I had been looking forward to trying Avant Garden for a long time and chose it for a birthday…read moredinner, so this was especially disappointing.
We had a 9:30 reservation on May 9. The reservation email said they would hold the table for 15 minutes, and we arrived at about 9:43 after getting stuck in traffic. We were still within that window, but as soon as we checked in, the host immediately told us the kitchen was closing in one minute and that the bar would close in about 20 minutes, so we needed to place our food order right away. It made the meal feel rushed from the moment we arrived.
The restaurant was virtually empty, but we were seated directly next to the bathroom. There were clearly plenty of other seating options available, which made that choice even more frustrating. Unfortunately, there was a noticeable bathroom odor from our table, which was really unpleasant and not what I would expect from a restaurant at this price point. Servers were also constantly going back and forth between the dining room and what seemed to be either a storage or cleaning area near the bathroom, so in addition to the odor, there was steady foot traffic throughout the meal. There were also papers or sugar packets underneath the table next to us, which added to the feeling that the dining room was not being carefully maintained.
We ordered the paella, fig toast, and Calabrian flatbread. The food itself was fine in terms of flavor, but the rest of the experience made it feel understated and much less enjoyable than it should have been. The paella and toast came out quickly, and then we waited about 45 minutes for the flatbread. During that time, no one checked in, explained the delay, or asked how anything was. We honestly thought the flatbread had been forgotten.
Then, after that long wait, the flatbread and dessert were brought out almost at the same time. The server explained that the kitchen was telling them to bring everything out at once. We had also ordered a bottle of Lambrusco, but it was not available, so we were given a different wine instead.
Overall, the pacing and service felt very disorganized. We were rushed to order immediately, then largely ignored for the rest of the meal. No one asked how the food was, no one checked on the delay, and the timing of the final dishes made the meal feel chaotic rather than enjoyable. Even though the food was fine, the experience around it really took away from the meal.
I also think there is a practical issue with the reservation timing. If the kitchen closes 15 minutes after the last available reservation, it does not make sense to offer a 15-minute grace period. Either the final seating should be earlier, or the kitchen should remain open long enough to properly serve guests who arrive within the stated reservation window.
For a restaurant with Avant Garden's reputation and price point, I expected a much more thoughtful and polished experience. I wanted this to be a special birthday dinner, but we left feeling disappointed. I don't feel eager to return, and based on this visit, I would have a hard time recommending it to vegan friends.