AVA Cucina

I cannot wait to go back to this place! I felt very warm and right at home the second I walked in. The food was AMAZING and like I said I cannot wait to go back to try something else off of the menu. Our waitress was also great she was very friendly and very menu knowledgeable. Great experience

So disappointed — made a reservation and showed up and she said it’s for 3– I said no its 2 so she showed me the paper it was written on and said see its 3 — I said well here we are 2 of us and I didn’t write it so she made a big deal of having to rearrange things. Mind you there was only 1 other table sat. I ordered the ckn broccoli ziti but wanted a chicken cutlet on it instead of the sautéed chicken and was told no. Again there was only 1 table full at the resteraunt. If not for my Groupon I would have left right then and there.

Excellent food, great service, good prices. What more could you want? If you’re looking for Italian food on the South Shore with large portions this is the place to go. Order the Spaghetti Carbonara — you won’t be disappointed!

Delish !
Had dinner here with a friend tonight. Such a warm cozy family vibe. Food was so delicious we had apps entrees and dessert. Fast service, hot food and huge portions. The service was quick, attentive and friendly. The tiramisu is to die for. Will return again very enjoyable dinner :)

Wow! We loved our time here tonight. Such a cute, cozy spot in Cohaset with the sweetest family behind it. Great food, and great people. Will definitely be back before we head home to California.

About a year ago, I happened upon Ava while walking around the village. New to the area, I decided to check it out, in hopes of finding some good italian to get me through the winter. What happened next is the stuff of dreams. I could go on and on about the family that runs this place, but all of the accolades can be summed up simply by looking at the awards they have garnered up on the dining room wall. They are, however, just one of reasons that I KEEP GOING BACK! The antipasti is outstanding with lots of cheese, and high quality cold cuts like mortadella and cappacola, loads of olives, pickled cauliflower and carrots, and lovely fresh greens. Anette is famous for her lasagna and baked stuffed eggplant with due cause, but the linguini and clams in Vincent’s simply perfect white wine, butter, and fresh herb sauce is my all time favorite. The carbonara is exquisite with prosciutto and fresh peas, not too thick and heavy like some places tend to dish out. After a year of almost weekly visits, I can say that I have been up one side of the menu and down the other, and it’s all been fabulous… and Paige and Matt are just the nicest warmest servers ever! Anette and Vincent have created a masterpiece!

My husband and I wanted a new Italian restaurant as a «go to» place, but this won’t be it. On a Friday night it was VERY LOUD! The server was good, the food was good/​OK. My pasta was very good, my husband thought the veal parm was good but not great. He thought the marinara was too oniony. Also, we got the stuffed mushrooms and he thought there was too much garlic and the tops weren’t browned and crunchy. The bread was good, warm and from the oven, but you have to ask for more and then wait because they heat it when you ask. We love bread and would like the server to bring it or ask you if you’d like more. My martini was very good, my husband’s mixed drink was weak, couldn’t taste the alcohol. Gelato was very good. So, I would go back, my husband will not. Maybe Friday night is not a good night for a peaceful meal! :(

The rehearsal dinner for the wedding we were in town for was held here, and overall the experience was a good one. They served dinner family style, and dinner started with a typical salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Each table was given a two different pasta bowls, one with a red sauce and one with shrimp and a light broth. The shrimp pasta was amazing, the broth was so good we were all dipping our bread in the bowl to soak it all up. We also had a big plate of their Chicken Parmesan, which was delicious. The rolls were fresh and warm from the oven, the servers/​bartenders were attentive the entire time, and made sure we were all taken care of. I would certainly recommend this place for a nice and cozy dinner date.

Had dinner here a few nights ago. We were looking for a local Italian restaurant, so gave this a go. First off, the place was empty. In most cases, that alone tells you how a restaurant is as it was 6:30pm.
Started off with the mussels appetizer, cooked in white wine garlic sauce. Tasty, but with a strong onion taste to the sauce.
I had the chicken marsala. It was not a chicken marsala that I would normally eat. Chicken appeared to be grilled, or baked, unlike the chicken I usually have in marsala. The marsala itself tasted different too — onion stood out.
My dinner companion had the chicken parmigiana with tomato sauce, which tasted — TOO ONIONY.
I wouldn’t say it was a bad meal, it was OK. But I wouldn’t go back. Sorry.

Gave this place another try. Again the food tasted pre-​made. My sauce had that can like taste, and chicken was not made to order. My wife had a Cosmo that was not drinkable (again) ! The place was empty (again). Waited almost 15min. for a warm Stella and Cosmo. Staff was missing in action and not very nice (again). I had better meal at CHS, the lunch ladies gave better service and with a smile.

By far the best Italian restaurant on the South Shore. I do not know where to start on my food recommendations, but I guess it would have to be the lasagna, then the eggplant Neapolitan, and of course the over sized antipasto.
Really everything is good here at this family owned and run Italian eatery.
Annette runs the front and her husband spins up some of the best food this side of Italy.
I know food and this place is reeeaaaly goooood!

Not sure what people ate talking about RE: pizza. We got one and was so excited about «best pizza of south shore». It was not good at all UNDERcooked. We let the waitress know. Calling her over since no one checked in on us.
She took the pizza off our bill which was a good thing and the saving grace. Can’t say we will be back.

Just had dinner there with my husband and our 5 yr old son… it was sooo good! Very charming atmosphere… great service… excellent food! The bread was hot and fresh from the oven. We had an appetizer special… clams fradiavolo… delish! Hubby had a special linguine carbornara w/​sweet italian sausage… I tried it… it was Aaamazing! I had the lasagna w/​meatball… it was yummy! My hubbs said it reminded him of his Grandma’s lasagna :) Our son had penne w/​butter and parm cheese… always a kid pleaser :) We are very happy to have found such an amazing spot so close to home! We’ll definitely visit Ava Cucina again and again!

At at Ava Cucina before attending a show at the South Shore Music Theater. The food was great, I had the Chicken Gorgonzola! It is a family owned restaurant and the locals were so great, the owner Annette was so friendly and makes a great drink. If I ever find myself in the area again I will be back!

Went for dinner with a Groupon. Very good food and good service as well. The Groupon was quite a good deal for a full meal for two. Nice touch is that a salad comes with each entre in addition to the included appetizer to share. Only negative was that it is a small place and most of the tables were full so it was a bit loud.
Will go back…

This is my first time leaving a review but I had to cause when we went to
Ava cucina on a groupon we did not know what to expect, and after traveling
40 mins we were the first there that night. I’ll make it short as these are boring
But the owner was just brilliant as we had two young kids with us 2 & 8 mths and
This lovely lady babysat r 8 mth old the whole time while we eat, so all I can say
Negative is that the desert needed a little work. Thanks to the owner for a lovely dinner.

Ava Cucina– WOW! How have I not discovered you sooner?
Last night we had a fabulous meal at Ava Cucina. As I write this, I am eating my leftover Linguine with Clam Sauce for lunch and it is just as delicious as it was last night. I went with two of my girlfriends; 2 of us started with red wine (delicious!) and the other got the Stella Artois on tap. We sat at the bar, where we were promptly greeted with a warm welcome and hot rolls. For appetizers we got their fried calamari and the special of the evening, mushroom ravioli. Both dishes were superb, and the bartender was even kind enough to bring extra bread to sop up the phenomenal mushroom cream sauce from the raviolis.
As I mentioned, I ordered the linguine with a white clam sauce for my entrée and it was fantastic. My mom makes an awesome linguine with clam sauce and this rivaled hers, with lots of fresh herbs, pasta cooked to perfection, a surplus of clams – whole in the shell and chopped! I tried both my friends’ dishes, Chicken Parmesan and the evening special, Eggplant Napoleon. Both were served over pasta with Ava’s homemade tomato sauce which was excellent. I forgot to mention that before our dishes arrived we were served a complimentary garden salad that was fresh and flavorful. I love when restaurants do this.
Despite our full bellies, the bartender sold us on one of their filled-​to-​order canolis. The shell was crisp and super fresh and the ricotta filling reminded me of Mike’s in the North End. We had an excellent experience at Ava Cucina, from the moment we entered to the moment we left with our expertly packaged to-​go bags. (Seriously– they saran wrap, then bag the to-​go dish).

Went to dinner here for the first time the other night. I had the Chicken Parm and thought it was excellent. Service was great, will definitely be back to try everything on menu. If your around the area and looking for good Italian food definitely give it a try!

We went here for dinner last night with a groupon. Since we called for a reservation we were seated promptly but that’s where the promptness ended. Service was really slow. We started with wine and beer and calamari, which was delicious. The salad and hot, fresh baked rolls were incredible. My husband had the chicken parm and after two bites decided it was not really chicken. My son had the gnocchi which he thought was good. I had the shrimp and scallop carbonarra which was also very tasty. The place was packed and waitresses were friendly — just very disappointed in the chicken parm and slow service.

Ava is literally one of the worst restaurants I believe that I have ever eaten at.
My boyfriend and I bought a Groupon to try Ava in the hunt for a great Italian restaurant on the South Shore. Because we went on the first night of the Groupon service, I will pardon any lapses in service as I am sure that it was more hectic than usual.
We ordered the mussel appetizer and when it came out, I was instantly nauseated by the smell and asked the server to take it away and bring us the main course. The owner of the restaurant returned a few minutes later with the mussels and thrust them at our table explaining that she had just purchased them that morning. While I appreciate the pride she took in their food, I found this action to be wildly unprofessional.
Whoever it was that named the pizza best of South Shore living clearly has no taste buds. The interior is old and dingy. The food is clearly 75% from frozen food.
Overall, this is not the restaurant to try.