The Abbey Tavern — Restaurant in Fingal

A wonderful tavern, for people who look like they have money. If you've been hiking and have no time to change don't bother. You'll get treated like a nuisance.

We were staying at friends near the Summit and were told to go to Abbey Tavern for a more upscale meal. We had been hiking around the peninsula and didn't have time to change clothes before stopping in for a bite. We were placed at a poorly positioned table although many tables were still open. The waitress came and asked for the food order because after 8 o'clock, no more orders could be placed. That was fine, an appetizer each and a main course. I then asked if they had vermouth. She said she had to go ask. She came back and said yes. Took our orders, and that was the last time she talked to us until 50 minutes later! The appetizers came in the time another table had drinks and the main course. We started our appetizers, yet there were still no drinks to be seen. We finished our appetizers, the table next to us left and two new people came in and ordered drinks and had them as well. Still no drinks for us and the appetizers were cleared - finally our original waitress came and asked if everything was ok. My husband said we still needed drinks (after 45 minutes a waitress should maybe check we haven't had them yet). She informed us just a minute, she'd get them. Ten minutes later I was still waiting. Perturbed, I asked them to cancel the food order, which after 55 minutes was still not there.

I talked to the barkeep who took it off our bill. I informed him we had drink reservations and still needed to get ready and change, whereupon he commented that changing would be a good idea before going out. ... We are not extremely rich, but have money. I have been all over the world at restaurants in Asia, Africa and the Americas. With or without great clothes on, one should be given good service if one shows he can afford the restaurant.

After 55 minutes of waiting on drinks and food and the comments and poorly placed table in the dark corner, it was too much.

I believe groups of tourists come here and see the 'real' Ireland tavern. Unfortunately it just disappointed my expectations and have to truthfully say, ruined the last true night out in Ireland, because after leaving there was nowhere open to get food. We ending up eating fries from the petrol station and went to bed hungry and disheartened.

Consider a different place and location if you're a normal looking person who's looking for somewhere...

We walked in to the restaurant on a busy Sunday afternoon around 3pm, to be told that it would be an hour until we could get a table as the kitchen was temporarily shut because it was such a busy afternoon. We totally understood and so reserved a table for an hour after that time, because we knew we wanted to eat here and didn’t mind waiting given it was a busy day. So, we go away and come back, to then be sat down at a table and totally ignored for a full 20 minutes. When we are finally asked what we would like, we order drinks first and try to move on to food to be told “sorry guys, our kitchen has literally just closed so I can’t take food orders right now.” We queried how that had happened and noted at this point we’d been sat at a table set up for food for 20 minutes, so how was it fair the kitchen just closing could affect us? We were simply told again that the kitchen was closed and it would be another 30 minutes at least before any orders could be taken. It was honestly cheeky enough to take a drinks order from us before mentioning the kitchen was closed, but really it was a joke that we had waited a full hour and came back to this venue on the promise we could eat then, to simply be told the kitchen was closed once again. I appreciate that it was not our server’s fault, but the manner in which we were spoken to by her was almost unbelievable, especially as she asked “well would you still like your drinks?”

Going to chalk this really poor experience up to a very bad day on the venue’s part, on what I would imagine is an understaffing and poor management issue. But overall, it is simply unfair and unacceptable to ask patrons to wait an hour, for them to then come back after that time has passed and then be asked to wait at least another 50 minutes. There are so many other restaurants in Howth we could have gone to in that time.

The way this was all handled by certain wait staff was really poor. It was a real shame as we were excited for the food and had had very special family memories at this venue from past trips to Ireland. Going forward, I’d recommend anyone queuing for a seat here to instead walk 5 minutes up the road...

Charming, but overrated. Beautiful building. One for the tourists I think. A local for many years I never had the opportunity to visit, or the want, however as a treat my Mam requested we go for her birthday as it was highly recommended. I grew up hearing tales of wonder surrounding the AT, so we booked the big day. On arrival, we wandered around aimlessly, and made eye contact with many staff members who ignored us, until we eventually had to stop a very ‘inconvenienced’ looking woman and ask how to get a table we had booked. There were plenty of reserved tables, but no host or anyone to welcome or signage at least to advise. I understand it’s a ‘pub’, but this section is clearly used as a restaurant. I ordered my steak M/R, but when it came out not only was 1/2 of the steak made up of pure fat, I knew it was well over. I cut in and sure enough it was at least W/D, teetering on Very WD. Never in my life have I sent food back, however the incredibly poor cut coupled with the toughness overcooking a sirloin that was placed in front of me, I had to. The waitress seemed apologetic, but I can imagine the drama I caused on the kitchen. Apologies to the chef, but I wish I took a picture now to show the reason I sent it back. My new steak arrived less than 10 mins later, this time I was presented with a well seasoned, albeit now slightly under, bordering on blue/rare steak. The centre was tepid, no warmth, however it was well rested and the meat itself was beautiful. No server checked on us, even after the 2nd steak. There were 3 other tables and more staff than tables to serve. I mentioned it was my Mams birthday and the young girl barely managed a smile, never mind sticking a candle in one of the desserts we ordered. Maybe my expectations of Irish hospitality are slowing becoming redundant, as the younger staff just don’t get how to deal with the older generations anymore the way it was bet into us. Maybe the issue was we aren’t ‘regulars’ or ‘Yankee tourists’ to take advantage of. Regardless the reason, we won’t be bothering again, which is a shame, the Guinness looked decent and the wine...