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Armsby Abbey
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (New) Bars, American (New) [Edit]
144 Main StreetWorcester, MA 01608
(508) 795-1012
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 12 am
Fri 11:30 am - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Come eat, dance, at Cantina Bar & Grille. Great food and fun atmosphere!
191 reviews for Armsby Abbey
Review Highlights
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"The beer selection is impeccable." In 50 reviews -
"My fiance's mac and cheese was really delicious as well." In 21 reviews -
"Everything is locally sourced and so fresh." In 14 reviews
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191 reviews in English
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Review from Kerri O.
Updated - 5/18/2012
Still as good as it gets. My sister came out from Cali, and we ate lunch here, at the bar. I got the potato soup, and an olive sampler (huge order of delicious olives, by the way). Both were great. However, my sister tried the Banh Mi, and I immediately wished that I had ordered it. My God, it was fan-frikking-tastic! Probably the best anywhere. It was such a perfect medley of all the flavor groups, in each delicious bite! Wowzer!
The bartender was great, and friendly. Nice little touches like anticipating what we wanted, before we even wanted it, happened. I love that.
Next time we come here, I am going to be hard-pressed to decide what I want. That nearly never happens to me, either. But the menu also changes, so who knows what treats await me? I am excited. Go on their website, to see what they are serving.
The only thing I would change is the sides you get. The lentils are a wee bit lacking, in flavor and are not exciting, at all. I am tempted to send them the recipe for my Hot Mess Tater Salad, or Kerri's Kale Colcannon. Both would be easy, and cheap sides, and are flavor orgasms, all on their own. They already have the Mains and Appetizers locked down, for sure.
And, the tap line makes my heart sing with a full choir of Angels, backing it. Depending on my mood; the angels sing either Beethoven's "Ode To Joy", or Etta James singing "At Last". Either way, that's a fine and wonderful, feeling, don'tcha think?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2012
We celebrated my Birthday here. Such a happy thing that we went there! Best thing about it was our… Read more »
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Review from Zee H.
Henderson, NV
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow. Just wow. Okay...where do I start?
My man and I stopped here for dinner and drinks before heading to the Palladium just down the street for a concert. Soooo glad we did! On the advice of fellow Yelpers I crossed my fingers and hoped that they had rillons left and were ecstatic that they had some left. We had arrived around 5:30pm and they were just in the middle of a menu change so the rillons were almost out. Luckily we got to try them and all I can say is fat cooked in fat is a good thing, a VERY good thing.
Things we also had:
--Macaroni and cheese (excellent, just as everyone here says!)
--Charcuterie slate (we were dubious, especially when Erin described one of the meats as a pork head cheese but OHMYGODYUMMMM they were all fantastic! The whole grain mustard and the pickled onions were good too.)
--Merguez pizza (delicious!!!)
--salted brownie with salted whipped cream (so good but we were incredibly full by this point and could only manage finishing one of the two brownies that were served)
--beers, beers and more beers (wish I would've kept track of what we had but at this point we were just amped to hit the metal concert)
Erin was our server and did a fantastic job at making beer suggestions. She was also on top of keeping us refilled and even offered us more bread to finish off the meat slate.
The bill was a bit of a shock ($170 for all of the above plus about a dozen or so beers) but it was well worth every single penny.
Thanks for an awesome pre-concert meal Armsby Abbey...you guys effin' ROCK!!! -
Review from Mary N.
Los Alamitos, CA
3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
good selection of beer but i would avoid their food
Had the soup one night and it was like drinking straight maple syrup! why??? -
Review from David F.
East Douglas, MA
5/8/2012
The beer selection is great, the food was ok but the service is just downright awful. It's the lack of service and the time it takes to get food and drinks is just crazy.
They really need to improve things or business will falter! -
Review from Kristin O.
Millbury, MA
5/23/2012
I've been coming here since it first opened, I was a regular Dive bar customer and the owner changed me from the $5 pitcher kinda girl to a Weihenstephaner kinda girl. I loved the Abbey! Good food, even better beer. For the past year or so i've had pretty poor service every other time I went but I kept coming for the food and beer . The service is very slow. I sit there with an empty beer for upwards of 10 minutes then it takes the server another 10 to get another one. The food will def take at least 30 minutes to come out and more often than not it's longer than that but it's always been good so I wouldn't complain. The attitude from the servers/ hosts is bizarre and downright snotty. I can't count the amount of eye rolls i've gotten here. It's almost like the customers are burdening them and really make you feel like an idiot for asking about some of the beers. All that set aside, I still would come here religiously. Last night I sat longer with empty glasses than with a full one and when the server would come we were met with incredible attitude. The straw that broke the camel's back was not even 10 minutes after taking the check (which I still tipped very heavily even though the server was atrocious) and less than 5 minutes after finishing my beer one of the servers flat out told us to leave because there were people waiting for tables. There was nobody standing around, there was open seats at the bar and a table in the back. When we got up the table next to us moved to our table and left theirs vacant. I totally get not hogging up prime real estate but I could barely swallow my last sip before they snottily told us to leave. A polite, "Hey do you mind perhaps moving to the bar so we could have another party sit for dinner?" would have been perfect. Nope, I felt like I was being kicked out of a bar for fighting or something by a snotty, entitled brat. I'm sad that this place turned so bad, I have finally had enough and will so elsewhere from now on.
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Review from Rebecca S.
Auburn, MA
5/20/2012
Love this place! One of the only places I will eat since I switched my diet to local and mainly organic foods. They always have great vegetarian dishes. Brunch is the best! Just had a mushroom breakfast pizza this morning. I dont even have to mention the beers or cocktails! If you are a beer lover you will die and go to heaven here. I don't even like bloody Mary's and I could down them all day. The food is very affordable for being local and sustainable but be careful your bill will go up because of the beer quick, not because it's pricey but because it's impossible to go there and just have one beer! I seriously can't say enough about this place. I've never had one thing I don't absolutely love. That being said of you are looking for a burger or steak go eat at a chain and do everyone a favor and don't eat here and leave a crappy review because you don't like good real food made from scratch.
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Review from Alison K.
Milwaukee, WI
5/13/2012
Amazing food! Excellent beer choices. Get the BONE MARROW! It can get busy, so be prepared to wait for a table.
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Review from Scott A.
Upton, MA
5/6/2012
Brunch here is the BEST ! I simply love the service, the food, the atmosphere, the people, & THE BEER...I could go on & on but just go here and enjoy...if you want brunch I would get there between 10am & 11 or you will have to wait for a spot...THANK YOU Alec & Sherri & Krew you are all the very best....when is that bakery opening Alec?? hehehe
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Review from Dawn E.
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
How I've managed to live so close to this place and not have been, I'll never know. But I made it now, oh yes I did.
First let's learn a valuable lesson. I was pretty sure there wasn't a fancy craft beer in the world that I wouldn't enjoy. Shit beer, sure, I hate that, but a delightful rich stout for a small craft brewer? IMPOSSIBLE. Well, until now. I can say with a great degree of certainty that I am NOT a fan of chocolate mint stout. HOWEVER, that, alone, says something for the beer list, because it was one of many many many MANY strange and interesting options, most of the others which were divine (yes, I tried everybody's beer at my table).
That stuff they serve with the pickle slate means business. When they say it's hot they're not f*cking around so, you know, believe them. Tread lightly. The cheese options... omfg. Hi cheese. So amazing.
I also sampled the beet salad and the roast beef sandwich and the rillions.. oh the rillions. I really wanted to eat more of them then I did, but the look on Mr. Champion's face when he was bolding offering them up to me said what a great sacrifice is was for him to share at all. I'm starting to think maybe pork belly should just kind of be in every meal.
For dessert I enjoy this lemon thyme cake with lavender ice cream and lemon curd and something else that was a Valentine's special. Some of the flavors alone were odd but combines they were delightful which, I suspect, was the point.
Did I mention everything is seasonal and locally sourced? Hellz yeah.
Can we come back for brunch? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE? Hell, can we just come back?
(Side note: Despite the fancy grub, this place is packed and loud. Come for a great night with friends, but maybe not for that quiet romantical evening with your loveeer.) -
Review from Eric R.
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Rillons: Cubed pork belly cooked in duck fat.
I'll give you a minute to let that sink in, in fact, take a few minutes, we'll get back to it. I'll be over here looking over the draft beer menu. It'll take at least a few minutes to go over it.
Sitting on Main St. in Worcester, The Abbey is unassuming and non-descript, but from the second you walk in you realize it's very well polished. They have the "kill the draft curtain." They have an immediate hostess station and barrier between the bar and the tables. Physically, it works very well.
We tried a 3 cheese slate, and a pickled slate (literally served on a shale slate). The cheeses were wonderful, and the pickled offerings were also spectacular. They offer a habenero paste with the pickled slate that is not to be trifled with. I have a 12 alarm stomach, so I loved it, but other slightly more normal palettes may find it too much.
The beers. The draft selection is extensive, fresh, and crafted. The person serving us knew the entire selection well, and was happy to point out beers based on other ones we liked. I got a couple from the bottled selection too that are kind of hard to find and was thrilled to see them.
So, back to the rillons. We are a tight bunch of 6 so everyone kind of got some of everything and we sampled and shared. Except for the rillons. Those were mine, I would share with Girl, and that was all. They were 5 little cubes of pork heaven. I literally felt like flying pigs were lifting me away as I noshed on the dish. I understand it's a locally sourced, farm fresh menu, so the rillons will go away some day. This will be a sad day.
A couple things that I noticed about the food. The chef is not afraid to use habenero. It's in the jerk. It's on the pickled slate. It's used as a flavor without much regard to searing people's face off. Personally I loved it. LOVED it. I would not be diligent without mentioning that the jerk chicken has enough habenero in it to smell it from a foot away. It is delicious, but it is -spicy-.
By the time dessert rolled around, I was toast. I stared off into space while the rest of the people chit chatted. Like most 5 star meals I've had, I left knowing I had one of the best meals I ever will.
I can't wait to test their consistency.Listed in: You need to get yourself…
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Review from Inta P.
West Boylston, MA
2/13/2012
Great for beer drinkers, but odd meager disappointing assortment of spirits.
Food is pretty much always top notch, but be prepared to wait... and wait...and ...wait... Wouldn't mind the wait if the the bartenders had more charisma - staff overall is not very welcoming or nice. Want to like it, but can't say I do. -
Review from Greg P.
Natick, MA
2/12/2012
Wendy and I went last night for a Valentine's Day dinner. It was fantastic. Seriously, one of the best dining experiences we've had in a while. The place was packed. When we arrived the host introduced us briefly to the couple who would be sharing our table. Wasn't expecting that but it was OK. We each had a beer from their mammoth selection while waiting for our table.
I'd ordered their special Valentine's menu. It included oysters (which Wendy doesn't like so I had hers); a soup of celery root, apple & gruyer, breadcrumbs, thyme and truffle which was so good I can't even describe; a salad of roasted beet and parsley root with greens and ricotta - which is something I would never think of ordering but which was fantastic; seared duck breast that was so tender and juicy and finally lemon cake with oat crumble and lavender ice cream. I had their suggested beer pairings and was completely happy.
The couple sitting at the table with us was friendly but not intrusively so (the table had seating for six so there was an empty place between us), the staff was informative and responsive and the vide was totally positive. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Adam K.
Manhattan, NY
1/6/2012
Back of the house fantastic; front of the house clueless; no comment on beer and bar
I grew up near Worcester but have lived in NYC for the past five years. The two couldn't be more different, and, unfortunately, I must sheepishly admit the latter makes one's culinary standards so ridiculously high that they border on arrogance upon exit from the Manhattan bubble - a debilitating, culinary xenophobia, if you will. So, caught in that trap as I am, I always end up viewing the Worcester culinary "scene" - if you can call it that - with a heavy dose of skepticism. Sorry, Mom, the Sole Proprietor does not deserve a James Beard award!
But the food at Armsby was surprisingly right up there. It was good, solid farm-to-table food that came out looking like the kitchen actually gave a damn about their profession. The food showed the chefs put thought and care into their work; the food made me believe they were trying to deliver the best product possible. And, importantly, you could tell they took the extra, often very time consuming preparatory steps to make it authentic and delicious. I was truly impressed that these guys do what they do on this hidden strip of Main Street. They can roll, man.
Unfortunately, the front of the house really mucked it up. We got there for brunch about 30 minutes after the open. The menus had yet to be printed. A sign of a changing menu and fresh ingredients, usually, however its execution was terrible. The waiter had no clue what was on the menu; the delay in printing caused a mass order that flooded the kitchen; the waiter barely checked on us during the subsequent, unfathomable 40ish minute wait for our food; water glasses and Bloody Mary's went empty without an effort to refill. The delay was a clear error, but also a missed opportunity for FOH to turn around the experience.
The food and feel of the place made me happy; the rest was a buzz kill. Nonetheless, I mark this as a Worcester gem in my book. I will come back again for sure, but Jesus H. Christ hire some FOH staff that cares as much as the chefs! -
Review from Eric S.
Marlborough, MA
3/16/2012
Great beer selection and fantastic food. Have been here many times including Special dinner and Belgian beer event.
They do a wonderful job with all fresh ingredients.
If they can expand and do full dinner hot meals entres etc this establishment would be the Julians or Monk's Cafe of Massachusetts.
A note to the owners...remain consistent do not dumb down your menu like the Public House. -
Review from Rich R.
Jonesboro, AR
Carefully selected my route to Boston to experience the critically acclaimed Armsby Abbey; it was highly recommended by a rep from Brewery Ommegang, I am glad he mentioned it.
This is a great place. Tremendous selection of micros on tap (over 20 including Smuttynose, Clown Shoes, Allagash, Dogfish Head, Sixpoint, and St. Bernardus) and wonderful food.
I had a slate, they offer several including a traditional charcuterie, pickled and Mediterranean. Went for the Mediterranean which appears on the menu as "Housemade Hummus, Narragansett Feta (Providence, RI) house marinated in fresh herbs & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Mixed Greek Olives, thinly sliced Serrano Ham and Marcona Almonds served with our House Baked Breads". It is predictably served on a giant piece of slate and it is a winner. The combination of flavors is perfect.
Service and setting very good. Plenty of parking nearby. Looking forward to dropping in the next time I'm in "Woosta". -
Review from Dessa R.
12/26/2011
Some strategic Yelping seemed to indicate we should eat dinner here while we were in town, and I'm really glad we did.
I'm not really a beer person, but even I could appreciate the unique flavor of my friend's fruity and complex beer. There was even a $150 beer on the menu with such a high alcohol content it required TWO volunteers to order it! That's some serious beer. We didn't get it, but strangely it was the topic of conversation for at least half of our meal.
I shared the pork belly appetizer, which was small, but sweet, delicate and crunchy as a perfectly cooked pork belly should be. It melted in our mouths, and we wished we had ordered 2,847 more plates of it.
For my entree, I ordered their buzz-worthy Mac and Cheese, which came to me hotter than molten lava that exploded from the core of the sun. Even at deadly temperatures, I could barely keep my fork off of it. It was gloriously cheesy without being overwhelming. It was coated with just the perfect amount of breadcrumbs. It was not mushy or arrogant, it was simply Mac & Cheese perfection, gourmet style. Worth every penny. -
Review from Izabela B.
North Grosvenor Dale, CT
1/8/2012
Armsby Abbey is about craft beers and locally sourced, farm-to-table food.
Sounds pretentious. But Armsby Abbey was so much fun.
Five of us split a cheese slate with 3 different kinds of cheese ($20.) Excellent. Next, turnip potato leek soup from a duck stock, garnished with parmesean and scallions ($6). Awesome. Entree was apple and bacon grilled cheese with a side of lentils (sounds funny, but really good- $11.) Washed all down with a spiced sangria (carafe for two, $20.) Awesome, awesome, awesome.
Waiter was really knowledgeable and friendly. We will be back for sure. -
Review from Teri L.
Worcester, MA
11/28/2011
Seeing how most of my family are yelpers and they know a good review when they see one, my oldest son Joey decided to take me out to Armsby Abbey for my birthday. We got there a little early, around 4:45 straight from the train station. So it wasn't packed yet. We sat in one of the front window alcoves with pillows and a great ambiance with sunset and soft lights. The selection of beer was impressive. There are specials on the board if you wanted to try some seasonal and unusual beers. I stuck with a seasonal pumpkin drink with a scrumptious graham cracker rim. Tasted like a pumkin pie...Delicious!
I swear...if we didn't look outside at Worcester, I would think we were in Boston. Yes, it's that good. Delicious and savory food, great beer selection and up to par on the looks. 5 stars in all 3 areas! GO! -
Review from Marc E S.
Cherry Valley, MA
11/29/2011
This is the best place in Worcestershire Sauce MA to get a beer. The menu is always rotating which makes it exciting. The food is great too! I'm a big fan of the baked mac n' cheese and the meat and cheese slates. Service is hit or miss. Sometimes it's on point and sometimes it can be embarrassingly slow.
Anyway check it out. It's way better than Arby's. -
Review from Hilary H.
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was led to the Armsby Abbey on the recommendation of another Yelper, and I'm so glad I listened - it's a great pub with great drink and food!
We showed up mid-afternoon, ordered a few pints and a sampling of items from the brunch menu to hold us over into the afternoon. What I didn't realize was how generous the portions are, and how absolutely delicious the food is. I have to admit, the macaroni and cheese is among the best I've ever eaten. Blended cheeses and ales make up the creamy sauce, and there's a hint of bacon throughout. A crusty, bubbly top of breading adds a little crunch and ties the dish together perfectly.
I also had a lovely endive salad with very fresh apples that was a nice balance with the pasta. The beers I sampled went well with all of it, and the relaxed atmosphere of the pub lent itself perfectly to the lazy fall Sunday we spent there.
The beer manu is huge. I was totally impressed with the selection, and how the bartenders and waitstaff were able to explain each one, and make perfect recommendations based on our preferences. One of my companions ordered cocktails, and she was thrilled with each one she had - all of them are unique and expertly crafted with house-infused spirits and locally-sourced ingredients. So cool.
Our server, Pat, explained the menu to us and that every ingredient used is locally-sourced. This can limit the items available, so a few dishes we had been looking forward to sampling were unavailable. However, what we did get was delicious and totally enjoyable. All in all, this is one fun, yummy place! -
Review from Gil D.
Centereach, NY
2/1/2012
An outstanding find in a gritty, post
Industrial New England city that seems to have made a good transition to servicing
the 30,000 students educating themselves in the area. The charcuterie slate was excellent, chicken liver pâté, head cheese, and cucumber picks, accompanied by grainy mustard and excellent toasted baguette. And the Mac and cheese is, as everyone sea to agree, really outstanding. A hearty portion of small shells baked with a mix of local artisan cheeses , topped with toasted croutons. Very, very yummy. Oh, and the beer selection is phenomenal! -
Review from Jennifer O.
Webster, MA
1/9/2012
This restaurant had an nice atmosphere. Minus the stools that I am famous for nearly falling off of, it was kind of cozy and relaxing. The service was awesome and the music was great. However, despite the fact that the food was quite delicious, I personally do not feel that the price paid was worth it. $10.00 for a very small salad, as opposed to those huge salads one can buy at other locations, was a bit much. This isn't to say that I would never go back or that I would never recommend this place to others, because I do plan on going back at some point. But should you go, just be mindful that the restaurant is expensive, and that you might want to wait till tax returns come in before you give it a whirl. Just saying...=)
Just a side note, the different variety of alcoholic beverages offered were unbelievable! If you are looking for a place to have a night out with friends and a few drinks, check this place out. The drinks can't be any more expensive than your average bar. Or can they? -shrugs- -
Review from Ali N.
Falls Church, VA
1/10/2012
Great atmosphere and beer selection. Friendly service, but be prepared to wait a long time for your food. We were one of two small groups in the restaurant, but, it took nearly 50 minutes from the time we ordered for our food to arrive.
The mac and cheese lives up to the hype. The salads are on the small side, but delicious. They are a little cheap on the greens/veggies. Not a lot of ingredients or dressing, but great combinations. Pizzas are average in taste, but ingredients are definitely high quality. The desserts are pretty fantastic. Bread and butter were not provided as a normal complimentary appetizer - you have to pay $1.50 for them... which isn't a lot, but it seems kind of cheap on the restaurant's part. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Providence, RI
11/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The Armsby Abbey lives up to it's reputation when it comes to their absolutely stunning beer selection. With that said, do not try to sit at one of their tables if you don't plan on ordering food. As the hubby and I had already had dinner earlier, we set out to grab an after supper drink (well my husband doesn't drink, so it was more for myself) before a show at the Palladium. We were quite impressed with the classy atmosphere and excellent bar. We let the hostess know that we were there to grab drinks and looked around for a place to sit down.
It was quite busy and we finally found a high table that was unoccupied in the back. I was about to go to the bar to order, when the host came and told us that we would not be able to sit there as it was for those who were going to eat dinner. This would have been fine if there was anywhere else for us to sit, but we watched the table remain empty as we were forced to stand. I would probably go back in order to try the food, and because there is no where else worth grabbing a drink before a show. On the other hand, I was pretty put off by being kicked out of the table. -
Review from Anthony S.
Hudson, MA
1/25/2012
If I could give this place 10 out of 10 stars I would. I cant begin to tell everyone who reads this just how perfectly well balanced, thought out and comfortable this place is to dine and/or drink at. I haven't written a review till now. For a more in depth review please visit my food blog. It will continue this review since Yelp only allows so many characters.
Menu:
The menu is simply laid out on a one sided menu sheet that's easy to read and with really great descriptions of the food that you just cant help but to have your mouth water. The menu here is unique for two reason. First they get all of their food from as much locally sourced and organic vendors as possible. I love this concept because not only do they support small business by doing so but in tern you do as well by dining there and in turn help out both the restaurant and the farms, etc. They always have whats in season incorporated into all the dishes from breakfast to dessert. I also really love how they tell where it comes from. This is great for people like me who love to support small business and know where there food comes from in this processed, hormone ridden food era we live in. The second reason is they change the menu up daily. I think this gives the restaurant some pizazz for not only the staff im sure but the customer most of all. When I go in every couple of week to a month, I can always expect something new, and innovative and not always get the same old boring dish. The Abbey serves everything from local meats and cheeses accompanied by local honey on a slate, to pulled pork sandwiches and beyond. I have been both from for breakfast, dinner and eaten dessert.
Beer Menu:
This is one of the few places I actually will have to have a separate beer section to chat about. You WILL NOT find a commercial beer, wine or spirit in this joint. no no no. Dont expect a Bud Light at all. This place is unique and one of kind for the Worcester and even New England area. They offer nothing but the finest beer from the USA to Europe and beyond as well as spirits and some wine offerings. Beer is the main feature though and they have a 8 plus page booklet of beers I had never even knew existed. I basically pick with a blind fold on and away I go. They offer everything from Dubbels, Ales, Stouts and more. I am amazed at all the special imported beers they have on tap too. I can choose from more then 30 plus beers that are not easy to find fresh from the keg. Amazing! They change them out regularly too so once again just like their food menu, beer pickings never get old either!
Taste (main course):
I cant talk about everything I have had here because that would take too long, (Check out my food blog to read more in depth) however I will say everything I have had from here has been phenomenal. The chef and kitchen staff have the magic hands of a god. Everything is always cooked to perfection and the creative spin on ingredients, odd combos of spices, flavors and the unique upscale twist on food is something out of this world especially for the Worcester area. They even offer items such as beef heart and tongue which I never had tried. Decided to get the tongue and ordered one more after the first order. It was that good. Whatever they are doing, they better keep doing, because its the right way!
Price:
Price for main courses range from $12 to $20, Starters/snacks/nibbles range from $3 to $12, desserts around $6. Beers from $9 to $100 ish. Thats right..$100. Most beers actually average around $12 but they even carry some rare, hard to find beers that are very very expensive. I love that concept and think its defiantly something they should keep doing. Cocktails around $6 to $12 and same with wine, although they dont do much by the glass and only offer a small selection. Breakfast about the same, $3 to $20 depending on what you get. Id say this place isnt somewhere you could afford to eat at 2 times a week, but defiantly once a week if you end up loving it. Its well worth the price though. Please do NOT let a $12 beer disappoint you from getting one. Trust me, you will love them.
Service:
Although I have seen from other reviewers that the service here was sub pare and not that great, all my experiences coming here have been the same and very pleasurable. I am always greeted with a smile, given a great seat and the service is always attentive and fast even when its very busy (which it pretty much always is). I think the one thing I am most impressed with is how knowledgeable the staff is on the food but the beer! Seriously...ask them about any of the beers on that giant menu and they will know all about it from color, taste, style, etc. I asked how they knew so much and the women said its an actual requirement to know all the beers very well. If that is not service I dont know what is then.
Overall:
This place is a must try for food and drinks! Try something new, and open your mind up. I promise this place won't disappoint !! I love Armsby Abb -
Review from Keith A.
Worcester, MA
Updated - 3/16/2012
Still wonderful.
I felt the need to update my review after reading another recent commentary in which the spirits selection was described as "odd and meager." I find that assessment so bizarre that I can scarcely process it. I'm not sure how one could call 100 or so different bottles of spirits "meager." It is true that the Abbey does not carry most of the standard spirits that you will find in every. single. bar. There's no Cuervo, there's no Absolut, no Captain Morgan, etc. You will find, however, every imaginable genre of spirit covered by an interesting, small-distiller equivalent, such as Sailor Jerry's Rum, Tito's Handmade Vodka, and the like.
It seems that most people (certainly not all) have accepted that they Abbey has an eclectic beer selection, but some folks can't wrap their heads around a similar approach to spirits. Baffling.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2010
Hardwood floors... an amazing, locally constructed, custom-built bar... towering shelves of Belgian… Read more »
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Review from Hugh J.
Plymouth, MA
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Biggest beer selection I've ever seen. They have a whole bunch of rare beers that are north of $30. And a whole bunch of American craft brews. The food is pretty impressive as well and they buy a lot of their food from local farmers. Wonderful place.
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Review from Toby T.
Worcester, MA
11/2/2011
This was the first place to really take root with the North Main Street revival. The atmosphere is cozy- if not very original in its decor. The food is fantastic and mixed drinks are reasonably priced. However, this is more of a beer place and as I am not a beer drinker I'm not the best person to comment on it.
The food is really fantastic. Its mostly made from local farms and they put some interesting dishes together. I would have never have thought to have apple butter in my life. Hell, I never heard of it until they served it to me. If you asked me what apple butter was, I probably would've thought it was some weird adam's apple-based sex act. But, no, apple butter is purely PG and delicious.
This is one of those slow food set-ups where they take there time making the food so you can take your time enjoying yourself there. But I think they overdo it a bit. Its not really necessary to take my order for mac and cheese, walk out to the farm located five towns away, milk the cow, make cheese from it (somehow, I'm not really clear on how they make cheese. I still think the main ingredient is magic), haul it back to the restaurant and begin making my meal. 10-20 minutes to make a meal can be an enjoyable time with friends or on a date. After 45 minutes the lack of sugars in my system will push me into a hypoglycemic coma. Its not so much slow food as its tectonic food.
But its still a really nice place. The reason why I don't go there more often is because its such a good place and its usually packed. But of problems to have, that's a good one. -
Review from Tom M.
Webster, MA
8/13/2011
It pains me to say this but, given my experiences at the Abbey, I love the -idea- of the place, but not the practice of the place. They do lots of things right, like the billion specialty beers and the fancy cocktails. Seriously, the bartenders know what's up. The Abbey is known for its beers, which do nothing for me, but their cocktails are great!
That said - if you want service, sit at the bar. When you're at the mercy of the wait staff, ughhhh good luck. Slow. Which I get, it's busy and everything is bred and hand-harvested mere minutes before being presented to you. But, they're not very friendly. A friend and I ran into some sand on our lettuce - "we wash our lettuce... that's a seasoning". False - I was the kid who ate a ton of sand in the sandbox at preschool, I know what sand tastes like. You messed up, own up to it. "well, we're not happy." "okay, I'll let them know in the kitchen." Ok cool, but where does that leave me and my bleeding gums? Also, don't try to ask for menu substitutions, it's just not going to happen.
Summary: if someone else is paying, or having a Thing there, I'll go, but I'll probably not seek the Abbey out on my own. -
Review from S D.
New Milford, CT
3/26/2012
A great score for local food, great beer selection, Sunday brunch, big cheese selection and more. Worth a visit!
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Review from Jeff M.
North Kingstown, RI
9/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Brought a few friends up to Armsby based soley on the recommendation of Yelper Rich F. Was not disappointed, great stuff.
It was definitely a five star experience, but if I were doing it again, and I will, I wouldn't bother ordering dinner.
Beers, A+, no A double plus, just fantastic. Yes the beer list is very long. Yes its hard to read off the poorly lit chalkboard, and yes half the names are unpronounceable. So, I just asked the barman to pick one, and he starts me with a Berkshire Brewing Company Sour Ale. Un****believable beer, great aggressive sour malty right up front balanced with a tinge of sweetness. I never would have picked this beer, not in a million years, absolutely loved it. Thank you mister bartender, you earn a gold star. Then he follows up with another brilliant suggestion, and another, you get the idea. If this place had a taxi service back to RI, I'd drink here once a week.
We waited at the bar a bit longer than I think we should for having a reservation, but I'm not complaining, i got to spend some quality time with my barman, and eventually got a table on the outdoor patio (AKA the sidewalk). Started with a cheese plate and a Mediterranean plate, our server picked the best damn cheese anywhere around highlighted by the Bleu d'Auvergne which had a soft sweetness I had never tasted before.
The main dishes were a bit of a disappointment. I was expecting entree dishes, not really sure why, but I was. The menu here is driven by salads and sandwiches instead. My pork butt sandwich was OK, but not even the best pulled pork sandwich I've had this week. My wife's roast beef sandwich was fairly dull as well. But the course was not a total loss, I also ordered a creamy, cheesy crock of the wonderful Mac & Cheese. The croutons were a bit too much crunch, but if that's the trick to keeping in that cheesy goodness, I'll take it.
The breads as well, also fantastic, whether served with the sandwich or on the starter slates. We watched a new delivery come in during dinner, little bundles of bread pulled from the back of (I assume the baker's) Prius.
Great night, great food, great beer. Well done. -
Review from Danielle B.
Worcester, MA
2/27/2012
Great food, fun atmosphere, good beer selection. A bit pricey, but their food is so good that every once in a while it is worth treating yourself to! Delicious!
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Review from Michael W.
Shrewsbury, MA
1/9/2012
Great to have this type of place in town....the problem is that I believe that the staff should be less aloof and more helpful in explaining an outstanding beer menu....the food was just so-so in two visits for lunch over the past year. It is a bit high on the "hipster doofus" quotient, but really a great place to grab a brew.....food....not so much.
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Review from MB D.
West Orange, NJ
9/16/2011
We stopped here for lunch and a beer on the way up to Boston.
I ordered the Mac and Cheese and it was very good ... piping hot, though, so it had to sit a while before I could dig in. I asked if I could possibly get some bacon added to it but they said I'd have to order a side order of bacon ($4) ... no thanks. This was a big dish and my husband and I couldn't finish it between the two of us. I should've gotten something lighter instead, like a salad or a cheese plate.
Husband got the Porchetta pork sandwich and really enjoyed it. The bites I had were good. It came with a side of green salad, which I found myself wishing I'd ordered instead of the heavy macaroni.
We found it odd that they don't have french fries. And that the bathroom is in the next-door courthouse and you have to ask for a key.
My husband liked the beer selection and the taste of what he got. The service was good, although the food took a while to come out (and we were quite hungry since we hadn't had breakfast). I'm sure we'll come back if we're in the area again. -
Review from Anne S.
Brighton, MA
7/30/2011
This place is awesome! Great beer selection and the server was really knowledgeable and friendly. I ordered a sampler of 4 beers - 3 IPA and 2 Saison - all awesome. They write down the names of the beer for you too, so you don't forget as you're drinking them.
Had a cheese plate - 2 fine cheeses, house baked bread, candied nuts and blueberries. Delicious! I had the blueberry salad and my friend had some sort of crazy delicious looking port sandwich. I wanted dessert, but i was too full by then!
Atmosphere is good too - like smart, punky, laid back... clientele was a mix of motorcycle tough guys, still dressed from work white collar dudes, dready hippies, older peeps and just turned 21s.. so very diverse. Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Jason B.
Winchendon, MA
9/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Most interesting, varied and quality beer selection in the area.
Food & beer selection rotates frequently. Food is prepared fresh and from local farm ingredients. Proponents of the "slow food movement".
Not much seating area so come early (between 5-6) for best seating chances.
No children under 18 allowed after 6 pm! -
Review from Kathryn P.
West Boylston, MA
1/4/2012
If you want any type of normal beer...don't go here. If you are a beer freak and love to try other beers, they have a huge menu! Very cool atmosphere...
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Review from L D.
Brighton, MA
12/10/2011
I've been here to eat three times now and I don't live in Worcester. My husband and I found this restaurant while looking for places to recommend to our guests for our upcoming wedding. Each time I've been there, the food has been fresh, seasonal, and delicious. The food menu isn't huge, but I always think that's the sign of a good restaurant because the items they make, they make really well. Their beer selection is awesome, as is their cocktail menu. My mom had a cranberry lime rickey that she declared "the best drink" she's ever had. The place is pretty cozy. I highly recommend a trip here!
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Review from Jocelyn J.
Worcester, MA
6/21/2011
My feelings on this place are mixed. The good is that they have interesting and yummy foods that are freshly made to order and the place has a comfortable feel to it.
The bad (which is a result of the good) is that it always seems to be super crowded and very noisy. Because the food is freshly made, it also takes a very long time to actually get your food. I still really enjoy going there but more often than not, the crowd and time constraints send me to the other high quality bars in the area. -
Review from Anna L.
Marlborough, MA
1/8/2012
I was there this past Tuesday night with some of my coworkers and I was blown away by their food and beer selection. I got to taste couple of different kinds of beers and they were all amazing. I never knew how taste/smell of beers can be so complex. I kept oohing and wowing each time I took a sip. I got to have one of their Belgian Quadrupels and it was like an orgy in my mouth. I also had their mac&cheese. It was so cheesy and had enough bread crumbs. One of the best mac&cheese I ever had.
