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. read more

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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! read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

The Abbey - Cod with scallion potato pancake and shallot cream sauce. Side salad with pepitas and green goddess dressing - New American Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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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 read more

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. read more

The Abbey - Gluten free bison bolognese - New American Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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! read more

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. read more

I have been coming here for years and was devastated by our experience last night. 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! read more

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

Great food and service, restaurant was very comfortable. Highly recommend the spicy tomato bisque!

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

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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 !!! read more

The Abbey - Special of the day - chicken with potatoes roasted with duck fat and green beans - New American Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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

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! read more

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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 read more

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Great service, varied crowd, cozy tables and lighting, a variety of food and beer options, and open late. A perfect Boston restaurant experience for someone like me coming back to Boston for a visit after being away for years. We went back a second time it was so comfortable. read more

Hanging out with some friends in Brookline, we wandered into The Abbey for a late lunch. It was still pretty full at a non-peak hour and continued to see good traffic through our entire meal so I took it as a good sign of the food to come. Started with an order of Bacon Deviled Eggs (comes with 3 halves) and Chicken Wings. Both of these were really good, I enjoyed the crispy bacon and sprouts on the deviled eggs. The housemade hot sauce was unreal and I wasn't even mad that the wings came with a bleu cheese drizzle versus a side of bleu cheese to dip in - that's how great the sauces and how well done the wings were. For my entree, I ordered the special that afternoon which was a panini version of an Italian sangy. The sandwich was actually less impressive than the small bites so that was disappointing - led me to think I should stick to the main menu/the tried and trues. Definitely would be willing to come back for lunch again or to try dinner service. Heard it's pretty packed there at night too, could be interesting! read more

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Food was simple, but solid. Service was really nice attentive but not overbearing. Salad was fresh and a perfect size.

When I lived in Boston, the Abbey was our favorite restaurant to grab a bite near home. Three years later, this restaurant is as tasty as I remember. This is a very small spot with a welcoming vibe. The bartenders are friendly and so are the waiters. While they have menu items that are always available, they also rotate some things to keep it interesting. We stopped by for lunch for our first meal of vacation and since we hadn't been in years we went a bit overboard. For apps we went with the deviled eggs and sausage and pepper egg roll. The deviled eggs were superb. One of my favorite appetizers from here used to be the pork belly. If you see that pop up on the menu, order it immediately. We also ordered the charred Caesar salad and mussels. There's something about Caesar salad that I just can't quit, and with the charred lettuce and anchovies this salad goes the extra mile. The mussels are a bowl full of goodness. That sauce is tasty enough to just eat with a spoon sans judgement, by the Abbey thought about this and tops them off with fries to soak it all up! Speaking of fries, the truffle fries from the Abbey are to die for. It's time now to give homage to the reason you visit the Abbey time and time again. The huge, savory, delightful bowl of bison bolognese. Pasta with meat sauce is wonderful, but switch up the protein with bison and it's a truly mouth watering, heart warming experience. This dish is so good, that I have ordered it almost every time I have visited the Abbey. That's a big feat for me, since I always like to try new things. But I just can't quit the bison bolognese and I promise you won't want to either! We also ordered the shaved brussel sprouts, because you should eat your greens. These in particular make it easy to be healthy. The Abbey has remained as beloved by my as it was when I lived nearby 3 years ago. It's worth the trip to Brookline and definitely the star of Washington Square. read more

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

Went late after a wedding since we weren't ready for bed. Thought e found a nearby dive and instead found ourselves at 1:30a eating excellent truffle fries and a couple glasses of Grüner. And the place was still full and active until close. Great vibe, food, and drinks selection. Obvious why this is a goto last stop in the area. read more

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. read more

Great place for dinner, drinks or both. Great atmosphere and food was absolutely delicious. They have a killer Poutine & Average Bolognese. Cool vibe and a fun crowd on the weekend. Well worth stopping in. read more

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This was the first restaurant I went into when I moved to Boston. Wait can be long but the food is definitely worth it. I typically get the bison Bolognese when I come. Tons of pasta and fair amounts of meat. This restaurant is also a great place for a date night. read more

The Abbey - Duck Quesadilla - New American Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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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!). read more

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. read more

the abbey is a favorite among the friend group!!! we come for the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo! my friends literally CRAVE it!! as a vegan there's not tons of options, i typically get a fries/cauliflower or fries/brussels sprouts combo, but they're just as delicious!! it would be a dream if the abbey got an impossible burger, but i still come every time for the happiness on my besties face eating that delicious grilled cheese! the prices are a bit high but portions are a great size and it's great quality!! the waitstaff are incredible, so attentive and kind! definitely worth the extra couple bucks because it's going to good people!! we love sitting outside! bummer they don't take reservations but the wait is never terrible and it's in a cute area to take a walk and come back. can't recommend enough! read more

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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. read more

I haven't been this excited about a menu as a whole in quite a while. Is it weird that I wish I had a second stomach for instances like this?? Cod fritters- crispy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside, as it should be. The aioli puts this over the top. 4.7/5 Sausage pepper spring roll- my personal favorite. I'm not sure I've ever had a better egg roll filling. No description can describe this. Just get it! 5/5 Bison bolognese- the hands down crowd favorite, and with good reason. This dish is like a perfect harmony. Tender bison, sweet balsamic, Romano cheese, sitting on a bed of melt in your mouth linguine. 5/5 There is absolutely nothing I dislike about the Abbey. So much going for it....Friendly staff(who aren't afraid to make recommendations), amazing food, creative menu, very fair prices, nice open space, accessible parking. What's that? A 2am close time? Watch yourself Abbey, You can easily become one of my favorite restaurants. read more

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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. read more

The Abbey - 8 oz. burger topped with Swiss, bleu or cheddar cheese, hand-cut and an optional egg, French fries - New American Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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! read more

Okay so to start, I see that people have mentioned how small the place is...yes it is small! And yes! There might be a wait. But it's so worth it. When I lived in Brighton this was definitely one of my frequent and favorite haunts on any night I didn't want fast food and was wanting to spend more than $8 - $10. That said, in the times I've been, both on weeknight nights and on the weekend, I've never once waited more than 10-20 minutes for a seat. To start with the actual review: I'm always slightly offput when I see that a restaurant is tacked with the "American" genre simply because...what IS American food really? But please don't mind that as the food here really is great from their bolognese which really is superb to their truffle fries and cod fritters. The portions while not huge are generous and reasonable for the price. The menu while not large, includes various foods, from steak to pasta to seafood, sandwiches etc and is always beautifully presented. While the place is small, crowded and in the evenings very very dimly lit (did I mention that it's dim in there?), it's definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a lowkey night with amazing food as it doesn't get too noisy despite how crowded it might get/seem. Service is normally pretty attentive despite their business and quick to refill drinks/waters. Not sure how else to put it, if this is "American food," I'm doubly proud to be American. Make.it.out.here. read more

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! read more

We had a strange service experience here -- all staff were very nice and gracious but there were a lot of mistakes and they seemed very frazzled. However luckily the food was quite good! My only qualm is the burger I ordered wasn't cooked medium well, it was more like medium or medium rare. I also didn't mention it though-- I'm sure if I complained about it they would've fixed the mistake. Our appetizer, the soft pretzel, was scrumptious! read more

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. read more

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

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. read more

The Abbey - Bison bolognese - New American Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts