Restaurant Review: Ava (Tampa)

Brunch was a favorite activity of ours when we lived in Hoboken and Chicago. Since the pandemic, we really have not been out for Sunday brunch and decided to change that today. We spend winters in Florida and have a great selection of restaurants within walking distance in Hyde Park. We decided today was a great day for brunch and decided to check out Ava. The restaurant offers an Italian-inspired menu with the star of the show being its Acunto pizza oven (it cooks pizza Neapolitan style at over 900 degrees).

Anthony’s Take: Ava is a fun and tasty spot for brunch. I want to return to try its handmade pasta, house-cured salami, and pizza. We both enjoyed our meals and the service was efficient. Brunch offers a good deal with bottomless mimosas for $20 (although we did not partake on this visit). I’m glad to have this spot in the neighborhood and know we’ll be back.

Decor & Vibe

The restaurant features an open kitchen, pizza oven on display while pizzas are rapidly coming in and out of the oven, fun art, and a nice patio. The crowd is young and everyone looked to be having fun in the airy and bright dining room.

This fun Mona Lisa was hanging near the bar.

The bar has some fun lighting.

The patio is a decent size and was busy while we were there.

The pizza oven was cranking out pizzas in minutes.

One odd thing to note is that the menu indicates that either 18% or 20% will be added to all tables. In reality, no gratuity was added when I got the check. Double check and tip accordingly.

Food

The menu has a good variety of Italian dishes, pizza, and brunch favorites.

I ordered the Breakfast Bowl with homefries and scrambled eggs. It was tasty, but a bit basic.

My husband had the Breakfast Pizza. I tasted it and loved the crust. It was delicious and makes me want to taste their regular pizzas even more.

Drinks

Ava has a full bar and offers a cocktail menu. It’s a bargain to get bottomless mimosas for $20 (a two-hour limit is imposed). If you’re drinking, that’s a good deal. We were not and had two Arnold Palmers with our meal.

Overall Impression:

I’ve walked by here many times and am happy that we came in for brunch. The food and atmosphere were good. Service was efficient and a little sassy. The pizza is great and we’ll be back to try the dinner menu.

Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m dining out, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice for restaurants and food delivery is the American Express® Gold Card. With it, I earn four Membership Rewards® Points for each dollar spent at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the US. It also includes up to $120 annual credit (up to $10 per month given in statement credits) for Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. Plus, up to another $120 annually (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash that I can use for Uber Eats. When I’m hungry, this is the card I choose. (Terms apply and enrollment required for select benefits.) Learn more.