We stopped in the Avenue this past Saturday after the Badger-Beaver football game and were very pleased to see the live music behind the bar as usual for home games. Very fun!
Since being purchased by the Food Fight people, the Avenue has been different but the same. The different is all good - cleaned up, remodeled bathrooms, spruced up all around. Craig managing the bar is godsend for the Avenue. The same is good too with nearly every staff member retained, great pours on drinks and good food and service.
Most of the negative reviews on Yelp came at the tail end of the past era when things were not so good.
It's really worth a try now. Do it! And support those Saturday afternoon musicians.