Abbot on the Hill now The Monk's Table

[bluedog]

Due to a change in ownership (I believe), which included severing ties with the original Abbot further north on Yonge, this great little gastropub near Yonge and St. Claire has been renamed The Monk's Table.

Great food and great premium beers, many of which are very difficult to find elsewhere. Menu has been updated a little, but indeed is always being tweaked. One of the best burgers in the city as well: meat ground and cooked to order so getting a rare burger is not a problem.

[sgogo]

Just curious about the new name - was anyone there who can shed light on who submitted the winning name? Is there a story behind it?
Also, last time I went I noticed the buffalo shrimp are now on the menu. I thought they were only on the menu at the other location. Anyhoo, they were amazing! Everything I'd hoped for.

[preppycuisine]

The shrimp have been on the menu for a long time as far as I remember... I know some acquaintances were ordering them last summer, but they may have popped on and off (I rarely get apps there and when I do it's the cheese & beer crock)

[1sweetpea]

I went to the Abbot on the Hill for a drink or two several months ago. It was mid-afternoon, so I wasn't there to eat, but I perused the menu and many items sounded great -- far above what you'd expect from pub fare. I vowed to return and hope the menu changes, if any, are for the better.

I have been to the other Abbot location once for drinks. I must agree wholeheartedly that the service was atrocious. There was only one guy working and he spent most of his time behind the bar chatting with a couple of friends who were seated at the bar. He never returned to our table after dropping off our first round of drinks. Eventually, we gave up trying to catch his eye for a second round and just went over and asked for our bill. It's a shame, because the food looked good and we might have returned on another day to eat.

[magic]

The service at the AOTH closer to Lawrence is indeed horrible.

The service at the Summerhill location, while not perfect, was much better in my experience there.

I really enjoyed the Summerhill location’s food. I hope the quality remains unchanged with new ownership. They’d better not take those Buffalo shrimp off the menu either! : )

[gregclow]

It's not new ownership. It's a split in a partnership.

Abbot On The Hill was opened in 2004 by the same people who owned the original Abbot. In 2006, Adam Grant and Melissa Curcumelli-Rodostamo bought a 50% stake and essentially ran the place since.

A couple of months ago, Adam and Melissa bought out the other partners, so there is no longer any connection to the original Abbot. Hence the name change.

There have been no other changes, however. Same staff, same beer, and aside from a few tweaks, same menu.

[magic]

Excellent. Thanks for the info.

[bluedog]

Awesome, thanks for the clarification. I think the change in name will only help as there's been so much confusion between the two places. Even "magic" above things the one near Lawrence is also The Abbot on the Hill when it was just the Abbot. Basic Trademark Confusion 101.

[magic]

No no no, it was just a slip of the old brain. I know perfectly well the more northerly location is just The Abbott. Just a little mental slip :)

But yes, good point.

[hungryabbey]

does anyone know if there is a website here?

[gregclow]

Nope, no website. Never had one when it was the Abbot on the Hill, and it doesn't look like there are plans to have one under the new name either.

[hungryabbey]

I didn't think so. Thanks.

[Arcadiaseeker]

This place draws a mixed reaction on Chowhound but my husband and I really like it. Have they changed the menu a lot? Do they still have good draft beers?

[jdavis2ca]

I walked in yesterday to ask what was going on. Same menu, (except I assume the Abbott burger will now be the Monk Burger). Same Chef just the ownership split, and all the beers will remain the same.

[bluedog]

re menu update; not much really, but they;re always tweaking it. I have no idea why the mixed reaction, I think there's been some confusion between this place and the other Abbot where apparently the service is terrible. In any event, its got a terrific local following, is always busy and even though its an "almost" foodie restaurant (but not quite), they do nice twists on old staples. I'm a huge fan.