Food Porn Friday- Ava Kitchen and Whiskey Bar

What makes a restaurant/bar/lounge concept become the city’s next hotspot??  Some would say haute cuisine combined with haute décor…I say it’s a mix of something old and new, familiar and maybe even a bit bizarre.  I’m quite attracted to elements that are seemingly disparate, yet blend together to make magic happen in the most unexpected ways.  Meet Ava Kitchen and Whiskey Bar, Houston’s premiere hotspot in the heart of River Oaks, known as the Bev Hills of the South to locals.  Fine Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails fill the lower floor while pizza and whiskey (quite the pairing!) occupy the rest.  Sounds super funky but what does Ava have that no one else has got?  As much curb appeal as interior intrigue and as much confidence as the dishes she be serving up.  And from the looks of my last meal in H-town, she’s sure got the chops to prove there’s more than meets the eye.  All in all, the perfect place to meet and greet, mix and mingle!  Now that’s what I call HOT hunnies!

 Roasted Stuffed Squid with house made shrimp sausage and mediterranean salsa verde on a bed of creamy polenta ...FRIGGIN' AMAZEBALLS!!!  The mark of a good dish is if I'm craving it for weeks after the first bite.  We cleaned this plate off, it was so gorgeously plated and hit all the right spots.  Make sure to squeeze a bit of lemon on top for a citrus zing...probably the only thing that was missing from a near perfect dish!

 Handcut Steak Tartare with salsa verde, egg yolk, and toast...EH...I've had wayyyy better.  The steak was a bit fishy and a little too pink for my taste...I like it red with marblelized lines of fat running through...Just o-k.

 White Bean Soup with bacon and cipplini onions...really hearty with just a slight hint of bacon...I wished it were super duper cooked and crispy bits on top...Shouldn't bacon ALWAYS be served in that fashion?

 Ava House Salad with mixed greens, beets, chickpeas, artichokes, crouton and pecorino lemon vinaigrette.  I'm forever on the hunt for the perfect salad and this one was c'est MAGNIQUE!!!  A bit of crunch, a bunch of citrus, one of my top 3 salads ever!

 The Ava Hamburger with smoked cheddar cheese, bibb lettuce, tomato and onion with crispy fries...Something about chomping on a homemade juicy burger in a hip and trendy joint that gets my panties all in a bunch.  I swear a hot girl eating a greasy burger must be the sexiest pairing since thousand island met In 'N Out dude.  Mind you I was watching the besty bite in, not me, sillies!  Hahahahh, conceited much, Julie?

 Bacon Roasted Pork Tenderloin with dried mission figs and roasted green apples...My LEAST favorite thing on the menu...makes perfect sense, the sweet figs and candied apples nestled in a super scrumptious chop...except that the chef totally overcooked the pork and left it tough, chewy, and not in the least bit desirable.  Aw poor bacon, you showed sooo much promise as a side act too but even you couldn't save the star.

 Ava Kitchen and Whiskey Bar

2800 Kirby Dr. (at Westheimer)

Houston, TX 77098

(713) 386-6460

That's it for all the Houston eats y'all! 

Thanks for tuning in and we'll be back to OC/LA's latest and greatest by next week!

Hope y'all enjoy a super scrumptious weekend!

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