As a large party of eight, our table taking up half of the space in the restaurant, dinner at The Abbey pleased our stomachs, but not our wallets.

Our general first impressions of the staff suggested that we would eat a good meal for a hefty price. Our assumptions were correct.

An average high school student wouldn’t think about a casual dinner at The Abbey because it looked like a bar. The dark, yet lively, ambiance filled the restaurant. This modern pub also has TVs installed over their bar.

We looked a little out of place, as it was crowded with mostly patrons in their late twenties and early thirties. Friendly staff waited on our party.

While they mainly market towards alcohol consumption, their menu featured a small, yet diverse range of interesting dishes. Dinner selections consisted of six appetizers, eight entrees, and 10 side dishes.

The appetizers came promptly, and the four we ordered were excellent. The crispy buffalo pork belly with blue cheese was mouth watering to the point where I wished they served it as a full entree. The cod fritters, completed perfectly with a mustard-like sauce, were also fantastic.

The entrees arrived much later than expected. Initially disheartened by The Abbey’s appetizer portion to entree portion ratio, a few bites of the rich, filling food quickly changed our outlook.

My bison bolognese, one of the more exotic looking dishes, was peppered with cheese and had amazing soft and smooth texture in every bite. The meat was spicy, but not so spicy that a sip of water wouldn’t take care of it.

In the midst of consuming our delicious shrimp, pumpkin parpadelle, beef cheek ravioli and roasted Statler chicken breast, a question popped up: Would you bring someone on a date here?

We were spilt 50-50 in our answers.

The Abbey isn’t your typical Friday night date, but it can absolutely be your number one spot for a graduation party, college reunion, or your just-turned-21 bash.

A dinner for eight cost us about $130, excluding tips. It was a real classy dinner and I’d definitely recommend it to those feeling Warren Buffet-y.

Ayush Kumar can be contacted at [email protected].