Superb dinner, surprisingly good & tasty food, served with large portions, and they have nice outdoor location. Grilled octopus has good chunks of tender tentacles, mixed with pickled onions and small potatoes. Black ink Linguini has this sumptuous tomato sauce, lemony with tiny pieces of clams. Although the pasta does not have its distinctive dark colored, it was quite good, cooked perfectly as al dente. Paella has (again) large chunks of fish, good amount of rice, mussels, veggies...although the typical saffron taste is missing, dish is exquisite and enjoyable. Personally all three dishes were very good, but my preference is to have a hint of spicy flavor on my dish. Next time I'll try asking for red pepper flakes! Cocktail drinks we got were refreshing...'Lady of the Lake' is essentially Corps Reviver 2.0 but colored black (cuttle fish ink)...'Bee's Knee's' is potent and simple. Tried their 2nd selection on 'Avola Flights', white, rosé and red...all good and paired well with pasta...though not chilled to my liking. I will definitely be back for happy hour! read more

See all

First impression - This place is beautiful! The overall design aesthetic is bright, modern, and beautifully detailed. Even down to the plates. The place locally sources all their foods. I think they mentioned they source from about 30 local farms. The only items not local is obvious foods that can not be grown here such as avocado, salmon, etc.. We stopped here for lunch and the staff was very welcoming. It was pretty quiet as we expected since this place just opened about a week ago. Our server was super friendly and very open about his favorite choices on the menu. He was also knowledgeable in the beer and alcohol selection as he said he is a bartender there. We didn't try their craft cocktails but all sounded delicious and also well thought out when they were figuring out the menu. The menu isn't to overwhelming which is nice. There is a nice selection of small plates, salads, pizza, pastas, and handhelds which all sounded delicious. I got the avocado toast topped with fresh lump crab meat and EVOO. There wasn't too much crab but the amount of avocado was great and the bread was delicious. It was a nice thick Italian bread. I also liked how they had some hot peppers scattered on top to add a little heat. I also had some of the calamari. It was perfect! There was a perfect about of sauce, and seasoned just right. Again loved the additions of the hot peppers. Everyone else I was with seemed to really enjoy their meals too. I definitely will have to try a pizza next time. The crust is real thin and the toppings look amazing. Their pizzas are 10" for lunch 12" for dinner. I am curious to see what their dinner menu contains and will have to try a cocktail too. The waiter also mentioned they may eventually be adding brunch on Saturday and Sunday once they finalize the menu items, and other details since they just opened up. I really hope they add that since there aren't many options in the suburbs. Overall first impression was great! I will definitely be back and recommend everyone to try :) read more

Visited on an evening to treat myself after a LONG day. I was immediately impressed with their interior design - loved the high ceilings, lighting, and beautiful tile floors. I sat at the bar and enjoyed friendly chit chat with the bartender. They have a decent selection of beer and wine. The beer tends to be local-ish with the top heavy hitters like beloved breweries in Downingtown, Hershey, etc. Wine selection was O-K - they did not have a pinot noir that I was in the mood for. The chicken entree was to die for. I was SO, SO happy the chicken came out exactly as I hoped it would - beautifully TENDERRRR. I could do without the snotty, tasteless chard and would have rather had another crispy fall vegetable. The vanilla ice cream was mostly good, but not "standalone stellar". Good, but too sweet, and nothing worth ordering again. They were nice enough to give me a side of nuts that I could put with the ice cream. The portion is very generous and enough for two. I'd come back again to try out some other dishes! read more

Great experience food was very good. Service was excellent. Good variety selection. Everybody was very pleasant and engaging.

Best kept secret!! What a great place. Decor is sleek, streamlined, soothing. Outdoor patio is delightful too. Food: HOLY COW!!!! Amazing spin. The mushroom toast was one of the best things I've eaten in forever. It's rich- bread tastes like it's soaked in butter in the best of ways. The charred broccolini pairs well with blue cheese & bacon. (What doesn't!) portions are generous- want to return & try an entree. Service: off the charts phenomenal. Attentive, friendly, not intrusive. I was here on a Monday & it's deserted. Sad. So come here on a Monday or any day you can! Bar area looks great too, would be fun with a group or a date night. read more

Burrata Crostone- a must have appetizer. Great combination of taste and texture. The taste of the jam, pesto, prosciutto, and the sourdough was a great combination, among with the crispiness of the sourdough. Wild Salmon over Greek Salad - wild salmon was cooked really well. The Greek salad was little below average. It seemed like the lettuce was too wet. Artisanal pizza - a friend ordered this so I unfortunately was not able to personally tell you how it tasted but it looked really good, which my friend confirmed tasted really good. From the looks of it the pizza was well drizzled with cheese on top, with the mix of the sausage and prosciutto. I will definitely order this next time I'm there. Gelato (espresso) - 3 scoops that tasted really good. Ricotta Doughnut - takes 10 mins to make! It was fresh. The outside was nice and warm. It's definitely something to share. It was a GREAT combination to eat with the Gelato. Would I go back? For sure, must try the Artisanal pizza. read more

See all

Sofias hair is not in congruence with safety measures. Her hair is waist length and down, creating a safety hazard. Please address and issue a refund for food safety. read more

Avola Restaurant Brunch experience 12/15/19 I just returned from Avola's Brunch service - a first time visit for a birthday celebration - and quite frankly, it was more disappointing than receiving coal in my stocking! We arrived and elected to be seated at the bar. Restaurant side had 2 tables of 3 or 4. Then us. Another couple joined us a bit later. Our waiter explained various 'cocktail' (Mimosa/Bloody Mary) specials. An assistant filled our water glasses. We were impressed by the beautiful décor, attention to detail and excited by the menu. We placed our order with our server for cocktails and breakfast. And that's when things went awry. Two more refills on water, 20 minutes later, our server apologies for the inconvenience of not having the drinks. Apparently, the bartender was not in yet and our server is not trained/permitted to make drinks. He also asks if we're ready to order - we remind him we did at which point he says, "oh, yes, I'll check on that." Several minutes later, bartender brings my drink. We remind him of my friend's order. He's on it. Almost immediately, our food arrives. We mention my friend's drink, waiter says he'll be right back with it. Food looks good. No salt or pepper on table. After 10 more minutes we track down 'water' server and ask for salt and pepper which he brings. No sign of our waiter, so we look over at bartender and say, "uh, second cocktail ready?" Apparently, he forgot. He brings it over. We no sooner use pepper and 'water' server asks if we still need pepper, after we say no, he takes it to another table. Really - not enough for each table? Our server stops by to see how we're doing - indicates no rush (but seemed rushed) and leaves. Finally, I ask 'water' server to bring box for leftovers which he does. I stack plates and same server returns to remove them as well as salt shaker which he carries to another customer's table. I flag waiter to get coffee - he does not ask if my friend wants any. So, I ask my friend. Coffee comes along with check - "no rush." I finish coffee and prep check with my card. Waiter comes to take card but never asks if we'd like another coffee, etc. Bill is returned and I discover I've been charged for a different table - significantly higher amount than my bill. I call waiter over and show him discrepancy - more apologies. Bartender returns corrected check - with apologies and I ask for assurance that the previous charge has been voided. As we leave the restaurant, there are eight customers. Had this been a grand opening for brunch - I could overlook the many mishaps; but as an established restaurant, this is unconscionable. It's a shame - a beautiful décor and the food was okay. But if you don't have service (and enough salt and pepper shakers) - what do you have? It's sad- I do events planning for several local businesses and non-profits. Rest assured - Avola will not be on my list of recommendations. Kristen K read more

Best bolognese you will ever have. Staff is amazing. Great music Thursday and Saturday. A hidden gem.

This happy hour is one of the best deals in town- Monday - Friday 4:30-tv 6:30pm. You need to ASK for the Happy Hour menu, otherwise you will just receive the regular menu and wine/beer/ cocktail menu ! The happy hour menu is awesome-- this is the third time we joined friends on a Friday 5:30p . We ordered a margarita pizza, a white pizza, mussels two ways, a cauliflower app, a cheese plate, several beers, glasses of wine, cocktails etc. These prices cannot be beat, but you have to get all orders in before the DOT of 6:30p to get the HH prices. Happy hours are only Mondays through Fridays AND strictly 4:30- 6-30. If you can sneak out of work a little early during the week, this is a great deal. Outdoor seating nice ( enough) if not too hot. Wish the outdoor patio tables overlooked the water instead of Route 29, but the reconfiguration may eventually happen! read more

The service was amazing because the staff is fabulous, attentive and really enhances the experience. Ask for Alli! The bartender is the best I've ever experienced and the food is made to order and fresh! The chef is one of a kind!!! read more

The build your own meat/cheese board was delicious. The most delicious brie I've ever tasted (and locally sourced)- highly recommend. The chicken left much to be desired- very plain, nothing fancy. We had a party of 7 and it took a pretty long time to get our food but the apps made it worth the wait. read more

Went for an early dinner, the dining room had one table of two and the bar had a handful of people. We ordered two appetizers and a pizza. The appetizers came out rather quickly. The calamari was very bland. 45 minutes after we finished appetizers there was still no sign of the pizza. We asked about the pizza and it came out about five minutes later. There was no explanation/apology for how long we waited. May be back due to convenient location. read more

Been there four times. The first time was not a great experience and is documented in a separate review from my friend. Chalk it up to a new restaurant getting into the swing of things. Since then have dined in the restaurant twice and had take-out. The experiences have been superb. The staff is terrific (special call outs to the bartender Mike and the waitress Chrissie). The owner Anthony checks in regularly and is very down to earth and open to feedback. The food is outstanding and is served tapas style (small portions) and they explain that from the outset. Lots of great food we had from the tuna ceviche, beef tartare (I would add an actual egg yolk though), perfectly cooked scallops, pasta and sausage, cheese & meat board, deconstructed cannoli, and caramel & pretzel budino (although it could be bigger). It is also well decorated and has a great atmosphere! We loved it there and will definitely be going back!! read more

Avola Kitchen + Bar - Bars Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

Met my wife here for lunch during the week. The place was mostly empty so we were able to get seating right away. I ordered a Greek salad with chicken and my wife ordered a Caesar salad with salmon. We both thought the food was good but that the portion sizes where disappointing especially considering the price ($37 total w/ two waters). The staff was friendly and attentive but the overall dining experience was lackluster. Could have been improved if the portion sizes for the salads were larger or at least priced accordingly. I will say that the pizza looked really good so if I ever go back I'd probably forgo the salad. My final comment on this establishment is that the restrooms did not have a changing table for infants which was a bit of disappointed since we had our infant daughter with us and were unable to change her. read more

The decor is really nice and it's a beautiful restaurant. But that was the only thing great about that restaurant. The waitress who serviced us didn't even check on us once. She was too interested giving all her attention to the larger party that was there. I ordered a dish that was linguine with clams, scallops, shrimp and a few other seafood. The dish was so bland, even when I added parmesan cheese and salt...it did not help. My friend ordered a lamb dish and that lamb was not made correctly. It left a really bad after taste. The manager came over and asked us if everything was okay, we told him the truth and he credit us the linguine, but we owe it to other yelpers to write an accurate review. read more

Overall, we had a nice time. That was probably due more to the good mood my daughter and I were in. As for the restaurant: Service was NOT good. It wasn't the worst, but it was not good. My wine came so late I had to send it back because I was done with dinner. We both ordered the salmon and it was delicious. The cauliflower small plate was also tasty with a nice, not too much, crunch...However the kale salad was really bad. No dressing...very dry. Perhaps they forgot? Not sure. I have never had a kale salad like this before. Too tired to send it back, and too hungry and the server could not be found. We just used the cheese to fashion some sort of dressing. I would probably go again to give them a second chance but I am not rushing. read more

Unexpected gem. Booked on Open Table after seeing great reviews there and on yelp. Service by Dan, food and value all outstanding. Also they were open very early for lunch which I needed this particular day for business. Had never heard of it. Small plates and something for everyone in terms of GF, vegetarian etc. Even though it was in a shopping plaza the decor made for a higher-end "feel" and parking was easy. We loved the kale salad, calamari, meatballs, cauliflower and more. See photo of bill for prices. read more

Avola Kitchen + Bar - Bars Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

Good food and great service. The margarita flatbread was wonderful. It is beautiful throughout and the bar is neat too!

I recently hosted a bridal shower at Avola. They ran out of salmon, which I understands happens in the food service industry, but instead of apologizing to the guests and giving them another option, they just delivered cod without providing a choice in hopes no one would notice. After questioning the situation, the manager did refund me $100 which was a nice gesture, but little to cover the situation. Also, for the drink station, the event planner said there would be a beautiful set up with the champagne glasses , champagne, fruits and pitchers of the rest of the offerings. Not at all. No champagne glasses. There were just cocktail glasses sitting out. There was no description of the offerings. It was glass bottles in a bucket. The guests didn't know what was what, and there were no servers around to ask. There was no fruit at all and we were supposed to get 5 cocktail choices, and there were only three. Lastly, they advertise that a group of 50 will fit in the main room. We barely fit and people could not move around. Servers had trouble serving food it was so tight. The servers were nice and the food was good, but I would not host an event there again. read more

Cool place, good concept, overpriced for subpar service and many menu "mistakes". The menu listed a lavender Blue Coat gin cocktail. What I ordered was actually made with Tito's vodka and the bartender said it was a menu misprint. The "focaccia" croutons in the Caesar salad appeared to come straight from the bag. The shrimp and chicken française was over cooked and overly saturated in the garlic sauce. The meatballs and artisanal pizza were decent. The two bartenders working were inattentive and we often sat with empty water glasses or cocktails. Had the place been filled this would be expected, but as the only couple at the bar we were left neglected and disappointed. This place definitely has potential but I was very disappointed with the overall service. read more

Went to Avola for the first time with four other family members. All five of us were extremely pleased with the atmosphere, service, and most importantly, the food. We had four small plates (basically appetizers), four large plates (entrees), one desert, a couple of sangrias, and cappuccinos. I was surprised that we had the restaurant to ourselves at 5-6:30 pm on a Sunday. I truly hope more people discover the welcoming staff and the delicious food at Avola. I know my family will be returning. read more

We had dinner here on a Sunday night. We sat at a booth in the bar area. Service was good and the food came out quickly. We did several small plates (roasted beets, grilled octopus, burrata, meatball) and the rigatoni bolognese. Everything was good, and octopus was exceptional. It's a bit pricey, but the food was great and we'd definitely go back! read more

I literally work right around the corner from this place and decided to pop in with a coworker for lunch today. It's a fairly new restaurant with really cute decor and this custom designed pizza over in the back with their name on it & if you score the right seats you can watch pizza dough being tossed in the air throughout your entire dining experience which is pretty fun! I opted for a salad since it was lunch and because I was trying to be "healthy"....the Greek salad is NOT your typical Greek salad and was filled with tons of yumminess including crunchy fried chick peas which one would not expect to find in a Greek Salad. The shrimp on the salad were very nice in size and grilled perfectly! It was quite the tasty dish (yet unfortunately not as healthy as I anticipated although I won't hold that against them lol). My coworker thought we also needed an app so he order the burrata....HOT DAMN! Again, didn't expect prosciutto or pesto to pop up but it all worked REALLY WELL together and may have been the highlight of the meal! I'm surely going to consider coming back as their bar area is quite grand and their specialty cocktail menu looked really tempting and would probably pair well with the tasty dishes on the remainder of the menu. read more

Avola Kitchen + Bar - Greek Salad w Shrimp - Bars Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

See all

Tried this place today.. great food, nice flavors and great service. Thanks to Anthony for introducing himself. Try the chicken meatballs!! read more

Terrible service and took almost an hour I don't recommend. They let or them water cups run out and wouldn't refill. Very disappointed because I expected a lot more read more

Yum Yum! I was in the Valley Forge area and unfamiliar with the local restaurants so picked this place based off a Groupon deal. And am I ever glad I did! Despite having a Wawa as a neighbor, this sweet gem did a great job with their outside patio creating an intimate ambiance. And the food and cocktails made you forget all about the location. Meatballs, mushroom toast, ribs, salad- all so good. The service was excellent and you can't beat the parking. It's a definitely a place you would expect to be found in Philly. I'm sad I don't live closer or I would be frequenting here on a regular basis. read more

I was disappointed. i don't usually do this but i felt the need to this time around. I walked into Avola after church on a Sunday morning. It was very appealing and had a unique layout, but the service and food was not good. our server came around once in a blue moon to give us our food and to give us the check but that was about it (not to mention we were the only people in the restaurant ). I ordered the local strawberry toast the name does not transpire into the dish. the strawberries looked like they'd been toughed out for a few days. A better name for the dish could be frozen strawberry toast. over all the place was cute but it looked from a birds eye view like a good brunch spot but certainly did not meet the expectations i had set. read more

Avola Kitchen + Bar - Bars Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

We used to go to the Fox barn at 29. This is their sister restaurant. The food is phenomenal to say the least. I had a filet mignon which was rare and perfectly cooked. Their gnocchi are made from scratch with freshly cooked and locally sourced vegetables. The carrot cake desert with chocolate chip ice cream was outstanding. The menu is extensive, including wood fire cooked pizza, all made from scratch. Service is 1st class and everyone in the restaurant is friendly and attentive to your needs. I would give this establishment 6 stars and not just 5 for a rating! read more

Last night, after a year of eating at home, we decided to have a night out with dinner at Avola. It was amazing! Very nice restaurant; seating was set up for social distancing, staff were friendly and courteous. And the food! We had the Paella and the Black Ink Linguini Scampi; both delicious, but the Scampi won the night. It was SO good. Many thanks to our server Dan, and to Ben for giving us great first night back! read more

best spot in malvern thanks to the great bartenders Izaiah and Tia!! all the best customer service!!!

This was the first indoor dining experience I ventured to during Covid, and it was fabulous!! First time dining at Avola. Felt very safe. Beautiful decor, very inviting, super clean, hand san everywhere. Now for the food...amazing!! Mediterranean flair so many healthy choices. Had the broccolini appetizer which was very flavorful, the House salad which was generous and not overly dressed and the barrimundi special and paella special. So delicious. Service was excellent. Our server Emma could not have been more pleasant. Will be back!!! read more

My wife and I went to Avola for our 9th anniversary and we had a wonderful time. Our waitress was named Madalena and she was very pleasant and made some great food and drink recommendations. She even told us about some special drinks that weren't on the menu and asked the bartender to make my wife a special margarita which was delicious! Tom the general manager came to our table twice to ask how we were doing and make sure we were satisfied. We ordered numerous appetizers and they were all excellent. We ordered the ricotta donuts for dessert and they were scrumptious! Overall, we both had a great time and can't recommend Avola highly enough! read more

Had a very nice dinner with friends here. Got a drink at the bar first and happened to talk to the owner, who was very nice and sent over a plate of bruschetta. Service was patient as we were busy talking and slow to order. Brussel sprouts appetizer was especially delicious, as was the tune crudo and burrata. All enjoyed entrees including branzino, salmon, and pasta. Very nice atmosphere, pleasant service, and a roomy table. We closed it down but never felt rushed. Thanks for a nice evening Avola! read more

AMAZING place. We were in town and found this on Yelp. The atmosphere is upscale and great for a date with my wife. The service was excellent, wine selection great but the food was off the chain! Get the mussels for sure as well as the Paella, you can't go wrong with those two. Will be back! read more

Avola Kitchen + Bar - Outdoor patio - Bars Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

See all

The atmosphere is amazing! I love the decor. And the food is even better. I had the gin cider cocktail (amazing)! white pizza to start, it's a wood burning oven, my fav. The calamari and seared brussel sprouts... all highly recommended! The service was excellent, the owner Anthony came to check on us and was very friendly. read more

See all

We had a great experience here! Yummy food and a nice atmosphere. Dinners and dessert were both delicious. read more

Avola Kitchen + Bar - Bars Near Me - Malvern, Pennsylvania

See all

I had a lovely meal with family. Unfortunately I ended up not liking my entree and stated concerns to the waitress. I was confronted by the waitress and the manager who were very rude and very confrontational. A neutral situation was escalated and handled very poorly. I will not be returning. I hope the management learns customer service skills. read more

Avola Kitchen is located on RT29 in a small retail strip adjacent to the WAWA near the PA Turnpike access point in Great Valley. It opened probably just before the pandemic and as a result of the timing and the location I must have passed by hundreds times "wondering" what the deal with this place was. A few weeks ago my wife and I desperate for a new dining experience finally decided to give this place a try by sitting at the bar and having "a drink and an app". Upon entering we were immediately surprised and impressed with the trendy atmosphere they created and as we sat at the long bar were further impressed by the bar itself as well as the service and menu options. We ultimately had a great experience at the bar and decided a couple weeks later (tonight) to return for an actual meal. Without going into too much detail we both LOVED our (props to the KITCHEN staff!) pasta entree's, salad, desert, drinks, service and lively atmosphere as well as the great attitude of EVERYONE on the staff. We will be back and we will be spreading the word. What took us so long? Need more places like this... read more

Spectacular appetizer, octopus with homemade chorizo sausage, followed by chicken confit, not sure that was quite the right description, but half a chicken cooked to perfection with shiitake mushrooms and creamy mash potatoes! Amazing food. read more