Cena Italian Trattoria
9200 Taylorsville Rd, Louisville, KY, 40299
Cena Italian Trattoria Menu
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Address :
9200 Taylorsville Rd
Louisville, KY, 40299 - Phone (502) 333-0376
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Jessica A.
Delicious. I had the baby octopus and I was hooked!
(5)Cassidy P.
Amazing. Simply amazing. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the fact that it's in the basement of Mussel and Burger Bar is just so cool. My husband surprised me with reservations here for our anniversary, and told me about it the night before. I had heard of Cena and I knew it was a Martinez restaurant, so I was very excited! Cena did not disappoint, and it was even better than I expected. The bread that they serve at the beginning of the meal is delicious. Garlicky with a crunchy crust but a dissolve-in-your-mouth soft center. That combined with the oil topped with Parmesan cheese is like heaven. We started with the goat cheese fritas. If you're like me, and think everything should be topped with goat cheese, this is the appetizer for you!! They are balls of goat cheese with a crunchy crust, served on a sweet pesto. Delicious. I ordered the Bistecca, which is a ribeye served on little roasted potatoes, topped with asparagus. You can choose to have it prepared with florentina (a balsamic type glaze), or topped with Gorgonzola cheese, or... Get this... with BOTH. Which I obviously did. Oh. My. Goodness. It was delicious! The steak was cooked perfectly, and the flavors worked so well together! My husband ordered the chicken Parmesan, which was also great. The chicken was moist and flavorful, and he loved it! This is a great place for a nice night out, and I can't wait to go back!!
(5)Malissia M.
Oh. My. God. That is all. The four course tasting menu...was just perfect. Personally I had the goat cheese fritti antipasti, the gnocchi with fennel sausage and ricotta pasta course, the sea scallop entree and the peach tart dessert. I can't breathe because I'm so full, but I am soooooo happy. I cannot wait to go back! The interior and the plating were the best I've seen in a very long time, and honestly if I didn't have so much food I would have eaten the whole basket of focaccia.
(5)Jenny J.
We ordered the meatball appetizer, short ribs with polenta entree, short ribs ravioli entree, and global warming drink. Atmosphere was nice. Warm and dark and comfortable. The homemade complimentary focaccia bread with olive oil was literally perfect. The grilled crostini that accompanied the meatballs was fantastic too. Meatballs were sooooooo good. I think they were pork. So flavorful and not too heavy. The ravioli was TO DIE FOR. Holy shit the ravioli was amazing. Seriously yall. Amazing. The short ribs were good and but paled on comparison to the ravioli. The sauce on the polenta was so decadent. Truly great and matches the amazing mussel and burger bar upstairs. The service was great. The cocktail was interesting in that it had peppers and started sweet and grew spicy over time. Wasn't knocked off our socks by it but was good after the spice picked up.
(5)Lauren C.
Service and meal were fantastic, husband thought portion sizes were small for price point, although I was stuffed. Definitely suggest going for 4 courses to ensure a full belly. We loved the campfire breakfast jar!!! Decor was a noble attempt, but painted ceiling tiles and laminate flooring are hard to hide. It's a nice basement, but definitely still a basement. Worth the trip to a part of town we never dine in!
(4)Emily W.
Walking through the upstairs to get to the elevators to deliver my husband and I down to Cena...man, that felt VIP! If you also want the VIP experience, take those same elevators downstairs. We had made reservations earlier in the week so I spent all week thinking about our Friday night at Cena and I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to try (as usual). My thought was that we just get one item from each course and split them. However, the waiter mentioned to us that they were offering a tasting special where we'd each get a smaller plate from each course for $45/person. We opted for that and a bottle of Pinot Noir. For our first course, I went with the meatballs (really good, but more game-y than I was expecting) and he went with the octopus (I tried to be adventurous...I wouldn't try it again). For pasta, he went with the carbonara and I had the rigatoni. My dish definitely took me back to a trip to Italy and a delicious plate of duck ragu. Our entrees were the pork chops and short ribs (I would pick the pork chops over the short ribs next time!). And for dessert, we went with the cenamisu and the pistachio torte based on recommendations from a friend. Go for the torte if you just choose one! I will also mention that we felt like our dishes were more like full plates versus the tastings he mentioned, so I think we got a good deal for the "tasting". Neither of us could finish our dessert or wine, so luckily they were able to bottle up the wine. The service was great. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and not overbearing. I'd definitely be back but probably order less food next time!
(4)Thao T.
Go straight through the crowd at Mussels and Burgers, past the bar and to the elevators. The short ride down feels like a secret gateway to a culinary gem. Cena is spacious but intimate with low lighting and sophisticated decor. The staff are attentive and make you feel like a million bucks. They explain each dish and make suggestions. For two, pick one appetizer, a primo dish (usually a pasta dish), and secondo (the main course). You'll be so stuff you won't have room for dessert. The food is excellent and has a bit of a twist to it. The Goat Cheese Frito was crispy with honey drizzled on the outside, very rich and cheesy. The ravioli was a bit tough for my liking. The short ribs was huge, tender and came with a delicious sauce. Great place for a nice date and the food will not disappoint.
(4)Althea W.
Hands down one of the few authentic Italian places in the city. My fiancé and I returned from Italy and actually reserved a table while it was still called " The Place Downstairs", upon arriving we were told that they had completely changed the menu to Italian specialties. We were hesitated to stay and almost left, as we didn't think any Italian restaurants in Louisville could possibly top what we had experienced that same week in Naples and Procida. What a right decision it was to stay! Everything was absolutely delicious!
(4)Claire B.
Cena is in the same hidden space under Mussel & Burger Bar as The Place Downstairs was, but they have rebranded themselves as "affordable" family-style Italian. I think that title is incredibly misleading. If you get all the food they suggest, you're looking at around $27-$30 a person, not including any beverages. That falls in the "nice night out" level of cost for me and is comparable to what I would have spent at "The Place Downstairs." If I brought my family there for an affordable meal, I'd be pretty p.o.'ed when I got my bill. You start with small plates, then move into pasta, and then are supposed to finish with an entree. However, our group didn't feel like trying to decide on who shares what, so we all just shared small plates, then got our own pasta. I was impressed with the food overall, especially the octopus. I enjoyed my carbonara, but it was a bit too salty and rich, to the point a couple of bites were enough. I know this is the "traditional" way to serve this dish, but I prefer the kind where they lighten the sauce with a bit of cream. The drinks were fantastic all night and the decor is just as lovely as it ever was. You USUALLY don't remember you're in a basement, although the lack of windows is sometimes off-putting. My group really enjoyed their evening, but after trying Cena, I will say I think The Place Downstairs was a better concept and had better food overall. I feel like there are multiple expensive Italian places in town already and now I just have one more from which to choose.
(4)Robann M.
This place surpassed my expectations by a land slide. We had fantastic service, fantastic food, and a fantastic experience. It is worth every penny and we can't wait to go back!
(5)Hannah E.
Date night deliciousness! After returning from Italy a few weeks ago I was in search of a good Italian restaurant in Louisville. Like most foodies in Louisville we frequently visit muscle and burger bar... But this time we were looking for Italian. Our waiter mentioned to us about the four course meal for two for $100, it was the best! And we took so much food home because we couldn't finish. A great way to find out what you like and what you wouldn't get next time. Our waiter recommended something off of each course and we took his recommendations and he did not disappoint! I love when a waiter gives their opinion, obviously they know what's good because they work there and they tried everything. Great experience! Just make sure you have plenty of time! It took over two hours to eat the four course meal... Definitely an Italian dining experience in the states :)
(5)Dione M.
Great food and atmosphere. I know the service is supposed to be a longer meal, but our server was unavailable when we needed him, so we weren't happy about that. Otherwise, it was a great experience all around.
(4)Lena H.
My husband and I have been wanting to try The Place Downstairs for a while. We were disappointed that it closed, but excited to try Chef Martinez's new adventure, Cena. We were not disappointed. The concept is affordable Italian family style. We went with 2 other couples, so we sampled many things on the menu. First, the appetizers. We ordered the risotto balls, the goat cheese balls, crostini, and the tuna. Everything tasted amazing. The risotto balls had smoked mozzarella and came with a saffron aioli. This was my husband's favorite appetizer. My favorite appetizer was the fried goat cheese ball with a basil pesto. What made this such an amazing dish was truffle honey. I only had a little bit of the crostini, but what I had of it, it was extremely tasty. I wasn't a big fan of the tuna, but I'm not a seafood person. On to primi, or the pasta course. We had the gnocchi, spaghetti, cappellacci, and agnolotti. I could not decide what was my favorite pasta dish. The gnocchi came with fennel sausage, ricotta, and tomatoes. The spaghetti was absolutely amazing. My husband hates spaghetti, and he absolutely loved it. It was carbonara with an egg and bacon. The cappellacci was a great vegetarian dish with spinach, mascarpone, tomato sauce, and ricotta. The agnolotti basically was like a ravioli with oxtail, mushrooms, and a truffle cream. Again, it was hard to determine what the best pasta dish of the night was. On to the secondi (aka HUUUGE entrees). We ordered the 32 oz steak, pork, and chicken. The pork and chicken were good, but the steak was the best. All the secondi come with one side, and I recommend the polenta. The mushrooms make the polenta very rich. Be forewarned, the serving sizes of the secondi can easily feed 4+ people. Last, and my favorite, dessert. After all that was consumed, majority of our party were already slipping into a food coma. Only two of us (including myself) were brave enough to order dessert. I ordered the pistachio and chocolate milk torta, while a friend ordered the Cenamisu. The Cenamisu was Cena's version of tiramisu. You can never go wrong ordering tiramisu at an excellent Italian place. I absolutely loved my dessert! It was a flourless chocolate and pistachio cake. What made it the over the edge was the salted almond gelato on top. It came with pistachio candy and caramel. Writing this review now is making my mouth water thinking about that cake. There were a few hiccups. Skip the signature cocktails. My husband and friend ordered an old fashioned. My husband got majority of the bourbon, while our friend's was very light on the bourbon. I got the pear cocktail and wasn't too impressed. Tasted like a weak cider, barely tasting any pear. Another friend got the Bellini, which was made from a puree from local peaches. She did not care for the cocktail at all. The wine we had was very good, though. Another hiccup was at the end of the night, we waited close to thirty minutes to pay the check. We had been at the restaurant for three hours, and we were all ready to go home and sleep after eating such a large meal. I have to say the waiter was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the food. Will definitely come back. It's a great place for an inexpensive date night or to eat excellent food with a group of people. It's such a rare find to go to a restaurant were the food is amazing, but the prices are extremely reasonable. A must try!!!!!
(5)Dr A.
Finally! An authentic Italian trattoria in Louisville. Located in J-town below the very popular Mussel and Burger Bar is a true gem. Cena is an extremely sexy space for authentic Italian cuisine. Cena means dinner in Italy and their hours reflect this focus. As in Italia the menu is divided into Antipasti, Primi, Secundi, and dessert. They have an extensive wine list and delicious cocktails. In our party of six I heard not one complaint. We shared and tasted in true Italian style. We ordered the Arancini and Burrato salad to share and both were excellent. The carbonara pasta was the best I have enjoyed outside of Italy. Chicken parm was cooked perfectly and the pomodoro sauce heavenly. All sauces and pastas are made from scratch and reflected in the quality and flavor. My other friends tried the lasagna, seafood pasta, steak, and everyone loved their meals. My total for a glass of wine, cypress salad form the table, Primi pasta, and chicken entree was $51. The service is a bit slow: the meal took 2.5 hours as would be expected anywhere in Italia. This is a perfect place for an intimate date or to share a family style meal with a group of friends.
(5)Jenny G.
We've been to Mussel and Burger many times and have had many excellent experiences, both in quantity and quality of food and services. Therefore, we had high expectations for The Place Downstairs. The atmosphere was lovely; quiet, secluded, well decorated. It was certainly 5 stars. I had 2 cocktails, made with locally grown blueberries and plums and vodka. Delish! As an appetizer, we had to prime beef sliders. There were 2 small prime beef sliders, served with a very small portion of thinly sliced potatoes drizzled with truffle oil. The sliders were $14 and were combined, easily less than half the size, but equal the price, we would've paid upstairs at Mussel and Burger for a large burger and side of fries. For entrees we had Aglonotti, which was a ravioli served in a creme sauce and corn. My brother had the cod. Both tastes were DELICIOUS!! Taste wise, the restaurant was easily 5 stars. We were highly disappointed in the amount of food for the price. For 2 drinks, an appetizer, and 2 entrees, the bill was $100. I have absolutely no problem paying $100 for a meal, but at that price, I don't expect to leave the restaurant still hungry. I won't be going back.
(3)Michelle C.
Oh. My. Goodness! Ok, so I came here for a bachelorette party - what happens at the bachelorette party, stays at the bachelorette party, except for this meal! We all ordered some drinks and I got an Old Fashioned. I love that they use a large chunk of ice because it doesn't melt as fast and water down the drink. I got the mussels for an appetizer which were delicious. They came already shelled which was interesting, and the broth was really creamy. Then, amazingness happened. Pork. Heaven. Seriously, this dish is to die for! The tenderloin was stuffed with chorizo and wrapped in prosciutto. What?! Yes!! And THEN! Brussel. Sprouts. I know, I know, doesn't sound super awesome. But these brussel sprouts were so meaty and delicious and I couldn't stop eating them!! The service was amazing! They brought out the bride some roses and we all got ice cream :D the vanilla had apples in the bottom so it was pretty much apple pie in an ice cream cone! Totally coming back here for a date night :D
(5)Raquelle Z.
My husband and I were lucky enough to chose this for our date night. The dining experience was a night of pure gastronomic pleasure. We started with the goat cheese balls and the platter of selected meats and cheeses. That and a couple awesome cocktails got us off to the most pleasurable start. Our next course of home-made pasta-(gnocchi and ravioli) can best be described by D-E-L-I-S-H-I-O-U-S. By the time we got to the main entree of braised short ribs we were really both too full to fully enjoy the tender and flavorful dish. Not to worry though because we simply asked for this to be packaged to go. I am never above enjoying a second meal of leftovers. We also couldn't resist ordering the chocolate pistachio flourless cake for a late night treat. Our waiter was fantastic and I appreciated the way he highlighted some of his favorite selections for our dining consideration. Cena is on my favorites list, and we will happily return to this wonderful place.
(5)Paul D.
My mind, spirit and belly were all completely satisfied last Friday night as we had the privilege of being invited to attend the preview night of The Place Downstairs. This fabulous restaurant was created by the same folks that brought us Havana Rumba, Mojito, Guaca Mole, Mussels & Burger Bar, and El Taco Luchador. I have in the past had some great meals, but my experience on Friday was at or near the very top. Everything out of Fernando's kitchen was flawless, and one bite was not only better than the next, but different as well. I started with one of the best Old Fashions I'd ever had, perfectly balanced. For starters we had the ham and the octopus. The ham was perfectly sliced and accompanied with grilled bread topped with a sprinkle of cheese. The octopus was absolutely out of this world. Thin sliced, with two aioli - one a chili pepper and the other black olive - with several varieties of olives, a bit of crunch and other bits of amazement that combined perfectly. My entree was the cornish hen. It was accompanied with an interesting mild beet and gnocchi. The hen was beautiful, crispy, succulent - and then I hit the stuffing! I believe it was made with nuts and pancetta and it really set off the bird. The gnocchi - holy crap - I almost dropped by fork so astounded was I by the black truffle goodness stuffed inside. For dessert I decided to take it easy and order the ice cream. Take it easy, in Fernando's Kitchen - not a chance. The three varieties of delicate ice cream were perched atop house-made waffle cones and the cones were stuffed with bits of fruit and chocolate, depending on the flavor. Excellent. We've already made reservations for a party of 16, and I suggest you make yours as well!
(5)Jesse M.
Wonderful meal there this Saturday. Very busy weekend night which is always a good sign. Very friendly and attentive staff, made our group very welcomed and very informed by the time we left. Big portions, loved every aspect will be back! Our server was perfect and the flavors were as well.
(5)Adam B.
Wow, this place was unbelievable. I wanted to take my wife somewhere very nice and coming from a non-(what I like to call)"rich people food" lover, this was the best meal I have ever had. Pricey, but very much worth it for a special night out. From the Old Fashioned to the octopus to the Pork Heaven to the Citrus Tart, they had me from crumb #1.
(5)Deb R.
The Place Downstairs has just re-opened with a new concept: CENA modern Italian trattoria. Same seriously talented Executive Chef and owners, but a different menu focused on flavorful, simple, authentic Italian with a modern twist ( maintaining a few favorites from the TPD menu). CENA has a more casual atmosphere- we loved TPD and went a number of times for date night, but CENA will be great for date night, taking the kids with us ( they offer a kid's menu) - or for another option when we don't want a long wait for their hugely popular Mussel & Burger Bar upstairs. ( CENA takes reservations ;-) My second trip (in a week ) with a large group of girlfriends was as fantastic as the "date night " visit the week before . The CENA menu is designed for sharing- each app and entree serving serving 2-3. With that in mind, it's very well priced: 2 people can split an app, an entree and a dessert for around $50. On the last trip, my fave was the porchetta- a HUGE serving of perfectly cooked, crispy porky goodness. This time I split both the mussels and the Duck pasta with a friend. Portions were plenty for splitting, and the flavors were outstanding! Amongst the 8 of us we tried a lot of the menu and everything was excellent. Great wine and cocktails, plus welcoming friendly service topped off a great experience. Checks were a bit slow- trying to get the kinks out of dividing bills in the system I assume. CENA has risen quickly to one of my very favorites in town- can't wait to go again!
(5)Steven G.
Last night was first time and will be many more. I had the pork loin very tasty and tender my other half had pasta with shrimp and muscles was excellent. We started with the Salumi & Formaggio. Antipasti Excellent. Can't wait to go back
(5)Lokman G.
Yay we are big fan of Cena!!!! The environment is great with excellent service! It's a decent place for small group gathering or for couple. They are located in the basement, and the elevator to Cena is not noticeable until you actually walk pass the host and bar of the Mussel & Burger Bar. Their cocktails are pretty good. Global warming is very interesting and different. We had 5 people in our group, and they suggested us to order 2-3 antipasti, couple primi and 2-3 secondi (each comes with 1 contorni) to share. None of us is big eater and we didn't ordered as much. We ordered (2 antipasti) Meatball Al Forno and Mussels al Forno - great but little slightly overcooked, and the sauce of mussels is great with bread! (1 primi) Saffron Risotto Rock Shrimp - pretty good, but also little too salty somehow they missed our order of Linguini Frutti di Marre, so we didn't get to try it out, but I will definitely go back to try this out next time! (2 secondi) Short Rib - my favorite dish! the flavor is pretty strong and on the salty side Roasted Black Bass - it's a whole bass, not just the fillet, which surprised us, the fish is pan-friend to crispy outside (contorni) Roasted potatoes and Brussel Sprouts - love both of them and we ended up placed an extra order of the brussel sprouts! (dessert) Cenamisu - i'm a big fan of tiramisu, and this is a tiramisu in a small glass Pistachio and chocolate milk torte with almond gelato - we didn't pick this, but they offer this to make up the order that they missed. I am glad that they did!!!! How could we miss this gem?!?!?! We all love this, the warm torte is a perfect match with the cold gelato! I will definitely recommend to friends and we will definitely go back!
(5)Marti R.
Oh, this was so worth wading through the crowd at the mussels place! It may not be cheap Italian but it's excellent Italian that is definitely worth the price! We had a 3-cheese plate and a 3-salami plate. On both, we specified only one firm choice and left the rest to the kitchen's choice. We were not disappointed. The gorgonzola and parmesan were wonderful along with the fruit jam, candied walnuts, pine nuts. The salami's were paired with several add-ons that tasted heavenly. Both the cheese and salami's came with toasted bread that was the perfect medium. The crostini's were three big chunks of bread with toppings nearly as thick. The gnocchi was very pillow-y and the sauce didn't drown out the flavor. I think it's one of the harder pastas to make correctly and Cena's knows what they're doing. Whatever you do, don't go for the obvious dessert. The olive oil cake sounds completely wrong as a dessert and you'll be missing a real treat if you pass it by. There's a dense, moist layer of cake on the bottom- not quite a 1/2". That's topped by a thick 1.5" fluffy mascarpone cheese with raspberries and sauce over it. I can't even begin to describe what it tastes like. Had we been at home, I would have licked the plate! Our waiter recommended it saying that it was often overlooked for the Italian doughnuts or Cenamisu. Take the recommendation and give the Dolce a try. You won't be disappointed! We will absolutely be back for more!!!
(5)Lanie V.
The oxtail ravioli and the Brussels sprouts are enough to make me go back tomorrow! The chicken dish for secondi was amazing. I'd like to try their seafood offerings next time. My party of 6 did family style and we did it completely right. Best service from Rocky-- Rockford if ya nasty (or if you're just reading the receipt).
(5)Olivia Z.
It was hard for us to walk through Mussel and Burger bar without eating, but we wanted to try something new. We got off the elevator and were promptly greeted. We were impressed with the decor. We debated a long time about getting one of their pasta dishes, or the family style steak that was screaming our name. We decided on the steak, and let me just say we have talked about it since! Unbelievably good. Beyond good. Top 3 best steak of my life. Get it, go now.
(5)Michael M.
Two point five stars. I had high hopes. Seriously disappointed. My girl and I started with the mussels. As the sister restaurant to mussel and burger bar, you'd expect better. Don't. Seven mussels, thirteen dollars. They weren't even that special. Moved to the pork cheek jar. Too salty. Entrees were duck and ribeye. Duck was too salty. Ribeye was good if overpriced for the size. Service was almost too good. You want the waiter to be invisible until you need them. He was unbelievably helpful, but I'd prefer to eat than comment on each bite. Just saying. Drinks were by far the highlight. ETA: Lighting sucked. Though it helped to obscure the mini portion size.
(2)Floyd S.
Excellent food and very romantic restaurant. Wait staff was questionable but definitely worth eating at time and time again.
(4)Anita G.
There were three of us for dinner last weekend at CENA. We were impressed! From the tasty Old Fashioneds to the goat cheese balls to the gnocchi and the oxtail ravioli to the zepoli for dessert. Every mouthful was delicious. We will definitely be back!
(5)Jonathan U.
Phenomenal Italian food and great service! The fried goat cheese balls are delicious.
(5)Lori P.
I highly recommend this restaurant! The service was amazing and the prices were really good.. You get a good size portion and the atmosphere is amazing!
(5)Jennifer B.
I was torn between giving 3-5 stars. The food was 5 star delicious but the service was 3 star slow. I know it's supposed to be a slow service but the server dragged it out so long we didn't get to have dessert because the kitchen was closed. We had a reservation for 8:15 which should've left us time to get dessert but the waiter would disappear for long periods of time between doing things like getting the bottle of wine we ordered. He would say that he would come take our order then be gone for 10-15 minutes. He finally asked if we were ready to order and then actually took the order. For some reason even though we told him we knew what we wanted he then went through most of the menu explaining in agonizing detail around 12 dishes. He didn't take a breath until he'd explained all of them. And he was speaking so softly that none of us could really hear him at all. We kept telling him we couldn't hear him and he'd politely repeat himself but not speak any louder. My mom had the spaghetti which came out with a poached egg on top that she mixed in. It was creamy and flavorful. Very good and cost $16. My husband and I ordered the chicken parmigiana and it was wonderful. $25, included 2 whole chicken breasts. Huge portion. We each had a large dinner and plenty leftover for lunch. We got to pick one side and we chose the roasted Brussels sprouts. Also good. We split a bottle of Pinot noir that was light and very nice. I thought for the nice atmosphere, large portions and delicious food that the prices were fair. I'd go again and put up with the service because the food was that good.
(4)Jared C.
The campfire breakfast on the appetizer menu is the best thing I have ever eaten. After going to a lot of restaurants around town, truly this is the best dish ever!
(5)Eric G.
The Campfire Breakfast Jar at Cena is just about one of the most wonderful, unique appetizers that I have ever come across. Worth a visit for that alone... But, please, don't stop there! The goat cheese frito, ox-tail ravioli, risotto w/ prawns and shrimp, and 32 oz T-bone were also immaculately presented and prepared. Very surprised and pleased. We will be back!
(5)Haley P.
The food at Cena is excellent, on par with the best dinners I've had in New York and San Francisco, but the service was seriously sub par. First, we were seated at a low lounge table with club chairs in a corner next to an exit after having made reservations weeks in advance--and not as a place to wait for a real table. Fortunately, we were brave enough to say something and were reseated in a marginally better location. Then it took nearly 15 minutes after ordering wine to receive our bottle. And, to add insult to injury, we did not receive bread until 10 minutes after our neighbors received their first course. Just to put things in perspective, the restaurant was not full. There were at least 4 open tables in the main dining room and even more in other rooms. Luckily the food was outrageously good, so we were pretty well sated throughout additional service fumbles, such as the waiter leaving half a cork in the middle of the table after botching the opening, forgetting to refill water, forgetting a second steak knife for our $65 steak (we shared a knife, for the record), etc etc etc. I understand an expensive and in-demand restaurant can be a stressful place to work, but...if I'm going to spend close to $200 on dinner for two, good service should be a given. Five stars to the chef--he needs to fire his front of house and find some committed partners to serve his food with the grace and care with which he prepares his dishes.
(3)Terry S.
Went to Cena a few nights ago and find mixed emotions about our visit. Food taste was positive but portions left much to be desired. I ordered the Saffron Risotto with shrimp - I believe the menu said rock shrimp and gulf shrimp. That's exactly what I got - two shrimp! My wife had a glass of wine and it barely covered the bottom of the glass. Come on, the cost of wine for the restaurant is not that high so please pour a decent glass. One of our friends ordered the prosciutto salad which I would highly recommend for someone who enjoys a salad as their entree. Overall - three stars. Could have been a four or five... Service was OK, waiter was soft spoken in a very noisy atmosphere.
(3)Carly K.
Came here for their derby dinner and did the 3 course menu...let me just say I can't imagine doing the 5 course (especially since I had to eat everything on my plate for each one!) The food was outstanding, especially for the price. My husband and I got different things for each course and loved all of it. The soup was so delicious and my steak was cooked perfectly. The potatos were to die for. For dessert, his sorbet with the key lime desert was the star. The key lime was quite tart and the crust was just ok. My chocolate dessert was very good and super rich. I wish it was a tad smaller even so I wouldn't have felt so full after eating all of it! The drinks were amazing. The sorbet served with the mint julep was crisp and refreshing and the blackberry mojito was outstanding! My husband had the old fashioned and it was superb. We'd come back for drinks alone! Service was good, we could have used some more explanation about the courses and drink specials (I looked online and that's the only reason I knew any details.) But she was very friendly and attentive. A manager also stopped by and was very nice and seemed genuinely interested in how we liked our meals. All in all...we'll be back!
(5)Bonnie H.
Well. What can I say? Just get here and try this. Really - you cannot go wrong. But do leave your judgements and inhibitions at the door - or rather, the elevator. How cool is this? A private elevator that takes you to this epicurean lair of tastiness!! Have a cocktail. No - really. Have one. They are sublime. I'm not much of a drinker, but I enjoyed - yes, really enjoyed an Old Fashioned. These are craftsmen of flavor here. They will make sure you enjoy everything that dances across your taste buds. Octopus Terrine. Not appetizing syllables, but a miracle on the plate. Very nice. Pork Heaven. Well, there's just not much more to say. It's pork and its heaven. Get it. Dessert was an olive oil cake with home made ( of course) ice cream. Wow. Just do this. You won't be sorry. It isn't just great food by great chefs, it's a great EXPERIENCE. Pick up the phone and make your reservation now.
(5)Margie L.
A nearly perfect restaurant. Great service. Uptown decor with well-spaced tables. The eye of ribeye entree blew my mind. A magnificent chunk of perfectly medium rare beef served with pureed caramelized onion puree, horseradish creme, and MARROW FRITTERS! Marrow fritters, I will dream of them. Small, but thoughtful, wine list.
(5)Leslie L.
I almost hate to tell you how good this is because I don't want to have a hard time getting reservations. This place is AMAZING. The intriguing flavor combinations, ambience and service make it a must try. It is hard to believe it hasn't even.been open two weeks. The fingerling potato chips with the sliders are like food crack! Seriously, no bite disappointed. And even though I shouldn't have, I finished with the goat cheese pear dessert. Amazing!!
(5)