Always outstanding. Where else can you get great beer, great brunch and great food?? I mean, most places have their "thing" and do it well - but Armsby nails it across the board - and they have a bakery opening soon next door?? This is secretly why I just rented an office a ten minute walk away. #Heaven. Digress ... moving on...
Let's start with beer. You can find beer at other places - but their selection is bar none AND the staff is knowledgable enough that the last time I was there, the waitress was super helpful when I wanted to try a flight. The beers she recommend were perfect AND she brought me a fifth sample at no charge just because she thought I would like it.
Food. Been there for brunch, lunch and dinner. All good. Local ingredients, unique dishes. Never had a bad meal, in fact they've always gotten lots of "wows" or "mmmmm's" ;)
This place is popular, so it does tend to get busy for dinners and at the bar. Brunch is always packed too. But here's a little hint for ya - lunch and afternoons are a bit more quiet, so might be a good time to try it out if you don't like crowds. Just don't tell *too* many people, because then one of my favorite lunch spots will always be busy.
Oh and there are some tables outside too.
Superb selection of beers and local ingredients. Dishes change frequently and are prepared with care. Prices are reasonable, standards are high, ambiance is upscale pub - a great dining experience. I've had many dishes there, from pork belly to mac & cheese to Carolina pulled pork to chicken confit. Never disappointed. Beware: they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more, and weekends can get busy.
Review Source:In Worcester?!? Wow!
My wife brought me here for my birthday (I'm sooo lucky to have her) before surprising me later in the evening with tickets to a live performance at the Hanover Theatre. I'd never heard of Armsby Abbey and was amazed by the ambience, the beer selection, the amazingly creative food AND the fabulous bartender...who really knew her stuff, was constantly busy and exuded pride in her job! We ate lightly with an appetizer of the Pickle Slate (who knew that fiddlehead ferns could be pickled and so delicious?) with a clever assortment of fresh pickled veggies (the jalepenos were hot just looking at 'em!). Â We shared a flatbread sausage-and-something pizza - DELICIOUS - and I washed it all down with three pints of different IPAS (yum yum yum!) while she had a Bloody Mary unlike any I've ever tasted before (yowsah!).
What's not to like about this place? We lucked out in that we got there earlyish on a Sunday afternoon when there was a lapse between the brunch and dinner crowd. I suppose that on a busy night it can get kind of loud in there which I wouldn't particularly care for but I'm also getting up to "old codger" age, too.
Don't bring kids, here. They'll be bored to tears and your fellow diners won't appreciate their presence.
If you value local and fresh organic produce, meats and cheeses and if you appreciate a carefully thought out selection of craft-brewed beer and if you can justify paying a little bit more for good food and top notch waitstaff service, this is a place that you must check out. I can't wait to go back...and afterwards wander around Worcester and discover what other surprises the city has in store.
In Armsby we trust! How have I NOT written about this place!
OH
MY
BRUNCH!
Wintertime: 3 of us head to Worcester and arrive a little after 11, the start of the Abbey's brunch. Â We all had cocktails and I saw an Allagash beer I didn't recognize so they let me try it. The cocktails were excellent! I got a boozy iced tea with boba in it. The other two friends had the Prosecco cocktails, both of which were delicate and tasty.
One of my friends got a breakfast quiche, the other got a breakfast pizza, and I got what is now the smoked pork jowls but may have been something slightly different (we went back in December).
Fantastic! There was absolutely nothing wrong with any of our dishes. My favorite part by FAR were the eggs. They were sous vide-d (? is that the correct tense?) I normally hate eggs but they were suspended in such a state of loveliness- the yolks weren't runny or solid. It was weird and wonderful. The pork was excellent, the grits were tasty, and the greens weren't bitter or tough.
The atmosphere was really homey and modern. The seats were comfortable for being on a high-top. Prices are what you'd expect them to be. I cannot wait to go back and try a lunch or dinner from Armsby Abbey- if it's anything like their brunch, I won't be disappointed.
I was visiting Worcester for the weekend, and my sister and her boyfriend insisted that we come here for the cheese, the beer, and the mac and cheese.
We had a cheese plate to share, sampled some local brews, and had delectable entrees. The gals both had the chimmichurri steak sandiwch while the boys had the mac and cheese. While my husband wasn't looking, I stole savory bites of his mac and cheese. SO good.
Will be back for sure!
We came for dinner and ended up ordering a cheese slate, the charcuterie slate, and the Mediterranean slate. Â I've been told their menu changes frequently, so the items we ordered might not be there next time. Â They attempt to keep their menu items fairly local (local cheeses, meats, etc. from here to NY) Â They make their own breads, too. Â Everything was really good and the staff and managers were accommodating and nice. Â Take note if you have kids as children are not allowed after 6 p.m. and children under three are never allowed. Â They are more like a bar (with a large selection of beers on tap), so the no kids after six rule makes sense. Â I would give it four stars, however, we have bought local meats, cheeses, olives, bread, etc. at a local grocer near where we live for far less $$, so I am not super impressed...meaning, I don't think we got anything special we couldn't have put together on our own. But, it is a great place to meet friends and munch on some delicacies.
Review Source:I have been here MANY times and just love it. The food is delicious with a focus on locally harvested. The beers are unique and the spiced sangria is one of my favorite things(tastes like fall). A good place for drinks with friends or a date night. Friday night is usually packed while Saturday is less full. It can get warm inside and has seating outside as well. Brunch is fantastic, must try the Bloody Mary's!
Review Source:It is best to come here prepared (unless you are a supreme beer expert) to get the most out of your visit. I usually take a look at the website before I go to see what beers are on tap and look up a bunch to find ones I want to try. Since there aren't any descriptions of them in the restaurant and the staff aren't likely to describe all ~20 beers on tap to you, I find going informed works best for me. Also, the food is really yummy, and their bread is SOOO GOOOOD (apparently they are opening a bakery in June 2013!). Slight drawbacks: no reservations so the wait for a table can be long during busy times and staff can be hit or miss on the polite-o-meter, but other than that it is exceptional.
Review Source:Best grilled cheese I've ever had. In my life. Ever.
This place gets packed and it's easy to see why. The food is great and they have an interesting selection of beers on tap. Unfortunately, ALL of the beers were either stouts or hoppy IPAs, neither of which I'm a huge fan of. Not a pilsner, amber, or malty ale to be found. Boo. Fortunately, their ginger beer kicks major ass and I thoroughly enjoyed my dark n stormy.
It's a bit on the pricy side, but for the quality, I'm not about to complain about that. They do run out of things a lot and that is annoying. They were already out of 2 main courses when we arrived there at 7pm. Not cool.
I'll just mention the grilled cheese again, because that's what really matters here. Amazeballs.
This place is fantastic.
Went for Mother's Day brunch, coincidentally saw a sign that mentioned this place as having the best brunch in Worcester 5 years running. Â I can't dispute that.
Food: Don't expect big portions here, but the amazing quality trumps the quantity. Â I'm used to decent corned beef hash and eggs dishes to run about $7 - $9. Â The Armsby Abbey Hash is $14, and worth every penny. Â It's chicken-based with home prepared bacon and other ingredients you wouldn't find in your typical diner hash - all fresh, all organic, all delicious. Â Both my wife, who had the Belgian Waffle, and daughter, who had the Pancakes raved about the food. Â We also had the Breakfast Slate, a plate of cheeses, breads, and homemade condiments that was fabulous.
Service: Â Think pub. Â Very friendly staff, very knowledgable, very attentive.
Cocktails: Â Obviously a very good beer selection, with recommendations for beer for every dish. Â But it's their imaginative cocktails that make the bar special. Â I had a "Founder's Breakfast" which was bourbon, vanilla syrup, and OJ. Â It was fantastic.
Environment: Â The Abbey is on Main St in Worcester, street parking. Â And it's not that large a space. Â Outdoor seating when the weather is nice. Â Great bar area. Â Half regular tables and half high tops. Â The server told us that the restaurant will be adding about 30 additional seats when the current expansion is complete.
I'll definitely be coming back to this great find!
Large selection of beers. Food is good, but I must say, it's all over-priced for what you get and where you are getting it. There! I said it!! You're all thinking it too, just don't want to admit it. This place is so tight for space. I feel like if you're standing in or around the bar area, you are just getting pushed around by the waiters. That being said, the food isn't bad. Love the charcuterie and cheese plates. Mac and cheese- - awesome.
Review Source:I came to Armsby for Brunch and the food was fantastic. I had the pulled pork breakfast sandwich and it was fresh and flavorful. The mimosa was light and just right. The beer selection was extensive and very impressive with beers from all around the world. The place fills up quickly so make a reservation or get there when it opens for brunch. I love the local theme and how they label the menu as to where they got the items. I definite must-try in Worcester!
Review Source:Glorious cheese and charcuterie slates. Magnificent beer list and cocktail menu. And a much lovelier meal than my subpar grilled cheese on that first visit.
I met up with some friends from Boston for an early dinner and had no problem getting in at 5pm (despite the restaurant not taking reservations). I started the meal with a slate of crispy pork belly seasoned with ras el hanut and slow cooked in duck fat. These beautifully seasoned chunks of meat were paired with apricot mostarda and pickled shallots. I love that every dish offers a suggested beer pairing on the menu (this was the High & Mighty Fumata Bianca).
After the pork belly I opted for some lighter fare - and the roasted beet/carrot salad was PERFECT with its local greens, goat cheese and fennel champagne vinaigrette. Â
Service was impeccable and our waitress, Jessica, was extremely sweet, helpful and efficient. Definitely a good meeting point for friends between Hartford and Boston.
I knew the food was going to be fresh here because I used to work at Berberian Farm. Twice a week fresh food would be picked up for the Abbey.
When we walked it it was kind of dark and all the tables had candles with music playing. We were served water many times- to the point where they don't want your glass empty. Anyways, lots of choices for beer on tap, mixed drinks and new creations. I recommend checking out the food menu on line under "eats" Â to get a idea of food choices. ( Wish there were more hooks for jackets, many tables had piles of them laying around)
Mac n Cheese shells is a good  choice- can take up to 20 mins to cook but worth it. Good cheese blend and flavor. Was a nice thing to share before our meals arrived. I had the potato chive pizza- good flavor and thin crust. My boyfriend had the Pulled Pork which had a rich yummy taste. The Cibatta roll was fresh and easy to eat.
The dishes had nice flavors which worked nicely together. Maybe next time we will try the recommended beer for the food.
(Free parking is next to the building after 6pm most days and no permit is needed)
This is our favorite place in Worcester. Â The food is always great quality and tastes great. Â It gets very crowded during peak hours, so to avoid this we usually go at 4 pm for early dinner or try to be first in line for brunch. Â But it's worth it.
Prices are reasonable but it does add up with beer, cheese, sandwiches..
I just miss the desserts, can't wait for them to bring the bread pudding back!
I'm not a beer connoisseur by any means... the only kind I drink is lambic. That being said, I'm only commenting on the food/overall experience. It's been crowded during the majority of our visits, which is a good sign. I like the vibe of the place, kind of rustic and low key. We've had the mac and cheese and the pulled pork sandwich, which were excellent. However, it feels like it takes forever to get our food. The first time I thought it was cause it was really busy, but another occasion when it was less busy the food came out possibly even later. It's not a place to go when you're starving. If I could give half ratings, it would be more like a 3.5 instead of a 3. Even though the food is worth a 4, I have to deduct one for the wait time to eat it.
Review Source:If I'm in Worcester, it's for one of two reasons - either I'm looking to score meth, or I'm going to Armsby Abbey. Â But I don't do meth, so Armsby is really the only reason to go to Worcester.
There are several strategies at Armsby. Â Drinking beer is one strategy. Â I would commend this strategy as being the soundest one. Â Pragmatic advice is to have an primary plan for what you want to drink and a backup plan, as on any given Saturday night, you have about a 1 in 4 chance of being THAT GUY who killed the keg of the good stuff that everyone else wanted.
I don't know much about their cocktails because I'm a guy. Â
As far as strategies around food, I've been around the menu. Â It changes with some frequency (particularly the salads and pizzas). Â You cannot go wrong with their cheese plates though. Â I typically do a 2-cheese plate. Â The wife has this obsession that if you go out to eat, you need to order an entree. Â Stop it. Â Three cheeses with delectable breads, nuts, and fruit is a sufficient meal, particularly when you're drinking beer.
Now, there are some regulars on their menu that I have to commend. Â If the Saffron Sausage Pizza is there, get it and don't look back. Â It's monumental. Â The grilled cheese is also highly commendable, particularly when they offer it up with bacon or ham.
And then there's the Jerk Chicken Sandwich. Â Yes. Â It's there. Â It taunts you. Â "Firey jerk sauce." Â "Firey" is false advertising. Â "Heat from the depths of hell when you already have a sunburn" is approaching how hot this thing was. Â The last time I had it, the wife and I agreed we needed to split it lest one of us have an ulcer or monopolize the one bathroom of our house for the rest of the evening. Â This is still the only time I've ordered milk at a bar. Â
The Abbey is great, I would contend a better version of the Public House in Brookline, which was my previous standard for great beer and fantastic pub fare.
I've been to Armsby Abbey many, MANY times over the past 4 years and I am still in love with this place. The first time my husband and I went was a few weeks after returning from our honeymoon in Paris. I was having a really hard time adjusting back to food at restaurants here because everything over there was so fresh! Everything here was like crap to me. Until we went to Armsby! Being a farm to table restaurant was what made me fall in love with it. Everything was local, fresh, and they even told you where food items came from. Most of the veggies were from Berberian Farms which is right near my work and I frequent them often during the summer. I loved that all of this information was provided to us.
That night I had my first Autumn sangria. It was love at first taste. I'm a lover of warm weather and the spring & summer months. But I can't lie - once September hits I become like a kid at Christmas in anticipation of the sangria returning to the menu! The best way I can describe it is that it tastes like fall in a glass. Apple flavors mixed with a spice syrup and the wine just make it exactly what fall would taste like if it were a drink.
My first meal there was the mac & cheese made with fresh ale breadcrumbs and I had lemon blueberry bread pudding with homemade whipped cream for dessert. I seriously left this restaurant in a food coma. Sitting in the car on the way home, my husband said I had a look of pure sublime happiness on my face. That is how good this meal was! The blend of cheeses combined with the ale breadcrumbs kicks this dish into high gear and makes your mother's mac & cheese pale in comparison. The bread pudding was so perfect and warm, it seriously made me immune to the cold night air as I left the place (well the sangria probably helped too!).
As I've said, I've been here countless times. I've had the roast beef sandwich, which is tender and kicked up with a horseradish sauce that is homemade. I've had a black bean quinoa burger that I haven't seen on the menu since and would love to try it again!! My husband raves about the jerk chicken (just make sure you can handle spice - the waitstaff will warn you!). The brunch menu is out of this world with stuffed french toast (always changing but I had a maple marscapone one that rocked). The hashes they make are bursting with flavor and you'll have no problem scarfing the whole plate up. Even my petite sister, who never seems to eat her whole meal, ate an entire breakfast pizza because it was so delicious!
I could go on about this place for days, but I can really sum it up with this. GO TO ARMSBY ABBEY. You won't be disappointed. The food is great. The drinks are great. Plus they have an enormous craft beer selection guaranteed to please any beer lover. Be prepared to wait on weekend nights and also if you show up later than opening for brunch. The place will allow children before 6, but really don't bring them because they aren't very accommodating to them. My friends 5 year old had to sit at a high top for brunch and it wasn't very comfortable for her. So I highly recommend going without kids.
Armsby Abbey has made living in Worcester better than I ever imagined! So thanks to all that make this place so amazing.
Armsby Abbey has become my go-to spot for pre-metal show drinks. Â Their beer selection is absolutely stellar and their food is amazing. Â There is really no 'crap on tap' at Armsby, only the most diverse and eclectic list of craft beers from around the USA and a handful of those from outside of this country. Â
Since my last review, I have tried several of their food items, including their sandwiches, pizzas, and cheese plate. Â Sure, this may sound like your typical bar fare, but everything that comes out of the Armsby kitchen is fresh, local, and delicious. Â The food is on the pricier side, but it is really worth it. Â Their pizzas are my favorites, with fresh meats, farmstead cheeses, and local veggies. Â The crust is always crisp and perfectly grilled. Â The sandwiches are equally as scrumptious, including one of the best roast beef sandwiches I've ever had.
I must again mention the beer selection, because each draft seems to be thoughtfully selected. Â They welcome patrons to try any brews that pique one's interest. Â The prices of the beers range from around five dollars and up depending on the country of origin and alcohol content. Â
Sure the place can be a bit pretentious, but at least the food and beer really is that damn good. Â It can be a bit crowded in the evenings, so expect a wait, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Â I am happy that I found an awesome place to hang out when I'm in Worcester.
Friends that work there or frequent there have told me to try the Abbey again, they say that it's getting better. Â So I tried again.
I went in and sat at the bar with a friend. Â Eventually the bartender (late 30's, heavyset woman) came over and asked what we wanted. Â I let her know that my friend and I were both wine drinkers and were trying to get into beer. Â We've both had beer (in small doses) all over the world, but we were trying to broaden our horizons. Â The bartender immediately sighed, but reluctantly agreed to help us. Â We let her know the flavor profiles that we enjoyed and different types of beer that we have liked over the years. Â I leaned more towards Belgian ales, and my friend favored malty amber ales. Â She poured a sample for us each, and I ordered mine, but my friend didn't like their sample. Â I ordered mine and my friend asked to try another sample, and this is the response we got. "I don't know how to help you, if you like wine so much, why don't you order a wine." Â and then promptly walked away.
A few minutes later a young kid with a beard and glasses (oh wait, that's everyone there) I believe his name was Kyle (early 20s, reddish beard) came over to help us. Â He was genuinely excited that we were looking to try new beers and we chatted for a while. Â He found one that my companion would like on the first try and had my try another beer that I loved. Â He was more than happy to talk about his love of beer and share some of his knowledge with us. Â We even had a friendly wine vs. beer with food conversation. Â This kid had passion, excitement, and he made you want to stay longer and try different drinks.
Again, our original bartender came over, noticing we were empty. Â "Oh good you found something you liked; can I get you anything else?" Â My friend made the mistake of asking her a beer question. Â She had lived in Italy for the past 5 years and over there everyone drank "red beer". Â She asked if they had anything like that here. Â The bartender said she'd never heard of it and walked away. Â The male bartender came back over and explained that "red beer" was pretty rare here and that they didn't have any. Â He did, however, suggest an alternative, which she loved.
While they're a little better than before, going here is still an enormous waste of time and energy. Â I think at this point, everyone would like to support local food and good quality beer, but places like this make is so difficult.
The fact that I am still dreaming about the milk stout I had here this past weekend says it all. Dined here with 3 others and we all ordered something different. The star of the dinner for me was the mac n'cheese topped with croutons. The cheese platter, pizza and steak and cheese were all delicious but the mac n'cheese stood out the most.
I had plans of trying at least 3 or 4 different beers but the milk stout was so good that I had to get more.
Expect to wait for a table most weekend evenings.
The food is delicious and they have a big beer selection but this is not a place to get dinner.
The cheese and charcuterie plates are much smaller than other places for the same (and higher) prices and the most you can hope for out of a dinner is a sandwich.
After looking at the menu, we opted for the charcuterie plate and then declined when she said it was just head cheese, pâté and one other "meat". Not much of a plate.
We ended up with pork belly and a chicken leg and decided to get dinner elsewhere since our only other options were sandwiches and we don't eat bread. They were both quite good. I also got a beer flight which I asked the waitress to pick out for me, but didn't end up liking or drinking any of them.
Overall it was mostly a bust and we left and had dinner elsewhere. A better place for drinks and some snacks.
Best pork belly ever. I do not say that lightly. It was amazing. I could eat a plate of the rillons everyday for the rest of my life. Wasn't a fan of the slices of apple on top of it though.
I'm allergic to alcohol, so the craft beer experience was wasted on me, but everything was at the very least good, and at the very best, a plate of amazing pork belly.
I also didn't have the service/attitude problems some of the other people were talking about (and what made me initially dread going here). Our waitress last night was fast, patient, attentive, and knowledgeable. Definitely will be going back for brunch!
My husband and I went to Armsby Abbey for a birthday dinner. I chose based on my previous experience, which was great. This experience did not live up. There was a bit of a wait for a table, so we started with beers at the bar. The beer selection is extensive, the bartenders are knowledgeable about the choices, and the service is quick.
This service changed once we were seated for our meal. We started with a cheese plate, which never arrived. We ordered our meals and never saw our waitress again, until she delivered our entrees. Still no cheese plate. When we inquired, she finally brought it over, but at this point, we didn't even really want it. My husband ordered the rillions. When it arrived, he realized it was nowhere near enough food for an entree (he ended up ordering the mac and cheese upon seeing his entree, which was good). I got the apple grilled cheese, which was good, but the salad it came with was swimming in dressing- not so appealing.
The food WAS good, but the service in the dining room left something to be desired and the portions are just too small to be a full meal. If i were to return, I think I'd go for a beer and a snack before heading somewhere else for a full meal. Oh, and bring back the jerk chicken sandwich!
My boyfriend use to live in Worcester and this place was seriously one of the only good things about visiting him there(other than seeing him I guess.)
We live in Boston now and I wish that we were closer so we could go more often! Â Awesome food and awesome atmosphere. Â Service was great too! Â Keep up the good work guys! Â We'll come back as often as we can without getting shot in the street!
Last night I went to the Armsby Abbey for the third time and the second time while I've been pregnant. I love the ambiance, the local foods, etc. but sadly, since this country is so strict on saying what a pregnant woman can/should eat, I was saddened to see that many of the cheeses are unpasteurized. This is something I didn't notice in the past because the first time I went, I only had breakfast (the French toast, so, no cheese) and the second time, I wasn't pregnant, so I didn't care. So even though I highly recommend the Abbey for everything (including the the many varieties of delicious beer), for a pregnant woman, not so much, unless you want to be risky. And I was a little, have some of my friend's mac and cheese (delicious and made with IPA beer and divine homemade breadcrumbs) and a smidgen of unpasteurized Vermont cheddar.
However, there are a few pasteurized cheeses, including a wonderful friesago, which was similar to a manchego cheese (my favorite). So, there are alternatives!
Armsby, I'll be back in about six months, ready for a brew and lots of yummy raw cheese.
If you're a Boston transplant feeling nostalgic of the South End, Armsby Abbey is your place! Went here for a dinner date and was pleasantly surprised upon entering! (It looks closed from the street)
-Dim lighting, exposed brick, pillows, hipsters, funky menu Items (LOTS OF CHEESE), and  bevy of exotic beers I've never heard of that might have been brewed in my backyard? The waitress told a little story about all the local menu items which was a little much (although it was nice to know the cheese came from her hometown)
Considering everything is organic and local the prices were great! Although I would have liked to see main courses other than sandwiches....although I have ZERO complaints about the grilled cheese! Just get the grilled cheese...or anything with cheese...cheese....
Hungry as usual a friend and I decided to try Armsby Abbey for an early dinner. Having heard from so many people it was good bar and with neither of us are big fans of bar's we had until today steered clear. What a big mistake. The atmosphere is more classy pub/microbrewery then dirty bar and the quality of their fresh locally grown farm sourced foods was amazing. Â
We both took the advice of the waitress and went with the Slow Roasted 100% Grass-Fed Adams Farm Beef. It had a black pepper-horseradish Crème Fraiche and roasted radishes, shallots, Milton Creamery Prairie Breeze Cheddar, and a Bacon Vinaigrette dressed Arugula all nicely sandwiched between two slices of homemade toasted baguette. WOW was it good. I am glad I don't work in Worcester or you would find me here every day at lunchtime.
Even though it was a generous portion I couldn't pass on the Smore dessert I saw coming out of the kitchen in rapid succession. I was lucky enough to get the last one. It was a cupcake style chocolate cake with a burst of toasted marshmallows' and a chocolaty ganache that was so rich and tasty it melted in my mouth. Â
Everything here was great from the ambiance to the food and especially the drinks. We had a cocktail whose name I don't recall 100% something paradise and it was delicious. I can't wait to go back and try more of the farm sourced creations they offer.
While in town visiting, I took my chances and returned to Armsby Abbey. I was thinking/hoping they'd managed to improve over the years. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. My first disappointment was to note that they hadn't yet expanded as promised. So it's still the same small and crowded space. Either people don't mind a very limited selection of food and waitstaff with attitudes, or the beer and cocktails are enough of a draw in themselves.
Anyway, we managed to beat the major rush and get seated right away. Our server came over to let us know that they were out of several menu items (one of the two salads, one of the two pizzas (the vegetarian one), and something else that I don't remember). Not surprising, but to my relief, what I wanted was still available.
We went to order drinks and were informed that several were "out" as well. Ended up ordering "Big Sur," a refreshing tequila cocktail.
As we sat and waited for our drinks, we watched people all around us getting served beer. FINALLY, our drinks came out, about 10 minutes after we'd finished our soup. And guess what? They were the wrong drinks. Of course the staff at Armsby Abbey would never admit to that. Despite the fact that our tequila drinks tasted just like another vodka drink on the menu (that my mom had contemplated getting but changed her mind due to there being soda in it), our server, the bartender, and the manager on duty insisted it was the Big Sur--after a pow-wow in the corner of the restaurant. As this argument was happening, our food came out. We opted to forego the drinks in the end, since really we just wanted to sip on them as we waited for our food.
The rest of our meal was uneventful. Food was all right. I was pleasantly surprised to see that we didn't have to fight to get our drinks taken off the bill.
Needless to say, this last visit was the final nail in the coffin for me. I won't be returning to the Abbey. The positive thing is I now live in a city where restaurants like the Abbey (but better) are easy to find.
[And WTF is up with them removing the jerk chicken from their menu? I thought that was their staple.]
Wow. Â Just wow. Â Okay...where do I start? Â
My man and I stopped here for dinner and drinks before heading to the Palladium just down the street for a concert. Â Soooo glad we did! Â 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. Â We had arrived around 5:30pm and they were just in the middle of a menu change so the rillons were almost out. Â 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! Â 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. Â 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. Â
Thanks for an awesome pre-concert meal Armsby Abbey...you guys effin' ROCK!!!
How I've managed to live so close to this place and not have been, I'll never know. Â But I made it now, oh yes I did.
First let's learn a valuable lesson. Â I was pretty sure there wasn't a fancy craft beer in the world that I wouldn't enjoy. Â Shit beer, sure, I hate that, but a delightful rich stout for a small craft brewer? Â IMPOSSIBLE. Â Well, until now. Â I can say with a great degree of certainty that I am NOT a fan of chocolate mint stout. Â 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. Â When they say it's hot they're not f*cking around so, you know, believe them. Â Tread lightly. Â The cheese options... omfg. Â Hi cheese. Â So amazing.
I also sampled the beet salad and the roast beef sandwich and the rillions.. oh the rillions. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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? Â Hellz yeah.
Can we come back for brunch? Â PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE? Â Hell, can we just come back?
(Side note: Â Despite the fancy grub, this place is packed and loud. Â Come for a great night with friends, but maybe not for that quiet romantical evening with your loveeer.)
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. Â 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.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
