One of the perks of traveling for work is the dining. This place is a definite perk if you ever find yourself in Rochester, NY. Cozy, warm, great food and service and not pretentious. It feels like a neighborhood bar, full disclosure I ate at the bar and not in the dining room. I started with a Tequila Mockingbird and this is the type of cocktail one wants before dinner. Balanced flavors working harmoniously as if angels were dancing on my tongue. The combo of flavors were smart and quite unique. Next up was the ceviche appetizer and boy oh boy was that a surprise. I was expecting the usual mouth puckering lime forward citrus soaked ceviche that you think of when you order ceviche. Instead this was a delicate blend of light citrus and fish flavors co mingling. Baby scallops and salmon served on greens with pork rinds which offered a texture contrast and light and perfect salty crunch to what felt more like a fish salad and it made me swoon. The menu is so excellently diverse and the addition of specials doesn't make ordering any easier. I was indecisive and being extremely hungry upon arrival didn't make things easy. Against my usual ordering m.o. I went for the salmon and oh my gawd I'm glad I did. First off I was asked if the cook on the salmon being medium rare was ok, even before I ordered it cooked that way. Mind blown on that note alone. So the salmon was crunch first, melt in your mouth perfect and the creamed Swiss chard was fire, as the kids say. But the Berbere cauliflower was the real star of the show, charred and smokey with a hint of spice, nutmeg or cinnamon kind of spice.. mmm.. drool and not burned tasting but pure magic. Perfection actually. I could eat this alone for days at a time. The red wine that Ben the bar tender recommend was a perfect capstone to this dinner. I love a recommendation that pairs perfectly with the flavors in the food but this wine did more. It opened up the flavors of the fish in an unexpected and dramatic way. Kudos to the staff, Ben especially, for having that knowledge. It's what separates the men from the boys as we used to say a decade ago. Dinner was filling, but not being totally full (which is always a great sign with food this good) I went for dessert. Two words Almond cake, one more word, divine. So divine I could write a tome on it alone. Perfect cake texture and moisture, slight not overbearing almond flavor and not overbearingly sweet. The cake would have sufficed on its own but it was topped with figs, some sort of light, not overly sweet creme with a hint of some sort of balsamic reduction sauce that was completely unexpected but equally completely integral. A Muscato that Ben recommended complimented all of the afore mentioned flavors. Again compliments to Ben, whose knowledge only enhanced the wizardry behind the curtain. That wizardry is exactly why you should try this spot if you are in Rochester. The knowledgeable and genuinely friendly staff, warm ambiance and friendly locals at the bar are all just gravy on the most perfectly cooked mashed potatoes. Which in terms of this metaphor are the sole reason to eat here. read more

First time visit everything was excellent Good service and pacing Good value Doughnut bread pudding worth a try read more

Great date night experience. Had the coconut shrimp ( just ok), but I had the pork chop- huge with the most amazing sauce on it. We also prefer the crab pasta- very good, and large portion to take home. read more

I went here for my birthday recently. Great decision! I started off the meal with an "unleaded" cocktail called the West End which had seedlip grove, passion fruit, and ginger beer. Lovely drink, very passion forward! Warm buttery bread with soft whipped butter was brought to the table, the flaky bread had hints of rosemary baked in, which added a nice touch. Next, based off the recommendation of our excellent server, Abigail, I got the charred octopus and the coconut shrimp. The charred octopus with Greek yogurt polenta, artichoke, and squid ink crumble was superb and I would get this again. The octopus was soft and not chewy. I wonder if they massage it to get it so tender? The polenta was creamy and decadent. The artichoke and squid ink crumble were delightful additions, although I'm not sure the squid ink has flavor that I can appreciate. It adds a nice deep black color for some edgy presentation. Coconut shrimp with vindaloo mayo, tamarind, and cilantro-walnut pesto was very tasty! Although I prefer my coconut shrimp to be on the lighter side of toasty-ness. These had a dark crispy breading with light coconut flavor. The mayo adds some smoothness to the mouthfeel and the tamarind with cilantro-walnut pesto lends a sweet and savory taste to this Indo-Asian inspired palate. For the entrée, I had the duck. It seemed like the obvious choice and I fully enjoyed it. The duck breast with baby potatoes, heirloom carrots, garlic kale, Armagnac honey, and apricot vinaigrette. Wow! What a constellation of flavors. The duck was cooked to perfection at medium rare and came to the table pre-sliced. The skin was crispy and the meat was flavorful. Be sure to coat the slices with some of the honey and vinaigrette on the plate. Yum! Finally, for dessert, I was debating between the donut bread pudding, strawberry & basil galette, and the almond cake. Abigail rescued me by recommending the strawberry & basil galette with white chocolate-raspberry ice cream. Oh my god! This was so good I was fantasizing about it the next day. I may have to get it as take-away dessert when I have a craving for a pastry in the future. The crust was flaky and just right. The strawberries were sitting in some kind of creamy custard base and the basil added a light fresh flavor. The ice cream was the perfect topping. The decor and ambience in Avvino felt rich and warm. I particularly liked the unique plates that went with each dish. read more

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Absolutely WONDERFUL experience!! Ambiance, staff, food, and drink!! Highly recommend!!

Everything perfect. As per usual. Beth was awesome server Although...a Demi glaze or au jus or just extra garlic butter or a warmed mushroom tapenade would have made that filet mignon a 12 instead of just 11 read more

The food and service were fantastic! The octopus, venison curry, oxtail camalarata, and the pork chop were some of the highlights, but everything was delicious. Our server, Jenna, gave us excellent service from start to finish! read more

The bread was incredibly undercooked! We ordered the farmers flatbread. Raw dough at the bottom and barely any toppings. Burger was massive and very tasteless. The porkchop was better, but still overcooked and tough. The prices are outrageous for the kind of quality. read more

Parking can be difficult downtown but drinks and food are very good .I used to live at Sibley Tower .

We have contemplated our overall experience at Avvino for quite awhile. For a more accurate rating, I'd say that Avvino is probably closer to 3.5 stars because there was a lot that we enjoyed, but there were a few things that left us wanting more. For starters, check out our photos of the appetizers. Do they look appetizing to you? Possibly, however they were clearly overcooked and this was visibly noticable once they were placed on the table. I was partly concerned that these even passed quality control and left the kitchen because Exhibit A (Spinach Fritters) and Exibit B (Coconut Shrimp) are clearly burned. I often like the flavor of charred food, which is why these were somewhat palatable. Also since we are not in the habit of sending food back to the kitchen, especially on special occasions, we put our brave faces on went for it. Aside from the outer shell situation on the spinach bites, the contents were ok - same for the shrimp. My husband ordered the ribeye special with figerling potatoes. I had the fettuccine. Our main entrees were amazing. My husband especially loved the meal he ordered. Overall, this leaves us to wonder about the consistency of Avvino. Service was good. Ambience was nice, but choose your seat wisely. Conversations at the bar can get really, really loud. read more

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Wow!! This meal was incredible!! This was my first time here. We had cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. We loved everything we ordered and generous portions were consistent throughout. For apps we ordered the octopus and ceviche. The octopus was some of the best I've ever had. For entrees we're ordered the rib-eye (precut for us to share), which was on special and the gnocchi which was kind of Asian style. My mouth was watering the whole time. Dessert was served as a surprise since it was my birthday. It was their famous German chocolate cake. It was big enough for 4 people to share! Service was non-stop amazing. Our water was constantly getting refilled and our waitress was on the ball with timing our orders perfectly. This place is a bit fancier. Most men were in suits. Also a big pricey so I probably won't be back until another occasion. But I'm definitely excited to return and I've already recommended this place to several people I know! read more

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It was special night outdoors & after a leisurely walk to Avvino, we enjoyed our 44th anniversary outside with linens, sunset, excellent choices for healthy delicious food, & the most thoughtful, social, & comfortable servers I have ever interacted with in my life! read more

Served undercooked shrimp and raw salmon that had to be sent back. The only redeeming quality was the free bread.

We had a really nice dinner here. Great atmosphere. Prices on the high side but as expected. Wait staff were super friendly. We loved especially the Charred Octopus, the Potato Gnocchi, and the Farmer's Flatbread. Not so much the Blue Crab Bucatini; the bits of crab were fishy, very salty and not at all sweet. Most likely from a can. The charred octopus though, was a favorite - fresh, grilled and delicious. read more

Home visiting....wanted to get together with best friends.....and we picked Avvino. Had heard of it, wasn't sure about it, thought it was the same old (not a bad thing) - Rochester Italian....excited to try it....man did we have it wrong - Enter into a dark place - welcoming, staff was wonderful and nice - Rochester friendly. Bar straight ahead looked cozy and warm - I bet it's popular. Went back in the dining room - you know, sometimes it's refreshing to see old school - it's dark and cozy, small, big central table with plates and huge flower treatments - very old school. Not modern, not hip, not a problem We were seated and our server was outstanding.she was smart, funny, had a command of the menu, attentive and made us feel welcome. I brought a rather old and rare bottle of wine and she handled it expertly. Food was very good. Somewhat limited menu, but that's not a bad thing - what they do, they do well. Thought out, well crafted. I think it's a bit heavy, but it's done well. Between us - filet, Porterhouse, Halibut and Pork Chop for entrees, shrimp for appetizer. Cocktails.....the food was quite good - well seasoned, meat and fish cooked perfectly. I think the halibut was the winner at the table - a bit light...sauced at the table. Desert was nice. Coffee was better than the usual restaurant variety....cake was good. Asked for ice cream but it was forgotten...but beyond that, we enjoyed it a great deal read more

Great food, service, wine selection, atmosphere! Went with my wife, who's food challenged, and there was enough selection to satisfy her needs. I have been to Avvino 20-ish times, and have never been sorry. read more

Our favorite place in Rochester! Love the quiet ambiance, friendly servers and unique menu.

We had a really nice service here for our first visit. This is on the expensive side for those planning to go. We got the bone marrow, ceviche, and grilled octopus to start. They were all great. My only suggestions being dial back the char on the marrow toast (ours was basically burnt), and size the different fish components together as the size was very inconsistent - large chunks of one thing and very small diced bits of others. But all of it was good. We also got the chestnut gnocchi and the lobster and burrata special. The gnocchi was excellent. The lobster special was a little mixed on the flavor profile, and it was a bit wet for a salad base, but overall it was good. Last note: They have a very nice atmosphere, but its kind of put off by the college indie rock radio selections, it just doesnt fit the visual of the restaurant. We may be back here eventually. read more

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My wife and I used Avvino for our outdoor wedding in the Finger Lakes area and we could not recommend them enough. It was perfection from start to finish. Thank you - from the bottom of our hearts. Our only regret is that we should have gone for seconds! We were so impressed with the presentation, quality, and execution given the challenging venue and we are still receiving compliments. Many many guests said it was the best wedding catering they'd ever had. After a few disappointing tastings with other vendors we went with Avvino sight unseen and without ever tasting their food. We are so glad we took the risk. We worked directly with the restaurant owner Janine, who was so thoughtful, attentive and pleasant to work with. She did a site visit before we had entered any agreement, was extremely responsive and solution oriented and ensured that everything we requested was exactly as we wanted. Even though we'd opted for a buffet, the Avvino team brought out special, guest-specific plates of food for those with dietary restrictions. The buffet menu was very well designed and clearly indicated which dishes contained potential allergens. One of our favorite examples of their attention to detail and creativity was the s'mores bar. The venue had a fire pit, so we discussed the idea with Janine and agreed to add it to the menu, without going into too much detail. We were thrilled to see the most elaborate s'mores setup we'd ever encountered. The team provided a variety of marshmallows in different shapes and sizes, an amazing assortment of chocolate and candy bars, wooden sticks, and more. If you are looking for your next caterer and are having a wedding in the upstate NY area this is as good as it gets! read more

When I first walked into this place, I was taken aback by its elegance. The room was perfectly lit; a romantic spot for a first date, or the perfect place to celebrate your 10th anniversary. It was warm and inviting and the attentiveness from the staff what superb. Our service was prompt, and every recommendation was spot on. read more

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The food is absolutely delicious . Fast & pleasant service. It has ambience & is very quaint & romantic . Love their grape martinis , grilled hurricane lettuce wonderful salmon & polenta . A++ All wines delicious. read more

Avvino - Grilled Hurricane Salad with Beets - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

I am finally writing an update after many more visits to Avinno since my initial review! My love for this restaurant has grown after each visit! This update is overdue as we had our new year's eve dinner (takeout) from here. They were right on time with the order but I think their time slots fill up quick so it's good to place your orders maybe a couple days ahead. For appetizer we got the roasted eggplant romesco. This was so delicious and packed full of flavor. It was pretty much like a hummus and came with lots of pita bread. The romesco was tangy but still had the flavors of eggplant. I'm not entirely sure if it's meant to be warm but it was better after we heated up a bit. It was definitely not something I would order but was so glad we did! For entrees we had the lobster roll (who can say no to that) and the duck breast. The lobster roll came in a pair!! It was definitely different than the versions I've had in New England. I typically don't go for the mayo rolls but this one was perfectly mayo-ed. Not too much but enough to give it even more richness. The rolls it came on were also unique. They're not your typical hotdog looking lobster roll buns. They were literally rolls...like miniature flatter rolls of bread. They held up so well to the lobster filling because they were a heartier thicker bread, we loved this twist. I think for however much it cost, we got good value. The duck dish was my favorite. The duck was cooked perfectly with being a bit on the rare side. The skin was not chewy but still fatty and whatever glaze they put on it was a great sweet complement to the savory dish. I still think about that dish a month later! The puree was a nice mellow taste and just everything about the dish was great! We also ordered the concord grape martini for 2. They actually give you quite a bit for each order! This is definitely my type of drink because it was on the sweeter side. While we would have much prefer to dine at the restaurant as their space is nice, it was a great experience ordering take out as well! read more

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Highly recommend. Although on the pricier side, one of the best restaurants in Rochester. It is new and the food is top notch. I ordered pasta and it was handmade. Service fantastic, waiter so kind and quick to answer any questions about the menu. Sweet setup they've got, very chick. read more

We celebrated Christmas tonight with my parents and each of us agreed our dinners were all five star! Scallops with lobster shrimp risotto, Salmon, Halibut and Pork Chop. Each was divine! Our waiter Ian was patient, informative and polite! We will definitely return when we are looking for a special evening! read more

Avvino - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Want to Avvino for a birthday celebration with the family. We couldn't have asked for a more adventurous, delicious and fun evening. Service was excellent. Knowledgeable, friendly and fun! Starters included Bone Marrow, Charred Octopus and Farmers Flatbread. If I could have the Octopus as an entree I would! All were excellent. Dinners included the Duck Breast (recommended rare) Salmon, Tuna and Filet. ALL were cooked perfectly with perfectly matched sides. I had the Duck and it was mind blowing! Perfect mix of sweet, savory and so flavorful. The details of each dish for a group of six are way too numerous to mention without writing a book so this review may fall short. But the food, service and memories of this visit won't. We WILL be back! read more

Avvino - Charred Octopus over Polenta - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

We tried a sampling of food. The food was very good and service was pleasant. The person that ate the Salmon thought it was well done. Korma and black pepper fettucine was very good and would order again. We liked our wine choice and cocktails. It has a bar side boisterous and a dining side quieter. Nice for place to have a diner with friends. read more

This was SO GOOD! We will definitely be coming back! The food was outstanding! To start we ordered the charred octopus and coconut shrimp! Both were outstanding! The octopus was perfectly tender and the crust on the shrimp was incredible! The Greek yogurt polenta complemented the octopus and the sauce on the shrimp was to die for. Next, I ordered the duck breast for my entree. This was my first experience trying duck and from what I've heard, it often can be very greasy... but, that was definitely NOT the case! This dish was absolutely fantastic! The duck was so tender and had a nice layer of rendered fat that just melted in your mouth. It was served with a mix of pesto covered leeks and potatoes! Delicious! There was also a beet sauce under it all... not what I was expecting, but delicious nonetheless! Last but certainly not least, we ordered the German chocolate cake. I have never had a better cake! The coconut and chocolate ganache were to die for! Also the portions were absolutely gigantic! As for the service, it was exemplary! Our waiter was attentive and kind, adding to the already terrific experience. The ambiance of this restaurant is like no other! I was not expecting such an elegant interior, but it was a pleasant surprise! Overall, this restaurant blew me away and we will definitely be back! read more

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FULL POWER Last time we visited, service suffered from covid understaffing, just like all of the places. This time, the service matched the price. It's a pretty fancy place, at least for us, but it's worth it. We got the duck breast and the ricotta gnocchi, both were fantastic. The greens and veg sides with the duck breast were as good as the entree, not just some microwaved and slapped on the plate shit like some places. The basic green salad, also a dud many places, was delicious with their dressing and the crispy chickpeas. Even the rolls that come out before the meal were great. Cocktail menu had a tiki bar theme, not really our thing. Next time I think we'll just order some standards. But everything, including the prompt, friendly and attentive service, made our date night special. We will definitely be back. read more

Have been to Avvino several times. Definitely a fave. I love to go here for birthdays and celebrations. It's so cozy and private. Staff is always great. Their flatbread is amazing. The charted octopus is a must! read more

It's been a few years, but we went here for our 53rd Wedding Anniversary dinner and it was the perfect venue for the four of us! The food was outstanding! Grilled octopus, curried rabbit, filet, scallops.....all cooked to perfection! The service was extremely pleasant and very attentive. The ambiance was perfect! Quiet and extremely comfortable. It's so nice to be able to carry on a conversation when dining out! Most important is the hospitality! The very gracious hostess engaged instantly and offered a choice of table. She was very warm & welcoming in her conversation. I found a new favorite restaurant in Rochester! Thank you Avvino! Highly recommended! read more

Avvino was very impressive to me. We sat outside under the tent, which originally I was hesitant about since it is in the parking lot, but it ended up working out fine. The space heaters were needed and worked well. Most importantly, all the food was impressive. Burrata app, gnocchi, and pork chops were ordered and all great. Next time I return I'd love to eat inside though, since the prices are not cheap. Worth it though! read more

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My husband and I had our anniversary dinner at Avvino and it did not disappoint. It was our first outing since early March and we were very happy the staff was taking necessary precautions for safety and cleanliness. We definitely splurged and it was worth every penny! We started off with cocktails and appetizers. I HIGHLY recommend the charred octopus and bone marrow for an appetizer. For entrees I ordered a salmon dish and my husband ordered the crab sandwich. We were both very pleased with our meals. We ended the night with the German chocolate cake and espresso martinis! All in all it was a wonderful meal and we loved sitting outside enjoying our first date night in months. We will definitely be back soon! read more

Avvino - Charred Octopus & Bone Marrow - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

I have traveled all over the world, so I was very optimistic about going to this place with a few friends but it's not actually in Pittsford more like Brighton. Anyway, felt like I was pulling up to a gas station you have this nonfood store next store like Sherwin Willians to its left and Valvoline across the street. But on the flip side if you need to grab some paint or get an oil change you can do that too. So, when I first walked in you the place, I couldn't believe how freaking dark it was inside. I couldn't see anyone's face, but I could hear them eating. it was literally movie theater dark. Anyway, we were seated, and I had to use the light from my phone to read the menu now I know why they didn't want you to see the prices wow $35, $45 a plate wow this better be good. I wish I can describe my dish, but it was so dark I know there was meat mixed with rice etc. what I ate was tough chew and there wasn't a define taste that stood out and it wasn't good it was like an expensive garbage plate. So, after biting into something that shouldn't have been in my dish the waitress did nothing but tried to convince me it probably fell in plate by accident. By then I started inspecting my dish actually they served me in what appeared to be a beat-up aluminum doggy bowl so presentation in general was equally disturbing. The other dishes had unwanted or inedible food as well. But not everything wasn't so bad my beer was good it was the only IPA and other friends had martini for $15 thought it was a little pricey. Oh, and throughout dinner the waitress was so horrible I didn't want to leave her a tip but did so because by then I just felt sorry for her. now the names of other dishes I will have to update later because when I flash the light on them what they were supposed to be and what they were was two different things pretty much confusing dish like mine. Now want to hear the most amazing part of my dining experience? What the hell is all these people doing here then it hit me it must be their first and last time too. Well, I wrote this review to save you from a horrible dinner and to save your money it wasn't worth a penny, but it cost us $300. Now it you go there, and you read this before remember people dont write long reviews for nothing. but please dont be one of those people that dont know what's good or bad and say it was great because you dont want to look like an idiot in front of you friends. Be honest!!! If some of this doesn't make sense, please excuse me I am half asleep, but I wanted to warn others either cook at home or go to another place in Pittsford etc. read more

Great food and service Bar makes a great cocktail and food is innovative Highly recommend read more

We've wanted to try this place for years and we finally made it for my husband's birthday! Definitely make a reservation because they get very busy, even during the week. We started with the grilled octopus. Then he ordered duck breast and I had halibut. The side of fries were amazing and served in this fancy porcelain fry box! Service was great. They gave my husband a birthday ice cream too which was really sweet. Definitely will go back! read more

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Last night I was invited to a wonderful birthday celebration catered by Avvino takeout .. the meal consisted of the green chickpea hummus and burrata (milk & honey) .. followed by the reuben sliders .. with ricotta gnocchi and roasted organic chicken as our entrees .. Citrus salad joined the fun too! The dinner was finished off with the German chocolate cake as our dessert and .. this seriously puts take out on a whole other level .. every single morsel was as fresh as though it was prepared moments before service !! What a perfect way to treat yourself .. have a date night in or just save your pantry items for another day .. Who doesn't deserve something special during these weird times ! read more

Avvino - Birthday Dinner Takeout !! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is my second time going here since Covid. It used to be fine dining and was excellent. My last two visits on a 1-10 scale, I would rate the food as a 3. The ambiance is a 10 but the quality of the food was a 3. read more

Great food, inventive menu ,awesome people, and the best German Chocolate Cake you've ever had in your life. This place is kinda hidden on Monroe Ave by 590 and i almost dread writing a review on it lest it get overly busy that we can't go when we want. Of special note this place uses Yelp for reservations. We go here for all special occasions. It's my wife's go to for her birthday and always in the running for anniversary and New Years. But sometimes you just gotta go to treat yourself. Experience their burger or a good steak or seafood selection. Just save room for dessert and that cake. read more

I really wanted to love this place, but ultimately I was disappointed. There was good and bad, but where I place the most value is the entree, and that fell flat for me. Good: Our waitress was phenomenal and super helpful. The appetizers were to die for; we got the coconut shrimp, the hummus, and spinach fritters. One thing all of these had in common was a bit of an Indian twist--there was curry or vindaloo in all of them, which was enjoyable. However, I do wish now that we would've ordered appetizers with more of a variety of flavors, since they did end up tasting very similar. The hummus came with a fairly large portion of pita, which made it easy to share. They also brought fresh bread to our table. It was the kind of heavenly fluffy roll that you dream about and somehow can't stop eating. I did try a bit of my friend's duck, which I thought had a delicious sauce on it and was the perfect amount of gamey. He, however, is a bit of a duck connoisseur, and said that it was about average. My other friend got the burger, which I tried; it was pretty good and came on a great bun. Hard to mess up a burger. The moscato was also amazing. Sweet, but not too sweet, and very crisp. After dinner, I did get a cup of espresso, which was strong and very yummy. Bad: For my entree, I got the poppy seed pappardella. It comes in a good portion and the pasta is thick, with bits of crab dispersed throughout. When I tasted it, I immediately thought: this is unremarkable. I was expecting the flavor to be a lot richer, particularly the crab, but it was just....bland. The entree didn't taste particularly bad, but also didn't do much for my taste buds. I filled up on spinach fritters after the disappointment. For dessert, we split a type of lemon cake--this also fell flat. It was not very sweet (its dessert, people!) and pretty much tasted like a lemon-flavored cornbread. Overall, I do believe there are some good things on the menu seeing as how other people rave about this place. Maybe I just happened to pick one of the less impressive ones. I personally was only really impressed by the appetizers and drinks. read more

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We hadn't been to Avvino since COVID hit! So glad they're still in business! Great food and drinks, attentive staff and a wonderful evening with friends! I didn't tKe a picture of mine but the Ahi Tuna was perfect! read more

Avvino - This was the small rib eye! Filled my hubby! - New American Near Me - Rochester, New York