Friendlist and attentive staff, excellent ambiance and best Turkish/Greek cuisine in Pittsburgh!

Starting w a 5/5 but may change once I revisit. Will start by saying there was no lot to park in but there was street parking available. Kitchen also closes at 8:30 when it's not peak months. For the experienced, there are so many mezes that look great. I shared the babaganush and it was excellent. Really don't think you could go wrong. My friend order the chicken kebabs, which seemed average. I had the beyti and it was phenomenal. One of my favorite meals the past few months. So much flavor and beautiful presentation. There were a few more items that caught my attention so I hope to come back and try out more. read more

Avva - Beyti - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ambiance was terrific - both times I've been to AVVA in Aspinwall, the outdoor seating was lovely. Last night, the owner/server sternly responded to me when I asked for Tzatziki sauce for my guest's Kofte (somewhat dry) entree. He said, sternly "We have NO TZATZIKI! WE HAVE NO HOT SAUCE (which no one had asked for)! WE HAVE NO SAUCE!" At that point, I shared the sauce that was right in front of me, which came with my calamari. I find it to be expensive - $8 for a Peroni beer is unheard of. As others noted, the Hummus is smooth and the MEZE plate very good. If you want to go for an outdoor experience and share apps with friends, I recommend. Just don't ask for TZATZIKI ;) read more

Got the mezze platter that comes with your choice of 5 cold dips. And then shared the mixed grill for 2 for the entree with of course, baklava for dessert. Everything was delcious, the hummus was smooth and the addition of the pomegranates brought just enough freshness. The ezme is to die for! They mentioned it was spicy, I didnt think so but out of all the dips, it was the spiciest option. Out of the grill, the lamb chops and the lamb kebab were my favorite. The baklava was also great, comes with 4 pieces so definitely perfect to share. The servers were so courteous and offered samples of wine and even the bulgur to make sure we would be satisfied. Very attentive. The ambiance is very clean, its a small interior with alot of outdoor seating but cozy and modern. read more

Avva - Ezme, hpititi, hummus, Aegean chickpeas, trikafteri. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Portions a large and the food is well cooked. We ordered the regular mixed grill and the seafood mixed grill, and everything was delicious! The octopus was a little disappointing as it wasn't seasoned well, but the grill dishes definitely had a wonderful char. You can't miss here! The appetizers are vegetarian friendly, so there's something for everyone read more

It was a good restaurant! The food was delicious and a decent portion. It was a bit pricey for what it was. The appetizers were good--we got the hummus and a red pepper dip. The only issue we had was the initial server/host, she brought us water with no ice and we got no refills of water during the night even after we asked. read more

AVVA took me on a trip to Italy last night with a fabulous Italian wine and cheese tasting event! Wow! What a fun night! We learned all about the 6 featured wines from across Italy from Fred Magnotta, from F. Magnotta LLC. I haven't had this much outstanding wine since I took a trip to the Napa Valley! Of course I had to get the scrumptious lamb chops, my absolute favorite at AVVA. All of the food is delicious so it is worth a trip to try them with a glass of Fred's wine! read more

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10/31/2025 Ate list: Beyti w/ Bulgur - 7.6 This spot is great. Indoors is quaint and homey. Staff is incredible kind. I'll be honest, what I order was not at all what I expected to be delivered to me. The description read like a tomato featured Gyro but what arrived looked like a Beef Wellington platter. Caught me off guard. However, taste was great. The quantity of food was perfect. Was pleasantly surprised by this one and this spot. read more

Avva - Beyti w/ Bulgur - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We stopped at Avva yesterday afternoon about 3 Pm. It was between brunch and dinner and not busy. We sat at the table next to the fireplace and it was warm and inviting! Our waitress, Ashley was delightful! We ordered a bottle of wine, hummus and a lamb shiskabab. The hummus was delicious and the lamb came with salad and large scoop of bulgur. We got three skewers of lamb and it was charred perfectly and had great flavor. The warm pita bread was also very good and went well with our meal. Ashley was very attentive and answered any questions we had. I think we found our place to go after any visit to St Margaret's. Thanks again Ashley! read more

Avva - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stopped in on a whim to Avva with my mom and we were immediately seated and served by staff. We sat outside on the patio which had a refreshing atmosphere. The food was so delicious and tasted fresh. I will definitely be back. read more

Avva - Aegean - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I went to dinner with a friend and we both loved it. We ordered a dip platter and got babaganush, htipiti, Greek style hummus, piyaz and trikafteri. My personal faves were the htipiti and trikafteri. Then we ordered the chicken and beef kebabs and shared those. They were both good I can't decide which I liked better. Then we got to try tge dessert and they were so good!! I can't wait to go back. The staff was so nice. We sat on the front porch and it was great. read more

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Mediterranean Cuisine in Aspinwall serving fresh, flavorful dishes including mezze platters, grilled meats and seafood, and classic Turkish desserts. The outdoor seating is especially lovely, and the space has a warm, inviting feel. Vegan options are quite limited outside of salads and mezze (no falafel nor grilled veggies) but the quality and ambiance make it a nice neighborhood spot to enjoy. Really lovely service, too. read more

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This was a great spot! We liked the different options for seating: covered outdoor, uncovered outdoor, indoor, etc. The service was pretty timely and straight forward. Food was fresh and flavorful. The decor was very warm and inviting. I'd definitely come back and have already recommended it to others! read more

Avva - Shish platters - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I visited Avva with my family on a Sunday afternoon and had a great experience. We got a table immediately and enjoyed the nice weather in the porch. Our server was extremely kind (I wish I could recall his name) and quick to get us everything we needed. The brunch menu was available, so I had an omelette and my parents both got Greek salads. Everything was very fresh and tasted incredible! Don't skip out on the meze either - we tried the haydari and trikafteri and they were delicious. Highly recommend! read more

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I've been wanting to check out this restaurant for a while, and I finally did! Although I missed the nice weather for outdoor seating. The inside is small, but charming and cozy. It felt like being in the living room of a house, and even had an active gas fireplace. We started with the Meze Platter, which was great for our large group. It included five different meze, and my favorite was the Htipiti. That one was a flavorful mix of roasted red peppers, feta, vinegar, olive oil, and spicy pepper flakes. The food overall was excellent, especially the Grill for Two and Seafood for Two platters. The lamb chops were the standout for me. They were perfectly seasoned, tender, and some of the best I've had in the city. The seafood platter was also a highlight, featuring branzino, shrimp, and octopus. Each platter came with a generous serving of rice and salad. For dessert, my favorite had to be the Katmer! I've never had anything like it. It was a thin, crispy phyllo pastry filled with pistachio and mascarpone. The desserts were a perfect finish to a great meal. read more

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It's a classy restaurant with great flavors. We really enjoyed our meal. The mixed grill platter was tasty. The seafood mixed grill was superior to the mixed grill. Well done on the octopus. It's truly the star of the seafood grill. Portions were very very generous and it was enough for 5 people and we had leftovers. The only small complaints that we have is the lack of juiciness of some of the kebabs. Rice and bulgur were served on the wooden planks- I love this idea but with rice, it is hard to serve it without making a mess. read more

Avva - Mixed grill and mixed seafood for two - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Went to dinner with a couple of friends and we had such a lovely time! Tucked away on a cute corner street in Aspinwall, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner outside on their cozy patio. Fit with string lights and bistro tables. Our server Kate was so attentive and polite! She provided great feedback on menu items and served us in a timely manner. As a table we shared the variety platter of dips and peta bread, the trikafteri was our fav! I had a cosmo, coke and a water because three drinks are a must! For dinner I had the chicken shish with rice. Overall, yummy food that you can have for a solo or shared meal. Loved the ambiance and can't wait to go again! I want to sit inside the next time because the space looks absolutely beautiful. Super cute place to get dressed up and have a nice night out with friends and loved ones. read more

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Excellent experience here last Friday! The place was packed and we almost thought they wouldn't have a table reserved for us, but we were wrong - we sat outside and had a wonderful dinner. The outside porch was superb as far as ambience was concerned - no loud noise, and it was easy to have a conversation. Here's what our party of four had: Apps: - Octopus - Haydari - Calamari Mains: - Kofte - Lamb Shish Kebab - Adana Desserts: - Baklava - Katmer Wait staff were attentive, and ordering was super straightforward. We did not think that the portions were small, like other reviewers did - each portion was perfectly adequate, and for our party of four, with the above order, we left feeling quite full. Bravo! We will definitely be making AVVA a regular stop on our restaurant journeys! Thank you! read more

Amazing find near shopping areas of Fox Chapel. Pleasant atmosphere and exquisite Mediterranean cuisine. Wait staff went over the top to make our 1st experience the best. read more

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My boyfriend loved the calamari. I'm a bit of a calamari snob, so I thought it was good, but I've had better. Both of our main dishes were delicious. I preferred the beef kebab over the lamb, but since they're prepared the same way, the difference is pretty subtle. Portion sizes were generous, and I really liked the sides--everything tasted fresh and well-prepared. For dessert, we tried the katmer on the server's recommendation. It was super tasty! Just a heads-up: if you're a chocolate lover, it might not hit the spot, but it was still a great choice. The outdoor ambiance was really cute, but there were a LOT of bugs on the patio. They had citronella candles, but unfortunately, they didn't help much. The bugs weren't biting (mostly just flying around), so I wouldn't take a star off for that--but if you're someone who doesn't like bugs, you might be more comfortable sitting inside. Our server was clearly new but very nice and helpful. The drink menu was reasonably priced and the pours were generous, which was a pleasant surprise. The food was maybe a few dollars overpriced, and I'd recommend it more strongly if it were slightly more affordable--but overall, I really enjoyed it for a nice summer meal. All of our dishes were great! read more

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We ordered calamari which was not homemade it was store-bought. We also ordered baklava, which was store-bought. I'm very disappointed that they don't make anything in house read more

Let me start off by saying I'm not a fan of Mediterranean food but this place changed my mind. We ordered a sample and latter of 5 different appetizers. I couldn't stop dipping the naan bread. Each one was better than the other. I might add the service was helpful. He knew the menu and made great suggestions. Plus my wife loves this kind of food, especially dipping. So when the manager asked how was the food? She asked for more bread. Seconds later it was on the table. I had the Beyti it was really good. My wife had the lamb kabobs again it was great. My wife loved the place inside because she was right next to the fire place. She definitely going to want to go back. I won't have a problem with that. read more

Avva - Lamb Kabobs - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Glad I gave this place a try! Really cute neighborhood Mediterranean spot. Definitely make a reservation, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. A friend and I had the chicken shish kebab and the lamb shish kebab. Both meats were cooked perfectly and the portion size was good. Service was friendly and fast. Can't wait to go back! read more

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A group of five couples dined at your restaurant last evening. We enjoyed a lovely evening on the porch... such a nice atmosphere; the food was wonderful. Service was good... we had a really memorable evening. Our complaint... we were unable to receive separate checks per couple. Our server explained that this was the restaurant policy. Some of us had appetizers, some had cocktails, (some of us many cocktails!) So decifering who owed what was a cumbersome ordeal. Ordering like this makes it difficult to just split the bill 5 ways... that would not be fair to some of our companions. Fortunately, everyone had cash (we don't all venmo)... so it worked out in the end however, it was unfortunate that an otherwise perfect evening ended with clumsy math. We hope that this policy may change in the future as we would certainly love to return with a group. read more

Seth the server was amazing. He recommended the red hummus (which I would've never tried) and it was actually my favorite. A tad on the pricy side, definitely a good once a month date night - super yummy. Their steak kabob is probs my fav 10/10 would only come back if Seth was my server Bonus for Kayne being so cool and handsome read more

Avva - Outside patio. Seth as our server Love !!! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stood outside in rain waiting for someone to Sit us for reservation- poor servers trying to get through where people were standing - poorly thought out . Waited 15 minutes for bottle of wine and another 20 after asking for glasses twice . Food okay - certainly not worth the price read more

Restaurants are service oriented businesses. AVVA is not in many ways. 1.) Hours are listed as 4 - 10pm. We arrived at 9:30 and were told the kitchen was closed. This is not noted anywhere. 2.) The meat is pre cooked and rare to medium rare is not available except in Kabos when insisted upon. 3.) The salad on the main plate is absolutely horrible mixing with the meat juices. 4.) Prices are ridiculous for well done precooked meat and overly seasoned salads. 5.) This is a poor attempt to serve Mediterranean food. The bread and hummus is good. DN read more

Nice ambiance. The service was good. The food was fresh, but completely underseasoned and bland. They offer no sauces, only small appetizer plates for $8 and this kebab plate was screaming for some flavor. The bread was good. Did get the recommended yogurt and garlic small plate, and it too lacked seasoning and flavor. Would give 5 for ambiance, 4.5 for service and 2 for the food, for $30 per serving it should taste like something with a middle eastern profile, accordingly, not a repeat selection. read more

Very cool place and very good food. My family and I love Mediterranean cuisine and this hit the spot.

Absolutely delicious food! The beef shish kabob was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The rice was also perfectly cooked. The bread basket was served warm and was so tasty. Service was amazing. We will be back!! read more

Avva - Beef kabob - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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First time at Avva and couldn't be happier. Great food and cocktails! We had the lamb kebabs,Adana, and the htipiti and it was all fantastic! My espresso martini was one of the best I have had in a long time- thank you Seth for great service and cocktails!! read more

Beautiful shaded outdoor dining. Stopped by for brunch this morning and the food was just okay--not fresh and upscale like the prices and atmosphere indicate. We tried an omelette, a salad and two appetizers. The omelette and feta cheese were both bland, and the Greek salad overwhelmed by tons of capers. The dip we ordered was the best part of our meal, so maybe I'll return for a glass of wine and a snack on that lovely patio. read more

Great service, great taste of Mediterranean cuisine - appetizers, kebabs, desserts. Strongly recommended!

Their meze is super fresh and tasty. I've tried both Adana and Beyti, they were outstanding! The service is quick, and the staff are really kind and welcoming. The outdoor patio has such a chill vibe. Definitely recommend this spot for authentic, delicious food! read more

The two of us shared three very tasty dips with pita (and pinot of course!) Made for a perfect, healthy lunch!

For being open for two months I would have hoped they would have worked some kinks out a bit. A designated host with a host stand would be helpful. Service was slow and struggling. Appeared understaffed. Food was 'meh'. Overpriced for what you're getting. It's a neat location with everything going for it. Rooting for them. read more

Excellent food. But very overpriced for what you get. About 2 to 3 oz of marinated beef shish was $32. Not big portions and nothing to take home and eat tomorrow. For where they are, in a neighborhood, they need to be priced so you would be tempted to come weekly. But at these prices it seems more like a treat and once every 2 months kind of place. read more

It's hard to know where to begin in doing this review! The reservation system they are using does not have reviews. When I looked for reviews, it was odd: Google's were averaging 4.5, many 5s, but the Yelp reviews were averaging 3, many 2s? The atmosphere is very nice. When we arrived, a woman came over, said she would be our server & brought water. Then a younger woman came over saying that she was going to be our server. It was immediately clear this 2nd person had no restaurant experience, knew nothing about food or the bar/alcohol. We made it clear from the beginning that the two couples wanted separate checks. But at the end of the meal, we learned that the owner has set up the computer to not do this, so there's nothing the staff can do about it. This is unacceptable. Admittedly staff should never tell guests that the owner has policies that are frustrating them, but I could understand it. The server began by taking our drink order. One person ordered scotch & asked if they had Glenlivet. She clearly knew had no idea. The server said they didn't. A server who knew anything about alcohol would have suggested a substitute (no alcohol/lower check). The other couple ordered a bottle of wine which was brought already opened. The only way a person knows if they got the wine they ordered is to be brought a bottle of wine unopened. If a server does not know how to open a bottle of wine then someone who does should bring the bottle, open it & serve it. And don't say it's a neighborhood restaurant & they don't need to do that. Absurd. Then the server took our order. When people order lamb chops or meat shish kebab they are asked if it's okay it is medium or medium well. No, it is not. If someone eats meat medium rare, they want medium rare. Other reviewers have noted that they believe the meat is pre-cooked, which is probably correct. In a restaurant at this price, food should be cooked 'a la minute' especially shish kebab or cut lamb chops (not cooked as a rack). They take very little time to cook. When our food was delivered to the table, there was an item on the plate that is not mentioned (this should never happen)-some type of cabbage slaw that's purple; it's liquid running across the plate. I asked if the cabbage had beet juice as I am allergic to beets. The server said something like 'it's an accompaniment". Duh! I could see that it was a cabbage slaw. I certainly wasn't going to taste it. I asked her if she could go ask if the cabbage had beet juice in it. When she still seemed clueless, my husband, somewhat harshly, said that we were asking what was in it & that she needed to go find out. I agree his tone was not the best. However, her response was completely unacceptable. She said something like 'you can't talk to me like that'. My husband was not being abusive or even hostile & whatever else is happening in the server's life or whatever her opinions are about how she should be treated, she needs to leave it at the door. She walked away in a snit & purposely delayed finding out what was in the slaw...I could see her. I was ready to tell her to take my meal back & because everyone was now 1/2 way through their meal, I would not be ordering. She did finally come back & said that there was no beet juice. Because of the overall interaction, I didn't believe her. Regarding the food, I would say that everything was 'okay': Not bad, not great. The slaw shouldn't be there. The 'side salad' is not a salad, just a couple bites of unflavored greens. I am not sure what the people who got the bulgar thought, but the white rice was unseasoned (no oil, butter, salt). I envision a pot of rice cooked for the entire evening scooped for each dish. If you won't serve people meat at the temperature they want, the meat is not great and the chicken was 'okay'. We are generally big tippers & tip the same % on the bottle of wine. But if someone else hadn't taken over the table toward the end, we would have left little. However, the service was not the server's fault - No one has educated her about the food or bar. No one has trained her about how you behave at a table. No one told her how to go get information/help from someone who knows more. And no one told her-If you are having a problem with a customer, you go get the manager! The first server did come back to the table to bring the check. As noted, the conversation about separate checks happened, with several servers standing nearby. This could be a wonderful restaurant. A few staff told us that it has been very crowded. But lots of places are crowded at first, and don't succeed. You can think that our table of 4 has no idea what we are talking about, but you'd be wrong. We are not from the neighborhood, so we didn't just pop over. You need people who don't live on the block to come there. read more

yoghurt / hummus delicious beautifully plated. Not comfortable or practical at all for handicapped persons re bathrooms and entrances. Steep block steps at entrance. I'd suggest not to come here is any member of group is handicapped in any way. I want to emphasize that the wait staff was very helpful in efforts to seat me at the closest table after what was a difficult and painful struggle at the entrance with my stressed ankle and knee and my needing to use a cane. Being "handicapped" is a varied situation. Whether needing to use a cane, a wheelchair, a brace, a scooter, an arm sling etc., ease of getting to bathrooms is a factor that is important to all including the short-term to the more-permanently "handicapped" person. I came alone because I frequently dine alone in restaurants (3-4 days per week) and have had good success in finding high quality restaurants that are comfortable for me with my particular needs for handicapped accessibility plus my quest to find quality freshest- possible food. I think that AVVA aims to please in its concept, but falls short of recognizing the ways it can improve on its accessibility without compromising the integrity or the appearance of the beautiful historical train station building which it is making its home. It takes creativity, but every great restaurant takes a lot of creativity to serve the noble purpose of food service and hospitality blended in the best of ways. read more