Branch and Barrel

Wonderful service, knowledgeable staff, excellent menu, nice cozy atmosphere, once again from Chef Todd. For lunch we shared the Brussel sprouts to start, yummy, and I had the kale and salmon salad which was delicious as well, very generous portions. Great local brew on tap, nice wine list, and fun cocktails. We will be regulars here as well.

In Italy, I ate risotto often. Since being back in the States, I have tried many different risottos, and none have even compared to Italy. The chef at Branch and Barrel knows how to make a fantastic risotto. I was shocked at how creamy it was leaving no feeling of a rough center. I am overly impressed with his work. If you have a chance, stop in and order the chicken kabobs and the grilled chicken topped risotto. You won’t be disappointed.

Not impressed. Our group of 9 visited Branch and Barrel on a Wednesday evening for a friend’s birthday. The place is indeed small and loud but pretty. The appetizers were ok. The Brussels sprouts were fairly greasy but the salt and vinegar was a nice touch. The trio of spreads came with 3 small slices of baguettes that could have come straight from the grocery store, plus a few veggies strips. Our entrees were disappointing. The grouper was so fishy that 3 of the 4 people who ordered it did not eat more than a few bites. We were still charged full price in spite of bringing this to our waiter’s attention. The quinoa with shrimps lacked flavor and was a watery mix. One friend was charged 10.00 for a few shrimps added to a salad. We asked if the restaurant offered any treat for the birthday girl. Our waiter confirmed that a cake was coming up. After waiting over 30 minutes, the cake finally made it to our table. All the while, our waiter did not come to our table to refill or drinks or ensure we had everything we needed. We will not go back.

I wish I could give them 4 and a half stars. Wow. Yum. The pot roast, peas, and mashed potatoes are ridiculously good! We started with an appetizer of tastings of crab dip (religious experience), black eyed peas hummus, and pimento cheese that was excellent.

Went here for dinner and had such a hard time choosing what to eat! All their menu selections looked delicious! Additionally, if you’re a bourbon fan you will find yourself right at home. If bourbon isn’t your thing though, fret not as their cocktail menu and wine selection is just as impressive. Just ask Rebecca the bar manager and she will find the perfect drink for you! My favorite dish of the night was the lobster and corn gratin app! Brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection as well! Suzanne our server also took great care of us and thankfully suggested the Bourbon cured ham! So good! Overall, I would say a solid 4 stars as their menu is great but the space is somewhat cramped, but because of their excellent customer service I have to give them a 5!
Note to restaurant: It would be nice if you purchased some heaters for the outdoor patio!

Delicious! We had a large party (10+ people) and came here around 930 on a Saturday night. We were served at the bar and seated shortly afterwards. We started off the meal with brussel sprouts, sweet potato fries, and the dip trio. I was less impressed with the dip trio and wouldn’t order that again — but the sweet potato fries and the brussel sprout OMG. Those brussel sprouts… even if you don’t like them, these will convert you. We ordered 2 plates. For my entrée I ordered the grouper & risotto which was incredibly awesome. It was far better than the steak ordered by my significant other. The sandwiches appeared to be good, but they were huge! The portions with the fries are crazy big, but the fries & housemade ketchup were really good — and I’m normally a french fries gal.
Cool ambiance, great waiter /​bartender, yummy food — we will be back :)

Had a hard time finding this place, but I’m glad I did. Great décor, cool lighting, friendly staff. Lance, our server, educated us on the best of the best. I started with okra and tomato lightly fried and too yummy. My niece had the sherried lobster sweet corn gratin. She just about killed herself! The moans and groans were unbelievable. She said «This is soo good» the entire time. We thought it could have been thicker, but Lance had told her she could eat it with a spoon. Big chunks of lobster, Chef Craig put his foot in that dish!
We both had the fish and chips. Beautiful fresh, white Cod in a golden crispy crust served with some of the best fries I’ve had in a while. Even the Coke slaw was thought out, not just on the side, but a real part of the meal.
We are leaving very happy and satisfied. Bring one of these to Arizona please.

I’m not quite sure how to rate this place. I have been there twice. The first time we were there we were seated immediately. We had just finished a Flywheel class and were looking for a bite to eat. The service was good, the food was great and we were both impressed.
Two weeks later, we decide to pop in again following a Flywheel class. The host looked at us and said they were fully booked. There were several empty tables around. There were seats at that bar as well. He offered to seat us outside. It was like 25 degrees out. We politely declined.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but I truly believe it had to do with the way we looked. Hey, I get it, we probably didn’t smell like roses, but making us sit outside is a little extreme. I just got the feeling he didn’t want us in the restaurant. He was borderline rude.
Check it out, but make sure you shower first!!!

Wow — amazing burger and sherried lobster dip!
Great ambience and friendly, attentive staff — will return many times in the future.

This is exactly the kind of place that Avalon needed. A restaurant with a great atmosphere, craft cocktails, affordable menu, nice wine list, and craft beer. It’s a nice balance between the super casual restaurants in Avalon and the more expensive ones.
There are no signs outside the restaurant, so finding it was a little tricky, but once inside — I found my favorite spot in the development. The restaurant is small, dark, and it seems to draw an after-​work crowd with many people dressed nicely. But I was dressed casually and felt comfortable too. Everyone fits in here. They have a couple of TV’s showing sports and the staff is super friendly.
I was just having drinks at the bar and really enjoyed a couple of the local beers including Cherry Street and Creature Comforts from Athens. The menu was very approachable with appetizers such as the dip trio with spicy crab dip, pimento cheese with bread, and black eyed pea hummus. The person beside me had the brussels sprouts which she loved. The entrees included items like Lobster Mac & Cheese with Smoked Cheddar, Pot roasted brisket, and they had lots of sandwiches to choose from. I definitely can’t wait to go back to try the food, but just having drinks was fun too. I strongly recommend checking this place out.

Wonderful service, gorgeous space, amazing food & drinks! This is our favorite restaurant/​bar at Avalon so far. Everyone we encountered was extremely nice & helpful. It was a delightful Friday evening spent at B&B despite the place being super busy. We couldn’t get a table so we had dinner at the bar, which turned out to be awesome.
~ Brussels sprouts — delicious! my friend said that these are the best Brussels sprouts she’s ever had
~ fish & chips w/​fries & side vegetables — huge portion & so freaking good. I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh/​flaky the fish fillet was.
~ special of the day burger — a rather expensive burger but worth it nonetheless

The food and atmosphere is great however the place is too small for reservations especially for large parties. Both times I’ve been there there have been several «reserved» tables that sat empty forever as people were left to crowd at the door. It would be nice to enjoy drinks at the bar but the wait is sooooo long that many are forced to eat dinner at the bar making it awkward and uncomfortable to reach over people eating to order a drink.
Hostess needs to do a better job at managing wait times and have better paging system when your table is finally ready.

We came on a weekday when it was pretty dead, so very likely the «B team» was working. Appetizer (salmon fritters) came out burnt. The waiter had recommended them, I’m sure they are good without being charred! The cocktails were great– solid selection and good ingredients. Entrees were also great. Manager was there and despite it being a dead night, never came over once to say hi or encourage us to come again– having been in the restaurant industry that’s a missed opportunity! Instead he left midway through our meal. We know he left because we heard one server say to another «well he just left again– saw him go out the back.» I also ordered a drink, then watched the waitstaff watch the football game for 15 minutes before putting my drink order in. We will give this place a chance again, but come on the weekend when the «A team» is here!

This is an excellent restaurant with a casual ambiance. The bistro steak is excellent, as are the wait staff and everything about our experience here

My husband and I went here for a friend’s birthday dinner. See Patrick F.‘s review from 1÷9÷16. He was more generous in his star rating than I will be.
Pros: Cool menu, crafty cocktails, and trendy atmosphere.
I ordered the Gin & Juice and it was pretty good. The first one came in a tiny glass with a lot of ice, and I could not taste the ginger. The second one I ordered came in a much larger glass and it was loaded with ginger. Not sure why there were 2 variations with the same drink, on the same night, with the same bartender. My husband ordered an Old Fashioned. The most expensive old fashioned he’s ever had. The bourbon he chose (which was not an exceptionally high end bourbon) was $ 11.50, but then it was an extra $ 5 to make it an old fashioned (ie muddling a cherry, bitters, and sugar into the bourbon). That is the first time I have ever seen an upcharge for that, so beware.
Cons:
1.Tiny place. So tiny that you are sure to bump into someone if you so much as turn your head. The wait staff could barely get around with out bumping to chairs, tables, or people.
2. Loud. I felt like I had to shout just to talk to the person next to me. Which is to be expected, since it is a bar, but if you are looking for an intimate setting, go elsewhere.
3. The food was ok. It looked great on the menu, but what we actually received was just alright.
Now, lets get to the real reason I felt so inspired to write a review, as it is not the norm for me to review restaurants.
I ordered the turkey & brie press with fries. I had filled up on an appetizer, so I wasn’t all that hungry when my meal came. I had a few bites and got the rest boxed up. The next day, I attempted to eat it for lunch. Imagine my surprise when I took a bite and almost chipped a tooth on some unknown object. I pulled it out, examined it, and figured what the hell, I’m hungry so I will just keep eating. Half way through the other half of the sandwich, I am chewing plastic. No, literally, plastic. I pulled out a white piece of plastic that is about an inch long. I know that brie has an edible white rind around it, but the item I bit into was definitely not that. It looked like part of a wrapper. That is where I draw the line! If I had discovered these items while I was at the restaurant, I certainly would have sent it back and gotten it comped. I used to work in food service, so I know that sometimes these things happen. But to miss something this large and unsanitary, not once, but 2 times is COMPLETELY unacceptable.
I might have considered going back prior to eating my leftovers. As I said, the drink menu is great and the atmosphere is neat. I can say with confidence that this was my first and LAST visit to Branch & Barrel. I hope if you choose to go, you have a better experience and more sanitary conditions than I did.
See photo for the items in question.

Let’s start with the positives, friendly staff, great bourbon selection, and unique menu. We had a good time with our friends there last night as we were celebrating a friend’s birthday.
However (and here come the negatives), it is a very cramped environment inside. The wait staff can barely maneuver around to run the food out or check on people. Not to mention if you need to get up for the restroom or greet someone. Very very small inside.
As such, the noise level is very loud. We were nearly shouting at other members of our party all night. They were playing decent music, however, you could not hear it most of the night.
It was so busy inside (and I guess that is a good thing for the owners), that there was a tremendous wait… if you didn’t have reservations. So definitely call ahead.
Finally, the price. It was a little high for my taste. My tab included a cheese burger, a turkey sandwich, the sweet potato fries, and 4 adult beverages and the bill was over $ 100.00.
As I said at the top, it was a good time; but we won’t be going back any time soon.

Stopped in the first week it was open and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Ate at the bar, started with the Lobster dip, it was delicious! The bartender suggested a few drinks we wouldn’t have chosen — they were spot on, very good and reasonably priced. I had their brisket burger, it was one of the best I had in a while, done perfectly and the onion & bacon marmalade was awesome. My wife had the grouper over the risotto, it was really good. We will be definitely going back often, there are a lot things on the food & drink menu to try.

Avalon finally has a signature restaurant. James Beard Award winning chef Todd Hogan gives a nice twist on American food. The corned fried lobster sandwich is among the best sandwiches in the area.
I’ve had Hogan’s stuff at Indigo and look forward to trying the rest of the menu. I hope this begins a trend for Avalon where a star chef isn’t spreading himself thin among a dozen restaurants. Considering how overpriced everything is at Avalon, B&B is pretty reasonable commensurate with the quality. It’s Avalon’s best restaurant.

Delicious new addition to the Avalon! This is a great casual place but has upscale «dude» décor so you’d feel comfortable in no matter what you wear here. Prices are very reasonable for delicious food.
The sweet potato fries w jalepeno candied bacon were phenomenal as an app. My hubby had the pot roast which was flavorful and tender. I had the crab cake special w lemon veggie risotto. Perfect crab cake (ratio of crab to filling/​spice was great) and was slightly seared to get a great crunch. The lemon risotto was a delicious pairing to the crab. The only item we didn’t love was the pecan pie, it was in its own pie bowl and was mostly crust and not very sweet (just tasted like nuts.) We had a very sweet waiter named Toby and a great first experience here, we’ll be back!

Excellent food and service.
We had mussels w Tom cream sauce.
Brussel sprouts w salt/​vinegar
Both were great
Wife and I had salads. Both fresh and delicious
Tasting. Hers was a quinoa salad as she is going vegan of late and thumbs up.
The interior was a warm intimate nostalgic industrial throwback look.
I think Avalon has a new best restaurant contender.