Avalon Restaurant - INGONISH BEACH

We are guests here at the inn. Sat down at 6:00 in a virtually empty dining room........"maybe" three other tables were filled. ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER we finally had dinner. There is no excuse for this. I place NO BLAME on the two lovely ladies trying to be servers along with everything else at the inn. Obviously, the problem is in the kitchen and/or with management that is not present or does not care. The food was okay, but NOT worth eighty dollars (plus wine and tips) for two appetizers and two entrees. We are here for two more nights, but there has to be something better down the road. I am sad...........

We were staying at Castlerock and it was raining - so we decided to stay in and try Avalon for dinner. The ratings are mixed so we weren't sure what to expect. But our meal was amazingly good! I had the chicken teriyaki and my partner had the lamb. The presentation was impressive and both were cooked/seasoned perfectly. The lamb came with some sort of mashed potato pancake that was a very big hit! We also splurged on dessert as they had homemade triple berry pie and it was just so good. The place was busy - most tables were full - yet the two servers working that night did a fantastic job. It is clear that the chef can make or break a restaurant - and their current chef is excellent! Don't let the dated bad ratings keep you from trying this place!

Staying at the Castle Rock Country Inn we dined in the Avalon restaurant twice. Decor is minimalist but adequate and window tables afford a view over the hills and sea. On warm days there is a terrace where either food or drinks can be taken.The menu is modest but adequate. Thre is is the obligatory lobster, but also a steak dish and lamb chops. There are also other fish dishes such as salmon and specials.For starters we sampled the crab dumplings (had better), the chowder (very good) and the goat's cheese salad (the cheese for some reason is on the bottton, so it sticks to the plate, otherwise good). For mains we tried the lobster (ticked my to do list box, not a great fan), the salmon (good) and the steak special (ok). There are Asian influences to the food, some dishes can have Japanese rice for example.As for the wine by the glass, well there are Scotish influences here. White wine comes in large plastic bags which the server slings under her arm, opens the small tap and squeezes with her arm. Sounds like playing the bagpipes? The wine is actually ok; the best white wine we have tasted on our visit to NS is the Foch Tidal Bay, the Avalon only has it by the bottle. The red was also very drinkable. There is a choice of two reds and two whites by the glass. Service was fine.

As my friends and I were the only ones in the restaurant that evening, we were pleasantly surprised at the choices offered and the quality of the food we ordered.

Sit on the edge of the verandah and share the night lights over the Sword Lake and the Turtle Tower Book a table on the 6th floor and enjoy the great cocktails Share some plates of great local food and wine from extensive global list!!