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Avli Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
401 Danforth AveToronto, ON M4K 1P1
Neighbourhoods: Greektown, Riverdale
(416) 461-9577
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
10 reviews for Avli Restaurant
10 reviews in English
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Review from Patio M.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2012
We went to Avil for a late lunch while on the Danforth after walking by. Something drew us in, it wasn't the red butcher paper on the table. ha ha
The owner presented us with a $15 three course menu and a big smile. The selection was great, I dare anyone to find something that they wouldn't like to order on the lunch menu.
The food was great & there was so much food that we ended up getting a doggie bag! -
Review from Linda M.
12/29/2011
I'm a sucker for a deal, so when I saw that Avli offered a $25 three course dinner, I invited a friend to check it out with me. Leaving the Chester station, you pretty much can't miss it, which is very convenient when you're directionally-challenged like me. Walking in, it was nicely decorated and I saw my friend waiting at a table for me.
Our very sweet waiter brought us lots of delicious bread to nibble on while we waited for our orders. I had the sausage appetizer, which had more tomato sauce than I was expecting, but was delicious. I really enjoyed it. The lamb shank for my entrée was also well seasoned, and the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender. I didn't even need my knife! I couldn't finish it all, and was unfortunately a little put off the next day when I saw how much oil had accumulated at the bottom of my take away box. The dessert I chose was ice cream with sour cherries, but I wasn't impressed with the cherry sauce.
The server was a very sweet older Greek man, who felt the need to explain how we use the debit/credit machine, which was amusing for us.
All in all, a pretty good meal at a good price, but the regular menu's pricing is shocking. I would never pay the a la carte prices for what you get here. It's good, but it's not THAT good. I'd probably return for their lunch prix fixe, since I'll live in the neighbourhood soon. -
Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2011
As good as Greek food gets in Canada :)
With my return from Greece last month, I was hankering for some delicious Greek grub. I had an amazing dining experience in Crete called Avli and so after reading the reviews on Yelp, my choice was clear.
We feasted like ROYALTY here at Avli, enough to put us into a coma for 13 hours!! For starters, we had the DOLMADES (my fav from, Greece) - which was one of the best DOLMADES I've ever had. We had this eggplant appetizer that wasn't on the menu but they walked around with specials for $3 a plate and we grabbed one. We also had the traditional Greek Salad called the Village salad and it was fresh, was not highlight, but good still.
For mains, we had the MEAT MOUSSAKA and the GRILLED LAMB. It was sooooo delicious. Their Moussaka was sweet and had fresh big chunks of potato and bechemal in it, it was very traditional, just like in Greece. The lamb was very tender and done medium rare, just like I had asked for - it was delicious. The potatoes it was served with was divine. I ate sooo much, I was ready for a nap right after!
The whole meal was great, the service was awesome - fast and super friendly. very attentive and catered to exactly what our needs were. I would come back again in a heartbeat. They really captured the Greek-feel homemade dining experience in the heart of the Danforth. I would go and try everything on the menu! A bit pricier, but worth the money for the quality of food! -
Review from Ellie A.
5/23/2011
I've been going to Avli for years and am convinced it is the best Greek restaurant on the Danforth. The food is uniformly terrific and Lambros, the chef/owner, is a kind and generous host who welcomes his guests like family.
There are lots of highlights, but here are just a few:
1. The Dips. It's worth making a trip to Avli just for the dips. Their taramasalata (a common greek dip made from fish roe) is light and creamy and by far the best I've ever tasted. Melisanosalata (eggplant, onion, mint, olive oil) is delicious and refreshing. Kopanisti is a fantastic dip made from feta cheese, chilis, and roasted pepper. Skordalia is a rich, creamy dip made from roast garlic and potato. Even their tapenade (served complimentary with bread when you order) is unusually good - not too salty and infused with orange zest.
2. The mezes. You can go to many places on the Danforth and get stingy portions of uninteresting mezes ("little plates") but at Avli they are generous and perfectly cooked. Calamari (fried or, better yet, grilled and stuffed) are tender and never overcooked. Chicken livers, sausages, dolmates (vegetarian vine leaves), tomatoey mussels in white wine, octopus, spinach pie...they will all make you smile.
3. The vegetarian options. This is something that also separates Avli from the pack. You can be a vegetarian here and get food beyond "vegetarian skewer" or spinach pie (although the spinach pie is terrific - made with house-made flaky pie crust, rather than the standard filo dough, and packed full of spinach and feta cheese). Their vegetarian moussaka is rich and filling. Their baked lima beans are surprisingly delicious and the baked eggplant with pine nuts is sweet and unusual.
4. The pies. You won't find these in many places on the Danforth. All the pies at Avli are topped with a house-made pie crust and loaded with savoury fillings in the clay dish underneath. Best? The rabbit (I don't eat rabbit, but I've guiltily tasted the sauce. Wow, it was good.) The chicken, mushroom, and rosemary pie.
5. The lamb shank. Served on a bed of orzo and rich with sauce, this lamb shank is so tender, you will eat more of the big portion than you intended.
Most of all, the kitchen staff just care about the food. Some of the bigger restos on the Danforth churn out their food like assembly lines. At Avli, because the owner is also the chef, you get food made with love. And it shows.
Avli is not a place to go if you want souvlaki. While they serve it, you could probably get it cheaper elsewhere. But if you want authentic Greek food, come to Avli.
Vegetarian score: 7/10. Good, solid choices for vegetarians, but it is, after all, still a Greek restaurant.Listed in: Best of the Best: Must try…
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Review from Bill B.
7/5/2010
It's hard to believe that the reviews below are of the same restaurant I came to love over the years visiting Toronto. Granted that I have not been to Avli since 2005 (personal circumstances have prevented me from coming to TO since then). However, it was wonderful then.
I particularly recommend the mezza (small plates of appetizers). The taste of everything I have ever tried there is heavenly, putting our Greektown in Detroit to shame.
As a vegetarian, I am very sensitive to being brought the wrong food. I never had this happen in my 5 or 6 visits to Avli.
I highly recommend that you try Avli and make up your own mind. Then, Yelp about it to let us all know the score. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
8/8/2010
This gets a review based on the food provided at the Taste of Danforth. I took off 1 star bc I know it doesn't reflect the tru experience at the restaurant.
Although the line up was long for $5 each spare ribs, lamb, and grilled calamari, it was definately worth the wait. Not only was the piece, and tasty, he's the type of guy to give you an extra if he he feels the one you got was small.
It was finger licking good. Come have a try! -
Review from Krishna N.
6/22/2009
The food is authentic and delicious (we had vegetarian moussaka, eggplant, beans, etc.), but somewhat overpriced. Dining experience was okay.
Reason for two stars was that the server gave my veg girlfriend a non-veg moussaka, and did not handle the situation well, at all. Unfortunately, moussaka (quiche-like) is one of those dishes where the first time you realize there is meat in it, is after it is in your mouth. -
Review from Melissa L.
6/26/2011
I am nearly ashamed to admit this:
I had never tried a restaurant on the Danforth until this month!
Thanks to a TeamBuy deal, it finally happened though and we went to Avli for dinner.
Let me start this with mentioning that I give them 3.5 stars.
Avli is a smaller restaurant with a rustic touch that makes it quite cozy.
Our dinner party consisted of 4 adults and a toddler, so we were fine. But I think space could be an issue for larger dinner parties.
The service was friendly, however slow.
Upon arrival we were greeted friendly by an older guy who I think was the owner, then a waiter took over and we were seated immediately.
After that he could have been more attentive though.
Especially at the end.
I was waiting quite a bit for the chance to notify someone that I'd like the bill. Our waiter was in the back chatting with 2 other staff members, while the "owner" (?) had disappeared. (When we left, I noticed that he had sat down at an outside table to watch the people on the street... Uhm, ok....)
Now to the more positive: The food was good.
They brought us free bread that came with some kind of spinach dip as a starter.
One of the waiters walked around holding a tray with different appetizers ($3 a plate) and we decided on one that appeared to be baked olives served with garlic mousse.
(On that note I have to give up Avli thumbs up for this idea.
I know, normally I would have never ordered any of the appetizers, but seeing them first made the difference.)
Now for the main courses we ordered the Salmon, the Stuffed Chicken Breast, the large Chicken Skewers, the Chicken Skewer on a Pita and a side order of fries.
The salmon was cooked with caper berry and in lemon sauce and came with sautéed arugula.
The fish was amazing! It was melting in your mouth.
The stuffed chicken breast was made with rice, dates, cashews, raisins and fresh apples, then topped with saffron cream and it also came with came with rice pilaf.
The chicken was very good. Moist and tender, the way you would expect a good chicken breast. Personally, I did not like the saffron taste, but my husband didn't seem to mind.
The large chicken skewers were served with baby new potatoes and rice pilaf.
I didn't get to try this dish. But my father-in-law loved it so I am sure they did a good job.
I had the chicken skewer on pita and it came with with fries.
It's kind of a simple dish, but I really enjoyed it.
The fries were great. Crispy and golden, just the way I like it.
We ordered some extra tzatziki on the side and that went very well with the meat and the pita.
All in all, the food was really nice and I have no complaints here.
We all left pretty stuffed and had no room for dessert. ;)
For me, Avli doesn't make it to 4 stars only because of the issue with the service. But nonetheless, I would definitely recommend this place. -
Review from Victor C.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2010
The food was mediocore and the service was slow. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.
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Review from George G.
2/6/2010
Excellent restaurant & authentic Greek food. Prices are very reasonable. I had the octopus. The best I ever had.....even better than the one I had in Greece. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in TO
