Avanti Italian Bistro and Bar

Unbelievable cozy romantic low lit fancy bistro,, the wine choice by the waiter was divine !! The service impeccable,, like having a private butler!

Make reservations.

Good food, exceptional service and moderately priced. Will return and would recommend.

We came here for late night happy hour (8:30-close) on a friday night. We luckily didn't have to wait at all for a table and picked a table in the bar area. calamari: very fresh, crispy, no fishy taste, not rubbery at all...I think there was some baby octopus in there too, which was equally as good cheese pizza with tomato and basil: fresh, crispy thin crust, addicting, big enough to share garlic knots: covered in olive oil/butter, garlic and salt They also have $5 well drinks and beers, and some wines on the happy hr menu.FYI, this is a semi-fancy place (folded napkins, table clothes, candles, dim lights). We will definitely be coming back if we get a craving for some good thin crust pizza. ;)

Had a great dinner on a Sunday night. Food was good and filling. We had the minestrone soup (good flavor) and the house salad to start, the tuna tartare as another starter (enjoyed this fish immensely), and the chicken tequila pasta (my favorite dish) to finish. My boyfriend ordered the espresso martini - it was good but very sweet. I had a glass of Sangiovese very nice with the meal.

First off, the ambiance was amazingly beautiful. It felt like walking into a super expensive restaurant (but prices were very affordable!). Loved the decor, the chandeliers, and there was even a fireplace in the back.



Went on a Friday night with a big party and we had no problem with our reservation. We we seated and the waiter were very attentive and always checked on us and asked if we needed anything. They were all very friendly!



OMG then the most delicious garlic bread rolls came. We could not stop eating them. And I quote my friend, "these are dangerous!" The rolls came with a soft flat bread which was good too.



Drinks were amazing- they had a nice variety of wine and cocktails. I got the Nutella Martini and it tasted exactly like drinking hazelnut chocolate!y



The table everything from pasta to calzones, to pizza, to salad and everyone said they enjoyed their food. One person commented, that although the sauce looks heavy, it's actually very light and the dish is flavorful. I ordered the Chicken Tequila Fettuccine and it was very flavorful with peppers and chicken, with the pasta cooked al dente.



It was my birthday so they brought me Tiramisu with a huge firecracker candle just like in the Yelp pictures! The Tiramisu was one of the best I have ever had, best I ever had (in the words of Drake).



There's a parking lot in the back, and lots of street parking if the lot is full by the way.



Overall, great feel, great food, great drinks, great dessert, great service. Will be back!

Delicious pizza and pasta at affordable prices!



Will be a regular at this restaurant !

My husband and I discovered Avanti's months ago and have been regular customers ever since. The ambience is wonderful, the service is impeccable (Enrique is the best!), and drinks are fantastic (Bob is the greatest bartender and makes the best Vespers!). We were there last night and had the best dinner ever. Marco, the chef, frequently prepares specials for the evening. I ordered the special for the night - freshly made Pappardelle pasta with a fabulous Bolognese sauce. It was absolutely delicious! The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was amazingly delicious. Marco is truly a fabulous chef. We frequently dine at Italian restaurants - Avanti's has quickly become one of our favorites. By the way, my husband ordered his favorite Avanti dish - Fettuccine Alfredo. He loves it and orders it every time we dine there. Kudos to Marco!

The food is great. The price is okay for that neighborhood. I wish there is a tomato based seafood pasta but it's only cream base. I remember that the old Chinese restaurant was there before and they have done a major remodel. I think they have done great job.

Saturday night dinner with friends. We were originally going to go to Mi Piace, but we couldn't get a reservation so my friend made reservations for us at Avanti. What a great find! Great food and service. Very affordable, too! I had the Chicken Florentine, perfect sized portion and sauce was perfect - perfect blend of zest and spice.

The food was spectacular. Very fresh. Service was impeccable. Bobby (owner) was very active in the restaurant making sure everything was perfect. This is a hidden gem in Pasadena.

This is a great new place .

Enrique is the best .

We were very excited to see a new, non fast food restaurant open close to our house. We have been here 5 or 6 times since the opened and have always had a good experience. The food has been consistently good. We've had everything from fish (the Branzino is amazing!) to steak to pasta (try the lasagna) to pizza. We have always been happy with our meals. We have had one experience with slow service but the other times the service was perfectly fine. They did a beautiful job with the decor. It can feel upscale yet family friendly at the same time. We have 2 young kids whom we have brought with is several times. I highly recommend Avanti Bistro for a great meal and experience!

Driven by this spot a few times, saying to myself that I need to try it out. So today I went there for lunch. Place had nice ambience and the staff was nice and friendly. Not too crowded. Had a nice lunch special menu...everything the same price. I had the Angel Hair Pasta which was light, refreshing and flavorful. Need to go again and try them out for dinner. I hope they succeed cuz the location is kind of a tough one to find/get to.

Ricardo was our waiter and he did an excellent job. He took very good care of us .

Ricardo was very gracious and helpful .

At 64 years old, having traveled to many parts of this beautiful world, I just enjoyed the best lasagna EVER! Perfect pasta, perfect amount of cheese to beef. Amazing! The atmosphere feels special, the music was perfect for an Italian setting. Thank you Avanti for a lovely evening.

Nice ambiance-white tablecloths and brick walls with lots of windows and open kitchen. Food was tasty and service good. They also have happy hour daily from 4-6 and 8:30 to close in the bar and on the patio.

Very fine restaurant. Nice contemporary setting. Owner is very gracious. The bartender Eric really knows his stuff......

1st time. Repeat customer at Avanti on Lake which does good pizza and salads. Restaurant ambience is nice and service is good. Had beet salad and special seafood risotto. Salad was good. Risotto was great, only complaint was it was a little too spicy in that the spice overpowered other flavor but all the seafood was great and well cooked. (it was described as spicy before I ordered). Would come here again