Avila

This was a tough call, the food was good no doubt but probably not as refined as tilth a few steps down. Its more rustic and definitely more generous as far as portions.
The best items for us was the bone marrow beignets and the steak. The tator tots are very popular mainly bc of how unquie looking they are, but as far as the flavors its very good but i might be more inclined to get something else if i came back. I didnt care for the duck filled foie app… it was too rich and didnt seem smooth… the popcorn soufflé was interesting for a one time deal… the brittle i couldnt hardly bite bc it was too hard. And the chocolate ganach dessert didnt work for us at all… didnt seem well thought out. The steak tho was divine, it had everything under the sun, fried onions, mushrooms, mash, spinach, fries… LOVED it!
Service a bit odd… not that warm but decent. Pretty good place but has some misses for sure.

I’ve been here twice now. The food is, without a doubt, absolutely excellent. The appetizers are well put together and extremely tasty. The service is pretty good as well, with the wait staff being very attentive both times I’ve gone.
The most recent time, I decided to try their back patio after seeing a picture of it in the Wallyhood blog. It’s a cozy space, completely shaded by a tree. Oddly, two sets of people were seated outside after us and chose to move inside. I’m not entirely sure what the reason was, perhaps the occasional whiff of garbage that would draft over. It certainly didn’t complement the palate, but most of my dinner mates didn’t notice.
There’s also a fire pit, which looks like it’d be great to sit next to in the winter. At the moment, however, it’s littered with cigarette butts. As soon as I sat down at the table, I found myself wondering where the ash tray was because I could smell the butts. There was a good breeze so it wasn’t too bothersome, but I absolutely hate the smell of cigarette butts so I definitely noticed it when a breeze hit just right.
All in all, a pretty good place. Much bigger than it appears from the outside. They had strawberry sangria as well, which was pretty tasty.

Went hear last month and was very impressed!
Food was great and service was even better… not super busy the night we went in so our server had tons of time to yuck it up with us… and yuck it up he did! Had to wait for nothing.
Appetizers — Housemade tater tots… delish! Baked gnocchi — sinfully decadent! Headcheese — not cheese but WOW!
Salad — Bibb Salad with the Green Goddess Dressing — They were out of bibb lettuce so it was made with miners lettuce… honestly, one of the best salads I have ever had! Simple, fresh and so flavorful.
Entrees — All of us enjoyed our entrees! Steak, lamb, pasta and fish… cannot recall the exact preparations but really nice.
Dessert — This was probably the only part of the meal that was a bit disappointing. We had the chocolate soufflé and it was dry and without much taste. But, not enough to ruin the evening or the score.
All in all, a great meal and I cannot wait to return to try brunch or the chefs tasting menu! And they have a deck in the back that is calling my name whenever summer decides to show up!

Strolled on in for their Sunday supper deal. $ 10 gets you a salad, main course (always a vegetarian option), and dessert! Not bad at all.
The space is nice and contemporary, but with a homey feel to it. In the back dining room they have this Chihuly-​ish wall hagning which seems out of place, but oh well. The servers are knowledgeable and open to any and all questions.
We were luck to come in for chili night! The first course was a simple mixed green salad with yogurt dressing. Nothing too sexy, but very tasty nonetheless. The chili on the other hand was anything but ordinary. 5 types of meat, chicken, beef, lamb, and pork. I’m sure they were just throwing together the leftover from the weeks menu, but isn’t that what Sundays suppers are for? Just because it was $ 10 doesn’t mean it’s just thrown together. The dish was still complex with a nice mix of herbs and spices to compliment the homemade cornbread.
For dessert… cupcakes! Again homemade, moist and delicious.
There’s no better Sunday night meal out that Avila

Oh, love, they still have it…
From the homemade bread with the bit of butter topped with salt sprinkles to the lovely wine list to the Left Hand Milk Stout to the not-​so-​small plates… Mmm.
May I also mention a first for me this evening: tripe. Fried, crackly, layered with chorizo over English peas and and herb-​pureed broth: I am thrilled to be an offal convert. You all can eat loins, bellies, ribs, chops… I’ll sneak away what you don’t want and make sure it goes valued, appreciated, and every bite savored and spoon-​shaking good. Between that and the young radish soup with bone-​marrow beignets (think a very small rectangle of puffed pastry smeared inside with a thin layer of tasty marrow), I left stuffed. And the price for those two delights? $ 14. Total.
Not to mention the special dessert, and let me lay it on you. Sunchoke noodles. Butterscotch with 12-​year Macallan. White chocolate pound cake. Roasted strawberries. Gone in sixty seconds. Or less…
No way is this not one of the best little spots to open in town over the last year. From their attention to sourcing as locally and seasonally as possible, to the wispy-​twispy tater tots with plum ketchup, to the filling small and varied plates, Avila has a winning formula and I will happily drink a glass or several to many future returns. Especially to their newly-​opened back patio for a sunny summer afternoon sip…

This review is long overdue. I went to Avila many months ago, not soon after they first opened. I was highly disappointed. I went with my husband and another couple. Brunch. They sat us at a weird table right next to the stairs, so the server couldn’t serve us from one side, and he kept trying to pour water from the rails of the staircase. Awkward. I had some kind of omelette, and my husband had some kind of crab benedict. My omelette was meh– I could have made it at home. His crab benedict was horrifying. There was tons of bacon in it! Good thing he’s not a vegetarian, since the bacon wasn’t listed on the menu. But it totally overpowered the flavor of the crab. If you pay for crab, it should taste like crab. Speaking of paying, TOTALLY overpriced!
Too bad. I liked that little Italian deli that was there before.

I just went there for Restaurant week. Now I’m sure they pushed out some of the best dishes for this event, and I have to say the food was good, just good.
The first two courses, the asparagus and halibut didn’t blow me away. The asparagus, frankly, was a bit bland. I think they it was wrapped in bacon, which while crisp didn’t have that wonderful bust of salty-​smokiness.
I was, however, impressed by the chocolate soufflé. It had a great consistency and wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. It was great.
All in all, I’d probably go again to check out the supper, but probably not for a regular dinner.

** Aug 2010 ** Sad to learn that Avila has closed its doors.
OK steak lovers … just had the best tenderloin ever!
If you have never had organic, grass fed beef you must try their bacon wrapped tenderloin. The flavors is absolutely fabulous compared to steaks I have had at higher end restaurants. This is not a steak for those of you looking for the typical fatty, juicy piece of meat served at other establishments since grass fed beef is far leaner and more firm than corn fed, but the texture and flavor far surpass other beef I have had.
If you are interested in giving Avila a try make sure to start with the tater tots with plum ketchup … wonderful appetizer.
For beer lovers try the Lazyboy Ale especially with the beef, great pairing.
Stopped in for lunch the day before and if you love sub type sandwiches … you must try their cold cut sandwich!!! The flavors of each of the meats they use almost explode in your mouth. This is not the typical boring, mellow flavored sandwich that has to be slathered in sauce or oils to make it have any taste!
Oh, and if you are not a heavy eater I advise not ordering anything else with the sandwich because it is a meal in itself.
Now the staff and setting are also great, very friendly and personable. Want to keep entertained? Have a seat at the kitchen counter for your meal and watch the staff make your meal from start to finish … better than most cooking shows on TV.
Need a place for a business lunch? Give them a call since they have a great dining area in the back or a private area up stairs.
One last note, even though this is a gourmet type restaurant you will not pay gourmet type prices. Small plate items average about $ 7 to $ 8 and full dinners run $ 15 to $ 25.
Next thing on the list is to try their Sunday Family Dinner for $ 10 … will let you know how that one is.

I live about two blocks away from this restaurant and I waited to read some reviews on it, and didn’t even have to search far to find them! I saw so many write ups in the stranger, the Daily, and Seattle Weekly, I was convinced.
My boyfriend and I went on such a weird occasion, we had just driven home from Portland and decided we were so hungry and wanted to try it out. He got the black cod and tater tots and I got the Gnocchi. My dish was incredibly creamy and wonderfully made. I didn’t try my boyfriends cod but he devoured it, so I’m assuming it was prettty good. The tater tots are neat– I wouldn’t order them if you plan on having a big meal because they are huge! The truffle oil is a little overwhelming for potatoes but I enjoyed it. It left all of my food smelling like truffle oil, thats not necessarily a bad thing though!
The only thing I didn’t like was the set up of the restaurant. we sat at a this bar type thing overlooking the rest of the restaurant and a dark view of the street/​bar. I felt like I was having a beer with an old friend rahter than just having a nice dinner. Avoid sitting there, it makes for an uncomfortable dinner.
Also, the wait staff. The guy wouldn’t leave us alone! He kept talking to us about every single thing that had to do with the food, and I understand interest, but seriously… go away. Not only that, when describing the tater tots he was like «they’re badass.» What in the hell type of description? That was annoying to me, being part of a nice restaurant you and you make yourself look like an idiot. We were just tired I suppose, because this guy was soo annoying.
But as for the food – yum.

5-​stars just for having family-​style $ 10 Sundays in a swank restaurant with great food and likely a clientele that could support the traditional menu and its prices. On Sundays, adults pay $ 10 each for a bottomless 4-​course meal (beverages not included). You can see the menu online prior to dining if you’re not up for surprises.
We had homemade chips with guac and pico, chicken enchiladas, beans and rice, and churros — again for $ 10 each! And they were very good with a mole sauce to top it off right. If I knew I wanted Mexican, I’d probably go somewhere a little more authentic, but by all means, I’ll eat anything at Avila just to keep this great idea/​offer going.
AND — I’ll check them out when Wallingford calls for a night out on another weekday!

I haven’t yet been able to go to Avila, the restaurant, but they catered our company’s holiday party last year and everything I tried (which was about everything they brought) was delicious. I think my favorite thing I ate was the pumpkin ravioli. The sauce was yummy, without being too rich or overwhelming. My other favorites were the sliced meats accompanied by some amazing cheeses and the eggplant parmesan. The desserts were friggin’ good, too, and different from other things I’ve had. They made these caramels, and these rice krispy treat things, but instead of rice krispies, it was made with cocoa puffs. HOW COOL IS THAT?! WHY HAVEN’T I HAD THIS BEFORE? I LOVE CHOCOLATE. Ok, I’m getting a little excited, and am craving it again.
They were professional, and super flexible to meet our parties’ needs. I hope to definitely work with them again, and I just found out that they are going to offer box lunches. A definite plus for any company in Seattle who wants to find a new place to order lunches from for meetings.

Yowza!
I’ve never experienced such high quality and delicious food in a restaurant that really prides itself on being part of the neighborhood. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and extremely patient given our desire to try as much as possible on the menu.
We simply loved everything that we ate. How often can you say that you have eaten lamb that has been cooked sous vide and then baked in hay?! The menu is innovative and delicious without being pretentious and incredibly expensive.
We also had the bone marrow beignets with creamy radish soup, tater tots (unlike any tater tot you could ever imagine in your life), baked spatzle, and the beet salad with asian pear. Even though some of these items may sound normal, they are anything but normal but all mind-​blowingly delicious.
Seattle has many quality restaurants and some amazing chefs. Avila can now be added to the list of some of the best food in the city. I’m glad this place in near my best friend’s house because we can eat and drink well and then roll ourselves back to her house!

If I lived in Wallingford I would find the slowest contractor to remodel our kitchen… I would insist that the project take months and months and be delayed several times at least. Why do you ask? So I could have an excuse to walk down the street and eat at Avila every day. This place is that good.
We went on a Thursday night with high expectations based on the reviews and every expectation was meet and/​or exceeded. Truly one of the best restaurant meals I’ve had in quite some time (and I eat out A LOT). We ordered a bottle of wine and our server brought out a plate of house made bread with two types. I can’t even tell you what the other one because my mouth was full of the warm, delicious rye bread.
The menu is split into small and large plates. Everything is reasonably priced… the small plates ranged from $ 5-​$ 9 I believe and the large plates were $ 16-​$ 31 or so. JP ordered the young radish soup with the bone marrow beignets, such savory goodness. JP’s mom had the beet and pear salad and I ordered the Bibb salad with green goddess dressing (delish). JP ordered the cut of the day which was served with sweet potato pie. His mom and I both had the dungeness crab gnoochi with horseradish breadcrumbs.
Everything was truly outstanding. We were full so didn’t order dessert, but we are heading back in a week so I will try and save some room, although I know it will be tough.
They also serve lunch and brunch on the weekend… I can’t wait to try both, the menus looked stellar. I think I’ve found my new favorite restaurant in Seattle.

Stellar gourmet food, outstanding service.
We showed up at 7pm on a Saturday night with no reservations. All they had left was what they explained was the «bad table» — a tiny two-​top next to an exterior rear door frequently used by the staff to reach a storage area. We took it anyway.
The food was outstanding. We ordered four small plates: house-​made charcuterie, oysters cooked with pancetta in a vermouth broth, a delicious bibb salad, and smoked salmon streudel. We also got a bottle of wine.
Partway through the meal, they apologized again for the table and brought us, compliments of the house, two rounds of Prosecco and a fifth small plate, a mushroom-​and-​polenta dish that wasn’t even on the menu. It was heavenly.
We finished with a dessert apiece: a chocolate mousse and a sort of French toast dish with orange wedges that was scrumptious.
Our entire meal came to $ 76, which for a four-​plate dinner with two desserts and a bottle of wine is a bargain. We didn’t order any entrees, which are generally around $ 20-​$ 25, but you can make a great meal out of small plates. The incredible desserts were just five bucks.
The staff were outstanding, the food was truly memorable, and the whole experience was a joy. Highly recommended.

I went awhile ago when they first opened and plan to go back soon since I’m positive it’ll be even better. The sunday dinner is amazing. Priced right, good for kids and groups, and the food is delightful. (although, our one year old refused to eat because the chalkboard tables were more fun)
Avila is a definite recommendation due to the quality of food and preparation, casual but upscale atmosphere, and it’s overall success at being a neighborhood joint.

Went here for the first time the other night and was completely taken aback at how good the food was. I didn’t know anything about this place and was just meeting friends expecting a good, but certainly, not spectacular meal.
The menu was impressive, everything sounded delicious, inventive and yummy. We tried quite a few things… for apps: tater tots (definitely try these, they won’t disappoint), gnocci with a deliciously whipped broth — tasted light even though it was probably full cream, salmon strudel and oysters in a broth — although good I probably wouldn’t get this one again.
For entrees I split the sea bass with my friend, and they brought out the meal on two separate plates, the portions were so generous we were sure they had forgotten to split the order, not so. The sea bass was cooked perfectly and served with a side of pirogies, lovely. My other friend ordered the rib-​eye … I wasn’t impressed, but I wouldn’t have ordered a rib eye at this type of restaurant.
For dessert we had the soufflé, which was amazing!
The service was great — friendly, attentive and informed. Try this place, seriously one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in a while.

Holy Crap! This place has given me possibly the best food I’ve had in this city. My roommate and I came in for the Sunday night dinner and left happy and full. Tonight they were offering a choice of beef stroganoff or eggplant parmesan. Since my roommate was set on the stroganoff, I went for the eggplant parm even though I am NOT a fan. Not a fan, that is, until today. It was amazing. The beef stroganoff was fantastic as well. I really cannot convey enough how wonderful the food was. Do yourself a favor and go to Avila.
Oh, and did I mention that the Sunday night dinners are only ten dollars for three courses? Oh. Yeah. Baby.

To support restaurants in our neighborhood, my husband and I decided to try this new Wallingford establishment. We went for dinner on a very cold, Saturday night arriving at 6:30 and not having any problem gettting a table (though it was busy when we left).
We each started with a nice glass of Prosecco and decided to skip directly to ordering our entres. I chose the pork loin with chestnuts, pumpkin, gingerbread and huckleberries. It was a nice mix of sweet and savory flavors, though I wish the pork was less fatty and a bit more juicy. My husband ordered the chicken and slippery dumplings which he thoroughly enjoyed.
The ambience of Avila was a nice mix of hip and modern without being pretentious. The service was attentive and friendly, and the entire place had a great vibe.
This is a place for you to try… and one we’ll definitely go back to again.

Tempting fate, we went to brunch at a brand new restaurant. Although this has led to hilariously bad experiences in the past, the experience at Avila was generally positive and (alas?) bereft of funny service stories to tell later.
We ordered two cups of expensive coffee and two reasonably-​priced entrees. My boudin blanc was served in the form of creamy cakes of sausage next to well-​seasoned roasted vegetables. It doesn’t look like much on the plate, but the apparent small portion turns out to be quite a bit when the richness of the sausage is taken into account. My friend was happy with his relatively large monte cristo (but didn’t care for the salad served with it). Although the waiter later came over to apologize for the crust being burnt, this didn’t seem to translate into a problem with the sandwich itself. They don’t seem to be going for the «lumberjack breakfast» style, but the food is filling and satisfying nonetheless.
Avila’s layout is just as strange as Bella Cosa’s, with the back of the dining room being several steps up from the front of the dining room. We sat on the lower level, which was nice and quiet due to the fact that everyone else was upstairs. However, this did lead to feeling like we didn’t have our own waiter so much as the general attention of the person manning the bar/​counter. I suspect that such an issue will only come up when the lower level is similarly underpopulated.
Overall, the experience was positive and certainly encourages me to go back for more.

My wife and I went here last night on a recomendation from a friend, and let me say that we will be back and bringing our friends with us. The space is very nice and feels homey but modern. It is not too loud and the staff is all very friendly. What I really want to talk about is the food.
We started with the savory pumpkin pudding… YUM! What a great mix of flavor and texture. This dish really does taste like fall. The vegetable «leaves» are a great garnish and fun to eat.
For the second course I had the potato soup and my wife had the butter lettuce salad. The soup was perfect. Delicate and full of flavor, you would expect a heavy creamy soup, but this was light and a great second course. I swore there was bacon in there, but was assured that there was not. The dressing for the salad was one of my favorites, green goddess. It was the creameist, richest green goddess I have ever tasted.
Then came the main course: Spinach Ravioli and the lamb. I was intrigued by the lamb because it was cooked with hay and I love lamb. This dish had a perfect amount of smoke from the hay that is burned off around the lamb. There was also a perfect little cut of potato on the plate, I can’t remember the name but it was great.
My wife had the ravioli and was generous enough to give me a taste. The ravioli sauce was nice, creamy, but not heavy and the ravioli was perfectly cooked with just enough tootheyness.
Our bill, with two glasses of wine was $ 86 before the tip. It was worth every penny. The wine list has some great stuff and good bargains. We are looking forward to bringing our friends in to show off our new find.
This is the kind of place that you can go back to again and again and not be dissapointed. Check it out.