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Abe & Louie's Steak House
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
793 Boylston St(between Exeter St & Fairfield St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 536-6300
- Nearest Transit:
-
Ring Rd @ Boylston St (9)
Boylston St Opp Gloucester St (170, 193, 39, 55)
Ring Rd @ Huntington Ave (9)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
386 reviews for Abe & Louie's Steak House
Review Highlights
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"...start off with, I had the French Onion Soup - SOOOO yummy." In 15 reviews -
"The Lobster Mac and Cheese is a very filling and tasty..." In 11 reviews -
"Cinnamon Scones in brunch bread basket." In 29 reviews
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386 reviews in English
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Review from Danny B.
Boston, MA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Great Gatsby meets steak. By that I mean deep red carpeted floors, beautiful dark wood walls and tables, large portraits of British and American landscapes and old stuffy looking men and women seated in ornate chairs, waiters and bus boys in three piece suits. After walking in and seeing this wonderful things, I knew there was certainly a reason why Abe & Louie's is considered the best and favorite steak house in Boston.
So of course they have every steak type known to carnivores and all of them are surely wonderful and from some exclusive farm out west, but try their specialty: the bone-in filet mignon. I was surprised to hear that such an establishment promoted one particular selection, but we were sucked into ordering it and gosh was it amazing. Add a little blue cheese to the top and I'm sure it would be even more incredible. We also ordered a few family style side dishes, with the mashed potatoes being our unquestionable favorite. As other reviews here have mentioned, the key lime pie is also stellar paired with some coffee and conversation.
Abe & Louie's is worth every penny. I'll definitely go back for a quality and classy evening. -
Review from Mia F.
Boston, MA
4/30/2012
Fancy meals usually depress me; it's not the quality or quantity that gets me down it's the fact that I spent a decent amount of dough on something that is going to end up down some pipes in a few hours. I'm usually torn between my palate and my smug attitude that anyone can recreate a meal.
Sometimes you just gotta splurge on fancy-frivolous stuff, like brunch!
I had the eggs Benedict trio with a bloody Mary & my friend had the French toast with champagne. Insanely good. We started out with splitting a fruit bowl, I thought it would have been more exciting than cantaloupe, honeydew, one strawberry, and grapes for a classy establishment's fruit bowl. Other than that, the food rocked my socks so hard I had to eat every bite of my egg trio - and that's a big feat for a little girl like me.
I realistically give 4 stars, it's not smug ingratitude, it's just that 4.5 wasn't an option and the fruit bowl coulda been more fancy like the crab, lobster, and fillet Mignon on my eggs Benny. The wait staff was a little rigid, but I guess that comes with the fancy factor - you can't joke about a place with $29 brunch plates!
I'd definitely go back and try something different - everyone's food looked so good! -
Review from Harry T.
4/22/2012
While on vacation in Boston there was some bad weather and things were shutting down. We were out and about and discovered Abe & Louie's Steak House while searching for a place for a good lunch.
This restaurant is large and nice. The staff is very friendly and we had Martha F. as our server. She easily made us feel at home. The restaurant was not busy and we were in no rush.
On this day I had a big urge for a hamburger. I am in a steak place but I wanted hamburger. And I thought I would be able to get a very good hamburger in a steak restaurant. That was my plan and the plan worked.
After enjoying a very good Bloody Mary and my fiancée had a nice Mimosa we ordered. My choice was their burger with aged cheddar cheese and some bacon. I was going all out on this one. It also comes with caramelized onions. The price is high for a burger but it is worth it with the quality of the beef and the size of the plate. I had no complaints.
My lady ordered the Filet Mignon Club. That was served on Brioche Bread, with Abe's steak sauce, mayonnaise, arugula, watercress and bacon too. Don't forget the tomato and the sweet potato fries.
Needless to say when it was time to leave we were not looking to eat for some time.
Next time we will be back to this restaurant for dinner and some steaks with all the trimmings.
Oh, before I forget, they have a very large wine selection and a number of half bottles which is so nice when you desire to try different wines with different courses. -
Review from Douglas W.
Garden City, NY
4/18/2012
I go to all the steakhouses in Boston and New York. Capital Grille, Peter Luger, Morton's Ruths Chris, etc. You get a good meal at all of them.
Abe & Louies is my favorite in Boston. All the food was great. The differentiator is the service. It was packed, but I never had to look for my waiter - always there. -
Review from Taylor P.
Boston, MA
5/17/2012
Awesome because they have the best steaks and my husband proposed to me at table 13.
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Review from Kristine B.
Marshfield, MA
4/25/2012
My husband and I went to Abe & Louie's for our Anniversary.
The service was very slow but friendly. I think for the prices of the menu they should serve bread that isn't hard as a rock. We started off with a salad. It was drowned in vinaigrette dressing. We both ordered the bone in filet. Mine had some chewy, fat pieces but very tasty. The lobster mac and cheese was dry and only a couple pieces of lobster. The creamy spinach was very good and the blue cheese potatoes were ok. For desert we has our favorite, creme brulee which was amazing. -
Review from Rona Y.
Boston, MA
5/9/2012
I'm not terribly impressed...I felt like my steak was a little bit over cooked and the appetizers weren't anything special. To be fair, I'm not a huge fan of steak and steakhouses but I prefer Mortons and Moo... over Abe & Louie's. It is not bad, but wayyyy overpriced for what you can get...
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Review from Wendy L.
Boston, MA
Updated - 4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
My FAVORITE steakhouse in Boston. I had the best service experience in my life with Kenney as our server. His considerate gestures, jolly personality and attention to details made my night. The food was GREAT too, one of the most juicy steaks I've had in a while.
Once we were seated, Kenney greets us with the specials, an overview of the menu and offered me a black napkin after noticing that I had black pants on. Nobody has ever asked me that before and the lint on white napkins always stuck to my pants. I was extremely happy with this thoughtful offer.
We ordered a Caprese Salad and Beef Carpaccio to start. Our salad was plated for each of us when it was served with the Beef Carpaccio in the middle. I love it when restaurants do this because it's so much easier to eat. The Caprese was amazing, fresh beefsteak tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. One of the best I've had.
I got the Bone-In Filet Mignon and Kenney offers to cut the bone off at the table for me. I am awful at cutting my steaks so I was amazed by his suggestion and accepted it immediately. When the bussers were plating our food, I see Kenney waiting in the back with a fork and a steak knife ready to chop that bone off my steak. He tells a joke as he does it and before you know it he's done. The steak comes with a side of mushroom sauce it was so juicy and perfectly cooked "medium rare to medium." I always stick to this steak because it's super tender and flavorful.
He also mentioned that we could get half portions of most of the side dishes which we did not know last time and had way too much food left. We got a half order of the Lobster Mac and Cheese and Grilled Asparagus. The Lobster Mac and Cheese did not disappoint at all. It was perfectly cooked, soft on the inside and crispy on top with big chunks of lobster. I highly recommend this side!!!!! The Grilled Asparagus was okay..maybe a little overcooked.
It's just amazing the level of service and the attentiveness they offer here. I have to say I did not have such a memorable experience on my last visit but I was blown away this time. When I return next time, I will request to have Kenney as my server if that is possible.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/18/2011
I've been to Abe & Louie's twice for dinner and I enjoyed it both times. The service is impeccable… Read more »
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Review from Kate L.
Chelsea, MA
Updated - 5/21/2012
My first satisfactory meal at Abe's. Nicoise salad was pretty bland. Needed salt and something was just off about it. I asked for teh tuna cooked throughout and it was rare when they served it. Bread was yummy as always and wine was great! Inside bartender was too busy to help us pick a wine which was onboxious... but outside waiter was fantastic. Crabmeat appetizer was well worth the money. Chunks of fresh crabmeat and an amazing sauce to dip it in.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/5/2011
Perfectly cookied filet Mignon and Steak Delmonico. Portions are large enough to share if you are on… Read more »
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Review from Diana B.
Boston, MA
4/6/2012
The bone in filet was amazing (better than Capital Grille's filet)! The lobster mac and cheese and creme brulee were also very tasty!
I wasn't crazy about the appetizers and other sides though. The shrimp cocktail was overcooked, the beef tar tar was ok (I prefer the tar tar at KO Prime) and the crab cakes were bland. I was expecting them to be crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside, instead it was just crab pieces shaped into a circle..? Also, the creamy spinach and and mashed potatoes were not great. The spinach didn't have flavor and the mashed potatoes tasted like they came out of a box (yuck). But the steak was delightful!!! -
Review from Wanda K.
Boston, MA
5/8/2012
Came here with my boyfriend for our 9 year anniversary =).
Our waiter was very TACKY!! Throughout the dinner he was unattentive and did the minimum. Normally I don't really care, but at the end when he gave the bill, my bf paid, and he came to get the check when we were still sitting there (we did not sit there long). This has never happened to us at a fine dining establishment. And then as he was walking away, I saw him open the check, looked at the tip, and shook his head. Really? Let me say up front that my bf is not a bad tipper. However, if you do the bare minimum, you are definitely NOT getting 20%. TACKY!!!
The 'second' server (person who cleaned the table) was friendlier and should definitely be promoted and replace that jerk.
We ordered the porterhouse to share and it was decent. The fliet mignon side was extremely tender and cooked to what we ordered (medium rare), the NY side was closer to rare. Overall I was happy, although it was definitely lacking in flavour. They needed more salt or something. The side of the meat was better in flavour from the grill.
If we are paying more than $120 for a dinner, I would expect the waiters to be better trained. -
Review from Michelle T.
Boston, MA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Expensive? Yes.
Delicious? Yes.
Great seafood? YES.
Even better service? Yup.
AMAZING cinnamon raisin cracker in the bread basket? Hell yeaaah.
That sums up my dinner experience at A&L's with dad. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 sides and a half bottle of wine cost ~$180. not including tip. It's a hella lot to pay, in my opinion, but everything was delicious and we got a bread basket cracker refill!
Appetizers included a salad - huge enough to share, and really scrumptious calamari. They came friend fresh with jalapeno's and 2 dipping sauces = your regular old marinara and tartar.
Both dad and I ordered the Friday dish of the day, which was the Seafood/Lobster Cioppino. It was a GIANT dish and complete with lots of seafood, an entire lobster and a thick slice of garlic bread on top. I was disappointed by the amount of soup there was in the bowl (it's a soup dish after all!!!) But impressed by the quality of the seafood used. For almost $50, they BETTER load up the sea creatures.
In all honesty, i might have preferred the $30 dollar cioppino next door at Atlantic Fish. :P
Sides ordered tasted good, but completely unmemorable. The brussels sprouts were buttery and crunchy, while the mushrooms were...well sauteed mushrooms.
Would I come back again? For the price, no. I think I can do better. But I did thoroughly enjoy my meal, so if you're looking to impress a date and have money to spare, bring 'em here. -
Review from Joshua W.
Stoughton, MA
3/5/2012
Amazing steak! Great service and the Best Kept Secret is the Key Lime Pie. It's made fresh daily and the recipe comes from the Executive Chef of their other location in Boca Raton, Fl.
We went for a guys night dinner and while expensive, was worth every penny! -
Review from Michelle C.
Wayland, MA
Brunch Review
Yummy spicy bloody mary and the blueberry muffin in the breakfast appetizer basket is so good. I was excited they have hashbrowns which you can substitute for their regular breakfast potato's, but I was I was disappointed. They were way too salty and not enough 'meatiness' to them.
My friend had the tuna burger with sweet potato fries which she loved.
The dining room was very pretty with dark wood and large booths which I love. -
Review from Kyle D.
Wakefield, MA
2/3/2012
This restaurant is a very nice upscale steakhouse. I ordered the 8 oz filet mignon done medium. I would say that it is probably the best filet mignon that I have ever had. It certainly was the most tender. My dish was full of delicious juices and the meat was pretty much cooked to perfection. It has a respectable bar area and it is an ideal place for lunch.
However, the prices are a little high. It is 3 dollars for a coke. A side of mashed potatoes is 8 dollars. And the mashed potatoes were only average quality. The meal filled me up right on a day that I needed it the most, but a total tab of $48 dollars and change can make you think twice sometimes. But hey, for a great steakhouse in the backbay, that ain't too bad. If I were you, I would put this on your short list of places to try. -
Review from Nancy N.
2/23/2012 1 photo
This place is awesome.
It was a sunday brunch and we managed to beat the brunch crowd. Within 20 min after we sat down, there was a wait for tables already. The maitre'd was very friendly. our server John was very friendly and funny.
We got the eggs Benedict 3 ways and the lobster and shrimp omelet. The benedicts included steak, crab and lobster. Lump crab meat and egg was cooked perfectly.
The lobster and shrimp omelet was fantastic. I thought there was going to a few pieces of lobster but mostly shrimp. I was wrong! The entire omelet was filled with lobster meat and cheese. The only shrimp I saw was on top. Every bite was had lobster in it. YUM!
The potato cake was cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside and soft inside. Better than home fries, french fries at diners or other brunch places.
I love brunch and I was questioning the portion served. I thought I was going to leave hungry but I was stuffed. I managed to polish my plate but was quite full.
A bit pricey for these two entrees but for the amount of food and quality, it's not too bad actually.
Side comment: I was going to get their standard eggs with ham/sausage or bacon with toast for 11 bucks. The lady who sat next to us later made a comment to her friend, "I brought my sister here and I can't believe she ordered the eggs with toast and bacon at a place like this." -___-"" One star for you Miss for being a snoot. -
Review from Nicole R.
Boston, MA
3/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
First off, what's not to like about this place. It has been around for a number of years now and is well-known by most of Boston's residents. Conveniently located in the Back Bay on Boylston Street, this venue is a great selection for tourists and residents alike. Whether sitting inside or outside on the patio (which often has heat lamps available), I've always had good services and great food.
For whatever reason, I have always started off with the lobster mac n' cheese when I am here. It is a generous portion with large macaroni, generous portions of lobster and a golden brown bread crumb topping. if shared between 2 people, this usually works well as an appetizer. The jumbo lump crab cakes are also a good option as a starter. With two large cakes seated on lettuce and the fresh fruit salsa, the combination of the crab and sweet salsa is excellent. In terms of salads, I would highly recommend the Traditional Hearts of Iceberg. It is a large wedge of iceberg lettuce covered with bacon and tomatoes. If you dislike blue cheese, you can also opt for 1000 Island dressing instead.
In terms of entrees, I have always gone with a steak (of course) and have chosen either the typical filet or the Filet au Poivre (pepper crusted). I typically have the steaks prepped medium-rare. For sides, I would recommend the Grilled Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, the Creamed Fresh Spinach, the lobster mac n' cheese (of course) or the mashed potatoes.
The ambiance at this place is great for romantic dinners, a quick bite with a friend when shopping on Boylston or Newbury, a business lunch/dinner, or a celebration dinner. They do a great job to accompany larger parties when you call in advance and the service has never been disappointing. I would absolutely make this venue part of your steak house exploration in Boston. -
Review from Jim M.
Beverly, MA
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went here last night for dinner before a party at a friend's in the South End.
The atmosphere was a dud. Very family-oriented/theme restaurant vibe (reminded me of Joe's American Bar and Grille). Tables a very close together so having a private conversation is not in the agenda, unless your in a bigger group is one of the posh corner or side tables.
The duddishness stopped there!
French Onion soup was delightful, as was the chopped salad (a delicious spin on the classic wedge). Also loved the presentation of my pre-dinner martini (it was brought out in a glass cylinder on ice to keep the "run-off" cold".
Now, on to the main course:
I got the the bone-in filet and my wife got the classic filet. Both were GREAT cuts of meat with tons of flavor (I especially liked the aged cheddar covered on my bone-in). We got the blue-cheese mashed potatoes for a side and our tastebuds were surrounded by the taste of spuds and tangy cheese!
We finished off the night with the Key Lime Pie and Carrot Cake. The Key Lime Pie was the best I've had in the area (nothing beats Florida, of course, but for Boston, this was awesome.)
The Carrot Cake was served a little on the cold side (like it was in the fridge all day), however, it had a terrific texture and the icing had a sweeter/unique flavor that made this a winner.
Quick note about service: our waiter was very attentive, spaced the meal out so we didn't feel rushed, and helped us choose a nice bottle of wine (the 2007 Chateau Michelle Cab).
While I would use my "special occasion" card for The Capital Grille or Pellana on the north shore, Abe & Louie's offers a great meal for when you've shopped 'til you've dropped on Newbury st. I'll be back for sure!! -
Review from Gregory P.
Danvers, MA
1/23/2012
My favorite steakhouse in Boston. I get the bone-in filet every single time because it is probably the best piece of meat I've ever had. It's pricey (around $50 these days), but it's worth every mouth-watering cent. The sides and drinks are pricey too, so expect to easily spend $200 for a dinner for 2. And I hope you like stuffy mahogany interior.
I typically go here once per year and then I sit at home and drool about it until the next time. -
Review from Alita M.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
Impeccable service, classic steakhouse. Visiting Boston, my boyfriend and I treated his friends and family to a nice dinner.
This is the only place I have been to in the last 5 years where when I have asked for Prime Rib RARE it actually came out rare. The chopped iceberg salad was also tasty, with blue cheese, bacon, nuts, sprouts and tomatoes. Wine selection by the glass was decent, being from California I always expect it to be poor on the East Coast for that type of serving - nobody else was drinking so I got stuck with that only option and didn't come away disappointed.
They have L'occitane Verbena soap in the bathroom. N'ff said, like any other good steakhouse it's not cheap, but wait...I don't go for cheap. -
Review from O K.
Quincy, MA
2/23/2012
Abe's happens to be one of my favorite restaurants. Whenever you go, lunch or dinner, everything is perfect.
We went there about 2 weeks ago on a Friday night. Having drinks in the Back Bay we ended up getting a late dinner around 10pm. We were promptly seated and had great service the entire time. I had the bone-in filet with a side of blue cheese mashed potatoes, my fiance had had the shrimp and scallops special. Everything was perfect as always. I have yet to find a place that can match the bone-in filet that Abe's puts out.
The bill came to around $130 with each of us having a glass of wine.
Although it is pricey you can not get a better meal with perfect service, especially at that hour. -
Review from Gary F.
Fairhaven, MA
4/2/2012
The staff was very accommodating we walked up with no reservation and we were able to be seat with in 10 minutes outside on the patio which when we sat down the sun was up and was warm when sun went down it cooled off fast and our waiter Chris was very gracious in offering us a table inside my steak was cooked to perfection very thing was great. The cheesecake was incredible along side of this dessert was a delicious chocolate covered strawberry. We will return , we had a great experience!
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Review from Laura M.
Boston, MA
5/10/2012
Came here with my fiance for brunch and we loved it. He cooks for me at home often and he is a kick ass chef all on his own ( love his cooking) but even he was impressed. It is pricey but the atmosphere is wonderful and super classy, the food is excellent and the staff is attentive and professional. Will come back again !
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Review from Dan P.
Chelsea, MA
1/12/2012
Stop 8 of my Best Burgers of Boston, and I'm impressed. Ever since I've moved to Boston I've wanted to head to Abe & Louie's for a nice steak. I'm surprise my first visit took this long, and that I got a burger.
The burger was very good, not great, but extremely good. In the $10-$15 burgers, I don't think this can be beat. It's up there for the best of Boston.
The meat is great. Seasoned well, nice and juicy, and cooked to perfection. The bun, though delicious, was a little to much for me. I like a larger meat to bun ratio. For sides, I asked for 50/50 fries and rings, and the bartender said it would be no problem, which was great. The rings were thin and crispy, and the fries where nice and thick. Not as crunchy of an outside as I would like, but still very good.
Now its just time to count down til I go back for dinner and steak. -
Review from Sasha B.
12/29/2011
A Boston staple... Ranks with any NYC steak house and it's quite the Boston scene. I saw the drummer from Aerosmith when I went last.
Good for company dinners and entertaining clients. Far superior to the neighboring Capital Grille and Morton's -
Review from Jacques D.
Brookline, MA
2/25/2012
Got a reservation with the hostess. Hostess was unfriendly over the phone but managed to reserve a decent time.
Got there 20 minutes late but the male gentlemen at the front desk was very friendly and got the hostess to escort us to our table. Waiter was Chris W. and one of the best waiters that I had ever had. He knew his wines and got us a great cabernet sauvignon.
He was also very knowledgeable with the menu. The special was a 32oz steak so I ordered that with the lob mac n cheese. Both were amazing. He also gave us many sauces and was great throughout the night.
We finished the nightcap with a 7 layer chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Would definitely come back due to the impeccable service. Would have been 5 star if the phone hostess had a more pleasant tone and attitude when answering questions. She needs to some more training on phone etiquette since this is a high end restaurant and customers should expect top notch service from beginning to end. Top notch doesn't always need snotty phone responses. -
Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
1/6/2012
I want to like A&L's but I'm just not a fan. I had two mediocre meals here that were way pricey and short on flavor. I even got served bad oysters here that our waiter admitted had to be sent back!
Sorry Boston, stick with Chicago's Morton's or the South's Ruth Chris if you want a real steakhouse. -
Review from Cam S.
Midtown East, Manhattan, NY
3/30/2012
The steak here is phenomenal. Service was great too!
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Review from Brian J.
Nashua, NH
5/3/2012
If you you frequent Boston and have not been here you are missing out bigtime! We have been several times and have never been dissapointed. It is def not cheap but you get what you pay for. I would have to say they have the best ahi tuna that I have ever had(it kind of ruined it for me when I go elsewhere). I usually get the filet and it is always consistent. Def better than Ruth's Chris.
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Review from Sam Y.
South Milwaukee, WI
1/11/2012
Our experience was quite nice. It was during the holidays, hanging out with family, beautiful downtown Boston. A couple locals' recommendation brought us to this steak house.
The prime rib was cooked very well and the service was very friendly and attentive. The sides were good, but we are here for the steaks! Great wine selection. Key lime pie was perfect, right amount of tart to sweetness.
Will definitely have that prime rib again. -
Review from Emily H.
Boston, MA
3/26/2012
4 stars for the food and 2 for the service.
I had heard about Abe and Louie's for quite some time as a steakhouse staple in the Boston area. So, we decided to try it out.
First impressions are everything right? Well, our first impression was to leave. We ended up staying but only because of the good outdoor seating. This resto is staffed by snobs only. The first waiter who came by to give us water and bread did so abruptly without even acknowledging our "thank yous." Our actual waiter was a bit better but she was still cold. The only person who seemed remotely excited to be working was a man who came by to check on us forty minutes into the meal, I'll assume he is a manager. The patrons were equally rude and in staring mode, which is no fault of the restaurant, but still highly annoying.
After losing our appetite over the service, we decided to just get apps. We tried the lobster macaroni and crabcakes. The macaroni was very well done and the crabcakes were delicious.
I think the food was great. It's a shame the service was such a miss because when spending big bucks for food a good atmosphere is a must. Not sure whether I'll make the effort to enter the land of snob again. -
Review from Katherine D.
Seattle, WA
11/6/2011
I know you're thinking, 5 stars? really? but the food and experience was much higher than my expectations here. Walked in while on an unexpected date mid-week around 9 and the place was starting to clear out. We were sat in a nice booth downstairs. The booth was comfy and luxe. Service was impeccable from the moment we walked in, with an attentive and gracious host, enthusiastic but not overbearing bus boy, and a knowledgeable server who knew when to leave us alone.
I rarely have the ability to indulge in multiple courses (because I'm poor) but the fellow I was with decided he was starting with soup and salad, so I jumped onto the appetizer bandwagon. I had magnificent clams casino to start. Full belly clams with breadcrumbs, and bacon... heaven. We each got steaks. He was very pleased with his filet (cooked perfectly to his liking), and I was served the most gigantic rib-eye I've ever seen. As soon as it was set down I knew I'd be taking half to go. The steak was rich with the perfect char. We split the lobster Mac & Cheese, which was the best version of this new Boston classic that I have ever had, and the garlic broccoli which was also outstanding (red chile flakes maybe?). We didn't really save any room for dessert, but we got lemon sorbet to share and it was a nice refreshing way to end the meal.
The wine list was impressive, and out South African Sauvignon was exceptional. THe server knew exactly when to return to pour us a bit more, and paced it so that we finished the wine just about when we were ready to leave.
I'm not sure I will be back, since I've got many more steak houses to try in this city, but I had a stellar evening at this Abe & Louie's location. -
Review from Regan C.
Cambridge, MA
12/1/2011
LOVE Abe & Louie's!! Whenever I am craving steak, this is where I think to go first. All in all, I think this is one of the Back Bay Restaurant Group's best places. I would give it five stars if the service wasn't awful every time I went. Most recently I went with my boyfriend for his brithday..
DRINKS:
I am slightly underwhelmed by their wine list, but we order the Trimbach Reisling which was very yummy! Luckily, the wine service wasn't done by our grumpy waitress, so it made getting a bottle slightly more enjoyable.
FOOD:
I had the tuna tartare, which was very yummy, and I always order the steak au poivre. The steak was delicious and perfectly cooked.
My boyfriend started with the chower, which I found to be a little watery, and he ordered the bone-in double cut prime rib. How he manages to finish it is beyond me.
We ended up passing on dessert because we were so full, but I have previously had the key lime pie, which is TO DIE FOR!
SERVICE:
Our waitress was an old grumpy women, who made no effort to gauge what kind of experience we were looking for, etc. The only saving grace was the wine service, which I'm assuming was done by a manager.
All and all, love A&L and would gladly go back. -
Review from Cris E.
Boston, MA
11/8/2011
I love it here! Never a bad meal or server.
Wonderful appetizers and out of this world steak! The Alaskan king crab legs are really generous and full of meat. Lobster Mac and cheese, pinch me....am I dreaming?
The waiters are all characters that have worked at Abe's for decades. The chances of sharing a convo or a laugh with your server is pretty high, plus the ambiance makes me feel like I'm in the Sopranos or some mafia movie, ha ha. Lucked out last time I came, was seated right next Rondo from the Celtics. Score! -
Review from Mark R.
Pacific Palisades, CA
3/13/2012
Good eats, but do yourself a favor and skip the "award winning" clam chowder. Excellent bread and mac and cheese.
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Review from Michelle P.
Jersey City, NJ
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nothing says brunch like a Bloody Mary, and they sure make a mean one (hot!) that is well worth your money. Add in fresh oysters for apps and a juicy burger, you got yourself an amazing meal. Spent two hours just leisurely enjoying our meal and waiting for our food to come out (but I had my Bloody Mary or two to keep me company) so it wasn't all that bad. In fact, I sort of enjoyed the fact they didn't rush us out, even if the place was packed on a Sunday afternoon.
Walked in without reservations. We were seated within 15 minutes. Not bad at all. Next time I'll try the steak. ;) -
Review from Jen P.
Brighton, MA
12/26/2011
Today I went to Abe & Louie's for the first time and had lunch. Before going, I'd checked Yelp reviews to see what to expect and was rather excited. I had the fillet minion club w fries and shared a bottle of Flanagan wine. Loved the wine. Really enjoyed the meal. Then, I decided that enough Yelpers raved over it that I had to try the Colossal Chocolate Cake. It was good.
Perhaps I went in expecting something so over the top that A&L's didn't have a chance to live up to the hype. I feel it was definitely a good quality meal in a lovely atmosphere but not the stellar experience I'd been led to expect. I'll admit the fillet minion slices were excellent so I'm certain that the full fillet at dinner must be a home run.
It's a great restaurant but wasn't the best steakhouse I've ever been to so it only gets 4 stars. -
Review from Megan C.
2/7/2012
I'm torn between a 3 and a 4, but honestly I think this place is a 4 and we just ordered wrong so I am giving it the benefit of the doubt. Earlier that day we had stopped in a place and had some really REALLY nasty food and were both feeling a bit sick to have a full dinner but we really wanted to try this place so we trudged though. Neither one of us could think of having a steak (you know my man is not feeling well when he denies a steak!) but we both wanted to try the lobster mac here so we figured we'd just both get the app portion. As usual my eyes got bigger than my stomach and I wanted a salad and a small app to share, so we split a caprese (average) and a clams casino (decent, nothing crazy) and between the 2 we were actually full. After we had ordered 2 app lobster macs our server came back to recommend we don't do that and get something else, I trusted him after his wine recommendation so I opted for the lobster ravioli special instead. So much for a small dinner!! I'm really glad we listened to his suggestion though, the lobster mac and cheese was a good portion for one person but surprisingly bland, almost not cheesy enough and the special was UBER rich so there was a good balance between the two. There was no way we could finish both but my main was the better of the two, nice lobster filled ravioli with HUGE shrimp and scallops in the dish as well with some veggies to offset it; the sauce was just a bit too heavy for the dish.
I give it 4 stars because the service was good, the food was good, and it's got a nice feel inside plus decent wine options for under $50 a bottle. I think the way to go in this place though is for the steak, we missed the mark on that one. How we went from feeling a bit off and wanting a small dinner to having apps and two cheesy, heavy meals I don't know, but I will give this place another shot next time we come to Boston. -
Review from Jessica B.
West Newton, MA
7/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It was hot enough to broil a steak on the sidewalk yesterday afternoon, and three friends and I discovered that Abe & Louie's Steak House is a great place to go before a Red Sox game. They will valet your car for dinner and throughout the game for $14. They also waive the dress code for the pre-game crowd.
When we arrived, the host was amazingly gracious and assured us our reservation was fine. Confidently, we had a beer at the bar, which has a couple of nice low tables, plush leather chairs, and a TV and waited for our friends.
When they arrived, we were seated immediately, and our waiter was a consummate professional. I really appreciate good service and notice when I get it.
We split a lobster cocktail appetizer that isn't on the menu. It was delicious. I had the fresh salmon fillet, wood grilled. I wasn't wowed by it, but I think I'm not a fan of wood grilling. It was a bit dry. Entrees are served without sides, so make sure to order some if desired. For dessert, I got fresh seasonal berries, which were very good. I really appreciate the number of healthy options on the menu. It was easy to have a great meal and not be too full to stay awake for the game.
They earned their five stars for the exceptional service and for making it such a convenient evening out including Fenway. Well done, guys.
And after the Red Sox won, we staggered back to get our car and happily, it was all ready for us.
I hope to return and try the filet mignon, which looked delicious.Listed in: Eat or Die
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Review from Jonah K.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Having grown up in Boston I always loved this place. Since moving away 3 years ago, and going to lots of other steakhouses, when I come home I still love going to abe. The bone in fillet is amazingly good, and being a fillet fan this is the best steak in that genre. Overall I love everything about this place, and I will be back soon.
