Avoca Suffolk Street

We've been going here regularly for years and thankfully, the food is still lovely. But wow was their new menu a journey in the wrong direction. It feels like someone is trying to bait and switch a primarily tourist clientele into spending more for each dish. Beyond the fact that the menu reads like a custom burger shop over 300 year old Irish institution, it actually doesn't make sense. It's cheaper to buy from the right hand side of the menu and avoid the choose your own adventure entirely. And if you're into charting your own path, the pricing still doesn't work. Eggs and bacon together on the left are 11 euros, but Eggs and Bacon separately is 10. Again, not sure what happened here. Oh and they completely took away their kids menu, so you end up ordering stuff from the main menu and wasting a bunch of food. I completely empathize with the fact that running a restaurant is more expensive than ever. But this menu change was a miss.

Wonderful place for breakfast. Top floor of a very smart slightly different department store. Lots of breakfast choices but I had the wonderful granola bowl with lovely yogurt and berry compote. Excellent coffee too. Table of four and everyone enjoyed their breakfast. Served by a wonderful Italian lady who was helpful and fun to be around. One of my favourites breakfasts 😁 Recommended 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇳

There socks are absolutely gorgeous. Really want a pair. But they are on the pricey side will be asking to get them for my birthday. So many cute little bits and bobs and cakes and savoury foods looked gorgeous to bad I had already eaten before going in would of definitely gotten something but I actually felt inspired my some of the flavours I saw here might try it out. Or next time I come might get a cook book as I’m sure they’re amazing. Unfortunately don’t live in Dublin though. But I definitely won’t be forgetting this little place. Also the shop was super coulourful and pretty and made you feel exited when you enter. Such a good vibe

Today at the restaurant, we were subjected to extremely mean and racist treatment by a woman named Roberta, who appeared to be the manager as she wasn't wearing a uniform. We had brought our Jellycats, which we bought last Christmas, and placed them on the table to photograph with our food. She then suspected us of stealing them from downstairs and offered no apology. She tried to justify her actions by saying she checked all customers who brought items that might be from the store, but we strongly doubt her claim. What thief would brazenly put the stolen items on the table for a photo and spend an hour and a half eating in a restaurant? If you don't have CCTV or personally see the guests stealing, then the logic of directly asking non-white customers if they stole things implies that you already suspect us of stealing. Definitely racism.

Very nice shop. They offer products of a higher price class. It is a real pleasure to look at these wonderful and quality things. There is something for everyone. Lots of options to buy gifts. The prices are quite high.

Terrible customer service in the cafe upstairs. When we ordered, we asked for an earl grey tea. The waitress brought an earl grey and a black tea (her mistake). She insisted rudely that someone had ordered the black tea too, which we hadn’t. On paying, we didn’t check the bill closely until after we had left, and found we were charged for both the earl grey and black tea. Terrible customer service. We were made to pay for her mistake, and had to put up with her attitude as well. We will not be returning.

Awful experience. The waitress on the cafe upstairs had attitude. This is not how you treat costumers. This shows no professionalism. She acted as if we were the stupid ones, made facial expressions that showed she was making fun of us. If she does not like her job, she better quit, cause this is not an appropriate behavior towards costumers and any human being in general. If she hates tourists, she better had told us so you could leave. Of course, even if I revisit Dublin, I am not going back to this place.

Coffee is over priced.. Food really good. Service by a young man with Downs Syndrome was exceptional. Atmosphere good Decor nice. It's a bit ladies who lunch but it's very well done. And tasty.

The pancakes were light and full of berries. The fruit compote and Greek yogurt with a fresh lemon wedge were a fresh touch. The best pancakes I'll ever eat.

One of my Dublin Top 5 favorites. Fresh ingredients, global inventive menu, focus on flavor over overly complicated en vogue offerings, and great service.

Four stars because my girlfriends porridge was fantastic and she clearly lucked out on this spot! Super yummy and fresh. The coffee was also fantastic and we got some to go as well. Perfectly executed and not overly sweet or bitter. Amazing mocha and they even had coconut milk. My hash was not hash, it was huge chunks of significantly over cooked sausage cubes, with chunks of french fries and it was at the waitresses suggestion to order it, Too bad... definitely steer clear of this dish, seems like the sweet breakfasts are the way to go here. Lastly it was somewhat expensive which added to my disappointment...

Great breakfast nook that looks like a garret, and sits above a department store. You wander through the store, climbing up several flights of stairs in the process of arriving at the restaurant. The attic theme is subtly reinforced by the plank floor, old wooden tables, empty picture frames and butterfly collections on the walls. And the food is great, with a variety of substantial breakfast options like Irish Breakfast and French Toast. Or there is a variety of pastries if you prefer lighter fare.

Great atmosphere. Food was amazing. Also great service. Highly recommend. It was so good we went twice. Had breakfast and had lunch.

We were recommended the cafe because of the avocado toast. We liked the toast but the bread was over toasted and impossible to cut. Our lattes were not good. I asked them to remake mine but I wasn't impressed with it. I wouldn't recommend getting lattes. Service was also lacking. The place gets very busy on weekends and it's very noisy.

Unfortunately not what I expected. The food came way too fast to my table (after five minutes wait at most). The Croque Monsieur would have been tasty actually if only the ham hadn't been basically cold). The side salad was not edible as it was wilted. The soup was huge and over-seasoned with what must be a soup base cube of sorts. The waiters were very noisy and throwing around loud conversations among them rather than looking after their clients. Nobody bothered to check on my food. This place could easily do better than that. Very disappointed.

Hello there I need to bring something to your attention regarding an incident I've had on 31st March with your security. I was walking into the store with my little dog in a bag to get my lunch from the fridge on the minus one floor as I do many days. This is a regular occurrence. The security guard was on the top of the stairs looking down, shouted (not aggressively at the start) down to ask me do I have a cert for him. I said I don't, but I head in most days. I said to him I'm just getting my lunch from the fridge as I do most. He then ran down the stairs and accused me in public in front of other customers (and I quote) of telling him to "fuck off". He then also lied about his colleague hearing me telling him to "fuck off". The two security involved lied. I then immediately asked for the manager at the front desk. He then called the guards about me being in the store. This all happened in probably 7 / 10 mins at 1.02pm. Two very nice people Stacy and Martha came up upstairs and apologized for his behaviour, explaining they don't allow dogs in the store. But the security still lying about me telling them to "fuck off" which is completely untrue. The managers gave me an email address to respond to. The managers also said they don't allow dogs inside. I've been bringing my little dog in his bag into Avoca on Suffox street since we have him. Which is 6 years. On and off of course, and I've never had any issue for one minute from staff or security at all. I often get chicken sandwiches from the deli downstairs and the staff are always very nice to him too, actually giving him some extra chicken as he is such a good boy! So can you please respond to the behaviour of the security staff. This is a highly embarrassing situation for me in front of other customers, I've always gone to Avoca, and I also bring the little dog everywhere and I've literally never been treated like this, in fact in any store. A security guard running down the stairs to throw me out, lying about him telling me to "fuck off" and calling the guards. I remained calm at all times during the slander that was being thrown at me in public. I didn't want to post online about this but I have mailed three times and received no response. I've attached his security tag so you know who was working. If this is the react from a paying customer, what would happen in a serious situation. I've also wrote the majority of this post from outside the store on the date in question, whilst the two security as glaring at me, watching that, God forbid, I walk back in. Will I be accused of shop lifting by lying security next time? One lie leads to another pretty fast. Expecting an email reply soon. Regards Anthony

good food, great shop, wish they served breakfast longer, recommend! Service was very goid!

Very fresh and unique meal. Definitely a step up from the usual pub food of our trip. Great salad and service was fantastic!

Avoca came highly recommended to us by a local we met while dining at Tang. They have everything here, they have kitchen items, food, jewelry, soaps, candles, clothes, I mean; it really is a one stop shop. I bought some organic porridge to take back to the states with me and a beautiful set of tea towels. If you're looking for something unique to give as a souvenir, they sell socks made purely out of sheeps wool, and granted, you find sheeps wool items in a lot of places in Ireland, but this shop in particular had unique, and funny designs, if you're looking for something fun to give. Didn't get to try the prepared foods, but they all looked delicious. We were glad to have been told about this store, definitely stop by if you happen to stumble upon it in Dublin.

What a wonderful store and café! Yelp steered me to Avoca and it was a shopper's multi-level dream for woolen knitwear -- specifically throws and hooded capes. Bright, colorful throw patterns. Clothing, jewels, handbags, scarves, baby items, food/gourmet treats -- Avoca has it all. Price points run high, but the styles are truly one of a kind and the quality of goods is excellent. Service, in the shop as well as in the café, is wonderful. Put Avoca on your must-do list if you are an avid shopper!

This was hands-down my best and favorite restaurant experience in Dublin. The atmosphere is light and calm, the presentation of the food is insta-worthy, and the service was incredible. Furthermore, the best dessert selection, too. I ended up coming back twice during my trip to try more of the menu.

This review is for both the store and the upstairs cafe. I have been on the receiving end of many Avoca gifts courtesy of my sister and ventured to the store to peruse for myself and purchase a birthday gift for my mother. BUT, before shopping...FOOD! I nipped upstairs to the cafe which my sister had told me about for an afternoon pick me up. I had an Americano and the sticky toffee cake with salted caramel ice cream. The piece of cake was huge and wonderfully moist. The ice cream was outstanding. It had a really nice flavour of caramel without being too strong and complemented the toffee sauce and cake very nicely. The service was very friendly and efficient, too. I then ventured down for a little shopping and picked up a few summer scarves, a cashmere throw, some greeting cards, and 3 Pukka teas. My sister brought home some Pukka teas on her last visit home and got me quite addicted. I ordered them off Amazon but they're half the price here so I stocked up on some old favorites, as well as some newbies. The gift item was nicely gift wrapped at check out and the cashier gave me a Horizon duty free card so that I didn't have to pay tax on the items! Bonus! I find Avoca to be a soothing store and the adorable cafe just adds to experience.

Stumbled upon this beauty walking through Dublin. It has everything you want and didn't know you needed! An Anthropology on steroids plus food! So let's talk food. Amazing. From the coffee to the Elderflower Soda to the salads and the Panna Cotta everything was spot on and the service impeccable even with the steady flow of customers. 100% try this place!

So this place has a more casual restaurant downstairs and a sit-down upstairs. We decided to eat upstairs. the ambiance is cool, kind of reminds you of your grandma's house. food portions are HUGE. We tried the green beans with orange, falafel, and chips (fries). The green beans were a little overwhelming after a while. The falafel was great, but easily shareable by 2+ people. Fries were yum! We also got a cake on our way out and were disappointed.. :( Checked out downstairs and instantly wished we'd eaten there. They have sandwiches and more dessert options. Worth checking out!

Avoca represents a great combination of Irish style with good food. Basically, the joyful spirit of this Irish company is reflected in the cuisine where you can find fresh and colourfull dishes. The menu includes the Irish classics, such as scrambled eggs and eggs benedict, and dishes with an overseas influence, such as couscous and Moroccan meatballs. The dining room is a mix of old tables and chairs, flowered wallpaper and vintage teapots, while the service is professional and quick. I usually go there for brunch because the average price for a dish and a cup of tea/coffee is 16€. However, I have also visited this restaurant during the week for lunch and it is great too.

Good little spot in the basement for lunch: healthy salad boxes or nice hearty homemade soups. I also love the goats cheese tarts or the fish cakes! The sandwich counter le bonne femme poulet is delicious but incredibly overpriced. The basement in Avoca do great sweet treats such as rice krispie squares and good coffee. Can get extremely packed around lunch rush hour.

Avoca makes wool for knitting and wonderful wool clothing. The store in Dublin has a great selection of sweaters, coats, capes, scarves and wool. The cafe is a fun place for a respite when done shopping on Grafton Street. Staff could not be more helpful and friendly. Must stop in Dublin.

I absolutely love Avoca. It's basically got everything you could want - jewellery, clothes, home wares, a cafe, bakery, deli, restaurant upstairs and generally just loads of lovely random bits and bobs. Their food is to die for, although it is pricey you are paying for quality! They do particularly lovely chocolate salted caramel tarts. Lovely place for a browse and a great spot to pick up gifts!

This review is just for the cafe, although I wish I had more time to check out the shop. I got the full Irish breakfast with scone and clotted cream. It's quite a bit of food, but super delicious and with a try! They do seem to be a bit short staffed and the service is slow, so beware if you're in a rush!

Every time I come to the restaurant hoping to love it - and every time I'm a bit let down. I can't speak for the cafe counter downstairs, having never tried it. However, as a clothing/home shop it's wonderful! First, the restaurant: Everything except the presentation (which is excellent) can really only be called "decent." It's not great, as much as I tell myself it will be, and as much as I want it to be. In fact, I've been disappointed before with the small portion sizes, complete lack of "wow" factor, and relatively expensive price. This may actually be partially due to the fact that the presentation is so good - it LOOKS like it's going to be mouthwatering, and then the first bite is completely anticlimactic! Next, the store: it's a bit more upscale, also much more unique and, I think, quality, than the typical home store chains. I could spend HOURS here, and if I had a bit of spare cash (which I never will as I'll probably be a student until I die) I'd decorate my place almost exclusively with throws, knick-knacks, books, and the like from Avoca. In summary: 4 stars for the store, 2 for the restaurant, so spend your money on the non-perishables and you'll be grand!

Came here for breakfast before and this time for lunch. Had their mushroom pasta which was simply amazing! Portions were as big for 2 people (I'm not even kidding)! The creamy pasta sauce was done perfectly with no skimping on the mushroom ingredients at all. One of the best pastas I've had in Dublin. My friend had their chicken which was once again huge in portion! Tender chicken served with a big plate of salads as a side.

To me, walking into Avoca is like walking onto the set of a movie about sweet, pretty folk who live in a pink-infused, jam-filled cottage. The children run around in sparkling fairy dresses and tiny wellies and the mum floats around like a bohemian (designer label bohemian that is) queen. The only problem is that the cottage is actually somewhere in D4 and the mum is a stressed PR agent who drives a land rover while the kids are in a creche... Ok, maybe I let my imagination run away with me but the point is that Avoca makes its money by selling a lifestyle rather than a product. Yes, the products are often scrummy, colourful, soft and beautifully arranged. Yes, they may be the height of homey luxury. No, they are not worth the exorbitant prices that Avoca charge.

This is an excellent cafe in the heart of Dublin. It's a bit hard to find because all you can see from the street is their clothing store, but don't be dissuaded. Climb two flights of stairs and you'll find a whole floor dedicated to the restaurant. I had the poached eggs and avocado on toast, it was delicious! The bread was fresh-baked and the eggs were cooked perfectly. A side of cherry tomato salsa topped it off perfectly, adding just the right amount of seasoning and moisture to the dish. My cappuccino was similarly well-made, and the service was prompt and friendly. If you're looking for breakfast in Dublin, I recommend giving the Avoca Cafe a shot!

Cute tea shop with shop included. Try their tea and desserts , so good. I would recommend Avoca

As an American yelper, my ears perked when I heard of a restaurant on the top floor of a store! For those who are not familiar with Avoca, there is a sit down restaurant on the top floor and there is a casual cafe in the basement. Dining is one the pricey side and they charge you 10% service charge already . Portions are big so go for a starter size unless you are starving. I got a mixed berry scone (which came with whipped cream and jam) and a starter size super salad. The scone was moist and cake like inside. You must lather on the whipped cream and jam. At one point, I started dunking my scone into the jam. The superfood salad was delicious and just the right amount of salad dressing - light and not overpowering . If you just want a scone, go downstairs where they sell fruit, plain and mixed berry for 1.95 euros.

Avoca is very much a rich housewives shop, and if only we could all be rich housewives...husbands. The basement deli here has really nice breads, salads, jams and baked goods, whereas the ground floor is filled with ornaments, and decorative items. Upstairs are toys clothes and the upper floor houses a restaurant, but good luck trying to get a table. Basically everything here is deadly, but you won't be coming out without your wallet feeling considerably lighter.

Avoca:) defo my fav take away salads anywhere. I have yet to be persuaded otherwise. The thing I love about avoca salads is that they are fresh everyday and you never know what is gona be on until you walk in and look. The element of surprise always makes it that bit more exciting for me. Usually on a cold, miserable day I pop in on my break and get a few boxes and take them home for my dinner. lazy way out,but with no guilt unlike with a greasy take away. Highly recommend to all salad lovers:)

Wow. Seriously impressed. Great service, Great food, and really cute products. Came here for lunch..ordered the pasta special: wild mushroom ravioli. The ravioli came in cream sauce with various mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and rocket. DELICIOUS. It was also a very generous serving; it was still good when I took it home and heated up. Whoever is responsible for this amazing dish needs to go on a cooking competition show...it was too good. Also, I REALLY hope they can make this a regular (not just special) as it's too amazing to miss. I then ordered the blackberry apple crumble which came with a side of clotted cream, berries and lovely vanilla ice cream. This was also delicious; The apple and blackberry was baked on top of a creamy custard and then topped with the crisp/crumble. Fruits were fresh and dessert was again HUGE. The cappucino was also very good. After my meal I did some shopping and purchased one of the beautiful wool scarves; someday I'll get one of those beautiful throws.

Go to the upstairs cafe. Great service and good food. My wife and I shared a crab salad as we were not very hungry. Good place.

Been to other Avoca cafes, but this is totally different. Always found the ones in Wicklow, Rathcoole and Malahide over priced n felt like eating in a canteen with twee decor... This is WOW - Table service, fantastic food, great staff, do yourself a favour and go, but don't tell anybody else lol

This afternoon I devoured the mother of all burgers (15 euro well spent!) The patty was more like a meatball and absolutely delicious. I nearly licked my plate clean. And I'm not even a big burger fan! The ketchup and mayo came in cute little jars and the fries were skinny and crunchy and just the way I like them I didn't quite get the 10% service charge for two people at lunchtime though.

Oh god. It's like a well-traveled, educated, fashionable, boho-loving, Maclaren-stroller toting, wealthy-by-her-own-making middle-aged woman exploded in here. Everything is perfect, beautiful and well-designed. From the measuring cups, to the gorgeous footed umbrella stand to the incredible dyed-silk wrap, everything here is beyond great. Beautiful objects arranged in a dynamic way and then on top of that they throw in really beautiful visuals accenting everything. Coming in here is more about exploring than it is about shopping, and you can take your time to check out everything that's tucked into various shelves and spaces. Almost anything would do as a gift for any woman in your life. On the downside, Avoca is expensive. But, as fun and funky as some of it's merchandise is, it is frankly aimed at that woman I described above. But, I think little splurges, especially on things that you love and use often (like the kitchenware's) can be really fulfilling. So free you're inner well dressed-yoga loving 36 year old and come on down to Avoca! Oh, I should mention that we got a berry crumble from here as a gift and it wasn't anything special. So I would say skip the food and focus on what Avoca does best: the merchandise.

Review for the Cafe on the top floor: Whether you go for a full Irish breakfast (which by all means was engineered to test the size of the human stomach..) or a lighter bite with tea, scones and pastries, Avoca will not let you down. The lunch is also magnificent. Things worth mentioning: 1. The servers are lovely and genuine, the first time I had a full breakfast hear, I tried to order scones as well and our server laughed and told me he'd bring the scones once I'd managed to finish the meal.. it never happened, but the honest was refreshing. 2. The food is fresh, homey and delicious. 3. Be careful walking up the 4 flights of stairs.. especially if you have a soft spot for clothing.. many find themselves distracted at some stage by handmade woolen wonders.

A lovely find for Irish designed and handmade goods. Great last minute gifts to be found. The clothes are a bit overpriced but the material , cut and stitching were excellent. The bath and bodyworks were lush. Upstairs was filled with quirky books, the usual hipster kit and gift cards.

This may be my favorite store ever. Everything i tried on fit me.. that never happens.. and of course it all looked stunning. This store was made for me. I could have spent a small fortune here but i managed to hold myself back. We also went upstairs to eat and i had the most amazing carrot cake.. to die for.

Had a really pleasant experience upstairs in the restaurant. I went for breakfast and although the menu isn't incredibly extensive, they had some really solid offerings and had trouble choosing between the poached eggs on sourdough toast w/ avocado & smoked salmon or the pancakes with fresh blueberries. I'm a bit of a berry snob after spending some time on an organic farm which, despite it's peculiar decision to ignore child labour laws, had the most flavourful berries I've ever eaten. Once you've written with a luxurious pen, it's very difficult to go back to a standard ball point, and I found that after tasting that farm's blueberries I now can't really take your average one seriously. I went with the poached eggs. The poached eggs were nice although one was slightly overdone. I didn't have a problem with this but I could imagine a fan of the ooze not being impressed. The avocado was chunky, oily and shimmery with great seasoning. I was a little let down by the sourdough as I expected it to really pack some flavour, but it fell a little short. The roast tomatoes, my least favourite part of any breakfast, were actually really quite tasty. The salmon was on a side plate, which I also really appreciated. The atmosphere was really nice and although the large place was nearly at maximum capacity it wasn't too loud. The high ceilings and big windows give it a very airy feel and I found the ambience to be relaxed and easy going. The filtered coffee was great too. Staff were friendly, attentive. Also, I should note that we had no trouble getting a table for two at 10:45 on a Saturday morning.

Oh how I love this store! It is so funky and cute and quirky! You can get some lovely things for your home, yourself or your tummy here. And anything here that is given as a gift will be loved! Their food is scrummy and always looks amazing and fresh. They sell funky wellies, dresses and other clothes. Great gift ideas and cards, always fresh and funky and funny. Their baby section or toys and gifts are really good and educational. Anything that you find here for your home will brighten the place up and give a unique feel to the place. Oh how I wish I had the money to do some real shopping here and not just window shopping!

I love love love Avoca on Suffolk St. Im not mad about the restaurant as it's always so busy and the deli is always equally as busy, but I love their homeware, kids and clothing sections. Everything is just so damn pretty. I honestly want to buy everything I see, all the time. From candles and candelabras to pink dustpan and brush sets, colourful scarves to cookery bugs, it really is like an aladdin's caves of treats. If you ever need a gift for someone - who's preferably female or under the age of ten - then this will answer all you gift-nightmares.

A delicious healthy spot, great for lunch! My fiancé, my cousin's wife and her 11 month old daughter found this place one day as we were walking around window shopping in Dublin. Our waitress was a pleasure, she was from Italy and was the sweetest! We got light lunches, I got the crab salad and my cousin's wife got a salad with chicken. We each had a wine and a very delightful experience here. The menu is diverse, a refreshing change from the pub food that really makes up the majority of Dublin!

Kind of like a posh Cracker Barrel. Upscale dining with some silly shopping some people must enjoy. We just missed breakfast and by lunch time, they do not have a very sensible menu. Do love the well made lattes though. Maybe Starbucks wouldn't have exploded if American restaurants could make a good cup of coffee.

Really enjoyed this place. Dropped into the cafe for lunch on the suggestion of a local friend. Climbed the stairs of a hip "urban outfitter" type joint not really knowing what to expect. Mismatched wooden upholstered chairs and real, solid wooden tables make my heart go boom. And then I saw the menu. There is a price to pay for all this cuteness, however. Ordered two apps as our meals (keeps costs down while getting a good sample) - lamb tagine with pita, salad, hummus & creme fraiche. Salmon pot with brown bread, butter, salad. Flavors were fabulous! Served on wood cutting boards! Word is the food hall is better value and if the quality is on par with cafe then YES PLEASE! There are def more items I need to sample before leaving Dublin!

I have been in every Avoca with the exception of Belfast. This spot has it all on the 3 floors. Basement you get your bread and food to take away. Ground floor is clothing and 2nd floor restaurant. We have eaten brunch here and wad very good. Your standard Avoca fare that everyone would be happy with. Get some breads to bring home along with some nice pate or other treats and save yourself the hassle of cooking

For years I've always popped in during the week to Avoca for my morning scone fix. The best berry scones with a sugary top taste amazing with some dairy gold butter (drool). The salads, although abit expensive compared to most places, are still the freshest and most tasty salads you can get in a cafe in my opinion. The cakes also A++! They have a sandwhich counter downstairs that makes sambos and rolls and you pick your meat (rotisserie chicken, roast beef, honey roasted ham, pork with crackling) I've never tried them yet but they look And smell amazing. I've had their new juices that have loadsa good greens in them and they were really refreshing. If I had tons of money I'd be here all the time for food and the beautiful things that await upstairs (home appliances, clothes, jewellery)

Was brought here by a friend who sometimes thinks expensive means great, but when got me into the women's store I was confused, we kept climbing up until we reached the cafe. (Still kept my doubts why he brought me here). Staff where very courteous and happy, tap on the shoulder and welcome lads I saw a lot of French fries in every table and some salads (still ugh, okay¡) Menu was concise and clear, ordered the toonsbridge halloumi salad. (With the reservations of "why am I here???" My nose was still up waiting to show some disdain, which was terrible of me) How deliciously mixed, I know it is only a salad, but most of my days, that is what I eat, so I was so pleasantly surprised of having a salad with a variety of flavors without fatty dressings or other things which could turn it all the way to unhealthy. The ingredients were all in the right amount, very good balance of ingredients for the flavor too, therefore ended up with a healthy salad with the right amount of greens and extras, and with flavor to match. AVOCA, you confused at the entrance but made a fan of me because of the people serving, the cooks, taste, creativity, innovation and presentation. (Even in salad) Great.

This place is contemporary chic, yet romantic and classic! Their locations are all great! From the accessories to the clothing to the food, you cannot go wrong and you must try their soda bread! Amazing!

Oh if I won the lotto.... *sigh* Everything about Avoca makes me happy (well almost everything, it is a tad pricey). The wares they stock are only fabliss. I found the most adorable baby bib recently as a present for a newborn. It was green and had owls - how cute. In the past I have bought presents for people who I was visiting abroad, from woollen scarves to woollen blankets. And in the present I buy dinner, bring it home and serve it up in no time. Delicious. I just love Avoca.

This morning, I enjoyed brunch at Avoca with a couple girlfriends. We rolled in at noon and had no problem getting a table for three (though if you come after 1, you might have to wait a bit). Our table was made from an old wine barrel and contained a plaque that read: "Good Food, Good Friends, Good Times." I thought the saying was so cute and apropos that I snapped a photo. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the fourth word was spelled as "freinds" (remember, "i" before "e" except after "c!"). Still cute though. I ordered the herbed wild & field mushrooms on toasted cheese bread with roasted cherry tomatoes (so many mushrooms, so much deliciousness) and a cappuccino (the camera came out again because it had an awesome smiley face in the foam). I also stole a bite of my pal's french toast with crispy American style bacon, and this Californian was very pleased. After brunch, I headed downstairs and realized that I've become my mother. Why, you may ask? Because I left the store with a garlic press and silicone egg poachers. All jokes aside, this store does have an incredible assortment of kitchen gadgets, clothes, jewelry, and toys. I'll be back again, Avoca!