Avanti Ristorante

This restaurant prompted me to create a Unilocal account just to write this review. We went in and the restaurant was completely empty this should’ve alerted us to walk out but the man came over and told us to try the buffet so we paid.
The buffet consisted only of wings, dried up chicken, some mystery soup with no bowls and dried up what looked like pork chops. We were pretty upset since we were charged for food we could get buy at a jewel for cheaper. The man came over to our table and asked us if we wanted drinks we ordered thinking it was included with the buffet so he brought us the drinks and said $ 2.50 to which we said no thank you. We already paid for mediocre food we weren’t paying for the drinks. We asked if there was more food coming out and the man told us 15 minutes we waited and all that came out were cooked tomatoes.
Suffice it to say we regret coming here and will not be returning.

BEYOND AWFUL – DINE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
I went for the all you can lunch buffet. I was the first one there. The food should have been hot and plentiful. All there was soup, dried out pasta, some rice and chicken combo, large fries, hard boiled potatoes, chicken, chicken in sauce, dried out hard pork, stuffed green peppers, two dried fish dishes, and dried small shrimp. The food was almost hot. I took one bite of everything and had to spit it out. The food was hard, no flavors to the food, and I could go on.
WALK/​RUN AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. THEY SHOULD PAY PEOPLE TO DINE HERE!
IF YOU DINE HERE, YOU ARE RISKING THE WELL-​BEING OF YOUR STOMACH.

This is for the «lunch buffet». Got here at one pm on a Wednesday and all that was there was chicken rice, a little salad, mostacholi, smelly fish (and I generally love fish dishes), and some little chicken wings. The guy at the counter didn’t warn us, «oh, hey, we are almost out, so you might want to get something off of the regular menu», which would have been nice. (And we would have spent more, so he should have had an incentive to say something). The food was okay. But I wouldn’t have gotten the items I had if there had been other options available. Cooks not wearing gloves, either, but I’m assuming they wash their hands? The busser was nice, polite, and brought us a pitcher of water, so no complaints there.

Don’t even try it. The cooks were swearing at each other about how bad the restaurant was .The food is only mediocre, they claim to use the best ingredients on the market, I highly doubt it. This location has changed over about 5 times.

Good quality food! Nice and FRESH! Delicious salads and a really good burger.

As of June 6^th., 2015, Avanti is open to public, but it’s a «soft-​opening,» with a limited menu and beverages available.
It’s located in my hood, Albany Park, so hubby and I walked to Avanti on a Saturday morning to show our support to a newly-​established local business.
Everyone was super friendly, especially the chef. We ordered the Siciliano and Calabrese sandwiches. The chef said they didn’t normally come with salad, but he made a complementary arugula walnut vinaigrette salad on the side for us. While the sandwiches were really on point, I was particularly digging the arugula salad. I thought that was extremely delicious! I liked the crispness of the green apple slices, with olives, feta, and the crunchiness of the walnuts. By the way, using the arugula instead of other choices of greens was brilliant! Arugula naturally had the «tartness,» which is unique and doesn’t wither easily, in comparison to iceberg lettuce or romaine.
Hubby placed another order on the phone for the Greek-​style wood-​fired pizza in the same evening during the half-​time of Blackhawks play-​off. When he arrived at Avanti to pick up the pizza, the chef recognized him and made a full-​order of arugula walnut vinaigrette salad gratis! I personally miss the wood-​fired pizza from «Ciao Bella» in Albany Park, which has been out of business for a few months now. However, Avanti’s wood-​fired pizza definitely has the potentials.
Avanti has a massive menu, so there would be something for everyone. There are also many options for vegetarians. With the chef and staff being so kind and accommodating, I think they will probably do well in Albany Park when they complete all the prep work, constructions, and officially open with a full menu and beverages ready to go.