Ava

I went here after my graduation and was planning on going to Ella’s but found that Ava had appropriate seating. We were greeted and immediately sat at our table. Our server was amazing and patient with all of us. The food was spectacular, specifically the pizza. I understand that they have a special pizza oven imported from Italy, so how could the food be anything but spectacular. In addition to the food they had an extensive alcohol list, and I had the pleasure of drinking some aged port and scotch. Overall it was a great experience.

Follow up to original review;
Came tonight to eat and the service was better then last time and the food was amazing. But to reply to your response I called twice and management never contacted me back.
Original:
Service started out fine and the apps came out quick
, one of the dishes came out super slow and was not fully cooked. Server went to get a new dish made, but he came out four different times with questions. Food came out probably 25 – 30 minutes after everyone else was done. Very unhappy with the service from this visit.

One of the nicest atmospheres for an Italian place. Modern and very clean but still warm and inviting. You can go with a big group, go on a date, chill at the bar, sit outside, whatever works for you. The food is a little fancy but still very good. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better pizza. Also, the service he always been top notch. I would definitely recommend to anyone. This is one of the best spots in SOHO!

A friend and I decided to roam around the south tampa area for drinks for a casual evening, and checked out AVA great corner spot located on South howard ave across from 717 South same owners. The drink choices from the bar are amazing they do things a little more unique here then you would get from your casual upscale bar.
The bartender DANI shoutout to her. amazing drink she made unique to the flavor palate i was looking for. The options they had there you don’t find often.
its a Amazing trendy open atmosphere semi loud but it had a open concept feel and you can see everything going on where they prepare the meals its very nice and i will return.

Trendy authentic Italian (not American Italian) cuisine in SoHo Tampa. Ava is a quick pace eatery that is casual to business casual and very loud both inside and outside and packed with 20 — 70 year olds chatting and drinking.
Wait staff are mature, neat and attractive, and expedient.
I was impressed with the menu selections. This type of exciting place leads me to dine tapas style by ordering only an array of appetizers, each more delicious than the next. But, to sit at table here and NOT have one of the many selections of perfectly prepared pastas would be regrettable.
Of course you could easily go the beer and pizza route or add it to a pub crawl because the cocktail list will tempt you. Bartenders are infusing different concoctions and sangrias.
We began with the shrimp crostino, tender shrimp atop thick cut peasant bread with a generous slice of buratta and preserved lemon. Wow! Next, the crab ravioli with several cheeses and frico (Parmesan crisps) was divine. Lastly, the octopus was roasted to perfection with fingerling potatoes and marinated fennel slices.
I ordered the tagliatelle con funghi for my main. Very flavorful with fresh meaty mushrooms but after five bites, I was too full and had to box it for home.
I gave the establishment ⁴⁄₅ due to the noise level, crowded furniture placement, and the iron chairs outside have no cushions and are extremely uncomfortable for over 15 minutes. (there are other types of seating) Food comes out very quickly but our white wine was hot by the time our main dish arrived.
Definitely call your friends and try out AVA. Get a reservation first!

Been to Ava several times now. Not your typical Italian restaurant. They offer a wide range of dishes; from the classics to modern cuisines. Don’t come here if you want the basic, generic Italian entrees. A lot of the dishes are adventurous and authentic. Everything is basically made in house.
I would recommend the mussels and wood roasted vegetables as starters, the wood fired pizza and bucatini pasta as shared entrees, and the sirloin and lamb shank as main course.
Service for the most part, is professional and friendly. It can be very busy and loud sometimes, but the servers are well equipped.

Ava was convenient to my location on a hungry night so I decided to try it. I got the ‘el pepe’ spaghetti, the fried donuts, and regular spaghetti.
1. The food was average, the «el pepe» was extremely greasy and did not come with any protein. It was an $ 18 meal I believe, and I paid $ 10 for salmon. Very small portion for a $ 28 meal to say the least. Could have def done without.
2. The classic spaghetti was a bit better, with 4 meatballs, but also still pretty overpriced for such a small portion.
3. Getting bread to go with the meal costs extra… this was insane.
4. The fried donuts… delish!

This rating is based on Happy hour only. I live close by and enjoy going to happy hours in the area. I will definitely start putting Ava in the mix.
Happy hour is Monday — Friday from 4:00 — 7:00 and offers $ 5 pizza options, wine and liquor. There are also $ 7 mixed drinks and appetizers priced from $ 5 to $ 12. Not listed on the happy hour menu but available are $ 3 Peroni beer.
Happy hour is only available in the bar area. There is bar seating and a few high top tables. I arrived at about 5:30 on a Friday and got the last 2 seats at the bar.
We tried three of the four pizzas on the happy hour menu and all were great! Great atmosphere and an over all nice spot to enjoy a pizza and a drink after a long work day.
Definitely will return for happy hour!

Ava is a great addition to the Tampa restaurant scene. I have not had the chance to venture to Ava for dinner, but my brunch experience was quite good.
We chose patio seating on a beautiful cool day. They had the heaters on, which was quite nice with a chill in the air. Our waitress was very attentive. My dining partner ordered all you can drink mimosas and the waitress was frequently checking to see if she wanted another one.
We all enjoyed our meals. I went for one of their paninis. It was delicious combination of flavors and was just the right size for brunch. The breakfast potatoes were on the side and were really good with a lil ketchup.
All in all, the ambience, service, and food were very good. Can’t wait to come back and try one of their decadent pasta dishes.

I order the bone in ribeye fit market value. The steak was undercooked and waitress could car less. I will not be returning. Kinda sad because the place had a good vibe!
Appreciate that the management team reached out to me. Every restaurant should strive to perfection however, I told the waitress that the steak was undercooked when she asked how everything was. Also, when she took my plate away, I left half the steak, so she could see how raw it was. She asked if I wanted it bagged up and I said «no, thanks! It’s too raw!». Gave her another opportunity to make it right. Instead she just took my plate and gave me the check!

One of the best brunch menus especially for Tampa. Everything looked great (see menu pic)! Nothing was boring on the menu. Items vary from lemon ricotta pancakes to lump crab omelets. My wife ordered the Salmon Benedict and I enjoyed the breakfast turkey sandwich. The potatoes, served as an included side, are nicely seasoned with fresh garlic. Many restaurants will serve an omelet without any included sides. Fortunately, Ava provides fruit or potatoes with their entrées. We did not leave hungry.
The quality of the ingredients, perfectly prepared eggs, and smart menu indicate that the restaurant meticulously prepared for the new brunch service. Some restaurants serve their regular lunch menu and include one item with eggs and call it brunch. Ava cares about perfecting brunch and it shows.

I went to Ava today for lunch and knew immediately what I wanted to order due to Unilocal’s recommendations: mussels, salsiccia pizza, and bucatini alla vaccinara pasta (oxtail). The mussels were forgettable. It looked messy and the bread was tough. Despite the disappointment of the mussels, the pizza and the pasta were OUTSTANDING. The salsiccia was probably one of the most memorable pizzas I’ve ever had. The pie was soooo soft with the right amount of crunch at the crust. The toppings were delicious. I would have liked for the pizza to have more salsiccia and most importantly, MORE CHEESE. The pizza comes in two sizes, 8 inches and 11 inches.
The best part of my meal was the bucatini all vaccinara pasta. I’ve never had bucatini pasta before. Bucatini is like a thick spaghetti. I want to cook pasta with this thick spaghetti for the rest of my life. The shredded oxtail itself was so tender and flavorful that its juices transferred to the pasta to extend its flavor. It was just so, so, soooo delicious. Again, I would have liked for there to be more of the toppings. In this case, more oxtail, but I guess it’s good to not be completely satisfied so I will have to return to Ava to fill my craving. The restaurant itself is simply designed and decorated with a rustic charm. It was a beautiful day today and Ava’s outdoor seating was the perfect location to enjoy a good lunch.

I must say I truly enjoyed my entire dining experience while at Ava. We sat outside since we chose to bring our four legged friend with us. They were more than accommodating which made our time there that much better. It was a tad bit chilly but with the plush blanket they provided my wife, cozy booth, and the heaters above made everything just perfect. As for the meal the bone in ribeye was fantastic and cooked perfectly. Secondly the celery root mash that was served with it was amazing and a must do again!!! My wife choose the of tail pasta dish that was also very tasty. I must say I will plan on returning in the near future and heck maybe we will get lucky and run into Joe Madden!!!

I very much enjoyed their happy hour. $ 5 gourmet pizzas, a nice house salad, crisp bread and goat cheese. $ 7 craft drinks also offered Happy hour is at the bar area and some four top high tables too.
Good people watching. Enthusiastic service. I look forward to expanding my review with more complete coverage of the restaurant’s offerings once someone takes me there for my birthday. which is coming up!
It’s coal oven style pizza with robust flavors. Some char. Yummy unkess you are from Chicago or prefer Cici’s style chain za.

In the area and craving some kind of cold weather comfort food we stumbled into Ava for some comfortable, cozy dining during happy hour.
We sat at a high top table and received spectacular service from Rico, a bartender there. He was most personable and attentive. We shared the warm ricotta appetizer, the Ava house salad and the la bestia pizza and the funghi pizza. Warm ricotta comes accompanied with crusty hearty grilled bread and is delicious. Dressed with a light tasting vinaigrette, the salad is fresh and delightful with heirloom tomatoes. The pizza is rustic and grilled in an authentic Tuscan oven (I was told on my last visit that it was imported from Tuscany). I enjoyed both selections we had although the funghi was AWESOME! Beware that the pizza comes out slightly charred in some areas, hence the descriptive word «rustic». As this part isn’t my favorite the cooking method imparts a nice flavor. My farmer’s organic gin and soda water was made well and I could taste the gin :)
Food was delightful, service was stellar, and we left full and satisfied. We look forward to subsequent visits. Thank you, Ava, for delivering a great atmosphere and experience.

This was my first time dining at Ava and I enjoyed most of it. We ordered the Ricotta cheese & toasted bread and although the flavor was excellent, I thought the bread to cheese ratio was off quite a bit. The ricotta came in a tiny ramekin typically reserved for flavored butters, so I expected more for an appetizer.
The two pizzas split among a couple of people were the sausage and the potato with rosemary. They were both tasty but I think they forgot the Rosemary on ours. Still yummy, tho! Another entrée was the grouper w/​Israeli couscous. Scrumptious!
Dessert was a must and the zeppoles, or sugared donuts, were amazing. The cherry tart a little less so, but one person at our table loved it, so maybe it was just not my cup of tea. The cherries were a sort of candied cherry-​interesting, but sweet with a very dense crust. Again, just not my personal fave.
I will definitely return to try other menu items that looked great-​like the pastas made in-​house daily… that’s next!

I met some friends here for a dinner/​meeting. With all the hype, I expected more. It was good, but it wasn’t outstanding. I ordered the burrata pizza, which had a vegetable that is a cross between kale and Brussels spouts. I liked it. But to be honest, I have had pizzas just as good at other Tampa restaurants. The wine was also good and not too expensive. My friends got dinner entrees and said it was all very good as well. I must say that the servers were very good and sometimes that can make all the difference.
We sat outdoors, and while it is nice to have outdoor seating, it is very loud and somewhat stinky because it is close to the busy road.
I would certainly eat here again, and try some other entrees.

I should preface my four-​star rating with the information that I did my homework on Unilocal before dining at Ava, and I knew what to avoid and what to expect. Being a pizza lover, it pained me to steer away from their oven baked pizza creations, but I’m glad that I did.
THE SERVICE:
Pretty slow. I expected this from fellow Unilocalers’ comments, so it didn’t bother me too much. If I had a movie to catch, it would have been more frustrating. BUT, the servers all had smiles on their faces and were very helpful. I have no complaints as far as service goes.
THE FOOD:
We started with the meatballs (3.5 stars) and the mussels (4.5 stars) and both were above expectations. The meatballs were tasty but a little bit basic if you ask me. Didn’t taste too much better than store-​bough frozen meatballs (which I happen to like and think taste good lol). I liked them, but they didn’t wow me. The garbanzo-​tomato purée they were served over added a nice touch, and brought them to life a little more. I wouldn’t say DON’T order them, but if you are deciding between mussels and meatballs, go with mussels.
The mussels impressed us more. Very generous portion, and garlic-​laced broth they were served in was the perfect dip for the grilled crusty bread that comes with the dish. We were drinking that stuff up when we ran out of mussels.
Like I said before, we knew now wasn’t the time to order pizza, even though the Salsiccia (fennel sausage, san marzano tomatoes, ricotta) was calling my name. We opted for the BUCATINI ALLA VACCINARA (pasta with delicious oxtail), and wood-​grilled vegetables instead. I’d give the vegetables 4 stars and the bucatini 5 stars. The pasta was clearly house-​made, and reminded me why I avoid pasta UNLESS it’s freshly made noodles. It was delicious. I looked around and saw that many other diners opted for the bucatini as well — must be a house favorite.
The $ 12 glass of the super tuscan didn’t disappoint either.

Once again, I had a delicious meal for my 3^rd time however the service was sub par. My friends and I went to indulge in restaurant week. Our server took at least 5 minutes to greet us. We ordered the 3 course meals. We ordered a combination of the choices. Mussels, house salad, meatballs, sirloin steak, ragu pasta and zeppole (donut dessert) along with caramel budino dessert. Everything was delicious. I asked my friends to sample for Unilocal review purposes. The only thing that was ok was the caramel budino dessert. None of us particularly thought it was tasty. It was way too sweet.
It took us an hour to get our meals after we were sat. We had to catch a movie so we asked to have our dessert quickly. We were able to have that.
Then our server brought our checks and mine was for a $ 14 glass of wine which I did not have. I politely told her this was wrong. She brought me the correct one but forget to add my appetizer. I ordered the warm ricotta as well. This was delicious and the bread is grilled. I would definitely recommend. Then when she charged me she added the appetizer. I was as always happy with the food but the service could definitely be improved.

The restaurant is gorgeous, and way bigger inside than I expected it to be. We made reservations through Open Table, but when we got there, our table inside was directly in front of the front door. Hating that location, we decided to eat outside, which was a great decision. The patio is enclosed with plastic windows, and they actually have portable A/​Cs out there, so the temperature was very comfortable. It was also less noisy outside than it was inside. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient, although it was funny because two separate employees we flagged down to ask a quick question about the menu had no idea how to answer us.
The menu is pretty small — essentially a choice of five, give or take, appetizers, salads, pizzas, pasta dishes, and the obligatory steak, chicken or fish entrée. After reading previous Unilocal reviews, I knew we had to start with the mussels. They were delicious — small in size, but plenty of them, served in a red sauce that had a little kick to it. We had to ask for more bread, because the two pieces it came with weren’t enough to sop up the delicious sauce with.
I am a huge pizza fan, and essentially have never meet a pizza I didn’t like — until now. I ordered the Margherita pizza which was san marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. Very disappointed in what I was served. I was prepared for thin crust — that’s my favorite kind actually — but what was served to me was a burnt exterior, with a mushy, soggy interior, that could barely be cut with a steak knife it was so soft. I ended up ripping off pieces to eat it. Plus — the outer crust was so burnt, that once that flavor was in my mouth, I couldn’t taste the flavor of the cheese or the sauce.
I tried two different cocktails — first the 1919 Mule which is their version of the Moscow Mule. It was good, but served in the tiniest copper mug I have ever seen — I would be surprised if there was even six ounces of actual cocktail in there, once you put in the ice. My second drink was better, a Figure 8 — their version of a Pimm’s Cup, in a normal size glass.
While catching up with a good friend is priceless, dinner of mussels, terrible pizza, and two cocktails (including tip) was $ 66. Completely not worth it in my opinion, and I won’t be back.