Avery’s Restaurant Cigar & Sports Lounge — Restaurant in New Providence

Visited Avery’s on February 14, 2025, around 8:00 PM to grab a meal. As it was Valentine’s Day, my partner and I expected a bit of a crowd, but we were hopeful we could at least place a takeout order. I checked their social media pages before making the drive, and did not see a post or indication about valentines, special dinners, or requirements. Usually when we visit Avery’s, the waitresses advise us to seat ourselves, so tonight we didn’t think this “procedure” would be disregarded. After entering the restaurant and seeing most of the tables and bar space being occupied by patrons, my partner and I spotted two vacant tables near the kitchen/ restroom door areas. We moved over to grab a table as we did not want to crowd the door space and live band. Before we had a chance to sit down, a waitress wearing an orange shirt yelled to us “Wait, y’all can’t sit there….you have a reservation?”, at which time the other guests started staring in our direction. We were taken aback, not so much by the question but the tone and delivery, and responded no. I moved to ask the waitress about placing a takeout order, but she went behind the bar and checked the computer, I assume to verify if the tables were reserved or not. She indicated to my partner that we could sit there, and although we were dissatisfied with the exchange, we still took the table as we really enjoy Avery’s food. After ten minutes, the waitress in orange asked if we had seen the menu, which we had not and told her so. She didn’t point out where the QR code for the menu was, or if the options were limited to special valentines options. Eventually we got up to leave because it was apparent the waitress in orange did not want to serve us, as shown by her consistently walking past our table without so much as a glance. A second waitress asked us if we had gotten served, but by this time it was too late. We are highly disappointed in the service...

This is my 3rd visit to Avery's since I first discovered it on a visit to Nassau back in May. Food and atmosphere top notch. I even met a couple who drove from eastern new Providence to eat there and they bought breakfast and lunch and agreed with us that the food was surperb. However, the service is much to be desired. Upon entering the restaurant it took 4 waitstaff 10 minutes to come to the table to take our order. Btw, you should still have a paper menu for the elderly or those who choose to leave their phone at home, instead of just the option of scanning a code. Anyways, after placing our order, and waiting patiently on our food, I heard our waitress tell the staff at the bar that she will see them tomorrow without even coming to the table to tell us she was off the clock at 4pm and to introduce a new person who would be waiting in us, which further delayed our order, we were further charged for an item that we originally cancelled with the first waitress which took time for us to sort out at the end when we were in a rush to get back to the airport. But in the end 2 other ladies end up serving us. So that's an area that needs improvement but overall I love the place....

Ohm goodness I love Avery's!!!!!!!!! They're a joy to be at. The live music, the competent and amicable customer service, the stellar food, the great ambiance and atmosphere, the indoor and outdoor seating - it's all so so so so so so good. I went in a Thursday night with a friend, and a Jazz band played all night all the guys of Jazz! I jammed and gelled all night with it. I was more than happy to spend my money on my glasses of Pinot Noir, my crack conch dinner with peas n' rice and plantains and garden salad, and my tenders with guava bbq sauce dip. The attendees were all either couples or friends who gelled right along with me too. The workers smiled while they worked and we're so attentive and committed to supplying us as customers with such a good time. Being all the way out Adelaide may have been a slight discourager for me since it's so far out for me, but upon arrival, everything they offered more than made up for the location. I definitely recommend anyone pop over and enjoy this clearly stellar restaurant...