Denny B.
Yelp
I am a denizen of Montrose bars since 1994. Avignone's has been taken by the body snatchers. Having been the best foothill dive bar for decades, it has changed ownership for the first time to "investors" who "always wanted to own a bar" according to the interviews they gave to reporters. Well, gentlemen, you now have your hobby, but it will not succeed as such. Michael B's review was spot on, but much too kind.
The number of single star ratings are piling up. The five stars are likely shills who know one or more of the owners. Please note the completely lame and ineffective responses from the owner with regard to un-skilled bartenders and ridiculously high drink prices.
NOTE: this is an update review from a long time fan of the "other" Avignone - before the body snatchers came.
Visited the place and here is the disaster we found:
1. bar staff is terribly inattentive, one was surly
2. prices are double the previous levels
3. back bar is sparsely stocked (looks more like Toys 'R Us in their final weeks).
4. the two basic cocktails we had, totally sucked, I think one was missing the booze, completely.
5. 8-9 other customers who looked like they were "rode hard and put away wet" Maybe the prozac wasn't really working for them.
6. Bartender had to get out a book to figure out how to make a margarita from the "well" booze, incredible.
7. $10 for a well drink with each component carefully measured - idiotic.
8. Someone is being nice to someone's grandmother by having her mix drinks while reading the Bartender's Drink Book - pathetic staffing.
The previous owner made no effort to have a theme to the place and that made it a dive bar. Guys, putting a neon sign that says "welcome to the jungle" was whose idea? "Jungle" has many connotations in today's world and not all positive. Having 20 albums covers from the 60's and 70's is someone's idea of "retro"? It just screams cheap. How does the wall decor fit together? With the addition of under shelf lighting and removal of a pool table, this new effort is a fail at whatever message was intended. Impression? Sophomoric, not retro. This is a group of rich guys' hobby.
Gone are the days when a person could stop by before the weekend Farmer's market and have a truly remarkable bloody mary created from individual components of vodka, tomato juice, black pepper, celery salt, Tabasco, Lea & Perrins worcester sauce, fresh lime juice and a stick of celery. When completed, it should have had a Prop 65 warning label attached as paint stripper - loved it. $5. Gone? and why?
1. None of the previous real bartenders were re-hired.
2. The place opens at 4 pm now rather than at daybreak.
3. Mr & Mrs. T mix doesn't cut it at $10.
By the way, we ambled down a block to Basin 141 where there were 5X the active, vibrant crowd, bright music, a person right in front of us when we sat down welcoming us with food and drink menus (up to date) and asking us if we had been there before because he "wants to make our visit a good one". Our actual bartender stopped by for face time with us every 10 minutes just to see if "everything is good and can I do more for you". Huge difference and we spent about 90 minutes and 3x more $$ here than at Avignone's, got much better value for our dollar and could actually taste the booze in the exciting and different drinks. The comparison is complete.
Good luck with your hobby. When you want it to be a real dive bar, you will have to get some professional help. Professional meaning someone who actually did it for a living. Right now, your reputation will be "Home of the Short Pours". No more Avignone's for us and that will be what we share with others.
I will recognize one of the owners wrote a response, but after reading it, it still didn't say anything or address any of the items of unprofessional conduct observed. It was a diatribe seeking some recognition for his good deeds and living in the same zip code his whole life. Sad. Saw a response from one of the "owners" that they will have the NFL showing this year. The NFL was always on the tv at this bar when the other owner had it, Since the place now opens at 4 pm, Sunday, Monday and Thursday night does not mean you will have the NFL. 90% of the games are played during the daylights hours, in case you didn't know.