Highly recommended Avanti was my choice for dinner while visiting Phoenix. Avanti is located in suburban Phoenix so it would definitely have to be a recommend. I don't know how else you would find this place. In any case, parking is plentiful. You walk into a "mid 50-60" decor with red walls and dim lighting. Servers are dressed in suits. White table cloth, complete table setting, sexy in its own way. Short menu (that is a plus) Short wine list (another plus) and a good selection of wines by the glass. The food wash acceptable. The osso bucco was tasty but could have been done a tinge more. I like it when the marrow is like a gel... Truthfully, went there for the gnocchi which was okay.there were several sauces you could choose from to lather the gnocchi. I chose a cream sauce... Sauce was too thick for my liking, which IMHO took away from the texture of the gnocchi itself. I would go back though...atmosphere nice, servers nice... Repeat performance do-able read more

I'm not even sure one star is deserved for this particular order. The "Lasagna" (What in the world was this awful dish"?) was the worst and it was not anything like lasagna. We let them know we were at a hotel and asked for plasticware, napkins and paper plates. We received nothing. We have no way to eat our food and the hotel does not have plasticware. Awful experience. Will definitely never repeat. read more

Our first visit here on New Year's Eve, had reservations for 9 in the lounge. They told us we didnt have reservations......which we checked on 3 times prior to arrival.....and they were rude about it. They found them.....when our table was ready, they yelled and pointed to it, instead of walking us over with menus as customary. Our server was unbelievably rude the entire evening.....made me not even want to be there. Here is a picture of the chairs they gave us to sit on.......never going to return. read more

Avanti - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Based on a recommendation from a friend, we've dined here a few times. This Italian joint reminds me of the Peppermill Restaurant in Vegas. The dining room walls are covered in mirrors and the furniture is black and white. It's dimly lit and has an intimate feel to it. During our visits, we've had the following menu items: Escargots, $11.50 Mozzarella Caprese, $12.00 Spaghetti w/Meatballs & Sausage, $19.50 http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-restaurant-of-distinction-phoenix?select=g6rybW0TkoO10ItXCbJDyg#g6rybW0TkoO10ItXCbJDyg Tortellini, Lasagna, Gnocchi (custom made sampler appetizer) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-restaurant-of-distinction-phoenix?select=OnKBcxrDWW269Z9ZAQ0hRg#OnKBcxrDWW269Z9ZAQ0hRg Tiramisu http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-restaurant-of-distinction-phoenix?select=BzrmZfblwrBYIB0-5JpAKw#BzrmZfblwrBYIB0-5JpAKw The best part about our experience here is the service. On one of our visits, when we asked the server if they had Gnocchi, he said "We don't have it as a separate dish, but we can make something for you". The Better Half ordered a plate for dinner that evening. On another visit, the server noticed that I was on the fence between the Lasagna, Gnocchi, and Tortellini....so he brought out a small sampler plate for me so I could try all 3 before I made my decision....awesome! As far as the food, it's pretty good. My fav's are the Gnocchi, Tortellini, and the Spaghetti. You can't go wrong with any of them. Return Factor - 87% read more

Avanti - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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In fairness, this review is based upon a Rombauer wine dinner and one meal I had here in 1995. Sorry, but Rombauer is pretty pedestrian wine. We were thinking, "the food better be good". The food was better than good. Exquisite. Sublime. Integrated. Polished. 24 years ago, I came here to celebrate a significant life event and had my very first fine dining experience. Two takeaways from then & tonight. 1. No matter the setting, the achievement of culinary excellence is a daily endeavour. 2. When you're really, really good at something, keep doing it. Avanti is really, really good at what they do. My second meal was as memorable as the first. read more

Had dinner here for the first time. My son and his fiance invited us because they had been here before and they were impressed. I can see why. The food was exceptional. We started out with Escargots. Delicious, not rubbery or chewy but tender and the right amount of garlic. Caeser salad was ok. Cioppino was served over pasta with a delightful variety of seafood. So perfectly made. Eggplant parmigiana was a hit with my daughter-in-law to be, and the lasagna was pleased by my sons palate. My husband had the fish of the day, which was Halibut. Again not a disappointment. Our server, Jeanie did an excellent job by going the extra mile. She was very pleasant and made us feel right at home. You must try the desserts............Tiramisu was tasty, Chocolate Mousse Cake was heaven and the Spumoni was a huge hit. I liked that the restaurant wasn't noisy, we could actually carry a conversation without raising our voices. I didn't care for the decor, especially the mirrors to make the place look bigger. Almost like a bordello decor or a scene out of Scareface. Other than that it was a great experience. We plan to return. I'd advise you to give this restaurant a shot. read more

We went for the Mother's Day Buffet and it was such a disappointment. Do not waste your time with this place, poor food, poor service, and terrible environment. I've never been left so dissatisfied with a buffet and spending $200 for a brunch where I left hungry. No one was nice, they all had the "I hate my job" vibe, the food was nothing better than a high school cafeteria pasta option, the shrimp cocktail was so rubbery I couldn't even consume it and the vast majority of their desserts came from Costco. Huge let down, do yourself a favor and avoid this place. read more

For starters let me begin by telling you that this was not my choice to come here for my birthday after a long day of activities where I had maybe 2 drinks in the morning and by 10 O'clock after the Dodgers and Giants game had a severe migraine so bad that I was becoming severely nauseous to where all I really really wanted was a small cup of coffee in hopes to get rid of the migraine so I would be able to eat some of my food. So when men want to sit here and criticize my review by saying I was a "drunk" that is far from what I am EVER. The ambiance of this place is nothing amazing with its outdated decor going on. The waiters are all men and have been with the establishment for years on end besides the waiter we had which he says he was there for 7 months and said he was waiting tables for over 20 years (so he says) I found that hard to believe for some reason since the whole time we were there he not once brought out my coffee. Also when I had ordered risotto my step-dad had told my sister and I that if we didn't want to eat now (because we were just eating over at chase field for the dodgers and dbacks game) that we could save the food for later which was WHY i ordered food in the first place. I had no intention to order to be perfectly honest. I am kind of wishing I NEVER ordered anything at all the way all of the waiters and chef came out to basically yell at me for not touching my food. I really wish i was so sick that i would have thrown up all over the place the way they were treating me on my birthday I felt so bullied. So when OUR waiter took my food to be bagged up to take home he never brought it out for me to take home. Yet my families food all got packaged up and brought back within a matter of seconds. Our waiter then brought out a very soggy tiramisu in which I have never had it that way ever and googled to see if I have just been eating it the wrong way my whole entire life. No where on google does it say that its supposed to be that soggy. It was not until we were almost home I had forgotten my food since it was never once brought back out like we wasted our money for not eating my food right then and there. If im not mistaken i am pretty sure that the owner and chef were the same person. In that case I will not be recommending this place to anyone in the future if the owner is that much of a douchebag to with hold my food because I was feeling so sick and just wanted some coffee the whole time I was there. I should not have to repeat myself to have to ask for things consistently. It is the waiters job to assess the situation and to be understanding. Not to be a jerk the whole time and not ask if there was anything else he could have got me besides my food. like...my Coffee! Lastly I'm pretty sure I have a right to my own opinion, everyone that likes this place and I have been multiple times now usually tend to send me hate mail for typing this review. Every single time the food in my opinion has not been epic or even close to it. So please stop judging me for just one of the times I've went I'm not typing up all the other two times minimum I've been not including my birthday visit. read more

Avanti - Soggy tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Went here for New Year's Eve. My hubby and I both got the surf and turf special and it was delicious, but not worth $60 per plate. Dessert was disappointing. He ordered the tiramisu which he said was good. I ordered the creme brûlée and got vanilla soup with some caramelized sugar on top. It was inedible and paid $10 for it. The service was great and we never had to ask for drink refills. We spent about $200 for the two of us, which was way overpriced for what we got. read more

This places looks deceiving from the street but do not miss the opportunity to experience this restaurant!! I had heard several people talk about Avanti's but feel like they did not do them justice! We arrived Sunday night and we seated at a booth for two and ordered their house Chardonnay which was very good. You do receive complimentary garlic bread which is also delicious. I ordered the calamari along with the trio pasta and I was beyond happy with my choices. My boyfriend ordered the Caesar salad and chicken Parmesan and he raved about the amazing taste, I had to steal a few bites! The food is just fantastic and our server Sergio was icing on the cake!! Then Chef Angelino also came by and welcomed us even with a full house, great customer service and very welcoming! We declined dessert only cause the food was so amazing and filling, we had no room. We were wrong when Sergio placed a trio plate of their desserts! It was chocolate ice cream, tiramisu and creme brûlée .... Heaven in your mouth!! Please do yourself a favor and dine here, you can thank me later! Fantastico and bellissimo!! read more

Avanti - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I had high hopes given the history here. The quality of the food was shocking. Overcooked, no flavor, too salty. A twelve year old could cook a better Italian meal. Ordered orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage. Got heavily sauced box pasta shells with frozen broccoli florets and mushed meat. Veal overcooked and tasteless. Service excruciatingly slow. read more

Tonight we were jonesing for some Italian, and this was the perfect place for us to go. The restaurant has been around for over 40 years, and when you walk inside, it's like a trip back in time. The decor is old school, which we love! The waiters were all so friendly and helpful. We were immediately greeted with a smile and shown to our table. The garlic bread was yummy!! It was garlicky and soft. For our starters, I had the classic caesar salad, which was dressed perfectly and the dressing was not overpowering. Hubby had the mixed greens vinaigrette, and he loved it! My entree was the chicken parmigiana with spaghetti on the side. The chicken parm wasn't heavily breaded, which made it taste lighter and was so moist. The spaghetti was just as delicious, and there was so much, it's already in the fridge ready to be my lunch for work tomorrow. Hubby got the classic meat lasagna, which was served in a bowled plate on a bed of "white gravy". I think he adored it, because I caught him licking the sauce off his plate, by the end of the meal, it looked completely clean. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse. It literally melted in my mouth, and wasn't overly sweet...a perfect ending to my dinner. Hubby had the flan, which was silky and sweet. This was a wonderful meal for a Sunday night...to get us ready for the week ahead. We'll definitely be back!! read more

A classic Italian restaurant. Tablecloths and such, but not too pretentious or upscale. Just a good restaurant. Service was excellent and attentive. The atmosphere is somewhat traditional, and business-like. You'd think you were in a scene in the Godfather. But that's not what made it great. The food was exquisite. From the perfect Italian breads, already brushed with olive oil, to the fluffy pasta crepe and nuanced sauce of the cannelloni, it was superb. But that's not what made it great. The wine list was thorough, but I just had the house red, which was a nice Chianti. But that's not what made it great. The cannoli. Don't leave this cannoli. OMG. I am a huge fan of a proper cannoli. By proper, I mean the filling should not be chalky. It should definitely not be custard. It really shouldn't be ricotta, but it's a cheaper cheese. The PROPER cheese should be mascarpone. The waiter promised it was, and every bit as good as what grandma used to make. It was. I wanted to cry, it was so good. The filling was perfect - no chalkiness, no grit, no dryness. The shell was also perfectly cooked, just the right thickness and crispiness. It was like an out-of-body experience. Go here at least for the cannoli. Stay for the dinner too. Fantastic place, and I'd wager the best Italian in the southwestern United States. read more

I recently dined here with my mother and grandmother for Mother's Day. The restaurant has a great ambiance to it. Our server, I think his name was Luis, was extremely friendly and very patient with our orders. The garlic bread that was served was amazing and our meals were out extremely fast. Everything was cooked to perfection and I will certainly recommend Avanti to anyone looking for a traditional Italian restaurant with home made food. read more

Avanti - Homemade Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Wow! Wow! So I was recommended to eat here by my hotel on the way to the airport. When I got there I asked the waiter if I would have enough time to eat and make it to the airport. He was so kind and polite, he told me he could get my food fast out for me and let me tell you HE DID!!!! My food was out within 15 minutes and let me tell you it was absolutely delicious!!!!! I got to admit walking into the restaurant I didn't think the food was gonna be great but it was fantastic!!!! The best chicken parm and Cesar salad! Not to mention the free garlic bread. The waiter was amazing it was by far the best service I received the whole weekend in Scottsdale! I needed to charge my phone and the restaurant made it happened I enjoyed a delicious meal and made it to the hotel with plenty of time to spare! I will definitely be back here next time I visit! read more

Saturday night at the busy Italian restaurant was a great experience for five of us. Our waiter, David expertly guided us through the menu and wine list. We opted for the surf and turf special which was excellent. We will return for the food and service. read more

What era is this? That was my first thought as I stepped into this restaurant. Mirrored ceilings, velvet upholstered chairs, cheetah print fabric -- it was like I was in the 80's or in the movie "Scarface." The place was pretty quiet and the atmosphere would be good for maybe a birthday or a graduation dinner. I came here with some clients for dinner (on a weeknight) while we were in Phoenix. There were 2 or 3 other tables here that night; not very busy. The menu had a good selection of various Italian dishes: pastas, seafood, chicken, veal, pork, etc. For starters, we all shared the Calamari (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#KrxhHm5bvPqPTmXfpO2rjA) and the Escargot De Bourhohne (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#_lPAyaWEzQ9QK92_i6trfA). The Calamari was delicious! The batter was light and crisp, and the squid was pretty tender. The Escargot was cooked in garlic butter and brandy wine, which gave it some nice flavors. It was a little chewy, but it pretty much tasted like a clam. We all shared a bottle of the 2010 Markham Merlot (Napa Valley) -- this had a nutty, vanilla, woodsy flavor. We all ordered seafood so it paired nicely with our dishes. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#ofGN_r7-hk5EeZkx8W0h1g) For my main dish, I went with one of the specials offered that night, the Squid Ink Ciopinno (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#RCrj3Z_O7IyIUIVA6r5bTg). This seemed more like a pasta rather than a ciopinno in my opinion. What I love the most about ciopinno is that savory, rich, seafood broth. This one didn't have any broth, it was more like a tomato sauce. Although this dish did include a generous amount of seafood (mussels, shrimp, scallop), it didn't taste very fresh and had a rubbery texture. A few people at my table ordered the Dover Sole special that was available that night (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#9eQoEjUq1Ayiw6iKw4H5dg_. This fish was fried whole, and then your server removes the fillet from the head/tail right before he served you. Someone else ordered the Dover Sole dish that was available on the dinner menu (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#RFHGeb_vykwNYJeIQv_fDA). She did not seem to enjoy this very much. I had a taste of it and it had a murky/mushy taste and texture to it. The sauce was very buttery-- I prefer the fried Dover over this one. Dessert was okayyy. I ordered the Spumoni (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#RlDB83kUQaeOOU-6EItG8A). It looks like a vanilla turd, lol. The texture of the ice cream tasted like those ice cream cups you'd get in elementary school-- icee, not creamy, and dirzzled with some Hershey's chocolate syrup.. what a disappointment. The sorbet was a lot better than the Spumoni and was a refreshing palate cleanser (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#3go2OFhMl_zK2GETMSYJjg). The Tiramisu (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/avanti-phoenix?select=ZZCRKeBcrFxbb4fZyaKsWw#pOWH0I8A7J4-UFByf4FR_A) was average.. not great and not bad. In my opinion, the prices here are super steep, especially for most of the dishes we orderded. Service-wise, we were welcomed upon entrance and our server was very attentive... but only in the beginning of the meal. It took us forever to get our check. read more

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Just love! A valley tradition. The chef and owner is so charming. Do not sleep on this gem!

All "old school" is good. It is not. Good Old School is good. Bad old school is usually mediocre, sometimes it's really bad. And Avanti is about as bad old school as I see. Durant's is old school. And it's cool. Where else are you going for red-flocked wall paper? Ice in the urinals? The problem is, the last 5 visits at Durant's, the best part of the visit WAS the red-flocked wall paper. Not the flavor of a $50 steak. No, RED FLOCKED WALL PAPER AND ICE IN THE URINALS, not a great steak. And priced like Ocean Club, a good steak, not a great steak. Avanti is just old. Old food, no flavor, think they're furthering the Italian-American cuisine. They are not. Forget the old stories about the the Suns getting their cola at Avanti's -- alledgedly -- check the headlines. Point is, Avanti has been around forever. FOREVER and it tastes like it. My meal was overpriced, undersized and not al dente'...Mr. Avanti thinks this is 'old school'. I think it's just old. read more

I have to say truly the best Italian food I've had , I've been to many others and they are good but Avanti's pasta and sauces are remarkable.. Angelo you certainly know what your doing please do not change anything . The service was top notch Sergio is amazing and on point with everything all night . We really love the feel of the restaurant. We already have reservations for Easter brunch , the menu is truly amazing as Angelo was explaining to us all that will be offered It's a must try !! Thanks for everything , Chris Carpenter read more

I came here for New Year's Eve due to it having great Yelp reviews and their willingness to accommodate a large party. When my friend called the first time to make a reservation, they didn't write it down. When she called two days before New Years Eve to confirm the reservation and couldn't find it. Luckily, they were still able to get us in. When we arrived, we waited for 20 minutes before getting menus and ordering drinks and then another 20 before getting our drinks. The only good thing was that the wine glasses are large. When the waitress came back, I told her I had a very SEVERE SEAFOOD ALLERGY. She got the owner and I explained my allergy. He asked me what cross contamination means and that I should just order the lasagna because it's the best. Once she waitress came back, I asked her to talk to the kitchen about it. She didn't and when she took everyone's orders I told her I didn't feel comfortable eating here. Her response was oooo yes, good call and then proceeded to tell me everything is cooked together. There was no professionalism and my allergy turned into a joke for the owner and waitress. I am currently an hour and a half into the dinner and there is no food on the table besides bread. The table behind us has had superb service with good on the table and they got here 45 minutes later than us. read more

The only thing you need to know about this place is that they shop at Restaurant Depot. That means they drive their hot van with no refrigeration load it up with meat chicken cheese and produce and drive it back to their restaurant. Disgusting... read more

Love this place the sea food is spectacular...The shipeno is the best I've had. Piano playing,good wait staff.Id definitely eat here several more times read more

Friends dinner. Caesar Salad amazing. Drinks great. Wait staff and our server (Jenna?) top notch. But... my pappardelle w beef ragu a huge mess. Noodles mushy and ragu watery thin and no taste. Avanti's has been a staple in Phx forever. Maybe a menu/chef change is in order to stay relevant read more

I have heard others talk about Avanti and how much they enjoyed eating there, so I had to try it. I liked the fact that the restaurant was not noisy or overly crowded. My pasta entree consisted of three types of pasta, and each was very good. My wife ordered the fish special, but received a whole fish, totally not what she ordered. She was quite disappointed that she didn't receive the meal she ordered. They offered to remake the meal but all in the party had received their meals and were already eating, so my wife declined. We were pleased that the restaurant chose to not charge for their mistake. This is an old classic restaurant with quite a history and is certainly worth the trip to check it out. read more

Went here to celebrate my anniversary and it was lovely! I love Italian food and this place did not disappoint. The decor is interesting, lots of mirrors. The overall crowd here seemed to be older. The waiters were attentive and answered our menu questions. The drinks were superb. My bf said that it was the best old fashioned. I had the carbonara and it was delicious!!! We had to make room for their desserts as well and they didn't disappoint. Will definitely be going back and trying more things. read more

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Great food and excellent service! Didn't mind paying the high scale price. Was worth the experience. Highly recommend.

100% disappointed with this place. Me and my wife were looking forward to a wonderful dining experience after hearing and reading so many great things about this restaurant. We rarely get much alone time due to work and parenting, and after putting our kiddos to bed we put on our fancy dinner attire expecting to be seated for a 9:45pm reservation. Unfortunately when we arrived to the restaurant upon being greeted we were told "we just missed it", which was very confusing because we had arrived a few minutes early. The greeter explained to us that the restaurant closes at 9:30pm and THAT HE SAW our 9:45pm reservation posted but doesn't know why we were still able to reserve the table. Which we responded with "it would've been nice to know", especially after making the accommodations for babysitting and taking the time to get ready. Very disappointed in the lack of professionalism at this establishment in regards to our reservation considering they have both a phone number and email for our reservation and we were never contacted or updated. Hopefully they get their system in order to avoid further dissatisfaction from future customers expecting a fine dining experience only to get turned downed at the door. read more

We were recently in the area with friends and wanted to go to a restaurant close to a venue where we were going to a concert later. What an amazing surprise to find this amazing restaurant! The food was exceptional as the service. The caesar salad was the best I've ever eaten as well as the lasagna! Everyone at the table enjoyed their entries and said it was the best Italian food that they had eaten! The pasta literally melts in your mouth! 5-stars for this magnificent restaurant!!! read more

Worst customer service EVER!!! If this was my first visit, I would never go back!!!! I went there for my 50th Birthday over the weekend and we sat in the bar area and we were completely ignored... We reserved our favorite table to be told it is open seating so they wouldn't hold it...(First time told that in 10 years).. we get there and nobody is at the table we reserved but could not sit there because it was reserved! Huh! How about that!! Nobody was seated at that table until we were leaving!!! The waiter who was servicing bar area checked on every table a few times before checking on our table once.... And it was like that all night!!! Needless to say... I didn't stay for my favorite desert!!! It was my sons first time there and will never go back... He is a server at a 5 star and thought this place was a joke!!!! I'm not sure I will return either! read more

Although this area seems a bit run down, Amazing food food and over the top service. Everything was made fresh. The homemade pasta was so yummy. Will definitely be back. read more

Had dinner a few nights back. Left over from the 70s decor. The food was very good although the location was iffy. Was surprised how well they knew their wines- had an amazing Rombauer cab. Had the kids and they were very accommodating and helpful. Price was reasonable. Food 5 Wine 4.5 Parking 5 Service 4 Value 5 Overall 5 read more

Sept 15 @ 7pm; Granted I was doing a DoorDash order, but to walk in looking confused and not even receive a simple hello but "Let me see your phone" and nothing else. What if I did have plans to dine in and was just checking on the reviews of the restaurant? I don't know if I should call this racial profiling because of my skin color or just bad customer service. The restaurant is clearly empty except for 2 booth with a couple in each one so your obviously not busy, so no need to hurry me out. Thank you for showing me what bad customer service is and for making my night less great. read more

This place is pricey. Unlike most pricey places though they've earned their right to be. From pasta handmade by someone with 40 years of experience to the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life that melts on the tip of your tongue to amazing seafood risotto with the perfect texture between softness and firmness I was beyond happy with my dinner. Absolutely amazing. I would definitely return and try another entree if I got the chance to come back to Arizona. The service was incredibly and the owners made us feel like family and although we came in pretty late around 9pm they served our group of 16 and gave us an experience none of us will forget and I know I will remember my trip to Arizona for. The only critique I could possibly have would be the jumbo shrimp cocktail appetizer at a high price of $14 for 4 shrimp. I probably wouldn't get that next time? But everything else?? YES read more

Avanti - Special seafood risotto - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Ciao ciao Avanti. Been coming here for 25 years and sadly, last night will be the last time. It's time for owner and chef, Angelo, to hang up his apron and call it a day. The food's gone down hill, the staff has gone downhill, the wait times (even with a reservation) are rediculous and the attitude of everyone seems to be stressed, impatient and unhappy. We had a Saturday reservation at 7 and sat at the table for 20 minutes before anyone showed up with water or menus. Another 15 minutes to order and then the waiter, who couldn't have been more rushed and unpleasant, told us the food was going to take "at least 30 minutes" (even for the appetizers) because they were busy. Really? Saturday night at 7 and the entire staff is overwhelmed, rushing and irritable? Finally the food came and all 4 entrees were very disappointing. The linguini with clams was so saturated in salty oil, the canned minced clams very over cooked and rubbery, the garlic so strong, it was actually the worst I've ever had. Then, another 15 minute wait to find our waiter to get the check who thought he'd fool us and act pleasant for the only time during the hour 45 minute ordeal in an effort to get a better tip. We're done. Never again. The food and service were so bad...it felt insulting. read more

This place is great! It has an 'old Vegas' feel to it, and it is quiet, with great service. We always seem to order the same things there, because they are the best on the menu...Martinis, Caesar Salad, and the Lasagna. So good! read more

Amazing place, amazing food, definitely a must go. That being said, we had a really weird experience when we went where, to sum it up, we did not feel welcome. The owner was present while we were in the restaurant, and while he and his staff kindly conversed with every table around us, we were practically ignored and rushed out. I'm not one to typically leave a yelp review, but i have never had a waiter be simultaneously polite while still blowing us off. I was excited to talk to the staff here as I am Italian and once I heard the staff was as well (as they chatted to nearby tables, NOT US!), I was excited for conversations and exchanges during our meal. Instead we were ignored and rushed through our dinner. Again, I still would go back, it could have been an off night for our waiter or something, but we kindof got the feeling that due to our age, the staff may not have taken us seriously as customers or thought we did not have a high budget, when in reality we would have spent much more than we did had the attitude not been so weird and unwelcoming. Hopefully this isn't our experience next time, but just wanted to throw this review out there so other young customers could know what attitude to expect. read more

My wife and I dined here for the first time yesterday with a group of new friends, including some long time Phoenicians. Before coming here I read many of the reviews, noticing that they were predominantly 4-5 stars, with a few 1-2 stars thrown into the mix. Love it or hate it, seems to be the mode for most of the reviewers. For the long time residents, Avanti's holds a bit of true nostalgia, as it brings back fond memories of special occasions, which forms an important part of the dinning experience. Being relatively new to Phoenix this was not a factor for us, we judged the restaurant for what it is today. This included: Great service from Andrew and his team. Great food: Since we were a group of 14 we had agreed to a special meal: Caprese Salad, Pasta Trio or Stuffed Sole and Tiramisu. The pasta is made on site,(we were advised by a friend who has dined there since she was a young girl). The Sole (stuffed with crab and scallops) was delicious and perfectly done. The dinner was a good value for the price. Music : After dinner we adjourned to the bar to listen to Charles on the piano. This was definitely a throwback to the old school ways of entertaining in an era that brings back a memorable 'Rat Pack' kind of nostalgia (If you have to google 'Rat Pack', this restaurant is probably not for you). Atmosphere: Since we were a large group we had a private room, thus we were not in the main dining room. That worked well for us. The bar area and main dining room are unique, and would not be for everyone's taste. If you want slick modern décor, with a vibrant young crowd, your not going to find it here. If you want good solid, old school Italian food, good service, great piano music, strong drinks and good wine, then you will find it at Avanti. I will look forward to future experiences at this Phoenix icon. read more

The waiter was so rude it wasn't even funny. Also the little water bringer person spilled water all over my husband and laughed... the man didn't bring him a napkin or say anything close to the words I'M SORRY. He did it in front of the waiter and the waiter simply looked at my husband and said "what do you want to drink?" Even if the food was good (which it wasn't) I wouldn't come back because of the way we were treated... not that we are royalty, but hot damn? We are paying customers... a simple "I'm sorry let me get you a napkin" would have avoided this review... The food wasn't bad, but I promise it wasn't anything to write home about. I hope the waiter reads this... I normally leave $40 to $50 tips... this jerk I doubt is getting a $5.00 dollar bill. read more

Avanti is as real as it gets! Angelo is straight from Florence Italy, so he knows Italian food! I was fortunate enough to get a serenade from Angelo! He and his guys make you feel like your part of the family. Martini's and cocktails are AMAZING! You really have not had Italian food in AZ until you have been to Avanti's! Scott and Sherri read more