Avanzare Italian Restaurant - Lombard

We were in the mode for Italian and asked Google for some help, Avanzare was one of the options. It was a 30-minute drive for everyone. The price point was on the high side for us but not out-of-reach. We arrived and was immediately sat in the bar; in fact, everyone is sat in the bar. The dining room has about twenty tables, and they were two tables being used; the bar also had about twenty tables and every table was sat. I asked the waiter and they do sit the bar area first and overflow into the dining room. With the bar area at near capacity and all hard surfaces it was loud, very loud. The dining room had carpet floor and a coffered beamed ceiling it was tremendously quieter. If you want the energy of a crowded restaurant the bar is great, the dinning room would be a more upscale experience. We started with Calamari Friiti, that is the title of the dish. In smaller print the description is Crispy Fried Calamari, Zucchini,  and herbs. What was served was 70% NOT Calamari, but thin fried zucchini strips, fried rosemary (literally the twig of rosemary in batter and fried), and fried thyme (the thyme was removed from the twig so I could not even find it.), but the waiter said it was there. At $19 we expected more Calamari at least 60%, after all the dish was not called "fried herbs and Calamari". Our table had Spaghetti and Meatballs at $24, the Stuffed Pork Chop special (with Broccoli Rabe) at $27, and I had the Eggplant Parmigiana at $20. I get eggplant Parmesan a lot, it is my favorite Italian dish. $20 is high for eggplant Parmesan, I prefer my eggplant thinly sliced and fried. This is more three eggplant steaks with cheese and red gravy. Not my personal favorite but good. The pasta was so unusual I had to ask about it; the waiter said it is made from scratch in house but the shape in an Italian grocery store would be casarecce. I thought $24 for Spaghetti and Meatballs high but my husband said the Meatballs were excellent. Finally, $27 for one Stuffed Pork Chop also seemed high but it tasted great, the garlic white wine sauce made a tasty glaze. We ordered Tiramisu for the table and one person got the blueberry sorbet. I found the Tiramisu traditional and another person thought the mascarpone cheese was whipped too much. I read a several reviews, most of the reviewers praised the service as outstanding; we found our server disappearing for 30 - 40 minutes; we had to call someone over to order desert and another to get the check.

The servers were really nice over here - attentive and polite. I thought the atmosphere was pretty quiet for a Sunday, and the food was good, but also average. The value was incredible - the 6 year anniversary menu was a lot of food for a very reasonable price. The beet salad was decent - the arugula was a little wilted and the beets could have been juicier, but I liked that there was plenty of goat cheese. The chicken was flavorful and there was plenty of veggies and potatoes. I liked the sausage more than the chicken. I didn’t care as much for the dish itself, and after ordering mussels with tomato sauce, I was a little tired of the tomato sauce. I think the pork chop (or a steak, or another pasta dish) would have been better to have for the 6 year anniversary menu. I really enjoyed the creme brulee though, there wasn’t a lot of custard but it came together well.

Food is some of the best I have had. It has some unique flavors that I have not been able to find elsewhere. great location, great service by Bryan, He makes our experience perfect one 👍

This was our first time visiting and we heard and read good things. We were seated right away; however, it took 30min to get water in our glasses. I talked to the wait staff after 10min, but we still had to wait another 20min. We only had 1 glass at our table, and it was dirty. One of the overhead lights was flashing, which was causing me a headache. Food-wise, our appetizer was fine. My short rib was good. My wife's carbonara was not good at all. She was very hungry and could not finish more than half of it; she was getting sick. It tasted bland and had a strange, slimy texture to me. Overall, there was nothing redeemable about Avanzare. There's no reason I can think to visit this restaurant again. All I was thinking about the whole time is how I'd much rather be at Fire + Win in Glen Ellyn. The food is better, the service is better, the ambiance is better, AND the prices are cheaper!

Absolutely fantastic! Four of us had lunch here yesterday and I cannot say enough about this wonderful gem of a restaurant! To begin, the service was impeccable. Our server was gracious, knowledgeable, accommodating, and I could go on and on. We shared a Margherita pizza to start and it was only a taste of the deliciousness to come. The Salmon Oreganato was so good, as well as the pasta dishes that all of my companions ordered. We were quite full but managed to enjoy Biscotti for dessert. This was our first time here but by no means the last time....already looking forward to another meal at Avanzare.

A couple of weeks ago my best friend and I had dinner at Avanzare in Lombard, and it was such a delightful experience! The food was incredibly delicious and truly tasted like authentic Italian cuisine. Every dish we ordered was packed with flavor and made with fresh ingredients. What really stood out to me was how affordable everything was. It's not often you find such high-quality food at such reasonable prices. It made the whole experience even better, knowing we were getting great value for our money. The staff at Avanzare were wonderful. They were so friendly and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed and answering all our questions about the menu. It felt like they genuinely cared about making our meal special. If you're looking for a place with amazing Italian food, great prices, and excellent service, I highly recommend Avanzare in Lombard. It was a fantastic dining experience from start to finish!

I was very impressed with the whole team who served during my birthday party yesterday. Special mention to the manager Ricardo who had been very accommodating and professional . He was very hands on and made everything turn out smoothly. The food was delicious , ambience was perfect and service was exceptional . Highly recommended !!!!

Our second time here good food friendly service will be back again

I had a delicious lunch there this afternoon. I was eating with a classmate I hadn't seen in 60 years. Although our primary purpose was to visit, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent service we recieved. Sharing the information about not seeing each other for 60 years, we were seated in the quietest corner of the restaurant. We immediately were served fresh bread and fresh ice water with lemon. And with respect for our purpose we not interrupted in our visit. When we wanted to order the waiter was immediately there and took our order. I did ask to skip the French fries with my sandwich and was pleasantly surprised to see they ordered a side salad without my requesting it. A nice surprise. And both our orders were very good and served promptly. This is the best part, we were discretely left to enjoy our conversation and not interrupted at all. Our glasses were refreshed with our a big production and we talked and ate at we were not rushed at all. When I looked up when we were done, the bill and the "to go" containers were instantly delivered. Everything was excellent but the descretion they allowed us to visit a bit longer than the normal lunch hour and there was no sense of being rushed. I would recommend the food and especially the service which was a perfect balance of service and respect for our visit. The whole meal was a very nice experience and would recommend this place for their food and their attentiveness to what we wanted. Thank you. We immediately were served fresh bread and fresh ice water with lemon. And with respect for our purpose we not interrupted in our visit. When we wanted to order the waiter was immediately there and took our order. I did ask to skip the French fries with my sandwich and was pleasantly surprised to see they ordered a side salad eithout my requesting it. A nice surprise. And both our orders were very good and served promptly. This is the best part, we were discretely left to enjoy our conversation and not interrupted at all. Our glasses were refreshed with our a big production and we talked and ate at we were not rushed at all. When I looked up when we were done, the bill and the "to go" containers were instantly delivered. Everything was excellent but the descretion they allowed us to visit a bit longer than the normal lunch hour and there was no sense of being rushed. I would recommend the food and especially the service which was a perfect balance of service and respect for our visit. The whole meal was a very nice experience and would recommend this place for their food and their attentiveness to what we wanted. Thank you.

I had high hopes for Avanzare because of its great reviews and social media buzz, so my friend and I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed by their eggplant parmesan ($18.95). The eggplant was undercooked, too firm, and had a lingering bitterness. It seemed like they tried to mask the bitterness with a heavy layer of melted cheese, but it didn't work--the dish still didn't taste good. On the bright side, the pasta served on the side was delicious, and I finished all of that. However, I only managed to eat one piece of the eggplant before giving up and leaving the rest untouched. I didn't take it home, and while I didn't mention the issue to the waiter, I also didn't want to wait for a replacement while the rest of my party was finishing their meals. On the other hand, my husband enjoyed his Costoletta di Maiale ($27.95), a pork chop in white wine sauce. He liked both the flavor and texture of the pork. As for the rest of our group, I'm not sure exactly how everyone felt about their meals, but they all seemed to enjoy them. One highlight of the evening was the excellent service. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and especially accommodating with the two babies at our table. He made the experience more enjoyable despite my disappointment with the food. Overall, I expected much better, and while the service was great, my dish missed the mark. I would love to come back one day and experience what most people experience. Therefore, I would love to try the gnocchi or other pasta dish.

Came here with a large group for a work dinner and the server did an amazing job catering to our rowdy 12 person group. Ricardo was patient, attentive, and ensured our wine glasses weren't empty. You get a very classic Italian restaurant feeling when you enter which was nice. The only negative was that the food did take a long time to come out but I assume that was because of our large group. We ordered a few pizzas to share and I had the Bianca pizza which was really tasty. It had a thin crust and plenty of cheese which I love. I ordered a Caesar chicken salad for my meal and they gave me plenty of chicken and it was flavorful too! For desert we had the chocolate cake which was moist and had plenty of chocolate for a chocolate lover like myself. My colleagues had plenty of their pasta and all seems really satisfied with that as well. Great establishment with reasonable prices as well!

From the moment we arrived we felt really appreciated as new customers. The food was off the chart fabulous! Our server/bartender Bryan was wonderful! Where do you find these wonderful employees? As a restaurant owner I can only dream of having such a fabulous staff. What an experience! You may never get rid of us!

We had a reception here following my father's funeral. Ricardo was extremely accommodating and flexible in setting up the luncheon. The food was excellent and the service was fast plus the servers were so polite. Would definitely recommend!

Great as always. Arrived early accommodated reservation. Quick and friendly service, very attentive. Good vibes but does get loud when busy. NYE specials were all excellent. Coffee hot and dark. Left in agonizing pain from over eating. Not much more to say.

My first time coming here and we had a large group. The restaurant and bathroom were clean and staff were friendly. We had a large group of maybe 14 people so I understand things can take longer than expected however: We arrived at 6PM and no one took our food order until about 6:40 PM. The food arrived maybe 30 minutes after and maybe it's our pallet but it was just okay. The fetucchini and marinara sauces both tasted a little odd and the chicken parmesan didn't have a lot of noodles and they were fat ones. The Coca Cola was fine but Sprite tasted off and seltsery. Kids meal spaghetti and meatballs was $9 + $3 meatballs + $3 pop which is a little expensive. Some people got their checks sooner but ours took about 10 minutes after everyone was done and maybe another 8 minutes to collect payment. Restaurant did not seem busy enough to warrant slow service. So overall it was okay. I probably prefer the Olive Garden's food although the Olive Garden stole my credit card info so I'm avoiding them for a while.

We have passed this place countless times and finally had dinner here one night. The server was attentive and kind. It is a rather large venue so it was nice not being seated right on top of others. On this particular night it was not crowded so the ambiance was nice. Their stuffed clams were amazing. Their home made pasta with vodka sauce was amazing. I would definitely come here again and have recommended this venue to several friends.

This place is amazing! The food tastes amazing, the wine is aged perfectly, and the ambiance is so romantic for me and my husband! I did choke on a noodle when I tried to do the lady and the tramp thing with him though so I tack off a star

Never disappoints! Impressively authentic, Italian restaurant in the local area. Personable management, amazing cocktails, even more amazing dishes. I love the intimate, fine dining aesthetic. I love the Fried Calamari, Parmesan Chicken, Pesce Bianco Almondine, and the Melangrano cocktail. They offer authentic Italian dishes, not the typical chain restaurant options. Perfect place for large parties, date night, and business meetings. Recommend this place every time! You will not be disappointed. Best around.

Very good place that's easily overlooked. A hidden gem for Italian in the community. Need to be updated a little but the owners are great and service is terrific. Great Family Restaurant. Very kid friendly.

Location: Easy parking with a big lot. Ambiance: Romantic, white tablecloth restaurant. Tables far apart enough that you cannot hear the other tables. Great for privacy. We had a bigger table for 6. Food: Tallanini frutti di mare ( seafood pasta, tomato based sauce) was alright. Coffee was alright. 2 types of bread complimentary. Everyone felt their food was acceptable. One complained. Service: Food came out quickly. Water filled before it got empty. ***I did want to mention that I stood at the front desk waiting & a person behind me was attended to first. The young man ignored me even though I was in front.I spoke up right away to the young white man at the reception saying I'm waiting & was attended to, so hopefully, it was an oversight & not because I was in a hurry that evening & did not dress up, or racially/gender inclined while the man behind me was in a suit. I hope this does not happen to anyone else, female or a minority race, or not dressed up that day.

A nice suburban Italian joint with huge portions. We visited on a Wednesday night. The decor isn't trendy. It's just your garden variety mom-and-pop place. Most of the patrons were older. You begin with a basket of bread. It's a nice treat to get focaccia, but it didn't have a ton of flavor. I ordered the Pollo Vesuvio - it was very tender with good flavor from the many herbs applied. It came with a lot of potatoes and peas, which added nice texture to the dish. My wife couldn't decide between two pastas, so our server was kind enough to offer her half-portions of each. We also tried the burrata pizza - it was very thin crust with a pleasant flavor. I have a high bar for Italian joints. Avanzare isn't in the top tier, but its large portions and generally good flavors and textures push this place into the "solidly good" category.

Great suggestion Brian, this griagliata mista was delicious . Totally coming back tomorrow to try something new and maybe the same appetizer.

Outstanding Italian restaurant with great food & service!!! We took our Aunt for her birthday, and was pleasantly surprised. We expected a nice dinner at a highly rated restaurant, but dining experience was even better than expected. Well Done! Glenn

The chicken Parmesan was delicious. The service was great and they had various options for my daughter who has a dairy and egg allergy. It was early When we arrived at 5:30 Friday so it wasn't very crowded but by the time we left around 7 it was much more crowded and lively. We would def recommend!

I came in on a weeknight for dinner with friends. To start with the bread they bring out is so delicious. One of the kinds reminded me of almost a pound cake. I had the caprese salad. Big chunks of mozzarella. Lots of balsamic. My one friend had the house salad. I had a few bites. A lot of dressing on that as well. My other friend got the arancini. Tasty and crunchy. For my entree I had the ravioli with the beef short rib. Very tasty. For dessert they offer many selections of dessert and liquors. I opted for some limencello (delicious) and cheesecake (only ok) For the three of us 3 appetizers 3 entrees 3 dessert 1 glass wine, 2 limencello, a soft drink, and a coffee Before tip $153. I feel that was a great deal. Food is great. The reason they lost a star from me is because service was very slow.

We had a large party of 13 people in our group. We all gathered to celebrate an upcoming vacation. Ricardo paid extra attention to all the details I mentioned to him to make this dinner extra special!! From custom cocktails to dietary requests to a lovely decorated dessert platter, Ricardo and his staff made us feel so special and we are all so grateful! A++++

Hubby and I came here on a Saturday evening for dinner and we were seated right away. I ordered the ravioli con costelette (stuffed four cheese pasta tossed with braised beef short ribs ragu, topped with basil pesto and goat cheese). It was cooked al dente and was flavorful. Hubby had the papardelle con sugo di cinghiale (slow braised wild boar shoulder ragu) which he enjoyed. We ordered the fried shrimp for our toddler from the kid's menu. The fries and shrimp tasted like they were previously frozen. My water had particles in it but it was cold inside the restaurant so I asked for hot water. I received a dirty cup and there was leftover food/tea inside the teapot. Overall, I would have given Avanzare a higher rating if I wasn't so grossed out by the dirty cups/teapot.

Big restaurant with ample seating and parking Nice server Unfortunately the food did not deliver. My friend got the vodka pasta $18. It was ok. She said she would have preferred penne noodles and the noodles they served it with were odd for the sauce My bolognese lasagna was just awful. Good portion but poor delivery on the taste

We tried this restaurant for the first time and it was excellent. The service was outstanding and the waiter was excellent. The food we had pizza, short ribs and filet were very tasty and prepared perfectly. The prices are very reasonable and outside atmosphere is casual and inside atmosphere nice and romantic.

Amazing food and wonderful service. Will definitely go back. Looks like a fun place to also go with a big group

The table condiments on the table are not regularly cleaned. The olive oil container was so gross & sticky that we refused to use it. That was a very concerning start to our meal. The server was not knowledgeable or attentive. We had to wait 20 minutes after we got our check to pay it. Antipasti: The arancini was way too salty & the filling inconsistent like it was mixed very well. The clams were good. The antipasto was very tasty & was portioned very generously. Paste: The Lasagna Bolognesse needed a lot more sauce. It appeared that they put the sauce on the plate & then placed the lasagna on top of it. There was no sauce on the top or sides. We asked for more sauce to be added when they wrapped it for us to take home & although the woman said she would add more, none was added. The Tortelli di Mare is described in the menu as follows: "Crabmeat & mascarpone stuffed pasta tossed with shrimp, calamari, scallops, clams, and creamy brandy shellfish reduction." The pasta were two inch squares that had so little stuffing that we couldn't even taste the crab or marscapone! They were three small pieces of shrimp, not even one whole one! The two scallop pieces were smaller the size of a raisin & we saw nor tasted any clams. There was way too much calamari in proportion to the other seafood. So, it was basically calamari with unfilled paste squares & pieces of tomatoes & carrots. With two glasses of red wine, we walked away $142 poorer for a very unsatisfying meal in a very loud & crowded setting.

To start off the review in a positive light, the dessert was excellent. The bread was amazing. The coffee was simply delectable. The food that didn't seemed prepared (like things made in large batches), or food made to order was extremely salted. Three out of four dishes we ordered were extremely salted. The next day my father went to the doctor, and was told his blood pressure was high, and when the doctor heard about the salted dish, my father was told to let others know. To put it in context, my dad always leaves his plate clean, and finishes his food, but wasn't able to finish the dish due to how salted it was. He described it as unbearable, and my father is no stranger to seasoned food. The dishes we ordered were the avanzare pizza, salmone, and the manicotti.

Avanzare never disappoints! We had a large party of 14 to celebrate a birthday last Saturday and everyone left happy, including the kids! The eggplant parmesan is probably the best I've ever had. (My daughter, too, who got the leftovers!) The food and service was excellent as always. Ricardo is a delight and at the end of the night, the bartender was patient with our nightcap. :) One of our favorites.

First time there. Its was really good. Had the lasagna and the sauce was soooo good, if they bottled it, I would buy it.

Four of us had dinner on Saturday night. We all enjoyed our meals. I started with the baked clams then moved on to the Pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Both dishes were delicious. We sat in the bar where it was quiet and very comfortable. Our whole group enjoyed their meals and the service was fantastic as well. We look forward to our next visit.

First visit so i wont get too carried away. Easy parking, plentiful seating, great service and good food. I had shrimp fettuccine and calamari appetizer. Dined inside but they have large outdoor dining area. Nice to revisit old Jonathan's building ...it brought back many memories. Thank you for attentive service and welcoming staff

Last night a group of us had dinner at Avanzares Good news, food was fantastic, our waiter Francisco was on point and very engaging, Even the bus boy was great. Reason for the three stars Women's restroom wasn't attended at all. By 7:30 toilet paper ran out and wasn't replenished for a couple of hours. Women had to use the seat covers, ugh!!!! Only one bartender behind the bar taking care of the dining room and bar area, had to wait awhile to get our drinks, On New Year's Eve one would assume with all the big groups that this wouldn't have happened.

This has become one of our repeat spots when we visit the area. The food is most excellent, the service is great, and the restaurant itself welcoming and comfortable. Save your appetite because appetizers and dessert are too tempting to pass up. Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

A-Okay Italian spot. I think had the preparation been executed a bit better I'd rate this one higher. We ended up at Avanzare for a weekend lunch with some extended family. Overall, a very good spot for larger groups and families and they take reservations. Service was pretty good. Pretty limited staff, but never felt like we were waiting for our server to come around. For food, we tried a couple different appetizers. The buratta was delicious and mussels were enjoyable. They were able to offer us the grilled octopus as well which is typically off the dinner menu. Grill octopus was decent, however ours came out a bit over charred for my liking, and I felt like I could something slightly burning before it came out the kitchen. For entrees, I was personally torn between one of their many pastas and the risotto special for the day. I'm a sucker for risotto, so ended up going with their risotto of the day. While flavors were good, my biggest points to knock at... definitely could've used a minute or two longer as it was a bit too al dente. In regards to the crab, I'd say it was borderline on it's way out. Definitely a tad fishy in smell and taste. Some of the other pasta dishes I was able to snag bites of were pretty good. So for next time, I'd probably just go for one of their many pastas. Anyhow, it might have been an off day experience for us, but I can imagine the food being executed to perfection would make the different between an okay vs excellent experience. That being said, I'd still give this one another shot come the right time. 'Til next time, cheers!

Excellent food & service. Authentic. Great attention to detail. I look forward to eating here again

Great food and dining experience. The waiter didn't even write our order down for our party of 12 but, everybody received exactly what they ordered. This was our first time eating there and we were celebrating two birthdays

We ordered online and received the wrong order - 2 correct entrees but no salad or appetizer. The restaurant refused to provide a refund. They offered to provide the missing items if we came back to the restaurant, but that wasn't a satisfactory option given the time required and that the other food would be cold by then. I was also told that the sausage/peppers given to us in error was in fact the burrata with pear and speck I had ordered - just an issue with the fact that I didn't speak Italian...? I will not order from them again and wouldn't recommend dining in-person given the rude and unhelpful service.

We went with another couple to Avanzare Italian in Lombard. Perhaps others have had good experiences there, but--for us--the food and atmosphere were terrible. Where we were seated, the tables were too close together. And they pushed two together for a large and very loud party. We were practically yelling at each other in an attempt to have a conversation. The food, though reasonably priced, was not good. The wormy-looking dish was mine: Cavatelli vodka with asparagus for $17.95. It was tough and doughy, and the overall dish lacked flavor. My wife had the special: linguini with chopped salmon. The salmon tasted fishy. Good salmon doesn't have a fishy taste or smell. This was our second time at this restaurant. Again, if your experience there was good--great, but we won't be back.

Food is excellent. Service is impeccable. My Italian friend says the food is authentic.

I was in need of a real Italian restaurant to have my dad's Celebration of Life amid wedding shower season. I was able to find 4 restaurants that could accommodate me. I chose Avanzare because I could ascertain, just from my initial phone call with Ricardo, that this is where we would have the most authentic experience. Avanzare offered two lunch menus for me to choose from for a large group of people and a private room. Ricardo checked in with me several times during the planning stage and answered my call every time I had a question or change of plan. The food was delicious and very satisfying for the room full of Italian!! At the last minute I needed two vegan meals and that wasn't a problem whatsoever. Also, there is a large parking lot for your convenience as well as a large bar area. I also believe there is an outside patio, but please double check rather than taking my word for that. The day was beautiful and everything went how I imagined it would. Ricardo met and exceeded every expectation I had and was a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Avanzare for your private party or, for any day you are looking to go out for authentic Italian food!

Great food!! Lasagna pizzas and salad are all killer!! We'll order from there again and again. It's our new Italian hot spot!

Obviously the high reviews of this place are either fake or from people who don't know good pizza. Maybe drunk poor college students might care for it. Ugh. I gave it a star because it did arrive. Seriously, it sucked.

Had Italian sausage that was so good Ive been trying to make it at home. It was crisp and cooked perfect. The calimari was light and plentiful. I admit I just stopped by the bar. I will go back. The staff was friendly and made everything enjoyable.

Went to Avanzare for a work dinner and was satisfied with the food and services. One of the co-owners took care of us, from initial reservation to dessert order. They're were 13 of us so we definitely saw an assortment of food orders, and everyone was happy with the results. Based on my initial experience I would recommend Aavanzare and would definitely return. Keep up the great work!

Love this restaurant for its total dining experience. Marvelous food, excellent service, & a quiet dining room where our dining party could converse easily.

The first time we went, the food was so so, and the service was terrible but we gave it another try and much to our surprise. The food was excellent and the service was very good.Caprese SaladFried CalamariFrutti Di MareWood Fire Roasted Mediterranean Sea BassTiramisu

Not enough good stuff to say about this place. The building has been around for years..mostly know as Jonathan's. Was purchased pre-Covid by a couple of Entrepreneurs that reinvented it to be the top notch Italian themed restaurant it is today. Everything on the menu is authentic, made from scratch and exceptional. My favorites are the wood fire roasted Mediterranean Sea Bass, and all of the Pasta dishes (made fresh in-house along with their soups and desserts). Wait staff is exceptional and the owners remember your name!

The food was excellent as was our server. We will definitely be coming back! The ambiance was very nice also.

Dining here feels like coming home. Excellent Italian food, a great wine list, and the servers are professional. How good is their food? Friends in from Italy loved everything we ordered. The seafood pasta is perfect lent! The owners are welcoming, and it is wonderful to have "front of the house" remember their patrons by name. Ricardo's smile and joyful attitude makes the dining experience all the better. We enjoy the ambiance of the pretty patio when it is open, and the bar during colder months.

The Absolute BEST Italian around! I am at a loss for words!!! I have lived in the Chicago Metro area now for three years and just discovered this hidden Gem! Fresh homemade everything! Pastas, desserts and so much more. We eat out a lot and there is no place better than this. I don't care wel here you live or how far away you are, this is worth the trip. The owners were very friendly, accommodating and great hosts! Ambiance is very nice. If you are looking for a great date night spot, this is it! Very family friendly also and great for large groups and parties. We will return for sure! Grazie Avanzare per un'esperienza così straordinaria. Torneremo spesso. A presto!

I honestly loved this place. During lunch there were people there but definitely not busy. I actually sat at the bar, which is very welcoming and a fairy large space. The dining room seems cozy as well but what really a standout was their back private room. It would be perfect for a larger party or a small gathering. The gentleman behind the bar was very pleasant. They also have Vermentino by the glass so kudos for that. They make everything in house from pasta to bread, which I appreciate. I enjoyed the foccacia very much. They also ensure you have olive oil and black pepper and a bread plate. The calamari was excellent. It was light and crispy and not rubbery at all. It somehow had a decent breading on it but was still not heavy. But the standout was the marinara. Marinara is a simple sauce; I get that. But theirs was just outstanding. I would just get it on the side for anything I'd order. The owner was very polite as well as he came by to say hi. I definitely will be back.

I took no pics and I'm embarrassed! My husband and I visited this restaurant for the first time on a Saturday night and we're so impressed with the service! We were immediately able to get sat and were quickly greeted with a delicious bread basket and our server. The bread was fantastic and the server and supporting staff were perhaps the best I've seen in a long, long time. -- The food (I got the vodka pasta) was okay. I really liked the noodles, but the sauce was a bit different. Because everything else here was fantastic, I would definitely return and try another dish!