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    Ave Mario

    4.3 (52 reviews)
    PriceyItalian

    Ave Mario Photos

    AVE MARIO ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Ave Mario

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    Reviews With Photos

    Bar
    Ellie M.

    Everything about this restaurant is amazing! The interior of the restaurant is so fun and chic. I love how bold it is and the neon signs add a fun touch. The service here was quick and the staff was nice. The food here is so delicious. We wanted to try a few things so we split a pizza as an app and it was perfectly cooked and amazing! The real star of the show is the pasta. The truffle pasta was one of the most delicious, rich dishes I've ever had! And the bolognese my husband got was incredible too. I seriously think about these dishes all the time. I definitely want to return on my next trip to London!

    Outside
    Dena H.

    Great Italian restaurant located in Covent Garden. They have plenty of items to choose from including pastas and pizzas. We did family style sharing and ordered a couple of the pizzas (margherita, prosciutto, and truffle) and had their ravioli pasta. Everything was very delicious! We also love all their decorations. They have a downstairs area which gives off speakeasy vibes and you can see the chefs cooking. Highly recommend dining here!

    Outside
    Arshad H.

    Ave Mario, a part of the BIG MAMA group of restaurants in London, is a culinary oasis that transports its patrons to the heart of Italy. Reservations open up a month in advance and fill up as soon as they are released, a testament to the restaurant's popularity and acclaim. The interior of Ave Mario is inspired by an idyllic day in Florence, with red velvet booths and intimate tables juxtaposed against monochrome walls, neon-lit mirrors, and a massive and statement bar. The decor is loud and vibrant, creating a boisterous and lively atmosphere. The menu features a variety of classic Italian dishes, all made with the freshest and finest ingredients. The Burrata Pappa al Pomodoro (£14 = $17.50 USD) is a must-try, consisting of a generous 250g burrata di Puglia filled with homemade pesto and served on Chef Andrea's pappa al pomodoro, a naughty mixture of bread, tomato, olive oil, and garlic. For an extra (£5 = $6.25 USD), diners can add a generous amount of truffle to this dish, elevating the flavor profile to new heights. The Mafaldine al Tartufo (£19.5 = $24.38 USD) is another standout dish, featuring house-made mafalda pasta prepared al dente and tossed with black Molise truffle, indulgent truffle and mascarpone cream. This dish is a true celebration of truffle, and it is easily one of the best pasta dishes that I have ever tasted. The Looking for Truffle pizza (£20 = $25 USD) was the pièce de résistance of our meal. This Neapolitan masterpiece was made with a traditional Italian baking technique called 'biga,' which involves leavening the dough for 24 hours, the pizza boasted a pillowy crust and perfectly balanced toppings of fior di latte mozzarella, provola affumicata (smoked provolone), truffle cream, sautéed mushrooms, parsley, and chive. Each bite was a symphony of flavors, culminating in a culinary crescendo that is sure to impress even the most discerning palate. To conclude our decadent feast, my group indulged in Il Tiramisu (£7.5 = $9.38 USD), an Italian classic that Ave Mario executes flawlessly. The rich espresso flavor and creamy mascarpone cheese were simply divine, making this dessert the perfect way to end our evening. Overall, Ave Mario is a must-visit for any discerning palate craving authentic Italian cuisine in a vibrant and stylish setting. With its reasonable pricing and exceptional food quality, it is no wonder that reservations fill up so quickly.

    Michael T.

    Saw this spot on the YouTube Topjaw so came to check it out. Food was good, service was not. I'll preface and say I've been to Europe before, including London and Italy so understand the difference in the service, however this was almost completely inattentive. It took almost 40 minutes to get appetizers to come out, the burrata and prosciutto. After that, it was about only 30 minutes before anybody came back to take our entree order. Only towards the end of the meal, almost 2 hours after being seated, did servers clear the plates and another server came over and let us know we would need to essentially wrap it up as our time was up. Overall, it's a cool vibe and atmosphere with some decent Italian food and gimmicks such as the carbonara being mixed and served from the cheese wheel. However the service was just not there hence the lower rating. Also, if you pay via your phone on the webpage from the we code, they charge you and extra £2.99

    Downstairs
    Hannah L.

    What I appreciated most about this place is how funky and fun the decor was. As someone who's a huge fan of The Sopranos, I appreciated the show-themed bathrooms with multi-colored LED lights. On top of it all, the food was great! My favorite item would be the Mafaldine Al Tartufo. It was the right amount of creaminess to complement the truffle, and it didn't completely nauseate me with heavy cream (and there were a LOT truffle shavings in there, which I gratefully devoured). Although I did enjoy my dinner, the server took a while to locate towards the end of the meal, so we had to wait quite a bit. Regardless--ughhhhh I loved this place! As this place would be the ideal spot for a night out or fun brunch, you would expect a lot of younger patrons; but I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of crowds here; people of ALL ages seemed to be enjoying themselves. If I lived in London, this would be THE spot I would love to bring my friends. Sadly, I don't live in London, but I will be back! *Atmosphere: 10/10 *Food: 9/10 *Service: 8/10 Must Try Items: *Mafaldine Al Tartufo *Sirloin Alla Griglia

    MAFALDINE AL TARTUFO
    Jooy C.

    4.5 stars if I could! Love the retro-themed vibes here, from the front of the restaurant to the colorful bathrooms. We were looking all around us and couldn't decide what to order because all the pastas looked so good! The Radich-lulous Salad was a great starter - very cool and refreshing, and I think cured my hangover. The Perfetta Pizza was also a great starter - the bread baked so perfectly and topping was delicious, might be my favorite pizza we had in London. We had a hard time picking our main dish but ended up getting the Mafaldine Al Tartufo. The pasta was rich and creamy, though not as flavorful as I thought it would be. If I had to go back I'd try the La Gran Carbonara (the table next to us ordered this and it looked amazing, but way too heavy for our hungover selves). We were also recommended the Black to Black, which sounds like a slightly milder dish I would love to try for next time.

    Veal Rague
    Glen W.

    We made a reservation and were told the table (for 2) was being prepped. Ten minutes later still waiting, which is the reason for the 4-stars. That's the end of the bad. Once seated we had an excellent server, the appetizer was out quickly as were the drinks. I had the veal rague and it was excellent. Inside was interesting with great music. This place was unlike most Italian places I've been. It's worth visiting and even with the slow seating for me, I'd go bad.

    Branzino and a side salad.
    Nata B.

    Good Italian restaurant in Covent Garden, the food was presented well, but was just average tasting. The service was great, and the ambiance in the restaurant was fun! For Cocktails we ordered the Giant Peach Bum, Berry Bliss Martini, and I Hate Negroni. The giant Peach Bum was very peachy and it did not live up to the hype. For Antipasta we ordered Focaccia Della Casa, Smoky Straciatella Insulata Caprese , the caprese salad tasted so good we ordered a second one during dinner. For Dinner, La Gran Carbonara, Branzino, and another pasta dish. The carbonara looked amazing but fell short on taste, it was presented in a Parmesan wheel, with the server plating tableside. Overall, a fun place to maybe grab drinks and share a plate or two and soak in the fun atmosphere, just don't expect a memorable meal.

    Smoked stracciatella
    Niu-Niu N.

    What. A. Vibe! My friend snagged a reservation the moment it came out one month in advance and it certainly did not disappoint. It was lovely to see the iconic interior in person, and the lighting, drinks set up at the bar were all absolutely retro. This paired with great food is a sure key to the best night. Though the front looks quite small, keep going downstairs to find a whole other world that is ever so spacious. We ordered a smoked straciatella ton start the night with the bread basket, so light, so fluffy. The smokiness of the straciatella was just right. I had to go for the truffle pasta, loving not just the taste but also the pot it came in. This was creamy but not overly truffle focused, which was nice and didn't command too much attention away from the perfectly al dente texture of the pasta. If I lived in London, I would be back in an instant to try so many of their other items!

    The opening spread of the table!
    Trevelyan E.

    This place was a last minute spot I found on yelp based on Local London places to go. We arrived shortly after finishing the Lion King play at Lyceum and were seated pretty quickly. Due to not having a reservation, our seating time was on 1.5 hours, but I guarantee you this was more than enough time to get our antipasti, drinks, and main dishes! You won't be disappointed with the atmosphere, just come ready to conversate with a friend or more and you'll fit right in! We ordered 2 antipasti's and shared them for tasting and got the truffle pasta as our meals! The truffle pasta is like everything else, hand made to order so you'll get full! Take your time, take some pics, and take in the day or night that you visit! Hope you enjoy while you're in London!

    TAGLIOLINI AL TARTUFO BIANCO
    Mindi M.

    Atmosphere atmosphere atmosphere!!! This place was recommended to us by a nearby shop owner for good Italian food. The food was life changing, the atmosphere was super cool and the service was fantastic. I am always looking for life changing food and the TAGLIOLINI AL TARTUFO BIANCO changed my life!! Basically it's white truffle pasta but so much more!! If you are in Covenant Garden in London, you must go here, but best to make reservations because it is super busy!

    Chris M.

    Very good food, cool vibe, and pretty good prices. The truffle pasta was in particular good and the cannoli ceviche a very interesting "fusion" of Italian and Peruvian food.

    dessert sampler
    Hannah H.

    I wish we had one of these restaurants in California because I am obsessed. This is the third sister restaurant I've been to in the past six months when traveling, Europe, and I will definitely be coming again. The truffle pasta is to die for I'm obsessed with truffle, and it is an amazing flavor. The truffle pizza also is so good as well. I didn't get it here but I did get another pizza that was new to me. I believe it was called the chili something. we also started with the ricotta bruschetta, which was really good. I definitely would order this again we got a few drinks, one being the big Mama which was a gingery flavor, but it was very good. lastly, we got the desert sample platter which consisted of a chocolate mousse, a fruit whipped cream, something which was very good and then this other yummy cake thingy I'm not sure the name, but it was very good. It came with all 3 and i think it was around 9 euros which isn't bad at all. definitely will be checking out all the Sister restaurants you guys have. If I were to come again, I will for sure have a reservation so I can sit inside because the ambience is so cute.

    Prosciutto Pizza and aperol spritz

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    2 years ago

    Nice vibe, music and drinks. The pasta in the cheese wheel was yummy. Fun place, but could only get a super early reservation.

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    Very good pizza and chocolate dessert that was right next to our hotel. Would recommend!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Paesan

    Paesan

    4.1(25 reviews)
    1.1 miClerkenwell
    ££

    Paesan translated is a friendly greeting for your friend, buddy, homeboy…read more Keeping that traditon, Paesan near to Exmouth Market, is a fun, easy pasta spot with exposed brick and filamented lightbulbs, run by a friendly crew of Italians who will make you feel right at home. The upstairs is a corner view onto a street with dark woods and leather booths, while inside an open kitchen and a low-key young crew is putting out some simple, tasty food. Mostly appetizers, pastas and some pesce and carne dishes. Not a destination, but a good spot and one of the few restaurants on the street open on a Sunday. The downstairs basement hosts a cocktail bar that was closed on the Sunday we visited. We enjoyed the feel of the place, along with a bit of montepulciano d'abruzzo, some olives, a green salad, pork belly and a toothsome risotto with zucchini and prawns. Not a bad meal, priced pretty well, and a nice setting with friendly staff. We had such a good time that we failed to notice the police inspectress inside talking to the Paesan crew. The white and red police tape line both inside and outside the restaurant were in our peripheral view the whole dinner, but once outside, we noticed that a gigantic police triangle of tape took up the entire street corner, a female inspector was stationed there, and that down on the cobblestone sidewalk, a streetful of dessicated lemon and lime wedges lay from the night before, leading us to ponder, what exactly had happened here?

    This is my new favourite restaurant!…read more The restaurant used to be the Dollar burger restaurant, and has been revamped as an Italian artisan place with free bread and olive oil, big bottle of tap water and Arcoroc glasses for everything. The specials all sounded fantastic but I plumped for dandelion salad and the pumpkin and goats cheese pizza. Utterly yummy! Not excessive portions just packed with flavour. The waitress was helpful and calm and the red wine warm and fruity. I'll come again for definites. There is a cocktail bar in the basement and a choice of some interesting sharing options on the main menu for groups. Prices are very reasonable and if my meal was anything to go by, the rest will be as good. I am well impressed.

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    Paesan
    Paesan
    Paesan

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    Santore - Lasagna and a Diet Coke.  Yum

    Santore

    4.3(71 reviews)
    1.2 miClerkenwell
    ££

    Oh my what a happy accident! Flew to London on last minute…read morebusiness. Met w Associates from Dubai and Australia. We had planned on going to a gem down the way but they were booked. Bilal had remembered an area nearby and we walked there. It was a rainy one and legging it was nice only because the rain mercifully slowed for a few minutes. We smelled something great. Walked for a bit and all three of us looked at each other and said... Let's go back to the wonderful smell! So glad we did. Our server spoke w Mo in Italian and was so sweet. The items are very reasonably priced. Check out the pics. All food was gone!

    Oh my gosh -- this was genuinely the worst restaurant experience I've ever had in the UK…read more We politely mentioned that we didn't enjoy one of the pasta dishes and simply requested a small modification. Instead of trying to resolve the issue professionally, the owner became extremely rude and dismissive. Shockingly, he brought us the bill immediately, refused to serve the rest of the items we had already ordered (including the tiramisu), and directly asked us to leave the restaurant. We were calm and respectful throughout the interaction, but he refused to even listen to our side before abruptly ending the conversation with, "I'll get your bill," and telling us to leave. I honestly don't know whether he was irritated because we had an infant with us or because we requested a modification, but the behaviour was completely unacceptable and deeply disappointing. I still can't believe a restaurant in London could treat customers this way. Truly unbelievable service and an experience I would never want anyone else to go through. We initially ordered 3 items. The pizza was absolutely fine, so we never raised any concern about it. However, the pasta simply didn't suit our taste buds, so we politely requested a few alterations. Instead of handling it professionally, you refused to serve the tiramisu as well -- assuming we'd dislike that too and ask for modifications? Honestly, I wish I had taken a picture of the pasta to show how it looked. As a restaurant owner, you should understand that every customer has different taste preferences. And just for clarification -- we never asked for the pasta to be cancelled. In fact, we were even willing to pack it and take it home after paying for it, despite not liking the taste. You were the one who offered to cancel the remaining order, and we simply agreed. I would humbly request whoever is in charge to please check the CCTV footage and see whether we were ever rude while requesting alterations. Throughout the interaction, you only kept speaking from your side and didn't even give my wife a chance to explain. Is that really what good customer service looks like?

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    Santore
    Santore
    Santore

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    L'Antipasto City - Garlic bread with tomato sauce

    L'Antipasto City

    4.9(9 reviews)
    0.7 miBlackfriars, Holborn

    This is a little, quant restaurant located in an alley, a few steps from Eastcheap Street, where…read moreEastcheap Records is located.We were able to sit outside because it was lovely this day. The service was great, our server was very kind and patient to explain everything to us. We even were able to change my friend's order after ordering because I walked inside to look at the specials menu, so we changed her order to Lobster Ravioli (not pictured here). The garlic bread came fast and had the appearance of a personal pizza. It is EXTREMELY fresh garlic forward, like it is going to sit with you for hours, the server will absolutely warn you about this but it is damn good. Our food came after we completed our bread and was very good. The Veal Milanese was tender and crunchy. The penne noodles with marinara sauce was a great side to this dish. Not pictured because it was too good, the lobster ravioli looked creamy and decadent. If you want to know how good, my fried ordered two servings. Overall this was a fabulous meal, this was some of the best Italian food I've had in my life. I will absolutely seek them out on my next trip to London so here's to hoping they are open for many, many years to come!

    This hidden gem had the most luscious fresh pasta and sauce. I had the aubergine ravioli with…read moretomato sauce and savored every bite. The bruschetta was light and flavorful. The chocolate brownie with coconut gelato was the perfect ending. We appreciated the friendly, gracious service and the casual atmosphere of dining outside in the quiet narrow street. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    L'Antipasto City - 03July2025 Menu

    03July2025 Menu

    L'Antipasto City - Veal Milanese

    Veal Milanese

    L'Antipasto City - 03July2025 Wine Menu

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    03July2025 Wine Menu

    Canto Corvino - Risotto with truffles!

    Canto Corvino

    4.8(12 reviews)
    2.0 miAldgate

    Great Italian food, lovely decor and brilliant service. Highly recommended. A good selection of…read morewine.

    With a name meaning Song of the Raven and its twinkling, beckoning lights, Canto Corvino should be…read morea stand out in the little gastro nook that is Spitalfields. It's also basically on my street and one of the few sit downs open on weekends! However, each of my visits yielded a variable experience, meaning the quality consistency is lacking which means I wouldn't recommend it to a good friend. Not a good thing when it comes to lesser known restaurants. My first time, I was drawn in by the golden lights radiating from the bar and the warehouse lighting which looks almost chic when paired with the exposed brick and glass embellishments. Although my boss and I were the only ones here, the staff paid little to no attention to us - no greeting or any mind paid to us until we physically walked over the bar, distracting the group chatting away in their huddle. The wine was on the pricier side. The second time I came, the place was brimming with city brokers having Thirsty Thursday. The prosecco was decent and we had a nice time. Until we got the bill for the 3 shots of tequila we had which totalled £48. So that's over 15 pounds for each shot...when we queried the bill, the staff explained that the quality of the tequila he poured us explained the cost, exasperated with our stupidity. We said we were not going to pay for that just because when asked what kind, we had probably said "whatever" or "doesn't matter". Doesn't that usually mean house stuff? The third time I had post-birthday party brunch here where I opted for the Italian breakfast which means eggs, soppresetta, sour dough with pate?, tomato, and tuscan sausage. My tastebuds were (to be fair) taking a beating due to the hangover but it was just mediocre at best. Plus the stuff on the sour dough was strange and unpleasant. Canto and I are neighbours and I don't give up on my neighbours.

    Photos
    Canto Corvino - Rabbit pappardelle and side of tomato salad

    Rabbit pappardelle and side of tomato salad

    Canto Corvino - Beautiful interior

    Beautiful interior

    Canto Corvino

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    Trattoria Verdi

    Trattoria Verdi

    4.1(38 reviews)
    0.6 miBloomsbury
    ££

    Recently (within the past month) whilst on a vacation in London, we were recommended to eat at this…read morewonderful Italian restaurant near our hotel. What a delight. The family who owns this restaurant are adorable! We ate here twice in our 10 day stay and had different dishes each time. The fettuccine alfredo is wonderful. The arribiatta sauce is especially (and appropriately) spicy. I even asked if they could "make" me a cesar salad, and they did their best to come up with something spectacular! The restaurant is in close walking distance to The British Museum and between the Russell Square and Holborn tube stations. It's always nice to go to a restaurant where the owner fusses about the tables ensuring that everyone is enjoying the food. Also, there is a piano player who is outstanding and she played classics to Disney to show tunes. It was wonderful!!

    Our hotel was in the same block as this restaurant and we sort of stumbled across it while looking…read morefor dinner. We were reading the menu posted outside the door when we were greeted by one of the employees (I think he was "family") and then we were also greeted by an older gentleman who appeared to be the owner. We decided to give it a try. The lady waiting on us was very nice (also appeared to be family) and service was excellent. BTW - they have live music with a piano player. My wife had the spaghetti with bolanagese sauce and it was truly exceptional. I had the lasagna (my "go to" Italian dish) and it was also delicious. Great little restaurant. Cozy interior, live music, great food and great friendly service.

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    Trattoria Verdi - Wines

    Wines

    Trattoria Verdi - Seabream fish with gill sauce

    Seabream fish with gill sauce

    Trattoria Verdi

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    Ave Mario - italian - Updated May 2026

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