Avalon Lounge Game Cafe - Holyoke

Avalon has been one of my absolute favorite places to order from in the area and I have recommended it to more people than I can count. Tonight, however, I threw an entire $40 order straight into the trash. The tacos were mostly full of soggy breading and the consistency of the chicken was disgusting/unbearable. Some things were made flat out wrong (missing key elements of the item ordered) and everything else was just different of a lesser quality than what I’m used to out of there.I will give them another shot (and possibly change to 5 stars)because it really has been one of my favorite places in western MA, but $40 is a lot of money to me. Pretty bummed right now and hoping it’s not a case of new management or something.

The appetizers were delicious, the staff was friendly, and there was a nice selection of board games. The restaurant wasn't too crowded yet, as they are still building up their in-person business. We had a fantastic time and will definitely return soon.

Good coffee, great food, friendly staff and a nice selection of games. Can't beat it. I visited for the first time tonight with friends. Nice to see a new place like this open up. The Wauregon complex itself is pretty neat. We'll visit again!

Avalon has THE BEST gluten-free chicken tenders I've ever had in my 11 years since being diagnosed with celiac disease. PLUS they don't use corn ingredients for the tenders, which is great because I'm also allergic to corn. I've also enjoyed their crispy chicken sandwich, brisket burger, sesame slaw, and truffle fries. They offer gluten-free buns (also corn-free! , which are the absolute best gluten-free buns I've ever had; I seriously doubted they were gluten-free at first, but I have never gotten sick after eating here.It is apparent that they're a small business--the dining room is still somewhat of a work-in-progress and the days/hours they are open are still limited--but to their credit, they managed to open a new restaurant in the middle of a pandemic despite restrictions on indoor dining and staffing shortages. The staff are very friendly and accomodating; I always feel welcome and valued as a customer.If you've been looking for a great place to take your gluten-free friends, this is a must-try. Bonus points for being right around the corner from Gateway City Arts (and right next to Cannaprovisions, if you're into that kind of thing wink wink .

I typically hesitate to write negative reviews, especially during these difficult times for restaurants, but I must say that the takeout experience we had at this place was extremely disappointing. I ordered a burger without cheese and a side of fries, while my wife ordered the fish and chips. Unfortunately, they put cheese on my burger despite my specific request, and also failed to provide the special sauce on the side as I had asked. The $13 burger, without fries included, turned out to be one of the toughest and most bland burgers I have ever tried - I could barely take two bites. The fish and chips were also problematic, as they were dry and lacking in flavor. Surprisingly, they did not have tartar sauce, only a spicy option that my wife found too intense. Without any suitable sauce to accompany the fish, she was unable to finish her meal. The only positive aspect were the fries, which were decent, but certainly not worth the hefty price tag we had to pay. It's frustrating to have received such disappointing food and service, especially considering that the staff were pleasant when we picked up our order.