Review Avalon Drug Co And Diner - Houston

The service was quick and efficient. A little too quick as the waitress tried to take a plate away from us before we were done eating. That was the only weird thing that we experienced. The food was good and there was a lot of it. The atmosphere was busy and you definitely see a lot of return customers here eating and meeting friends to chit chat. All & all, it was comfortable and fast.

If I could rate Avalon Diner higher than 5 stars I would!! Originally the Avalon was a 1930’s drug store. I appreciate they have kept the same style theme and have chosen to hang pictures of the ordinal drug store on the walls. We have eaten all over the city during our visit. From high end steakhouses to local places such as the Avalon Diner. They gave us the best food and service all week! We went back twice so far and probably will go back a third time before we leave Houston. Everything is homemade and your taste buds will thank you for dining here! Their chili is quite possibly the best I have ever had! Their homemade biscuits….wow!! The chicken fried steak is tender and their cream gravy is so yummy!! I could go on and on about this place. You have try this spot and I know you won’t regret it.

September 2, 2023 UPDATE: Great people. Great food. ________________________ A favorite breakfast and casual lunch spot. If you are looking for white table cloth French cuisine or just a moderately elevated culinary experience, this is not the place for you. Solid, old school diner food with some unique specialties that are awesome (Chicken Fried Steak Omelette, Big Breakfast, Drugstore Hamburger, Club Sandwich with Honey Mustard Dressing, Patty Melt, Chicken Fried Steak, etc...). Everything good except for the biscuits which are more of a bready texture rather than flaky and fluffy like a biscuit should be. It's just the way they make them here. They make up for it with the incredible service and rest of the food offerings, including their hashbrowns and bacon which are really great, AT THIS LOCATION. Again, it's just the way they make the biscuits at the River Oaks location. Everything else is awesome. Overall, great service, but sometimes with a slight dash of Hedwig Village location attitude and unnecessary drama due to personnel from the Hedwig Village location bringing their "work" ethic and unprofessional behavior to River Oaks. Very unfair to the excellent staff at River Oaks Avalon Diner. But it is amusing to us and our network of family and friends throughout Houston, all who know about the SIGNIFICANT differences in locations first hand. 😂😂😂😂😂 Food always hot AT THIS LOCATION. Cudos to the unsung heroes in the back preparing tasty old school favorites to several generations of Houstonians. And cudos to the wait staff who do not let hot food sit idle at the pass, delivering to the customers quickly. The waitstaff NEVER stops AT THIS LOCATION.. They HUSTLE. They work very hard taking care of their customers. It's impressive and noteworthy. And it is appreciated. Retro feel. Bigger than original tiny space in the old drug store in River Oaks back in the good old days. Can be crowded here but they have a first-come-first-serve system that works pretty well and the wait time is surprisingly short. Just part of the charm and the Avalon Diner River Oaks experience. This particular location has MUCH BETTER service than the Hedwig Village location. NOTICABLE. Food does not sit up at the pass for a long time at River Oaks Avalon like it does at Hedwig Village Avalon. Attributable 100% to management and waitstaff. First and foremost, the people AT THIS LOCATION make the difference. Incredible people. BOTTOM LINE: The folks AT THIS LOCATION really deliver. Recommend: The Chicken Fried Steak Omelette, The Big Breakfast, Original Eggs Benedict, Classic Club Sandwich with Crinkle Fries and Honey Mustard dip, Drugstore Hamburger, Patty Melt, BLT and the Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich. Not recommended: Biscuits. But you be the judge, for personal tastes vary. Enjoy!

Went for brunch on a Sunday. Excellent service and the food came out fast and hot!

An beautiful classic diner vibe with a great selection of breakfast and lunch options. We went here for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Lots of seating but the place was very full, so we ended up sitting at the bar. They customized an order for me (changing the French toast to waffles) so that was greatly appreciated, and the breakfast enchiladas were delicious. Not too pricey either, given the portion sizes and the location of the spot. It well exceeded my expectations and is a great breakfast spot to grab a bite.

Everything was done just right. The waitress was very attentive, and the food came out very fast. Top notch experience.

It was exactly what we were hoping for overall. The ambiance, the service, the hospitality, the menu - it was all on point. The food at my table ranged from good to great. I had the 1938 Original Hamburger with the works plus cheese and bacon and curly fries and it was fantastic! The reviews on the meatloaf, chicken salad sandwich, and chicken strip salad were all very good. The desserts of apple pie, coconut cream, and chocolate mouse were amazing. Look forward to going again!

I’ve been passing by this diner since I was a kid and had never stopped in. Today after running errands I decided to give it a try since it had high ratings and I’m so happy I did because I love a good diner. Diners have honest food served quick with great service and Avalon Diner checks off all the boxes with high marks. The waitresses call you honey, baby, sweetie and they have all the answers to anything you might be curious. They have outdoor seating as well as an old school counter with stools, booths, tables, a phone booth, Coke fridge, TVs, and a candy counter at the register. I usually don’t eat sweet food for breakfast but the caramel banana pecan pancakes were calling my name. I got the 2 slice order and it was just enough because they cut them in half. I appreciated that it wasn’t soaking in caramel either, so you could really taste the challah bread. It was cooked well and not soggy which is also important in getting a yummy French toast order. My wife got a pancake with a side of bacon. She loved it saying the batter reminded her of a diner from her childhood. The sausage was really crisp on the outside but moist on the inside. I almost ordered another serving of it just to take home. Our waitress was the sweetest, checking on us often and making sure we had enough coffee. You can see and hear the cooks on the griddle making orders. Your table is wiped down as soon as you sit down and water I brought immediately. Other servers and cooks will check on you as they pass your table to refill your drinks and pick up extra plates. I regret not having stopped here sooner, but this is definitely my newest breakfast spot.

This is one of the best old-school diners in town. The breakfast is southern comfort and is amazing. Their biscuits are warm and fluffy, their gravy is nice and thick, and their eggs are very tasty. Their breakfast meats are very good and well cured. The staff is amazing. They will welcome you with an open smile and if they identify you as a regular they will remember who you are and what you like to eat. It is a shame that places like this are dying but I’m glad the Avalon diner is going strong. Highly recommend for breakfast.

4.8/5 Classic drugstore diner vibe with the decor and menu items on point. We went at the peak of their busy hours (Sunday Morning) and had a bit of a wait (~25 mins) so bring your patience. We got the big breakfast and Grill Cook’s Medley and both were great! And to top it all off, they do have the best coffee as advertised! Highly recommend and will be coming back!

I dream about the banana pecan challah french toast, which I usually order with the delicious western omelette for some sweet-savory action. The staff is very friendly and hospitable, every person I encountered today couldn't have been more courteous. Thank you for a beautiful start to my day!

Old school diner. Perfect for breakfast and lunch or brunch even. Lot of older / elder customers eat here, which means it tends to be a quieter establishment. A breakfast recommendation is the Migaz with flour tortillas. They also have great pancakes you can get bananas baked into or bacon. Server was super nice and even helped my friend get his leftovers into a to-go container as he struggled a little bit.

Mr. Ronnie is the BEST server at the restaurant. He remembered my order without writing it down and it was correct. Excellent waiter with superb service and great hospitality. Thank you ?Mr. Ronnie for a great dining experience...

Southern style breakfast is always a winner at Avalon Diner! I go to all three locations and this one is closest to my office! I enjoy sitting at the bar and meeting the neighbors!

Big breakfast. Eggs. Smoked sausage. Bacon. Hash browns. Biscuit with gravy. Very tasty. Place is full. Service a little slow

Avalon Diner is my favorite diner in Houston. This little historical eatery oozes a bygone era that has all but disappeared; at least in the big cities. The atmosphere offers simple tables, booths, and a bar. It is nothing fancy, and that is just how I like it. It's cozy and full of local conversationalists. There are several people on staff who have worked here for decades! There is something to be said about that. Breakfast is available all-day-long, and it can get a little busy on Sundays with the church crowd. After lunch, check out the amazing antique mall sitting directly east on Westheimer and other eclectic shops in the area.

Love that Avalon has SO much history in Houston. Haven’t been as often as I should. Must make it there more often. My friend and I met there today for lunch, but we both were craving breakfast! I decided on the Chicken Fried Steak with eggs. The CFS was wonderful - large without being overwhelming. The gravy was ok, but had a bit too much raw flour taste. Eggs were fine - hash browns probably needed to be on the grill a little longer. Biscuit has great flavor but a bit too crumbly for my personal preference. Friend had the breakfast quesadilla with chorizo and added avocado - she loved it! Super friendly staff and prompt service - it gets packed right at 12 noon, so get there early for the best table. Honorable mention - they make a spectacular club sandwich - the that’s what I’ll get again, next time!

What brought us here was Kevin wanted biscuits and sausage gravy & the have the best fluffy biscuits & very good gravy. I got the chicken fried steak omelette. I was expecting maybe some chopped up pieces of meat, but this had a whole large chicken fried steak with gravy wrapped up in an egg blanket with cheese on top. It was very good. The chicken fried steak was very tender almost crumbling apart like hamburger. I asked for the hash browns "extra crispy". I just wanted them left on the grill long enough to get brown on both sides. What I got was a pile of deep fried crunchy potato noodles, like potato chip texture. That was unexpected, but pretty good.