Ena

Prices for lunch were really reasonable. It was pretty empty so getting a seat was easy.

I got the steak torta without mustard and it was good (nothing extraordinary), but a bit dry. While an au jus style dipping sauce would have been great, all they had was a side of spicy chipotle sauce which was HOT. If you try it, definitely use if sparingly or else your lips might fall off.

The house-made lemonade was extremely tarte, but with a little sugar (actually 4 packets) it went from bad to good.

My friend got the salmon entree, which was good. I'm not a huge fan of salmon, but liked this one because it was flavorful and not fatty.

Overall I liked Cafe Ena, but am only giving it a 3 star rating for now. I look forward to trying it again and perhaps even giving a higher rating.

I've been coming to this South Mpls neighborhood gem for years . Especially love sitting on their outside patio in the summer and sharing the guacamole,which I personally think is the best in the cities! Chef Hector Ruiz grows all the ingredients on site for the guac,I also like the Corn shrimp fritters for appetizer.
I used to really enjoy the rest of the seafood but lately the menu has changed and unfortunately the execution of some of these dishes just don't taste the same. Still it's a great place to enjoy drinks and apps if in the area

Service was great
Restaurant is cozy but well designed
Food was good but portions were very small for the price too.
I thought the dinner was good but dessert brought the score down.

Overall Food & Vibe 7/10

Went here for an early dinner on an Monday evening. The place was empty since they had opened just a few minutes ago.

Clean place with a open and airy atmosphere even though not a very big place. Welcoming staff and very helpful when it came to ordering from the menu.

We started of with a few drinks and continued with the drinks throughout the evening. The margarita and the Pencelina were the crowd favorites in our party.

The menu is setup as tapas style with small plates to share and everything we had was really good. There were some standouts that I would definitely be ordering again. The avocado, the corn fritters and the tiradito were a good start to our meal. The corn fritters and avocado were the standouts in that trio and the ice-cream with the salmon was really a unique combination.

The sauce with the chicken (anticuchos) was quite outstanding and the empanadas (empanadas chilenas) were very well spiced and chock full of flavor. The lamb (cordero) was the weakest of the second round but the beef was cooked perfectly and a welcome finish to our savory plates.

For dessert, we got the flan and the churros and they were a perfect end to a very good meal.

Will definitely be going back.

I went with my family for my husband's birthday. We ordered lamb, sea bass, salad, avocado, Empanadas, and shrimp appetizers. They were all delicious that unique combination of French and Latin American dishes. We also ordered desserts. The waiter added a candle on the cake for my husband. It was very nice of him and the service was very quick and friendly.

Why I haven't given props to Ena before, I don't know. You see, we go there every time we come to Minneapolis, which is about every three months. Edna's menu is all about small plates (which, actually aren't that small). They're certainly not small in flavor. We haven't tried everything on the me u yet, but we're working on it. But, you have to have your favorites when you go, and two of those are the Avocado (actually an incredible chunky guacamole), the Lubia (a wonderful sea bass preparation), anything with shrimp, and the lamb chops. In fact, we have not had a disappointing dish - ever. Like I said, we come every time we're in town and see nothing wrong with always coming back to wonderful.

One star because the vegetables on every dish were cooked very well, but everything else was a disappointment.

-Server gave incorrect allergen information when ordering.
-Mezcal Old Fashioned was sickly sweet -- I could barely taste the liquor for all the sugar.
-Proteins were all disappointing. Lamb was more fat than meat, tenderloin was not tender at all, and shrimp ceviche was overcooked and tough.
-Dessert was tasty, but badly mislabeled. Described on the menu as "creme brulee with blueberry compote," a more accurate description would have been "egg custard with apples." I still enjoyed it but my dining partner did not.

I would not come here again, or recommend it to anyone unless they are looking for a vegetarian option and don't mind paying a lot for a small plate.

So yummy! We did three courses and all were amazing. Service was great. Will definitely be back!

This restaurant is such a hidden gem. The food is absolutely wonderfully innovative and rich. This is a perfect place to explore Latin cuisine with a modern twist. The staff are amazing and the service is impressive.
Every time I go in it is not half as packed as it should be. This place needs more publicity because it deserves it!

SO GOOD. Not sure why it wasn't crowded on a Friday night (red flag?) but my family loved every dish that we ordered. I think the fav was ceviche

So many good things to say about Ena. First timer last night and it definitely won't be the last. This average sized cafe is very well lit and culturally appealing. The walls and shelves are decorated in a way that takes you out of S. MPLS for a moment and into a Latin atmosphere immersed with music and culture. The staff were exceptionally nice and checked on us frequently. You could tell they took great pride in the food they presented to each guest- taking the time to explain exactly what your taste buds are going to seize over.
Empanadas are always a safe and delicious choice. Personal favorite was the ground beef ones. Don't get turned off by the raisins. I also tried the corn fritters. Those are a must try with the sweet chili sauce. I also loved the cauliflower. The potato purée underneath set this dish off. Everything was presented beautifully and added something to the flavor even down to the garnishes, the sprouts helped to add flavor. I had a rose wine from their special list and was impressed. Very happy to know of this place.