Caffe’ Avanti

Do you believe in bad luck? If not, dear reader, my tale may prove otherwise.
Today, I arrived for a 9:00 AM breakfast meeting (a very late breakfast for an old guy like me), placed an order for a latte and b’fast sandwich, paid, and was given the table card numbered THIRTEEN.
As the meeting wore on, I turned my gaze toward the counter a time or two. I don’t know what the volume looked like at the drive-​through, but the dining area had perhaps 20 patrons seated in three large groupings. Our group was interacting with a guest speaker, and it seemed that I would interrupt the flow of the meeting by getting up to check on my missing order.
At 9:50 AM, I stood up to leave for another commitment, returning my unfortunate table card to the counter, and telling the non-​serving server to cancel my order and keep my payment as a «meeting fee.» I didn’t wait around for an explanation. It could be that staff lost my ticket, or didn’t carefully watch table cards when running orders to the diners. Or (cue «Twilight Zone» theme), maybe it was the number … 13.
P. S.: On my dine-​in visit the following week, I received my sandwich, but not my scone. On the way out, I mentioned I hadn’t received the scone. The server apologized, and put it in a bag for me to take out. This visit, the number thirteen was not to blame.

The menu variety is decent. The quality of the food is above average. The staff have always been pleasant and competent. There is some covered outdoor dining, which is great in nice weather. You order at the counter and the staff delivers to your table.

If you like St. Louis Bread Co. (Panera to you non-​St. Louis people), but you don’t like the endless crowd of college students, young professionals, and other similar-​looking middle-​class white people, Caffe’ Avanti is the place to go. Unlike Bread Co., they bring the food to you, but everything else — including the way you order at the front counter, the food on the menu, and the way you clean up after yourself — is the same as the omnipresent chain.
Of course, there are some differences on Avanti’s menu — fried bologna sandwiches and pizza probably won’t be coming to Bread Co. in the near future — so I will give them some props for being different and setting up shop in the older, less-​crowded part of Edwardsville.
Their turkey and meatball paninis are excellent, and unlike Bread Co.‘s «You Pick Two,» you can get a side salad and full sandwich without paying extra.
I am a white person, I like to eat expensive sandwiches that I could make myself, and I’m glad that Avanti’s is in town to provide a good alternative to Bread Co.

Caffe Avanti is a great alternative to Panera. They have sandwiches, wraps, soups, and even a pastry case. One of my favorite aspects of Avanti are the sides: no french fries or potato chips. Instead, there is soup, salad, chips & salsa, and fruit. My favorite entrée is the Beefeater — a roast beef sandwich — and chips & salsa as a side.
Also, they have a drive-​thru!
The establishment itself isn’t anything to write home about. Very little décor, simple furnishings, and silly plastic flowers on the tables.
Overall, I’d recommend Avanti for casual lunch dates.

Caffe Avanti is a nice little bistro near downtown Edwardsville. I had the meatball sandwich with chips and salsa. It was wonderful. The bread was soft and the sauce was just right. My wife also enjoyed her buffalo chicken wrap. If you are looking for something that is quick and not fried then this the place.

I won’t kick the dead. The place had potential — great location and plenty of room inside. I’m truely sorry to see anyone fail. Therefore, I’ve removed my review but the 1 star stands.

The white chocolate mocha is really good! But the food menu was pretty expensive and the pastries were dried out and looked they came from the grocery store. The place was cheaply made, fake flowers, coffee cups from sams, and makeshift labels that looked like i was in a cheap town. Expected more because this is Edwardsville. Overall, they better become more authentic especially since there’s 4 other bakery/​cafes around the corner.