Abbey Turns 2!

When Abbey hosted the very first Unilocal elite event 2 years ago, Abbey had left me with such great impression of how the restaurant should run and makes people coming back again and again.
So when Bella posted this event it just a «must sign up» and «clear my schedule» type of deal. And boy its always nice have Bella hosting the event and the staffs from Abbey’s gave us red carpet treatment… well~~~~ its was «wet carpet» this time since we had a 3min rain interruption that kind of put everything out of sync for a little bit.
I know maybe amount the food they provided wasn’t as much as what we used to (are we bunch of spoil yelers?). But I know I did tried everything once (they had a full house in their dinning room) and get to hang out with all the Unilocalers thus exchange our life experiences (well~ food amof) that always makes the night enjoyable.
Its great to be Unilocaler in Tucson!

I remember being at Jax one evening when Brian told us that they were going to be opening a new restaurant. I’m honored to have attended the first ever Tucson Unilocal Elite event at The Abbey (for which I one best/​worst sweater, btw) soon after The Abbey had just opened. We were there on The Abbey’s first birthday drinking some of those birthday cake drinks. Now we were there for their second birthday celebration and I couldn’t be prouder of the Brian and his team!
This event seemed to be busier than usual, and the restaurant seemed to be super busy. That just goes to show how people love The Abbey. . the first cold evening of the season, rain, wind, on a weeknight and it’s still a full house!
My husband and I got to try the delicious Monk Burger, the super tasty pot roast and had a couple of the mini red velvet cupcakes. My favorite drink that evening was the blueberry caipirinha while my husband opted for the J-​Bird. I didn’t get a chance to taste the duck confit, so I guess I’ll have to go to Jax to try it. The Abbey crew were definitely working hard that evening trying to keep a bunch of Unilocalers happy & fed while at the same time running a packed restaurant. I don’t know how you guys pulled that off.
Delicious food, tasty drinks, fun, pictures and chatting. .. what more could I ask for?
In his speech, Brian thanked the crowd for trusting them. I wanted to yell out a «hear, hear» because that’s exactly what we do, we trust The Abbey for when we want a guaranteed good and scrumptious time!
Happy birthday to you!. .. . and many more!

I’m only a fan of this event. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think that The Abbey isn’t As Good As It Gets.
The brilliance of Unilocal is in the access to the collective experience of the consumer. While I agree that the stars didn’t align at this event, I think we can all agree that it is impossible to judge a business based on just one experience. Therefore, this having been my second Unilocal event at The Abbey, and both of them having had a friendly atmosphere, great hospitality, tasty food and drinks, and lively conversation with friends, I’ve seen how amazing this place, and the people who run it, truly are.
The main example of this that I can give is one also shared by Tiffany B who said, «As an additional surprise, I was treated for sticking around by scoring an unexpected order of mussels.» Having never tried mussels before, The Abbey has now made me a fan. The delicious mixture of rock shrimp, chorizo, lemon and fresh herb sauce along side melt in your mouth mussels will definitely be hard to live up to.
Thank you Brian for being such a friend to us Unilocalers and inviting us into your world of delicious food!

Too bad the weather deterred some of the activities that Bella creatively put together, and unfortunately, it made the lovely patio seating not as comfortable as it could have been. I was a little bummed that there was not enough seating, and I wish had arrived earlier. The servers were very polite, but I think they mostly served up the tables because that was more convenient. Nate and the staffers did eventually tend to those of us who were standing around, but I mostly just had drinks throughout the evening and did not have a chance to try much of the food. I really looked forward to sampling the menu because I had heard so many great things about the Abbey, but I rarely make it up here because it’s far from the UA. Nonetheless, I did get to try the Duck Confit Cassoulet and the mini red velvet cupcakes. Both were innovative and so delicious. As for the drinks, I couldn’t bring myself to really like the Blueberry Caipirina, but their New Belgium «the abbey» was yummy (I think I’ve recently developed a fondness for beer rather than cocktails). Although we had a nice time, my guest and I were still quite famished (we were both busy throughout the day, so neither of us had a proper lunch), and we wound up stopping by another restaurant on the way home.

First off, I was there at Abbey’s birth and now at the 2^nd birthday — and many times in between so I am obviously a fan. And, I cannot give it a bad review. Only a suggestion that a Unilocal event with 60 or so Unilocalers + a busy dinner service is too much for any restaurant. I think if the event was on a Tuesday or Sunday (Brunch is great), there would have been better service. Brian was out chatting with people and shaking hands, the definition of a great host. The servers worked very hard but were simply overwhelmed. Bella did a great job of keeping everything moving along and making sure everyone was having a great time. As for the food, I did try the pot roast, and it was divine. As Nathan brought the tray of pot roast samples over our way, The Man said «hmmm, I smell truffles.» Sure enough, he has the nose of a pig because there was a drizzle of truffle oil in that rich sauce! I picked a good one, I tell ya! It was also The Man’s birthday, so we took off rather early to find him some sustenance. Happy Birthday, Abbey and many more!

I’m inclined to agree, this wasn’t the tip top, but I enjoyed my time. The burgers were great, but they only reached us once. Comments about the cassoulet being a bit undercooked were also accurate. Still, I can’t complain too much about free food and good conversation!

I agree with most of what everyone has said so far… as per Bella’s requests… the highlights!
Nathan was absolutely fantastic. In addition to being super friendly, I know he was working hard to try to get a taste to everyone out there. Definitely 5 stars for him!
Although we never saw the Monk burgers come around we love the pot roast. It was totally delicious and I would go back for it. The red velvet cupcakes were great, definitely in large part to the delicious (cream cheese?) frosting. Yum! We also got to sample all of the cocktails/​beer and the Ommegang wit was my favorite.
Thanks to Bella for another fabulous event!

I hate being negative but this event was a little less planned as some of the events I’ve attended. Our young wait staffer Nathan was on his toes all evening and that made it nice. I’ve had dinner here a few months ago and it was a good experience with some good dishes. However, if I can compare other events. This would not be the best. The weather did start out to be lousy, but improved as the evening went on. The dark beer was great, Bella, as always is the star of the party with her upbeat attitude and her wanting to please the Unilocalers. With that said, I certainly will come back and recommend this restaurant to friends because the quality of food is good, ambiance, servers are all top. Just the presentation was less than par in my opinion.

Finally my first Unilocal party. Thank you Jennifer D.
The Abbey was a wonderful experience. The food was great and I thought the staff was very pleasant. They made it a point to make the Unilocalers feel welcome I thought. Congrats to them on 2 years of buisness and I hope they have many more
Mike S

So, this was my first Unilocal event and I had a fantastic time! I thought that Brian and his staff did an amazing job trying to adjust to the weather. As a former server and someone who works in the industry now, it can be a lil crazy to adjust to things that throw an event off, like weather. Also, I did keep in mind that they were open for regular business as well, and good for them for being so busy on a thursday night.
As for the food and drinks, AMAZING, as usual! I had the burger, the pot roast and the duck confit. I LOVE that burger and I am not usually a burger eater. The flavor profiles were perfect! THe pot roast was delicious, and makes me think of cold weather and family dinners. I love the twist on a traditional pot roast. I also had the jay bird cocktail and am a BIG fan! I had it at the benefit dinner as well and fell in love with it there. I love the sweetness from the cranberry mixed with the bourbon! Oh, and the cupcakes! LOVE them. Not that I want to admit it, but I had 3! DELISH!!!
I see lots of people saying they did not get to try all the food, which confuses me because I was standing and saw a ton of food coming out! And got to try everything! I even had the same dish and drinks come to me multiple times. I thought the service was fantastic, just like every other visit I make to the abbey.
And a special thanks to Bella! She is pretty darn good at her job. ;) She recognized me, and this was the first time I met her! AMAZING!!! I cannot wait for the next event!

Rain or wind could not stop me from having a good time. It also helped that I got to try all of the Abbey’s special drinks!
The J-​Bird was a great twist on a classic. I loved that it mixed whiskey into a very festive but not too sweet drink. The blueberry caipirina was a little sweeter, but more on the refreshing side of things and provided a great contrast. Both beers were good, but I preferred the darker one (the abbey methinks?). It had a robust flavor but wasn’t to bitter, and it was a great complement to the duck confit.
The cassoulet was my favorite with well cooked tender beans, great flavor and the surprise of raisins. Again, a great twist on a classic (I sensed a theme here).
As an additional surprise, I was treated for sticking around by scoring an unexpected order of mussels (which I shared with my lovely fellow Unilocalers). I was very appreciative as this is one of my favorite dishes on the Abbey’s menu (I’ve ordered it on several occasions).
Thanks Bella for a wonderful evening!

Wind, rain, crowded restaurant — all conspired to ruin our evening, but we are a plucky bunch and would never let a little weather get in the way of a good time.
While I agree that the amount of food was a little scarce for a group our size I cannot possibly give an event organized by Bella less than 5 stars. Ditto to what Molly H says!
The highlight of the evening for me was a chance to visit with my Unilocaly friends — ones I’ve known a while and new ones met that night. We engaged in a lively conversation about movies, restaurants and other Unilocalyness. Kind of an in person review sharing session. After all, isn’t this what Unilocal is really about — bringing the community together, sharing experiences and showing support for our local venues?
The Monk Burger had fresh, perfectly cooked meat and a garlic mayo that was delectable. The red velvet cupcakes were to die for. More chocolate-​y than traditional which was perfectly okay with me. I will so be headed to Jax Kitchen to get this dessert for my very own.
Than you Bella and the crew at Abbey!

The Abbey crew worked really hard to try and accommodate our group, but it seemed that the combination of last minute adjustments due to rain and a busy Thursday evening derailed them, causing service to be a little uneven. Maybe I am just being a spoiled little Unilocaler, but my last event at the Abbey was superb, so I know they have it in them.
Enough whining; Let’s get to the highlights, the food and drink:
J-​Bird and Blueberry Caipirinha — The J-​Bird is a tribute to Brian’s (Abbey’s owner) brother who has fallen ill and was my favorite. The blueberry drink’s tartness caught me by surprise, which I enjoyed. I also scored a, fittingly named, Abbey ale. Solid work on the drinks.
Nana’s Pot Roast — rich broth, tender meat and creamy potatoes all came together really well to elicit memories of Sunday pot roast dinners.
Duck Confit Cassoulet — Never having had cassoulet before I was not sure what to expect. My first impression was that it tasted like gourmet Chili. With every spoonful it grew more complex. The white beans in it seemed a little short of al dente, but that could have been the intention.
Unfortunately, those were the only two food items I got to try… and only one of each at that. The servers would bring out a tray and the tray would get emptied before they got halfway across the room.
Bella deserves special recognition and thanks for organizing this event. If I were rating her separately, five stars would not be enough. Effusive thanks to Brian and his crew for their efforts. I know they tried and probably deserve more than the three star rating, but I left this event slightly disappointed.

Well, as far as food and drinks, it gets four stars. Service was a little iffy, as it seems they weren’t quite prepared for us. Our server couldn’t quite get to the entire bar patio so a lot of people didn’t get much of anything unless they flagged people down. I finally went to the bar a bought a drink. I did get to try the burger and it was really good.
Overall I LOVE the Abbey and will back for the great food and service inside, but this event was not my favorite. But thank you to Bella who was doing her best, and thanks to all the crew at the Abbey who were helpful.

I was not impressed with this event. Nathan our server was very accomodating and he gets * * * * * rating! We got to try only one of the cocktails, the duck confit and the roast beef as that is all that was brought to us. When Nathan learned that my other half doesn’t eat meat, he brought out an appetizer of sweet corn hushpuppies! That was very cool and the best food we had. The beans in the duck confit were crunchy and the roast beef, well that wasn’t anything special.
Bella — you did an amazing job as always and loved seeing you again! We enjoyed meeting Cindy N and her husband Stan.

It was rainy and windy when the event started off, and this definitely put a damper on things. The patio furniture that had been placed next to the seating area had to be moved back to the other side of the covered patio, which made it hard for Unilocalers to mingle, since we were on opposite sides from one another. Bella even had to bring all the balloons inside since the wind was blowing them everywhere, and they were getting tangled. Also, The Abbey was bustling and filled with customers on the Thursday night, which meant that they couldn’t give us their full and undivided attention. Service probably would have been better on an off night. Despite these circumstances, I still had a great time, and definitely plan on coming back soon!
The Duck leg confit cassoulet from Jax Kitchen was amazing. It consisted of different flavors and textures that all melted perfectly in my mouth. Nana’s Pot Roast was robust with tender meat that fell apart easily with a fork. I loved the creamy potatoes with the dish. I was especially impressed with the Monk burger — it was cooked perfectly, and was juicy and packed with flavor. The red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese on top were delectable and perfect as dessert!
I was in love with the Blueberry Caipirinha. Now, I was actually in Rio de Janiero last year, so I’ve tasted every flavor of Caipirinha, from strawberry to pineapple to lime, and this cocktail reminded me of my fun times at Carnaval :)
We all got to write our birthday wishes on a special ginormous birthday card for The Abbey. We even got to take this card to the photo booth and pose with it. How fun! At the end of the night, Bella made an announcement that two seats on the patio had Unilocal stickers on it, and these were the winners of tickets to a Culinary Festival! Awesome!
Mad props to Bella for pulling this event together, to Brian and his staff, the photographer, and to Unilocal for a fun-​filled evening! Happy Birthday to The Abbey!

5 stars all the way!!!
As a service industry person, I know how hectic these events can be. Especially with how much I know we were all moving around, from the welcome table to the photo booth to tables. Thanks to Tucson for bringing crazy wind storm and sprinkles! That really showed the abbeys strengths. They adjusted right away! Impressive!
I love my bouncey ball and threw it around today :)
The service was flawless. Nathan, Brian, and the rest of the crew did a fantastic job.
The food highlight was definitely the burger. Outstanding!!! Also the cupcakes were delicious. Thank goodness they were so little since I had 3, or maybe 4.
Thank you so much for putting on such a fantastic event.

Been to other Elite events and the venues there seemed better prepared to handle the crowd. The drinks were pretty good and unfortunately the only dish that made it our way was the Cassoulet, that me and my wife split. It was pretty good as I am sure all the food was. I wish they would have had the staff or preparation to handle all of us Unilocalers. Especially since I really enjoy The Abbey as a restaurant I would have loved to try the food creations they came up with. A for effort D for execution.