Message from Avanti Cafe
We at AVANTI CAFE in Pasadena are dedicated to providing exciting gourmet cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. Avanti Cafe's specialty is gourmet pizzas prepared in an imported oak-wood fired Italian oven. Our pizza dough has been especially formulated to accent a natural oak-wood flavor. Choose from our delicious assortment of California style toppings, each prepared from freshest ingredients, or select from our many Popular Pasta or Calzone dishes. Avanit Cafe was Voted Best Gourmet Pizza in Pasadena for 14 years 2004-2008, Pasadena Weekly Readers Poll, "...and I agree" - Elmer Dills
Insider Pages Reviews for Avanti Cafe
I can only vouch for the wood fired oven pizza - its the best around. Avanti pizza is made with thin crust as in Europe. There is not the heaviness one gets with the chain pizzas. Try it - you'll like it!
Posted 02/02/09 | Report Abuse
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In summary, the food was good (8 out of 10) but the service was horrible. Upon arrival we were promptly seated but no menus were provided & no drinks were offered or drink orders taken for 10 minutes. We had to ask about the specials which were delivered morosely & coarsely. The bread was old,stale & "rock hard" (it was replaced after we commented on it).
Posted 09/21/08 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
A better CPK
by Chip04
This is our default restaurant in Pasadena. Great pizzas (love their thin crust glazed apple with garlic), homemade soups (lentil and chicken/barley) and salads (mediterranean). Not quite as pleased with their the lasagna, but overall a great place.
Pros: Love their gourmet pizzas and salads
Cons: Pasta not quite as good
Posted 05/03/09
Best Pizza in Pasadena
by ChrisFoodCritic
I found Avanti Cafe on Citysearch and it's by far the best pizza in Pasadena! I took my family to try it out for dinner and we loved Avanti Cafe. The owner, Bob, is especially nice and we loved eating at this restaurant. It feels very family oriented and we had such a wonderful experience at Avanti Cafe.
AMAZING PIZZA!
Pros: best pizza in Pasadena
Cons: None
Posted 10/21/08
Best Pizza place!!
by samaira
After having pizzas regularly from Pizza Huts, Papa Johns, etc, I had vouched for avoiding Pizzas for dinner until one night we tried Avanti Cafe. The place has AWESOME pizzas!!.. Beats the other joints by a huge margin. We lived at Del Mar and Lake but often used to drive to this place to just have another one of there selections.. try it.. it's different!
Posted 06/05/08
A unique blend.
by intlfoods
Although I don't think they're Italians, but an overall great place for pizza. The wood-fired oven gives the crust a different taste. Do recommend it.
Pros: wood fired oven
Posted 05/26/05
Excellent pizza!
by phoenix_68
The pizza is a marriage of an innovative Wolfgang Puck creation and Casa Bianca's tasty but traditional thin crust pizza. Feels like a neighborhood place even though it's on a busy corner. Service can be a little inconsistent but generally friendly.
Pros: pizza, casual
Cons: parking can be tough
Posted 02/02/05
Good Pasta
by ili32
To be able to walk and get some good pasta- Avanti Cafe is a good spot. They are a little pricey but nonetheless a good place for food. Go there for lunch or dinner you will like it!!
Posted 06/26/02
magnifico!
by jaepu
Okay--I'll concede the Avanti Experience isn't the finest in the world. Service is friendly but inconsistent. Hit or miss on the appetizers, and the salads aren't even worth considering. The pasta is decent, if you must order a non-pizza menu item. But the PIZZA.--that's why I come back. More specifically, I come for the crust. Very, very good. Toppings are adequate. Two comments about reviews below. First, if you order a veggie pizza, the crust might be soggy. Good advice to ask for it well done. Second, I ordered an apple glazed pizza a few weeks ago. Shamefully low on gorgonzola cheese, and there was nothing glazed about the apples--they were just thin slices of apple. Tasty, but certainly not the second coming, which is what I was expecting.
Pros: pizza crust, pasta
Cons: service, salads
Posted 05/16/02
So-So Za
by LesleyBalla_Citysearch
Be sure to ask for well-done pizza otherwise it will come out soggy in the middle. The sauce is ok; good selection of gourmet toppings. The garlic rolls appetizer are great to nosh with a salad.
Posted 05/13/02