The Abbey: Craft Coffee & Cocktails — Restaurant in Brunswick

OH, NO! BIG NO, BECAUSE THIS NOISY PLACE MEANS YOU HAVE TO YELL TO HAVE A CONVERSATION!! The atmosphere would be PERFECT if not for this well-known, cheap gimmick to blare loud music to make customers stress out so they can order more alcohol and salty snacks. THE PLACE IS MOSTLY EMPTY BECAUSE THIS IS NO RELAXED PLACE FOR A DRINK, DON'T BE FOOLED. Seadog's Restaurant does the same thing, and now they hardly have any regulars - a place that seats 100+. The loud music gimmick is why. And unfortunately this beautiful place with a spot-on concept is doing the same thing. Just look at the faces change and soften when someone demands to turn down the music. The table of five next to me has asked twice. And whenever it's lowered, people look relaxed again, even the staff. Turn it up way, way high with a club beat and watch the glazed, unhappy looks. Just like Seadog's. Most people will stay away from this nasty acoustic setting. It is no place for a memorable date. Too bad for The Abbey. It is so promising! But no authentic speakeasy would ever have pounding music and a big echo chamber in the seating area with no sound buffers. This place will rely on tourists and one or two time customers. Then what? Like Cool As a Moose, it will stand mostly ... empty. Food is good, staff is outstanding. And I do feel sorry for the staff, both for the loss of business and their obvious sheer discomfort! The customers look visibly worn out by the blasting music. Maybe this is just the place for a few customers to get stressed out and get smashed. And then what? Will this concept carry the business? That concept can't possibly be what's going on here, with these high menu prices. Good luck and so long for now, Abbey. UPDATE: Owner reached out with the nice note below. Excellent, but you could just lower the volume...

The Abbey presents itself as a refined and elegant café, where attention to detail is evident from the moment you step in. The ambiance is clean, organized, and distinctly upscale, with an inviting outdoor space on the front sidewalk. The tables, shaded by parasols, offer a delightful vantage point to admire the Maine Street while savoring a meticulously prepared coffee.

The beverages crafted by the skilled baristas reflect a level of professionalism that is commendable. The espresso, while expertly made, leaned towards a more acidic profile, prompting me to balance it with a touch of water. The cortado, however, was a standout, hitting the right notes of richness and balance. The masala chai was a revelation—perfectly spiced and deeply satisfying. As for the hot chocolate, it was enjoyable but carried a slight aftertaste reminiscent of cocoa mix, which detracted from its authenticity.

The breakfast offerings were solid, with the breakfast sandwich providing a good start to the day. The caçoila, generously stuffed, fell just short of delivering the robust Portuguese flavor I anticipated, leaving me longing for a more authentic experience.

Overall, The Abbey offers a polished and pleasant experience with a few minor points that could elevate it to a truly exceptional café.

Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Food Quality: 4/5 Drink Quality: 4/5 Value for Money:...

We were regulars at Little Dog and finally decided to see what the Abbey could offer as a morning coffee stop. The Abbey is primarily a cocktail bar and I can't imagine it truly replacing Little Dog, but they do offer coffee and chai in the morning. The atmosphere is nice and still fairly community-oriented; the community bulletin board is gone, but there are plant cuttings available for visitors to take home and the vibe is friendly.

The chai latte is just okay, and there isn't a lot of variety in terms of hot drinks. They do have oat milk and some syrups that can be added for sweetness and flavor, but these aren't displayed on the menu. The chai comes unsweetened without syrup and we found it to be quite weak.

I hope the tea and coffee menu expands over time and that the drinks improve, because I can see this space being a nice place to sit in...