Ave Mario

We visited Ave Mario in Covent Garden with family to celebrate my brother’s birthday, and overall it was a pleasant experience. Right from the start, they surprised my brother with a birthday card, which was a really thoughtful and lovely touch. The atmosphere of the restaurant was fantastic, the design was beautiful and full of small details that really catch your attention and make you want to take your time looking around. Our waitress was a lovely and kind girl; however, the service overall was a bit inconsistent. There were times when we needed assistance but couldn’t easily find her, and service wasn’t always as prompt as expected. Unfortunately, a few dishes we were hoping to order were unavailable that evening. We ordered the Caesar salad, Mafaldine al Tartufo, Cacio e Pepe con Scampi, Mafaldine ai Funghi, and the truffle pizza. While everything was nicely presented, the food itself was fairly average. For dessert, we had the tiramisu, which was brought out with a candle for my brother’s birthday. That was a very sweet and thoughtful gesture and definitely a highlight of the evening. Overall, despite some service issues and the food being quite standard, the atmosphere and birthday touches made it a good experience.

- Kim Yar -

Ave Mario is part of the Big Mamma chain of Italian restaurants, which I’ve always wanted to try, and it definitely lived up to expectations. From the moment you arrive, the restaurant is incredibly impressive—especially during the festive season. The Christmas decorations were stunning, and despite looking fairly modest from the outside, the restaurant is spread over multiple levels. The bar at the entrance is particularly eye-catching and sets the tone for the experience. We visited as a group of 12 and opted for the festive dining menu, served family-style, which was an amazing way to experience a wide variety of dishes. It was perfect for sharing and tasting lots of different flavours. The starters included burrata, arancini, beef tartare, and several other dishes, all of which were delicious. For mains, we enjoyed carbonara served dramatically in a cheese wheel, spaghetti bolognese, crab linguine, and a burrata and Parma ham pizza. Every dish was packed with flavour and beautifully presented. Dessert was just as impressive, with a selection of tiramisu, pineapple and cream, and panna cotta—the panna cotta in particular was incredible. Even the bathrooms stood out, with funky neon lighting and mirrored walls adding to the restaurant’s bold and playful vibe. Overall, Ave Mario delivered an unforgettable dining experience, and it’s definitely a restaurant I’d return to for an incredible Italian meal.

- Tanya Malik -

We visited Ave Mario on a Sunday evening in September, and overall it was a really enjoyable experience in a place that’s clearly above average. The moment you walk in, the atmosphere is a “wow”: the bold black-and-white interior, warm lights, red velvet seating, neon details, and especially the dramatic central bar packed with bottles. It’s lively, fun, and feels like a special night out. The food was generally very good too — the truffle pasta was rich and comforting, and the flavours were strong. Service stayed friendly and professional even though it was busy. For anyone who is curious about the cost, we paid around £75 in total. I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons: the seating is quite tight (tables are very close, so it can feel a bit cramped when it’s full), and our pizza came to the table a bit cooler than it should have been. Since it was a busy Sunday evening, maybe it was prepared a little earlier or waited before being served, but pizza really needs to arrive hot. Bruschetta was also good. One more improvement to consider: I notice glasswares in places like this — we had Spiegelau glasses (good quality bu t full of scratches), but I personally prefer the more “crystal” feel of some other premium brands like Pasabahce Nude collection. On the positive side, the wine was very good and I’d recommend ordering a bottle if you go — it matched the food nicely and made the evening better. If you’re checking prices, the bottle option felt like the better choice compared to just having a glass if you want to spend some time inside.

- Serdar Evyapan -