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Abigail's American Bistro
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
493 Roger Williams AveHighland Park, IL 60035
(847) 780-4862
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Abigail's American Bistro
Review Highlights
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"...meatloaf is to die for and the wine list is very accessible." In 4 reviews -
"Their specialty is the sticky toffee pudding cake." In 3 reviews -
"The apps (love the buffalo shrimp." In 4 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Nail S.
Highland Park, IL
4/2/2012
Fantastic!!! My husband and I are big fans...Abigail's is a complete package. Neighborhood upscale eatery with city atmosphere.
Larry is a master mixologist, the fine art of mixing cocktails is a serious matter and it seems Larry has spent a lot of time delving into the intricacies of the craft. His Old Fashioned is out of this world, definitely a must if you're a bourbon drinker.
Michael, Executive chef and owner made our dinning experience equally as enjoyable. For appetizers we shared a super tasty kale salad (best ever, plan on serving it at my seder), delicious fried oysters, a heavenly fried quail, coconut curry mussels with a double portion of toasted bread we used to soak up the super yummy broth, succulent pork belly served with a soft-boiled and then deep-fried egg...CRAZY good! For our entrees we shared a salmon fillet on a bed of buttery lentils topped with crispy brussels sprouts and a perfectly prepared rib eye served with mashed potatoes. And for the finale, our server suggested a flavor medley of baked pear and thyme ice cream. Everyone seemed happy, but I prefer chocolate for my dessert.
Everything was fresh and tasty, we were stuffed. Thankfully we walked over to Abigail's with another couple...a walk was back just what we needed.
Be back soon! -
Review from Amanda T.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2012
Fam and I headed up to Ravinia after deciding we needed to take a tour of the northern suburbs. Drive and scenery were great! After about an hour, we were famished but didn't think we had a bunch of choices since we had our four legged, hairy baby with us. Boy, were we happy to see that HP was k9 friendly and there was a little bistro that would let us bring our pooch. We had to wait about 12 minutes for a table around 6:30, barely enough time to start on our cocktails.
When we sat down our server was a super friendly ginger that took us through the menu. We got the delicious cheddar biscuits and reluctantly shared crumbs with the hairy kid to keep him quiet.
We ordered a lot!
For appetizers- all very good!
Hubs got the fried oysters, human kid got the hamachi crudo and I had the chicken liver pâté.
Entrees-
Hubs got coconut curry mussels, human kid got the tempura buffalo shrimp, I got the cheeseburger with Wisconsin cheddar and red onion marmalade. Everyone seemed pleased.
We also got the truffle polenta fries to share- loved them!
Dessert-
We shared a sticky toffee pudding with sour cream ice cream. Separately I don't think I would be a fan but partnered together, the flavors worked.
Hubs had an after dinner drink. It was called the "toblerone". Yeah that's right, like the pyramid shaped candy bar. This was fantastic and I would like to get a keg by my bed fed to me intravenously if I was willing to cart around an extra 75 pounds.
All in all, a well spent 80 degree winter evening in the Chicago, northern suburbs. The people at abigail's were friendly and accomodating. I'll definitely hit this place again with the fam or just with the hubs. -
Review from Britton S.
Chicago, IL
3/19/2012
One word... L-A-R-R-Y!
No one is doing what Larry is doing anywhere on the Northshore quite like this talented mixologist. It is about time we start to pat attention to those who put the effort and care into a beautifully crafted cocktail as much as the cuisine. He does amazing creations with infusions of spirits, handmade simple syrups, handmade bitters, freshly squeezed juices and can do magic with just about anything he can fit into your glass! I think I even saw him do something clever with marmalade too!
This hip bartender even batches his spirits- big city trendy stuff I might say.
Try his spin on the classic Negroni or a margarita and just watch him make your bourbon do pirouettes when you sip on an old favorite called "The Jacobson" which pays homage to a loyal patron.
I am single-handedly giving "props" to this charismatic magician behind a tiny restaurant bar tucked away in Highland Park. A tiny bar, but a such a BIG draw -so worth the train stop in or drive.
Larry will be certain to greet you with a handshake and a huge smile!
****He deserves much credit for his part of artistic input! -
Review from Michele R.
Manhattan, NY
5/24/2012
It's good. It's not great, but it is good. GIve it a shot if you are in the neighborhood, but definitely not worth an extra trip.
-
Review from Katherine K.
Milwaukee, WI
4/14/2012
We came here for my friend's birthday. She read the Yelp reviews about the cocktails so that's what we came for, but we were hoping to stay for dinner too. No such luck with dinner--the wait to seat our group of seven was over an hour and a half. The bar was empty so we all sat down and ordered the aforementioned cocktails. FANTASTIC. I highly recommend the Arm Candy. Between the seven of us, we tried most of the specialty cocktails and passed them around--they were all excellent. The bartender was a gem too. The food coming out of the kitchen looked fab, and I'm disappointed we didn't wait out the wait because the place we ended up at for dinner was way overpriced and sub par.
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Review from Scott R.
Northbrook, IL
12/30/2011
We ate here last night at 5:15 (no reservations after 6:00); dinner started inauspiciously with complimentary herbed chedddar rolls - very heavy, overwhelming really. I'm not a fan.
Things got better when we shared the cocoanut curry mussel appetizer: flavorful broth, the mussels were even sized and tasty, very good toasted bread to lap up the broth.
For an entree we had the medium plate duck confit/frisee salad which sat on a bed of french fries. It was delicious and more than adequate in size. Our other entree was a fish special (fluke) which was very flavorful and served with cauliflower puree.
For desset we tried a pear cake which was enjoyable, but not memorable.
Service was pleasant and professional.
This is a North Shore kinda place: noisy, tables are too close, people all look the same, etc. If you like that, or can get beyond that, you will enjoy a meal here. -
Review from Vlad A.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a bit of a stretch to say that it's a hidden gem, but it's definitely worth at least one visit.
Its a bistro, so keep in mind that while prices are relatively low, the portions are somewhat small. The 6 of us came here early Sat evening and were seated at a table designed for 4( two tables pushed together), so 2 sitting in the middle of the connected tables had to deal with an uneven crack in between the tables. Somewhat of a pain in the ass to balance a plate,etc. We asked for a larger table, but were told that the larger setups are for parties 8 or more.
The food was good, not excellent and no great raves, but good. Salads here are well prepared and my corn bisque was decent, though served very hot. I had the flat iron steak, which was excellent and cooked perfectly. It came with a side of greasy fries, that bordered on inedible: I recommend you ask for a different side. My wife had the pan seared fluke(flounder), which was very good and came with a nice portion of asparagus.
Overall the group liked their meals, but no one was contemplating a return anytime soon. Around 6:30, the place started to get real busy and given the small size of the restaurant and bar area, some started spilling over into the dining area. -
Review from J K.
Glencoe, IL
9/15/2011
If you like hamburgers, eat at Abigail's. Otherwise, save your time, taste buds and money! My experiences at Abigail's have been vastly different from the rest of the reviewers. In two visits I have had one delicious item (a chilean sea bass special several months ago) and many menu items that ranged from bad to OK. On the flipside, the ambiance is very nice, and the waiters were a nice blend of cordial and friendly.
What I love about high-end restaurants is how they combine seemingly disparate ingredients to effect a taste sensation. You see something foreign yet beautiful. Intrigued, you carefully build your first forkful and cautiously bring it to your lips. When you take the first bite your experience of flavor and texture ranges from the excitement of the first few seconds to the continuing afterglow as each succeeding phase of flavor unfolds. Abigail's seems to be aspiring to this level of excellence. If you ask me, it does not come close to achieving it.
The specifics:
Yesterday I had a tuna sashimi dish with soy-jalapeno sauce that was fine, but not interesting in any way. I took the waiter's advice on a cold peach/yogurt soup (what was I thinking?!). I took his advice again on the "roasted beets/goat cheese fritters/mache/peppered pistachio/aged sherry vinaigrette", giving him a choice of 4 salad/vegetable dishes to choose from. It had way too much dressing, but to it's credit the peppered pistachios and the sherry vinaigrette had something happening. We ordered the "tempura rock shrimp/spicy buffalo sauce/blue cheese dressing/celery" and I loved the celery. I was unable to detect any but the faintest trace of shrimp within the blandly-flavored outer breading that was to be dipped into the blue cheese dressing.
On my last visit I had the "duck confit/honey-onion marmalade/salad frisse/frites/apple smoked bacon/poached egg" and for all of that seeming effort it flopped, although I did enjoy the fries. Yesterday my dining partner had the "burger/wisconsin sharp cheddar/red onion marmalade/frites" which he loved. I tried the fries and they were delicious once again. The cheddar parsley buns are flaky and tasty, but are clearly very heavy on the butter and cheese, so of course are going to taste good.
We had some cookies for dessert that were unexceptional. On the upside, the coffee was delicious. -
Review from Julie E.
Los Angeles, CA
7/14/2011 3 photos
It's dumb luck that Abigail's is in walking distance of my parents' house.
This is a quintessential neighborhood restaurant - casual but nice, not too small but not too big, upbeat atmosphere - that serves awesome, delicious food. Chef Michael Paulsen focuses on using local, in-season ingredients and designs dishes for the natural flavors to shine. There are standby dishes -- burger, salmon, flatbreads, soups -- but they are tweaked based on what's in season.
The complimentary cheddar parsley biscuits, served hot in a skillet, are just a sample of the great flavors to come:
Outstanding dishes:
-- Burger: with Wisconsin cheddar, a not-too-sweet onion marmalade and perfectly crisp frites (with optional truffle oil), this is a must-try. It's the closest burger I've had to Father's Office in LA (my other favorite burger).
-- Salmon: perfectly cooked. In the summer it's served with farrow and peas, with a light lemon sauce. Bright and full of flavor.
-- Goat cheese ravioli, with tomato sauce: again, so light, bright and flavorful. This isn't always on the menu but it's awesome.
-- Any of the flatbreads and soups. In the winter I tried a brie and apple soup, which sounds totally weird, but it was one of the best soups I've ever tried.
-- Any of the desserts. Their specialty is the sticky toffee pudding cake. They also have chocolate peanut butter mousse tart served with banana ice cream.
I mean, seriously, how more amazing can it get?
Few things to note:
-- No reservations, except if you make them in advance between 5-6 pm. COME EARLY. Not open at all on Sunday or Monday. Open for lunch Tues through Friday.
-- Great beer, wine and cocktail list. I would go here for a drink and sit at the bar.
-- Can be loud depending on where you sit. One of the walls is curved so the acoustics aren't consistent.
-- Sure, it's not exactly for young folks (unless kids are eating with their parents). It's Highland Park. It's a family suburb.
Doesn't matter when there's excellent food. -
Review from Joseph H.
Highland Park, IL
4/17/2011
"A hidden gem" in the Ravinia neighborhood of Highland Park. Great atmosphere, great little bar, and amazing food!!!
Everything on the menu, as well as the specials, looked great...so hard to decide!!!
We had the 2 special soups to start, mushroom bisque and white bean with sausage. Both incredible, the mushroom was not creamy, just excellent! The bean and lamb sausage was superb as well.
We then split the flatbread pizza of the day, with potatoe and pancetta! Great combination.
For entrees we had the salmon and parpedelle pasta with sausage, we highly recommend either!
So many other great things to eat there, cant wait to go back!!!! -
Review from West Side Tommy B.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2011
I was up that way with a pal of mine to visit a fella who just put together a DIY hi-fi based on JBL Pro speaker components and tube amplifiers; we got up there a little early and decided to eat and stumbled upon this place.
We had a beer at the bar while we waited for the dining room to open ( we got there about a quarter to five) and had a discussion about the excellent hamburgers at Nick's tavern in Lemont with the bartender. I was surprised people on the North Shore were familiar with Lemont (and with Nick's).
As for the chow; having discussed Nick's I ordered a burger. It was an excellent burger; fat, juicy and properly beefy tasting. Not much more to say. The fries were very crispy but not meaty and I wonder if they weren't high quality frozen fries cooked well. They were good but not up to the fries at, oh, let's say Poochies on Dempster or 35th St. Red Hots. Or Moodey's.
Before the burger I had an appetizer; three big dates stuffed with chorizo and wrapped with bacon. They were really, REALLY good.
The service was good and the people were friendly and helpful. I liked the place.
The hi-fi sounded good too. -
Review from Brian G.
Chicago, IL
2/12/2012
Abigails is great! Chef michael is great at what he does and he was the first to trick my senses with his salted caramel ice cream what a trip.....sweet n delicious...then salty then another bite takes u back to the rich caramel...awesome. hats off to the crew behind those closed doors and those delicious biscuits too!
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Review from hp b.
Naples, FL
10/12/2010
The Burgermaven says this is worth a trip to the 'burbs'. Anything Michael has on his special list you should try. His burger is among the top in the Midwest and ----
Let me add that Michael's sweet potato gnocchi is one of the BEST things I ever ATE! I have a list of the Best things: Like the dinner for two at L'esperance in France; or the mac and cheese at the Ritz in Cleveland. Well Michael's gnocchi will go on my 'Best foods ever' list.
Hey why not just have a burger and the gnocchi. Guaranteed you will be happy.
The Burgermaven. -
Review from Liz M.
Lake Bluff, IL
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the atmosphere at this adorable little place! I got there early, well, before the rest of my party and had a drink at the bar and a wonderful chat with the lovely bartender who was clearly very knowledgeable about food and drink! After one of my friends arrived she ordered a Sidecar which I had never heard of but the bartender explained to us and was very good! (Don't ask me to remember what's in it...)
With our party finally assembled we sat. The food was very good. My friend and I shared the Buffalo Shrimp and the duck which I believe was one of the entrees of the day. I always get nervous ordering duck because it can be very fatty and greasy. Honestly, it was anything but! It was delicious! We also tried the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake at the recommendation of the waiter and it was delicious! Not something I would have picked on my own but totally worth it!
Overall the staff is wonderful, the atmosphere is great and I can't wait to go back!! -
Review from Jeff K.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2010
Great food, great service but small restaurant that does not accept reservations. We called ahead & they said if we came after 8 pm, there should be no wait. Well we arrived at 8:15 (which is already a late dinner) and waited till 930 before we sat. Yes they gave us a free appetizer but my wife and I don't eat breaded or deep fried food so that didn't help our hunger factor.
In regards to the food it was very good. The salmon was delicious. The white fish was prepared great. The flat bread & the mussels were pretty good. The best dish by far were the scallops! In regards to the prices they were okay, between $13 - $24 for an entree.
Overall great food but I would never go back because they do not accept reservations. Who wants to wait over 1 hour when there are so many restaurants that accept reservations! If they change that policy, I would go back in a heartbeat! -
Review from Aaron L.
Naperville, IL
3/20/2010
For what Abigail's is, a yelp rating of 5 stars is appropriate.
Everything here has very nice and subtle flavors. You really have to appreciate food to get the most out of this experience, the cuisine's nuances and flavors will leave you asking "am I in a main street community on the north shore or downtown?"
Take a small walk just a few blocks east in the daytime and realize that this place is a true gem.
Buffalo Shrimp was a great bite but could have used some citrus punch on the flavor profile.
The flatbread was impressive, its texture, temperature, and taste are right up there with some of the best appies I've had in a while.
Pasta and sandwiches are well executed dishes and just flat out 'work in the taste department'. All elements in the pasta dish (smokey Chorizo, Shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes) were harmonious and had a distinct and near perfect interplay with one another.
END REVIEW
Aside:
To some reviewers who like to belittle the area and its inhabitants we ask kindly that you make the trek from East Lakeview, to give Abigail's
its just desserts and reconsider a rating that is way too low. You just might find good people in a relaxed atmosphere where food and fun is the name of the game. The people here have great "tastes" whereas you kind sir seem to be lacking in the tact and manners department. -
Review from Brad C.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2009
Determined to hit AB before the inevitable compromise to HP "tastes," I snuck in with a 'rent tonight. Hint: this is the busiest--at least for the next month--restaurant in town at 6PM, the emptiest (presumably) at 8.
Things that I also know:
1) I can say with near-certainty that there will definitely not be as much pork on the menu in a month as there is now. I'd be shocked if the charcouterie and smoked trout dishes were still there, too; I'm not surprised to hear the buffalo-style shrimp are the most popular menu item, put it that way.
2) I like the menu's concision and portion variation, but I can't see that lasting long. Everyone around us was ordering a salad or soup and an entree.
3) Highland Parkers are, without being overly tautological, very Highland Park-ish (Fill in the blank, if you will). Hope the chef has a lot of chicken recipes...
I could go all night about the context, but the food is promising and will benefit greatly when the chef has local produce to draw upon. Case in point: I had a nice grilled asparagus starter with the now-typical accompaniments--poached egg, prosciutto--and an additional fennel puree that was a nice touch. Familiar, but refreshing. The asparagus-watercress soup, as Ronnie noted above, has a nice interplay between the creamy vegetable and the salty-briny crunch of the cod fritter. Very good.
The aforementioned risotto and its accompanying mushroom foam were quite nice, but the scallops were of noticeably lower quality than the ones depicted in Ronnie's photos and were of an unfortunately vulcanized texture. The pork shoulder dish--we were the first table of our server's to ever order it--was fine, though nowhere in the realm of the shoulder I had at the Publican two weeks back; however, the chive gnocchi, while a bit greasy, were addictive. A side of roasted brussel sprouts and ham were on the level, though the quality of the sprouts was grocery store-level--I echo the sentiment above that you can do as well at home and would encourage the chef to find a farmer growing a better product and just charge more for the dish.
I want to remain cautiously optimistic that the upcoming Ravinia season and some culinary-minded locals will help sustain business so that the restaurant has the time it needs to find its groove, because I think it can be, if not a special place, the sort of ingredient-driven neighborhood restaurant that any town, but particularly Highland Park, deserves; I'd encourage the chef to continue to focus on producing the best food he can first, and then make concessions to the demographic, rather than the other way around. Perhaps, then, with AB's opening and the early June arrival of ex-Bank Lane wunderkind De Rossier's place in Lake Bluff, some culinary momentum will carry forth on the North Shore. Hold on hope. -
Review from A.J. M.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2011
I was here a little while back with the folks. They're big fans of this charming, small joint up in the North Shore. My dad insisted that I try the burger, but I wasn't in the mood for one. So I go their pork chop special. It was deliciously juicy, and the squash ravioli was also good. I enjoyed my experience there, but I'm not sure when I'm ever going to be around that area again anytime soon.
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Review from Ivanka B.
So my former manager lives up in HP and I met her here for a weekday lunch - beats the pants off the lunches we used to have Panera back in the day! Cute place and it was awesome to overhear the owner explain to the employee manning the "specials chalkboard" to remove any dish with tuna in it b/c when it arrived he refused delivery since it wasn't up to par. I love that. We both had the corn bisque w/corn fritters special to start and it was fab-U-lous! There was not a drop nor crumb left on my plate/bowl. The citrus salad with poppyseed dressing was also delicious and didn't taste like your average salad, every berry and ingredient in it was at its flavor peak - yummm. Such a gem in downtown HP, I look forward to driving all the way here from the city for dinner - such a treat!
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Review from Mark S.
Highland Park, IL
6/2/2011
Ordered steak medium well, arrived bloody. Pointed it out to the waiter, who stared at the steak stupefied, as if staring would get it cooked. Came back pink throughout. I know, I know, if I want it done right I should go to Ruth's Chris, but a place with this buzz ought to be able to properly serve 1 of its 5 entree items.
On the receipt, Abigail's asks for your name and email address to go on their email list. I wrote, "email me when your chef learns how to cook a steak to order." -
Review from Mr H.
Highland Park, IL
12/18/2010
I really enjoy Abigails. The food quality is superb. The wait staff is attentive. The drinks are strong. This is a great restaurant. Of course there are long waits on the weekends, but this is a great place, so a wait is expected. I highly suggest.
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Review from Ann C.
Highland Park, IL
10/25/2010
Complicated reservation policy and lack of people answering the phone leaves customers with no way of getting a table.
Soooooo....there are reviews here that say they don't take reservations. Those are the reviews we read before we headed over to Abigail's good and early on Saturday, to avoid the long lines that other reviews report after 6pm.
The reviews that say they don't take reservations are wrong.
The reviews that say they don't take reservations are right.
Either way, they may or may not answer the phone when you call to see if they take reservations, so cross your fingers, dress for dinner, hope for the best and...make back up plans.
I'm posting their reservation policy online, since they can't be troubled to.
They DO take reservations for seatings between 5 and 6pm. If you arrive between 5 and 6 and don't have a reservation, you will be looking at empty tables, but they won't give you one.
Instead, you will be invited to wait until after 6pm or twiddle your thumbs while hoping a phantom customer calls to cancel a reservation on one of the empty tables.
They don't take reservations for seatings after 6pm.
From other reviews I've read, I'm not the first who has attempted to call to make a reservation and had no one answer the phone, even though it was during business hours. After not getting through, we looked on Yelp and were misled by reviews that said they didn't take reservations. Alas.
So...if you want to dine between 5 and 6pm and can't get through on the phone, don't bother. If you want to dine after 6pm, but don't want to chance standing in a long line, don't bother.
Or, just don't bother at all.
Should their reservation policy change, I would hope that the restaurant would do the minimal first step to serve potential customers by posting the specifics online somewhere.
Another suggestion-- way out there, I know-- is to have the restaurant answering machine explain the reservation policy.
The food is reputed to be delicious. The experience, however, left a bad taste in our mouths. -
Review from Tom H.
Cincinnati, OH
4/23/2011
We went to Abigail's to celebrate my daughter's graduation as a newly minted doctor! We had six people in our party and everyone had an absolutely wonderful dining experience. We started with cocktails that were made perfectly (even my made to order vodka/champagne martini).
The appetizers and dinners were varied amongst the party and all were beautiful in presentation and delicious in taste. We ended with dessert and Champagne. Everyone at Abigail's were warm, friendly and provided great service. It was a wonderful evening! I will be back next time I am visiting my daughter and highly recommend Abigail's! -
Review from Vanessa V.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place!! Favorite American Bistro hands down. Even the bathroom is just as fancy as the dining area!
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Review from Carl S.
Chicago, IL
4/15/2009
I am NOT one to visit a restaurant for a few months after it opens, let alone a few days. I prefer to give them some time so they can have a fighting chance of getting the kinks out of the service and kitchen (and not work those kinks out on me). But in this case, Abigail's comes out of the corner swinging!
The place has warm and comfortably cozy sophistication, without being cramped or overdone. It felt hip enough to transport you out of sleepy Ravinia but didn't have to try too hard. The contemporary, softly lit interior highlighted a dining room that wasn't overly ambitious in size and allowed you to actually hear both our dinner companions and the music - which was at an appropriate level even for my parents' generation.
The waitstaff worked as a team - offering friendly, knowledgeable service. Our server's comfort with the wine list was apparent, encouraging me to ask her about any wine on the list. And remember, they had only been open for a few days! The list was excellent and smartly priced with no wine over $48 and most selections offered by the glass. The list featured new world wines that were paired perfectly with the bold, straightforward cooking. We drank the Turnbull, Old Bull merlot-tempranillo-sangiovese meritage from Napa which was an awesome choice for the menu!
The food was excellent as a whole and the kitchen timed the meal well, even as the dining room began to fill to capacity. We had a group of 8 so we were able to eat our way through most of the menu. The smoked trout spread and the homemade pate with house pickled veggies made a great starter to share and went well with our Goose Island, Pere Jacques ale. The asparagus-watercress soup was delicious and the buffalo rock shrimp (done tempura-style ala Nobu) was a tasty and playful spin on the traditional. The entrees ranged from a solid cheeseburger with hand-cut fries and truffled aioli, to a flatiron steak frites with french green beans, to a contemporary tuna nicoise, a char-grilled leg of lamb with a buttery flagolet bean gratin and the duck confit. All the entrees made us want to plan out next meal back. The simple desserts were a welcome finish to a surprisingly wonderful meal! -
Review from Marie D.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2010
I've only been here once, but can't wait to go back. Great drinks, appetizers, dinners and desserts. Also, a great cup of coffee! Good service, buzzing atmosphere, a real hit.
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Review from Liza F.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2011
love the cool, funky vibe in this local upscale eatery. the chef reliably has great, fresh takes on old-school comfort food dishes. the meatloaf is to die for and the wine list is very accessible. the staff, is warm and always goes out of their way to fulfill any special needs.
the produce is perfect, and the portion sizes make this a fun place to share lots of smaller plates. good for family, or for a date.
*one caveat - early in the evening the place is a magnet for the rich blue-hairs of the neighborhood. -
Review from Brigitte C.
Highland Park, IL
7/29/2009
My husband and I went to Abigail's last night (unexpectedly since most websites say they are closed on Tuesdays - they are not). We had a great meal and will definitely be going back! We started with the English Pea Crostini - my husband doesn't even like peas and he loved this and the white asparagus with poached egg appetizer - DELICIOUS! The owner/chef came over and talked to us for quite a bit and answered all my questions about the restaurant, menu, etc. Our waiter was also great - extremely attentive without being overbearing. Definitely a place to try if you are on the North Shore.
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Review from Lori O.
Northbrook, IL
8/17/2011
Thinking about going to Abigail's for the third time... Have had two excellent meals there, and could be one of my favorites on the north shore in terms of the food which is interesting, fresh, and well prepared cuisine, with a city like sophistication. The ambiance is nice, and I enjoy being in a neighborhood place. HOWEVER.... I have to ask myself if it's worth the pervasively rude staff? My husband won't return, no food is worth it to him! I keep thinking maybe this time it will be OK? Are they just having a bad day or is there something maintaining this attitude toward customers? Third time just to see?
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Review from Joseph D.
Miamisburg, OH
7/18/2010
Great dinner after Ravinia. Mussels were excellent, and they have a very tasty watermelon mohito. Wife had foi gras, perfect portion size. Great service and outdoor dining. Highly recommended. A bit pricey, but worth it. Also try the Dragon's Milk beer, like a chocolaty Guinness!
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Review from Darlene L.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2010
Lovely contemporary décor and stylishly attired patrons make this trendy North Shore newcomer a cool spot for eye candy. They do not take reservations after 6:00 P.M. and can be indifferent in responding to questions. As indicated in my rating, the food is OK but nothing special. The noise level makes a conversation an enormous challenge greatly diminishing a positive dining experience. Had the roast chicken which was bland and undercooked. The fingerlings accompanying it were good but here were not enough of them. Three friends ordered the burger and were satisfied with the quality of beef and the preparation. The place is small and may be worth trying for lunch al fresco in the summer. For now, there are much better North Shore options.
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Review from Jennifer F.
Highland Park, IL
2/14/2010
Excellent food. Fairly priced. Attentive staff. A great spot for lunch too.
In three visits, every mouthful has been excellent. Outstanding soups. The squash ravioli starter, out of this world.
Docked one star for a slight snafu on our first visit. The restaurant was a little noisy on a Saturday night, but to be expected and a good atmosphere. -
Review from Jeff R.
Winnetka, IL
8/1/2010
Went Friday night right after the post-Ravinia rush. Cute place. Good service. Tasty food but food and drinks a bit pricey for what you get.
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Review from Shashi B.
Glencoe, IL
7/26/2010
We love it here, and I promise it isn't just because of the cheesy biscuits they bring with your meal, which are heavenly. No, it's because the food is consistently delicious. The apps (love the buffalo shrimp!), burgers, the fish dishes, the chicken...all excellent. Their flatbread pizzas are awesome - a must-order - and they change the offering often. Had one the other night with lemony fingerling potatoes, fontina cheese, incredibly crispy and thin pancetta, and arugula. The crust was thin and crunchy and the taste was magnificent. I wish they would keep it permanently on the menu.
I think their dessert menu could use some tweaking. Perhaps more seasonal offerings? Have had the sticky toffee pudding and while it was good, I've had much better. Plus, it just doesn't seem right to eat it in July.
Overall, would recommend this place highly. Great vibe, delicious, thoughtfully-prepared food...such a great addition to the North Shore! -
Review from Mary S.
Highland Park, IL
4/25/2011
I always end up staying much longer than I plan to, but they never seem to rush you here-very nice! The food is great, and so are the drinks! Its a bit of a tight squeeze depending on where you sit, but sometimes that can make it even more fun;)
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Review from kit k.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2011
This place is great...I had some the best food I have ener eaten here in my life. Some of the best cocktails I have ever tried. GO HERE
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Review from Steve H.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/15/2009
The Bum's Rush. I didn't know what to expect when we went with some friends last evening. We had a 6PM reservation, but had to wait at the bar for 1/2 hour before a table was ready for us. It's obvious that, for the time being anyway, Abigail's is a popular hip destination in the Ravinia section of Highland Park. To me, a reservation is a contract (in a very loose way, of course) but the fact that the restaurant didn't even attempt to acknowledge reservations is the first strike against it. More strikes later.
But first the food: The only reason this restaurant gets 2 stars was because the food was very good. Not terrific, but very good. There's no ground breaking cuisine or preparations here, but our tuna, duck and steak and salmon were perfectly cooked. The prices were reasonable as well, so I'd rate the food and food prep very highly. If you just want good reasonably priced food, this is a place to go. The wine list was short. I can't say it was expertly selected, but the prices were reasonable. They have a good beer selection as well. No complaint there.
The real problem with Abigail's is their "suggestion" that we must order the whole meal at once at "the insistence of the chef" who will serve it in a leisurely fashion. This was a complete fabrication and only meant to turn tables as many times as possible. As a diner, I like to choose my own pace of eating and enjoying both my friends and the food. We all ordered appetizers and entrees, but the courses came out bang bang bang. No pacing, the kitchen just fired the next course after the previous course was brought to the table. I would have preferred about a 10 to 20 minute interval between courses and the interval was less than 6 minutes...I timed it. And we felt rushed by the kitchen and wait staff. Plates were removed as diners finished them. The dessert list was put on the table while one of our party was still consuming his entrée. We still ordered two desserts. Then our waiter, who is absolutely in the wrong business, dropped the check while the desserts were just on the table and we hadn't begun to eat them. He decided to give us that look of "when-the-hell-are-you-getting up" so I can turn the table.
Abigail's is clearly not a guest friendly atmosphere or a place to enjoy your food and not get indigestion. It's very noisy as well. If you want good food and don't mind eating it quickly, then you won't mind Abigail's. But if you don't like getting the bum's rush to get in, order and get out, stay away. Suggestion to the restaurant: Don't try to turn the tables four times on a Saturday night. Raise the prices about 20% or so and serve that many fewer covers. If you're going to take reservations, then honor them. Nobody will feel like they're getting stuffed like a foie gras goose and the only thing that the restaurant cares about is getting you out the door. They really don't care about getting you in the door as busy as they currently are. This won't last forever. Not with their current attitude. -
Review from Jim P.
Lake Forest, IL
11/15/2009
First of all, they don't take reservations after their initial seating in the 5-6PM range. That worked fine as we didn't show up until about 8:30PM on a Friday evening and were seated immediately. The service was excellent (the cheesy parsley biscuits from the chef were fantastic) and the food was very good. The squash soup was AMAZING and we found out that they'll be selling it in quart size increments before Thanksgiving. I had the skate wing and it was solid but not spectacular as were the flat iron steak and burger. In fact, I'd venture toward a 3.5 stars if I could. The wine list is on the lower end of things with bottles ranging from $35-75 and some quality buys in the middle of that range. The Edge cab is excellent. The restaurant itself is fairly small yet stylish. Several remarked that it seemed like we were at a restaurant "in the city". All in all, the 4 of us had a very good meal at Abigail's and will definitely be back.
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Review from Faith D.
Buffalo Grove, IL
5/6/2010
Tried for the first time last night. Small, crowded, noisy, attractive but no tables available inside (and no reservations after 6???). Beautiful evening so we sat outside. Noisy out there too with Metra and trucks passing by. Got quieter after "rush" hour. Little starter of biscuits and Wisconsin cheddar cheese (yummy); my friend and I ordered several things to share: cranberry/brie salad; buffalo shrimp; pork belly with scallops; frites with truffle mayo. Every bite of every dish was delicious! Presentation was lovely. Our young waiter (Jeff) was attentive with a sense of humor. Warm bread pudding with vanilla ice cream was delicious. Sizes were perfectly adequate. Jeff and I started to talk about vodka brands and I mentioned that I love Grey Goose. He dared me to taste his favorite house brand "Tito's" from Austin, TX and I will tell you --- it was excellent. So .... I'll go back on a warmer night and try some of the other items. OH ... by the time we ordered (about 6:45) they were already out of the burgers. Hmmmm
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Review from Bob B.
Highland Park, IL
7/13/2010
All the hype is right - great food, lovely atmosphere, excellent service, noisey. I had the best short ribs ever. We shared the flat bread - wonderful. Nice wines, beers. Eat outside if you want to have a conversation. (And go next door to Baker Boys for dessert!)
