Cafes
The Abbott
The Abbott, near King and Dufferin is full of carefully-curated antiques, solid wood and a beautiful painted aluminum ceiling. Unfortunately, the coffee doesn't quite live up to the decor of this quiet west-end space.
Hidden around a corner in a pretty desolate part of Parkdale, my first impression of the Abbott is how hard it is to find. Hidden beneath a staircase, and tucked away from the sidewalk, it took a little bit of searching before I realized where this cafe is.
Old mason jars, beakers, microscopes and items of historical Canadian significance adorn the shelves and walls, but my favourite aesthetic consideration of this shop is the name, "Abbott" in the black and white honeycomb tiles on the floor. I'm told by the barista behind the counter that the name Abbott comes from the first Canadian-born black doctor Anderson Ruffin Abbott, who lived in this exact area in Parkdale, and died in 1913.
Personally, I love a shop with meaning. The owners of this shop, who also own the Lakeview restaurant, have really taken the time to represent Dr. Abbott, with old science tools and encyclopedias on shelves.
The first thing I order is a shot ($1.25), and it came in a paper cup. The crema had little elasticity, and the shot barely had any complexity or body whatsoever.
To see how this espresso held up in milk, I ordered a cappuccino ($3.25), and it came in a skinny glass stein. With the espresso in the bottom, and a huge, thick head of bland milk foam on top, the shape of this glass made it difficult to enjoy the combined taste of espresso and milk, forcing me to consume the milk foam before reaching the espresso at the bottom.
Admittedly, the cappuccino didn't taste as bad as it could have. Despite the fact that it was difficult to drink as a cappuccino, the espresso blend did taste much better with milk. This is a very uninteresting blend of espresso that lacks the sweetness I crave, but it does pair well with milk.
The food selection at The Abbott is also fairly disappointing. On the counter are a few glass containers with muffins and croissants. I order a muffin, which I'm told was homemade, but wasn't as good as mom's. It tasted at least two days old.
Though the coffee coming out of this cafe right now isn't quite up to par, it's not as though The Abbott couldn't produce a better product. A new Mazzer grinder and Elektra rig prove that with the right kind of devotion to coffee, this could be a place to get a good cup of coffee in the west-end. Unfortunately, it needs some work right now.
On the weekends, The Abbott is open 7a.m. -6 p.m., and 6:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. during the week. Lattes are $3.25 or $4, depending on whether you order a single or a double shot, Americanos are $2 or $2.50, and a cup of brew is $1.75 or $2.25.
Though their coffee isn't the best, the beautiful decor of this space rivals the reclaimed wood look of Hula Girl and Sense Appeal, and still make this a spot worth keeping an eye on for the future.
Photos by Dennis Marciniak
Discussion
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I pay a lot for ambiance, which makes this place a steal.
I have to say that my almost daily Americano (or 'long black' as we called them in Australia) is perfect more times than not.
I hope this place is going to be a fixture in south Parkdale.
Heres to a brilliant new spot not on Queen Street!
BOL to "The Abbott".
Whon Whon Whon....you lose!
Thanks...
As for the 'lower parkdale' debate.... I'm happy just calling it 'Parkdale'. Queen Street is kinda an entity unto itself, and most of the trendy new shops and spots are sticking very close to the heavily trodden path. I applaud The Abbot for taking a risk.
And the day when I see Harry's Charbroiled reviewed on BlogTo...
The coffee was good, the pastry was fresh, and the place had a very warm and inviting vibe.
I know that people take their coffee very seriously around here, but it seems like some places are held to an incredibly high standard. The review of Capital Espresso (which is a nice spot too) would have us believe that it's the second coming of Juan Valdez, but this review kinda dumps on a decent place. Saying that "the coffee isn't quite up to par" just isn't fair. What's par?
"Never let the Perfect be the enemy of the good".
This place was good, very good.
Otherwise, I'll be visiting. The indie coffee scene in TO is showing no signs of slowing down and it's wonderful.
I visited The Abbott and was very pleasantly surprised. The nabe is desolate, for sure. And I'm sure the locals who stop into this warm, inviting shop will be doubly pleased that they have it.
Eleka (spelling?) was friendly and made me a delicious espresso. She told me the name of their B.C. based coffee supplier and I forgot it. If they are thinking of going with someone local, they can only benefit. While the coffee I had in the shop, in this case in a proper espresso cup, was fine (actually quite good), there are other issues to consider. Going local, and there are good local suppliers, will often mean getting important support such as training for baristas and shop owners.
I actually ran into another shop owner last night and we were catching up. I was telling her about my solo crawl and had almost got to The Abbott when she interrupted me to tell me about this new shop she had just visited called The Abbott. "I was just going to tell you about it," I exclaimed. She wasn't happy about what her coffee was served in and I agreed that the shop needs some tweaks. But we both liked the space and wish the owner success. And she loves the nabe, to which I say terrific. I still have the opinion I have. I don't dislike anyone for having their opinion, about anything, and don't have time for hostility toward me for the opinions I hold, if that comes up.
There was (in fact) no good reason for my post to disappear. Let's not be so unclassy. Leave that for the fancier, snootier organizations like Chowhound and Martini Boys.
Many of the coffee shops on Queen near me are nearly always packed so it's great to have something a little more quiet and friendly near by.
I think this is a very inaccurate review. The coffee is wonderful, and this is now where I pick up my ground coffee for home. I love this place! In fact, i'm drinking their coffee right now.
If you live in this neck of the woods, give it a try. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. The prices are very reasonable.
I hope to see some of you at the Abbott soon!
Also, I like to buy drip coffee, and Capital Espresso, while very good, doesn't make it. Sometimes I just want a cup of coffee!