Ava's Lowcountry Cuisine — Restaurant in Florida

Entrance is on the North side of the building, but make sure you turn in before you pass it. Tucked away in the back of this strip mall which runs perpendicular to the highway, one could easily pass on by without knowing Ava's Lowcountry Cuisine existed. There's no discernible marquee, and the pylon sign out front caters to the other businesses while excluding Ava's for some reason. There is a mobile sign parked by the highway, but in my daily commute up and down 41, I never noticed it (and certainly wouldn't see it while heading South). Thanks to Google, I spotted Ava's and decided to give it a try. First off, whoever picked up the phone was the nicest person in the world. I knew I was going to like this place right away. When I arrived at the restaurant, there was not much to look at. People aren't coming here for the tchotchkes or other distractions that some restaurants pedal to augment the meal. Ava's is 100% about great food! Our dinner was ready within a minute of my arrival. Paid with credit card, and off I went. I would love to tell you about the cranberry lamb chops and how delicious they were, but my family tore them apart like the Bumpus hounds in A Christmas Story before I had a chance to partake. I did get to sample the Carolina Curry Soup in all its glory. A thick creamy blend of gastro-satisfaction I'll have to order again. The penultimate item this evening , Chicken and Waffles, was for the kids. Their review was mixed which is the equivalent of a 4-star review from Siskel & Ebert. Whatever they didn't eat the adults did and found it delightful. Probably didn't help that the kids had several pounds of Valentine's Day chocolate in them. Last and oh so not least were the Mango Jerk Wings. Nothing foul about these fowl. These wings were astounding! Fall off the bone succulence with just the right amount of sweet sweet heat to make me wince yet come back for more. All food items were securely contained so as to prevent spillage on the journey home. Presentation was A+. I was verbally abused in the ear when I returned to my residence as I forgot to ask what desserts were available. So by royal spousal decree, I will be back to Ava's (not just...

I’ve had the pleasure of attending two private dining experiences with Chef Ava and her grand opening of her new location in Lutz,FL. I love supporting local businesses especially when the owner is part of your community. Chef Ava has a remarkable spirit and is a joy to support.

She offers a variety of services, private catering, large event catering, weekly meals, kids cooking classes to name a few. Her menu features an eclectic menu with southern and low country influence. I’ve never had a meal I didn’t like!

My latest meal that I tried from Chef Ava was fried fish and creamy grits with a banana foster cobbler with vanilla pudding. It was really great! The fish was fried in a cornmeal batter which is my favorite way to eat fried fish. The grits were savory and creamy and paired well with the fried fish. The dessert was a dish I had never tried before but will definitely be requesting it again the next time I get food from Chef Ava. So good!

Chef Ava’s brick & mortar location is open from 5-10pm on Friday’s and Saturday’s.

Be sure to come out...

My appetizer was the chicken wontons with the apricot glaze. Those wontons were delicious . I had one on my drive home and next thing you know all 5 of them were gone! I should have took a photo before I devoured them.

My entree was Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Herb Roasted Chicken with Brushed Whiskey Glaze Sauce. The chicken was so juicy! The mashed potatoes were so creamy and flavorful . The appetizing broccoli paired well with the chicken and mashed potatoes.

My dessert was Banana Foster Cobbler. It was so sweet and definitely satisfied my sweet tooth.

Chef Ava’s customer service and professional is excellent . She is not only black owned but also is a Veteran! Her tasting was a great experience and I defiantly will be back to try more of her...