Review: Avalon

It’s no secret that Avalon is a great place to get a fantastic meal. From gourmet salads to juicy burgers to tender Kentucky bison short ribs, Avalon has plenty to win over you foodies.

But this Bardstown Road restaurant also wants to be your favorite nighttime hangout spot. So if you’re looking for an elegant, yet relaxed alternative to the bars of Baxter Avenue, ease on down the road to this popular bistro.

Even when temperatures are flirting with the 90s, it’s hard to resist Avalon’s patio, which attracts a wide variety of people that you’ll enjoy chatting with through the evening.

So ladies, slip on a sundress, and guys, break out that linen shirt, then pull up to one of the tables near the outdoor bar, which is perfect for a drinks-and-appetizers type of night. (And the area is covered to give you some refuge from the summer sun.)

In addition to all the hearty entrees, Avalon offers a lounge plates menu with delicious fare like, my favorite, the lobster mac & cheese ($10) which is topped with crispy potatoes and is surprisingly filling despite the small portion.

With music floating through the air, enjoy a dish from the lounge plate menu and try a cocktail from the martini list. I say go for the Acai Bluetini ($8) — a blend of Acai Blueberry Vodka and blueberry puree that’s delicious enough to count as your dessert.

And don’t worry about service. Despite the heat, the staff isn’t inside chilling by the A/C. They’re always on the ball, frequently swinging by your table to make sure your much-needed glass of water is never empty.

To get you over the hump of your work week, Avalon is hosting “That’s Amoré” on the patio Wednesdays through July 22. This event will feature live jazz and special cocktails and lounge plates.

If the summer heat is too much for you, slide into Avalon’s swanky lounge. It’s the place to be if you’re barhopping on a budget these days but still looking for an upscale experience.

During happy hour (there’s an early and a late happy hour every day), lounge patrons can snag $5 appetizers and get half-off select drinks. And this summer — every night, all night — groups of two or more ladies who dine inside can order from the Girls Night Out menu, which features $5 appetizers like the crispy calamari and half-priced cocktails.

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