AVA Rooftop Bar — Restaurant in Cary

Faux luxury rooftop bar surrounded by faux luxury apartments in a faux luxury shopping center. Upon moving to Raleigh from out of state, we have been extremely surprised by the amount of "luxury" apartments, shopping centers, bars, and restaurants we have experienced. What I mean by this, is that the entire area is set up suitable for an IG influencer/content creator to order a pretty drink and take some cute pictures. However, there is no depth to this experience. The "luxury apartment" rise is a scam and this area is the embodiment of this.

First, the rooftop bar is on top of the generic Buffalo Wild Wings sport bar with several floors that also includes a Country Music Bar? The place is always packed but with sports playing on the TVs. Obviously this place is enticing to a certain demographic, but it was not the scene for us.

You have to take an elevator to the 4th floor, which stops on the 2nd and 3rd to pick up people from the other floors of the generic BW3s with people piling in. Then, on the rooftop bar there is limited seating, but a nice large bar.

We were able to get seats at the bar at 8pm on a Saturday, with nice open air. The music playing was a strange collection of pop, old rock, latinx pop, hip hop, and rap. It felt like the music was trying to cater towards everyone - but at the same time, no one. Service was difficult to evaluate because although people were sitting at tables and sitting at the bar, people were treating it like a night club and trying to squeeze between people sitting at the bar to order larger numbers of drinks. The bar didn't have olive juice to make someone's martinis and they ran out of blood orange juice for one their signature cocktails, but then we saw them restock the juice maybe 10 minutes later and the bartender never told us it was back - weird? The TVs were also playing several different golf games? I understand they are aligning with their off-brand BW3 vibes, but if the rooftop bar is trying to be an upscale experience maybe try not to cater to the finance bros with 8 TVs playing golf.

The vibes on the roof where definitely picture perfect, but it ends there. Everything is a facade of luxury. The cups are cheap plastic, drinks are extremely expensive ($22 for a Gin and Tonic), and very watered down. We had 2 drinks each and after tip paid $90. This was ridiculous. The fluorescent like fixture of "I want my moment" will surely make for a cute post on some girl's IG. But anyone sitting there and looking around will realize this place is a money grab for wannabe influencers looking to post about a great experience that lacks any depth or quality experience. Be a cheap rooftop bar playing sports on TV and charge accordingly. OR be a boujie upscale rooftop bar making premium cocktails, but have the vibe and quality to match.

If you are looking for a "looks nice" experience, then this is it, but the quality and depth are lacking - much like the entire...

Three of us went to Ava roof top bar on Friday night (5/3). First thing we are told as soon as we get out the elevator is the kitchen is closed, bar seating is open and if we want a table let the lady know behind the desk. We went to the bar to grab drinks. Three bartenders and not one acknowledged us and we waited for a good 10 mins before anyone said we will be right with you. Another 10 mins and the bartender finally takes the drink order and you can tell she didn't want to be at work that night...... The bar was not extremely busy at all.

We find a table and take a seat. At this time a lot of people were coming in from downstairs and just using the tables and any seats to enjoy the night, bit none of them were purchasing drinks. I saw a few couples who had bought drinks that had no where to sit since people were coming in to take up seats without purchasing anything.

We approached the bar again to get a second round of drinks, again the bar area was not extremely busy, three bartenders again in total. One came over to check someone out in the computer and I asked to see a menu which was behind him and he didn't even look up and acknowledge me. Second bartender comes up 10 mins later and says it will be a while we will get to you.....ok so I waited (not sure why).... five people came up to the bar after me and the bartenders took their order and not one approached me for mine. At this time I said close us out. Worst experience ever. I have been to busier bars and service was better and I am not saying I had to have my drink in the first 5 minutes but there was no acknowledgement and also bartenders were unorganized and by the looks of it none of them wanted to be at work. Nice atmosphere, but if they don't make some changes soon this business wont survive the way that it...

First off I want to admit my fault in the awful experience I had. I was expecting to have dinner and drinks but this is definitely a bar with "upscale" bar food. The concept is nice on paper but the vision is poor executed. Before I get into the drawbacks I hit a few highlights first. #1 parking is a breeze and the area of town is nice. #2 the atmosphere is nice a quite for a bar. #3 our waitress was pleasant. Now for the cons. #1 signage is poor and it was difficult to figure out where to enter the building. You go through another bar downstairs and take an elevator which is more like a service elevator because it took forever and when it did finally come their were two employees on it with a huge trash bin. Luckily the bin was empty or we sure would have left right away. #2 there was no one at the host area to greet us and it was very stuffy #3 the seat can't be to code all the tablets were super low and where we sat felt like being sat at the kid's table at the family gathering. I'm 5'7 and the table was resting on my legs. #4 the drinks were blah, flavorless and too sugary #5 the food was blah as well the grilled pita was cold and the $19 dollar lamb sausage kabob plate was nothing special but I did like the cauliflower tabbouleh #5 there is an area that is still under construction but it is not sectioned off at all Overall this was a horrible first impressions and I will likely not return unless it's a private event with outside...