The Abbot on Eglinton is the second outpost for this olde thymey pub. Reflective of the new address surrounded by sleepy residential streets it feels almost more like a family restaurant than watering hole.

Taking over the historic conversion from what was most recently a French bakery, Patisserie Cocoa , the interior space sanctions off two thirds of the floor plan for the dining room. The sparse decor feels a tad generic (or perhaps just dated) and seemingly tries to please everyone but ultimately loses any sense of distinguishing character.

The bar menu lists about a dozen draft beers including decent selections like Mill St. and Weihenstephen. There's also wines, single malts and martinis on offer, though nothing of the non-beer variety really gets me excited and I'm skeptical of any cocktail list still boasting green apple martinis.

The menu appears to be identical to the original Yonge Street outpost , listing off traditional pub staples like Burgers ($12), Fish & Chips ($13) and Shepherd's Pie ($13). In the area during lunchtime I opt to keep it light with the Apple and Stilton Salad ($11) while my dining companion goes for the Club Sandwich ($14).

The salad arrives in a deep bowl dressed in vinaigrette and covered with crumbled Stilton, green apples, candied nuts, sliced cucumber and red onion. I'm not disappointed until I've eaten past the top layer to see that nothing was mixed through and I'm left with just a bowl of greens.

The club sandwich looks like a better choice. It's loaded onto a sesame studded egg bun and features grilled chicken, cheddar, red onion, sliced tomato and grainy mustard mayo. It's served with a choice of fries, salad or the option to have half of each, and, is accompanied by a little side of creamy coleslaw that is sweetened up with the unexpected addition of raisins.

The service is friendly, the place clean and I can imagine that the massive stone fireplace is a cozy draw come colder weather. I'm sure nearby residents must be pleased to have a drinking establishment in their proximity, but for me, nothing really stood out as memorable. It's not my ideal lunch spot but I might be convinced to return for an after work pint or some Shepherd's Pie around the dinner hour.

Photos by Morris Lum