Ava Restaurant

Great place and wonderful staff. Happy hour jams up the bar from around 5PM-7:30PM Monday-Friday. Inexpensive way to enjoy good food; wonderful wines options by the glass. Everyone is so nice and food is well prepared. Suggest reservations on weekends.

This was our first trip to Ava. Shelby was our server and went above and beyond our expectations. Our 10 year old daughter was having a rough night and just wanted a lobster tail or ceasar salad (go figure). Neither item is on the menu. I said no problem we will figure something else out. Shelby talked with the manager and went to their sister restaurant across the street to get her a lobster tail. They made her a great meal with a lobster tail and kids pasta. Our daughter's mood perked up quickly. Our food at Ava was wonderful. The ambiance was great. Our drinks were great and our service was excellent. We will definitely go back.

We really enjoy our visits to AVA's, we always have a good time and good meal. Our only criticism would be that it gets loud.

Service was great! Food and menu is amazing. Love this place.

We had a great dining experience at Ava and even though we were only in Tampa for 3 days we made sure to go there for dinner and wasn’t disappointed

food was good. waitress was rude.

Absolutely fantastic all around!!!

For an upscale restaurant, I found Ava reasonably priced and inviting. The bread was wonderful and I was wowed by the ravioli with the crunchy prosciutto....

We had a great date nite with fantastic food. Our waiter remembered us from the last time we were in (it is one of our favorite spots!) and the atmosphere is always lively and fun. Usually our go-to is the margarita pizza and Ava house salad . But this time we ordered pasta dishes - the homemade pasta and and sauces were very tasty. Love this place! Try it if you haven’t been yet!

Ava Restaurant is welcoming, but modern in feel. The wood fired pizza was a highlight, and pasta was excellent. Nice wine is available at a good price. Free parking in a garage in south Tampa is a big bonus. We have been twice, and would go again!

First time at Ava. The fried cheese, raviolis, and wood fire roasted vegetables were all excellent for appetizers. Decent wine list to go with it. The service was also good. I was let down by my entree though. The papparadelle was a bit too al dente and stuck together in clumps. For a restaurant that boasts about making their own pasta, you would think they would focus more on the entrees.

Allison was such a pleasure and took care of our group very wel

Food was great, but be prepared to wait at brunch. Took over an hour to get our food (2 pancakes and a pizza). Normally not a deal breaker, but (2) starving kids didn’t help.

Will not return for brunch.
Even though service wasn’t terrible, the quality of the food for the price was ridiculous. I understand when a restaurant is busy for the food to take a while, that is ok, but if after waiting a while I get my food and it looks (and tastes) the way it did I’m sorry but there is no excuse, I got the steak and eggs ($17) described as “wood grilled prime sirloin” and I expected that, a sirloin. Instead it was roughly three slices? of steak with a hollandaise type sauce on top, which was cold.
On the other hand I explained to the manager the issue and she was happy to fix it and get me bacon instead. Another person on the table go the shrimp and grits, which uh, had what seemed to be (4) precooked shrimp smothered in some sort of tomatoey broth, not very good either.They did take items from the bill which was not necessary but we appreciated it.
We might give it another chance during dinner since it seems like that might be this restaurants focus, but not for brunch that is for sure.

Despite the reservation, we were given a lousy table near the front door while nicer four-tops went unused all night. The waitress never offered to let me taste the wine and simply poured into my companion’s glass. She brought the check without my requesting it despite the fact that we weren’t finished with desert. The lack of service points to an untrained staff. Some dishes were very good but the pasta with sauce was pedestrian. I don’t recommend it.

great food, we go out every Friday to find new pizza places, this pizza is now in our top 3 in Tampa. Alison was a terrific server/

I have been to Ava several times, and the service is always mediocre, but passable. Yesterday, however, we had an experience that made us consider never dining there again, and will be telling my friends and co-workers about. My husband and I made our reservation on OpenTable and were very excited to have brunch together before he left to the airport on his business trip that morning. As soon as we arrived, the hostess seemed very rushed and stressed and brushed off our questions about the menu, despite the fact that the restaurant was not very busy at all. We were seated outside on the patio, and there was a very strong, foul sewage odor, which we chose to ignore because we had already had our hearts set on some Warm Ricotta. However, after waiting for quite a while without even any waters, we decided to leave when the server seated a group of girls, who were obviously her friends, and immediately took their drink orders before ours, or the older couple at the adjacent table, who had been there even longer!

The reservations don't guarantee you a spot inside. Even when it's 90 degrees out. Super disappointed. We left and went somewhere else after the hostess was less than eager to accommodate our indoor seating request. She said the wait would be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. This was after we already had reservations!!!!!

The drinks were awful

We arrived 5 minutes prior to our reservations and was told there were no tables inside and could seat us outside. The hostess never offered us a table at a later time and was seated outside in the heat and humidity. This is not what we wanted for an enjoyable dinner. We waited approximately 5 minutes and was not offered a drinks so we got up and left Ava’s.

Go there all the time. Love the home made pastas. Great bar tenders.

The reason we only give it a good rating is the sauces and eggplant was very bland. I think that Pizza may be their specialty but pasta sauce used with egg plant is not. Service was very good, but the food deliver, a gentleman, needs to exhibit a better personality to be in the restaurant business. The place was very busy however and for a Monday night and maybe we just ordered the wrong thing on the wrong night.

We sat at the bar and has a new bartender serving us, so I understand why the service was poor, but I have worked in the service insustry and I expect good service regardless of experience. In addition, we ordered the salmon and it was vastly undercooked. Had to wait 15 minutes for a new meal and received no form of apology. I was very frustrated after our visit. I have been to this restaurant on a few other occasions and was quite disappointed this time. I won’t be returning for awhile.

The octopus appetizer was amazing, the beet and orange salad was delicious and, best of all, the pasta with mushrooms was splendid. The sauce was sublime and delicate rather than that awful heavy-and-too-much red sauce used in so many restaurants. Thrilled to have discovered Ava - will definitely be back.

We arrived and were seated immediately, we chose to sit outside, street-side for some people watching. I had the filet mignon with a gnocchi that was to die for. My wife had that Margarite Pizza. We shared a meatball on polenta appetizer. The sourdough bread was delicious fresh-baked and with a crusty outer covering. Their beer selection was decent for south Tampa Hyde Park. My wife had a "Sex on the Beach" that was fruity alcoholic and delicious.

My family and I, we love love love Ava!!!
Food is awesome and so is the staff!!!
I wish I could eat there everyday ❤️

The restaurant was attractive inside. The food very good. A little pricey. You can split a salad. Great dressing. The wait staff was attentive. The Lamb shank was excellent. The bread was delicious. The bar was packed on Friday evening. The only problem was the noise level. It was to the point where it interfered with enjoying the meal. Conversation was difficult. I felt relieved when I walked out side after the meal, like walking out after a rock concert. I would like to come back, not until you fix it.

Ava is a reliable favorite. The bucatini vaccinara is simply outstanding! Warm ricotta with bee pollen with rustic bread is also delicious! Ava’s pizza is authentic and very good. Cocktails are crafted with skill and top shelf Liquors. This is one of those neighborhood places that is consistently very good with the potential to be truly great!

Really like this place. High ceilings and good vibes. Brunch menu is terrific. Service very good as well.

I don’t like it when a restaurant is almost empty and they insist on sitting two people at the tiniest table in the room. I understand it when it’s crowded but the was not the case.

Been here a few times, great homemade pasta and pizza is excellent. Some things are overpriced but overall, great quality food and service.

Had some amazing drinks at the bar followed by their fantastic salumi and dinner. Ava provided a wonderful experience; we will be going back!

Excellent!! Sarah gave us great service. The vegan special entree was fantastic as was the veal chop special. Always a great experience at Ava.

Restaurant was busy but service and food was excellent as usual. We had two 7 year olds with us and they enjoyed watching the pizzas being made.

Excellent as usual!!
We love Ava!!

Thank you,

It was good food, however about 2x what it should cost. If you really just want a good pizza their are myriad other choices. More of a date place or special occasion.

Excellent food and service. Loud but so is every restaurant

Service was good and portions were appropriate. Our dining experience wasn't great but assuming it was a manager came by to try and make it right. Overall was fine. Nothing stellar but not horrible. Better than the place that allowed me to make a reservation for today when they're closed on Mondays during the summer.

Outstanding atmosphere. Great service and fantastic menu. We will see you again soon!!

Service was great. I got the spaghetti and meatballs but they tasted like they were once frozen.. never have had that issue before. Other than that everything was awesome.