Wood-fried gourmet pizza! That’s what Avanti Cafe is famous for… at least that’s what the inquiring minds at the Food Network promised I’ll get when I visit Avanti.
Yes… I saw them on Food Network about a year and a half ago and kept meaning to stop by their cafe which is located just North of Colorado Blvd on Lake Avenue. However, life takes over and it took me this long to make it out there. The anticipation…
Thanks to the 365 Things To Do In Pasadena™ and my absolute overwhelm with what I got myself into, I put in my running shoes, figuratively speaking, and decided that it was time to check them out. So… I’ve taken two pizza experts with me – a 16 and a 14 year old – for the ultimate gourmet pizza experience.
As I walked in, I expected more of a sexier elegance for a restaurant specializing in “gourmet” pizza. It was more casual and family style. Everyone seemed friendly and our server Charles was very helpful. See the video at the bottom of this post.
We ordered an Antipasto Salad to start and decide to taste 2 different pizza followed by gellato for dessert.
I have to say that I wasn’t very impressed with the Antipasto salad. It was served in a shallow plate and wasn’t tossed very well and quite dry on top. Tossing it at the table made a huge mess. The dressing was light which was nice, but the toppings on the salad didn’t compare to an Antipasto salad at Gale’s which in my opinion is just the best.
As we were waiting for our pizzas, Charles brought a basket of garlic rolls that were pretty good.
Our first pizza was was Wood-Burned Delight. If you like Pepperoni pizza, this one is for you. The tomato sauce had a bit of sweetness to it which made the pizza a bit unique.
The second one was their Avanti Special. And, yes… I can definitely come back for this one. A nice thin crust, oil based without tomato sauce, topped with bacon bits, oregano, Gorgonzola cheese and red onions. I really enjoyed this pizza. It was very light and delectable.
If you like gelato, you’ll enjoy Avanti’s dessert menu. We had their Coffee Parfait and a Chocolate Rasberry Bomb. Nice ending to a good meal.
The restaurant makes it really easy to grab your food quickly for lunch. They set up a bar where you can pick up a pre-made salad with slices of pizza and get on your way back to the office.
Table seating is every day for dinner after 4 pm.
Avanti is located at:
111 N. Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-577-4688
Check it out and let me know what you think. Definitely worth a stop!
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