten dollars for. The burger was delicious, as were the fries. My roommate really enjoyed her panini with greens. The waiter/bartender was very pleasant and the service was prompt. The place was small yet nicely decorated, but not any more so than any of the other pubs in the area. One other- and very important- thing is that the bar stocks a gluten-free beer (Redbridge). This in itself will tempt me into the place at night sooner or later, no doubt. read more

One of the greatest compliments a restaurant can get is when restauranteurs or chefs make it their hometown spot after their shift. Its a question I ask all the time and it was at first surprising how many people tell me their favorite spot is the Abbey. Only been here a few times so far, so i'm not an authority on the place, but everything about it is Solid. Good food menu and portions that are served late, great prices, great drink list for your particular taste, and its in a good section of town, which is important, because this place gets packed sometimes and you need to find somewhere else to go. Publik House or Washington Tavern make awesome alternates. read more

Oh Abbey... My first impression of you wasn't the most pleasant. Overcrowded with Brookline-ites trying to squeeze in to one of the newer spots around Washington Square. Fighting for a corner of the bar while we waited for our table made it feel more like I was on the T than a restaurant. We were told the wait would be 20 minutes for a table - it was closer to 40 minutes. Oh, Abbey, I nearly gave up on you... Once we got seated, things turned around quickly. I'm sure finishing a beer didn't hurt either. We were waited on by the sweetest, most attentive waitress. She allowed us to sample different wines before ordering. Her recommendations for wines (despite stating she wasn't a wine person) and food was spot on. For food, we started with the spring rolls (made with sausage) and a bowl of duck confit soup. Very tasty - the soup had flavors influenced by Asian cuisine. For the main course, my fiancee went with the burger (topped with blue cheese), I went with the coq-au-vin. The burger was delicious - very good beef. I'm usually reluctant to order chicken when I go out (seeing how it's typically what I'll eat at home), but the coq-au-vin over pappardelle pasta was tender and flavorful. Her burger paired well with the Elements Cabernet Sauvignon, my chicken went well with the Hugo Gruner Veltliner. At the end of the night, we spent a very relaxing 2 hours enjoying a great meal (despite a very busy crowd behind us, some of which were probably burning looks into the back of my head for the time we took). Food, 4 glasses of wine and one beer - all for under $90. Abbey: Thank you for your warm embrace on a cold winter night. I look forward to our next encounter. read more

Ok, maybe it was a mistake to check this place out after a long bike ride with one of my most health conscious friends. I was expecting pub food, but was surprised by the lack of reasonable healthy options in addition to the usual burger and fries. And, I probably should have gone for a burger, but just wasn't in the mood. Besides which The Publick House across the street has one of my favorite burgers and given their broader beer options would likely always be my go to if I were to go the burger route. I definitely enjoyed my Anchor Steam, but didn't enjoy the food so much. I got the cauliflower puree soup as it was a somewhat chilly day. But I think it was probably microwaved as the bowl was super hot, but the soup was not. Also tried the stuffed grilled calamari, which was ok, but could've used more salt. In fact, salt and pepper on the table would've been a great improvement as the soup could've used some pepper. My friend got the vegetable paninni which was supposed to come with greens, but for some reason came with fries. She was able to get a side of greens, but could barely eat the sandwich it was so greasy. Other reviews have panned the service, which I actually found quite attentive -- maybe because it was a late lunch time and the place was fairly empty. But the food just do read more

Small place, had a a burger with fries. Nice surprise to find some salad in dish. Tasty burger, fries were awesome. Service was a little slow, reason I took one star away. Would come and try other dishes. read more

My friend and I were initially planning to dine at Publick House, but we arrived too early and had to select another destination. Looking around we saw The Abbey across the street and decided to try it out. We sidled up to the bar and took a seat. The bartender was quick to serve us and let me sample some of the drafts I'd never tried before. We both ordered beers and perused the menu, settling on the burger and truffle fries. Our food was in front of us quickly, and the bartender was attentive in filling our waters and making sure we were satisfied. The burger was good, but not mind blowing. But then, then there were the truffle fries. Now I'm a huge truffle fan, and these fries were phenomenal. It came with a garlic mayo dipping sauce, which complemented the fries beautifully. I dream about these fries, don't know when I can get my fix again but I'm sure I won't forget them too soon. The restaurant itself is a bit small, there are only a handful of tables or you can sit at the bar. The service was wonderful (although I didn't technically have a server). The lunch prices were typical for a burger and fries (I believe it was $10 or so) and there was a great beer selection. I'd definitely return if I weren't located so far away. read more

Cool alternative in Washington Sq to my usual haunts of Publick House & American Craft. Good beer selection and decent cocktails. They also have a pretty extensive list of scotches available. The staff are friendly and service is always quick. I also enjoy the outside seating in addition to the inside space. While the food menu is not very large everything they do is very good. My favorite by far is the bison bolognese. It is extremely tasty and while the portion looks normal sized it really fills you up. The truffle fries and the lamb lollipops do come in a close second and third. The rest of the menu items I have tried were good, but nothing I felt was too special. read more

Went on a Saturday night fairly early, got right in. The drinks were spectacular as was the food. The mussels appetizer was delicious as were the entrees. I got the black pepper gnocchi with lobster and mushrooms and it was fantastic. My girlfriend got the hanger steak frites which was cooked perfectly and had awesome flavor. All around great meal and will be going back. read more

I had a very nice meal there with a relative. All the food was delicious. I had the gin lemonade which was not too sweet. It was strong and very refreshing. When I got back to my hotel I realized I left my credit card there and the wonderful man on the phone offered to drive it to my hotel on his way home after closing. Amazing!!!. I wish I knew his name. Please, if you are the establishment please give him a shout out. So everything from appetizers to a lost credit card was great. Thank you read more

My wife and I just had a great meal at the Abby. My wife had the cod I had the flat iron steak from the gluten free menu that they made non gluten free for me with fries. Both were amazing and the steak was perfectly cooked. Martini's were also perfectly made. The wait staff was very attentive which was very nice to see since most restaurants can't find help. This was not our first time at the Abby but the first time back since the pandemic. It was just as good as what I remembered and happy to be returning to normal life even though we ate outdoors. read more

Kinda a small place but definitely worth it. Food was great, and our server Krista was super friendly, outgoing, and helpful. 10/10 great service read more

I really love this place. I've been there at least 10+ times in the past 6 months and the food keeps me coming back. It's definitely cozy, which will pretty much ensure that you'll be waiting for a table Thursday-Sunday nights. The staff is friendly, and accommodating so I never mind waiting even if I'm practically hugging the people next to me. The food is well priced, well cooked and you can see the chef in the open kitchen. Their bread is amazing and comes with a dip and oil. I love their fish dishes, but they also have meat and veggie options. They make a creative grilled/deconstructed caesar salad, and I always have their truffle fries. The wine and beer menu is small, but offers enough variety. It's great to see a business thriving in this spot, since nothing did in the 15 years I've lived in the area. They also serve food late! read more

I went here on a Friday night for dinner. I called ahead and they said they would put me on the list and it would be about 45 minutes for a table. This was at 7:15. I had a drink across the street then headed over after about 35 minutes to find out that they had not put us on the list but the hostess assured us it would only be 20 minutes more. We were not seated until 9:20 after the hostess continued to insist that it would only be 10 more minutes for over an hour. Once we sat down we had to wait another 15 minutes or so for the waitress to come over. I felt that the menu was limited and the food was just ok (which is really saying something considering how hungry I was after waiting all that time). There are enough good restaurants in Brookline that have good service and great food that I will not come back here. read more

I have mixed feelings about this spot, but you can't deny that it has good food and great cocktails, so I have to give it a 4-star rating. Why the mixed emotions? i'll get into that. The good: My buddy has a hook-up there, so we usually get served pretty quickly, and our drinks made strong. The beer selection is great, but it caters to dark beer fans, so if you are looking to drink bud light, you should probably take your business elsewhere. My favorite cocktail is a whiskey drink called the Fearless King, and is topped off with some mint. Two or three of those and I am feeling good! The food is great, with my favorites being the duck confit wonton appetizer, the buffalo pork belly appetizer, and the mussels are fantastic as well. The servers are very friendly and accomodating. The bad: This place is so tiny and so packed all the time. Seriously, I have never seen it not busy, except for 4PM on like a Wednesday. It gets annoying because you can never find a seat, and people are constantly bumping into you. Trying to sit at the bar is a lost cause...better to ask for a table, even if you are only there for drinks. This place is a bit pricey in my opinion, but probably the norm for this part of Brookline. Good place to come if you can be patient and stand the noise and the crowds. read more

This place is great one of the fewest places open late night, delicious food and really good drink menu easy parking and cozy atmosphere I like this location better than the other one they have read more

*Review based on late-night drinks and apps!* The Abbey is the perfect place to grab a drink and some late night snacks in the Brookline-area. The ambiance here is lovely, very intimate and cozy, making it great place to go to for some quiet conversation. They serve food until 1am - really what more could you ask for in a city where most restaurants stop serving food at 10pm or 11pm? The small plates here are a good option and a great value. They've also got a pretty decent drink selection. I haven't been to the Abbey for dinner yet, but I am planning on it very soon. Ample street parking is a huge plus, and their truffle fries. God, I could just snack on those all day. Mouth-gasms a plenty. read more

Everything is AWESOME! A nice place to casually eat and enjoy a drink. I like coming here for "me time". Pretty small and a darker setting so I wouldn't recommend big groups. I got the buffalo bolognese and a simple glass of wine, the burgers are fab and I want to try everything on the menu. The End. Xo read more

The Abbey is awesome. It's in a perfect location in Washington Square, right off the Green Line, and it's not too big and not too small. Very new, clean, and a great place to grab food with friends or even for a date - lunch or dinner. The menu is just big enough and everything came out fresh and fast and as ordered. A big plus is that everything is reasonably priced. The people working here were outgoing and friendly and gave outstanding service. Tip: Skip the Publick House and come here instead! read more

Love this place. I've been here a couple of times, both for food and drinks, and I've had all-around great experiences each time. The bartenders are super friendly and will make drinks based on what you like. I usually end up getting the cucumber lemonade (gin, cucumber, agave, and lemonade) and it's really refreshing, especially in the summer. Truffle fries are delicious (although I've had better) and their bison bolognese is tasty and filling as well. On my most recent visit, I only had drinks, but my friend who had the bolognese said it was great, and it has a spicyish after taste to it, which adds a nice kick. Note: If you come later at night, they'll only seat you at a table if you're ordering food AND drinks, not just drinks. read more

The Abbey is still a stand-out in Washington Square. The bison bolognese is absolutely phenomenal and even at $20/plate, I keep coming back for more. There's just something about it that is so flavorful and aromatic, almost wine-y and there are daily specials on constant rotation and that are usually pretty good. The charred Caesar salad is a popular app, featuring a head of grilled romaine lettuce and whole anchovies on top. The dish is pretty salty, but delicious. I love their burger too, juicy, large and served with fries and amazing mayonnaise dipping sauce. (On that note -- the side of truffle fries + sauce is equally delicious) The Brussels sprouts are AMAZING, shredded and garlicy. Each meal is served with bread, hummus and olive oil and the atmosphere is cozy and casual. The place is pretty small, but they make the most of it and even have two bar stools looking into the kitchen for a neat "chef's table" vantage point if you wish to be seated there. read more

The Abbey is like the so-so internet date that you go on where you're not as compatible as you think you're going to be, but still find enough in common to go out a few times. Esp. if the alternative is staying in alone on a Saturday night. My co-workers really dig the Abbey so inevitably, I find myself there occasionally, always wishing it were just a little bit....well, better. In my opinion, the atmosphere/vibe lacks a little character. Ok, it's a dark bar, I get it. The space still feels under-designed to me/borderline thoughtless. Also, the narrow corridor where you have to wait for the bathroom is really awkward -- there's no room to stand, it's en route to the kitchen, and you end up tangoing with the waitstaff and other customers. Food -- ok. Menu seems scattered, like they can't decide whether they are a place that serves lamb lollipops (which I admit, I want to try) or pizza and burgers. I've enjoyed the veggie sides. The pizza is kind of lame -- about as good as I could make at home. Heard good things about the burger and truffle fries. And it's nice that they serve so late (till 1:30am). Drinks -- probably the best thing the Abbey has going for it. I'm not a beer drinker, but the selection looks comprehensive (I mean, it's no American Craft or P. House, but still). Wine list was standard; I had a decent rioja. No cocktails really piqued my interest but those who order them seem pleased. Service -- um, the late night waitress was visibly pissed to be there. Surly with a side of whatever. Girlfriend, if you don't want to be surrounded by drunk hungry people at midnight, find another line of work. But despite all these things....I'm sure last night's visit wasn't my last. There's room for improvement, but nothing is egregious. read more

There's not a lot of seating which is kind of annoying. I can't imagine coming to this place for dinner but it was okay for lunch! We ended up sitting right in front of the chef who was really nice and the food was amazing. We ordered the burger and the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Both were great and the staff is super friendly. read more

Dear The Abbey, where have you been all my life?! From start to finish this was an absolutely wonderful meal. We did have to wait about 25 minutes for one of the few tables in there, but the waitress kept us updated and never forgot about us. Food: Fried Pickles: Holy mother of fried pickles goodness. The batter is this delicious guinness batter and served with a horseradish aioli. Yum. Hoisin BBQ broccoli: Slightly sweet, slighty tangy, slighty salty sauce over perfectly cooked broccoli. A lovely way to get some veggies. Eggplant Parmesan: Bistro style dainty fried eggplant discs stacked elegantly with fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes (roasted?). The portion was the perfect size and all the flavors were just spot on. Skinny Gingerman: Now, I am a sucker for ginger drinks, so when I saw this I had to get it. And it did not disappoint. It wasn't terribly strong... but I was also there for dinner on a Wednesday night, so I would prefer my drink be tasty and not strong. And last but not least our waitress. I didn't catch her name, but she was absolutely fabulous. She was knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, fast. I think that she is partly the reason for this glowing review. Keep up the good work, and we will absolutely be back! read more

I have been wanting to try their Bison bolognese for a while and we finally made a dinner plan here with a few friends. Living in the west end, it's an hour hike on the T which I rarely ever think is worth the efforts to try out a restaurant without reservation, but I had high hopes. Wednesday evening for four people at 730pm they said the table would be ready shortly. That's after one of my friends put her name down an hour prior. We didn't end up getting seated in a very cramped table outside until close to 9pm. It's one thing if they told us how long the wait would be from the beginning, but they don't seem to be doing a good job at gauging when people would clear out tables since they were banking on two large tables who received their checks a while ago (yet didn't seem ready to leave at all if you asked me - they ended up staying past 10pm when we left the restaurant). When we finally got seated the service was okay. Our server seemed a bit overwhelmed and our water glasses were left empty for a while despite asking a few times. Verdict on food? Bison bolognese was good. I have had better bolognese but it has a nice kick to it and it was a nice touch when they split the dish without us asking as they knew we were sharing several items on the menu. I love all kinds of noodles and if they were in my neighborhood I would have it as takeout or enjoy it with a beer at the bar area. Is it worth the hour-long trip on the T or over-an-hour wait? Even though I'm glad I got to try it, you know next time I am going to pass on it. The rest of food was certainly not memorable at all. We tried: falafel (meh), cod fritter (double meh - wasn't a big fan of cod-cucumber pairing), truffle fries (tiny portion; barely truffle-tasting; definitely a pass), mussels (maybe frozen mussels? Zero flavor, dry mussels, it's probably the first time I've ever left mussels dish unfinished being a huge fan of mussels; salty shoestring frites on top oddly saved the dish), lamb lollipops (pretty good yet forgettable) Three stars are probably generous, but there we go. read more

One of the best pours of Guinness in town. Open late, food and staff are always consistent and on point. My fav pub in Brookline

BISON BOLOGNESE! the noodles have that great bouncy made at home texture that i love. i personally think it has a really nice heat level, although i have been told by the weak hearted that it is on the very spicy side. also got the mussels and charred caeser salad. both were great. I got there at 6 on a thursday evening and was seated right away, but it quickly filled up thereafter. People were definitely waiting around for an hour so plan accordingly. read more

Love this place. Been here a bunch of times and plan to keep going back. Great atmosphere. The Brussels sprouts, steak frites, and chicken are my typical go-to dishes. Good for a date or group night out. Parking is fairly easy. read more

I've been to The Abbey twice before, both times the service wasn't great but the food was pretty good. I went back a 3rd time the other day because Publick House hadn't opened yet. I went with a friend, we were seated and had our orders taken pretty quickly. We got the Cuban sandwich and Cobb salad - both of which failed to fulfill their respective titles. By no means did we eat a cuban sandwich or a cobb salad. The cuban was greasy and soggy, while the cobb salad had a total of one slice of bacon, a quarter of an avocado, and it lacked many essentially ingredients of a cobb (bleu cheese, corn sometimes). Mid-way through our meal the entire restaurant was filled with smoke from the kitchen. This made waiting for our food abnormally long an even less enjoyable experience. I believe the restaurant was understaffed during that lunch time, i've seen The Abbey do much better. I probably won't come back because of its inconsistency. read more

I'm getting hungry as I write this review. Started off with the truffle fries (they are the best). Then I ordered the cuban sandwich and paired it with a Smuttynose IPA. My taste buds were sent into a frenzy of goodness. My wife ordered the tomato bisque with grilled cheese panini. She was very impressed. Great for lunch. Carefully selected beer selection. Can't wait to go back. read more

I would give it 4.5 stars but I have no problem giving this place 5 stars! We went on a Friday night and were told there was a 40 minute wait. No problem. As soon as we put our name in, the bartender came around and gave us a drink menu which he didn't have to do. We ordered a beer and a cocktail, both very tasty. We must have waited about 20 minutes until we were seated at the little bar overlooking the kitchen (cool spot). The waiter came over, asked if we had any questions and gave us bread. My lady friend asked what he would reccommend between the chicken and the cod. He recommended the cod and I ordered the chicken. We were also deciding between the side of cauliflower or brussel sprouts. We ended up choosing ths brussel sprouts. For a busy Friday night, everything came out in a timely fashion. The waiter gave us our food then came back 30 seconds later and said that since we were deciding between the two sides, he gave us the cauliflower too! Wow! How nice was that. The chicken was tender and juicy, the cod was cooked perfectly and the sides were both delicious. Phennominal service, cute and cozy place and prices were reasonable. I would highly recommend this place if you are in the Washington Square area. Much better than the other restaurants in the area. I will definitely go back and try other items on the menu. read more

Oh this place is sooo good! the food was fantastic, their Poutine which was lamb with a special sauce was beyond delicious. I really enjoyed my burger, the steak was good and we liked the mussels. The service was ok. The only point is that it was a little dark for eating food. The light was ok if you sat at the bar for a drink but it was dark if you are seated on the table for food. read more

Great service, drinks, food, atmosphere. I could live there. It's a small place so it can get crowded (especially in winter time) so you maybe have to wait for a table, but it is still worth the wait. In the spring/summer, there are tables available outside. A great spot to get some sunshine and a bottle of rosé. read more