I would likely rate this place a 3.5. Positives- convenient free parking garage directly beside/behind Ava. Free parking is unheard especially as close to the place you're going. The lobster fettuccine was exceptional. Lots of flavor and lots of lobster. The old fashioned was delicious. Not too sweet. And the soda bread was delicious. The cons- the restaurant must have been having A/C issues. Our entire party was sweating our entire meal. It was so uncomfortable. There was 1 floor A/C, that the temperature read 80 the entire time we were there (over 2 hours) and there's a pizza fire oven on top of it. No clue if this was the norm, but there wasn't even an acknowledgment from anyone about the heat, no additional fans or anything. Our waitress was friendly, but we probably would have left atleast 30 minutes earlier but she disappeared. I appreciate allowing the patrons to not be interrupted, but it was like we were forgotten about. Overall, I'd give it another try. Maybe sit outside where it was actually cooler (which is crazy because it was a 90+ degree day today), maybe try the pizza. read more

Ava - Lobster fettuccine - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I took my family there to celebrate a big birthday. As we walked in everything seemed clean and fairly nice. Although the restaurant was empty so that as a bit alarming at 7pm dinner time. The service was incredibly slow even though the restaurant was almost completely empty. Food was incredibly over priced for the taste and quality. But that wasn't what made me come back and write this. About an hour after getting home every single person in our party of 6 got incredibly sick from the food. This ruined our birthday celebration completely. None of us were pleased with what we were served especially after $300 bill. We expected much better. read more

I don't usually like to leave negative reviews, but this experience just didn't live up to the price. The appetizers were actually really good , but the entrées were lukewarm, and they just didn't come together well. It honestly felt like I was forcing myself to eat because of how expensive it was. The service was okay. Our server was very sweet, but we had to flag them down a few times even though the restaurant was relatively slow. There were only about three tables. The most concerning part was after we got home. About an hour later both my boyfriend and I got really sick and were throwing up multiple times. I can't say for sure what caused it, but it's definitely something to be aware of. Overall, it just didn't feel worth the cost. One star for the hour I spent over the toilet. read more

I spent Valentine's Day dinner here last night. Everything was great, nicely decorated for the occasion. The service and food were both fast. The fixed menu was a four course dinner, compliments to the chef the food was amazing! Towards the end we got our last plate which was a trio of desserts, we were completely full BUT I made it work because I'm not a quitter lol. Thank You TAMPA read more

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I really enjoyed my experience at Ava! I thought that the decor was lovely and the vibe was friendly. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and we were seated right away. The staff was friendly and didn't hover which I enjoy. I had the Plany City cocktail that was light and refreshing. The Italian ham and cheese was flavorful and the perfect blend of ingredients. The peach and blackberry jam added a touch of sweetness and the burrata was creamy. Overall it was a flavorful light lunch. I would love to visit again for the dinner menu. read more

Ava - Italian ham and cheese - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Nice atmosphere in the restaurant, food was delicious. Service was very disappointing we asked multiple times to multiple people for thing as simple as water and never received anything. Would not recommend coming here for a brunch unless you want to wait an hour plus for you check after asking for it. On and they price the items higher than they showed on the menus and you have to have them fix it. Very unprofessional and put a horrible taste in my mouth. We at a larger tables and they overcharged on items on 95% of the Checks. This restaurant obviously needs help again food was good service wasn't worth going to the place read more

Ava - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Just excellent all around. Great food and attentive service. Had our regulars, the bread service And apple-walnut salad which are both great. We also had the eggplant parmigiana which is exceptional. Had the special swordfish that was perfectly prepared and cooked They also have a fine selection of wines. I personally like the Tuscan varieties: Chianti Riserva and the Antinori Villa Tuscana. read more

Ava - Bread Service with Ricotta - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I ordered the La Bestia without sausage and a Caesar salad from the happy hour menu. The service was decent, and the food was pretty good overall, nothing amazing, but nothing disappointing either. read more

Ava - La Bestia - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Went for a friend's birthday brunch at Ava in South Tampa. We split the baked penne and the Caesar salad. We had noticed online that the Caesar came with big pieces of lettuce, so we asked for it to be chopped ahead of time (which they kindly did). The dressing was tasty but very anchovy-forward, so definitely check in on that if you have dietary restrictions. The baked penne is listed on the menu as "pomodoro, meatballs, mozzarella" for $22. Since we split it, the photo I attached is just half the portion. The pasta itself was flavorful, but there was no meat at all--so we were left wondering if something was missing. Tasty, yes, but at that price point, it didn't feel worth it. For drinks, I ordered two Hugo Spritzes. The first was perfectly light and refreshing. The second, however, was off--syrupy, heavy on the elderflower liqueur, and missing the mint. Still drinkable, but not as enjoyable, and I regretted ordering a second round. On the bright side, our waitress was fantastic. She handled our large table with ease, was attentive without hovering, and genuinely added to the experience. Overall, Ava is a trendy South Tampa spot with good food and drinks, though portion sizes and consistency left us a little underwhelmed for the price. We probably wouldn't go back on our own dime, but wouldn't say no if invited with friends again. read more

Ava - baked penne, chopped Caesar, and a Hugo Spritz. - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Stopped in this morning for their weekend Brunch at 10:30am. The place is very cute and you can tell it is very nice for a chill evening of brick oven pizza and some drinks in the evening. We were promptly seated by the friendly staff. Their brunch menu is very small so don't expect lots of options. We went with the Ava Frittata since we are not fans of the Eggs Benedict and that was their only other egg option and it was just okay with a side of fruit. Nothing to rave about so I wouldn't return for breakfast but may try it out for a pizza and cocktails next time. read more

Ava - Outside - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Pretty ambiance with cute decor that makes it cozy, went for brunch and did bottomless mimosas, service was slow to begin with forcing us to ask several times for water. My dish was my favorite out of all of the guests. The rigatoni was flavorful and cooked adequately. However, I was not a fan of the chicken parm, it felt slightly undercooked and has a fishy after taste. The pizza tasted a little too "wood fired" if yk what I mean. Price point is definitely a little high for the place itself, nothing extravagant and not dying to go back, but maybe would try for dinner opossed to brunch read more

Ava - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We were wanting a restaurant that could accommodate gluten and dairy allergies plus serve Italian and Ava knocked it out of the park! We went in to celebrate a birthday so had made reservations for our group in advance, so when we arrived 15 minutes early expecting it to wait we were sat quickly and noticed two other large groups there too. They were quick to take drink orders and was so glad I was told to get their Blueberry Spritzer, very light and refreshing. Our serve Malia was tentative to all allegories and noted ways to modify (chicken parm Breading wasn't gluten free so the requested grilled or replacement). The food was amazing and I couldn't leave without getting the Nutella Mouse Cake, it even come worth a shot which you can't take that to go, but you get I still asked to have it and can understand why that dessert come with it. The breading on the cake is thick so for it to absorb some of that Skrewball peanut butter whiskey would have make it too perfect! If you're looking for an Italian restraint in south tampa that will cater to allergies, have gluten-free options look no further than Ava! read more

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Food , service and casual atmosphere were appreciated Pesto muscles, salads, pizza and Nutella Toffee desert were all excellent read more

Visited during happy hour and sat in the bar/lounge area. Service was spotty at first but improved throughout the time in the establishment. The restaurant's soft lighting, created a peaceful and elegant ambiance. The food was so good. The Salsiccia pizza was my main dish and it did not disappoint. I also tried the mussels and Caesar salad which were both delightful as well. Happy Hour ends at 7 pm. I'd come back! read more

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Went for dinner with some friends at 6pm on a Tuesday night. It was fairly empty and we were seated right away. Drinks from the bar took a little while because one person in our group ordered the espresso martini flight (ok it was me, and it was delicious), but for the rest of the night the bar seemed quick. We ordered apps for the table. The cheese tray was good, with some interesting cheeses. The calamari was just so-so, not particularly crispy and kind of floppy. The bread service was by far the stand-out app here. I'd go back just for that. Everyone seemed satisfied with their food. I had the pappardelle with mushrooms and it was fantastic. read more

Ava - Espresso martini flight (pumpkin, original, peanut butter, pistachio) - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Strip steak ordered medium was flavorless, undercooked (bloody) and sent back twice. Potato special was like a hash brown you'd get in the frozen section of Publix and it was burned. Service was very attentive and the manager apologized and comped with a dessert....Flourless chocolate tort which was delicious. Perhaps we should have tried the Italia dishes but due to the poor prep on the steak we Would not return unfortunately. read more

This was my first time at this restaurant. I had heard good things before and I went to celebrate a friend's birthday. The service was very nice and the food really good. I tried the beef carpaccio with truffle on top and a sauce that matched perfectly. I also had the salsiccia pizza, thin and full of flavor. I think I will come back to try more dishes because I really liked what I ate. The place also has a good location and a nice atmosphere. read more

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I came to Ava with a large group for a birthday party seated in the party/bonus room - which provided an intimate and fun dining experience. However I was not thoroughly impressed with my meal. My cocktail came out room temperature and the pasta was overcooked and mushy. The chicken parm was good, and my friend loved her calamari and salmon. Most noteworthy- our service was outstanding for such a large party, our food and drinks arrived incredibly quickly and the waitresses did an excellent job. Overall a good experience, the food was subpar in my opinion but I'm not sure how much of it was affected by my party size. read more

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We had a birthday to celebrate and we thought we would try Ava. Anthony was our server and he did an excellent job, the service was perfect! We got a pizza, mushroom w pasta, beef short rib with pasta, calamari, cavatelli made without the sausage. We thought everything was delicious and the pasta was obviously freshly made. My only negative was I thought the servings were a bit small for the price. I disagree with the 2 dollar sign rating and I would say it should be at least 3 dollar signs. All in all a great experience! read more

Service was decent. We tried to order several vegan options but the kitchen did not have items in stock which is very odd for Saturday night. Server tried to accommodate with other options but would have been nice for something extra to make up for it. The restaurant itself is extremely loud and not the best for conversation. Food overall was good but please don't advertise vegan options and don't have them in stock... read more

I have been coming here since they opened and have done two birthdays in the private rooms! I love their food, drink, and service. They have one of the best happy hours and they have some killer pastas and pizza. read more

We went for happy hour. The food was actually really good. I could tell that at first the server was annoyed about us wanting the happy hour menu and we had to ask for it. The place is beautiful. Once we got the menu for HO the service got much better. read more

Ava - Moscow mule - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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House made pasta - check Vegetarian and vegan options - check! Indoor and outdoor seating- check! A couple of friends joined me bc I've had Ava on my list for a while but it takes me time to get around to Italian fare. I was super curious if they could pull off a chicken parmesan without the animal parts. I am still in shock and just so I could write an honest review, I gave my omnivore friend a bite who confirmed it really did taste surprisingly realistic- not cardboard and not rubbery. I also ordered a salad and I loved how the dressing wasn't all oil over flavor. The sauce was excellent - the perfect density & thickness and not runny. The portions are european so you don't leave feeling stuffed. The patio is covered which is nice so you worry less about inclement weather. Interior is average - not posh and not overly casual. Good enough for a second or third date but not a first date lol. Service was attentive and pleasant. read more

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Our girls evening night out was spectacular on the patio with great open air and wonderful decor. We each ordered glasses of wine, but they also have discounts on bottles of wine on Wednesday's! I got the funghi pizza which was phenomenal with the right amount of sweet from the balsamic with the mushrooms. Our service was ok - our server got our order wrong a few times as she wasn't writing anything down, but ultimately we got what we ordered and were happy with our service! read more

Ava - Funghi Pizza - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Above and beyond my expectation. Good food, so service and atmosphere is amazing. Holiday decorations is very cozy. read more

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We dined here on Valentine's Day and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience. We hate food waste and politely asked if we could share one entree. Our server told us that wasn't allowed, which immediately felt off-putting. We ended up spending $350 on a meal that did not match the price or expectations. The steak was overcooked, the gnocchi arrived cold, and our drinks were forgotten and had to be followed up on. For a special night at this price point, we expected much better food, service, and attention to detail. Sadly, it was not worth it. read more

What a cute place!! It was our first time here and we started with the ravioli and pork belly. Soooo good. Anna took great care of us and offered the sea bass special to us which I decided to order. Unfortunately in my first bite there was a bone, and it lacked salt. Other than that, service, wine, and price were on point. read more

Ava - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Second trip to Ava and it has substantially improved from my visit in 2023. Excellent location on South Howard just down from Bern's. Definitely a place to dress up and be seen. Inside is very Italian bistro and as loud as a bustling city street in downtown Rome on a Friday night. This night however was a Thursday and the purpose for this gathering was to utilize their private meeting room to continue an educational series. Briefly for those planning a meeting, the space easily holds 20 plus with two length wise tables and a flat screen TV with HDMI capabilities. The room is separated by a very large and heavy barndoor. Biggest con is despite this door the noise certainly makes its way into the room like a determined carrier pigeon. Further, each time the door is even slightly agape the presenter can barely hear him/herself speak. Our servers were very much on top of our drinks and food needs but a piece of advice would be to try and cluster some of the entries into the room to minimize the noise. Anyway, the food is where I really want to focus my attention. On a prior visit I found the pasta to be bland and the meats to be salty. On this visit I found the pastas to be bland, but the meats to be perfectly cooked and with great portions. I was particularly in love with our appetizer choices. Meatballs were moist and mounded high. Sauced and succulent. Our meat and cheese board was well assembled and came with a good selection of mustards and sauces, but definitely needed more crackers or breads to deliver the goods. We also had the shrimp. Served on a bed of what appeared to be sourdough. These shrimp were very well fed and as a result so was I. My main entre was the lamb duo. A two to tango kind of dance between chops and sausage. Very tender and well seasoned. Between the two the sausage actually took over from the lollipops on flavor. All in all I feel that this establishment is in tune with their feedback to step up the food and the service. I would definitely recommend Ava for a step up from just a casual night out. read more

The food and service was amazing. The bread service is a must try! The bread is so fresh and delicious. Love mussels and was skeptical about them being in a pesto sauce but it was hands down 10/10. read more

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We were a large group celebrating a friends birthday The food exceeded my expectations. Had the double filet mignon . Service was superb. Staff were super friendly. I don't usually like meat balls but the ones I had at this restaurant were surprisingly very delicious read more

Ava - Double filet migon after I devoured half of it - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Ava has to step up their game. The decor and food leave much to be desired for the price you pay.

Ava is a great place for drinks with your girls or a date night! The ambiance is amazing, the vibe and the aesthetics are superb. I heard about this restaurant before but I never had the opportunity to come by, so I knew about restaurant week and I saw the perfect chance to try it, so I gathered my friends for a ladies night here last night. I ordered a mule, and it was outstanding so I had to get another one. As I said, we came for restaurant week so we decided to go for that menu, it was an appetizer, an entree and dessert for $40 which was more than worthy. I started with the house salad, it was well balanced, you could taste everything that was in there. Then we moved forward to our entrees, I got the Australian Wagyu with mash potatoes and asparagus, the meat was great, very well cooked and seasoned and the mashed potatoes was out of this world, so good. As dessert, I got the homemade cannolis and the cream was soo good! Overall this experience was great, and I'm coming back for sure, shoutout to César, our waiter, he was great! Very friendly, service outstanding and recommendations on point. See you very soon, Ava. read more

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Amazing restaurant, this is my second time. Came back to celebrate Father's Day. Everything in the menu is delicious, we ordered a mushroom personal pizza, chicken Parmesan. They also have Gluten free dishes if you desire the noodles gluten free. the appetizers we had the clams, the fried octopus with olive oil, it was delicious. The service was great and the waitress was very helpful as to what is the specials of the day. The ambiance was delightful, they have a full bar as well if you want a cocktail before you sit for dinner. They have plenty of Parking in the garage next to the restaurant which is very convenient. We will be back definitely, Thank you for your service!! read more

The pizza is just trash. Asked for well done, came out burnt, not charred (I'm from Connecticut and I know the difference) and floppy. Before you get on my case, someone else at my table ordered the pizza not me. I'm not desperate. Plus they ran out of pepperoni at 1:30pm on a Sunday. Poor management, poor kitchen staff execution. Servers are the only saving grace. Ambiance is nice. Easy to get a brunch reservation, 20% full. read more

Ava - Eggs Frittata. With strawberries. - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The services was top notch! We stumbled here strolling through S. Tampa on Howard. We loved the ambiance from the street and stepped in. Inside and outside are thoughtfully decorated. The patio seating area is so inviting and the place to be.. the Food was fantastic! Mind you, we never heard of this place. Such well crafted plates and quality ingredients levels this place up. Kudos to the chef everything we ate was fantastic. read more

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Came for dinner while In town for business. Decent menu. They honored our reservation. Service was prompt. Decent ambience. Ordered the bread service which was very good. Mixed salad was very good and served 3 people. Chicken parmigiana was good. Pasta bolognese was also very good. Margarita pizza was ok and could have been hotter. Prices reasonable. read more

Ava - Bread service - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

5/5 Exceptional Dining Experience at Ava Highly recommend this place. The moment I walked in I was greeted by professional, warm, and genuinely friendly staff. The service set the tone for the entire night because our server was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and fast without ever making us feel rushed. We started with the bread service, calamari, and the truffle gnocchi special. The bread service came with three fresh and hot loaves that were perfect from crust to center and easily some of the best table bread I have had in Tampa. The calamari was fantastic, crispy, flavorful, and served in a portion size that actually makes it easy to share. The truffle gnocchi special was prepared tableside by the chef and even though it was their first night offering it, the dish came out amazing with rich flavor and perfectly cooked gnocchi. For my entrée I ordered the lamb and it exceeded expectations. Beautiful presentation and incredible taste. Overall this was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Five out of five. I will absolutely be back. Ava is easily one of the top Italian spots in Tampa right now. read more

Just recently moved to the Tampa Bay area and, while there are plentiful dining options in the area, Ava has been the best dining experience yet. We came here on a Friday during happy hour (great HH menu - Mondays through Fridays) and loved it so much we opted to cancel a reservation the next day and come back. The food is absolutely delicious. Every entree, from the pizza to the pasta, arrives quickly and each have been some of the top dishes we have had. The prices are reasonable and the service (particularly Stephanie and Katie at the bar) have always been stellar. If you're in the area, definitely stop by. You will not be disappointed with your experience! read more

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Dined at Ava for a date night on 10/20. I've visited in the past for their brunch which I enjoy, but never for dinner. We had a 7:15 reservation and the restaurant was a little empty but it started filling up as the night went on. It had a very family oriented, relaxed atmosphere. Good spot for large groups. Overall, it was a mediocre dinner. I think for the price point you could experience a better Italian meal elsewhere. The service was slow to start. It seemed that there was miscommunication amongst the waiters as to who would be serving our table. However, once we got our waiter (whose name I forget!), it was great service. He was very attentive and helpful with any questions regarding the menu. Food- For an appetizer we ordered the Ravioli Al Tartufo E Formaggio. The crispy leeks really added to the texture of the dish. The truffle wasn't too overpowering either. For our mains we ordered the Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti and the Cavatelli Al Ragu. We wish the chicken parmesan had more mozzarella on top. The cavatelli was cooked nicely, however, the fennel sausage ragu was not my favorite. I discovered a ground up piece of bone or cartilage in the sausage meat. It resembled a little pebble. Not a big deal for me but I can see how other customers would freak out more about something like that. Drinks- We enjoyed some cocktails throughout our meal! To start we ordered the Farmers Daughter (I believe this was the drink.. can't find an online drink menu) and Holy Shit Batman. The Holy Shit Batman was a favorite! Next we ordered a Gin Dirty Martini and an Old Fashioned. No complaints with the drinks. read more

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Went to this restaurant about 5 years ago and stopped going bc their raised their prices. Decided to give it another try bc their menu was improved while their pricing was on par with other local spots such as Olivia and osteria nataliana. The service was very slow without there being a reason. The restaurant was NOT full and it seemed like they had enough people working to accommodate the parties. The food was awful, the filet reminded us of something that you would get at a hotel wedding or banquet. For the same price as the two other Italian restaurants previously mentioned, save yourself the time and aggravation! Make the reservation at Olivia or go and wait in line for osteria bc you will get fantastic service and a great meal at the same exact price point! read more