Not all the great Italian restaurants lie along the Via Italia route. Off the beaten path, just steps from bustling Ottawa Street, is a cozy little spot that is waiting to be discovered.
Located at 1317 Hall Avenue, Ristorante Avanti is one of those restaurants that you just happen to spot as you’re taking a stroll through the neighbourhood or maybe heard about through the grapevine from a friend.
Since opening nearly 2 years ago, chefs, and brothers, Anthony and Dan Ferriolo have worked together to create a quaint dining establishment that compliments the cafes and shops that line Ottawa Street.”We like the history of the place,” says Anthony, referring to the location of Ristorante Avanti. “Before opening Avanti, Da Luciano’s was here for a number of years.”
Trained at the St. Clair College culinary program, the restaurant’s open kitchen allows patrons to get a glimpse of the skills both brothers have acquired over the years.
They offer a simple but satisfying lunch menu which includes a few fantastic sandwiches like the grilled rib eye steak sandwich and grilled vegetable sandwich which are served along side a house salad.Aside from Avanti’s lunch menu, Anthony and Dan have also created specials throughout the week that let the customer take control.
With a wood burning oven located within the restaurant, ‘Make Your Own Pizza’ on Wednesdays, lets you create your own personal size gourmet pizza. Choose from a multitude of toppings and build a pizza that caters to your own tastes for $8.
Each Thursday, Avanti offers ‘Create Your Own Pasta’ specials where for only $10.00 you choose the ingredients for a pasta dish all your own. Select the noodle, sauce and any three ingredients and Dan and Anthony will take care of the rest.
“We have a number of regulars that come in,” explains Anthony. “The specials during the week and on the weekends are quite popular.”
The environment is rustic, quaint and a great location for a business meeting or a lunch gathering with friends or co-workers.
To view Ristorante Avanti’s lunch menu, as well as their dinner menu, head to www.WindsorEats.com/avanti
