Avalon

8 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

A great night out with professional service and quirky ambience, but the meals were a little lacking.

Oct 08, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

We dined at the Avalon last Saturday night with two friends who are extremely hard to please, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals, the friendly service and the lovely Avalon atmosphere. Our salmon and lamb mains were beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. We each had a different dessert and all agreed they were scrumptious. Well done, Avalon.

Sep 14, 2011 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  2     

The mushrooms we had tasted like they were out of a can although they denied it, the sauce I had on my chicken was inedible and the serving of garlic bread was the smallest I've ever had, and the spring rolls were $12 for 3 pathetically small ones.

Basically it doesn't cost much in cooking terms to give value and if people come back or recommend the restaurant then it pays off even at the cost of a 50 cent roll as opposed to a 10 cent slice of bread covered minimally in garlic butter. It wasn't just me the 4 of us felt the same such a shame it is in a great spot it was half empty on the friday night no wonder at least respond to the complaint and do something to satisfy the customer or they will vote with their feet as we will.

We eat out regularly, this is the first time I've ever felt disappointed enough to write something.

Jul 20, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

My first experience of Avalon was unique & amazing. My partner and I traveled to Katoomba for the weekend and were pleasantly welcomed by the staff and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves when we had dinner at Avalon. We ordered the lamb and the chicken fillets which was cooked to perfection! it was a perfect serving size, and left enough room for enjoying our amazing desserts! We had reserved the window seats, which made our experience very special as we dined looking over the Jamison Valley! We would definitely come back here when we visit the area again.

Dec 21, 2010 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I have been visiting the Avalon regularly since 1992 when it was in it's old amazing location. All the reviews about the decor are spot on. All the criticisms about service don't concern me as if you go for lunch on a weekend you won't have any issues, besides, I would happily wait all day for the banana caramel cream tart with shaved cream, ice cream and strawberries! I have tried and loved many of the other desserts on the menu before but since having the caramel tart several years ago, I cannot pass it by ever again!

I love to go to the Avalon with my 4yo daughter as she is unable to finish her caramel tart! It is my daughter's favourite restaurant also, she loves the decor and view as much as I do and will happily wait for her dessert, commenting about the furnishings. (Actually, she sounds more patient than some of the adult reviewers of this restaurant!). As much as I adore the desserts at the Avalon and it will always be my favourite restaurant, it disappoints me that they don't have many vegetarian main meal options.

Years ago the Avalon had several great vegetarian choices, including vegetarian (kidney bean) nachos, which was divine. Now it seems there are a heap of different hunks of meat served with vegetables. I remember before my partner and I became vegetarian, they had (and I think still serve) glorious spring rolls. It would be so easy for the Avalon to replace the chicken with tofu or even lentils and hey presto, vegetarian spring rolls!

Please bring back the vegetarian nachos too, even non-vegetarians amongst my family enjoyed them. Our family goes to the Avalon every month on a weekend for dessert. We would go so much more often if only there were a few decent vegetarian main meal choices. Still love you though Avalon!

Nov 29, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

What a wonderful surprise this restaurant is. It took us dozens of times visiting Katoomba to actually find out about it, but now we have, we will certainly return next time. The atmosphere is great, with a beautifully decorated interior, a great view, unintrusive but good music and the food is very nice. For us it's sometimes difficult to find a place that does a good vegetarian option and although not spoilt for choice the quality was certainly there. Very recommendable experience.

Oct 27, 2010 

7.3 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

I've eaten here a couple of times over the years and am a little disappointed that the menu doesn't change that much. Our party ate there on Saturday night, my 3 friends enjoyed their meals immensely but I could only pick between 2 rather uninspiring vego options. As someone with dietary requirements I'm not expecting be bombarded with choice but at the same time how about changing what's on offer, a mashed potato pancake ain't that interesting! I'll get off my tofu box now and stop complaining, my friends thought it was fantastic, the service was good and it has a great atmosphere.

May 17, 2010 

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  6     

Had a really unique experience at Avalon. My partner and I dropped in on a Saturday lunch and walked up a big flight of stairs, turned right and my jaw dropped. It had such character, despite having not one customer in the restaurant. Every table was laiden with cute, little colourful and patterned cups and saucers- like my grandmother collects.

All were different and the restaurant had matching old tablecloths. Having every table to choose from we sat near the big window that looks over Katoomba's reserve and has a view of the mountains as well which was nice. The service, one chirpy lady in a cute colourful, patterned apron and a hairnet. It was like walking into another decade!

My partner had the lamb which he enjoyed but couldn't finish, it was such a large portion. I had the chicken breast with a creamy lemon sauce. It was nice but the sauce was a bit strong, and once again I didn't get close to finishing my meal because of the large size.

I rate the ambience 5 purely because we were the only ones in the restaurant. It was fully booked for night time service and I imagine if we had dined then the ambience and experience would have been completely different. Go there, it's gorgeous.

Apr 12, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  8     

Absolutely loved the experience! Service was attentive, with the helpful staff infectiously happy. Either we were particularily hungry from the mountains atmosphere as the food was simply delicious and more-ish. We loved the interior decoration of the former theatre creating quite a nostalgia for the 50s.

Feb 11, 2010 

5 Average

Food  2      Ambience  9      Service  5      Value  4     

Great cocktail bar, when its open. Nice decor, but food is bland and doesn't look appealing on the plate, menu is dull with very little choice and service is very hit and miss.

Dec 23, 2009