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Abigail Cafe and Wine Bar
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars American (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
807 Classon Ave(between St Johns Pl & Lincoln Pl)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Neighborhood: Prospect Heights
(718) 399-3200
- Nearest Transit:
-
Botanic Garden (S)
Park Pl (S)
Franklin Av (2, 3, 4, 5)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 11 pm
Fri 9 am - 12 am
Sat 10 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
146 reviews for Abigail Cafe and Wine Bar
Review Highlights
"And their every-day happy hour is a great deal."
(in 15 reviews)
"and the LIVE JAZZ---perfection."
(in 13 reviews)
"The flourless chocolate cake was awesome."
(in 3 reviews)
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146 reviews in English
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Review from Vindu G.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
This place gets four stars, for the neighborhood (on an absolute basis, I would give it 3 or 3 1/2.)
Convenient to the Brooklyn Museum, Abigail is a nice place to get a glass of wine and some comfort food after an hour or two of art. It is not a destination unto itself but then there aren't really any destination restaurants in this area.
I have been to Abigail three times, and found the macaroni and cheese to be the best dish on the menu.
During my last visit, the grilled calamari was chewy, while the crostini were tasty, if small in portion size.
The wine list is decent for a cafe of its size, although they were plumb out of stock of my first three selections -- unacceptable given the small size of the wine list. (The waiter compensated with a generous pour of my fourth choice.)
Service is pretty casual, which goes with the vibe of the place. In fact, I would call the kitchen downright slow. So if you are looking for fast, attentive service, Abigail is not for you.
But as someone who is usually not happy with inattentive service, I found that it didn't bother me at Abigail because it just feels like the kind of place you go to stay awhile and not rush. That's rare in NYC.
There is actually a bit of space between tables, and it's never been crowded during my visits, so there is actually at least one empty table between you and the next party. The result is you can have your own conversation (about, say, the exhibits you just saw) without being subjected to your neighbors' chatter. -
Review from Kunal G.
New York, NY
1/15/2012
I wanted to like this place more, I really did. But there's nothing to keep me coming back here.
The service was nice, but not great. The food was overly rich, with smallish portions. I guess overall our experience was just 'meh'.
It's like the girl in your class that you never really noticed. There wasn't anything wrong with her, but there was nothing that caught your attention either... -
Review from The brunch club Z.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
1/8/2012
+1 friendly staff
-1 more than hour-long wait to get our food
-1 chunky tea
-1 only one person working...?
A cute place with decent food, but we ended up spending over two hours here just trying to eat brunch. -
Review from Ronnie A.
Oakland, CA
1/30/2012
I really wish it was possible to give a negative star rating b/c this place deserves negative 5 stars. The service was horrendous. If there was an Academy Awards for service that was no bueno, Abigail's would easily get nominated for an Oscar. If Charles Barkley ever dined here, he would call this place "turrible". The place was so awful that my friend Holly got the stomach flu not b/c she came in contact with contaminated food or water, or anything like that... she got the stomach flu for coming in contact with the awful service at this place. On an un-related note, this place doesn't even serve fried chicken, which might have inspired me to give them negative 3 stars instead of negative 5 stars. Who doesn't love fried chicken? Clearly Abigail doesn't.
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Review from Althea A.
Updated - 1/6/2012
My second visit here, and Abigail's continues to fully earn their 4-star review. The wine was excellent and very drinkable, the waitstaff were friendly, attentive and more accommodating than they had to be, the food arrived promptly and was good.
Admittedly, I was looking covetously over my fish burger toward some stranger's luscious-looking mac & cheese - but there's always next time to try it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/23/2011
Love the atmosphere here - the red chandeliers and walls give it a warm, cozy glow. It feels more… Read more »
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Review from Melissa M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/26/2012
I've really, truly, had it with this place. I've so wanted it to work out and I've been many times over the past few years, but I can only liken it to a BAD friend. The staff lack care and consideration.
The other night me and my party, there were 3 of us, came for drinks and dessert to celebrate my birthday. We sat at the primarily empty bar for a good 10 minutes before we received a menu, and another 10 minutes before someone came within spitting distance to ask for our order. Not to mention they were unable to serve two of the desserts and a whole bunch of the wines weren't even available!! The thing is, the cafe wasn't even bustling. Ugh.
We then moved to a table because there were receipts and paperwork spread all across the far third side of the bar, taking up potential seats. We were served our dessert--mediocre crepes with frostbit ice cream and watery chocolate sauce--about 25 minutes after that. They initially forgot our ice cream and we had to ask the waiter for it. Finally the fourth member of our party arrived and I actually had to go over to the bar and ask for a menu for her. Then another 25 minutes went by before he offered to take her order, and another 15 minutes for her to receive her dessert.
Unreal. I will never be back and will discourage everyone else from coming here, too.
Fortunately I have some lovely friends who made my night enjoyable, because Abigail let me down for the last time. -
Review from Amy C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/27/2012
I come here several times a month and the food has been consistently great. The owner is always friendly and the atmosphere is both beautiful and cozy.
I go there to work on my laptop, and for that, this place can't be beat. There's free WiFi, and several outlets available. And on weekdays, there's always plenty of tables. Plus you can stay for hours and there's no pressure to keep ordering (though, of course, I do).
I don't love working at coffee shops/cafes because of the limited food options (there are only so many bagels I can eat), so I really appreciate having a place with WiFi as well as a full menu. (For PH residents, Le Gamin, Fish and Sip and Pequena also fit the bill.)
Amy Clark,
Editor, http://ProspectHeights... -
Review from Becky F.
Brooklyn, NY
1/22/2012
I looooooove this place. I've brunch/lunch here a few times and never had any complaints. The food is great, the people are nice, the space is large, and the atmosphere is very comfy/cool/Brooklyn-y. I highly recommend for a nice chill place. It beats out a lot of the other too-hipstered-out places that are flooding Pro-Cro.
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Review from Chey H.
1/6/2012
I think Abigail is a great underrated and under the radar spot. I have never had the level of service issues that some yelpers have, but I also haven't gone there mainly for a meal. I'm all about the wine! Abigail has a great selection and decent prices, and it doesn't hurt that the last time I visited with a friend, we both got a glass on the house. I really enjoy their red wine selection. I have tried the Prince Edward Island Mussels, which were cooked perfectly and served in a yummy creamy sauce. I need to pay more attention to Abigail and try more of the items on their menu.
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Review from iampiama h.
Brooklyn, NY
1/6/2012
I have an affinity for this place because it's just a few blocks from my place. It's beautiful and calm, the staff is friendly and they have a few good wines.
BUT.
The food is consistently sub par. I rarely encounter food that is just mediocre or uninspired. How can you overcook a simple slab of fish? How is ever other bite of risotto undercooked and crunchy? Why is the butter cold and unspreadable? Why did I once wait 1.5 hours for the cook to show up to make brunch? Many questions that have yet to be unanswered. It's a real shame in a neighborhood that is swiftly changing and excellent food and drinks are becoming the norm. STEP IT UP ABIGAIL!!! -
Review from D W.
Brooklyn, NY
1/13/2012
I've yet to have a great glass of wine here and it's a wine bar!
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Review from annie t.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
They were kind enough to let us use their space for our E-pics. Love the decor with the exposed brick,cozy feel, and colorful couches. Great addition to the Prospect Height neighborhood
On to food & wine. House wine wasn't bad but nothing to brag about. I love their mac n cheese. Very gooey and creamy!
Would definitely come back for a full dinner. -
Review from Benjamin F.
Brooklyn, NY
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have tried many times to like Abigail. I'm a wino (my preferred term over oenophile), who lives four blocks away and they refer to themselves as a wine bar. These two facts should create a marriage made in heaven. In this instance, it does no such thing. The owners should change the name simply to Abigail Cafe. It would not eliminate some of the problems that I have run into there, but it would create a more realistic expectation of what they're capable of. As a general note, I find their wine list to be bad: they offer budget wines that are mostly too young to drink.
Incident #1
My most recent (and last) visit provided the most egregious example of poor service and poor planning. I visited for dinner with a party of four: my parents, my wife and myself. When we arrived, we were greeted cordially, seated immediately and then made to wait for several minutes for water, bread and menus. It was not an unreasonable amount of time by any means, but more than I would have expected in a not-very-busy restaurant on a Sunday night. When we decided on our entrees, I ordered a white wine (the particular varietal and vintage escape me now) and we ordered two appetizers and four entrees. When the wine arrived, I was shocked at the wine service. The wine's temperature was too cold and it was not delivered with an ice bucket to maintain the chill. The temperature was a mere foible compared to the fact that the bottle of wine was opened behind the bar well before it was presented to us and that the presentation was for our server to walk up to the table and start pouring. I can forgive many minor errors in wine service but there were no minor errors made in this particular instance of wine service but instead many large ones.
When the appetizers were served, my mother still hadn't been given silverware and I discovered that my fork was soiled. All of the food was fine: there was nothing remarkable in either direction. Had the service been adequate, it would have been a wholly unremarkable visit to a restaurant (which would have been at least worth two stars).
Incident #2
My wife and I attempted to go there for brunch one Sunday, walking in within an hour of their advertised opening time (an hour after) and were told, "We can seat you but we don't have a chef yet." Everyone runs late sometimes; it happens. But the chef not being there at the advertised opening hour means that he or she was running hours late. Again, it happens sometimes and I would have excused it as an extraordinary happenstance if it hadn't been for the following.
Incident #3
My wife and I attempted to go there for brunch on another Sunday arrived at a similar hour (approximately one hour after they open) and we were told that they would be happy to seat us but that we should be forewarned that they had no coffee. Again, it is, in fact, understandable that sometimes inventory tracking will be a problem. That said, there is, in fact, a small grocery store that would sell coffee to anyone who walked in with the money to purchase it a block away and a supermarket just slightly farther. Either of the employees sitting there with no customers might have taken five minutes to purchase coffee. It might not be the quality of coffee that they usually serve (which is good), but it would have been coffee to serve with brunch. For me, serving brunch without coffee is totally unacceptable.
To be fair, I have visited Abilgail at least twice for brunch and had positive experiences. Unfortunately, a 50% or less chance of having a good experience is not a good enough percentage for me to want to return to a location. Thinking back on it, It is astonishing that I have given them as many chances as I have. -
Review from gigi l.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
I live in the area and would love to like this wine bar more. The first few times I went I liked it. Great spot to meet up with local friends after work but the food really leaves alot to be desired which is surprising to me since the Chef/Owner has gone to one of the best culinary schools in NY. Their cheese plate is not good. Crostinis are eh. Food rather lackluster. It is really only good if you want to grab a few glasses of wine. I have drank here and then grabbed a burger down the street at DutchBoy. I think the owners should check out Claret Wine Bar in Sunnyside to see how they can make some improvements.
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Review from Paul S.
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was very hungry, and thought a glass of wine would do me good, so I came in during happy hour with my roommates to get some grub and a glass.
The happy hour was a choice of a merlot, a pinot grigio, or a beer. We all opted for the red. It was a hefty pour. And at $4, that was allll right.
What wasnt right was the food. It was pricey. Which I can deal with if its really good. But my fish burger didnt have much to it. Just eating a chunk of fish. No tangy counterpoint. No acid. We also tasted a small portion of their smoked mac and cheese.. a $4 portion which couldve been eaten in one spoonful. And not too flavorful either.
All in all, not coming back for the food. But if I feel the wine jones again, I have absolutely no qualms about coming back during happy hour. -
Review from Anne H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2011
BIG FUCKING FAIL!!
I really had the worst experience EVAR here, and I left Abigails feeling so angry, that I really would like the owners to contact me.
The thing is, the food here is really not bad. It's actually good! The wine list is delightful! It's just that the service is SO terrible and MEAN.
Ok let me explain.
So I've been here before to drink, and it's been great. As I have said, they have a great wine list. After running 10 miles, I went here with Josh H, Alex I and some other people. (They didn't run 10 miles, but they also skipped breakfast and were starved). I swear to god the waitress had mental retardation or something. She had to ask us our orders like 5 times.
We wait. and wait. The time is now 3:30 (we were seated at....2pm). Were starving. My friend ordered a SCONE (something that clearly is made in advance) and even that has YET TO COME OUT. And umm, didn't we order some drinks. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF, EVEN THOSE HAVE NOT COME OUT. Seriously, WHAT.THE.FUCK. It's not like the restaurant was that busy.
When our food FINALLY comes, at 4 FUCKING PM, the waitress brings us THE WRONG FOOD. My friend ordered mac and cheese, not huevos rancheros. Ummm, how could one confuse those when one asked us our order 5. fucking. times. When we pointed out that not only had we been waiting 2 UNGODLY HOURS to eat but this was the wrong item, the waitress got snippy.
The food itself was yummy, but the worst part was the waitress refused to take the wrong item off the bill (after we waited for 2 hours).
The SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO THE DINERS NEXT TO US!! They had also waited 2 hours and had been brought the wrong food by the bitchy waitress. WTF.
Horrible experience. I really hope the owners do contact me after this because this is unacceptable. I really really hoping for good brunch in my hood, too :-( -
Review from Laura M.
Brooklyn, NY
5/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've only been once for dinner on a Thursday evening, so I have no idea what it could be like for brunch (as many reviews say its insane at that time), so keeping that in mind, I really enjoyed myself!
My boyfriend and I got the cheese and meat plate to start, which was yummy, along with a roasted pepper and chickpea crustini, which was also pretty good.
I got a veggie burger as my main because I was afraid of filling up on apps (but I usually go for beef...mmmmm...beef...). it was okay, but then again, how good are veggie burgers ever? (especially if you're a carnivore like me).
we got a really good bottle of Cabernet, and the server was very good.
The decor of the place is cute and the atmosphere is cozy. I felt very comfortable there and would suggest anyone looking for a romantic dinner date or just a nice lunch with some friends check out this place! -
Review from Jeanine R.
Brooklyn, NY
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dear Abigail,
Your Prince Edward Mussels in a white wine sauce with dill and garlic wer amazing the first time I had them. However the second time I was served bad mussels.
I will no longer order mussels from your restaurant.
J -
Review from Katie H.
Brooklyn, NY
6/17/2011
So much wasted potential. This is a cool, tucked-away location, and the space is so beautiful. I've never had any complaints about the wine selection. I like that they change their seasonal menu. Oh, and the bathroom is just lovely.
But after several visits -- more than it merits -- the personnel is always uninformed and aloof. The waitresses seem much more interested in singing along to the overhead music, and the waiters seem much more interested in the waitresses.
When I order a $15 kobe burger and it comes out grossly overcooked -- and I tell you -- you should send it back or offer an alternative. Also: mention "sorry." The wrong answer is to roll your eyes, smile and give me a free mimosa. A mimosa isn't even close to being a burger.
The risotto has always come out gummy and in tiny portions. The mac & cheese is underwhelming and overpriced and the coffee tastes burnt. Brunch takes too long to come out. -
Review from Joanie K.
7/18/2011
Came here w/ a Scoutmob deal for brunch on Friday morning, no one was in the restaurant so we had a great, relaxing time.
I ordered the baked eggs, my friend a sandwich. Tea, and Coffee as well
The eggs had a lot of potential but it wasn't very well seasoned, but no matter, still tasty as eggs by default are.
I'd like to come back in the evening for drinks because the ambiance is really nice -
Review from Caroline N.
Brooklyn, NY
5/1/2011
As someone who lives in the neighborhood and loves supporting local businesses, I'm not one to trash a place without good reason. However, my service experience at Abigail's was so mind-bogglingly atrocious that it must be shared, if only in the hopes that someone at Abigail's reads this and learns from it.
To be fair, they were busy. It was Saturday brunch on the same day as the Cherry Blossom Festival at the nearby botanic gardens. As Chavella's, our first brunch choice, had a wait of 30 minutes, my party of 3 decided to check out Abigail's for brunch, something I had been meaning to do for awhile. In retrospect, I really wish we had just waited at Chavellas.
Since it was crowded, we agreed to be seated at the bar. After 15 minutes of sitting there unattended, I asked one of the servers for menus, and we then placed our orders.
Where to start? OK, we had to ask for water FIVE times. Of course, we asked the guy who was our server twice. When that didn't work, I even asked another waitress who was at the bar filling glasses for her own table if she could fill up three glasses for ourselves as well. Rather than comply with our fairly simple request, she instead told our server to get us water, which he didn't do, until we asked him another two times. Though I quickly drained my small glass, I didn't even bother asking for a refill, nor was one offered even though we were sitting directly across the bar from our server the entire time.
I also had to ask for bread, which should have been brought to us after we placed our order. We were given a plate of bread slices, and I had to then ask for a knife, butter, and bread plates. We were given one bread plate to share among the three of us, even though I specifically asked for three.
About an hour later, our food finally came, which was great because we were starving. However, as we weren't given cutlery we were left just staring at our food. I had to ask for cutlery twice. TWICE! Without even an apology for such a basic lapse.
I should note that the food was pretty good, definitely above average brunch fare.
Finally, I need to mention the bathroom situation. One of the two bathrooms' toilets had overflown, leading to water and excrement flooding all over the bathroom floor. That in itself, while seriously disgusting and off-putting, would be understandable, since toilets sometimes do that. However, when I immediately went to inform staff about the situation, one of the other diners stopped me and said, "they know, I already told them." Apparently dealing with EXCREMENT ALL OVER THE FREAKING FLOOR was not a priority for any of the staff present. Even if they couldn't have fixed it right away, couldn't someone have had the foresight to lock the door or put up an "out of service" sign? I would have appreciated the gesture.
So, basically there was a complete breakdown in service, from start to finish. (Except when it came to bringing us our check, which they were able to do quite quickly).
However, what was really shocking is that, despite the many inexcusable lapses no one even apologized, for any of it. Our server did thank us for our patience when he handed us the check, but that's really not the same thing as an apology. It's like no one in the place had any sense of how to decently treat paying customers. I can't actually think of a worse service experience I've ever had. -
Review from Jayne G.
Brooklyn, NY
5/2/2011
I too visited Abigail for the first time last night (May 1st). I wholeheartedly reiterate Anthony and Caroline's May 1st reviews. I have lived in the neighborhood for four months and for some reason never stopped into Abigail after having passing by on multiple occasions. My inner restaurant mojo must have been protecting me.
After coming across an advert that they were starting a live Jazz Jam Sunday nights, we decided to head to Abigail for dinner (around 7:45pm) Everything Caroline and Anthony pointed out was absolutely spot on. The place wasn't even close to fully seated and we stood waiting for a table for about twenty minutes.
My gut told me to leave but you know how that goes so we suffered through a horrible dining experience. The toilets were indeed filthy, the service snail-like, and after a 45 minute entree wait, our server dropped the check as we were about to take our first bites.
I could go on but I think Caroline did a superb job of pointing out all of their issues. I would steer clear of Abigail until they receive more than six months of solid Yelp reviews. It's a shame because the atmosphere and location are both positive. -
Review from Elizabeth B.
Brooklyn, NY
Two drinks in and Abigail's has totally won me over. Oh yes it does seem like the set of a politically correct sitcom, with the smartass bartender and bevy of laptop-toting regulars, but despite your snarkier instincts this is a cast you want to be part of. The first time I came here the skimpy pours turned me off. That problem has been solved and though the wines are Manhattan priced the selection is Manhattan quality and the goat cheese crostini was delicious."It kills me to say it cause I'm a total cheapskate but it"s kinda worth it." Points to whomever sends me a compliment identifying that quote lol.
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Review from tory s.
Brooklyn, NY
11/8/2011
Good wine, yummy sandwiches, delicious salad, yummy mac n cheese, great atmosphere, friendly bartenders, great music. Don't come if you're in a rush, but that's what's nice about it.
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Review from Betty C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/21/2011
This place is ADORBS! My friend is moving to the area, and we decided to check it out after dinner (and use my scoutmob discount). We got there around 10p and it wasn't very crowded - a couple of larger groups, some parties of two.
It's super cozy, but also quite a spacious place. There was something very appealing about the bar - it was bi-level and we sat at the shorter side, which was nice because i'm not very tall and I like my feet on the ground.
The wines are very reasonably priced - most glasses are between $6 and $10 dollars. The two bartenders were very attentive (and smiley) with refilling our water jug as well as getting our orders and asking if we were ok. The pours were very generous!! One of the bartenders even apologized for the heavy pour. Girl, no need to apologize!!! Obviously we welcomed it.
The only downfall is that here were a couple of weirdos hanging out here and at times they got a little too close for comfort. I guess this is NYC, so there are bound to be some harmless crazies. Also, the place closes at midnight. Kind of a bummer.
This place really feels like a neighborhood place, and I want to come back more often. -
Review from Hannah B.
Brooklyn, NY
9/18/2011
Just got back from sunday lunch at Abigails - such a disappointment, and we were eating out for my husbands birthday. It is the nearest restaurant to us (so had high hopes it would become our regular go-to joint) but while we've had drinks there before this was the first time we've eaten there - never again. We were hanging around for a while before we were seated, which is fine, we're in no rush. We were a bit disappointed by the menu - even though they put a blackboard outside saying there's a 3-course prix fixe that's actually only available weekdays. The brunch menu wasn't very varied, basically just egg dishes or burgers and we'd had eggs for breakfast so that left us with burgers!
We ordered the kobe beef burger and fish burger - both sounded great on the menu, the fish flavoured with ginger and both coming with aoli (i LOVE aoli). We weren't particularly impressed that on top of paying $12 for the burgers, there's a further $3 charge if you want salad and roast potatoes (no option of french fries), but though hey, maybe they're freaking awesome roast potatoes. When I ordered the fish burger i was told that there was a chance they might not have the stuff in to make it because of delivery problems and a busy evening last night, but the waiter didn't return so I guess that was moot, but it may mean that what i was served isn't what is always served as the fish burger.
The food took at least 20 minutes to come (could have been 30), along with the excuse that there apparently was only one cook today, though the place wasn't even half full at this point. I instantly noticed that there was no aoli, and asked the server where it was. He said it might be on the bun (it really wasn't, the bun was bone dry) but that he'd get us some to go on the side. 5 or so minutes later he comes back with a portion of what looks like aoli, but actually is just mayo. He said sorry they don't have any aoli right now. I thought he meant that they usually buy it and hadn't been able to get any in, but on clarification he admitted the chef makes it himself, but it takes him 10 minutes or so, and because he's so busy, he didn't have time. I couldn't believe it and said that it is actually written on the menu that these dishes come with it, and the reply was that it was more of an optional thing. ie. optional whether the chef can be bothered to make it! Anyway, so we ate and the food was totally mediocre. The beef was tasteless and underseasoned (though at least cooked medium rare as requested) and the fish burger (which was bright pink so presumably made with salmon) had no trace of ginger taste and an overpowering tast of dill. How you cook roast potatoes badly i don't know, but these were dry, bland and tasted bad and (to steal Woody Allen's joke...) there were so few of them!! Literally, about half a big potato's worth. We were hella hungry so ate it all but left so disappointed and we will never eat there again. We used a scoutmob discount and still felt ripped off! I've never written a yelp review but this is one of those experiences that really made me want to!
From our experience:
Pros - mimosas were nice and ok price ($8), atmosphere was nice, maybe the extensive egg-based menu isn't as bad as the burgers, when we've been in on weeknights for drinks only the barmen have been great and the happy hour white wine is pretty decent.
Cons - relatively long wait for food, the burgers = bad, potatoes = bad, they charge extra for sides that should come as part of the meal, chef evidently regards some aspects of the menu as optional to provide, you may or may not recieve a carafe of water (we didn't, other tables did, our glasses were not refilled), they WILL add 18% gratuity if you use scoutmob or any other discount (this is the only place i have ever scoutmobbed that's done this!) -
Review from Tamara M.
Brooklyn, NY
7/16/2011
This review is for drinks only.
My best friend and I were on our way to Franklin Park for some drinks last night. Saw the crowd and made a beeline for something quieter. Came across Abigail's on the corner, heard the live jazz and went in.
Loved the ambiance. We sat at the bar and was promptly handed menus for the food and wine selections. After a couple of minutes they took our order for Kir Royales. As soon as our glasses were empty they asked if we wanted another round. I asked to try some wine and the waiter happily obliged.....nice. After getting our second round of drinks we moved to the comfortable couch and spent the remainder of the evening there. We spent a good 2 hrs there and didn't feel rushed at all, and the service was friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back. -
Review from Kate J.
Brooklyn, NY
10/25/2011
the food is bad. like microwaved bad.
ordered mussels too and half the mussels in the pot were sealed up and inedible. i'm surprised that there isn't anyone monitoring quality control in the kitchen. i keep going back thinking it's going to be better but it's not. i'm done.
the only reason i gave the place two stars is because the staff is friendly and i'm sure it's a nice place to have a class of wine...but the food is a no go. -
Review from Rebecca B.
Santa Monica, CA
10/11/2011
This is a beautiful and quaint cafe in the middle of Prospect Heights. I have been for brunch and dinner and enjoyed both.
For brunch we had the baked eggs (beyond delicious) and the omelet (average, but only because they gave me the wrong one).
For dinner we had a feast and everything was so delicious, we thought of ordering more even though we were stuffed.
We had the olive tapenade, stuffed peppadews (had these in S Africa, and they were as delicious, if not more, at Abigail), the arugula salad (amazing), pumpkin soup, oxtail entree and the sausage and mushroom with goat cheese penne. When I say we were stuffed, we were stuffed, but everything was so delicious, we could have eaten for hours.
The place has a great ambiance, and yes, the service is slow, but it's Brooklyn - I haven't been to a place in Brooklyn that has the same quick output as a Manhattan restaurant. BUT it's completely worth the wait with the food being better than that served for the same price in Manhattan. I've sat in other Brooklyn establishments only to be disappointed after the waiting game. This was not disappointing in the least. We were able to sit back and enjoy a nice dinner vs scarfing down our food in 30 minutes. Each course was delivered to our table exactly when we would have wanted it to be. It's not a fast food joint, you're not going to go in and get served and be out in 30 minutes. The cooks take their time and it's well noticed in the presentation and flavor of each dish.
Definitely recommend. -
Review from Casey S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/1/2011
So let's just start off that I love this place. I've been coming here since February and have never had a bad experience. I am writing this review now in defense of Abigail Cafe and Wine Bar and in response to Paul D.
Paul D did come in with his wife on Saturday but his hands are NOT clean. A server (who was actually really helpful and nice to us) came over after giving them their order and apologized to Paul D for forgetting to put the platter order in. He immediately went down stairs to the kitchen and talked to the Chefs (I had a great view of this from the bar directly in between Paul D.'s table and the stairs to the kitchen.) As soon as the server came up stairs Paul D walked over and asked how long this would take because he is hungry. The server then explained to him that he had just talked to them and it would be at his table as soon as it was ready. Paul D didn't like this and accused the server of "catching an attitude with him" The server responded politiely with "No, I'm just talking to you" So soon enough the platter is ready and the server takes the ceramic plate and sets it down on the marble. A small noise is made and that seemed to have been the boiling point for Paul. D. Paul D. immediately began to yell (I must say I was quite embarssed for his wife, the look on her face made it appear as if this is something she had to deal with on a regular basis) at the server asking him for his name. The server gave him his name and then directed him to Abigail that had been watching the whole situation as I had. Abigail took a verbal lashing from Paul D calmy and collectively and when he calmed down his wife and him walked out the door. I too am in the food industry and have been all my life and Paul D did some serious no-nos when it comes to dining out. Which surprises me even more now that I see he is in the food industry.
Don't let him scare you. The atomosphere is nice, the servers are friendly, the music is good and the wine is even better.
They have a comedy night on tuesdays, an open mic night on wednesdays, live jazz music for brunch and salsa night every 2nd and 4th saturday of the month. For people that do so much for their community can they really be that horrible of people?
As for food here is a list of must try things at Abigail's:
Risotto
Bean Burger
Smoked Mac n' Cheese
Chicken BLT
Baked Eggs
Eggs Mexicana
honey-chipotle wings
Oxtail
and their delicious chocolate chip cookies
ps they have the heaviest mimosas in the area go for brunch on Saturday or Sunday and you'll be leaving happy and tipsy.
Like Paul D. I too am not a big "yelper" I really only do it in defense of businesses that have provided me with great service because unlike me and more like Paul D. most casual only want to write a review based on a bad experience. Never a good one. Someone has to stick up for these guys!
So get on down there for some foods. -
Review from Viv C.
New York, NY
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
This cafe is adorable. I stopped by on a Sunday and they had live music at the front. It is spacious and plenty of people were in there working on their laptops.
Food itself was delicious, I got a salad while my companion got the veggie burger. It did take a while though so they do have a slow kitchen. Service was awesome, waiters were all super friendly and helpful. Stop by here after your visit to the botanical garden! -
Review from Daren G.
Brooklyn, NY
5/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Always enjoyable. Great food + atmosphere. Love the live music!
Every time I eat here, I try something new and am never disappointed. This last time around I went with the mac n' cheese, sweet pea and shrimp risotto, and sticky toffee pudding cake. All very good! -
Review from Rae T.
Brooklyn, NY
7/24/2011
I really wanted to love Abigail's and kept giving it another chance.I have come for drinks, dinner and brunch and can easily say I won't be going back anytime soon.
The place is adorable and has great neighborhood feel. Unfortunately, the wait staff and kitchen offer lazy service and a subpar product.
During brunch we had to wait 15 minutes just to receive a menu. The hour + wait for our food in the nearly empty place was ridiculous and the waiter messed up our order, twice. There were several items of food they were simply out of and when we asked the waiter for suggestions/substitutions, he simply shrugged.
When our food arrived both orders were wrong and my vegetable burger was so dry and crumbly it was almost inedible. Paired with the wilted side salad, it was easily one of the saddest meals I've ever had.
Your best bet at this place is to skip it if you're hungry and just have a nice glass of wine or two at the bar. -
Review from Brian B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/25/2011
This is such a great little place, in not the greatest (or most convenient) of neighborhoods.
I've only been here once for brunch. I live in Greenpoint, so it's 45+ minutes on two trains with an above ground transfer for me to get here. I would totally go more often if I knew a better route.
Totally worth the trip! Brunch at Abigail and then a schlep around the Brooklyn Museum = a lovely Saturday! -
Review from Chante R.
3/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We stopped by here for drinks and dessert after brunch at Cafe Shane. I must admit their wine list was extensive and versatile from the usual suspects (California & French wineries) to German and South African wines and more!
For dessert we had the fruit tart of day - which was apple with whipped cream. The dessert went perfectly with my Reisling...not too "tart" and not too sweet.
This place is dope...with the artsy decor, vibrant red walls and a big space to served delicious American (with a cool flair) as well as host jazz performances.
I definitely will try the brunch the next time I'm in the area. -
Review from Helen B.
Brooklyn, NY
3/25/2011
First of all, why does this place get an average of 3 stars??? No way, it deserves much better than that! Second of all, this is the kind of place that makes me proud of my neighborhood. Now I'm kicking myself for not coming here in the past 2 years that I've lived here. Abigail's is the type of place that you can describe as homey and cool. Once seated, I told my boyfriend it reminds me of an artist's dining room. I immediately took liking to the art on the wall and the ambiance of the cafe.
After checking out the menu, my boyfriend and I decided to go out full and ordered the following:
1. Mushroom soup - creamy, rich and delightful.
2. The Abigail Caesar salad - holy sh*t, by far the most delicious salad I ever had. Okay I'm exaggerating, but it comes close to it. Romain lettuce, beets, bacon, mushrooms and pumpkin make this salad a dream to the taste buds.
3. The small portion of smoked Mac & Cheese - not the best thing on the menu. It was standard mac and cheese. I wanted there to be more tang, more bite and more CHEESE!!
4. For Main Course we split the Braised Ox Tail. PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR BUTTS DOWN HERE FOR THIS DISH!!!! I'm serious, this is probably the best thing I've tasted in a long time. I'm hooked, I need more!!
5. Prince Edward Mussles in the white wine and cream sauce. Yummy and creamy - loved the dill and garlic incorporated into the sauce.
And least but not last we had to get something for desert. The flour-less chocolate cake was not really my style, but it was OK. Not going ga-ga over it.
After complementing the meal to our waiter, he recommended coming here for brunch. I am soooo there!!! -
Review from paul d.
Brooklyn, NY
8/20/2011
COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR YOUR MONEY!!!!
I think the email I sent to the owner pretty much sums up my experience:
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Paul DiCesare, my wife and I visited your cafe on Saturday, August 20th around 1:30pm. I was the person who became so completely disgusted with your wait staff that I made a scene and walked out of the restaurant. I have personally been involved in the restaurant and bar industry for the past 12 years, having been a server, bartender and manager around the North and Southeast. I can honestly say that my experience today was unequivocally the worst dining experience of my life. Your lazy, useless wait staff is not only ineffective; they are also disrespectful and childish. I have NEVER walked out on a meal-- That was until earlier this afternoon. I do not expect a response to this email, but what you need to understand is in this era of social media and instantaneous communication, your business doesn't not stand a chance. But let's be honest, you gave up years ago. If you feel I am wrong, please tell me differently". -
Review from Isabella W.
Brooklyn, NY
9/21/2010
Dear Abigail, what the hell is wrong with you?
Because you are right around the corner from our friend's home and your venue oozed that low key, jazzy coolness, M. and I have been wanting to try you out since last year.
Went there for brunch on Sunday and oh boy there was live music. Although a little bit too loud for my taste, we sat down and placed our orders: A bottle of prosecco, Baked eggs, french toast and a single popover to satisfy my curiosity.
The food were without a doubt, tasty. The service was passable. The problem came with portion and pricing. Baked eggs: "baked in a cast iron skillet with asparagus, smoked ham, cremini mushrooms & parmigiano" I found no asparagus in my dish and in its place I found zucchinis. I don't have problem with substitution but I would like to be notified, specially when I'm paying $10 for this 2 eggs dish which came with 0.1 oz of smoked ham, 2 cherry tomatoes, 4 little pieces of zucchini and some humble amount of tossed salad. The serving size would have been wonderful for breakfast alone but this is brunch and on top of that, it came with no bread. Yup, you have to order a side of toast ($1) or croissant ($??).
Are you serious? This simple $10 dish can't have complimentary toast?
M.'s french toast was made with 3 slices of standard sandwich bread. He said that it was good though. The popover was nice but not worth the $1.5/each price tag (you can get 3 for $3.5).
When the meal was over I was lusting after other table's food. M. and I walked to a local coffee shop and I proceed to have a cup of joe and a croissant. Am I too used to the American super size me serving portion? I doubt that. I'm certain of one thing though, you can cut back on my dinner but don't skimp on my brunch! -
Review from Amy K.
Fairfield, CT
12/5/2011
This was my third time at Abigail's. The first two times the food was very good and the service quite good as well. And, I enjoyed the funky atmosphere. However, on this third visit, it was as if I had entered another restaurant. I brought five friends. We each ordered 2 or 3 items. And at least one item from each order was either no longer on the menu or they were out of it. None of us were able to get a complete meal. The meal took an hour to arrive. And, yes, we did ask about it numerous times. Most of the meals were good, but I had trouble finding the meat on my sandwich. There was lots of chutney, cold bread, and a VERY thin slice of meat. . The waiter made a multitude of excuses, but ultimately did nothing. I (and my 5 friends) will not go back.
-
Review from Jenny G.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2011
My favorite thing about this place, besides the food, is the atmosphere. They have great live music and it's really laid-back.
The location is easy to miss, as there aren't a ton of restaurants nearby so not many people walk by and find it. But if you've been there once, you'll definitely want to go back. The service is very friendly and they have a good selection for vegetarians!
