This was our first visit to Ava's. I can not say enough about our server, Amy. She recommended a wine that was very good. She also recommended a pizza with some unique toppings, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is decorated very nicely. The Gelato was excellent and maybe the best I have ever tried. The prices are very reasonable and they have some great happy hours specials. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Overview
Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar - Cambridge sits right on 305 High St, Cambridge, MD 21613, United States, and the first thing you notice when you walk in is how relaxed the vibe feels. I’ve eaten here more times than I can count, usually after a long afternoon wandering along the Choptank River, and it always hits the spot. Friends often text me saying best brick oven pizza on the Eastern Shore, and honestly, it’s hard to argue.
The heart of the place is the wood-fired oven. You can watch the staff stretch dough, brush it lightly with olive oil, then slide the pizza into the flames. That process matters. According to a Cornell University food science study, high-heat baking around 800 degrees locks in moisture while creating that leopard-spotted crust people crave. Ava’s nails this technique, which is why the pies come out chewy in the middle with crisp edges every single time.
The menu balances comfort with creativity. Sure, you can order a classic margherita, but the real fun starts with specialty pizzas topped with roasted garlic, local sausage, or seasonal vegetables from nearby farms. During a spring visit, I had one layered with asparagus and lemon ricotta-something I wouldn’t normally pick-and it was a hit with our whole table. That kind of experimentation reflects what the National Restaurant Association has been reporting for years: diners increasingly value fresh, local ingredients and unique flavor combos.
It’s not just pizza, either. The salads are generous and actually filling, and the small plates make it easy to share. Their wine list is surprisingly deep for a small-town spot, focusing on Italian reds and crisp whites that pair well with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. I once chatted with the bartender about food pairing, and she mentioned they use guidance from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to keep the list approachable rather than intimidating.
Reviews around town back up what I’ve seen personally. On busy weekends, there’s often a wait, especially in summer when tourists flood Cambridge. Locals don’t seem to mind because the service stays friendly even under pressure. One couple at the next table told me they drive in from Easton twice a month because it feels like their go-to date night spot, and I get it. The lighting is soft, the music is low, and you can actually hear your conversation.
From a professional angle, I once helped a family-owned diner revamp its pizza workflow, and Ava’s setup is a textbook example of efficiency. Ingredients are prepped early, the dough ferments overnight for better flavor, and orders flow smoothly from kitchen to table. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes discipline you don’t always see, yet it explains why even a packed house doesn’t slow things down too much.
If there’s a limitation, it’s parking. High Street can feel cramped, and on festival days you might have to circle a bit before finding a spot. Still, the location adds charm because you can stroll the historic downtown after dinner, checking out nearby shops or waterfront views.
People often ask me whether it’s more of a diner, a bar, or a pizza joint. It’s really all three rolled into one casual hangout. Families grab early tables, couples linger over wine, and groups of friends crowd around the bar comparing notes on their favorite slices. That blend of menu variety, welcoming atmosphere, and consistently solid food is what keeps this place buzzing year after year.
Good to know
Service options
✓ Outdoor seating ✓ Takeaway ✓ Dine-inHighlights
✓ Fast service ✓ Great beer selection ✓ Great cocktails ✓ Great dessert ✓ Great wine list ✓ Serves local specialty ✓ SportPopular for
✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Solo diningAccessibility
✓ Wheelchair-accessible entrance ✓ Wheelchair-accessible seating ✓ Assistive hearing loop ✓ Wheelchair-accessible car park ✓ Wheelchair-accessible toiletOfferings
✓ Alcohol ✓ Beer ✓ Cocktails ✓ Coffee ✓ Comfort food ✓ Happy-hour drinks ✓ Happy-hour food ✓ Healthy options ✓ Quick bite ✓ Small plates ✓ Spirits ✓ Vegan options ✓ Vegetarian options ✓ WineDining options
✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Dessert ✓ Seating ✓ Table serviceAmenities
✓ Bar on site ✓ ToiletAtmosphere
✓ Casual ✓ Cosy ✓ TrendyCrowd
✓ Family friendly ✓ Groups ✓ LGBTQ+ friendly ✓ Tourists ✓ Transgender safe spacePlanning
✓ Accepts reservationsPayments
✓ Credit cards ✓ Credit cardsChildren
✓ Good for kids ✓ High chairs ✓ Kids' menuParking
✓ Free of charge street parking ✓ ParkingPets
✓ Dogs allowed outsidePhotos
1 / 4
Location
Reviews
- No ratings yet 533 reviews
Loved it! Meatball slices on the pizza were a perfect mix with the variety of mushrooms, crispy chewy crust was the ideal bed for this great pizza!
The food was very good. The Detroit pizza was outstanding. The meatballs are a must try. The pesto shrimp was amazing. The Eastern shore beignets were awesome. The grand kids really enjoyed the food. The service was superb. Great place!
We went the night before the Ironman so it was busy. The food came out very quickly like impressively fast, couldn’t image on a normal night. Food was great definitely recommend it.
We came for a late lunch, and it was enjoyable. Very quiet at this time, so we had our choice of seating. We had Caesar salad, fries and pizza. The salad was great, fries were delicious, though a bit too salty. Pizza was good, but a little greasy for my taste. A bit pricey for pretty basic food items, but it was good. Service was excellent. I personally liked that they had Bob Ross on one of the TVs. Golf on the other. I would return.
My server was Maddie. She was pleasant, friendly, and easily engaged in conversation. The chicken parm sandwich was delicious but I ended up using a knife and fork and ate it like an open face sandwich.....but maybe I'm just messy eater...the homemade chips were tasty as well as the house made cheesecake.
A great place to meet new people and delicious unique pies! Service was great, fast and friendly. The menu is full of what you would expect from an Italian pizza place-for starters: meatballs, focaccia, sliders with some unique vegan gluten-free options including tomato bisque, which was very good. Additionally, they have salads and entrées. What you’re seeing below is the whole 29 garlic shrimp which is gluten-free and has spinach & roasted garlic and it’s delicious. I think I already said delicious once, but I’ll say it again! There’s a few sandwiches and now for the pies! I got the thin crust onion tart, which is caramelized onion, Iva‘s fresh mozzarella and crème fraîche drizzle. This is what I wanna say: I think this is a hidden gem because the pies they have are full of deliciousness. What we actually did was take the leftover spinach from the entrée from the garlic shrimp & and put it on the pie! Getting creative lol it was absolutely delicious too-just took the pie to another level (if that’s possible). So yummy! I would suggest asking well done if you’d like your crust a little toastier - mine was a little light, but I forgot to ask so that’s on me. Some of the other pies they have is margarita, Bianca, Caprese, but some unique ones include the mushroom tart which is mozzarella and provolone mushroom red onion, truffle oil, and arugula so you see it’s a fancier pie. They also have Detroit style, so Sicilian basically similar pies, but in that style. They do have a kids menu spaghetti, butter, pasta, meatball so everything ranges under $20 for the most part very reasonable. I couldn’t eat the whole thing so I took it home :-) If you’re looking for directions, they are across the street up a little bit from where they used to be so if you’re familiar with Cambridge, they are not on that corner anymore and they’re next to the post office. It looks like they have a call ahead waitlist for parties of 2 to 7 guests. You can call ahead and if you have a bigger party that’s 8 to 12 then yes they take reservations same day (at least 2 hrs ahead) according to their website. Very good and I will be here again! Check the website for any specials. :)