Abbey Coffee House 16

Few years ago, this was the best in the city and I was a regular. Now? Tried it the other day for the ole “one more chance” and was sorry

I still enjoy their focaccia sandwich and the owners are nice guys but it’s not like it used to be. I wish we could have the old Abbey back!

dirty and slow

Stopped in for my first (and probably last) time today. At 1245 in the afternoon, there wasn’t any coffee made, and it was necessary to clean the machine to start making a fresh pot. Once that happened, the coffee was actually very good. My biggest problem with the place is that it is just plain dirty. The place looks grungy, whatever direction you look. The coffee station behind the register looks as though it hasn’t been cleaned in a year, the table I sat at still had crumbs on it.
In short, I’ve got no problem with (and even kind of like) the weathered look in a place like that, but when it looks unsanitary, then there’s a problem.

I agree with most of the above. The old Mass Ave Abbey was better, and that’s not just a sentimental thing. It’s still good, just not as good as it used to be. For some reason they haven’t had the staff loyalty of the old Abbey. People used to work there forever, and now it seems like every time we go in there’s someone new. I think that’s a big part of it.
My wife is a vegetarian, I’m omnivorous and we both enjoy the menu here.

I waited 7 minutes for someone to come to the counter. I counted 3 flies near an open orange juice container. They didn’t have any of the things I wanted when it comes to coffee ( like, say, Vanilla. ) The price wasn’t horrible and the coffee was okay, but I’d rather give my money to mega-evil-Starbucks then this place.

Whatever they were like when they won all the awards behind the counter, they aren’t that now.

Note: I didn’t try any of the vegan / meal fare. It could be awesome, and if so, enjoy.

I am a vegetarian and The Abbey has disappointed me too much and too often. I want the food to be great (Good would be fine) and the atmosphere/service to match but they have just not come up to the plate. I will repeat those before me, it is dirty. If the front is dirty what does the kitchen look like? The service is the worst in town, I went there with my mom at 2pm and she ordered a salad which came without a fork. We figured he would be back with one and waited, finally after a customer left the counter we asked about a fork and he said that he needed to wash them because the breakfast had been busy, BREAKFAST, what! So we waited and the fork still did not show, Mom began eating the salad with my chips. At that point I went back up and asked again about the forks and he hem-hawed a bit. We said, “Do you at least have a plastic one?” Which of course they did! As a coffeehouse it fails miserably. I went there for a late night latte, and the barista did not tamp the espresso and when it began spewing out the sides of the machine he looked puzzled and cranked the portafilter as tight as he could to stop it. One of the bakers at Renee’s recommended them as the best baked vegan goods in town and they are good. Most sandwiches are ok but their saitan is pretty uggy. Please, Please, Abbey train your employees, and get your act in gear I want you to be good again!

Do not walk, RUN to the abbey and have a slice of orange heaven.

…. NOW

i love this place…it is great to grab a bite to eat on the run or stay for hours as you do homework…some of the best food…the people there are fun and fit the abbey…the owners are nice guys too

The best place for the largest selection of veggitarian/vegan fare. The food and desserts are great, and the drinks are good too (although, the temperatures vary on them sometimes). I like the mix and match tables and chairs, but I agree, carpeted/fabric-covered tables are kinda gross. I won’t stop going there. And the service is really great.

I do miss the old Abbey on Mass Ave. So much easier for me to get to, I don’t know why. It was my favorite haunt when I first moved here from Chicago and I love their vegetarian flair. I am a meat eating German chick, but I love the creativity and tastiness one can attain with the right ingredients. The Abbey does that.
The Old Abbey – I loved the painted ceiling and the drabness of the place, actually. Shelves of tattered books and mix and match furniture made it eclectic and fun. You could go by yourself and never feel lonely.
And their carrot cake is to die for! Or at least die a LITTLE for.

I spent many a day throughout my college career in this little dingy place. I tend to agree with the previous reviewers, it does need some cleaning up. The rickety tables have caused me to spill drinks on more than one occasion.

Nothing beats the black bean burrito in my opinion. They have such a great veggie menu its hard to beat!

I miss the old Abbey on Mass. This one just doesn’t do it for me. But they still have some very great DSSRT!!!!

I really enjoy the Abbey’s menu. Everything I have tried there has been great. My favorite is the Buffallo Veggie Sandwich and their lattes. I also like the bohemian atmosphere and the service has always been great.

The problem is, as stated above, that the restauant itself is very dirty. There seems to be a thick coating of dust and dirt on the furniture, floors, windows, etc. I hope that the kitchen isn’t as such. I like the laid back atmosphere…but I also want the place that serves my food to be clean. I wish they would clean this place up so that I could feel comfortable eating there. I’m sure with the opening of the new library, they might have more business.

As a vegetarian, The Abbey has one of the best and most diverse menus in Indy. They have great choices for breakfast, lunch and vegan desserts. The atmosphere and service needs a little work. If the Abbey had a face lift it could be one of the coolest hangouts in the city. The weird blue walls are a little distracting and it doesn’t create a welcoming environment. The weathered chairs and carpeted tables are a little gross and never feel like they are clean. The owners are frequently at the Abbey and visible, however they always seem short staffed and you often have to ring a bell to alert someone in the kitchen that you are there. Because of the veggie friendly menu, I’ll continue to patron The Abbey but for now I’ll stick with takeout.

The vegan lineup of treats is worth a trip alone. Plus, the owners are great. On one visit I failed to bring enough cash. They let me order anyway and I returned to pay my bill the following day. Try that at Fivebucks.