AV

AV, you have really outdone yourselves.... Frances is a great host, and the waitstaff here is amazing... we felt so relaxed for my birthday, and couldn't be happier.
The bartender was great, the cocktails here are TO DIE FOR and we had a great time at the bar before we sat down to dinner.  There was 7 of us, and we all ordered around the menu, but the sweet potato gnocchi was the best - I could have eaten that  for my meal!! Had the Halibut for my entree - perfectly cooked throughout - my husband had the duck, others had the scallops, filet, pork chop, and skate.... for dessert we had the panna cotta... AMAZING!! any foodie around the NEPA area needs to dine here at least once.... you won't be dissapointed... Thank you Francis for remembering us as well.. we love you!!!

AV has made a tremendous contribution to the NEPA dining scene as it approaches its tenth anniversary. It has been a while since I've visited and a few things have changed. The important things have not.

The mussels I mentioned in my last update are now on the menu. They're still the best mussels I've had to date and they were prepared exactly the same way I had them two years ago when they were a special. You'll want to use the broth for your bread and skip the olive oil... or just ask for extra bread. The sweet potato gnocchi is still a life-changing experience.

The menu has been pared down somewhat (the pizzas, crostini and perhaps 1/3 of the appetizers and salads have fallen by the wayside) and the prices have gone up somewhat. Entrées now start at $18, but to be fair the lower priced ones (such as chicken Parmesan) have been eliminated and the prices have not increased by more than a few dollars... unless you can or want to get here before 6pm.

Yes, AV offers the classic "early bird special" between 5 and 6pm in the form of a prix fixe menu. Yes, it's early, but it also allows diners to obtain three courses for just $20 - less than the price of most entrées on the regular menu. There is also an item on the prix fixe menu that is still available after 6pm - the skate wing. Our server conveyed all of this information to us rapidly and coherently despite our 7:30pm arrival time - essentially, getting the word out.

I'd ignore the reviewer who insisted upon a substitution when opting for the prix fixe. It's not BK, it's AV.

Some new cocktails have appeared on the drink menu, which happily and thankfully now features an expanded selection of beer. I decided to give the Cleopatra a shot, which includes the unusual Luxardo maraschino liqueur paired with pineapple. While I did enjoy it, it would not be my first choice on this list (that honor still goes to the Twentieth Century).

The entrées my companions and I ordered (pork chop, duck and scallops) were a bit heavy handed with salt. The sides included with main dishes have become more varied - polenta fries or lentils would not have made an appearance more than a few years ago. The purple potatoes had a good run, but I suppose their charm would eventually wear off.

Like others have mentioned, when you get to this place, you feel like you're driving up to the no-tell motel, but inside it is a very different story; very warm, inviting, modern and comfortable.  I found the staff to be incredibly accommodating, almost *too* accommodating because  I felt like my every move was being watched.  The moment I put down my fork, someone was there whisking away my plate.  I decided on the steak from the prie fix menu.  It came with green beans and potatoes.  I asked if they could replace the potatoes with extra green beans instead and was told no.  Seriously?   So I just asked for it without the potatoes.  Kind of a turn off that they couldn't throw a few extra string beans on my plate in their place, but I wasn't going to make a big stink about it.  My meat was overdone (I asked for medium well and it came out well done with no pink whatsoever), however I will say that whatever sauce they put on it, the demi glace, was delicious.  My husband enjoyed his mussels appetizer and scallops main course.  The wine was good too...a great selection.  Overall it was OK, but I've been to better places in the area and the string bean thing like I said just really turned me off to the place so we probably won't return.