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Abigail's Party
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Canadian (New), Lounges, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1685 Yew StVancouver, BC V6K 3E6
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 739-4677
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5:30 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 9 am - 2:30 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
52 reviews for Abigail's Party
Review Highlights
"We shared the Bison Short Rib Hash and Kitsolano Benedict."
(in 5 reviews)
"...was raving about the cinnamon bun french toast here and I..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Try the "Huevos Rancheros" if you crave something savory..."
(in 3 reviews)
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Edward L.
Came here to experience a hipster's brunch.
Parking here is kind of crappy, but if you look around hard enough on the side streets, you'll find a spot.
There was a bit of a lineup out front, but hey, everyone wants to FEEL good on a Sunday.
The inside is packed of hipsters, and there is an ambience of.. good feelings. There might've been some entitlement floating around in there somewhere as well, as well as fighting the System.
Breakfast here ranges from $9-15 for eggs, some potato, and some meat. The pricier options may have a twist, such as chopped steak, or a Mexican theme.
I had the basic "The Standard" breakfast ($9). The menu said hash browns, but it was actually fried quarter (as in cut in 1/4) potatoes, which was a pleasant surprise. The eggs were a touch runny, but whatever. There was only 1 sausage (I was expecting 2), but it was longer than the typical ones, and tasted more like bratwurst. The only thing I didn't like was the toast. It consisted of 3 thin pieces of some type of multigrain bread (not your typical loaf), and was quite dry. It did come somewhat heated though, so the butter melted into it after a bit of waiting.
Service was friendly. The waitress was chatty.
Overall, a good experience. My friend and I left happy.Listed in: 2012 Ed's Picks
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Review from Evilyn T.
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Still trying to find that perfect breakfast spot that is close to home. I wouldn't exactly sonider this close, but close enough, and it wasn't perfect, but it was ok. The BF and I stopped in here on the weekend for a late brunch, and were happy to be seated right away, since I was getting the hangry.
I ordered the mood swing (how appropriate) and the BF had a scarmble with wild mushrooms and a coffee. He was a little disappointed that they had no facilities to make lattes or fancy coffees (he is pretty spoiled at home), and I was surprised as a non-coffee drinker since what kind of party doesn't have fancy coffees? Maybe this place should have been called Abigail's Function instead?
My breakfast was okay, I found that the eggs were much too runny for my liking, when you are coming for brunch at 1pm, chances are you are hungover, so runny eggs for a hangover leave a lot to be desired. The hash was alright, but it's really hard for me to grade hash since it's not usually my favourite anyways, so even if it was really good, I would probably have no iead. The toast was good, but it drives me bonkers when places don't butter it for you, and this is one of those places. It's not that I am a lazy beast and can't do it myself, it's that I usually eat my toast last, so by the time I get to it, it's a bit cold and trying to get cold butter to melt on toast that is lukewarm, doesn't really work. I get that this place is in Kits, and people can be so anal about their non-fat, carb-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, fat-free whatever, but if people really want butter on the side, they would probably ask for it. Not to mention the tiny triangle of butter was hardly enough for both of us and our two slices of bread each. I opted for the peanut butter and jam.
So yea, this place was just okay for me, and so my quest for a good breakst spot continues.... like a good murder mystery book, you'll just have to stay tuned. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Brunch here was really just ok. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad. It was A-OK. I had the beef shortrib hash and they nailed the eggs (I like them poached soft - really soft. Like, runny whites soft). The bowl was heaped with meat, and the gravy was good - I liked the fresh dill - but it was really one note. The flavour was savoury with nothing to cut it, like perhaps something citrusey or acidic or even sweet. The hashbrowns were also deepfried. :(
That said, it was a tasty bowl, just not.... great. But I'll tell you what, Abby. I will be back to join your party again to see if you were just having a "blah" day - and if not, well, someone has to be average. It's not the worst place to be. :) -
Review from Justin L.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Everyone must be in New Year's Resolution Mode, because the place was nowhere near full for brunch on a Saturday morning, and neither was Zen Café next door. How admirable... and convenient for us!
Shilly-shallying as I was between ordering the Bison Short Rib Hash and one of the Eggs Benedict creations, you can imagine my joy and relief when I saw the brunch special on the blackboard: BISON SHORT RIB BENEDICT. The shredded meat was tender and the flavorful braising sauce had a slight hint of barbecue. As good as that was, I actually enjoyed the taste of my companion's BLACKSTONE BENEDICT ($10.95) better, with crispy double-smoked bacon and tomato confit. The tomato had a sweet jam-like intensity that melded delightfully with the saltiness of the bacon. I appreciated that we were asked how we would like the eggs poached -- soft/medium/hard.
THE HASH BROWNS that came with most dishes were splendid: golden and crispy on the outside, evenly tender on the inside. I realize everyone has their preference for hash browns and home fries, but these are deep fried chunks of B.C. potatoes. I don't know how else to describe 'em, but they were a joy to dip in my mixture of ketchup and Sriracha and bite into. It ain't no slapdash hash.
COFFEE ($2.75) was not particularly aromatic or flavorful, but for bottomless coffee, all I ask is that it be strong and frequently refilled -- and it was both.
Too bad the brunch menu is not available on weekdays! With its friendly and attentive service, tasty and clean preparations, and quality ingredients, this would be a delightful spot for a morning meeting. As for ambiance, it's indeed rather dim inside, even on (or particularly for) a Saturday morning! I think this is due to the tinted windows are tinted and the shape of the building, not to mention our frequently overcast skies. -
Review from Betty L.
12/21/2011
I swear if Abigail's Party dim those lights anymore, I'd need to bring a flashlight to read the menu. The atmosphere doesn't spell out romantic restaurant rather I see it as a nice casual cozy hangout place in the Kits area.
Overall the food and drink selection is decent. For me it lacked the wow factor, so I find it hard to go and hangout with friends or have a romantic dinner for two. -
Review from Ted H.
Vancouver, BC
2/5/2012
I went here for brunch and will not be returning. To begin with we were told it was a 20 minute wait and it was closer to an hour. Next I tried to order the bison hash and when I tried to have it with something other than poached eggs I was rudely told the chef would not change it, that he "just doesn't change certain things". I ordered the waffles instead and they were dry and came with a drop of syrup on them. The coffee refills were few and far between. It was overpriced food with bad service. Even though its 2 blocks from my place I'll take my business elsewhere.
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Review from Beverly W.
Vancouver, BC
12/6/2011 2 photos
My first impression of Abigail's Party was that it has a nice ambiance - it's very small, has low lighting and hence promotes an intimate atmosphere. We had a 6 pm reservation on a weekday and it was not very busy at that time. When we entered the restaurant, the server was no where to be seen. We stood there for a minute or so and then she came around to seat us.
We were seated on high tables with high chair stools. Afterwards, the server came and explained that 2 out of the 7 main entrees were "sold out": Big Al's Burger and the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf. It was 6 pm only and they start dinner service at 5:30 pm; few people were in the restaurant. I did not understand how it could be "sold out." I was very disappointed that the burger was "sold out" because that was what I wanted to order. I only had 5 main entrees to choose from.
There was jazz music playing on the sound system but it did not contribute to a lovely mood. This was because another server was at the bar busy putting away forks and knives into a tray. So for about 10 minutes, I heard the clanging of metal utensils together while jazz music played.
I ended up ordering the duck confit which had a nice soft texture but was too salty for my liking. Our server got the job done - that is, she served the food and brought the bill in somewhat of a timely manner. She was not the friendliest server I have had.
Overall, a disappointing experience at Abigail's party. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
11/1/2011
My friends and I came to Abigail's Party to celebrate a belated birthday, and we all walked away satisfied. We ordered the poutine to start, and my friends ordered the bacon wrapped meatloaf, the duck confit, and I had the steak. Everything was nicely presented, and the food was excellent. The duck confit was delicious, it just fell apart and was super juicy.
Prices are reasonable and portions are just the right size. The restaurant is tiny and dark, so it's a great spot for a romantic night out.Listed in: Hidden Hotspots
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Review from Simon K.
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
After a night out, needing some food, not too sure where to go, and driving through the Kits area me and my partner stumbled on this little place. Cute name, but once we entered at night we didn't waste time and decided to see what this place has to offer.
First experience, jazz music, and lit very dim, with the lights just illuminating a glow. Also candlelight was abundant in this place which seemed to set a great mood, with dark wooden furnishing that you could barely see, the place is a great night time delight to just sit in. I really do wonder what the daylight would make this place look like, and seeing from all the other reviews about brunch I am going to have to come back.
They are open right up to 2:00 AM, and even their menu for food goes right to the night, a new place to take your late night stomach to, I recommened you try. My partner had the gnocchi (the special on the chalk board), and I had the pasta fazool (I think that was the name). Both of them didn't have any meat, but the presentation was top notch, and the taste was not all too bad. The servings are fair size as we had to pack both to go.
I can see this as a very good drinking hole for myself, from the wine list written on the big black board once you enter, to seeing the edges of wine glasses illuminating from the light from the candlelights in this restaurant it has got that very charming, character, type feel. The music selection in this place the night we were there was good to match along with everything else.
Make's me wonder where you got your name from, but you are a unique feeling kinda place that I will keep in my back pocket! -
Review from Jacqueline T.
Coquitlam, BC
9/15/2011
Feel good food! So close to kits beach! Thus.. don't feel guilty packing in that mac and cheese.. cause you can walk it off and enjoy the scenery afterwards :)
Food: Is good! but no wow factor for me. Maybe I expected too much? They've got quite a bit of a selection, and it seems to change from time to time. I enjoy coming here with friends and ordering a bunch to share the different dishes that come up. Mostly i stick with the mac and cheese~
Smaller more intimate place. Good for drinks and socializing. Won't be able to pack anything more than a party of 10 tho. They take reservations from open tables as well! So don't forget to rack up your pts ;) And.. don't forget to snag a entertainment coupon to save on your entree :D Abigails Party is in there yearly. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
11/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Kitsilano neighbourhood casual dining spot. Dimly lit and cozy. Heavy on ambiance - so thick you're swimming in it. Open 2AM on weekend night for food and drinks. Solid selection of draught beers and whisk(e)y. Apparently not called 'Abigail's Hole'... it made sense at the time... and was funny (Kanye shrug)
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Review from Vincci L.
Cute spot in Kits and I finally had a chance to try it out.
We arrived after 1pm, but because the place is quite small, there was a bit of a wait. We sat at one of those high top tables, which was a nice way to enjoy the open space. Love the chalkboard menus and brick walls.
5 kinds of benedicts, 6 kinds of scrambles, a couple other Abigail's 'Staples', which includes a tempting cinnamon bun French toast. Lots of sides available too.
Decided on the Bison Short Rib Hash: slow-cooked bison short ribs, fresh baby spinach, caramelized onions,fresh herbs, red new potatoes and two poached eggs, topped with hollandaise and served with mulltigrain toast. This was good, but not excellent as I thought it would be.
Coffee was ok, refills needed to be requested. Service was spotty. Noticed that they also have wine & cheese, so I'll likely to be back when the weather warms up, and I'll soak up the sun on their lovely patio. -
Review from Cindy P.
Vancouver, BC
11/12/2011
I had the most amazing Croque Monsieur there. I was talking about it for days. It was a special and unfortunately not on the main menu. I also love their brunch menu, the turkey sausage is delicious.
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Review from Brittany G.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2011
We came here for brunch on a Saturday morning.My chivalrous knight of a boyfriend dropped me off at the door while he drove a mile to find parking so I could put our names in and not have to walk in the torrential downpour. (Five stars for bf!)
Well, after standing at the door for a good 15 minutes with an increasingly attention-seeking look on my face, the hostess still hadn't materialized to at least greet me, let alone take my name. Nor did she seem to be clearing the tables with any proficiency. In 15 minutes I had plenty of time to watch her odd work ethic; she was dithering around all over the place, yet not really doing anything at all.
Finally, my boyfriend walked in and tried to signal to her (he's tall and signals with admirable fortitude, you can't miss it,) that we are still not on the list, and she still doesn't acknowledge us. Seriously, what? Eventually, she appears and takes our name at her own pace, not even looking at us. It didn't seem rude, just completely distracted.
A waiter ended up seating us.
The sense of relief and arrival I should have experienced at being seated was totally offset by the persistent throbbing house music (or was that some kind of modern techno-jazz?) punching through to the forefront of my consciousness like Chris Brown on a bad day. Yes, you are hip and doing your own thing, I get it, but it's a Saturday morning.
No newspapers. Boyfriend had to go walk to buy one. (Note to all weekend breakfast/brunch restaurants: always ensure you have a couple newspapers in stock. The couple bucks it costs is so worth the satisfaction it will bring to customers.)
I ordered a coffee while we perused the menus. After putting the menus down, 15 minutes went by and nobody materialized to take our order. My coffee sat empty more than once. BF had to flag down someone to take our order.
The Chefs were fantastic, and I give them alone a high review.
The food, (we ordered the hash special,) was delicious, though portion was less than you'd expect for the price. (I fault the pricing, not the portion.) The coffee too was fabulous.
The young hostess re-emerged at some point to refill my coffee, which I take like a lass, with cream. She proceeded to fill it right up to the brim, splashing a bit onto the saucer. I stared at it in what can only be called shock and awe; wondering how I was supposed to add cream let alone pick it up at all... and she walks off... as though the house music has hijacked her conciousness and she's in a new age trance.
I'm a trooper, so I lowered my mouth to the cup and, delicately and gracefully of course, sucked up some coffee so as to bring it down to a polite and manageable level. Alas, the good coffee tempered my annoyance.
I enjoyed the food, so felt bad having to rate it so low, but my partner was so royally unimpressed with the misgivings of the experience that I had no choice but to lament the morning service and atmosphere.
Blame the music! -
Review from Tracy P.
Vancouver, BC
1/27/2011
I always get so excited when I discover those tiny restaurants that are kind of hidden away. I think I always associate small venues with attention to quality. Generally I'm right, but this time was less than stellar.
The place is VERY small. Maybe seats 30-35? Has a bit of a Bohemian feel to it. All the servers are casually, but hip-ly (that's totally not a word, is it?) dressed.
Alas, I complain about the noise. It was INCREDIBLY loud in there, and it wasn't because people were having to talk over loud music. Everyone just felt the need to shout, I guess. Louder than a Dim Sum restaurant :/
The service was nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary. But it was prompt and attentive.
It's unfortunate, but the menu was very similar to r.tl's Dine-Out menu, so I was dismayed at the few choices we had. We ended up going for the "Abigail's Salad", Cauliflower Soup, Steak Frites, Grilled Salmon, Cheese Platter and Warm Apple crumble. I had "Brooke Shields" cocktail which consisted of Stoli blueberi, blueberry liquer, and limonata. It was good. Not too sweet, had a bit of bitterness to it.
The food was okay. I think I enjoyed our starters much more than our mains. They seemed a little more dynamic. I did comment that the frites were absolutely delicious. Perfectly fried, perfectly seasoned. Really delicious. And there was a bernaise sauce on the side that was great for dipping. I was not fond of the Israeli couscous, but that's personal preference. My salmon was a little dry.
I was a little disappointed that the Cheese platter.
It cost an extra $3 on top of the Dine-Out price fixe, even though it was just another wedge of brie with bit of compote, pear and sourdough crostini. Perhaps my palate is not refined enough to be able to really taste the extra $3 quality of the cheese. It was notably more creamy that other bries I've had, but still.
I think I might need to come back here, as I think the Dine-Out menu just wasn't right. I noticed on their regular menu, that they have Fried chicken and I'm ALWAYS on the look out for good fried chicken. Plus, seems that it does better as a Breakfast/Brunch joint, than a dinner place.
Perhaps it's a case of the right place, wrong time. Stay tuned for an update review at some point! -
Review from Allison F.
Updated - 1/2/2011
Came here today to use my GoodNews coupon with a group of friends. Was super lucky enough to be the first patrons of the restaurant, as it quickly filled up 30 mins later and there was a large group of people waiting outside when we left.
Tried their California benedict, which consisted of crab cakes, guacamole, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. Was nicely informed by our server that it didn't come with an english muffin base, which was just fine by me. Added the turkey sausages as I'm always thrilled when I can find a non-pork breakfast meat option at restaurants. The crab cakes were super tender and full of crab and vegetables. Hashbrowns are large cubes of potato and were well seasoned. Unfortunately found a large chunk of egg shell in my poached egg but otherwise the meal was very good.
Overall, everyone enjoyed their meals. They arrived promptly and were nice and hot. My coffee cup was always refilled and even though the restaurant was full and busy, we weren't rushed at all. Win!Listed in: Breaking for breaky!, Worplace Neighborhood Haunts
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/7/2010
Came here last night for a work dinner party as a few of us had been here for breakfast and enjoyed… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie S.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2011
I had the sablefish croquettes and loved them. I also tried the mushroom barley risotto but didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The mushrooms didn't seem cooked at all and uncooked mushrooms are not much to my liking. Everything on the menu looks delicious and I'm sure I will be back for more.
I found the service staff a bit too snobby for my liking. If they would just chill out a bit I'm sure it would be an even better experience. -
Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2011
Atmosphere: Very cozy and small. We arrived early, therefore, there wasn't a wait. It probably helped that it was Easter Sunday as well. I have read by others that this place can get loud with music during their lunch evening service. It was loud, however, it was tolerable. I guess we were lucky that we got there when we did.
Service: It was decent, everything arrived in a timely manner. It was neutral service. I felt unwanted and it was cold, however, not in a bad way. I guess the fact that we had a coupon may have thrown her off of giving us good service.
Price: I had a http://goodnews.com coupon, therefore, got $30 for $15. The prices are decent for the portions, however, I can see this being a pricey brunch with the ad on's. Was a little thrown back that a side toast was $2.50
Food: I ordered a breakfast burrito that for the price had a good balanced ratio of eggs to potatoes and veggies. I was pleased and impressed by this 'cause most places over charge on this and use the potatoes as cheap fillers. My potatoes were over fried, however, my date loved them. I guess this is subject to taste. My date had their daily special which was cinnamon French toast with bacon jam. It sounded good on paper and my mouth was watering, however, taste wise it missed the mark. I appreciate what they were trying to attempt, however, the bacon jam tasted more like bacon pieces in marmalade. The salty to sweet balance missed the mark which was unfortunate.
Additional Notes: The hours listed are a bit funny in the sense that I tried to go to this place 2 times, missing either buses or not being clear on their hours of operation which sucks, therefore, was happy that I made it out today and was generally pleased all around. -
Review from Brannon R.
9/14/2011
Great food and great service, despite being very busy.
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Review from Marlena M.
Vancouver, BC
7/31/2010
We had the strangest server experience last night at Abigail's Party.
When we walked in the waitress completely ignored while she was obviously having an intense discussion with the cook. We saw two other people walk in so we figured you just seat yourself here, and we did.
She noticed us about 5 minutes later, introduced herself, took our drinks order, and then told us to let her know if there were any questions on the menu. My dining companion opened his mouth and pointed at the menu just in time for her to walk away. It would have been kinda funny if it hadn't been the start of much more to come.
We noticed that she seemed to be doing a lot of moving, yet remarkably little serving. Running around, fussing with something behind a door, sitting with customers to take their order, touching the barman. The girl was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, but she would never actually LOOK anywhere to see what was going on; were drinks empty, were menus closed, were plates empty. Just dither, dither, dither.
Some poor guy who I think might have been a manager or perhaps just a more experienced waiter was almost literally picking up after her all night. Example; at one point he got her attention and actually pointed at the dirty plates that had been in front of us for 15 minutes or so. She came and brought drinks to the table next to us, but then left and didn't take our plates. So the guy had to come back and get them himself.
The food was fine, but uneventful. Ambiance was jazz (?) played so loud that we had to shout, and we eventually moved outside just so we could talk. The location is tiny and sort of odd. This is a very expensive strip with a lot of other quality competition. There is really no point in trying this place when any other place on Yew is doing things better.Listed in: Well That Sucked
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Review from Jacqueline N.
Vancouver, BC
7/23/2010
Say wha? Kitchen open til 2am? And NOT greasy Chinese?
How can you not like this place?
Small, intimate, good knowledge of wine. Staff is sexy. Dishes even sexier. Actually I don't remember the food because I was too busy peering into my lover's eyes over the soft glow of Abigail's candles...
Vancouver needs more places like this. -
Review from Lynn H.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2010
I am on the seemingly endless search for a new brunch/breakfast restaurant and this past weekend, my search brought me to Abigail's Party. I scoured Yelp for somewhere cozu but not frou-frou and this little bistro/bar seemed like a great blend of warm and friendly without being oppressive. My first impressions were also good as the restaurant is well situated and chocker-block full of the ideal vancouver crowd.
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Tangent:
What, you may ask, is the "Ideal" Vancouver crowd according to Lynn H? The answer has more to do with what said crowd is NOT. Namely, pretentious, overly young, excessively wealthy, and dressed at holt renfrew from head to toe. As I am somewhat pretentious, young, well off, and well dressed myself these qualifications are more than a little hypocritical but really... who wants to see clones of themself everytime they go out?
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Back to Abigail's Party. We were seated right away (although several people after us had to wait) and our orders were taken with alacrity (ya... I just threw that word in there for fun/to up the pretentious quotient of this review).
I went for the classic benny with soft poached eggs (note: the quest for the perfect eggs benny is almost as important as the quest for a good general brunch spot). My mom ordered an mushroom laden omlette. We got our food quite fast and chowed down.
On the food. I am sorry, I get that some people like their eggs on the runny side but if the omlette barely holds the mushrooms together, it just ain't doing the trick. Eggs are one of the hardest things to get right but, if done wrong, they can totally upset a meal. It isn't that the food didn't taste good, it just wasn't what it should have been for the price. The Benny was fresh and the eggs were prefect but the sauce was a bit under-seasoned and the muffin was a wee-bit soggy. The hashbrowns were quite nice (the dill was a nice touch) but also under-seasoned and so ketchup was a must. OH! That reminds me... the ketchup bottle I was given had the runs and ended up exploding all over the side of my plate... yuck
Conclusion: high expectations, positive innitial impression, left a bit bummed out.
note: I am giving this restaurant a 2 instead of a 3 because the coffee was good and bottomless and I really really needed coffee that day.Listed in: The Search For Brunch
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Review from Joyce D.
Burnaby, BC
3/4/2010 ROTD 7/29/2010
Yo Abbie, girl can you make a mean brunch and you aim to please!
Breaky here combines both a workout and some serious good grub. The workout consists of one hell of a hill to walk back up to Broadway as the small gem is right by the beach. Very few tables but both cozy and inviting.
The brunch menu is outstanding and trust me you will be faced with a heck of a decision from the scrambles to the mind-blowing speciality pancakes & cinnabun french toast and the not to be missed Huevos Rancheros. I settled on the later and boy was I a happy camper. Great sunny-side up eggs served on stacked corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and black beans. Don't get me started on the guacamole and salsa; so good.
Love the menu and atmosphere and as for the party it was in my mouth, no doubt about it. -
Review from Reena M.
Updated - 4/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
Utter disappointment!! I went here for brunch for the first time and had a reasonable level of expectation since dinner here has always been pretty nice.
Let's start with the service: It took forever to get our food!! I think we waited a good 30-40 minutes and 2 cups of coffee after we ordered. And our order was taken about 20 minutes after sitting down, but it was okay because we were taking some time in deciding. We noticed the table next to us also waited forever for their meal and their server apologized for it and offered them a free drink, but they declined so she comped their coffee. We got no such treatment. Or recognition.
Food:
Now I totally would have forgiven this to a certain extent if the food was up to par... We ordered the special which was a venison sausage and mushroom eggs benedict, and the ranchero benedict with chorizo sausage, chipotle hollandaise and corn salsa. Both benedicts had quite a stingy amount of hollandaise sauce on them. About 1 teaspoons worth on each egg. I'm not saying to over-sauce them, but I think at least 1 tablespoon each is more reasonable. The hollandaise carries the flavour of the rest of the toppings. Otherwise it's just dry. And of course, when I asked for more hollandaise they charged for it. The hashbrowns were okay, I'm just not a fan of deep fried hashbrowns so that didn't do it for me either. And the coffee was also just okay.
Abby, what happened to you?Listed in: Reena M's Guide to Kitsilano, The Morning After...brunchity…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/16/2009
I went to try out their new menu the other day and the quality of everything was still really good.… Read more »
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Review from vanessa G.
Vancouver, BC
11/20/2010
I give this place 3.5 stars but bumped it up because of the great service.
The organic Pedro's coffee was delicious. Followed by the Brie, pear, caramelized onions, and pesto scramble. Delicious. Toast & Hashbrowns rocked the spot too. The space is smaller then i thought, but nice and intimate. I usually rate things on if i would return to eat here again, and i definitely would.Listed in: All things brunch
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
1/15/2010
I wish I could say that Abigail's was a neighbourhood spot for me. It's just far enough away that on a cold and rainy day, I must drive and endure the parking blunders that are inevitable where permit parking exists. But that doesn't stop me from absorbing the cushy, comfy yet cool interior.
Service is bland, but the food is tasty. The autumn lasagna was the highlight of my feast with it's roasted squash and hazelnut sauce. This was followed closely by the foccacia bruschetta, in all of its goat cheese glory.
I'd skip over the turkey pot pie. Sounds great in print, but the flaky crust to gooey interior ratio is way off. Likely better served as a soup, this would be a meal best eaten with a spork, of which I had none. -
Review from Karena L.
8/11/2010
It started off as a good experience and ended with lameness.
Food -3/4 stars
Service - fail
I started off with the Abigail Mimosa - peach liqueur and orange juice with sparking wine. Yums.
We shared the Bison Short Rib Hash and Kitsolano Benedict. The bison short ribs were tender and a little sweet... delicious.
The Kitsolano had potential but was ruined when I cut the egg yolk and it was medium/hard cooked... I like my yolk to be a little runny. When we flagged down the waitress instead of just reordering it the way it SHOULD be, we had to argue with her for a couple minutes on how the egg should have been cooked. Seriously... did you have to ruin my morning arguing with us, just bring us another dish properly cooked and I would have been happy as button. Even after that, she only brought out 1 when there was 2. At that point I didn't care much anymore... Not worth the effort. -
Review from Jasmine L.
Port Moody, BC
3/9/2009
Last weekend, I paid a second visit to Abigail's Party. I was there for brunch with my husband and I was not disappointed.
When we arrived there was a line-up, which was not unexpected. We stood there for a good 5-8 minutes before anyone said anything to us, because several of the servers were chatting with a friend of theirs. A tad annoying, but not unexpected for restaurants in the area (does everyone in Kits know each other? Eeesh.)
When the hostess got to us, she said it would be about 20 minutes. The wait was more like 45 minutes. I'm pretty sure that sometimes hostesses just make up a number when you ask that question. ha!
By the time we were seated, we were starving and had pretty much memorized the menu. My husband had the Cinnamon Bun French Toast, which was pretty good - not fabulous. I think that cinnamon buns aren't able to absorb as much of the egg mixture as other bread items, so it wasn't very French-Toasty, if that makes any sense. The sauce was great though. I had a benny - the Rancher, which was fabulous. The egg was perfectly poached, the corn salsa was mildly spicy and sweet, and the chorizo was HEAVEN. The chorizo was so good, in fact, that I asked the server where they got it from (a butcher on Granville Island, if anyone's wondering).
Aside from the waiting and odd service before we sat down, the other negatives are: uncomfortable, crowded seating (I'm 5'2" and my feet don't touch the bar on the stools comfortably), and the hallway to the bathroom is really crowded with boxes and supplies - a bit awkward since there's often a line up to use the facilities.
Overall though, the positives outweighed the negatives. The service after we sat down was great. Coffee and tea refills came often. The food was good-almost-awesome, and the location is great. If I could give a half star, this would be 3.5, but I'm rounding down in this case. -
Review from Ernesto G.
5/4/2010 1 photo
Poached egg poutine!
I was heading down to Sophie's for brunch with a friend this past Sunday. When we got there, the line up was CRAZY. Thank goodness I remembered all the great reviews on Yelp regarding Abigail's, so we walked a few blocks and had an awesome brunch.
We were seated right away. The service was friendly and prompt. Our server told us about the special (poached egg poutine) and I was sold.
The food was yummy, and Abigail's definitely lived up to my expectations. I will definitely come again.
One last tidbit that I would like to share. My friend and I lost track of time and we asked for more coffee. Our server said she would have to put on a new pot for us, and I said OK. Then I realized what time it was and asked another server what time they close and she said "pretty much now." I told her to quickly tell her colleague not to start up a fresh pot of coffee just for us, and that I did not realize they were closing.
I was very impressed that our server did not mention that they were closing and that she would put on a fresh pot of coffee just for us. That impressed me and that is also another reason I'll be coming back in the near future.
Thank you Abigail's Party for making my first visit and very memorable one! See you soon.Listed in: I LOVE BRUNCH
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Review from Jonathan B.
5/25/2010
My friend and I went here for dinner and although it was later in the night (after 9pm) the place was bumping on a Saturday night. It's not a large space and so even a small group of 40 people can make the place look super crowded.
We were initially told to wait for a table and that the bar was full, but the server/manager/hostess told us she would bring us drinks from the bar. But then 3 minutes later a perfect table opened up in the corner and we were seated. We didn't have a reservation so we were prepared to wait and didn't mind.
We had Red Truck on tap which tasted great after a run in the park. The place was loud but not intrusively noisy. We ordered the poutine -- the fries were delicious, we could have used some more curds -- and then my friend ordered the special fish selection of the day and I had the sloppy joe. Overall it was a good experience. Service was measured -- at times it may have been a little slower than some people might have wanted, but my friend and I were fine with it as this was our major event of the evening.
I'd love to go back for brunch -- and would recommend it for dinner, especially for a date night or group of 4-6 people. When we left, our server thanked us appreciatively which was a nice touch. -
Review from Sarah O.
1/11/2011
My brunch list just initiated a new member this past weekend. This place is yummy. Long line is a bit of a pain in the butt but the small cozy atmosphere is nice once you sit down. Their toast was delicious, the potatos were seasoned well and the bacon.. mmm bacon. I thought it was a reasonable price for the right amount of food, but they really need to step up their drink menu. $4.25 for a small glass of OJ is not happening. Other than that, the coffee was just blah, the service was ehhh.. next time I'll bring my own drink and a patient attitude.
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Review from Katie F.
6/1/2009
3.5 stars for me. (I hope someone from Yelp reads this and lets us give 1/2 stars in the future!)
Came here for brunch with some girlfriends this weekend - one of them was raving about the cinnamon bun french toast here and I thought... cinnamon buns into one of my fave brunch foods = love :)
We were pretty early so there was no problem getting a table - the patio was full since it was gorgeous out, so we took a table by the door.
Interior is quite dark with pleatherish booths and tall stools - they were pretty comfy. Service is okay and food came at a reasonable pace.
I thought the food was only average although the menu is quite nice. There's some unique twists on the brunch items including the cinnamon bunch french toast and a nice eggs and bennies selection.
In spite of coming here to try the french toast, I ended up having an egg scramble with spinach, mushrooms and cheese with hash browns and toast since I had eaten 3 leftover cupcakes before coming and was feeling majorly guilty!
The egg were quite good and the hash browns are excellent - nice and crispy with salt and dill - mmmmm. The bread is quite good too and I like that they don't pre-butter your toast for you.
Downsides - they are not consistent in their presentation - 2 of my pieces of toast were nicely done, and the other 2 slices were not warm or crisp at all. My friend's benny was totally overcooked - they were pretty much soft solids on the insides instead of being runny. My other friend with the cinnamon bun french toast liked it - it sounds like sometimes they do 2 slices and other times they do 3 which can affect the quality.
Overall a-okay for me.Listed in: Sunny Side Up!
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Review from Tina H.
6/6/2010 1 photo
When we arrived, the place was packed so we had to wait for 10-15 minutes and were lucky to able to secure a patio table.
They never let your coffee get empty; I guess it's one of those all-you-can-drink things. I didn't order any though. Service was pretty decent.
I got the bison short rib hash. It was delicious! I could've used a tad more hollandaise, and maybe some more flavour to the potatoes, and maybe cook that smaller egg a bit less so the yolk is still runny... Other than that, it was delicious. The bison had lots of flavour and pretty much fell apart. I enjoyed it.
Other than the diaper changing in the background, the dog under the table, the children at the table dropping spoons, containers, baby food and water all over the ground, there was no problem!
Solid 4-stars. Even though it didn't blow me away and I don't crave it after it's over, I could see myself going back. Definitely worth a try! -
Review from Suiki S.
Vancouver, BC
3/23/2011
Food - 3 stars
Ambiance - 3 stars
Décor - 3 stars
Service - 3 stars
Value - 3 stars
Abigail's Party is located on Yew and Cornwall St near Kitsilano Beach. The restaurant is small and with limited seating. If you have a big group, then this is not the ideal place for sunday brunch gathering. Since the restaurant is long and small, it traps a lot of noise and echos throughout the restaurant making it really loud and unbearable. The décor and ambiance resembles an old bar that requires some updates and renovation.
On the menu, they offered some interesting brunch choices like Bison Short Ribs Hash, Huevos Ranchero, Brunch Burritos and a great selection of Egg Benedicts and Scrambles. We ordered
Bison short rib hash $12.95 - bison short ribs, fresh baby spinach, caramelized onions, fresh herbs, red potatoes and two poached eggs, topped with freshly made hollandaise and served with mulltigrain toast. The short ribs were a little dry but I really enjoyed the combination of the aromatic caramelized onions, running poached eggs and hollandaise sauce on the crunchy and tasty red potato hash. This dish is worth a try.
Yew street special scramble $10.95 - Sautéed wild mushrooms, fresh spinach, tarragon, goat cheese. The scramble was very moist and creamy but not mind blowing good.
Abigail Party's brunch menu is average and overpriced. For the ultimate brunch place, I would suggest The Twisted Fork on Granville Street downtown Vancouver. -
Review from Dani B.
5/15/2009
I've only been here for appies and drinks but they were good, no complaints. The service was pretty good and the ambiance is dark but lovely.
I recommend their dark and stormy, but everything on their drink list looks awesome.
I went here in a group and although the place is quite small, we were able to snag the biggest table.Listed in: Great for a date!
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Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
9/11/2008 1 photo
It had been a while since my last visit. Since then, Abigail's Party has grown a lot. Inside the dark, glossy veneer is an understated elegance without the pretense. The casual element keeps things relaxed and far from pompous. The food here is excellent. My most recent visit took place during brunch hours. Everything was lovely. The service was great and the food itself was appealing in both aesthetic and taste.
I had the brunch clubhouse sandwich without bacon. The ingredients were so fresh and combination just so inventive. Another visit is definitely on order.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Eryne O.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2010
As good as it gets in kits. The coffee is hot and delish, the menu is large with TONS of options. The staff....what can I say? The same smiling faces every time I go it. Super helpful and friendly. The mini packs of JIF peanut butter is a kick back to old school for me. The even toast my GF toast for me. It's always wonderful when restaurants allow you to bring in gluten free toast for breakfast, and also that they don't coat their hash browns in flour!
Line ups are long if your more than 2 people but they do have 2 tables big enough for 6! -
Review from Kassim D.
2/7/2010
My first venture into the Kitsilano area led me here where I met some friends the other night for dinner / drinks...
This place is very small - seating for maybe 20 people total if you squeeze in and are cool with eating with your neighbor from the next table.
While I was not there on a romantic escapade, this place has the ambiance (candlelight, low lighting, soft music) you may want on your romantic excursion.
the meal started well, drinks came quickly and the food was well prepared. I opted for the open-faced duck sliders (very tasty), the steak - served as medallions, while the meat was cooked well, the plate was overdone with the peppercorn...
we had the prompt the waiter for dessert menus and it took about 30 minutes to get our desserts (2 total) when the place was half empty...
I got the mousse, which was fantastic - only comment, the berry topping layer was a little too thick.
honestly - the only reason why the place lost a star was the service delays without communication
overall, a great meal - a little pricey, i dropped $60+ , but still worth it..side note - the great liquor selection was a nice touch (5 types of premium scotch / whiskey) -
Review from Jamie O.
4/23/2011
Went here on the recommendation of a local Vancouverite and was very pleased with the casual atmosphere and superior food. I ordered the Chicago mule cocktail which was delicious. I also had the crispy skin salmon dish with gnocchi and wild mushrooms. YUM. The fish was fresh and for once, I felt happy to eat the skin. The gnocchi was a little tough but the overall flavor and carmelization on the mushrooms was perfect.
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Review from Sunny S.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2009
If you're like me, living downtown, you need to get yourself across the bridge to Kits and go for a weekend brunch at this little tucked away tapas restaurant called, Abigail's Party.
This modern bistro previously occupied by Tangerine's, is quaint , cozy and lightly lite, giving it a warm welcoming atmosphere. Try the "Huevos Rancheros" if you crave something savory and for the sweet tooths out there, have the "Buttermilk Banana Pancakes".
1685 Yew Street, Vancouver, BC
T 604-739-4677
Monday to Saturday: 5:30pm - 2:00am
Sunday: 5:30pm - 12:00am
Weekend & Holiday Brunch: 9:00am - 2:30pm
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