Avocado Theory Opens In Tinley, Brings New Twist To Town: Review

TINLEY PARK, IL — When Krunal Patel came to the United States from India at age 21, he had no idea what an avocado was.

It was Superbowl Sunday when Patel, a then ambitious college student who was working a late shift as a produce manager at a local grocery store, was astonished by the line for guacamole.

"I thought, 'man, everyone really loves guacamole,'" Patel said. "I started doing some research about it and realized there is so much you can do with an avocado."

Reading about the benefits of the vegetable, Patel decided he wanted to create an avocado business of some sort — wanting it to be something that has never been done before. At the time, finances were an obstacle for Patel, but it didn't stop him from following his newfound dream, which he believed in passionately.

"I didn't have enough money in 2019, so I took a Subway table and started selling my guacamole at the Farmers Market in Tinley Park with my family," Patel said. "On that Subway table, I made customizable guacamole for anyone who came."

From that moment on, Patel dreamed of creating not only an avocado-themed business, but a franchise. After building clientele, and making connections with customers, Patel was ready to take that next step. And on Oct. 22, the businessman's dream became a realty when Patel, now 34, officially opened the doors of his first-ever restaurant: Avocado Theory.

It's also the first of its kind in the country.

The restaurant aims to explore ways to enjoy avocados and "live a happier life." It's located at 17302 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, and open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Review

I made plans to meet Patel at the restaurant around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Personally, I love all things avocado, so I was very intrigued by the new business that popped up in the heart of Tinley Park, in one of the most popular areas of town — adjacent to The Scoop, Ed & Joe's Pizza and across the street from Durbin's, among other Tinley hot spots.

When I walked in, the first thing I saw was a display of photos, including one of Patel selling guacamole at the farmer's market, along with an article written by the Tinley Park Progress, detailing Patel's journey to the United States and newfound business.

Continuing inside, there is a large menu display above the ordering counter that was pretty easy to read, straightforward, and provided calorie information next to each item. I nearly overlooked the small refrigerator that had ready-to-go mango salsa, pineapple salsa, pico salsa and of course, traditional guacamole. Just next to that is a station where employees can create customizable guacamole upon customer's request. Reminded me a lot of Patel's initial avocado spark.

The vibe of the restaurant is quieter than a Starbucks, which I believe many customers working on their laptops while drinking coffee and eating a late breakfast or early lunch appreciated. The garage door patio seating is eye catching and trendy. When the weather is less gloomy, it will be nice to sit on the patio overlooking Oak Park Avenue with some avocado toast, coffee and a newspaper.

Personally, I think this may be a new go-to for students. It felt like I was back in college, studying at a trendy coffee shop before class, with soothing music, natural lighting and a sense of peace.

Let's get to why many are still reading: The menu.

The selection is like nothing I've ever seen before. Of course, you have the basics, many versions of avocado toast. I'll be honest, I thought this place would pretty much only sell toast and sandwiches. I was fully prepared for a short menu and limited selection. But surprisingly, that was not at all the case.

Menu options that surprised me were avocado falafel, avocado soup and even avocado sushi. There are also variations of avocado pastas, like carrot and zucchini noodles, tossed in avocado pesto. A kids' menu avocado grilled cheese sandwich sounded delicious, and one customer I spoke with briefly told me it's one of her favorites, adding it wasn't her first time in.

I asked Patel to let me try a few of his favorite dishes on the menu. I only waited about 10 minutes before he came in with a big smile and a large tray. I was hungry and ready to go.

I started with the "Tomato Basil Avocado Toast," which is priced at $11.99, and comes in at between 465 and 485 calories. Let me just say, it was the first thing to catch my eye. The display of colors and thick slab of guacamole, topped with basil tomatoes and feta cheese, made that the first dish I tried. I must say, it didn't disappoint. Was it a tad messy, yes. Was it worth the mess? Also, YES! I'd rate it an 8/10.

The next thing I tried was the avocado fries, priced at $6.99 and 700-720 calories. Listed as an appetizer on the menu, the six avocado slices, coated in minced garlic, cayenne pepper and tossed in the restaurant's "famous batter," was served with a side of spicy aioli sauce. I'm not huge on spicy food, but (the sauce) was definitely not too spicy. The fries weren't spicy at all. In fact, I loved that it wasn't gooey on the inside, but it was still warm. Perfect crunch in my opinion. I finished the whole dish, so that might tell you I enjoyed it a little too much. Rating: 9/10.

To flip over to the dessert side of things, I was stunned to see a slice of avocado cheesecake in front of me. Patel raved that it is one of their best creations, and a must-try. I looked at him and said, "I would never order this, but I'll try it."

Full disclosure, I had an audio recording rolling while I was trying each dish, so I can articulate exactly what I thought of everything I was trying. To transcribe what I thought of the cheesecake, I decided to put what I recorded into a quote for you all:

"Oh my god ... Oh my god ... That is fantastic. You get a hint of the avocado, some cream cheese ... Oh my goodness. I'm speechless, I don't even know how to describe how good this is."

Over 24 hours later, I still can't describe it well enough. Just try it. I went back Wednesday night and bought a whole cake to go for my family to try. Some loved it as much as I did, others weren't too sure. It's all in your preference. It is priced at $6.99 for a slice and has 480-500 calories. Rating: 10/10.

Avocado ice cream was a delicious sweet treat that reminded me of a gorgeous June evening, sitting at a park watching the sun set. It kind of reminded me of Halo Top ice cream, but a palatable flavor that I would actually buy again. It's sweet and doesn't taste like a vegetable. Not only that, but it is priced at $4.99 and is 190-210 calories. Rating: 9/10.

Lastly, which I also had to put in a to-go cup, I had tried the avocado and mango smoothie. Now, I am not a huge mango fan, but this was an interesting combination. It took a few sips for me to really take a liking. It tastes healthy, green, filling and something you'd want after a great workout to recharge. Rating: 7/10, mainly because I am not a huge mango person.

Overall, I would definitely want to come back to this place with friends or family. The food was delicious, the service was great, and the atmosphere was welcoming. Patel was a pleasure to speak with, his story was inspiring and really showed what determination and a dream could lead one to.

This place is one to check out in my opinion. Don't be surprised if you drive past and see a 5-foot-2 reporter enjoying the scenery of Tinley Park's Oak Park Avenue with a coffee, toast and a good ol' newspaper.

See more about the restaurant on their website, or on their Facebook page.