Avanti's Italian Restaurant

Love the Avanti's gondolas! A great place to take a family, or anyone on a budget. You can get a broad variety of Italian food for a reasonable price. Service is quick and anything I've ordered has always been good.

The bread is very good, but I tried the lasagna and it was terrible. The sauce tasted very weird. The service is ok. It took forever for us to get our drinks refilled.

A Bloomington-Normal classic that never gets old! I drive out of my way purposely just for the bread! Fresh, fast and a terrific value!

I love Avanti's because of their friendly service personnel, fast delivery of great food and consistancy of their product. You always know you can depend on Avanti's for a great, fast meal that won't break the bank!

Excellent Food! The bread is amazing and the italian salad dressing is out of this world! The prices are also amazing! Check out the new one in the Bloomington area by the aiport it is very nice with lots of seating and waiting area! The take out is also very roomy.

By far, the best restaurant in Bloomington-Normal! Very reasonable prices, and delicious Italian food! Try the garlic bread--it's unbelievable! Make it a point to go everytime you come to town!

Good Pizza.

Their pizza is very good, they had some struggles with opening but every new restaurant to the area does. This place originated in south Chicago and the recipe's prove it. Love the Mustalfo Italian Beef with green olives and the pastas were good as well. The atmosphere, service and food have been very good the two times I have visited. As summarized by fellow critics, after the kinks get worked out and they advertise, I can see this restaurant really prospering in central Il.

If you like amateur italian food, than Paisano's is your best bet in Bloomington, IL.Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken was BAD (to be distinguished from not good). The pizza was burned, and sliced by an incompetent (into tiny squares). The Spaghetti with meat sauce had no meat, whatsoever. We understand that Paisano's claims that their 'sauce' is special. Unlike another company with "special sauce," Paisano's will not be a legend (except in their own mind). Absolutely bad food, poor service. What will this location be in a year or so?

As much as I love to patronize local spots, this one will need improvements before I return. Our waitress greeted us with a list of everything they were out of (bread, french fries, and 2 main chicken dishes). We had to request napkins/flatware. Pizza Bread appetizer came burned with an apology (but no offer to fix it). It was oddly served with a pickle spear. Main dishes were not served together. Salad was forgotten, so I had to eat it after my main dish arrived. The explanation was that they had been out of salad earlier so the server forgot to serve salads before meals. No salad fork was provided, so I had to keep using one fork between my saucy main dish and the salad (yuck). The pizza was ordered with bacon and pepperoni. After a delay, we were told they were out of bacon (it still appeared on the bill as an extra $1.25). Only the adult was offered refills. Final refills were different drinks intended for another table. If and when I hear the locals rave, I'll give it another try.

FOUR STARS for FOOD and TWO STARS for SERVICE. Atmosphere was pleasant and decorated with warm tones and family photos on the wall. Would be nice for a quite dinner for two or a party of ten. Food was good with classic recipes. All had the taste of home made and I would go back for the food alone. However, the service left something to be desired. Our waitress did not have knowledge of the menu and her timing was off. In addition she seemed a little curt to my wife when a questions came up about the food as it was served. If they are able to train their staff to match their $$ this may have a place in a very competitive town. As this was day seven after their opening, I will be back and check them out again in a few weeks. I hope they have upgraded their staff by then. 10-16-07

The bread is great! the food is great! and you never go away hungry!

Just west of ISU campus, Avanti's Gondola's and italian dishes are unique and delicious. They deliver and cater and their pizza's aren't bad either..

breakfast, lunch, or dinner, it doesn't matter, it's THAT good!