(317) 663-4739
825 N Pennsylvania St
Indianapolis,
IN
46204
39.7772
-86.1457
Neighborhoods: Chatham-Arch, Central Indianapolis
What People Are Saying About Abbey Coffee House
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – The casual mood is enhanced by mismatched tables, chairs and sofas where people can wile away the hours. The chalkboard menu lists creative takes on what goes best between two slices of bread. The Abbey also has wraps, salads and an extensive list of lower-fat options like skinny hummus.
12/21/08
Weak coffee house with worse service and ownership
by csbn
This place used to rock. Great coffee and tea, great food, great desserts. But now, it seems like the owners just can't be bothered. People go in to apply for work & they're ignored and sluffed-off, yet there is NO STAFF. Customers wait around forever for someone to show up from in back and take orders. The food is nowhere near as good as it used to be. The desserts look old and shopworn in the case. Something tells me it's time for a change in ownership, a change in management, or flat-out closure. If I were you, I wouldn't waste my time. Though I love independently-owned coffee houses, this one is no longer on my list.
- Pros: history of the coffee house, support of local artists, vegan and vegetarian offerings
- Cons: hideous paint job, almost non-existent service, dropped quality in food
11/29/08
Espresso needs work
by chooton
An almost incense like Mediterranean spice scent stuck my nose as I entered. There was potential that my visit to the Abbey Coffeehouse could have been a spiritual experience. The counter, the lights, and a few pews looked salvaged from a cathedral. A second look showed how worn the place was. The imitation tinning was falling from the ceiling in places giving the painted clouds a melancholy tone. The decay also showed behind the bar. The vintage Astoria espresso machine (in operation at the Abbey for 10 years) looked like it could either pull a sweet vintage shot or shake apart in the attempt. On the wall were numerous certificates awarding the Abbey best Coffeehouse awards from various magazines, the most recent I saw being 2005. This was became the biggest symbol of decay to me as I sampled the espresso. The barista pulled the doser lever twice into the bottom of a single shot basket. I couldn't even see anything in there when he proceeded to tamp it with the attachment on the grinder. He pulled the resulting four-ounce shot into a chipped 12 ounce mug. There was but a trace of pallid crema on the surface of this obviously over extracted tincture. I drank a respectable amount and then opted for the house blend. It was strangely spicy with an all too bright and demure finish, the shop?s whole atmosphere (the incense quality as well as the decay) in the cup.
- Pros: Ambiance
- Cons: Poor espresso
10/11/08
Wonderful Vegan Food!
by IndyVeganGirl
I've been coming here since April 2007 regularly. I love it! It is a coffee house with great food and the best spicy homemade soy chai around. The owner is wonderful at combining flavors. As for the previously referenced "Maureen's Not So Moo Burger" I've tried it and it was WONDERFUL! I don't want my veggie burger to taste like it just came out of a Boca box. I want it to taste homemade and this one does. In staying VEGAN many items are served on focaccia bread or another flat bread that doesn't contain eggs. If you want Starbucks, go there. If you want a pristine environment, this is not your place. If you want an old coffee house feel with great homemade tasting food, then try it out.
- Pros: When the owners are there, it is AWESOME!
- Cons: When the owners aren't there, you don't always know what you are going to get! Better during the day!
The Details on Abbey Coffee House
Where to Sit:
Lucky patrons get a coveted window seat in one of the Abbey's massive pink armchairs.
Category:
Smoking Permitted:
yes
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