Avra Beverly Hills

I was invited to a birthday dinner at Avra last week and left genuinely impressed. After living in Los Angeles for years and dining at many well-known restaurants, it’s rare for a place to truly surprise me, but Avra did exactly that. The appetizers were outstanding. The calamari was perfectly prepared- light, crisp, and delicate without being overly heavy or salty. Our table of eight enjoyed it so much that we ended up ordering multiple plates. The Avra chips, a mix of zucchini and eggplant chips, were another highlight. Even for someone who isn’t usually a fan of eggplant, the combination was excellent and very well executed. The octopus was also exceptional, with a perfect texture and flavor that stood out among many versions I’ve tried elsewhere. By the time the entrees arrived we

The hostess was warm and welcoming and thoughtfully accommodated our request for outdoor seating. Although it was raining, the covered patio was comfortable and well set up, making for a relaxed and enjoyable meal. Everything we ordered was excellent. The food was fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The coffee, in particular, stood out—rich and well made, which is always appreciated. Our server, Alex, was exceptional. I was especially impressed by her deep knowledge of the different fish offerings. Being able to personally select your own fish and have it prepared to order is a wonderful touch—it immediately brought back memories of doing the same in Italy. The octopus and fish we chose were both outstanding, perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also really loved the pasta-and-

Lunch was such a vibe! Hummus is included with the table. We had Greek salads for our starters, Octopus and Fried Dorado for the main and orange and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. We enjoyed it all. Beautiful atmosphere. Very fresh seafood. Definitely worth your time if in Beverly Hills.

That was quite an experience. The complimentary hummus and bread were actually really tasty, especially the little red radishes 🫜- it has a natural sweetness just perfect with the hummus. The fish was amazing- it is light but with lemon 🍋 it was just an amazingly tasty and healthy dinner for me. I think their recommendation of 1 pound was just perfect - mine was slightly bigger hence a bit too much but I finished it just because it was really good. I ordered the traditional tea from the Mediterranean area - you should wait a bit to let the flavor come out before you drink, a uniquely spicy flavor kind of refreshing. Service was pretty great as well.

This place was packed when we visited, but we were lucky enough to find a table. The server was very polite and helpful (side note: we are Greek - born and raised, and still living in Athens. So the bar is already pretty high for us, since we have experienced the real deal). Now, to cut to the chase... The amount of money the food cost us was extremely high for the quality of food we were served. Yes, about 50% of the dishes were pretty tasty, but the rest were just not something I would order again. Highlight of the meal we're the lambchops, which weren't even prepared the Greek way! Lol The location of the restaurant is definitely one of the main things you're being charged for, but it would be nice if the food matched the ambiance/fanciness of the whole thing.