Avanti Euro Bistro - (972) 386-7800

Avanti is a great place in Addison to take a date to dinner. Sadly on weekend evening they play euro-trash music that attracts an underage crowd. Sad to see this one go down hill...

This was the biggest disappointment I think we've ever had by a restaurant. Certainly the reviews were the most mis-leading. At 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday evening the dining area was lit up like a diner. The hostess and our waiter were friendly, but the service was a bit bumbling. That can happen anytime at any restaurant, so I won't go on about that part. The food, however, was inexcusable at this price point. Both our entrees were barely room temperature. The lobster ravioli was chewy, which may have been a good thing, given the tiny portion! We chose a 7:30 dining time to allow us to enjoy the live music that was scheduled for 8:00 p.m., and that was probably the biggest failure of the evening. The guitar player arrived close to 8:00 and proceeded to play with the sound system for the next 45 minutes, chatting with the hostess and wasting time. He picked up his guitar around 8::40, and sat there with it in his lap, looking around the room as if expecting something. We left at 8:45, $125 lighter in the wallet, having heard NO live music, and with a very bad taste in our mouths. Their website touts the place as one of the 13 best restaurants outside of a downtown area. This place isn't even in the top 13 in a 5 mile radius of itself!

Wow, I don't know what happened to some of these angry people that posted bad reviews about this place, because it's not even close to the experiences I have had there. My girlfriends and I always celebrate birthdays and other special occasions at Avanti. The staff has always been polite and has accommodated our large parties. They even have a room in the back for private functions, but you probably need to call first to make sure it's not already reserved. The wine selection is good and reasonably priced. The variety on the menu is good. I intend to try a different entree every time I go in, but I repeatedly give in to the halibut and Chilean sea bass. And to top off the good food, there is live entertainment every night!