Philadelphia Weekly

FOOD > GUIDE

The Abbaye Bar & Restaurant

Abbaye is a Belgian pub more in line with the location's pre-bistro days as Dave's Bar. The cherry wood, sandy-colored walls and burgundy banquette remain. But gone are the jazzy soundtrack and sunny impressionism, replaced with Jimi Hendrix and strangely intriguing fantasy-alien portraits.

The space is darker, grunged down a notch, but still warm in a bohemian kind of way, welcoming human and dog alike. The back dining room is quieter than the area around the copper-topped bar out front, so you can choose your mood. An excellent selection of Belgian and European beers arrive in customized glasses emblazoned with their names. The service is what you'd expect at a pub--nonchalant and affable, with no surprises.

To celebrate his 35th birthday in 2005, Rich Bruder started a band. But more important than just having a band, Bruder wanted the ability to perform in front of people. So he talked to the folks at the Abbaye, the homey corner bar/restaurant in Northern Liberties. "They're all my friends who work here," Bruder says. They let him play despite having no training or experience, and very little practice. It's that kind of place. On a daily basis the burgundy-colored room with art-covered walls is packed with neighborhood locals like Bruder, eating bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwiches or seitan cheesesteaks, and quaffing fine Belgian beers. "There's a comfort level," Bruder says. "I got attracted to that and never left."