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Avila Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Spanish Greek, Mediterranean, Spanish [Edit]
1 Charles St S(between Boylston St & Park Plz)
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-4810
- Nearest Transit:
-
Charles St S @ Park Plaza (43)
Stuart St @ Charles St S (192, 193, 504, 55, 555)
Charles St S @ Stuart St (43)
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Wed-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 3 pm
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
121 reviews for Avila Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"HIGHLY Recommend the Goat Cheese Croquettes." In 8 reviews -
"Hand Rolled Potato Gnocchi, Organic Baby Mushrooms, Truffle..." In 4 reviews -
"the small plates are all fantastic." In 14 reviews
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121 reviews in English
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Review from mike G.
while the paella here can't compete with mom's (nuthin can), it's a hearty dish so plan on sharing. and crispy chicken livers ($6) is esp. good paired with a bowl of arugula & parmigiano. the small menu is reasonably priced, portions copious, service tops. if like me you eat with your eyes, best seat in the house is chef's table.
update: recent discovery: delicious short rib dish AND tapas! -
Review from Sandy O.
Hampton Bays, NY
3/21/2012
So, I went here for restaurant week while in town for a conference. It didn't come up when I yelped spots for dinner around my hotel. Instead I stumbled upon it while walking the neighborhood.
I ordered off of the restaurant week menu: crispy artichoke app, monkfish entree, and lemon pound cake for desert. The food was light, flavorful, and just the perfect amount of portions. Everything tasted fresh and was seasoned just right. I would have given this place 4 stars if the service was better. Our waiter introduced himself and said he would be right back. We waited over a half hour before asking where he was and was given a different waitress. Once we got our waitress, she was spot on and attentive.
The atmosphere is dimly lit and quiet but the tables are pretty close together. Actually, our neighbors overhead us waiting for our waiter and was making jokes with us. It is fine if you don't mind that type of thing. I was there for a work dinner, so it didn't bother me at all.
If I were to stay in the area again I would be back. Delicious, fresh food that isn't a chain ... it's A-OK. I'll upgrade to four stars if the service is on pointe from the beginning. -
Review from Jarrod R.
Billerica, MA
5/10/2012
Nite of splurge before a show. Decided to try Avila after Bostob Harbor Hotel Concierge reccommendation. Early dinner @ 5pm when they open. Arrived a few minutes early about 4:45pm. Hostess welcomed us to bar for drinks before seating. Took 15 minutes to get a drink. We were 1 of three parties waiting for a beverage. Finally got seated a little after 5pm. Food was very good. My wife and I enjoyed a pri fixe meal off the restaurant week menu. Service was slow and our server was rather a strange guy.
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Review from Gerald J.
Boston, MA
5/10/2012
I had a 50th suprise birthday brunch for my partner on May 6, 2012. This was the best birthday he's ever had thanks to Avila. From the event planners Pennie and Daniel, to the wait staff, to the bakery's cake to the rooms I reserved (both the Port and the Charles rooms), everything was fantastic. The event planners took great care in helping me plan this event. The table and seating plan was excellent as was the gift and cake table. We went with the fixed menu for the event. Because I was ordering and paying for both an antipasto platter and a fantastic birthday cake from their bakery, the fixed menu price was reduced for my 20 guests. The selections on the fixed menu were delicious and all prepared to perfection. The French Toast and the pasta dish were cooked to perfection and all the guests commented on how delicious their entrees and the birthday cake were.
If you ever need to have a meal planned for a special event, Avila is definitely the place to check out and GO! -
Review from Tammie P.
Boston, MA
Updated - 4/21/2012
Garlic shrimp and paella.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2009
Avila was recommended by my sis, who is a foodie, so I came here to check out their Restaurant Week… Read more »
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Review from Erik T.
Cambridge, MA
3/17/2012
Don't get me wrong, the food at Avila was alright. I wasn't impressed, but wasn't disgusted. I ordered short ribs over sweet potato hash with spinach. The short ribs were cooked well but they were very sweet, which I wasn't expecting and didn't love. Nothing special about the accompaniments, either. I didn't order drinks here, so I can't comment there. The other people in my party enjoyed their food, one of them had been before, so it's good enough for some people to return, though I probably won't be back. My big gripe is that, though the place is billed as "modern Mediterranean," I found the menu to be uninspired and lacking the promised twist. No real spice profile to match the Mediterranean label in my dish, and the price was high for what I got... I probably won't be back.
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Review from Saba N.
10/11/2011
I was looking for a quick bite before a show and found myself at Avila Restaurant. The bar was relatively empty, so I sat myself down and was pleasantly surprised with my experience.
First of all, the bar menu is great. So many options! I went with the corn soup and the fish tacos. The corn soup was realllllly yummy (although, I've never had a corn soup I didn't love), and the fish tacos were just good. The sauce on them was nice, but it felt more like a piece of fried fish wrapped in a tiny tortilla. I know it's small plate, but I was hoping for something lighter and fresher. Still, I ate everything (fatty on the loooose!)
They bring out a HUGE plate of bread and dips for you - which is a nice touch. The breads are all fantastic. One of the dips was a capponata or something - and it was to die for. The hummus and olives were fine.
The restaurant atmosphere itself didn't blow me away but I did like the bar and wouldn't be opposed to trying this place again! -
Review from Kyla A.
West Somerville, MA
4/2/2012
First of all, let me explain that I had to wait for my nausea to go away before I could write this review. I went for brunch and something was not right. The food was tasty enough but clearly didn't sit right with me. My coffee cup was kind of dirty and there was a GIANT hair in my water glass. When I told the waiter, he took my glass away but never brought another one. He would also take a few people's drink menu and then disappear. Service was slow and inattentive. In all, you can get much better, cleaner, friendlier brunch for a lot less elsewhere.
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Review from Alex B.
7/1/2011 5 photos
When they say "modern mediterranean" they should probably say americanized mediterranean. I didn't really get that feeling that I was on a journey but more that I was having a finely tweaked version of many of the dishes I am used to. Although I think there is a little bit of false advertising in their slogan I thought the food and service were very good. I would definitely come back here to give some other things a try.
I liked the options for all of the small plates (3 for $15 seems like a great deal).
Kobe beef meatball is huge and nicely spiced
The goat cheese and truffle oil croquettes only have a hint of truffle flavor but still very good (be sure to get something with a sauce compliment)
Spanish sausage was nothing memorable
I really enjoyed my duck and tried the lobster fettuccine which was delicious and most likely what I would get on my next visit.
Bonus for this place because I get airline miles here. Yeahh.Listed in: Back Bay Bites, Truffles... Ti amo
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Review from Karen S.
Wakefield, MA
2/16/2012
How nice to find a place that doesn't rush you through your meal. We enjoyed a leisurely meal on a recent Saturday night. There was a steady crowd in the restaurant though the bar was empty when we arrived at 7.
My date had the paella and I the chicken under a brick. Both of us enjoyed our meals and had Plenty to bring home for another meal. The portions were not super sized but were generous.
The one disappointment was the creamy corn soup. The texture was nice but the coriander made it too sweet - it became almost cloying as I ate more. The chunky corn chowder sent as an amuse Bouche was much better. -
Review from Laurinda U.
Medford, MA
8/24/2011
I was here for restaurant week and while the food was good none of it was especially wonderful that I would go back.
I got the calamari, salmon, and chocolate mousse. The calamari and mousse were tasty but the chocolate mousse was much to dense and heavy. My tablemates got the panna cotta with basil and after stealing a bite, I wish I got that!
Service, however, was not very good. Although restaurant week is fabled for the long lunch, my table was definitely served after (long after) people who arrived after us. The wait staff is friendly but I feel not very on ball.
Otherwise, a good experience. Food is good but nothing to really phone home about. -
Review from Vivian C.
Updated - 7/1/2011 9 photos
Avila will be ending its lunch service as of this coming Tuesday. How do I know this? I made a reservation for lunch next week via Opentable several days ago, and received a voicemail telling me that they are not open for lunch that day, but that they would be able to make a reservation for me at their sister restaurant Davio's if I wished.
I called them back. Turns out they decided "last minute" (her words) to end their lunch service after Tuesday. If it is a last minute decision, wouldn't it have been a nice gesture of them to end it after they honor any remaining outstanding reservations first? Or at least serve out the rest of the week?
Yeah, I'm bummed, so I'm deducting the fan star.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/26/2010
*** Restaurant Week Review ***
Avila's entrance is located right on the corner of Charles Street and… Read more »
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Review from Amanda G.
Boston, MA
12/29/2011
Stopped by with some friends before the Nutcracker. Service was excellent and the food was delicious. The only thing that I thought was just 'okay' was the shrimp appetizer - but even that was yummy. Ambiance is very relaxing.
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Review from A G.
Boston, MA
7/18/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I was pleasantly surprised by Avila, as I expected a middle-of-the-road, but upscale place. I'd also describe it as a spanish-italian place.
PROS:
One block or less from the theatre district (went to see a show after)
Upscale and quiet (we went on a Saturday night and it was fairly empty. Got seated in a private nook, which was a nice change)
Good food
Decent service - they made sure to refill glasses and take plates away as needed. We appreciated their being accommodating in our order.
CONS:
Sangria- Did not like it. It taste like they'd recently thrown it together along with some astringent kool-aid.
Expensive, but not overpriced - It's about ~$20-30 per entree dish
Complimentary rhubarb 'soup' - Ew. Chef, PLEASE do not put this on your menu! I wanted to put it into a juice box, punch a straw through and serve it to a toddler. It's just too much like a pulpy juice poured into a soup dish.
Let me elaborate on the good food:
Note: 2 people split everything
Goat Cheese Croquettes - Avila, please put this back on the menu. Very tasty, nice crunch on the outside and richness and warmth on the inside. These are still available since they're made for the Braised Beef Short Rib entree, but we ordered them as appetizers.
Sampler of spring rolls: In order of preference, Shrimp Cotija, Chicken Parm, Philly Cheese Steak, Buffalo Chicken. Next time, we'll just get the shrimp ones. The others are interesting in concept but don't play out well spring-roll style.
Paella Valencia, Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Chorizo, Calamari, Chicken, Saffron Rice: This is what everyone's calling risotto in other reviews. Well-made, rich, plentiful dish (we took enough for one more meal home). Only issue: a couple sandy grains in the clams.
Hand Rolled Potato Gnocchi, Organic Baby Mushrooms, Truffle Oil : This is some great gnocchi. I hate gnocchi with too much cheese/I prefer mostly potato. These were chewy without being rubbery and the mushrooms, cheese and truffle oil complimented well. We finished all of it.
I would go back, and redo this, maybe substituting the Kobe meatball for the spring rolls, but probably for a special day where I can drop $80-100 on the bill (Again, don't bother with the sangria, that'll save you $20). We left pretty happy and full. -
Review from Masha B.
4/10/2011
I have to say the last handful of times I've been here I'm continuously less and less impressed with Avila. So I think my last visit was in fact my last.
First of all, maybe I'm being a bit too nit-picky here but for a place that claims to be "modern Mediterranean"- wouldn't you think they'd keep up with the theme? So, why is it that every single time I'm in there they are playing a soundtrack of what seems to be strictly Cuban music. Last time I checked Cuba was not in the Mediterranean... so what's with the Celia Cruz & Buena Vista Social Club?
The service was pretty appalling. I felt like I was being talked down to the entire time. Let's also mention that we were the ONLY ONES in the entire restaurant. The waiter also very rudely questioned my ID when I ordered a glass of wine. Oh yes, excuse me, I am going to use a fake ID to order 1 glass of wine when I'm out to lunch with my mom- that makes sense.
The food- honestly nothing special- in taste nor in creativity. There are very few things on the menu that actually attribute to the Mediterranean authentic cuisine.
Over it! -
Review from Sereia C.
11/19/2010
I took a friend here for her birthday, on her recommendation that she had been there before and liked it. We got in and got a table right away on a Saturday without a reservation. The place is nice inside with loft-like high ceilings. The menu has lots of interesting pairings...Peking duck with blood orange sauce, braized beef with black truffle jus, lobster cake with apple puree. Not too much to choose from for vegetarians or for seafood, however, an extensive gluten-free list. This is the part where I stop with being impressed.
The drinks...dirty martinis, of which I am an expert...were awful. Not shaken much, so not cold. Very little olive juice.
The food...I had it sent back. And I'm not one of those people that do that...only once before in my life have I. I've tolerated a lot...dried up old box lunches in the middle of the Serengetti,...The college days cold, hard, sitting out for 2 days pizza...my Mom's meatloaf...
...but Avila's paella...just plain unacceptable. Hard rice, flavorless, overcooked shrimp, gummy calamari...just, no. The waitress said she would have the manager come over. He never did.
The service...whoa. I have never complained that waitstaff was too attentive, but this was just shinanigans. Different people kept coming over to ask how our food was...one before we picked up our forks, one after the first bite, two people came over to take our appetizer away before we were finished with it. My friend and I were getting frustrated because it was difficult to carry on a conversation with the constant interruptions.
So, Avila, to sum it up in one word...dislike. Won't be back there again.Listed in: Scum of the Earth
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Review from Leslie P.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010
Went with a couple of people after work one night for dinner, and we decided to order tapas-style.
First, I will say that being from Chicago and living near Greek Town there, this place is not a Greek restaurant. There are some Mediterreanean inspired dishes, but more like Spanish than anything else. There are also some Italian dishes (carbonara) and Peking Duck, which I have no idea where that came from. Once we got past that fact, it is actually a very nice menu and the food is good.
We ordered some of the recommended items, and they were amazing:
Goat cheese truffle croquettes
Kobe beaf meatball - my personal favorite of the night
Tuna tartare
We ordered the beet salad and a couple of other items that were not memorable.
I will make my way back soon, I'm sure, and I look forward to trying other items on the menu (and ordering the Kobe meatball again!). The bar menu looks really good too. -
Review from Jackie S.
2/16/2011 7 photos
Rating: 3.5 stars
I went here on a Wednesday night without a reservation. The place wasn't busy. The cuisine is "New Mediterranean" with influences from Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, and Greece.
I started out with an amuse bousche of stuffed cheese with onions in a tomato sauce. It was okay. Nothing really stood out to me.
Afterwards, I got my bread basket. Timing seemed to be off. There were three types of bread: focaccia with black sesame, pita with parmeasan cheese, and white bread. There were also sauces: eggplant with gave sweetness, marinated olives, and hummus. I wasn't sure which sauce went with which bread. I wish there was some explanation from the waitress, but I just tried everything with the bread.
I ordered the 5 course tasting menu for $60. The food wasn't bad, especially for the price.
1) Corn soup with lobster - The soup was creamy. The lobster didn't seem that fresh to me though. However, I had better corn soup at Parcel 104 in Santa Clara.
2) Arugula salad with prosciutto and mozzarella slice - The prosciutto was not salty. The mozzarella slice was fresh too. It was a nice salad.
3) Scallop with asparagus risotto - YUM! This was my favorite dish of the night. The scallop had the perfect sear and was not overcooked. The asparagus risotto was also really creamy. The dinner entrée of this dish was the night's special.
4) Grilled veal sirloin with crispy green beans and 4 types of mushrooms - The veal sirloin didn't have much flavor, and it wasn't the best cut of meat. I liked the mushroom mix though.
5) Trio of dessert: warm chocolate cake, panna cotta with strawberry and raspberry, butter cookie and raspberry sorbet. The warm chocolate cake is good for all chocolate lovers. The warm chocolate filling was really rich. The vanilla panna cotta with the strawberry sauce, strawberry, and raspberry was awesome! Lovely flavors. The butter cookie and raspberry sorbet was also good. The butter cookie was a bit dense, but the raspberry sorbet was yummy.
Service was good. The waitress always asked if everything was okay. I would suggest that the other servers provide more details on what is served to me. It's always nice to have additional reminders on the meals.
Private dining rooms are available. Bathrooms are in the back of the bar. -
Review from Bill B.
Newington, CT
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Truly outstanding bar appetizers! Best in Boston. Best Scallops ever, seared salmon main course was delicious. By clean decode, art deco & upscale in the theater district, excellent service
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Review from Jessica M.
Cambridge, MA
12/8/2010
I'm completely baffled at the reviews of Avila. Honestly, I'm confused.
The only star here is for our waiter, who seemed to know the food he was serving was terrible. And for the goat cheese croquettes.
As for the rest of my experience....on OpenTable (where Avila doesn't allow reviews - this should be a sign) the only tables I could get were 6:45 or 8:30 so I choose 8:30. When I arrived, the restaurant is basically empty. Why make me wait until 8:30 then?
We ordered the goat cheese croquettes and the five course tasting menu with wine pairings (a LOT of food, oops!). Don't make the mistake of ordering the tasting menu here - they are not "tastes" but actually full plates. Yikes!
The amuse bouche that was served was the same as our first course, causing us to be slightly confused. The course sizes were massive - maybe to try to make up for the fact that they lacked any sort of flavor?
The soup was good but it's hard to mess up pureed butternut squash and cream. Seriously, I could (and have) made it at home. The pasta course was terrible. I couldn't eat it. It was bland, tasteless and the asparagus in it wasn't cooked well. This was the point in which I actually began to dread the next course and the fact that there was more food coming.
The next two courses were equally disappointing, although I will say that the meat was cooked well - just without any sort of seasoning. The wine pairings were completely off for four of the five courses and our waiter was unable to speak to any of the wines.
The dessert was three mini desserts that looked very good but the chocolate lava cake was overcooked so the 'lava' part was more like pudding and the cake was hard. The middle one was also disappointing and the last one was a vanilla pudding (flan maybe? I couldn't understand the waiter) which was actually fairly decent.
Frankly, I understand it's my fault for not complaining more fully to management but neither my dining partner nor I wanted to fully admit to each other how disappointed we were (until we left and were both like "ummm...were you as tortured in there as I was? yes? ok - whew!").
For the same price, you can go to Craigie on Main and get their six course tasting menu which will knock your socks off. Seriously. Save your money, do not go to Avila. -
Review from Jenny H.
10/10/2010
This place had great ambience and the food was presented nicely and service was quick and friendly.
Goat Cheese Truffle Croquettes were just OK, not sure what the big deal was but they seemed a little dry and not as soft/gooey as I would have expected.
Their entrees were good and I liked the bread they provided in the beginning, we got dessert elsewhere. -
Review from jess b.
Boston, MA
5/18/2011
I actually fantasize about the fondue fries here. They are awesome. The fries are perfectly crispy and the gorgonzola fondue is sooo delicious.
It has actually been a while since I've had a full meal here (although I remember it being very good) because my favorite thing to do is sit at their beautiful bar, enjoy a generous pour of wine and share a few of their delicious small plates. The escargot is very tasty and there are always some fantastic cheeses available.
Attentive and friendly bartenders, nice atmosphere. Great place! -
Review from Anushri M.
Hermosa Beach, CA
3/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This past thursday i was looking for an upscale restaurant to take a small group before a formal ball. After trolling yelp for reviews, Avila came up as a possible contender. Given that I was trying to make a day of reservation, I chose Avila because it was the only restaurant that had space.
Once we arrived I was impressed by the tall ceilings and the courteous service. Sadly, we got the reservation because it seems Bostonians have now forgotten about Avila and the only other diners there were clearly out of town business folks. The ambiance was...empty, but beautiful.
As for the food, the bread platter with focaccia, hummus a tapenade and another unidentified sauce was lovely, however we did have to ask for a simple olive oil dipping sauce. The Kobe beef meatball appetizer was extremely good, especially with the focaccia!
I was a bit more disappointed with my short rib entree. The portion was generous but it was lacking in flavor. My dinner companions that ordered the small plates were far more pleased with their selection.
Overall, I enjoyed the opportunity to dine with friends in a more quiet environment with a high level of service. But yeah, I wish it were a bit more hip - and a bit more flavorful... -
Review from Cliff B.
Nashua, NH
1/2/2011
Fancy schmancy and great food. Located in theater district, so location works very well in combination with a show. Butternut squash bisque was delicious, roasted beet salad was superb, and the Paella was wonderful.
Waitstaff was very good. -
Review from John P.
Salem, NH
2/16/2011
Liz and I went on a double date to Avila on November 13 of last year. We were looking to unwind from a long work week before heading back to our place to play Catchphrase. A nice Boston dinner would fit the bill perfectly. Avila, a modern Mediterranean restaurant would also be something different for us.
Ambience: Spacious, nicely decorated and elegantly designed, but nothing comes out as "wow" factor. Tastefully conservative would be a good description.
Food: I remember we all had an appetizer and then an entree, and shared dessert. The food was pretty good, but truthfully, I don't remember what I had. I try out so many different plates that writing a review months after is... a failed exercise. I'm 29, I have an excuse! I'm getting old!
Service: We had a waitress who was pretty pleasant and patient. My friend Rocky isn't the model for an understand customer, but her service was up to his expectations.
Price: For my date and I, the bill was a little over $120.
Overall, it's a good restaurant. I would recommend it and I will probably go again myself. I'll write a review shortly after this time around :) -
Review from ricardo j.
Boston, MA
5/13/2011
There were three of us on a Thursday night. Somebody forgot we had an order. Waitress was bored with her job. Didnt take initiative to check on our order, although there were only three tables with diners at the restaurant. We asked after 40 min about our entrees. Came an hour after we ordered. The food was fair. Third time here. Never great, but always pricey. Not thinking of going again. Beautiful environment however.
And guess what?: I made res through Open Table, and OT always invite comments after going to any restaurant. Avila doesnt allow posting of reviews for its site! I can see why! -
Review from Eric F.
11/7/2010
Great restaurant for dinner! Came here yesterday for a friend's birthday dinner and was very pleased with the food, service, and ambiance.
Highlights:
-Very good mixed bread basket that included garlic pita
-Chicken Under a Brick (cute name eh?)
-Papardelle with Braised Beef Short Rib
-Lobster Ravioli daily special
-Pepper Crusted Tuna Steak (nice to see a chef that actually knows how to properly sear a tuna steak for a change)
All of the entrees I tasted were really quite exceptional with appropriate prices and portions. Wouldn't mind at all coming back another time to try the other items. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
6/22/2010
How about 50 stars? This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
The way I see it, if you're going to go to this gorgeous, vibrant, warm yet elegantly-decorated gem of a restaurant...You know, get dressed up and impress your date, etc...You might as well plunk down the $60 for a 6-course Chef's Tasting Menu. I've done a lot of tasting menus, and this is by far the best value I've come across.
Let me explain: Each dish was fantastic. Unbelievably delicious. The one that stands out the most is the Grilled Veal Sirloin with Polenta Fries, Sunchokes, Morel Mushrooms and Smoked Bacon--not only for being incredible, but also (and here's why the tasting menu is such a good deal), the portions given were so big, we both had to have the rest packed up to go if we wanted enough room for the remaining courses.
So let me reiterate: Six unbelievable courses, in portions that get ever bigger. By about the 3rd course, they're full-on entree sizes. So big you can't even finish them. This has never happened at another tasting menu for me. And each course is as delicious as the one before it. But half the price of L'Espalier or Craigie. Best tasting menu deal ever.
Oh, and service was fantastic and did I mention the amazing ambiance? I cannot wait to come back here.Listed in: Date Night Dinner ($50-100)
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Review from Jen H.
9/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came here after The Blue Man Group and we were seated at a very large table back in a little nook area. As we sat down I said "oh my, such a big table for just two people." -- Apparently my date had the forethought to call ahead and ask for a table where we'd be able to talk without too much interruption and they told him about this one. Perfect. It was great being a tad secluded but still having an eye on the rest of the restaurant. Unfortunately, I was getting ill and not only did I not have much of an appetite, but I wasn't feeling the best and as such was a tad distracted. From what I saw/experienced, however, this was definitely a cute little date spot... or perfect for a group to go to before/after a show. The staff was very attentive and the menu had a little something of everything.
Apparently "Chicken under a brick" is quite delicious and the way they prepare it truly locks in the juices of the chicken... so if you're a carnivore and want a white meat option, go with that! I opted for the gnocchi with mushrooms and although I didn't have much of an appetite, I ate it all because it was quite tasty.
To conclude our evening, we order the made to order molten chocolate cake. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare but was well worth it, and perfect small portion to split amongst two people. -
Review from christine c.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2010
The best thing about this place (besides the goat cheese croquettes) was our server, Dan.
Dan was great. Half of our party had a 7:30 show to go to. We were a mess trying to chat and catch up, but he was patient, never awkward, and great about getting us our meals without rushing us.
The food, however, was a disappointment. I expected a lot more from a restaurant linked with Davio's. Between the four of us I sampled the meatball (only O.K., never better than Sorellina's), the goat cheese croquettes (SO GOOD), broccoli rabe (it tasted really sour...) the mac and cheese (pretty good, but very rich), the tuna (meh), the filet (very disappointing), scallops (have to admit, I'm not a scallop person but these were decent) and probably the best entree: the brick chicken.
We had to leave before dessert, but I wasn't too upset about it considering our entrees weren't stellar.
The decor was nice, but for a Friday night at 7 it was surprisingly quiet. The bar area and those small plates are probably your best bet if you'd like to grab a bite before a show, but honestly, I'd try something else around there (especially for the price) before coming back. -
Review from Moookao K.
Somerville, MA
8/11/2007
What a disappointment! We went Friday night for restaurant week. The restaurant week menu was pitiful, with many dishes overlapping with those on the regular menu, AND, get this...they were charging an extra $10 for the trout entree. Come on. Other establishments with higher quality foods weren't charging an "extra fee". And the food was such a disappointment that I didn't even finish the entrees (this is coming from a girl who's been known to eat stuff off the floor).
Okay, let me take a breather and start from the beginning.
Ambiance: It's nice enough, clean crisp linens. Good setting for impromptu business dinner -- but definitely not somewhere I would go to impress an important client or a special date!
Drinks: I have the "No Name drink". There's a reason why it was called No Name. Because it was so bad that they were too embarrassed to give it a real name. It's a vodka drink that ended up being too sour and too bitter. Come on. I don't even complain when chuggin jagger shots.
Service: Our waitress was friendly and helped us navigate the menu. The water service was prompt and thoughtful even though we stayed at our table long after we were done with the meal (late night dining and the restaurant was pretty empty.
Appetizers: The best part of the meal with the bread basket with a crispy cheesy herby pita bread. Delish. Well, everything went downhill after that. We ordered a trio of tapas -- buttered escargot, grilled octopus with balsamic vinegar, and fried cod poppers. The escargot was tender and the texture was perfectly chewy. But the sauce was a bit to woodsy, almost a bit muddy in flavor. But man, compared to the other two sides, it was a dream. The octopus flavor had an asian twist and was..."nice". But the texture of the grilled octopus was so pasty and tough. The cod poppers were just...what's the word...WEIRD. Think mashed potatoes but made from fish. Nasty.
Entree: Weren't any better. I got the veal chop with morel mushrooms and polenta fries. The veal was tender and well seasons. The best part of the meal. But the morel mushroom sauce was overbearing and overseasoned. I normally love polenta and would lick that shi*t off the plate. But the fries were stale and gritty in texture. Not good. My dinner-mates order the ham wrapped halibut that was extremely dry and barely edible. My husband ordered the clams and spaghetti which was edible but unremarkable.
We were so unsatisfied with out meal that we left without dessert and instead went home and had my homemade brownies. Go figure -
Review from Gina H.
Newton, MA
10/4/2009
Walking in the theater district can be a little overwhelming when you cant decide on a place to eat and there a million restaurants starring you in the face! So before turning into the Legal sea foods entrance we spotted Avila, right across the street from the theatre cafe, and decided to go in and check it out. I am SO SO SO happy we did! The hostess sat us down right at the chefs table (which had about 8 seats available, bar style, but very elegant). We were right in front of all the action. The best was when the president of Operations came over to say she would be waiting on us, it just made me feel very VIP!
While we waited for our Sangria we were brought a roasted fig with honey creme fresh, compliments from the chef! Mmmmm Mmmmm so amazing!
We went on to order a few small plates to share... the marinated olives, Burrata cheese and goat cheese croquettes- once again AMAZING, this is the kind of food you eat slowly with your eyes closed to taste every fresh amazing ingredient.
What was even better is that we could order 1/2 portions of anything on the menu. I ordered a half portion of the Gorgonzola mac and cheese and my date got the Philly cheese steak spring rolls off of the bar menu. While we sat through our intermission from small plates to entrees we were brought some skillet grilled shrimp marinated in garlic and olive oil (they were brought to us right on the sizzling skillet!)
for dessert our waitress wheeled over a cart of tantalizing plates which ranged from a fresh berry panacotta to a homemade chocolate mousse cake and fresh homemade ice cream... I did not want to choose- I wanted all of it!!! We were in a bit of a hurry at this point(seeing a show at the Wilbur theater), so we made a quick decision for the panacotta and the check!
from start to finish we were treated like VIP with fast-but not rushed- service and amazing food! We will definitely be going back to Avila, hopefully soon!
I loved everything about Avila! -
Review from Peg P.
Quincy, MA
8/7/2009
I thou roughly enjoyed my meal at Avila. The overkill atmosphere of the restraint is terrific - it is a mixture of sleek, modern design with a comfy, relaxed feel. I really felt pampered by the wait staff.
There are plenty of options on the menu and every item can be "tweeked" if needed by the chef. The waitress told us the chef makes all the food fresh daily, and you could totally tell in the quality of the food we ordered.
My friend and I tried several items for dinner:
Halloumi Cheese, Dates, Cashews, Ouzo - this was an appetizer - delicious. It is a "signature" dish of Avila. Well worth trying.
Mediterranean Salad, Tomatoes, Manouri Cheese, Cucumber, Onions, Olives - my friend ordered this and not only did it look fantastic, she said it tasted wonderful. The presentation was wonderful, a unique way to construct a salad!!
Chilled Tomato Gazpacho, Avocado, Crème Fraîche - my friend also ordered this as part of her meal. She raved about it. I will try this next time for sure!!
Hand Rolled Potato Gnocchi, Organic Baby Mushrooms, Shaved Parmigiano - I ordered this entree in an appetizer size and it was FANTASTIC. The gnocchi was so tender and fresh. Probably the best dish I have ever had. It will be hard for me not to order this every time.....
The dessert cart is wonderful, we tried a doughnut-like dessert that cane with dipping sauce (several types of chocolate). GREAT!!
With a few drinks and the above dinner items, our bill was about 80.00. I thought this was quite reasonable.
This place is convenient to all the theatres and they even offers a pre-theatre 3 course meal option.Listed in: Top Restaurants, Dinner and a Show
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Review from Robyn L.
Belmont, MA
2/17/2008
I went here on Christmas Eve for the special holiday menu. Each course represented traditional fare from one of five countries: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece. It was inventive and fun, even if we couldn't get passed the first three courses. The portions were big!
My favorite parts of the evening were:
* Enjoying sangria at the large drop-shaped bar, while my mom drank some Gherkin pickle martini;
* Finally starting our 8:30 dinner with a delicious serving of clam soup (Portugal);
* Tasting the savory duck confit cassoulet (France) because I couldn't do anything more than sample by the fourth course;
* Polishing off the ricotta tart (Italy) because there's always room for dessert.
I would have ranked the phyllo-wrapped tuna (Greece) and Cherne fish (Spain) higher if not for the mayo topping on each. It had a subtle smokiness. Not my favorite flavor. Otherwise, the service was excellent, the atmosphere was warm and we had a nice time. I just think I'd be more likely to go back for the bar than for another special occasion... too many other spots to choose from. -
Review from Simon L.
Portland, ME
9/21/2006
This brand-new Davio's offshoot took a little while to get it's sealegs, but it's totally on it's game now. The service is great, to begin with (Davio's caliber), but they're also improving and learning, so they're getting even better--same with the kitchen. The portions and dishes have been reconsidered since they opened, and some changes have been made.
My non-restaurant week experiences have been great (I wasn't there during restaurant week, though), with good food (try the fusilli with shrimp, or the veal chop), good drinks (try any martini made with Reyka) and great service. Make sure to get a reservation--they're getting busy!
Update: just in general, seems to be poorly run and, frankly, I think it was Boston magazine that said the atmosphere was one step up from a corporate hotel chain--and that about pegs it. Frustrating and I'm now disenchanted. -
Review from larisa k.
Manhattan, NY
3/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The restaurant is spacious and definitely seems like it's nice for a night out on the town, close to everything and especially the theater district.
Granted that we were there for the restaurant week menu there were plenty of good options on the regular menu - though the pricing isn't on the affordable side, and the portions aren't small for those whose stomachs have been stretched by the typical US restaurant portion meals.
Their butternut squash soup was delicious, yummy bread, the meat was well-made (I judge based on my slow braised beef and a piece of my husband's sirloin that I tried) - the dessert is excellent, between the vanilla cream something-or-other and the rich chocolate mousse.
Overall a good dining experience, they did not take their time serving us as is traditional in higher-end restaurants, which is just as well because we had a show at 8 and were seated at 6:25, giving us just enough time to eat our 3-course meal and split. -
Review from Kathleen W.
Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA
12/8/2010
Loved the food, loved the service, and loved that they looked after our timing so that we could then arrive at the opera via stroll vs. scurry. And loved the seating too -- there's a great booth (the only one in the dining room?) tucked away on its own...very comfy and private, and perfect for easy conversation, even if the room is full.
The dinner menu is interesting and richly inviting, yet the food still felt healthy vs. heavy ("may we get a double side of the broccoli rabe for the table please?" --- yummm!!). We apprecaited the addition of the a la carte choices for the meat/seafood as well -- so that one could easily refine an entree without having to make it a "special order."
POST-OPERA DESSERT TOO!!!!
On the very same night, we couldn't help but return to Avila to see if we could sneak in for the warm chocolate delight for which we hadn't had time earlier. The kitchen had closed at 10 and, when we walked in, it was almost 10-AFTER ........ yet the manager invited us to sit in one of the comfy lounge areas in the bar anyway! They made us a fresh pot of decaf, which was soon joined by our scrumptious dessert-share and, though the staff was wrapping up for the night, they made us feel as welcome as they had earlier in the evening.
***** Great place overall, thanks ***** -
Review from Captain H.
Austin, TX
8/9/2007
This restaurant is a nice alternative to the French or Italian places that I always seem to find when I'm trying to go out to a nice lunch with coworkers. They call themselves "Modern Mediterranean". I had the Paella. A little too much liquid was left in the pan, but not enough to detract form the taste. The portion was large and it included a good amount of seafood and chicken. The desert was the best part - Creme Brule with passion fruit. There wasn't much "Brule" about it (not too much caramelized sugar) but I love passion fruit.
The service was nice. The interior of the restaurant is alright, but a little too open and not really anything special. However, it's a pretty quite place so it's really good for meeting with friends or coworkers. You can actually talk to people. We went to lunch on a Wednesday and there were plenty of seats, so I'm guessing you'd be fine with a walk in. -
Review from Tim B.
Jamaica Plain, MA
9/2/2008
This refined and subtle restaurant was a great juxtaposition to the second half of our evening which consisted of guzzling Rolling Rocks at the spectacular Jacques Cabaret.
The menu and wine selection are solid. They have a delicious selection of small plates and first courses and it's nice to pick a bunch with your dining partners to share. You can even get the pasta dishes in an appetizer portion. The escargot are delicious, always cooked perfectly and not chewy or dirty tasting. The grilled squid and white anchovies are also spot on.
The bar and dining area are nicely done, low-lit and warm. I've always found the servers informed and attentive. All in all, this is a great little place and has always kept me coming back. -
Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
4/28/2010
Mirror Mirror on the wall I am my father after all. I swore to God that I would not be like my father going out to eat at 5PM when I was younger. I have in fact become my father when 5 PM is the preferred time to eat with 6Pm being the absolute deadline to eat. Oh well...
However there are certain perks to eating early such as the fact that there is generally no one in the place to compete with for service. Avila has great service to begin with but with only 2 or 3 other folks in the restaurant we received extra special service.
Our server was also the bartender. She makes a fantastic martini and gin gimlet. Both were perfect. The small plates and appetizers are enough to make a meal. Calamari with aioli is the freshest I have ever tasted anywhere including Spain. Yucca sticks with aioli are positively addictive. The mac and cheese was ok but no outstanding. It needs a little something extra. Salade Niçoise with tuna was incredible with seared tuna, perfectly blanched beans and a well balanced vinaigrette dressing.
Seating is comfortable. Prices are a bit steep but once again it is Boston. As I write this I am teetering between 4 and 5 stars. Since Avila is definitely on the repeat list, I think I will stick with 4 for now to see how consistent they are in the future.
