Ave Mario in City of London, Westminster

Had nicely cooked pasta that was flavorful. That was the only high-ish point. Service was below average. There is no "tending" to the customer. They want this to be like cafeteria service in terms of time/effort invested by waitstaff yet somehow feel justified in assessing a 13.5% service charge. Had to flag down waiter to ask for everything as he didn't bother to check in once, even after our dinners were dropped off. Ordered two large pours of wine but got just an average pour (based on our observations of other glasses we watched being poured as we were seated near the bar). Couldn't locate our waiter to ask him to check on this. We were finally able to flag him down to get our bill. Somehow it didn't seem surprising that we were charged for an extra bottle of sparkling water. Sorting this out took more time as, again, our waiter seemed to vanish. Who handles the training at this place? Can't imagine it will last long with service like this. No one wants to pay to be ignored.

Really nice traditional Italian food and reasonably priced for central London! Interior is nice and service is quick and friendly.

Excellent food and service for a bank holiday lunch with my daughter!

Good service by Abhishek 👍😊 Thanks for delicious Food.

Amazing food, incredible service and impressive bathroom. I would really recommend and would definitely go again.

The food was okay, but not outstanding. I think it's too expensive for what you get. The ambiance is nice. Service is also okay. The cocktails were very tasty. But overall, the value for money wasn't right for us.

Good service received by abhishek & food was excellent

Our first time dining here. Loved the atmosphere. Food was lovely and great service from Kumar🥰🫠

Amazing meal 👌🏼 We sat near the kitchen right downstairs at the back of the restaurant, fab atmosphere, equally matched by the standard of the food. Received kind & friendly service by abhishek

This food was outstanding, I've never had the best pizza in my life. Specially thanks to Abhishek kumar for his kind hospitality & service

This food was outstanding, I’ve never had the best pizza in my life. Specially thanks to Abhishek kumar for his kind hospitality & service

Great private space for a party and amazing service from Suzanna.

Had a lovely dinner, very generous portions and our waitress Suzanna was amazing. Toilets visually overwhelming, needed a lie down after using

Good service, helpful Abhishek kumar

Everything was fabulous and specially the waiter Abhishak Kumar he was one of the best waiters I ever met his service is amazing🌸

I Love this place. Zuza was absolutely wonderful! She greeted us with a warm smile and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Her attention to detail and friendly attitude really made our evening special.

Everything was great—the service was excellent, and the food tasted good and came out hot and timely. The atmosphere was also wonderful & the guy abhishek was very calm & friendly all the time

Absolutely delicious meal and Suzanna was wonderful looking after us. Would 100% recommend

Quirky decor which I loved. Friendly staff. Wish the olives were pitted to make it easier to eat but guess that’s the restaurant’s choice. Focaccia a bit on the drier side. The truffle pasta- Mafaldine Al Tartufo was the best! I could slurp the sauce. Tiramisu was kinda underwhelming, too much cocoa dust and didn’t have the kick from the coffee, kinda bland and creamy. I had the Basil b*tch cocktail (not pictured) and it was amazing! This hasn’t affected my rating as one could get by without this, but one thing I’d like to comment on were the loos. There is only one shared toilet with a very small number of cubicles for a large restaurant and were not very clean.

I went here for the last weekend . they had to much customized cocktails and dishes that were yummy. I highly recommend visiting here but special shout out for Abhisekh . He is very kind and gentle person he makes our day very special thank you .😇

The food was outstanding, I’ve never had the best pizza & pasta in my life and the Lemonade was so refreshing. thanks to KUMAR for his kind hospitality & service

What a fab restaurant - wonderful food - set menu - such amazing choices - Susannah was incredible ! Superb friends helpful service ! A very special meal Thankyou

Our go to place when we are craving for some Italian food! Love the truffle pizza here 🥰

Amazing service tonight. Despite it being a very busy Friday evening the team was very accommodating. I didn't get the servers' names, unfortunately, but both the gent and lady serving me were very hospitable. My third Big Mamma restaurant and I'm sure I'll be back again.

Simply a wonderful dining experience at Ave Mario. A friendly staff, excellent vibe, and delicious food. The pork dish that I ordered was to die for. It was soft, tender, & full of flavors. The potatoes that were included were like candy. - Andrew

Excellent structure, with attention to detail, which offers a high quality service with traditional Italian cuisine, from starters to main courses, up to pizzas, all of excellent workmanship. While waiting to order, I appreciated a Margarita with a particular taste, thanks to the original salty but spicy edge. Netflix pizza, sex bombettes and tiramisu are recommended. The staff were courteous and professional. If you are in the area and want to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, I highly recommend "AVE MARIO". Compliments. ♥️🇮🇹

Great experience, great food. Would come again .

The food was Absolutely awful. We ordered 3 starters to share. The Focaccini della Casa, is meant to be warm, fluffy texture infused with aromatic herbs and olive oil. Honestly it was solid and you could easily have broken your teeth on it. We also ordered the Strachino Frito which were awful and had no cheese inside The mains were RAVIOLI which was 5 ravioli swimming in a bowl of white cream We also ordered TAGLIARINI which must have been say somewhere for a while as the top was congealed. We also had 2 margarita pizzas which were ok. The issue was since that was the best and only edible part we shared them Added to the really poor quality food we ordered Coke zeros which were priced at £4.50 each and were presented with 200 mL bottles. At that price, you’d hope to get a can of Coke or at least 300 mL. The overall bill came to just on the £200 which included £24 service charge. I asked for this to be removed and can only say this was probably one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in a very long time. It can’t be the fault of the staff, but the owners and chef need to seriously look at themselves

There was a hair in my food, all the food came cold and the waiters seemed confused whose table to serve certain food to. It was very unorganised and a horrible experience. The food wasn't great, caviar was nice but not worth the time and money. Such a shame.

Susanna’s was brilliant and made the evening so much fun! The food was brilliant

Suzanna and food was AMAZING. BEST NIGHT EVER

Great in everything and in every detail

A menu with pizzas, pasta, antipasti... Special mention to our waitress who was very friendly and helpful.

All very good with quality products

Susanna was amazing. Food was fabulous

Incredible food and service. Suzanna and team were fantastic!

Brilliant! Susanna was great host!

The overall quality of the food was outstanding. However, the service left something to be desired. We didn’t order any drinks, but two glasses of lemonade were brought to the table. In the end, one lemonade was added to the bill. When I mentioned this to the server, they simply told us to keep it, which meant we had to pay for a drink we didn’t ask for. Unfortunately, one of my companions cannot drink carbonated beverages, so I was the only one who could have it. In most restaurants, this would have been a disappointing experience. But in this case, the food was so exceptional that it made up for the service. That’s why I still gave a 5-star rating. The flavors themselves are familiar—there’s nothing exotic or surprising, as the ingredients are quite common. But the balance of the dishes and the way the natural flavors were brought out was impressive. If you’re looking for something new or bold, this might not be the right place. But if you appreciate food that elevates simple ingredients through skillful execution, I highly recommend it.

Delicious food, great atmosphere, really cool decor and the staff are always super friendly! I’ve eaten here many times now and it’s always a great experience. The restaurant is so much bigger than you think, there are so many seating areas on different levels. It’s one of my favourite restaurants to visit when I’m in London, and I will always keep coming back! The perfect spot for a nice meal, or if you’re celebrating something. Highly recommend, everything is delicious ☺️ Also, make sure you visit the toilets before you leave.. if you know you know 🙈

Vibes and service top notch but the food was a massive let down. We ordered la gran carbonara (£19pp) but it was about a half the size we were expecting (have been bigger kids portions), had barely any guanciale and lacked flavour. Shame as we were expecting big things having read the reviews on here. The rest of the food on other tables looked nice though, was quite jealous.

Everything was great, took a little a bit more then usual to bring the food :) but great service and the best Italian food you can find in london!

Everything perfect, amazing pizzas

I made a reservation online and the servers were friendly! Truffle pasta, carbonara pasta, margherita pizza, etc. were all very delicious!

Delicious food and great atmosphere. We were back again to have a a nice lunch before the show.

Wonderful decor, atmosphere, perfect music blend and volume, and of course, the food was exceptional. We had a family-style meal for 8 ppl and the spread was varied, fresh, perfectly cooked and the right quantities. Really great experience overall and a lovely restaurant in Covent Garden. Absolutely worth a visit.

First of our waitress Selina was amazing. Good food, nice drinks and super friendly and attentive service. It was my friend’s birthday, at the end of our dinner the staff surprised us with a bday tiramisu and loud and joyful happpy birthday song. We had such a lovely time. It was worth waiting the 10 min outside in the cold. Thank you guys, you really made our birthday dinner memorable!

Amazing service and food will come back again!!

Amazing atmosphere. The vibes and drinks are the highlight. The food is not.

Excellent place, very well attended by Federica, very good food, we will return!!!

Reece was absolutely amazing! He done great thank you so much!!! Xx

We had a very good time. It felt like we were in Italy

Giuseppe was a top servant - legend! Food was lovely also

Reece was an absolute joy!! He made our entire experience from sitting down until leaving!! So chatty and friendly and made our experience even greater with a private magic show! Will definitely be back!!

Awesome food great service and we bring the whiskey 😉

Really well done food and the drinks were really good also. Quick service and the toilets felt like a party

We were so excited to try Ave Mario after being gifted a gift card. In retrospect we would have preferred the cash value. Firstly we were seated in the basement directly next to the toilets that reeked of sewage. It is interesting to see similar reviews from many months ago, clearly with no action. After waiting about 10 minutes, we were finally seen by a waiter who then kindly moved us to another table as he seemed to be aware this was an ongoing problem. After ordering we waited another half an hour for a simple steak and pizza only to find the steak was burnt, small, chewy and 1/3 fat for a whopping £36! We waited another 15 minutes for tiramisu and were only served after having to remind someone. Genuinely very disappointed with the quality of the food and service, and will not be recommending others to come.

Delicious and authentic dishes!! Staff Reece is professional and very friendly. We’re impressed by the service he provided.

The food was average. The service wasn’t good at all. Had to wait 10-15 minutes each time to call the waiter. The waiter was not rude but the service was slow. We were also given a small table with not comfortable seating Inspite asking for a good table. They did not take our jackets and the seats assigned were not big enough to keep jackets while you sit, once we asked to change the location it took them another 10 minutes. Later the food was very very average, truffle pizza didn’t have any truffle on it, the other pastas were cold. The drink was filled with ice and no drink. The other restaurants of the same group are way better. They drastically should improve their services. While paying as well, I asked to remove the service charge, they didn’t bring me a new bill or tell me to pay via QR code for 10-15 minutes until I asked again. Then they are charging you 1-2 pounds are transactions fee when paying via their QR code, it was a UK bank debit card and still pay the extra 1-2 pounds? I had come there for an occasion celebrating anniversary. If they take this information while booking, why don’t they do anything special then? No complimentary dessert, no happy anniversary wish, no candles or special service. Absolute basic, rather even worse than other tables.

Amazing food and environment! The Focaccia was delicious, as well as the truffle pasta. Specially appreciated on the service from Reece, he was very patient and helpful.

Very well served by Frederica! Smiling and caring! We had a great time with good pizzas for a first evening in London. I recommend you!

Valentina did a very good service!

Valentina, os wordenful waiterness!!!Loved the restaurant

Valentina looked after us and did a very good service. Everything was good

Valentina did a perfect service and was very funny

Frederick was super helpful and gave some great recommendations!

Lovely food ! Lovely staff! Especially lorenza who served us

Frederica was great. Kind and quick service.

Excellent food and super staff, especially Valentina who was kind and helpful.

Thank you Valentina, impeccable service and dishes!!!

We had dinner at this beautiful restaurant to celebrate Riccardo's birthday. The food is very Italian and excellent! Valentina served us and recommended it to me and I appreciated it. And very kindly without asking, she brought the candle to celebrate Riccardo..... not everyone has this kind of attention! TOP VALENTINA!

Lovely meal - food was delicious and quick. Excellent service from Valentina- thank you!

Excellent place, attention to detail. Really good and quality food. Special mention goes to Valentina, who made us feel at home. Definitely a must try when in London!

Our lovely server Federica was amazing!!!

Last night I had dinner here and Valentina's service was excellent, friendly and precise! Thanks for everything, I will definitely be back

Loved the food, friendly staff, a little bit on the pricey side, portions could be a bit bigger, but enjoyed and would go again

Food is just ok. Service charge is almost 14% added to bill but service is not even close to 5% and it's reason i'm not gonna go back. Carpaccio was very good. Truffle pasta and meringue too.

Near Convent Garden, great place with friendly and attentive staff. Good pizza and also the pasta alla nerano.

Such a lovely birthday treat, so attentive, delicious food and great customer service

Lovely food, staff are brilliant Will definitely come back

10 out of 10 Experience! Food, drinks, service, the carpaccio, pork and spinach skewers and THE lemon pie were all incredible!

We booked this place to celebrate my birthday and it was a great choice as the food, team, atmosphere and all together were absolutely great. Thank you for the team to be so friendly, kind and sweet xx 💕

The service was fantastic, especially Selena. She was attentive, friendly, and made our evening extra special. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. Looking forward to going back again soon.

Thanks to Giuseppe and Federica for the best service !

13.5% gratuity was included in the bill. Pizza was great tho

Food was amazing, staff very friendly. Atmosphere was on point and restaurant was spotless which is always a massive must for me. Would highly recommend to friends and family

Fire vibes, fire food, fire staff. Would recommend.

Best waiters joe and dave, had a blast celebrating our friend’s birthday. Perfect night

Really great service and the food tasted fresh and delicious. Very accommodating for food allergies and dietary requirements. Would highly recommend.

So pleased we chose here. Beautiful setting, wonderful service and amazing food 💯

Absolutely phenomenal. From the service to the food I couldn't fault a thing. Will definitely be back.

Food was pretty good however the service from the staff was not very good. I had a reservation and I was waiting outside the door in the queue to meet the hostess. When she came out the door she completely ignored me and spoke to the person next to me who wasn’t even dining at the restaurant. My friend had to ask 2 different waitresses to take her drink order and when the waitress got her food order wrong, the waitress became combative and condescending. Disappointing service from what could have been a nice dining experience. Will try other locations but won’t be back to this one.

Carbonara was outstanding, every bit as good as you’d get in Italy (and I was there for 2 weeks on vacation!)

Excellent food fantastic service

Brillaint service and even better food and drinks

Vibe is excellent, Food very good

This place feels like a real Italian restaurant, with great design and a strong Italian vibe. The burrata (8/10) and the pizza (8.5/10) were the best parts. Everything else was good-fresh and authentic- but not outstanding. The lemon pie was interesting, with a tall layer of Italian meringue on top. Overall, it's a nice spot to visit.

Went in on a Wednesday,absolutely packed, for a birthday dinner just my husband and I, lovely atmosphere absolutely loved the decor, seating is good, but a bit tight.. Food came quickly.. Food was decent.. We had appetisers a Margherita pizza not at all impressed, definitely lacked flavour, some salad which again was decent.. portions for it quite small.. We had a sirloin which was great and the pancetta pork fillet which was also good.. For desert we had Tiramisu which was OK, but not impressive, cocktails very good. Maybe if we chose different food it would have been better. Staff was very nice and the service was good.Prices were OK, no complaints.. So all in all not sure if it is worth the hype but worth trying

First time here. Wednesday 2pm for a late lunch so got in without reservation. Service was friendly and fast. Me and my colleague ordered a pizza each (16 and 17 quid respectively). Unfortunately, I've had better pizzas from M&S out of a box. Both our pies were rubbery and chewy. Like trying to eat a piece of neoprene. I left half of mine. Maybe I just got a bad example but, I tell you, if this place had been on a Naples back street it would have been empty.

Great resturant and lovely staff

Food was so great. Nice atmosphere!