Avance

Phenomenal meal. Dined in April and enjoyed exquisite food and excellent service. Heading back tomorrow and looking forward to every bite!

Another overpriced restaurant for the Philly area. A friend and I did the chefs tasting menu. Mixed bag on the food yes everything was presented beautifully but I was so over foam and rhubarb by the end of the meal. Highlights would be their foie gras, bacon and eggs and the steak was cooked perfectly the rest I could have done without.
For the price it just was not worth it. To many other great chefs and restaurants in Philly that I will not be back.
One last point the bathroom situation is horrific. One bathroom unisex single stall by the front door. Just bizarre

Perfect for Manhattan in 2003!!!
In center city, with 2 hours before the orchestras performance of ‘The Firebird’, Lady Mary and I ventured to taste Avance. The Walnut street icon, and former home of Le Bec Fin had (and has) some mighty large oxfords to fill.
We walked into what was either a very stark dinning room, or a very well appointed bunker. Is Avance nostalgic for the Spirit of the Blitz, or committed to a starkly utilitarian aesthetic to contrast it’s decorative cuisine… very heady!
The overall quality of the food was commensurate with the price, which is in the (price) stratosphere of Philadelphia dinning. However, the foie gras was as good as advertised, and the lamb burger has surely made it onto many a diner’s top ten list. I was unsure if it was impolite to disturb the expertly places micro-​greens and shaved radish, but decided throw caution to the wind for a few mouthfuls of perfection.
To follow, Lady Mary and I ordered the brassicas and sturgeon respectively. I did not enjoy spending $ 25 on broccoli, and contend that the layers of flavour in veg. are finite, despite a good opening argument from our server for the defense. I enjoyed the accompaniment of horseradish with the sturgeon; less so the Riesling, the suggested wine pairing. We opted to steer clear of desert, in favor of a pair of diabolically delicious cocktails from Dr. Drink, Bradford Lawrence. ‘The Ford’, a gin and orange bitters arrangement, was possibly the highlight of my evening (Stravinsky not withstanding), and was definitely the least pretentious item served.
It should be noted that I can’t stand tasting menus. This fact did nothing to help with value. After tasting enough to feel satisfied, and drinking enough to fortify us for the evening, dinner for two approached $ 300. Although that price point didn’t bother me at all under the Perrier régime (nor did wearing a jacket to dinner), the same figure irritated the dickens out of me with Bogle.
I reflected on why Avance inspired such ire in the Urqhart. Imagine someone handing you an apple, then demanding that it’s a suitcase. When you try to politely point out that it’s fruit they are holding… it’s delicious, and can’t hold or transport clothing… they INSIST that it, in fact, is a suitcase, and you are a plebe for not being able to recognize it. So it is with Avance. It insists that the restaurant is connected with the city and it’s inhabitants, when it so clearly has no relationship with the former or the later. Nor does it care to. The space does not capture the soul of the city. The cuisine does not speak to the gritty, underdoggy pluck of Philadelphia. The servers come across as public relations specialists, and the price point makes those of us who drive Jaguar Eagle roadsters wince.
The skill level and quality of cuisine are clearly excellent, and I won’t be back.

I went for dinner and drinks at the bar downstairs. At 7 pm on a weeknight, the ambiance is dark and cool but well-​attended and buzzing with excitement.
The bartender recommended «See you Around the Bend» from the cocktail menu and it was delicious. I don’t remember the bartender’s name but he was very knowledgable and attentive.
I also ordered the assortment of five cheeses and the lamb burger. When the cheese plate arrived the description of the 5 cheeses was rushed (as in, i didn’t know what cheese was where on the plate) so I asked for clarification.
The lamb burger was delicious. Definitely try it.
Overall, the bar has an exciting atmosphere but the service is a bit inconsistent. I’ve never been to the upstairs restaurant but from what I’ve been hearing, the downstairs bar was a better choice.
Side note: I tried accessing the menu online at Avance’s website. The photos on the front page were gorgeous but the link to the menu didn’t work. Too kitschy (pictures, drop down items, etc) and not enough delivery (couldn’t access a menu).

I took my boyfriend here for a birthday celebration. We were seated at a couple’s table right near the entrance (facing the entire restaurant). The bf and I really liked it (we love to people watch) but I can see it being a little strange for some people. No worries though, you can always asked to be seated elsewhere.
We got the 5-​course tasting menu and both of us left super full. The staff was extremely attentive and knowledgeable and gave great wine suggestions to pair with our food. The presentation of the food was impeccable! The bf made a comment that he never knew food can have so many different kinds of textures (in a good way). All in all, it was a very memorable night! I highly recommend it for both a romantic night out with your significant other or even for a family outing! (We went on Mother’s Day and there were plenty of families there; there were even a few kids.)

Magnificent in every way. It’s difficult to describe how perfect and impressive the food and service were. I’ve had my fair share of fine dining experiences and this was no contest the best food and service experience I’ve ever had. The artistry that goes into the food (and cocktails) is a serious level of craft. But there is no pretense, what a relatable friendly staff! We did the chef tasting and it wasn’t cheap (
we definitely splurged) but if ever a restaurant was worth it… well Avance is indeed. Most highly recommend!!!

I’ve been dining only at high stars resto— this is the best
Everything done right and perfect for the nite…

My friend and I did the chef tasting for $ 138 per person. I believe (and I may be remembering wrong, but believe me it was more than enough food) we had a total of 12 dishes, including amuse-​bouches (2) and a last plate of little cookies – after already having 2 desserts.
EVERY single dish was a work of art. It was like going to a modern museum or having Picasso construct our food.
A few dishes stuck out for good (hence four stars) and for bad (hence lost 1 star). We’ll start with the «meh.» The scallop dish was just a touch too salty but the greens used with the scallop dish mellowed that out, and I only wish there were just a few more sprigs of it. The tartare dish was mediocre – while it looked and sounded impressive it was not as flavorful or as interesting to the palate as I hoped it would be.
While its flavor profile was not as interesting as the ones I am about to mention, I have to give props to their mussel appetizer – I had no idea when brought out that the shell was edible and that was just plain fun to eat the entire thing: mussel and «shell.» Their play on bacon and eggs (an appetizer that comes in a hollowed out egg, bottom layered with caviar) was very very good. The custard dish with English peas was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed the skate. And the lamb was amazing.
My friend had heard that service was poor here. We both felt otherwise. We had started at the bar downstairs with a cocktail each. Our table was ready and my friend had not finished her drink. The hostess brought her drink for us (so many other restaurants tend to just have us carry our own drinks). Upon sitting we were greeted immediately by a waitress asking us about what kind of water we would like (still or sparkling). And we had what looked like a manager or sommelier checking in on us, giving me excellent wine suggestions, and explaining every single complicated dish before us.
If you want to go fancy, if you’re into molecular gastronomy, if you would like to impress someone and be impressed, try Avance and do the Chef Tasting.

This restaurant is completely out of place in Philadelphia. It’s too upscale – the price point is high and the food is way too over thought with over the top presentation. I make my trips to Philly for straight forward excellent mid-​range food, which there is plenty.
It could work in NYC (and a space of that size would be full every night, unlike Thursday at 8pm when we were there and it was empty). The food is quite good and beautiful. The wine selection was good as were the cocktails. The service was a bit over the top, as though they had something to prove. I’ve been to Michelin 3 star restaurants, where the servers talk maybe 25% as much and convey the same amount of information.
Everything we tried was excellent. I especially enjoyed the King Crab appetizer. The best part of the meal was the complimentary chocolates at the end.
It was worth trying. However, it was definitely the most exhausting dinner that I’ve had over my last few trips to Philly. I don’t know how it will stay in business.

The food is beautiful and delicious, the bar is cozy, but the service is… a bit lacking.
I was ready to leave my first 5 minutes here. When I walked in, an old couple was in front of me. They told the hostess they wanted to sit at the bar… the hostess told them to head right down, so I followed them. As soon as they got downstairs the waitress greeted them and told them to sit anywhere they’d like, while totally ignoring me. I had to run after her and tap her on the shoulder… I told her that I was also interested in getting drinks/​food in the bar area, but my friend had made reservations… I asked if I should also sit anywhere. She curtly said no and told me to go see the hostess. I went back upstairs and told the hostess, who looked at me like I was an idiot. «well, I guess I can find a seat for you downstairs…» as if I was highly inconveniencing her. When we got downstairs, there was a table available in the corner and there was another one sandwiched between 2 large groups of people. Of course she pointed me to sit there… I was like no, I want to sit in the corner… she debated, thought about it for a while, looked at her watch, debated some more then reluctantly let me sit there.
Of course the old couple had already gotten a cocktail in that time frame and in the next 5 minutes I still didn’t get a menu. But alas, when the cocktails and food did come out, they were both amazing. The Panda at the Disco was delicious and refreshing. The foie gras was like a delightful mousse arranged in a beautiful ribbon with hints of grape and black walnuts, to be spread over house made brioche. The dry aged duck with a crispy skin was also fantastic. The dishes were all beautiful with complex flavors and wonderful textures. Next time I’m here, I’m avoiding the bitchy hostess at the door and sitting at the bar.

Downstairs bar review only.
Quick hit: food and drinks were lovely but service was very frustrating. Wouldn’t go again for anything beyond sitting at the bar.
Ugh. That’s how I feel about the downstairs bar at Avance. I wanted it to be that first $ 45K Mercedes you buy when you’re 30 that excites you so much you work your butt off to earn the $ 85K one ten years later. I wanted to be a hideout from the dirty streets of Philly, the heaps of wannabees, Irish pubs and faux classy hipster bars where you get served $ 14 drinks by guys in Chucks. I wanted it to be Chez Georges.
I did not get those things. Go read my review on Chez Georges if you’d like but the point is I rambled on like a sidewalk poet, said and still believe it was a top 3 meal in this city and didn’t even mention the food. Avance was the polar opposite of that.
All I can say here is that the food was in fact amazing. The juicy lamb burger made me feel like I was finger-​painting in the Louvre. Wrong in a good way. Chawanmushi made us think, wonder why we’d never had such a unique dish before. Drinks we had (Toe to Toe, Panda at the Disco) were phenomenal. No complaints on what went into us. None.
But I drop two stars because the service was so disappointing. I may be wrong but I felt like after we both ordered drinks, chawanmushi, and the burgers (as we’d heard great things) we were left alone. Almost ignored. For a long time. Like, we had both finished our burgers then sat there for another 15 minutes staring at empty plates. I would have gotten another drink (maybe two), spent more money. But no one came. For over twenty minutes. The complete opposite of the orchestra that was service at Chez Georges.
So yeah, the food and drinks were great. I may come back and sit at the bar as the bartenders there sounded very attentive and obviously knew what they were doing. But I must say I still have a bad taste in my mouth knowing the potential of the kitchen and space is so, so much more.

Not all it’s cracked up to be, unfortunately. Needs some tweaking and an adjustment in service before it’s really worth it.
My friend and I went for her belated birthday and sat downstairs at the bar. Started off with some promise (the foie gras piped like ribbons was ridiculous and beautiful), but our server was INTENSE and a little too much all the time, even when he didn’t know what he was talking about. When I asked what one of the elements of my pork neck dish was, he quickly told me it was a scallop — it wasn’t — and then almost immediately whisked himself away. The internet tells me it was most likely kohlrabi. Yes, MOST DEFINITELY a scallop then. Overall a little disappointed in my main, especially compared to what we started with.
He also recommended both the bacon and eggs and chawanmushi, both really great — the former being served even better than the foie gras, by saying they were a must or the best, something that happened to us or around us a few times during the evening. Avance: home of everything best and great in Philadelphia. I had also asked to hold on to the menu, which I left to the side of my plate, but it was eventually taken away before the main dishes were served… guess I will not be partaking in any additional items or beverages.
I think the total was $ 120, tip included, no alcohol, two mains and three plates to share. Probably would be a solid four star, with a solid douchey vibe, if we just stuck with only small plates and hadn’t gotten our happy buzz on up the block at Franklin Mortgage.

*Review of the downstairs (bar) area*
I decided to make a reservation for a table at the Bar at Avance just in case there weren’t any seats at the actual bar… and I’m glad I did. At 7pm on a Thursday night, the place was packed. I started out with the Panda at the Disco cocktail and that’s what I stuck with all night. It was lemony, minty and refreshing. We started out with some oysters which were perfectly fresh and paired with a mignonette sauce. The arctic char is served raw & paired with a really delicious horseradish cream + shaved fennel & apple. The foie gras was TO DIE FOR. When the plate came to the table I looked at it and thought «what the hell is that thing?» but it turns out that what is listed simply as «foie gras» on the menu is a beautifully presented whipped foie gras that you can spread on brioche. It was the tastiest foie I’ve ever had. Also it’s a BIG portion, perfect for sharing. The dry aged duck was also excellent. The server/​food runners were great and explained the food in detail without being annoying about it. Timing of dishes was perfect.
One of these days I’d like to go all out and try the tasting menu upstairs, but the downstairs bar area is perfect for sampling the wonderful food at Avance in a more casual setting without committing to the tasting menu.

Excellent! Superb, and flawless. Sound familiar? Shao Khan style! I really like this place. This is worth the discovery. Alina was a great waitress. They take great care of their customers. Try, but bring some money because it’s $$$$$$$$

Yes. Perfect.
Be sure to visit the bar and experience amazing mixologists. All the service staff take large pride in their work. They are amazing friendly and you get to be a part of their family during your time there.
The food is simply amazing. Each dish is unique and perfect. You cannot go wrong with anything you order.

It’s not often I give a five-​star review, but Avance definitely fits the bill. The atmosphere is sophisticated and classy, the service is great, and the food it outstanding. I found they combined just the right amount of new-​age/​post-​modern techniques to make it interesting, but not overshadow the dishes. Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Definitely not Le Bec Fin, of course, since this is a totally different concept, but great for a special occasion or just a night out. The bar downstairs is a mini version of the restaurant upstairs, with full a la carte menu, but no tasting menus just yet. The five-​course tasting was great, and I didn’t leave wanting more. My date and I did add the foie gras a la carte course as a sixth course, and split it; a nice addition, and enough foie to split between two people, no doubt.
Just go, you’ll love it.

Avance is a worthy new addition to the Philly restaurant scene. Even though they’re only three weeks old, our dining experience was basically perfect.
With the closings of Susanna Foo, Le Bec Fin, Striped Bass, and other ‘fancy’ restaurants, it seemed that BYOBs had taken over fine dining. While I love BYOBs, Avance is a breath of fresh air in that is is clearly not a neighborhood joint, allowing Chef Bogle to unabashedly (and non-​ironically) show off his tremendous talents.
Every member of our party had a different favorite dish, which just goes to show how phenomenal the food was — literally every dish was excellent. I personally loved the cauliflower chawanmushi, a Japanese-​inspired light and unique appetizer which aced the concept of ‘umami’, and the halibut; the soft and buttery fish paired perfectly with the refreshing apple pieces.
We did the prix fixe menu, but replaced the artichoke with the sweetbread. The staff was extremely accommodating and made it a point to ask about dietary restrictions. Everyone from the door greeters to the waitstaff to the coat check was professional and amicable. Even the girl who refilled our waters, Britney, was extremely friendly and made us feel truly welcome. So many other fancy restaurants have snobbish waiters who act like you’re just another annoying customer — Avance thankfully does not have this issue.
The value was also surprisingly good — $ 86 for five well-​portioned dishes (and a good number of amuse bouches and breads with fancy names. The gin and tonic dippin’ dots were excellent). We left feeling perfectly satisfied. The décor is sleek and the cookbook bookshelf is a great personal touch that really shows from where the chef takes his inspiration.
The one recommendation we have is that the coffee should be served in a smaller pot, as it was too diluted and no one person can finish a coffeepot of such large size anyways.
As a member of our party said, Avance feels like you’re dining in NYC, but at the pricing point of Philly. All in all, a fantastic dining experience that I’d wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a special place for dinner.

Went last night with my DP and loved it. There were a few bumps along the way, but the overall excellence of the food, service, and inventiveness won me over.
Here’s a rundown of the experience.
We had early reservations for 5:30 Friday evening. They called me around 4 pm to confirm, which I thought was odd but they asked about dietary restrictions which seemed up to date.
Upon arriving, you can’t but help notice the darkness. It’s a heavy décor, lots of black curtains, thick, dark wood, etc. They were having temperature issues in the dining room, so we had to wait about 10 minutes to get seated with the other early couple.
The wine service was good. I’m not a huge wine guy, so usually go by the glass. I did a Napa Chardonnay. The server was VERY knowledgeable, and knew her stuff despite looking like she was 22. ;)
We opted for a la carte, since I’m a control freak and my DP doesn’t like to «eat too much!» It turned out great, since there are a lot of amuse bouches and nice touches (pardon the butchering of the French).
1) Complimentary Brut — set a positive tone (⁵⁄₅). Our waiter arrived with this, and he’s a BLM vet and was a great guy throughout. Really perfect except he needs to unbutton the bottom button of his jacket
2) Amuse bouche — Crackers with Uni Mayonnaise (⁵⁄₅) — positively delicious. I was ravenous to start, but this was a light wafer-​like cracker (tortilla chip?) with an Uni/​Mayonnaise type of paste on an artful bed of smoothed stones and kelp. Right away you know you’re dealing with something different. I loved the mix of textures, which was a perfect pairing of some crunch and smoothness that left one satisfied in a great way
3) Amuse bouche — Poached egg with spinach oil, bacon, and caviar (⁵⁄₅) — Oh wow. This was out of this world. This may have been more of an egg custard, but the caviar and bacon add a savoriness that took it up a level. It was presented in a carton of 6 eggs, two of which were opened up poached egg style the other four were cold and not to be eaten. Kind of fun
4) Amuse bouche — Tuna tartar with horseradish (²⁄₅) — Garish display, IMO. It was a small portion of tuna tartar that was not particularly fresh, with a hint of spiciness to it (very little), and it rested on a dried vertebrae of the tuna. I was left with a poor taste in my mouth as well as in my mind.
Luckily, the bread service came to the rescue!
5) Sweet bread with sea salt and homemade butter (⁵⁄₅) — This was my favorite bread. It had an outer layer akin to Philadelphia soft pretzels, but the inside was sweet and moist and not too hot. The butter was very good and topped with more sea salt, but this was a darker variety. Loved it
6) First course — Arctic char w/​shaved apple and fennel (⁴⁄₅) — Very pleasant and clean opening course for me. I love raw fish (am a real sushi snob), and this was good although after doing places such as Yasuda etc in NYC my bar is VERY high. The apple was lovely, and there were other great flavors here (maybe horseradish) that made the dish pop. Presentation is fantastic and artful although the plates are extremely dark and heavy
7) Buckwheat bread (⁴⁄₅) — This was hearty and well timed. I like the idea of buckwheat more than the flavor, although this one worked well. The crust was crispy and robust
8) Brassicas (⁵⁄₅) — This was the «greens» plate and honestly on the same level as Vedge. I asked them to go «lite» on the oil and they complied. You could really enjoy the assemblage of vegetables, which included a roasted leek, shaved Brussels Sprouts, et al
9) Rye bread with amaranth (³⁄₅) — I was breaded out at this point, but it was an interesting combination of flavors. The bread guy (for lack of a better term!) really talked this one up. My DP loved it. I probably don’t have a sophisticated enough wheat palette
10) Halibut with black truffle (⁴⁄₅) — Halibut was cooked perfectly, so soft and buttery inside with a crispiness to the skin that I loved. I did not have black truffle w/​it but am too much of a softie to point it out to the servers. I preferred the lighter version, anyway. The additional garnishments were perfect, such as cabbage and a sweet potato reduction
11) Cheese plate (³⁄₅) — This was a bit of a disaster. A different server brought us the cheese plate, struggled mightily in naming the different cheeses (my DP is French so I watcher her wry smile), and left without opening the glass serving lid nor did he bring us bread. He came back with regular baguette (not thinly sliced), and yet another server came with the proper thinly sliced baguette. The cheese itself was a good assortment, although it was bereft of a distinct blue and while the honey was a good accompaniment I would’ve preferred another sweet add such as green apple slices or a jam
We were too full for dessert, but the menu looks enticing. I’d opt for the Yuzu crème brûlée or assorted fruits dish with sorbets next time

Cool space with great wine selection and progressive food prep.
Avance’s bears no resemblance to its predecessor Le Bec Fin, which is a huge relief. I’ll always remember my two paultry visits to Le Bec since both times I was asked to leave «as the next customers for your table have arrived.» That will *never* happen at Avance. I was there for a company holiday party and the service could not be more friendly. Salmon tartare, carrots done some way presented over a bed of (non-​edible of course) rocks, and foamed cauliflower were the highlights. The space itself is woody elegant yet somehow inviting, like an old, comfortable couch. Bonus: black walnut tables from Vermont.
Looking forward to my next visit when the place is full bore.

Avance’s opening was lovely, but first I must bid the salmon-​and-​gilt flair of Le Bec Fin a fond adieu. The only French pieces left seemed to be the (adorable) demitasse spoons, the use of the phrase «amuse-​bouche,» and the steak knives (forged in France).
Enter through a dark colored door with a slightly industrial feel and approach a wooden hostess stand. Wood is a centerpiece of Avance, with roughly hewn and multi-​finished wood (e.g., the bar, the tables, the stools). Go downstairs if you want access to the restaurant’s only bar. Dimly lit with a narrow space between the bar tops and the bar itself, the space will likely have better flow with regular service.
The first floor’s eye-​catching feature is the multitude of glass lamps that light the space. The lofted seats are fun and tucked away, though whether because of the distance from the bar or because it was a first run, the (drinks) service up there was on the slow side.
NB: The napkin folding service, bussers, and crumbers were on top of things, though. It’s a slightly jarring mix of «we’re casual» and «we’re fancy.»
The food was good, but unremarkable except for two items: a tasty steak (possibly the best I’ve had this year in Philadelphia!) and the bread (especially the honey wheat) was phenomenal. But can a restaurant rely on steak and bread? We shall see.
The rest of the meal had glimmers of what could be: the tuna tartare was bland and fishy at the same time, the decorative smears on the plate were tasteless, the chocolate coffee mousse was good, but I I found myself wishing its espresso flavor was stronger.
Avance obviously has great potential (and a fantastic location!), so I’ll return and try it again once it’s gotten into its rhythm.
PS. No cell reception up in the balcony!
PPS. A single bathroom (i.e., one toilet, one sink) for the entire restaurant? The individual use cloth towels with laundry basket was cute, but I’m hoping there’s another somewhere…