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Italian Trattoria · Covent Garden, London

Ave Mario Menu, Prices & Booking Guide 2026

Full guide to Ave Mario -- Big Mamma Group's theatrical Italian trattoria at 15 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. This page covers the confirmed menu categories (antipasti, fresh pasta, Neapolitan pizza, mains and dolci), all verified set-menu prices, the restaurant's signature dishes, and practical booking information. Individual a-la-carte prices are not published by the restaurant -- set menus start from GBP17 for lunch and average spend runs GBP30-40 per head.

Italian trattoriaCovent Garden, LondonLunch from GBP17~300 seatsBig Mamma GroupB Corp certified
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$

Signature items

Pranzetto Lunch MenuFrom GBP17
Theatre MenuFrom GBP29
Group Menu (8+)GBP54/person
Gran CarbonaraSignature dish
Giant Gelato CakeTableside carve
Jump to: Set menus & prices Signature dishes Full menu Visit & booking Dietary guide FAQ
Quick answers

Common Ave Mario questions, answered

The four things people most often want to know about Ave Mario -- answered with verified data.

Cheapest way to visit
Pranzetto lunch set menu From GBP17

Monday-Friday, 12:00-16:30. 2-3 courses. The most accessible price point at Ave Mario.

Most famous dish
Gran Carbonara

Carbonara finished tableside in a 4 kg aged pecorino wheel -- Ave Mario's most photographed item.

Best for groups
Group Menu (8-20 guests) GBP54/person

Multi-course sharing menu. Book 37 days in advance. Up to 20 guests.

Theatrical dessert
Giant Stracciatella Gelato Cake

Carved tableside -- one of London's most Instagrammed desserts.

Set menus & fixed-price dining

Ave Mario set menus and confirmed prices

Ave Mario does not publish individual a-la-carte prices publicly. The following set-menu prices are confirmed from Big Mamma Group's official website. Average a-la-carte spend is roughly GBP30-40 per head (excluding drinks).

Pranzetto -- Lunch Set MenuFrom GBP17

  • Available Monday-Friday, 12:00 to 16:30
  • 2 or 3 courses from a rotating seasonal selection
  • Includes choices from antipasti, pasta and dolci
  • Most affordable way to experience Ave Mario

Best for: lunch visits, first-timers, solo diners. Confirm current menu on the Big Mamma booking page.

Theatre MenuFrom GBP29

  • Available Monday-Friday, 4:30pm-7:00pm
  • Also available from 9:00pm to close (Monday-Friday)
  • Designed for pre- or post-West End theatre guests
  • Multiple courses from the main menu

Best for: West End theatre visits -- the Royal Opera House, Lyceum and Donmar are all nearby.

Group Menu (8-20 Guests)GBP54 per person

  • For groups of 8 to 20 guests
  • Sharing-style multi-course format
  • Covers antipasti, pasta, pizza, mains and desserts
  • Bookings open 37 days in advance (vs. 30 for regular tables)

Best for: celebrations, corporate events, large birthday groups. Private hire also available.

Birthday Whole TiramisuGBP38

  • A full tiramisu cake brought to the table
  • Fluffy cream with boozy sponge
  • Must be pre-ordered when making the reservation
  • Suitable for any table size celebrating a birthday

Note: Ave Mario does not allow outside cakes or corkage. The birthday tiramisu is the in-house option.

Signature dishes

The six dishes that define Ave Mario

These are Ave Mario's most documented and most talked-about items -- confirmed from the official Big Mamma Group page, Timeout, The Infatuation and DesignMyNight. Not invented.

Signature pasta

Gran Carbonara

Spaghetti carbonara tossed tableside inside a 4 kg hollowed aged pecorino wheel. The pasta coats itself in the cheese as it is finished -- one of the most photographed dishes in London, confirmed by Big Mamma Group's own page.

Signature pasta

Mafaldine Al Tartufo

Mafaldine (wide ruffled-edge ribbons) with truffle and mascarpone sauce. Noted by Timeout and The Infatuation as one of Ave Mario's standout pasta dishes.

Show-stopper dessert

Giant Stracciatella Gelato Cake

A giant stracciatella ice cream cake carved tableside -- Ave Mario's theatrical set-piece dessert. One of London's most-shared food moments on social media, confirmed by The Infatuation review.

Starter

Cacio e Pepe Croquettes

Oversized croquettes with the flavour of cacio e pepe -- rich and peppery. A crowd-favourite noted by multiple reviewers, including Timeout London.

Dessert

Chocolate Al Porno

A rich chocolate dessert combining mousse and fondant, with the playfully provocative name typical of Big Mamma Group. Confirmed by Timeout's review as one of Ave Mario's signature dolci.

Showpiece main

T-Bone Fiorentina (850g)

An 850g bistecca alla Fiorentina -- the Florentine-style T-bone steak -- confirmed by DesignMyNight as one of Ave Mario's showpiece mains. Designed for sharing between two or more.

Browse the menu

Jump to a menu category

All Ave Mario menu categories with confirmed dish names. Prices marked "Price varies" are a-la-carte items not publicly listed by the restaurant.

Set Menus (Confirmed Prices)4 itemsAntipasti3 itemsFresh Pasta4 itemsPizzas2 itemsMains2 itemsDesserts (Dolci)4 itemsDrinks & Cocktails2 items
The menu

Ave Mario menu -- all confirmed dishes and set-menu prices

Dish names are sourced from Big Mamma Group's official page, Timeout, The Infatuation and DesignMyNight. Individual a-la-carte prices are not published by the restaurant and are therefore not shown. "Price varies" = price not publicly available -- contact the restaurant or see the Big Mamma booking page.

About these prices. Ave Mario does not publish its full a-la-carte price list on any publicly accessible webpage. The prices shown on this page are limited to confirmed set menus (Pranzetto from GBP17, Theatre Menu from GBP29, Group Menu at GBP54/person) sourced from bigmammagroup.com. All other items show "Price varies" rather than an invented figure. Average spend is approximately GBP30-40 per head (ex. drinks) based on aggregator data. For current a-la-carte prices, visit the official booking page or call +44 7933 624393.
Getting there & booking

How to visit Ave Mario

Address, opening hours, booking policy and transport links -- all from verified sources.

Address & getting there

15 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8QG

Ave Mario is on Henrietta Street, a short walk from Covent Garden tube station (Piccadilly Line, exit toward James Street). The restaurant is near the Royal Opera House, the Lyceum Theatre, Donmar Warehouse and the Covent Garden piazza.

Booking is strongly recommended. Reservations open 30 days in advance at 9am via the Big Mamma booking page. Walk-ins are accepted when space allows.

Opening hours and prices confirmed from RestaurantGuru and Big Mamma Group's booking page (data reviewed May 2026). Confirm current hours before visiting.

  • Address: 15 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QG
  • Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
  • Mon-Thu: approx. 11:45am - 10:00pm
  • Fri-Sat: approx. 11:30am - 10:30pm
  • Sunday: approx. 11:45am - 9:30pm
  • Booking: bigmammagroup.com (30 days ahead)
  • Walk-ins: accepted, subject to availability
  • Phone: +44 7933 624393
  • Private hire: available
Dietary & allergen guide

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-low options at Ave Mario

Ave Mario labels its menu with V (vegetarian), VEG (vegan) and GL (gluten-low), according to Big Mamma Group's official FAQ. The restaurant explicitly states it does not offer gluten-free pasta or pizza. Allergen information is available from staff on request.

Children and dogs are welcome. High chairs are available. Outside cakes and corkage are not permitted (food safety reasons).

Cross-contact is possible in the kitchen. Guests with serious allergies should speak to the manager before ordering.

  • Vegetarian (V): labelled on menu
  • Vegan (VEG): labelled on menu
  • Gluten-low (GL): labelled on menu
  • Gluten-free pasta / pizza: NOT available
  • Allergen info: available from staff on request
  • Children: welcome, high chairs available
  • Dogs: welcome
  • Outside cakes / corkage: not permitted
About Ave Mario

Big Mamma Group's most dramatic London trattoria

Ave Mario opened in Covent Garden in 2019 as Big Mamma Group's second London restaurant, after Circolo Popolare (Fitzrovia) and before Gloria. The concept is described by the group as "our most crazy London trattoria, inspired by a Florentine palazzo with a bold 80s twist." The building spans three themed dining areas, two outdoor terraces and seats roughly 300 guests under six-metre-high ceilings.

Head Chef Gianluigi's kitchen focuses on seasonal Italian ingredients from independent producers -- fresh pasta, slow-fermented Neapolitan pizzas, antipasti and theatrical desserts. The restaurant is independently certified as a B Corporation through its parent group. Big Mamma Group was founded by Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux and now operates restaurants across London, Paris, Madrid and other European cities.

On Google, Ave Mario carries a 4.8 rating from over 28,000 reviews, ranking it among the highest-rated Italian restaurants in London by volume (RestaurantGuru).

2019Opened
~300Seats
3,500Bottles (bar)
4.8Google rating
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Common questions

Ave Mario -- frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions about Ave Mario's menu, prices, booking, dietary options and what to order.

Where is Ave Mario located?

Ave Mario is at 15 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8QG, a short walk from Covent Garden tube station (Piccadilly Line). The restaurant faces Great Queen Street and sits close to the Royal Opera House and numerous West End theatres.

How much does a meal at Ave Mario cost?

Ave Mario does not publish individual a-la-carte prices online. Based on restaurant aggregator data (RestaurantGuru, DesignMyNight), the average spend per head is roughly GBP30-40, with a full spend range of approximately GBP20-70 depending on drinks and number of courses. The most affordable way to visit is the Pranzetto lunch menu from GBP17 (Monday-Friday, 12:00-16:30). For current a-la-carte prices, contact the restaurant directly or check the Big Mamma booking page.

Does Ave Mario have a set menu?

Yes. Ave Mario offers three fixed-price dining formats:

  • Pranzetto (Lunch): From GBP17 per person, Monday-Friday 12:00-16:30 -- 2-3 courses.
  • Theatre Menu: From GBP29 per person, Monday-Friday 4:30-7:00pm and 9:00pm to close.
  • Group Menu: GBP54 per person for parties of 8 to 20 guests.

Prices confirmed by Big Mamma Group's official website.

What is the Gran Carbonara at Ave Mario?

The Gran Carbonara is Ave Mario's most famous dish -- spaghetti carbonara finished and served tableside inside a hollowed-out 4 kg aged pecorino wheel. The pasta is tossed in the cheese wheel at the table, coating it in the carbonara sauce. It is one of the most photographed dishes in London and is confirmed by Big Mamma Group's own restaurant page as a signature item.

Who owns Ave Mario and what group is it part of?

Ave Mario is owned by Big Mamma Group, the Italian restaurant group founded by Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux. Big Mamma Group is a certified B Corporation and operates a portfolio of high-energy Italian restaurants across London, Paris, Madrid and other European cities. Ave Mario's London siblings include Gloria and Circolo Popolare. Head Chef at Ave Mario is Gianluigi.

How do I book a table at Ave Mario?

Ave Mario accepts reservations online via Big Mamma Group's booking page at bigmammagroup.com/en/trattorias/ave-mario. Reservations open 30 days in advance at 9am. Group bookings (8+ guests) open 37 days in advance. Walk-ins are also welcomed when tables are available. Note: Ave Mario does not accept reservations through DesignMyNight.

What are Ave Mario's opening hours?

Based on published aggregator data (RestaurantGuru, verified against the restaurant's booking windows):

  • Monday-Thursday: 11:45am - 10:00pm (kitchen approx.)
  • Friday-Saturday: 11:30am - 10:30pm
  • Sunday: 11:45am - 9:30pm

Hours may vary on bank holidays. Confirm current hours on the official Big Mamma booking page before visiting.

Does Ave Mario cater for vegetarians, vegans or gluten-free diets?

Ave Mario labels dishes with V (vegetarian), VEG (vegan) and GL (gluten-low) on its menu, according to Big Mamma Group's official FAQ. However, the restaurant explicitly states it does not offer gluten-free pasta or pizza. For allergen information, ask staff directly -- allergen information is provided on request. Dogs and children are also welcome.

What is the atmosphere and design like at Ave Mario?

Ave Mario occupies a dramatic former Great Queen Street space with six-metre high ceilings, bold black-and-white striped walls, rainbow neon lighting and red velvet booths. The venue spans three themed dining areas (ranging from a Tuscan trattoria feel to 1970s disco styling) plus two outdoor terraces, and seats approximately 300 guests. The bar holds 3,500 bottles. The design deliberately courts Instagram appeal alongside its theatrical food presentation. Multiple reviewers describe it as loud, lively and best suited to groups who want spectacle as much as supper.

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