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Name: a Cena Ristorante
Address: 7742 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR, 97202
Telephone: (503) 206-3291
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.39

a Cena Ristorante

7742 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR, 97202

(503) 206-3291
Store is closed

a Cena Ristorante Menu

Antipasti

Antipasto

Romano

Bruschetta

Spugnole

Casa

Asparagi

Formaggio

Finocchio

Frito Misto

Antipasto

Romano

Bruschetta

Spugnole

Casa

Asparagi

Formaggio

Finocchio

Frito Misto
House Made Pasta

Caramelle

Agnolotti

Gnocchi Alla Bava

Tagliatelle

Cavatelli

Norcia

Caramelle

Agnolotti

Gnocchi Alla Bava

Tagliatelle

Cavatelli

Norcia
Secondi

Merluzzo

Vitello

Maiale

Capesante

Pollo

Merluzzo

Vitello

Maiale

Capesante

Pollo
Contorni

Cauliflower

Spinach

Vingarola

Trio of Contorni

Cauliflower

Spinach

Vingarola

Trio of Contorni
Pizza

Carciofi

Margherita

Salsiccia

Carciofi

Margherita

Salsiccia

Healthy Meal suggestions for a Cena Ristorante

Antipasti

Antipasto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Romano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spugnole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Formaggio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finocchio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Frito Misto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipasto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Romano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spugnole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Formaggio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finocchio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Frito Misto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Made Pasta

Caramelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agnolotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnocchi Alla Bava [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tagliatelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cavatelli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Norcia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agnolotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnocchi Alla Bava [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tagliatelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cavatelli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Norcia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Secondi

Merluzzo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vitello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maiale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Capesante [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Merluzzo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vitello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Maiale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Capesante [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Contorni

Cauliflower [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vingarola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trio of Contorni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cauliflower [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vingarola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trio of Contorni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza

Carciofi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsiccia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carciofi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsiccia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Bart D.

A Cena is quaint and bustling. The food was remarkable. The appetizer was impressively presented and uniquely Italian. The house made pasta and homemade sauce were excellent. The halibut sat in a perfectly lite garlic sauce. Dessert was a perfect balance of sweet, tart and texture. Price: worth it. Friendly staff. No waiting around. You won't be disappointed...
(4)
Callie R.

a Cena has a great atmosphere, wine list, and cocktails. The food is usually very good. From the bread they bring at the start of the meal, to the desert menu, everything is delicious and the flavors are diverse--which some times is not the case with Italian restaurants. If you come too late in the night, their specials are likely sold out.
(4)
May C.

The oxtail stew and polenta dish was packed with flavor and just the right amount of cheese. The cheesesticks are delicious and made fresh every morning! I could've ate a whole basket by myself! I ordered the pan-seared scallops and truffle risotto as my main dish. It was all very good but I feel like the homemade pastas are their signature dishes. I'll definitely be coming back to try one of them!
(4)
RJ H.

As I get to know more about the Sellwood area, it does not lack for Italian inspired restaurants....one of the better ones and frankly some of the best Italian in Portland is a Cena Ristorante..... I came hungry and left incredibly satisfied....we started with wine from an ample wine by the glass selection...the wait staff was perfect...friendly, helpful and really were not afraid to give their personal opinion on what wine the like the most or least....with out the attitude or disappointment we weren't ordering a bottle. We dialed up the courses ...started with the "Farro" salad...salt roasted beets...pinenuts, radicchio ..this salad was perfect. Then shared the wild mushroom Risotto....creamy, smooth with just the right amount of parmesan....again....perfect. Yes we were hungry we included a side of the Roasted Cauliflower....( with capers, almonds and currents) ...honestly OMG....perfect again. And then wrapped up with the "Panelle" ...chick pea fritters...a nice dish but relatively low on the in love list...just a little to bland,,,given the unique flavors of the other courses. The service from the owner to the busser was polite helpful and super friendly....the vibe simple, and potentially romantic and complete with a cozy bar. Since spending more time in Sellwood Ive had more Italian regional inspired food in the last 30 days then in the pervious 5 years...A Cena is a proven gem...you need to try it.
(5)
Debbie L.

While the restaurant appears to a "cute" neighborhood ristorante, the food left much to be desired. The scallops were just barely cooked. I expected a better preparation. The risotto was floating in butter and oil. My husband had the fettuccine and clams. Even in NYC we would have paid less for the portion he received It too was over buttered and oiled. All in all not a good experience and definitely not a place I will return to.
(2)
Kisar D.

A Cena Ristorante was excellent! It is very rare that an Italian restaurant will impress us, especially my wife, but she was a big fan of the smaller portion sizes versus the larger portions you get at other places. In addition, the wine selection was great! They were out of a wine that I wanted to try, but their other recommendation was an excellent choice. I just had a the basic spaghetti and meatballs, which is something that every Italian eatery should be able to to do and Rock It - and they did just that. Overall, it was a great dining experience and the food was just superb. We will definitely be making a return trip their in the near future. Thanks, KSD
(5)
A N.

A bit loud on a busy night, but it's great none the less. As everyone states ,the lobster ravioli is to die for and the lamb rigatoni was delish! Great local spot for Italian
(4)
Kohei T.

5 star for Portland! Yea that sounds pretty snobbish, but I want to stop giving out 4 stars to not live up to LA, Tokyo etc. This place has a good balance of casual and intimate. I think that's is part of the reason why it is so popular, the friendly ambiance that is approachable. Good price, portion is good and the lobster pasta is pretty damn good. Service and food timing was spot on, and enjoyed our time very much. I don't venture out in that part of town often, but it was a good excuse to get out of DT/Pearl on the weekends. Parking was easy, seems like there is not much going on around their at night so street parking works out quite well. Sometimes its hard to find a decent Italian restaurant, and I guarantee you that you won't be disappointed here with service, ambiance and food.
(5)
Hana F.

Real good. It's a real homely Italian vibe and taste. You'll probably need reservations but it's good.
(4)
Christian T.

One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in a while and up there with best ever. Great atmosphere, service and the food was truly outstanding. Fresh pasta is a special hung done right and this place does it perfectly. Sauces are amazing too. Try the trio and you won't be disappointed. Great date night spot or just casual meal. Little on he pricy side but well worth it.
(5)
Wayne C.

A Cena is a neighborhood gem - and, a fantastic eatery in a city filled with Italian restaurants (seriously, Portland has a disproportionate number of Italian restaurants compared to other cities our size and SES). A Cena is a "remake" of Assagio Restaurant - which bit the dust in 2007. The best part of Assagio was the intimate decor and ambiance afforded inside the dining space. Well A Cena does not disappoint. There is an "old world" charm to the interior of A Cena that makes dining feel special. Enough about the atmosphere - the food is fantastic. A unique blend of "standard" Italian-American fare mixed with true old-country favorites. The meat was excellent. All, even down to the prosciutto crudo mixed in with the Brussels sprouts, of the meat was prepared to a perfect flavor and texture balance. We had a table of 5 men. This masculine dining experience led to an over-ordering challenge. We had enough dishes to feed two other tables - and that was great. Everyone of us enjoyed the meal. Our table included eclectic dishes of fish, gnocchi, pasta, and braised pork. The wait staff are extremely knowledgeable and went out of their way to accommodated a few of my weird eating idiosyncrasies. I highly recommend A Cena for a romantic Saturday evening or a business dinner on a Thursday night. No matter when, or why, you go - you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Red R.

Great food and atmosphere. Our server was attentive and accommodating. The house-made ravioli with house ricotta was amazing. A bit turned off by the owner wearing a flannel shirt and jeans on Valentine's Day when the rest of his staff were in all black nicely dressed?
(4)
V Z.

I came here with my mom. What I like best about this place is the homemade pasta and desserts. We ordered a baked mozzarella appetizer (formaggio) , it took a little while maybe around 20 minutes. Our entrees came right when we finished the appetizer though. The bread and olive oil is amazing and the baked cheese was TO DIE FOR! Definitely worth the wait. Our entrees were a homemade linguini with clams--the pasta was undercooked and too chewy for us, not sure it was "homemade" but the flavor was still there. We also ordered a penne pasta with sausage and a spicy marinara. This was great, and the perfect portion. The prices here are great, not too high. The service was great! The ambience is very romantic italian bistro and the tiramisu dessert was a very nice ending to our meal. I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Monica C.

Excellent food (fresh pasta) and friendly waitstaff.
(5)
Devon Rose D.

Great lunch in Sellwood. Had the Gnocchi with added chicken. Delish!! The house-made bread really stood out, too. Service was just okay. We saw our server 4 times, start to finish, and wished we had drink refills more readily available! I felt like we should get better service for a $50 lunch, as the service would align more with a $20 lunch. I would definitely go back for dinner, and hopefully get better service with the meal!
(4)
Jer J.

A great find! Went for an early dinner on Sunday evening so it was pretty empty. Our waiter was attentive and prompt, and recommended a delicious local Pinot Gris, which did not disappoint. We ordered the special appetizer : pork and lamb bruschetta with goat cheese. It tasted really good, but the bread was a bit tough and burnt in spots. The house bread (ciabatta) and cheese sticks were quite excellent. Fellow diners both got the lobster corn ravioli. It was amazingly delicious. The pasta cooked perfectly al dente, and the creamy corn filling burst in your mouth. It had huge chunks of lobster in the sauce - just delectable. I had the duck breast with grilled peaches and polenta croutons. Best. Ever. We had an espresso (good shots) to end the meal, but took dessert home: cannoli and of course tiramisu which didn't disappoint. I never think of Italian food when I want to go to dinner but will now! Loved this place.
(4)
NessaBelle H.

Get the lobster agnolotti. Just do it. If you don't, someone else at your table does, and you try it, you will immediately regret ordering whatever it was that you ordered. Or maybe don't try it and spare yourself the disappointment in your order. The rest of the food on the menu is great, but the agnolotti is most definitely the star of the show, so if you're planning to just try someone else's, be aware that it'll ruin the food in front of you. I'm a casein-tard (allergic to casein, as opposed to a lactard who is lactose intolerant), but I'll house that shit anyway and suffer the consequences tomorrow, because it's just THAT EFFIN GOOD. That is all...
(5)
Sheldon S.

Blessed to be able to enjoy cost-no-object dining, but a Cena is our first choice. And it's a 100-mile round trip! Just enough atmosphere in cozy Sellwood; national-class cuisine; and superb service. They deserve their seven-day-a-week success.
(5)
Thi S.

We took some friends who had never dined at A Cena before and they really enjoyed it! We requested a simple pasta dish with a few prawns on it for the child at the table and the chef came out himself, to ask if he preferred the pasta prepared with olive oil or butter! Chris and all the staff always treat us like family and this makes it really enjoyable. Most importantly, our meal was fantastic! We had a couple of great bottles of Brunello recommended by Chris. A couple of us had the farro and beet salad that was really hearty and garlicky (in the most splendid way) . The garganelli pasta was to die for. This one is right up there with the Lobster agnolotti that I usually order. My daughter always orders one of their pizza's and this time she had the gorganzola that she thoroughly enjoyed. We're already regulars, so they know we'll be back!
(5)
Titi N.

This review is mainly for the corn and mascarpone ravioli with poached lobster. GET IT. I would fly back to Portland just for this dish. It's to die for. Fresh velvety pasta, and perfect amount of seasoning. The lobster is cooked to perfection, buttery soft with the right about of chew that lobster is supposed to have. Never settle for rubber. 5 stars for this dish alone, minus one star because the other dishes weren't at the same level. However, definitely coming back.
(4)
Rachel C.

Easily the best Italian food I've eaten in Portland. Ate here on Valentine's Day, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Service was attentive, food was wonderful, wine list was varied but not overwhelming. The prices were higher than most of the places we eat frequently, but it was absolutely worth it. Highly recommend!
(5)
Dinh P.

Here on a vacation so we wanted some Italian for dinner. Of all the places we ate at in Portland this was quite a disappointment. It has good reviews but the food was mediocre. I had the Tagiatelle (pasta with pork Bolognese), wasn't impressed. It wasnt bad but nothing good either. My wife had the Lobster Ravioli, that was pretty good. Very basic taste. The service was also subpar. The waitress (Loris) seemed not too interested in providing service and when we decided we would pass on the dessert, she turned and walked away without letting us finish our sentence. Very rude. Pass on this...
(3)
Barry N.

Great service Great meal. I could have ordered anything on the menu, and everything we did order was great. Had the pizza- crust was a little dough-ey, but great great flavor, main courses included agnolotti with lobster, veal chop, and the scallops with porcini risotto. could not have had a better meal. everything was great. Our server had humor, speed, attentiveness. We live a ways away from here, but I could easily become a regular despite the drive.
(5)
Shauna P.

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.
(4)
Brandon B.

I went here about a month ago on a Friday night and it was fairly busy, however we had made reservations earlier in the morning so I didn't expect it to be much of a concern... Boy was I wrong! We ended up not being seated until 45 minutes past our reservation time (We arrived 15 minutes early so we waited a total of an hour).. The hostess acted like it was no big deal as we sat on a bench, after about 30 minutes the owner came out and was very friendly and apologetic and offered the 2 little ones some bread sticks and cookies, it was a nice gesture but still didn't quite make up for our hour wait. In all fairness it wasn't just the restaurants fault, there were a group of 5 girls that were finished eating and decided to sit and talk for an hour and the owner explained that they were in our expected table. We were seated in the very next table. I had the full portion Lobster Ravioli and grilled brussel sprouts if I remember correctly. They were pretty good but didn't blow my mind and it seemed a bit over priced but it was definitely very tasty. IMO the food fell a little short of 5 stars, the service aside from having to wait an hour was good but I'd say because of the wait I'd have to deduct a star from service as well. The atmosphere was very romantic, a great place to take a date if you don't mind paying premium for the romantic vibe knowing you're not getting the same value with the food. We brought our 2 year old and 8 year old however I wouldn't recommend kids at this venue, ours were well behaved and quite and didn't distract from the quite romantic atmosphere (the table beside us even complimented us on how well behaved they were) however most 2 year olds (ours even occasionally) would be boarder line inappropriate here. Would go back without kids someday, if I don't find a better italian place before then. Really looking for something to fill my Michael Symons void that's been lingering since leaving Ohio :(, sadly a Cena Ristorante fell a little short on both food quality and value.
(4)
Mary L.

Great Italian restaurant with superb wine list.
(5)
Vinh N.

The lobster agnolotti is what what keeps us coming back. It is so good. All that butter and cream they use is probably bad for you but who cares. When you bite into it, you get this great seafood taste and texture and then you get blown away by this corn after taste that completes the samba in your mouth. Wash it down with a glass of white wine and be sure to dip and dunk the pieces of bread in the agnolotti sauce.
(5)
Tracy C.

I don't know why this restaurant is not more talked about. The food is lovely, the ambiance cosy and the staff were friendly and clearly loved food and wine. They were very knowledgeable with wine pairings and made good recommendations. A group of us ate family style and I can recommend everything we ordered from the paper thin fennel in the Finocchio and the perfect pairing of Farro and Beet Salad. For mains indulge in the perfectly seared giant Scallops on a beautifully creamy risotto, rich and flavorful Wild Boar Bolognase and the Norcia... Oh my that was good! Oh and don't miss the perfectly crispy brussle sprouts or the wonderful cauliflower. Be sure to leave room for dessert because you will not want to miss the Budino. So rich and creamy, pure heaven. Oh, I must go back soon!
(5)
Dian K.

We picked this restaurant randomly out of the ones that popped up on my yelp search. Never heard of it before, but sure glad we went! We started with the casa salad, which was good, but "just a salad". The calamari was soft and not chewy with a light batter and a decent aioli that accompany it - it was a tad too salty for me though. As the main, we got the Angolotti, which is VERY good. I think I would order this every time I go (yes, I will be back). There's a good amount of lobster, although the star performer is the sweet corn raviolini. The other entree we got is the scallops special of the night. The scallops are perfectly cooked, over some vegetable. Again, this dish is a tad too salty for me. Even though we're pretty full by this point, we had to try one of their deserts - tiramisu was a no brainer since I'm in constant search of the perfect one. Well, this one is not the one. A little dry and not as soft and creamy as I like it. But other than the slight imperfections, I think I found a new solid restaurant to go to.
(4)
Heather H.

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.
(4)
Darcie A.

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.
(3)
Alison M.

I found this gem based off of other reviews on Yelp. It's definitely worth the trip out to Sellwood. Great ambiance but could use a little more lighting so the patrons can read the menu without having to use their cellphones as flashlights. I had the Angolotti with fresh Lobster and it was worth every penny! The lobster was tender and flavorful and the flavorful pasta was perfect! Others in the group had the Bolognese, Gnocchi and Saltimboca which all got rave reviews. I would have given this a 5 star rating but the service was a little lacking which was surprising since it's not a large place and it seemed there were quite a few servers on hand. I will definitely go again and recommend this place to others.
(4)
Benjamin P.

First let me say this. The service here is REALLY good. The people are friendly, the wait staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant, and it's a genuinely fun place to be. We had a great time. They also don't rush to flip tables, so you are allowed to comfortably enjoy a meal at your own pace. This is REALLY nice. Unfortunately, the food doesn't live up to the standard of service or atmosphere. We have been reading great reviews about this place for awhile, so we decided to try it tonight. Celebrating an anniversary, I had asked if they could give us a nice table a few days in advance. I was assured that this would be taken care of. Unfortunately, we were stuck in what looked to be the only booth seating in the entire restaurant, by a 14 top. Not very romantic. I was able to overlook that (not a big deal), but it definitely did not meet my expectations for what I felt was a pretty simple request. That was really the only flaw in service. Now for the food. We ordered two appetizers: the formaggio and the arancini. The arancini were actually very good. Nice and crispy without being greasy, a good portion, and tasty. The corn really gives an interesting mouthfeel. These were different than I had expected, but very tasty. I asked for a side of pomodoro with it and our waiter was very accommodating. Now while the arancini were good, the formaggio was just quite bad. The first problem was the amount of oregano in the dish. Oregano is good, but if you use too much, it ruins the entire dish. I want to taste something besides oregano, and there was A TON in there. The best Italian food is about subtlety, and this dish had NONE. The bread that was served with it was also a bit burnt (one or two pieces) and had almost no flavor. It was just floury. Not enough salt, no yeast flavor, just nothing. We couldn't finish it (no big deal, some dishes will miss) so we ordered the caprese and sipped on more of our wine (which was excellent). The caprese came and it looked absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Very nice presentation. Unfortunately, the house made mozzarella was really lacking. My first bite of the caprese had every component of the dish in it, and was quite good. However, as I began to eat the cheese on it's own, I realized it was EXTREMELY watery and completely bland. No flavor. My girlfriend (who loves fresh mozz more than anything) actually only had one bite, and left me to the rest. However, the tomatoes, basil, and oil were of high quality and tasted nice. Just disappointing because mozz is such a huge part of caprese. The texture of it was nice (they make their own in house), but again it had NO flavor whatsoever and was just too watery. The house bread they give you was also lacking flavor, although it was baked nicely. For our entrees we had the agnolotti and the lamb ragu. The agnolotti were good, but a bit sweet and a bit pricey for the portion size. I realize lobster is expensive, but I've had better tasting meals at fancier restaurants and paid less for a bigger portion. $18 for a SMALLLLLLLLL bowl of pasta is a bit much. The lamb ragu was the standout of the meal. The sauce was seasoned well and had a nice acidity to it, and the lamb was cooked perfectly and seasoned very nicely. We both enjoyed this dish. However, the pasta in this dish was undercooked. We both and appreciate al dente pasta, but this was not al dente, it was undercooked. It wasn't raw or anything, but it was very noticeable. Disappointing for a place that puts an emphasis on pasta. Even though we didn't care for most of the food, you can tell that these people put a lot of effort and passion into their restaurant, and I can respect that. The food was also very fresh, and most of it was prepared well (save for the burnt bread and undercooked pasta). I just think some of their flavors are a bit off. If the food was better, I would say this place is AMAZING. Unfortunately, I've had better Italian meals for half the price (Ristorante Roma) and MUCH better meals for the same price (Gildas). It's tough to pay $100 for a meal that is just average, no matter how good the service is. That all being said, we still had a lovely time (the service was good and we were celebrating!). And, this place gets a lot of amazing reviews--my opinion is just my opinion. It could have been an off night in the kitchen (it was a Monday), or I could just be crazy...so go try it! You'll at least get great service, and then you can decide for yourself. Just remember, it's a bit pricey, and if you feel a little let down afterwards, I did warn you!
(3)
alan l.

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.
(5)
Mo M.

Went to a Cena before a concert at Lewis and Clark - staff was very friendly, efficient, and accomodating, even on a crowded Friday night. Restaurant was packed, and mix of patrons was wide-ranging, from families with small children to older couples. Room was not overly noisy, considering the crowd. Delicious grilled romaine salad! The farro salad w/ beets and chevre was also very good. After the salads, we had two pasta courses, paparadelle w/ rabbit and chantarelle risotto. The paparadelle was excellent, rabbit cooked perfectly and not dry, while the risotto was adequate, but not spectacular - a heavy hand with the garlic and salt, and rice not quite creamy. Nice portion sizes. Two nice Italian wines by the glass rounded out the dinner, and dessert (and the ubiquitous limoncello) looked good although we passed.
(4)
Captain B.

A top choice for outstanding Italian offerings in the Portland area! Very friendly and professional service...kind of a team approach. The food was very well prepared and portion sizes were good (you get a choice on most items of two sizes. Reservations are pretty well a must at this Sellwood establishment. Only neg: Menu stated the price of a particular wine as $7/glass...when the bill was presented it was a buck more...no explanation from the server.
(5)
Nick B.

attentive service, nice ambiance, yummy food. my only complaint would be that they had a sidecar on their cocktail list for about nine bucks, with triple sec rather than something nicer. seems like an upscale place could use cointreau for an almost ten dollar drink.
(4)
Cynthia S.

We had an exceptionally good meal. Special favorites were the scallops, and the pasta stuffed with corn and served with lobster. Rabbit pasta was excellent as well.
(4)
Brandi M.

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.
(5)
Jason P.

The bom!!! Dined for the first time last night with my wife and a friend and his family. Service was great, food was AMAZING! Great value did not feel it was overpriced. I think this would make a great date night restaurant.
(5)
Mellie K.

It's been a while since the single time that I ate here. I remember the lasagna and the pasta itself being very good. The focaccia was very cakey, however, and the dishes overall were not super memorable. We went to the Screen Door shortly after and paid the same amount for a larger quantity of more exciting food. It might not be fair to compare the two, but that's how we felt.
(4)
Alessandro M.

great food and great service! the dishes they serve are not the classical italian menu you can find in most Italian restaurant. they serve a modern version of my country cuisine and the result is awesome! is not cheap but quality has a cost!
(5)
ed d.

The best italian restaurant I've tried in Portland so far. My wife and I went there for dinner. Made reservations but got there 15 minutes early but were still seated immediately. Service was very good and our waiter brought us two complimentary glasses of champange once he found out we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. We ordered the Manila clams as an appetizer. The bread there was really amazing, soft and delicious with yummy breadsticks. The clams which came out promptly were immersed in a tasty tomato sauce with capers which we both enjoyed. We then proceeded to try the Agnolotti (corn and marscapone lobster raviolini). The raviolini pasta was tremendous but very rich in butter and cheese so we were glad we shared the smaller portion. Lastly we tried the lamb stew which was good. We completed our meal with the tirimisu and sicilian pistachio gelato. Both desserts were satisfying but less enjoyable were you can find better versions of each elsewhere in portland. If the raviolini is an indication of the restaurants strength, I would suggest going for the pastas above other entrees. We'll be back to try other pastas!
(5)
Pierce S.

Three of us stopped for lunch. Not disappointed. My goat cheese Panini with really tasty Italian fries was great along with my wife's Trout with salad. Our friend's Pizza was not as spectacular but still very good. Service was up to the level of the food. Noise is a three and ambiance a four but the food is what we are talking about and is outstanding.
(5)
Jennifer S.

The service is great and should receive 5 stars. The food isn't exceptional - 3 stars. The entrees we ordered had roe sprinkled on them (crab risotto and rabbit pappardelle), which gave the dishes a fishy salty taste. When we scraped the roe to the side, the dishes were just bland without it. Dessert - tiramisu - 5 stars. Delicious and light, just right. Overall, since we mainly came here for the food. I had to rate this 3 stars.
(3)
Flo J.

Pros: decent Negroni + nice waiters Cons: the food wasn't up to par. Sauce tasted like it came from a can. Weird and unappetizing presentation.
(2)
Robin K.

Great italian place. Waiter was very helpful with our orders and questions. Food came out fairly quickly. We shared a little bit of everything. Started with salad and calamari. Then the pizzas, followed by our entrees. Everything was done perfectly and tasted as well as it was made! Oh, the desserts were just as good as the rest of the food we ate. Also, try the basil mojito; bartender recommended; and it was very goooooood.
(5)
Chris E.

We'll give a Cena 5 stars for location, lovely decor and fantastic service, however, sadly, we just weren't impressed with the food. The bread was excellent. The Caprese salad was bland and had only two small leaves of basil. The Gnocchi was mushy, bland and smothered in cheese. The tomato sauce was on par with Ragu. It reminded me of kid's mac and cheese at best. The other dish we ordered was the Lasagna and that was disappointing, too. It was just swimming in liquid and had more of a soup consistency than Lasagna. The flavor was OK, not great. We really wanted to love this place, but the food was just so mediocre. Perhaps it was a bad night and worth another try. We were impressed with the great service.
(3)
Lisa C.

I was really looking forward to dinner here and hopig for a romantic evening, but it ended up being pretty frustrating. After we were seated we sat there for quite a while before anyone came by to get a drink order. Not sure what the hold up was, but it was a little bit ridiculous. Our server was hard to understand for some reason- he didn't have an accent or anything he just kind had mush-mouth. The food was really really good. For an appetizer we had the Scmorza cheese all melty with oil and herbs on it... mmm!!! My BF got the ravioli with lobster and I got the scallops. Both were amazing, but I liked mine better. I think he liked his better. At dessert was when it got really awkward. We ordered 2 desserts and I ordered a crown and bailey on the rocks to go with mine. Yes- just try it. Our mushy-mouthed server then came back and said they were out of baileys so I just ordered another glass of wine. So then we got the BFs dessert and he shared with me. Then I got my dessert. Still no wine. Then the wine came but the momentum was all messed up at that point and I just picked at my dessert. Ach du liebe!! Anyway- it was romatic and all that, but for the price I would expect a little more... coordination? I would like to try it agian, but who knows.
(3)
Douglas G.

Four of us went to a Cena when visiting Oregon for wine tasting in Willamette. The best thing I can say is we each had a different entrÃ©e and all four of us said "amazing". It is not common that there are no disappointments at all. The appetizers, entrees, desserts were all fantastic. The staff was both friendly and professional. So good, it makes me want to move to Portland so I could go there more.
(5)
Eryn S.

Food is fantastic and ambiance is romantic. My favorite was the grilled romaine salad. Service was attentive (but why didn't they offer ground pepper for salad and a spoon for pasta??) Price is great, we just ordered the small pastas, generally $10. It was more than enough. Large plate goes around $20 - $25 I believe. We are definitely planning on going again soon.
(5)
alyse s.

A superior dining experience from the service to the food to the ambiance. Based on previous Yelp reviews I was pretty excited about our first visit and I was not disappointed. I had the small portion of the anglonotti. It was incredible, sweet and creamy with generous chunks of lobster. Hubby had the ravioli and they were excellent. We finished with lemon sorbet and a shot of tequila, great way to end a truly lovely evening. Be sure to make reservations. It's a small, intimate space. We used open table through Yelp and it worked perfectly. I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this dining experience.
(5)
Jason M.

We stopped by on a sunny day while strolling through the neighborhood. Perfect setting on the sidewalk. Our waiter (Andrew) was refreshingly helpful and professional, a nice change from the usual Portland service. The home made pasta was incredible in three dishes, though the lobster was sweeter than I expected. I would love to eat here every month if the wallet and waistline could handle it.
(5)
Matt R.

I would give A Cena 3.5 stars if I could -- it was a solid, yet somewhat disappointing, experience. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing really wrong with our dinner, it was just that our expectations were quite high after reading the stellar reviews this place has received. I had come here when the restaurant was Assaggio (which closed in 2007), and while I do recommend A Cena, I can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed. Ambiance: It depends where you sit. We were stuck in the little alcove in the middle, which is definitely not as comfortable or interesting as other parts of this tiny restaurant. The decor is cozy, though the chairs are rather uncomfortable on your lower back. Service: Efficient, if a bit cold. Our waiter was attentive and did everything right, though he felt a bit robotic. No big deal, but no real charm either. Food: This is the important part, right? The food is definitely a cut above the "Italian-American" fare that you see in so many stereotypical Italian restaurants (Veal parmigiana, enormous plates of bland pasta, etc). A Cena definitely has a solid base from which to build and grow- the food was fresh, well-prepared and good quality. We ordered the panelle (chickpea fritters) and the formaggio appetizers, which were tasty though not tremendously original. The main courses were orecchiette with lamb sauce (the orecchiette looked suspiciously like gnocchi...but they were obviously handmade, so I'll let it go) and the fennel sausage pizza. The portions were generous, the food was good, but again- rather uninspired. There were no new flavors, pairings or ideas being tried out- just solid classics. The Tiramisu for dessert was, on the other hand, quite good. All in all, there is nothing wrong with A Cena- it is a good Italian restaurant that serves quality food. The taste palette for each dish was a bit limited, and this place is missing something, however, which separates it from places like Genoa.
(3)
Jeff T.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. If you haven't made to A Cena yet, then you're missing out. Having been there a few times in the past few months, its quickly become one of my favorites. A Cena has a warm, friendly feel and yet at the same time the food is top notch. The agnolotti is a signature dish and is amazing. The corn, lobster and mascarpone is just a sublime combination. Glad I was recommended to try out A Cena, and now I'm paying it forward also.
(5)
Crystal W.

Love this place. It's small and cozy, the cheese sticks are divine, the pork ragu is also divine. My friends typically order the lobster agnott(geesh, no clue how to spell this!). This place is worth a trip over the Sellwood side of things. I'd give it 5 stars except for the owner and manager and waiters all take turns coming over to say, "Is everything okay?" or "Hello! So glad to see you," such that sometimes it's difficult to have a meal without four or five interruptions of this sort (which, I recognize is a good thing because having people concerned about your experience is a good thing). This is oddly annoying and mostly when I'm there I want someone to nod their acknowledgment and leave me to the pork ragu. Just sayin'. Addition as of 5/7/11: been back twice since having written the above and both times the # of interruptions were drastically diminished. So I'm going from a 4 to a 5 enthusiastically!!! Oh, and order the cheese sticks. And butter. You'll thank me. For real.
(5)
Phong D.

A Cena was recommended by fellow Yelpers when I asked for help regarding a romantic restaurant for date night with the wifey. In short, this place will not disappoint! Everything from the location, ambiance, friendliness and knowledge of the staff, ease of the menu, and quality of food were superb. We came on a Sun night with reservations and everything was flawless. It's the best Italian food that I've ever had. The pasta was handmade and had the perfect balance of flour, flavor, and chewiness. The lobster ravioli was divine - hands down the best lobster on this side of the Mississippi (big deal for a former New Englander such as myself!). The sea scallops were meaty, succulent, perfectly seared, and fresh. They were just as good as leftovers 2 days later! The prices were appropriate for the caliber of food that you're getting. We are truly spoiled to have this quality of Italian food in Portland.
(5)
Jodi K.

Amazing pasta. Great bruschetta and appetizers. Calmari looked great--next time! I woke up the next morning thinking Pasta for breakfast sounds great...are they open yet?
(5)
Nancy G.

A Cena is our favorite restaurant in Portland! The food is superb -- innovative, fresh, well-prepared, satisfying. The service is friendly, informative, attentive (but not obtrusive). The atmosphere is cozy, relaxed yet festive, welcoming, and romantic. It can get a bit noisy when the restaurant is full, but we have found that with most Portland restaurants of this type. Lunch is quieter, and a real bargain, as many of the dinner items also are on the lunch menu.
(5)
Jana H.

Tried this place last weekend, and can't say it lived up the hype. I figured based on other reviews that the price was up there, but for what we ordered, it was overpriced. $8 for sparkling water, sheesh. Our waiter was very attentive, and he handled our larger than most party with ease. The appetizers were decent (artichokes were excellent!), the seasonal veggie platter was a joke - $8 for raw veggies on a plate with olive oil and salt? Definitely not what the description said on the menu. Dinner - extra points for having two main dishes that can be accommodated GF with rice pasta. I ordered the lamb bolognese. They offer large and small portions, which is nice to share. The dish was okay, but for the price - nothing to write home about. My fellow diners had the salmon, duck, lamb, veal, etc - all enjoyed them but were disappointed for the price ($26+). We probably should have stuck with the lasagna or pizzas. Dessert! Probably my favorite part of the meal - their own in-house made salted caramel gelato? Yes please. Who cares that it was $5! Their version of strawberry shortcake was just okay - strawberries were definitely from frozen. Homemade whip cream helped. Chocolate cake with pistachio gelato was amazing as well. All in all, a good meal, but not memorable. Probably won't be back - when so expensive, I expect a certain experience. Adding insult to injury was that they charged our card 4 times, since they had some problems with their "POS machine" (their words).
(3)
Tim W.

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.
(5)
Opie C.

Good solid place all around, but be prepared to spend, baby!
(4)
Terri C.

Wow! Decided to try a cena after reading other yelp reviews. So glad we did. Great service from the beginning to the end. I am not an italian food expert....just love really good food and this was it. I had the corn, mascerpone ravolini with butter poached lobster, my only complaint is that it did not come in a 5 gallon bucket. This was great. My husband had the lasagna and loved it as well. We will definetly go back!
(5)
Kerrie L.

We flew in from Seattle and couldn't of been happier with our choice. The ravioli filled with corn and loaded with lobster was unbelievable. Fried salty artichoke was the best appetizer and best eaten in one bite....don't get all girlie and cut it up. I recommend opting for the smaller portions of each and sharing. I had the Paparadelle and while the mushrooms were bomb, the pasta itself lacked something. Staff was awesome and had a great lil family feel.
(4)
Kerilynn C.

Fantastic food! Very rich, fresh and simple. Can't wait to go back! The service was lovely, the atmosphere was nice. Just love, love, love!
(5)
Bryan G.

Wait was long even with a reservation. But food and staff were great. Perfect for a romantic date. Food was very good, staff was friendly, can't say enough.
(5)
Ray Y.

Never would I have thought I would ever say "this is the best meal dish I've ever had." Tonight A Cena did just that. With it's simple yet full flavored dish the Agnollotti. Creamy corn, blended with marscapone, tossed in a light creamy white wine sauce, then to top it off perfectly cooked buttered Maine lobster. Near nirvana in my mouth, an almost religious experienece. Quaint, personable, the owner brings the dish out to you. Hats off to the chef, I will be back over and over and over again just for this.
(5)
B R.

Wow, I am Italian and this is one of the best in town!
(5)
Mary C.

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!
(5)
Chris O.

The food was excellent, including the Agnolotti which was extremely tasty. The staff were really on their game with all kinds of service. I would choose to sit away from the wait staff/kitchen area next time; it seemed all of the staff were a little stressed and sitting this close felt a little too close to the "action". Not to not nit-pick, though, this place is top notch.
(4)
Tom S.

Excellent little restaurant. I have been here several times for small work dinners and always enjoyed it. Everything I tried was excellent but I especially enjoyed the brussel sprouts!
(5)
Erin M.

For some reason, I expected a Cena to be popular on a Saturday night, but my boyfriend & I walked in around 6pm and were immediately seated. We had a choice of seats, even- the contemporary dinning feel by the bar, or the more romantic dimly lit space near the back. We went with romance :) The service was friendly and helpful, and with a gift card in hand, we splurged. We started with the formaggi antipasti plate ($10), which had modest portions of havarati, gorgonzola, and a third cheese I can't put my finger on. I really enjoyed the mild flavor of their gorgonzola, but the other cheese were a bit to bland for my taste. I'm a sharp cheddar girl, what can I say? When we gave our orders to the waitress we were coaxed into caprice salads, which were honestly lacking for their hefty $8 price. Varied lettuce and a couple cherry tomatoes doesn't cut it for me. The fact that a salad that skimpy & unremarkable isn't complimentary is major points off. My boyfriend is a simple pasta type of guy, so he chose the garganelli ($19), which was a somewhat generous serving of pork bolognese on pasta. He thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered ravioli filled with summer squash and a hint of pine nuts. I have to admit, the filling was spectacular in flavor. However, the pasta was poorly composed and swimming in oil- both of which were unsatisfactory for a $19 plate. We finished with tiramisu, which was quite honestly the highlight of the meal. For $35/person I wouldn't return, but I did enjoy my visit. A Cena recommended for an elegant or romantic meal and expedient service.
(3)
Greg M.

The food and service are equally amazing. Our server, Matt, took amazing care of us through the evening. Our wine recommendation was SPOT on, description of the special was delivered with passion and the banter was a welcome inclusion to our fabulous evening! I do hope they do the trout special again. The preparation was simple, elegant and more flavorful than ANY trout either my wife or I have ever had. The pork pasta was equally amazing. We can't wait to go back. The dish prices are higher here than some similar restaurants, but I think it's well justified given the quality and freshness of all the ingredients and the fantastic, never-empty assortment of bread choices included with the meal.
(5)
Patrick C.

Without a doubt, the best Italian food in Portland. I took my board of directors here for a pre board meeting dinner, and now every quarter when they fly up from San Francisco, they demand to eat at aCena - period! Their point of view is it's as good as the best SFO has to offer, and I think they are right.
(5)
Airin T.

This place is top notch. The food was fantastic and the wine superb but my favorite part was the service. Waitstaff were friendly and attentive without being obnoxious. We were warmly greeted and promptly seated. Water glasses were never less than half full and the time given between ordering appetizers and entrÃ©es was neither too little nor too much. The vibe was quintessential Sellwood; warm, quaint, and nice but not uppity.
(5)
Kate S.

Very yummy
(5)
Melissa M.

Cozy, great food, awesome wine list. The service is friendly and top notch. Every course is delicious and you can come in for just a nibble or spend all night having multiple courses. Breadsticks = LOVE!
(5)
Sev K.

Amazing! Very romantic restaurant with great food and very reasonable as far as the bill goes. Took my better half to Acena and it was wonderful. We had an appetizer, 2 beers, dinner and vanilla gelato with assorted cookies to top it off and the bill came to $49 dollars. The service was amazing and very friendly. Great spot if you're a wine fan also. I highly recommend this place if you want to take your sweetheart to a romantic restaurant with a good atmosphere that is affordable!
(5)
Cooper M.

First off, I got take-out so take this with a grain of salt. I ordered the Gnocchi and a salad and I will say I was surprised the bill was $25. Then I looked at the menu and saw that the gnocchi was $2 cheaper on it than I was charged (I was charged 17). So probably just an honest mistake but odd. Finally, the food was all very good (I also got the grilled Romaine), and it did include bread, but the pasta dish was considered a large and I couldn't imagine it being much smaller so the value in my mind isn't the best but I will gave this place another chance for sure.
(3)
Kim A.

My husband, friends and I went here for my 40th birthday. Insanely good food, attentive service and warm, ambient atmosphere. I ordered a half order of the Agnolotti--sweet corn raviolini, mascarpone and butter poached Maine lobster. Had I known it was going to be so good, I would have ordered the full. Everyone liked what they ordered. Among us we had the lamb shanks, fungi risotto, lentil soup, gnocchi, grilled romaine salad with gorgonzola and tiramisu and for dessert. Nice wine selection too! Everyone was pleased and we all agreed we would pay this restaurant another visit. If you go, the Agnolotti is an absolute MUST. It is practically orgasmic. When I mentioned it to the waiter, he said that people who order it actually say that "it is better than sex!"
(4)
Dallas S.

Every item was amazing! Except... the pork bolognese tagliatelle. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as unique as all of the others. it tasted like something that comes out of "pasta roni". So if you are looking for a out of the world entree i suggest any item exempt that! For dessert i suggest the Bread Pudding! It is amazing and isn't horrible on your stomach!
(5)
Curtis H.

Gramma had the little 2 yr old poopoo so my wife and made reservations at a Cena. Nice intimate setting, the calamari was the best we have had for a long while! Our dinners were very good, and the attention to our drinks even better. Hard to go wrong if your looking for a nice adult nite out without little poopoo's!
(4)
Kevin M.

Solid local choice for Italian. Not out of this world, but good bread, pasta, authentic pizza and beer (though limited draft options). Would go again.
(4)
teresa m.

we actually tasted a cena by attending the festa italiano festival at pioneer courthouse square. we shared an order of the calamari tastefully fried with a lemon wedge with scallions. it was so delicious....thx
(5)
Andrew G.

Chef Gabe is an all-star. The way he respects food is amazing. If you don't read about him its because he is modest. His commitment to local farmers is outstanding and it shows in the food he creates! I have eaten here a few times and sent a lot of people and every time they come back they thank me! As others have posted here the atmosphere, food, service, all outstanding. DO NOT pass on A Cena.
(5)
Joe S.

I thoroughly enjoy this place! GREAT service, great atmosphere and great food! The owner and staff members are very friendly and helpful. You never have to wait long for your food. And your bread is always stocked. It's always consistent every time and I have been there at least 5 times since first discovering this place. My favorite is the papardelle (spelling) dish. It has ground pork/beef (awesome flavor) and fresh homemade wide egg noodles. Sooo good! Can't get enough of it! I've taken several of my friends here and they give it two thumbs up! A definite place for us to frequent often.
(5)
David M.

fantastic italian food! each bite was better than the next. very intimate atmosphere. excellent wine selection.
(5)
Eggland B.

Amazing. My girlfriend and I went to celebrate an anniversary, and had just a wonderful dinner. Everything was delicious. My casa salad, her farro salad, and the drinks were great ways to start the meal. She raved about her Gnocchi al Pomodoro, and said the small plate was pretty filling for a lighter eater. I had the Bolognese. Let me tell you something: this thing is heavy on meat. I like meat, but the girly is a vegetarian so I don't actually eat meat that often. For someone who's not used to it, this was a bit of a shock in terms of how meaty it was. But it was also so freakin delicious that I couldn't stop myself from cleaning the plate! I'd love to go back and try some other items as well! I do recommend a reservation. I'd like to comment on some of the data that you'll see up above: I disagree with the two-dollar-sign rating that this restaurant currently has. We spent a little over $30 apiece with one drink each. You can eat for less, but depending on how you order your could certainly go a lot higher than what we paid! I think it's worth it, but don't go expecting Olive Garden prices for and portions. The dress is casual, sure, but you might feel out of place with an ironic hipster t-shirt and a baseball cap.
(5)
Joy N.

I have been here 3 times in the last 2 months, and I really love the place. The food is great, the service is even better, the ambiance is just what we were looking for. I wish I had more places like this to choose from.
(5)
Tiffany P.

I am taking away a star for seating and another for ignorance and noise. We decided because we loved this place so much on our first visit, that we would take my in-laws here to celebrate my father in laws 70th birthday. We made reservations 1 week early on "Open Table". We arrive for our 5:45 reservation and sweet! There are only about 6 other diners because it is so early. Oh, and did I mention that when you reserve thru "Open Table" they ask you if you are celebrating anything which I did inform them of said bday. We walk up to the hostess and give our name, and she seems to think we are another party, and then when I give our name yet again, she slightly grins and sits us at the table directly behind her in the main area. Mind you, I have a bench a half a centimeter behind me where diners can sit and wait for their table and the bar, is not much farther away, and oh, people start walking in announcing that they are part of a party of 15 that is being seated right across from us. Great! I roll my eyes and try to hide my disappointment, not wanting to ruin this special night. As the dinner progresses, I am watching diners walk in and since we are so close to the hostess, can hear that most do not have reservations and are being seated at way better tables in the main dining area! As more of the party of 15 arrive, the noise volume gets louder as some slightly intoxicated girl arrives and introduces herself as the only "living woman not on facebook! Great, i grumble to myself, now I have to listen to this. Don't get me wrong, the food and service were still good, although they took away the gorgonzola gnocchi with green beans that I had not that long ago, and was raving to my mother in law about, but I must remove stars this time crappy table we were sat at when I had specifically advised them of a special celebration, and if they do not read those, then do not offer them !! And I know I might sound petty, but seating and service and acknowledgement our the main focus of my reviews!
(3)
Rita C.

We tried out this recently opened Italian restaurant, and were quite pleased. a Cena opened about a month ago in the space formerly occupied by Assaggio. We found that the new restaurant offers a comfortable atmosphere, tasty food, and attentive and congenial service. We had the oyster appetizer, and a dish of interesting olives. The margarita was good. I had the steak and vegetables in a flavorful sauce, cooked just the way I like it. Al had shrimp risotto, which he pronounced excellent. Alan had a trout and pasta dish that he said seemed light on the trout, and crunchy on the pasta. Two of the owners, both Chicago transplants, came by to introduce themselves. The meal was nicely paced, and we felt at home there. It's good to live within walking distance of a place like this!
(4)
Martrese W.

My husband & I always look forward to our meals at a Cena (which I found via the Rewards Network dining program). The food is very fresh & authentically Italian and the space is decorated nicely & gets a lot of daylight (large windows). We come hungry so we can try as many courses as possible - prosciutto-wrapped grilled peaches, risotto arancini, my standard lobster & corn agnolotti (OMG), sea salt caramel gelato and VIN SANTO - pure heaven. The bill isn't small, but it's oh-so worth it.
(5)
S G.

Small quaint place...perfect to take a date to if you don't want all the hustle and bustle of a large restaurant. Their Agnolotti is out of this world!
(5)
Whitney A.

Took the whole family there for our March Birthdays. The service was friendly especially for us bringing along our two small children. The owner greeted us with open arms and miniature silverware for the baby. With such a large group of us we ended up ordering just about one of everything, and it was all perfect! Would definitely recommend this place to everyone. Make sure to try the Lemoncello.....along with a tall glass of water and some bread, needless to say I was one happy momma at the end of the night.
(5)
Lucas J.

great food at a good food price. didn't think we could afford it, totally enjoyed it. bomb pizza epic pasta plates. some ridiculously delicious carmel ice cream
(4)
Erin T.

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!
(5)
Birdswerds z.

I love this place. My favorite Italian food in Portland. Lobster ravioli in a butter sauce- the most decadent dish in Portland. It's dreamy. Also wonderful scallops. The appetizer meat and cheese plate was a perfect start. Wonderful and attentive service, beautiful food. I highly recommend A Cena and will continue to go back for special occasions.
(5)
ell b.

my husband and i went here last night - it was our first time here. we love italian food and have not fallen in love with any italian restaurants in pdx yet (we plan to try iorio again. nostrana too. but we aren't devoted to either one). a cena has come closest. we were able to make a reservation online a few hours before arriving for an early saturday dinner. the service was professional and appropriate, an unfortunate rarity in our experience. the caprese salad ... i could have ordered it again for dessert. yum. the pork special over polenta was fantastic. the agnolotti (corn and mascarpone raviolini with butter-poached lobster) was very heavy, as we were warned by our server; a little too buttery as a primary dish, but i couldn't resist. and those skinny crunch breadsticks . . . mmm. we can't wait to go back.
(5)
lisa s.

I've got to jump on the bandwagon too. My party of 8 had a terrific meal and experience at a Cena last night. We enjoyed snow crab and baby artichoke appetizers, but the pastas and the grilled romaine salad were the stars of the evening. The wine list was impressive and varied, offering lots of great off-the-beaten-path bottles. And the service was stellar, attentive, but not intrusive. I wish I hadn't waited so long to try this gem in my own neighborhood. I'll be going back soon.
(5)
Lisa M.

From bread to gelato with limonchellotinis in between....food perfection! The service was like you are visiting a neighborhood friend. My new fav spot.
(5)
John T.

This was a really great experience. We had a wide variety of appetizers, salads, and pastas (didn't make it to the main courses - everything else was quite filling!) I had the pappardelle (rabbit) which was excellent! Other things on the menu which were good: there was a special with goat cheese and figs, and the daily squash soup was light and flavorful. Everyone else at the table was pleased with their dishes, and I don't recall hearing any neutral or negative comments on anything (which is rare.) I'd give four and a half stars, but they don't have "half" options. Service was friendly, prompt and non-intrusive. The Sunday night atmosphere was unhurried. Prices were a bit on the high side for some things ($3 for cranberry juice, no refills - I guess they needed to make up for me not buying wine.) However, I'd say the prices for the dishes were commensurate with the quality - we'll be back. Outdoor seating seems seasonal.
(4)
Steve S.

We had a table of four and each got different entrees and salads. We shared two appetizers. All of it was outstanding, service was excellent and knowledgable and the wine list was thorough. We weren't rushed but the server was attentive and quick.
(5)
Paul W.

Most important part first. Fantastic dinner that exceeded our expectations in every way. From a cost perspective, A Cena is a fantastic value (compared to our other favorite restaurants) with the most expensive dish being under $25 and several others under $20. The atmosphere is romantic with lots of nooks and crannies including the corner booth in the bar we used to occupy in the hayday of Assagio. We used to eat at Assagio (original restaurant in the space) on a near weekly basis, then when the owners left to start Cork A Bottle Shop the restaurant went down the tubes and we focused our dining to other restaurants we love, Vindaloo, Clark Lewis, Mingo, Higgins, Wildwood and Chez Mauchin. Finally we felt it was time to expand our horizons and decided to give A Cena a shot. It was a Sunday night and there was literally not a soul in the restaurant (World Series was going on). We almost took off for Vindaloo due to the lack of diners but decided to give it a shot. We figured worse case we would have the staff's attention :) What followed was nothing short of miraculous. The same dedication to quality restaurant made ingredients had been revived by A Cena. From prosciutto wrapped figs to gnocchi and a lamb shank each course was OUTSTANDING.....perhaps even better than our fondest memories of the original Assagio. Dessert was what put our experience over the top. My wife ordered the sea salt caramel gelato with an additional scoop of double dark chocolate....phenomenal. I hestiated on ordering the Tiramisu because it is such a predictable dessert at most Italian restaurants. Their Tiramisu is worth the trip alone for dessert. It is like nothing I have ever had and don't have words to adequately describe it in this review. You simply need to go. How different are the ingredients? Take the lamb shank. Two weeks ago we took my folks to Lauro (a restaurant we used to love), and all four of us ordered lamb shanks with a library quality Pinot Noir. The lamb shanks were fatty to the point our plates looked like we had not truly dug-in. The Acena lamb shank was meaty, lean and delicious to the point there literally was nothing left but the bone and a full, happy diner. This was perhaps the most delicious lamb-shank I have ever had. Meanwhile the gnocchi stood up to Mingo's legendary dish and far surpased the gnocchi I had at San Francisco's famed North Beach restaurant. The service is excellent as well. Brian, our server used to work at top places including Morton's and Blue hour. Of course every restaurant has something to improve upon. For A Cena they need to bring back the comfy pillows Assagio used to have in the bar seating and work on the music being played in the background. Assagio also had an amazing fig bread they used to serve that ran out if your seating was after 9pm. I would go so far as to say if you were visting Portland on a culinary vacation I would put A Cena at the top of your must visit list. UPDATE- My wife and I just returned tonight (Saturday) and the food was once again outstanding and the background music was much better :) I bet the pillows for the window benches are on order!
(5)
Jayne K.

The food was really good. The waitress a little disapointing. The owner was exceptional and my Vegi lasagna needed some serious flavor lets just say it need a little help the chicken was out of this world and I recommend there Italion Icecream Decaf coffee is probably the best I have ever had. I would recommend this for an intimate date on a weekday eve...
(3)
Everett S.

First time and it was a great experience. Service was attentive and quick. Food was lovely and no problems for my 21 yr old vegetarian daughter. The butter-poached lobster agnolotti was out of this world as was the funghi pizza. It was all super tasty. Coming from Seattle I was shocked how inexpensive it was in comparison. $110 for all three of us, appetizers, two desserts and 4 or 5 cocktails. Reserved via yelp and no problems, small 10 minute wait. I only gave this a 4 instead of 5 because I got there a bit early and the bartender told me I could sit at the bar where two people were leaving. As I sat down the hostess came up and told me I couldn't sit there so I was slightly annoyed but the food and atmosphere made me a fan. I'd really like to give a 4.5 rating.
(4)
MirMack M.

This was a great date night place. We got a bruscetta appetizer which was very yummy. I got the sausage and mushroom pizza which was great that night and cold the next day for lunch. He got pasta. It seemed reasonably priced. We were both happy and if we're every in that neighborhood we'll go back.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Wow! We came for our anniversary dinner and it was absulutely beyond expectations. Our meal was excellent. We shared the Romano salad; grilled romaine with pancetta and gorgonzola dressing. It was a perfect starter. I had the clams which I loved and he had pumpkin and goat cheese gnocchi. Yum, yum! Dessert was an anniversary tiramisu. Fabulous!! But it is not just the excellent food that stood out for us but the above and beyond service. I was flying in from a funeral and we made it to the restaurant at 8:55 on Sunday night. The stop serving at 9. We were the only customers and they made our night with gracious service. We will coming back to a Cena often and will recommend it to all our friends. Thank you a Cena!
(5)
Becky G.

Fabulous food and service. Food is very reasonably priced for the quality. Very nice atmosphere as well. Tables are a little tight, but still worked out fine. Great neighborhood dining!!
(4)
Fabian m.

I have been to A Cena several times and each visit is better than the last. Every time I have had dinner I was promptly greater by Chris, the owner, and made to feel right at home. What is fantastic is that they make everything in house from the pasta to curing their own meats. I recommend the creamy polenta and the braised short ribs. I enjoyed the polenta so much that, much to my surprise, when I asked for the recipe, they gave it to me!
(5)
Lance S.

I rarely return to a restaurant as a consistent patron. This place has changed me. Consistent awesome food and great service.
(5)
Ian L.

Took the wife here last night after the glowing reviews from other Yelpers and now I'll add my own. This place was a delight! The setting: charming. The service: friendly and attentive. The FOOD: extraordinary! The inclusion of an Aperol Spritz on the cocktail menu made me very happy -- for a drink that seems to define lazy afternoons in Venice, I don't know why most italian restaurants don't serve them. I can't rave enough about the butter poached lobster with sweet corn and marscapone raviolini! Their pizzas are also fantastic. Great to see a restaurateur who actually works right alongside his staff and seemed to take a genuine interest in his customers reactions to the experience. I would have rated five stars but for the noise -- if we'd been seated in the main area, I'm not sure we could have heard each other at all without yelling. I imagine on a weeknight when it's less busy, this place would be perfect.
(4)
Sue S.

My husband and I love A Cena! Last night was chilly but walking into A Cena, we felt cozy and warm. Well, we had another fabulous meal, from the prompt and courteous (and not intrusive) service all the way to the hot, hot freshly-made decaf coffee to finish off the meal. The salads were fresh, creative and dressed perfectly (just can't quite figure out how the chef does those roasted beets). There was an extra step I am guessing about as I write this--I may have it figured out to duplicate at home. For our entrees, my husband had a perfectly cooked coq au vin that featured intense flavors no doubt via a reduction sauce. My lobster and parmesan risotto was steamy and succulent. The lobster? Perfectly cooked. We are so glad that Chris and his crew are here in Sellwood; we are definite fans.
(4)
E K.

A very nice surprise. Excellent all the way through. Started with calamari for the kids and antipasti. Great duck pate. I had the agnolotti as well as the rabbit pappardelle. Both were outstanding. The agnolotti was probably a little too sweet but still, an amazing amount of lobster. The braised rabbit was tender, not overcooked and nothing was salty which is such a rarity now. My wife's saltimboca was ok. I'd probably recommend staying with the pasta dishes. Good service, very very busy on a Saturday night. Definitely will be going back.
(5)
Jon N.

Cucina Lingua right in Sellwood! This is really right out of Bologna. My favorite is the fresh pasta, but the meat and fish piatti and the pizza are also delicious. Friendly service with plenty of sidewalk seating. I love Portland...
(5)
Coleen N.

We went to this restaurant for the first time Saturday night. I've always wanted to try it and it more than exceeded my expectations! The wine list was filled with delicious Italian choices that definitely did not disappoint. The food was outstanding. We shared a pizza (home made tomato sauce, cracker think crust, and fresh ingredients--outstanding!!!) and a chicken dish. We started the evening with their bruschetta of the day which was chicken meatballs in a tomato cream sauce. Unbelievably flavorful. And to top it all off, the service was phenomenal. Everyone was very gracious and friendly. Our server even broke down some Italian for us. Quite charming. We are looking forward to going back here again soon and bringing our friends!
(4)
ishmael c.

Simply amazing. My wife and I were so impressed with the service, the food and the atmosphere! We were planning our next trip here before the main course came out! The special was the most amazing pork chop with cherries and veggies over potatoes. I didn't know that a pork chop could be cooked so delicately!My wife would say the pasta dish lived up to the hype but it far surpassed it! We can't wait to come back!
(5)
Sarah C.

Tried for the first time on date night. Made a reservation, but it wasn't very full at 6 pm on Saturday. Ambiance is nice. The limoncello drop was just so so. Had the grilled romaine salad and the arancini as appetizers. Both were yummy. Romaine was still crisp and arancini had a sausage flavor that wasn't overwhelming. I ordered the lobster pasta with pea shoots, and we both found it totally rich, buttery, and decadent. Husband had the gnocchi, which we both liked. But it wasn't fabulous. The peas were kind of hard. So, we'd rate the food high, but the service just kind of dropped off after we ate. They left us alone until our glasses were all dry, and we were way past wanting to order dessert because we knew how long it would take to get it. That was disappointing. It seemed like when the restaurant filled up, they just ran out of steam. Would also mention that it got really loud in there by 7:15 on a Saturday. It also got pretty hot in there. The air didn't circulate well. We might try it again, but go early.
(4)
karen h.

2/2/09 We've eaten at A Cena twice in the past month. Both times we had excellent salads and incredibly fresh and tasty pasta. This is a great neighborhood spot with sophistication. The wine list is reasonable and good. A definite spot for fabulous pasta dishes.
(4)
Kim L.

Had another meal at a Cena last night and it was superb once again. This was a simple meal of arancini (stuffed risotto balls with a little sausage and cheese, breaded then fried), and two pastas. We had the fettucine carbonara and garganelli bolognese. The fettucine was perfect: great pancetta, really awesome eggy sauce, a delicate quality to the pasta itself. The other pasta was superb, too. It had beautifully made ribbed pastas that looked like giant penne in a way. Large enough for the bolognese to be inside the pasta, not just sauced on top. If you like your bolognese meaty and not too tomatoey, then this is the one for you. If you like a little more buttery tomato flavor in your bolo then I recommend the one at Three Doors Down. Still, both places do a darn good one. Both pastas at A Cena were perfectly executed, just al dente with really well balanced sauces. The wine pairing help from the waiter was once again, awesome with the food we chose. We have had the same guy both times and he really knows the food and what wine pairs well with what. I lived in Chicago for many years where we had a lot of good Italian. PDX has some up and comers in this space and A Cena is one of them for me! Bring friends - PDX needs this restaurant to thrive as it is really that good!
(4)
angela l.

Loved Assagio's and feared the resturant filling their old space would not compare. Wrong! They service was amazing, the 5 course set meal was to die for. I'm still dreaming of the asparagus dipped is truffel oil infused egg. This could be Portland next gem!
(5)
Brenda H.

I ordered a salad and an appetizer portion size of an entree, based on the guidance by the wait staff when I told her that I didn't want left-overs since I didn't have any place to store them. The portions were just right for me. The entree was a fresh house made pasta with a wild boar sauce. It was wonderful! Because the menu said all the desserts were homemade by the restaurant I decided to order tiramisu. Honestly, the tiramisu was just ok, probably a 2 or 3 star quality (and I love tiramisu). I ordered a local Pinot noir that complemented my entree and salad. If it hadn't been for the dessert I would have given them 5 stars for the salad, entree and service. Definitely worth going back.
(4)
Chuck R.

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!
(4)
Chris C.

This is a new favorite spot for us. The lobster agnalotti is their signature for very good reason. It is quite possibly the tastiest dish I've ever had. The wait staff is very attentive and helpful. Also, the best Tiramisu I've had.
(5)
Melissa L.

Count me in for the 5-star review club for A Cena! We headed to this place based on the good reviews after heading to Sellwood to go to Jade Teahouse and finding that they're not open on Mondays. Oh noes! With the help of trusty yelp iPhone app, I remembered A Cena and steered the husband there pronto. The place was nearly empty at that early hour (just before 7PM), but it filled up by the time we left. The food? Outstanding. Far better than what we had at Alba Osteria, at about 50% the price. Small, well-chosen menu, lots of seasonal goodies, like the prosciutto-wrapped grilled peaches, served with dressed arugula. This was off-the-charts good: smoky, sweet, salty, warm, tangy. I'm making the hubby cook his grilled peaches this way from now on. Service was friendly and relaxed, but we never found ourselves waiting for our waiter to return. The pasta options were great, and I liked that they offer 2 sizes. We shared a large plate of gnocchi, and it was divine. A bit rich, but brilliant in basil pesto sauce. The mains options were also great -- it took us forever to decide on the pork and the lamb. Both were absolutely perfectly cooked, well seasoned and well-balanced by the green sides. For dessert, 3 scoops of gelato/sorbetto, served in an adorable 3-bowl plate. The dark chocolate sorbetto was insanely dark, slightly bitter perfection. The salted caramel gelato was also fantastic...almost more of a burnt-caramel flavor, with a salty edge. We didn't try any wines since I'm not drinking right now, but the list looked great. And we could hardly believe our eyes when the bill came. It was the same price or less than we'd paid for a far less impressive dinner at a few other highly-hyped places in Portland (*cough*Olympic Provisions*cough*)
(5)
Akasha B.

LOVED this place. My husband and I went here for dinner to celebrate the holidays. We made a reservation for 6:30PM and super glad we did. It was packed when we got there. PROS : -Not too cramped at all. -great lighting and setting -Service was astounding -Wine was delish -Food was super filling and so well presented. CONS : -They get busy quick. Make a reservation earlier so to ensure they don't run out of anything. My husband and I ordered an app that was basically melted cheese and bread. So good. We then ordered two half entrees and one full. We ordered the ravioli, and wild boar for the half and short ribs for the full. It was SO mich food, but worth all the different tastes. We will be back! We loved it!
(5)
Kate T.

Salty. Good, yeah, but very very salty. Also, i wasn't a huge fan of their choice to put a very grassy olive oil on the table for dipping the bread, but that's just a matter of taste. The wine list is pretty spectacular. There were even two Barbera d'Asti's in the bottle list, i'm going to have to go back sometime when i'm not the one with the car keys. Make sure you try the sea salt ice cream. Yes, i did just complain about how salty the food is, but the ice cream is delicious.
(4)
Kevin D.

This place is great! The food is super tasty. Very friendly staff. The only reason it gets 4 instead of 5 stars is that it was sooooo hot in there. The weather outside was in the low 80s and it felt like an oven in there. People were fanning themselves with menus. Open a window or maybe turn on the AC.
(4)
Neill P.

Very good Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere that would be good for a romantic evening. That was ruined on my particular evening, by a group of four jerks who brought their toddler in and not only didn't discourage it from screaming constantly, but actually encouraged it to do so. That has nothing to do with A Cena, I just hope those people read this review and realize that they ruined the restaurant for everyone else. DIAF, jerks. Anyways, I had the ragu, which was fantastic. Other diners had the corn and ricotta ravioli with lobster, which A Cena is most known for. I probably wouldn't recommend that dish. It's good for the first few bites, but after that it is a bit too rich and the flavor of the corn overpowers everything else. We also had a margarita pizza, which was very good, and various desserts. All in all, I would go back, if nothing else but for the chance to tell that 1 year old kid that he is almost as bad as Stalin.
(4)
Kat E.

The best meal I've had this year, easily. The wait wasn't fun, the restaurant is a bit too 'cozy' but the food and service made up for that by miles. I had the lobster pasta dish, it was insanely delicious. My husband loved his pasta with sausage and mushrooms. The crispy cheese bread sticks were addictive. Best calamari I've ever eaten. And we randomly ordered butterscotch pudding for dessert and then tried not to lick the dish because it was almost criminal to leave any bit of it behind. Can't wait to be back in Portland to eat here again.
(5)
Catherine G.

Every restaurant has an off night and we must have hit A Cena's. Or we've racked up some bad karma and it was just us who was affected! It started with our appetizers. I ordered the casa salad and it arrived looking lovely (tasted that way too) but the host (not our server) set a plate of spinach gnudi in front of my husband- not the rustic bread tomato egg appetizer he ordered and was looking forward to. When he pointed this out the plate was taken away but returned (again by the host) who said, "Your waiter made a mistake and that was a special from last night. This is the gnudi and it's complementary." He left, my husband took a bite, set down his fork and said no, this is bland, not what I wanted. He offered me a bite and i had to concur. Almost no flavor whatsoever. Not bad but not good either. The waiter came back, apologized and asked about the gnudi. Husband politely but firmly said it was nothing he wanted, please just take away. Strike one. Sigh. Entrees....where are they? We're enjoying our date night but after about 20 mins the host appears again with crostini with triple cream cheese and fig jam- to apologize for the delay but my lamb is taking longer than expected. Hhhmmmm...not good, lamb chops grilled should take about 6 mins tops. He leaves and my husband hisses, "They didn't place the order or they lost it." Srike two. Entrees arrive and thankfully his tagliatelle with rabbit is amazing as his the side of rapini. My lamb chops are cooked perfectly and the ricotta gnocchi were wonderful- soft and light. What didn't work was the combination of lamb, gnocchi with tomato sauce, and fig jam. All next to each other on the plate. Entrees cleared dessert menu arrives and we decide we'd like the salted caramel gelato. Before the waiter comes back the host arrives with a dish of tiramsu and says it is on the house. Very nice but I don't like tiramisu so I ordered the gelato in addition. Just a weird night. Comping people for things is a gracious way to amend for screw-ups but shouldn't you ask what the person wants? We didn't want gnudi or tiramisu so the gesture was lost. My husband thought the whole thing dismissive and almost rude. I would not go that far and think it was just mishaps in the kitchen. Either way not a place we'll hurry back to.
(2)
Sam B.

We went for our anny since it's near and I'd head good things. Nice to have an entry for starters, and nice ambiance right away. It's cozy and has charm. Plus it's casual at not snooty. The owner? / waiter is super nice and obviously loves what he does which is nice, too. I ordered the special fish, and it seemed over cooked to me. He should have asked how I'd like it cooked, probably, and I forgot to tell him. When he asked how the food was we told him my wife's crab dish was great, but the fish wasn't. He offered to cook another one, but that seemed a waste of the dead fish I was eating so I said no thanks. Nice to offer, though. Oh we also had the calamari, which was too fried for me, personally. And no dipping options other than cream sauce. Tried the recommended caramel ice cream for dessert. It was ok. Not so amazing to us. He comped us on the ice cream to make up for the fish. But then the bill for the fish came out to a couple of bucks more than I thought he'd told me it was (which you have to ask for if you want to know, which I don't understand. Why not just say the price after the details?). I didn't want to squabble over a couple of bucks, and I could have been wrong, but let's just say I'm not getting the fish again. Although I only gave it 3 stars, it's probably a 4-star or 5-star place if you know what to order. The crab and ambiance were worth a return I suppose, but for the price I just expect better food all around, no matter what I order.
(3)
Sara M.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary last weekend. I chose it from Yelp! above the others because of the cozy looking interior (I had a few that looked like the menu and reviews were good). It definitely didn't disappoint - we were seated right away (reservations) and our little table was in kind of a nook with a few other little tables. Our waiter was very nice and extremely helpful; the rest of service was great, too. Our food was delicious and the wine selection was outstanding. I really wanted to save room for dessert, but that just didn't happen. We ordered the calamari, a pizza with sausage and arugula, and a gnocci dish. The waitstaff also brought bread - everything was great. I was glad to find that they offered small and large sizes of the pasta dishes; so often I get served a giant plate of pasta and cannot finish even half. Definitely a good place for traditional Italian food, maybe leave the small kiddos at home. There's outside seating on the street, so it might be dog friendly.
(5)
Ann W.

Wonderful service and thoughtfully prepared food. Try the agnolotti with butter poached lobster! Quiet lovely tables and a decent house chianti.
(5)
Windy S.

A friend from New York was visiting and I was asked to come up with a few suggestions for dinner. We needed a place that could handle a group of 8 with a place that wasn't too loud or expensive. From my list, A Cena was chosen. The place is a bit small so reservations were recommended. When we arrived we were greeted right away and directed to our table. We ended up having two extra people show up and they accommodated immediately by adding an extra table. Our server did a great job with explaining the specials from each end of the table so everyone could hear. Most of our table ordered various salads. Which it seemed everyone raved about! They were beautiful in color and presentation. My husband and I were regretting not ordering a salad. Oh well, there's always next time! We shared the fried artichoke, which was very good. For dinner my husband and I shared the large plate of Agnolotti (corn & mascarpone raviolini w/butter poached Maine lobster). Yikes! It was SO Insanely Good!!! In hind sight, I would have ordered the large order for myself! The corn was so sweet and delishous, it paired so well with the buttery lobster! I actually ran out of raviolini before lobster!!! This is one of the BEST things I've eaten All Year! Our entire group cleaned their plates, making me wish I could have tried everyone's dish! Our server was excellent the whole night. Very attentitive without being overly present. Wish I could afford to eat here regularly, but I guess it would be a good spot for special occasions!
(5)
Katherine K.

This place is a MUST for all!! Whether you are interested in a romantic dinner, a fun birthday dinner, hosting out of town guests or just want some tasty hand-made goodness. This place will not let you down. I would recommend this place to anyone!!
(5)
renee w.

We were excited to try this little spot in sellwood. When we arrived our table wasn't quite ready but that gave us time to discuss the wine list at the bar with the owner. Wine in hand we maneuvered our way through the tiny bar to our charming table. We started with the calamari and fennel apple salad. Both were good. The calamari was fresh but could have had less breading. We asked the owner and our server to recommend their favorites and ordered three main courses. The lobster and corn ravioli was rich and delicious but I would definitely only order it as an appetizer next time. We ordered another pasta that had a fennel sausage sauce it was my personal favorite. Also we ordered the veal chop which was amazing. Our service was fantastic. We will definitely go back. We were too full for dessert and I have got to try the pudding.
(4)
Kate G.

I've been here twice now and enjoyed it both times. The portions seemed small for the price but when I go out to eat after going for a run I'm always disappointed in the serving size. The chocolatey dessert dish was heaven! I went to a Cena on a week night and it was excellent but when I went back again on a weekend it was too noisy. There seems to be a great deal of sound bouncing off the windows and my poor dad couldn't hear any conversation all night long. Excellent service-the nice wait staff gave me copious amounts of delicious bread and made special efforts to accommodate my brother's dietary issues. The clientele seem like folks on 23rd st in NW Portland-strange crowd. Besides these oh-so-minor complaints the food is excellent but not in my budget.
(4)
Tet W.

I came here Sunday brunch today and ordered the carbonara, florentine and the tuscan fries. The carbonara was awesome with fettuchini in butter sauce with pancetta and the florentine has roasted tomatoes and hollandase spinach on toasted ciabatta bread. The Tuscan fries were wonderful with some roasted garlic cloves. Yummmmm!! I love this small little gem. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the price was just right. I highly recommend this casual Italian restaurant for a fun place to grab lunch or brunch with friends or family. This would also be a cool place for a date night as well.
(5)
T R.

It was a cute little restaurant for a private romantic dinner. The mussels and calms app was super good and came with this pizza bread stuff that was really good. I don't eat pasta however theirs is made in house fresh EVERYDAY so I couldn't say no. I had the sausage white sauce amazing-ness. While I agree with other yelpers that the portions were not huge - who really needs a huge portion of pasta at 8 pm? It's not Olive Garden people. It was just enough. On top of really good food our waitress was really cool and that alone makes me want to go back.
(4)
Angela S.

This is currently my favorite restaurant. The food is phenomenal (everything is made fresh and you can taste the difference) and they have a great little bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. If it is your turn to pick where to go with your food snob friends, go to Acena and you won't be disappointed. It's where we take are friends that appreciate good food.
(5)
Jesse K.

My husband and I went to a Cena for a 6:30 Saturday dinner and on a cold night it was warm, cozy, bustling and lively. Exactly what I wanted! Romantic lighting, small candles on the table. A Cena serves solidly crafted yet elevated northern/central Italian food that will melt in your mouth. Pastas can be ordered as a full plate or as first course only, which I appreciated. Perhaps if we hadn't filled up on the (excellent) bread, we could have also had a contorno course to finish. We didn't get that far, however it was an amazing, magical meal and I can't wait to go back. We enjoyed the Chanterelle bruschetta for an appetizer. For first course we had the capellacci (pumpkin ravioli) and the garganelli (pork with penne), and for main course we had capesante (scallops on risotto) and saltimboca (prosciutto wrapped chicken). We also shared a bottle of Rosso di Montalcino which was excellent but seemed slightly overpriced at $56. The capellacci were absolutely amazing -- paperthin ravioli that melted in your mouth, and the perfect blend of butter and sage in the dish. The capesante were expertly done and the risotto underneath was perfect as well. If their risotto was this good as a side player, I'd love to come back sometime when they are offering a risotto as a main dish. Service was attentive (lots of bread refills served with an excellent dipping oil, very fresh and fruity tasting) if occasionally slow to bring out the courses. The owner (I think?) poured our final glasses of wine and brought us the final course and very courteously asked after our satisfaction when we were getting out coats. I told him we were very satisfied and hoped to come back soon! Small caution: I was disappointed that the capesante came with pancetta in it -- as a vegetarian/pescetarian, I had ordered the dish thinking it would be safe. The pancetta is not listed on the menu. Lesson learned, I should have spoken up to our server. Luckily I was so tipsy on wine and overwhelmed by flavors that when I realized it was pancetta, I just pushed the bits off to the side and called it good enough. If you have stricter dietary restrictions, ask your server! I give a Cena a four star rating because I would have appreciated a little more choice on their wine list -- a Brunello di Montalcino under the $100 mark would have made me very, very happy. And their menu is tightly crafted, which I appreciate, but as a vegetarian my choices were very limited. Even just one more dish would have made me very happy.
(4)
Misty W.

a Cena is home to my favorite dish in town--lobster agnolotti. It's amazing and a must-try! It's also a perk that they take reservations, which is a rarity in Portland for small parties.
(5)
Patrick M.

Awesome evening for a special occasion. Had the carpaccio which was phenomenal!!! Then had the pasta with smoked pork cheek. I was dying for the saltimbocca but it wasn't available tonight.... Yum Yum Yum
(5)
Jessica G.

I was trepidatious when I found out I'd have to settle for a 5:30 reservation for Valentine's Day but... the fact that the later spots were already taken over a week out is obviously a testament to how spectacular this place is. The perfectly nutty and crunchy bread sticks and soft bread with fruity, luxurious dipping olive oil was a perfect way to settle in for the comforting meal that followed. After battling the rain and wind, puddle jumping in heels, the artichoke heart, tomato and spinach lasagna for two really hit the spot. This veggie lasagna wasn't overly rich but was nevertheless a very satisfying blend of delicate noodles, perfectly browned cheese and a zesty sauce. The warm vibe and great music was very welcoming. I also loved the grilled romaine with pancetta and gorgonzola we shared to start with. We finished the evening with yummy sea salt caramel gelato and the tiramisu. I needed help to finish the tiramisu. For $6, the serving was incredibly generous. After all this food (and my cosmo w/ Chambord- an order graciously and quickly accommodated), we were stuffed and still got out the door for $50 including tip. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Teresa T.

From the other reviews, I was expecting Italian heaven in PDX... but we got meh... My sweetie got the pork chop, which looks great, but he said it was bland and not as tender as he would have liked. I had the bolognese and the pasta was really really good, but the sauce was bland and reminded me of canned cat food (and no salt or pepper on the tables to fix it up a little)... I even found a couple bits of bone in it. Our dinner guest had the lasagna and he said it was also, nothing to write home about. The gelato was, however, absolutely divine. Our waiter was pretty friendly, but he moved so fast it was almost curt. He tried taking food away before we were even done (like in the middle of asking, are you done? he was pulling the plate away) Overall, it was not a $96 value for dinner for three. Would I eat there again if someone really wanted to? Maybe, if only for the gelato. Will I go out of my way to eat there again? No
(3)
Steve A.

Visiting from Berkeley, and have spent time in Italy---we know great food, and great Italian food. But we were knocked out by A Cena! Started with the Caprese salad--with house-made mozzarella!--and good tomatoes just starting to come in, plus the Roman fried artichokes, and the focaccia, bread sticks, and olive oil; could have just about died and gone to heaven right there! But then we had the diver scallops and risotto for the Mrs, and agnolotti with lobster for me, and they were both so wonderful. Ended up with a little glass of homemade limoncello---best since we were in Capri--and floated on home to our little Sellwood cottage. We will definitely do this again! Fantastico!
(5)
Lisa S.

Wow. One of the best restaurants in Portland. I can't wait to try other things on the menu. We had the roasted cauliflower w/ capers, chilis, almonds, mint, and currants; the corn & mascarpone raviolini with butter and poached Maine lobster, grilled romaine salad with gorgonzola and pancetta, Tuscan braised rabbit with porcini, rosemary, parmesan ....and assorted antipasti, bread and olive oil....and the wine...all amazing, all A+. The flavor combinations were perfect. Perfect service. Perfect, perfect, perfect. I think this place is now up there with Le Pigeon in terms of food quality, but the atmosphere here is less pretentious. Bravo!
(5)
Bartly E.

So this is a different kind of review. I've never eaten here, but I have a story of gratitude. Last week I called a Cena from Austin, Tx with a special request. I asked Alex if I could pay ahead for my parent's 50th Anniversary dinner and to my relief he said it was no problem. A few days later I called to change the reservation to a few days earlier. Jesse said no problem even with the short notice so I told her MY STORY. My parents were supposed to be in Italy on their 50th, but my dad was diagnosed with cancer last year and went thru treatment and then a stem cell replacement. At 74, he's a real fighter. Because of all this, they could not go to Italy so my brother and I wanted Italy brought to them and last night the a Cena team and Julie did just that! Last night, my parents called to tell me what they ate, how incredible it was, and how great the service was. My dad was worried that the staff would make a production and draw attention to them...he was self conscious because of how he looks after his treatment. They said they were treated with class and dignity, and it was a memory they will hold in their hearts and minds forever. They want this to become a tradition. Thank you so much. Words can't say how much I appreciate this gift. Can't wait to eat when I come to Portland next.
(5)
Ben B.

I liked A Cena but i did not love it. My wife and I came for dinner for our one year wedding anniversary. The staff was very accommodating and friendly and our waitress gave us plenty of good pointers on the menu. I ordered the house special lobster ravioli in a butter sauce. It was so sweet I couldn't even finish the whole dish, very rich but definitely too sweet for my taste. The pieces of lobster meat on top were okay, but were quite chewy and overlooked to be honest. Also had a few flies buzzing around our table the whole meal which wasn't all that appetizing. My wife loved her eggplant parmesan and we shared a cannoli for dessert that was tasty as well. All in all I'd say a solid place but with so much competition there was nothing that really set it apart.
(3)
Taylor M.

Disappointed due to the fact that things seemed to be a little off the night we went. It was the girlfriends birthday, and I wanted to take her on a surprise dinner somewhere nice. I made birthday reservations here, however, no candle, no balloon, no mention of a birthday the entire night. I had to ask for bread, never received pepper on the two salads that were ordered, and had to ask for boxes. I expect a certain level of attentiveness and service when I go out to spend $150 for a meal, and the whole experience from start to finish was underwhelming and left me a little sad. I will say this, the manager was friendly and the food was very good. It was just not the experience I thought I was paying for. My suggestion? Zone servers aren't as effective as leaving them individually and take birthdays more seriously. I understand that is stylistic, however, I think this would make a huge improvement as there is more accountability. Cheers
(2)
Robert G.

Every dish I ordered including the focaccia, bread sticks and olive oil were superbly delightful. There are photos... The octopus is a generous portion with excellently prepared vegetables that are seasoned precisely for a synergistic overall flavor. The cannoli is as if I were in Little Italy, fresh, tasted just made for my plate. Fresh lobster agnolotti is creamy, buttery; I would have liked a little more lobster but it was priced fairly. The service is top notch, friendly, prompt, attentive and knowledgeable. The decoration, comfort and ambiance is right for friends family or a romantic elegant escape. Why would I only give this place 4 stars you ask? The chef has a beautiful full beard that is not covered and my delicious octopus was season with one of his curly black hairs. The staff immediately returned the half-eaten plate and replaced it with a new order. It's disturbing and unfortunately quite common to see creative talented chefs with way too much loose hair preparing a magnificent menu to a wonderful place. Yes, it is a lovely beard, It would be best, if you could cover-up the sexiness for after work. My octopus did not sway with desire by the look of your full beard before you grilled it.
(4)
Matt S.

One of the best meals of my life. The pasta is made fresh daily. You can tell that the chefs really take pride in their work. The Agnolotti was to die for. Huge chunks of sweet lobster. Raviolinis burst in your mouth with flavor. The Casarecce has generous amounts of seafood. The squid ink has a very nice but subtle flavor that complemented the fresh pasta brilliantly. Boxed Barilla comes nowhere near touching this. Lastly, and definitely the piece de resistance, was the Branzino, or fresh Mediterranean Sea Bass. This beauty was at least 14-16". Even the wait staff and everyone else who walked by our table had to stop and say "Wow!" because this was such a magnificent specimen. The flavor was out of this world, moist, flaky, smokey, and delicious. Make reservations. They have a bar where you can wait if you like. This is in a small town outside of Portland, and definitely worth the drive. Skip the fancy meal downtown and come to this hidden gem of a restaurant.
(5)
Diane S.

What a find!! Authentic Italian food! Great staff. Very personable owner who greeted us and made us feel like we were family. Helped us with our order and decisions. Food was superb! All pasta is handmade. Ravioli with corn, marscapone and butter basted lobster was 5 STAR! Everything we ordered was perfection. Authentic Italian chef. Marvelous!
(5)
Mario P.

Very well done. Also accommodated my daughters food allergies. Delicious. Make reservations. Wife had the special Pompadour with oxtail. I had the osso bucco. Seems like the neighborhood really supports this place. Lots of locals. We liked it so much that we made reservations for tomorrow.
(5)
J C.

Made a reservation for 845pm. Got there on time and waited a half hour. We didn't get any sort of update on when our table might be ready until I asked, and the response was "any minute now." Very reassuring. We canceled our reservations and went somewhere else.
(1)
Kay B.

The hands down favorite dish was the lobster agnolotti. The buttery sauce was light, lobster tasty, and agnolotti deliciously filled with mascapone and sweet corn filling which balanced the savory lobster perfectly. Go on, run to a Cena (pronounced a-chay-na) for this dish alone! I felt that the value wasn't quite there for all of the pasta dishes we ordered, and I wouldn't return to have any other pasta than the lobster agnolotti, but would certainly give their pizzas a shot. Worth sharing their pastas are made daily in house. They also offer secondi dishes including beef and fish. I visited this restaurant on a Thursday night for dinner. It seemed 75% full around 6:30pm. I didn't notice the atmosphere inside too much since me and my dining partner requested seating outside. Seating outside in the quiet residential neighborhood was mostly quiet except for the motorist traffic here and there. We ordered two appetizers: their house-made burrata cheese caprese salad with grilled toast, and the casa summer salad with shaved zucchini and pecorino cheese. For entrees we split three small pastas; the lobster agnolotti, lamb rigatoni, and ravioli with mushrooms. Bread and two cheese sticks with olive oil were provided. The cheese sticks were tasty. The bread was moist and good, but I hesitated to eat much knowing the heavy pasta dishes on the horizon. The best dishes were the lobster agnolotti (reiterating) and the burrata. The salad was good, but needed more citrus to break up the slightly too big irregular pieces of pecorino cheese. I think the cheese should have been grated or shaved, but not cubed. The lamb ragu pasta was in a tasty, but IMHO not amazing sauce, but made me feel a bit ripped off due to practically no lamb (more on this). The ravioli was good, but the dough was too thick and al dente and overwhelmed the delicate filling. I would only ever order the lobster agnolotti. This place stumbled upon gold with this dish and I agree with the other countless Yelpers' suggestions on this dish. We shared the feedback about the seemingly sparse lamb ragu and the restaurant responded very generously to our feedback which we appreciated. They sent us home with a bowl of their lamb special. Wow - what fantastic treatment! The check came to ~90$ with two glasses of wine. I guess that's not bad, but I feel that I should have been wowed about ALL of the dishes as much as I was wowed about only two of 5, 6 if you count the gratis bread. That isn't a very stellar ratio considering more than half of the dishes were their primis. We were very full from all of this and skipped dessert. Service was very responsive and positive from the bus staff who cleared our plates and filled our water, and our waitress. We really enjoyed the small chit chat with all of the staff and thought collectively they were a very helpful, team-oriented bunch with great communication...an underrated PLUS. Thanks for the warm hospitality.
(4)
Aimee L.

Five stars for the table and the main course. Four stars for the wine. Three stars for the antipasto. Two stars for the crazy loud blaring nightclub music that took away any kind of intimacy/ambiance. We came to a Cena for our anniversary dinner and they seated us immediately at a wonderful table by the window, but soon realized we'd still be shouting as it's very, very loud in there and made worse by very loud music. (Seriously, do I need to hear Sly & the Family Stone during dinner?). A lot of customers in jeans (ahh, Portland, it's a shame...), we were dressed up... Over the course of the evening we had about 8 people come to our table, from the host to the person who took our wine order to a different person who delivered it to our waiter to the guy who refilled our water to the person who brought our antipasto and (was it the same person?) to a guy who perhaps was the owner who came by twice to see how we were doing (including the second time where he poked fun at me for not eating my meal fast enough). It was a bit of overkill as we'd have preferred to have a familiar face throughout the night. The wine was okay. The lady who took our order compared one of the Italian wines to a Cabernet which my husband and I agreed when it arrived was not even close to that. The waiter was nice enough to exchange it for a different one which was better. Nothing earth-shattering, but good to go with dinner. We ordered the antipasto to start out and the server must have been in a hurry because she popped it on our table saying nothing, and when I asked what the items were she must have not heard me because of the noise and never was to be seen again. We asked the bread guy and he said "oh you'll have to ask your waiter". Hmm. Basically it was three tiny selections of meat, with two being very good, and the third being bologna. I'm serious, it looked and tasted like Oscar Meyer. Threw us both for a loop, and my husband wouldn't touch it. The bread and cheese sticks were excellent. For our entrees, we found paradise. The waiter was awesome in explaining the ravoili servings were hearty which I appreciated (I stopped ordering ravioli years ago because you usually only get 5 or 6 pieces for thirty bucks) and explained the type of homemade pasta my husband was getting as well, which was great. And let me tell you, these entrees were PHENOMENAL. This is where a Cena really shines, and we'd come back and bypass the antipasto and beg for a quieter table just to have these items again. My husband had the superb pasta with fennel sausage and cream, and I had the corn/mascarpone ravioli with lobster - and the lobster was buttery and strewn all over the bowl (not in the stuffing, which I was happy about). I took this slow and savored it, as this was one of the best entrees I've had in years. The busser made a fatal mistake, however, by taking away my plate while my husband was still eating, and doing it within seconds of my fork coming down. It was as if they decided to shift into "hurry these folks out of here" mode which stunned us. Along with the fact that you NEVER take away one person's plate while the other is eating - it's very poor form and makes the eater feel rushed. And within seconds of taking my husband's plate we had dessert menus thrust in front of us with no explanation - it was kind of startling it was so fast! We were never asked if we wanted another glass of wine, and while the dessert menu looked good it was just too loud in there, and we wanted to make our evening end with dessert in a quieter, more intimate setting. So we let the waiter know how much we loved the entree but that we because of the volume we were going down the street to Papa Haydn. He seemed hurt and said it was going to be on the house for our anniversary, but I gently let him know that even with the great pasta, loud club music was really hard on the digestion and the romance. He asked if he could bring us limoncello at least and we acquiesced. And he brought us one...was this meant to be shared? Kind of strange to get just one shot to share. But we were then swiftly brought our bill and made our way down to Papa Haydn where we could actually hear each other's voices without yelling. Again, loved the entrees. But the ambiance was so broken by how loud it was, something that I don't remember from visiting here in the past. If you look at their website there is this dimly lit candielight vibe and that definitely was not what we had. I hope they find a way to improve this as we'd be happy to give them another try if it was quieter and we didn't feel so rushed the minute we finished our entrees.
(3)
Kyla L.

Lovely people, friendly service...but we weren't blown away. Bread was doughy and the fried artichokes were odd...very tough and hard to eat. Pasta with squid ink was fishy and intense, but perhaps that was how it's supposed to be. The pizza was good, but crust was a bit doughy again, and it was a bit too spicy. Casa salad was the best thing we ordered. We will return and try more of their homemade pastas because that seems to be their specialty. I liked that they had two sizes.
(3)
James W.

This restaurant was absolutely fantastic. We were seated in a quiet corner with a lot of privacy. We ordered three anti-pasti dishes, the asparagus, olives and the special artichoke dish. I thought the artichokes were fantastic, but I don't believe they were worth $14. That was a little ridiculous. I ordered the cream sauce pasta with fennel sausage, it was absolutely delightful. My girlfriend had the ravioli which was also amazing, probably the best ravioli I've ever had outside of Italy. My dad had the special pasta which was a variation on the fennel dish I had, some sort of pesto with fennel sausage. That was great but probably my least favorite. My step - mom had the best dish. It was the corn/cream sauce with lobster. It was exceptional. After the meal, step - mom and I had dessert. She had the special which basically was a brownie with ice cream. Was very good. I had salted caramel gelato. Very good. Overall, this meal was top notch. The ambience, the food, the service, all of it was 5 stars. Not a cheap experience, but we'll worth the money if you want to have an incredible meal in a great environment.
(5)
Kate S.

What a great meal from the delicious Amaro cocktail (my mother had the Lemoncellotini and also loved it) to the appetizer (artichokes) and pasta (Amantricina) everything was delicious, including the bread (and you can definitely tell the pasta is house made). It's one of those places where you can't decide what to order because it's all appealing, and seeing other diners' dishes come out doesn't help. Service was friendly and professional. Would highly recommend and will return. Hoping they will give me the recipe for the cocktail ;)
(5)
Kristy W.

My father was in town visiting and we wanted to have a delicious dinner at a nice local restaurant. Our server was Nikki and she was exceptional in every way. We were seated in the main dining area. We ordered drinks first and wanted to have a full fine dining experience with no rush. We ordered two appetizers, one being the roasted artichoke hearts, which were bizarre and crunchy. We ordered the antipasto which was ok, the figs were lovely. More drinks and about an hour in, the restaurant became so loud that I couldn't hear anything anyone at my table was saying. I had to yell to speak to my father who was sitting right next to me. My father ordered the lamb and it was raw in the middle and chewy. My brother ordered the duck and he said it had a lot of good flavor varieties, but the duck livers were overpowering. My dad's girlfriend ordered pizza and it was just ok. I ordered the lobster ravioli. I'm so glad that I ordered a small because I couldn't even finish it. The dish was so overpowered by the corn filling, which was very liquid, I couldn't taste the pasta at all, and the dish ended up tasting like corn chowder, it had one note...sweet corn and that was it. This restaurant is not at all what I expected. I was hoping for a quiet intimate Italian dinner with delicious Italian dishes. My father did business in Italy extensively and he said that the cuisine was not at all what he expected. I really wanted to like this restaurant, I was ready to fall in love with it. The experience was exhausting because of the noise. We were there on a weeknight and I cannot imagine what it would be like on a Friday or Saturday night. I would expect this type of atmosphere at Hopworks, but not at an upscale Italian restaurant. I would not recommend this restaurant to my friends or clients. If you live in Sellwood, it's a nice restaurant to have down the street, but I wouldn't go out of my way to dine there.
(2)
Hayden N.

Made reservations for a birthday dinner at 6pm--I like that there were available reservations 1-2 days in advance. My friend and his mom had already been seated when I arrived. I came with a surprise cake and the host/staff took care of it for me. The waitress informed us of the specials, got drinks, and took our order. We decide to do it family-style and shared the Fritto-Misto, Lasagna special, Cavatelli, and a side of the Cavoletti di Bruxelles. It seems like the staff assist each other with the service because it was different people that brought out dishes and they were all very accommodate with requests. Let's talk about the food...the calamari and prawns was a little underwhelming, not bad, but just average. The Lasagna and Cavatelli was a different story--making pasta from scratch everyday is what sets it apart. I seriously could've eaten a whole pan of the lasagna because it was very satisfying. The ricotta-goat cheese dumpling with the lamb sauce was succulent and I almost preferred it over the lasagna--that rarely is the case. The Brussels sprouts had a good roasted on them. For three people, that was plenty of food. After dinner, the dessert menu was brought out. I excused myself to the bathroom and let the waitress know that we were ready for the cake. They brought out the cake with a few candles on it...my friend's mom was definitely surprised. Then they took the cake back, cut and plated it for us. Thank you, a Cena, for doing that. Service here is beyond excellent.
(4)
Jason D.

My girlfriend and I came here on a whim as it was very highly rated and listed as reasonably priced (2 dollar signs; $11-30 per person including drink and tip as defined by Yelp!). I had sticker shock when I looked at the menu and saw the average price for a normal sized dish/entree was in the $30 range. To be fair this restaurant does offer smaller plates on some of their pasta options and reasonably priced pizzas, but if you want a full meal, generally speaking you will be spending far more than $30 after drink/tip. That being said the food was quite good. The complimentary bread was delicious as was my main entree. Unfortunately, there just wasn't much of it. You see both my girlfriend and I opted for the smaller pasta plates. Fair warning - you do not get much food with the small plates. Imagine about one large ladle full of pasta and sauce. Service was unimpressive as my drink was never refilled the entire time we were there. My girlfriends drink was refilled once, but sat empty the majority of the time. The server also seemed slightly arrogant and did not have warm, friendly attitude you would expect from a restaurant at this price point. Overall I am giving the restaurant 3-stars as both my girlfriend and I left hungry with a $70 bill after tip. The food was good, but not $70 good. We had to order pizza when we got home.
(3)
Richard R.

Fabulous! We had a great dining experience, from the bread and meat antipasto to the Tiramisu dessert....Loved loved loved the Agnolotti and Ravioli. We shared half-size dinners and they were very adequate. The friendly wait staff and their service was very good. The chef (Gabe) came out and spoke with us and gave us a brief history of his training and background, a nice chat with an excellent chef. All total, with antipasto, two half size dinners, Tiramisu and three drinks..$90.00. I'd give it three dollar signs....but again, the food and service was fabulous and well worth it. In fact, we went back the following night (a Wednesday) and shared another half size Agnolotti....just to see if it was just as fabulous.....it was. You gotta try it.
(5)
Mangia M.

It's so easy to head into downtown Portland to try all the great restaurants. NW, NE, and SE... So many choices. When you want good Italian where do you start? There are plenty of good choices; but we think that anyone who likes fresh handmade pasta and clean Italian inspired food needs to check out A Cena. Great wine list. Fantastic fresh made ficassia bread, and one of the best calamari dishes (served with pole beans) in Portland. The "Casa" salad was light and superb. We had the 1/2 portion of the seafood spaghetti and the 1/2 portion of the house made sausage and mushroom rigatoni for dinner and honestly We wanted to stay 2 more hours to try more dishes but decided to come back very soon. Check out A Cena. You will not go away hungry and you will not be disappointed. Worth the drive no matter where you live in Portland. Mangia!
(5)
Megan M.

Menu was extremely high-maintenance; we had to ask our waitress to explain just about every item on it. Everything was delicious, though, and they offer almost all the entrees in appetizer sizes which are much easier to finish. The restaurant itself is not too loud and offers smaller tables for outdoor seating. Somewhat expensive, but still a relatively casual environment which makes it great for treating guests or relatives to dinner without a fuss, as we did.
(4)
Megan S.

My husband and I first tried this little gem in 2013. We were in Portland celebrating our engagement. It left such an impression last year that it was an absolute MUST on a quick getaway weekend this year and I realized I'd not yet written a review. It's located in an adorable little neighborhood and offers a nice ambiance with very friendly staff. Others have mentioned it being cute and cozy which is true but during a dinner rush it can get quite hectic. Make sure you have a reservation since it's a popular little place to have a glass of wine, be social and relax (which is what we love about it)! Food: We love the warm Foccacia bread to start; with just a hint of sea salt it's irresistible. We also tried the Formaggio starter which is cheesy heaven, however the Foccacia is quite filling on its own, so I probably could have skipped it. Hubby ordered the pan-seared scallops with risotto last year. It was so good, that we BOTH ordered them this year. The type of risotto varies depending on the season but the scallops were on the menu both times and is what brought us back for a second visit. If you're looking for a intimate date night spot with a great wine list - a Cena is a must try!
(5)
Mandy W.

Must try their lobster raviolini! Soooo delicious. I've been here a few times and they're always good experience. The last time I was there the server was super friendly - unfortunately I didn't catch her name.
(4)
Phil G.

A Cena is one of the very few Italian restaurants in Portland I am still willing to eat in. Their food is well cooked, well spiced, and well presented. Their pizzas; crust, topping, and spread, are absolutely delicious. Their pastas are made in house which is refreshing. The meats are cooked right, and "right" is hard to accomplish. Their wine list is excellent, and averagely priced. Good Italian food is RARE in Portland, but A Cena does it well. Good job. I will keep coming.
(5)
Debbie B.

We went to A Cena Ristorante to celebrate my husband's birthday on a Tuesday night. We made reservations beforehand. It wasn't crowded, so maybe it would have been ok without reservations. This is a small, cozy, romantic place in Milwaukee, Oregon. Parking was on street and there were plenty of spots on the weeknight. We started with warm farro and beet salad. Just right! Loved it. They provided skinny Parmesan breadsticks and small pieces of focaccia. Delicious! I ordered the lobster ravioli (small size). Again, delicious! Buttery and tender lobster with ravioli shaped like tootsie rolls and filled with a sweet ricotta filling. Oh so yummy! The hubby got pasta with sausage - again, loved it! Everything is expertly handmade, even the fabulous salted caramel gelato. Service was friendly and very efficient. Lovely quiet place with fab food. I would definitely go back. It's kind of pricey but well worth it.
(5)
Jacqueline G.

Pretty good but not incredible. It gets 3 stars instead of 4 because 1. While my dish was good (the lobster raviolini), my husbands dish was not (the duck)- it was very chewy! No bueno with duck. I liked my dish, but not enough to go back for it. The pizza we ordered also tasted a little funky, might have been the Gorgonzola but not sure. The trio of vegetables was delish.
(3)
Melanie Y.

Food was good. I had the lobster pasta dish and bf had the sausage pasta dish. We also shared a meat board and dessert which were both mediocre. Even though the food was good, I'm not sure it was worth the $120+ bill.
(4)
S P.

The restaurant was much too loud for conversation. Also, the service was not attentive. Not a good night there- but that is not usually the case.
(3)
Angela H.

A great recommendation. Freah, clean flavors. A variety of options for diet needs. Excellent buratta, risotto and seafood. The food and service were excellent
(5)
Brian J.

From the minute we walked in we felt welcomed and it only got better from there! Warm, friendly, efficient staff. Cozy atmosphere with private spaces for intimate dining. Began with the Frito Misto...very fresh, tender and tasty. Server knew the menu well and offered suggestions. Proscuitto stuffed short ribs were delicious! Served on a bed of creamy polenta to die for. I will definetly be back to see what they prepare next. One of the best restaurant experiences ive had in some time.
(5)
Paul G.

This place was perfect for occasion. Father's Day for me and 13th birthday for daughter. Reservations easy. Staff attentive. Anti pastas wonderful. Good pastas. Great deserts. Very nice atmosphere. Intimate but friendly. A bit noisy. I love local places and will be back.
(4)
Michele R.

The word restaurant has roots in French for the verb restaurer; as in to restore the spirit. As each calendar year draws to an end my husband and I ponder what was our most memorable meal of the year for the whole greater than the sum of its' parts experience for being restorative in that way. In 2013, that most memorable meal was dinner at a Cena just a couple of weeks ago. My previous review of a lunch visit earlier this year summarized a Cena this way: "Un certo non-so-che", in Italian. Roughly, in English, "a certain something" that makes a place special...Charming Ambiance + Attentive Service + Fabulous Food + Good Value = Perfecto. As it was for this perfect dinner experience at a time when we were pondering life transitions and health issues and decisions to be made. On this evening, thanks to the hospitality and the stellar service provided by Gina, our server, and her busser assistant, Conrad, we had a wonderful evening with the fantabulous food coming out of Chef Gabe Gabreski's kitchen made even more special by the service. We were able to lose ourselves in the experience for that evening with restoration in the outcome. Lovely. How can food not taste better with that service hospitality sprinkled in? As for food, you can't go wrong with anything you order here. The food is simply splendid. There is a wealth of delicious options. On this evening, we decided to graze our way through the meal starting with arancini (little risotto ball fritters $11), then one each of teo special pastas of the week (one filled with winter squash and one layered with lamb bolognese and each $22), plus a half order of one of the regular menu pastas (wild boar with pappardele $14), all served one at a time to share. (With the portions we did not eat nicely boxed for us to take away some for at home meal the next day). The delivery of each course by a runner from the kitchen was timed just right to let us savor each and pause before moving on to the next. Gina checked with us every step of the way. Conrad made sure our plates were cleared and fresh share plates arrived in advance of the dish. All with the perfect balance of professional and friendly; we were well tended but not hovered over. We enjoyed our glasses of wine (luscious Ripasso in generous pours at only $10/glass) from A Cena's food friendly, thoughtfully crafted and fairly priced list. It seemed as if all diners at the tables around us were loving their food and enjoying the experience of being at A Cena; from the young couple with their toddler and her grandmother along who sat in one corner, to the two thirty something couples on "date night" in the other, to the young woman with her parents seated along the wall talking about her college graduation upcoming, to the couple next to us who were regulars and like us old enough to remember when black and white television was high technology. This is truly an "all people" place. For more details, for folks interested, I'll refer Yeeps and other Peeps to my earlier review or the reviews of other happy diners who have had the good fortune to discover A Cena. A TIP: Ending with this Happy New Year of Dining tip. IF A Cena continues in 2014 what they did in 2013, at their Facebook Page you'll note that one of their weekly specials is marked "mention Facebook..." discounted price. On the night of our vist that applied to a mmmm...arvelous fresh pasta in the shape of large tricorner hats, stuffed with roasted winter squash and served with brown butter herb sauce. Because we mentioned "the Facebook price" we saved $8 with a discount subtracted from our total bill. A TOAST: To those who Yelp and to the folks at A Cena as the New Year approaches; Cent'anni!
(5)
Ronald A.

We had a wonderful time here last Sunday. My cousin was in town with his wife and daughter. He is a bit of a foodie, so we wanted to try someplace new that would also impress; we accomplished both goals and had a wonderful time. We started with a smoked cheese appetizer. Ever my daughter tried it after she realized all of us were enjoying it. We paired it with a nice Prosecco, which is always a nice way to begin an Italian meal. We then ordered two salads to share at the table, one a mista and the other a romaine. Both were good and not over dressed. I hate over dressed salads and this hit the mark just right. Yelpers have raved about the lobster agnolotti; they were right. We had three people order this dish and all three had smiles the from the moment the dish arrived. Pasta pockets filed with marscarpane with lobster cooked in butter is hard to beat. They have a very nice Arneis to pair with a shellfish dish like this. My cousin ordered steamer claims; they are hard to get in Florida, so he headed down memory lane. He was all smiles. I love my lamb, so the chops were my order. They were very good, with just a bit more charcoal than i like. It also gives me a good excuse to order a nice Chianti and the 2009 Felsina was just perfect. Butter scotch pudding, Tiramisu vanilla ice cream inundated with expresso. Of course, if was a long meal so we indulged in something to wash everything down. We had a great time, the service was good and the food was great. I like this wine list; it has good wines, but the prices are very fair. It is very nice to see a wine list that has good wines that pair well with the food that is offered and is at moderate prices, particularly given the quality of the restaurant. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Jessica S.

Even the peas were delish!! Not sure how you perfect the simple green pea but a cena did it. So these little green confetti morsels decorated my special for evening which was a short rib on Parmesan polenta. The rib was so tender I used a spoon to elegantly shovel it in my mouth. The peas were plump, colorful, and perfectly cooked(these can be over cooked). The creamy polenta was a perfect cloud for the rib to rest. My date had the lobster agnolotti. Great little pockets of delight. The mascarpone and corn ravioli taste like they are filled with the sweetest creamed corn around. This is the dish that would make you return. This romantic, quaint, dimly lit restaurant makes sellwood even more appealing. We had a reservation and I would recommend one. It's pretty small so I'd imagine walking in on a Friday or Saturday might result in a wait. Enjoy a cocktail or a bottle of wine. We had a great bottle recommended. Worth taking a date for a nice dinner!
(5)
Tim F.

The lobster something something something...it is one of the tastiest things that I've ever put in my mouth...My wife got it and I was really jealous...I had the wild boar pasta which was good but not even close to the lobster thing.
(5)
Karen C.

My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday in October and the food was amazing. From yelp reviews I knew that I wanted to try the lobster agnolotti. It's really simple and delicious. I wasn't expecting the filling to be sweet or for it to have corn because I didn't really read what it was stuffed with but it was a wonderful surprise. The large chunks of lobster was mouthwatering. Cooked perfectly and that makes all the difference when it comes to lobster. My bf ordered a meat dish. Can't recall what it was but it was also delicious but not as good as the ravioli! Our waitress was nice and helpful but at the end she took awhile to pick up our check because another patron had trapped her into a conversation. We literally waited about 15min. I don't blame her as it is hard to extract oneself from a customer but we were left waiting. She did apologize as we were leaving though, which was really sweet of her. It's kinda small and cramped but I think that adds to the charm. The place was filled with people and laughter, giving it a very friendly ambience. I highly suggest trying the place out.
(4)
Lauren C.

Fantastic that a Cena takes reservations, but it was not an overall winning experience. We showed up a bit early, and had a drink at the bar until our table was ready. I was crazy about the ambiance. Cozy without being too crowded in, mature and trendy without being stuffy. The wine, beer and liquor options were high quality, and diverse for the modest selection. We enjoyed the Formagio appetizer, although the bread was a little over burnt, to the point it made the dish bitter. The house made Mozzarella was fantastic. I had the Sea Scallops with corn risotto, basil and cherry tomatoes. The Risotto and the scallops were a bit under seasoned. I asked for a side dish of sea salt, and a light sprinkle helped out the scallops. My husband had the pork ragu. It was really very good. We ended with the Tiramisu, and it was soooo disappointing. It was heavy, and all I could taste was the heavy handed coco powder, and whipping cream :(.
(4)
Barnali D.

We came here on the recommendation of a friend, and were super impressed. The service was excellent, the ambiance pleasant, and the food delicious! My fiancÃ© and I shared the Tuscan fries (good), pasta with lamb chili (our favorite!), Mascarpone ravioli with lobster (very rich, but absolutely delicious), and rabbit pappardelle (quite good). We also liked the chocolate sorbet and tiramisu (amazing!) we had for dessert. I also liked the fact that it wasn't too loud to have a conversation, yet at the same time not overly quiet and subdued. Overall, we had a lovely experience, and highly recommend A Cena!
(5)
Reiko C.

Absolutely delicious. The agnolotti (ravioli with lobster) is just downright heavenly. I'd eat that everyday if i could! Their cannoli are light, crisp, and melt in your mouth! I'll go back again just to write another review.
(5)
Megan M.

We had a lovely anniversary dinner..out table for 2 was next to the window, the waitress recommended an artichoke appetizer that was delish! We then split a small pasta and shared lamb chops..everything was terrific. The wine list offered a good variety at fair prices. We are definitely coming back-romantic and flavorful!
(4)
Mark C.

Wow. Wow! Wow!!! I could leave it as that and it would adequately convey that this is a restaurant you should visit, but I would be remiss in not sharing a least a few of the high points. First, we had a reservation for 6 people and despite the fact we're out of town we showed up with 7 people. The hostess was incredibly gracious in redoing a different table that would accommodate us better instead of simply putting another chair at the table they had already prepared (although, to be clear, we would have been fine with that--it was our change). The service in general was superlative--we were never without water, there was no delays, and we could always ask for whatever we needed at any time and it was delivered nearly immediately. (One minor niggle--I brought a bottle of wine and it took a while to get it opened. To be fair, I could have asked and I'm sure they would have opened it immediately.) Our backwaiter (whose name I forgot to ask--sorry!) was superb. One person dropped a knife and he brought a new one because he heard the clatter. My daughter had a smidgen of bread on her plate and I said it was okay to take the plate away but, after he grabbed it, she made a sad face and he said "I'm sorry, do you want me to leave this?" He brought extra bread sticks (which are delightful) because the girls loved them. Why am I going on? In part because this particular person deserves kudos, in part because his role is one that often is ignored, but we discussed how much he played a part in our overall excellent experience, and in part because our experience tonight makes me have a hard time understanding how a Cena could be knocked for service. Don't get me wrong--I'm sure that every restaurant has off nights, but that is a good reason not to slam a place if you've been there all of one time. Oh yeah--the place was packed (on a Sunday night no less) so it's not like we were the only people they needed to serve. We ordered a few drinks. The Negroni was excellent, as was the Limoncellotini (sp?). The fritto misto appetizer was awesome--the breading on the foods was incredibly light and airy, and the aioli was delicious. The calamari was as good as it gets (and at the risk of sounding like a food snob, I've had it from coast to coast and all over Europe as well). The rest of the food was outstanding. We had a couple pizzas, the agnolotti with corn and lobster, and the rigatoni with lamb bacon, and a kid's "buttered noodles and cheese". Everything was delicious. The agnolotti and the kid's pasta was seriously awesome--perfectly cooked. My only "real" complaint (and one that I did not share in the moment) was that my rigatoni was overcooked. The flavors were great, but overcooked pasta is always such a bummer, but the overall vibe was so good that I didn't want to risk turning the tide of the evening (although, based on everything else, my guess is that they would have not blinked and quickly made it right). We ordered one of each dessert, plus the world's best pistachio gelato (I forgot to ask if they make it in-house or source it locally). The affogato and the gelato were my favorites, but the tiramisu was awesome, too (the ladyfingers were absolutely soaked, but, to contradict another post, that is how they're supposed to be). Saw some complaints about price. I thought it was a good value. Total, including tip ($15 corkage for my one, brought bottle) was about $45/person. Maybe I'm skewed, but I've had 3-star Michelin meals for literally 10x the price per person (Ramsay's Royal Hospital Road, Guy Savoy in Paris, and Alinea, although to be fair we purchased a bottle of wine or the tasting flight in all those cases), and from a value perspective, they were not 10x the qualitative experience. (To the restaurant--please don't take this a suggestion to hike your prices, I'm simply trying to provide some expensively-purchased perspective :-) Would go back again without any hesitation. One of the best meals I've had in PDX or, honestly, anywhere. Well done!
(5)
Tyrell S.

Exceptional dining experience, with sadly mediocre Italian fare. Food would be appropriately priced if it were better. Do not order multiple courses, it only extends the disappointment of what should have been.
(3)
Alla S.

Very disappointed with this place. Had very high hopes coming in.. I got the prime rib stuffed with prosciutto with polenta.. The polenta was very watery and tasteless. The prim rib was 75% fat. The gooey nasty fat I had to spoon off. The server didn't care that we were disappointed, also I'm pregnant. And she didn't bother to make the meal better.. Or offer to substitute anything. The tiramisu cake was super delicious though. Not coming back.. 2 stars are for the tiramisu
(2)
Charlotte K.

Went for lunch and it was pretty empty but we got seated inside since it was too hot outside. service was real nice. One of the guys kept refilling our glasses every time we drank from our cups which was pretty humorous. We had the agnolotti butter poached Maine lobster corn and mascarpone ravioli, farfalle pesto, and house made margherita pizza. My eyes are bigger than my stomach so when it came to the table, I was fairly disappointed by how small the dishes were but after eating, I had no complaints whatsoever about portions. I couldn't even finish my own plate and had to hand it over. Definitely would suggest people to give this place a try. Four stars because I have yet to try their risotto which is only on the dinner menu! I had no idea until I got there.
(4)
Haroun K.

This was one of the better meals I've had in Portland. The ambiance is intimate and classy. The service was the most professional I've seen here. They are super knowledgeable and attentive. Every item the gentleman brought out, he would exclaim: "Ah, the best! The best!" I enjoyed this very much. As for the food: the melted mozzarella fondu appetizer was tasty, with a unique smokey flavor. But it was a bit much for just two, seeing as it's just a lot of melted cheese and bread - it's probably something to share among a larger group. The 1/2 portions of the pasta were plenty ample - we enjoyed the tagliatelle (with brussel sprouts) and the lobster ravioli. But the high point was dessert. The tiramisu was one of the best I've ever had. If it isn't on all of Portland's best tiramisu lists, it should be. Obscenely good. If you're looking for a nice Italian meal, in Sellwood of all places, a Cena is definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Woo K.

a Cena, absolutely amazing. First glance, cute place- romantic vibe going on but very happening indeed. We all know what good yelp reviews and a happening later night reservation means, I'm in for a treat! Sat in a circle with a group of 5 and let me remind you that the staff was ultra cool and even fit us in for a last min reservation. We went all out this night, everyone ordered different dishes but we started with the Bruschetta and Formaggio (cheese spread). Devoured both very quickly while making OMG noises. As a main course I ordered the Agnolotti (Lobster pasta). I couldn't have been happier. Little balls of pasta filled with deliciousness and the lobster was fresh and plentiful. I could see my friends eyeing my dish as I didn't speak at all while eating. I had checked into food heaven and had no intention of coming back. Another dish I'd def recommend is the Capesante, which is scallops and asparagus graciously coated over risotto. I'm pretty sure I was picking at both dishes like a hungry happy lady. Thank you a Cena for a great experience, my visitors from Seattle were very impressed and I'll be back again very soon!
(5)
Wendy S.

Yes - I'm a fan. And my review mirrors those before me. I've been wanting to go to this place for years and it did NOT disappoint. We shared a salad, an entree and a dessert. Perfect. Everything was delicious, the service was spot on. They even waited patiently for us to finish our dessert even though they really wanted to go home. If I lived closer I'd probably make this a regular visit.
(5)
Sonam B.

My boyfriend and I came here on our first date 3 years ago. I love this place. Amazing food. You feel a sense of comfort after eating their bread and pasta -- other Italian places don't provide like A Cena does.
(5)
Wendy D.

We had family in town for the holiday that loves Italian food. We called a bunch of places to see if we could get in (we were a party of 6). We got the standard "we are booked out" or "can you come at 9pm" response from the first 3 places we called. But the wonderful folks at a Cena who were also busy through 8pm "moved things around" to accommodate us at the dinner hour. All our food was fantastic. We had the calamari appetizer which was incredible, their signature corn and marscapone ravioli in lobster butter which everyone but me loved (it was a bit too sweet for me) and my dad who is incredibly picky had the veal lasagne and is still raving about it a day later! Would definitely return for a special occasion. It's a bit spendy to eat there very often but if we could afford to we totally would!
(5)
Eric R.

I don't leave 5 star reviews very often. In my book, 5 stars really means best of the best, cream of the crop, can't improve it experience. a Cena didn't miss anything. We visited for a New Year's Eve dinner, and the service, food, and atmosphere were all perfect. Brilliant as the British might say. The homemade pastas were fresh and fantastic. The wine list was good. The servers were attentive. We were seated right away and everyone was friendly. Did I mention the food is fantastic? Not a cheap night out, but a great date night or special occasion restaurant. Giving this one 5 stars was an easy choice.
(5)
Vinnie B.

I made reservations and when I arrived the table was waiting and we were seated immediately, which shows me great communication and planning by the management team. This is what I ordered, a wonderful bottle of Valpolicella wine from Italy. Appetizer was the Beet and Goat cheese salad, very nicely done, well balanced. For the main course I ordered the Filet Mignon (med) cooked perfectly. I think most people order the pasta dishes, at least what I saw from my view but, this Filet was top 3 best I've ever had and I've had some great ones from some of the finest restaurants. It had an amazing reduction sauce. The Lobster ravioli in this wonderful rich cream sauce, this was also awesome and yes it's on the spendy side but, you get lots of lobster and this pasta will not disappoint. The Scallops are out of this world, perfectly cooked fresh, Next time I'm getting this Now on to the dessert, I had their Cannoli, this was probably the least favorite for me I'm pretty much a cannoli snob, it didn't live up to Diprima Dolci's in N Portland. Again though nothing does..The service was great and attentive and not overbearing. All and all a great restaurant with great service and well thought out dishes done right. There is a reason this place gets great reviews. I can't give them a 5 stars due to the fact I was double billed on my CC, Still waiting on resolve from Manager. Update: after 5 days it's been resolved.
(4)
C P.

Everything here was excellent. The pasta was fresh and the prices were reasonable. The entire atmosphere was romantic and classy. A wonderful evening out. I had the lobster ravioli, it was very rich-almost would have gotten it to share with a different main. Amazingly delicious though. Husband got meat sauce that was to die for. Very fresh and satisfying. Dessert menu all looked amazing, but we were too stuffed to order more. Gelato was fantastic though!
(5)
Krissy H.

This, may have been- THE best meal I have ever eaten. Omg. No matter what you get you are set. We all tasted each others plates and out of 4 people nothing but delight! The homemade pasta, incredible service, awesome sauces, to die for desserts.. I don't know what else to say, run there now.
(5)
Lori H.

Lovey neighborhood Italian place. Great for date nights, business meals, and family time with kids. The food is always top notch. Service fab. Housemade Limoncello is worth the trip alone. This is the place my very picky 11 yr old picks over any pizza or burger joint.
(5)
Joel M.

There was so much left to try after delicious lobster soup and pasta, but my stomach, traitor that it is, failed me. Could it not have expanded at least two more cubic feet to fit in three or four more courses? I was ready for more even if my mortal instrument was not.
(4)
SJ W.

Appetizers were greasy. Cocktail names lacked creativity. We sat behind the screen in the entrance which kept getting bumped into the entire night. My husband and I both had upset stomachs the night after eating here :(
(2)
Theo S.

The food matched the reviews. Had pork cutlets and hand rolled penne. To die for. The best meal I had in portland. My wife had parpadelle and the noodles were home made. Them she added a lobster tail to the dish. Heaven. Great. Great. Great.
(5)
Carrie V.

A real treat! Seafood heavy, superior Italian food and perfectly paired wines impressed me enough. But what really took my first experience here to the next level was the warmth and unmistakeable happiness of the staff. This is how you run a restaurant, y'all. It was busy as fuck, yet everyone was having a good time. Whether they were on the clock or out for a delicious dinner. The lively, pleasant vibe turned a great dinner into one I can't stop thinking about. The food was fine as hell and it felt so good in there, I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Scott S.

Great depth of flavors. Local when available. Fantastic chef. Friendly service. One of Sellwood's gems.
(5)
ruth a.

Warm and inviting. First impressions are a staff who are friendly a d responsive, also very good about helping with your menu choices. We were hungry on arrival so chose three courses to share, in hindsight, two would have been more then adequate. We started with the rabbit over polenta, it was amazing. Second course was the Agnolotti, corn, Mascarpone and lobster ravioli, pretty much one of the best things I've ever eaten. We were given an intermezzo of lemon sorbet, not sweet just a refreshing palette cleanser. Then the veal chop came out with the side of mushrooms, wild not farmed! Unfortunately, we had hit the wall. Wonderful service, food would absolutely go back!
(4)
Mandana S.

I love this place for many reasons, the most notable of which are the following: - Excellent service that is personal and not overly invasive - Food that is fresh, simple, delicious and lovingly prepared - Prices that don't suck - Easily accessible location with plenty of street parking The owner is a friendly man who is always present and happy to help with anything from wine pairings to food substitutions. He is the guy who looks like Peter Brady and is always smiling. Eugene,the manager (?), is also personable and was wonderful when helping me plan a 20-person family style dinner after my wedding in March of 2012. The dinner was a huge success, the food was incredible as always, the staff never let a cup run dry at the table and our guests left with with happy bellies and lots of leftovers. The best part of it all was that the bill ended up being half of what I'd expected to pay for such an event. Win-Win!
(5)
Tamara S.

This is a gem. Wonderful food (the lobster, corn and marscapone dish was outstanding), expansive wine list, top notch service and overall lovely, romantic atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)
Brenda P.

I've written several reviews about different Italian restaurants lately since my husband and I instituted "Italian Tuesday". I had had dinner at A Cena's before and really liked it. I hoped that lunch would be as good as dinner and was not disappointed. We were greeted immediately and given a nice table. Our busboy, Alex, poured water and brought out a basket of their delicious, homemade focaccia bread. When I'd had dinner there before, the restaurant served homemade Asiago cheese bread sticks along with the focaccia. Although, these bread sticks are made fresh daily, they are usually only available for dinner. When I asked Alex about the bread sticks, he found some from the previous night's dinner, heated them up for us and brought them out. They were as good as I remembered. The soup of the day was a lobster bisque. My husband allowed me a small taste, then proceeded to inhale the rest of it. From the minuscule spoonful I got to taste, it was absolutely delicious. I ordered the field greens, pear, Gorgonzola, candied pecans salad. It was very, very tasty and I ate every bit of it. For our main courses my husband ordered the agnolottibutterpoached Maine lobster, with corn & mascarpone raviolini and I the Norciahand rolled penne pasta, with sausage, mushrooms, and cream. There were many pieces of lobster on my husband's dish. He inhaled those lobster pieces as quickly as he did the soup. We then traded dishes and I finished the raviolinis while he ate my penna pasta with sausage and cream. Because the food we'd had was so good, we also ordered a pizza to take home - the bianco which had Gorgonzola, pears, caramelized onions, and garlic on top. We asked that some sausage be added as well. The crust was thin, crisp and wonderful as was the rest of the pizza. A Cena, Gallo Nero, Mucca Osteria and Piazza Italia are truly wonderful Italian restaurants. We are very lucky to have so many good Italian restaurants in Portland.
(5)
Leslie W.

I'm not saying a Cena saved my marriage, but my husband and I were in a snit when we walked in and we were arm and arm when we left. The heavy pour on the wine helped some. But the lovely meal and the comfortable place and the friendly staff brought us out of our funk and back to remembering what's important. It's a pleasant, friendly, not-at-all intimidating place, not fancy, which works for me. They serve a great lunch and have a decent house wine. I am rarely in this part of town so I won't be a regular, though it would be on my list if only I lived on the East side. We met the owner's father (maybe father-in-law) and he was delightful and the kind of guy you'd love to sit around with at the bar. We shared a house-made mozzarella and tomato salad that was very tasty, though the texture of the mozzarella surprised us (it was good-just firmer than I was expecting--but that delicious sweet taste of fresh mozzarella). The ravioli were fantastic-some of the best I've eaten in Portland. Very thinly rolled and almost translucent. Pasta like this was why I started to roll my own. I know some prefer their pasta more al dente but for me the flavor and texture were perfect. The ravioli/agnolotti was filled with a sweet corn and marscapone an had large bites of lobster in the bowl. It gave me a filling but not OMG WHAT HAVE I DONE kind of feeling to finish off the bowl. The lobster was a tad chewy but that seems to be the case almost everywhere I've ordered it. Spouse ate the Caramellespinach and ricotta candy wrappers, pomodoro, parmesan and was happy. I was so into my ravioli I hardly looked up. It was all scoop and eat and savor and close eyes and say, mmmmm. Repeat. Didn't look at his plate to see if I should try some until too late. We were too full for dessert, but the menu was very appealing. There was a family with elementary-aged kids at the table next to us. They were traveling and had Yelped or goggled a Cena and were on their way to Seattle and very glad they'd gotten off the highway to eat here. That's the kind of place this is: comfort food that can calm the traveler, enough of a taste of Italy for picky eaters like me, and just nice people doing good work and nourishing us when we come to visit.
(4)
Sudipto G.

Amazing Italian food.. I think it has been said a lot but please try the Corn and mascarpone raviolini with lobster.. you will not be dissapointed!
(4)
Allie R.

There's no shortage of artisan Italian in Portland, but a Cena is certainly among the best. Equally well suited for a family dinner or romantic date night, they have a fantastic wine list and broad selection of entrees. Prices are exceptionally reasonable, especially for the quality. It can get a bit crowded on weekends, but they take Open Table reservations, which is a huge plus.
(4)
Shirley T.

Good restaurant but difficult to find parking. Tables were a bit too close to each other and my husband and I, who wanted a nice evening with a nice atmosphere, sat at a table almost having to yell to hear one another. Very noisy. Olive Garden is noisy but this was twice as bad. The food is good but a bit priced too high for the food appearance/style and quantity. We had a great evening overall anyway but know now what to expect when going to this restaurant. BTW, our appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 beer and 2 glasses of wine came to a total of $99.
(3)
Jen K.

A tale of three special occasions... I've been meaning to write this review for a very long time, but I apply a few personal 'rules' in addition to the Yelp terms of service. The main one is that I write a review when I feel I 'get' a place. This is not to say my perspective is any more valuable than other reviewers, because it definitely is not. But, I make an attempt to be thoughtful and thorough. The second is that I write something when I can add to the conversation. Isn't that really one of the best parts of Yelp? You have customers with all different sorts of lifestyles, tastes and expectations, so each review provides another layer of diverse experiences. The third, and the one that held me up here, is that I need to pay for my meal. My first special occasion here was for a Yelp Elite Event. Don always does a fantastic job, but some venues are just better suited for special events and the staff truly seems to enjoy interacting with their customers. That was definitely my experience here. Chris, the owner, was a charming host and Michael did a memorable job making mozzarella and joking with his fellow Yeeps. The second special occasion was to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was really a wonderful evening. The restaurant pulled out all the stops to make the birthday girl feel adored. That is the way it should be on your special day. The interesting twist here is that the entree I ordered wasn't up to the chef's standards. He came to the table, explained that he didn't want to serve anything less than his best and suggested alternatives. Even though it wasn't what I had planned, I completely respect the way the situation was handled. I'd rather be told up front there is an issue, than be served something I would need to send back later. That evening was also my first taste of their signature dish, the Agnolotti with lobster. Danni D. describes it best since it reminds her of her East Coast youth, but it really is a wow of a dish. One of the best in Portland. That night our group really worked our way through the menu, so I sampled appetizers, salads, entrees and a very special dessert. The third special occasion was to celebrate my anniversary. Mr. K planned dinner at another local favorite, then I suggested A Cena for dessert. We called the restaurant on a Friday night and they seated us immediately and it was a lovely end to our evening. Again, Chris was on hand to meet and greet and our server was full of good humor. After we finished our desserts, the Torta di Ciocolata and Sea Salt Caramel gelato, he asked if we were ready for our dinner menus. Tempting, very tempting. I can tell you that the worst feeling in the world, from a dining perspective, is to recommend a restaurant for someone's special occasion and then they have a horrible time. I have recommended A Cena repeatedly during the past year and everyone from friends to neighbors to coworkers had been very pleased with their experience. Two other couples also celebrated their anniversaries here this week based on my recommendation. For some, it is on the expensive side, so I always point out that many of the pasta dishes are available in two sizes. I recommend getting a few small plates to share on your first visit. But even the full entrees are in the $20 - $30 range. While it isn't the fanciest restaurant in town, it is one of the best upscale neighborhood dining options in Portland. Every restaurant is capable of a one or a five on any given night, but A Cena has come through for me (and my friends) again and again.
(5)
Lee Ann C.

On paper, this place sounded amazing. But I think we caught them on a bad night. They were out of the wine we wanted, but she offered something similar, which was good. One of us ordered an IPA and they brought a Pilsner. Then she brought what she thought was the IPA and we still weren't sure if it was actually an Amber. We gave up at that point. We ordered the Farfalle with Zucchini and they said they're out of zucchini, so it was replaced by green beans (who runs out of zucchini in the middle of summer??) Breadsticks were marvelous, but our basket of bread was more like a basket of croutons. We were obviously given bread that was either microwaved or left out in the air too long. When we asked for more breadsticks they said they were out, but brought us a replacement basket of bread -- which was much fresher and very good. All meals were good (lobster rav, spagh/meatballs, eggplant parm). Desserts were also good. Service was so-so. We probably won't go back.
(2)
Hi L.

My fiancÃ© and I decided to dine at a Cena Ristorante to celebrate our engagement. We ordered the lobster agnolotti, and the garganelli. We were both happy with our choices, our server said it was the two most popular dishes. It is a bit pricey but so worth it for any special occasion or date night. The service was overall good, our server was nice but more attentive to the table next to us who appeared to be regulars. Which I get it, because I work in the service industry myself. Overall, good food and good service, can't wait to go back!
(4)
Tami S.

This is a wonderful restaurant. Had the Caprese salad, Cavatelli with Lamb Ragu. Paired with the Pinot Noir, Ayres, Willamette Valley. Sat outside, beautiful night. Couldn't have asked for a more delicious italian meal. Staff was helpful with suggestions and attentive! Would definitely go back again!
(5)
Su S.

Nice atmosphere. Even though we were 15 minutes late, they still seated us right away. The food was awesome. Service was great.
(5)
Justin V.

We come here every year for Mothers Day and every year they never let us down. One of the better Italian spots in town and if you love lobster pasta, this will be your jam.
(4)
Pui S.

I learned about this place only a few days ago (I asked Yelpers via Talk). I even called it A-Ce-Na instead of a-chayna! hahahaha I made reservation online yesterday night (very efficient). I took my boyfriend for a nice little birthday dinner, didn't know we just found a goldmine. He said, "It's my favorite restaurant now." I was so happy that I listened to my Yelpers and made the right decision. :) Thank you for the complimentary Birthday cake: TORTA DI CIOCOLATA! It was very lovely. I also posted photos via Facebook & my friends want to have dinner here. OMG twist my arm, yeah, twist both arms and make me go back here PLEASE! lol
(5)
Mauricio J.

Family dinner with my wife and daughter, excellent service from the entrance, friendly, upbeat service. Restaurant is small but very nice inside, you can talk it is not a loud place so you can enjoy your dinner. Now the main reason for this review, the food, well the food is simply great. We love Italian food, but A Cena took our experience to another level, Calamari sicilian style with the best tomato sauce I tasted in a long time, the Antipasto had a great selection of cheeses, charcuterie and olives and pickles that were out of this world. I tried the Spaghetti with meatballs (small) which was perfect but the dish that took our breath away,was the Veal Chop, it was only because we were at a nice restaurant that I refrain myself from taking the bone in my hands and finish it. For dessert we tried the Affogato, which had an interesting mix of flavors, it will not be the last time we try it for sure, also the Gelato of Sea salt caramel hit the spot. Highly recommended, very good food and extremely good service and that is saying something coming from Las Vegas.
(5)
Fei C.

After reading reviews , was kinda hesitant as it seemed too good to be true. Fresh handmade pasta and unpretentious service in PDX, not possible, or so I thought. Was so pleasantly surprised as reviews are accurate. Nice neighborhood restaurant that makes some the best pasta dishes I've had . Before this meal, my favorite was Bodega in Napa Valley, which is twice the price . Liked that restaurant serves half dishes of their pasta so we could get variety with our small party. Favorite was lobster ravioli which had a lot of fresh lobster .
(5)
Glenn D.

It took the kitchen over an hour and a half to get our meal out... Not something I want when I want a meal remember...
(1)
Mark B.

I've been to Acena now multiple times and have enjoyed good food each te and wonderful service Their calamari appetizer is first rate as are their pasta dishes. The rabbit pappardelle was especially good
(5)
Paul S.

Wife and I went to this neighborhood restaurant b/c we had a kid-free hour. Wow, that was an hour well spent! Salad was fresh, calamari was perfectly cooked and the pizza was simple, yet elegant. Every detail was thought through in regards to the ingredients, prep and presentation. The Italian wine from Piedmont was well chosen, not just a random case they got. Service was also 5stars, something that is hard to come by in this city. This is an excellent "date night" place if you live in SE. If you want something a bit less formal I'd recommend Ginos down the street. Would not recommend taking kids to a Cena, just too special of a place to noise-pollute everyone's dinner.
(5)
Heather S.

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. I do wish they would update their menu online; it is frequently not up-to-date, which makes it difficult if I don't eat all of their very meaty food -- or indeed, any of it.
(4)
Tiffany B.

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 ;-)
(5)
Meghan C.

I like A Cena because it's not like most other restaurants in Portland. Don't get me wrong, the food scene in this city is awesome, and I've eaten tons of amazing food here. But I think we can all admit that a lot of places here tend to toe the line between creative and pretentious. And especially when it comes to Italian food, you either get mega-trendy or upscale and expensive. A Cena is decidedly unpretentious and unintimidating. It's a friendly, neighborhoood restaurant with authentic Italian food. Yes, authentic--the dishes here are interesting but I also didn't see anything that would be out of place on a menu in Italy. I can appreciate Italian with a Northwest twist, but sometimes I just want real, simple Italian--and A Cena is the perfect place for that. I have only eaten here for lunch so far, and loved both the corn agnolotti with lobster and the garganelli with sausage. Both were cooked perfectly, which is not as common as you might think. I can't wait to come back for dinner and try more! By the way, did I mention that this is one of a VERY few number of restaurants in Portland where I actually got good service?? A Cena definitely gets this Italian girl's stamp of approval.
(4)
Eric M.

Great food, but not perfect overall. Food: Stellar flavors, I can't even describe the diversity and balance of tastes. Grilled romaine with oregonzola and pancetta was buttery and flavorful. Roasted cauliflower with a myriad of other ingredients was so complicated. Pork loin was cooked to perfection. Wine: great list with lots of Italian and lots of Oregon with a little in between. Service: Service was generally good and attentive. But for the price there were some flaws. My partner didn't have a fork at her setting. Also, we were stuck in a corner table with no elbow room and servers having to bump my chair to get around me, in spite of having made a reservation. I know its a small place, but I don't want to be uncomfortable when I'm out for a great meal and had planned in advance to have a table. They also spilled some of our wine on the table. Overall great quality, and I don't mind an air of casual but the service could be a bit more refined and our table was uncomfortable. We will probably hit it up again for the food.
(4)
Linda L.

OK, the reviews are right: the corn and mascarpone with lobster agnolotti is amazing. Unexpected sweetness and silky smooth, with just a bit of toothiness in the lobster and fresh pasta. Outstanding. The burrata with roasted tomato and basil appetizer we had was also excellent, along with the beet, kale and goat cheese appetizer, which had an unexpected heartiness from the barley and pine nuts. The steamed clams were a bit chewy and not all that special. Service was excellent and the place was hoppin'. Great choice for Italian food in PDX!
(4)
Kimberly P.

By far, one of my favorite dining experiences in Portland. Exceptional service and a warm, bistro-like vibe provide a perfect backdrop for their menu. Although the selection on the surface seems simple, everything from the pasta, the bread and even the mozzarella are made from scratch. The corn and mascarpone agnolotti with butter poached lobster chunks, paired with a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio, was DIVINE!!!
(5)
Shea M.

Being in the service industry myself I truly appreciate the warm and generous hospitality. I have consistently received friendly service and the food is always amazing. The menu follows seasonal flavors. However, I can always count on the 'Angolotti' with sweet lobster to always satisfy.
(5)
Ed L.

Simply amazing Italian food. Easily one of, if not the, best in the city. Service was excellent. Don't wait. Go now. I'm quite sure this is my new favorite restaurant.
(5)
Keith B.

Went for brunch on Sunday. Was a little worried about being underdressed for such a high end restaurant - luckily the brunch atmosphere is very laid back (this is Portland). Small, focused menu and everything we ordered was delicious. Service was outstanding as well. We'll definitely be back. Can't wait to try dinner.
(5)
Paul N.

Food good, but not $25-to-30-per-dinner-entree-in-Portland good. Shrimp in a pasta dish were totally uncooked -- Sashimi.pasta? But that dish was taken off the bill. Service good. Tables crammed in the space. Deafening sound level. Once was enough.
(3)
Debbie L.

We planned on going to dinner at a different restaurant on Hawthorne and was disappointed to find it closed. So, we decided to head over to the Sellwood area as it is one neighborhood we are considering purchasing a home in eventually. We found a Cena on 13th and thought it looked inviting and so we went in! We were seated immediately and treated well! The wait staff was attentive, the atmosphere was quiet, candle lit and perfect for our liking. We each ordered a salad and shared the pizza margarita. It was again perfect! I love my pizza with a thin crust and cooked to a crisp however I don't usually get enough flavor from the sauce. The sauce used on our pizza at a Cena was full of flavor! I am recovering from the Portland Marathon and still feel sorry for my sore self so I ordered the Honey Roasted Pear Sorbetto to help sooth my sore muscles... oh my gosh! It's the perfect dessert to make you feel like you got something special after a delicious meal but don't have to make room for it. It was quite nice. We already know we love the Sellwood area and now we have found one more reason to consider it for a future move to Portland! whitebreadandjam.blogspoâ€¦
(5)
Antonio M.

Great place to eat!! Very nice staff. The environment is casual and romantic. However the food is overpriced, but what do you expect since it's a fancy restaurant. I recommend the large portion. The half portion is to small that it won't fuel you up, but DUH!!
(4)
Valerie R.

My husband and I came here for his birthday. Wonderful food, atmosphere, and service. Appetizers and dessert were delicious as well as the entrÃ©es. If I may be picky, my rabbit was a little overcooked, but it was still really good. My husband's entrÃ©e was spot on. We will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Katherine L.

We had reservations, but had to wait a bit while they set up the table in the front. They had a cute bench we sat on. I love the ambiance. Romantic yet casual. They ended up seating us near the window where we can see the street. I loved their big windows, opening up the room and making it feel larger. There was also some street seating, but I really wanted to experience inside the restaurant. It was nice that they started us off with some bread. For appetizers, we had the Casa salad with lemon vinaigrette, which was quite delicious. For entree, the significant other had Pheasant with potato gnocci. He loved it and devoured every piece. I had the Diavolo pasta with prawns and pomodoro sauce. The sauce looked simple, but it was oh-so tasty! I was in awe how much flavor and fresh the sauce was. I had a glass of Pinot noir from Pinesteed, Oregon. It was a great addition to the meal. Wow this place is delicious! And to add, the bussers and waiter was so attentive! The significant other drinks like a camel and we never had to worry about his glass being empty. Our dining experience was great! I hope we can come back someday.
(5)
Ramzi E.

Just a-mazing. Was in town for a night and went there with a friend. The service was incredible (thanks, Doug) and the food was beyond delicious (thanks, Chef Gabe). If you're a fan of northern Italian you'll love it. If you're not a fan of northern Italian, you'll still love it. It's just that good. We had: the clams, meatballs, three types of pasta, the scallops and the duck breast. Each section was exquisite. Next time I'm in town, I'll definitely be going back.
(5)
Don B.

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.
(5)
Scott G.

Delightful Italian fare in a restaurant with a local, family-owned feeling. An excellent selection of local beers and wines were a delicious complement to fresh bread served with quality olive oil for dipping. The pasta dishes were made fresh, tasted delicious and served hot. Salads and veggies tasted fresh and were prepared just right. Be advised that even with reservations you might have to wait for a table as the restaurant is small and management doesn't rush patrons out after they're finished dining. In the end it's worth the wait as they'll give you the same respect. Overall an excellent spot for a casual dinner with friends or family.
(4)
Jennie K.

a Cena Ristorante is the best Italian I've had in a long time. The artichoke hearts were bombbellious, the pasta is made in house, the fennel and pepper pizza has a wonderful, crisp crust and just enough spice to make my mouth say yay, and the butterscotch pudding was the perfect end to an incredible meal. The service, exceptional. The server was super helpful, and it was obvious that she was well-liked because two of her tables knew her (not in that homey hookup kind of way, but in the, they are regulars and request her) kind of way. Also, not sure if he was a manager or owner, but a gentleman pulled out my fiance's chair and that just about made my night. Love good service. Good food is pretty easy to find (with the foodie nation movement), but good service? That's what's up. Gina, server of our dreams, your recommendations were spot on, and you rocked. Thanks for a great date night. Can't wait to go bak
(5)
Camille M.

Amazing! The flavors I experienced during my dinner at a Cena were unlike any I've tasted before. I had the gnocchi with lamb ragu and even though the portion was huge, I ate the whole thing. It was delicious and familiar and totally unique at the same time. The house tiramisu was TO DIE. The service was excellent. All around, a Cena provided a wonderful night out.
(5)
Chiemi N.

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!
(4)
Tony M.

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!
(5)
Boris N.

Mr H got Lamb meatballs and he rates it 4*, and for desert he got "Budino" wich he rates 2. Mr K got "Diavolo" wich is seafood and pasta wich he rates 4,5*, for desert he got Tiramisu that rates 2*. All in all we give this place a 4* due to the very good main courses and low prices. We ordered just "1/2" size dishes due to the full portions are very BIG and we wanted more to eat than the main course. All in all the bill came to 54USD+tip including a beer and a soft drink. We would easily come back here.
(4)
R. A.

I'm really not feeling the love on yelp for this small Italian restaurant. The service was good and the bread was some of the best I've ever had. However, the pasta itself was really nothing special. I had the fettucine carbonara. The "sauce" had a sticky, thick, glue-like or paste consistency with very little flavour. My boyfriend's penne pasta, served with sausage and mushrooms was creamier and more flavourful. Maybe it was just an off day for a Cena. I have to mention we went for lunch and most of these reviews center around dinner, so I guess their dinner service is where it's at.
(2)
Esther K.

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!
(5)
Katrina D.

We followed the Yelpers/waiters recommendation and ordered the Lobster and corn ravioli pasta and it was better than I could have imagined. In fact every single thing they placed on our table was delectable. The bread and these cheesy crispy breadsticks were so good I had to force myself to stop eating them. We ordered Butterscotch pudding with a vanilla whipped cream and homemade caramel sauce for dessert and almost licked the glass it came in. Pro's: amazing food, nice romantic/cozy atmosphere Con's: that 'cozy' atmosphere borders on crowded/uncomfortable- it doesn't cross that line, but rides it Overall we can't wait to come back to Portland to eat here again.
(5)
Maureen H.

First time there on Sunday. Not the cheapest place to eat but I felt the quality of the food was well worth the cost. And not having to drive into downtown Portland and find parking is a huge bonus! I had the scallops with corn risotto and on my first bite was pretty sure I was in heaven. My friend had the rabbit and it had incredible flavor as well. We shared a delicious bottle of wine recommended by our waitperson. I will go back -- when I can afford it or have something special to celebrate or someone special to celebrate with.
(5)
angie c.

Everything was delicious! I had the lamb tagliatelle half portion (the perfect amount for one person). It was well seasoned and sooooo flavorful. The pasta was perfectly all dente. Definitely coming back soon!
(5)
L C.

After no one at Genoa picked up the phone, we called A Cena and reserved a table for later that evening. It was our anniversary and other plans had fallen through, so we wanted to have a romantic evening out. So thankful that Genoa didn't answer... this place was as good- if not better! We arrived a little early, and the restaurant was busy, but they sat us at their best table. The ambiance was perfect, not too loud... but just energetic enough to keep things interesting. The owner was very friendly and made sure that we were comfortable and had drinks. The waitstaff was professional and unobtrusive, our server was great and super intuitive about our needs. We royally pigged out: Fig & Goat cheese Bruschetta, House Salad w/ figs, Papparadelle w/ Braised Rabbit, Linguine w/ Seafood, PLUS tiramisu and butterscotch pudding for desert. All the food was delicious- no to go boxes needed. I highly recommend this place for a romantic dinner out. It's my new favorite Italian joint.
(5)
Zagreus A.

While not overly imaginative, the food is fresh and exquisitely prepared. There is really something special about their pasta, the taste is exquisite. Their agnolotti is the second best I ever tasted and they have great Italian wines on the list at a decent price. I know its expensive, but most really good Barolo's are more an $70 at a first class restaurant.
(4)
Deanna N.

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.
(3)
Kay C.

We were here from out of town and feeling like Italian. Hubby loves bolognese and saw this restaurant had the menu so had to come here. I thought the place was really cute, had a really nice ambiance - cozy neighborhood restaurant. Reservations were easy on a Fri night. I think the owner/mgr of the restaurant came around and was very nice. We ordered brussels sprouts, bolognese, and I ordered the beef ravioli special that night. Everything was tasty.
(4)
Douglas C.

a Cena has the right blend of upscale food, comfortable and easy ambiance, and friendly service. It would be a nice romanic place too if it weren't packed to the gills and noisy - there are however a couple of lonely tables in a little alcove by the window. While the beer selection is a little thin, the food is outstanding. We ordered the lobster raviolis and the swordfish special, which was grilled and set on top of a bed of roasted vegetables, legumes, and pesto. The Swordfish was wonderful, but for my money, the lobster raviolis is about the best entree I've ever eaten.
(5)
Kate N.

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.
(5)
Troy S.

This is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant that gets it all right. Service was professional with a pinch of Portland charm, but most importantly very attentive; never was a water glass left empty or a request not attended to immediately. Food was fantastic, with a great bar and cocktail list and solid wine list. Appetizer, salad, mains, dessert and cocktails were all just wonderful. And yes the lobster pasta dish is as good as everyone here says it is. The restaurant dÃ©cor was stylish and wonderfully dimly lit; the dining room was comfortable while still having the vibe of "chic dinner out". It's a small place on the quiet end of the Sellwood business district, but it's a new family favorite for us in Portland.
(5)
Dave R.

Lovely neighborhood location, great service, and the food was very good.
(4)
Jen S.

The finocchio salad and cannelloni were fresh, perfectly prepared and delicious. I ordered the polenta as my main dish and was pleasantly surprised at how much came in the bowl. The highlights for me, though, were the wine (an Oregon mix I'd never heard of and promptly forgot - but it was tasty!) and the side dishes of brussel sprouts and cauliflower. All the ingredients are listed on the menu so we'll definitely be trying those at home. Prompt (unlike me - sorry again for being late, guys) and excellent service too, the server was really friendly, patient with our indecisiveness and helpful with the wine selection. Not somewhere I can eat on a regular basis, but a really good go-to for out of town guests and special occasions.
(4)
Stanley T.

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.
(5)
Tom T.

My review is going to be short and sweet. Had the starter of the Duck Confit bruschetta, Agnolotti, and Gnocchi...I paired it with a bottle of Sangiovese,Bartimeo,Romagna.....What a dinner combo, it was a beautiful thingy. The place is a little pricey, but I think worth it. I will be going back.
(5)
Kunhyuk K.

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!
(5)
Eileen K.

A Cena is for everyone! Stop by for a casual pizza and wine, bring the family celebration here or plan ahead to impress the foodie who is visiting; you won't be disappointed. The staff is attentive, helpful and gracious. The menu offers something for everyone, but I can rarely pass up the lobster agnolotti. Fresh food, beautifully prepared and carefully served, who could ask for more?
(5)
Rachael S.

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!
(5)
Forrest S.

A Cena is by far the best Italian food I have had in Portland, or anywhere for that matter. It is good, better than my friends Sicilian grandmother's home cooking good. It has been a wonderful experience every time I have come here and I honestly cannot think of anything negative to say, as the food and service have always been fantastic and consistent. There is a lot of attention to detail with the quality of the ingredients in everything they make, right down to the tomatoes and I never thought I would be writing about how good the tomatoes at a restaurant, but these are the best I have tasted. The appetizers and bread are both great and you can never go wrong with the antipasto platter for starters, as it has a great selection of cured meats, cheese, olives and whatever else they decide to include that day. The pastas are heavenly, and while I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of them, the Agnolotti is an amazing rich, buttery and sweet pasta that I can't resist ordering every time I come here. Corn and mascarpone raviolini with lobster? Yes please. The desserts such as the tiramisu and sea salt caramel gelato are also excellent and even if you don't think you have room for them, make some. This is a great date spot, with very nice ambiance and very good service as well as a friendly owner that I have met on a few occasions when he comes to different tables to chat with customers, which is always nice to see since it shows that they really take pride in their business and making sure that diners are happy. If I could give more than five stars, I would, as a Cena is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland that will always have me coming back.
(5)
Nicole P.

Open for lunch. Absolutely not to be missed! This honestly is the best Italian food we've had in years! Like the Italian food you find back east in NYC or Boston. We ordered the tomato bisque and shaved fennel salad to start. So simple, yet impeccable execution. I ordered the homemade penne with sausage mushrooms with a cream sauce. I wish I could have it again. and we topped off the nice leisurely lunch with cappuccino and tiramisu. Now this is that Italian food should taste like!
(5)
Kathy K.

Absolutely fantastic meal---we enjoyed every bite of it. Our waitress, Loris made everything sound so fabulous, we had a hard time deciding what to order. So what could we do? We asked if she could get us in the next night too! First night my husband had the ravioli, and the 2nd night the lamb with fresh mint (excellent) I had two different pastas (the small portions, both absolutely excellent) and one night the scallops and the next night the veal (which was huge). Loris made excellent wine suggestions both nights, and the Budino for dessert was fantastic! The second night we had gelato, the salted caramel, which was excellent also. It's so good, we recommended it to our neighbors who are going to Portland next week. Excellent service, and great atmosphere. We will definitely go again, the next time my husband has business in Portland.
(5)
Deb F.

With all these rave reviews for A Cena, I thought for sure I'd finally found an amazing place to eat. Yet I was completely underwhelmed with my experience there. Maybe my expectations are too high? I don't know... The food was good, don't get me wrong. But it wasn't crazy-good to me at all. I had the SalsicciaPepperoni pizza - I liked the thin crisp crust, but the flavor was lacking in body - I needed salt, or chili flakes, or something, to boost it. I was hoping for spicy peppers on the pizza but what I mostly tasted was the tomato sauce - that's not what *I* want to taste on a pizza first. I shouldn't have to add salt to a pizza, yet I did. Hubby had the penne, which he said was underwhelming too. Good portion size, but again, the sauce and flavors weren't hitting it out of the park. I did like the Limoncellotini - it was very sweet and smooth, no sharp bite at all. And the focaccia was delicious. Ambiance was nice if a bit loud. Our server was efficient but chilly to us (same thing Matt R. said below). She wasn't rude, but she wasn't particularly welcoming either. Did we order the wrong things? I don't eat lobster, so didn't get that Agnolotti. I didn't see any risotto on the menu either. Will I give it another try? Maybe...but there are so many other restaurants in Portland that I haven't tried yet, it might be awhile before I make it back.
(3)
Nicole S.

If I were to leave my boyfriend that I love and adore it would be for a Cena. I feel like I don't even need to say anything else but I want you to know how serious I am. +Melissa rocks! Amazing, attentive, witty, best of all she has the best recommendations. She knows what I want when I don't know what I want. +Limoncello is perfect! They make this inhouse and it's some of the best limoncello I've had. +Fresh ingredients, made daily! It would not surprise me if they didn't fresh press their olive oil, everything is THAT fresh. +Just right portions. You can choose to have the the full or half size pastas and the appetizers are just as they should be and appetizer not a meal. +Mellow atmosphere and everyone is welcoming and accommodating. +Bruscetta that changes daily based on the freshest ingredients! Always amazing! + Delicious homemade thin breadsticks and focaccia to start, with a super fruity fresh olive oil for dipping. Although I have not tried all the Italian places in PDX, I am going to call this the BEST Italian, actually I would say it's probably the best all around restaurant in city! What a local gem!
(5)
Anthony D.

5 stars isn't enough. Check out my reviews, I love food and I love small local business. A Cena is absolutely one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The room, is simple, warm, and welcoming. The staff is made of the most sincere folks you will ever meet. The food, is the best Italian food I have ever had, I am including Little Italy NYC, North End Boston, etc. The ingredients are so fresh, the prices are so fair. You will come back time and time again, I spent two nights in Portland, I loved two diners here, including one on the way to a red eye flight home. I am planning a trip to Portland, in part so I can enjoy another meal here. I cannot say enough great things about this restaurant, its simple, its perfection. Enjoy !! PS: If you are traveling alone, sit at the bar, you will be well cared for.
(5)
Judy K.

Came in on a Monday evening and had no problem getting a table. I would bet that is not the case on Friday and Saturday nights, though. I ordered the a House Specialty (ravioli pillows filled with Mascarpone and purÃ©ed corn with butter basted lobster) and it was a meal I will long remember. As other Yelpers have indicated, the dish was heavenly. The chef is a genius. My husband ordered salmon, which he certainly enjoyed, but he was very happy that he had to help me finish my plate. He thought it was one of the best dishes he has tasted.
(5)
Jonathan S.

I really really like the food at a Cena. There is always a pasta dish that makes me very happy I made the trip down to Sellwood. Peter Cottontail graced my last visit and I still think about how great the meal tasted, carrots included (which did make me feel just a bit guilty). There is always a dry red that I can get by the glass, and I appreciate that as well. The bread isnt my favorite, but I can't stop eating it with the olive oil which is a high grade. So you're asking, why only 4 stars? Well, first is the random portion generator. Each time I order, I dont know how much will come out on my large pasta dish. Sometimes, its plenty and I even take home a taste for the next day. Sometimes, I literally order a 2nd plate of food because I'm still THAT hungry. My last visit, the service was a bit spotty too. I had to ask the guy running bread to order a 2nd glass of wine and only saw my waitress once after we ordered our food. The table next to ours seemed to have a great time with the waiter from Chicago though, and the host was also very friendly and outgoing when we arrived. Lets not forget the bread runner guy also doing his best to pick up the slack, which should be commended. I'll be going back soon, if only to catch the seasonal magic of the briar patch.
(4)
Katie C.

Can you give more than FIVE STARS?!? I wish, at least for this place. I fortunately have YELP to tell me what gets good ratings and I saw that when looking for BEST ITALIAN this place came up in first place, apparently less expensive than many of the other options and also SO many great reviews...these reviews don't lie. We were there on a weeknight so we didn't notice a noise problem but can see how the acoustics might be a problem on weekends. Sit outside!! Home made pastas (we saw the pasta room), desserts made from scratch daily, scrumptious, savory dishes that you will fight over. Seriously, I'm afraid to write this on one hand because I don't want to have to wait too long for a table here but it is THAT good. Chris, Adam, their phenomenal chef and the rest of the attentive, sweet and fun staff deserve all the praise they get. Top Three of best Italian we've had - maybe best ever? We weren't sure. Definitely up there at the top, though. We are so lucky to have them in PDX. I love this place.
(5)
Julie M.

a Cena was the perfect restaurant for a Christmas Eve dinner! I had the small lobster Agnolotti portion and the taste was exquisite. The smaller portion was plenty because it's very rich. My husband had the wild boar tagliatelle, and he thought it was one of the best "meat sauces" that he's ever had. It was his first wild boar. The server was very knowledgeable and a pleasure to interact with. The side dishes of arancini and brussel sprouts were pretty terrific, too. It was a perfect evening thanks to a Cena.
(5)
Tim B.

Well I am on a quest to try all the highly rated restaurants (4-5 stars) on yelp in inner Portland, and for our last minute date night, a Cena Ristorante was on the short list and had available reservations. Most of the other places I want to try had no reservation for a Friday night last minute. My wife and I arrived realizing that a Cena was in the old location of Assaggio, which during their heyday was the pinnacle of pasta. We debated about whether we had tried a Cena before, but either way, it was over four years. I think we did try it before and haven't been back, which says something. Anyway, our table was ready when we arrived to the mostly empty restaurant, our server did a great job of taking care of us. We decided on a bottle of wine and took the recommendation of our server for a bottle. We also ordered the caprese salad while we looked over the menu. The menu had lots of choices and many things I wanted to try, and after some deliberation, I decided on the special, Risotto Scallops with Chanterelle Mushrooms. My wife decided to try the classic Eggplant Parmesan, a solid way to gauge any traditional Italian restaurant. The caprese salad came out, made with heirloom tomatoes, which were delicious. The cheese was high end fresh mozzarella, and was drizzled in some green olive oil, which was delicious but did not look so appealing. The one thing that was lacking was salt. And their was no salt on the table. I find it a little arrogant when a restaurant does not have salt out, particularly when the food needs salt. Our entrees came out quickly, and my Risotto was well, it looks like a small portion. 4 scallops and about 3 mushrooms over a couple of spoonfuls (literally) of risotto. The scallops were expertly prepared and delicious, the mushrooms less so, the risotto was good, but undercooked. Now before you jump to the conclusion that I do not know al dente, I like my pasta al dente, but the risotto had a crunch at the end that was undercooked, by probably only about 3 minutes, according to my wife. The flavors were good, but the entree was anemic. I also sampled some of my wife's eggplant parm, which is served straight up, not over any pasta (which is fine). However, I was not impressed. The flavor of the eggplant parm was just not there. It was good, but not great. Then we opted to have some dessert and both ordered espresso shots. We both chose the tiramisu. A large portion of tiramisu arrived, and was the highlight of the meal. Absolutely delicious tiramasu, and if you still go to a Cena after reading my review, I highly recommended saving room for dessert. The bill arrived, and unlike some other highly rated restaurants where I get the bill and don't care how much it is because the food was so delicious, I looked at the bill and just felt like we had not gotten our money's worth. The Scallop special was $27, which is an absurd price for the amount of food that was served, particularly since the risotto was undercooked. As far as my rating, I am torn between 2 and 3 stars. There is no way a Cena is a 4-5 start restaurant. The food is good, but the value is just not there. It is too expensive for the quality of the food. Also they don't use enough salt and do not provide salt at the table (I am morally opposed to asking for salt when spending so much money). I ended up giving it 3 stars, because the food is good, just not great, and just not worth what they are charging. Our experience probably explains why there were so many open tables on a Friday night. I recommend that you try one other of the plethora of excellent restaurants around town (see my reviews for recommendations). Also they seat people who are woefully under-dressed to eat at a nice restaurant. The lady wearing her exercise spandex? And the man wearing the green flip-flops? I am not a stickler for dressing up, but come on.
(3)
Ned C.

AMAZING! Local restaurant in small neighborhood that is quick drive from downtown. Nice casual atmosphere and incredible food! Kitchen backs up to one side of the dinning area. Great value for the money. Make reservations b/c it is small and busy. It is very easy to park there.
(5)
K A.

We were treated to dinner by my Uncle and Aunt, long time Portlandians, who wanted to take us to one of their favorite places... I usually avoid Italian when choosing a restaurant, so I was ready to be disappointed. However, a Cena was AWESOME! Why? -Great service. Friendly, attentive staff that never came across as pushy or obnoxious. -Decor. Nice and dark. Intimate seating without seeming packed next to your neighbors. -Great wine. I couldn't tell you what we got, but it was recommended by the very knowledgable waiter. We got through 2 bottles. -Fantastic food. We got the calamari appetizer - it was big enough for 4. The scallops were cooked to perfection. I can't recall the pasta dishes, but everyone was happy. -Dessert. The tiramisu was generous and smooth. I highly recommend the Budino! And the Affogato was solid as well. The only pitfall? They were out of 3 dishes by 7:30 on a Friday night!
(5)
Kathryn K.

I got there just a bit before they opened for dinner and there were only a few people in front of me. Once inside and seated at the window we ordered the appetizer special of foie gras on a crostini with mushrooms and micro greens. It was very tasty, buttery and crunchy with the subtle hint of earthiness from the mushroom. We ordered our main dishes which were the goat rague and lobster with stuffed pasta. They have two prices one for a small order and one for a large order. Since we were going to be getting dessert and already had the appetizer we opted for the small portions of our meals. We asked the waitress to please choose a wine to go with our meals and she picked very well. For dessert we ordered a tiramisu and the special which was a pear and honey sorbeto. We ended up spending just over $80.00 for the entire meal. That is a bit spendy for my blood especially with how small the orders actually were when they came out. The quality of the food was exceptional and I think made the price of the meal worth it.
(4)
Isa D.

A Cena. The love of my life. What good times we've shared. OMG the food is amazing, the staff are a kick in the pants (you choose which side of your pants with YOUR attitude), and I cannot recommend them enough. I'm not sure if I love the food more or the people who work here. Please bring your sense of humor with you when you visit, cuz this team could always use a good customer. The food, ambiance, and drinks are top notch. xoxo to the team!
(5)
Jamie S.

Tasty food with very small portions for the price. Good service. Will likely not go back.
(3)
Warren C.

I think I'm usually pretty fair about my reviews of establishments. I try to look at the view from every angle to see what the circumstances are that led to the situation so I may write and unbiased review. I came to A Cena on a whim as my girlfriend had suggested this restaurant instead of Portofino this evening. As I have never been or even seen this restaurant before I was happy to go and experience something new and exciting. The atmosphere in this restaurant is rather enchanting. Perfect weather outside led to a naturally lit restaurant inside. The colors and ambience was perfect in my opinion as well as the architecture, choice of colors and furniture as well. Upon reviewing the menu My girlfriend and I made our drink and appetizer order while enjoying our company together. We ordered the cosmopolitans and an order of the Calamari. The cosmopolitan was perfect in my opinion. Nice and tangy with a slight hint of sweetness to accent its flavor. The calamari was nice and tender with a crunchy coating on the outside paired perfectly with the lemon caper aoli. As for the meal I was a bit disappointed. My girlfriend ordered the Agnolotti, while I ordered the Lamb Chops. The Agnolotti dish was paired up with large chunks of Lobster with a hint of creamy corn. The pasta was perfectly made with a sauce that accentuates your palates with flavors that were new to me with that particular pairing. What killed the plate was the Lobster. While the chunks of lobster was large and plentiful it was rather rubber and chewy and ruined the dish completely. My girlfriend took maybe 2 chunks of lobster and I took 2 as well to verify the issue and she set the rest of the lobster aside which covered at least a third of the plate. The lamb chops were cooked to perfection. My only issue was the pairing with the lamb chops that just seemed a little out of place and didn't compliment the flavors of the lamb chops. As for dessert we shared an order of the Tiramisu. Heavily loaded with cocoa powder we were able to remove some of it out of the bowl by shaking it out. The ladyfingers were more then just soaked in not only a water downed rum they were drowned and didn't seem like there was enough with the marscapone cheese. Both of us being a fan of Tiramisu ,we didn't complain and happily ate the dessert but knowing we've had better. Overall, I really enjoyed the place. The service for the most part was really well and attentive. What I really found disappointing about this whole meal was the fact the server didn't bother to ask us how the meal was or even create any dialogue at all about the meal itself. In my opinion if I was server and I noticed a customer didn't eat a large portion of their meal I would like to know why. I'm not asking to be comped, but felt I needed to be heard about the quality of the food. Something for you guys to think about next time. I believe I will come back again and give this establishment a fair chance. I hope our next visit will be more of a pleasurable experience.
(2)
John G.

The reviews say $$, but at $29.00 a plate that is WRONG. It's pasta and sauce people! "Expensive" is what I call it! I just moved here from Connecticut and for some reason you all here think Italian food is fancy! It's pasta and sauce! Sad state of italian cuisine in Portland. Where does an Italian get reasonable pasta and sauce! Maybe the food is good, but at $29.00 a plate this Italian would rather go without food!
(1)
Danni D.

A true 5-star experience in every way. This restaurant fits so perfectly into a number of categories: neighborhood gem, special occasion, romantic, great wine list, tremendous food. The Bud and I went to A Cena a few weeks back because I could not get my craving for lobster under control. Lobster is what I miss most about living near Boston. A Cena's signature dish, the Agnolotti, made me a little weepy when I took my first bite of corn and mascarpone ravioli with a chunk of lobster claw. It immediately brought forth all the comforts of home. I knew right away that I wanted to have my birthday dinner here a week later. And that's exactly what I did. The Bud and I assembled a small dinner party, made reservations through Open Table, and visited A Cena for what was truly a perfect evening. Service was superb. Our waitress helped us select both red and white wine for the table. We all ordered from the menu, though A Cena gave us the option in advance of our reservations to develop a family style menu. I think the variety we ordered made it worth while to order from the menu, but I do think that if your group is large enough, definitely consider allowing the kitchen to work with you to develop a specialized feast for you and your guests, especially if you know there are select items from the menu that your guests will enjoy. I personally recommend starting with their wonderful grilled romaine with crispy pancetta, and as much of the house-made agnolotti as you can convince them to serve. We were lucky enough to be there on an evening when Michael was working the kitchen. He came out personally to welcome us and let us know that we were in for a dining experience to remember. The man does not lie. All of our food was superb, each course building to the biggest surprise of the evening - he had prepared a beautiful, decadent, multi-layered sponge and chocolate mousse cake served with crÃ¨me anglaise. Best. Birthday. Cake. Ever. Thank you, Michael. Thank you, A Cena. I am sending anyone who will listen to me your way.
(5)
Daniel H.

Came here with a group of people to test out if it was good enough for dinner with my girlfriend for her birthday. All I can say is, WOW. The food was fantastic and we never felt abandoned by the waiters. The waiter was very helpful in helping us order our food and gave amazing suggestions. We never had to worry about water and the food came out with perfect timing to allow us to transition to each different section of the meal. The food was a little on the costly side (5 people combined for around $180+ including tax) but it was definitely worth it. My recommendation is the amazing pastas and definitely the Tiramisu. Give it a shot, you definitely won't regret it! I'll be taking my girlfriend here next week and I can't wait!
(5)
Tanya P.

Hands down the best lasagna EVER. From the breadstick with the best olive oil to the pistacio gelato (and the Sea Salt Caramel) a perfect meal. Go with people you like so you can share all the plates. The Fennel & Apple Salad- Amazing. Don't wait - just go now!
(5)
Anna S.

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.
(5)
Jim H.

Mouth-watering, to-die-for taste served up in a dish. Pasta just does not get any better than this. Great, great, great.
(5)
David J.

Amazing place. We had Greg as a server and he was amazing. Great recommendations about the food. The two plates we got were the scallops and the chicken, which was a ton of food and was DELICIOUS. Melted in our mouths. Both were under $30, so the meal was around $80 for two after drinks. Overall great experience.
(5)
Jay W.

Gosh, it's a cute place and the service was grand. However, the food quality was...well just meh. High in sodium and fat. But, that's me, I don't like a lot of either in Italian food. I'm also suspicious of a restaurant that over salts its food. I often wonder if they are trying to hide something?!? 3 stars. I do want to go back for dessert sometime.
(3)
Jim C.

First of all to out of towners this just is such a cool and fun neighborhood of Portland. There are numerous ethnic restaurants and interesting shops. The interior of the restaurant is interesting, attractive and casual. Our appetizers were very good and the food was fresh. The pasta was homemade but I wouldn't say that their basic tomato sauce was outstanding. A little too much tomato paste for my liking. Likewise the pizza is good but not outstanding. While I liked the restaurant, would recommend it and would go back, it wasn't as outstanding as I had hoped.
(4)
Kitt J.

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.)
(5)
Patrick S.

If you are serious about eating, then it's time you give A Cena a try. I have been here enough times now to give an insider's review and I can't think of anything bad to say about A Cena. From the moment you walk through the door you are basked in a warm soft glowing environment that makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over and hungry for food that is exceptional and carefully made just for you because you are a welcomed guest in they're Home. They want you to "come to dinner" to eat heartily and drink happily as they most humbly serve you from their heart via their kitchen and bar. As for myself I must confess I have never been a fan of "Italian" food because to be perfectly honest I grew up thinking of Italian food as heavy cheesed and tomato sauced fatty fried stuff that was just a distraction from an Italian restaurant's main purpose which was making great pizza. You see growing up on the south side of Chicago there were lots and lots of mom & pop "Italian" restaurants but I never got past the pizza because everything else was just food service items like the frozen Eggplant Parmesan, Lasagna, Ravioli, Spaghetti, Gnocchi, etc. etc. ad nauseum. The pizza was the alpha and omega for me growing up and I never got a chance to taste and learn that other types and styles of Italian cuisine were even available. Of course they were out there somewhere but growing up I never got to experience the finer Italian dishes as a kid. So now as an adult and master of my own domain I get to choose where I want go out to eat and I'm tuning into more and more Italian and I'm happier for it too. I like reading Don B's reviews as inspiration to write more detailed accounts of the food, the nitty gritty if you will. So on that note I'm gonna try to deconstruct the Farro salad... Dude, the Farro has the most awesome texture I have ever experience in my mouth. It's not chewy but for lack of a better word, it's chewy. The creamy salty goat cheese compliments it well in both texture and saltiness where it brings out the Farro's faint nutty almost chocolate flavor. Throw in some beets for a softness that is so delicate that the red and sungold bites of earthy goodness nearly disintegrate along side the pearls of Farro as they are melded together with the subtle sweet currants and aromatic basil. If you eat it too quickly the pistachio will escape your palate and you'll wonder where the flavorful green nut was hiding. It's hiding but if you pay attention you will find the pistachio and it will be a delightful surprise once you discover it riding on top of your next bite. Okay, now I'm hungry. Good food nourishes the Soul and it's best when made and served with loving attention in a way that makes A Cena special. Come to Dinner, Come to A Cena Salute!
(5)
Jennifer P.

excellent food, attentive friendly staff, wonderful ambiance. We would certainly go back again - and likely again. Thanks a Cena, for a great night out on those rare occasions we get a sitter to go out!!
(4)
Daniel S.

The simple salad with goat cheese and candied walnuts was delicious. The butter poached lobster was a bit underwhelming but the waiter comped my dessert. Salad and dessert were phenomenal.
(4)
Anna N.

Gotta try their Agnolotti/Lobster Pasta Dish! We ordered the pappardelle ($9/16) (braised rabbit, egg noodles w/white wine garlic sauce & porcini) as an appetizer. I was very hesitant to try the dish because i used to have a pet rabbit - i was feeling extremely guilty, but after the first bite my guilt became pleasure. The flavor of the light pasta along w/the braised rabbit was sOOO yummy! It was WOOHOO good, that we used the homemade bread to soak up the sauce, it totally complimented it. As for our main dish we ordered the Agnolotti ($16/27). It is the best Agnolotti pasta dish I've ever eaten. OK, its probably my first time eating it, but my palate knows when its in love! It doesn't matter if you can't pronounce the name ( i can't), just know to order the corn & mascarpone raviolini lobster dish & you'll be set. They have a small menu there so you can't go wrong. The lobster was cooked to perfection, it literally melts in your mouth & when you take a bite of the raviolini you can taste the sweetness of the filling and the sweet corn...yummy! Another dish we ordered ( i cannot remember the italian name) was their braised short ribs ($25). They usually change their menus w/the seasons so the short ribs are considered available for a limited time. The short ribs was seasoned and cooked perfectly! You can break it up with your fork and the creaminess of the potatoes and the sauce completed the entire dish. We ended the night with their Affogato dessert ($7), it's a vanilla gelato with a cookie and espresso shot. I assumed it was a big cookie w/ice cream on top, but it came out in a small plate w/three different separate pieces, a pretty presentation. It reminded me of something the Iron Chef would make. We weren't sure how to eat it so we dumped everything in together. Great service! I called in advance & made reservations. I requested a private romantic table because it was my bf's bday and i wanted to surprise him w/a trip out of the country. I didn't want the noise of the place intrude on my announcement. The wait staff was VERY attentive and our service was fast. The manager went around the room to make sure everyone was happy. He even pitched in to clear the table and filled up our water! He's a nice man & not overly dressed. Everyone there has a smile for you. I know i'll come back for seconds. I'm already drooling just thinking about their pasta! Its just that good.
(5)
Jack C.

A proper balance of invention and flawless execution, along with "white linen" service in a relaxed atmosphere make this the perfect, and still under-appreciated Porland Italian dining experience. Our OpenTable reservation for 3 was at 5 and the door opened a few minutes early, so we didn't have to wait outside. The dining area was very attractive with dark woods and sharp table linens. That and the carefully uniformed staff made the experience (along their expertise) feel quite exclusive, but was countered by a relaxed and easy familiarity that made us feel comfortable with our casual clothes (jeans). We were promptly seated in a perfect corner table by the windows and our ... guide (I just can't call him our waiter or server... he was so much more and those terms would seem so demeaning for his level of mature expertise) set about making us feel very welcome, and then described the specials along with his personal recommendations, and introduced the wines. Even by 6pm on Sunday, the dining room was only half full. After the wonderful dining experience we had, I almost don't want to write this review, fearing the dread day when this restaurant might join the ranks of others in Portland that have lines around the block and where the quality of the past is a dim memory. But, they deserve our praise so much and... I don't think this place will ever "jump the shark" like others, I just can't see them allowing that. For apps, we ordered the lobster bisque our guide recommended, Ararcini, and Frito Misto. The lobster bisque, a normally boring affair well worth avoiding on most menus was delectable here. The bisque itself so creamy, so flavorful and rich poured at table around a generous portion of Maine lobster. The Ararcini was wonderful, the croquettes lightly fried and filled with delicate risotto and a well balanced mix of vegetables and pork ragu. The Frito Misto were perfectly done, the seafood tender with a light coating (included calamari, shrimp. and scallops) and was accompanied by a dipping sauce made of Caciocavallo (a sheep's cheese) that made this a little different than any calamari or fried seafood app we'd had before. Our mains were the Pasta al Forno (our guide's recommendation), the Anatra, and Tagliatelle. The Pasta al Forno won the battle of the mains at our table. It was not exactly a lasagna, but a similarly baked individual pasta dish with a ragu and bechamel. It was at once delicate, but fully flavored, the house-made pasta so light and thin, the cheese so flavorful, but not overdone, perfect. The Anatra, a portion of crispy duck breast over kale and risotto with a huckleberry sauce (agro dolce) was one of the best duck preparations we'd ever had. The duck was crispy, tasty and moist without being in any way fatty, as is so often the case, and worked well with the sweet/sour huckleberry sauce and risotto. My Tagliatelle was a simple dish but highlighted the kitchen's execution skills with the most delicate, almost see-through house-made pasta and a rich lamb bolognese in adequate portion to make even the smaller (medium) I ordered perfectly filling and *sigh* satisfying. For dessert, which we could barely fit but also not resist, we had the affogato, panna cotta, and a sorbetto. The affogato came with a double-shot of very smooth Italian espresso to be poured over a scoop of vanilla gelatto and chocolate sauce (never had chocolate sauce in an affogato before, but it worked). What can I say, affogato is joy in a cup just about anywhere you can get it, but when it's made with very good espresso shots and the best gelatto, it gets even better, and the pizelles (little waffle cookies, so thin and delicate) were delightful dipped in what was left after everything finally melted. The panna cotta was rich and creamy and almost rustic, but the huckleberries added a nice local note that differentiated it from any we'd had before. All this, TT&L, before tip, came to $125. 3 people, so about $40 each for a meal that would easily have cost us twice as much in many other cities for this quality of execution and service and inventiveness of menu. As a matter of fact, I think you would be hard-pressed to find anything of similar quality in an Italian restaurant for anywhere near this price even in Portland itself, despite the cornucopia of well-priced options here. This is a perfect choice when relatives or important clients are visiting and you want to show them the best of Portland's restaurant opportunities, showcasing inventiveness, top quality execution, and excellent service that will make you feel like you are in Maxim's, but in a more relaxed, cafe-style atmosphere that will make you feel comfortable in jeans and a sweater.
(5)
L.A. W.

5 stars for the lemoncenatini (or something like that) - OMG! Lemon, everclear, vodka and then a ride home!!!!! Thank you!!!!! This is our second time there - this time for our anniversary- I had the lemon-tini with a sugar rim the first time and the second without - OMG!!! I wanted a third but spouse would have had to throw me over his shoulder to get me to the car and that would not have been attractive ;-o. Also this is the second time we have ordered the lobster/corn/pasta entree and it was once again just fantastic. Spouse couldn't finish the larger portion, but I helped as I ate my pasta with rabbit (my first time having rabbit.). Very nice! Couldn't do dessert this time - but there will be third visit, most likely w girlfriends, for lemon-tini drinks and probably dessert.
(5)
Nancy L.

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.
(4)
David P.

We had a fantastic wine themed dinner here tonight. We're a bunch of wine geeks who wanted to do a 1989 vs 1990 Barolo retrospective, and when we contacted a Cena they were totally into the idea of having us have our event there. While some of our party of 8 had been there before, I had not (though certainly enjoyed Assagio's, in this location, years ago). I must say, with such a wine focused meal, I was not only impressed with their courteousness with the wine service, but also with the food! The complexity of flavors at every course was just amazing. The Sicilian calamari is a particular standout, but really everything, including deserts, were fantastic. Sure, there were some things I didn't enjoy as much, but they were dishes where onions were simply dominant and I know for myself that I don't enjoy onions, so I can't discredit them for that. For dishes where I should like all the components, everything was in place, with flavors that paired beautifully with the aged Barolos. Thanks for making our wine night memorable, and allowing the wines to shine while pairing wonderful foods with them that really did pair beautifully!
(5)
Scott M.

We had the Lobster Ravioli. Talk about a flavor explosion. All the staff were very friendly. We will definitely be back. Great little gem. Make a reservation.
(5)
Wendy M.

I so want to give A Cena 5 stars. The food was a religious experience. The corn mascarpone raviolini with lobster made my east coast heart SING. A true marvel. The atmosphere is perfect, romantic, New York bistro style. Flawless service...EXCEPT for my one gripe. The owner had horrible timing, walking around asking diners mid-bite how their food was...and to top it off...he came by and aggressively sold the desserts to us, and when we politely declined, he was visibly disgusted and said "yeah, I'll let your server know, ugh". Seriously, I don't need your drama. 5 stars without the dessert annoyance.
(4)
Matthew B.

We were visiting Portland for a wine tour and decided to try out this place for dinner. Man, we couldn't have picked a better restaurant. I started with the Farro salad, my friend with the grilled romaine salad. Both were heavenly. We then moved on to the appetizer sized pastas. Like many others, we had the pappardelle. AMAZING. We also tried the Bolognese pasta. That was quite amazing as well. I can't stress enough, how wonderful their house made pastas are. Be sure to save room for the Tiramisu at the end. (Even if you don't save room... just get it anyway... it's worth it.) This is the best italian I've had in a long time, and I might even be willing to make another trip to Portland, just to come here.
(5)
Cindy I.

Salted caramel gelato was the end to a great meal. I give the food five stars. The service was just okay. I loved that you can get smaller plates of the pasta. It was so hard to choose so I had two. It was really the best fresh pasta I have ever had. Sellwood is just a pain to get to on weekday nights, but with food this good now I know it's worth it. Warning it seemed like it can get loud in the large back room. it was nice being in the small middle section.
(4)
Steve F.

Great place, took my wife there for our anniversary. Service was excellent and the food was excellent......great atmosphere.
(5)
Keven W.

One thing I liked about this place is they sell the half portions and the full portion and the price disparancy was only a couple of dollars where some restaurants make you order the bigger portion because it is only a $3 dollar difference. It was really good and tasty the lobster and they sell rabbit which is great. I would definitely try this again for sure. It was nice and tasty very good.
(5)
Buford C.

A Cena offers some of the most authentic Italian food in Portland. 1/2 plates of many dishes make the place an affordable option for a nice night out. The chef (who rides his Vespa to work, typically Italian) routinely comes to my table, the owner makes sure everything is up to par (no questions when our table sent a spoiled wine back. The new bottle, unspoiled) and the service staff is on top. No portland pretentious crap that you see in so many places. The Scallops on truffle risotto are divine, the garganelli is a favorite, as is their Calamari. Simply some of the best calamari ever!!! Having gone 10 times or more, I will be back and back and back again.
(5)
Jim S.

Love this place!!!!
(5)
Nic H.

This place was great! Their house-made pasta was insanely good and I think the other people I was eating with enjoyed their meals just as much.
(4)
R B.

This is a very friendly neighborhood restaurant with fresh and nice food, but what's on the plate doesn't live up to either the prices or the gushiness of all its five-star reviews. The service on my visit was attentive and friendly but casual, a nice compromise between fine dining and neighborhood hangout; the servers were warm and pleasant and modifications/substitutions were easy. (Albeit the maitre d' was a little more passive-aggressive than genuinely nice when delivering one substituted plate -- "look, we did this specially for you, aren't you HAPPY?" -- but it wasn't any kind of a big deal, it just looked glaring compared to the rest of the staff's real warmth.) There's also a nice cocktail and wine list, though I found the mixology nothing too special on the one cocktail I tried, which was oversweetened. The thing was, though, that my whole party found the actual food on our plates pretty boring anyhow. All the ingredients were fresh and high-quality, from a fresh vegetable appetizer plate to scallops and handmade pasta. But very few of them were as full of real flavor as the freshness would suggest. The fresh-local-vegetable "verdure" appetizer was pretty but the flavors were hit and miss, with some tasty (especially the oyster mushrooms, the star of the meal) and some totally bland (e.g. underseasoned green beans). The scallops were similarly fresh, high-quality, and well cooked, but not surrounded by a lot of flavor on the plate. Despite the quality of the pasta, the fresh stuffed pasta "caramelle" was far duller than what you'd easily make at home, just a big pile of stodgy, nothing-special ricotta and tomato. A Cena clearly has the front of house working well -- but the cooking needs a major upgrade from the underseasoned, unflavorful stuff it's currently putting out. The whole menu just seems admirably fresh but pretty afraid of flavor, as if it didn't trust its customers' palate for anything but the plainest of comfort food.
(3)
J D.

Meat dishes and caprese salad were AWESOME. The vegetarian dish we had last night was one of the worst dishes I've ever had. Ambiance and service are fantastic. Overall highly recommend as long as you are not vegetarian.
(4)
Ali C.

A Cena was delicious. I took my boyfriend Kevin here for a date, and was highly impressed with the service. The staff joked around with us, making us feel incredibly welcome and comfortable. The waitress may or may not have been flirting with Kevin the entire time (she definitely was)....but other than that it was fantastic. Our table had a wobble in it, and one of the waiters fixed it right away without us having to even mention it. I got the lobster/corn (can't remember the name) pasta dish (the small portion), and Kevin got the Carbonara (the large portion). The handmade noodles from my dish were delicious. They were filled with some sort of corn filling. It was wonderful, but if you're not a fan of corn...I would not recommend it. The flavor at times overpowered the lobster. I would give this dish a 3.5 out of 5 based on how much you get for your money,(the half portion was 19 dollars) and the overwhelming taste of corn. Kevin's carbonara was fantastic. Very flavorful and fresh. It was the same price as my half portion, and he left with some in a box. At the end of our meal, the waitress brought out some sea salt and caramel ice cream (on the house) (probably still flirting) (it's ok because it meant free ice cream) (sort of). Let me tell you, IT WAS HEAVENLY. I would be justified going back there JUST for the ice cream.
(4)
Brian C.

We have walked by this place many times and noted that it looked like a wonderful little spot- low light, lots of ambiance and great looking menu. Last Saturday night left us craving some great Italian, so we decided to finally give it a try. We were able to walk right in at get a table at around 7:45 pm. It is a smaller place so it was nice to be able to get a table that quickly! I knew right away we had picked a lovely place when the waiter came over and started telling us about the hand-made everything on the menu. I also really appreciated that they offered medium and large servings of their pasta dishes. We went on to enjoy a leisurely dinner of amazing breads, perfect summer wines, hand- crafted pastas and delightful gelato. The service was also some of the best I have encounter in a long time. It was a whole team working together to provide our party and lovely dinner!
(5)
Rian S.

A Cena is one of the best places to eat dinner in the entire city of Portland. The food is creative and delicious, the atmosphere is friendly and new, the prices are great. I have eaten dinner at A Cena on three separate occasions and never been disappointed. I suggest ordering the Lobster Agnolotti or the Wild Boar.
(5)
Kimberly G.

I took my daughter here for her birthday and we loved it! Great food and friendly staff....we will eat here again.
(5)
Dave M.

Food was very good. service was good. it took a LONG time for our food..which was fine we didn't complain. the chef sent out a "snack" on the house which was very nice and GOOD. i really only have 1 complaint that keeps me from giving it 5 stars. it was VERY noisy. i made my reservation with the impression that Cena would be a romantic place to take someone very special. the Atmosphere was there......but it was so loud we literally could not hear each other sitting across from one another. i would not recommend this place for a 1st date.
(4)
Stevo S.

Ah May Zing! Spent days deciding on whee to have my anniversary dinner. Glad I came here. The food was phenomenal. The clam appetizer is in a Killer broth. The lobster ravioli is rich. The drinks are well made and the vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce and espresso is to die for.
(5)
Jess E.

Frankly, the EXPERIENCE of dining at a Cena warrants 5 stars. If it was based on food alone.... probably 4, environment... probably 3, but the service we had, elevated the entire restaurant. It made everything better. Having a real and dynamic conversation about the menu with a passionate and very knowledgable server is a joy. the food was wonderful; Rich, deep, complex and fresh as can be.
(5)
Af R.

Got a reservation on Open Table for Friday at 6 PM around 4 PM that day. We didn't need it but it's not huge so it's nice that you can get one. We split a salad and I had the small ravioli with lobster. It was good but has lots of butter. There is a lot of lobster in it for the size portion but $18 for a small pasta still seems like a lot. I thought everything was great but it was a $72 meal before tip with two glasses of wine, one salad, one small pasta, and one entree. Service was great, we had a very friendly waitress and other staff were very nice too.
(4)
Tom D.

So I moved here from NY about a year and a half ago. There are A LOT of Italian restaurants in NY. There are a lot of Italian people in NY. My mom is Italian. I've been to Italy and had some of the best meals of my life. So, I've generally avoided Italian or Italian-American food since moving here, because my few experiences have been sub par in the last 15 years I've been coming to or living in Portland. Over seasoning, hot spice when it should be sweet, sauce that tastes like it came out of a jar, thinking Italian food=pizza and spaghetti ,and poor ingredients are the norm. This is not to single out Portland, I've found the same thing most places in the US. In fact, one of my aunts (not the Italian side), from Western Mass., listened to my rapturous descriptions of my meals in Italy and said, "yeah, I really like Italian food too, I like to go to Spaghetti Freddies for their special on Tuesdays." I was speechless. So anyway. A Cena. It's very close to me, walkable in fact, and I kept hearing great things, so I went. Twice. Once for lunch, and once for dinner. The lunch was eh. We ate there during the late summer, outside, got our order screwed up twice. I had the porchetta I think (it was a few months ago). It was dry. In retrospect, probably not a great choice for lunch for me or them (and they appear to have removed it from the lunch menu according to the website) because it needs to cook a while and then can dry out if kept warm while waiting for an occasional lunch order. My wife had their lobster ravioli, which was excellent, it lived up to the hype for sure. They comped me on something (can't remember what) because of the order screw up. We went back for dinner about a month ago. We had a sitter, we had no particular place to go, it was a weekend, and it was still early so we popped into A Cena with no reservation. I think we got the "no reservations 2 top" table, which was near the kitchen and in sight of the bathroom with a lot of traffic going by. No problem there, the place was packed so we were lucky to get the table at all. Our server was very nice, very attentive, knew the food well and the good thing about being in a high traffic area was that anytime we needed her I could flag her down in 2 seconds. We shared the baked scamorza cheese appy, which is baked, melted scamorza cheese with a wood smokey flavor with a couple of tasty grilled pieces of bread to spread it on. Yum. Nice char, great flavor, and just the right amount for two people to start with. I had seen that they had a veal chop on the menu. I haven't had a veal chop in ages. So I said hell yeah. After I got it, and began to eat it, I high fived myself. One of the best veal chops I've ever had. It was big thick veal chop, just as it should be. Cooked perfectly, not too much done to it. I did my best to finish it but had to take the rest home. My wife had Cioppino, which is a fish stew and was a special that night. It was delicious, although I must say I was so busy with my veal chop that I barely tried any of hers. A little Grappa, a little espresso, and we rolled out very happy.
(5)
Paul M.

Came here for lunch by myself. The quality of the food, presentation and overall atmosphere was excellent. This will definitely be on my list of places for client lunch/dinner and a great place to take my wife.
(5)
Emi T.

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!
(5)
Thilo W.

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.
(3)
Bud G.

Recently I have been thinking a lot about qualifies a restaurant for a 5 star review (at least in my little universe). Can I really give 5 stars for food inventiveness and quality alone? Probably not. How about service and ambiance, can they make up for a bad food experience and grab the elusive 5 Star ring? Nope, not in Budlandia. To get the highly coveted 5th star I think you need to promise whole package and deliver on that promise routinely. I have been to A Cena brunches, business lunches, casual dinners where we just dropped in and special occasion dinners and they routinely go the extra mile to deliver a 5 star experience. I have even had out of town guests with us for a special engagement dinner and at the end of the night the bride to be said, with tears in her eyes: "This was the best dinner I have ever had in my life". In her defense, there was no small amount of alcohol involved in that dinner! As everyone has mentioned the Lobster Agnolotti is amazing, very rich, so get a plate to share, it makes an awesome appetizer for the table. The grilled romaine salad is also something to be savored. All of their handmade pasta is also amazing. I actually don't think I have ever had a dish that I would not order again and I don't think I can say that about most other restaurants I have been to. Couple all this amazing food with a great wine list, a nice up-scale but still neighborhoody ambiance and a friendly, professional staff and A Cena will get a 5 star from me any day of the week! PS: If you stop in and the Porchetta is back as a special order 2 and call me immediately.
(5)
Craig M.

"OH MY GOD" were the only words uttered for about 5 minutes after receiving our entres. I haven't written a review in a while and had to take a few minutes to review this after eating at a Cena last weekend. Living in NW Portland, it's a bit out of the way, but it was soooooo worth it. Possibly the best meal we've had in all of Portland in our 2 years here, and we try to go somewhere new/special at least a couple of times a month. We were a party of 4 and all very close, so we did some sharing and every entre was unanimously outstanding. The Agnolotti was like heaven wrapped in pasta with generous chunks of lobster. I could have eaten the short rib over gnocchi with a spoon it was so perfectly cooked. Atmosphere and service were both excellent also. It was a cold night and the windows were fogged and there was a lot of condensation so it added to the already dark and cozy/romantic feel. Server was knowledgable and the owner stopped by to check in which is always nice. Also, had a homemade walnut liqueur that was awesome and a great way to cap the night! I'm going back very soon!
(5)
Dolce R.

We made a Yelp account just to give this place a good review and help out. I took my fiancee here for her birthday dinner after reading reviews about it online. Excellent setting. The server was friendly and informative when explaining the menu items. The owner checked on our table multiple times and even gave my fiancee a drink and birthday ice cream with a candle on the house. Lastly, the food was incredible. Very flavorful and exquisite presentation. Will be coming back again. Thank you for your hospitality!
(5)
Natalie W.

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.
(5)
Holy-foo' X.

Tucked away, virtually invisible in plain view, in a charming neighborhood.. This is yet another place I probably never would have known about were it not for Yelp. I've been a regular at the Sellwood Library down the street, as well as several of the food carts there on 13th, for years. Once inside the doors at a Cena, it was invigorating to behold the scene, for the place was vibrant with energy--- tha joint was jumpin', Chester! Cozy, friendly, upscale-ish, yet relaxed and approachable. This was the ambiance. We ordered the pasta w/lobster, along w/the calamari appetizer.The breading was super light and flaky. I've had quite a bit of calamari at other establishments recently, much of it way over-salted. This was the most understated and delicious Calamari I've had in who knows how long. Ages. The lobster was another story. The chunks were plentifully strewn in the mix, but were conspicuously rubbery. And sweet. Sweet.... the way that Alaskan fake "krab meat" is sweet. I'm afraid I'm too much of a rube to know whether or not it's "Supposed to" be sweet like this. I traveled all through Italy years ago, from Milano to Lake Como to Venezia to Florence to Roma and Sicily, 'round to Brindisi, and on the boat from there to Greece. W/o question, i was daily constrained in my dine-out choices mainly by my puny student's budget. I can say I remember enough to say grazie and ciao to A Cena's Lobster masterpiece.. Next time I'll simply order the veal or a similar dish considered safe from any further comparisons with sweet Krab meat.....
(3)
Smit J.

I really want to give the place 3 (or 3.5) stars but I've only been here once so I'm gonna give it 4. The service and atmosphere and bread sticks were great. I got the agnosawhosawhat (I'm dumb and have a bad memory). It was the most popular pasta dish with lobster. It was good but only 3 star good, I want to come back and try it again because I think it will be better next time. I'm a positive kind of guy. I also tried a pasta dish with goat cheese. It was closer to 4 stars. I wasn't digging' the artichoke in it though.
(4)
Maryann W.

Great food. wonderful service. A bit pricey but all in all good.
(5)
Scott P.

I rarely eat at Italian places, but this place was fantastic. We went for a 3 hour dining experience. Brought a bottle of wine and paid a cork fee. The waiter was great, even joined us for a taste of the wine I brought. The food was really good. I liked the options of doing a lot of small plates rather than one huge gut bomb entree. We had a roasted romaine salad, that was a new one for me. Had the shrimp appetizer with great bread to dip. Had the truffle penne pasta, a sausage pasta, that was good but was my least favorite of the meal. Then we ended with the scallops which were great. As appropriate, I had to end with an espresso which was great. The atmosphere was good, no rush, great service, nice presentation. Can be as romantic as you want or as casual as you want, and some people were loud, but it worked. I would definitely go back and bring other friends.
(4)
Alex W.

Amazing. From the service to the food, this place is amazing! We've had the fried calamari and antipasto to start. I tasted the lamb shank and had the rabbit with pasta (I don't remember the name sorry!), ending the meal with sea salt caramel gelato and and espresso! It literally made my day! Plates are not really big, if you're hungry go for the large size of plates. Good news if you have a small appetite, you can order a small plate! Don't spend more time looking for a place to eat tonight, go there!
(5)
Gary B.

A Cena has never let us down in service food, and friendliness. We visit here any time we want a special Italian meal. The veal chops and pork chops are hard to beat. Pasta dishes are all hand made and delicious. Their fish of the day changes daily. Don't miss the bread sticks. They do a good job to match the right wine with the entree.
(5)
Jack K.

Maybe an off night, but the food was not good which made the prices very unreasonable. The calamari was flavorless and greasy. We actually couldn't eat it because the dominant flavor was grease. The risotto was not real risotto, i.e. the labor-intensive kind. For $29, I want the real thing! The veal was not tender and very salty. The chicken was flavorless and the person who ordered it noted it tasted like a frozen meal. But the place was mobbed with people, many of them older. It was so loud I could only hear the people directly adjacent to me. The only thing five-star about this place was the service, very professional. But the very poor food combined with high prices still justify one star. UPDATE: I'm changing my review to two stars. I received an email from the chef inviting me to return for a free meal that he would make personally. This just shows you how good the service is at this place. I'm not interested in returning, but I do appreciate the offer.
(2)
Jessica W.

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.
(5)
Samantha S.

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.
(4)
T D.

Fresh, local ingredients, hand made pastas and cured meats, breads prepared daily on site. I simply cannot say enough about this place... delicious food with excellent service in a warm & freindly setting. Elegant without being stuffy at all. Salads and antipasti are all fresh and beautifully prepared. Fish is my choice for entree but lobster Agnolotti is pure decadence with every bite even better than the last! Pizza, pasta it's all amazing as well. Save room for dessert ~ House made Tiramisu, Budino, Affogato, Panna Cotta and of course Gelato and Sorbetto! YUM
(5)
Andrew S.

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.
(5)
Penny S.

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.
(5)
Todd M.

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.
(4)
Sue W.

At a Cena, we had what was possibly the best dining experience in Portland to date. Our waiter was a perfect blend of charming and attentive without being in any way overbearing. We ordered several appetizers to share. The creamy polenta with rabbit was outstanding (this from someone who does not eat very much meat). We ordered a type of fritter, but we were told that the preparation efforts weren't meeting a (very high) standard in the kitchen and they wouldn't allow anything less than perfect to hit our table. Instead we had a beet salad and it was a fantastic substitute. Finally, we shared the scallops with delicata squash, brussel sprouts and parsnip puree. WOW! There are reasons to cook at home and reasons to find those special places to eat out. A Cena highlights every one of the reasons to spend an evening dining out. I can't rave about this place enough. It is a gem.
(5)
Amanda B.

Wonderful! You will not be disappointed, even the prices are good!
(5)
Danielle K.

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!
(5)
Nick H.

I really like this place a lot. The staff looked after us very well. The wine selection is excellent. The bar is very full. The atmosphere is romantic and easy. The food was the best I had in Portland - I went back there for dinner four or five times in the space of a couple weeks. Do it for yourself.
(5)
Kevin S.

I can't say anything more than than the accolades that precede mine. Chris and his staff have done such an amazing job with this neighborhood gem.
(5)
Alex M.

This must be what urban "foodies" go for. Overpriced. Overcrowded. And so noisy you can't hear the waitress. Ugh! Undercooked pasta dish and over-scorched thin crust pizza with skimpy topping. The pasta at Pastini is better by far. The pizza at Apizza Scholls is better by far. I'm not coming back.
(2)
Emily B.

My best friend and her husband suggested we eat here on New Years Eve. My husband was out of town so they were sweet to take me out! Both of them had been going on and on about this place and how amazing it was! I honestly cannot say enough about it! the food is STELLAR! FIVE STAR quality ! We were all 3 moaning from the bread to the appetizers to the main meal and then finally to the desserts !! Even the wine was amazing! It is pricey , but way worth the cost! The atmosphere is great too! As well as the service! The owner ( I think it was the owner) even walks around to check on people! He came to our table and teased about the desserts telling us his favorite was the Tarmisu! Very sweet man! It just has a really good feeling to eat! Very homey yet classy! It would probably be the perfect place for a date , or an anniversary, very romantic! Anyway, GO! Its amazing!
(5)
Susan H.

Unfortunately, we had a less than perfect experience. We came here because of the 4 1/2 star rating, but were quite disappointed. We arrived at 6:15 for our 6:30 reservation. We were informed that they did not have a reservation for us. Our reservation had been confirmed through OPEN TABLE, but I forgot to bring our reservation number. The hostess was friendly and helpful. She asked if we had ever dined at a Cena. We told her no and that we found them on Yelp. After several minutes, she found an available table. However, it took our waiter about 10 minutes to come and introduce himself. He was equally friendly and apologetic. In his defense, the restaurant was fairly busy. Service - 1 1/2 stars, 2 at the most. Food - 3 stars We began with an appetizer of fried calamari. Crispy, but not greasy. Portions were what I would call La Petite. Could have used more dipping sauce. Based on the recommendation of other reviewers, we ordered the Agnolotti, Stracottie. We also ordered the Cioppino which was the special of the day. Agnolotti (corn and marscapone raviolini) was tasty, but a little on the sweet side for my tastes. The pasta pillows are cooked with chunks of tender lobster. Stracottie ~ braised short rib served with potato gnocchi. (This was the table favorite) Cioppino ~ seafood stew with calamari, clams, fish, mussels, mussels and more mussels. Too many mussels! However the flavor was good. Will I be back for a return visit? Probably not...for the price you pay, I'm sure there are other places in the Portland area that offer better food and service.
(3)
Regina H.

Simply LOVE everything about this place! All aspects of the food is well thought out, made with TLC, and music to my taste buds! The wine choices are amazing and reasonably priced. I highly recommend their lobster ravioli. It's quaint yet lively. A must for foodies but make reservations as its really hard to get a table even early on a week night. Ciao...
(5)
Izzy A.

I tell you what, That was totally and completely awesome. We had a lot of everything on the menu and nothing was "soso", it was all fabulous. The atmosphere is friendly and the service spectacular. Our server, Doug was friendly and he put together the best dinner for us three. Mathew the server assistant was as knowledgable about the menu as a server would be and was always there to make sure we were taken care of. I think almost everyone came to our table at one point to say hi. I cannot wait to go back. Seriously, this may be my favorite restaurant in Portland. Thank you so much. Izzy
(5)
Tim M.

This is the real deal! You can fake good service just like you can fake sincerity, concern and orgasms; but you can't fake excellent food. I say that because I know one of the chefs here, and well, we probably get some special treatment for that, which means the service (Which has always been excellent) that we experience may not be what one could expect if you were just Joe and Jane Schmoe popping in for dinner, so let's just leave the service discussion out for now and talk about the food. We have been here three times now and I must say, every dish I have had has been top of the charts on flavor, last night was no exception. We had a party of six celebrating birthdays, for starters, the chef sent out a fried cheese stuffed ravioli appetizer with a delicious fresh tomato puree', next up were the salads, four of us had the grilled romaine which is dressed with Gorgonzola and crispy pancetta, if you have never had grilled romaine, I can recommend it highly, the searing effect brings out a sweetness that is just lovely and the cheese with the pancetta is perfect with it. Two other members of our party had the fresh greens with pear and hazelnuts, both said it was possibly the best salad they had ever had. Here's where the menu takes a turn, you have the option of ordering half portions so you could have a pasta course, then a meat course, or just have a full portion of the pasta or the meat of your choice as your next course. We had done the split plate thing last time, so we decided on full plates for the next course. I went with the Osso Bucco, one of my favorite dishes, their version of it was delightful. My better half and her cousin had the Lamb Ragu' over pasta, which was incredible, one birthday boy had the braised Rabbit with porcini mushrooms over egg noodles, the other had the Bistecca, a dry aged New York steak with roasted mushrooms and truffle dressed fries, both reported loving their dishes. The most loquacious of our group had the Agnolotti with lobster, I could endlessly wax poetically how delicious that is, but I'll just say, after that arrived to the table she hardly uttered a word except to say how delicious it was between moans of taste sensing ecstasy. Finally, The Chef sent out a plate of perfectly grilled lamb chops on some delicious white beans with arugula for us each to sample, that were just out of this world. The wine list is very good and the waiters are all very knowledgeable in helping you select that perfect bottle or glass. I might add, if you like Manhattans(and boy do I!), the bartender makes a killer Makers Mark Manhattan. Now to the service, yes, my wife and I do get excellent service here, possibly because I know someone, but I watched the wait staff work the room on an incredibly crowded Saturday Night, water glasses were being filled, special requests were taken, menus were explained, dishes were cleared and new ones were brought pleasantly, quickly and efficiently.......for everybody. So if they are faking it, they're faking it for everybody. And like I said, you can't fake excellent food; THIS is a place with excellent food!
(5)
Jose S.

Great Italian food
(5)
Jim S.

I enjoyed the experience. I don't know where A Cena bought their tomatoes on the day of our visit, but each variety was so amazingly fresh and beautiful that they looked like a cover pic for a foodie mag. Piled high on the Bruschetta and adorning the Capresse they were lovely and oh so delicious. The decor is rustic bistro yet classy and sophisticated. The service is attentive and polished. My seating facing the kitchen was a tad marred by the noise level through the open window. The kitchen is calm, but the natural sounds of a bustling line raised the volume level around us. I found the Risotto technically spot on and well seasoned. I was less sure about the lamb chops. I picked up a bit of a burnt taste on the sear and although I enjoyed the overall impression, I felt a twinge of disappointment with the ratio of fat and gristle to the good stuff. Overall A Cena is certainly above par and I felt like the total of our check was justified with the quality of experience and food. I would liken it to 3 Doors Down and Higgins in the Hierarchy of Portland's better than most restaurants. One note to Vino lovers. The wine list is regional in nature and if you are not above average in your knowledge of Italian wine you may be lost in a very impressive list of choices. Unfortunately my pursuit of wine knowledge is limited to mostly domestic choices so far and as such found the list intimidating. Of course for the well versed, A Cena may be your Nirvana. After I make it through my French Regional wine exploration, I will move on to Italy and return to A Cena!
(3)
Michelle H.

I don't even really like breaded food, but those were some of the best breaded clams. Ever. Were they what I was in the mood for? No. But I can't fault A Cena for something that was my own doing. I was intrigued. It happens. How we managed to snag a reservation on a Saturday night 40 minutes before we arrived, I'll never know. I hope you keep passing this place up so I continue to have this kind of luck. This place is special. The ambiance is special. The staff is special. The food is special. The wine list is special. And no, we're not talking little yellow school bus to school special. Every single thing on that menu is great [at least everything we tried. From the refilling bread basket, to arancini, to fried clams, to veal chops, to roasted brussels, to the made from scratch sorbets, this place kicks so much ass. Best Italian in Portland? Quite possibly. I'm pretty sure A Cena just unseated Iorio in my book.
(5)
Eric H.

The food was good, my company was amazing.. and the server was spot on. The starter bread is very good. I had the pizza, and I really enjoyed it. Overall, good experience.
(4)
Ashlee H.

Well, our awesome culinary experience at A Cena was marred a bit when I discovered that I was charged for someone else's meal in addition to mine. I called to attempt to get my money back, and while they were friendly and agreed, they still hadn't credited me a week later. It's a pretty significant amount of money, so that's frustrating. I had to go through my credit union, who took care of it quickly. I don't believe in rating a business one star after an unfortunate situation like this when the food is so delicious, but it did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I would recommend that if you visit the restaurant on a busy night, make sure you check your statement online to make sure you don't run into a similar problem. And still make sure you try that agnolotti!
(3)
Ashley C.

Arrived here on a warn Sunday night to celebrate a friend's Birthday, and it was everything I remembered it to be. The food is still just as good, along with the servers. The owner still lends a hand every chance he gets to work along side his workers. I ordered the gnocchi this time, and although I didn't like the way it was prepared, it was much better tasting then most places. Of course, their wonderful wine selection make all the chewing all the more fun.
(5)
Pdx H.

Went to a Cena Ristorante tonight with family and friends. Fantastic food and fantastic service. True Italian cuisine that will not disappoint. 5 Stars!
(5)
Kevin M.

been here 3-4 times now and never disappointed. their menu is as close to real Italy as you will find. the cheese and meat plate is good, and so is is the formaggio and bruschetta. my favorite entree is the Corn and Mascarpone Ravioli with lobster. so good. nice wine list and the owner is very friendly. can't wait to go back!
(5)
Eli L.

Everything wonderful. But more like $$$.
(5)
lisa k.

Sat date night w hubby. Tight quarters with limited privacy. Dark, romantic interior. Cute neighborhood feel. Some outdoor seating. Clearly, some patrons were treated better than others: amuse bouche (?sp), granita between courses-obviously, frequent fliers. We were, unfortunately, not treated in the same manner. Still, decent service. Bland, homemade bread, yummy olive oil, delicious skinny breadsticks. Entrees decent size and price. Dessert was yummy. Tiramisu had no taste of rum as described. I had a glass of prosecco and chianti, too full to finish both-limited wines by the glass but they were good. We took our time and did not feel rushed. But, we certainly did not feel treated equally. They split our 2 courses on 2 plates for sharing which was nice. We may or may not return.
(4)
Mike K.

I can't add too much to the gushing reviews already here, but I will say this place is fantastic. I see a few saying they were underwhelmed, and they ordered different food than we did. Perhaps that's a clue- since ingredients are local and fresh your helpful waiter might be a good person to take suggestions from on what to have. We did, and there were no letdowns. This might be my favorite fancy dinin' place in Portland. I can't recall having better pasta anywhere in this town. For pizza I'll stick with pizza places but for Italian dining, this is the spot.
(5)
Anthony B.

Wow - It's was all great! The bruschetta special belongs on that show "Best Thing I Ever Ate", it had tomatoes, grilled radicchio, reduced balsamic, bacon chunks (!), and Oregon Blue. We stuck with what they are known for and it did not disappoint. Lobster Pasta, Lobster Bisque, Pork Bolognaise. And the Salted Carmel Gelato was screemin! Pretty sure it had traces of Teddy Bear Kisses in it. Our server Matt was the man. Another great plus were the tunes in the background - Sade, Marley, Stevie, Marvin...very cool. Not very Italian but I was groovin while A Cena spoiled me silly.
(5)
Thomas W.

I have absolutely no complaints. Alright, that gets the potential negatives out of the way, which is worth four stars on its own. Of course, it takes a special-something to jump up into the 5-star range, though, doesn't it? Thankfully, A Cena is not merely an adequate dining experience, and delivers far more than the usual gourmet cuisine in a Mod-Portland shell. My wife and I first visited A Cena during a summertime Elite event, and were immediately won over by the menu. Vowing to return, we opted to make the occasion special, choosing the anniversary of our engagement as the meal's Raison d'Ãªtre. (Sorry...I had to use it...you know how sometimes you hear a phrase and it just sort of resonates and won't let go until you repeat it in written format? No? Just me? Huh. Ok. Anyway...) I will echo the many sentiments regarding the service - it is apparent from the start that the waitstaff love their jobs; they exude a level of hospitality that speaks well of their establishment and its owner (who also greeted us and checked on our satisfaction with our meal.) Our drinks were never more than half-empty, our food prompt, and the suggestions spot-on and delectable. In my case, I ordered the squab-stuffed quail with polenta risotto and red wine sauce, the special for the evening. Rich, savory and tender, the bird was perfectly cooked with an amazing crisp to the skin that half-crunched, half-melted in my mouth. I have never before had quail, but A Cena's treatment has undoubtedly ruined me for future excursions; I am going to hold any other quail dishes to their standard. My wife ordered a dish of house-made penne with a pork ragu, and we exchanged bites to taste - I found it to be a very delicious combination; the house pasta is a wonder, definitely among the most authentic in town. I am almost certain to have a bowl of this dish the next time we visit. Thanks to Don B. for revealing this hidden gem to us - on my new Five-star scale, it certainly deserves its score (and then some!)
(5)
J C.

wow! what an incredible dinner! Fabulous smoked mozzarella appetizer, delicious butternut ravioli, yummy baked brussel sprouts and topped it all off with divine budino. Even on a Sunday night, there was a line, but we got there early and were seated right away. Homemade lemoncello too! What a great place!
(5)
Nic L.

An amazing restaurant with a fantastic staff, the customer service was amazing!!!! We sat outside and had multiple people checking on us regularly, but not to the extent that is could be considered annoying. The food is surprising, with some interesting flavor combinations that actually took me back a bit at the beginning, but once they settled on the palate I was really blown away. The Agnolotti that my wife ordered took a second for my brain to really understand, but it was fantastic once I got all of the flavors to sink in. I had their New York strip special, and it was brilliant. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a good meal.
(5)
Neeva D.

Unlike my husband Thomas W., I have a few complaints. But why start with the negatives? The dining room is small and intimate, and was decorated by adorable paper snowflakes (at least that's what I think they were, it being Christmastime and all). The waiter was able to point me to a delightful wine, a blend which eludes me at the moment (while I enjoy the stuff, I am a wine idiot). The service was prompt, friendly, and knowledgable. The bread was delightful, and included some thin, simply delicious breadsticks. I ordered the bolognese, an entree which, as a non beef eater, I never have been able to try at other restaurants. The penne was absolutely fantastic. Not only was it extremely pretty, but had an amazing texture that only comes from being freshly made by people who know what they are doing. The bolognese appeared simple at first, and almost tasted bland, but by the end of my meal I found the flavor to almost be overwhelming, mostly because of the size of my portion and a complete lack of an opposing taste or texture. At first I had the parmesan that was sprinkled on top to offer a different, saltier bite, but when that was gone I thought the dish suffered. Perhaps had I gone with a smaller portion this wouldn't have been a problem, so that's something for me to keep in mind for For dessert I had the affogato, which was pretty kick ass, and basically the perfect dessert. Ice cream, cookies and espresso. YUM! The vanilla gelato was delectable, and the chocolate sauce was amazing. The cookies were okay, not the best I've ever had, but overall it was very satisfying. Despite the negatives, A Cena is a place I would definately like to try again and again (in moderation, as it is pretty spendy). The food is made from quality ingredients, and you can tell that they really care about the finished product.
(4)
Brittany N.

Ooooh A Cena Ristorante...I have not stopped thinking about you since I was there a couple weeks ago. I cannot remember the name of my entree, but it was a pasta dish with large chunks of lobster. It was absolute heaven. I mean seriously...when I tried to describe it to someone all I could say was that it felt like you were biting into heaven with every bite. The staff is so amazingly friendly, yet professional. The chefs are amazing and everything that I had was top notch. There was not one single thing that I was able to stop eating after taking a bite...even the bread you get before the meal is out of this world. A Cena will be one of my very first stops every time I go to Portland...no doubt.
(5)
Chris B.

Probably second best Italian in Portland. Definitely try the lobster ravioli.
(4)
Juli W.

We found this place on yelp and it was not a disappointment. The lobster ravioli...AMAZING! The service was spot on and the manager/owner...even came around as we were leaving to help me put my coat on! Highly recommend.
(5)
Mark R.

Very nice take on an Italian Bistro experience. The grilled romaine & cauliflower appetizers were fabulous! Pasta was excellent, but the signature lobster dish was overly sweet to my taste even though the ingredients were fresh and superbly prepared. The main course can be ordered in a small or a large size which is a nice touch. Order a small and try some of the wonderful appetizers! Service was friendly, informative and prompt without being overbearing. Altogether a very nice dining experience.
(4)
Kristen M.

4 Stars I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but after I had made reservations (1 week prior and 4 days prior to confirm) I was a bit disappointed that when my party and I arrived on time, the tables were not available because their prior seating was not budging and taking their sweet time on dessert. It was not a great start to celebrate my birthday dinner. The hostess and the manager did apologize and made accommodations for my party to another seating set up. But still, I made reservations for a reason. Honestly I felt that if someone makes reservations, those are reserved until the party arrives. Nonetheless, after the seating fiasco, the food and wine made up for it. I enjoyed two red wines: one syrah and a dark blend that was highly recommended from the waitress. Appetizer: Calamari = quite refreshing in every bite. Not too bready and the aioli dipping sauce complimented very well. Soup of the day: Wild mushroom = delicious from start to finish. Not only were there hints of wild mushroom in the puree soup, but also some gnocchi! Entree: Pappardelle = braised rabbit with wide egg noodles in a complimentary wine sauce was scrumptious in every bite. Yes rabbit can be a bit gamey tasting, but it wasn't that overpowering with this dish. Dessert: Tiramisu = your typical Italian dessert. I thought it was okay but not amazing. Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream = yummy! The salt was not overpowering and hit the spot. I preferred this over the Tiramisu actually. Overall, I did enjoy the food, but I would probably only come here for a smaller party since they do not seem to keep your reservation for more than 10 quite well. I would definitely come back and highly recommend this place for a romantic date.
(4)
Brenda K.

I have dined at A Cena many times and find them to have reliably good food - especially the pasta dishes. The noise level can be over the top how ever, especially if you are seated at the tables in the middle if the main dining area. Our meal last night was good but not great...the bread that accompanied the appetizer was not just charred but burnt and the pork belly special was dry, the polenta cold. Granted they were packed and had several big groups but... I was not overwhelmed. Service was good with the exception that we have made a reservation in advance and asked too be seated in the smaller room and they were unable to accommodate us once we arrived. The noise level last night was truly over the top and there were just simply too many people crammed into the space. Overall, I still like A cena, but I will not come back on a Saturday night, instead I will continue to come during the week when the restaurant is quieter. FYI..I not a cranky old fart, just someone who enjoys the experience of dining out with friends.
(3)
Robert S.

My family and I are new to Oregon. A co-worker recommended a Cena so we went there to celebrate my 42nd birthday. The moment you walk through the door you know that you are in for an authentic Italian food adventure! We had our 2 daughters with us (7 & 8) and our waiter was a pleasant as could be to them. The chef prepared the old stand by, pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese and a side of sausage for them and they ordered a second round, which is unheard of with our girls! My wife had the corn ravioli with lobster which was decadent. I had the short rib and gnocchi and it was simply phenomenal! Dessert and coffee were a perfect ending to a wonderful experience. We cant wait to go back!
(5)
D G.

Oh so sad! This proves the saying," Nothing fails like success. " they packed too many tables into the bar area. The staff is not as sharp as they use to be. My special Lamb chops were cold and just not a pleasant dinner experience. I've been a huge fan of A Cena for years. Last Friday was the first time I was let down.:(
(4)
Tim P.

When we first went to a Cena I didn't know what to expect. Fortunately we listened to our waiter and ordered the Lobster Agnolotti as one of our entrees. It and everything else were amazing. We have since returned multiple times and each time was as good as the first time. We have tried many of the other dishes and desserts but still have the agnolotti as one that is not to be missed.
(5)
Jen D.

This was an experience beyond comparison. Ambience- A+. Staff and service- A+. Food and drink- A++. Prices- definitely worth it! Do yourself a favor and check this place out before it becomes impossible to get a reservation!
(5)
Jon C.

My girlfriend and I dined here for her birthday. The food and service was fantastic. It is unfortunate that we don't live in the Portland area or we would be back many times.
(5)
Kim C.

I have many food allergies, so it's very hard to enjoy a night out and trust someone else to cook for you. The chef was absolutely amazing! He came directly out to my table and sat with me to put together an amazing meal! So happy to have found a place like this! Thank you sooo much!
(5)
Jessica K.

Oh jeez. Another stinking glowing review of this place. Well, let's get it over with. a Cena is obnoxiously perfect. Down to every last stinking detail, they get it right. Let's start with the setting- it's ridiculously cozy and romantic. Once, we got to sit in that insufferably wonderful table by the window. The service? It is disgustingly polite, helpful and attentive. You'll have to suffer through a meal of everyone enjoying themselves around you too. Oh and that owner of theirs. He'll probably come around and be unbelievably nice to you. You've been warned. The food is overwhelmingly delicious. Prepare to have your taste buds ravaged by their heavenly rich Lobster agnolotti with marscarpone and corn. Nothing else you eat after that will compare for at least a week. Might as well do a juice cleanse or something until you forget how good it was and other food can taste marginally okay in comparison. Thanks a lot. They don't even make it easy to decide what to order because everything is so infuriatingly good. Their pizza is horrifyingly tasty. Once we had their lamb shoulder marinated for two days in wine and garlic. Right? More perfection. How dare they almost make us cry over food. Their dessert is just as devastatingly delightful. You can't even enjoy a glass of water here. Their wine list is frighteningly fantastic. I angrily acknowledged that their Limoncellotini with their homemade limoncello was one of the best martinis I've ever had. I can't believe they've inflicted one of the best restaurants in Portland on us. Regretfully they didn't even take all my $$$ the first few times, so I'm just going to have to suck it up and go again in the future. I'll accept your sympathy cards now.
(5)
Kevin R.

Wonderful Gem of a Restaurant. So many great choices and the Corkage fee was very reasonable. Every dish that we ordered just came out perfectly. Awesome food, reasonably priced for Quality this good.
(5)
L E.

Excellent food. Service was fantastic. Our server was friendly and informative. He didn't make us feel stupid, and never rushed us. We had a really memorable meal. Loved it.
(5)
Morgan J.

Had such a fabulous date night here! It is a cute and quaint family restaurant in Sellwood. We had the lobster pasta and the venison which were both absolutely amazing! The corn filled pasta paired decadently with the buttery lobster and the venison was meticulously prepared with kale and huckleberries! Yummmm, I can still taste it! They also have a great wine selection. We had a 2010 Primitivo, thanks to our waitresses great recommendation. The whole meal was delicious and the service was spectacular!
(4)
Jenee H.

We've been twice - great little neighborhood location. Nice ambiance with very friendly staff. Graciously accommodated our baby. Food: -Great lobster pasta dish - pasta pillows were a bit sweet for my taste, but still paired well with the lobster. Lots of lobster! -Foccacia bread to start is great! -Mixed grill - recommended to us by the server, was not my favorite. Not much meat, and kind of dry. -Pizza was okay - the crust was very thin, almost cracker-like. -Lobster risotto (special) - flavorful, but stingy with the pieces of lobster -Steak - cooked perfectly -Chocolate mousse cake (complimentary for Father's Day) - moist, rich and delicious! They serve the meal in courses, Italian style. Nice for a leisurely sit-down lunch/dinner.
(4)
alizarin c.

I really don't like to have to shout at the person sitting next to me, but that's what happened when I went to A Cena last night. I arrived at 6, ordered around 6:10. My companions ordered salads but I didn't. The main dishes arrived at 7:07pm which I think is too long to wait, especially since I didn't order a salad or appetizer. So we were trying to talk for the rest of the time. I think this place could really use some sound proofing because I couldn't hear the people sitting next to me or across from me unless they raised their voices. It's unpleasant to have to shout over dinner. What made it worse is that there was also music playing. It made for a dinner that wasn't relaxing. At one point I suggested to my companions that we move to a table outside, but one was wearing a business suit and it was still very hot outside so we didn't. As a business owner myself, I hate to leave negative reviews, especially since the waitstaff are friendly and attentive. I wouldn't go here again though unless they do something about the sound problems. The food wasn't bad but didn't stick out. I do remember coming here another time and I ordered something really tastey.
(2)
Scott C.

We don't get to go out very often. Decided on going here. Dinner was decent. If your hungry do not order the half size. They are smaller than a lunch size. Had to order more food. My main reason for only 2 stars is the dessert. Took home Tiramisu . OMG, learn how to make it. One thin layer of cake very soggy . Then cream on top. My sous chef son said it probly sat way too long or used too much espresso dip.
(2)
Karin W.

Charming restaurant with consistently fantastic food. Possibly our favorite restaurant anywhere. (And we've spent 2 weeks in Italy!) We've been coming here a few times a year for about 5 years. It's a special occasion place, not cheap - entrees are $20-40 and you can easily spend $90 for two if you share an appetizer and a dessert. Which I would recommend. :) The house speciality is a lobster-corn-butter mini-ravioli ("agnolotti"). Yes, try this. Just get a small plate size and share it around your table. A couple of bites is enough. If rabbit is on the menu (fall/winter), go for it, especially with farfalle. Lamb items are also fantastic. Actually, everything I've tried has been good. And of course the wine is always spot-on. Service is perfect, just as you would expect in a slightly fancy place. Like most Portland eateries, you can come dressed casually, but you won't feel out of place if you dress up. Great place for an anniversary, a proposal, a birthday, etc. Reservations can be helpful later in the week or on weekends, and especially if you have a party of more than four.
(5)
Pam B.

Great dinner with friends. We had the "off menu" appetizer with pork and lamb. We had a "state" local white wine. It was very yummy. Dinner was on the menu. We Maine lobster with corn ravioli and a duck breast with grilled peaches. Super yummy. Dessert was too go and it too was good. We had a great experience and would def go back again. Great atmosphere inside where we ate.
(5)
Eric K.

My girlfriend and I came here for Valentines day. I've got to say the service was great, the servers answered every question and were very patient with us. Food came out very promptly with very little time between courses. The ambiance was a little loud and crowded for a romantic dinner but the food was fantastic. I had the beef tenderloin and she had the ahi tuna steak. My biggest gripe was that, the prices are listed as generally $30 per person, but that's only if you get one dish and portion sizes are pretty small. In order to have a satisfying meal, we split the appetizer and primi courses and got our own secondi meal. With only one glass of wine each, the total bill came out to $170 including tip. I don't think it was really worth it for the price, but the food and service was fantastic despite the loud ambiance.
(4)
Gerry R.

My second time here in a month and it was again outstanding. Pasta is made in house and is excellent. The Fritto Misto appetizer is delicious. My wife and I shared the grilled scallops with chanterelle risotto and the spaghetti with meatballs of the day and both were excellent. The fine food is really enhanced by the extensive wine list, mostly Italian. This is what Italian food should taste like. I lived in Denver, which has a large Italian population, for 20 years and this is the best Italian food I've ever had.
(5)
Erica T.

I was happy to finally discover a great Italian restaurant in Portland. The ambiance was cozy, and the service was very friendly and attentive. Most importantly, the food was delicious. The homemade bread was so good that my husband and I finished two baskets and almost asked for a third. The bruschetta appetizer was tasty - I enjoyed the crab topping. The short ribs that my husband ordered were melt in your mouth amazing! I mostly enjoyed the lobster ravioli that I ordered, but its sweetness became a tad overpowering (especially in conjunction with the butter based sauce). However, this is a very minor complaint about a meal that was excellent overall. I plan to make this my go to Italian restaurant in Portland.
(4)
ryan r.

The most under rated Italian in Portland. The have the recipe that all restaurants should. Consistent, quality, fresh, service is next level. Salute to Chris and staff, they never disappoint.
(5)
Lynda H.

I took my mom here for her birthday this past weekend. It was my second time to this restaurant but first time for my other family members. I ordered the agnolotti again and was disappointed this time because the ravioli was somewhat dry and there was hardly any sauce in my bowl. The garganelli that my mom ordered was very tasty though. Even though some of us did not like our dishes, it was still a nice visit as the staff were pleasant and accommodating of our relatively large party. Not sure I would go back though.
(3)
Jan P.

Superb food. Superb service. My only complaint is that my dish - norcia sausage pasta - and the parm sticks were a tad too salty. Didn't stop me from devouring them tho!
(5)
Katherine V.

In my humble opinion: a Cena is the best Italian food in Portland. Everything that comes out of the kitchen has a wonderful, unique, balanced flavor profile. Fair prices and portions. Corn & Mascarpone Raviolini with Poached Maine Lobster is one of the best dishes I've ever had. They frequently have specials so there's always something new to try, even though I could never have enough of their staple menu items. The staff is attentive but not overbearing. Made by boyfriend's birthday dinner extra special with a free dessert. Love food? Like food? You're human and you have a biological obligation to consume food? Come to a Cena for an authentic and delicious Italian meal!
(5)
Rob S.

Once upon a time, there was a Cena Restoranti that made really really really really really really really yummy Italian food. It's that good...you should try it. The end.
(5)
Angela C.

I was visiting from California and yelped some delicious Italian restaurants in the area to try out and Cena's came up, of course! Let me just say, everyone working at this restaurant provided my friend and I one of the best dining experiences we've ever had. They were kind and friendly, quick with service, and extremely welcoming and recommended good suggestions on their menu. We sat at the bar because they were so packed and didn't have a table open! I would highly recommend making reservations. More on the amazing food: Agnolotti - It was so mouthwatering! The ravioli was stuffed with sweet corn and mascarpone and it was topped with buttery maine lobster. This dish is a definite must try item for all seafood lovers. It was quite unforgettable in my opinion. Garganelli - This dish has amazing flavors! Traditional penne pasta with sausages in a white creamy sauce. It was delicious and a classic. Olive oil-fried Brussel Sprouts - This was on the salty side but that's just how I like my brussel sprouts! It was nice and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Topped with a bit of bacon and it was delicious! Overall, it was a great experience! The restaurant owner, I believe his name is Chris, and the chef came out and sat with us at the bar. The owner was such a kind man, he overheard my friend and I talking about our celebration and he ordered some salted caramel ice cream on the house for us. It was a very sweet gesture. The owner and the chef were friendly and down to earth, they struck up a conversation with us throughout dinner. I will be coming back when I visit next! And I'm looking forward to trying new items on the menu. Thanks for a wonderful experience!
(5)
Jeremy L.

GREAT food. Be prepared for super high prices, but it's all very good. Recently had some issues with the service being non-existent for our first 20 minutes there. Seemed like a miscommunication of some sort, bu the waiter more than made up for it, even bringing out a free dessert.
(4)
Emily W.

I dream about the lobster and corn pasta. It is one of the very best things I've ever eaten. The service was great, the wait staff was attentive and knowledgable . This is a MUST stop when I am in Portland.
(5)
David K.

Italian food doesn't get better than this! Every detail has been considered in this amazing neighborhood restaurant. From the delightful parmesan bread sticks to the never empty water glasses. The staff really have their act together and never miss a beat. The wine list is superb and prices affordable. All the pastas are superb. The lobster pasta had very generous lobster portions as well as the lamb ragu pasta all cooked to perfection--not to soft and not to firm. They seem to buy all the foods from local farms and meat suppliers. My Idaho pink trout was so tender and flakey with a great taste from the grill. The roasted artichokes were scooped up instantly by everyone at our table and the heirloom tomatoes with albacore tuna were a great treat. I had no idea that goat could be that tender and flavorful. They just added an outside grill which was used masterfully. And the deserts exceeded our expectation as well. Loved the fried ricotta at the end. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
A. Z.

Incredible food! I travel all over the Northeast for work and my clients most often choose Italian restaurants. As such, I feel I have a lot of experience with good Italian food. Until I went to A Cena, I really didn't feel Portland had a handle on Italian cuisine--not comparatively. But, I had my favorite Italian dish, to date, right here in Portland! It was a corn meal pasta with Lobster (sorry, it has been awhile and I forget the name of the dish). My family all agreed it was the best Italian meal they've had. The service was good. Our server was nice, but a little pretentious. The atmosphere is fine, though I like a little more space between tables. I can't fault them for that. Great spot we'll definitely continue to visit!
(4)
Aaron Z.

First visit here I was very pleased with my order of Garganelli alla Norcia. So much so it compelled me to come back, this time I tried the Agnolotti and was blown away. The pasta was perfect, and the lobster was delicious. I would come back just for that dish again and again it was so good. I'm not a wine drinker but the wine list seemed impressive. The beer selection could of been a little better given it's a restaurant in Portland. But that's okay, I'm here for the food first not the drinks.
(5)
Jennifer G.

Great service but the food left something to be desired. The appetizer we ordered. Formaggio, was very difficult to eat. It was essentially a melted pot of cheese that couldn't be cut easily with a knife or spoon. The pasta dish was good, but lacked that something special. I will try other Portland Italian restaurants before I give a Cena another try.
(3)
Jessica N.

Such a delightful restaurant and clearly a neighborhood staple as they were packed all the way until 10:30/11pm! We had a reservation at 8;30 but had to wait for our table since some diners were taking longer than expected. The host and maybe owner/manager were SO proactive in keeping us updated, apologizing, and comping us our drinks at the bar while we waited. LOVE that. Food was also tasty. We had this AMAZING cioppino special which was one of the best I've had. Included a full lobster which was cooked perfectly. Delicious broth and tons of other seafood. The pasta dish we ordered (lamb ragu), was good but not too stand-out. For tagliatelle I wanted the pasta to be a little thicker but they had cut it on the thin side. I would definitely be back there again if I lived in the area. Fabulous place
(4)
Sherry S.

My daughter's old best friend is heading to Ghana for 3 months. I had to do something extra special for her and let her enjoy a little luxury. I had made reservations a few weeks ago and there was a nice cozy table in the corner for the 3 of us to sit at. They were crazy busy but sometimes that works to your favor if you do not want to be in a huge hurry. I don't like going to places where the waiter is scoring off his table turnovers. This was a good pace since we wanted to visit with the girl for a while. We got a few sides of bread while we waited for the meals. I have to tell you that their bread is so moist, the consistency is almost like angel cake. We ordered the incredible lobster ravioli just like last time. This time we got the bigger order and still ate all of it. It's a wonderful dish and sprinkled generously with lobster meat. The sauce is amazing, rich, slightly sweet, buttery. We also decided to order their special - which was swordfish. It was accompanied by cannellini beans, some roasted veggies, and sided up with a basil pesto. Magnifique! We did not stop there though. Our friend had to have dessert, so I had to after all join her. We both ordered the tiramisu which came in a bowl, and it was one of the best ones I've had. Sometimes they are dry and this one is definitely not. At any rate, she is off on her adventure and hopefully this meal will leave her wanting to come back! That was my plan after all.
(5)
Melissa M.

The food here is absolutely delicious! Everything is homemade and fresh. I had the meatballs, pan fried Brussels sprouts, and lobster ravioli followed by sea salt caramel gelato. I loved everything and can't wait to go back and try other dishes!
(5)
Tiffany M.

Italian is the best. It's a treat that should not be fully indulged on a regular basis, but when you want some good Italian a Cena has proven that it is a strong contender for those days when you just want some damn pasta. Let's talk about Sellwood: shit is adorable. The neighborhood, the quaint little corner that the restaurant is located on, the cozy and dark ambiance inside: it all works. And the view of the city across the river as you drive south is pretty spectacular. Being vegetarian can often suck when it comes to choices at regular ol' restaurants, but I have been really pleased with the offerings here. They aren't afterthoughts, and the dishes are strong and flavorful. The casa salad is bursting with flavor thanks to fresh greens, pear, pecans, and delicious cheese. The delicate and fresh paparadelle with brussels, squash, and a light olive oil splash is perfect (the half size is more than enough if you get an app or salad). We ordered the roasted cauliflower as a side, which is delicious and unique. My only complaint is that there was way too much olive oil, and it just collected at the bottom of the bowl. Desserts have been impressive as well, although I always seem to forget about them... that doesn't mean they're forgettable, it just means I've had too much wine at that point. But I do remember the tiramisu, which is made in-house and quite good. I really love a Cena. They're doing things right, and I've loved each of my experiences there thus far. Bonus: prices are very reasonable, and the half size option allows for less carb-induced guilt afterwards.
(5)
Courtney P.

I don't understand how their restaurant was full when we went. I feel as if people must continue to go here only because it's fairly conveniently located, if you live in/around Sellwood. Or because they're in the habit of going. Or because it looks nice enough to take your visiting relatives to, or something. I'm not that picky when it comes to restaurants, but I'm absolutely clueless as to how they have any repeat business. The management is atrocious, and I'm not using that word lightly. First off, they cram far, far too many tables in this space. We made reservations a day ahead of time (ie: weren't just asking to be "squeezed in" last minute), and still got stuck in an odd corner where I could hardly move without either hitting the drafty, cold door behind me (that's not in use--it, too, has a table shoved against it), or my neighboring table. And I'm a fairly petite girl. There were so many tables you could hardly walk to the restroom; no exaggeration. I had to keep my elbows tucked near my body just to avoid disturbing the table next to us. Because of this attempt to pack in as many people as they possibly can, and the way the space is constructed, it was also incredibly loud. When I say loud, I mean loooouuud. I'm an individual who receives the occasional complaint from neighbors about the volume of my music. If it were just noisy, I wouldn't have minded (or even noticed, most likely), but you literally could not hear the individuals at your table. Or the servers. The waitress had to lean in toward me and speak directly into my ear to tell me about the specials that night. That's what you expect in a nightclub in Chinatown, not a "nice" Italian place. The poor couple next to us, seemingly celebrating an anniversary, couldn't even hear each other across the table, and my boyfriend and I couldn't even hold a conversation. Anyway, I ordered a drink. A NoCino Manhattan. (NoCino is their house-made green walnut liquer.) It was terrible. I basically paid $10 for a small drink that tasted like the contents of a bar rag. The flavor of the liquer did not at all lend itself to a Manhattan. I thought perhaps it was just my palette, but after tasting it, my entire table had the same consensus, one of which was a seasoned bartender. We ordered food, had some bread (a garlic foccacia; it was very good, actually, this was the only enjoyable part of the evening), and waited. We waited a long time, but the restaurant was pretty full, so we didn't mind. While we were waiting, another waitress brought us dessert menus and told us to flag her down if we wanted any dessert. Even though we both already had another waitress, and hadn't even gotten our entrees. Confusing, but alright, willing to overlook it, as it was busy and she was well-intentioned. The food finally came, and it was terrible. I had the sausage garganelli, and my boyfriend had the gnocchi. His was undercooked and tough, and mine was literally flavorless. I've had microwaveable $2 frozen meals that were more enjoyable and flavorful. A woman at a neighboring table had the same dish as I. She played with it with her fork for awhile, as her friends seemingly encouraged her to send it back. She just left 80% of it on the table when they left. We did the same, because our waitress seemed to be avoiding our table at all costs. A bus boy took my card to pay the tab. It was an astronomical amount, for a meal I probably could have recreated with $5 at a convenience store. But, even then, the drinks I could buy at the local 7/11 would be far better. I want to clarify though, that the general staff doesn't seem to be at fault. The waiters, bus staff, runners, etc, were all working hard and clearly trying to do their jobs as best they could. I feel like there's a severe management issue here. We won't be coming back, and will make sure our friends don't waste their time and money to sit around in a deafening dining room, eating sub-par food either.
(1)
Christopher A.

Not a great meal, but a good one. Have to say, not so impressed. I think that yelp is starting to lose me. The last few places I have gone that were 4-4.5 stars, were mediocre at best. Not sure if it's voting problems, or just people with mediocre expectations. Wait staff.. perfect, almost pushy. Managers were on point, even watched some inside table flipping calculations. They know how to run a popular restaurant. Junior wait staff wasn't very informative, but attentive. Food... not so hot. The Lobster Risotto, passable. The Fettuccine with clams and garlic was great, but not 20 dollars great. The Antipasto di Carne was good, but nothing that I wouldn't have bought at a Natures great. Just meh, meal. Can't say it was bad, I didn't order the Risotto, but we left just unsatisfied. For a night out, with a unlimited limit on the debit card, you want to have an experience. A Cena Ristorante does not deliver.
(3)
Ursula M.

Friends had recommended A Cena so we decided to try it on a Saturday night. The restaurant was busy, but there were a couple of open tables indoors. The outdoor tables (on the sidewalk) were full! It appears that the establlishment consists of 2 or 3 former storefronts, joined togeher. The wait staff is extremely professional. We were fortunate to have "Grace", who is a sweetheart. Unlike so many, she noticed my iced tea wa almost finished and brought another without being asked...twice! We ordered a mushroom brushchetta to start, and my husband had the night's special, which was a lasagne with house-made pasta and boned short ribs. He said it was delicious! I had noodles wtih Italian sausage which was very good also. A Cena has a few maintenance problems. My chair had one leg shorter than the others, so it rocked when I shifted my weight. The candle holder on the table had the same issue! The bathroom was clean, but needed new paint. The walls had dings and spots on the walls and floor. In other words, they need to spruce things up a bit. Over all, however, A Cena is worth a visit.
(4)
A E.

Just like most ladies, I enjoy getting all dolled up and going to a nice dinner every now then. A couple friends and I took my boyfriend here for a birthday dinner last weekend and we had a lovely experience. It's a very romantic and intimate setting with excellent food, a great wine list and impeccable service. Definitely a 5-star experience all around.
(5)
cynthia s.

I was disappointed. We made reservations for the "Valentine Dinner" but when we got there, the menu that was featured on the Facebook page was nowhere to be seen. "This is the Valentine menu" we were told, which was the normal menu. I happily ordered the scallops, $30, and got 3 scallops on a bed of risotto with beets. While quite tasty, I felt this dish was way overpriced. My husband ordered a pasta dish and felt his, too, was overpriced. Our dinner with two glasses of wine, one shared salad and two entrees came to almost $100. Sorry, I won't be back.
(2)
Joshua E.

Dark, sexy and cozy... great Italian gem in Sellwood. Fun menu. Decent wine list. Friendly staff. My date and I had really enjoyed it... and don't forget to order the Tiramasu.
(4)
Melinda D.

What a cute little spot. The food was great. I had the lobster & ravioli which was delicious! Would definitely get it again. We found the small plates to be just enough dinner, and so reasonably priced. The atmosphere was dim lighting with a bit of music, nothing overwhelming. Service was good and attentive, and knowledgeable. The also offered cafe tables outside for those who want to enjoy the nice weather.
(5)
Shane S.

Just OK to me. Ate tapas style with some friends. Service was great and food was good. Sorry about lack of detail in this review but nothing about this place really stands out except for the large bill. Would not discourage trying it out might be your thing just not first on my list for a return visit.
(3)
TheBucketOfTrut H.

Expected a lot more given the 4.5 stars I saw here. The lasagna was good but a little overcooked for my tastes. We had a goat leg porchetta that had some great bites, but others were ones you'd chew and chew forever. The agnolotti is a unique and tasty dish. Everything else was pretty sub-par, and it cements the idea for me that you need to really go into the city proper to get good Italian fare. Skip the pizzas (good toppings but crust left a lot to be desired).
(2)
Vi B.

What threw me the most about a Cena was how nice it was. It's so unassuming from the outside (a large, brown, storefront, without a ton of visibility to the inside). Walking in, I noticed how beautiful the light was shining in. Then, the service. How friendly (but not overbearing) the servers were, and how knowledgeable they were on the dishes. The food was extremely fresh and flavorful. Not hugely portioned (but this is something you expect at a place like this). Just perfectly portioned. I'll definitely be back for another special experience.
(4)
Heidi C.

Just went to a Cena for Valentine's day and had one of the best Italian dinners I have ever had. Not only was the food delicious, but our service was exceptional. Our waitress was very attentive, and the manager came around as well to ask how our food was. The prices are high, but I think worth the quality of food and service we received.
(5)

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Address : 7742 SE 13th Ave
Portland, OR, 97202
Phone (503) 206-3291
Website https://www.acenapdx.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

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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a Cena Ristorante

7742 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR, 97202

a Cena Ristorante Menu

Antipasti

House Made Pasta

Secondi

Contorni

Pizza

Healthy Meal suggestions for a Cena Ristorante

Antipasti

House Made Pasta

Secondi

Contorni

Pizza

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