I have been listening to my sister-in-law rave about Avalon for months, and finally we made our way out to West Chester to give it a try. It was Homecoming weekend in college town, so it was a bit of a mad house in West Chester, but once we slipped inside of Avalon, we left all of that behind. Avalon is an intimate BYOB serving local, seasonal Italian cuisine, and like none I have had before. Dimly lit, quiet and cozy, Avalon has a homey feel when you walk through the door. Though it was a chilly night, there was no roaring fire, which would have been nice, but still that could not take away from the ambiance of this place.
Our waitress informed us that the fire is usually lit in the winter. For fall nights, diners have to settle for the candelabra. Our waitress brought a basket of warm breads and some olive oil while we perused the menu. 
Listed on the FORMAGGI & SALUMI menu, you can choose a variety of cheeses to start. Our first taste was of the TESTUN AL BAROLO | A Sheep’s Milk aged with Nebbiolo Grapes.
This was a creamy cheese and paired wonderfully with the grapes. GARROXA | A Semi-firm Goat's Milk from Spain, was paired with a delightful Strawberry Puree, and the FRIULI | A Semi -hard Cow's Milk from Friuli which was paired with a lively Red Onion Relish. The cheeses were heavenly, and nice light beginning to our meal.
For the ANTIPASTI / APPETIZER, we decided on the
Oven Roasted Vegetables | Grilled Bread, Herbed Ricotta. The grilled vegetables were delicious, but the ricotta was disappointing, as I was expecting a little more. Small servings of what could have been ricotta were spread on the toasted bread. I was hoping for big chunks of ricotta....There were really no green salads on the menu, which was surprising, but not necessarily a negative, as there were many options to chose from. The Chili Cured Olives may have been the only only pre-dinner option for Vegan fare, which was unfortunate.
The menu at Avalon is seasonal and ever-changing with the seasons, so the possibility of having at least one Vegetarian or Vegan option listed is fairly good, but I'd like to see a few more choices. There was one Vegan pasta dish on the menu: The Orecchiette Vedura | Seasonal Vegetable, Herb Tomato Brodo. I went for something new entirely.
I must confess, I am not a fan of pumpkin. I am only beginning to embrace the possibilities of Cucurbita this season, but Pumpkin Ravioli would not be my first choice. But here I am, trying new things.
This being said, as the only Vegetarian choice on the menu, I ordered the
Pumpkin D’ Ravioli | Sage Brown Butter, Ameritti Cookie Crumb. This was not a large portion by any means, but perfect for me. Words can not describe this entree. Seasoned lightly with nutmeg and cinnamon, covered in a light buttery brown broth, this dish was everything that Autumn should be. I came home with a new appreciation of all things pumpkin. Pumpkin Ravioli is my new favorite food. Absolutely exquisite.
Dessert was a Chocolate Lava Cake. I requested two scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream to accompany. A fantastic end to my meal. Dinner was less than $100 for two, not including tip. I will be back. And soon.
