While we dined at Ave Mario as a pre-theater spot, it was so bustling you would have thought it was 9pm on a Friday rather than 5:30pm on a Tuesday. The place was popping and you had your table for two hours only, as it was clear they needed it.

To start we had the focaccia, light and airy, to accompany maybe the best Caprese salad of the summer. Perfect tomatoes, bright pesto, and creamy burrata really blew both of our hair back.

I was slightly confused when my lemon spinach ricotta ravioli (recommended by the waiter) came absolutely swimming in a bowl of cream. You cut into one and essentially created soup. Honestly, it was a bit gross, but I feel like it had been plated properly could have been a real winner. We’ll never know.

Overall, the meal was half excellent. I’d be willing to try it again, but would ask for light sauce. The long pasta dishes looked great and were plated perfectly. Too bad I had a heavy-handed soupier.