I have to agree. I live on this block and have tried to be supportive of these guys countless times. They just don't seem to care. With the right management that place could completely rule.
Hoping for the best!
xlizellx wrote:
I just want a better-run Abigails! Get new management/ownership and have a nice vibe, decent wine/beer, and American food.
skribe00 Newbie
Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 40
Wed Jan 27, 10 8:38 am EST
what are the reasons for selling, anyone know?
catwalkertexasranger Local
Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 284
Wed Jan 27, 10 10:23 am EST
skribe00 wrote:
what are the reasons for selling, anyone know?
Like owning a horse and not knowing how to ride. Just gets boring to look at it after awhile
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Wed Jan 27, 10 10:27 am EST
puppymom wrote:
I have to agree. I live on this block and have tried to be supportive of these guys countless times. They just don't seem to care. With the right management that place could completely rule.
Hoping for the best!
I agree about the lack of good management. Hate to say this, but if the co-owner's in a wheelchair, and the kitchen's downstairs, there's no way for him to properly expedite orders and make sure the kitchen is even functioning in a time-sensible manner. Don't get me wrong, his laid-back style was very welcoming, but if you're running a restaurant, you can't slack off.
My husband and I also tried many times to be supportive (see older posts on this thread). I've got TOO many complaints. Looking forward to new ownership. _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
Ben Crabby Native
Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 559
Wed Jan 27, 10 1:43 pm EST
The price seems crazy, one could easily open a new place from scratch for far less. This location is unproven as is the current restaurant. I would also imagine that a lease signed today would have better terms than one signed a couple years back so there can't be much value if any from that.
So if they are holding out for that price or anything near it I don't think it will sell.
bohuma Local
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 236 Location: New York
Wed Jan 27, 10 2:55 pm EST
So is this a condo store or the purchase of the balance of the lease and the fittings? It's written up in Trulia and Corcoran like it's the sale of a condo, without actually saying that. Like everyone says there really isn't much of a business to buy. Whoever buys it will likely want to make a big distinction between "Abigails" and whatever the new owner calls their place. I'll be interested to see what happens, all the bad reviews here kept me from ever going to Abigails, there are plenty of places that charge less and have better reputations.
catwalkertexasranger Local
Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 284
Wed Jan 27, 10 4:15 pm EST
Ben and bohuma both make lots of good points about the practicality of established vs start up. Lots of things to keep in mind. 1st anything that Abigail's did right and they did lots right for so many will be canceled out. Regulars and people who enjoy the place will be left out in the cold. The small place on Franklin(Next to Brkln Coffee) Barrette,and now Abigails would be or have been better off going through a NYC business broker who knows how to keep his or her mouth shut. If you don't like to be in charge anymore lease it to somebody who does. Once you decommission your oven/stove/hood and permits you are the whim of every a-hole in city government. Hire a new manage(w a stake in the profits) and let them do their thing. This dining room and bar are not the problem, hours of operation,available seating,again not the problem.I am sure when they opened they wanted to establish a reputation in the area, they have for bad service. In the blogposterchild world every body will hear you are limbo and find their new regular spot. Everybody else will wait for the cheap drinks farewell party. * important note to anybody* the realtor may answer everything with"no problem" or "it's really new I'm sure it's up to code" and they may even think they are telling the truth. The decomish of a kitchen or liq license will be a disaster for the new buyer. Hurry and sell before the new condos get finished.
homeowner "Way Too Incestial"
Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 2068 Location: Between a rock and a hard place
Wed Jan 27, 10 5:23 pm EST
If this is a case where someone is walking in and taking over the operations with the liquor license, DOH license, and lease in place, the price makes more sense. Without that, this only makes sense for someone who is already operating a thriving business, knows the ins and outs of the licensing/permitting process for restaurants and bars in NYC, who wants to expand to a second location. That type of person has a built-in client base, and would simply need to advertise among their existing customers. Think of some of the Williamsburg spots that may want to expand. Doesn't make sense really for an existing PS/PH business as the proximity would only result in canibalizing your own client base.
cdilla4rilla Newbie
Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 6
Thu Jan 28, 10 12:15 am EST
I've only been there once, however I definitely think they could have better management. Food was good, however the service was up and down. That could really be a nice place, however the price is a bit steep.
Ishtar Local
Joined: 17 Jul 2009 Posts: 236
Thu Jan 28, 10 11:02 am EST
Last time I went it took them 30 minutes to inform us they didn't have any hot chocolate. Our total time at the table was about 2 hours with at least 90 minutes of waiting for beverages and food.
I really tried to like this place, but the service is absolutely awful and not even the good food can compensate for that. There are far too many options in the hood at this point to keep spending my money there.
Also, if anyone knows that woman who sings jazz on Saturday morning can you please tell her to stop walking around begging for dollars while people are dining. It's off putting.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Thu Jan 28, 10 11:19 am EST
Ishtar wrote:
Also, if anyone knows that woman who sings jazz on Saturday morning can you please tell her to stop walking around begging for dollars while people are dining. It's off putting.
OMG- really!?!?!? That's mortifying... _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
mikedevice Newbie
Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Prospect / Grand & Classon
Thu Jan 28, 10 12:46 pm EST
i like how it's close to the 1 and 6 trains...
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Thu Jan 28, 10 12:54 pm EST
mikedevice wrote:
i like how it's close to the 1 and 6 trains...
Yeah, they also say it's in Prospect Heights.
mg Local
Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 48 Location: Park Pl
Thu Jan 28, 10 1:25 pm EST
Ishtar wrote:
Also, if anyone knows that woman who sings jazz on Saturday morning can you please tell her to stop walking around begging for dollars while people are dining. It's off putting.
That was the last straw for me, the waitress collecting tips for the jazz band while we were (finally) eating.
That was also the visit when they served me cold coffee, so I guess the tip-collecting would have been the straw after the last straw.
It's a lovely space, and the food was always good (once it finally arrived), so I hope someone can make a proper go of it.
BKChickie Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 723
Thu Jan 28, 10 4:15 pm EST
I went there once and the service was beyond horrible. I can see from this thread that I'm not the only one with that experience. And, to top it all off, our server had a mini-meltdown at the table when we complained. I can't believe that they've managed to stay in business this long. Needless to say, we never returned.
The owner had the neighborhood willing and ready to support the establishment, but still could not pull it off. Sad.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Thu Jan 28, 10 4:27 pm EST
BKChickie wrote:
And, to top it all off, our server had a mini-meltdown at the table when we complained. .
Oooo- details, please. _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
BKChickie Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 723
Thu Jan 28, 10 6:02 pm EST
Whatchuwant wrote:
Oooo- details, please. :bounce:
If I can recall, we had had enough with the poor service and said something like "This is ridiculous, you've walked back and forth across the dining room 10 times for other things, all you have to do is go right there and get hot water for tea and get us jam." Then we had to hear the server complaining about there being "half the normal staff." Not our problem and even if they had been fully staffed, she still wasn't working in an efficient way.
andreadia Newbie
Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 4
Tue Feb 23, 10 12:55 am EST
puppymom wrote:
I have to agree. I live on this block and have tried to be supportive of these guys countless times. They just don't seem to care. With the right management that place could completely rule.
Hoping for the best!
xlizellx wrote:
I just want a better-run Abigails! Get new management/ownership and have a nice vibe, decent wine/beer, and American food.
me too! i love abigails because they host salsa nights twice a month - it is so perfect for that! - but i am constantly astounded at how bad the service is, and how expensive the food/drinks are. i never go unless i am going to dance, and that's really too bad because it's so close to my house and such a pretty space. final straw - they are out of everything all the time. mustard. limes. chicken. tomatoes. any bottle of wine under $30. i have wanted to post here and say, "Abigail! strike 3 pages off the menu, pick 10 things and do them well and for pete's sake, carry all the ingredients!!"
i have my fingers crossed for new owners that are open to the existing community (keep the salsa nights, por favor!) but also serve good, affordable food/drinks that makes people want to come there all the time. i wish Abigail and her husband could have made that happen.
prospectheightsyo Pee Heights Brigade
Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 102
Tue Mar 02, 10 11:48 am EST
The salsa nights were unbearably loud, and the music often continued past 11pm on a Sunday night. I am sorry that all their quaint little gimmicks couldn't mask the mediocre food and service. _________________ No Excuses.
absolutely agree with andreadia above. there were WAY too many things on the menu, not many of them very good. pick your 10 best things, perfect them, and maybe you've got a shot. perhaps that would have brought the prices down too - less dishes means less ingredients means less overhead.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Wed Apr 28, 10 10:12 am EST
So.....did anyone catch Abigail on Chopped last night???
She got kicked off in the first round! These weren't even top chefs she was competing with. She purposely didn't clean her shrimp, leaving the veins in and had a total attitude about it! Totally offended the judges. _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
whynot_31 Former Lurker
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 5681 Location: Prospect Heights
Wed Apr 28, 10 10:48 am EST
Whatchuwant wrote:
So.....did anyone catch Abigail on Chopped last night???
She got kicked off in the first round! These weren't even top chefs she was competing with. She purposely didn't clean her shrimp, leaving the veins in and had a total attitude about it! Totally offended the judges.
yup, and yup.
eastbloc Sterling & Franklin
Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 93
Thu Apr 29, 10 7:25 am EST
The veins add substantial flavor. It's somewhat cultural that they're often 'cleaned' in the US. Many people prefer them in.
Sounds like the judges were some ignorant bastards. I don't blame her for having an attitude about it.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Thu Apr 29, 10 10:19 am EST
eastbloc wrote:
The veins add substantial flavor. It's somewhat cultural that they're often 'cleaned' in the US. Many people prefer them in.
Sounds like the judges were some ignorant bastards. I don't blame her for having an attitude about it.
Eh- yes and no. For jumbo shrimp, you clean them because the veins are so large that they get in the way of the flavor. For smaller ones, yes, culturally speaking, I do understand its common not to clean.
It's not so much that they're ignorant bastards- it's that the contestants are being judged on their culinary expertise via the Western way. If she'd stated that she was from another culture (she's from East freakin' Hampton) and that's the way she was raised to do it, then fine. But that's NOT what she said. She said (crap, what did she say?) that she didn't see the importance of cleaning them and "at her restaurant" they come cleaned already....or something to that effect.
And what's this 'many people prefer them in' about? Many around the world? Many people that you know? I personally like them cleaned and many that I know like it that way too. _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Thu Apr 29, 10 10:41 am EST
FYI, the shrimp "vein" is not a vein at all (all arthropods have an open circulatory system), but the shrimp's digestive tract. When you eat it, you're eating shrimp shit.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Thu Apr 29, 10 11:05 am EST
Carnivore wrote:
FYI, the shrimp "vein" is not a vein at all (all arthropods have an open circulatory system), but the shrimp's digestive tract. When you eat it, you're eating shrimp shit.
I know, right?!?!?! _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
arches Bruce Ratner's Love Child
Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 735 Location: Sterling & Underhill
Thu Apr 29, 10 11:40 am EST
But leaving the vein in is a guaranteed shortcut to shrimp and grits! Or grit, at least.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Thu Apr 29, 10 12:07 pm EST
All I'm saying is, is that she comes off as this super-professional chef, when really, she's just an upper crusty girl from the Hamptons that took a cooking course. See bio:
Quote:
But it wasn’t until she attended university in England, where she was placed in a "self-catering flat" (shop, cook and feed yourself) that Abby suddenly found that food was her passion: shopping for it, cooking it, eating it, researching it.
"self-catering flat"= apartment with a kitchen!
Quote:
After she earned her degree in botany, she returned to the States and enrolled in Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School (now The Institute of Culinary Education).
Hmmmm, botany now! _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
jeffrey blimp collector
Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 3444 Location: Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Thu Apr 29, 10 12:20 pm EST
Certainly she would have known about the gillyweed. _________________ i extend my battery life by averting extreme injustice and inherent evil
nearnostrand Regular
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 106 Location: Near Nostrand
Thu Apr 29, 10 2:42 pm EST
Whatchuwant wrote:
All I'm saying is, is that she comes off as this super-professional chef, when really, she's just an upper crusty girl from the Hamptons that took a cooking course. See bio:
Quote:
But it wasn’t until she attended university in England, where she was placed in a "self-catering flat" (shop, cook and feed yourself) that Abby suddenly found that food was her passion: shopping for it, cooking it, eating it, researching it.
"self-catering flat"= apartment with a kitchen!
Ha ha ha! Now that's funny!! Who knew? I've lived in "self catering flats" all of my life. Now I can tell the kids - "It's not that we don't have the means to have a personal chef, we have simply opted to self-cater."
eastbloc Sterling & Franklin
Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 93
Fri Apr 30, 10 8:19 am EST
Whatchuwant wrote:
And what's this 'many people prefer them in' about? Many around the world? Many people that you know? I personally like them cleaned and many that I know like it that way too.
Many that I know around the world.
I don't know the show or what the contestants are judged based on. If the point is to make the best food that would be served in Sandusky Ohio (and more importantly if her excuse was as lame as you say) then to hell with the bitch.
And thanks Carnivore for pointing out an elementary fact about crustacean physionomy. The little bastards don't have veins at all, no arthropod does. So if you're squeamish about eating a little shrimp shit, you can tear them out, but come on.
What are you going to do next, gut your anchovies?
It ruins the flavor.
sir_eccles lothario
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 161
Fri Apr 30, 10 12:58 pm EST
Whatchuwant wrote:
All I'm saying is, is that she comes off as this super-professional chef, when really, she's just an upper crusty girl from the Hamptons that took a cooking course. See bio:
Quote:
But it wasn’t until she attended university in England, where she was placed in a "self-catering flat" (shop, cook and feed yourself) that Abby suddenly found that food was her passion: shopping for it, cooking it, eating it, researching it.
"self-catering flat"= apartment with a kitchen!
To clarify, we're talking about university dorms/halls of residence, which may either be catered (you go to a cafeteria/canteen and eat with everyone else) or self-catering (you have a communal kitchen where you cook for yourself and everyone steals everyone else's food that you carefully marked with your name).
whynot_31 Former Lurker
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 5681 Location: Prospect Heights
Fri Apr 30, 10 2:04 pm EST
ah, college. When in our fridge there were four open jars of grape jelly, each marked with a different roommate's name.
Thanks for the memories..... good times.
Whatchuwant Parliament Menthol Funkadelic
Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 2581 Location: Eastern Pkwy and FA Rock
Fri Apr 30, 10 3:16 pm EST
sir_eccles wrote:
Whatchuwant wrote:
All I'm saying is, is that she comes off as this super-professional chef, when really, she's just an upper crusty girl from the Hamptons that took a cooking course. See bio:
Quote:
But it wasn’t until she attended university in England, where she was placed in a "self-catering flat" (shop, cook and feed yourself) that Abby suddenly found that food was her passion: shopping for it, cooking it, eating it, researching it.
"self-catering flat"= apartment with a kitchen!
To clarify, we're talking about university dorms/halls of residence, which may either be catered (you go to a cafeteria/canteen and eat with everyone else) or self-catering (you have a communal kitchen where you cook for yourself and everyone steals everyone else's food that you carefully marked with your name).
Yea, ok- but she still sounds like a douche saying it. The rest of her bio (LONG-winded!!) is a total joke. She is clearly obsessed with herself. _________________ "...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
sir_eccles lothario
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 161
Fri Apr 30, 10 5:08 pm EST
Whatchuwant wrote:
Yea, ok- but she still sounds like a douche saying it. The rest of her bio (LONG-winded!!) is a total joke. She is clearly obsessed with herself.
I don't think anyone is denying that.
MHA Crabby Native
Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 539
Sun May 02, 10 11:17 pm EST
I asked the owner if he was selling. He said no. On another note, I like their winelist. The comedy hour sucks though. It's a welcome contrast to the the brouhaha at Franklin Park, I tell you. The bathrooms are immaculate.
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Mon May 03, 10 4:12 am EST
MHA wrote:
I asked the owner if he was selling. He said no. On another note, I like their winelist. The comedy hour sucks though. It's a welcome contrast to the the brouhaha at Franklin Park, I tell you. The bathrooms are immaculate.
How much did Abigail's give to the Crow Hill Association?
catwalkertexasranger Local
Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 284
Mon May 03, 10 7:54 am EST
MHA wrote:
I asked the owner if he was selling. He said no. On another note, I like their winelist. The comedy hour sucks though. It's a welcome contrast to the the brouhaha at Franklin Park, I tell you. The bathrooms are immaculate.
If you talk to him again you should suggest if he wants to know how much his business is worth call a consultant. The trial balloon real estate ad caused him lots of damage. Was your second question " Who posted an ad with detailed photos and prices of your cafe? Something smells fishy
xlizellx Ninja
Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 807 Location: Park Place
Mon May 03, 10 11:31 am EST
Carnivore wrote:
MHA wrote:
I asked the owner if he was selling. He said no. On another note, I like their winelist. The comedy hour sucks though. It's a welcome contrast to the the brouhaha at Franklin Park, I tell you. The bathrooms are immaculate.
How much did Abigail's give to the Crow Hill Association?
They're not in Crow Hill...technically.
whynot_31 Former Lurker
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 5681 Location: Prospect Heights
Mon May 03, 10 11:38 am EST
xlizellx wrote:
Carnivore wrote:
MHA wrote:
I asked the owner if he was selling. He said no. On another note, I like their winelist. The comedy hour sucks though. It's a welcome contrast to the the brouhaha at Franklin Park, I tell you. The bathrooms are immaculate.
How much did Abigail's give to the Crow Hill Association?
They're not in Crow Hill...technically.
And I thought we agreed that altruism is largely a myth, therefore people decide to give largely because of self interested, often capitalist reasons (not racist ones).
Her business model (slow service, only ok food) have already proven that Abigail is a lousy capitalist. This combined with the fact that she may be selling the place gives her little probability of donating.
MHA Crabby Native
Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 539
Mon May 03, 10 4:41 pm EST
Man! Ya'll can't compartmentalize? This is about Abigail's closing or not closing! Carnivore you read like an ex-girlfriend of mine. Is your name Claire by any chance?
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