Ave Maria Gastro Lounge

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A True Ecuadorian Gem in Casselberry Ave Maria Gastro Lounge is the kind of place you walk into expecting a simple lunch… and end up genuinely blown away. This restaurant doesn’t just serve food—it delivers Ecuadorian comfort with pride, precision, and flavor that sticks with you. I ordered the chaulafán, and hands down, it’s one of the best versions I’ve had anywhere. Perfectly seasoned, loaded with tender meat, and cooked with real intention. Every bite hit that balance of savory, smoky, and fresh—not greasy, not heavy, just right. The bolón con queso y chicharrón came out like a masterpiece: warm, cheesy, packed with flavor, and paired with a creamy house sauce that elevated it even more. And the empanada de plátano? Golden, crispy, and filled with that authentic homemade taste that instantly feels like Sunday lunch with family. Beyond the food, the experience is top-tier. The staff is professional, friendly, and attentive—the kind of service that makes you feel welcomed the second you sit down. The restaurant itself is spotless and beautifully kept, but the real surprise? The bathrooms. I don’t usually mention this in reviews, but they were unbelievably clean. It tells you everything about how seriously this place takes its standards. If you want authentic Ecuadorian food done with care, passion, and pride, Ave Maria Gastro Lounge is the spot. I’ll absolutely be back—and recommending it to everyone I know.

I love the atmosphere, the vibe, the place. Service was fantastic. Aureli took care of us and always made sure we were enjoying our food and time at the restaurant. I was feeling congested and she was very attentive. She even offered me a hot tea, which helped a lot with it and made me feel better. Make sure you take care of her; she deserves a raise. Going to the food, it was delicious and very filling and very ecuadorian. 😋 👌. Definitely recommended.

We were visiting Orlando for the weekend and wanted some ceviche and we found this spot. The food was great but the service was even better. If you are not Ecuadorian and get ceviche ask for some ketchup and mustard and add some to your ceviche, you will thank me later.

We had such an amazing experience at Ave Maria Gastro Lounge! Maria Fernanda was absolutely wonderful — super attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed all night. The drinks were perfect: the passion fruit mojito was delicious and refreshing, and the strawberry margarita was also really good. For appetizers we ordered morcillas, tostones, and cheese empanadas — all super tasty and full of flavor. My entrée was chuletas with arroz y habichuelas, and everything was cooked perfectly. So yummy! We also ended up singing all night, which made the whole evening even more special. Truly an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!

Super elegant restaurant! The food was beyond amazing, great flavor, great portion, and great presentation! I ordered the Churrasco myself, but the bolón de queso, the encebollado, and the ceviche de camarón also looked delicious. (Didn’t take a picture of those, unfortunately)

Finding a decent Ecuadorian restaurant in Central Florida is a rare treat, and Ave Maria Gastro Lounge is a true gem. The modern, inviting atmosphere and decor beautifully pay tribute to the country's amazing culture. The food was good, from the flavorful seco de chivo and fresh shrimp ceviche to the salchipapas for my son. The service was exceptional, with staff going above and beyond to ensure our meal was allergy safe. While the prices were a bit high, the quality of the food and the overall experience made it well worth it. Recommend adding fritada con mote or llapingachos to the menu and Pilsner beer is a must! We're looking forward to returning and recommending this fantastic spot to friends and family.

Friendly, professional service. The food was absolutely delicious - the shrimp ceviche was so flavorful and balanced, the goat stew was tender and savory, and while I wasn't big on the guatita (for personal texture reasons, nothing to do with quality), it had such a good and comforting taste. I also sampled a friend's soup, and don't know what it was called, but it had a unique flavor that was very nice. Also worth mentioning, our server Maria was great with service, including communicating with me about food allergies to help me know what I could eat.

Aureli was awesome. She took good care of us but more importantly the food was AMAZING. Whole snapper fresh was amazing.