Best sandwich I've ever had in my life. I had a turkey and swiss tostino sandwich and it was truly amazing! Friendly service, nice clean space. Couldn't ask for more.
(5)
John S.
This is definitely a gem of a restaurant in the loop. I've been avoiding it because I thought it was a small place, but it has tons of menu items that are amazing. I got the italian beef the first time I came here, and I thought it was probably better than Lukes, Maxs & Al's Beef around the area. The hot giardiniera was actually surprisingly hot and left a good burn with the beef. I had the chicken parmesan sandwich next, and that was definitely worth it as well (would've liked more chicken though). I just had the meat lasagna, and this thing was the size of a newborn baby. It came out steaming and was very delicious, several people made comments of the amazing smell. I was able to finish it, but the crazy part was that they included bread and a salad to go with it. I had to give the salad away to a coworker since I was too stuffed. Bright side is that it looks like they use romaine lettuce w/ their salad, so that's pretty awesome. Pretty excited to try their other menu items.
(5)
Daniel S.
solid sandwich place in the loop, i've only been here for breakfast though and cant comment on the lunch menu, but i was definitely pleased with what I got, the house blend and columbian coffee are both good and cheap, the sausage egg cheese croissant was all right, nothing special, but the ham egg and cheese wrap was really good, it was really big and filling and only $3.50, i would definitely recommend that. Hopefully one day I can get here for lunch
(4)
Marie G.
I was downtown playing tour guide to my family who was visiting from out of town and we stopped in this cafe for lunch. SO GOOD. Everything we ordered was great, my Siciliano Tostino (eggplant panini) was delicious. I also ordered a frappucino and it was perfect for a summer treat. (And for extra tour guide energy). The customer service is also something to be commended. Ashley was nice and helpful and made sure to recommend the best food to order. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Britta R.
Panini breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon cheese) was great. Drip coffee was strong and tastes good. I would come back.
(5)
Ashley M.
I am here now and I am eating the lentil soup and a vegetarian tostino. The food is beyond excellent and the customer service is beyond amazing. This place is family owned and is a major standout to the chains in the area!
(5)
Lori S.
Pizza and large Calzone are delicious here, also they are not over priced like other places in the area. Friendly, you can order a huge cannoli for parties.
(5)
Matt D.
Calzone, Jumbo Salads, Huge Pizza Slices, Paninis and More! This is a solid lunch time spot in the loop. I have been here on several different occasions and enjoy something new every time! For those on a tight budget, you'll appreciate the extremely fair-priced items on the menu. Cheers!
(5)
Michelle R.
WHERE's THE CHICKEN!? Went in today and got the large rotini chicken salad. It was a rotini salad, not even enough chicken to say they cut up one chicken strip. They must serve it out of a bowl of pre-made salad and all the chicken was gone or at the bottom of the batch. Needless to say, it was a carb loaded lunch...no protein.
(3)
Trey B.
Just started working in the Loop a month ago and Avanti has already become a regular stop. Quick, fresh food in a casual and clean setting. The breakfast sandwiches are cheap and the coffee is delicious! For lunch I recommend a sandwich or one of the calzones - both are tasty, filling, and relatively cheap in an area known for it's overpriced eats. Make sure to get their before the Noon lunch rush, the line gets long quick!
(5)
Dan P.
I'm a huge fan of this place. You get great bang for your buck and the food quality is well above average. This is probably my favorite lunch spot in the city. Everything from their sandwiches to fish salad is a solid bet - as close to an authentic Italian deli as you'll find in Chicago. The people who work there are all friendly and you get your food quickly. Definitely try this out.
(5)
Talia G.
Confession: I've only tried the pizza at Avanti Caffe, but it sure made an impression, and not a good one. For a mere $4.41, you can get a very large slice of pizza (any type they have out) and a soft drink. Seems like a great deal, right?! Wrong. I would spend twice as much for an edible piece of pizza without a drink any day. The slice was rubbery and just plain gross. It may be a good price, but it's not worth the low quality. That said, Avanti is always busy during the lunch hour, so maybe the sandwiches are better...
(2)
Kevin K.
Update - Protip: order online and save 10%.
(5)
Jason S.
Stopped in to grab an Avanti house blend coffee and a cold Chicago morning. It was quiet delightful one of the better cups of coffee I had here in Chicago. I also picked up a croissant filled with chocolate that I've never seen before. And WOW was that good. I didn't think that it was going to be so good!
(5)
L J.
Went here for lunch around 1230 a weekday. There were quite a few people waiting for their food, which made me a little nervous because I thought it would take too much time and I wouldn't have enough time to enjoy before heading back to work. It actually only took about 5 minutes for my order; I chose the Milano tostino (Panini). It was huge and delicious, but the prosciutto was a tad too salty, so I removed a star. We ate in the deli, which is small but clean. Also where you order there's a display of food to showcase some of their items. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu!
(4)
Shirley J.
I definitely go here for the convenience since I work in the same building. I've only ordered one thing from here, and that's the large pasta fagioli soup. The soup is okay/good, but nothing to write home about, does the job. The service varies depending on how busy it gets. If it's super busy, you better know what you want and know your number when it gets called. The best time to go is before noon if you're going on the weekdays. After the cashier starts to recognize you, you may get a 10% discount.
(3)
John B.
The office ordered from avanti today. We have consistently had avanti in the rotation for the last couple years and for very good reason. Everything is fresh and very well put together. It all pairs nicely. I had the diavolo sub with a small tortellini salad. The diavolo is essentially a spicy Italian sub. I got the six inch which was the perfect size. They do their sandwiches in 6 inch and 10 inch increments as well as a focaccia sandwich that could feed the old school version of the reverend al sharpton. The tortellini salad is a real treat. It is all very fresh. The tomatoes and peas are always crispy which shows that the salad was made that morning. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious sub but also for anyone looking for a delicious salad because they have a wide variety of salads too.
(5)
Hollina U.
The sandwiches here are okay. The focaccia bread sandwiches are too oily for my liking--- it feels like you're downing an greasy sandwich stuffed with too much meat. Tried the tiramisu too-- too much whipped cream in proportion to everything else. But at least the service is pretty good, they have a 10% discount for all employees who work in the 200 building AND they have a frequent buyer punch card.
(3)
Jasmine N.
Let me start by saying that the prices are very reasonable for the location. Every thing is very fresh and one can tell that the veggies were likely cut fresh that morning. Today, I ordered the meat lasagna. The sauce and the overall flavor was really good. It also came with a wonderful salad and a slice of pizza bread. My only complaint is that there were too many layers of pasta and not enough meat for my liking. I am one who loves meat, so take my comment on that with a grain of salt. The location is quaint and gets busy during the lunch hour. I did enjoy the food and the portion size, therefore I will be back to try something else.
(4)
Tony D.
Dropped by for a quick lunch in the afternoon and ordered a pizza tostino panini. It was definitely bigger than I expected for the price, and it was quite tasty too. The sandwich was not too greasy, and although it came with a lot of good stuff on the inside, everything stayed put instead of falling out. Service was fast and friendly enough.
(4)
stephanie h.
This place is very delicious! Portions are huge; could've shared a sandwich. Highly recommend this place. Food is fresh.
(5)
Edin B.
I order from this restaurant almost every Saturday! Great food, excellent customer service. oh and do yourself the favor and try the meat lasagna
(5)
Steve H.
Great breakfast sandwiches, quiche, coffee, pizza, and paninis. Nice staff. Skip Coroner Bakery next time and come here!
(4)
Fedai F.
I was on my way to Starbucks to wait for friends who went up to the skydeck. I noticed coworkers going inside and decided to check it out. Clean cafe with plenty on the menu to choose from. I didn't want to get anything heavy since friends and I are going out to eat! So I got the chicken Rotini, small;) it's refreshing, and fresh! For 4.14 it's well worth it! I overheard coworkers telling each other how amazing their paninis were. Next time I'll try a grilled Tostinos!
(4)
Walter H.
I work in the same building, the chicken ceasar salad is perfect. The Italian beef is definitely a competitor for Portillo's
(5)
Shambavi K.
This is solid lunch spot in the Loop and probably a very underrated gem. it gets overlooked by the chain restaurants around the block. The prices are very reasonable and portions are big. It has mostly italian sandwiches, salads, and pastas. This may be very reason why I pass up on this when I walk outside for lunch...as i don't prefer pastas or sandwiches. I ordered a Diavolo (wrong spelling?) before and certainly enjoyed. This time there was line up to the door...it took a little time to get my order. I got an italian beef with hot peppers and veggies. My instant reaction when I opened up my to go box was "oh man!". The italian beef sandwich was huge... The bread is a chewy italian bread which fell apart from the juices. i had to eat it like a salad eventually. but so tasty and the nice kicker was that it was just around 5 bucks. Made me wonder why I don't go here more often.
(4)
Stephanie W.
Spectacular Italian sandwiches. We stop in after we take out of towners to the Willis Tower. Nice seating areas, you order at the counter and pick up your food. No one has ever made a bad sandwich choice, which lends me to believe that situation doesn't exist. They also have a little market that sells other Italian goodies. Absolutely try it out!
(4)
Andre M.
Easily the best food in the Loop area. Food is always fresh and the service is great! I always get something different and am always satisfied with hoe it comes out. My previous favorite was the bow tie alla vodka, but now I'm hooked on the avanti on foc. However, the Italian beef is a great go to!
(5)
Sejal P.
I work in the same bldg as Avanti Caffe, and out of convenience i have had the experience to lunch here plenty since they opened. I waited few years to write this review hoping something may change! It sucks they can't NOT for once get a simple order of soup and salad right. They'll either forget to give me dressing, or bread, or sometimes crush pepper. I hope they will get it right at least once before we move out of this bldg. I do enjoy their quality food, just not happy with their service!
(2)
Ellen G.
I just wanted to slip a review on here for the catering group at Avanti Caffe. Not only was the food delicious and perfect for our holiday party, but they also were so attentive in making sure we got exactly what we ordered and needed. I was able to call and book the meal (I made the order about a month in advance) and they were really good about checking in between then and when we had set the date to make sure nothing had changed. We even got a call the day of to make sure there wasn't anything last minute we needed. We ordered the italian beef which was flavorful and worked perfectly for sandwiches. The chicken marsala was the highlight of the meal though, tender chicken in a great marsala sauce. We also purchased the baked mostaccioli and vienese potatos which were both delicious as well. The only issue I think there was, was not everyone enjoyed the roasted veggies. I thought they had wonderful italian flavor, but I think they might have either gotten a bit overdone, or were marinated too long because the flavor was a bit overpowering. We also ended up with no serving utensils, which could have just been a misunderstanding since we didn't need plates and silverware. Desserts were delicious and so was the caesar salad. Everyone raved about the food the rest of the day and we will definitely return to Avanti for future catering needs. Thank you again everyone who helped us out,
(4)
Stephanie S.
I come here on the regular for lunch and am never disappointed. Do I crave it? No, but I find myself going back time and again, leaving very satisfied. If you're looking for something cheap, a (big) slice of pizza is only going to set you back about three bucks. If you can spend a bit more, I'm partial to the bowtie a la vodka with chicken (comes with bread and a side salad). There's something on the menu for everyone, and the staff does a good job of keeping orders moving during the lunch rush.
(4)
Panda B.
Ordered a latte, it was gross. It tasted burnt.
(2)
Mark S.
Good food. Fast service. Priced fairly. Family owned. No complaints. Everything seems pretty fresh there! The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because one time I asked for extra onions and she charged me $1.72 .. I found that on the expensive side. Otherwise, keep up the good work!
(4)
Kimmie R.
It's a nice place to get pasta, a salad, dessert, and a cold cold non-alcoholic beverage. This is a nice lunch place, but it's nothing fancy. They have a nice variety of options for hot and cold food so enjoy.
(2)
Seth S.
Great little deli. The prices were very reasonable and the quantity of food made this place a real value for lunch! Sub sandwich, chips and a pop for less than $8. Looking forward to coming back to try some pizza.
(4)
Brian M.
This place is clean. Service is fast. Tables are usually available at lunch time. The sandwiches are good. The bread has good flavor, and the ingredients are fresh. The soups have a lot of liquid to them, but they still have flavor. Overall, this is a good place to come to if you're on a diet. You can get the right amount of food, enjoy the flavor, but not consume a lot of calories. Beyond that, it's your standard deli.
(3)
Adele B.
Came on looking for coffee and had the best on the spot frappuccino. Glad I passed on the commercial coffees right around me. Don't forget to get one next time you are nearby.
(5)
Linda N.
I had arrancini and would say they were average compared to others. I cant say if I would return
(3)
Kelly D.
I decided to give this place a second chance after a decidedly underwhelming experience a couple of years ago. Sadly, their food has shown no improvement, but this time, my visit was an utter disaster of epic proportions. Shortly after choking down what I could of my lunch, I started experiencing some gastric distress, and made my way to the ladies room. Imagine my horror when, after the explosive diarrhea had subsided, I reached for the toilet paper to find it COMPLETELY EMPTY!!!! As the panic set in, I searched frantically around the single stall facility for something, anything to clean myself with, only to find nothing, as they also opted to use hand dryers instead of paper towels. I'll spare you the gory details of what ensued, but let's just say thank god there was a sink. When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I immediately informed one of the employees that the toilet paper needed to be replaced. All I could think was who the fuck used the last of it before me and didn't bother to tell anyone??? In any case, the restaurant should have checked everything before the lunch hour rush to ensure the bathrooms were adequately stocked. I would not wish what I went through on anyone. Sorry Avanti. I will never be back...
(1)
Bo Y.
I ordered the 3' sub + soup for $5.99. the portion for the soup is large, i felt so full after the meal.
(3)
Kris G.
Most people, if they combine two meals, pick breakfast and lunch (and make it a brunch!). I'm an awkward person in that I get ravenously hungry between 3:30 and 4:45. So I eat lunner. And I do this at work. The thing is, I am STARVING by this point usually (regardless of how much I've eaten before hand, my stomach is on some bizarre timer). I kid you not, I can go to Avanti, get an Italian beef with hot peppers and for less than 5 dollars be full until the next day and completely satisfied. One sandwich for lunner? From Avanti, that's all it takes. To make it even better, it's about 3 steps from work. Avanti, you might be all I'll ever need.
(5)
Tom D.
I go to this place frequently for lunch, and everything I have eaten here has been delicious. The one exception is the pizza, which is ok, but extremely cheap, so I can't complain too much about that. The staff are friendly and quick, and the restaurant has a great atmosphere, especially for a downtown Chicago Loop location. I highly recommend the diavolo, or one of the Italian beef sandwiches and a homemade cannoli for dessert.
(4)
Chuck S.
I checked this place out based on the awesome Yelp reviews and I gotta say it's Not Too Shabby. They also give you a Whole Lotta Food for your Money. I ordered the Milano Panini which was 1st on the menu. The Samich was huge and quite tasty. It was at least 2 times the size of a Panera Bread Panini. For $8.55 I got the Giant Panini, Chips and a Fountain Drink. Looking at the menu, I noticed they had quite the variety of food also, i.e. Pastas, Pizza, Samiches, Paninis, Soups and Salads. I have to go back to run the full gamut of menu items. I walked away very impressed for my 1st visit.
(5)
Chris R.
The place was flexible on what I ordered and able to customize my dish. Really tasty vodka sauce on the bowtie pasta. Bread that came with it was real good but too salty Bean salad was as expected. Food was really filling.
(4)
Joe B.
Avanti's has a large menu selection, lots of seating, reasonable prices, and Saturday hours, which is fairly uncommon in the Loop.
(3)
Mike M.
Let me explain something to you all: I Love to Eat. I go everywhere, I try most anything, but I am always partial to a good sandwich. And let me tell you, the Diavolo sandwich at Avanti's, is the greatest sandwich in Chicago. Don't care about 3 little pigs, 3 little squirrles, whatever... This thing, with that chewy Italian bread, with the olive oil and hot peppers, enough meat to re-build a cow, all will be on your mind for days (or until you go get another one). Now, the Tostiono's (grillad paninis) are great too. The seafood salad is awesome. But that Diavolo is the damn mayor of that sandwich shop, come by and pay it some respect...
(5)
Kasey B.
So, I've worked in the 200 w Jackson building for a year, and had never been to Avanti until today. Stupid. I walked in, and told the lovely woman behind the counter that I had never been. She explained the menus, salads, frequent customer program, and was very helpful and kind. I ended up with a large chicken caesar salad and a diet coke. With the building discount (!) it came to about $8. Not bad at all! Also, the chicken caesar was bangin--wonderful homemade croutons and a generous portion of chicken. Can't wait to try more!
(5)
Amie C.
I spend way too much money on lunch working in the loop. But there are so many great options it's hard to stay on a budget. Avanti has a great turkey and Swiss panini. I also enjoy the rather large chicken Caesar salad. Lovely array of pasta salads too. Rice balls with pasta sauce are great. They also have a pizza lunch special and if you go after 3 pm you can get 2 slices of pizza for $5! The slices are huge! Definitely crowded at lunch time and there is sometimes a bit of a wait but they are friendly and you can see that they are working as fast as possible to get the orders out.
(4)
Kate M.
A pile of meat for lunch? Sure, don't mind if I do... I often forget about Avanti Caffe, but when I do remember it exists I really enjoy having lunch there. I pretty much always get an Italian beef sandwich, and then I only eat the meat (which I affectionately refer to as a "pile of meat") and leave the bread. They have a huge menu, sooner or later I'll branch out and try something new. Their split pea soup with prosciutto is really good too. They are always pretty busy at lunch time, like every other joint in the loop. The line moves pretty quick though and the food is worth the short wait. The staff could stand to be a little nicer. I'm sure it's not the funnest job in the world, but it wouldn't hurt to crack a smile every now and then.
(4)
Evan S.
Solid lunch spot in the Loop. Good for a visit every now and then. The Pizza Tostino panini was on point.
(3)
Betty C.
Came into town for the weekend and decided to do the walking tour of the neighborhood. Was hankering for that infamous shredded beef Italian sandwich people were talking about and decided that Avanti was my first stop. With eyes bigger than our stomachs we ordered the 10" Italian sandwich, the gnocchi in vodka sauce and the pasta e fagioli. The portions were generous and the service friendly and I hate to throw a wet blanket on such a cute establishment but I have to say the food was my least favorite part of the experience. The pasta e fagioli was too salty and somewhat bland. The gnocchi was chewy and the sauce was also too salty. The sub felt dry even though my bread was soaked through with juices. The temperature of the food was off too. The gnocchi was barely above room temp and the soup as well. Everything could have been hotter. The price point was reasonable. Cheap even. But you get what you pay for I guess.
(3)
Gamaliel E.
I come here much more often once the weather starts getting colder. The soups are homemade and tasty. My only issue is that they can be a little on the greasy side at times. I've also tried the pizza here, and would recommend that you get a side of marinara...since the pizzas can be a bit dry. One of the better lunch options in the loop.
(3)
Rick Z.
The Diavolo sandwich is great! Have been here several times and can't bring myself to order anything else. If their other menu items are anywhere near as good as this sandwich then you can't go wrong.
Nice little place to grab something healthy if you're crunched for time. The Verona salad - fresh spinach, grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes and bleu cheese with a super tasty Italian vinaigrette was very good. The tortellini salad - pasta, olives, fresh tomatoes - was a bit mushy, oily and bland.
(3)
Aaron P.
The food was very good and the staff were reasonably friendly. Seating inside is limited and my chair had four screws poking through it. This detracted from my lunch experience and from being able to give my friend my full attention. I would go back to try other food, but would probably take it back to work instead of eating there.
(4)
OK P.
the food here is awesome! the sandwich, the soup, the pasta just unbelievable taste! all the dishes come in good portions enough to fill you up. The service is great and welcoming. Just a great Italian place!
(4)
Adam K.
Really good panini sandwiches here. Great place to come as a regular in the loop. Go for the Chicken and Mozzarella Panini. Next thing I want to try here is their pizza!
(4)
The A D.
Great place for lunch in the Loop. The pastas are very tasty. The penne with meat sauce and the bow tie ala vodka are consistent standouts. The pastas are on par with several sit down restaurants in the Loop at half the cost. Noodles are always perfectly al dente... which is a great complement for a quick service lunch spot. A great value too. A order of pasta with a salad and a large piece of focaccia bread is about $8.50. Pizza here is OK... Nothing to write home about... but still pretty good... I mean it's pizza... even bad pizza is good... right? The sandwiches are generally very good. You can tell that all the lunch meat is high quality and the condiments are fresh. All in all this is a great spot in the Loop to get a quick, high quality lunch at a reasonable cost.
(5)
John H.
This place has a very small storefront on an extremely busy stretch of Jackson. It's one of those places you'll see the sign for, and you consider it a few times, but you're not quite sure it exists until you walk inside. And I even when I was inside, I still wasn't sure I was in the right place. It was mostly empty at 1:00 on a Friday afternoon. I was in search of a good panino, and I found a decent one at Avanti. I think mine had smoked turkey, bacon, and cheese. The meat wasn't of the greatest quality, but it was a pretty solid sandwich due to the excellent quality of the bread and the price. I don't remember the exact cost, but it seemed like a bargain at the time--and I'd had a chocolate chip cookie thrown in for good measure. It was well under ten bucks, which seems to be about the going rate these days. If you work in the area, and fine yourself heading to Jimmy John's or Subway on a regular basis, Avanti is worth a look.
(4)
Aminda S.
I eat a lot of soup. I'm talking at least five times a week, sometimes twice a day. If there were a soup suitable for breakfast, I'd eat it and make it a three times a day habit. But I digress... I tried the Lentil soup here on a Thursday (because that's the day it's served yo) and I can't remember a Thursday that has gone by that I didn't return for that very thing. Come to think of it, I'm housing a piping hot bowl of it as I type this review. It is so good. SO good. I've even branched out to their Tues. and Wed. soups of the day - split pea with proscuitto and minestrone, respectively - and was just as pleased. But here's the kicker - I get a large soup and a fountain soda for $4.86. Under $5? What. Bananas. Add in one of their side salads (caprese, tortellini, fruit, cucumber, seafood - all clearly made fresh daily and delicious I may add) and you're still barely pushing $7-8. A place where I can get a filling, nutritional lunch complete with a beverage for under ten bones? I think I've died and gone to lunch break heaven. An added bonus is how friendly the staff is. They began greeting me by name after only a few visits which was impressive considering at that point in time I had only been to the establishment a handful of times and not as consistently as I am now. Seating is easy to come by and long lines always moves along swiftly. I feel truly lucky to have this place so close to work, and I suspect you will too if you just try it already! Jeez.
(5)
Amanda L.
A+ I went during lunch and it was pretty busy but the line moved quickly and we got our food pretty fast. We had the vodka bowtie pasta (which comes with bread and a salad) - which was huge and delicious, perfect comfort food - and a chicken panini, which was also great tasting and very big. I probably could have got by with splitting one of those things, especially for lunch. Reasonable prices (under $10 each). We'll definitely be going back
(5)
C W.
Very good for the price. I had a huge chicken and Mozzarella Panini, 5.99, it was delicious. Someone had a stuffed pepper, which looked amazing as well. I will definitely be back. It's like Corner Bakery, but a few bucks less, and 5x the quality.
(4)
Andrew T.
Could be another good option for lunch downtown. And it's open on Saturdays, which makes weekend work just that much more tolerable. This place has changed hands several times recently, and I'm hoping this place stays around. Big menu with lots of choices - I had a pizza panini, with nice hot veggies and tasty pepperoni, plus a cup of *gasp* warm, not too sweet, not too sour marinara. How many places just give you cold sauce and call it a day? Plus, the staff is friendly. With Luke's right down across the street, one might think that this was too much Italian too close, but with Luke's seemingly doing the pizza/burger/Italian beef thing, the better deli sandwich and panini menu here will keep me coming back.
(3)
Janet E.
I needed something quick and easy before heading to Union Station to catch my bus. Thankfully Avanti Caffe was on the way and they were fast with many food options as well! I ordered the Milano Tostino which had prosciutto, mozzarella, red pepper and italian dressing on focaccia bread. The portions here are very generous, which is surprising in the downtown area. They also give you a pickle and peperoncini with your sandwich. i also tried one of their sugar powered chocolate filled pastry sticks. Delicious! Cant wait to come back here again!
(4)
Joshua N.
I really didn't know much about Avanti and wanted to try something in this part of the loop besides Jimmy John's. So I popped in and ordered the Avanti sub. It was made very quickly and priced. The sandwich however was great. I was surprised when I unwrapped the little bundle of joy. I was so hungry, but there it was right in front of me. Peppers and delicious meet and a great roll of bread. It was delicious.
(4)
Rachel L.
Fabulous sandwiches, yummy pizza, and don't overlook the array of tasty premade cold salads in the case facing the door (pasta, seafood, olive, caprese). Really happy to have this spot in the loop lunch rotation. The ingredients are high quality and super fresh. Pro tip: The cold sandwiches can be ordered on foccacia for a couple dollars extra. It's a full 10 inch round of foccacia, and they don't skimp on the meat! It's plenty to last me for two lunches. The Classico is my favorite!
(4)
Bryan H.
I eat here 2-3 times a week; its just that good. Prices are on the cheaper side, and selection is incredible. The "tostinos", (pannini's) are phenominal. 6$ for a chicken and mozz sandwich that is HUGE. Absolutely deliscious. The stuffed peppers are a great meal; and always make co-workers jealous. They make a SOLID Italian beef. It's no Al's, but its up there. I'd avoid the lunch hour if you can; as it can get busy. The only thing I would avoid is the Arancini (rice balls); I was not terribly impressed by those. Otherwise everything is a safe bet.
(5)
Laura F.
I and three co-workers visited Avanti at about 12:30 on a Friday. It was the lunch rush, and the line extended from the counter all the way to the front door. That alone told me that the food was at least decent for a loop restaurant. I ordered the Milano panini and wasn't disappointed. The bread was pretty delicious and the prosciutto was exactly what I expected. I enjoyed the roasted peppers, but meh. My sandwich wasn't life-changing, but I paid about $8 and change to eat at a solid lunch spot. My colleagues enjoyed their pasta with vodka sauce, italian beef, and slice of sausage pizza as well. Thanks to Avanti, we're all in store for a sluggish and nicely-fed Friday afternoon.
(3)
Leang E.
It was my first week working downtown, and was looking to try a new spot and came across Avanti. There seemed to be some good looking options displayed in the glass cases, and I chose a salad and a soup. The prices are pretty decent, and the food was also as well. The service was pretty quick, so it's not bad for a grab your lunch and go option. There are tables available for sitting and eating, but it's not that big and would be tough for a large group. I'd like to come back and try some other options that have carbs since the pictures and recommendations from other reviewers sound worthy of trying.
(3)
Phil T.
Fresh quality products for a deli! You can always enjoy a nice fresh sammy for a quick lunch. Especially for being in the loop they have really good prices! Soup and sandwich combo for $5. How can you go wrong?!? Please note if you want walk around the city bloated and overly stuffed this combo deal is prob not for you. Dont trip, keep on reading!!!! They do offer a variety of larger subs and sammies for the peps w/ bigger appettites. :) Being an experienced sammy eater like myself, special tip of the day is its all about the bread! This place offers a nice fresh Italian bread to serve it on. Went w/ the Avanti Classico, mounds of Italian meats Mortadella, Salami, and I forgot the other one prob some form of cured ham. Whatever the case is damn good! The soup was decent "Lentil", excited to go back to try more of the daily soups... They also offer pizza, pastas, typically Italian Deli's. Get all of your Oooooohhs and Forget abou-it (in a deep Italian accent) lingo coming here and make sure you leave it here. :) The staff is friendly and very quick for the lunch crowds, lines start around 1145 so get there early my fellow loop workers!
(4)
Bill M.
I've only had the arancini at Avanti (thanks for the heads up Kelly C), but this place is close to my office so I will probably be coming back for more. The arancini is a breaded and stuffed rice ball about the size of a baseball, with a filling of meat and peas. It also comes with a side of marinara sauce, but one arancini ball is a bit light for lunch. I have heard positive things about their sandwiches, and their pizza slices look good on display. Excellent Italian goods are all over the place too (San Pelligrino drinks, biscotti, Baci chocolates).
(4)
Melissa D.
This location is huge. Very high ceilings, a lot of open space. I really haven't seen a cafe this large, but I think I really like it ;) I work close by so I decided to stop in while I had an hour to kill. I decided on their veggie breakfast burritos. They were stellar. I had to have the very nice lady heat them up in the microwave because I like my food to be super duper your mouth is on fire hot, but she didn't mind. Their coffee, which they get from Starbucks, was awesome and cheaper than Starbucks, if that makes sense? Anyways, it was great. The cafe is on the newly opened side, so it's very clean and if you wanted, you could eat your breakfast right off the floor. :)
(4)
Katy G.
The food is great, the staff is friendly, the prices are incredibly low. My only complaint is the heavy use of throw-away plates and to-go containers. I did ask if they had recycling for aluminum cans and the nice guy at the counter said they did, but in the back, so you have to ask. Overall, delicious and affordable with hugs portions! Very close to Union station.
(4)
Katrina M.
Affordable prices. Big portions. I loved my tomato, chicken & mozzarella panini. The bread is especially so yummy - crisp and flavorful. I just wish they had more seating.
(4)
Eric D.
Avanti Caffe at Jackson and Wells is shiny and new, having just opened a couple of weeks ago. The space formerly occupied by the failed Jackson Grille (Once known as UFood Grill) has been significantly upgraded with a new kitchen, granite counters, and lots of seating. It is apparent that the people behind Avanti have done this before; the fit and finish of the restaurant itself is solid, thoughtful and user-friendly. They are still working a bit on the logistics of completing orders, but that is to be expected with any new, busy downtown lunchery. The Food: Everything I've had here so far has been superb. Here's a partial list: Pasta Fagioli Soup - Served muy caliente, fresh and basil-y. Love it. Pizza - sold by the slice at a reasonable price. Best pizza on the block (Luke's and Giordano's the respective runner's up). Salads - FRESH pasta salads, traditional salads - and even a seafood salad that's fresh and tasty not scaly and scary like at most loop lunch spots. Sandwiches - the crown jewel of Avanti. they have an extensive sandwich menu featuring Subs, Paninis, Focaccia sandwiches and more! I haven't had one yet that was anything short of excellent. Everything else - they have a huge menu here, which generally is a red flag - so far though, they haven't had a single misstep. I highly recommend Avanti Caffe
(5)
Ingrid R.
First time in today to grab a sandwich to go. I was craving a panini today and Avanti came up first on google. There was virtually no line to order and two cashiers taking orders. Mine was very friendly, smiling etc. This can be rare at lunchtime in Chicago. I order a Ham & Cheese Tostini with everything except Italian Dressing. Everything is Mayo, Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Italian Dressing - just in case you're wondering! I'm sitting at my desk munching away now and it's pretty good and absolutely GINORMOUS! I posted a pic - it really is big. It was less than $6 including tax. It is a little salty - even for what's in it, but it's decent. I'll be back to try out some other things on their menu. Next time I'll dine in. The place was clean with nice tables and chairs.
(4)
kelly c.
Yay, finally! I've been waiting for you to open since I saw the 'Coming Soon' signs and called the original to verify this was the same owners! I've always loved the Mount Prospect location, and now there's one just around the corner from my office. So many choices, and each one is delicious, reasonably priced, and abundant! The Diavolo sandwich and the Arancini (rice balls) are at the top of my list. This new location is fancy, too! They spent a lot of time making it look nice. Often, I think downtown restaurants get away with having mediocre food, due to the shear demand. This is one instance where I am confident the food will always be good.
(4)
Nicole H.
I really enjoyed my lunch here today. I do not, repeat, do not plan to share this spot with any of my friends! I had a slice of basil & tomato pizza, a cinnamon cheese stick, chicken caesar salad and a tea. Can you say YUMMY! I plan to try everything on the menu -yeah you read it right EVERYTHING! Good portions, and good prices! I can't wait to return!
(4)
Daniel H.
This place just opened...I believe on Tuesday. Surprisingly, it was already pretty crowded. I heard about this place through a coworker. He knows the owner and we decided to make a trip out there and try it out. (Note: They also have a location in Mt. Prospect which is the original location.) Anyway, it is kind of a distance from me, but it was worth the walk. I got the Calabrese, which is a breaded steak panini with mushrooms, green peppers, and provolone cheese. It was the most expensive panini and it only cost $5.99. Most of them cost $5.29 which seems like an insane bargain downtown considering the quality and size. I'm a big guy and one easily filled me up. They also have a bunch of other items like coffee, smoothies, tea, salads, pasta, soup, pizza, subs, etc. I didn't get any of that, but the items I could see, like the pizza, looked really good too. I definitely recommend giving this place a shot if you are in the area.
(5)
Sam T.
I've been here twice there are things I really like and things I don't... I like that the food is crazy fresh, they have amazing sandwich bread and their salads are so good (I love the seafood salad). What I don't like is that the sandwiches are kind of on the dry side - I've had the Diavolo and the Avanti Classico. Next time I'm going for either a hot sandwich or a calzone.
(4)
Sarah H.
RAVE REVIEW!!! I stopped in here while in the area for a meeting and what a pleasant surprise!! The first shocker was the prices...overly reasonable, especially for the portions (sausage and ricotta calzone, YUM)....staff was very friendly and quick, the place is clean and seemed to be plenty of seating....and food is so yummy. I'll make a point of coming back, whether or not I'm in the area :)
(5)
Tim Y.
Prices here are pretty decent - not much more than a Quiznos, but with eleventy billion percent more awesome. My colleagues rave about the seafood salad, but I found it to be a bit on the bland side. Neither of us actually finished eating it - it went back to the office and off to the freebie table. The focaccia sandwiches are all gigantic. Easily shared with two or even three people. Good meats and cheeses, and LOTS of them. Staff is very friendly and conversational, and the space is super clean, fresh, and comfortable. At lunchtime, it's super busy and crowded, so you can expect to wait a few minutes for your food since most everything is freshly made to order. A few hours later, though, and the place is all yours.
(4)
Seth M.
I've now been to avanti...lets see...one...two...well more times then I can coun't. But I am a little bias seeing as I work in the building and get 10% off (feel free to try it for yourself). This place is brand new and has surprisingly good food. The Calzones are awesome! so are the sandwiches (specifically the diavlo...which is you get a 10% discount comes out to $6.66, how creepy is that!). Also they have these little pastry things sprinkled with cinnamon next to the register. They are like crack...delicious (not that I would know), addicting, and probably not very good for you. I've heard everything else here is pretty good too, but its hard to stray away from what is great. If you work near the sears tower its a great lunch option.
(4)
Doug S.
Disclaimer: I think I would probably give Avanti 4 stars if it were in any other neighborhood in the city, but it gets the bump for being a truly delicious Italian deli IN THE LOOP (well, maybe 1 door west), easily rising above the au bon pain type establishments that tend to dominate the work lunch scene. I doubt you will find a restaurant that boasts such a high 'Quality of Ingredients to Price' ratio downtown. Let's just say I haven't been to Luke's since Avanti opened, and it might be difficult to justify making the trek to Bombaccigno's once spring arrives. One of these days I might even grab one of the (presumably substantial) pasta dishes to bring home for dinner.
(5)
Josh G.
I eat here quite frequently. They are always smiling and friendly. I go for a quick lunch/salad. It's good. It's affordable. It's close to my office.
(3)
Dima S.
The place is great, service always fast and friendly. But I come there for the food, it is very good! After eating there you wouldn't feel all heavy, maybe because they don't use lots of oil and over salt their food like some other places do. Anyway, I go to this place during lunch time and speed, service, and quality is great.
(4)
Keerthi A.
We went during Friday lunch hour and it looked like there was a wait, since the seating is first-come first-serve, we were nervous the entire time we were in line whether we would make a table. We ordered and found some bar chairs, so we were lucky. The food took about 10 minutes to be prepared and we had to go pick up our food. We had the Chicken and Mozzarella grilled panini and the Bowtie Alla Vodka, which were both very good. The panini was huge, and the pasta was also a good portion. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate mousse, which was phenomenal. I would definitely visit back for lunch when I have extra time to kill.
(4)
Matt S.
A new-ish, nice, friendly Loop lunch spot. What struck me most about this location, was less the quality of food (which is just fine), but more the quality of staff they had. They were prompt, friendly and made an effort to be more social than at other "get in, get out" places downtown. Even more enjoyable was a suggestion made by the counter clerk when I ordered their calabrese tostino (grilled Panini) with no mushrooms. Her advice was if I got rid of the mushrooms to add both green and red peppers--a great suggestion and one I greatly appreciated. I'll definitely stop back!
(4)
Marina K.
Hated it ! 13$ old salad, awful salad bar, awful ambiance!
(1)
Nicholas M.
Everything is Great.
(5)
Kathleen N.
On my first visit to Avanti during busy lunch hour, I ordered the Siciliano, roasted egg plant, red bell pepper, provolone and dressing. It is a large panini sandwich which was quite delicious. It was well worth the 5.49. The service was quick and friendly. I will definitely check it out again.
(4)
Emily A.
I go here to get Lattes (made with half and half) and they have these little "Cheese sticks" and/or "Chocolate sticks" that are made very day, fresh & really yummy. I HIGHLY reccommend it for breakfast and coffee. I've eaten lunch there too and they ave really delicious soups......all home made and fresh. They have a program there that for every 50 dollars you spend there they give you a credit for $5 which as i always say is better than a sharp stick in the eye! I've also eaten their cheese balls, which I admit sounds weird but they were really good. A worthy spot for lunch if you're downtown in the loop. As for Lisa at the counter as she's a sweetheart.
(4)
Roman R.
Nice coffee joint on Jackson Blvd! Close to the EL and Union Station, and right next to the Loop. FREE WI-FI. (They even gave me a FREE refil too!)
(5)
Christian W.
Huge, delicious paninis, with sassy, friendly workers? Score!
(5)
kate w.
OMG i forgot i already wrote a review for this place. I signed onto yelp to write about how amazeballs their lentil soup is. I get excited for Thursdays just for the soup. also, the vegetarian sub is way yum.
(5)
Marty M.
Pizza tostino is dank. Find me better value and food in this city. Awesome.
(5)
Elaine D.
Love this place, everything is really good here. Cold subs rock and the bread is fresh - crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Like a sub should be!
(5)
Geri C.
Have ate here a few times for lunch , prices are ok & so is the food .. Their Italian beefs are very hit & miss :( seems like no consistency going on but if you work in the building at least you get a discount on the menu !!
(2)
Nancy C.
The delivery guy is very fast and friendly. The assorted sandwiches on assorted breads were a big hit at my last meeting. The Italian cookie tray was icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, they offer several varieties of sheet cakes which are made fresh daily.
(5)
Ryan C.
Good lunch spot in the loop. Fast and tasty Italian sandwiches, pizza, and pasta.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Rachel G.
Best sandwich I've ever had in my life. I had a turkey and swiss tostino sandwich and it was truly amazing! Friendly service, nice clean space. Couldn't ask for more.
(5)John S.
This is definitely a gem of a restaurant in the loop. I've been avoiding it because I thought it was a small place, but it has tons of menu items that are amazing. I got the italian beef the first time I came here, and I thought it was probably better than Lukes, Maxs & Al's Beef around the area. The hot giardiniera was actually surprisingly hot and left a good burn with the beef. I had the chicken parmesan sandwich next, and that was definitely worth it as well (would've liked more chicken though). I just had the meat lasagna, and this thing was the size of a newborn baby. It came out steaming and was very delicious, several people made comments of the amazing smell. I was able to finish it, but the crazy part was that they included bread and a salad to go with it. I had to give the salad away to a coworker since I was too stuffed. Bright side is that it looks like they use romaine lettuce w/ their salad, so that's pretty awesome. Pretty excited to try their other menu items.
(5)Daniel S.
solid sandwich place in the loop, i've only been here for breakfast though and cant comment on the lunch menu, but i was definitely pleased with what I got, the house blend and columbian coffee are both good and cheap, the sausage egg cheese croissant was all right, nothing special, but the ham egg and cheese wrap was really good, it was really big and filling and only $3.50, i would definitely recommend that. Hopefully one day I can get here for lunch
(4)Marie G.
I was downtown playing tour guide to my family who was visiting from out of town and we stopped in this cafe for lunch. SO GOOD. Everything we ordered was great, my Siciliano Tostino (eggplant panini) was delicious. I also ordered a frappucino and it was perfect for a summer treat. (And for extra tour guide energy). The customer service is also something to be commended. Ashley was nice and helpful and made sure to recommend the best food to order. Will definitely be back!
(5)Britta R.
Panini breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon cheese) was great. Drip coffee was strong and tastes good. I would come back.
(5)Ashley M.
I am here now and I am eating the lentil soup and a vegetarian tostino. The food is beyond excellent and the customer service is beyond amazing. This place is family owned and is a major standout to the chains in the area!
(5)Lori S.
Pizza and large Calzone are delicious here, also they are not over priced like other places in the area. Friendly, you can order a huge cannoli for parties.
(5)Matt D.
Calzone, Jumbo Salads, Huge Pizza Slices, Paninis and More! This is a solid lunch time spot in the loop. I have been here on several different occasions and enjoy something new every time! For those on a tight budget, you'll appreciate the extremely fair-priced items on the menu. Cheers!
(5)Michelle R.
WHERE's THE CHICKEN!? Went in today and got the large rotini chicken salad. It was a rotini salad, not even enough chicken to say they cut up one chicken strip. They must serve it out of a bowl of pre-made salad and all the chicken was gone or at the bottom of the batch. Needless to say, it was a carb loaded lunch...no protein.
(3)Trey B.
Just started working in the Loop a month ago and Avanti has already become a regular stop. Quick, fresh food in a casual and clean setting. The breakfast sandwiches are cheap and the coffee is delicious! For lunch I recommend a sandwich or one of the calzones - both are tasty, filling, and relatively cheap in an area known for it's overpriced eats. Make sure to get their before the Noon lunch rush, the line gets long quick!
(5)Dan P.
I'm a huge fan of this place. You get great bang for your buck and the food quality is well above average. This is probably my favorite lunch spot in the city. Everything from their sandwiches to fish salad is a solid bet - as close to an authentic Italian deli as you'll find in Chicago. The people who work there are all friendly and you get your food quickly. Definitely try this out.
(5)Talia G.
Confession: I've only tried the pizza at Avanti Caffe, but it sure made an impression, and not a good one. For a mere $4.41, you can get a very large slice of pizza (any type they have out) and a soft drink. Seems like a great deal, right?! Wrong. I would spend twice as much for an edible piece of pizza without a drink any day. The slice was rubbery and just plain gross. It may be a good price, but it's not worth the low quality. That said, Avanti is always busy during the lunch hour, so maybe the sandwiches are better...
(2)Kevin K.
Update - Protip: order online and save 10%.
(5)Jason S.
Stopped in to grab an Avanti house blend coffee and a cold Chicago morning. It was quiet delightful one of the better cups of coffee I had here in Chicago. I also picked up a croissant filled with chocolate that I've never seen before. And WOW was that good. I didn't think that it was going to be so good!
(5)L J.
Went here for lunch around 1230 a weekday. There were quite a few people waiting for their food, which made me a little nervous because I thought it would take too much time and I wouldn't have enough time to enjoy before heading back to work. It actually only took about 5 minutes for my order; I chose the Milano tostino (Panini). It was huge and delicious, but the prosciutto was a tad too salty, so I removed a star. We ate in the deli, which is small but clean. Also where you order there's a display of food to showcase some of their items. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu!
(4)Shirley J.
I definitely go here for the convenience since I work in the same building. I've only ordered one thing from here, and that's the large pasta fagioli soup. The soup is okay/good, but nothing to write home about, does the job. The service varies depending on how busy it gets. If it's super busy, you better know what you want and know your number when it gets called. The best time to go is before noon if you're going on the weekdays. After the cashier starts to recognize you, you may get a 10% discount.
(3)John B.
The office ordered from avanti today. We have consistently had avanti in the rotation for the last couple years and for very good reason. Everything is fresh and very well put together. It all pairs nicely. I had the diavolo sub with a small tortellini salad. The diavolo is essentially a spicy Italian sub. I got the six inch which was the perfect size. They do their sandwiches in 6 inch and 10 inch increments as well as a focaccia sandwich that could feed the old school version of the reverend al sharpton. The tortellini salad is a real treat. It is all very fresh. The tomatoes and peas are always crispy which shows that the salad was made that morning. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious sub but also for anyone looking for a delicious salad because they have a wide variety of salads too.
(5)Hollina U.
The sandwiches here are okay. The focaccia bread sandwiches are too oily for my liking--- it feels like you're downing an greasy sandwich stuffed with too much meat. Tried the tiramisu too-- too much whipped cream in proportion to everything else. But at least the service is pretty good, they have a 10% discount for all employees who work in the 200 building AND they have a frequent buyer punch card.
(3)Jasmine N.
Let me start by saying that the prices are very reasonable for the location. Every thing is very fresh and one can tell that the veggies were likely cut fresh that morning. Today, I ordered the meat lasagna. The sauce and the overall flavor was really good. It also came with a wonderful salad and a slice of pizza bread. My only complaint is that there were too many layers of pasta and not enough meat for my liking. I am one who loves meat, so take my comment on that with a grain of salt. The location is quaint and gets busy during the lunch hour. I did enjoy the food and the portion size, therefore I will be back to try something else.
(4)Tony D.
Dropped by for a quick lunch in the afternoon and ordered a pizza tostino panini. It was definitely bigger than I expected for the price, and it was quite tasty too. The sandwich was not too greasy, and although it came with a lot of good stuff on the inside, everything stayed put instead of falling out. Service was fast and friendly enough.
(4)stephanie h.
This place is very delicious! Portions are huge; could've shared a sandwich. Highly recommend this place. Food is fresh.
(5)Edin B.
I order from this restaurant almost every Saturday! Great food, excellent customer service. oh and do yourself the favor and try the meat lasagna
(5)Steve H.
Great breakfast sandwiches, quiche, coffee, pizza, and paninis. Nice staff. Skip Coroner Bakery next time and come here!
(4)Fedai F.
I was on my way to Starbucks to wait for friends who went up to the skydeck. I noticed coworkers going inside and decided to check it out. Clean cafe with plenty on the menu to choose from. I didn't want to get anything heavy since friends and I are going out to eat! So I got the chicken Rotini, small;) it's refreshing, and fresh! For 4.14 it's well worth it! I overheard coworkers telling each other how amazing their paninis were. Next time I'll try a grilled Tostinos!
(4)Walter H.
I work in the same building, the chicken ceasar salad is perfect. The Italian beef is definitely a competitor for Portillo's
(5)Shambavi K.
This is solid lunch spot in the Loop and probably a very underrated gem. it gets overlooked by the chain restaurants around the block. The prices are very reasonable and portions are big. It has mostly italian sandwiches, salads, and pastas. This may be very reason why I pass up on this when I walk outside for lunch...as i don't prefer pastas or sandwiches. I ordered a Diavolo (wrong spelling?) before and certainly enjoyed. This time there was line up to the door...it took a little time to get my order. I got an italian beef with hot peppers and veggies. My instant reaction when I opened up my to go box was "oh man!". The italian beef sandwich was huge... The bread is a chewy italian bread which fell apart from the juices. i had to eat it like a salad eventually. but so tasty and the nice kicker was that it was just around 5 bucks. Made me wonder why I don't go here more often.
(4)Stephanie W.
Spectacular Italian sandwiches. We stop in after we take out of towners to the Willis Tower. Nice seating areas, you order at the counter and pick up your food. No one has ever made a bad sandwich choice, which lends me to believe that situation doesn't exist. They also have a little market that sells other Italian goodies. Absolutely try it out!
(4)Andre M.
Easily the best food in the Loop area. Food is always fresh and the service is great! I always get something different and am always satisfied with hoe it comes out. My previous favorite was the bow tie alla vodka, but now I'm hooked on the avanti on foc. However, the Italian beef is a great go to!
(5)Sejal P.
I work in the same bldg as Avanti Caffe, and out of convenience i have had the experience to lunch here plenty since they opened. I waited few years to write this review hoping something may change! It sucks they can't NOT for once get a simple order of soup and salad right. They'll either forget to give me dressing, or bread, or sometimes crush pepper. I hope they will get it right at least once before we move out of this bldg. I do enjoy their quality food, just not happy with their service!
(2)Ellen G.
I just wanted to slip a review on here for the catering group at Avanti Caffe. Not only was the food delicious and perfect for our holiday party, but they also were so attentive in making sure we got exactly what we ordered and needed. I was able to call and book the meal (I made the order about a month in advance) and they were really good about checking in between then and when we had set the date to make sure nothing had changed. We even got a call the day of to make sure there wasn't anything last minute we needed. We ordered the italian beef which was flavorful and worked perfectly for sandwiches. The chicken marsala was the highlight of the meal though, tender chicken in a great marsala sauce. We also purchased the baked mostaccioli and vienese potatos which were both delicious as well. The only issue I think there was, was not everyone enjoyed the roasted veggies. I thought they had wonderful italian flavor, but I think they might have either gotten a bit overdone, or were marinated too long because the flavor was a bit overpowering. We also ended up with no serving utensils, which could have just been a misunderstanding since we didn't need plates and silverware. Desserts were delicious and so was the caesar salad. Everyone raved about the food the rest of the day and we will definitely return to Avanti for future catering needs. Thank you again everyone who helped us out,
(4)Stephanie S.
I come here on the regular for lunch and am never disappointed. Do I crave it? No, but I find myself going back time and again, leaving very satisfied. If you're looking for something cheap, a (big) slice of pizza is only going to set you back about three bucks. If you can spend a bit more, I'm partial to the bowtie a la vodka with chicken (comes with bread and a side salad). There's something on the menu for everyone, and the staff does a good job of keeping orders moving during the lunch rush.
(4)Panda B.
Ordered a latte, it was gross. It tasted burnt.
(2)Mark S.
Good food. Fast service. Priced fairly. Family owned. No complaints. Everything seems pretty fresh there! The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because one time I asked for extra onions and she charged me $1.72 .. I found that on the expensive side. Otherwise, keep up the good work!
(4)Kimmie R.
It's a nice place to get pasta, a salad, dessert, and a cold cold non-alcoholic beverage. This is a nice lunch place, but it's nothing fancy. They have a nice variety of options for hot and cold food so enjoy.
(2)Seth S.
Great little deli. The prices were very reasonable and the quantity of food made this place a real value for lunch! Sub sandwich, chips and a pop for less than $8. Looking forward to coming back to try some pizza.
(4)Brian M.
This place is clean. Service is fast. Tables are usually available at lunch time. The sandwiches are good. The bread has good flavor, and the ingredients are fresh. The soups have a lot of liquid to them, but they still have flavor. Overall, this is a good place to come to if you're on a diet. You can get the right amount of food, enjoy the flavor, but not consume a lot of calories. Beyond that, it's your standard deli.
(3)Adele B.
Came on looking for coffee and had the best on the spot frappuccino. Glad I passed on the commercial coffees right around me. Don't forget to get one next time you are nearby.
(5)Linda N.
I had arrancini and would say they were average compared to others. I cant say if I would return
(3)Kelly D.
I decided to give this place a second chance after a decidedly underwhelming experience a couple of years ago. Sadly, their food has shown no improvement, but this time, my visit was an utter disaster of epic proportions. Shortly after choking down what I could of my lunch, I started experiencing some gastric distress, and made my way to the ladies room. Imagine my horror when, after the explosive diarrhea had subsided, I reached for the toilet paper to find it COMPLETELY EMPTY!!!! As the panic set in, I searched frantically around the single stall facility for something, anything to clean myself with, only to find nothing, as they also opted to use hand dryers instead of paper towels. I'll spare you the gory details of what ensued, but let's just say thank god there was a sink. When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I immediately informed one of the employees that the toilet paper needed to be replaced. All I could think was who the fuck used the last of it before me and didn't bother to tell anyone??? In any case, the restaurant should have checked everything before the lunch hour rush to ensure the bathrooms were adequately stocked. I would not wish what I went through on anyone. Sorry Avanti. I will never be back...
(1)Bo Y.
I ordered the 3' sub + soup for $5.99. the portion for the soup is large, i felt so full after the meal.
(3)Kris G.
Most people, if they combine two meals, pick breakfast and lunch (and make it a brunch!). I'm an awkward person in that I get ravenously hungry between 3:30 and 4:45. So I eat lunner. And I do this at work. The thing is, I am STARVING by this point usually (regardless of how much I've eaten before hand, my stomach is on some bizarre timer). I kid you not, I can go to Avanti, get an Italian beef with hot peppers and for less than 5 dollars be full until the next day and completely satisfied. One sandwich for lunner? From Avanti, that's all it takes. To make it even better, it's about 3 steps from work. Avanti, you might be all I'll ever need.
(5)Tom D.
I go to this place frequently for lunch, and everything I have eaten here has been delicious. The one exception is the pizza, which is ok, but extremely cheap, so I can't complain too much about that. The staff are friendly and quick, and the restaurant has a great atmosphere, especially for a downtown Chicago Loop location. I highly recommend the diavolo, or one of the Italian beef sandwiches and a homemade cannoli for dessert.
(4)Chuck S.
I checked this place out based on the awesome Yelp reviews and I gotta say it's Not Too Shabby. They also give you a Whole Lotta Food for your Money. I ordered the Milano Panini which was 1st on the menu. The Samich was huge and quite tasty. It was at least 2 times the size of a Panera Bread Panini. For $8.55 I got the Giant Panini, Chips and a Fountain Drink. Looking at the menu, I noticed they had quite the variety of food also, i.e. Pastas, Pizza, Samiches, Paninis, Soups and Salads. I have to go back to run the full gamut of menu items. I walked away very impressed for my 1st visit.
(5)Chris R.
The place was flexible on what I ordered and able to customize my dish. Really tasty vodka sauce on the bowtie pasta. Bread that came with it was real good but too salty Bean salad was as expected. Food was really filling.
(4)Joe B.
Avanti's has a large menu selection, lots of seating, reasonable prices, and Saturday hours, which is fairly uncommon in the Loop.
(3)Mike M.
Let me explain something to you all: I Love to Eat. I go everywhere, I try most anything, but I am always partial to a good sandwich. And let me tell you, the Diavolo sandwich at Avanti's, is the greatest sandwich in Chicago. Don't care about 3 little pigs, 3 little squirrles, whatever... This thing, with that chewy Italian bread, with the olive oil and hot peppers, enough meat to re-build a cow, all will be on your mind for days (or until you go get another one). Now, the Tostiono's (grillad paninis) are great too. The seafood salad is awesome. But that Diavolo is the damn mayor of that sandwich shop, come by and pay it some respect...
(5)Kasey B.
So, I've worked in the 200 w Jackson building for a year, and had never been to Avanti until today. Stupid. I walked in, and told the lovely woman behind the counter that I had never been. She explained the menus, salads, frequent customer program, and was very helpful and kind. I ended up with a large chicken caesar salad and a diet coke. With the building discount (!) it came to about $8. Not bad at all! Also, the chicken caesar was bangin--wonderful homemade croutons and a generous portion of chicken. Can't wait to try more!
(5)Amie C.
I spend way too much money on lunch working in the loop. But there are so many great options it's hard to stay on a budget. Avanti has a great turkey and Swiss panini. I also enjoy the rather large chicken Caesar salad. Lovely array of pasta salads too. Rice balls with pasta sauce are great. They also have a pizza lunch special and if you go after 3 pm you can get 2 slices of pizza for $5! The slices are huge! Definitely crowded at lunch time and there is sometimes a bit of a wait but they are friendly and you can see that they are working as fast as possible to get the orders out.
(4)Kate M.
A pile of meat for lunch? Sure, don't mind if I do... I often forget about Avanti Caffe, but when I do remember it exists I really enjoy having lunch there. I pretty much always get an Italian beef sandwich, and then I only eat the meat (which I affectionately refer to as a "pile of meat") and leave the bread. They have a huge menu, sooner or later I'll branch out and try something new. Their split pea soup with prosciutto is really good too. They are always pretty busy at lunch time, like every other joint in the loop. The line moves pretty quick though and the food is worth the short wait. The staff could stand to be a little nicer. I'm sure it's not the funnest job in the world, but it wouldn't hurt to crack a smile every now and then.
(4)Evan S.
Solid lunch spot in the Loop. Good for a visit every now and then. The Pizza Tostino panini was on point.
(3)Betty C.
Came into town for the weekend and decided to do the walking tour of the neighborhood. Was hankering for that infamous shredded beef Italian sandwich people were talking about and decided that Avanti was my first stop. With eyes bigger than our stomachs we ordered the 10" Italian sandwich, the gnocchi in vodka sauce and the pasta e fagioli. The portions were generous and the service friendly and I hate to throw a wet blanket on such a cute establishment but I have to say the food was my least favorite part of the experience. The pasta e fagioli was too salty and somewhat bland. The gnocchi was chewy and the sauce was also too salty. The sub felt dry even though my bread was soaked through with juices. The temperature of the food was off too. The gnocchi was barely above room temp and the soup as well. Everything could have been hotter. The price point was reasonable. Cheap even. But you get what you pay for I guess.
(3)Gamaliel E.
I come here much more often once the weather starts getting colder. The soups are homemade and tasty. My only issue is that they can be a little on the greasy side at times. I've also tried the pizza here, and would recommend that you get a side of marinara...since the pizzas can be a bit dry. One of the better lunch options in the loop.
(3)Rick Z.
The Diavolo sandwich is great! Have been here several times and can't bring myself to order anything else. If their other menu items are anywhere near as good as this sandwich then you can't go wrong.
(5)Alden V.
I had a huge slice of sausage and pepperoni for lunch today. It's not the best pizza you'll ever have, but for 3.99, drink included, it sure as hell is!! And prices aside, the pizza was really good. No shortage of toppings makes it a winner. I don't know how I've missed this place since working in the Loop. Then again, I don't usually have cause to venture south of Adams, unless I discover a place like this. Well I'll give Yelp and Yelpers the credit for the recommendation. I looked around while sitting there and every sandwich or entrée looks legit. The sandwiches are massive and I saw a guy walk away with a calzone that could pass for a football. I don't know what kind it was, but the most expensive one is like $5. How do you beat that? The place was busy, but there's quite a lot of seating going back in the hallway and turnover is pretty quick, so don't be scared of the line. I can't wait to go back and try something else.
(4)Meg K.
Nice little place to grab something healthy if you're crunched for time. The Verona salad - fresh spinach, grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes and bleu cheese with a super tasty Italian vinaigrette was very good. The tortellini salad - pasta, olives, fresh tomatoes - was a bit mushy, oily and bland.
(3)Aaron P.
The food was very good and the staff were reasonably friendly. Seating inside is limited and my chair had four screws poking through it. This detracted from my lunch experience and from being able to give my friend my full attention. I would go back to try other food, but would probably take it back to work instead of eating there.
(4)OK P.
the food here is awesome! the sandwich, the soup, the pasta just unbelievable taste! all the dishes come in good portions enough to fill you up. The service is great and welcoming. Just a great Italian place!
(4)Adam K.
Really good panini sandwiches here. Great place to come as a regular in the loop. Go for the Chicken and Mozzarella Panini. Next thing I want to try here is their pizza!
(4)The A D.
Great place for lunch in the Loop. The pastas are very tasty. The penne with meat sauce and the bow tie ala vodka are consistent standouts. The pastas are on par with several sit down restaurants in the Loop at half the cost. Noodles are always perfectly al dente... which is a great complement for a quick service lunch spot. A great value too. A order of pasta with a salad and a large piece of focaccia bread is about $8.50. Pizza here is OK... Nothing to write home about... but still pretty good... I mean it's pizza... even bad pizza is good... right? The sandwiches are generally very good. You can tell that all the lunch meat is high quality and the condiments are fresh. All in all this is a great spot in the Loop to get a quick, high quality lunch at a reasonable cost.
(5)John H.
This place has a very small storefront on an extremely busy stretch of Jackson. It's one of those places you'll see the sign for, and you consider it a few times, but you're not quite sure it exists until you walk inside. And I even when I was inside, I still wasn't sure I was in the right place. It was mostly empty at 1:00 on a Friday afternoon. I was in search of a good panino, and I found a decent one at Avanti. I think mine had smoked turkey, bacon, and cheese. The meat wasn't of the greatest quality, but it was a pretty solid sandwich due to the excellent quality of the bread and the price. I don't remember the exact cost, but it seemed like a bargain at the time--and I'd had a chocolate chip cookie thrown in for good measure. It was well under ten bucks, which seems to be about the going rate these days. If you work in the area, and fine yourself heading to Jimmy John's or Subway on a regular basis, Avanti is worth a look.
(4)Aminda S.
I eat a lot of soup. I'm talking at least five times a week, sometimes twice a day. If there were a soup suitable for breakfast, I'd eat it and make it a three times a day habit. But I digress... I tried the Lentil soup here on a Thursday (because that's the day it's served yo) and I can't remember a Thursday that has gone by that I didn't return for that very thing. Come to think of it, I'm housing a piping hot bowl of it as I type this review. It is so good. SO good. I've even branched out to their Tues. and Wed. soups of the day - split pea with proscuitto and minestrone, respectively - and was just as pleased. But here's the kicker - I get a large soup and a fountain soda for $4.86. Under $5? What. Bananas. Add in one of their side salads (caprese, tortellini, fruit, cucumber, seafood - all clearly made fresh daily and delicious I may add) and you're still barely pushing $7-8. A place where I can get a filling, nutritional lunch complete with a beverage for under ten bones? I think I've died and gone to lunch break heaven. An added bonus is how friendly the staff is. They began greeting me by name after only a few visits which was impressive considering at that point in time I had only been to the establishment a handful of times and not as consistently as I am now. Seating is easy to come by and long lines always moves along swiftly. I feel truly lucky to have this place so close to work, and I suspect you will too if you just try it already! Jeez.
(5)Amanda L.
A+ I went during lunch and it was pretty busy but the line moved quickly and we got our food pretty fast. We had the vodka bowtie pasta (which comes with bread and a salad) - which was huge and delicious, perfect comfort food - and a chicken panini, which was also great tasting and very big. I probably could have got by with splitting one of those things, especially for lunch. Reasonable prices (under $10 each). We'll definitely be going back
(5)C W.
Very good for the price. I had a huge chicken and Mozzarella Panini, 5.99, it was delicious. Someone had a stuffed pepper, which looked amazing as well. I will definitely be back. It's like Corner Bakery, but a few bucks less, and 5x the quality.
(4)Andrew T.
Could be another good option for lunch downtown. And it's open on Saturdays, which makes weekend work just that much more tolerable. This place has changed hands several times recently, and I'm hoping this place stays around. Big menu with lots of choices - I had a pizza panini, with nice hot veggies and tasty pepperoni, plus a cup of *gasp* warm, not too sweet, not too sour marinara. How many places just give you cold sauce and call it a day? Plus, the staff is friendly. With Luke's right down across the street, one might think that this was too much Italian too close, but with Luke's seemingly doing the pizza/burger/Italian beef thing, the better deli sandwich and panini menu here will keep me coming back.
(3)Janet E.
I needed something quick and easy before heading to Union Station to catch my bus. Thankfully Avanti Caffe was on the way and they were fast with many food options as well! I ordered the Milano Tostino which had prosciutto, mozzarella, red pepper and italian dressing on focaccia bread. The portions here are very generous, which is surprising in the downtown area. They also give you a pickle and peperoncini with your sandwich. i also tried one of their sugar powered chocolate filled pastry sticks. Delicious! Cant wait to come back here again!
(4)Joshua N.
I really didn't know much about Avanti and wanted to try something in this part of the loop besides Jimmy John's. So I popped in and ordered the Avanti sub. It was made very quickly and priced. The sandwich however was great. I was surprised when I unwrapped the little bundle of joy. I was so hungry, but there it was right in front of me. Peppers and delicious meet and a great roll of bread. It was delicious.
(4)Rachel L.
Fabulous sandwiches, yummy pizza, and don't overlook the array of tasty premade cold salads in the case facing the door (pasta, seafood, olive, caprese). Really happy to have this spot in the loop lunch rotation. The ingredients are high quality and super fresh. Pro tip: The cold sandwiches can be ordered on foccacia for a couple dollars extra. It's a full 10 inch round of foccacia, and they don't skimp on the meat! It's plenty to last me for two lunches. The Classico is my favorite!
(4)Bryan H.
I eat here 2-3 times a week; its just that good. Prices are on the cheaper side, and selection is incredible. The "tostinos", (pannini's) are phenominal. 6$ for a chicken and mozz sandwich that is HUGE. Absolutely deliscious. The stuffed peppers are a great meal; and always make co-workers jealous. They make a SOLID Italian beef. It's no Al's, but its up there. I'd avoid the lunch hour if you can; as it can get busy. The only thing I would avoid is the Arancini (rice balls); I was not terribly impressed by those. Otherwise everything is a safe bet.
(5)Laura F.
I and three co-workers visited Avanti at about 12:30 on a Friday. It was the lunch rush, and the line extended from the counter all the way to the front door. That alone told me that the food was at least decent for a loop restaurant. I ordered the Milano panini and wasn't disappointed. The bread was pretty delicious and the prosciutto was exactly what I expected. I enjoyed the roasted peppers, but meh. My sandwich wasn't life-changing, but I paid about $8 and change to eat at a solid lunch spot. My colleagues enjoyed their pasta with vodka sauce, italian beef, and slice of sausage pizza as well. Thanks to Avanti, we're all in store for a sluggish and nicely-fed Friday afternoon.
(3)Leang E.
It was my first week working downtown, and was looking to try a new spot and came across Avanti. There seemed to be some good looking options displayed in the glass cases, and I chose a salad and a soup. The prices are pretty decent, and the food was also as well. The service was pretty quick, so it's not bad for a grab your lunch and go option. There are tables available for sitting and eating, but it's not that big and would be tough for a large group. I'd like to come back and try some other options that have carbs since the pictures and recommendations from other reviewers sound worthy of trying.
(3)Phil T.
Fresh quality products for a deli! You can always enjoy a nice fresh sammy for a quick lunch. Especially for being in the loop they have really good prices! Soup and sandwich combo for $5. How can you go wrong?!? Please note if you want walk around the city bloated and overly stuffed this combo deal is prob not for you. Dont trip, keep on reading!!!! They do offer a variety of larger subs and sammies for the peps w/ bigger appettites. :) Being an experienced sammy eater like myself, special tip of the day is its all about the bread! This place offers a nice fresh Italian bread to serve it on. Went w/ the Avanti Classico, mounds of Italian meats Mortadella, Salami, and I forgot the other one prob some form of cured ham. Whatever the case is damn good! The soup was decent "Lentil", excited to go back to try more of the daily soups... They also offer pizza, pastas, typically Italian Deli's. Get all of your Oooooohhs and Forget abou-it (in a deep Italian accent) lingo coming here and make sure you leave it here. :) The staff is friendly and very quick for the lunch crowds, lines start around 1145 so get there early my fellow loop workers!
(4)Bill M.
I've only had the arancini at Avanti (thanks for the heads up Kelly C), but this place is close to my office so I will probably be coming back for more. The arancini is a breaded and stuffed rice ball about the size of a baseball, with a filling of meat and peas. It also comes with a side of marinara sauce, but one arancini ball is a bit light for lunch. I have heard positive things about their sandwiches, and their pizza slices look good on display. Excellent Italian goods are all over the place too (San Pelligrino drinks, biscotti, Baci chocolates).
(4)Melissa D.
This location is huge. Very high ceilings, a lot of open space. I really haven't seen a cafe this large, but I think I really like it ;) I work close by so I decided to stop in while I had an hour to kill. I decided on their veggie breakfast burritos. They were stellar. I had to have the very nice lady heat them up in the microwave because I like my food to be super duper your mouth is on fire hot, but she didn't mind. Their coffee, which they get from Starbucks, was awesome and cheaper than Starbucks, if that makes sense? Anyways, it was great. The cafe is on the newly opened side, so it's very clean and if you wanted, you could eat your breakfast right off the floor. :)
(4)Katy G.
The food is great, the staff is friendly, the prices are incredibly low. My only complaint is the heavy use of throw-away plates and to-go containers. I did ask if they had recycling for aluminum cans and the nice guy at the counter said they did, but in the back, so you have to ask. Overall, delicious and affordable with hugs portions! Very close to Union station.
(4)Katrina M.
Affordable prices. Big portions. I loved my tomato, chicken & mozzarella panini. The bread is especially so yummy - crisp and flavorful. I just wish they had more seating.
(4)Eric D.
Avanti Caffe at Jackson and Wells is shiny and new, having just opened a couple of weeks ago. The space formerly occupied by the failed Jackson Grille (Once known as UFood Grill) has been significantly upgraded with a new kitchen, granite counters, and lots of seating. It is apparent that the people behind Avanti have done this before; the fit and finish of the restaurant itself is solid, thoughtful and user-friendly. They are still working a bit on the logistics of completing orders, but that is to be expected with any new, busy downtown lunchery. The Food: Everything I've had here so far has been superb. Here's a partial list: Pasta Fagioli Soup - Served muy caliente, fresh and basil-y. Love it. Pizza - sold by the slice at a reasonable price. Best pizza on the block (Luke's and Giordano's the respective runner's up). Salads - FRESH pasta salads, traditional salads - and even a seafood salad that's fresh and tasty not scaly and scary like at most loop lunch spots. Sandwiches - the crown jewel of Avanti. they have an extensive sandwich menu featuring Subs, Paninis, Focaccia sandwiches and more! I haven't had one yet that was anything short of excellent. Everything else - they have a huge menu here, which generally is a red flag - so far though, they haven't had a single misstep. I highly recommend Avanti Caffe
(5)Ingrid R.
First time in today to grab a sandwich to go. I was craving a panini today and Avanti came up first on google. There was virtually no line to order and two cashiers taking orders. Mine was very friendly, smiling etc. This can be rare at lunchtime in Chicago. I order a Ham & Cheese Tostini with everything except Italian Dressing. Everything is Mayo, Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Italian Dressing - just in case you're wondering! I'm sitting at my desk munching away now and it's pretty good and absolutely GINORMOUS! I posted a pic - it really is big. It was less than $6 including tax. It is a little salty - even for what's in it, but it's decent. I'll be back to try out some other things on their menu. Next time I'll dine in. The place was clean with nice tables and chairs.
(4)kelly c.
Yay, finally! I've been waiting for you to open since I saw the 'Coming Soon' signs and called the original to verify this was the same owners! I've always loved the Mount Prospect location, and now there's one just around the corner from my office. So many choices, and each one is delicious, reasonably priced, and abundant! The Diavolo sandwich and the Arancini (rice balls) are at the top of my list. This new location is fancy, too! They spent a lot of time making it look nice. Often, I think downtown restaurants get away with having mediocre food, due to the shear demand. This is one instance where I am confident the food will always be good.
(4)Nicole H.
I really enjoyed my lunch here today. I do not, repeat, do not plan to share this spot with any of my friends! I had a slice of basil & tomato pizza, a cinnamon cheese stick, chicken caesar salad and a tea. Can you say YUMMY! I plan to try everything on the menu -yeah you read it right EVERYTHING! Good portions, and good prices! I can't wait to return!
(4)Daniel H.
This place just opened...I believe on Tuesday. Surprisingly, it was already pretty crowded. I heard about this place through a coworker. He knows the owner and we decided to make a trip out there and try it out. (Note: They also have a location in Mt. Prospect which is the original location.) Anyway, it is kind of a distance from me, but it was worth the walk. I got the Calabrese, which is a breaded steak panini with mushrooms, green peppers, and provolone cheese. It was the most expensive panini and it only cost $5.99. Most of them cost $5.29 which seems like an insane bargain downtown considering the quality and size. I'm a big guy and one easily filled me up. They also have a bunch of other items like coffee, smoothies, tea, salads, pasta, soup, pizza, subs, etc. I didn't get any of that, but the items I could see, like the pizza, looked really good too. I definitely recommend giving this place a shot if you are in the area.
(5)Sam T.
I've been here twice there are things I really like and things I don't... I like that the food is crazy fresh, they have amazing sandwich bread and their salads are so good (I love the seafood salad). What I don't like is that the sandwiches are kind of on the dry side - I've had the Diavolo and the Avanti Classico. Next time I'm going for either a hot sandwich or a calzone.
(4)Sarah H.
RAVE REVIEW!!! I stopped in here while in the area for a meeting and what a pleasant surprise!! The first shocker was the prices...overly reasonable, especially for the portions (sausage and ricotta calzone, YUM)....staff was very friendly and quick, the place is clean and seemed to be plenty of seating....and food is so yummy. I'll make a point of coming back, whether or not I'm in the area :)
(5)Tim Y.
Prices here are pretty decent - not much more than a Quiznos, but with eleventy billion percent more awesome. My colleagues rave about the seafood salad, but I found it to be a bit on the bland side. Neither of us actually finished eating it - it went back to the office and off to the freebie table. The focaccia sandwiches are all gigantic. Easily shared with two or even three people. Good meats and cheeses, and LOTS of them. Staff is very friendly and conversational, and the space is super clean, fresh, and comfortable. At lunchtime, it's super busy and crowded, so you can expect to wait a few minutes for your food since most everything is freshly made to order. A few hours later, though, and the place is all yours.
(4)Seth M.
I've now been to avanti...lets see...one...two...well more times then I can coun't. But I am a little bias seeing as I work in the building and get 10% off (feel free to try it for yourself). This place is brand new and has surprisingly good food. The Calzones are awesome! so are the sandwiches (specifically the diavlo...which is you get a 10% discount comes out to $6.66, how creepy is that!). Also they have these little pastry things sprinkled with cinnamon next to the register. They are like crack...delicious (not that I would know), addicting, and probably not very good for you. I've heard everything else here is pretty good too, but its hard to stray away from what is great. If you work near the sears tower its a great lunch option.
(4)Doug S.
Disclaimer: I think I would probably give Avanti 4 stars if it were in any other neighborhood in the city, but it gets the bump for being a truly delicious Italian deli IN THE LOOP (well, maybe 1 door west), easily rising above the au bon pain type establishments that tend to dominate the work lunch scene. I doubt you will find a restaurant that boasts such a high 'Quality of Ingredients to Price' ratio downtown. Let's just say I haven't been to Luke's since Avanti opened, and it might be difficult to justify making the trek to Bombaccigno's once spring arrives. One of these days I might even grab one of the (presumably substantial) pasta dishes to bring home for dinner.
(5)Josh G.
I eat here quite frequently. They are always smiling and friendly. I go for a quick lunch/salad. It's good. It's affordable. It's close to my office.
(3)Dima S.
The place is great, service always fast and friendly. But I come there for the food, it is very good! After eating there you wouldn't feel all heavy, maybe because they don't use lots of oil and over salt their food like some other places do. Anyway, I go to this place during lunch time and speed, service, and quality is great.
(4)Keerthi A.
We went during Friday lunch hour and it looked like there was a wait, since the seating is first-come first-serve, we were nervous the entire time we were in line whether we would make a table. We ordered and found some bar chairs, so we were lucky. The food took about 10 minutes to be prepared and we had to go pick up our food. We had the Chicken and Mozzarella grilled panini and the Bowtie Alla Vodka, which were both very good. The panini was huge, and the pasta was also a good portion. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate mousse, which was phenomenal. I would definitely visit back for lunch when I have extra time to kill.
(4)Matt S.
A new-ish, nice, friendly Loop lunch spot. What struck me most about this location, was less the quality of food (which is just fine), but more the quality of staff they had. They were prompt, friendly and made an effort to be more social than at other "get in, get out" places downtown. Even more enjoyable was a suggestion made by the counter clerk when I ordered their calabrese tostino (grilled Panini) with no mushrooms. Her advice was if I got rid of the mushrooms to add both green and red peppers--a great suggestion and one I greatly appreciated. I'll definitely stop back!
(4)Marina K.
Hated it ! 13$ old salad, awful salad bar, awful ambiance!
(1)Nicholas M.
Everything is Great.
(5)Kathleen N.
On my first visit to Avanti during busy lunch hour, I ordered the Siciliano, roasted egg plant, red bell pepper, provolone and dressing. It is a large panini sandwich which was quite delicious. It was well worth the 5.49. The service was quick and friendly. I will definitely check it out again.
(4)Emily A.
I go here to get Lattes (made with half and half) and they have these little "Cheese sticks" and/or "Chocolate sticks" that are made very day, fresh & really yummy. I HIGHLY reccommend it for breakfast and coffee. I've eaten lunch there too and they ave really delicious soups......all home made and fresh. They have a program there that for every 50 dollars you spend there they give you a credit for $5 which as i always say is better than a sharp stick in the eye! I've also eaten their cheese balls, which I admit sounds weird but they were really good. A worthy spot for lunch if you're downtown in the loop. As for Lisa at the counter as she's a sweetheart.
(4)Roman R.
Nice coffee joint on Jackson Blvd! Close to the EL and Union Station, and right next to the Loop. FREE WI-FI. (They even gave me a FREE refil too!)
(5)Christian W.
Huge, delicious paninis, with sassy, friendly workers? Score!
(5)kate w.
OMG i forgot i already wrote a review for this place. I signed onto yelp to write about how amazeballs their lentil soup is. I get excited for Thursdays just for the soup. also, the vegetarian sub is way yum.
(5)Marty M.
Pizza tostino is dank. Find me better value and food in this city. Awesome.
(5)Elaine D.
Love this place, everything is really good here. Cold subs rock and the bread is fresh - crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Like a sub should be!
(5)Geri C.
Have ate here a few times for lunch , prices are ok & so is the food .. Their Italian beefs are very hit & miss :( seems like no consistency going on but if you work in the building at least you get a discount on the menu !!
(2)Nancy C.
The delivery guy is very fast and friendly. The assorted sandwiches on assorted breads were a big hit at my last meeting. The Italian cookie tray was icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, they offer several varieties of sheet cakes which are made fresh daily.
(5)Ryan C.
Good lunch spot in the loop. Fast and tasty Italian sandwiches, pizza, and pasta.
(4)