Avant Garden Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The toast and the avocado from the cold section were delicious."
• "The spaghetti was cooked perfectly."
• "The cauliflower (cauliflower two ways) may have been the best cauliflower I've ever had."
• "Everything was very flavorful and well prepared with lovely presentation."
• "Every dish is beautifully presented and bursting with flavor."
• "The food here is on another level! Every plate is so unique and presented perfectly beautifully! Everything tasted delicious! Incredible combinations!"
• "The food was delicious and well seasoned!"

Cons:

• "The first two were delicious but the paella was way too rich and earthy. The sauces were kinda gross."
• "The sun choke toast was way too loaded with pear."
• "The spaghetti was tooooo salty...we didn’t manage to finish the spaghetti because of the salty sauce."
• "The brusell sprouts did not have much flavor, and the corn-sauce Pasta was good but also one-note."
• "The food remains to be really inventive and full of rich textures and great presentation, but for example - the hen of the woods mushroom dish was under salted and not seasoned adequately."
• "Artichoke toast - bland and tasteless."
• "Most of the food we had was very very average, salvaged only by the phenomenal risotto."

Service

Pros:

• "Experience was fantastic, especially the atmosphere and service which was very professional."
• "The service was impeccable, and we appreciated the subtleties of it."
• "The service was amazing the staff seemed very passionate about the food and knowledge."
• "Staff was very attentive. They poured our wine and water never once had to worry about a refill."
• "Service was incredibly warm and knowledgeable."
• "Absolutely loved this place! Intimate vibes with incredible food."
• "The service was well above average (new dinnerware between courses, dish descriptions upon delivery, very attentive)."

Cons:

• "The servers are unfriendly and unhelpful and the rest of the dishes aren’t that good."
• "The service is non existent: not a smile, barely announcing the dishes, did not offer us a second glass of wine."
• "The service was really, really disappointing."
• "We were largely abandoned until the end of the meal."
• "Most of the times, our server was absent and it took 15 mins+ after sitting down, just to get some water."
• "The service was one of the worst I've experienced in NYC. It took over an hour for the food to arrive."
• "The service was disjointed and they rushed us out."

Ambiance

Pros:

• "If you are looking for excellent quality and a social dinner with friends, then this is the place in Manhattan."
• "The decor is modern and stylish, with plenty of greenery and natural elements that give the space a soothing, earthy vibe."
• "The outdoor seating does have a really nice ambience."
• "I enjoyed the ambiance, and our waitress was right on par with food and wine recommendations."
• "The restaurant is very enchanting in ambiance and whimsical to the palate."
• "The atmosphere is soothing and intimate. The chaos of NYC was hidden away from this charming restaurant."
• "The atmosphere was really cosy (Magic Forest Vibes), good playlist."

Cons:

• "I actually wish the lights were a bit brighter so I could see the beautiful food and plating better."
• "Honestly we felt trapped."
• "The restaurant is a tiny space (or intimate, if you prefer), maybe 6 tables, a bar, and a few seats at the window."
• "The ambience is cramped (avoid the 'bar seats' to the right. You will be jostled by passersby frequently)."
• "Only negative was we had a table alongside the stairs and every time someone left or entered I got a burst of cold air."
• "The space is small and crammed."
• "The atmosphere is not really my thing to be honest. Given that the food is very beautiful and upscale this venue feels very dusty and worn to me."

Price

Pros:

• "Every dish is well worth its price and after the first bite I realized Google gave me a gem."
• "Yes, the prices are high, but the food is so delicious."
• "Food was unbelievably good, easy to share, and reasonably priced."
• "And it was very affordable as well."
• "The prices are relatively affordable, for all 4 of us the bill came out to $200 that included 5 cocktails, 6 entrees, and a dark chocolate lava cake with blueberry glaze which was amazing."
• "Food delicious and very filling and the wine was excellent."
• "The portion size was generous."

Cons:

• "I did think that it was a little bit overpriced."
• "Food is extremely overpriced for what you get."
• "We were offered sparkling water, not realizing the bottle was going to be $20!"
• "The portions are small and overpriced IMO."
• "Be aware that 20% of this menu is 'toast.' Yes, that's toasted bread with some stuff on it for the accommodating price of $20."
• "Portions were way too small for the price."
• "Paid over $20 for one piece of toast.. It’s not nice to still feel hungry after you eat."