I only had the Gondola so I may change my review but this is a great local place for comfort food Try the Gondola read more

My lasagna was smothered by WAY TOO MUCH marinara sauce. In addition to the marinara on the inside - all I could taste was the sauce. Some cheese - after I dug around for it. Some pasta that looked dark and gray. The marinara was not very good tasting. My wife did not like the spaghetti for the same reasons. Bread was cold. No wait staff. So no tip given. Just like a fast food place. Ambiance: What ambiance? No music. Boring interior. Floors sticky - made a squelching noise when we walked out. We'll be going to any other restaurant for Italian. Avanti's - you lost our business forever. read more

Friendly staff! My husband and I both had turkey subs. I haven't been to Avanti's in years so I was craving their unique slightly sweet bread. The sandwich was good but I can wait a few more years before I crave it again read more

Had great memories of Avantis from the early 70s. Every time thru Normal would go out of way to stop. Stopped on a Sunday. Closed? In a college town? Last time was a great disappointment. No table service. Long line to order. Pizza came-not sliced in squares as in the past-but slices. No more visits for me-dulls the former glorious memory. read more

A huge thanks to the Riches--Zeller and Hubble--for helping to coordinate not one, but two meals for the marching band. They were more than willing to accommodate our unique needs (Chicken at 9:45a, anyone?) and delivering dinner piping hot to the Hancock stadium parking lot where the kids were eating. The kids ate almost all of the salad (Impressive for teenagers), devoured all of the bread, and enjoyed the pasta, chicken, and brownies as well. Avanti's has become synonymous with our yearly trip to ISU from the suburbs of Chicago and for good reason! I am already looking forward to their food in the 2026 season! read more

Lasagna was tuff. Not as good as a frozen dinner. I would never order it again. Yuck!

This place is a family favorite! You must try the pizza bread with a side of ranch or their famous gondolas. I've never met a person who didn't love their homemade ranch. On our way up to Chicago, we almost always stop here to enjoy our meal on the go. You can order carryout online before arriving so you don't have to wait. read more

This restaurant used to be an amazing sit down restaurant. Now you have to order and take to table. Their family size spaghetti is a great buy. And we drive out of our way for gondolas! Still great food read more

Food was very good Service @pickup was professional. Picked up. Parking lot ambiance is as good as

I ate at Avanti's many, many times from 1977 - 1980 when I attended ISU. I am staying in Normal this weekend as my husband attends a conference. I was anxious to see if the food was as delicious as I remembered it. I am rating the food as 3-stars. The sausage pizza and garlic bread were adequate. I personally, would categorize them as flavorless but they will appeal to those who do not want a strong sausage flavor or a strong garlic flavor. Service was good. The food was ready when promised. read more

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I would've give it a -3/5 stars but the app wouldn't let me!! Not only did I have to wait 15 minutes to be seen to a cashier when the place was empty, but when I got the food it was too watery, flavorless, and cold. I ordered the chicken Parmesan and when I got it, the cheese was still cold--almost as if it had come out the freezer 30 seconds prior. Not only was the food disappointing and over priced, but the place itself was very dirty. There were food scraps on the floor and I had to clean off my own table with my napkin. Don't recommend !! read more

I've been an Avanti's customer since it opened in the early '70s. Always loved it . . . until a few years ago, for some reason unknown to me, they changed their bread recipe. Maybe it was COVID falllout. It's just not the same, nothin special and not nearly as good as it used to be. Here's hoping they'll see the error of their ways and bring back the good stuff! read more

Growing up in Mundelein there was an Avantis there. We used to grab a log of bread and cup of ranch the get buffalo wings. I was excited as hell when i found this as the mundelein location closed decades ago. The bread was just as my childhood memories recalled sooo good read more

The sandwiches were decent, price is reasonable, service was sparse, only 1 cashier taking orders, busing tables and cleaning up. ambience is quite lacking, management needs to put the word out again that they are back open for doing big biz like pre-COVID. The dining area is nice and big but very empty/deserted looking because only at most 1/2 the dining room has table/chair seating and only a few were being used when we came around 12:30pm on 11/4/2025, Tuesday and toward the end of our meal, we were the only folks around and the rest of the place had emptied out on a Tuesday afternoon ~1:15pm. I did not remember that being the case back in 1995-2005, do you? read more

Do NOT order the "salad". Pizza ok. Super midwestern. Not Chicago. And yeah. Thanks a lot read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - A bag of dole lettuce at $10 instead of $2 at jewel. - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Visited the campus location. Only 12 people in the seating area on a Saturday night. I had spaghetti and meatball and my partner had lasagna. Taste was ok. Nice size proportions. Served with their famous bread. Had enough to take home for lunch. Good value. They used to have beer and wine. Not now. Could have used a glass of red. read more

The food is always delicious here. Unfortunately the service has not recovered from the world losing its mind in 2020. I'll still go every time I'm in town. read more

Simple and good. Staff was nice and accommodating... If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be stopping by. read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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Great service-order as you walk-in and then they serve the meal. Food was delicious and very well priced.

Wow, what happened to this place? While never fine Italian, it was always good for what it was. I was in town and dined in for the first time in years and was shocked. No more waiter service, you walk up to a counter are handed a menu then order and pay on the spot. You get handed a number and drink cups and the rest you pretty much do for yourself. There is a runner to bring your food and that is it. Portions are small, prices are even higher than they were before and to food was really disappointing. Lasagna tasted as if it was old and from the rubbery hard cheese, I believe microwaved with sauce that was barely over room temperature. Need a to go container? Get back in line up front to ask. Pathetic. Born and raised in Bloomington, have loved this place for many many years but unfortunately not any more. So sad. What the h@ll happened to this place? read more

Stopped in and grabbed a gondola sub and as usual it was yummy. The bread is addictive! read more

I have to give them 4 stars based on nostalgia and bread, lol. Going past Normal I made my husband stop and check out my first dorm and apartment - and eat at Avanti's - the 'fancy' place when I went to ISU. I couldn't believe it had been almost 30 years, I'm not that old!! It looks the same, the menu seems the same, and the prices are still cheap! Is this a downtown Chicago level Italian place, no, so my review is not based on that kind of comparison. can you get cheap comfort Italian here - yes! Due to covid it was deserted. I was disappointed that we could order and eat at a table but It had to be out of a take out bag with plastic silverware. Seemed extreme at this point. The bread though was just what I remembered and my husband understood my college food love! We took a gondola and a couple loaves home with us. We ate chicken parm and a meatball sandwich and both were happy with our cheap Italian take out! It's obvious why they have survived for decades on end... some things never change- and that is a good thing ! read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - Deserted Avantis - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

So sad after my visit 2-10-24. Not the Avanti's I remember from the '90. Order and pay like McDonalds. Go get your own drink. $30 for 2 orders. Food was hot but nothing special. The bread is still good. read more

I had delivery. The food was good . The bread is excellent. Warm, crusty and soft inside. The garden salad with HOUSE dressing has been a favorite over 12 years & remains just that! read more

Five stars just for the bread. We lived on Avanti's bread in college (20+ years ago) and weren't disappointed with the loaves we got to go on our way through town. Three for the crazy prices for mediocre "Italian" fast food and the general unkept feel of the take out area. If we hadn't known exactly what we wanted (bread) we wouldn't have eaten there. read more

I can always count on prompt delivery, hot food, and tasty food. I highly recommend. The orders are always correct. I have never had a missing item. read more

They say you can't go back, but maybe you can... Yesterday, my wife, children, and I happened to be about 45 minutes from the Bloomington/Normal area. My wife and I graduated from Illinois State, but haven't been back in many, many, MANY, years. We decided for fun - lets take a little detour, and show our teenager children the campus. As we set out for Bloomington/Normal, we were having fun reminiscing about our college days. Then my wife said: "Let's have lunch at Avaniti's!" Avanti's was our first stop. Before we even walked in the door, my wife declared she was ordering a gondola. It was as good as she remembered. It was Tuesday, and the special was all-you-can-eat spaghetti. I had totally forgotten about the all-you-can-eat spaghetti. It was as good as I remember. My daughter had chicken parmigiana, and my son had a create your own pasta dish. Both were pleased. Our meals came with choice of soup or salad, and Avanti's wonderful, homemade bread. We enjoyed the bread so much, we ordered a loaf to go! Unfortunately, the rest of our visit to the twin cities wasn't as satisfying. We hardly recognized the campus, and many of our old haunts have disappeared. Downtown Normal probably looks better than ever, but it just isn't the same. Thank god for Avanti's, as it is one of the last existing memories from our college days (oh, and The Pub, but we didn't have time to visit there). Good food, friendly service, and very reasonable prices. I'm glad to see some things never change. read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - Tuesday is all-you-can-eat spaghetti. Very tasty. - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

All the food is yummy yummy goodness and fresh! My favorite is the turkey gondola!! And also I recommend you the tortellini read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - Just me!! But avantis is delicious!! I get the tortellini usually!! But all the food is yummy!! - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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Stoped by on are family road trip, the Italian beef was amazing and perfect cooked. The food was also quickly cooked for us to get on are way. Honestly I think this is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to,also one of the best restaurants in Normal read more

I would rate Avanti's 3 star before my this dine in experience. To me personally, the food (especially the sandwiches) tasted way much better and the restaurant ambiance is a plus. We had the fried ravioli, pizza burger sandwich, and Cod Loin. I got to say that the pizza burger is still a 3 star, but it tasted so much richer in flavors and meat than the take-out. BUT THE COD LOIN and the bread, are simply amazing. Cod is very fresh, reminding you of the taste and tenderness of lobster. I absolutely adore the spice and the penne pasta that is covered in pesto alfredo sauce. Simple, delicate, and delicious. Highly recommend. I would come back to dine in again! read more

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Just get a Gondola deluxe and hit the road. Never disappoints. Bread is well above avg and deli meat is fresh. Not sure why people wouldn't like this place and try to make it something it's not. read more

I have stopped here a few times to get gondolas for takeout. It was not until recently that I actually dined in. That motivated by the fact my wife received a $10 off coupon for her birthday which was dine in only. If I was judging strictly on food then my rating would be much higher. Avanti's food has stayed consistent throughout the years. I ordered the gondola deluxe so that was going to be good. This location has absolutely no energy. They need to start playing some kind of music. Even if it's generic elevator style music. It would improve the ambience. The inside looks straight out of the 90's. I'm sure they have not remodeled since it was built. It was curious that place so close to campus had mostly older people eating there. Maybe it was the time of day or maybe college students mostly get takeout. Just wondering if it has to do with what I laid out in my last paragraph. read more

Oh the Avanti's crave was inevitable while passing through the Bloomington/Normal area. I have had the infamous Gondola cold sandwich before. However I wanted to surprise my folks and sister with something original for our ride back to Chicago. ME: Wait here I am just gonna run in and grab a few sandwiches for the road. FOLKS: Okay, well you know what we like, we trust you. MY SISTER: I wanna go in. ME: Let me get 4 Gondolas to go please. MY SISTER: Wait...I am a vegan now, I can't eat those. ME: WHAT!!!!! Since when, we are at the gate of Gondola heaven and you tell me this now!! AVANTI'S STAFF: (laughing) ME: Okay 3 Gondolas and 1 Veggie whatever sub. You can eat bread right? MY SISTER: No wait, no cheese on mine. ME: Ahhhhhh! Your killing me smalls! AVANTI'S STAFF: (laughing again) The reaction on my folks face when unwrapping the largest sandwich was priceless. Sort of brought back the old memories of those long car rides on vacation. Needless to say my father killed the entire Gondola in 20 minutes. My mother left about 6" inches of the sandwich. Thanks Avanti for creating another great family experience and for creating the Gondola. read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - Gondola - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

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My husband and I stopped here for dinner on our road trip and were very pleased with how clean and tasty everything was! People were polite, ordering was easy, and pick up was a breeze! If we ever come back we will be stopping here! read more

The bread was changed. It's flat and soft. Not the round, firm bread of avantis from my childhood. Sadly don't know if we will be back. :(

Avanti's hosted an after funeral event for 40+ people and did an outstanding job. Beth and Debbie were the best and the food was fantastic! I would highly recommend. read more

Been here a few times, first time was amazing. Seafood manicotti special was unbelievable. Been back twice and food was "ehhh" and I ended up tipping the bus boy because the server was horrible the last time we went. read more

The food was amazing, and the service in shop very good, the line moves very fast and efficiently.

While waiting for family to get done at the hospital I came here like the old days. Food was Fast hot and cheerful waitress. Pizza was great and of course so was the bread! read more

Avanti's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Normal, Illinois

Last year I said the pricing was great. This past weekend we were downstate and I got 4 gondolas with double meat (and not even really double meat, they only gave me double ham) and it was $30. $30? That is so wrong. But the bread was still soooo good. PS - this was at the new Bloomington Location. read more