The restaurant
Ave Mario is the Big Mamma group's largest London site, opened on Henrietta Street in June 2021. It seats close to 300 across 7,000 sq ft and is built for spectacle: a wall of 3,500 bottles behind the feature bar, two terraces, and a mirrored 1970s-style basement with counter dining.
The food
The menu is Italian in the group's maximalist style, with fresh pasta made on site and wood-fired pizza at its centre. Signature dishes include a carbonara ravioli filled with pecorino cream, egg yolk and guanciale, and cotoletta alla Milanese, a breaded veal cutlet. A good dessert option is tiramisu, and the portion size is generous, too. Prices are moderate given the setting. It is consistently one of the busiest restaurants in Covent Garden, so book well in advance or expect a wait at the bar.
