Ave Mario in City of London, Westminster

Great food and service but pricing chutzpah! There is a 13.5% service charge added. The next screen asks you to reward your server-again- and then they add a 99p “checkout fee”. Unacceptable! Insist on paying in person not with the QR code.

Not worth the Money. So we came for dinner before heading out to the theatre, and my partner has been really excited about this place. The place was busy when we arrived but not rammed. we were shown to a table next to the wall and as I sat down I was already in discomfort, although not a larger individual, I found myself pressed against the wall and struggling to find a way to sit comfortably as the seat curved as it go to the isle and was rather small. The setting of the restaurant was that designed for Instagram and this appears to be the entire approach of the restaurant. I have to say here I could not fault the server, she was the right level of attentive, she was obviously trained in subtle upselling which says to me on the off set that she would provide a good service. Unfortunately it was down hill from here as we get into the food. For starters it was Brie to share, calamari and focaccia. When ordering Brie I , and I think most people would expect a whole Brie. Not one that’s been cut in half down the middle and stuffed into a ramekin to give the illusion it’s a whole Brie. (it is actually stated in small print that it is only half on the menu.) And credit where credit is due it did have interesting flavours with the walnut. Focaccia was lovely, just basics done right. The calamari, well it arrived on a metal serving dish which I’ve only ever seen on a hot pass when waiting for the chef to compose and present the dish. and my first thoughts were, where is the rest of it? Am I expected to plate this up myself? On top of this it was rubbery and most of the coating had come off that I actually referred to it as fried ends to my partner. The main and the reason my partner wanted to come to this restaurant the carbonara for two served in a cheese wheel, I was also excited for this and it appeared to be a good bit of showmanship. However when it arrived we were left waiting as there just wasn’t enough room for it to be served in the small walkways between tables. And when it came and was served into, what’s becoming a theme with the restaurant, two small portions. And as I was eating the Carbonara, the taste was off and I couldn’t get over the really starchy texture of the pasta, it was past overcooked and for an Italian restaurant I was shocked. Even my glass of mediocre Sauvignon Blanc couldn’t save me this time. It was safe to say we did not stay for desert although looking at other’s this appeared to be more Instagram stunts, and when we got home I found myself cooking anyway as we were both starving. I was actually looking for a fast food restaurant as I was so hungry only a couple hours after. My last point I have left as I wasn’t sure where to put it in, but every plate we were served expect one (and the metal serving dish) was chipped. I don’t know if the industry has changed but you don’t serve food on chipped plates because if and when someone cuts themselves on it, you have blood contamination, and liability for the injury. And it’s not just customers I’m talking about here it’s the people who work for you as well. In short this is very much just an Instagram stunt, The food leaves a lot to be desired and you hungry. This review is breakdown as such: Food- purely the food and portions Service- The server and presentation of food Atmosphere- The vibe of the restaurant, the furnishing ect. I can’t remember the name of the server for the life of me but all I can say is that she is the reason it was not 1 star across the board. I ended up playing just shy of £150 for this displeasure. If you like myself like carbonara go somewhere else.

The carbonara was awful, bad taste and the margarita pizza very poor quality. We were expecting an exceptional food experience based on the reviews but we were very disappointed with the quality of food. Service was very good.

Lovely decoration and very ‘instagrammable’ however food is much below average. We had pizza and it barely had any tomato sauce, mozzarella or prosciutto on it. It was basically dry bread with a lot of rucola on it! It’s very expensive for what it is. Service charge is 13.25% which is highest I’ve ever seen it in London. 2 of the 4 ladies toilets were out of order and smelly. Would not recommend.

Our friends took us out for dinner here. Being Italian food lovers, we absolutely loved the place. The pasta was so fresh and the sauces on them were so delicious. Would definitely visit this place again.

The food was ok. Plates were cracked and broken. No new serviette for dessert. Toilets dirty, stinks and no toilet paper.

Food and service were great! I strongly suggest booking a table in advance. The restaurant good reputation makes sense!

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday. The food was delicious - best pasta I’ve had. The service was excellent. Would recommend and will definitely be coming back. 5/5 ⭐️😊

Just a lovely experience all round!

You will only like this place if you love Instagram. The food is shockingly terrible with terrible service. The guy had such an attitude it honestly left a bad taste in my mouth. Pushy up selling on bottles of water. I wonder if my server had shares in focaccia as he wanted me to get three portions for three people. A awkward table bang in the middle of the restaurant with a cheap swivel chair. Toilets were out of order, which is totally unacceptable.Their famous lemon pie would be better used to smash a window it was that hard. Genuinely awful. Don't book here 🤢

Was unsure if Ave Mario would live up to the hype and that it would just be an 'Insta' hot-spot. However, I was very sorely mistaken. Excellent food and fabulous ambience and atmosphere at a competitively priced central London location. The Carpaccio, Bresaola & Tiramisu were AMAZING!

Amazing food and amazing service! Worth every penny ❤️

A lovely experience at this beautiful Italian restaurant, service & food were top quality! Grazie Mille :)

Excellent experience in Covent Garden an Italian but not the traditional setting- if you like quirky with a good atmosphere and fantastic food you can’t go wrong, sister restaurant off Oxford Street also great

Ave Mario is a true gem! From the moment you walk in, the vibrant atmosphere and stylish decor set the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. The food is nothing short of spectacular – every dish bursts with flavor and is beautifully presented. The hosting team is warm, attentive, and genuinely ensures you feel taken care of throughout your visit. Whether you're there for a casual meal or a special occasion, Ave Mario delivers excellence in every aspect. Highly recommend!

Amazing atmosphere, as if I was in Italy!!

Amazing food, great service and gorgeous interior!

lovely food - great meal out would recommend!

Reservation taken for lunch service. Very friendly welcome with a smile and good humor, plus the restaurant is magnificent. We had the arancini and the camembert as a starter, it was very good and the carbo to share were good but lacked a little seasoning for my taste. Remember to book

Although booking a table, still had to wait outside in the cold. Food was delicious: we had the bruschetta fondue e fungi with and the burrata con papa al pomodoro. Followed by the pasta granchio e limone (crab) and pasta so dingo (creamy mushroom) all was delicious. We sat upstairs which in my opinion was the best atmosphere. Walking down three flights to go to the toilet- you could see the other areas. Huge queue for the toilet and two ladies were out of order. Lemon pie for desert was huge! Definitely one for sharing. Overall, nice meal, but it was a shame that every plate/ bowl we got had several large chips. Appreciate that this may of been the vibe they were going for. But, it wasn’t pleasant eating everything off a chipped dish.

Everything was perfect!!! The english waiter is pure kindness, such a great person! We’ll come back again. Thanks for your attention!

Gloria's in Shoreditch is a far better experience. Food here was awful. Worst pizza I've ever seen, let alone eaten. Pasta far too 'al dente'. Bar looked nice, but that isn't enough for a restaurant to be deemed as good. Go ahead, try it, but just don't say you were never warned!

Very very very good food staff and experience!

Fantastic food and beautiful interior

The food and decor were great, however the service was poor. The staff hardly looked at you when talking and it definitely was not service with a smile. Disappointed

Unfortunately overrated and not living up to our expectations. Dirty glasses and the staff were a bit ignorant. Pizza was ok but not great. Loud and stressful environment. There are better places!

Very good dishes. Great atmosphere. I highly recommend this restaurant. Thank you Mochine 👌🏼and all the very helpful staff.

This place was awesome in every way! We had high expectations based on prior research and they were exceeded across the board.

Food was great. Carpaccio was awesome. Drinks were good too

Wonderful tasty dishes and Arancini balls with carbonara sauce Amazing Great service Friendly staff Great atmosphere

Lovely Italian with an extensive bar selection!

We came to celebrate the new year in this famous and highly rated restaurant only to be greatly disappointed. We had to opt for the set menu (one appetizer and a main course and a dessert); The place (expectingly was crowded) and lively; but it was too crowded for the service to be timely. The waitress was nice but was mostly not there to be seen after the initial order; The food quality and taste was much lower than our expectations - basically a regular food that can be had any where else including the potato balls, the pizza and tiramisu. The price we paid absolutely did not match the expected quality of the experience.

Amazing, friendly service from Antonia and Adriana.

food was divine and antonia was an amazing server

One of a kind - Managed to get a spot for dinner on Sunday and the service did not disappoint, very friendly and accommodating despite it being very busy (as usual). Food was good and the highlight of the evening was definitely their delicious tiramisu by the scoop, a must try! The location and settings are definitely worth it with their unique decor all throughout their different seating areas and toilets. Recommend booking plenty of time in advance to secure a spot as it is one of the most popular places in central London.

We hadn't booked and the reception took our number to send us a message when a table became available and in less than an hour it was done so pretty cool! Then the kitchen absolutely nothing to complain about! It was excellent! My friend who is Italian found all the flavors of Italy in the dishes! Waiters who listen, come and refill your glasses when the glasses are empty, etc., ask if everything is going well, so top-notch service! Small downside at the end the waiter kindly told us that we had to vacate the table in 10 minutes and we didn't really appreciate being chased away :/ (we had been there for 1h30) That's it, but otherwise a perfect one!

Super fun vibe and great service 👌💗💗💗 Would love more vegan options 👀

The food was good. I went for the crab linguine and ordered and amaretto sour. Both lovely. If i had to offer a view - I did think the linguine could have had a bit more crab. No photos of the food - sorrie x

We loved this. Sat at the pass in the lower level watching the Chef’s cook. Brilliant.

antonia and adriana served us - they were amazing for my sisters birthday!! lemon meringue pie was to die for - amazing

Eugenio was a 10 out of 10 incredible server. The restaurant was lovely, the atmosphere was great, the food was great. We got treated really well. Highly recommend this place. Manager's are all amazing, Thanks to Giamaria

*Don’t go there for the New Year’s Eve!* Reserved a table for three a couple weeks in advance (2022) - didn’t know there would be a different and extremely expensive menu especially for this evening, which include a 3 course meal (we wanted a few dishes to share), and doesn’t include drinks. When confronted about it, the staff said we can go but we need to pay a fine (as agreed when reserved the table). The problem was it didn’t specify that the menu would be different and the prices would be that high, at the end we didn’t pay the fine after a lot of arguing. If not for this occasion it’s an overall good restaurant, quite pricy but good food.

Perfect ! I had already experienced Circolo Popolare (one of their restaurants) and this one was just as great! The staff are adorable and super helpful! The atmosphere is great (music, light, decoration, etc.)! The food is perfect! Lots of choice, lots of varieties! We shared the carbonara duo as well as a pizza and it was super good! I highly recommend this restaurant, especially for the evening! ⚠️ YOU MUST RESERVE AT LEAST 1 WEEK IN ADVANCE ⚠️

Amazing food, atmosphere and service. Definitely recommend the lemon meringue tart as a dessert!

Great food, really good value for money. However the service was incredibly slow and uncaring, the toilets are tiny and in our visit the men's was flooded with pee all over the floor.

Incredible truffle pizza, cocktails and atmosphere. Need to visit again! There was a queue so turn up slightly early for your booking.

This review is not based on going to the restaurant, but how they handled an issue I ran into with my reservation. Long story short, I contacted customer service about the reservation and they immediately responded and resolved the problem. Great customer service goes a long way and I am very appreciative of how responsive they were.

Great atmosphere. Excellent for groups and families a like. Just a few things that could be improved. The calamari was poor, especially in contrast to the burrata (wow). Pizza’s weren’t really that good honestly, but our children’s pasta dishes tasted really great. Service was spot on by most, but 1 person let it down. Not necessarily the restaurants fault. Would return with a group, otherwise not sure. Oh, don’t have the Sicilian white (2nd on menu)… described as ‘stunning’. It certainly was not.

Super nice restaurant and the food was also very tasty. We were here last evening and are a little sad that we won't be able to go there again. A clear recommendation 👍

Was eating our starter when they brought out our main course. Felt rushed. Was told the kitchen was closing? This was at 16:25?

Mohcine was a lovely host and very attentive! We had a lovely family lunch 🩷

We came for our anniversary and it was perfect start to finish. The staff were perfect and so quick the food was 10/10 and our waiter Euigino was perfect

Literally the coolest restaurant ever!

Possibly the best pasta I have eaten in london and an amazing setting, I would advise booking as it was totally booked the day we ate there

At the top! Great service, pleasant and efficient. Selina was adorable! Very trendy setting and atmosphere. In terms of dishes, there are no false notes. We enjoyed the carbonara pasta dish, truffle pasta, pistachio profiteroles, tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Thank you for this superb evening in the heart of Covent Garden ❤️

Charming place. The waiters were very nice, especially my colleague from Almeria.

We visited on a Sunday and luckily we made a reservation in advance, because this restaurant was continuously packed. There was a queue outside. We were seated on the first floor luckily and not on the other floors. The restaurant does look like on the pictures, so definetly social media worthy haha. The servers were friendly and quick. The food was delicious as well. We ordered: Burrata pappa al pomodoro, mortadella with benefits (pizza), Tagliarini Granchio e Limone (pasta with crab), Mafaldine Al Tartufo (pasta with truffle), homemade lemonade and a Coco Loco (mocktail). This was quite alot for just 2 people but we managed to finish it 😂 I really like the colorful interior. We were placed on the table on the left and it was a bit cramped compared to the tables in the middle. Nontheless; im happy we could try out this restaurant!

Unfortunately, I have to give a negative review of this establishment. My family and I arrived at 4pm to put our names on the waitlist list for seating. The hostess informed us that the wait would be approximately 1 and 1/2 hour to be seated. When I returned to check on my place on the list over an hour later the hostess informed me that seating would be difficult and because she had a few alterations to reservations she was unsure of when we would be seated. I specifically asked “hours?” She then informed me that she didn’t know. While excited to visit this establishment I am utterly disappointed at the level of service provided not only to mention the inability to service people as indicated on the website. This restaurant should NOT advertise that they take walk-ins and should in fact make clear indications that they are reservation only. The pure lack of professionalism is not only disappointing but makes me regret my attempt to patronise this business.

Wow, wow, wow. What a fantastic tent this is. The food is fantastically delicious. My mother and I are both great fans of Italian cuisine, so we were pleasantly surprised at Ave Mario. I took the homemade lemonade. It was nice and sour, but made from fresh lemons, you could taste it. We had the Arancini as a starter and shared two main courses: polpette and the pasta al funghi. At the polpette we asked for pasta as a side dish and even this “simple pasta” was bellissima! This is highly recommended!

Simply fantastic, will come back again

Very nice place! Great atmosphere and very pleasant service. The dishes were excellent ✅

I would not recommend this place, as there is no guarantee you will get a reservation. I "booked" a table for two more than a month in advance, but never received an email confirmation. I tried to phone them, but they conveniently no longer have a phone. A deep dive revealed they had one, but it has been disconnected. If you do go and try to explain yourself to staff, you are just turned away. Apparently, I'm not the only one who fell victim to the Christmas Holiday cash-grab by Ave Maria restaurant this year, since I see someone else had the exact same experience. Honestly, don't bother. There are more peaceful, lovely, Italian restaurant in the area, that don't make you jump through hoops. To the management: When you read this, know this. There is no gift cards or false apology you can offer me which will undo the fact that you ruined our evening at the theatre. This review stands as a testament to how poorly you treat your potential new customers. I'm glad your front desk staff turned us away since I probably wouldn't have like your establishment anyway. From the other reviews, I can guess the experience was likely to be luke warm and overpriced.

Brilliant food and vibes, and also kids / family friendly

Leng waitress on Friday nights, 10/10 atmosphere

I LOVE big Mamma restaurants. They always have great food, tasty drinks, good service and a fun, lively atmosphere. Ave Mario did not disappoint. First- be sure to make a reservation- two weeks in advance to be safe. They are always busy according to locals. Their salads are HUGE and meant to be shared. We loved the carbonara. They did a big cheese wheel presentation at the table- yum!! So delicious. End your meal with some pistachio liqueur. Be sure to check out the fun bathrooms downstairs

The most beautiful, coolest and most perfect restaurant I have EVER been to. TOP service. Rarely if ever experienced like this. We were thrilled for days. The different floors. Even the toilet blew me away. Pure Italy and even better.

Vibe: amazing! Food: delicious! Service: friendly and efficient

Everything was perfect except the toilets but I recommend 100 percent

Awesome food. Pretty rude staff for no apparent reason

I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying brunch here, relishing the exquisite Italian food. The ambience was delightful, and the service was good. I’ve sat on the third floor, but I look forward to experiencing the charm of the first floor on my next visit.

Wonderful experience!! Delicous dishes and the service was also very nice ;)

Delicious Pizza and outstanding Italian Ambiente!

Expectations vs reality. Pros: great interior, beautiful details and tableware. Cons: mediocre food, medeterenian salad was of the most boring salads in my life, pasta with crab was good, but don’t expect much of crab meat - it’s just a punch on top. Toilets are kind of fun and fancy, but half of cabins were out of order and the smell in the toilet was terrible and super strong what you could feel even in the dining area. In general, I wouldn’t come again.

The pizza was the worst pizza I've ever had, and the more I ate the pasta, the greasier it became so I couldn't eat it all. Also, be careful because you have to pay for water.

The waiters are stressful and kicked us out because we apparently took too long... The food is good but nothing more, there are better Italian restaurants. Also note that you have to pay for the service which was £10 for a £70 meal.

Pros: Pistachio Sundae was best + Carpaccino di Manzo al Tartufo tasted good and different + La Gran Carbonara was tasty + Basil Instinct was really good + Amore Piccante was good and spicy Cons: -

Very nice. Fast, pleasant service. Thanks 👍🏻

Super cute spot for delicious food

Trendy restaurant, super good 🍕 and delicious truffle pasta. Preceded by tasty moc/cocktail. I highly recommend.

Amazing place perhaps the best Italian food in london here Unique and vibrant seating options, mohamed at the Recpetion was very kind and helpful thank you for the experience

Lorenza was fantastic! Food excellent 👌🏻

Prosecco glasses would be lovely 🤩

Wonderful place with excellent interior and service. Special Salut to Silvlo for top stars management

Average food, poor service, overpriced

Delicious food and very friendly service, definitely a must!

Very nice place. The staff is super friendly and very nice. Super good food.

The overall experience was amazing! The place is very stylish. And the service is incredible!!!

We happened to stumble into this place and it did not disappoint! Don’t be fooled the space is huge and vibrant. We ordered the carbonara for 2 and a margherita pizza and it was absolutely delicious! The carbonara was amazing!!! Will definitely come back again!!

Great restaurant and fairly priced for what you get. Really unique place, definitely reccomend it.

Amazing restaurant. We were lucky to sit up front. So bright and cheerful. The side booths are quite tight if you have a coat and bags. Food was incredible. Excellent Prosecco and soft drink options. The lemonade was perfect. Book in advance. Very busy!

Great place. Great food. Totally recommend!

The food was incredibly delicious and the atmosphere is amazing. We spilled a drink and had to pay for a new one which is understandable. However, it would have been perfect if the spilled drink was comped. Also the portion was just the tiniest bit too small. It may just be because I'm american but that's what I'm used to.

The food is delicious, with a great selection of dishes and a welcoming staff. However, the seating policy could use some improvement. Even with plenty of empty tables, they seem reluctant to accommodate walk-ins, which can be frustrating. That said, if you manage to get a table, the experience is definitely worth it!

Surprise surprise authentic Italien food…🚀

They lost our dinner reservation so we weren't able to go in the end. Quite disappointed at the lack of any remedy at the door

Not enough food for 14 of us we all had the sharing set menu onlyThree pizzas a couple of plates of plaster few dessert NOT ENOUGH food

One of the best of the best Italian restaurants I tried

Sadly it was disappointing, our starters and mains were poor but the dessert was good. Some of the servers were friendly, some less so. Witnessed a couple of the staff arguing with each other. The toilets were very dirty. The restaurant is looking very tired on the top floor where we were seated, it looks better on the other two floors. The extra fee for paying via app at bigmammagroup that's recently been in the news is also a negative but thankfully I was able to pay the regular way on the day. But overall very poor for this price point.

Amazing atmosphere and incredible food. Staff very welcoming

A very nice evening. Top service by Antonia ! Great locatin ...