Places to Eat

AvoEatery: A Unique New Restaurant Opens in Trinity Groves

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Tony Maples Photography

 

When I heard about AvoEatery, a unique new restaurant that was creating lots of buzz for North Texas foodies, I couldn’t wait to try it. I’m a big believer in avocados, and I feel they make anything tastier. My friend and colleague, photographer Chris Waits, shares my passion for the green fruit. Chris even used an avocado diet to shed 30 pounds a while back.

So we signed up for a tasting at the West Dallas restaurant. The world’s first full-service restaurant that focuses only on fresh avocados, AvoEatery opened for happy hour and dinner on January 30. They’re located in Trinity Groves, the bustling restaurant incubator owned by longtime restaurateur Phil Romano.

Avocados in Every Dish

AvoEatery: A Unique New Restaurant Opens in Trinity Groves

Photo: Chris Waits

The restaurant, at 3011 Gulden Lane, has a menu that includes avocado in every dish. Their full bar also features avocado elements in their craft cocktails.

AvoEatery is open seven days a week and opened for lunch on February 15. New hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. They’re also open for brunch every Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant is owned by Avocados from Mexico, marketing subsidiary of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA), in partnership with Romano.

Press information from Avocados from Mexico (known for extravagant Super Bowl ads) informs us that “fresh avocados are more than just a fruit; they are an experience that is always worth it, elevating every dish to new heights.”

AvoEatery Simulates Avocado Grove

AvoEatery: A Unique New Restaurant Opens in Trinity Groves

Photo: Chris Waits

Dining at AvoEatery is an exotic experience. Their avocado-themed décor is designed to resemble an avocado grove. Their subdued lighting and wooden shapes that look like trees transport diners into a tropical atmosphere. Even if it’s still winter outside!

The afternoon of our tasting, we were greeted by Operations Manager James Hamous. He introduced us to Beverage Manager Faith Railey and Executive Chef Jose Salmaron. They had prepared a sample tasting from their food and beverage menus for us to sample and photograph.

Since we were there during working hours, we only took tiny sips (but lots of photos) of the three craft cocktails presented by Ms. Railey. My favorite was the lime green Avo Rita ($10). It contained Espolon Blanco Tequila, avocado puree, melon liquor, and triple sec. The winning ingredient, though, was the colorful hibiscus salt rim.

 

AvoEatery: A Unique New Restaurant Opens in Trinity Groves

Photo: Chris Waits

We also sampled Pinkies Up ($10), a Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom with avocado elixir, lemon, and egg white. The third cocktail we tried was a Lemon Blossom ($10), with Elijah Craig Bourbon, avocado honey, and lemon.

Chef Salmaron brought us four dishes to sample: an appetizer, avocado toast, salad, and entrée. He said a fun aspect of his job was having the freedom to create new, tasty dishes that used avocados in unexpected ways. We had to agree, since all four of the dishes we sampled were very different from anything we had tried at home.

The Tuna Poke ($13) featured sesame oil, cucumbers, avocado, chives, wasabi aioli, and pine nuts to create a tasty, appealing appetizer. The Waldorf Avo Toast ($8), was a surprisingly delightful concoction with apple butter, bleu cheese, apples, maple walnuts, and avocado.

AvoEatery: A Unique New Restaurant Opens in Trinity Groves

Photo: Chris Waits

My favorite was the grilled avocado bowl ($12), which featured grilled avocado with numerous other ingredients. Quinoa, roasted zucchini, baby spinach, avocado citrus vinaigrette, pistachios, feta, avocado crema, and cranberries were all combined for a great taste treat. Also a healthy one!

Spaghetti squash and zoodles ($13) featured grilled avocado, squash, zucchini, butternut squash, garlic oil, sun-dried tomato, and parmesan. This was definitely a different take on a pasta dish, but much lower in calories.

Upon my return (which will be soon!) I want to try the Avocado Chicken Curry ($14). It features chicken breast, turmeric, green avocado curry, asparagus, crimini mushrooms, and basmati rice.

AvoEatery: A Unique New Restaurant Opens in Trinity Groves

Photo: Chris Waits

We didn’t try a dessert, but they sound interesting. Avocado popsicles ($4); Brownie A La Cado ($7) with avocado ice cream; and Avo Mousse ($7) are on the dessert menu.

The full bar also features “ordinary” cocktails (sans avocado), beer, and wine. They also list a large variety of spritzers.

For more information about this delightful new restaurant, visit avoeatery.com.