Avanti - Italian Restaurant & Lounge in Meriden

By accident they put Gorgonzola cheese on my pizza . I was complaining it tasted like blue cheese . The waiter made me feel like I was nuts, I did not eat pizza. It was not until the bill came that I saw that i was charged for Gorgonzola . They were no help and charged me full amount anyway . It was about 85. 00 for a pasta a pizza , side salad and two martinis . Would not recommend. The table bread was wonderful.

Busy, family-friendly place. Tasty reasonably priced food. Has an outdoor seating deck. Very welcoming proprietors, free parking in their own lot. A sponsor of A Noise Within Theatre, so they off 10% off if you are going to a show. Definitely worth checking out for an Italian meal.

Great food served hot. Friendly staff and patrons. Atmosphere galore. Generous portions.

I eat here pretty regularly. The food is good and consistent. The past few times I've been there, I have had great service. Several months ago I wouldn't have been able to say that. I think they hired some new people. The bar tender was very nice as well. Their pasta and pizzas are the better choice. The lamb is OK but a little pricey. Don't order the fish, it's not that great at all.

Romantic interior, good bar. I had the rib eye, it was a little on the rubbery side unfortunately. My dinner-mates all enjoyed their selections—all some variety of pasta dish. Staff was ultra friendly and attentive.A great place to bring friends, family, and a special someone or two.

Clean, good service, fantastic interior exterior design, checking the flowers, tutu bene,

My wife and I enjoyed our visit. The staff is very attentive, the food was amazing. Looking forward to trying different entrées, with their wine pairing suggestions. Thank you.

Romantic atmosphere, elegant dining, great food, better desserts.

Went for mother's day dinner. Manager was rude and gave us attitude when our party was not all present at reservation time. Food was good, that being said. Cocktails were not very good - ordered an old fashioned and it was disgusting. Tasted like cough syrup with a hint of bourbon. Service was a tad slow.

Always delicious food, great service!

I really loved their dishes. I always get awesome service here. The place is well organised and the cashiers are always nice. Would recommend to others.

As usual, friendly staff, comfortable room, delicious food.

A very pleasant dinning experience, beautiful environment, attentive server and delicious food.

We went on a Saturday night and it wasn't crowded at all and we love that, they were few tables only we wanted to sit out as the weather was perfect.Prices are reasonable as we got bottle of wine for only $53.00.Food is delicious 😋 I can't talk enough about their food, it was just perfect.They have a parking lot so no valet.I will definitely come here again.

2019 Valentine's day was my first time, at Avanti! They were busy but overall service was excellent but the food, oohwee! Everything was tasty and my entree really impressed me. We shall return!

The food is regularly well prepared and delightful, employees gives awesome customer service. I really like how neat it is and character. Will visit here again.

went here with my brother for Christmas dinner, super amazing service and storer amazing food

Great service, food (traditional pasta dishes, 2 soups, salads, extensive pizza choices, entrees include fish, lamb, beef), and of course, dessert in a relaxing atmosphere. Based on one drink, the house Avanti martini (vodka) was very good! This is our 2nd time (dinner) here. Pricing is reasonable for the quality. Will definitely come back.

This is a cute and a little on the elegant side restaurant. The appetizers and food were delicious! The wine hit the spot with our meals and the server was nice.

The lasagna was great. The service was good and their patio area was shaded. It could accommodate approximately 12-16 patrons and about 8 tables

We've been enjoying Avanti since it's first appearance as largely a take out pizza place on South Lake in the late 1980s. That place is gone, but this restaurant has the same pizza as well as very good Italian food choices. You'll enjoy the variety of pasta and specialty dishes, and the pizza that predated CPK for its eclectic variety is still as good as ever.

We had such a wonderful time at your new bistro for our office birthday lunch. The food was fabulous and the service was fantastic. Thank you so much. Enjoy your week!

Avanti has been a longtime favorite of my friends and family with a reputation for serving wonderful food and providing top service. Beautiful salads, terrific pizza's, wonderful pasta's, full bar and decent wine list. The atmosphere is lovely and inviting without being too formal. But what makes Avanti one of the top tier in Pasadena (a city chock full of wonderful eateries) are the staff. From the bartenders to the owners, the managers - all the wait staff: professional, friendly, well-versed in their menu items. Always a joy to eat there; we make sure we go there each time we come to Pasadena. You'll love it too!

The wait staff is amazing and dinner was delicious.

We have been here twice. We always get the pizzas. Especially the glazed apple pizza. The service here is excellent. Nice atmosphere.

Good food, good people

My classmates from High school and myself we choose this Italian restaurant to celebrate our 20th anniversary graduation reunion!! The food was excellent and services exceptional!!!

Service is excellent as is the food my two favorites are the filet mignon and their lasagna

Absolutely sensational! Service is exemplary, and when you walk in the ambiance overtakes you. It is quite lovely. We were seated in a choice spot , able to see the entire space. When our friends arrived, I inadvertently knocked a plate off the table! Well the staff swooped in and had it cleaned up so fast, just wow! The menu is wonderful, I had a chicken Dijon fettuccine dish that was stellar. Another dish was the lamb shank and let me say, the food is phenomenal. I didn’t think I could finish it all but, you know how that goes when it’s amazingly delicious! Take your friends, take your family but most of all after you arrive, take your time. Soak it in, this place is wonderful. And the desserts, THE DESSERTS..!! We even wandered over to the bar to have some drinks there afterwards. Good food and good times here. Loved it immensely.

Very good restaurant, if you stay away from the pizza. Made that mistake tonight. Don't order the pizza, bland and tasteless. The Calamari was good, as usual, and my friend's fish dish was very good.

I love that place 🍷🍝

Excellent Italian food and very nice staff. Recommend it!

Nice place, but both my friend and I were not blown away by our meals

Great place to eat be back for Granddaughters Birthday

Delightful upscale food at a moderate price. Crispy goat cheese salad is a simple but thought-out salad. Presentation is excellent. Pastas are legit! Happy Hour is nearly empty! Have the place to yourself.

Great food, and very nice atmosphere.

This is a great place. The food here is worth the drive. Or as things are now, having somebody else drive and pick it up for you. I had a celebration a while back and as a gift they picked up a pepperoni pizza, antipasto salad, and a Mediterranean salad. They were all excellent... Filled with flavor and a taste of Italy with each bite. It's a thin crust pizza with a great crunch and texture. The antipasto salad had a nice selection and variety of meat and and cheese. Even during this quarantine the food looked great in their take-home containers.I know this location has their own parking lot and easy access to the entry. They have a patio for outside dining. All the special protocols for food and service were being followed both inside and out. I hope to visit there soon with friends and enjoy a nice dinner with drinks.

Nidal is a spectacular server. I just had lunch here with my father and we were treated like royalty. 5/5 stars.

Very Nice Place To Dine in. Food is very good and the customer service is great.

All I can say is wow! The risotto is very flavorful. The filet can be cut with a fork and melts in your mouth. The chicken marsala is as good as you can get.

We were greeted promptly and friendly and seated right away. Waiter approached and explained the days specials. Water, bread, and olive oil/vinegar brought to the table . We ordered Chicken Dijon Fettuccine and Butternut Squash. Both dishes were served in a timely manner. Food was hot, fresh, and tasty.

Delicious food, festive, cozy atmosphere

Great food, good service, and good prices. Could have some light Italian music in the background and turn off the news at the bar. But overall nice ambiance and we will be back.

One of this classy restaurants with white table cloth and excellent food.

We had a great anniversary dinner at Avanti. Keith was an amazing server, very courteous and professional. We had pesto pasta and from the garden pizza, which were both delicious. The meal comes with several kinds of free bread, which was perfectly garlicky without being oily. I loved it and would definitely come again.

Everything and everyone is excellent. I could not ask for anything better.

First timers, ordered a Lemon Drop, & clearly the Bartender did NOT know HOW to make one!!It was the WORST I HAVE EVER TASTED!!!😩SO I SENT IT BACK for another one...THE SECOND one was Even worst than the first..The bartender looked like he was17...need a more experienced Bartender!!! The color was even wrong..From a person that KNOWSA GOOD LEMON DROP...P.S. FOOD WAS GREAT

Very courteous staff, beautifully decorated, and delicious food.

Got seated rather quickly, though we did have reservations. Server was very nice and attentive to our needs. The bread before dinner was amazing, but our entres were a little less tasty than expected. Wouldn't mind going back, but we're not in an incredible hurry.

Amazing food and great drinks