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| - Started off with the garlic bread - nothing special but done right, next was Insalata Capricciosa - salad greens, dressed with balsamic vinegar and creamy flavorful gorgonzola cheese, which stayed crisp even after an hour. The "Involtini of Eggplant" with mozzarella and fontina with tomato basil sauce was excellent. While my love and I waited for the shared main course of eggplant lasagna, I happened to chat up the courteous and attentive waiter who mentioned the specialty of the house - pasta made in house. So we visited the pasta chef who proudly showed off the spinach-ricotta ravioli, pappardelle, fettucini and gnocchi. Since my partner was nursing a leg injury, the pasta chef brought the tray over to our table and suggested we try the gnocchi with alfredo sauce. The gnocchi were the melt-in-your-mouth kind and the sauce was a tomato enhanced alfredo - very flavorful. Full from the appetizer, salad and gnocchi, we decided to take the eggplant lasagna home so that we could taste the home made "tiramisu". Again, the tiramisu was incredible - the liquer flowing as your fork went through the dessert which was flavorful, not too sweet and coated the mouth. We had the left over gnocchi and eggplant lasagna the next day - what a treat as a leftover. Overall the service was great, food was excellent. The ambiance is as explained by other reviewers, customers were dressed from casual to formal. Decide to go here because as out of towners we not only could find the world famous pizzeria, but it had a 3 hour wait for dinner. Talked with one of the owners of Avanti on the phone, who sounded welcoming and accommodating too. We also cashed in on a rarely extended favor which helped make our decision instantly. All the facts from the other reviewers are accurate - the 70s interior, the clientele, the owners etc. Pending more visits, Avanti may get the 5 star rating after all.
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