- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Abbaye
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (Traditional) Bars, American (Traditional) [Edit]
637 N 3rd StPhiladelphia, PA 19123
Neighborhoods: Spring Garden, Northern Liberties
(215) 627-6711
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
133 reviews for The Abbaye
Review Highlights
"the fries are great and beer selection is ok."
(in 9 reviews)
"The seitan cheesesteak is amazing."
(in 7 reviews)
"The grilled cheese with tomato soup is to die for."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
133 reviews in English
-
Review from Cara S.
West Chester, PA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is, by far, the best macaroni and cheese in the city. If you disagree PLEASE tell me where I can find better. I'll gladly try it!
Also, the Abbaye has been so good about accommodating a large group with short notice. It isn't too loud and the employees are super nice.
Really, I should go there more often. -
Review from Erin may D.
Philadelphia, PA
2/8/2012
I used to come here a lot because I think they offer a great vegetarian and vegan selection. They probably still do. I don't come here anymore because the service is SO BAD. Actually, I don't know if all the service is bad, or just this one waitress, who always seemed to be the one to serve my table.
I can handle so much bad service, but the last time I went was the straw that broke the camel's back. Let me tell you about it:
I was there with a friend and we were inquiring about the various vegetarian items on the menu and the specials board. We asked about a few different things before settling in on our choices. My friend ended up ordering something like a veggie burger. After a few minutes, the waitress came back to our table, because they were out of the veggie burger. So my friend inquired about a couple other vegetarian things, before settling on a different vegetarian dish. I also had ordered a vegetarian dish, and then saw that they had corn chowder on their specials board, so I ordered that, too. When the food arrives, it looks good and fine, and we start eating. About halfway through the soup I realize, there is something funny in it... It is MEAT! WTF!
I informed the waitress, and told her I didn't want it, and she informed me,"Oh yeah, there's ALWAYS ham in corn chowder." I argued with her a little, because I had never in my life had a corn chowder with ham in it, but she insisted that is ALWAYS the case, over and over, and told me I should have known that.
Seriously? I should have known? Why didn't she tell me, after we had spent so much time inquiring about vegetarian food? She didn't think, this being her profession, that it might be a good idea to let me know that the soup I was ordering had meat in it? Then she is going to argue with me about the contents of corn chowder? I am from NEW ENGLAND, the HOME of chowder, and seriously I had never had a corn chowder with ham in it. I am willing to admit that there are different ways of making corn chowder, and yes, many people do put pork in their chowder, but it isn't an absolute.
The thing is, she is just a thoughtless person and a bad waitress. It is unfortunate that we will never go there again (nor would we ever recommend it) due mostly to this one waitress, but there are plenty of other good places to eat in Philly with much better service.
Oh, one more thing, if you must go there, don't go there with more than 4 people. I think they have gratuity automatically added to the bill for parties of 5 or more (it is some ridiculously low number like that). It makes it infinitely more frustrating when you are forced to leave a good tip for someone who gives you such crappy service. I feel like I have gotten even worse service when I've been there with groups over 4 people, because the waitress knows she will get her tip not matter what. -
Review from Deann M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I should preface this review by saying it was super busy when we got there. There seemed to be a birthday party of sorts happening, with a party of about 20, so this may have affected our service.
Okay - what's with the lack of hostess stands or at least some type of sign somewhere telling new patrons what they should be doing. We stood in the doorway while the [busy] bartender helped people, waitresses hurried to tables... all the while wondering, do we seat ourselves? Finally when someone walked straight in and took an empty table, we followed suit after stopping at the bar to ask if this was okay. Still - a nod or a quick comment from someone who worked there would have helped - there were at least six people standing around confused at the doorway.
After we were seated we were helped by many people. Great teamwork but it also confused us... who was our server? When a different person dropped off my food than took my order, then disappeared a split second later (when I was trying to tell him it was not what I ordered), it took awhile to get someone [else] to come back to the table. Thankfully we had decided to split both of our meals.
The burger was juicy and delicious. I liked the option of adding your preferred toppings, although it seemed a bit excessive to charge at least 50 cents per topping, including cheese. A plain burger was already $10. We got avocado and cheddar. When we were finally able to get someone to take back the wrong order, no one came back to update us for almost 20 minutes. We had a show to get to and were thinking about telling them to forget it when it finally came.
Meatloaf sandwich wrapped in bacon on challah bread with gruyere. Challah bread was barely toasted, and the sandwich was pretty bland overall. We had to devour it quickly so as not to be late to our show, and we had given ourselves an hour and a half for dinner.
The person who brought our check -- yet ANOTHER person -- took the second sandwich off the bill so that was a plus. However, there are too many places to get a good burger in the area. I think we'll reserve this place for grabbing a beer now and then, or maybe we'll give it another chance when it is less busy. -
Review from Chau P.
Philadelphia, PA
1/14/2012
Decent spot for brunch with no wait. No major complaints other than the limited menu options. Service is good and always nice.
Definitely will check it out for dinner/late night and see this updates my rating! -
Review from Kat R.
Kennett Square, PA
1/20/2012
I love the Abbaye.
I used to go there every week with a group of co-workers for HH. I'm not a beer drinker, but they had a great beer selection (according to everyone else), and the food was excellent (according to EVERYONE.) However, there were some issues with one particular server, (cranky, slow, etc.) which made my compadres decide to look for another happy hour spot. So now we're somewhere else. If you go there and have the wings, the cheesesteak (seitan or real meat), the grilled cheese, the fish and chips, or just about anything, please send happy tummy thoughts out into the universe for me.
Also, if you have Flip as your bartender, or Dave as your server, tip them well. They are fabulous.
I would totally give this place five stars except for the on-going issue with one particular server.
I miss the Abbaye. -
Review from Susan G.
12/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A lot of my friends love this bar...and honestly I think it's alright. Not much better than that.
The burger is a decent one, the food is better than garbage, but overall I'm just not a fan. I never initiate a trip to The Abbaye, others have to be there or someone wants to go.
I think it comes down to the service for me, sometimes you get some really pissed off servers who just assume you don't care if they are rude, lazy and forgetful.
Bah, I go on occasion, but it's never my first choice. -
Review from Yelena Y.
Philadelphia, PA
1/20/2012
I'll start with something that I think deserved FIVE stars at this establishment that I really appreciated: my bartender took care of me and never let my glass get empty.
The underwhelming two stars are for the quizzo and food. The guy who did the quizzo was really hard to hear, and a lot of the time he did not repeat the questions. It got to the point that the round was over and we hadn't heard the last few questions. It's also annoying when the "quizzo master" talks to other people into the microphone when other people listening have no idea what he's saying and if it's in anyway related to the game. I think it's an option for people who have to work late and miss the other quizzos in the city that take place earlier than 10pm. The food was also disappointing because I had read all the raving reviews and expected a lot more. My veggie burger wasn't flavorful and just kept falling apart. While I was eating it I was thinking about how I should have just ordered something else. I think if my friends wanted to get together here again, I'd give the food another shot, though. -
Review from Brock B.
Philadelphia, PA
1/22/2012
I've been here at least ten times and the place is always the same, no matter how crowded or empty. It has the same touch and feel. That's good. I like consistent just as much as I love bi-polar. I dig the hamburgers, they never are wrong and they come with cheese sauce. That's all right. The fries are variable. As for the beer, it is hit or miss. Sometimes I get good beer and sometimes I do not. I dislike the lack of attention on the part of the bartenders when someone they know happens to stroll in. But, the flip side is obviously that if you frequent this haunt you might be on the receiving end of that love. I want to give this place 4 stars, and it definitely verges closer to 4 than to 3, but something tells me to stick to a high 3 rather than a low 4.
-
Review from Boudu B.
Oklahoma City, OK
12/2/2011
Went there one a Monday, it was great. I like beer but I don't know much about it, so it was nice when I saw that they had a board which listed the beers and included what type they were lager, stout, pilsner...
Sat outside and the seating was pleasant it's on a quiet corner with wonderful lighting.
Prices were par and service perfect. I will go back there when I am in the neighborhood. -
Review from Bri H.
10/6/2011 ROTD 12/17/2011
Hmmm what can I say about The Abbaye that hasn't already been said? Oh yeah, GET THE VEGAN MEATBALL SUB! I've been going to this gastropub for years and have only recently tried it. Where have you been all my life?? I'm not vegan so I de-veganize it by adding provolone. Tender (but not mushy) vegan meatballs, flavorful sauce, big crusty bun with melty cheese on top = fake meat sandwich perfection.
The rest of the food at the Abbaye is pretty solid and the deliciously crispy vegan wings rival those of North Bowl. Brunch is pretty good, although I feel like the biscuit/breakfast sandwich used to be bigger & better. I'm also not a huge fan of their Bloody Mary (go to North 3rd for the best Bloody Mary in the hood).
I'm sure everyone already knows about the great beer list and music/atmosphere. There's about a 50% chance that you'll be listening to The Smiths at the Abbaye.
I think the Abbaye is kind of underrated compared to some other bars in the area, but it's definitely my favorite neighborhood hangout.Listed in: NoLibs/Fishtown, Fake Meat Eats
-
Review from Amanda F.
Philadelphia, PA
1/30/2012
Abbaye, what the hell was up with you this weekend? Not only did I have a terrible experience there, but so did 2 of my friends who both went at separate times. I went to brunch on Saturday with 2 of my friends who have never been there before. Both ordered the eggs Benedict. I only ordered Mac and Cheese. Our order was taken in a timely fashion but it all went down hill after that. My friends were really hungry and were looking forward to the Benedict (that I highly recommended...it's yummy!) 20 minutes had passed and we had no sort of acknowledgment from our server that our food was coming up. She didn't even check if we needed coffee refills. She wasn't attentive at all (don't remember her name but she had a "beauty mark" piercing). She finally found a minute to come over to tell us that the kitchen ran out of biscuits and claimed that they didn't know it would be "this busy". I counted about 5 empty tables so don't tell me you're busy. But, if my friends wanted to, they could choose a different type of bread for their Benedict so they wouldn't have to wait another 15-20 minutes for the new biscuits. So, they both ordered different bread thinking it would only be a couple of more minutes until their hungry bellies would get some food. ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR WENT BY and our food finally came out. What the hell is the point in asking if they wanted to change their bread order if you aren't going to make it happen?! Then, when the food came out, the potatoes were extremely hot but the biscuits and Benedict were not at all. Wasn't that the hold up that whole time? My mac and cheese was not hot at all either....and I probably didn't even get a whole scoop of it. What a mess. It's not the first time I've gotten grouchy service and room temperature food at the Abbaye. I will say, something positive, the gentleman server with the ponytail is the only one I like out of the servers in that place. He is always pleasant.
-
Review from David A.
Tried for brunch this morning. Guess I came for the wrong meal. I ordered the huevos rancheros. The worst I have ever had. The bottom layer was a piece of cornbread and instead of retried beans they used vegetarian beans. Go figure. Eggs on top were overcooked. Firm yolks.
Yuck.
Server was good. Seems like more of a beer and burger place. No wonder Honeys has a 30 minute wait and this place was wide open. -
Review from Danny N.
Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not awesome not bad...I would not rush here but did enjoy the burger i ordered. I will try it again in the future once I have tried some others in the area. I could probably take it or leave it.
-
Review from fred m.
Philadelphia, PA
1/16/2012
For those who insist on waiting for a mediocre brunch at Honey's you don't know what you are missing at The Abbaye. Great beer selection and $3 mimosas, no wait, delicious food and great service. Best hollandaise in the 'hood! Best home fries in town!
-
Review from donnie v.
Philadelphia, PA
11/25/2011
Hanger steak frites. Perfect.
-
Review from William S.
Philadelphia, PA
7/23/2011
I am a big fan of the Abbaye. It is a totally underrated NoLibs gastropub with a rotating draft list which is usually, in my opinion, the best in the neighborhood... or at least the most unique. They always try to get seasonal brews in as well which I really appreciate. As for the food...
Happy Hour: Their Chimay wings are delicious but not really worth it for the happy hour price.. I think last time I only got 4 or 5 wings with my order. I think it's actually more worth it to pay full price for the full order. The crab balls ARE worth it for happy hour, good-sized balls of delicate lump crab meat lightly fried with an awesome cocktail sauce. So good.
Dinner: Great crab cake sandwich as well, also made with lump crab meat and served fresh out the fryer so it's still nice and crispy when it comes out. They also have a great burger. Oh, and when they have fish and chips definitely give that a try, they give you 2 huge chunks of cod and the beer batter comes out fluffy and crispy. Really nice.
Brunch: Great breakfast burrito and ridiculous Texas Benedict which biscuits instead of english muffins, fried chicken instead of ham, and white gravy instead of hollandaise. That actually wasn't my favorite but if you're a glutton or if you just want to spend the entire day in a full-stomach stupor then maybe that's the dish for you.
Obviously I come her a lot. But really it's great. And there's almost never a wait and it's so close to my house so really, I think it's become my favorite in NoLibs. -
Review from Brooke W.
Philadelphia, PA
7/31/2011
I always forget about this place and I have no idea why. It's the backup place when we get somewhere in Northern Liberties and it's too crowded or the menu is too limited. This happened last night--went to try out a new bar and after seeing just 2 really uninteresting pescatarian options, we walked a few blocks over.
The food is fantastic and never disappoints. They have had consistently great food for the entire time I've gone there--maybe 5 years? Their vegetarian options are ridiculously good--probably one of the best in the City. Their vegetarian (vegan?) chili is a huge, filling bowl of goodness. Hands down my favorite.
Their sweet potato fries totally rock. Perfect texture, not too soggy, always cooked all the way through though. Nice creative options on the menu for vegetarians like seitan. Last night I got the BBQ seitan, which was an entree for $12 including a whopping portion of coleslaw, fries with a cheesy mayo dipping sauce and corn on the cob. It was a gigantic platter of food. We commented it would have been like $24 at Johnny Brenda's.
Drink service is quick and correct. Servers are attentive. Bartenders at the bar are stellar and most have been there for years. Most do not have that chip on the shoulder found around these parts--the "tip me well to get great service" thing rather than the "I'll give great service to get tipped well."
The menu specials do change frequently and it is a HUGE menu for the size of the place.
Only drawbacks are that the music is really too loud before 10pm in there. A nice dinner between friends can be VERY hard to hear one another and that the servers don't have much personality. Usually the overly talkative waitstaff bugs me anyway but these servers are really blase. I'd say that really is probably the thing that doesn't make me think to always go back there. But I really should. And you should. -
Review from Mike D.
Philadelphia, PA
10/30/2011
Great cozy spot for a beer and a snack. In a city that prides itself on having good beers on tap, this place goes the extra mile with some truly unique beer selections. I'd be willing to bet you haven't had had half of the beers they have available at any given time. Food's not bad either. But go for the beer.
-
Review from Monica O.
Philadelphia, PA
6/1/2011
I think of The Abbaye as a cool spot to stop in, grab a beer and some food, and watch a Phillies game. Come to think of it, that's exactly what I did the first time I came here...
Based on the recommendation of friends, I tried the cheese plate, sweet potato fries, and the southern fried chicken tenders. Cheese plate was excellent.
Sadly, the sweet potato fries and the southern fried chicken tenders...not so excellent. The sweet potato fries tasted and looked more like unripened sweet potatoes that had just been sliced into wedges resembling thick-cut fries that needed a touch of sea salt, so as to at least make a decent attempt at the sweet salty treat. Also, I'm not sure what makes the chicken tenders "southern" other than the fact that they are fried but they could've used some "southern" seasoning and some southern BBQ sauce, because that would've aligned more with what I was expecting.
All in all, this is a good local bar with a great beer selection. Generally nice people that work there too.Listed in: NoLibs Swag
-
Review from Jessica E.
Philadelphia, PA
5/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
One of our friends' go-to places when we don't know where to go/what to do for the evening. Food is always good, especially the burgers. We got nachos the other day for the first time which I really liked, but much to my dismay had no jalapenos or other spicy thing. Frequent beer rotation with a really good selection - this place is really underrated, especially in that aspect. Why are all of the beer snobs not going here?
Minus one star because the service is SO spotty, and by spotty I mean sometimes the servers are straight mean and act like you are lucky to get a beer from them. This is especially annoying because we have been going there for years - you would think they would have warmed up to us by now. -
Review from Milkyway B.
Swarthmore, PA
12/22/2011
yummy food, yummy drinks, yummy waiter
-
Review from Michelle B.
Audubon, NJ
I made plans with my husband and another couple for last night, not realizing it was Valentine's Day. Not being huge fans of the day, we were apprehensive about the crowds but decided to chance it. After seeing The Abbaye's nonthreatening Valentine's Day event on Facebook, that seemed the obvious choice. It was not too crowded and we were able to grab a table immediately.
In the mood for something light and bright, I chose the Kira Belgian white beer. It was refreshing and a great accompaniment to the fiery vegan wings. They had the perfect amount of heat. My seitan cheesesteak was delicious and everyone else enjoyed their meals. Our server was great, offering beer suggestions that were on point. The Terrapin Tomfoolery was the other favorite of the night.
The nicest surprise was the dj. Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without some baby-making music. He didn't disappoint, spinning some choice tunes from his soul collection. -
Review from Seanmhair F.
Philadelphia, PA
7/11/2011
Why no one ever told me about their macaroni and cheese, I'll never know.
Was there on a Wednesday, when they were running a drink special at 7pm. They could have used one more server, as the two they had were running themselves silly, but maybe someone called out. The place was loud, and crowded. The food was good, and reasonably priced. I'd go back again if only for the Straw/Raspberry Mojitos. -
Review from Jason F.
Sewell, NJ
6/14/2011
I stop by to eat here whenever I'm in the neighborhood. The seitan cheesesteak is amazing. The tomato soup and mac & cheese are also great. Check out the specials for food and beer. I always tell myself I will try a new beer but I end up getting the delirium tremens more often than not. Oh well, you can't mess with perfection.
If I had to throw a negative out there it would be the service is either hit or miss. And the weird part is that it never seems to be dependent upon how many customers are actually in there. -
Review from Karen Y.
8/27/2011
i went here for lunch with a friend and i left wondering why it took us so long to check this place out.
my friend is a vegetarian and asked the waitress about the veggie wings. she asked if we liked the veggie wings at ecr and said that the ones at the abbaye were better.
well if i didn't know any better, i'd say that was a taste challenge that needed to be tested. so we ordered the veggie wings, and split a red bean veggie burger and a large plate of mac n cheese for our little ones.
the veggie wing verdict: they were crispy and sauce had a good kick to it, but still have that foreign non-meat texture. the appeal of the ecr veggie wings is that it strangely has the texture and taste of actual chicken meat. but what do i know, everything tastes like chicken, right?
the burger was delicious. the actual red bean patty itself had flavor, plus it came with a spicy aioli sauce and avocado- awesome. it makes me want to come back here to have a real meat burger next time.
the mac n cheese was large enough to be shared between two toddlers and was devoured voraciously by out two little ones.
definitely a repeat for a nice leisurely lunch during the week. -
Review from Meghan S.
Philadelphia, PA
10/4/2011
Don't go here for brunch on Saturday or Sunday. They may have $3 bloody marys but it may take you a half hour to receive one. The food is really very good but the service just ruins it all for me. Servers only expect 2 or 3 bucks an hour so just hire ones that aren't space cadets!
-
Review from Clara L.
4/6/2011
Seriously underrated in philly beer scene.
Great selection of beer on draft. On par with Standard Tap, though not as widely publicized.
Good food. Been here multiple times with big groups and small; at night and randomly in the middle of the day. -
Review from Steve P.
Conshohocken, PA
3/10/2011
This place is a mixed bag - I think if I lived locally this would make a great bar to be a regular. As I'm not, I would have to give it a much lower rating. Had a burger for lunch which was pretty good, and the beer selection was varied, but not particularly to my personal tastes. The service was not overly friendly (not mean, mind you, but didn't make me feel like one of the gang).
Also, it's a little bit of a tweener for me - a little to nice to be a dive, and a little too dive-y to be nice.
As a bonus, all 3 times I've been in here, miraculously the "pickle guy" stops in! As it is, I don't even go to the supermarket when I need pickles for something. I just go to The Abbaye and wait for that dude to show up.... -
Review from Alice T.
Philadelphia, PA
4/13/2011
Number of visits: averaging 1 per month since 2009. more in spring/summer seasons.
Typical days: Tuesday nights, Friday nights, Saturday nights.
Party size: usually 2-8 depending on occasions.
So, for each time I've gone to the Abbaye is when I crave a burger in the area. I live in No Libs so the closest decent burger place (besides north 3rd) is Abbaye. Nothing is spectacular or amazing about the burger - it just hits the spot for the beef cravings I'll occasionally get.
The BEST thing about the burger is adding their HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE. It tastes like the toppings of McDonald's Hamburger. No, it really does- mustard, ketchup, grilled/fried onions, and pickles. And yes, I do like the occasional McDonald's hamburger. Judge me all you want but it's nostalgia.
Otherwise, beer menu changes seasonally (plus for me!). I like most, if not, all the beers I've had there as per suggestion from my brother :-)
It's a great neighborhood spot for low key or to start the night. I enjoy it especially for Phillies games too.
Why come here? TRY THE BBQ SAUCE. That's all I have to say. Oh and good beer too. -
Review from liza c.
Philadelphia, PA
11/4/2010
My friend kept recommending that we come here for the cheesesteak. I was skeptical. Plus, I was somewhat leery of showing up on Two-Wheel Tuesday... apparently, the place becomes overrun with bikers (and not of the Schwinn variety.) Fortunately, our waiter was friendly like a puppy who smells Snausages and took great care of us. AND the bikers stayed on their side of the restaurant (which is surprisingly spacious!)
In the end, I was happy with the beer selection and very happy with my steak sandwich (which should NOT be called a cheesesteak). The steak was perfect and the fries were delicious. Yumm-o. The bad news is that the mac-n-cheese was unappetizing, undelicious, and un-everything. Total disappointment. Also, the overhead fan was flinging dust bunnies at us. And those bunnies were rabid. It was pretty gross. -
Review from Stephanie G.
Philadelphia, PA
2/26/2011
Abbaye has a great beer selection and a nice, relaxing environment. It's difficult to get clustered due to the set up inside.
The food is hit or miss. They have venison, mussels, filet mignon cheesesteaks...it's either great or bleh.
Nevertheless, I keep going back. :-) -
Review from Sara L.
11/23/2010
Maybe the bar was set too high. I wanted to LOVE this place. So many of my friends had raved and raved. "Ooh - have you been to The Abbaye?" "You HAVE to go to The Abbaye!" "OMG - I want to take the seitan cheese-steak out behind the middle school and get it pregnant and raise a whole family of nouveau gastropub food babies with the love of my life, The Abbaye!!!" Okay - that last one may have been an exaggeration, but not by much.
After a couple of stops however, I have to conclude that The Abbaye is a pretty good neighborhood bar with pretty good food. I have had a burger, chicken sandwich, fries and nachos, and all of them were . . . just fine. Nothing was great for the price. The prices were not fantastic for the quality. The beer list was diverse, but lacked depth. Everything about it was fine.
I should note that my experiences with the service have been quite good. If Yelp allowed half-stars, the service would bump them up to 3.5. I was especially impressed with the fellow who was taking care of our large party (~22 people) as well as other tables, and seeming to keep up with it all very gracefully. We tipped him well.
I would go back to The Abbaye if something specific was going on there, but I probably won't randomly walk many blocks out of my way past equally "fine" establishments to grab a pint and some pub grub. -
Review from Marcel M.
Philadelphia, PA
1/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Didn't realize I had been here b4 till I walked in. Guess it had been awhile or I was on another planet previously.
Ventured in alone while my girl was on a girl date. Not that I need a reason to dine alone. :)
Had a margarita as others suggested. It was above average but nothing great.
Bartender (scruffy lookin, bespectacled fella) was not very attentive. Think his name was Clif, or slim or something like that.
There might have been 10 others at the bar so really no excuse. Practically had to throw last ice cube at him to get another libation. Geez.
Ordered the homemade Mac n' Cheese and the cheese steak to eat.
The Mac and Cheese was pretty good but not on par with Jones.
The Cheesesteak, while different from your typical Philly steak was still average. Tasted ok but nada spectacular. -
Review from Alexander M.
Philadelphia, PA
6/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Haven't you heard? The Abbaye is the new North 3rd!
Okay, that was lame. But after my last unfortunate experience at North 3rd, I'm pretty sure this is where I'll be frequenting when I'm in the area. I first discovered it when my gf and I couldn't decide between Silk City and North 3rd. We decided to give a new place a try, and this was close to our parking space.
Sure enough the experience was a pleasant surprise. We tried the most recommended items on the menu- the nachos and the sweet potato fries, both of which hit the spot. Our burger (w/ bleu cheese) was too epic to finish in one sitting, but certainly tasted good. The beer selection was great, and our server was very friendly and helpful. It was also a nice day to be eating outside, so that helped as well. We've been told that brunch is worth checking out there, so that's next on the agenda.
The Abbaye seems to be a well-kept secret of NoLibs, someplace we've likely passed by many times but never actually took notice of. The experience was good enough to ensure that we won't make that mistake again. -
Review from Benjamin R.
Philadelphia, PA
The Abbaye has been in my top 5 go-to spots for relaxing with a good beer and some satisfying food for years.
They have a pretty solid tap list that's generally seasonal, and offer up some creative and tasty pub fare, especially the rotating specials. The chefs always have a good variety of vegan/veg items on the menu, even for brunch. Bonus points for having Yard's ESA on handpump.
The Abbaye has a decent-sized bar, and a fairly generous dining area. You'll feel comfortable at a table for 2, but they'll also accomodate fairly large crowds. I've been here with parties of 6-8 on a few occasions with no issues. They also have outdoor seating in the warmer months. I've always found the staff--bar tenders and servers--generally pleasant and attentive.
PS: People, stop bringing babies/kids here (or any other bar). We all hate you. Also, actually, don't bring your dog. It's obnoxious. You're synonymous with the guy/girl at the coffee shop with your MacBook Pro. I understand you need attention, but do it somewhere else. -
Review from Oscar M.
Newark, DE
8/31/2011
I love this bar. The best food anytime of the day or week. Best and greatest beer selection around NO LIBS.
-
Review from Food Hound S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/17/2011
A group of us ventured into Northern Liberties for a good brunch the other day without reservations, and we were somewhat late to the party. Having gone to many restaurants looking for a seat we were pleasantly surprised and worried that The Abbaye was able to seat us right away. Thankfully, the food and cocktails here were delicious and we would definitely go back. The wait staff was also great as they knew the menu well and were able to make some great recommendations. We'd definitely go back again.
Enjoy! -
Review from Katherine R.
Philadelphia, PA
11/3/2010
A decent gastropub- interesting beer selection (with local brews), music choices were just my style, and friendly bartender.
The first time I went here was for brunch. I ordered a Bloody Mary and my boyfriend ordered a beer. The service was pretty beastly. We didn't receive our drinks for over a half an hour and then didn't receive our food for another half hour. Don't get me wrong, I like long, breezy brunches, but only when there's food and drinks on the table!! The server was nice and comped our first drinks, which made us pals again.
Second visit was this past weekend to grab a beer after dinner. The music was ON POINT. Every kind of electronic, 80s song I love. The bartender was great. It wasn't crowded, but it wasn't empty either. It was a nice place to sit and have a conversation without having to stand so close that beer breath is the only thing on your mind. -
Review from J to the R r.
Philadelphia, PA
1/24/2011 24 Check-ins Here
Beer : good
Service : usually bad (unless they know you, and know you well; otherwise you will be ignored)
Food: very mediocre -
Review from Scott H.
Philadelphia, PA
1/9/2011
I love the abbaye! One of my regular go to spots. Good beer on draft and an awesome staff of seasoned Philly kids. Not much of a " scene" going on there which is nice.
Quizo on Thursday's is a good time too.
Basically if you wanna chill out and take it easy in a dark bar this would be the place to try.
P.s brunch is their best meal served
