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Abigaile
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1301 Manhattan AveHermosa Beach, CA 90254
Neighbourhood: Hermosa Beach
(310) 798-8227
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Validated, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
All American funky 40's style Diner at the beach. Serving the best breakfast and burgers in town! Check out our feature on Diners, Drives and Dives! Guy… read more »
56 reviews for Abigaile
56 reviews in English
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Review from Marc D.
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
For whatever reason I wind up here whenever I'm in Herbrosa Beach. Food is solid with a pretty eclectic menu that has plenty of bar food staples. As far as the night is concerned there's plenty of fun (read: bad) electro and strong drinks.
The bonus would be that they have a nice upper desk with fire pits and if you're feeling real lavish you can get bottles, it is Herbrosa... -
Review from Raymond B.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
quick analysis - Overrated, misguided, disappointment.
Pros:
- great space. The crew here did a good job of transforming the old mechanical bull room into a funky dining space with a view
- extremely friendly and attentive staff
- house brewed beers
Cons:
- misguided menu. The menu here tries its damnedest to do what MB Post does well. Unfortunately it doesn't come close. Each dish I tried seemed to be off, and missing an important flavor element.
- horrendous silverware. Salad fork and a flimsy butterknife are table standards.
Details:
We ordered tempura green beans, shaved Brussels sprouts, salt and pepper shrimp, confit pork belly, and a hangar steak.
The first dish to come out? The hangar steak. Uh.... Ok. Well we didn't touch the steak, just waited a bit... Then came the shrimp. Ok... Standard Chinese restaurant salt and pepper fried shrimp with an aioli on the side. The 3 pieces of shrimp and the veggie bed they came on proved to be flavorful but forgettable. The aioli? Im not really sure why it was on the plate. It didn't match or enhance the dish at all.
Next came the tempura green beans with romesco sauce. Completely lacking in salt and much too greasy.
Shaved Brussels sprouts- an unappealing bowl of veggie mess. Lacking salt and any flavor period.
Steak- RAW!! Don't get me wrong. I'm down with rare steak... But this meat was straight up raw. I asked for the steak to be fired a bit more and the staff was quick to accommodate. They then brought over giant steak knives (likely remnants from the Union Cattle) stating we would have an easier time cutting the meat with steak knives. Nice... The problem may have partially been my flimsy butter knife, but it was mostly the RAW beef (guess I wasn't wrong to think it was weird that it came out first) Anyway, the meat was ultimately a disappointment. It was sour and tangy without any sweet, sour, or hot to balance it out.
Pork Belly- again an unappetizing pile of mess. There doesn't seem to be much attention paid to presentation here. The giant slab of pork belly in the middle was a fatty bland blob of nothingness. The bed of veggies were great, but that was likely attributed to the. Copious amounts of bacon scattered throughout. How do you screw up pork belly?!
Dessert- comped due to the steak fiasco. (again, great service)
Pot de creme with caramel. Creme? Delicious. Problem? It was buried under a giant oil slick of a layer of caramel. Much too overpowering.
Overall? What a sad experience. This place has so much potential, but the menu really is a let down.
#TryingTooHard -
Review from Ann N.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Abigaile, opened in Feb. 2012, serves new American food with a focus on seasonal and local produce. The menu offers a variety small plates and a handful of main plates. The drink menu has a good selection of in-house brewed beers and hand-crafted cocktails.
The best dishes & drinks are:
01. honey badger cocktail ($11)
buffalo trace (bourbon), barenjager (honey liqueur), fresh lemon juice, chai simple soda
02. artichoke & avocado crostini ($3 each)
whole milk ricotta, capers, olives, olive oil, gremolata
02. crispy pork belly confit ($13)
bacon-green lentil ragout, poached farm egg, chives
03. zuppa di pesce ($13)
mussels, clams, rock cod, chorizo, tomato, garlic, lobster broth, butter, garlic toast
The other dishes not mentioned had some flavor quibbles e.g. too salty, non-crispy fries, too sour, etc. Abigaile is a nice addition to the growing food-focused restaurants popping up in the South Bay area (e.g. MB Post and The Strandhouse). -
Review from Becky B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2012
Very typical of the small-plate-New-American-bistro motif I see at many new hipster restaurants. The menus are all starting to look the exact same. This wasn't awful but wasn't very good either. Forgettable, pretentious but well intentioned.
Raves:
-Shaved brussels sprouts were very good, a pile of smoky, flavorful goodness.
-Grilled broccolini with chiles and vinegarette had great flavor but too underdone, I had to saw at it with a knife and it was like eating tree branches.
-Decent wine list for a place that emphasizes beer. REALLY REALLY OVER-emphasizes beer. Like, we get it already. Jesus.
-The whole punk rock/Black Flag thing is actually done pretty well. Fun & cool.
Rants:
-Short rib with the requisite mashed potatoes, jus, and baby root veggies. Yawn. It was chalky and lukewarm, like it was made days ago and just re-heated for this night's service. It's been done to death, guys.
-"House cured olives" tasted like olives from a grocery store olive bar, with a big, rotting, nasty piece of orange peel swimming in the oil. Again, did not seem fresh, the olives themselves were strangely soft, mushy & bitter.
-Biggest flop was what was written on menu as "smoked trout with lemon creme fraiche and toasties." I was expecting a PIECE of hot, smoked trout with a sauce on it, and it was a small bowl of cold GROUND smoked trout and a side the lemon CF. It tasted exactly like crab dip from a cheap deli on melba toast. Seriously. The dining public isn't as stupid as you might think. I realize this is an easy way to use up rotting trout and save on food costs but come on.
Service was over-attentive, like they were starving for business. 3 different waiters, plus a busboy, PLUS the GM were in our face with GIANT toothy smiles and beer samples.......which, frankly, were nothing special. I'd take a good Belgian any day over their stuff.
The best surprise was dessert. A butterscotch pot de creme was very much like Nancy Silverton's (of Mozza fame) butterscotch budino, which is one of my favorite desserts in all of L.A. I think they have a little genius back in this kitchen makin' desserts. Maybe she/he could pop over to the flattop or expidite a bit to help the plates that are leaving the kitchen.
#TryingTooHard -
Review from Jeff W.
Playa del Rey, CA
4/23/2012
First time being back since around the opening, and I must say that I think it has gotten better.
Abigaile is small plates, with only the burger, ribeye and pork chop being "traditional plates". It can get a little pricey when you add drinks, but the meal was very satisfying and worth it in the end.
We had the Brazilian Cheese Biscuits (probably my least favorite part of the meal, as it just can't compete with MB Post's), Hamachi Crudo (beautiful presentation, light, but delicious tasting and I'm not a huge seafood fan either), Fried Slab Bacon (now served on buns, bacon had an amazing taste and texture to it), Confit Duck Ravioli (the ravioli pasta was good, the duck confit itself better) and the Braised Short Ribs (very hearty and tasty). All in all the food was great (hamachi crudo and slab bacon being the best) and I'm curious to try the other dishes.
I went with wine over beer or hard alcohol and the Argentinian malbec was very smooth and a great complement to the food.
Service was great. The manager checked in on us a couple times and us being undecided, she suggested a couple of plates - including the hamachi - that were excellent.
I would advise calling in advance for reservations, as at least on this Thursday night around 8, it was very crowded so we just ate at the bar. As far as parking, you're pretty much limited to street parking, so bring your quarters (yes, Hermosa decided to keep coin meters instead of going to credit cards) unless you want to walk from the garage by the pier. -
Review from Liz G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/21/2012
A friend from Twitter (those count as friends, right?) had been raving about this place since before it opened, so I was excited to finally venture out of my east LA armpit with a girlfriend for an early dinner at Abigaile.
The service was great. From the spritely hostess to the knowledgable server who was passionate about the food, the service made the experience very enjoyable. Cyn and I sat at a table by the window, overlooking Hermosa and the beach at a distance. Wish we would have had later reservations - it would have been great to enjoy the sunset with our dinner. Next time.
We decided to share four dishes, each from a different section on the menu. We had:
The burrata: creamy and delicious cheese drizzled in truffle oil and honey, with a side of finely chopped roasted mushrooms and tasty walnut toast. The walnut toast had raisins in it and went really well with the honey and the cheese. The mushrooms added an extra muskiness to the truffle oil. The cheese itself was good. Very delicious.
Next we shared the wild mushrooms with polenta and more truffle oil. This was pretty good, although I don't know that I would order it again. I felt it was a little too heavy on the truffle oil and the polenta itself was a bit too bland. The mushrooms were fantastic, though.
We also shared the salt and pepper prawns (three to an order) with garlic fried pea tendrils and XO sauce. Let me say that the pea tendrils were my favorite part of this dish. This dish was visually pleasing, with the bright green tendrils and shaved carrots. It had a peanuty taste, almost like a Thai dish. The shrimp were moist and very flavorful. I wasn't too crazy about the XO sauce, tho, mainly because I think it was mayo or cream based. The tendrils were the star of this dish.
Finally, we shared the roasted bone marrow which was very tasty, rich and fatty. In retrospect, we should have ordered something else, like the pork belly confit or the ox tail... but there's always a next time.
I wasn't too crazy about the crowd here... mostly post-work business type people, but that might just come with the territory.
I loved all of the punk flyers and the Subhumans and Circle Jerks flyers in the women's restroom really brought back high school memories. Great dinner place in the Hermosa area. -
Review from Elysia M.
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came to Abigails for a private company party. We had TONS of different appetizers and yummy desserts. SCRUMPTIOUS! Everything that I tried was fantastic!!! I expecially loved the artichoke and shrimp skewers. I LOVE this venue - it is dimly lit, and VERY modern. I'd love to come here again with a few friends. I'm not a beer drinker in the least bit, but the one that I did try was actually pretty tasty. Definitely an ideal location (very close to the beach). Parking is JUST LIKE any other place in this area, scarce and expensive. I cant be certain of their prices since my company paid for everything, but I would imagine that their not cheap. They also brew all their own beer for you beer drinkers.
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Review from Paul K.
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
New place in Hermosa in place of the old Union cattle. They supposedly specialize in "small" plates though the prices seemed like full plates to me. The food was pretty good overall, though overpriced. The decor was weird- graffiti and such. Service was friendly but slow. Enjoyed the dinner, but not in a hurry to go back.
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Review from Michelle R.
Los Angeles, CA
4/29/2012
Just discovered this place. It is what Hermosa Beach needed. It is a nice escape from the below average fare at the pier. Everything from the burrata and the rosemary n' sage potato chips to the poutine and risotto "carbonera" is seasoned perfectly.
Jessica K is a darling. Her passion for the philosophy that this restaurant has is clear. It is refreshing to be served by someone who appreciates what they are presenting to their visitors. -
Review from Lori K.
4/4/2012
I'll admit I was reluctant to like this place when I found out the name was changing. I knew the owners of Saint Rocke had bought it & would eventually be making changes. In fact, I didn't mind too much when they partitioned it off and opened Ocean Bar, but nostalgia got the the better of me and I didn't want to see Union Cattle Co. go. However, after attending their Food + Beer tasting event last night I'm back to being grateful to the owners of Saint Rocke!!!
These guys really are changing our community for the better! Not only did they transform the Pitcher House and create an excellent music venue/bar/restaurant, they stepped in and saved our concerts on the beach and now this landmark!!! They really care about the history of Hermosa, the virtue of good music, good food and good beer!
The event was well planned and well executed. They were well staffed and all the employees were working very hard. They were serving up beer samples and when their local brews ran out they kept the beer coming from whatever they had on tap! Food was plentiful and in addition to various stations they were also passing food and desserts around on trays! I give them major props because if it weren't for this event, I would have taken my sweet time getting in there to check this place out, but now I got to see what they've done with the space and I absolutely LOVE IT! I will be back ASAP!Comment from Jed S. of Abigaile 4/15/2012
Hey Lori! Thanks for the great review! Just so you know,… More » -
Review from Guillermo C.
El Segundo, CA
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here last night for the Open House event (and what an event it was).
They did everything right! The place was packed full of people, but there was plenty of food and beer to go around! The place looked familiar, but definitely had its own flair.
My review today is mainly for the service they provided and the food I tasted and the beer I had. I will update the review at a later time when I try more dishes.
I tried a sampling of their skewers: Shrimp, Beef and Chicken with assorted sauces to accompany each one (as suggested by the gentleman grilling them). Each one was tastier than the other!
The beer was the West Coast Pale Ale.... it was DELICIOUS!! What can I say, I am partial to IPA's and Pale Ales :)
This was only a preview, so I will definitely be back to try more Food and Beer =) -
Review from Karyn C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok, so first I have to start out by saying that I came here on a Saturday night right after eating at MB Post the night before. Upon looking at the menu and the wooden communal tables that were added to the front of the restaurant it felt like de ja vu.
This was the old Union Cattle but honestly it didn't look as different as I thought it would. Yes, the mechanical bull was gone, but the bar was unchanged and the seating area to the back of the restaurant also looked the same. Aside from the front "no-reservation, communal table" area I just didn't see the big changes from a renovation.
We didn't have a reservation but they had an immediate opening at the end of one of the communal tables so that seemed like it would be fine. We didn't realize that most all of the other unreserved seating was overcome by a very large party celebrating a birthday. They must have been there for quite some time already as many of the patrons seemed to be drunk and rowdy, standing and moving around a lot. They kept whooping and hollering and pushing up against our backs as there isn't much space between the tables. It got so bad that one of the girls sitting at the other end of our table had to get up and move to the other side of the table because she no longer had room to sit.
As for the food, I'd have to say that it wasn't particularly bad but also not great. Having just eaten at MB Post the night before it was easy to compare the two since the restaurant concepts are so similar.
Arugula salad - good portion but the cold, undercooked potatoes just didn't do it for me.
French onion soup - this was good, very cheesy and good flavor
Burrata with arugula and mushrooms - cheese, mushrooms and arugula together were very tasty, the only bad part of this cheese block plate was the crisped bread it was served with which seemed to overwhelm everything else
Truffle fries - thin, crispy and good but nothing spectacular to make them stand out against other truffle fries that I've had
Dessert - build your own soft serve ice cream sundae - but they charge you for each part of the sundae? Lame. The caramel sea salt topping was very good though.
They have a decent beer/wine list and of course a full bar.
Most likely, due to it's location I'll be back in but probably just with a group of people as the crowd is still definitely the younger, rowdy set that is typical of the Hermosa Beach scene. If you're looking for a quieter vibe and better food I'd probably tell you to head up to MB Post instead. -
Review from Debbie E.
3/31/2012
Definitely need reservations days in advance here. We had a table of 9 and none of our requested times for reservations were available on Wednesday for a Friday reservation.
The food is good and for small plates the portions are large enough for 2-3 people to share. The octopus salad is spicy. The shaved brussel sprouts were like they stuck them in a food processor. Everyone claimed the cheese board as yummy. Even the pork belly was good.
We had brought our own cupcakes for dessert since it was a birthday party and they nicely rearranged them on plates and also brought out bowls of soft serve ice cream with cookies stuck in. Perfect.
The Simi Cab is one of the house wines and is on tap. It is very good. Better than the Pinot Noir.
The service was excellent - prompt and very cheerful. The chef even came to the table and asked how things were and chatted for a bit, which was a nice touch.
I think the plates overall are a little pricey. Except for the burger and pork chop, nothing was really a full meal. -
Review from Logan A.
Manhattan Beach, CA
4/24/2012
I had heard rave reviews about Abigaile for the last couple of months and yesterday I finally had the opportunity to give it a try. A group of about 10 of us went for a friend's birthday dinner on Sunday night for a mellow, but fun night and hopefully a good dinner.
We decided to order a variety of plates and share them amongst all of us. We ordered about ten or twelve different plates including the duck gnocci, the truffle fries, the lamb, the steak, the Abigaile burger, and assorted chips, meats, and cheese plates. We also ordered a variety of different beers, many of which are brewed right in the restaurant. We loved all of them.
I don't leave many reviews on Yelp, but Abigaile was so good that I really felt compelled to come on here and write a review. Every single dish we had was superb, and I cannot wait to come back. The service was impeccable, the waiters friendly, and the general manager is great as well.
I highly recommend Abigaile to anyone looking for a world-class dinner in the South Bay. I've lived here for 3 years and Abigaile blows any other restaurant around here out of the water. -
Review from Britt G.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/25/2012
Breath of fresh air for a night in HB. Expected the chaos of yesteryears in this space, but what a great a departure from the bar formerly known as Union Cattle, especially when you're a South Bay native at that awkward age where you're starting to feel too old for Ocean Bar. Maybe that's just me :)
If you like a spicy cocktail, the Penelope is an insanely delicious concoction utilizing serrano-infused tequila. In-house brews are no joke either. The whole place feels comfy and intimate, with the benches, candles and the subdued grafitti wall.
Going back to try the food this week. Even if it's not as good as MB Post, it's already a winner in my book for being more reasonably priced and filled with a less uppity clientele. -
Review from shane b.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/22/2012
Had a great experience at Abigail last night. First off let me state, this isn't a place that really fits into the younger Hermosa vibe of college drunkards and hooligans. If you are looking for a place like that keep walking to the pier. This restaurant is for a more educated and refined palate. The fried pork belly was delicious and the cocktails were crafted quite well. Their french fries are the best I've had in all of LA. I see this place coming up over time to follow in the quality of MB Post. Those familiar with MB Post will find a menu of small plates and samplings here at Abigaile. Try the french fries, fried pork belly, asparagus, the deconstructed fish and chips were just plain out delicious. Didn't try any of the beer, saving that for the next trip. For cocktails we had the Mary Zen, Penelope and Deliverance so good!
For anyone curious I would say don't let the low reviews of a few scare you away from a place on its way to success. Also make reservations in advance or go right when they open. -
Review from Ashley A.
Orange County, CA
2/11/2012
LAST NIGHT 2/10/2012; MY FRIENDS WERE DENIED BECAUSE THEY WERE FILIPINOS WEARING FLANNELS, BUT A BLACK GUY & HIS FRIENDS WHO WORE FLANNELS, WHO KNEW THE BOUNCER WAS LET IN!? WTF!??? Heres my story.
Happy Happy Birthday to Mark D! His sister decided to have a party in his honor at this place. My friends & I arrived accordingly to avoid cover and sure enough we were successful. My ex & his cousins came wearing flannels and they were denied entrance because THE BOUNCER & HIS "MANAGER" SAID IT WOULD RUIN THE IMAGE OF THE PLACE. So my ex & his friends decide to change in regular shirts, THEY WERE STILL DENIED IN. Maybe im guessing cause they were asian I guess. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN; 50 of our friends stood in line and the girls were fine BUT THE BOUNCERS started telling all the guys they couldnt get in cause of the flannel shirts. THE REASON BEING THAT SUPPOSEDLY THAT THEY WERENT DRESSED UP ENOUGH. WHOOOAAADERR! Our friends were dressed BETTER than most of the guys they were letting in.
ALL OF A SUDDEN A BLACK GUY & HIS PPL came wearing FLANNELS and he called the bouncer, they shook hands and him and his crew were let in. 7 minutes later A WHITE GUY AND HIS FRIENDS KNEW THE OTHER BOUNCER & the bouncer DIDNT EVEN CHECK THEYRE IDs and they were wearing PLAIN T SHIRTS (whom our friends werent allowed in also since they were wearing shirts) WERE LET IN.
CAN YOU SAY RACIST OR PREJUDICE AGAINST FILIPINOS!? YES! I WILL NEVER GO BACK HERE! EFF THIS PLACE I HOPE IT SHUTS DOWN!
We ended up going to Shore lounge & ALL OF US GOT IN 50+ & had a great time for Marks Bday!!! Happy Happy Bday Mark! -
Review from Logan G.
Manhattan Beach, CA
3/1/2012
I must admit, Abigaile didn't quite live up to my expectations. I was really hoping the food would be on-par with my recent favorite of the year, MB Post, but to no avail...
Abigaile did have some redeeming qualities and as I've only been once, I'll probably go back to give it another shot with hopes that it was just an off night. On the bright side, the actual interior looks great - much more aesthetically pleasing than former Union Cattle Co. and definitely trendier as well without being too hipster-friendly. The drinks were delicious (the Mary Zen was deeelicious) and the burger my girlfriend had had looked AMAZING (she said it was great) and the fries are a must.
I had the meatballs and the brussels sprouts. The meatballs ($11) were so dry that they crumbled to tiny pieces when you cut them. The taste was almost chalky and the polenta wasn't even worth eating. Save yourself the disappointment and make Ina Garten's turkey meatballs at home instead. The brussels sprouts were good but nothing to write home about - though MB Post has pretty much ruined all other brussel sprout recipes in my mind so I suppose I'm a bit biased.
The one thing that was a bit odd was the service. The manager was great - stopped by our table to check on the temperature since we were by the window on a windy night and he was really friendly. Our server, however, was a bit overbearing. My girlfriend and I have both been servers in the past and we surmounted that it was a slow night and she must have been UNBELIEVABLY bored as she hovered over our table constantly asking us if we were ready to order yet and then hovered again once we got our food. It was just strange... It wasn't "bad service" necessarily but the sign of a good server in my opinion is one that you can barely tell is there if everything is going well (obviously the server should be keeping an eye on the table but preferably, at a distance). We wanted to chat and catch up but it was a bit difficult to do with this chick all up in our biz. She was sweet though.
Like I said, I'll probably be back (their beer selection looked great and the fiance will love that I'm sure!), but my first experience was disappointingly lackluster and I'm left with a meatball shaped hole in my heart. Sad-face. -
Review from Tom M.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/3/2012
Union Cattle Company was long overdue for a conceptual make-over. Even though the mechanical bull was pulled out years ago, locals still laugh at the memory of how out of place it was in the South Bay.
I much prefer Abigaile to UCC. First, I prefer the decor. With a few minor changes and some graffiti flourishes from the band Pennywise (so I was told), it feels a lot more urban contemporary--it's nicer while still casual.
Next the service is terrific. I've been there three times already, and they've been very eager to please. Overall, the food still needs some work, but the burger and fries were excellent. The just started a happy hour until 7:30. That's great, although the appetizers need polish and it there could be a few more selections.
The cocktails are really good and well-crafted. As for the beer, they are headed in the right direction. Some good selections by the bottle, and their house IPA on tap is first rate. They also have a bourbon barrel-aged ale (akin to Allagash Curieux). While I applaud the attempt, the result is simply too sweet.
But overall, I really like this place. The South Bay is slowly coming of age, and this is definitely one of the better local choices. -
Review from Danica K.
2/14/2012
The service was excellent, the food was great and I loved the atmosphere. It was just a tad loud in here but we came right after it opened, so that might be changed now.
A friend and I found them on facebook and were excited by their menu. A few of our favorite things. We ordered the artichoke and avocado crostinis, which were probably our favorite on the menu, I just wish there was a little bit more of them, yet it did give us just enough to share and I like the small plate idea because then I can try more! After that we got the meatballs, which were great but holy cow the polenta with the meatballs, I'm a big polenta fan and this was some gooooood polenta. We then shared the burger, which was good, but my one and only complaint would be that that patty was a tad small for the bun. The patty was delicious, the fries on the side were great and the bun was awesome, just wish the patty was a tad bigger.
The service was really what hit the experience out of the park for me though. Our server was attentive, not overbearing, knew the menu, had great recommendations and was helpful. Our food came out very quickly and topping our experience off with their make your own dessert was awesome. The choices were great and our dessert was excellent. I don't know how it couldn't have been with a salted caramel sauce though!
Great vibe, loved the service and tasty food! -
Review from Sara M.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/4/2012
My husband surprised me with a date night to Abigail and we both fell in love !! The service is fantastic I recommend David or Nicole! We started with one of their delicious cocktails (very original menu) and the burrata! Mmmm the dishes are smaller so it's perfect to share!! We aren't dessert people but went for the s'mores cake and banana bunt cake, omg amazing!!! I definitely would recommend this place to everyone! So excited we have such a great new place in Hermosa!
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Review from Doug S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/12/2012
Have you been thinking that the Southbay is lacking that artisanal Silverlake vibe complete with bartenders rocking ye olde-timey mustaches and alcohols infused with unusual flavors? If so, then Abigaile in Hermosa Beach is waiting for you.
On an evening of driving adventures from my Hollywood homeworld, the girlfriend and I found ourselves down south on the 405 and headed to Abigaile for dinner. This spot popped up on Yelp and I am a gastro-pub completist so we decided to give it a shot - despite the limited number of reviews for the new spot (Feb of 2012).
Quite a few of the earliest reviews reference bad door policies and some kind of Filipino flannel discrimination - and none of this sounds like Abigaile at all. I think these reviews are about the nzu-nzu dance club upstairs that shares a foyer with Abigaile. There was no bouncer or door policy at the gastro pub around 9 on a Saturday, so I'm guessing you won't encounter any kind of Studio 54 drama. It was crowded, but only in the 'busy new restaurant on a weekend' kind of way - so be advised there.
We grabbed a seat at the bar, after a pleasant encounter with the very professional hostess (and possibly manager?). They have big copper tanks to brew some of their own beer plus a generous selection of other craftily made local beers. The cocktail menu had a few specialties (most on the sweet side, which is not my preference) but the girlfriend certainly enjoyed hers. The cocktail prices were $11, which is good but not great since the cocktails were not as completely made from scratch in the Hungry Cat/Library Bar mode.
We had a flight of their house brews as well and started in on the small plates. Wild arugula/potato salad was excellent as was the pork butter. The lamb ossobuco was very tender and tasty, with an excellent price for the generous portion, considering it was a small plate and not an entree. All the food we had was very good.
Highlights
- the porcini mustard that came with the pork butter was freaking fantastic
- the house porter (beer) was excellent and I'd have that again in a heartbeat
- the value, considering the artisanal angle and quality was above average by my 323 price gauge.
- Informed and helpful staff who were willing to make suggestions and not just say 'everything is great.'
Lowlights
- the punk rock graffiti (yes, I know what a Jodie Foster Army logo looks like) clashed with other, more upscale elements of the decor like the cool mid-century lights and the large windows with beach views.
- Lots of their drinks were just too sweet for my taste. Other than the porter, all the house brews had floral, citrus-y business all up their mix. Maybe for you this is not a low light.
The positives far outweigh the negatives. Good spot for thoughtful, tasty food and drink. I don't spend much time in the hermosa/manhattan/redondo area, but this place seems to stand out from the fratty dude-poriums in the pier area. Definitely worth a visit. Thumbs up. -
Review from Dara F.
Inglewood, CA
3/6/2012
A girlfriend and I checked out this place last Friday. I haven't been to Hermosa in a while and I was dreading the traffic, so it was a good sign indeed when we found a metered spot right outside the restaurant.
The interior of the restaurant is just beautiful. High ceilings, large windows that overlook the ocean.
My friend ordered the Penelope and it says "spicy" and they're not kidding. It was a little too spicy for her, but the flavor was good. I decided to try one of their house-brewed Imperial IPAs and definitely a great IPA. The dry-hopped pale ale was also very good.
For the food, here's the recap:
Sicilian Olives - great big green olives. Wish they were a little saltier though, but maybe sicilian olives aren't high on the salt factor.
Fries - fried to perfection and it came with their house aoli, which is like a tzatziki type dish (cool, creamy cucumber flavors). Surprisingly a good compliment to the fries.
We had the kale salad and it had pancetta which tasted like a salty little crouton.
The roast stuffed quail - this was probably the only disappointment. It was too salty. It already has the guanciale in it and the mushroom stuffing and the seasoning on the skin made it almost inedible.
Creamy parmesan polenta - cheesy and creamy, need I say more.
We also had their ice cream - great for sharing.
Another table next to us loved the burger and definitely rated it highly.
The new owner was really receptive to the feedback. he gave us the barrel aged strong ale and this was like dessert.
I love the menu format of these type of restaurants. Reminds me of A-Frame, MB Post, Batch. A big plus for me is their house-brewed beer and a great happy hour.
Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Scott Y.
Los Angeles, CA
4/20/2012
I don't give 5 stars unless it's a restaurant on the moon or the place is serving Martian Kobe Beef but this place (re-deaux Union Cattle) hits the demographic, theme and isn't pretentious like some places can be in Redondo/Manhattan. Staff (mgmt, etc) were great! Very friendly, provided the best service possible (with a lot going on), beer was tasty, wine list was slim but they had wine on tap!!! (go green peoplez) and of course the food was more than above par. More of an Asian influence now that Chef Tin Vuong is steering the ship but hey wouldn't you want a guy that grew up in LA with an Asian background to sprinkle his menu with a little extra love??? Dude came from St Regis, Dana Point so I guess he might have some classic technique as well.... I'll be there again soon as it's worth the trip/visit :)
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Review from Rose T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/3/2012
I was really hoping to like this place but unfortunately, I was not impressed. Where should I start? The food was just meh and quite expensive. The food portions were beyond small and not the greatest quality. I definitely wouldn't call it a "5-star" restaurant. Oh and don't get me started on the dessert...pitiful. Soft served ice cream?? Oh but don't worry you can add toppings but its only gonna cost you $9 bucks!
However, the layout and atmosphere is quite nice and I really like the decor. But that's about it.... -
Review from Leslie E.
El Segundo, CA
2/16/2012
I have to say I was a little skeptical of this place when I first heard about it. Mainly because I was a regular of the previous establishment, Union Cattle. My knowledge of the transition literally went something like this: dinner at Union Cattle, go on vacation, come back to my friend saying "you want to check out that new place Abigaile on Friday?" Wait. What just happened?
We ended up attended the soft opening of Abigaile, and I was genuinely impressed. The menu consists mainly of small plates, which I happen to love because I like trying lots of different things. We tried the artichoke and avocado crostinis and the meatballs with polenta. Both were extremely delicious and a lovely accompaniment to my Pinot Noir. But I just about died over the crostinis, by far my favorite dish of the night.
Following the small plates, we shared the burger. I'm a huge believer that the bun can make or break a good burger. This bun was legit. Biggest downside though, the burger itself was WAY too small for the bun. It just got lost in there.
Dessert was killer and I love the idea of it. They give you a "build your own" menu. You pick the flavor of soft serve ice cream you want, the base you want (cookie, brownie, etc), and then the topping(s) you want. We ended up sharing vanilla soft serve on a brownie with salted caramel sauce. Yummy.
The atmosphere of the place is awesome. Dark, with a rustic modern, yet rock n' roll edge. I don't even know if that's a style. Or if I'm explaining right. Regardless, great vibe, great environment. -
Review from George F.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
5/12/2012
Fantastic restaurant. Great food, great drinks, excellent and attentive service. Christina, our server was top notch - totally on it throughout and made the terrific culinary experience even better. I would add that the restaurant does a great job of using fresh, fresh food. They even have a mushroom guy that brings in mushrooms daily. Fish is fresh. The Halibut was delicious. I will definitely be a regular!
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Review from Michah S.
Hermosa Beach, CA
2/21/2012
Hermosa isn't typically known for having a lot of destination dining locations, but over the last year, 4-5 new places have opened up that will hopefully start changing that perception. Abigaile and The Establishment are the newest members to join that list, both opening up within the last month, and after work last week I decided to try out Abigaile's since it's a short walk from where I work. Met up with some friends there one night around 5:30.
I get into my drink side of menus, so the first thing I went through were the drinks.
I'm a beer guy, I live for craft brews. Not the over-saturated every day "craft" beers we see, but the more unique/rarer stuff. Unfortunately, to that end, Abigaile did not deliver what I was looking for. It's beer selection is nothing special beyond the standard Allagash white's and Stone SSR's that are a dime a dozen these days. 3 star on beer - competition in the south bay demands a little more out of your taps than the usual stuff.
Their wine list was solid with your standard pinot noirs and cabs, a PG, a few chard options, and good New Zealand sauv blanc. That being said, there are no "off the beaten path" varietals. Don't expect to get to try something really interesting. Standard though, would give it 3.5-4 rounding up on wines.
Cocktails. We tried a couple of the infusions, they were tasty. The serrano infused tequila was great, and i liked the barenjager + whiskey drink, that was interesting and very tasty!
Onto food!
They charged for bread. No, it wasn't good enough to warrant it. We had the Giardiniera, Brussel Sprouts, and the Lamb Meatballs. The veggies were great, skip the meatballs - bland at best. We had the steak and burger entrees, both were excellent. Service was quick and friendly, atmosphere was relaxed. Overall I'd go 3.5ish, and I like to round up! Great start for a new place, looking forward to going back in a few months.Comment from Jed S. of Abigaile 2/24/2012
Thanks so much for feeback! If you love craft beer (we do… More » -
Review from Doug M.
2/25/2012
In the interest of full disclosure, I was a regular at the Union Cattle Co (UCC) which was the former occupant of the site where the Abigaile now operates.
Ambience. The re-model from the UCC to Abigaile opened up the main dining area that was formerly occupied by the (very outdated) riding bull. This was a good change, but unfortunately the re-modeling as a whole was a step back in decor. I greatly prefered UCC. The wait staff and hostess are very nice.
Food. The "5-star" menu is very interesting and includes items such as fried pork belly on lentils that was new to me. Both my wife and I found the pork shoulder sliders (with slaw) to be soggy and gross. The ice cream dessert was "soft served" - seriously? That's not cool.
Drinks. I tried the beer flight and found four of the five beers to be very tasty. The fifth, a bourbon beer, was unpleasant and I did not drink it. Not finishing a beer is not something that I am kown for. Abigaile offers a nice selection of wine.
Value. Very expensive. Poor value. $95 for happy hour for two with small appetizer plates is about twice what it should have been.
Overall. I don't think that I'll be back soon. I found the food unappealing and the prices far too high. Compared to Hot's Kitchen and the Rockeller down the street, you'll get much better food and a wider selection of drinks for a more affordable price if you dine elsewhere. -
Review from Cole S.
Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles, CA
4/4/2012
Just recently opened in the space that was formerly Union Cattle Co., and WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!! This place is the BEST THING (food-wise) to happen to Hermosa Beach in recent history!! Their specialty COCKTAILS are excellent , and very creative! They brew multiple beers in-house and feature several other craft beers (including beer flights), and the MENU is fantastic! The dishes are served smaller than regular plates (think tapas-style), ideal for trying multiple options that capture your attention (and THEY WILL) and for sharing around the table!!
My wife's 2 choices: broccolini with shaved manchego and crushed hazelnuts, and creamy polenta with mushrooms and truffle oil....My 2 choices: (sashimi-style) cured salmon slices with sprouts/lemon olive oil/creme fraiche, and duck confit ravioli on top of butternut squash puree....Then to complete your experience, explore the dessert options! We're not big dessert people, but I was floored by the Smores (served like a cake slice) and my wife got the delectable Banana Bunt Cake (dripping with a buttery caramel sauce)....simply put, once again, ABIGAILE is the BEST THING to happen to Hermosa's food scene!!! See you soon, Abi... -
Review from Charlie B.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/15/2012
Went in and had a burger and a whisky. Great food, good knowledgeable bartenders, cool atmosphere with good looking people. This place is a great part of the recently improving Hermosa Beach bar/ restaurant scene.
I had gone in a few weeks prior and the whole place smelled really strange, not sure if it was the brewery equipment or what, but I've been in twice since and there was no smell. Just a good scene. -
Review from Danielle N.
Costa Mesa, CA
3/27/2012
Amazing! I was able to try the fried bacon slab, duck rillete, braised ox tail pappardelli, fried squash blossoms, cheese rolls, duck ravioli, and for dessert the soft serve ice cream. There were also several other dishes on the menu i wanted to try like the tuna tar tar, kobe beef burger, rosemary chips, and basically the rest of the menu. Oh, and i almost forgot their Mary Zen Cocktail, Delicious. I'm not one to order cocktails but this green tea infused kettle one vodka with lemon was amazing (my description butchers the point i'm trying to get across, I suggest you look at their online menu). My favorite items were the fried bacon slab, the fried squash blossoms, the cheese rolls, and the mary zen cocktail.
FYI This is my new favorite restaurant! It is perfect for every mood. Downstairs for dinner, second floor for a party scene, and upstairs for more of a lounge feel. I highly recommend going for dinner!! and if you can still move, work your way upstairs to dance the dance floor. -
Review from Romeo R.
Laguna Niguel, CA
3/28/2012
I came here the other day when i was around the area to see what my friends have been raving about. The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was the tuna tar tare. It was amazing!! And is one of my favorite dishes. I also tried the crispy pork belly con fit which was also delicious and flavorful with each bite. I must say I did enjoy the atmosphere and ambiance and will be coming back here again.
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Review from Jerry M.
Manhattan Beach, CA
4/12/2012
From the menu style, to the small plates this is a poor imitation of MB Post. A step up from Union Cattle for sure--but just not sure what this place is supposed to be.
Is it about the food? the scene? the bar?
It was just all kinda mediocre. Blah -
Review from C Y.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/6/2012
I seriously did not have my hopes up for this place, I mean they are trying very hard to be a Gjelina or MB Post but guess what, they did a pretty damn good job! Everything tasted really great on the menu....................except don't bother with those cheese bisquits, seriously those have to go. They tasted half cooked and just gross like out of those pillsbury cans. They need to just get some real fresh bread. I do have to say the decor is a little strange, don't really know what look they are going for. That "graffiti" wall with chalk that looks like a bunch of teenagers went ballistic on it, yep um spend some cash and maybe get a cool mural installation or something. I definately would go back because Hermosa seriously needed this place i can tell you that.
Comment from Jed S. of Abigaile 4/15/2012
C.Y.: Glad you enjoyed Abigaile, thanks for the 4 stars.… More » -
Review from Greg R.
Manhattan Beach, CA
3/23/2012
Great food, decent service. The menu is limited but good. I do recommend spending the extra money for the pork chop or steak as they were by far the best items on the menu. Aditionally they have an excellent self-created drink menu.
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Review from Kim W.
Hermosa Beach, CA
2/11/2012
We had dinner in the main dining room and had a wonderful experience. Starting with drinks at the bar, we were greeted warmly and the bartender made some amazing recommendations. Drinks were very good, but I have to say a little heavy on the ice for the price.
Dinner was fantastic. We had the bacon (signature dish) the lamb (one of my favorites) the chef's meatballs (again perfect), the Brussels Sprouts (great taste but a bit small-ish) and the little gems salad (this left a little to be desired). Overall We had a fantastic dinner, great service and came away very happy.
There was a little mix up with dessert, but they quickly corrected it and provided a recommendation for a replacement, which we thoroughly enjoyed!
I'll be back again and again!
I hope they open for lunch on weekends - the space is so pretty and the rooftop views beg for ocean front dining!
Great start for week one! -
Review from Geoffrey N.
Lawndale, CA
3/12/2012
I would give this restaurant 4.5 stars. The experience was very positive and the service was excellent. The food was very good and we will certainly be back to try more. The beer and drinks a real highlight.
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Review from Robin C.
Hermosa Beach, CA
4/30/2012
We had reservations for 6:30 on a Saturday night. There were many open tables inside, but we were told that we would have to sit on the outside patio, despite the cold. We were told that there were other people who had reservations and that was why we had to go outside. Not sure how these other reservations differed from ours. The food was average and very overpriced. The octopus salad had almost no octopus in it. When we finished dinner, there were still several open tables inside which had not been occupied during out entire time there. After seeing another review about the restaurant's concern about its image, I have to wonder if we were relegated to the back patio (where children were also relegated) because I was in a wheelchair and would not help the restaurant's effort for a "hip" image.
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Review from Keith M.
Corona, CA
4/4/2012
What a great event hosted by the owner of Abigaile, Jed Sanford and Exec Chef Tin Vuong. Abigaile has an amazing vibe and is a huge improvement to the Hermosa Beach restaurant scene. With a well thought out menu and attention to detail it is sure to accommodate discerning guests in a casual and on trend environment. Not to mention the craft beers that were sampled!
