Flick Fact: Why you can't get a ‘Gondola' sandwich at, of all places, La Gondola?
Question: At any Avanti's Italian restaurant in Bloomington-Normal, its popular sandwich is its Gondola. Meanwhile, at LaGondola Spaghetti House, where one might logically expect a Gondola, its popular sandwich is instead a Torpedo. Do you know why?
Answer: It actually became a legal issue in the 1980s when Avanti's sued La Gondola (Zeller v. LaHood) over use of the term "gondola." Following legal action, La Gondola then renamed its own popular sandwich the "Torpedo."
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 9:51 PM.