Avo

Italian restaurant · West Riverside

Avo

Italian restaurant · West Riverside

4

5908 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

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Highlights

Sophisticated Italian restaurant serving handmade pasta & cocktails  

Featured in Eater
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5908 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115 Get directions

restaurantavo.com
@restaurantavo

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

Information

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5908 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115 Get directions

+1 504 509 6550
restaurantavo.com
@restaurantavo

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 16, 2025

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@eater

The Best Restaurants on New Orleans’s Magazine Street Uptown | Eater New Orleans

"Chef Nick Lama’s Avo shines with regional Italian goodness. Reserve a table in the window-lined renovated dining room Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lama’s menu reflects his Sicilian heritage, but he wanders the boot, offering the likes of veal Parmesan, charred Calabrian chili-glazed octopus, and homemade gnocchi topped with pork ragu and gremolata." - Beth D’Addono

https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-magazine-street-uptown-new-orleans
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The Best Pasta in New Orleans | Eater New Orleans

"Chef Nick Lama’s sophisticated Uptown restaurant, with its gorgeous dining courtyard, pays homage to his Sicilian roots in many artful ways. Avo serves handmade pasta, beautifully composed plates of lasagna rich with short rib ragu, black squid ink mafalda, and bucatini cacio e pepe with jump lump crab. All of the food is special here, but the pasta is beyond dreamy." - Beth D’Addono

https://nola.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-best-pasta-new-orleans
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The Best Italian Restaurants in New Orleans | Eater New Orleans

"There’s nothing Creole Italian about chef Nick Lama’s upscale Avo, which means “grandfather” or “ancestor,” in Italian. The third-generation Sicilian spotlights regional Italian cuisine and ingredients like figs, gorgonzola, Calabrian chilies, and every manner of homemade pasta. The food is gorgeous and informed by passion and allegiance to pristine ingredients. Get the meatballs, get the charred octopus, get yourself to Avo." - Beth D’Addono

https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-italian-eats-new-orleans
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Where to Find New Orleans’s Best Raw Seafood Dishes | Eater New Orleans

"Chef Nick Lama, a third-generation Sicilian, offers modern spins on traditional recipes at Avo Uptown. The tuna crudo is a savory example, raw cubed tuna belly atop a pool of aqua pazza, a divine blended sauce of jalapeno, basil shallots, lime, garlic, and olive oil. Finished with a drizzle of lemon oil, this crudo is elegant and so flavorful." - Beth D’Addono

https://nola.eater.com/maps/new-orleans-best-cold-raw-seafood-dishes-ceviche-crudo-summer
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Amy

Google
We were really looking forward to this restaurant. We love Italian food. My husband grew up with Italian cooking in home and we’ve been to Italy several times. The food is good but not excellent. The pasta dishes are $36 and they provide very small portion! The wine was $16 a glass for a medium rated Italian wine. Very overpriced for what you get. The food was good but would not go back.

nyoot p

Google
We absolutely loved this restaurant! Food was flavorful and our server Jojuan was the best! I really enjoyed the broccolini and the bucatini cacio e pepe. The bread that they gave us was also surprisingly delicious. Would definitely come here again!!

Louis and Elaine

Google
Tonight was our first time to eat at Avo Restaurant. We were impressed by the exterior upon arrival, very attractive. Our server was extremely nice and the service was very good. Everything that we ordered was great. Really good authentic food rather than huge portions like some Italian restaurants. We very much enjoyed our experience and will return in the future.

Jacques Conrad

Google
Please eat here 🙏!!! My family and I enjoyed This place so much this will be our new Saturday dinner!!! Please get the Caesar salad and get the tiramisu too! We had the best waiter and the food was beyond what we could have ever expected- not in a bad way. We got a bunch of things to share and we love eating that way so if you do too then I encourage you to.

Peter Kastl

Google
I had the veal parmigiana...it was delicious. My companion had the grouper special, which she loved. This is a great place to eat.

Kathy D

Google
Upscale Italian food in a pretty dining atmosphere. Homemade pasta was delicious, cooked perfectly al dente. Short ribs were tender but not dry and full of flavor. Pesto pasta was very good but shrimp felt out of place, dish was delicious without them. The special beet salad was my favorite. Definitely recommend we enjoyed everything we tried.

Scott Sulik

Google
The entire experience was great. Drinks were delicious, and every item on the menu was prepared perfectly. The meatballs, crawfish ravioli, and Brussels sprouts were favorites. The restaurant has a quiet, romantic atmosphere without being overly formal. Highly recommended!

Maria Monica Restrepo

Google
Maybe I had high expectations and I got disappointed. But food was not it and service wasn’t the best in my opinion. My husband pork was undercooked and the lasagna tasted like microwaved lasagna :(
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Yari W.

Yelp
Exemplary Service and Elegant Ambiance I recently dined at this restaurant and was thoroughly impressed by the exceptional service and ambiance. Despite arriving late due to traffic, the young lady graciously accommodated me within 5 minutes at a wonderful table. The decor was charming, the food delicious, and the lighting perfect for creating a sophisticated atmosphere. The restaurant was impeccably clean, and the noise level was minimal, allowing for a truly enjoyable dining experience. Highly recommend! La Tenedor! @peluchese
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Jen L.

Yelp
I've been meaning to go to Avo since it opened but somehow just never got there. I finally made it over last month! We shared a special bruschetta with salmon and a caesar salad to start; both were great. Then we all opted for pasta as our main with one bolognese and the other two the crab cacio e pepe. The pasta was outstanding and everyone loved their dishes; mine was loaded with crabmeat. We ended our meal with cheesecake, tiramisu and zeppole. I was glad the sauce came on the side of the zeppole so I could dip and retain the crispiness of the pastry. The pistachio ice cream was great too. And my dining companions loved their desserts too. We also had a couple of cocktails and service was great. The whole meal was quite nostalgic for me since I used to eat at this location, long ago when it was another restaurant. Parking is on the street and reservations are recommended.
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Marigny L.

Yelp
Avo is romantic and nice without being too fancy! The restaurant is a little small, so I would probably make a reservation if you can. We loved the $10 spritzes and Baked Ziti special!
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Jenny L.

Yelp
This was a birthday celebration and I must say I was very impressed. Service is nice and attentive. Food was very fresh and tasty. All my taste buds were happy from the glass of red I had to the tiramisu for dessert. The pistachio ice cream was yummy too. The crispy calamari was super fresh and exquisite, just forgot to photograph. Please make a reservation. It might be best to Uber because parking is a bit difficult. There is not a parking lot; only street parking. The ambiance is perfect for a girls lunch and/or with that someone special. The place can be rather loud if they are busy.
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Amanda M.

Yelp
I debated between 4 and 5 stars for this one, but in the end landed on 5 because of the helpful, professional service. Service and ambiance were 5/5. Our waiter was very helpful and the staff did a great job accommodating allergies (although they use peanut oil for frying so beware if you have nut allergies). Calm and comfortable environment. We really enjoyed it. Food was 4/5. Meatballs, eggplant, and gnocchi were delicious. The fried calamari was delicious. Lobster pasta special was okay--very fishy. I was surprised that for a place that specializes in pasta, the noodles were a bit rubbery. Fish entree was fine as well. The gnocchi side dish was one of my favorite parts of the meal--get it! Worth a visit!
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Cassie M.

Yelp
The homemade pasta was delicious. Our server was great and very helpful. Perfect date night or girls night out atmosphere! Will definitely be back and order that squid ink pasta again. The tuna crudo app was also super delicious.
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Sam I.

Yelp
We decided to ride down Magazine St and try a restaurant we never had. Drove further Uptown and rolled up to a nice lil spot on Magazine St & Eleonore St. Appetizers: Caesar Salad & Meatballs - Good Mains: Bucatini Cacio E Pepe & Gulf Fish - Both were delicious. We will be back.

Sara W.

Yelp
The lasagna was very good, it was different because it was shredded braised beef and not ground beef. The meatballs melted in your mouths- 10/10!
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Amari H.

Yelp
Omg! So happy we decided on this restaurant for dinner. The prices are on the higher side, my total for the alla vodka and 2 of the honeysuckle spritz was around $80. I will say, the food and drinks were HIGHLY worth it and the service was amazing. I believe our server was Alex, he helped us in picking items and really explaining the menu. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce had just the right amount of spice and the shrimp were delectable, which is usually a big tell tell if seafood is seasoned and cooked well!! Overall, I am excited to dine with Avo again.
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Tamer A.

Yelp
This was my first trip to AVO. The restaurant is very nice ambiance. A little noisy when full but not disturbingly. It is clean. We went at 6:30, before the crowd arrived on a Saturday night. Therefore the service was fast. The wait staff was knowledgeable and friendly. We had the fish, duck and octopus. All of them were tasty.
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Drew K.

Yelp
We were excited to change things up and try the highly touted Avo for some Italian food while in New Orleans last weekend, but the meal was an overall disappointment. The interior is intimate and warm, perfect for a date night bite, or 4 friends grabbing a meal. Based on earlier reviews, it looks like they recently renovated and I can confirm everything looked nice enough. The menu offers 6 or so appetizers, 6 or so pastas, and 4 protein forward mains. (Appetizers $13-$18, Pastas $25-$32, and Entrees $29-$60 per dish FYI) We started with the crispy calamari and the fried eggplant as appetizers. The eggplant was very good, but the calamari was the start of our troubles. It was extremely salty. I love salt. My wife loves salt. We have salt problems when snacking, and we both couldn't eat more than one bite, it was that salty. Burn your mouth salty. All 4 of us at the table agreed that the dish was too salty, but we just chalked it up as an accidental heavy hand with salting it coming out of the fryer, and like the eggplant, everything else will be great. My wife ordered the Rigatoni, I ordered the Cacio E Pepe, another table mate ordered the Chicken Picatta, and I've already forgotten what the 4th ordered. I was very excited for the Cacio E Pepe. It's one of my favorite Roman dishes, and something I often jump on when I find it on a menu. I spun up a big forkful, popped it in my mouth, and there was that salt again. I chewed through it, tried another big spin of noodles, and yup wayyyyy too salty. It tasted as if someone thought it would be fun to prank our table, not just one dash too many, but a pile of salt. I looked over at my wife, and she had taken one bite of her food and stopped eating altogether. Same problem. The other tablemate who ordered the chicken, also felt it was too salty to her taste but not as bad as mine nor my wife's. (We started tasting each others dishes it was so weirdly salty, that I wanted to double check I wasn't just making this up in my head) After my two big spins of my noodles and sharing a bite to others at the table, it looked like I didn't have an issue with my plate since it was half gone... So, I let the server know the best I could that this was inedible salty, but I obviously pointed out that I had made a big dent in it so I wasn't asking for free food on the check or anything. I also pointed out that my wife's almost completely untouched plate was also too salty, and mentioned the other salty dishes we had run across along the way. I was trying to share a serious concern, and just looking at my wife's one bite and done plate, it should have been obvious something was wrong. Our server more or less just said "thanks for the feedback, I'll let them know", and that was that. There wasn't much of an attempt to fix the night from management, or the kitchen, and essentially no one acknowledging our issue after that. There were some mistaken drink orders, and other weird service blunders, but I'm sure we were just hyper aware of stuff since we were already irked about dinner going so poorly. Our only specific complaint about the service was at the end of the night with the bill. Our friend offered to get the whole check, and the server handed her the card reader tableside and told her she went ahead and put 20% tip on the bill, and then hovered over her to watch her accept and sign. That just struck us as uncomfortably pushy, and after everything else going so poorly that night (and lack of anyone addressing it) it was just the last straw. Overall, man I hope this was just a weird terrible one off night for them, but with the amount of good food and front of house available around town, I doubt I'll make a point to come back to find out.
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T M.

Yelp
Great food, great drinks, nice ambiance. We sat at the bar and it was a steady night so service was a little slow. But it was ok for our occasion. Would have liked file our server to make suggestions, but luckily we happened to see some things ordered that we also decided to try and were not disappointed!! Can't wait to go back. Best calamari I have ever had btw!

Katie B.

Yelp
Great "new" Italian food. Not super large portions like some Italian restaurants, great espresso martinis! Not too loud, good for date nights. Friendly server
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Erin M.

Yelp
Appetizers - calamari & meatballs were AMAZING! We had the Gnocchi - it was good, the Rigatoni was excellent and the pork special was good as well. For dessert, we had Affogato - the Ice cream espresso dessert- it was SO GOOD! Great atmosphere and attentive service.
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Daniel S.

Yelp
I really enjoyed myself. This was my first time at Avo and it won't be my last. It's the cutest little place with great servers and service and a cool vibe. I really enjoyed my meal. I had the short rib and my friend had steak! Both were cooked perfectly! The cheesecake for dessert was the perfect ending! Def check this place out!
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Jakia N.

Yelp
I came here for a date night and it's the perfect date night spot. The decor is really nice. Definitely a romantic vibe. We were seated promptly and our server came to introduce himself right away. We started with a bottle of wine. And calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was really good. It was fried just right and it there was a tomato sauce underneath it that was really good. It add some acid to balance the dish. For an appetizer I got the lasagna. It was a power decent sized portion. The meat was so tender. The overall taste was fantastic. I had never had a lasagna like that before. I took the person that I didn't eat home and had it for lunch the next day. It was even better the next day.
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Gina H.

Yelp
This place was fabulous! We made a reservation (be sure to do so) for our wedding anniversary. Awesome place inside (purpose of pic of me & my husband). Staff was great. Our waitress was so friendly and accommodating! Appetizers: Eggplant meatballs; roasted beets and burrata salad topped with toasted pecans AND a side order of the black truffle homemade gnocchi. It was ALL good! The gnocchi was unbelievable!! The beet & burrata salad was so good, I must order this again next time we come here! I had their homemade bucatini cacio e pepe (cheese & pepper) topped with crabmeat. There was nothing left on my plate! It was delicious! My husband had the balsamic short rib on the bone. I tasted it as well. It was very good. My husband said it was good, not as lean as he had hoped. Nevertheless, he enjoyed! After all that, no room for dessert! We will be back! Make reservations! -parking isn't the best, but food is worth it!!
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Kelly C.

Yelp
Avo was delicious. My boyfriend got a Pimms cup to drink, and I got a dirty martini. Both were great! They give you bread with olive oil to start. I wish the olive oil would've had some herbs in it, but it was high quality oil and the bread was fresh. We got the black truffle gnocchi to start (even though it's listed as a side), it was very good! The lasagna and balsamic short rib was good. The short rib had quite a lot of fat, which i'm not a huge fan of, but the flavor was good and the risotto was to die for. We also got the affogato for dessert, and if was the perfect way to end the meal.
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Albert E.

Yelp
One of those places that just doesn't quite live up to it's potential. Servers don't do a good job of describing the food. Ordered a Rob Roy and got a Manhattan instead. Short ribs were delicious, but the accompanying risotto was woefully undercooked. Veal parmesan was good---not great. Choice of wines by the glass was limited, but the Chianti choice was pretty good. Dessert was very good---Italiam version of a sundae with vanilla and chocolate gelato and fudge/caramel sauce. Overall quality of food and service was good enough that we did not regret eating there, but not good enough to warrant a return visit. Also, even though their renovation was last year,there was still the smell of paint in the air.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
Absolutely wonderful experience! Should've come here sooner, and happy to say this restaurant has been added to our regular rotation. SHORT STORY Great service and atmosphere that is inviting and relaxing, without being over the top. The food and drinks are different in an inspiring way, without being pretentious. Diverse clientele - from locals, to tourists, to prom night - we saw everyone in that restaurant quietly smiling and laughing as they thoroughly enjoyed their meals. LONG STORY Before we even entered, a delicious smell wafted from the kitchen. As we opened the door we were greeted warmly at the host stand, and walked to a nice table. I love the colors - blues, greens, whites, golds. Relaxing and inviting all at the same time. They thought of everything from indoor plants, to accent walls and gorgeous bar area. Love it! Waiter (Nigel?) created a great experience for us. He was on time for every part of the meal; you can tell them truly care about your entire dining experience. We started with two delicious cocktails, and the octopus appetizer. For entrees we had the shrimp & oyster mushroom pasta special and the steak and mashed potatoes. Dessert seemed like something we shouldn't pass up - divine. Perfect finish to our wonderful experience. *I've been here an additional two times already, and every experience is A+!

norman a.

Yelp
Great service well done wine list Veal parmigiana was light and excellent Thanks again
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Steve C.

Yelp
Never disappoints. I try to get there around 5:30pm during the week for guaranteed availability before the evening crowd for dinner. Their seafood dishes (including specials) are almost always pretty good and tasty.
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Myles L.

Yelp
I have to say the food, service, and ambiance were all good. On a 1-2 scale, Avo would be a 2. On a 1-3 scale, it would be a 3. On a 1-5 scale, it's a 4. I'd go back.
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Lynn L.

Yelp
Referred by Yelp. Hard to get a reservation place is so popular Food is very good. Their Ceasar salad had a nice twist. The short ribs were a little fatty but very tender. Kind of a cold place was not a favorite
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Mayur S.

Yelp
Great place, good selection of wines, great service, presentation of the food is amazing. Soo many flavours in the food. Should have more selections on pasta as the menu is small and sweet .
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Brittany B.

Yelp
This was our second time here, and we love it! The atmosphere is so cozy, and our server was great. The cocktails were delicious, and we wanted to keep ordering. The pastas and seafood tasted extremely fresh, and the guys raves about the veal Parmesan. Great date night spot!

CAROLYN W.

Yelp
I have no complains about ambiance and service. My food was below standard twice in a row. Chef banned me from the restaurant. I asked for another chance , that I would be less critical , but he refused. Many people read my reviews on Yelp, open table , Resy. I have to true to myself. What's the point of giving a great review if it's not true. My criticism is always constructive
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Bernard J.

Yelp
This was my first time dining at Avo. It's been in my list of restaurants to visit for a couple years now; and with much anticipation it did not disappoint. The decor was nice it felt very warm and comforting. I was hoping to dine in the open air part of the restaurant, but I'd assume it's primarily for private events. Anyways, I started my night off with a bottle of Lambrusco Dolce red wine , and a order of fried calamari which both were fantastic. The wine was sweet but not overly sweet, and the calamari was spot on! The calamari was fried to perfection and the red sauce was robust with flavor and was perfectly balanced. I decided on the Short rib Lasagna for my entree. Boy oh boy! This was one of the best lasagna's I've ever eaten. It was everything I could hope for, deep complex flavors, amazing cheese, and melt in your mouth short rib. Will recommend. 10/10
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Bob E.

Yelp
Good little Italian restaurant on Magazine Street. Menu is small in length but wide in scope. It's a quiet or it was when we were eating. Nice atmosphere and staff is solid in delivering great service. Excellent cocktails. Wine list fair, but like the menu wide in scope - a variety of types. We stayed in the pasta section and was not disappointed.

BG A.

Yelp
Delicious dinner here tonight. The cacio e pepe was fantastic! https://blainerestaurantreport.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/avo-new-orleans-la-report-542/
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Vince P.

Yelp
Well renowned restaurant lives up to its name. Italian food mixed with New Orleans seafood and styling is a match made in my tummy. We went here for our anniversary & it was a good choice! We started with their seared Octopus & Arancini w/ Tomato Basil Sauce . Our entrees were both delicious, from the lobster shells to the crawfish ravioli. How could you go wrong with any of this! @phidingthefam

Fiona M.

Yelp
One of the most delicious meals I have had in New Orleans. Cannot go wrong with anything on the menu!
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Lynn W.

Yelp
A penny for my thoughts?! This is one of the HOTTEST ITALIAN places in the uptown area. I enjoyed the calamari, vodka pasta and throw in the Brussels. With Covid, things are very different in the restaurants. Safety first, reservations preferred and social distance is the law. All of these reqs were met, at Avo. No patio area here. Parking is on streets. Just giving the facts. Usually on a Saturday around 5:30 -6p is a good time. I tried to 'go for' a dessert but could not do it. Oh and that Prosecco drink in my photos was tempting and delish. Definitely didn't go to waste.
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Craig A.

Yelp
We were excited to visit for my sons 21st birthday and came with a large party. It started with the Coca Cola being flat. Then the focaccia was stale. They advertised the Caprese salad as heirloom tomatoes and those were not heirloom tomatoes. Nor was the vodka sauce what they described. Every sauce on the pastas seemed to be the same tomato sauce. We returned the lasagna as it was dry and too well done and they refused to remove it from the check. There are too many restaurants in NOLA that understand hospitality to waste your time and money on a restaurant like this.
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Justice K.

Yelp
One of my favorite dinner spots in New Orleans. Food is amazing every time. Service is great as well. Their bread is AMAZING. and the meatballs are the best i've ever tasted. I believe they recently brought back their happy hour but have not been yet to check it out. This spot is a must try. The lasagna is great as well.
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Liza S.

Yelp
Don't walk... run to Avo. I came here the other day for happy hour and had an incredible time. I was with a friend and we sat at the bar. We enjoyed wine and many food items. Our food order consisted of fried artichoke heart with lemon caper aioli and gremolata, charred broccoli with whipped feta and green harissa, calamari, cacio e pepe, carbonara, and butterscotch pot de creme. There was honestly not a single bite I didn't enjoy. I want to relive this meal over and over again. Until you've been to Avo, you have no idea what you're missing out on!!

Sue R.

Yelp
Nice atmosphere and decent service, but we found the food to be overly heavy. On two separate occasions, we tried the octopus, beets with burrata, veal parmigiana, snapper with seafood bisque and the scallops. The octopus was heavily grilled or pan fried and doused in a sweet barbecue sauce. The veal was also heavily fried and overly crispy with too much cheese. The seafood bisque was also creamy and rich for our tastes and even the beets with burrata and pesto came off heavy and oily. We enjoyed the scallops more than anything else, although the sauce is also creamy, and more fresh lima beans and tomatoes rather than corn as a base would have been nice. In our experience, the best Italian food is simple, fresh preparation that accentuates good quality ingredients and allows the food to stand on its own.
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Susie A.

Yelp
This is a long overdue review but with an update! As a pescatarian it can be difficult to find places to eat around the holidays. While looking online at menus for restaurants open on Christmas Eve, I came across Avo. I saw on their Facebook page that in the past they offered a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner on Christmas Eve! I immediately made a reservation! We did have an early reservation, so the restaurant was pretty quiet when we arrived, however by the time we left, it was packed! The service was impeccable!!! We had a bottle of wine, the Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner and an after dinner drink. Everything was just fantastic! My favorite course was the pasta, but it was all amazing! Sorry for the dark photos! Since the holidays, I've been back for happy hour, which is awesome! They do several pastas for $9 and the Cacio e Pepe is soooooooo good!! They also have drink specials (I think $6 wines) Mon-Thurs!!
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Aimee G.

Yelp
We had such a great dinner before seeing Elton John. Intimate atmosphere, great cocktails, loved the bread and olive oil starter. We enjoyed our dishes and really wish we would have had room for dessert. I still think about this crawfish ravioli!
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Candis H.

Yelp
Went to Avo again and of course loved everything I had. This is one of my favorite restaurants uptown. If you're in New Orleans I 10/10 recommend you come here and enjoy the food. The atmosphere is calm, romantic &chill vibes. I would call ahead and get a reservation because seating is limited. This place is great for date night, bringing guests, an intimate birthday dinner. I've only gone in a small group but I've seen larger groups go. Dress is evening casual to as dressy as you'd like. Food: we had two appetizers, short rib lasagna (my personal favorite), ravioli and lobster Mac and cheese, lemon cheesecake for dessert and a bottle of wine. Great great great. I can't say enough about this place. The service is and has always been excellent!
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Kimberly J.

Yelp
I gave Avo a second try for Coolinary brunch. I was super excited to try it again since it's been a while since my first experience and some friends like it. Again, the atmosphere is really nice and I just enjoy being there, even when the courtyard is enclosed. The mostly savory pastry plate was great! Salmon Bruschetta was good, although my toast was very burned. Again, the pasta, just wasn't good. Super, super salty spaghetti with crabmeat. I was hurting from the sodium shock all day/evening. But the Zeppole was so good and light with delicious pistachio ice cream and chocolate dipping sauce. It's a very pricey place, so I wish the food was more consistent. Still just, Okay.

Holly S.

Yelp
Amazing food! In my NOLA top 5. Started with the tuna special and octopus. Both so yummy but wished there was more protein in the portions. Octopus and tuna cooked perfectly. Then got the short rib and lobster pasta. Both were delicious with gigantic portions, enough for 2 more meals each. Also got a side of charred asparagus which were cooked perfectly and garnished with lemon and parm which was great. Also had the honeysuckle spritz, very good. Service was great, especially for my gluten allergy.
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Rashvinda K.

Yelp
Been waiting for the opportunity to go to Avo forever and was definitely worth it! Went for our anniversary dinner last night, all staffs were masked, tables were far apart, great setting in the restaurant! Food was excellent! From appetizers to dessert, I tried a delicious cocktail called Honeysuckle and my husband had the old fashioned, I also tried a delicious dessert wine at the end. Highly recommended restaurant!
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Victoria W.

Yelp
In late March, I traveled to NOLA for fun with a friend and was pleasantly surprised when we saw Avo featured on a NOLA-based foodie website and subsequently checked out the Yelp page for it. Stoked, we made a reservation and came here for my belated birthday celebration. First of all, the staff were extremely friendly and loved to talk and banter with us, especially when we were leaving and waiting for our Uber by the front desk. The restaurant itself is a very unique rustic-decorated space with a semi-outdoor "courtyard" seating area that was sealed off by a plastic canvas and heated with over-the-head space heaters, as it was not warm enough to open the area up when we went. The atmosphere was dimly lit, especially around the back wall that had dimly lit candles tastefully placed on the rock wall. Overall, it was quite romantic without being overly done and quite unique! There was also a more well-lit indoor/bar seating area on the other side of the restaurant, but we were in the courtyard, which I thoroughly enjoyed and preferred. The food was absolutely amazing-- we wanted to order EVERYTHING on the menu and had to hold ourselves back, but we ended up getting the Buratta, Raviolo al Uovo,Truffle Butternut Squash Ravioli, and Scallops. The portion sizes were smaller but still satisfying, given the freshness and overall quality and presentation of the food given that Avo is a bit of a more upscale establishment. The Raviolo al Uovo was the most unique pasta dish I've ever had, as the chef has found a way to wrap a runny egg yolk within a perfectly al dente pasta shell! The butternut squash-stuffed, truffle oil ravioli pasta was also very good and had the perfect taste. The giant scallops are something that I miss to this day-- they were so soft yet had elasticity that made them the perfect chew and easy to cut without slipping. My friend told the restaurant staff that it was my (belated) birthday, and the staff provided an affogato at the end of our amazing meal with a single candle that illuminated the dim atmosphere. Again, service and staff were fantastic! If I'm ever wandering Magazine Street in NOLA again, I am sure to take a stop back here for the Raviolo al Uovo! Thank you for making my vacation even better than it already has been with every other great experience I had in NOLA!
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Lacey D.

Yelp
This was Such. A. Delicious. Meal. I'm already planning my next visit. My husband and I ordered a variety of things to try. We started with the Arancini (delicious) and the wedge salad (heavy on the blue cheese, but good). We then split the asparagus (heaven), lobster rigatoni (spicy and yummy), and the chicken parm with white wine pasta (the white wine pasta was incredible, the chicken was the weakest part of the meal, it was just okay). Lastly we split the tiramisu (good). Can't wait to try many more things!
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Simi M.

Yelp
We celebrated Valentine's here because can you really celebrate this day without pasta?! I read so many rave reviews about the carbonara and cacio e pepe but was sad to see the current online menu didn't feature either of these dishes. So, being the type-A person that I am, I called and emailed to ask if they'd be able to still make these dishes -- I was delighted that both modes of communication confirmed these two dishes can pretty much be made at any time since the ingredients are always on hand! You must be on time for your reservation. We were running a few minutes behind schedule and when I called to ask if the reservation could be moved up by a few minutes, the hostess informed us that unfortunately not. Not a big deal but just a tip to make sure you are punctual when dining here. Upon entering this beautiful space, it was obvious we made the right choice. It is such a cute date-y place! We started with the meatballs, my Valentine had the steak, and I went with the carbonara. Everything was delicious except there was a bite of my meatball that was cold on the inside but nothing a little sloshing in the rich sauce couldn't mask! Service was excellent. As for pricing, I felt the steak was appropriately priced but felt $22 for carbonara was a bit much. Nonetheless, I'd put Avo in your back pocket for celebration dinners!

a p.

Yelp
Really I would give it 3.5 stars. I was really looking forward to coming here and had high expectations. Tables were spaced appropriately and all the windows were open, which was nice. To start, we had the meatballs, caprese salad, and brussels sprouts, and all were very good. The meatballs in particular were excellent! The table bread however, did not seem fresh. For the mains, we had the lasagna and osso bucco. The lasagna with short rib ragu and bechamel sounds amazing but was just ok. It wasn't bad - I just expected it to be better and more flavorful. Also, it wasn't completely hot, like it was re-heated too quickly. As for the osso bucco, it was very disappointing - not tender, bland, and underseasoned. It was not worth the price. Perhaps I'm spoiled because I've eaten at some really amazing Italian restaurants when I lived in NYC, where I had the most amazing osso bucco to date. Sigh. Finally, we had the zeppole with chocolate sauce and pistachio ice cream for dessert, which was good. Overall, service was good, the apps were very good, but the mains were not, especially for the price. I would come back for apps and drinks.
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Munzer Q.

Yelp
In New Orleans Italian does not just mean Italian. The great chefs add their creativity as a food artist would. At AVO, that is the case. It is Italian with a beautiful twist. We had dinner last week and the food from the appetizers to the desserts were just exceptional. Our compliments to the Chef and his staff for providing us with an amazing experience. You must try their Limoncello . It is home made and so good. The place is cozy; the service was perfect and the food was delicious.

I R.

Yelp
Food, service, and ambiance are all top notch. Perfect for an intimate date night or girls night out
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Courtney K.

Yelp
Visited post-patio renovation and was disappointed- the space felt so special and romantic before, but now it's just an ordinary dining room with screenless windows that open onto Magazine Street. It doesn't feel special or charming anymore. I split a ribeye (a special that evening), gnocchi and Brussels sprouts. The ribeye was cooked properly but lacked any real flavor (apart from the salsa verde, which was good). The gnocchi were a bit mushy. I'm so sad one of the few places uptown with a pretty patio changed into this.