AVA Mediterraegean

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319 reviews

#2 of 254 Restaurants in Winter Park$$$$, Mediterranean, Greek, Vegetarian Friendly

+1 407-794-9896+ Add website

Hours

Sun

11:30 am - 3:00 pm5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Mon

5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Tue

5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Wed

5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Thu

5:00 pm - 11:45 pm

Fri

5:00 pm - 12:00 am

Sat

11:30 am - 3:00 pm5:00 pm - 12:00 am

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MICHELIN

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Ratings and reviews

4.5

319 reviews

#2 of 254 Restaurants in Winter Park

Travellers' Choice 2023

MICHELIN

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RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

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CUISINES

Mediterranean, Greek

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Dinner, Brunch, Drinks

features

Location and contact

290 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

+1 407-794-9896

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MICHELIN Guide's Point of View

This sleek modern Mediterranean dazzler is smack in the center of the ever-charming Winter Park. It's a bit of a scene, so dress up for shared plates a...

Read more on MICHELIN Guide

Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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About

Located in Winter Park, AVA MediterrAegean is a multi-sensory transporting venue bringing dining experience and pleasure together in a refined and spirited atmosphere. Meaning life, water, island, and bird in Greek, AVA MediterrAegean is a celebration of splendor, freedom, escapism, and joy. it is a place where genuine hospitality, delectable food, and a vibrant atmosphere combine to entertain the senses and transport you to celebrate the night away. - Experience exceptional service and culinary excellence with our seasonal menu, available Sunday to Thursday from 5 pm -7 pm. - Enjoy our golden hour offerings daily from 5 pm -6 pm. - Special brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm.

CUISINES

Mediterranean, Greek

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Dinner, Brunch, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.5

319 reviews

Excellent

271

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Maryanne B

7 contributions

Amazing food/ lovely evening at AVA Winter Park

Feb 2022 • couples

Walking from the street into AVA was transformative. The comfortable seating, plants, high ceilings, elegant decor, friendly reception /service staff, and open kitchen promoted a real sense of welcome and uniqueness. Food: the food we ordered and ate was fantastic. We started the evening with the Greek platter with three ‘tapas’ ( tzatziki, hummus, black olive eggplant ) and Greek salad with delicious feta cheese, cucumber and heirloom tomatoes. Then the Haloumi cheese which was served on a bed of aromatics which were then lit and warmed the cheese. The scent of the aromatics was exotic and enjoyable …and the warmed haloumi cheese with a hint of honey and sesame was scrumptious. Our main dish was the Branzino fish… a mild type of Mediterranean Sea bass. The table side presentation by our server with the flamed infusion of herbs and olive oil was spectacular and the fish absolutely the best we have ever eaten. Thank you to the chef and the kitchen!! We did not have drinks or dessert by our choice, and left having had a wonderful evening enjoying amazing food, service, and restaurant ambience. Also want to mention the great service given during our 2 hours at AVA… we want to give recognition especially to Samir and Madison who gave helpful, respectful and attentive service to us.

Written 24 February 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gabe

Winter Park34 contributions

Ava raises the bar for Orlando

Feb 2022 • friends

I usually don't write a restaurant review until I've been there a few times, but here I am! Ava has just raised the bar for Winter Park, let alone Orlando. My husband and I joined two friends to try Ava on their opening night, February 4th, 2022. We'd been anticipating this opening for months and obviously had high expectations. Those were met and exceeded in many ways. The Cycladic-inspired space is beautiful, and even has a scent reminiscent of a high end resort. The music, the lighting, and decor...all of it is just sexy. And we haven't even gotten to the best parts yet: food, drinks, and service. The bar is massive and inviting. The drink that stood out for me was the Greek Salad Gibson, served with a cheese crisp and kalamata olive. It was delicious! Herbal, briny yet freshening. Not as salty or strong as a dirty martini. Very easy drinking. Service was excellent and the team is massive and constantly moving. The size over our table was a bit small, so it was nice to have plates cleared so quickly to make room for the next course. Our table ordered crispy zucchini, keftedes (meatballs), the dorado fish, Greek salad, crispy potatoes, and all three of the desserts (Chocolat fondant, yogurt & figs, Mille Feuille Tart). The fish was our least favorite and the tart stole the show. I was surprised to have any fried items on the menu such as the potatoes and also the fried zucchini. Greek and Cycladic foods are all more about healthier, whole foods in the Mediterranean and you don’t really see fried foods (or filet mignon) there. I struggled a little with that, but they were tasty. I would love to see them of all their menu evolve to include more classics like lemon potatoes, pastitsio, moussaka, dolmades, lamb shanks, some Crete foods, shakshuka and other classics from Greek and Cycladic areas. But I know the menu changes daily so it's highly likely some of those are already there or on the way. Abby was a phenomenal server, and the management team and staff were all incredibly friendly. Congratulations on a successful opening night and we look forward to returning very soon!

Written 20 February 2022

Robert C

1 contribution

Excellent Food but Steep prices

Sept 2023 • friends

I have been to AVA for dinner and brunch now several times. Wait staff is always great but after being handed an older menu that has heen out of circulation for several months its surprising how much the price has gone up in only a few months. Many items on one menu went up about 10-25% in cost which is surprising. The price here is steep meaning I only go on rare occasions. I liked the brunch croque madam and it was great but would prefer it to be 3-5 dollars less for what I got.

Written 24 September 2023

Patricia Davis

Hello, Thank you for your feedback and for being a loyal AVA MediterrAegean guest. We appreciate your compliments about our wait staff and the quality of our food. We take all feedback into consideration as we aim to provide the best possible dining experience. We hope to welcome you back soon for another enjoyable meal. Sincerely, Guest Relations Manager Fernanda

Written 28 September 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

LOLO

London1 contribution

Overrated and disappointing

Jan 2023 • none

I am a foodie, and ate in many places with all sorts of prices. I like simple food, I like sophisticated food, I like home cooking too! I also very rarely write reviews when I am not satisfied, always giving it the benefit of the doubt... but in this instance, I am, to make sure you think about it twice before you go. I was a big fan of the food at former LUMA, and was really looking forward to visiting AVA, replacing it. We had dinner booked with friends on a Friday evening. The decor is nice, more open, updated and very pleasant. And that's about it. The rest of the evening was nothing but disappointment. Where do we start? Personal choice to start, and it may suit a certain crowd, and I respect that... but the music was way too loud. Don't get me wrong, I do like an ambiance, but I feel that if you have to shout over the table to speak over dinner... that's a NO NO for me. Next, despite a very high price tag in this instance, I do love wines, and decided to order a German Riesling for the table. The wine was warm, not even cool, just warm from the cupboard. It didn't seem to really bother our waiter who still poured very large glasses in the hope (wishful thinking) to sell another bottle after 3 glasses. The dishes arrived on the table in very random orders, side dishes arrived before the main course, then they gave us spare plates, to remove them and save the main courses. My dish arrived a good 10 minutes after everybody else, and the dish was cold. Overall to be honest, the menu is pretentious and not interesting. The service is messy, bad, unprofessional and the staff unexperienced. It becomes amusing to see them running like headless chickens though. Luma had a very luscious desert selection and in comparison, the desert menu is nothing but boring, and to be honest, at that point I was DESPERATE to leave anyway. We did. Ordered the check and left. It is very unfortunate that not only I will never go back, but I will also never recommend the place. I truly hope you have a different experience if you go.

Written 15 January 2023

Afranca

Orlando40 contributions

Very disappointed, bday was not special

May 2022 • family

Very disappointed. First issue, it was bday balloons, they said we couldnt bring balloons and said it was company policy not to take birthday balloons, fine, took the balloon back to the car underneath all of the rain. Second issue was the cake I brought it. They dont accept cake handmade but does accept cake bought in a store, this was from a store and I had the receipt. They were fighting with us, very bad customer service skills saying it does not look like a cake bought in a store. They let us have the cake on our table to have a surprise at night. Fast forward to the night, after spending almost $1,000 and we wanted to cut the cake for my bday, they refused to do it and they knew it all along. This is not right, manager comes over and is so defensive, did not apologize and just made the entire experience very bad. I understand if I am wrong or the situation but it was not right what they did because if they had told us since the beginning, I would have spent my $1,000 somewhere else that treated me better than this place.I have been to many restaurants way cheaper and more expensive than this and I have never had someone talk to me like that, they could see we have everything correctly with the receipt and still didnt allow us to eat the cake. Never spending my b day there again and will let everyone know that the service sucks because when I asked him that I would complain and they would lose a customer he just laughed. Oh and to top it off, they add a 18% mandatory to all tables.

Written 22 May 2022

Pumpkin

Goldenrod7 contributions

New High End WP

Feb 2022 • couples

We were very excited to welcome a new high end restaurant to WP. The place was packed but we were greeted efficiently and made it to our table quickly. Some are tall tables and some are cocktail height. The design is very hip and beautiful but tends to bit just a bit noisy for conversation. The food was good but a bit average for this price point. We had the flaming cheese served on a large bed of seeds which are not meant to be eaten. The staff did not mention upon its arrival, so we didn’t know. Next we had the octopus with not much flavor, the Greek salad that was fresh and delicious, and the trio of dips which were yummy. The chef sent complimentary meatballs which was nice and they were seasoned well but very dry to taste. For entrees we had lamb chops which had great flavor but slightly unevenly cooked. We also had the lobster pasta which was unremarkable. Service was ok but found ourselves serving our own wine and water throughout the meal. Being new they are probably working out some kinks, so probably another try at another date.

Written 19 February 2022

Merjan k

3 contributions

So Disappointing

Apr 2023 • friends

Although the food at AVA was enjoyable, my experience was very disappointing and resulted in me giving them a zero-star rating. The service was terrible, with our waiter failing to attend to us promptly and causing us to spend over an hour and a half waiting for our food. This was especially frustrating as it was my birthday dinner and we had a 2 hour time limit. By the time half the table had been served, the other half was still waiting for their meals. The waiter then returned and asked if we wanted dessert, despite us still waiting for our main courses. To make matters worse, my friend had given the waiters a fruit tart as a gift to me for the end of our dinner, which our waiter was not aware of. When he brought it out for me, he asked if I wanted it cut, and I agreed, only to later find out that I was charged a $35 fee for this service. The tart was small, and I was completely unaware of the cutting fee. Had I known, I would have declined the offer. Overall, I feel cheated out of my money, and I strongly advise against having large parties or celebrations at AVA. My rating for this restaurant is 0/10.

Written 17 April 2023

coolmammaa

1843 contributions

Frustrating!

May 2022 • friends

Had to wait 40 minutes even having a reservation. we ordered : *Octopus-ok but tiny portion *Grilled Haloumi cheese - 4 pieces of cheese… I liked the combination * Tenderloin was salty * Lamb was cold, was sent back to the kitchen and came back cold again. How?!? Quality far from justifying their prices. Small portions Also service was automatically included (18%) Place is super loud. If you’re willing to have a pleasant dinner and talk to people this is not the place. Also, their tables are extremely close to each other. I was uncomfortable. Everyone seemed from the same party.

Written 13 May 2022

MILA

Hello, My name is Amanda and I am reaching out on behalf of AVA Thank you for being our guest and for sharing your feedback. Please accept our apologies, for we are sorry that you did not experience us at our best. When you have a moment, I'd love the opportunity to get more information about your negative experience. At your earliest convenience, please forward your reservation name, details of your experience and email to amanda@rivieradininggroup.com

Written 1 June 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Goppas

United States23 contributions

Terrible!

May 2022 • couples

Had a reservation at 7:15 for outdoor dining. Showed up at 7:10 and were seated for outdoor dining right away. Nice young lady brought us preferred water immediately, but then we sat there for 15 minutes with no approach from server or acknowledgement from in any way,shape, or form. Spoke to young lady who was closing doors to the inside of the restaurant from sidewalk side who “ just got there” and had no clue about what was going on. We left. Then, an hour later, they “cancelled” my reservation in OpenTable, even though we showed up and they failed to serve our table in a timely manner. Big mistake. We will be a contrarian for anyone who asks us for an opinion on where to eat on Park Avenue, and especially for Ava. If they had left our reservation alone in OpenTable, it is what it is, but because they “cancelled” my reservation in OpenTable, some twit at the front podium trying to make a point. will cost a lot more in poor word-of-mouth advertising. They clearly are not worried about one poor experience, but diner beware. Way over priced but was willing to dine there for the experience. That being said, you should consider Bacan at The Wave Hotel for a superior Mediterranean dining experience, which was leaps and bounds better than Ava. After all, The Wave is in the hospitality business, clearly not a priority for Ava. Don’t be fooled by the Rolls Royce out front, these folks don’t care.

Written 14 May 2022

MILA

Hello, My name is Amanda & I am reaching out on behalf of AVA Thank you for being our guest & for sharing your feedback. Please accept our apologies, for we are sorry that you did not experience us at our best. When you have a moment, I'd love the opportunity to get more information about your experience at AVA. At your earliest convenience, please forward your reservation details & email to amanda@rivieradininggroup.com

Written 25 May 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

candymccoy

Winter Park4 contributions

Excellent Service & Food but Pricey

Feb 2022 • couples

Wonderful service from our serving duo Francisco and Louis. Never ran out of water or clean service ware as the food just kept coming. The food is served in courses and they encourage you to pick a variety of items which are all fantastic but just know that it adds up quickly on quantity and most importantly price.

Written 10 February 2022

suzanne b

1 contribution

Good food, perplexing service

Dec 2023 • family

While I will give Ava credit for good food, the experience itself was rather baffling. First, my parents and I got there on time only to wait in line to get in. The wait was not too long but it was hard to ignore an elderly couple, the man with crutches, who were forced to wait while the majority of people in line were seated first. But everyone was seated quickly at least. The room is nice enough though the music too loud. The staff are attentive. A piece of bread dropped on the seat next to me and a staff member quickly placed it back in the dish to my utter shock. Needless to say, we did not finish the bread. Food and dessert were good, overpriced, but good. While we enjoyed our meal, we couldn't finish everything. We had leftover brussel sprouts ($13), pita, and a little bit of fish ($72) left that I had asked to get boxed up. When I got home, I was very surprised to find only fish bones had been boxed up. There was one Brussel sprout, no bread, and fishbones with sauce. I had even ask for extra pita that the server mentioned twice to have included. I enjoyed the food but between the exorbitant prices and the perplexing service, I won't repeat the experience.

Written 26 December 2023

Marine Galy

Hi, my name is Fernanda, and I am reaching out on behalf of AVA MediterrAegean. Thank you for being our guest and for sharing your feedback. Please accept our apologies; we are sorry that you did not experience our service at its best. When you have a moment, I'd love the opportunity to speak more about your negative experience. At your earliest convenience, please forward your reservation name, details, and email to guestrelations@rivieradininggroup.com. Thank you! Sincerely, Guest Relations Manager Fernanda

Written 3 January 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Claudia M

3 contributions

Extraordinary Experience

Apr 2022 • couples

We visited AVA for the first time tonight. It was fully booked and we couldn’t get a table but we decided to stay and sit by the bar. Our bartender Valentin was very nice and made us feel right at home. We didn’t know what to order for drinks /food so we trusted his recommendations and loved everything we got: the hummus, spicy tuna roll, lobster pasta (a must!!!!) and the lava cake for dessert. I don’t know the name of the drinks he made us but they were all delicious ! The bartenders working alongside him were nice too and they had a good professional/friendly work dynamic. Will definitely return (this time with reservations to sit at a table) but will definitely go to the bar for a drink from Valentin!

Written 16 April 2022

Cat

Winnipeg4 contributions

Amazing! Expensive but amazing!

Apr 2022 • friends

It’s a scene. However, the food is amazing! The salt crusted fish served table side ON FIRE 🔥 is pretty spectacular. The 3 dip appetizer is so delish! It’s a fun place to people watch. Be prepared to pay for the experience and great food!

Written 15 April 2022

Chloe Thomas

Russell Springs1557 contributions

Great Atmosphere, Average Food, High Bill!

Apr 2024 • couples

My partner and I had a 5:30 reservation and while extremely busy, we were seated within 10 minutes. I was amazed by the atmosphere and interior of the restaurant, as it truly felt like Greece. Upon being seated, we ordered waters to drink, and we were given “still” water, which we ended up having to pay for, just as you would in Greece or other European countries. My partner ordered a glass of wine and enjoyed it. For the appetizer, we ordered the Greek spread, consisting of hummus and Taziki dips with bread and veggies. This was delicious and we were given a pita refill, which based on the bill cost, I’m sure we paid for. Between the appetizer and meal, our table was cleaned and we were given new dishes and silverware. To add on, the server gave me a magnetic clip to use to attach my table to the purse so it wouldn’t be on the ground. The service was amazing. For the meal, I ordered the Chicken Tangine. It was mediocre at best. My partner ordered the salmon and while tasty, a very small portion. Our bill came out to $150, which I can say wasn’t even anywhere near worth it. Can’t say I’ll be back, as park ave has better imo.

Written 7 April 2024

Patricia Davis

Hello, Thank you for being our guest and for sharing your feedback. Please accept our apologies, we are sorry that you did not experience our dinner experience at its best. We look forward to providing a fuller end-to-end experience in the very near future as we listen to your feedback for internal discussion for growth opportunities. Our team would love to showcase our commitment to consistency when we have the opportunity to host you again. Until that day comes, all the best! Sincerely, Guest Relations Manager Fernanda

Written 12 April 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jpfing

Maitland49 contributions

Memorable, but $$$$

Apr 2024 • family

AVA hits all the notes if you are looking for a restaurant with a cool vibe, loud music and lots of people watching. We were celebrating two birthdays and Gabe and Melanie were very attentive , informative and helpful. Everything we ordered was delicious and well prepared. My recommendation would be to go Monday - Thursday when the much more reasonably priced Seasonal menu is being served , and to prepare yourself for the volume . Even with the lovely doors opened to the outside it was difficult to hear someone sitting next to you.

Written 14 April 2024

Patricia Davis

Hello, Thank you for choosing AVA to celebrate your special occasions and for your kind review! We're glad to hear that Gabe and Melanie made your experience memorable and that you enjoyed our cuisine. We appreciate your feedback on the ambiance and look forward to welcoming you back on a quieter weekday to enjoy our seasonal menu. Sincerely, Guest Relations Manager Fernanda

Written 17 April 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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