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AVANT, San Diego, CA

AVANT

4.4 (1777)
$30 and under
Californian
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego, CA 92128

Make a booking

A photo of AVANT restaurant

AVANT

4.4
$30 and under
Californian
Poway / Rancho Bernardo

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Neighbourhood gem
AVANT is the signature Forbes Four-Star rated restaurant at Rancho Bernardo Inn, offering elevated contemporary California cuisine that unites culinary influences and flavors from Baja California with French techniques and inspiration. The seasonal menu uses the freshest local ingredients and produce from The Inn's on-site garden. Regional Sommelier & Cellar Master Joe Baumgardner has curated an award-winning wine cellar for AVANT, from limited production wines around the globe to bio-dynamically farmed selections, offering the perfect pairing for each course. AVANT's cocktail program serves up imaginative libations ranging from light to direct, all complemented by playful presentations and artistic touches. The essential San Diego dining experience is set in inviting indoor and outdoor spaces with stunning views of the surrounding resort.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sat 16:00–22:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Private party facilities
    With about 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor gathering space, championship golf course views, fine dining and professional service, AVANT is ideal for an intimate gathering for 12 or a larger event of 50. We’ve got you covered with three unique spaces. La Taberna, El Biz and Table 65.
  • Area
    Poway / Rancho Bernardo
  • Cross Street
    Pomerado Road
  • Parking Details
    $4 valet validation. Self parking also available.
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Experiences

  • SUNDAY SUPPER- Avant Prime Night

    US$59.00 per person

    1 - 10 people

    22 Feb 2026 - 29 Nov 2026
    Experience an unparalleled dining event at Avant with Prime Nights. Created for the discerning palate, this monthly Sunday gathering transforms the classic Sunday Roast into an elevated culinary journey. Centered around our signature Prime Rib Dinner, Prime Nights showcases the pinnacle of our chef’s creativity and the finest seasonal ingredients—redefining what Sunday dining can be! Enjoy a delicious evening featuring taste tempting Trio for $59 + tax per person Gather your friends and come savor the flavors—Sunday, February 22nd, from 4pm to 8pm. Prime Rib only available - Regular menu not offered.
    SUNDAY SUPPER- Avant Prime Night photo
  • Thanksgiving Dinner

    US$0.00 - US$150.00 per person

    1 - 10 people

    26 Nov 2026 only
    This Thanksgiving, let AVANT set the table for an evening of exceptional dining. Our exclusive four-course dinner celebrates the flavors of the season through thoughtfully composed dishes, locally inspired ingredients, and the artistry of our culinary team. Each course is designed to unfold at an unhurried pace, inviting conversation, connection, and the simple pleasure of sharing a remarkable meal. Paired with AVANT's welcoming atmosphere and attentive service, Thanksgiving becomes more than a holiday dinner, it becomes an experience to savor. For only $125 per adult, $65 per child plus tax and 20% service charge. The Thanksgiving menu will be the only menu available on this day. The 20% service charge is distributed to the staff as gratuity.
    Thanksgiving Dinner photo
  • Christmas Eve Dinner

    US$0.00 - US$125.00 per person

    1 - 10 people

    24 Dec 2026 only
    Embrace the enchantment of Christmas Eve with an exquisite four course seasonal menu at AVANT for $125 per adult and $65 per child plus tax and 20% service charge. The 20% service charge is distributed to the staff as gratuity. Let us make your Christmas Eve a night to remember, filled with delectable flavors and heartwarming memories. The Christmas Eve Menu will be the only menu available on this date.
    Christmas Eve Dinner photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at AVANT.

4.4

4.4
(1777)
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • North San Diego

    Romantic

  • North San Diego

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
AVANT offers an exquisite dining experience with "excellent food," inventive cocktails, and a "wonderful atmosphere." Known for its accommodating service, especially for special occasions, the restaurant is praised for dishes like Maine Diver Scallops and Prime Angus Tomahawk. While some find it pricey, many agree it's "worth it for a memorable experience."
1,777 Reviews
  1. Pete

    San Diego5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The dinner started off with a fun happy hour cocktail, Smokin’ Diamond, and wine list selections were delicious. We were not disappointed with the rolls and butters, bisque, and pasta. Fully enjoyed the NY strip and scallops. We liked the green beans over the broccoli. The branzino was not satisfying. Luckily the desserts were awesome; birthday brûlée, espresso donuts, and baked Alaska. Quiet rainy weeknight and a white glove level service made it a very memorable experience.

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  2. David

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebrated my wife’s 52nd birthday at Avant and it was a perfect evening. Paul, our server, was attentive and knew the menu thoroughly, and Ann at the host stand was very accommodating. The Maine Diver Scallops, NY Strip, and Prime Angus Tomahawk were all cooked to perfection, and my wife, a retired chef, agreed. The signature cocktails were excellent, and the Wake Me Up Doughnut was the perfect finish. Highly recommend!

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  3. Asa

    San Diego2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great place for a date night. Great atmosphere, and quiet so you can have a conversation. Food and service were really good. Was a little overpriced, but still great date night option.
    AVANTResponded 5 days ago
    Dear Asa, Thank you for dining at our Avant restaurant and for taking the time to share your opinion. We are delighted to see that you felt that our restaurant was the perfect place for the occasion, and we want to thank you for the five-star review. We truly love to help you celebrate your special occasions with your families and your friends. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful property and a talented and creative culinary team working alongside our skilled service team here at Rancho Bernardo Inn We look forward to hosting you again soon! Sincerely, Avant Management

    Is this helpful?

  4. Sheila

    Greater Boston27 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The shellfish tower a could have Ben better. Both the shrimp and crab legs were overcooked. The lobster bisque has delicious and the scallops were excellent. Great service!
    AVANTResponded 5 days ago
    Dear Sheila, Thank you for dining with us at our Avant restaurant and for taking the time to share your opinion. We are pleased to see that you enjoyed your experience, and we want to especially thank you for the four-star review you left for us. We strive to provide five-star quality and standards to every guest. Thank you so much for the specific meal feedback. This can really help us to provide better quality, standards, and menu descriptions for every guest in the future. We look forward to hosting you again soon! Sincerely, Avant Management

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The restaurant wasn't full but the 2 waiters on staff were overwhelmed and unable to properly wait on their customers. Dinner for 2 took 2 1/2 + hours. The restaurant was freezing which made the waiting for service worse. the waiter suggested dessert and never brought the coffee we ordered with it. When the bill came they over charged the bottle of wine by $120.00. They did adjust the price when pointed out and discounted the bill by an additional 15%. The food was very good but the service ruined it. Bartenders were very grumpy and streched thin also.
    AVANTResponded 5 days ago
    Dear Anonymous, We sincerely appreciate you dining with us at our Avant restaurant. We are sorry to hear that your experience fell short of the high levels of service and quality we expect from ourselves. We really want every diner to leave our restaurant delighted and satisfied. We do appreciate any specific feedback so that we may be able to focus on where we fell short. I want to ensure you that our team will receive your feedback. Sincerely, Avant Management

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  6. Arianna

    Dallas - Fort Worth2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Ate here with friends while staying at the hotel. Terrible experience. We waited over an hour and half for our food and followed up w the waitress 5 times who was so rude and said it was coming and my food came cold. Do not recommend at ALL. Really disappointed with the experience.
    AVANTResponded 5 days ago
    Dear Arianna, We sincerely appreciate you dining with us at our Avant restaurant. We are sorry to hear that your experience fell short of the high levels of service and quality we expect from ourselves. Leaving our restaurant disappointed is the last thing we want our guests to feel. Thank you for your feedback so that we will be able to focus on where we fell short. I want to ensure you that our team has received your feedback. Sincerely, Avant Management

    Is this helpful?

  7. Debra Gold

    San Diego20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 27 September 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    They were very accommodating my son is gluten and dairy intolerant and I am Gluten intolerant they took extra care making sure or needs where met, it was a special birthday dinner for both of us. It was quite pricey we had the steak I would like to have had a larger potato terrine, more broccoli mousse less red wine sauce. @ $79.00 , potatoes and broccoli don’t cost that much. Was all in all A Great experience as a once a year treat ❤️
    AVANTResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Debra, Thank you for dining with us at our Avant restaurant and for taking the time to share your opinion. We are pleased to see that you enjoyed your experience, and we want to especially thank you for the four-star review you left for us. We strive to provide five-star quality and standards to every guest. Thank you so much for the specific meal feedback. This can really help us to provide better quality, standards, and menu descriptions for every guest in the future. We look forward to hosting you again soon! Sincerely, Avant Management

    Is this helpful?

  8. Veronica

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 13 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great experience at AVANT! The food was excellent and the service to. We will definitely go back and recommend :)
    AVANTResponded on 16 September 2026
    Dear Veronica, Thank you for dining with us at our Avant restaurant and for taking the time to share your opinion. We are delighted to see that you had a great experience, and we want to especially thank you for the five-star review. Letting us know who our star employees are is greatly appreciated. We thank you for the recommendation. We look forward to hosting you again soon! Sincerely, Avant Management

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  9. Pat

    Unspecified2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 12 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ordered the 3 and 4 course meals. The prawns, oysters, lamb, pork, diver scallops parker r house roll, salmon were excellent. As were the cocktail;, Swedish gimlet, woodsman, old fashion, smoking diamond drinks were fantastic. Loved, Joe, the bartender and everyone that was involved in making our dining experience memorable. It’s our go to restaurant for out of town guest or having enjoying a cocktail or two on a Friday night. It always feels special.
    AVANTResponded on 18 September 2026
    Dear Pat, Thank you for dining with us at our Avant restaurant and for taking the time to share your opinion. We are delighted to see that you enjoyed your experience, and we want to especially thank you for the five-star review and that you would recommend us. Thank you so much for the specific meal feedback. This can really help us to identify what we are doing well. We really appreciate you letting us know who our star employees are, and your preferences. We look forward to hosting you again soon! Sincerely, Avant Management

    Is this helpful?

  10. Devora Gold

    San Diego5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 9 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The perfect place for a special occasion or a casual bite at the bar. We were celebrating our 47th anniversary and they made it special from the moment we checked in and the hostess wished us happy anniversary. Cocktails are inventive and fun. I had the diver scallops on a bed of pureed sweet corn and succotash (much fancier than the name implies) and my husband had the sea bass over risotto. Both were excellent. They brought us a lovely anniversary creme brûlée which was also very good. We sometimes eat at the bar if we just want some small plates. The atmosphere is lovely - calm and casually elegant.
    AVANTResponded on 16 September 2026
    Dear Devora, Thank you for dining at our Avant restaurant and for taking the time to share your opinion. We are delighted to see that you had a truly special experience, and we want to thank you for the five-star review. We truly love to celebrate your special occasions with you, your families, and your friends. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful property and a talented and creative culinary team working alongside our skilled service team here at Rancho Bernardo Inn We look forward to hosting you again soon! Sincerely, Avant Management

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sat 16:00–22:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Private party facilities
    With about 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor gathering space, championship golf course views, fine dining and professional service, AVANT is ideal for an intimate gathering for 12 or a larger event of 50. We’ve got you covered with three unique spaces. La Taberna, El Biz and Table 65.
  • Area
    Poway / Rancho Bernardo
  • Cross Street
    Pomerado Road
  • Parking Details
    $4 valet validation. Self parking also available.
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

FAQs

Sundays are a standout, guests praise AVANT’s Sunday Champagne brunch and the once‑a‑month Prime Rib dinner as special dining experiences.

Yes, AVANT accommodates dietary needs: guests report successful gluten‑free substitutions and the kitchen prepared full vegan courses when notified in advance.

For a calmer evening, midweek nights, Thursday in particular, tend to be quieter; if you want a livelier bar vibe, their happy-hour window (around 4–6pm) is popular and fun.

Yes, AVANT offers a dedicated bar happy-hour menu, a Signature Prix Fixe experience (three- and four-course options), and recurring special meals like the monthly Prime Rib dinner and Sunday brunch with sparkling pours.

Yes, AVANT offers outdoor seating: the restaurant description notes inviting indoor and outdoor spaces, and guests praise the patio with views of the resort and golf course.

AVANT feels polished and elegant yet comfortable, guests describe dark, modern-traditional dining rooms and an inviting patio, making it a popular spot for anniversaries and special occasions.

Smart casual is the guide, polished but relaxed attire fits well, and many guests dress up a touch for anniversaries and other special celebrations.

Yes, families dine here; guests specifically mention bringing grandchildren and children who enjoyed dishes like the mac and cheese and kid-friendly items such as chicken strips and fries.

The Parker House Roll is a recurring favorite, it appears on the menu and many guests single it out as a must-try and highlight of the meal.

Portions can be generous for certain experiences, guests note the multi‑course prix fixe and the Prime Rib dinners as plentiful, with some parties leaving comfortably full.

Yes, AVANT is well suited to date night, with many guests celebrating anniversaries and romantic dinners in its elevated, intimate setting.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. North San Diego
  5. Poway / Rancho Bernardo

Make a booking

A photo of AVANT restaurant

AVANT

4.4
$30 and under
Californian
Poway / Rancho Bernardo

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.
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