Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar - St. Michaels

Do you like dry pizza, that's mostly just crust? Does no cheese make it even better? How about 35 minutes to get that beer you ordered? For the chef's kiss, how about you and your food sitting directly beneath a dripping vent. If this sounds like a fun night out, then look no further! All joking aside, the place was a little busy, and the manager was clearly hustling. If the service was just slow, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. Our first server, who handed us off to tend bar, is the bar tender who took 35 minutes to fill the order that she took. Before our main dishes arrived, we asked our second server if we could relocate due to the 'rainfall', but we were told that all other tables were being held for reservations. The empty table next to us sat empty for most of the time after we asked to switch, but was then taken by a couple that walked in with no reservation. I was excited by this place and the excellent reviews, but needless to say we won't be returning.

Great food, great service! I had a mushroom tart pizza on GF crust with vegan cheese that was actually outstanding! My friend had the mushroom ravioli also reportedly fantastic. The server had great energy and was so good. We will be regulars here!

Came in here for a quick bite to eat and was very impressed! We came in for a late lunch, but only got a small pizza because we weren’t that hungry. We got the mushroom tart specialty pie, which tasted great. We wanted to get the bolognese pie, but our friend was vegetarian so we couldn’t. Our waitress was nice enough to bring out a side of the sauce to dip in! It was great. We will definitely be coming here for dinner next time so that we can try more pies!

I recently dined at Ava's and had a fantastic experience! From the outside, the restaurant might appear small and unassuming, but step inside, and you're greeted with a beautifully inviting atmosphere. Our server, Susane, was attentive and friendly, adding a personal touch to our evening. We decided to try the Detroit pizza, and it was absolutely amazing—perfectly crisp and flavorful. To top it off, we had the beignets for dessert, which truly were the icing on the cake. Ava's is a hidden gem that I’d highly recommend to anyone looking for great food and excellent service. Don’t let the exterior fool you—this place is worth it! PET FRIENDLY!

WONDERFUL! Ava's is absolutely amazing! Since moving to the Eastern Shore several years ago we have been disappointed in ALL pizza out here!!!! Today that changed! Their Detroit style pizza is awesome & delicious!!!! Had their fresh & tasty meatball as well. Lorraine who is a sweet hostess was just delightful to chat with and it was nice to meet the owner as well. We will definitely return to Ava's!!!!! Oh, check it out...the ambiance of this establishment is so good!

Great place for lunch in St. Michael’s. The weather was beautiful and we were seated on the back patio. Our server was friendly. We ordered the season Fall Spritz, the meatball appetizer, and a margherita pizza. It was one of the best meatballs I’ve ever had and the pizza was so good!

Great experience at Ava’s! On a Monday around 1 pm, we were seated right away in the bar area. I had the margherita pizza and my husband had the chicken cutlet BLT- both were delicious. I think they do the Neapolitan style pie very well, and I’m picky about pizza! Overall, the food came out quickly, the service was friendly, and we would eat there around if we are in the area!

Honestly, just had a great time and a excellent meal. Staff was super helpful and friendly. I give them high marks - top notch service. Caesar salad, Detroit style pizza, and meatball sub was off the charts. Really friendly atmosphere - had nice conversations and met some really cool people. I'm coming back next time I’m in St Mikes. Thanks!

Ava's Pizzeria blew us away--honestly some of the best pizza we've had in the DMV area! The crust was perfectly crisp, the toppings were fresh and flavorful, and every bite tasted like it was made with love. You can tell they take real pride in what they serve, and it absolutely shows. It's rare to find a place that hits that perfect balance of cozy, casual, and truly delicious. We sat out on their adorable patio, which was not only super charming but also family- and dog-friendly--huge bonus points for that. The vibe was relaxed and welcoming, and our server was fantastic--attentive, friendly, and just the right amount of helpful without being overbearing. Ava's is the kind of spot you want to keep coming back to, whether it's for a casual weeknight dinner or a laid-back weekend hang with friends and family. PS. Get their Detroit style pizza. You won't regret it!!!

Dining at Ava's gives you St. Michael's charm. Along St. Talbot Street, this Italian restaurant inside a 19th century goose picking warehouse is charming. The staff remember your name and flawlessly recommend the restaurant's best dishes. For lunch, I ordered their $5 meatball, which is the recipe of the owner's grandmother. It comes out thick, smothered in red sauce, and filled with herbs. It was delicious! For my main, I ordered the "Chef's Favorite" thin crust pizza. Red sauce, cheese, prosciutto, arugula, and balsamic come on top of chewy thin crust. It was very delicious and filling. For dessert, I ordered the beignet trip, which comes with 7-9 big beignets and a tray of nutella, cream, and strawberry sauce. The server takes them out of a bag filled with a mound of powdered sugar. To drink, the server kept my Arnold Palmer full. It was refreshing! Ava's was started by a New Yorker who vacationed in St. Michael's. Noticing an absence of Italian spots, he opened one and it's grown into several locations!

So, I'm long overdue for a negative Yelp review, and Ava was saved in my drafts. In 2025, I did have a mixed-bag 3-star, but otherwise the 11 reviews of 2025 so far (Ava will be #12) have been positive/mixed 3-star (in the one case). One weekend every June from 2016-present, I've (along with other friends) have gone to my friend's parent's 2nd home out in Bozman. The nearest town with businesses is St. Michael's, which a cool town, with shops, history, restaurants, & is overall quaint. Ava's is one of those quaint looking historic homes. I visited twice with a group in 2018 & 2019. In 2018, I remember I did really enjoy the pizza, and pizza is my favorite food, so I wanted to go back again on the 2019 trip. In 2018, we ate outside on that hot day as seating is pretty limited. There was a cool outside bar tap on a stone wall at the bar area. I remember the service was not particularly that cordial, but it didn't really stand out that much, and the enjoyable pizza was the more prevalent consideration in wanting to return vs. the negative. In 2019, six of us had sat inside, and the server I remembered was snotty to me & to the table in general. I remembered service was very slow too that day. I also remember we were given a hard time about splitting the checks too. I paid credit in 2018, but had paid cash in 2019 (as there was no Ava's on the June 2019 Chase bill) as I remember we were pulling cash together to try to figure out our payments. Although I don't remember all the specifics from almost 6 years ago, but I remembered the general idea of the snotty server, and I remember I said to the 5 others at the table in a pissed tone, I'm never coming back to Ava's (after the bad service). Although pizza was good, there's plenty of better places I've had closer to my home in the DC area, and even Sam's in St. Michael's is tastier & a lower price. But my main beef was the terrible customer service.

We had a late lunch here on Saturday. My wife ordered the arugula and prosciutto pizza. It was very good. The crust was cooked the way we like it. Everything was well seasoned. My son son's split a margarita pizza. They both talked about how good the mozzarella cheese was. I had the meatball sub, I can tell you it was delicious and I had a very difficult time finishing it. It was so big.. I would highly recommend if you like meatball subs splitting this with someone else. We seated in front of the main window windows. They have a nice screening that allows fresh air in, but you still get to enjoy the cool air conditioning with the days are hot. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely eat here again.

Fantastic dinner tonight at Ava's! I had the meatball sandwich which was HUGE and delicious. Definitely tastes homemade. And the focaccia bread was warm and fresh. Soooo good! Great music and wonderful service! Thanks for a great last meal in St Michaels!

We attended st Michael's MD for an annual girls trip ...this place had the best pizza and drinks!! Get the onion tart thin crust pizza! Absolutely divine! We had Zoey as our server and one of the girls had many allergies and she double triple checked to make sure she could eat the meal she was ordering. She went above and beyond! We truly appreciated her ! Restaurant was a great vibe for lunch or dinner! It wasn't too hot sitting outside as well!

Place has a parking lot on its side. When you walk in the bar is straight away. To the right is more dining area with some of the kitchen open. Place is cozy. Been here twice, had Meatball Parmigiana for lunch. Large portion with leftovers. French Fries excellent. Dinner entrees also fantastic. Service was excellent.

Great vibe. Fantastic food. Excellent service. We sat at the bar and thoroughly enjoyed our first visit.

The food arrived and not a word was said by anyone at the dinner table. So yea, this place is really good.

I must rave-a for Ava's! This meal was one of the highlights of our St Michaels trip. We had the meatballs and they were delicious; easily a top 3 meatball I've ever had and I am body by meatball. We also got the Meat, Meat, Meat pizza and the Pig Pen! Both were perfect.

Thank you, Bunny! Good food and drink. Even homemade beignets!! Dogs welcome on back patio.

Delicious pizza!! There is also great deals each day - we went on a Thursday and got a free pizza with the purchase of a bottle of wine.

Stopped in again and it went as well as our first trip. Ordered the meatball and focaccia as an appetizer and they were superb. The meatball was so tasty and topped with great marinara, but the focaccia was so good, made perfectly and accented with some olive oil and vinegar drizzle for dipping. An entree of penne in vodka sauce was very good but once again the Detroit style pizza was absolutely perfect. If they could franchise this pizza and sell it nationwide they'd make a mint.

I had a great meal here. I had a pizza with sausage and feta cheese and it was delicious. The red wine was great with the pizza too. The restaurant had a nice vibe and the service was good.

An absolute bop! Our mushroom tart with mozzarella, provolone, mushrooms, red onion, truffle oil, and arugula was devoured with the quickness. All of the ingredients tasted so simple and fresh, it felt like a guilt-free experience. I met a local by the bonfire at Wildset the night before and they recommended adding a side meatball to our meal for about $3. My single meatball was BUOYANT and THICCCCCCC. My husband and I happily split one and used all of the extra red sauce to sop up the crust from our tart. Thank you random couple for the tip! Wine selection was amazing and the service was wonderful. I'd definitely come back!

Best lunch place in St. Michaels. Food and service are consistently good and it's our go-to when we are in town. Drinks are good and the place is well run. The thin crust pizzas are darn tasty and well-cooked and the bogo deal on Mondays and happy hour deals are a winner. Their frequent diner program is also very generous so sign up for it and it gets linked to your credit card. Easy peasy. That said, I do wish for two things: less background noise on the patio (especially the tables closest to the water feature where my coat always gets splashed) and the special seasonal salads being offered again.

I am confident that this would be a five star review if I had been able to sit in the inside dining room. The outdoor dining room was nice and the bar tap fountain was cute but the flying companions were a bit too annoying for my enjoyment. To the credit of the establishment there were fans on the table to ward off the insects. Beyond that little drawback, I had a fabulous dinner. I can't express enough how good the dealer's choice wine was. I wish it came by the bottle but had no hesitation ordering more glasses of it. My husband and I enjoyed the spinach dip appetizer and a couple of the gourmet pizzas. It was a unique spin on a comfort food that was a culinary treat.

Our favorite place in St Michaels - everything else pales in comparison Food - The Detroit Pizza is the bomb! With Pepperoni or other toppings always the best - Great apps as well including Meatball Sliders Service - Service is usually very good Ambiance - Great location on Main St in St Michaels

Delicious artisan pizza, friendly service, nice patrons! Visited during St Michael's Chocolate Festival. Despite being busy, patrons were very friendly during our wait time, and even offered up a seat for a friend needing one. The Mediterranean and Meatball pizzas are so delicious! Pretty atmosphere in the sunny back room with plants and a fountain. Looking forward to returning here soon!

Wonderful pizza place. The restaurant had very home-like and small town vibe. Despite being very busy (came in right after a race), servers/hosts were ready to take in a large group of people. We were seated very quickly and served very quickly. The Detroit style pizzas were delicious, as well as their regular pizzas. Truly enjoyed the flavor of the pizzas and it was hard to leave any leftovers. I'm only providing a 4 stars because of the size of the pizzas being a little small. Despite the sizes, it was very filling for my friends.

The place itself and staff deserve a higher rating. The margarita pizza a solid 3.0. This pizza had about the same amount of mozzarella on the whole pizza that I would expect on one slice. I don't know how they think this is ok. The gaps between small pieces of mozzarella are huge so the pizza is mostly sauce and crust. If you are going to sell pizza you can be skimpy with the cheese. Won't go back.

A group of us had a fun dinner on Ava's patio last night. The food is consistently good in a very pleasant atmosphere. The staff are always pleasant. Somehow Chris teaches them to act as if they own the business. Now the hard part. We still miss the short ribs, Chris. Whatever is holding up the return, we hope you can solve it. The new patio chairs don't match the height of the tables. Shorter people feel like they're sitting in a hole. Those chairs were a mistake. Kirke Harper

The Detroit pizza is incredibly delicious. The crust is always cooked perfectly. Sat at the bar and the bartender was great.

Visited this place on our 3-day getaway and were pleasantly surprised to find such a great restaurant in a quiet town like this. We stopped by for lunch and ordered a Margherita pizza and a Shrimp fra diavolo. Both were fantastic! The pizza was cooked to perfection, and the pasta had just the right amount of spicy kick to it. Highly recommend to folks visiting this town!

Blue mussels appetizer, Watermelon salad and Heirloom tomato pizza were outrageous. Hand tossed brick oven pizza had a perfect thin crust. Quaint restaurant with great waitstaff in beautiful St. Michaels. Very good price/value relationship.

Great atmosphere & food . Service is always great. I always try to sit at the bar Molly is awesome.I always eat here when I go St Michaels. Highly recommend Ava's.

They deep dish pepperoni pizza was rather mediocre, and the service generally sucked.

Great food, service and ambience. It was my bFF's birthday and we reserved the room upstairs for 10. Perfect because we had one baby one toddler and one 10-year-old. Plus a lot of adults.... Surface was pretty good, even though we're upstairs from the kitchen. But the food was.... We were there for the Monday night, Bogo.!! 4 to 6! Had pizza, salad, and wasabi oysters are insane!! then the piece de la resistance was the bag of fresh out of the oven beignets!!! Omg!!! Beyond!

Best pizza on the Eastern Shore. It's a busy place, and the service was friendly but a bit inattentive. The outdoor seating was nice.

Tasty lunch spot! The meatball was super flavorful - the bread was soft and tasty - ask for a side of sauce on the side for dunking!

Best Detroit pizza I have ever had, artisan pizza is amazing too, great atmosphere and wonderful customer service.

Ava's is a town favorite and quickly becoming my go-to spot in St Micheals island. I have been for dinner twice and now lunch. The staff is always fun and entertaining. They are always helpful and willing to share the specials and pairings. I have tried the meatballs which are amazing, the pizza, and pasta dishes. I have never had a bad meal here and I expect that you will enjoy this restaurant. I always sit next to the beer sculpture between the fireplaces on the covered patio. It's like sitting in your own back yard with landscaping, landscaping, a massive canopy, and a private chef!

We sat at the bar for Happy Hour and ended up getting snacks. The prices were worth every cent. The drinks were wonderful. The bartender was friendly and she offered suggestions. The tomato bisque was truly a highlight of our trip! How something so simple can be so delicious astounds me. My partner had a meatball and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Very good pizza and wine. The place was nicely done, great service too. We also like the salad.

This is a great bar and pizza joint. Very friendly bartenders and staff, good drinks, local beers and really good pizza.Kinda small location so reservations recommended through their website if its a busy night.

Wow I started coming here when they first opened....its has been years since we came back. When you walk in the door at happy hour and it is empty ...it should tell you something. Food it is just food . Wedge salad 3 leaves of lettuce?? The food is just not what made this place famous Please do not waste your money here . There are other great options in St Michaels. I will be surprised if Ava's is open a year from now Sad , very sad !!

Husband and I shared the mushroom pizza and had the Ma's meatball appetizer. Both good and had the best waitress! Great service and food!

Extremely noisy atmosphere, mediocre service. Not our first time here, but we went with another couple and we could barely hear the conversation among us, much less the server. I had the Detroit style big pig", which was good. The toppings could have been more generous, for a $21 individual pizza. Ava's excels in their pizza crust, which is crisp/chewy. My husband had the Reuben pizza, which was good but very sparse on the toppings. Service was not attentive; extra dishes and glasses were only cleared if you put them right by the server and asked her to take them. Second drinks were not offered until close to the end of the meal. Not my favorite pizza place.

Stopped by Ava's on Saturday night for dinner. We ordered the white onion pie and made our own pie with jalapenos and pineapple. The latter was a tasty combination. Wouldn't be offended if someone copied it! Along with the two pies we ordered a shrimp entree. We got the spinach dip, and mozzarella, tomato and basil salad for starters. It was all delicious. The service was a tad slow, but this may be because they were busy. We were seated upstairs and it felt cozy like you were in someone's house.

This was my first time at Ava's. I felt like I was at home. The hospitality and homemade food was everything I could of hoped for. I ordered the fried Wasabi Oysters to start. They were some of the best I ever had. The wasabi paste wasn't too overbearing. The balance was just right. I also had the New Orleans BBQ shrimp. It tasted more like jerk. It was good too. For my entree, I had the chefs specials pizza and had the server add on the homemade meatballs. I could not leave without trying them. The meatballs were prob the best I ever had. To drink because it was so hot outside, I ordered the Limoncello Spritz. It was very tasty! I would give Avas 5 stars.

Our experience at Ava's was really great. We ordered a Chicago style pizza and it came out with about a 1 inch hole in it due to an air bubble. Before they brought it out the server let us know about the hole and asked if we wanted that one or if we wanted to wait for another one. I didn't mind and was starving so we took the first pizza but then they also brought us an additional second pizza to take to go unprompted. Very nice! It was also delicious and so was their ranch. Highly recommend for taste and customer service.

Great home town vibe. Short rib sandwich was also very yummy. I came here over late winter/early spring and town itself is pretty quiet. Restaurant itself seemed very busy so service was a bit slow. However friendly staff definitely made up for it. Will definitely stop by again.

Delicious Detroit style pizza! And best chicken Marsala I've ever had! Cool atmosphere too!

I love Ava's. Chris has done an amazing job creating and maintaining a quality restaurant where the staff somehow seem like owners - caring and responsible. After more than 15 years, Ava's is still my favorite place in St Michaels. So it pains me to write a negative review of a place I love, but the recent changes are worth a few words. First, the chips. Why, after all these years, drop the chips? They were one of the distinguishing features. Second, the short ribs. I watched Chris Fazio prepare the ribs, trimming the meat, veg trimmings in the pot. They were delightful. I hope they've moved next door to Theo's. Finally, why is it so hard to order a side of red sauce to go? The old menu at least listed it as a side for the Caesar salad. Now it seems to be gone entirely. These are comments submitted from a caring customer. Please pay more attention, Chris.

The vegetarian pizza is pretty good. It is very light, tasty, had a perfect balance of olives, tomatoes, artichoke and cheese. We sat outside at the back, which has natural light and felt a little more relaxed than inside. Excellent service.

I need to update this review. This place has really grown on me over the years. The food is top notch quality & full of flavor. The service is ALWAYS fantastic and I always leave satisfied.

Visited Ava's for the second time while in St. Michaels. Service and food is great! We brought out pup on the second visit and they were very accommodating. If traveling with a pet, I recommend that you give them a quick call first as they only allow two dogs at a time in their covered patio area.

We stopped into Ava's for a bit of pizza and drinks. The pizza was made in a brick oven which was surprising but the taste was nothing special. The 3 star is due to two factors. The price was outrageous.. $120 for two 12" pizzas a glass of wine and a makers mark with coke. Also the bill presented on a electric handle device so its very awkward reviewing the bill and deciding a tip. The server has to hold to device for you.

I ordered the Detroit Mediterranean Pizza. It may have been the best pizza I have ever had! Taryn was our server. She was wonderful. We will definitely be back. I am adding Ava's to our list of favorite restaurants.