Avanti’s is an award-winning group of Italian restaurants located in Central Illinois. They offer dine-in, delivery, and carry-out options, as well as catering services and banquet facilities.
The restaurant serves a wide variety of solid Italian fare served at large portions and at reasonable prices—just some of the reasons why it’s famous among customers.
| Item | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Appetizers | ||
| Feta Bread | Garlic bread with mozzarella and feta cheese, tossed with sunflower seeds. | $5.50 |
| Chicken Tenders | Served with our special marinara sauce on the side | $7.50 |
| Baked Cauliflower | Cauliflower and broccoli baked in a garlic-lemon sauce and topped with parmesan cheese. | $7.50 |
| Cheese Bread | $4.50 | |
| Tiropeta and Spanakopeta | With greek olives, pepperoncini and tzatziki sauce. | $5.25 |
| Breaksticks (6 Pcs) | $3.25 | |
| Pesto Cheese Bread | Garlic bread with mozzarella, feta, pesto, black olives and tossed with pine nuts. | $5.50 |
| Chicken Fingers of Fire | They are hot and spicy, served with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping. | $7.50 |
| Garlic Bread | $3.25 | |
| Buffalo Wings (10 Pcs) | Choice of hot and spicy or BBQ style. | $6.50 |
| Pita Bread | With greek olives, pepperoncini and tzatziki sauce. | $5.00 |
| Mozzarella Sticks (8 Pcs) | $5.25 | |
| Salads | ||
| Spinach Salad | Fresh spinach, tomatoes, red onions, mushrooms with feta cheese and crispy bacon, topped with our homemade Italian dressing. | $7.25 |
| Cheddar Cheese Cobb Salad | Romaine lettuce, green peppers, red onions, hard-boiled egg, crispy chicken, crumbled bacon and avocado, topped with cheddar and gorgonzola cheese with choice of dressings. | $7.95 |
| Greek Salad | Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, Greek olives, pepperoncini peppers and Greek feta cheese. | $6.25 |
| Dinner Salad | Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and mozzarella cheese. | $2.55 |
| Mozzarella Fresca | Romaine lettuce topped with roasted red peppers, mozzarella cheese, crispy bacon and pepperoncini peppers with balsamic vinagrette dressing. | $7.95 |
| Tortelini Caesar Salad | Special caesar salad with cheese filled tortellini and diced tomatoes. | $7.95 |
| Caesar Salad | Classic caesar dressing, fresh romaine, lemon wedge, parmesan cheese and toasted croutons. | $7.25 |
| Antipasto Salad | Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, salami, pepperoni, canadian bacon, mushrooms, black olives, pepperoncini peppers and gorgonzola cheese. | $9.00 |
| Goat Cheese Delight | Spinach, roasted red peppers, baked eggplant, red onioins, goat cheese and sunflower seeds with balsamic vinagrette. | $7.95 |
| Soups | ||
| Soup of The Day | Our homemade soups. | $2.50 - $3.95 |
| Pastas | ||
| Each pasta dish is served with two pieces of garlic bread. Add salad or soup for $1.50 extra. Add meatballs for $1.75, chicken for $1.95. | ||
| Fresh Spaghetti | In our special marinara or meat sauce. | $9.00 |
| Tortellini a La Creme | Cheese-filled tortellini in a garlic lemon cream sauce. | $10.00 |
| Lasagna | With special blend of tomato sauce and cheeses, oven-baked to perfection. | $9.00 |
| Cannelloni-Manicotti | Oven baked crepes with ricotta and parmesan cheese, ground beef smothered in marinara sauce and mozzarella. | $9.50 |
| Cheese Ravioli | With marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese on top. | $9.50 |
| White Spaghetti | No sauce. Sundried tomatoes, brocoli, garlic and fresh basil sauteed in olive oil and topped with parmesan. | $10.50 |
| Penne Pasta | Penne noodles with marinara or meat sauce. | $9.00 |
| Chicken Fettuccini | With chicken in a garlic lemon cream sauce. | $10.00 |
| Baked Spaghetti | Spaghetti baked with marinara sauce and plenty of mozzarella on top. | $9.00 |
| Oven-Baked Tortellini | Oven-baked pasta rings, stuffed cheese and smothered with marinara sauce and mozzarella. | $9.00 |
| Putanesca | Black olives, artichoke hearts, capers, mushrooms, tortellini, feta pesto and marinara sauce. | $10.50 |
| Specialty Pastas | ||
| Each pasta dish is served with two pieces of garlic bread. Add salad or soup for $1.50 extra. | ||
| Salmon Fettuccini | With smoked salmon, capers, fresh basil and our homemade alfredo sauce. | $12.95 |
| Chicken Fettuccini Special | No sauce, with chicken, artichoke, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and lemon juice. | $11.25 |
| Chicken Parmesan | Chicken breasts with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese served on top of spaghetti noodles smothered in our homemade marinara sauce. | $12.95 |
| Fettuccini Carbonara | Sauteed bacon, mushrooms, onions and diced tomatoes in garlic creme sauce. | $12.95 |
| Shrimp Fettuccini | No sauce. Jumbo shrimp sauteed in olive oil with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, fresh basil and lemon juice. | $12.95 |
| Fettuccini Di Mare | With jumbo shrimp, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, basil in garlic lemon sauce. | $12.95 |
| Chicken Penne | Made with artichoke hearts and alfredo pesto sauce. | $11.25 |
| Tortelini Special | Cheese filled tortellini with smoked ham and garden peas in our garlic lemon cream sauce. | $11.25 |
| Baked Fettuccini with Meatballs | Fettuccini noodles in creamy alfredo baked with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. | $11.25 |
| Tortelini Pesto with Chicken | Cheese filled tortelini in pesto sauce with grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes, garlic and lemon juice. | $11.25 |
| Specialty Dishes | ||
| Mediterranean Dish | Jumbo shrimps and onions in hot or mild sauce mixed with garlic alfredo, served with pita bread. | $13.50 |
| Chicken-Eggplant Parmesan | Chicken breasts placed on bed of marinara sauce, topped with eggplant roasted red peppers, goat cheese, fresh basil and mozzarella, oven baked. | $13.50 |
| Chef Dish | Sauteed chicken, broccoli. Mushrooms, parmesan cheese in alfredo sauce topped with fresh mozzarella cheese. | $13.25 |
| Mexican Dish | Bed of chili beans topped with green peppers, onions, taco meat, mozzarella and cheddar cheese with jalapeno peppers, oven baked. | $13.25 |
| Hot Sandwiches | ||
| Chicken Parmesan Sandwich | Tender chicken breast, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. | $8.00 |
| Greek Lamb Gyro Sandwich | Seasoned lamb with onions, tomatoes and feta on pita bread with our homemade tzaziki sauce. | $8.00 |
| Meatball Parmesan Sandwich | Baked meatballs, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. | $8.00 |
| Vegetarian Sub | Mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and green peppers. | $7.00 |
| Pepperoni Sandwich | Onions, green peppers and mozzarella cheese. | $7.50 |
| Chicken Pesto Sub | Tender chicken breast, pesto, onions and roasted red peppers. | $8.00 |
| Greek Gyro Sandwich | Seasoned beef, onions, tomatoes with tzatziki sauce on pita bread. | $6.50 |
| Submarine Sandwich | Canadian bacon, pepperoni, salami, tomatoes, onions and mozzarella cheese. | $8.00 |
| Canadian Bacon Sandwich | Onions, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. | $7.50 |
| BBQ Chicken Sub | Tender chicken breast baked in BBQ sauce with red onions and mozzarella cheese. | $8.00 |
| Pizzas | ||
| Roma Pizza | Pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms and cheese. | $11.65 - $18.90 |
| Triples Pizza | Canadian bacon, pineapple and cheese. | $10.60 - $18.35 |
| Bona Pizza | Pepperoni, Canadian bacon, mushrooms and cheese. | $11.65 - $18.90 |
| Milano Pizza | Salami, pepperoni and cheese. | $10.60 - $17.35 |
| Vegetarian Pizza | Mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives, tomatoes and cheese. | $11.65 - $18.90 |
| Half & Half Plain Cheese Pizza | $8.50 - $14.25 | |
| Sicily Pizza | Canadian bacon and cheese. | $9.55 - $15.80 |
| Prego Pizza | Pepperoni and cheese. | $9.55 - $15.80 |
| Piache Pizza | Pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage and cheese. | $11.65 - $18.90 |
| Palermo Pizza | Ground beef, mushrooms and cheese. | $10.60 - $17.35 |
| Plain Cheese Pizza | $8.50 - $14.25 | |
| Specialty Pizza | ||
| Thai Chicken Pizza | White sauce, chicken, spinach, green peppers and onions with spicy thai peanut sauce and fresh cilantro. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| The Venetian Pizza | Grilled chicken, onions, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, parmesan and mozzarella cheese with white alfredo sauce. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Avanti Special Pizza | Cheese, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, sausage, black olives, mushrooms and tomatoes. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Roasted Garlic Pizza | Sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella and goat cheese with sweet roasted garlic. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Four Cheese Pizza | For cheese lovers! pizza with mozzarella, parmesan, swiss and feta cheese. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Mexicana Pizza | Seasoned taco meat, onions, green peppers, jalapenos, enchilada sauce, smothered with cheddar cheese and sour cream on the top. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Garlic Chicken Pizza | Grilled chicken with garlic, red onions, creamy pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Margherita Pizza | Brushed with olive oil (no pizza sauce) fresh chopped garlic, tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Mama's Favorite Pizza | Roasted red peppers, mozzarella, pepperoncini peppers and crispy bacon on top and sprinkled with parmesan. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Eggplant Special Pizza | Classic pizza pie with eggplant, parmesan, goat cheese on rich tomato sauce. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Avanti Deluxe Pizza | Cheese, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, feta cheese, onions, tomatoes, green peppers and mushrooms. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Roasted Red Pepper Pizza | Brushed with oil and topped with mozzarella, sliced onions and goat cheese. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Artichoke Supreme Pizza | Artuchoke hearts, fresh garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, mozzarella and goat cheese. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Greek Supreme Pizza | Gyro meat, onions, tomatoes, feta cheese, Greek olives and our famous tzatziki sauce. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Sofia Pizza | For meat lovers! pizza with pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon and salami. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Lynnwood Special Pizza | Mushrooms, green peppers, onions, black olives, feta, mozzarella, fresh garlic, diced tomatoes, spinach and sunflower seeds topped with shredded pepperoni. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| BBQ Chicken Pizza | Topped with BBQ chicken, red onions, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and pizza sauce. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Garden Pizza | Yellow corn, garden peas, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini peppers, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. | $12.40 - $20.05 |
| Calzone | Choice of two toppings on a small size of dough. | $9.50 |
| Pita Pizza | Pepperoni, mushrooms, Canadian bacon on pita bread with mozzarella and sauce. | $6.25 |
| Mini Pizza | 7" pizza with two toppings of your choice. | $6.50 |
| Desserts | ||
| Baklava | $3.50 | |
| Chocolate Mousse Pie | $3.50 | |
| Cheesecake | $3.50 | |
| Cinnamon Breadsticks (6 Pcs) | $3.25 | |
| Beverages | ||
| 12 Oz Cans Soda | $1.25 | |
| Thomas Kemper Root Beer (Bottle) | $2.50 | |
| 2 Liter Bottles Soda | Coke, diet coke, sprite, root beer, mr. pibb. | $2.45 |
| Snapple | $2.25 | |
History
The company started in 1966 when founder Albert Zeller bought Lardano’s Italian Restaurant and changed its name to Avanti’s, which means “forward” in Italian. Albert was from Switzerland.
Currently, there are 5 Avanti’s restaurants in Illinois: on North Peoria, Rockwood/Sterling, Main Street, East Peoria, and Pekin. To date, the company has donated more than 3.5 million to charity.
Review
The restaurant has a simple, casual atmosphere suitable for both children and adults. Most of the locations have indoor and outdoor seating, and free wi-fi service.
Many customers agree that it’s the bread that sets the restaurant apart from the competition. It is baked fresh and has a unique sweet taste, making the sandwiches even tastier.
The Gondola sandwich is one of the signature dishes here, and thus is a must-try. Other options include specialty pizzas, lasagnas, pastas, soups, and chicken and garden salads.
The place provides a cordial and friendly service, and the waitstaff stays attentive to the customers’ requests and concerns. However, there might be long wait times, especially during peak hours.