Minerva Jayne
Google
I went to The Avery for brunch with friends. I think Boise has a lot of wonderful places to dine. Unfortunately, The Avery is not going to make my list.
I must start by saying that the service was wonderful. I will give it that. The people working in the restaurant were friendly, welcoming, and attentive. I certainly hope that they are treated well and with respect and courtesy. I have not one complaint in that department. 1000/10
The brunch menu was sort of boring. It is your typical brunch fare with little imagination. I wasn’t moved particularly by any of the brunch items that were listed. I ultimately settled on the meatloaf sandwich as it at least sounded like something different to try. I don’t see meatloaf sandwiches on menus very often. It was ok. It tasted alright. It’s a very tall sandwich so I opted to eat it with a knife and fork, as I try not to unhinge my jaw in public until after 11 pm. The description of the sandwich seemed to really be patting itself on the back but frankly, with no side, it’s really just kind of boring and covered in an immense amount of French fried onions. It will not give you any feeling of nostalgia and I would venture many of you would find it doesn’t hold up to your mother’s or grandmother’s meatloaf recipe.
I was in the mood for a martini, very dirty. Because of this, I ordered a Ketel One martini, very dirty. When it arrived, it couldn’t be described as dirty. It seemed as though perhaps the bartender had merely shown the martini a jar of olives but didn’t let the two meet. It was cold though. I did drink it.
The Avery is very obviously attempting to squeeze as many tables and chairs as possible into its minimal space, without taking into account the architectural realities of the building. It being a bit cramped was a minimal concern when compared to the fact that The Avery has perhaps the most uncomfortable chairs in Boise. I realize that The Avery has put aesthetic over comfort and hospitality. However, just because the building is from 1910, doesn’t mean that the chairs need be an exercise in masochism. They must be encouraging their guests to come and go as quickly as possible.
Ubers seem unable to use the valet parking area for dropping guests off. This is hugely inconvenient for those who plan to arrive and depart a restaurant on busy Main Street.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to its image. As my granddaddy used to say, “an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.” Boise holds other gems at which to enjoy a meal and company.