This place is thee best place to eat in Avalon for a night out. Great food, great service and just a fun vibe. We've been multiple times and always delivers. We live in LA so we have pretty high standards and this place always lives up to our expectations. read more

Overdue review. 3rd time here. Dined first week Aug. Always excellent. 4.5 Stars . Food was awesome. Vibe is exciting . Tables in middle of restaurant Are basically shared . Better to sit on wall . ( Though I did here fellow diner ask his table if $50 K was too much to spend on a 1 week trip ?? ) Hence exciting vibe Must be nice Special thanks to waiter , carpenter, musician . Definitely my favorite server in Avalon . See u guys next summer read more

Not only is it that good but TDH is my favorite restaurant down the shore! Saturdays dinner was fantastic. The "service by Travis", "hospitality by Emily" final "plating by Donny" is the "hat trick" to go along with delicious food and great vibe . Well done, again and again!!!! read more

The Diving Horse - 16 oz. Rib eye steak with string beans and Spatzel. Paired with a great wine. - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

Went to Diving Horse on a Monday night date night and it did not disappoint. I feel I have always strayed away because it is hard to get a reservation, but with just two people they had a walk in table ready for us! BYOB so don't forget your favorite wine! The food, service, and ambiance were all top notch. It's hard to find food in Avalon other than your typical Italian spot. Diving horse packs fresh and delicious taste into each one of their specially curated dishes. We started out with local Sea Isle oysters and a garden salad. The oysters, although skeptical, were absolutely amazing. The salad (not pictured) was perfectly prepared with fresh veggies and a delicious citrusy dressing. Following that, we ordered the chicken Milanese and a wagyu short rib. The chicken had a breading and crunch to it that I have never experienced in a fried chicken cutlet. It was mouth watering at every bite and was complimented with pickled veggies and a delicious sauce smothered on the plate. The wagyu short rib also did not disappoint. Perfectly cooked, you could taste the smoke from the grille in every bite. Truly one of the best meals I have had in Avalon in many years. Will definitely be back in the near future! Thanks to Patrick our server, we had an incredible experience. read more

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Always a phenomenal meal and experience. This is the best restaurant on the 7 Mile Island. Food is always outstanding as is the service. Get the short rib anytime it is on the menu. Their scallops are plump, sweet and always perfectly cooked. Oysters and bluefin tuna are always on point, fresh and delicious. Their signature Kit Kat bar dessert is always a fan favorite. All in all, this place cooks. read more

The Diving Horse - Scallops Corn off the cob Wagyu short rib with polenta - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

Shocked at how amazing this place is. But the I realized it's partners with Pub & Kitchen. Not really much fine dining DTS but this place is clearly the star. Entire meal was great and the service was excellent. Definitely making a reservation when we go back to Avalon. read more

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Made a reservation for four at 9:45pm on a Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. That was the only time available. They called that day to say they could get us in earlier at 8:45pm. I was thrilled and asked to change to 7people. I was impressed they could accommodate us. Checkin was quick, easy, and friendly. Place was loud. But the lighting was flattering. Chairs were comfortable. Service excellent. Place is BYOB and Ryan quickly got our white wine on ice. Service was excellent and Ryan took good care of us. He was also very personable and chatted with the table later in the eve when things died down. They served bread with a delicious sweet butter. I started with the baked oysters. They were delicious. But they should have been served with an oyster fork instead of a large regular fork. Ryan said they were in order. Also, the chopped peppers on top were way too spicy for me. But I was able to easily remove them. I loved that there were only three. This left room for future courses. Highly recommend this appetizer! I tried a friend's cucumber salad and it was outstanding and very refreshing. I'd recommend that also. The tomatoe dish was well-liked by those who ordered it. But it was a heavy appetizer. For my main I got the tuna special with coconut rice. It was good. We also ordered all four sides for the table In terms of sides, the greens (collard ?) was the best with asparagus second. A bit disappointed in the Mac and cheese. The spicy fries with aoli went fast too but I prefer them plain. For dessert we got the popular "Kit Kat" bar. I personally liked all the ice cream flavors. Vanilla with peanut butter, and other interesting names. Bathroom was huge! Loved the wallpaper. One odd thing: No espresso- there should get a machine. read more

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one of my favorite places in the world.. I've just realized that I've never reviewed the Diving Horse before - been coming here for about 10 years now, and we absolutely love it The food at the Diving Horse is divine. I recommend you explore, you will find things here that aren't typical - they are exciting and new and delicious. If something looks or sounds strange - i recommend you try it, it's probably amazing The Diving Horse is easily one of the best restaurants South of Atlantic City - full stop. I think I neglected to review this place in the past because i didn't want to draw attention to it.. we love this place and didn't want to see it becoming a tourist haven. We come here early in the season May-June and then later in September. We don't come near the shore in the summer - so i cannot comment on what your results would be "in season" When we come here the food is divine. Everything. I'm not afraid of eating or trying anything they put out - it's all spectacular, artisnal, thought out, respectfully created and executed perfectly. Portions are a little small, i recommend a starter, a main and ordering a complementary side. Oh - and desert, cant forget that, the kit kat bar will roll your eyes inside your head - the home made sorbets and ice creams are simply juicy and delicious with fresh fruit flavors The restaurant can be a little loud - and by that i mean it can be crazy loud sometimes. When its full here and every table is occupied - this place is as loud as it gets. That's a bit of a detraction.. unfortunately. When its not so packed it's less of a problem - but in all fairness its a bit loud. It doesn't necessarily bother me though, i love this place with its great food and service and location.. i come here when its crazy busy and i just let myself go to the noise and the commotion.. were down the shore, i remember growing up eating at the old school places and the wild,chaotic -frezzy was intoxicating - so let yourself go and embrace the crowd a bit. The service here is top notch. They do it right. Whoever owns this place understands service and its done properly. Its not 5 star.. no. But its easily 4 star. Its not a 5 star restaurant and i wouldn't want it to be, it's approachable and comfortable. The restaurant itself is simple and beautiful - very well appointed and decorated h but not to detract from the food or servive - just simple and elegant. Your server will give you fresh cutlery with every course, they will open and fill your wine (byo) thoughtfully answer your questions about the menu and give informed recommendations - all while being friendly, delightful and adorable. And fast - things move quickly here. You will not be sitting around for long waiting for anything. Maybe a bit too fast?.. hard to savor the wonderful everything when you are in and out of here so quickly I want to thank everyone here, in the last 10 years or so, ive enjoyed some of the most memorable meals and experiences of my life, with my mother and my family - the Diving Horse has been a place of exceptional beauty for us - so many of the wonderful places we grew up with here are gone.. but this place did manage to grow in their place - yes its sad some of our "old school" favorites are gone - but the Diving Horse has grown and blossomed into a magnificent addition to the Jersey Shore, a spectacular jem here in Avalon Just bravo! - and thank you... read more

The Diving Horse - Kit kat bar - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

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TDH is a go-to every year we stay in Stone Harbor/Avalon. It's our obligatory "fancy" dinner. But by fancy, it's not stuffy. It feels like you're having an elevated dinner with REALLY amazing sophisticated but hearty food at an old friend's house. The menu changes, I believe frequently. I got the scallops and lentils this time around -- and will be dreaming of it ALL year. One of the best meals I've ever eaten. My husband got the golden tilefish and my mom got the halibut. Both perfectly cooked. Our waiter, whose name escapes me, was a sweetie -- gave great recommendations (Sea Isle City oysters!!! Delish and briny! Who knew?!) He was attentive and really sweet to my three kids! Love TDH and will see the crew again next year. read more

Presentation | Roasted Chicken | Service Presentation - The overall visual, vibe, and ambiance of Diving Horse is first class. The vibe is open and airy. They have a good amount of open space, white table cloths, with indoor and outdoor space. The ambience is upscale Montauk, so be sure to wear your best cocktail beach party outfit. White paints are highly encouraged. ;-) Roasted Chicken - I had the Roasted Chicken which is easily top 3 chicken dish I've ever had. It comes with fingerling potted and a creme kale. The chicken was marinated with some type of smokey marinate or was roasted with wood fire chips. The taste was exquisite and consistent with every bite. Will definitely get it again. Service - Our service was primo. The waitress was extremely knowledgable and helpful when we had questions. No water glass ever went below 1/4 full. The entire staff was very attentive and everyone treated us as if we were their customer. Whether it was the bussers, other waitresses, or the Maitresse whenever anyone looked around or had a puzzled look, someone came by to ask if we needed anything. Pro Tip: The establishment is BYOB. So be sure to bring your favorite bottle of Red or White. Pro Tip: There is not a great deal of parking around the restaurant. So be sure to take an Uber or be prepared to walk. Pro Tip: It has an upscale Montauk vibe. It is the ideal spot for a date night or whenever families/friends reunite and want to reminisce. read more

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We have been here a couple times over the years. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside is very nice with a simple and farm chic design. We had reservations and were immediately seated at our table. Our server, Ryan, was very friendly and helpful in discussing the specials. The food was very well plated and cooked to perfection. I empathize poaches tuna salad along with the short rib main course. Our friend had the avocado Ceaser salad which looked amazing. She had the catch of the day which was fluke while the others had the big eye tuna. Everyone was very happy with their dishes. This is a great place for adults to enjoy fine dining. My only knock would be as others have shared, slightly larger portions. read more

The Diving Horse - Big eye tuna - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

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My fiancé and I came here for dinner last night and had a great time. We got the baked clams and the crispy rock shrimp for appetizers. They were both pretty good but if I'd come again I would probably try something different. In my opinion the entrees were way better than the appetizers. We got the house made bucatini and the waygu short rib, which was incredible and definitely the highlight of the dinner. It also always helps that the restaurant is a byob. The one callout I do have is that the service was minimal, the server only came around to take our order. read more

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We returned to The Diving Horse and remembered why it's been a couple years since we have been back. First I want to say we really enjoyed the ambience, and the service was excellent by Christina. She did a fantastic job, was very responsive, friendly, and attentive. We also love the BYOB. However, we came for the food. We honestly felt like almost everything was way over priced even for a vacation spot. Six tiny oysters were $24. They were so small. It would take two of them to make up a normal size oyster. We also had the shrimp cocktail - four jumbo shrimp ($16) that were perfectly cooked. However, I will say the oysters and the shrimp were fresh and delicious. For entrées, we had the scallops and the short rib. Only four scallops and a bunch of arugula for $46, quite honestly is way too much. The scallops were good but not great; two of them were slightly under done in the middle. My wife had a short rib with cream and cheese mashed potatoes. The short rib itself was very smoky, but tender and pretty good flavor. However, the gravy they poured on the potatoes was so salty, it was inedible and ruined the dish. We don't send food back normally, but this time we had to ask the waitress about it. She immediately took care of it. She substituted it for the chicken Milanese and mentioned that she had received some complaints about the saltiness of the potatoes before. I guess a known problem, but I think it was the gravy. Anyway, she handled it perfectly. The chicken was tender and pretty good. We skipped dessert as none really were appealing to us. read more

Been coming to Avalon for 5 years and never knew this hidden gem existed! Wonderful experience sitting outside at their community table. We sat close to another lovely couple. Inside seating is always full unless you want a 5pm dinner. Wait staff was super friendly and carried themselves well. Can't wait to come back next year! read more

Food was outstanding! We ordered the cucumber salad as a starter and the scallops and bolognese for our entrees . Love that it is BYOB! Service was good. Ambiance was quaint. Definitely coming back soon read more

Our overall experience was wonderful and we look forward to our next visit! Our waitress (Kate) was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. All staff was welcoming and helpful. Great atmosphere and incredible food. We had 4 adults and ordered oysters, chop salad, tuna tartare as apps- all delicious! We had the steak special, the catch of the day, the scallops and short rib- all outstanding! Our daughter's children's meal was even great. We were full so we didn't plan on having a dessert, but since the food was great we decided to split the Diving Horse Kit Kat and it was decadent. Overall it is on the pricier side, but you're getting what you pay for- food, atmosphere and service. read more

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OVERPRICED!!!! 6 tiny oysters on the half shell, 4 scallops, a side of brussel sprouts and a bottle of "still" water for $105 !!!! Nothing special about the food. The sauce that was served with the scallops was horrible. Too strong of a flavor for the sweet, delicate scallops. I have no problem paying high prices for excellent food, service & atmosphere. This place should be ashamed to charge these prices. read more

Return to the diving horse for a second evening with a group of seven this time we sat on outside under the lovely string-light draped and tented outdoor dining space. I had the two varieties of oysters (Massachusetts and virginia, I believe). They were fresh and delicious. My dining partners had the wedge salad with avocado which and looked wonderful and the chilled cucumber gazpacho. Myentrée was the scallop chaat masala which was plated with a cold pickled baby zucchini "salad". my husband had the short ribs of beef which were very tender. read more

The Diving Horse - Lovely side walkway to exit the tented dining area - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

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It's not every day you get to eat at a five star restaurant with the one you love. The only (THE ONLY) minor complaint we have is that the prices are extremely high here - maybe a little overpriced based on the portion sizes, but you're getting what you paid for! Chef is truly amazing and knows what he's doing. Also, for a restaurant during COVID, this place is being extremely safe and flexible with outdoor seating (as of today seating was not available indoors but you can wait inside, socially distanced, for your table to be ready). We even enjoyed our meal under an umbrella as it drizzled on us. That really only made the experience more impressive. I can only imagine how enjoyable the experience would have been if everything was normal! Let's talk about the food. This place is BYOB, which is definitely a plus given the menu prices. Though I'm sure if they do ever get their liquor license; they'll be able to whip up a smart, healthy cocktail. The food is farm to table, and you can taste how fresh the ingredients are as soon as you dig in. The bread and butter, served at the beginning of the meal, is light and satisfying. It's simple, but the butter tastes almost freshly churned. We got the wedge salad and ahi tuna for apps - both were delightful, though I think the wedge salad is really what hit the spot. It comes with crab meat and just the right amount of bacon. The kitchen even went so far as to split it for us and give us separate plates. We cleared all three instantly. And BTW, I never thought ahi tuna would taste so good over ratatouille but hell yes it does. For dinner, I got the swordfish and future husband chose the seafood pasta special in a "blush" sauce. Incredible - but the star of our meal was the balsamic and Parmesan brussel sprouts side. DO NOT GO HERE AND FORGET TO GET THIS!!!! Who knew brussel sprouts could be this good, seriously? Future husband told me to slow down on them the way I tell my cat to slow down on her Meow Mix. He suggested I "take them home." Psh, what a riot he is. We finished every last drop of this meal. We didn't get dessert, but should have. We did ask for espresso, but they only have coffee. I guess you could consider that another "slight" disappointment, but the fact of the matter is this isn't an old school Italian joint -- sorry Tony Soprano (aka future husband). read more

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Another excellent meal! Julie, the server extraordinaire! Salad to entree done to perfection! read more

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I really enjoyed our meal here. The restaurant has great ambience and a cute outdoor courtyard- service was top notch as well. We started the evening with oysters that were tasty and fresh. The mignonette sauce was so unique- great flavors. The Caesar salad was simply prepared and not overdressed. Perfect way to start our meal. My husband got the short ribs- they were tender and came with delicious polenta and pickled carrots. I got the yellowfin tuna with Cajun rice, andouille and étouffée. I loved the spice with this dish. What a pleasant surprise. Every bite was outstanding. We would definitely come back again. read more

The Diving Horse - Yellowfin tuna with Cajun rice, andouille and étouffée - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

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Diving horse is always a byob staple at the Jersey shore with excellent food. Menu changes with the seasons. The only thing I will say is that last time I was there, on a Friday or Saturday night, I felt like I was rushed out the door and food came so quickly. We hardly finished a glass of wine. Food makes up for that (will always recommend it) and, could have just been the night! read more

This restaurant is one of my favorites! If you are looking for great ambiance, great food and great service...look no further...The Diving Horse exceeds expectations! Friendly staff and very accommodating! I can't wait for my next visit. Make your reservations today! read more

Great service and great food! Always a fabulous experience! Would definitely recommend and go back!

I don't understand why they have a good reputation. The food is mediocre at best. Our server, Kate, was devoid of any personality, or interest in taking care of us. The baked oysters for about $21, included 4 small oysters. My tuna tostada lacked any flavor. The jersey creamed corn, was a joke, as it was 98% grits. It was outright comical when we asked our server about it. She said, yes, it is grits. No where on the menu does it say the creamed corn includes grits The funniest was the local catch of the day, as it was halibut. There's no halibut local to Avalon or Stoneharbor. I've been fishing here for over 40 years, please show me one person who has ever caught halibut off South Jersey. I always say, would I go back here.? No. This place is not worth it. read more

Hidden gem. We called and scored a same day outdoor dining reservation for 8. The round "chef's" table was secluded with a view of the kitchen. It was like being in our own private dining room. Our server was amazing. I wish I remembered her name. She happily poured our BYO adult beverages and catered to the little ones. Kids portion wagyu short rib was a hit. Baked Oysters, Cucumber Salad, Dayboat Scallops, Mac and Cheese, Yellowfin Tuna, and Catch of the Day were all exceptional. The kitchen took care of our peanut, treenut, and lactose food allergies. Thank you for a memorable evening. read more

We had an excellent meal and service last night. Tough getting a reservation and tables are a bit close together- but each dish was excellent and super fresh. It's a hidden gem - just found out about them last year and they've been in business since 2009. Will definitely be back! read more

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I've been coming down to Avalon for years..the food used to be acceptable. The food is inedible now..Tuna Carbonara? Are you kidding me? Absolutely awful..the rest of the menu is no better and the service is a joke..awful (and expensive) experience. read more

Best food on the island and it's not even close. The nice thing is you can bring your own bottle!

Honestly I could eat here every night except well my wallet would begin to hate me. However with the outside communal dining my wallet might have to take a back seat. Everything we have had this year has been delicious. The portion sizes are not huge but they make up for it with inventive flavor combinations and if you get an app entree and side you will be stuffed. It's BYOB so that helps. this year we have had from the apps: heirloom tomato salad, the wedge salad, the mussels and their special smoked trout appetizer. My favorite was the smoked trout and it came with a beet hummus which was so nicely prepared it was like sherbet . The mussels were also a favorite- they are out of the shell so it looks small but you get a dozen and they are awesome. The wedge is one of their standards so you will love it too I've gone with their fresh fish catch over seafood chowder which has been ridiculously great . It's usually got a nice crunchy top and it's over a delicious chowder. Also off the menu you have to get their grilled pork chop - that is a great sized portion and it's smoked so if you close your eyes you'll think you are eating a lean pork belly. For the sides - get the fries, the grits but you must get the Brussel sprouts - they are the best Finally finish off with the Kit Kat bar- it's the best dessert around. read more

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We had an exceptional meal here in May. The service was great, ambiance was classy, and the food was wonderful. Although it is pricy, it is well worth it! I will certainly be recommending, and going here again this summer. read more

Had a great end of summer meal here. Even with C19 or maybe because of it - this place shines as they were already open air and outside dining. With Fred's across the street the BYOB couldn't be easier. The food itself is always top notch with a technical quality and complexity you don't find to often at the Jersey shore. The wait staff is always nice and even the desserts are great. Really a 4.5 place for us. Blessed that it's within walking distance. read more

Went to the Diving Horse a few weeks ago and ordered the short rib, as did a couple of others in my party. I love the short rib there and that's often my go to dish. I was very disappointed with it this last time. I was served a very fatty cut of rib. Somewhere between 20-25% of the portion was one big piece of fat. I noticed that one other person at my table had a large portion of fat on their plate as well. 2 out of the 3 short rib portions served to my table had large portions that were inedible. For almost $40 a plate, I would expect a much nicer cut be served. read more

Just three stars - perhaps barely. A few flaws that need to be addressed here as outlined below: Folks raving about this place, calling it the best on 7 mile island....well, I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, it was "ok." My short rib was good, my wife's pork dish was tasty. Appetizers were good (if not a bit over salted) and our server was freindly and informative. Here is where it all goes wrong: INSANELY SMALL PORTIONS AND NOT CHEAP! Yeah, I get the whole "presentation" thing, but this is ridiculous. The Swordfish dish at $35 is an insult. Not a steak, not a "piece" but a SLIVER of Swordfish as if they took one steak and sliced it into multiple tiny baby peices. That would be an appropriate portion for an appetizer, not an entree. All portions were small, but the Swordfish was pathetic. As mentioned, our server was great. That is, until our entrees got served and she disapeared as if we never existed. Unfortunately, this is a trend I am seeing more and more at many restaurants. Why is that? And finally, this place is LOUD. Like High School cafeteria loud. Expect to scream over the din to be heard. It's obvious this place tries real hard, but they are failing in those key areas. For these prices, portions simply need to be more substantial and servers trained to not disengage when they think the job is done. They can't do anything about the noise, but my other gripes are firmly within their control. read more

I grew up in Cape May County, so I am a local South Jersey Shore person who knows that the restaurants in the Avalon/Stone/Harbor/Sea Isle/Ocean City areas are only really in operation for about three months out of the year. They hope to retain staff year after year and to perfect their kitchens for these three intense months each summer, but it is next to impossible to run a high-volume restaurant in a vacation town without having all year to iron out the bugs. Luckily, however, all of the competition faces the same problem. Outside of Atlantic City and Cape May, the reality is that you are not going to find flawless service and a high-level dining experience consistently anywhere around here, because the staff is going to be untrained and the kitchens are going to be grappling with sheer volumes and lack of practice. I made peace with this. But the Diving Horse has somehow found a way around all this. Their staff lives on the premises during the summer, and return to Philadelphia in the fall, and for whatever reason, their chefs are producing some of the most thoughtful, intriguing, and complex dishes I have had anywhere, including New York and Boston. You can eat outside. They take reservations. It is BYOB. But the service is (!) flawless. Each time I come here, these servers outdo themselves. They are knowledgeable about food and the culinary arts. They will tell you where to find the best cheese steaks. They don't just clear your plates, they clear everything. They make sure the courses are paced correctly. They serve ladies first. They try to make the experience at Diving Horse memorable and enjoyable. They have perfectly shucked local oysters that are cold. COLD. They have a Duroc pork chop with grits, paprika, and braised peppers. Their seared scallops have a sunchoke sauce on them. Their Brussels sprouts are incredible--and though I have not yet tried it--I heard they have this cool Kit-Kat dessert. Anyway, if you go here for dinner, imagine there are no screaming children throwing food at seagulls and there are no waiters who are going to bring all of your courses at the same time while they auction off your plates. They will not give you coleslaw in a plastic cup or serve you watered-down soda with a bendy straw. They will give you a dining experience, and you will forget that you are at the beach in South Jersey. read more

The Diving Horse - Fluke! - Seafood Near Me - Avalon, New Jersey

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A favorite at the Jersey shore primarily for the outdoor ambiance. The menu feels very farm to table. Best for special occasions as it is priced like a steakhouse with expensive mains and skimpy expensive side dishes. Carrots for one, $13, not enough to share but beautiful presentation. Delicious but modest scallop entree. Short ribs were good. Sausage pasta was good. Pork chop was not available. Luckily we brought our own bug lantern and bug candle, although the industrial fans do help keep insects away. read more

The diving horse never disappoints!! Food service. A bit noisy but I can live with it

Food is Great, Service is excellent, Ambiance is a little bit loud. The consistency of the food is what keeps me coming back for me. Extremely consistent delivery every time. read more

Really disappointed with our meal. Had the fish special. Halibut. Tasty. But a bit dry. Also had the sliced ribeye. medium rare. Was. Ok. Too much sauce. Tuna tar tar. Not good at all. Bread was dry. Loved our wine. But we brought that. Service was not bad. But nothing outstanding for the lack of reservations. Great ambiance. Won't come back. Not as good as it used to be. Bummer. read more

The Diving Horse is my favorite restaurant on seven mile island. I dream about the TDH edge salad and the off season and want every special moment to be celebrated with the kit kat dessert. Always delicious. Always great service. Always the best part of dining in Avalon. read more