- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
a Cena Ristorante
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
7742 SE 13th StPortland, OR 97202
Neighborhoods: Southeast Portland, Sellwood
(503) 206-3291
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
149 reviews for a Cena Ristorante
Review Highlights
-
"Sweet and tangy, with house-made mozzarella." In 3 reviews -
"The wine list is pretty spectacular." In 10 reviews -
"...Angolotti with mascarpone and butter poached Maine lobster." In 3 reviews
Loading...
148 reviews in English
-
Review from Tiffany B.
Newberg, OR
Oh a Cena....when I heard you were going to offer a brunch, I was so excited I could hardly wait! This is, hands down, the best restaurant in Portland! The food and the ambiance of this place takes me to another time!
I love Italian food, it's a favorite of mine, but when done right, it sends me over the edge...in a good way! When you first step into a Cena, you are taken to another world, somewhere over in Europe, perhaps a farm, or a little Bistro, and yet it's very romantic inside and cozy. The weathered wood and painted walls tell of another time gone by. A simple time, when people enjoyed sitting and chatting over wine with great food, when time was not hurried. Food that is simple, but with so much flavor! We've been for dinner before, and now we get to be spoiled with Brunch too! We came on the first day of their brunch offering....
I don't know the Italian names of the food we had, but what we had, was the BEST ever brunch! This is not a hurried brunch, this is a place to relax and take your time and really enjoy the food you are eating. We started off with Bloody Marys and doughnuts. The Marys were very good, not thick, and served with artichokes and olives...oh my! The doughnuts, I think they are called "Bombollinies" in Italian, were the best ever! Served with a side of chocolate sauce, berry compote and creme fraiche, I was in heaven! As I pulled them apart you could see the fluffy layers of pastry, and they tasted so fluffy and airy...I could have these everyday!!
The brunch menu has a little of everything to choose from, Egg dishes to pizzas and a few pasta dishes, as well as french toast. But today I wanted something different, so I choose this tomato dish with sausage, focaccia, and baked eggs on top. The tomatoes had a big burst of flavor, they must have slow roasted these for hours! the sausage had a nice kick to it too. So good, I ate all of it! My sweetie had the fried chicken with eggs. His chciken was moist and thin, done perfectly. The sauce on this was creamy, not heavy.
We were very, very satisfied with a Cena's brunch, and being the first day of their new offering, they did very well. The service was on point, the food oh so good, and the overall experience left us very happy!
If you get the chance, go and try for yourself, you will fall in love with a Cena and all that they offer ;-)Listed in: Fabulous eats for NW cuisine, Weekend breakfast, better…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/29/2011
10 stars is what I would love to give this place....yes, 10!
a Cena, pronounced a chena, means… Read more »
-
-
Review from Anna S.
5/10/2012
It's not a fairy tale - it's real... love at first bite, people. (I'm sorry... I couldn't help it.)
But going to a Cena for the first time WAS like the restaurant version of the fairy tale romance - upon meeting, just being totally enchanted with every aspect... gazing at it in all its special beauty and thinking, "I'm going to spend my life with you."
Yep. Seriously.
The food blew me away, but the service won my heart for keeps.
My meal tasted like spring - a fantastic Columbia Valley viognier and the salmon with rhubarb sauce/chutney, asparagus, fiddleheads, and peas... just phenomenal. I stole several bites of Mr. Anna S.'s lobster and sweet corn agnolotti, which I can TESTIFY! PREACH! AMEN! is worth every bit of the hype.
Appetizers - excellent. Bread? Heavenly. And again, the service was outstanding - consistent, warm, knowledgeable, non-intrusive, professional.
A Cena is now on my list of all-time Portland favorites.Listed in: My 'hood -…
-
Review from Esther K.
Portland, OR
4/30/2012 Seated via OpenTable
ah-chaynah is insane-ah! this restaurant is very cute, great ambiance and decor, but it is beensy weensy. The menu is unique and quite a change from the stock Italian dishes that you expect and (if you're like me, are bored of).
It's always packed- less because it's tiny and more because the food is delicious and it's a fun place to spend an evening. Fun place for a date or just a dinner with friends.
I ordered the Agnolotti, which is a magical mixture of creamy, rich, salty, and smooth flavors. You get very generous portions of the lobster, which was very exciting and the pasta is so packed with flavor, it's incredible. Our server was friendly and personable and was very knowledgeable on the menu items, which i appreciated.
The portions were a good size, the prices were very reasonable and the wines-by-the-glass were pretty delish. I give it a 10.0! -
Review from alan l.
Lake Oswego, OR
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant is a gem! Both times I've eaten here I was greeted warmly and chatted up while waiting for my table. Once seated, everything fell into place with excellent wait staff, amazing apps, delicious entrees and a great wine list. This is everything I want.
-
Review from David M.
5/22/2012
hands down, the best italian I've had in portland. each bite was better than the next. very intimate atmosphere. excellent wine selection.
-
Review from Erin T.
Westminster, CO
5/22/2012
We ordered the Romano, Agnolotti and Saltimboca. The food was incredible! We were seated in a beautiful picture window and our server Matt helped to create a very memorable experience. Love the place!
-
Review from Chuck R.
Portland, OR
5/15/2012
This is a very impressive jewel of a restaurant in the Sellwood neighborhood. The food was very good, but the agnolotti with lobster was a special taste treat. We only tried a couple of the appetizers - the grilled romaine salad and calamari- both were excellent. And we tried a few pastas, all very good, but as I said the agnolotti was outstanding. The service was attentive and efficient. I'll be back!
-
Review from Natalie W.
Portland, OR
4/26/2012
Maybe I didn't need to make a reservation for a Tuesday night, but our reserved table was in a cute little nook out of the way of the main dining area, totally perfect for an impromptu date night. The staff was incredibly friendly and proficient, not just our waitress but many others came over throughout the night to fill our glasses or check on us.
We started with the antipasto plate, and every part of it was really tasty. For the main course, my boyfriend had the pasta with lobster; I had the trout with mashed potatoes and brocollini. The trout had a crispy, partly blacked outside, and was super flaky and juicy inside. The sauce from the lobster pasta was so good that I repeatedly dipped the remaining bread and breadsticks in it even though I was full from my own meal.
That might be my one tiny criticism - the entrees were huge. We boxed up a small portion of both our meals (which we subsequently left behind... opps), and discussed how incredibly unnecessary having dessert would be.
But then the waitress came back and casually slipped the dessert menus in front of us (which, in my opinion, is the best trick in the book). Well, I said to my boyfriend after perusing the menu, I might be able to maybe split some sorbetto with you. So we split the lemon sorbetto, which was tart and just a little sweet and completely perfect. -
Review from Katya J.
Portland, OR
4/11/2012 Seated via OpenTable
After coming here for a birthday dinner, a Cena is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland.
We started with calamari that had a fabulous flavor and a fine, crisp textured breading. Then my husband and I shared the pappardelle with rabbit; it was rich and tender -- not always the easiest thing to accomplish with rabbit! We followed it up with a main dish of chicken medallions with pancetta. It practically melted in my mouth, which is not something I am accustomed to with meat, particularly poultry.
Everything was impressive, and remained so even on subsequent visits. This restaurant should be commended not only for its great quality, but for the consistency of said greatness.
So yeah... go ahead and guess how the chocolate cake was. (Hint: it will melt your brain.) -
Review from andrew s.
Portland, OR
4/15/2012
This place is very good/tasty.
Great service and drinks.
Very balanced menu.
Great lunch menu.
If you can't find something you like on this menu.
I feel for you.
You probably should stick to Olive Garden. -
Review from Don B.
Updated - 3/10/2012 5 Check-ins Here
aCena continues to impress me. Every time I visit I'm reminded of simply how talented both the front and back of house at this neighborhood establishment are. And it's kind of funny that this would even be considered a neighborhood establishment. For us, it's a destination. And if it were closer in it would get totally crushed on a regular basis.
The food at aCena is simple and delicious. Whether it's the fried asparagus and lemon - lightly battered and seasoned with just a hit of sea salt so that the natural flavors shine through - or the decadent sweet corn and marscapone agnolotti with huge lobster chunks, it's hard to imagine how anyone could be disappointed with the fare. Even the fresh focaccia and crack-like breadsticks are on point.
The staff at aCena work hard to make you feel like family. They know how to serve. Let me repeat that notion. In a town known for shitty, too-casual, apathetic, too-cool, ineffective or simply incompetent service, the folks at aCena know how to do their job. And they do it right. There's always a server somewhere on the floor, and you can make a request of any of them no problem. Need a check split 10 ways? Not a problem - they paid attention to who ordered what. Food's up? The closest server will grab it and bring it to you. I love it.
The drinks here are even good. Get a negroni to prime your palate. They make a tasty one.
I really feel like I shouldn't have to update my last review (since it's one I really like - you should read it) but since I've had the opportunity to dine here more, I find myself more endeared. And really, they deserve it.Listed in: Portland Gourmet, Sellwood!, Italian Food - Portland
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/24/2010
Good lord. How has this restaurant flown under my radar so long? Is it the location out in Sellwood?… Read more »
-
-
Review from Nancy L.
Beaverton, OR
3/11/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I'm really close to giving this five stars, but I want to try one more time before I do that. The waiter was very helpful and friendly, great service all the way around. He convinced me to try the famous ravioli with lobster dish and suggested that I order half an order and half of the other dish I wanted. He was right, it was very delicious. It's really rich and the lobster tastes like lobster should; not the way I'm used to getting it in restaurants, which is why I was shying away from it.
Love, love, love the bread and even the olive oil they served it with is delicious. The reason I didn't give it five stars is because my partner ordered pizza that just paled in comparison to my dishes, so she ate my food, which was fine with me because I had two dishes. I just wish we would have split my order and not ordered the pizza for her.
I would like to go back and order salads and split the entree. The prices are spot on for the fare. -
Review from Deanna N.
4/1/2012
The first reason I am giving this three stars is I came here for lunch and for that without an alcoholic beverage was 30 bucks - at least $10 too steep.
That being said, I impressed with the casa salad with balsamic drizzle and plenty of shaved cheese as well as the homemade salted caramel gelato.
But thumbs down to the pizza, too many woodfire places in PDX for same price as well as some food carts for half the price that are WAY better.
I'll have to comeback for dinner since I do live in the neighborhood, and it has that romantic dim-lit Italian feel. I just can't afford a lunch more than 10 bucks these days. -
Review from Brandi M.
Portland, OR
5/3/2012
I'd lived in Sellwood for 4 whole years before actually eating at a Cena: HOLY COW!
The food, service and ambiance are all amazing. The agnolotti (lobster-marscapone-sweet corn stuffed ravioli) are to die for. -
Review from Kunhyuk K.
Portland, OR
4/2/2012 7 photos
One of the few classic Italian here in Portland. Nice food, warm atmosphere, reasonable price. Plus very nice (and again reasonable price) wine selections.
Personally, very much enjoyed their home-made pasta selections. Lobster ravioli was very unique and tasty.
Highly Recommended! -
Review from Chuck F.
Milwaukie, OR
3/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
A Cena is ineffable. But reader, I will try.
I really like this place. I've always made reservations so I have not had to wait to be seated as of yet. But you should expect to wait when a place is this good. People will want to eat here and eat they do.
Really notice how nice the people are that work here. The greeter is just very friendly. And not that fake friendly stuff either. That shows that management is doing something right by keeping their employees happy.
My favorite dinner here is the Anatra. The dessert is always Tiramisu. And man, that stuff is good. It's one of those things where it is so good you argue with your date that she got more than you.
I'm not a wine guy so I cannot speak for the wine but all I hear are good things about their selections.
When you are there you can see into the kitchen area while you eat. It's neat to see those people hard at working cooking up such delectable delights to stimulate the palette.
I really enjoy the wooden look of the interior. It goes will with the subtle art on the walls. It really fits this place. Makes it complete.
Sellwood should really be proud to host this establishment. It seems to be well known around the metro area. I really hope it sticks around for the long haul.
It's tough to say anything bad about A Cena. But I must note the only thing that I don't like about it. They have little space to move around. There are too many tables in this small space. I understand the business model and the need to maximize profits. But it does take away from the overall experience. They are close to perfect. -
Review from Tony M.
1/25/2012
If I could give more stars I would.
Like Yelper, Emi P. who reviewed a Cena on 1/3/2012, I went to a Cena for my birthday dinner. My wife allowed me to select the restaurant for my birthday dinner. We were joined by six of our closest friends, all very experienced in Portland dining. I was very confident in deciding on a Cena. Our dinner was superb!
I started with the Roman, a grilled romaine salad. Yes, grilled! AMAZEBALLS! My wife and I shared two dishes. One entree was the Garganelli, a cooked to perfection pork bolognese with hand rolled penne. Yes, hand rolled! AMAZEBALLS! The second entree was the Agnolotti, a corn & mascarpone raviolini with delicious chunks of butter-poached Maine lobster. Yes, chunks of butter-poached Maine lobster! Do I even need to say it? Yes, I do. AMAZEBALLS!
Tiramisu for my birthday desert. Yes!...........
Great food, great wine, great friends! -
Review from Tim W.
Portland, OR
4/21/2012
What a great restaurant! My wife and I walked in at 6:00 on Friday night, the hostess greeted us warmly right away and seated us immediately. Our server (Doug) was helping another table close to us, but before he went to get their wine, he greeted us and made us feel welcome.
The service was top notch. Doug helped us choose an excellent wine that went with both our entrees. The owner, who buys all the wine, came to our table to pour for us. Our salads and entrees were beautiful and delicious. Both came quickly, but not rushed. We both ordered specials that were fantastic, but the rest of the menu sounded amazing.
By the time we left, the restaurant was full. Glad to see an amazing local business thriving. Looking forward to our next visit. -
Review from Emi P.
Portland, OR
1/3/2012
I came here for my birthday a couple weeks ago and am just getting around to writing a review, but let me tell you - I have been telling anyone who will listen about how great this place is!
I live nearby, but never knew this place existed until I started looking for a new place to try for the bday. I made reservations over OpenTable, which was ridiculously easy, and when we arrived they had our table ready and waiting. Our waiter was knowledgeable and funny and when my sister-in-law starting dishing out her standard sass he dished it out just as well as he took it - we were all laughing by the end of the meal.
The food was amazing. We had the calamari appetizer and, between all 7 of us: the lasagna, the agnolotti, the garganelli, and some of that evenings specials: osso bucco, and a sole dish. We all ate off each other's plates and everything was delicious. The lasagna was a little plain, but who comes to a great place like this to order lasagna? Only my brother and husband apparently.
I had the agnolotti and it was everything everyone else on here has promised - buttery, rich, creamy, sweet deliciousness. I would highly recommend this dish to anyone dining here for the first time, but, again, everything I tried was amazing, so you almost couldn't go wrong with anything from the menu.
We all had dessert, too, which I have to be honest, I would not recommend. Not because it wasn't just as delicious, but because you really won't have room after a glass of wine, an appetizer, and some of that agnolotti. Our waiter brought my tiramisu out with a candle, which resulted in another funny incident, since I was waiting for the bathroom at the time, so he just brought it to me and my family sang to me from the table....while I was still waiting in line for the bathroom.
Last but not least, even though they closed at 9 the Sunday we went for dinner, we stayed until almost 10 and they didn't blink an eye. As we were leaving I realized how late it was (there was still another table in the restaurant as well) and apologized to the staff, and they just waved us off saying we had nothing to be sorry for.
It is a little pricey, although I think it would be manageable if you split the larger servings and didn't get appetizers/desserts - but to me the food and the experience are totally worth the cost.
I will be back, and often! -
Review from B R.
Portland, OR
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow, I am Italian and this is one of the best in town!
-
Review from Heather S.
Portland, OR
12/11/2011
We really liked a Cena during the summer (they have a revolving menu), especially their light but flavorful vegetable lasagne with red sauce (YUM!), and their Gnocchi.
I've been disappointed, however, because the last two menus have not included much for people who are either vegetarian or who (like my partner and I) don't eat red meat, weird meat (like rabbit), or pork.
a Cena is very cozy; the service is friendly and efficient, and it's a warm little bubble of a place with splendid food.
Now, if only they'd include a bit more for the people who eat poultry or vegetables!Listed in: I'm Sold on Sellwood!
-
Review from Chiemi N.
3/4/2012 3 photos
I had been hearing good things about a Cena Ristorante for a really long time. My mouth started watering when friends described the Agnolotti with lobster. And then when I noticed that Yelpers voted the Agnolotti as the top meal for 2011, it cinched it that I would have to visit really soon. Especially since I had given myself 6 months to get seafood out of my system before converting fully to being a vegetarian. This was high on my list.
A Cena is a really small restaurant in the Sellwood area, but it's charming. Soon after we were seated, soft bread and breadsticks with olive oil were placed on our table. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer, which was lightly battered. It went great with the lemon aioli that came with it. I had ordered the Casa salad, which was local greens with huckleberries and parmesan cheese. My friend got the Romano salad which was grilled romaine, gorgonzola with pancetta. I don't think he was expecting his salad to look the way it did, I don't think he read the description. I had no problem switching salads with him, and it was actually quite tasty. I ordered the smaller portion of the Agnolotti, and my friend ordered Garganelli alla Norcia. The Agnolotti was Corn & Mascarpone Raviolini, Butter-poached Maine Lobster. The thing about having high expectations...it's easy to feel let down. There was plenty of lobster, but kind of tough and chewy. Also, I was expecting the dish to be more savory flavors rather than sweet. This dish is definitely on the sweet side. My friend's Garganelli alla Norcia looked good. It had pork sausage, hand-rolled penne,white wine, cream, wild mushrooms. He got the larger portion, so was able to take some home with him. When the waiter boxed his meal up, he put extra bread in for him.
The atmosphere is nice and cozy, which can be a problem when you have patrons waiting to be seated. There were quite a few people crowded close to our table, which can detract from the enjoyment of a finely prepared meal. The service was excellent! -
Review from J M.
Portland, OR
5/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
From bread to gelato with limonchellotinis in between....food perfection! The service was like you are visiting a neighborhood friend. My new fav spot.
-
Review from Samantha S.
Portland, OR
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
In a city full of amazing restaurants, a Cena has quickly been added to my short list of 'must go' places when people ask for my opinion. The restaurant itself occupies a lovely corner in Sellwood and the interior is super cute. On a busy night, the place buzzes with delight as the diners get their dishes delivered. For lunch its a great alternative to the usual run of the meal spots.
I've eaten at a Cena 3 times as this point- twice for dinner and once for lunch. For the first dinner I had the grilled lamb. Others at my table had the duck special and house specialty- the lobster agnolotti. All of the food was delicious. The lobster agnolotti didn't disappoint at all. Big pieces of lobster matched with the corn and macarpone filled ravioli was heavenly. It comes in 2 sizes- the smaller size is good for 1 person, the larger for sharing or for having leftovers. My lamb was also very good. Grilled to medium-rare perfection and served with roasted veggies. It was just right.
My only complaint about a Cena is that sometimes the butter-based sauces can be too heavy on the butter, to the point that it can overwhelm rest of the dish.
The atmosphere is always welcoming with a feeling that you are being welcomed into someone's family. The service has been impeccable every time I have gone. I don't want the secret to get out too much because I'd like to keep this place a much-loved secret, but I just can't avoid sharing the love. -
Review from Kate N.
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
A Cena is a beautiful Italian restaurant in the Sellwood Neighborhood. I came here for my birthday. Italian food is one of my favorites. I was pleasantly surprised at how quaint the place was. It was romantic but not overly fancy and stuffy. It looked like a large dining room belonging to somebody's house. We were greeted by the owner who was very friendly and hospitable.
For starters, we had fried calamari and roasted cauliflower. The roasted cauliflower is a side dish but we decided to have it first to get our veggies out of the way. The calamari with lemon caper aioli was good but it tasted like any other restaurant. It's kind of hard to be fancy about plain fried calamari. The important thing was the our calamari was fresh and cooked perfectly (no chewiness). I was quite impressed with the roasted cauliflower. The mint gave it such a distinct aroma, the sour caper was balanced with the creamy almond. Each bite was very flavorful and interesting. I have never had cauliflower that good.
For the main course, we had lasagna and gargenelli (Italian sausage with penne pasta in cream sauce). The first distinction was the pasta. I've heard that's it's homemade. The texture was perfect. You can't find anything like this in a box. The handmade sausage and cream sauce were very tasty and garlicky. But I found myself just eating the pasta alone because it was so good. The lasagna was also tasty. It was meaty and cheesy. The sauce was the right amount of saltiness and tartness. I was satisfied with both dishes. We each could only finish half of the generous portions. I had enough for next day's lunch. The only thing that I may comment is that the gargenelli was quite rich. While it tasted pretty good, I don't think my stomach and heart appreciated it much later.
For dessert, we sampled the concor grape sorbet. I have never had grape sorbet this interesting. It was made with 100% grapes and was drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Weird combo, right? But the taste was amazing. The olive oil created a creamy richness that went perfectly with the sour grape sorbet and the sea salt brought out the sweetness. If you don't trust me, just get some grape sorbet, drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and see how that taste. Who could have come up with such thing? It was a happy accident.
The service here was superb and one of the best in Portland. Our waiter deserved more than the 20% tip. His attentiveness and friendliness brought forth a pleasant dining experience. Prices were reasonable. I felt like I was dining in a 5 star restaurant just based on the service alone. I could have given this place a 4 star based on the food and ambiance but the service deserves an additional star.
I would definitely come back here. I am just so happy that we can have such great food and service without breaking the bank. -
Review from Jessica W.
Portland, OR
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
This Italian restaurant was a little out of the way for us, but well worth it. The hand made pastas were delicious! The atmosphere was cozy and romantic. Our waitress was very friendly, attentive and had great tips on the menu.
The main dish I ordered was said to be a house favorite. It was the Agnolotti (corn & mascarpone raviolini, butter-poached lobster), which was mouth watering good. The other main dish ordered was the Garganelli (pork sausage, white wine, penne pasta, cream, parmesan walnuts), which was also very good, but I would give it 4/5 stars for flavor compared to the other dish. Both of us polished off our dishes with satisfaction. There is a great wine list to accompany the meals and we enjoyed a bottle of the Chianti as well. -
Review from Sherry S.
10/24/2011 5 photos
This place oozes romance.. and something more deliciously mysterious, as if they were harboring an art thief.. but my imagination runs away with me..
They set us at the most perfect table for starters, a little cozy enclave complete with window. Had myself a Proseco to start out. After chatting with the waiter, to get the goods on the ex-cook's indiscretion, I peroused the menu and just had to have the famous Ravioli/Maine lobster dish. We also ordered a couple of farro salads to start.
The farro salad consisted of a bed of farro, wonderful chewy texture, with 2 different types of fresh beets, and goat cheese on top. Perfect starter. My husband and I split the bigger portion of the Lobster Ravioli. The sauce was sweet and buttery, the marscarpone that was stuffed in the raviolis was also just subtle enough that the lobster did not get overwhelmed by the flavors at all. The lobster was, well, from Maine and that says most of it. They prepared it perfectly. What also was fantastic was the ravioli pasta itself. It was not heavy, more melt in your mouth. I would have preferred my own bigger portion however, because it was the most wonderful dish I've enjoyed in a long time.
It was my birthday.. I have been doing some heavy researching on the most perfect place, and it did not disappoint.
I had an overwhelming desire to steal some art however as they've got some great stuff on their walls.Listed in: Fancy/Schmancy special dates
-
Review from Thilo W.
1/7/2012
Overall a good experience but with some caveats. Have been here twice with consistent experiences.
Setting is charming and is on a nice quiet street in Sellwood. Restaurant itself has a nice homey but slightly upscale feel. the kind of place you want to love.
Service the first time I was there (with a big group) was very good. The second time with just 2 of us, not as great. Waitress was a little out to lunch (seemed a bit surprised that we had brought our own wine, dish descriptions left something to be desired).
The food, at least for me, has been somewhat uneven. The first time I went, the bruschetta that came out tasted scorched (i.e. burned) to me, but the calamari was quite good. Entree the second time around (lamb) was very tender, but was definitely under-seasoned to my taste. I should also add that I have had the fabled lobster and sweet corn agnolotti and, quite frankly, found it a bit overbearing in its sweetness. The lobster was divine, but I was looking for a bit more balance to the sweetness of the lobster and corn combined.
I will say that the deserts are excellent. The butterscotch budino and the tiramisu are among the best I have ever had.
Overall a good place (A-OK 3 stars) but with some unevenness in food and service. -
Review from Mary L.
Newberg, OR
2/27/2012
Great Italian restaurant with superb wine list.
-
Review from Todd M.
12/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
I've been resistant to coming back here after having PTSD from when this place was Assagio ( they seriously would charge to "rent" Reidl wineglasses if your wine purchase was below a set limit .. ridiculous!!)... then we went and gave it a try when A Cena first opened and we weren't really impressed.
After talking to Michael on YelpTalk for months, hearing from other Yeeps about how great it was, and meeting Gabe the Chef at an event at Willakenzie Winery, we decided to give it another shot.
All I can say is that whatever changes they made worked! Service was friendly, not intrusive, but just personable enough to add to our experience.
Everything that was made in house ( bread, mozzarella, cured meat, pasta, desserts) was fantastic! We had the steak special which was just good.
Dessert was ridiculously good, and the housemade limoncello was almost as good as what I make.
Dinner for 2 was about $150 including wine, antipasto plate, half portion of pasta, steak special, 2 desserts, and two after dinner drinks, plus a great tip.
All in all, they did a great job, and A Cena is now back in our neighborhood rotation. -
Review from Penny S.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
3 of us came here last night for dinner.
Apps: formaggio & calamari - good. Not great but good. I would try different apps next time.
Entrees: Agnolotti - Corn & mascarpone Raviolini, Butter-poached Maine Lobster- Holy good god it was delicious. So MUCH lobster! I had the small portion which was more than enough for me, my friend had the large portion and he ate the entire portion and licked the plate. seriously.
Capesante - Pan-seared Scallops, Chanterelle risotto,
Brussels sprouts, balsamico. wowowowowowow... delicous! My hubs loved it and the bites I stole from his plate knocked my socks off too.
Desserts: 1- Seat Salt Caramel Gelato & 1- Sicilian Pistachio OUTSTANDING
You will be FULL from your meal and will think you should share a dessert. Don't do it. Order your own and be happy.
We brought 2 bottles of our favorite Italian wine, the corkage fee is $15 per bottle which I think is on the high side for PDX but I've paid $20 downtown so I'll shut my pie hole about it.
The owner was bringing out orders, clearing plates and chatting up everyone. It was great!
Make reservations. Go here. Go now. -
Review from Mandy S.
Beaverton, OR
1/10/2012
Unpretentious.
My dinner tasted like a picture of Fall- meaning it had amazing colors, textures, bold flavors and comforting. I had the rabbit, as they were out of the Lobster/Pasta dish.
The wine had an intense sparky spice that finished off melting away.
(great recommendation from our waitress)
The staff was very considerate, reproachful, but also held back from bugging us at the table too much (you know how sometimes staff can be overly excited to assist?)
top 5 fave restaurants now. -
Review from Lisa S.
9/17/2011
Service: A+
Lobster Ravioli: A+
Fagioli: A
Saltimbocca: A (excellent, but $24?! Whew....)
Cavatelli: B (was supposed to come with a Bolognese *sauce*, but didn't. It did come with little chunks of unseasoned ground beef, little chunks of dry tomatoes and little chunks of peppers. And it was bland.....I guess I was expecting a real, dark, tomato-y, rich, saucy, spicy meaty Bolognese).
Bread: D+ (glue-y, undercooked and mostly inedible, this should have been flagged, and not served, by our waiter). The bread *sticks* were an A+!
Butterscotch Budino: A+ (worth driving across town just for this. I mean it).
Can't wait to go back and try the artichoke appetizer as well as the other entrees! This is some of my favorite Italian food in Portland. -
Review from Heather H.
Portland, OR
2/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place has amazing food, a nearly-perfect atmoshpere and phenominal, unpretentious service. Every review I've read (I haven't read them all) about this place is spot on. I went here on a normal day during the week, but could easily see this place as a perfect spot for a small group of friends.
-
Review from Rachael W.
Portland, OR
9/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I'm not quite a regular, but I'm pretty darn familiar with A Cena...
Here's the skinny:
1. It's not Olive Garden. Don't expect it to be. The food is local, the menu seasonal and subject to change by the hour. If they have something wonderful for the daily special, they will likely run out. You will NOT get an endless bowl of generic pasta for $10. In fact, you will get a very reasonable, probably no leftovers, portion for closer to $15-$30. They do have amazing bread sticks, but they are hand-rolled, crispy little guys that you will LOVE. No Andes mint when you leave, but some SERIOUS sea salt caramel gelato. Kids are not discouraged, but there is no children's menu. I have young children and probably wouldn't bring them, more because it's a great place to grab an intimate table and enjoy a leisurely meal with a bottle of wine.
2. Get to know the staff/owner. Eugene is like everyone's favorite Italian godfather. Chris jumps right in with both hands, he was even one of our waiters on New Years. The chef... wow. He's not going to mess around! If it's not right, he'll make it right. If it's not, he won't serve it. Great wait/bus staff. No complaints here. If you want to be treated like a regular, you have to BE a regular (someone complained about not being treated as well as a group that were obviously regulars... DUH)... The service will be good no matter what.
3. Reservations are smart, but not always necessary. Some nights it's packed, some nights it's comfortable. Some reviewers have complained about the table in the middle niche... I like that table. It's a great way to people watch. There are two sectioned dining rooms with the niche in the middle. Bar side is great, so is the main dining room. Or sit outside if the weather is nice! Not a bad seat in the house.
4. Expect to eat in flights. This is, again, not Olive Garden. Order an appetizer... the risotto balls are AMAZING. Love them. Sometimes there is a salad with candied walnuts and pears and this great vinaigrette. Get it. The rabbit papardelle is my favorite. I usually order the small portion because with apps and dessert, there's no room for a large one. The pasta is made fresh there, it's so good. I've also had the eggplant parm which was wonderful (it doesn't say it comes with pasta, and it doesn't. The menu is pretty precise.) Order a few small plates and share. At New Years, they had a special menu with some pumpkin gnocchi. WOW. One of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. Dessert, as I said before, the gelato. It's all I've ever tried because I cant see ordering anything else.
5. Don't be in a hurry. This is not an in-and-out in 45 minutes kind of meal. It's meant to be savored. The staff doesn't rush you, you shouldn't rush you. Order the limoncello, it's house-made. I recommend the limoncello-tini. SO sweet, no bite. Amazing. Seeing a trend here? AMAZING.
6. You get what you pay for. Plan $30-$40 per person if you want apps, entree, dessert and drinks. If you're not happy with something, let them know. They will fix it, graciously. Try something new. Don't expect the menu to be the same every time you go in, it won't be.
7. Have fun. Stop trying to pick everything apart and just enjoy! This place isn't pretentious, it doesn't pretend to be a black tie, reservation only restaurant. It's Sellwood. People ride bikes and wear flip flops... deal with it. Order good food, bring some good friends, drink a bottle of wine. Repeat. Again and again! -
Review from Danielle K.
Portland, OR
So, I have this complex, right? It's this weird thing that I do (or don't do, I guess), where I just never go out for Italian food. I never have the inkling to do it, and I could care less when my friends in New York want to get some chicken parm (ick!).
There are two reasons, I suspect, why I'm like this. First, I am Italian. Well...Italian-American...I'm a fourth-generation Southeast Portlander (no joke). My mom is an amazing cook, and her mother, who taught her, was an amazing cook, and my mom's father was an amazing cook, and so on and so forth. I come from a long line of great Italian cooks making great Italian food--ravioli, gnocchi, red sauces, pesto, pita fritas, biscotti, polenta, brigole, sausage--you name it. All of it fantastic. So, then, why would I go out for Italian food when I can have it better at home?
Secondly, is sort of the same reason. Since I grew up with all this crazy cuisine, while it is still awesome, it has sort of lost its "specialness," and has made its way into what I consider "normal" food, the same way that, say, someone from Mexico would call tortillas and beans simply "food," and not "Mexican food," ya know?
But...in any case...you get the point.
I've passed a Cena countless times. Really. Living and growing up about two miles away, this is pretty much my 'hood, and there are lots of places in Sellwood that I've just never really felt compelled to check out (sorry!).
I really am sorry that I hadn't given a Cena a chance before now. Everything from the ambiance (intimate! romantic!) to the food screams refined and elegant. Which is both awesome AND slightly confusing to me. Confusing, just because I traditionally associate Italian food with rusticity, and I'm not sure the cuisine here was too rustic...or it was?...but just elevated?
Anyway, everything that our servers brought out was seriously amazing. We started with an organic, unfiltered pinot noir that was unlike any wine I'd tasted before (normally, I go straight for the cabs, but this was a pleasant surprise), and a tomatoey duo of caprese salad and a chilled tomato soup. Now, granted, everyone who knows me know that I also have a weird tomato complex. I mean, I'll eat them, but only if whatever it is isn't too tomatoey. As in, not caprese salads, and not chilled tomato soups. HOWEVER, I tried it, and I'm glad I did, because it really was spectacular. Sweet and tangy, with house-made mozzarella. Divine! Especially great with the side of foccacia and breadsticks.....
Next!
Peaches wrapped in prosciutto?! Who knew? I think this is probably a twist on the classic of cantaloupe with prosciutto, but it's a welcome twist. Try it. Really. It was great.
Also, don't miss the salted-cherry-basil palate cleanser. Yup, that.
The scene stealer, though, was clearly a Cena's signature lobster and corn/mascarpone raviolini. Screw points, I could have eaten an entire bowl of this stuff, it was THAT good. Lick-your-plate good. The pappardelle with rabbit was also really, really tasty. I'd never tried rabbit before, but this dish makes me think I'd try it again. Another first? Scapes. SO. GOOD. They're sort of like garlicky green beans, and they're something I'd totally try to cook myself.
Finally, if you've come to a Cena, you might as well try dessert, too. One of my chef friends always talks about having to make panna cottas, and I have to say that they always sounded weird. Just cream and gelatin? But let me tell you, this stuff was awesome. Complete with a strawberry prosecco "soup," it was seriously delightfully light and creamy. Ditto to the tiramisu--light (really!) and creamy and yummy. Perfect with their house-made limoncello.
FINALLY, the service was so gracious and nice! Really, this was a home-run. Am I turned back on to Italian out? Maybe not completely, but I'm definitely turned on to this delightful Sellwood hideaway.
As my papa would say, MANGIA GIOIA, MANGIA! -
Review from Mary C.
Milwaukie, OR
3/4/2012
Surprise celebration of bonus money took my husband & I to a cena on Wed night, 2nd time here. No reservation, but seated graciously. Went the full monte with nearly every course & each one was amazing, risotto balls, crunchy on the outside, soft & cheesy inside, roasted cauliflower with currants & almonds, and almond cake after dinner. For the rest of my life, I will dream about the otherworldly marscapone stuffed house made agnolotti pasta & lobster in a light cream sauce. The lobster was abundant and the pasta was slightly sweet and melted in my mouth. My husband enjoyed his short ribs, but questioned the cut & the chef came and explained the exact cut of meat, educating us kindly and courteously. I've never felt so special and well-treated at a restaurant. This is my new favorite place!
-
Review from Stanley T.
Portland, OR
7/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We were looking for a place to meet some friends who were staying in Lake Oswego that would be convenient for all of us. Ronda thought of a Cena, and we were all glad she did. I hadn't been back since the delightful Elite event they hosted long ago.
We arrived first and decided to get started with a bottle of wine. When Ronda began describing the qualities she was looking for in a red, our server suggested that he send over their wine expert. He knew just what she was describing and suggested a Zinfandel from WA that was reasonably priced and quite good. We liked it well enough to order a second bottle later in the evening. This is only one example of the excellent service we received from everyone at a Cena.
We started with a couple of appetizers. The house-made mozzarella on the Caprese was great, as was the basil and olive oil. The tomatoes could have been better, but such is hard to come by this time of year. The Arancini croquettes were delightful. One of our friends devoured a plate of Saltimbocca (chicken cutlets) and the other seemed to enjoy her Vitello (veal chop). Ronda was very happy with her Lasagne and I can see why as she gave me a taste. I went with the Scottadito (grilled lamb chops) and I can't remember when I've been served better. The Tiramisu and Sea Salt Caramel Gelato rounded out a fabulous meal.
I won't wait so long until I return next time. -
Review from Shauna P.
Portland, OR
Updated - 4/16/2012
This was our second visit (for our second anniversary). It didn't top the first time, but the food and service were good. I really enjoyed my braised lamb and my boyfriends meatballs were to die for! Hopefully we can make this a tradition.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/16/2011
My boyfriend and I went tonight for our 1 year anniversary. We made reservations online. Showed up… Read more »
-
-
Review from Darcie A.
Portland, OR
1/10/2012
We were a party of six and called ahead for a reservation. Excited after hearing so many good things about this place we were ready for a good time. When we got there the hostess had our table ready but wanted to let us know that they had another party coming in an hour and a half so we needed to...hurry!?!? I am not sure exactly what the deal was or why they took our reservation if they didn't have time for us to enjoy ourselves but it was awkward and made us feel a little funny. We sat down and had great food, service and cocktails. We shared a few desserts, had a coffee or two and paid the tab. $450 later (and right on schedule per the hostesses previous request) we were shocked that she came over to our table to let us know...our time was up!?!? Tacky to say the least.
Read more reviews for this business:
Italian (1)
