The Back Abbey — Restaurant in Claremont

Since my last review they've changed owners and added cocktails. The cocktails are a delightful addition to the continually amazing beer and wine list. The food is updating and improving.

My only concern is the cigar smoke that floats around. I prefer to sit outside, especially because of Covid but also because it can cramped inside. But the cigar smoke sets off my asthma and makes it hard to breathe.

5 years ago Let me start by saying that I would consider myself a regular at the Abbey and I know there are many other people who are as well.

If you are interested in a European pub feel, then this is a good substitute for the real thing. They don't take reservations and there is no hostess to seat you. If there is an empty table, have a seat. If not, a small line forms outside the patio fencing and it is first come, first serve.

Once seated (and I usually sit on the patio) you are given a LONG list of beers that they offer on draft and in the bottle. Prices range from every day reasonable to celebratory. Also, a short list of wines that are all good choices and a menu of food. If the list of beers is intimidating, your waitress should be able to direct you to a beer that is in your palette range. There are no cocktails.

I can't say that I have had anything bad here, although my favorite appetizer, the pretzel, which is not made in house did get too crunchy for a bit it is getting better and back to soft and luscious. The aioli dip that comes with it is delicious. If you're not into pretzels, I'd recommend the Ploughman, but I love cheese and deli meats. Their almonds are addictive and the olive selection is great.

Once you've chosen an appetizer, the favorite entrees in my group of friends are the Man salad (tri tip on a bed of green with a red pepper sauce), the Schnitzel salad (a huge delicious piece of Schnitzel on a bed of greens), the Back Abbey burger or the Seasonal (depending on the season) and the mussels. Always ask if they have a special because that is usually amazing and only lasts until they run out (sometimes same day). And order a basket of fries, you can't go to the Back Abbey and not order the fries (unless you're a vegetarian). They are double fried, once in duck fat, which gives them a delicious taste and texture and the dipping sauces are made in house. I can't ever decide whether I like the lemon or horseradish better and there is a ketchup also.

For dessert, I never know what they have. I miss the deconstructed cheese cake as that's been gone awhile, but while I lament its disappearance, the beignets are yummy as well as the pannecotta. They did have a belgian waffle with apples and a vanilla cream sauce recently on special that...

In my opinion, this is the best bar/pub food in Claremont, hands-down! I am and was a fan of Belgian style beers/ales before The Back Abbey came into existence. So you could understand my excitement when I first found out about them opening in our town. To get down to it, the food is top-notch. Everything on the menu is great! I have not had a bad plate/meal here. Any of the burgers and "The Tip" sandwich is amazing. You really have to try their fries which are cooked in duck fat. I know those that are uninitiated in things cooked in duck fat would gag, but if you are not vegetarian or vegan, you have to try them. They are the best fries on the planet!!! The selection of Belgian ales on tap and or in bottles (bottle conditioned) is second to none. They have it all. Really good atmosphere as well. Very lively. The wait-staff and service people are good and usually nice. They are usually on top of things even when the place is packed to the gills.

The problem with this place is - it is too small. The size of the place adds to the atmosphere and excitement, but you will usually have to wait a long time to get a place to sit on Friday and Saturday nights. To make matters worse, there is no seating system. Yup, that's right, you have to seat yourself - or more appropriately stated (at least on Friday and Saturday nights), fight for a table or seat with all the other hungry people waiting for a seat. Most patrons are polite, forming a line along one entrance and will wait but I have experienced that some customers will just bull-rush a table and/or sneak in from the other entrance and snag a table or seat from under your nose. When you complain to the wait staff, they will continually tell you that they are not responsible for seating and/or people snagging tables/seats while you are politely waiting with others in line.

But these negatives are small in comparison to the quality, taste and look of the food; the atmosphere and the great Belgian beer/ale selection that they have. My overall opinion is: This is the best bar/pub food in Claremont. There has been some recent competition opening down the street, but they do not compare to the quality and taste of the food and beer served at The Back Abbey. As you can tell, it is my favorite place to eat...

I have mixed feelings about the Back Abbey. They have the best beer menu by far and even give many of the local breweries a run for their money. The service is usually pretty good here and the patio is nice, especially in the day when it’s calm. The food menu options are good, even if overpriced. Have the mussels and a burger and you’ll be less disappointed; trust me, do not deviate from this order). If you add the fries, or any other side for that matter, as one is often tempted to do, then you’ll find your experience will be out of whack. You’ll think the fries are special, but they really should be included with the burger… and there’s the rub. It’s a thing in Claremont for our restaurant’s to take that extra noticeable tug at their patrons’ wallets. Even when satisfied you’ll think, “what price victory?” It’s hard to eat in town and wonder why you didn’t just hit some destination you’ve had in mind instead… ad astra per aspera.

Edit: Met family there for lunch (their suggestion). Service was SLOW on a Sunday. They just ignored us for 30 minutes. They took our order, the food came out one… plate… at… a… time… about ten minutes apart each for a table of five. Two of the meat temperatures were wrong, and one got sent back. We wanted our check but thirty minutes had passed since anyone had checked on us. We were there for over two hours and not by choice. Screw it, I tell the fam I’d meet them at home and went inside to settle the check. Well, turns out that while I was inside settling up and still adding a tip, the server chased my wife down and yelled at her and our kids in public, “hey are you going to pay for your food!” I guess she was aware we were still there after all. Didn’t realize this had happened until I got home. Wow. Unbelievable? Not really, not anymore.

Update: haven’t been there since my last review. I walk past it everyday and just today I realized, “I’m not missing a god...