Avila

Avila is THE perfect place to kick off the evening before seeing a show. I was pleasantly surprised by the vibe which was classy yet casual enough to not feel stuffy - high ceilings, beautiful art work and a variety of seating options, including bar, tables and counter seats facing the open kitchen. Our server was very knowledgeable and provided several sound suggestions. The drinks were amazing, especially the bar tender?s latest creation called "Summer Lovin" featuring homemade passion fruit sorbet, with citron vodka, cointreau and fresh basil. The menu offers a wide variety Mediterranean dishes (too many to choose from) that are creative but not overly eccentric. Everything we sampled was simply delicious. Attentive service kept us on pace to make our show with time to spare. They even offer a pre-theater menu which allows you to come back for coffee and dessert after the theater. I strongly suggest the valet parking for $16 which covers the whole night (up until 11)! Avila is a great find!

Pros: menu variety, food, environment, valet, close to theaters

Posted 07/12/09

Went there with my husband and we ended up sitting at the "chefs table" because the chairs were too high or the tables too low for us... (couldn't figure it out).. anyway the chef's table was romantic and wonderful to watch this amazing team work together.
We had the tuna tartar and the Escargots for appetizers and then moved on to Sea Bass and Veal..everything was simply amazing!!!! We will most definitely go back!!!

Pros: try the Escargots !!! simply delicious !

Cons: uncomfortable chairs.

Posted 06/30/09

The four of us had very high hopes as we love Davio's (same restaurant group). The waitress spoke so highly of the crispy bass that all four of us ordered it. When we asked her about the preparation, she did not provide any details other than it was her favorite item on the menu. She had not told us that it would have many bones and that it was served whole, with the head on the fish. The fish was bland, not much flavor and a small portion of fish. We guessed we were supposed to be wowed by the presentation, but the quality of the fish was subpar. More importantly, when we expressed that we were not happy with the boney fish, she was not at all sympathetic. Salads and sides were average. Bartender was friendly. Nothing special about this experience at all.

Pros: Bartender was friendly

Cons: Food unimpressive, waitstaff uncaring

Posted 09/17/08

Wait staff was efficient; decor attractive. We ordered the waiter's touted dish, the paella, which was dry; the chicken was cooked until stiff; and the only fish in the dish (squid) was unfresh & rubbery. The chef was heavy handed with the salt on the first course; most of the small dishes were good. Although we were wanting dessert, the dessert cart was unattractively displayed which made the choices look unappetizing. I think the management is trying to run the restaurant properly but is hampered by an unsophisticated chef. Attendance was very poor leading me to think i was late in hearing of the restaurant's downturn.

Pros: Wait staff & decor

Cons: simply the food

Posted 06/14/08

I took my wife and my one year old baby for Brunch this Sunday. The place looks nice, high ceiling and clean. Hostess was friendly. They sat us at this secluded table, I guess because we have a baby...I understand. The waitress came to great us after 8 or 10mn.
The food was ok, nothing that left me in an awe!!, oredered steak and eggs, eggs over med. which came over hard almost like rubber. my wife ordred a burger wich came with some truffle fries that after tasting them, I asked if they was bacon in them and the answer was yes, though the menu failed to mention that pork was one of the ingredients, I don't eat pork, so, I was desappointed!!
I'm glad we went there, because I know how it is!! I also feel it was too pricey, and they should've done a better job with the food.
I won't go back, won't recommend it!!

Cons: Poor food

Posted 03/23/08

Excellent restaurant - I wish I still lived at 1 Charles so I could stop by more often. Still, the location is perfect for a pre-theater meal. The food is great, the ambiance a bit sterile and the prices a bit steep. Overall, I'd recommend it.

Posted 02/21/08

The Boylstonbum has returned after a brief hiatus to write this review. I have dined here on many occasions and never once walked away unhappy. I usually love to rip apart restaurants in this forum. In this case no negatives come to mind. Bring your girl,friends, or family. The food,service, and decor is outstanding. Everyone from the manager to the hostess made the my visits there wanting to come back again and again.The Boylstonbum08 is going there tonight to feast. See you there.

Pros: food and staff

Cons: zero

Posted 01/11/08

My husband and I have visited Avila twice in the last month and the great service and food remains consistent. Whenever we have dined here the wait staff and hostess have been friendly and knowledgeable. There is great attention to detail with the food and presentation. The ambience is warm and inviting whilst remaining classy. I loved the broad range of dishes on the menu and loved the chickens livers. My husband had the best sea bass dish he has ever tasted and he eats a lot of fish! There is a great choice of different breads to accompany your meal and the wait staff always make spot-on recommendations. My parents are in town next month for my moms birthday and I will definitely be reserving a table at Avila.

Pros: Great Service, Diverse menu

Cons: A little pricey but it's worth it!

Posted 06/12/07

One of the better choices in the city for that craving Mediterranean feeling. Avila supplies a variety of choices that include, but are not just restricted to Italian.

We tried four tapas styled appetizers and three out of the four were well done. The shrimp salad was a disappointment. The ingredients individually were each fresh, but the flavors didn't mix that well together. A simple baked bronzini with herbs was nicely done. The breadbasket was a highlight. There's an extensive winelist that has been well-chosen. The ambience is simple, open, and stylish. A good place to take a client or group. It has the right options to satisfy the simplest eaters and enough complexities to satisfy the gourmands.

Pros: Ambience, menu variety, wine list, breadbasket, service

Cons: A touch expensive

Posted 06/04/07

Went for dinner again the other day. Seated at great window table. Started with pappardelle with wild mushrooms. My friend and I could not decide on what to order as both the pork milanese and the lobster carbonata they all looked appealing. We figured we would just share. The waiter chef took it upon himself to split both meals so we each got an individual plate of both..... great idea and great presentation. Panna cotta for dessert was fantastic. all in all one of the best dining experiences in a while love avila

Posted 04/30/07

Not knowing what to expect after making a last-minute reservation on a Saturday night , Plus i was looking for something diferent in boston and not to expensive, this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in boston! The bar and chefs table creates a warm, inviting ambience, plus the service is outstanding - our waiter was very professional and alttentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was terrific - well-prepared Verry Creative and excellent presentation. overall, it was a great meal For a great Price, and I'd certainly return!

Pros: nice people

Posted 04/30/07

I recently took my girlfriend out for her birthday. She loves mediterrenean food so I asked around the office for some great spots in the city and the majority of the office suggested avila the new hot spot. I had no trouble making the reservation, even on a busy weekend. I told the girl on the phone that it was a special occasion, and she told me that they would make sure the night was special. They went above and beyond! We checked in for our reservation, and the people at the door greated us with a smile, and wish my girlfriend a big happy birthday. Then, we went to our table, a really nice Private room by the window, the server greeted us verry nicely. We had the best dinner, the food was the best ever but the best part was the dessert with a personalized "Happy Birthday" message with her name,send from the executive chef Rodney, I highly recomend this restaurant for special occasions like birthdays, and I'm looking forward to going back to have some drinks and food at their bar with my friends (which was packed all night).

Pros: they take good care of you

Posted 04/30/07

I went to the restaurant with a group of friends who were willing to spend a reasonable amount of money for a friend's birthday. I will start saying the service was okay, it was not magnificent since the staff gives too much emphasis on their sommerliers, to the point I find them a little annoying in their insistence to have patrons order expensive wines. May I just add the bathroom had problems and women were asked to not flush. There was even bathroom water leaking on the lady's bathroom floor. Appetizing, right? The reason we wanted to go to the restaurant is because we don't easily find nice Spanish and Portuguese restaurants in the Boston area. The first thing I noticed in their poor menu was that there was nothing remotely close to food from Portugal and Spain. On the Portuguese side, there was no cod fish, not even a cod fish stew, the only thing that had to do with cod were the fritters that honestly I've had better in Revere. The other disappointing aspect was the lack of typical Spanish food. No mention of a paella or dishes inspired by typical tapas, for example.The menu featured foie gras and yucca fries, which are clearly NOT Iberian. The other bad part of my dining experience was the price. EXTREMELY overpriced for a very small portion of food, to the point people on my table had to order very pricey side dishes so they didn't leave the restaurant feeling hungry. My fish was cooked well but it was floating on a cold sauce (which was so watery, it felt like I was having a cold leek soup). My friend's fish was overcooked and unappetizing. The ironic thing is, the following week I went to this very modest Portuguese restaurant in Cambridge and for very little money, I got a wonderful Portuguese meal. Will I ever go back to Avila? No thank you. I'd suggest the chef and sous chefs of Avila spend some more time in Spain and Portugal because more homework needs to be done.

Pros: ambience

Cons: food, price, service, restroom

Posted 04/20/07

The service was great ! We had reserved for 8, but only 6 showed up and they were very accomodating. The server was great, always made sure we had what we needed. The food on the other hand was very dissapointing. Except one person we all disliked the taste and felt the food lacked flavor. The waiter was very kind enough to remove the desserts from the bill after we informed him about the food. Oh but the desserts were delicious !!

Pros: Service, Desserts

Cons: Food

Posted 04/01/07

Avila has great potential with good food and service, but we were so disappointed when we went. After two hours (and $170!) in the bar, my party of four moved to the half-empty dining room for dinner. When a friend tried to order off the bar menu we were informed that diners could not order from that menu in the dining room. After asking for the person in charge we were confronted by a very abrupt and unprofessional woman who told us that "if other diners saw us they'd want to order off the bar menu too" and that downward slide would lead to "baseball caps in the dining room". I felt more like a schoolkid getting scolded than a group of forty-something professionals. Big Lesson: Regardless of how good the food or service is, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. We won't be back.

Posted 03/25/07

Avila is a fantastic restaurant, where food, service, and wine are to excellence. The menu is large, and represents dishes from multiple Mediterranean countries; Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Italy. I struggled to select what to eat due to so many tempting entrees and first courses. Everyone was so pleased with their selections, and the wines recommended by the sommelier were fantastic, such as a fantastic Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley in Oregon. In the whole midst of fantastic food and wine, the service was great, and the decor is fun and modern.

Pros: diverse menu, great wines

Cons: nothing

Posted 02/23/07

Not knowing what to expect after making a last-minute reservation on a recent Saturday night, this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in awhile! The stylish interior creates a warm, inviting ambience, plus the service is outstanding - our waiter was very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. The food was terrific - well-prepared and excellent presentation. Overall, it was a great meal and I'd certainly return!

Posted 10/10/06

Went here for the first time last week. Wonderful restaurant in every way. It's beautifully decorated, spacious, very comfortable large leather chairs and large floor to ceiling windows. The service, from the hostess to the bartenders to the waiters, was excellent. The food was very good, although a little expensive. They have a very large, relaxing and comfortable lounge/bar area. They also have "kitchen bar" seats which are beautifully appointed if you like to watch the chefs. We'll definitely go back.

Pros: Beautiful restaurant, great service

Cons: A little pricey

Posted 09/24/06

the interior could have been a little different from Davios. I hope I'm not incorrectly saying this, but I'm pretty sure Avila is the sister restaurant to Davios. They both are set up almost exactly the same. It works for Davios, but Avila's food has a kick to it... so should the decor!
Other than that, I had a wonderful experience at Avila. It's a great date, group, business dining restaurant. The delicious food arrived in generous amounts, and I would be happy to return.

Posted 09/21/06

Four of us went to Avila on Saturday night. The waitstaff was especially helpful and the recommendation of the sommelier was excellent. He recommended a very good Spanish wine without recommending the most expensive wine on the menu. Both the shrimp and the cheese appetizers were outstanding. I had the cod for the main course and found it quite good. Overall, the price was about $75 per person which seems about right for the quality of the restaurant. Best of all, we sat in the back function room and the noise level was moderate enough (even on a Saturday with the restaurant full) that we could have a grownup conversation. We will return both for the food and for the ability to talk with each other over dinner.

Posted 09/10/06

I had one of my best dining experiences at Avila this passed week. Upon walking in I was very impressed by the atmosphere and the friendly hostess. I was seated quickly and had the pleasure of sitting at the chef's table, which is right in front of the open kitchen. My server was very knowledgable, answered all of my questions on the menu, and really made the whole experience go as smoothly as possible. What really impressed me about Avila was the quality of the food. When going to a restaurant like this I usually find that either the food or the service is outstanding, but not in this case. If you've never had escargot I recommend trying it at Avila, you will not be disappointed. Next I had haloumi cheese, which was recommended by my server. I was very pleasantly surprised by how tasty this dish was. I had the filet mignon as an entree, and can I just say that it was by far the best I've ever had. The For dessert I had a soft centered chocolate cake that was simply heavenly. Throughout the dinner I could see the chefs glancing over making sure I liked everything. Avila may be a new restaurant, but I think it's got a great future!

Pros: Great food, great service

Cons: None!

Posted 08/11/06

Went on a week night recently and had no trouble getting in, reservations were certainly not needed. Food is indeed excellent as is the presentation. Service was polite, fast but not overly friendly. The server can make or break the meal and ours, while technically excellent seemed ready to go home as soon as you can. ;)
Dinner for 2 with a cocktail each and a wine by the glass was over $150 and for the quantity and quality of the food, that seemed on the high side compared to similar meals we've had at Icarus, Cygnet and the like. Eating at the bar looks like the best deal here, though with a much smaller selection. Check it out for yourself and write back.

Pros: Ambience, Parking (valet or lot)

Cons: Value for money

Posted 07/28/06

Avila is fabulous. Some friends and I had drinks here and we had a great time. The service is fast and the staff were very welcoming and friendly. The appetizers were very, very good and likewise so were the drinks. This restaurant is a great new addition to the city of Boston. I would recommend dinner and drinks at Avila. We had a great time!

Posted 07/11/06

This is a new restaurant and it is definitely worth trying. I went here with my boyfriend, and he absolutely loved it, as did I. The lamb and crispy calamari dish were amazing. Our server was also very attentive and the food came out promptly. The ambience is also perfect for a date. Enjoy!

Pros: service, menu selections, food

Cons: parking

Posted 07/07/06

FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING...NEED I SAY MORE..THE WAY HALIBUT IS COOKED IS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD IT!!

Pros: APPETIZERS ARE AMAZING!!

Posted 07/02/06

The food was amazing as well, but it was really the service and atmosphere that made this place one of the best places that I have dined at in the city. The prices are more than reasonable considering the quality of the food and the wine list was extensive and well-organized. The Mediterranean, small plates were full of flavor and perfect for sharing. I would particularly recommend the sea salt fries with gorgonzola dipping sauce and the chocolate mousse dessert from the carte. I felt like we were getting the red-carpet treatment. In the last twelve hours, I have recommended Avila to everyone I have seen.

Pros: Service, Atmosphere

Posted 06/16/06

What a refreshing experience it was to dine at Avila! The service was impeccable, and the food unique and well prepared. The frites with gorgonzola aioli were especially delicious. My sister and I also appreciated the attention to service; the wine steward was able to answer all of our questions, and our waiter provided a wonderful pre-appetizer of scallops as well as a wonderful chocolate dessert gratis. The food is pricey, but well worth it for the overall experience.

Posted 06/16/06

Have been here twice already. It's a casually hip, not over the top trendy type place. Still on the higher end side and attracts a well-heeled crowd given the prices. The food was good but definitely on the pricier side. Attracts an older crowd, generally 30s+. I liked the easy-going nature of the restaurant but didn't rate it at the top since at this price range there's tons of competition and many in that range are better.

Posted 06/02/06