Bar Abilene
(612) 825-2525
1300 Lagoon Ave S
Minneapolis,
MN
55408
44.9493
-93.2957
Neighborhoods: Uptown, Calhoun Isles
What People Are Saying About Bar Abilene
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
Warm golden walls and a black ceiling make this cantina calming in the daylight, glowing at night. The decor is relaxed and Southwestern, though not corny. Throngs of beautiful people meet for drinks, conversation and dinner. This is astounding, well-constructed Tex-Mex and American fare. Starters include chipotle barbecued shrimp tacos with jicama relish and cilantro sour cream. A juicy hamburger comes with a heap of sliced mushrooms, sauteed onions, blue cheese and a kickin' sauce.
User Reviews
ratingreviews09
June 07, 2009
After making reservations for 10:00 pm for a party of 15 on a Wednesday night, they decided to close the restaurant at 11:00 pm. As the website said they closed at 2:00 am, we asked why they were closing so early, they stated because of the crowd. Since we were pretty much the only group in there, they felt it necessary to close down. I wouldn't have had a problem with this, however they should have at LEAST let us know on the phone, before I had made the reservations for 10:00. Some of the group came in at 9:30 (before the reserved time of 10:00), instead of waiting at the table they had reserved for us they decided just to go to the bar and order drinks. They would not let them order anything at the bar if they were there for reservations. The group explained they were half an hour early, they continuously said that they had to sit down at their reserved table and just wait for the waitress. We did this multiple times just to get a quick drink, only to be turned away. The staff didn't know much about the menu at all. I had seen on their website that it was $3 margaritas on Wednesday, when I had asked about that they stated there was no such thing written like that on their website. Of course when I looked at the website the next day, it didn't exist and I know it was on there before. Unfortunately their guacamole was VERY good, but I will not be returning to support this restaurant. Based on how we were treated and how they clearly did not want our service, there is no way a restaurant like this will be able to stay in business for much longer.
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Chucho
May 30, 2009
Went here to sit outside and have a drink. They close down the outside seating after about 10. I asked why, they said crowd control. Humm, I wonder why all the other outdoor patios are open, is the staff here really that stupid that they cannot control outdoor seating? They serve $1 Dos X's on a Friday night, too bad you have to drink it inside on a perfect summer night.
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thekritik
May 16, 2009
I decided to take my girlfriend to Bar Abilene because they are famous for two of her favorite things, guacamole and margaritas. She always makes guac at home so I trust her opinion, and she said the guac was the best restuarant guac she has had but it could have done without the roasted garlic. Personally, I loved it. We got there around 11 on Friday night, paid $9 for parking across the street. It wasn't too crowded at all when we got there, but of course that would change after midnight. We took our seats at a booth that was both out of the way and in the mix - if that makes sense. Service was prompt and everything was delivered to us very quickly. Decor was chic and inviting, but I was surprised to see the TVs both displaying a Fox Sports Net fishing show, it was so out of place it was comical. Almost everything (including the Margaritas), was priced between $7.95 and $12.95. The tequila list was extensive, with one shot flights ranging from $6 to $8. Most of the margaritas came in regular glasses with cubed ice, which was a little surprising. I tried the Tejas and the Dirty Rita, and they were both sub-par. The Dirty Rita was supposed to have a "splash" of olive juice, but it tasted like it was 1/4 olive juice, 3/4 margarita mix. My girlfriend had the Margarjito (sp?) and the Green Iguana, both were better than the two I tried, but none of them were anything to brag about. After we finished the $9.95 guac we ordered some real food. I tried the bbq shrimp tacos. Unfortunately, they were probably the worst tacos I ever had. I love mexican food and I'm usually not very picky, but I only managed to finish 2 bites of one. For $9.95 for only two small tacos and a little beans and rice, I was a bit dissapointed. My girlfriend had the tortilla soup, which again was underwhelming. Luckily, a few things were half off because of happy hour, so we didn't spend as much as I thought we were going to. All in all we had four margaritas, two entrees, and an order of guac for $50, about $25 less than it otherwise would have been. If you like tequila and you like guac, this is a cool place. It also seemed to be a pretty good place for singles, although the crowd started to get a little "fratboy-ish" as it got later into the evening. If I ever go back, I won't be eating anything but the guac and I'll probably skip the margaritas and sample more of the extensive tequila selection.
read full reviewThe Details on Bar Abilene
What to Drink:
The more than 30 margaritas are incredible, boasting fresh-squeezed juices, premium tequila (200 to choose from), super-trendy mind-and-body power ingredients and names like the Green Iguana and the Latin Lover.
When to Go:
There's a buffet brunch from 10am to 2pm on Sundays that includes a bloody mary bar for $3 more.
Save Money:
Happy hour is Monday-Friday from 4pm to 6pm, stop in for $3 tap beer, $1 off all margaritas and $2 select appetizers. Check out their website to see other daily specials.
Save Money:
Most bars around town boast a happy hour. But Bar Abilene has what it calls a sorta-secret "crazy hour" from 4pm-6pm Monday through Friday, where everything on the menu is half-off. Yes, this means you can get a shot of connoisseur tequila normally priced at $45 for $22.50. The tapas, tableside guac, burgers, tacos and everything else are also all under $6.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Late Night Dining, Romantic Dining, Celeb Hangout, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Online Reservations, Date Spot, Happy Hour, Bar Scene
