In 2015 Avanti Food & Beverage opened in the LoHi neighborhood of Denver, bringing a hip food hall to the area. Fast forward 10 years and the popular spot has gotten a face lift thanks to Scout Interiors, as well as three new concepts in the main dining area.
This year Avanti welcomed The Pizza Bandit, Farang Thai Kitchen, and Eloise American Bistro to the roster of first floor eateries, which still includes Bowl by Ko and Quiero Arepas. Downstairs also boasts a separate coffee shop called Cafe Avanti, complete with espresso drinks, tea, breakfast burritos, and morning pastries. The upstairs area remains steady with Amá Modern Mexican and Knockout Burgers.
| Photo by Linnea Covington
But back to the changes. First glance not much looks different, save for the cute coffee shop between the dining area and bar lounge. Look closer and you’ll notice furniture shifts, some brightening of the decor, and a more polished feel to the area. Food wise, two of the new spots offer something completely different than what was there before. In order to get a better understanding, we tried all three newcomers, and already we can’t wait to go back for more.
Farang Thai Kitchen
Chef Ben Whelan has been working on his Thai food concept for years, inspired by his time studying the food in Thailand and training at Bo.Lan, a Michelin-star restaurant in Bangkok. It’s not, he said, a traditional Thai place, nor is he trying to be an expert on the cuisine. More, it’s the chef’s interpretation of the foods he studied and executed while in the country. In fact, the name “farang” means foreigner, and that’s how Whelan approaches his flavorful fare at Avanti.
We can already tell the Hat Yai Chicken Nuggets ($9) will be a hit, especially with the late night crowd. After all, who doesn’t want to devour a plate of spiced fried chicken with a side of sweet and sour nam jim sauce while drinking cold beer. The small dishes menu also features Fried Brussels Fai Daeng ($8), a spicy and addictive combination of oyster sauce, peanuts, pickled chilies, cilantro and fried garlic tossed over the deep-fried vegetable.
On the entree side, make sure to order the Khao Soi ($17), a dish with history and the only one on the menu with gluten. In fact, instead of the usual rice noodles, this item has chewy egg noodles that meld wonderfully with thick curry coconut broth, succulent chicken, and fermented cabbage.
Pair the rich dish with a cool Thai Iced Tea ($4.50), it’s made with the same stuff Whelan found in Thailand and peddled by street vendors. Most things on the menu are gluten and dairy free, and can be made vegetarian as needed.
Eloise American Bistro
Chef Quincy Cherrett has put aside sandwiches (mostly) in order to transform his 22 Provisions into an American bistro. The dishes have a French and Italian bent to them, whether you’re interested in tasting the Moules Frites ($18), which are bathed in an herby white wine, garlic, and butter sauce; or want to indulge in a warming plate of Beef Bolognese ($20). The latter features house-made tagliatelle and a sauce the chef spends four to five hours making.
Okay, we may have lied about the sandwiches, you can still get one of Cherrett’s creations in the Steak Sandwich ($19), featuring cheddar, caramelized onions, chipotle aioli, arugula, and lemon. While the dish proves hearty enough, it’s not a bad idea to add on the Warm Goat Cheese Salad ($15) as well. It’s a healthy plate of fresh greens and cooked beets tossed in a sherry-mustard vinaigrette with a perfect disc of fried goat cheese.
Brussels sprouts ($11) also grace the menu here, though Cherrett’s take includes a red wine goat cheese vinaigrette and toasted walnuts. Comparatively, Eloise’s version hits far different than its neighbor’s. As an avid Caesar Salad ($11) fan I can say this one will be craved, and gets even better when ordering a side of Rosemary Fries ($7) and bearnaise aioli to dip them in. Overall, think of Eloise as a the date spot of Avanti, or as the perfect compromise when one person in the party wants steak, and the other a pizza.
The Pizza Bandit
Since 2022 wife and husband team Melina and Federico Felix have been slinging pizzas. First there was the farmers’ market in Littleton, which came after the Felixes realized good pizza in their neighborhood was needed. Almost immediately they started selling out. From there the business took to the road, popping up at breweries, dispensaries, and anywhere where they could sell pizza. Over the years The Pizza Bandit has grown a following, and, added the couple, they even have some super fans.
Now the family affair has landed in Denver and Melina is excited to flex her topping muscles and churn out even more flavors. On the new and exciting side, look for the Super Pepperoni Ranch ($18), a new pie created after customers kept asking for a side of ranch to go with their order. On it you’ll find hot honey, two kinds of pepperoni, and a drizzle of house-made ranch dressing.
Also try the Bang Bang Buffalo Chicken ($19), a masterpiece with hand-breaded and fried chicken, house-made blue cheese sauce, pickled matchstick carrots, mozzarella, jack cheese, celery, buffalo sauce, and a buttery crust.
Also be on the look out for a collaboration pie between The Pizza Bandit and Farang. The couple said they plan to call it One Night In Bangkok and feature Thai sausage and peanut sauce. Classics to the brand remain as well, including Queen Margherita ($18), Pepperoni ($17) with those perfect cupping pepperonis, the meat-laden Four Pigs ($17), and Sweet Heat ($18). Of course there’s always cheese, but, said Federico, it’s the best cheese they can make.
Aside from pizza, the eatery offers a Blue Cheese & Peach salad ($6/$12), a $10 side of the same meatballs featured on one of the pizzas, and an indulgent root beer float for $6. Don’t skip the Peach Cobbler Pizza ($17.50) either. Each bit of the dessert pie melds sweet and savory wonderfully in a dish that could be eaten at any stage of the meal. And yes, there are plenty of boxes to take leftovers home.
Visit Avanti Food & Beverage Denver starting at 7 a.m. daily. The new food vendors are open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 3200 Pecos St., Denver, avantifandb.com
