Aviles Lounge - Saint Augustine

We were staying at the hotel and decided to have breakfast here. Our server was very friendly. My husband and I ordered coffee and I love when they leave a pot so I can continue drinking when I want and not track down the server. The menu is nice and I settled on the breakfast sandwich. I asked for a croissant with an egg cooked well, Swiss cheese and bacon. Food arrived quickly and looked very nice. My sandwich looked nice, but had no bacon. I didn 't say anything because we were with friends and I didn 't want to make a fuss. The sandwich was OK, nothing special. The side of fruit was nice. Our server gave each of us a bottle of water and to go cups in case we wanted to take coffee. That was a nice touch.

Hidden Gem Alert! If you're waiting an hour for Harry's, next door, why??? The food at Aviles is far better. In the Hilton, it may not look like much, but the chef knocks out a wide variety of seafood, steaks and more at concert level. Amazing black grouper, the fresh catch of the day, in five different preparations. Pick one of your choosing. Valet parking makes getting here by car easier. Service was exceptional. Only thing that they need is a hostess, at the front. Otherwise a total home run.

Ok so these mussels were absolutely amazing! I could have easily taken a straw to the rest of this plate once they were all finished. Ha! My husband and I sat at the bar for an appetizer and a couple drinks and our bartender was very busy and friendly. He had a great attitude and kept the whole experience very positive! We actually stayed here at the Hilton and have no complaints about anything!

We had reservations for Thanksgiving and were disappointed. We were the first seating and they were not ready to seat people so everyone was standing around. I knew the restaurant was in a hotel but I didn't realize the buffet would take place in the lobby where people were walking around. The tables were close together so you had to take turns going between them and random hotel guests were also walking though. It did not feel very hygienic to me. It was just not a comfortable or classy setup. The food was basic. Nothing special except the crab legs which they ran out of several times during the 2 hour service. Desserts were mostly pie shells that seemed to be pre-baked and then various fillings were added. Our bill came to $452 for 4 people, with the predetermined gratuity already added. It was definitely not worth that. On a positive note, the staff was friendly and were clearly doing the best they could. We received service with a smile even though things seemed a little hectic. It may be a nice place to go for dinner, but definitely not on a holiday.

After having a few lets downs in St Augustine concerning food and service, Aviles Restaurant here in the Hilton Historic Bayfront made everything miles better. The food was absolutely delicious and unique. To start off, My partner ordered a Blue Energy Cocktail which consisted of Vodka, Crushed Blueberries and Housemade Lemonade. And let me just say that after tasting this cocktail, the homemade lemonade makes miles of a difference. We were also served bread and butter, but this isnt just ANY bread and butter, the butter is housemade and garnished with pink peppercorn for a unique taste and experience. I was awe struck with the simple yet delicious taste of the butter! For appetizers, we had the Knife Fork Latin Bruschetta, which consisted of Grilled Arepa, Mojo Beef Rips, Grilled Tostone, Chimichurri, Avocado and Cotilja Cheese. The Beef Tips were extremely tender and juicy, they were obviously professionally made. The avocado was fresh and ripe and by the time we finished, we wished we could order more. Moving onward to the entrées, I decided to be boujee for the night and ordered the 40oz Prime Tomahawk Chop for $128. While the price may be a little steep, if you 're able to order this dish, I would highly recommend it. The pictures attached speak for themselves, the tomahawk was cooked to perfection with my preference of medium-rare. Its was so incredibly tender and juicy that I could see the juices flow out when I cut it. The tomahawk featured a honey-chiptole glaze that complimented the meat further. On the sides, I ordered potato fingers and asparagus which both were also cooked perfectly. The potatos were very warm and tender, and seasoned excellently. My partner ordered the 16oz Prime NY Strip Steak which she described as being one of the best she has had. This means alot coming from her because she doesnt typically order steaks or meats from restaurants. From what I could tell, the meat was cooked to her preference and the sides were seasoned well to compliment each other. Now were are up to deserts. I ordered a Creme Brûlée and my partner ordered a Key Lime Pie with White Chocolate. Both were extremely delicious and complimented what we ate very well. Now onto the best part of this experience: The service. From the moment we walked in, we were treated with such a high level of decency and respect. The host seated us at a high top table and our server, I have the pleasure to say, was one of the best I have ever had. Sheraz came here all the way from France and her skills and attention to detail are unparalleled. She waited on us and made sure we had everything we could ever need. We talked about ourselves, and all of our ambitions and dreams. It was a very refreshing experience to have a server we could talk to and feel so connected with. Thank you Sheraz for making not only our visit to Aviles memorable, but our visit to St. Augustine excellent. We hope to return again soon!