Avanti in South Oxfordshire

Fantastic food, and staff. Made our 18th birthday lunch really special.

A Fantastic Gem of a restaurant run by a great team of people who have a passion for serving genuine Italian food/drink and hospitality. Very highly recommended, you will have a lovely, unforgettable and unique experience, as there are not many of these special places around! Buon Apetito!

This is always a good place for a night out and dinner.

Very friendly and homely Italian restaurant with the freshest food which came very hot and well seasoned. We will be going back soon.

What a little treasure this restaurant is. We have been recommended to try this Italian, We were not disappointed. The best dish I have ever had. Although we Didn't have a huge amount of time due to Family , we still felt we had a very special occasion and were spoilt.

Loved our meal. Food was excellent, lovely service and a very cosy atmosphere.

Fav local restaurant. Luca and the team are fantastic.

Wonderful, family Italian Restaurant.

This place has everything going for it especially the authentic Italian dishes. Run by an Italian family, Avanti offers Italian hospitality at its best. Led by Luca the owner and his really friendly staff, we were greeted like family. It was a truly wonderful dining experience. Ragazzi, siete bravissimi!!

such a nice place with really yum food (I had the gnocchi with burrata). The staff were super nice and patient with my little step-brother and gave us some limoncello at the end :) the rosemary bread thing was super nice too

I almost don't want to tell you about this restaurant because it took a fortnight to get a booking there as it was... for a weekday! I think this might be the best Italian restaurant in England - I adore Italian food so I've been to hundreds of different ones all over the country. If I could give it ten stars, I would. Everything about this little place near the river Thames is delightful. Even the napkins. The staff are smiling, attentive, knowledgeable, and generous. The portions are belly-busting (I took my leftovers home). The food - omg! It was so delicious I'd have licked my plate if it wasn't impolite. My husband has visited several times with work colleagues and always raved about it, but I didn't believe him. This place... I'm in love 💕

Superb place. Proper authentic Italian food.

We visited this very busy little Italian restaurant on Saturday evening. The place was bustling and very busy but we were seated quickly. The waiting staff were very attentive and we were offered drinks and menus. The food was absolutely delicious and all home cooked. We were very impressed all round and would love to return

I was there for a late lunch, on a Thursday. Not expecting to be busy so I thought the Chef would have more time on his hands to cook with care. Overall, even if the waiter was full of attention and the atmosphere was nice, I felt disappointed about the food. Calamari served with a bought in mayonnaise and undercooked pizza dough used for “garlic bread “ , in my experience, will not reflect Italian cooking. Sì? No? Come on Chef! La passione! Sì?No?

Amazing venue, attentive staff and gorgeous food.

Nice night my steak was over cooked.

A great place for our band members, The Skeptics, and partners, to eat together @ BunkFest.

Went for my son’s birthday and we had a fantastic meal. The service is great and the food is delicious. This is exactly how an Italian restaurant should be and it clearly works as it was fully booked on a Tuesday evening.

Nice restaurant. Extremely Delicious Italian food. Kind staff.

They don't need my glowing review. Everyone knows this place is great, as evinced by the fact you always need a reservation to eat here. But I'll give it anyway. Traditional Italian food the like of which I've only had in Italy, a friendly atmosphere, and good service.

STOP! At this restaurant. Because this is one of those places where when you've visited an area and eaten food there, you will always remember it, because of the wonderful food you've eaten! My meal had a perfect balance of flavours and so much love put into it by the chef.! The Risotto was the best I've ever had and Tiramasu was home made and luscious! One complaint, we live 3 hours away, or we'd visit every week!!

First time coming for myself but my partner has been before. First impressions were great, after some confusion with our booking we were seated. The starter, oh were so I start it was amazing. The main was so good and filling. We decided to have a cocktail each it was lovely. We decided to head home but not before ordering pudding to take away. Lemon and chocolate cheese cake where can I buy a whole one because ohh it was the best pudding I've had in a very long time. The staff were lovely it was nice seeing them sing along to the songs and just checking in everynow and then. We will be back again.

Come here when travelling through on the river. Never disappoints lovely food great atmosphere. See you again T and J on Skylark

The food hospitality and service from this family run restaurant is fabulous. We were visiting for a few day in the area and it was so good we had lunch with friends and then dinner the following evening ourselves. 5* loved it!!

we stay at the benson waterfront caravan park regularly.we always eat at the avanti restaurant.great food as always and luca and his team are very attentive and friendly.also thanks for the tip to make focaccia

As always, fabulous food and service

An absolute gem. The most amazing friendly service that immediately transports you to a little family restaurant in Italy. Absolutely loved it.

We have been eating at Avanti for years when we are in Wallingford. The food has gotten better over the years. Very friendly host and hostess. The restaurant is very narrow and therefore you sit quite close to each other. Completely booked every weekend, so booking in advance is a must. 2 shifts per evening, so if you want to have a nice dinner, book only from 8 p.m. Always a limoncello, offered by the owner!

Thank you for a lovely meal and great welcome as we celebrated my aunt's birthday yesterday. Always a winner coming to Avanti!

Excellent food as always with service!

Food was incredible. Staff friendly and genuine. Best carbonara I've had. Can't recommend highly enough.

This small family run restaurant did not disappoint! We were a late booking and took a 6pm sitting. We could not have chosen better….. the staff were welcoming, the service very personable, the drinks 🥂 refreshing and the food…….. was delicious. We has freshly cooked and in kitchen prepared, beautifully cooked, calamari, mushrooms, and main of my favourite… aubergine parmigiana 😋😋😋😋😋😋. The lemomchello shot to finish a lovely surprise! All fairly priced. We will be back. Not at all surprised it was a booked out night for this little gem of a Italian restaurant.

Best Italian restaurant in the area by a mile. Superb food and atmosphere. Perfect for every occasion. Cannot fault it

Had a really lovely meal at Avanti last night to mark our 26th wedding anniversary. Great food, relaxed and friendly atmosphere - couldn't fault it! And the homemade Limencello went down a treat!!

Came here for lunch with my partner yesterday and the food was amazing. We had the scallops to start then each had a lovely pasta dish. Finished off with tiramisu and everything was authentic. The waiter was warm and polite and it was a nice atmosphere. They had the background music quite quietly which we liked. A date long overdue and will return again in future.

Nice welcoming staff, though none checked how the meal went. One of us had a Pizza which they said was good, and I had Tuna on a Salad with new potatoes. the Tuna was not as soft as I expected, in fact a bit chewy and a somewhat bitty in texture. Nice Italian Water, and pretty good Tiramisu. Overall Good, but not top of my list.

Very good food and service despite busy Saturday night

Truly authentic Italian with delicious food and great service.

Delicious food, friendly staff. Loved it!

Beautiful gluten and dairy free risotto

The food was fantastic and the service great! Lovely little restaurant in the town centre. I was there with a work colleague but would certainly take my wife should the occasion arise.

Been here three times now (and had numerous take aways). Maybe my favourite restaurant to visit as it's always so bustling with a fantastic atmosphere, and the food is great too (of course)

Food was generally good, had sardines for starters not boned properly, still tail bone and very small Lasagna very good, but small and at 14.95 should come with something Wine was ok but expensive

Really great food. Whole family enjoyed it. Service was great and not too intrusive, a really well run family restaurant, would definitely recommend.

Best Italian food in the area, and the staff go out of their way to make sure you have a good time

We had early evening dinner here with our family including our young grandson. We were very warmly welcomed and a high chair was provided for our grandson. Our drinks order was quickly taken whilst we perused the menu. We all had something different, Crostino Nduja, Bruschetta, Calamari and Arancini to start, Seabass, Ox cheek, Saltimbocca and Veal with mushrooms for main plus a mixture of desserts. All were delicious. My son and his partner have been here a few times before and now I know why. I would definitely come back. A warm welcome awaits together with delicious food.

Authentic Italian cuisine. Love this restaurant. 😀

Great food, great atmosphere, amazing staff. A+

Consistently excellent. High quality home made food, lively atmosphere, friendly staff and reasonable prices (just!). Always an enjoyable meal and well worth a try

We heard only good things (especially from our Italians friends) that this was a wonderful place. It's not often you dine at a restaurant where the sum of all of its parts are so on point. Many times you can have great service but so-so food - or amazing food but a rushed service... Not here and I'm quite sure not ever! You could feel and taste the passion for their craft in every bite! The service - Luca and the whole team go out of their way to make the evening special. The food - super fresh, this is a place that only uses the best produce - everything tasted so good and cooked with love. The wine - great recommendations and on point. A very special and romantic place and look forward to coming back very soon!

Great atmosphere with high quality Italian food.

Fantastic place to go. Really lively atmosphere the staff have fun with the customers and are superb. The food is incredible, very tasty and you won’t go hungry as the portions are very generous.

Great food: pizzas, pasta (gf options) and special Italian dishes. Looked after by Luca and his staff, all 14 of us had a terrific evening. My 60th birthday meal with family and friends was made very special at Avanti.

Fantastic meal and service tonight....Thank you all for a great night out.....

Can't believe that we just had authentic Italian pizza in wallingford! Food is amazing, The vibe is nice too.

Good food. Good wine. Nice people. Fantastic and delicious. Merci from Belgique.

Great restaurant with really friendly staff serving really good food. Nice atmosphere but you may want to book first as very popular.

Exquisite Italian restaurant. Lovely, attentive staff. Perfect experience. Compliments to the chef!

I've been going here for years as it's the favourite resturant of my in-law family. I was lucky enough to have a pizza in Rome in one of the oldest restaurants a few years ago and my first words were....."not as good as Avanti". Staff are lovely and happy and yea, the pizza...amazing.

Delicious food and great service, all with a fantastic atmosphere. Such good value as well!

Excellent food and service as usual

We had a lovely evening in Wallingford's authentic Italian restaurant. You could imagine that you were in Italy friendly and fun with a lively buzz. Thanks for 17byears of great food

As walk ins looking for a table for 2 on a friday night, we weren't sure we were going to get a table (it's a small restaurant and it looked very busy). Luca very kindly went to great lengths to rearrange the furniture to squeeze us in among his other bookings. The food was excellent, as was the atmosphere. Its a lovely little Italy in wallingford!

Off the menu, they made my two favorite dishes in Italian Cuisine. They managed to squeeze me in on a busy Saturday. Ate there three times and cannot but say, it was absolutely delicious. I would strongly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area. Friendly and helpful staff, very friendly owner, an absolute place to visit! Thank you!! Kind regards Michel

Amazing food, amazing service and a real Italian atmosphere. We drove an hour to visit avanti and it was well worth it. Visit this resturante if you get a chance to, you won't regret it!

What a fantastic restaurant! The pasta makes you feel like you’re in Italy, while the Salsiccia pizza is honestly one of the best!… plus the staff are so lovely and welcoming… The proprietor Luca always makes you feel right at home! Would thoroughly recommend!

Excellent Tiramisu and coffee. A wonderful end to a very pleasant lunch.

Avanti is a fantastic family run gem. The food and service are superb. The Pasta is fresh and the sauces delicious, the pizzas are super tasty. Deserts beautifully presented and delicious. Five stars for us ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Didn't like the cramp seating, staff being trained looked a bit lost and disappointed with the food ,I had chicken with veg .Thought the drinks were expensive ,shame we weren't offered a bottle of wine instead of the cost of 3 lge glasses.

My wife Viv and I went here on 19th August. I wasn't sure what to expect having not been before, but we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was lively and intimate with hardly any room for the staff to serve us, but they did, and really well too! The food was just amazing, I had spaghetti carbonara, and Viv had a veal dish, they were both delightful. I loved the Italian style and bravado that the maitre de brought to the atmosphere of Avanti. He even shook my hand as we left, nice! We will certainly be back! Molte grazie Signore!

My husband and I were cycling through the UK and Wallingford was one of our overnight stays. We were delighted to discover Avanti on a night when we were PARTICULARLY hungry! The service is prompt, and attentive. The food was excellent. Truly, truly excellent. I...

What a delightful gem in Wallingford My wife Viv and I went here on 19th August. My wife had heard that is good! I wasn't sure what to expect having not been before, but we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was lively and intimate with...

A wonderful experience. Didnt have a table booked but looked after us anyway. Service is second to none and the food is outstanding. Working local and from Leicestershire and couldn't recommend it more. Staff are amazing aswell.

Great vibe even on a Tuesday evening. Service prompt and friendly, food delicious. Book ahead!

Stunning meals, beautifully made with top class ingredients. Excellent staff with attention to detail and who waited on customers perfectly. A busy night but no hurry to finish. Its a place where I was only too pleased to give a generous tip - they thoroughly deserve it. Will definitely be back.

I've visited this restaurant before, a year previously. The quality of the food, service and choice can not be beaten. It is rare in this day and age to come across a small, non chain Italian restaurant. They managed to fit me in although they...

Welcoming, attentive service & great food

Just amazing - great atmosphere, great food, great service & great value. A shining example of a brilliant independent local restaurant- please support, you’ll have a great time!

A very friendly, homely little restaurant. It's like having dinner in somebody's lounge and is very popular in Wallingford for a reason.

Good service and tasty food at reasonable prices. Went for lunch on Saturday - no need to book.

2nd visit very good food and atmosphere going back soon

My wife Viv and I went here just over a week ago on 19th August. I wasn't sure what to expect having not been before, but we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was lively and intimate with hardly any room for the staff to serve us, but they did, and really well too! The food was just amazing, I had spaghetti carbonara, and Viv had a veal dish, they were both delightful. I loved the Italian style and bravado that the maitre de brought to the atmosphere of Avanti. He even shook my hand as we left, nice! We will certainly be back! Molte grazie Signore!

Utterly amazing! All staff super friendly and helpful. Food is unbelievably good and a very high quality of ingredients. Some of the best pizza I’ve had, and the gnocchi too! A big thank you to Avanti for making a good night a great night!

Lovely authentic Italian meal. Couldn’t fault. Very busy for a Tuesday evening and lucky the owner was so accommodating as table booked on same day

Excellent family run restaurant.

Definitely 5/5. Authentic, delicious italian food in a perfect relaxed and warm italian atmosphere. Made me feel back home miles away. Definitely recommended (by an italian, so trust me!). Bravissimi ragazzi e grazie mille per la piacevole serata.

Lovely food and staff Saturday night

Lovely staff, even in the hot hot hot weather! Food also perfect!

We went last night and had a lovely meal. Very fresh and good choice on the menu. we also had a bottle of the house red which was very good. I am not vegetarian but chose the risotto, delicious. They are having a website issue...

Had lunch here sat 30th just after our wedding it was fabulous food excellent staff great house wines all round great day. Thank you.

We had a beautiful meal at Avanti a couple of weeks ago. 3 courses, all delicious! The atmosphere was fantastic and the staff were very friendly, welcoming and attentive. It felt like we were on holiday in Italy!

As always the food and service was absolutely exceptional..... Really, we've been visiting for many years and it has always been an absolute delight!

Yummy food, friendly service! We have been for a few evening meals and always enjoy what we order and the vibes. The decor isn’t the most up to date but it’s a lovely place to eat.

Great ambience, lovely staff and superb food

What a brilliant dinner. Called in on spec and they managed to find the four of us a table. The food was absolutely delicious! Amazing pizzas, great starters, lovely bottle of house red and fabulous service. Who could ask for more. We’ll be back!! Thank...

Brilliant service. Cheerful, friendly, efficient and very attentive. They had vegan options which were delicious. Devil potatoes and bruschetta followed by an enormous and fabulously tasty pizza. The atmosphere was buzzing with happy laughing people. Thank you for a wonderful meal.

Found this place by chance on a boat trip from Reading. Very happy we did, lovely friendly place, fabulous pasta and pizza and was even able to order off menu when I asked if they could mix me a Sgroppino…..it was the best I ever...

After having such a great time in April for my daughter’s birthday we went back for my birthday. We were not disappointed. Not only is the food fantastic the staff are great. There is such a good friendly atmosphere. It goes without saying that we...

We had a takeaway delivered from this restaurant. The service and food was excellent. So much so, that we telephoned the restaurant after our meal to compliment them. Definitely recommend and will return.

Absolutely delicious food. Portions look small but came away completely satisfied. Mushroom risotto balls starter was superb and the spicy nduja pasta was sumptuous. Only slight negative was it took quite a while to get the bill but they were busy!