a Cena Ristorante Reviews

We expected great food and were not disappointed. The bread and olive oil served were amazing. We were just looking for a delicious light meal and were very happy with the half-sized meatballs and sausage pasta dishes.

Very happy energetic staff Quiet. Food extremely well prepared Branzino, eggplant parmesan, ricotta cheesecake, polenta really all cooked to about as perfectly as possible. Owner on site, neighborhood place, on street parking

We were surprised by our meal at this recommended restaurant. We found the atmosphere pretentious, menu expensive, the food heavy - nothing subtle as suggested from the menu offerings. We will not return to this restaurant.

Food is unbelievably good. We just moved to the area so tried this place on a whim. Boy were we glad we did. We split an appetizer (maybe caprese?) it was good but it was the entrees that just blew us away. The waiter recommended the lobster agnoletti, so that's what I ordered. My husband had homemade rigatoni with a sausage cream sauce. We both had the pear martini -- delicious and not overly sweet. We also absolutely loved the olive oil and asked the waiter about it -- he found out what it was and we bought a gallon (!) of it for about $20. Probably one of the best meals we've ever had. One of the best restaurants in Portland, in my opinion.

We have been a guest at A Cena many times and always have had wonderful experience. From the welcoming voice of Alex to make our reservations, then additional attention to our favorite place and caring service throughout our meal..it continues to remain our very special place. Although we have had many memorable meals, always...always choose to celebrate our anniversary with A Cena. Each visit provides us with enjoying some of our previous favorites (roasted romaine salad) along with trying new courses (unforgettable Ravioli Lobster)....all wonderful! Thank you all for always making our time together a wonderful memory.

We shared several small dishes on a Monday evening (celebrating my birthday) and I was simply blow away by the Agnolotti (like a ravioli) stuffed with corn & Mascarpone in a butter/cream sauce and poached Maine lobster. I've never eaten something that sounded so simple yet was so sublime and complex with the blending of flavors and textures. We started off with a grilled romaine salad with Gorgonzola dressing. I'm not a 'blue cheese' person, but the dressing was unbelievable and light enough that it wasn't overpowering. The other course was a pasta dish "bounty of the sea" and you could tell the pasta was extremely fresh along with all the flavorful seafood ... in a very light tomato based sauce. The service was excellent ... not overbearing, but a willingness to share their insights and offer suggestions without being overbearing. All in all a very pleasurable experience ... and they were very busy on a Monday night. And I still can't get over the Agnolotti. INCREDIBLE!

I have been here several times for lunch, and each time was a memorable experience. I love the caprese. I had not had burrata before, and it was a true treat with the roasted tomatoes - a step above the typical caprese. The lobster pasta dish is divine, and the saltimbocca was a nice lunch. Lovely salads, too. Great wines by the glass. We enjoy the service, also, and always feel welcome. I haven't tried dinner, but will in the future. I don't even consider other Italian restaurants anymore. This restaurant will not disappoint, and is located in the charming Sellwood neighborhood.

If you have ever been to Italy this is a place that does real authentic Italian food. The fresh bruscettas are always seasonal and delicious, the pizzas fantastic, homemade pastas and all very fresh and locally sourced as much as possible. It is hard to go and not always eat the agnolloti with Lobster but good news you can always mix it up and get two half portions of various pastas. Love this place always consistent.

Great food and very friendly staff! Cute small restaurant in a trendy area. The bruschetta with braised short rib was fantastic (I think it was a special) and the ravioli/lobster dish was great to share around the table (both were recommended by our server). Rabbit bolognese was great, they let us swap it for a different noodle as well. Wasn’t able to try everyone’s but all had good reviews. And we were able to try a wine from the Walla Walla Valleh that we’d heard so much about-it was great! Would definitely recommend for any occasion. Would go back more if we weren’t from out of town.

What a fabulous dinner at a Cena! We started with grilled octopus dressed with aioli, hot peppers, olives, and capers and followed with arancini, a perfectly soft interior in a crunchy shell (how do they do that?) The spring lamb chops were perfectly pink inside and accompanied by savory roasted carrots over a subtle pignola spuma. We love their Garganelli alla Norcia and always have to include that; last night’s was creamy and rich with just the right sauce:pasta ratio. Dessert indulgence was a shared cannolo with generous chopped pistachio on one end and chocolate on the other. And they brought us limoncello (likely housemade) with the espresso! Service was great, informed and congenial, and Loris always makes us feel like family. Ci vediamo presto ancora.

We came here for dinner- can't say enough good things about it. Their pasta- especially the lobster one- is amazing. Made fresh, melt in your mouth. The area of town is super cute to walk around in as well. Highly recommend!

we went with a party of 11 to celebrate our daughter's college graduation. we could NOT have been happier with the entire dining experience. the service was outstanding. mark took care of us all with such flair and humor and we all just thought he was wonderful. the food was outstanding. from the appetizers to the main courses to desert, it was like dining in italy!!! wow. our party of 11 was from london, atlanta, chicago, ohio, portland. every one of us thought this was one of the finest restaurants we had been to!!! thank you so very much for a truly unforgettable dining experience!!!

We celebrated our anniversary with dinner here, and we were very happy with our choice! The food was excellent, the service was attentive--and the bread basket alone was worth the visit!! The portions were satisfying but not unmanageable.

We were treated to the lamb bruschetta with arugula. The Chef knows how to keep regular customers and new ones happy and always coming back to see what's fresh. We also had the margharita pizza and grilled romaine. It's a good light meal. I can't wait for the warmer weather and sit outside to enjoy a cocktail. The staff is professional and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. Ask to try the in-house walnut liqueur. it is amazing.

We did take-out here on our way home and both of us each ordered the large portion Campanelle (wild boar with pasta), and while we enjoyed it, the meat amount was a bit small in comparison to the pasta. The salad was also OK, and had an excellent dressing to accompany it. The amount of Campanelle in both portions was enough for two meals, so we enjoyed it again two days later. Perhaps it was because it was take out that it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped, but hopefully, we will soon be again dining IN the restaurant!

We had a wonderful dinner in this small neighborhood restaurant this weekend. Everything was good from service to ambience to food. The four of us began with the antipasto which included really nice thinly sliced sausage with a kick and homemade mozzarella which were both great. The cheese bread sticks were the best I've ever had. Our entrees included chicken scallopini served with mushrooms, gnocchi and Kale, short rib ravioli and sausage-cream-pasta dish. All excellent. The bill with drinks and wine for four was $175.00 before tip. We will definitely return. Strongly suggest reservations as the place is only 3 small rooms.

We visit Pdx several times a year and have enjoyed A Cena on three occasions. Since we live in the Midwest, we typically order seafood. The halibut and scallops were fantastic. Great wine list and appetizers too! We’ll be back for more on our next visit! It’s a good idea to make reservations.

This restaurant is arguably one of the best restaurants that I have ever visited. The service is spectacular and the ambiance is very comfortable, but it is the food that makes this place phenomenal. The two appetizers, Brussels Sprouts and the Polipo (octopus), were fabulous. It was the Agnolotti, however, that won my heart and tastebuds. It was simply incredible. This will be a difficult restaurant to surpass.

Although we made an error when making our reservation, we were seated promptly for a late dinner. Nice wine selection, and tempting menu. Our octopus and grilled romaine starters were excellent, as were all three of our party's main courses. We'll definitely return the next time we're in Portland. The only thing that detracted from our meal was less than expected attentiveness by our otherwise friendly and knowledgeable waiter.

Hands down one of the best Italian dinners I’ve ever had. Wonderful service and ambiance. Everything was out of this world!

Squint and you might think you’re suddenly in Rome. This charming ristorante is an intimate escape for a romantic dinner or a gathering of family and old friends. We enjoyed the special entree Autumnal mushroom ravioli. The sole deficit was an extremely annoying waitstaff person who appeared to be under the influence, speaking with a painfully loud voice and inquiring whether we were “still working on our plate” as one would expect from a waitress at a truck stop or roadhouse. She may mean well, but as Mark Twain observed meaning well and doing well are two things.

We were visiting friends up Portland and they brought us here on our anniversary. The food and service were excellent. My wife who has many food allergies had many wonderful choices here. She had the best lamb chops ever. I had the pasta with lamb rage sauce which was very good considering I don’t like lamb. It was also very good. We split a fine salad. Our friends had the gnocchi special. They also raved about the food. I’m a visitor from Chicago and this place ranks with the best We met Chris the owner on the way out. We complemented him on the god and service. He said he had come to Portland from Chicago. He mentioned some of the places in Chicago where he had worked. All are top end places. Chicagos loss is Portland’s gain. Try out this place it’s great 5 stars +

We had lunch here and I will definitely be reuniting for another meal here. My grandchildren 21 and 16 also enjoyed it, but they do like fancier restaurants and foods. It isn't cheap, but good food isn't cheap. Everything we had was excellent. Can't wait to return.

As Sellwood residents, our "foodie" friends took us to dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in Portland, A Cena. Because we had our dog with us, we had to eat outside at a table along the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. While we enjoyed eating outside on a beautiful night, the proximity to cars parked along the street made for a bit of a claustrophobic and non-romantic environment. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I especially, LOVED the lobster risotto! I hadn't had risotto in a long time, so alone, it would have been wonderful, but paired with chunks of lobster, I was in heaven! The service was excellent. While this restaurant is not in downtown Portland and they're doing road work on the Sellwood Bridge, it is definitely, worth the effort and detours to get there!

Totally enjoyed our time at Cena's. Good food and excellent waitstaff. Even on a Thursday the place was packed by 7pm. Highly recommend!

'best Italian restaurant I have been to in the US and better than any tourist place in Italy. If you think Olive Garden is a good Italian restaurant, then please ignore this review, but for everyone else, this place is fantastic. We went with friends who love this place so we expected good food, but were overwhelmingly surprised. Raviolini with a lobster sauce was out of this world. I had a veal chop special that was the best veal I have ever had (tho expensive). Crab bruschetta (special), octopus appetizer etc. were all wonderful. Though we don't live in Portland, we will be back soon as the drive is worth it.

This was our first visit here. Street parking was easy to find on a Friday night, just one block away. Our waitress suggested an excellent red wine from Siena. I had the small sized lobster ravioli which was VERY tasty. I had originally tried to order one of their specials and they were sold out of it by 7 pm when I ordered. Seating was a little cozy; could have used a little more space between tables. Noise level was just right for having a conversation with good friends.

Been to plenty of Italian restaurant's around the Portland area. This one was mediocre at best. Service not well developed, constant bad timing interruptions when trying to eat by staff that requires you to pause conversation or wait till you stop chewing to politely answer. The bread, foccacia tonite had no taste what so ever and the olive oil seemed old not fresh. Entrees expensive for the portion size and certainly tasted better in other local Italian restaurants. I had the halibut, perfectly well cooked but small portion for the price. Lobster ravioli was corn filled ravioli with lobster only scattered minimally on top. Not what I assume when ordering lobster ravioli...usually lobster filled and topped. Theres better out there when it comes to service and value in Portland.

We made a return visit to Portland from the U.K. and headed straight for A Cena having found this restaurant in 2014. Still excellent in every way, food wine and service. The owner tried to persuade us to try other places but no. Like the last time we were in the area we eat 5 nights trying new dishes and specials every evening. So pleased the standard was still right up there.

Pasta made in their kitchen, was really excellent. Raviolis were almost melt in the mouth delicious and tender. My pesto large portion was large, I should have ordered a small plate, as I was unable to finish it. It was very tasty. There was no overpowering garlic flavor. My wife’s Agnolotti filled Corn & Mascarpone Raviolini, Butter-Poached Maine Lobster was exquisite. Very nice selection of Italian reds, and some local Oregon Pinots. Friendly cheerful service, prompt serving as well. Yummy bruschetta appetizer special too.

Loved the Tuscan Mule cocktail. We had lamb with gnocchi and eggplant parm—both delicious. The budino for dessert was absolutely sublime!

We went here with family on a Thursday evening and had an outstanding meal. The service was excellent, atmosphere casual and the prices reasonable for the quality and quantity. I ordered the pork Bolognese which was one of the finest I've had and the bruscetta with fried foie gras was delicious. Scallops with a risotto was another standout.

My wife and I were visiting a friend in Portland and she suggested we try A Cena with her. Despite being a very busy Friday night and no reservations, they managed to seat us right away. My friend ordered a Pinot Grigio and I had the Gavi. My wine was dry, but not overly so, with just a hint of sweetness at the finish. We decided to split an appetizer of Carciofi, which is an entire artichoke baked in an oven. Unfortunately, the dish didn't taste as good as we thought it would once served. It seemed the flavor was not very enticing after a few bites and we all lost interest quickly. For the main course we all ordered the Branzino. We were asked if we'd prefer the head and tail removed before serving and we all stated this to be our preference. For some reason all three came with head and tail attached, which proved to be a problem for my wife. They promptly removed those parts and everyone was happy. The flavorful fish came in a nice savory lemon sauce, with a nice assortment of seasonal vegetables. The fish was tasty, had lots of meat, and perfectly cooked. We then split a dessert of scrumptious flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and berries. All in all a very good meal.

Our waitress and the staff were nice. The menu appeared to indicate there were two courses but our waitress did not explain how the menu worked and just took our plates after the main first course and boxed what was left when were done. We would have ordered the special instead, had we known. I also mentioned it was my wife's birthday when we came in and our waitress didn't do anything, nor did she try to talk to me about it when my wife was away from the table. My wife barely ate her main course because it had too much garlic for her. She didn't mention anything because she thought there was a second course as shown on the menu. Our waitress did not notice, nor did she ask if my wife wanted something else. The restaurant was dark because drapes had not been opened after the sun went down behind the buildings across the street. The concrete floor slab was sinking on the side of the table where I was seated and it felt like I was in a hole, yet she sat me there anyway. There was no air-conditioning and it was uncomfortably hot, though there were a couple of fans on the floor. I am sure this contributed to the staff's lack of attentiveness. The food was okay but not great, as was the service. I tipped more than a should have and regretted it. We spent about half of what I expected, based on pricing and that wasn't worth it. I felt like we were dining in a dying restaurant where staff and management no longer cared. It was my wife's 70th birthday and I mistakenly thought your restaurant would be something special. Instead, it was a disappointing experience. We will not return and we will share our experience with family and friends.

We were here for a family dinner just as the restaurant opened for the evening. Friendly, gracious staff greeted us despite the fact that we were a little early and they weren't actually opened yet. During the summertime, tables spill out onto the sidewalk and must just about double their seating capabilities. This is tomato season, and the restaurant was focusing on those locally sourced beauties. The bruschetta was overflowing with gorgeous diced tomatoes. My husband and I split the grilled romaine with nuggets of crispy bacon deliciousness and blue cheese. Our table had the scallops, meatballs with spaghetti, lamb chops and I had the eggplant parm. I was having difficulty deciding between the pasta with a wine cream sauce and their homemade fennel sausage and the eggplant, but since I love eggplant parm and am too lazy to make it at home, I opted for that. Not disappointed in the least. House made mozzarella and a light, bright tomato sauce covered the top. Wine list goes on for days, but they also have a full bar. My only disappointment was that I didn't have room for dessert. We all left full and happy.

While the food was decent (not extraordinary but good) the experience was ruined by being too rushed. The whole atmosphere was hectic. The couple having dinner next to us felt the same way. We were there on a Saturday night, had made reservations, and ordered salads, pastas and dessert along with a glass of wine. The pastas tasted good, the rest was just OK. But the main problem was that we felt the only goal of the waitress (blond short hair waitress-not sure of her name) from the beginning was to get us out of our table as soon as possible. It was not the relaxed dinner we were looking for. We would barely finish our course and put our forks down and the plates were already whisked away and the next course on our table. Also, after we were finished with our dessert, we were barely asked if we wanted anything else, and the bill was plopped on our table. If you are in a hurry and want a fast meal, this may be the place for you. We will not return....there are too many other good/better Italian restaurants in Portland where you can enjoy a relaxed meal. This place has become a factory.

This is worth the drive south of Portland to this charming community of Sellwood. In a very cozy, relaxed atmosphere, we sampled some of the best octopus anywhere in an inventive antipasto that includes white beans and arugula. As a first dish, we shared the papardelle in a rabbit ragu that was full of body and texture - not a note out of place. For mains, there was on special was lamb shank braised 'en papillotte' with tomatoes and asparagus - bursting with flavours. And the panned scallops served on lobster risotto melted in the mouth. Room for dessert? Tiramisu or salted caramel budino are great bets. All this comes with friendly, efficient service. We wish we lived in the neighbourhoods to hang out here more often!

Food was outstanding and service was friendly and attentive. We had the grilled romaine salad, branzino, a salmon special and Brussels sprouts. This was our first time here and we'll be back!

Pretty high standards when it comes to Italian considering we have been to Italy 4 times plus have a long family tradition of excellent Italian/Sicilian food. This place has been on our list for some time and we finally dined there this evening. It did not disappoint. The Gorgonzola cheese salad was very silly and nice to split between two people. Definitely get the smaller portion of the lobster ravioli. Overall a wonderful lively setting with good service and excellent food. A bit spendy for Sellwood, but people would not bat an eye if it was Ava Genes for similar quality food.

A Cena is, quite possibly, my favorite restaurant in Portland. As a local, this is my special occasion restaurant. It's also my date night restaurant, my spot for visitors, and we should feel so lucky to have a place like this so nearby. I'm always hesitant to order lasagna at a restaurant, because nothing compares to my mother's lasagna. I will order it at A Cena.

Very disappointing. Service was very good, good wines by the glass and btl. At a fair price. What was disappointing were the entrees. My pasta was over cooked and mushy also over salted. $18 for the small portion vs $28 for the larger seemed very expensive for what you got. My wife’s egg plant parmigiana was lacking flavor.

Just really good comforting food. The lobster tortellini was to die for. The special scallops served with a mushroom risotto was excellent. Fresh tomatoes were fresh not mushy. Service was excellent and wines by the glass were good. We

It's a nice time of year to sit outside. We had the scampi and pizza. We also enjoyed a beautiful bottle of Super Tuscan that went perfectly with our dinner. The staff was professional as always and the owner sat with us and always made sure everyone was happy.

My wife and I were craving great Italian after a 2 month diet getting ready for a bike trip out of Portland. We chose a Cena because if on line reviews and boy did we chose right. From the moment we were seated outdoors in the fun and energetic Sellwood neighborhood when the owner Chris greeted us and leveled our table through each course the experience was spectacular. The Caprese and Romaine salads were both beautiful and tasty; freshness of ingredients quite evident. The house special Lobster and marscapone ravioli was heavenly and the night special, short rib caramelles were one of the best things i have ever eaten. The sides of green beans and oh my god parmesan onion rings made for a perfect meal. And while we brought our own wine, had i looked at his wine list first i would not have as he has a great list. Definitely a highlight of our trip and a must visit!

We had dinner here on a recent trip to Portland, and I would describe the experience as... OK. This is not a place where your palate will be challenged, where your appreciation for Italian food will be compounded, or where you will reflect with fondness on your experience for days or weeks afterward. But it's an OK spot. You'll probably not have a bad meal, just not a great one. We were a six-person group. We ordered a few appetizers and -- between the six of us -- had four different main dishes (two folks ordered the same choice as others). No one was highly pleased with their choice, but everyone agreed the food was... OK. Expect your experience to be similar. Oh -- and they're very intrusive about wine: opening bottles before you're ready and some random guy in a Hawaiian shirt showing up to reach in and pour wine with no introduction or explanation as to why they heck he's intruding into your experience. Odd. And unwelcome.

It is so nice to have a restaurant of this caliber out in Sellwood. All the people who work here are passionate about food and providing great service, and the ambience is perfect for that special romantic dinner with your special someone. I started out with a Limoncello Martini which reminded me of a lemon drop only better. Not knowing very much about Italian wines, we asked our server to surprise us with a bottle of wine and she brought out a bottle of Planeta from Sicily which was perfect and a pleasant shock because my wife had just visited that winery two weeks previously. Our favorite every time for the pasta course is the lobster raviolini, kind of a cross between ravioli and a tender potsticker...perfectly executed buttery lobster flavors melting in your mouth. I had the sea scallops over a bed of green vegetables for my main course, both were perfectly done. They also had some amazing looking veal chops but I wasn't hungry enough to tackle one of those. Next time.

My wife and I recently (5/11/2018) had a very, very nice lunch at a Cena. The color scheme used at this restaurant is attractive, there is some interesting art on the walls, and the noise level is low. Alexander, our server, was pleasant and professional. Most importantly, the food was uniformly good. We started by splitting a grilled octopus salad ("Polipo" on the menu), which was excellent. We then split an order of eggplant Parmesan, which was also excellent. We finished up with with a very good lemon mascarpone sorbetto topped with berries. (I ate most of it.) It's worth noting that this place also has a nice "Wine by the Glass" selection. (We split a glass of Nino Negri Nebbiolo.)

We had dinner here on a hot August night. Although the restaurant was cozy and inviting, the air conditioning could not keep up. It was uncomfortably hot and humid throughout our experience at a Cena. It makes me wonder if the restaurant would also be cold during the winter. Our table was on the right side of the door near the front . The restaurant had two large groups of 10 or more while we were there, so the noise level was fairly high. It looked as if it might be a little quieter closer to the bar. Our service was good and we noticed that the manager (or owner) was stepping in to assist her servers when necessary. I had one of the best cocktails I have ever had-a Limoncellotini. It was served in a martini glass, with a choice of sugar or salt rim on the glass. I highly recommend this drink to anyone who likes lemon flavors. Our table split the Fritto Mistro and Caprese salad for appetizers. The Fritto included deliciously breaded prawns and calamari. The salad was just ordinary-I've been making a better one at home with fresh tomatoes and basil. My husband had the spaghetti and meatballs, which he said was delicious. If you have appetizers or a salad, the small order of spaghetti is ample. I had eggplant parmigiana. It was covered in one of the best tomato sauces I have ever eaten, but I was disappointed that I did not get pasta on the side. I used bread to sop up every last bite of sauce. We sampled the Brazino that our companions ordered and it was also excellent. My husband and I order Budino for dessert. Usually this looks like butterscotch pudding, but the a Ceno version had a white cream base with caramel sauce on the top. It was delicious and I would definitely order it again. As a member of our party said on the way out, a Cena is worth a return trip, but Portland offers so many excellent Italian restaurants that he might not make it back around.

We were at a VRBO in the Sellwood area and looked on T A for something close. Would Have driven a long ways as this place is the real deal. Four of us all ordered different things but ate off each other’s plates as everything was EXCELLENT. Had a couple bottles of Felsina Reserva as well. The wait staff was very good and answered all our questions. I would highly recommend.

A Cena is the kind of restaurant you would have if your Uncle Vincente went to chef's school after learning to cook from Grandmama. If you don't like the food here, maybe you need to try a different cuisine. I was raised on this kind of food and it's wonderful.

A Sellwood neighborhood gem. A pleasant way to visit with friends and enjoy Italian foods. We enjoyed the octopus and artichoke starters. The lobster pasta was heavy on the cream, but tasty none the less. The staff was willing and able, the owner was everywhere overseeing the staff, bussing table and amusing his customers - a show in itself. If you are in teh area of live in inner SE Portland, this restaurant is worth a visit.

We were looking for a new restaurant and tried this one. It was a wet and cold night and they took us to another section of the restaurant which required us to go back out in the weather and to another part of the building. You walked right into the dining room with no real separation between the door and the tables. We asked to move after having to numerous times get up and close the door that people would just leave open. By this time we were getting thoroughly chilled and didn't really recover to make it a more enjoyable dining experience. From the website, it showed Pizza but they informed us that was now seperate from the Restaurant and if we wanted Pizza we had to go there. Not all of our party wanted Pizza so we remained where we were. There was not a very big selection on the menu. We don't remember the names of the dishes (lost receipt before we made this review). The one dish that we remember was an appetizier of an octopus leg. It was baked in such a way that it was really tender. We are used to Sushi-style octopus which can be a bit chewy. The pasta dishes left something to be desired. Most of the time we had to "flag down" the waitress even though the space is very open and not all that big. In all, we were not impressed especially with the price. Not sure we will be back. At least not on a cold night!

The dinner that we had a few nights ago at A Cena was the best meal on our trip to Portland. Located in the Sellwood district this is a must if you live in or visit the city. The owner, an Irishman, is great and the food is spectacular. We sat outside right by the rode and all of our meals were wonderful. I rate this a 5 on any scale.

My wife and I found ourselves in Portland for our anniversary. We didn't know the restaurant scene so we made reservations A Cena cause of its great reviews. When we get to the restaurant on a Sunday night and waited about 5 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us. This was vexing cause the host stand was right by the door to the outdoor seating so lots of staff trucked past us while pretty much ignoring us. Once the host got to us she was a pretty much a disaster. So things we're not going well. All that turned around once the wait staff got to us. The wait staff was very friendly, had good suggestions and was super accommodating. Things turned around at this point. The drinks were good and some of the food was amazing. Some of the food was so-so. Oh and the wine list was a pretty extensive.

Enjoyed a glass of wine (waiter's recommendation) and the lobster pasta. Friend had the clams, mussels, shrimp pasta. Both were delicious and the bread is amazing. We also enjoyed the cannoli and tiramisu - both delicious with coffee. It was a nice, relaxing atmosphere, with impeccable service and food.

Came here with a party of six. Our waitress seemed to be in a hurry to take our orders and wasn’t very friendly. The manager came around to see how we were doing and when we asked for some bread, he said “we don’t serve garlic bread here,” we did get some homemade bread served cornbread style, which was very good, in fact probably the best thing we ordered from there. I got the caprese salad and signature lobster marscapone and corn ravioli, which was good, but not memorable great for a signature dish, my husband ordered the sausage pizza, which he said was soggy. Food is pricey, service memorable for what it wasn’t and we will not be coming back anytime soon.

Delicious to the last bite! I will be bringing the family in here soon for my promotion party. I am so excited to experience this with them. THANK YOU!

For three people, we ordered 2 entrees and the side dish trio. The portions were ample and flavors wonderful. Some how, we also managed to share a Budino for dessert. Yum!!

second time here. Fantastic food and service. A new favorite of ours. Very busy night and everything was right on time. Great team.

We love Portland! So many distinctive places to discover ... & you can dine haute casual in Sellwood - not just in the Pearl! I had lobster agonolotti - creamy soft corn & mascarpone pasta with real Maine lobster - enough to chew, not just flavoring. The smaller portion was big enough for me ... so rich, and only $21 (for Maine lobster!). A side of the perfectly firm brocollini, done with Mama L'il's peppers, added $6 and made it complete. Well, not quite: the butterscotch pudding with caramel and whipped cream, and a nice Americano, made it truly perfect. Carol had a raviolo - large light ravioli filled with braised short rib beef, topped with horseradish cream. Ooohh-la-la!

What a great place to eat. I really enjoyed the meal and it was such a well crafted meal. I enjoyed the pasta dishes and appitizers.

Visiting PDX from NYC and a friend recommended A Cena what a great place. Had the spaghetti & meatballs which was awesome. Nothing like homemade pasta & sauce!

I had dinner here with a group of co-workers. The food was outstanding; everything was good including appetizers, salads, pastas, and everything else! The service was very good and overall we were all very happy with this restaurant. Don't overlook this option in Portland.

What a great find. We thought we would go out to one of the increasing number of Portland restaurants that make their own pasta. Cheapskates that we are, we split the antipasto which was a salad consisting of arugula (the Obama green) along with apple and onion which I thought was tasty and original but my wife was less entranced. Then again, she hasn't been entranced by me for years now. The primo pasta was tagliatelle made with chanterelles. Oh, the pasta was silky. The penne pasta in a seafood sauce was delicious as long as you enjoyed the bite in the sauce that affected the enjoyment of the penne. We skipped the desert in the interest of calorie control and moved right on to the Courvoisier. Then she was entranced.

We keep going back again and again. Terrific Italian food and service. Parking is generally easy on the street.

This quaint little Italian restaurant is not your typical spaghetti and meatball Italian restaurant. The food is different and very good. Waitresses are very friendly and helpful with dinner selections. The prices are a little higher, but well worth it -- at least the meal I had was. I would definitely go back for another visit. No parking lot, only street parking, but managed to find a parking spot at the end of the block.

Our first time at this restaurant was Valentine's Day. Nice intimate neighborhood Italian vibe. Because good restaurants are so busy on Valentines Day service can slip, but they were on top of it. And the gnocchis (made in house) with bolognese sauce was one of the best I've ever had...period. Highly recommended.

My besties took me here for my birthday and we ordered the lobster raviolis (we debated licking the bowl), eggplant Parmesan (I don’t like eggplant and had two helpings) and scallops. We were stuffed but when the dessert menu was offered we accepted. The tiramisu was some of the best I have ever had, but the butterscotch pudding was over the top.

One of Portland’s classic neighborhood restaurants, A Cena seems to have weathered Covid and stayed healthy. Our server gave us sound recommendations without being pushy. Given his suggestions we ordered the house special of gnocchi and sashimi antipasti special. Both were delish. We had a nice corner table which afforded some privacy and room to spread out. All is good at A Cena.

Food and service were awesome. It’s all about the food here. And the service BTW. Can’t wait to return.

We really enjoyed our dinner at a Cena. The wine recommendations from our waiter were excellent. The portions are quite large so we shared an arugula salad, the grilled octopus and the small artichokes. The first courses were wonderful - especially the octopus. We also ordered the small portion of the Lobster Ravioli - a wonderful dish but very, very rich - I can't imagine one person eating the "regular" or large portion. Strongly recommend.

met a very good friend for lunch, and it was perfect! The grilled romaine salad was tasty, with Gorgonzola and bacon! And their beet ravioli special was wonderful. After our lunch we shopped the darling antique shops on 13 th! Definitely will return!!

This was the most delicious Italian food I’ve ever tasted! The Caprese was perfect-the creamiest burrata ever! The ravioli with lobster is a must. Every dish we ordered was fabulous. This restaurant is a Must Do!

What a good find in a good area. This place is a gem. Very cool interior and great service all around. We split the Casa salad and then had a homemade sausage pasta dish. Great food. The dessert of tiramisu was excellent as well. We both had wine which was also excellent. Must try!

We were looking for a new "go-to" place to celebrate milestones. After a few date nights and gatherings with family and friends at a Cena in Sellwood, we think we have found it! We ushered in 2018 at a Cena with a romantic dinner for two in a cozy corner enveloped in an atmosphere of "abbondanza" and good cheer. We found the food to be of extremely high quality, its preparation daring, and the results delicious. What a great way to usher in a new year, any day of the year...godere!

A Cena was a wonderful and romantic experience for my boyfriend and I. I would recommend reservations as the place was packed at 5:45pm on a Saturday late afternoon. The portion sizes were perfect and the food was divine. They had a great wine list, although their selection of wines by the glass could have been a little larger. They had many specials that weren't on the menu and all of them sounded really tasty. The tiramisu was to die for! A great experience on our trip to Portland. You won't be disappointed. We'll definitely be stopping in the next time we're in town.

Great Italian food. Home made pasta with a Portland twist Pesto crab linguini was yummy and the sausage with pasta was also tasty. Nice area, Sellwood, lots of parking. Everything on the menu looked great.

We had reservations on a busy Friday night and were quickly seated in a tight corner table. After quickly getting water and bread, we ordered drinks and must have been then forgotten amongst the tumult. Only saw the waitress twice during our meal and the other help served our food haphazardly. The food was good - especially the burrata and the halibut, but the service tarnished the experience.

My husband and I have been to this restaurant twice, and we'll be back again. This is a great place for a quiet dinner with exceptional service and delicious food. A Cena offers a wide variety of Italian dishes. There are pastas, seafood, hearty meats, and of course pizzas. The pizzas are lovely and they are exactly like the delicious pizzas we enjoyed in Italy. The caprese salad is special - do not miss it. I think prices are completely reasonable for the high quality and lovely presentation of the food. Please don't go here for a noisy business meal. This setting is best for quiet and intimate events.

A'Cena is always outstanding whether it be for lunch or dinner. The Lobster Agnolotti is a remarkable dish and so heavenly. We recommend sharing it at your table before indulging in a delightful seafood or other entrée.

I love this place! The lobster, butter pasta is FAB! (It's really rich & a bit sweet - always just share this dish). They have a homemade gluten-free pasta that is fabulous and you can have any sauce on it. The grilled Romaine is super yummy, Service is always great and the location is nice plus there's outdoor seating when the weather allows!

The food is just as amazing as we remembered. Friendly neighborhood restaurant, with a lot of choices on the menu that are so excellent, you can't go wrong here.

Table of four and we ordered multiple entrees and apps. The roasted Brussels sprouts were divine, as was the tiramisu. Service was prompt and friendly.

My favorite restaurant. Consistent high quality. Excellent Italian wine selection with knowledgeable staff. The mark of a good food city is quality neighborhood restaurants. A Cena is proof of this proposition.

Everything about the experience here is top notch. Friendly , professional staff, great Italian menu and the kitchen delivers the goods. The wine list is extensive . It's easy to find a wonderful, ( and fairly priced) Italian wine to compliment the food. Delightful place for an intimate dinner for two or to share with good friends.

My husband and I recently had dinner with another couple at a Cena, one of our favorite neighborhood PDX restaurants. Unfortunately, since they were so busy (Saturday night), they were not able to honor our request for the quiet table & location we had enjoyed on several prior visits. Disappointing, but understandable. After a short delay, we were seated at a comfortable, but noisier, table in the main dining area. The food for all four of us was absolutely delicious, but we did have a couple of items that left us a bit discouraged. My husband ordered one of the nightly specials [described by our friendly waitperson], a veal chop, that he said was excellent. We also enjoyed a bottle of Dolcetto wine, which my husband recalled was priced about $37-39 on their extensive wine list. When the bill came, I reviewed it, as is our custom, but did not mention my surprise in front of our guests. I was stunned to see that the veal chop was $52, which the waitperson failed to mention when she outlined the specials — and we did not think to ask before ordering as we assumed it would be priced much like the majority of their excellent menu. As we departed, I mentioned to the manager that the wait staff should provide the prices to their customers when describing the specials. The manager replied, “Well, we assume people know that veal chops are more expensive than a steak.” [in other words, buyer beware]. I then remarked that my husband would never knowingly have ordered something that was basically twice as much as every other main course item on the menu. In fact, neither of us have ever ordered a $52 menu item in our 12+ years of enjoying nightly outings to PDX restaurants [75-100+ nights per year]. When we got home and were discussing the total cost of the bill, I remarked to my husband, “Well, even though I just ordered an appetizer-sized pasta dish as my main plate, we did have that $47 bottle of wine,” and his response was, “No, that is not right, I chose a $37-39 bottle of wine,” so obviously something got lost in the communication with our wait person about the wine as well. In closing, I would say that wherever you dine, you be sure you are presented with the prices of the specials, to avoid an unexpected and unpleasant surprise when you receive your bill. We love À Cena and look forward to enjoying dinner there again in the future. It may be awhile though, as the sting of this most recent experience needs to fade.

This restaurant fit us in when we arrived early after a very stressful day. Their service and wonderful food both refreshed and relaxed us—thank you. This City neighborhood restaurant reminds me why Portland values its neighborhoods and is a town for foodies. We will return the next time we are in Portland—this was our favorite restaurant of all that we ate at during a series of recent trips.

a Cena in Italian means 'come to supper.' We eat often in this Sellwood hideaway and have never been disappointed. Their dinner specials vary and are always a great choice. They offer two sizes on many entrees so you can share or not over-eat. The owners source local ingredients when available and the flavors are always wonderful. Be sure to save room for dessert; my wife and I always share their Tiramisu. Whether you're seeking an intimate dining place or a fun environment with friends, you'll enjoy this neighborhood restaurant..

Once we got over our biggest challenge—ordering—we had a decent meal. My mother does not eat pork and did not want fish that night. There was very little on the menu that she could order. The waiter kept suggesting dishes she could have but I would read the menu and see that the dish had pork. That lack of knowledge /insensitivity on the waiter’s part was off putting. It was a struggle but she ultimately found something to order. The food was fine but not special. Good enough for neighborhood Italian but pricier than neighborhood Italian (that is not special) should be.

We do not know where to start. Incredible in-house made pasta!!! The Agnolotti !!!!!!!!!! Unbelieveable!!! Desert out of this world. The whole staff made us feel like family. We brought a wine from our wine tasting earlier in the week and they didn't bat an eye!! For us a "hidden gem" in Portland. Incredible.

Great restaurant, the octopus starter and lamb bolognese were stand out dishes, great wine and really good service too.

So many things to live about this gem . My only regret is that it took us 10 years to discover it. To start with, they take reservations and the lighting and noise level are low so yiu can have a conversation. Excellent service as well. The food was melt in your mouth delicious and the primi half portions were still generous. I would rate this place, along with Andina, as the best restaurant in Portland for fine dining. Very fairly priced as well.

My family and I have been to A Cena several times. The service has always been very good, and the food excellent. The grilled romaine salad is great, and the the lobster pasta is fantastic.

A really delicious Italian fine dining experience. Scallops were beautiful, and definitely our favorite dish. Food was extremely fresh and well prepared.

Came in for a quick easy bite with our cousin, Shea, who has always raved about this little neighborhood place. One thing led to another and soon our table was filled with some of the most incredible Italian dishes we have ever had...and we never even got past the small plates and appetizers! Head's up...this is not your usual pasta house with a zillion different variations...this is savory, creative, imaginative fare that you will NOT get anywhere else in a cozy village atmosphere on a rainy night in Portland. I can't even remember all the things we had! I know there were crustinis and a chef special pate...there were fried brussel sprouts...there was incredible grilled octopus...and house made olives...we got some of the most delicate fried calamari, scallops and shrimp...there was a little plate of burrata cheese to spread on more crustini...and a small plate of beef ravioli. I'm sure there was more! Of course with great wines and beer. Chef Gabriel even came out to chat with us and all the rest of the staff...I think Angie and Don were super as well. Can't wait to come back. Thanks for having us!

I eat at A Cena a lot for lunch but recently went for dinner and was reminded that this is one of the best Italian restaurants in Portland. Their salads and pastas are always delicious but I always wait for the special because if it is something that sounds good it is always exceptional. I would recommend A Cena to anyone who is looking for outstanding Italian. **PS They have the best gluten free pasta in town.

We visited on a Saturday night in January, and felt lucky to get a 7:30 reservation for 3. The service was poor (after our server brought us two iced cocktails when we ordered red wine, she sighed theatrically and said "You're my last table." It felt very much like we were her last - she mumbled the specials, did not make eye contact or really any conversation, and we all agreed the busboy was much more helpful and engaging. Appetizers were tiny, mains were okay but not remarkable (eggplant parmesan was breaded and fried, not particularly flavorful, and the pasta with sausage and mushrooms was just plain bland. For this kind of money there are many other Portland restaurants we'll seek out in the future. We don't live in Portland but visit often.

First time visit and we really enjoyed the experience everyone who served our table was excellent and personable. Aaron our wait staff person was vey knowledgeable about the menu, and I loved that he steered me to the Hugo Spritz—a memorable cocktail! My father-on-law and I ordered the same dish for dinner, the Hangar Steak. It was a generous portion and cooked just right! It was a tad too salty for my taste but delicious nonetheless! I’m not sure why it took close to an hour to arrive to our table. I assumed based upon how hard our wait staff was working that it was a kitchen flow problem more than anything. I would have appreciated an update fr server that it was running behind instead of saying it is coming out soon when in fact it seemed like almost 25-30 mins before it arrived! Two other couples who arrived after us were served their pasta dishes before we were.

We went to celebrate a February birthday and Valentines Day. The atmosphere was quiet and intimate because we were given a small table in the middle section between the 2 larger dining areas. There were only 5 tables, which was perfect for a couple's dinner. Nice selection of wines categorized by regions of Italy. Our Sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna was tasty. We chose the 2 entree specials and were very satisfied with the results. I especially enjoyed the Veal Parmigiana.The portions are large enough to split, which we always do to save $$$. Also, The waitstaff and even the owner are very attentive. I would definitely recommend this Italian establishment. The only drawback was having to park in the busy neighborhood. Since it was a weekend night, we had to park a couple of blocks away.

Great service in a casual neighborhood Portland restaurant is practically unheard of, but a Cena (literally, 'to dinner' in Italian) offered it in spades at our last dinner there. There is an actual busboy, so our water glasses were always filled and dirty dishes cleared promptly and without fuss. We had two servers that teamed up to help us make informed decisions and let us know the status of our meals whenever there was a lull. Good, understated lighting in a comfortably cozy (but not stuffy) room with good acoustics so we could converse easily at a normal level. Above average wine list; I had a great Montepulciano this particular evening. Also above average rustic Italian fare; not just your traditional red sauce spaghetti, but inventive flavorful dishes with fresh ingredients. I had a drool-worthy hand-cut Pappardelle and a side plate of Faro with kale and pears, both excellent. My date had the margherita pizza, which boasted a hearty tomato sauce that wasn't overly sweet, as at most pizza parlors. It's a touch more than casual, but definitely not formal; a nice middle ground for a good meal. All in all, a delightful place to dine. We will be back.

We visited this quaint location in early August on a Fri night. In our group was of foodies was a sufferer of Celiac that required a GF meal. That person said it was by far the best GF meal they had been served in a restaurant. On top of that and more importantly, my meal and my son's meals were over the top. Great tastes, portions, service everything was a total dining experience that exceeded our expectations. If you do happen to leave room for dessert, have the Affigato!! OMG....☺

We entered for lunch and were the only people there, a bad sign already. The dingy floor was depressing but we had high expectations from these descriptions. Unfortunately both our meals were mediocre to bad. I ate half of mine to be polite, but would otherwise have skipped it completely. My wife is a positive person who never complains, and ate her meal but admits today it was "greasy", and that she has put that experience out of her mind. The wine was mediocre as well. The service was fine, and the friendly young people did their jobs pleasantly, but I would not go back, and do not recommend anyone seeking anything like a fine Italian meal to go there. It struck me as a place for college kids with iron stomachs. Of course we only had one meal, possibly atypical, but there was no reason to repeat an unpleasant experience. Since there are many such mediocre restaurants, the rating might deserve to be between average and poor, i.e. it was a poor meal, but such meals are far too common.

As soon as we walked in, the smell of the cooking was so wonderful that we knew we would have a great dinner. Listening to the specials, looking at the wine list, we knew we would experience another amazing meal. We loved the restaurant, the ambiance, and definitely will go back for more food but also to walk around Sellwood to look at the antique shops! Yea!!

A Cena is nestled in one of Portland's best neighborhoods - Sellwood. It is somewhat dark inside but projects great warmth. The food is amazing. We've probably eaten here 20 times over the past few years and have never had a miss. You cannot go wrong with anything you order. Service is always professional and usually prompt. My only complaint is the lunch service - the portions are not well aligned with the price. For example, their eggplant parmesan is some of the best I've had: crispy slices with just a tad of tomato sauce and cheese on top. You get just 3 1/4" slices for a lunch portion and are charged $15. Seriously? We will stick to dinners because the food is seriously that good.

We had a lovely dinner here at the invitation of friends. It is quiet enough so that we could have a good conversation (a real plus these days), and the food and service were wonderful. The pasta was fresh and delicious.

As a lover of Italian food, I was delighted to dine at A Cena last night with my relatives who live in Portland. The lobster agnolotti was incredibly rich and delicious! We also had the casa salad, caprese salad, scallops with chanterelles and the riggetoni. All were top notch. For dessert, we had two sorbettos and the buddino was amazing.

For those who enjoy a few good wines, A Cena is a nice Sellwood stop. I have dined here for lunch and dinner and enjoyed both. Their cavatelli is a great go to dish with chunks of lamb and delicious sauce. The grilled romaine was a little flat but I would try it again in case they had a down day when we were in . You may want to make reservations as it can be busy on the weekends for dinner.

Cute little Italian shop. The best thing about it is the owner. He’s so energetic and friendly. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a reservation, so we had to sit outside on a hot day. If possible, call ahead of time to get inside, which has a better ambiance. We ordered the Polipo, Agnolotti, Cavatelli, and Halibut. We were too full to get dessert, which was a pity. The polipo was amazing! Seared crisp outside but so soft and tender inside, and it’s not easy to get an octopus tentacle like that. The Agnolotti and Cavatalli were good. The Halibut was also amazing, paired with a fantastic risotto. Definitely a good place.

The only caveat I have with this restaurant is that the decor was not particularly attractive, it was dark, and the seating is elbow to Elbow. Keep this in mind if you're looking for a romantic evening out. I started with the burrata that was of a slightly firmer texture, sprinkled with various ground spices, and drizzled with olive oil. This was surrounded with a smattering of chopped basil and some slow roasted tomatoes there were absolutely phenomenal. When I return to this restaurant, and I plan to do so, I may just order an entire bowl of these roasted tomatoes. That's how good they are. I ordered the signature dish, ravioli with lobster meat. Little pillows filled with a corn and cheese puree smothered in a corn base sauce with chunks of Lobster Claw meat on top. The lobster meat was actually cooked beautifully, claiming to be poached in butter. The ravioli itself was a tad on the sweet side for my taste and combined with a sauce that was a little overwhelming. I felt it needed a slight salty component in the form of pancetta, pistachios, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, or something of the like just to offset the overwhelming sweetness. The pasta itself was simply perfection! House-made pasta cooked the way it's supposed to be. Not that want to be Al Dente chewy crap your run into so many times in restaurants. The tiramisu was again extremely sweet and sopped with espresso. I found it a bit overwhelming also however, someone with a sweet tooth would have felt like they were in heaven. Overall, I thought the menu is a little bit limited in its choices. I would have liked to see some more available pasta combinations but, that's just me. My server was a man by the name of Mark who is doing an incredible job juggling 25 people in his small area of the restaurant. It did take about an hour and a half for me to eat all by myself but, I can't blame the staff as they were breaking a sweat hustling around that restaurant. I was waited on by no less than four different servers that kept my table in proper order. Even the hostess was in on the act, clearing plates and seeing to people's needs. Although the service is was a little slow, being extremely busy that Saturday night, I must commend the staff and their management for a fine job. The only reason I rated this a four-star instead of a five-star which, based on the pasta alone it could be, it seems we lack a bit of the Polish and sophistication of a true five star restaurant. But don't get me wrong, this is an outstanding restaurant and you will not be disappointed. As mentioned before, I will be returning with my wife at the next available opportunity.

Went to A Cena with a group from work. Nice setting on the Sellwood area. The wait staff was very friendly. We shared some well prepared appetizers--they were excellent. I had one of their lunch pizzas; others had pasta. Everyone seemed to like their meals. My pizza was very good. I think this is a great place for a business lunch.

Stayed in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, OR in late September, and loved walking the streets in the evenings, peering into some rather unique looking shops. There was always a nice bustle at the tables outside 'A Cena', so a friend and I made reservation for an early evening meal, and had a delightful experience. When you're dining out of doors, in the middle of a busy suburban sidewalk, expect there to be lots of friendly people around, exchanging hello's and shmoozing. Add to that delicious wines from Oregon, delicate baby artichokes fried in olive oil, a shared salad replete with small figs and a wide bowl of ravioli in a delicate, creamy sauce... and you have all the needed ingredients for a lovely evening with a dear friend.

When I want a dinner that is always delicious in a small, comfy bistro , I think of A Centa in the cool SE Portland, Selwood neighborhood. It is almost always busy so make reservations. the food is Italian and seasonal and the service is always good.

I took a date here that is a foodie & has some experience in the restaurant industry. She raved about the calamari & the scallops. She kept saying how pleased she was with how well they were prepared & how delightful the tasted. I enjoyed my dish and desert as well. Our service was exceptional. The atmosphere was warm & perfect for couples. A couple glasses of wine, appetizer, two dinners & a desert came to $130. I didn't care if it cost twice that because it made her so happy. Go check this place out. You will love it.

I had heard about a Cena and that it was a great Italian restaurant, but never found the time to go. This Christmas I received a gift card, so we took advantage of it. I have to say, every word we heard about this restaurant were true. My husband had the lobster ravioli. He thought it was a little on the sweet side, but I loved it. You can't go wrong with any meal here! A great restaurant to celebrate that special occasion.

This was our second visit with friends. Delightful in every way. Terrific service and great food. Wish we lived closer.

A Cena Ristorante on 13th ave. in the Sellwood area of Portland, is one restaurant you must try if you haven't been there before. My wife and I went for lunch and had their famous dish Lobster Agnolotti, the pasta is filled with corn and mascarpone and cooked in a to die for rich butter sauce and of course an abundance of lobster to make this dish one of the best I've ever tasted. Once you've had this dish, your next visit doesn't require a menu because you'll always request the Lobster Agnolotti.

Soft, pasta pillows of creamy heaven...with a slight sweet corn flavor, floating in a Creamy butter sauce with giant chunks of plump lobster..... I'm swooning at the memory. Awesome brussel sprouts and try their homemade Nocino- green walnut liqueur... Slightly bittersweet , it's also awesome on ice cream!

Serendipity brought us here; there was a line at our intended down the street. Lacking reservations, we ate at the bar. Service was fine; we got a great view of challenging mixology. But the food was divine! Started with arugula, apple and fennel salad; went to the night's special, a lamb ragu on pasta; accompanied by a 'trio' of veggies: sautéed brussel sprouts with walnuts; baked cauliflower with capers, currants and chopped mint; and polenta with their 'house' marinara sauce. Delicious!! Downed with Barbara d'Asti that was on par with the rest of the meal. Wonderful night.

I have been to this restaurant about 50 times over the last 5 years. Never disappointed. Food and service are excellent. Staff is knowledgable. Limited menu but they always have the signature dishes. Everything is fresh.

Absolutely delicious. Everything cooked to perfection! Cozy atmosphere. Suggest making a reservation especially on weekends.

We wanted to have a delicious final meal in Portland to end a visit to the area - based on reviews we chose this restaurant. This was an unfortunate mistake for our party. The food was way too salty (everyone had this complaint about their dish, including about the bread!), yet bland, and left much to be desired especially for the price. One person in our party had to actually send back their dish and order something else entirely. Another member of our party was pescetarian, gluten and dairy free - very limited options for them if you have such a person in your group!! We have all been to Italy and ate delicious food there for weeks, so our tastebuds know the real deal - this didn't come close. We will not be back. Olive Garden would have been a better choice.

You might miss this lovely little Portland restaurant tucked into the Sellwood district. All I can say is "DON'T." The food is outrageously good. Try the fritto misto or the parmesan onion rings. There are no bad entrees, and the owner is there to check on your satisfaction. A true gem!

Walked into a warm,cozy, and buzzing atmosphere on a cool evening weekend before last. Went with another couple, on their recommendation, (although we've eaten here before) and had a very nice evening. Couple #1 had whole fish and the lobster/pasta special. He complained that the fish was very bony (even though it was deboned by the waiter), she complained that her dish was cool, but had great flavor. I had braised beef on pasta, and my wife had mushroom risotto and we were very happy with our choices. We had a couple bottles of wine, the second bottle they decanted for us, and both bottles were very good. Each couple split 1 desert. Our bill was $125 per couple before tip, but the wine added a lot of $$$ to our bill. All in all, a good evening of friends, wine, and food.

A Cena is a rustic Italian style restaurant serving many scratch made specialty items and dishes. The place is charming And has a degree of sophistication while being simply elegant. We ordered 3 appetizers- Formaggio Finocchio & Ca prese Salad-all were artistically prepared plated and Well served. Each was exceptional. Now for the entrees'. We ordered Lamb Shank- Spaghetti & Meatballs & Garganelli alla Norcia. The lamb shank was cooked on top of a bed of house made rigatoni pasta which resulted in about one eighth of an inch of grease pooling in the bottom of the ramikin. This preperation actually ruined this dish causing the pasta to be nothing more than a flour paste at the bottom of the dish. This was disappointing as his was my evening dinner choice. The spaghetti & Meatballs were quite good but insignificant in size, and the marinara sauce just lacked flavor. The Garganelli all a Norcia was The concensus best dish of the night - the house made sausage was outstanding, however a bit more sauce would have addressed the pasta being so dry. For Dessert: We ordered the lemon marscapone huckleberry sorbetto- it was light refreshing and the tiramisu was the best many of us had ever eaten... The service was wonderful ...a very pleasant night's dining @ A CeNa

Lots of great pasta options, but only a few pizza choices. Salads seemed to be the only gluten free options. It appeared to have an extensive wine list. Service was great and the candle-lit atmosphere would be great for a date (we were with family).

Special birthday with husband. Greeted immediately. Everyone was very friendly, attentive, and efficient. Special house Manhattan was refreshing twist. We shared salad with grilled pears, ravioli stuffed with duck, and short ribs. Tiramisu was about the best I’ve ever had. Cramped quarters but friendly patrons. Will go back soon! Thank you for making my night super memorable!

Definitely worth the visit. The crab ravioli was amazing, the Brussels sprouts were perfect, and the caprese was so creamy and delicious. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Went here for a special occasion and had a great meal. Some places just get it right. The waiter was spot on and the selection very tasty. The only thing that could be improved would be to add a beef dish or 2. I had the lamb shank and it was fall apart tasty good. Wife had the scallops and they were cooked to perfection. We will be going back in the near future. It has a great intimate environment and you can talk without obnoxious music blasting.

Spendy but perfect. There were 6 of us - everyone ordered something different but there were a lot of food laden forks being passed from mouth to mouth. We started with shared salad capreses with what appeared to be homemade burrata cheese. And the Fritto Misto that almost melted in your mouth. I had the Polipo because I'm a light eater - an octopus tentacle beautifully presented with scattered red pepper bits & I believe a balsamic sauce. The eggplant parmesean was the best anyone had ever tasted - a crisp finish on the bottom and not at all heavily sauced. We still don't know how it was made. Desserts were - in a word - divine. The service - gracious & discreet. No hovering. The proprietor is part time busboy and paid his compliments. The evening couldn't have been better! Thank you A Cena!

We had lunch here with friends on a Tuesday. They have a good cocktail & wine list, including a selection of reserve wines. The menu for lunch had several salads and pastas, as well as a vegetarian, seafood & seafood secondis. The salad greens were very fresh for this time of year. I had a Garganelli pasta with cream sauce, sausage and mushrooms which was rich but excellent. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we plan on coming back for dinner sometime.

If you like real Italian food, then you will love this place. The servers are attentive and helpful. The food is scrumptious with decent portions. Not to be missed.

This restaurant has become our traditional location for an anniversary dinner with family. Alas, as much as we like to try different things, we cannot resist ordering the corn/moscarpone ravioli with butter poached lobster. we got the large portion, and the leftovers the next day were just as good even though we had eaten all the lobster. The arancini were great as was the misto frito. The (less expensive) pasta and meatballs were also excellent. We'll be back next year and will probably order the lobster again!

This restaurant gets rave reviews so maybe it was just a fluke. I ordered their specialty, agnolotti with lobster and the lobster was like rubber- so over cooked. The sauce was very good as where the agnolotti but for $40 I expected the lobster to be perfectly cooked. My husband had the eggplant parmigiana which was very good.

This place is a cute little Italian neighborhood restaurant and simply the BEST ITALIAN food I got to eat in Portland. No word to describe it, you have to taste it. Dinner was delicious from appetizer to dessert. The wine list is also very good. And our waiter was very attentive and knowledgable. This restaurant is a pearl, you will not regret trying it.

Delicious food, authentic food! A little spendy but so yummy that I will be back! Service was good as well and it's in a very cute location. I had a pasta dish with lobster

The service is excellent at this cozy Sellwood restaurant. Some of the food stands out much more than other dishes. The pasta dishes are consistently tasty and you can get them in half sizes which allows you to try more than one. My friend had the scallops and was underwhelmed and another had the Branzino, which was good but it's a whole fish so you don't get very much meat off of the fish. We would visit again, especially to try out some of the other pasta dishes.

This was our first visit to A Cena. My wife ordered the beef tips over home made ribbon pasta. I ordered the homemade sausage and pasta. Both meals were delicious!!!! Food portions were big. Service was perfect. This a a good place for that SPECIAL meal.

My husband and I weren't sure where to start. A couple of the many appetizers? Big plates of pasta or small? Would we need a secondi after all that food? Then our wonderful server arrived with even more choices. And focaccia and cheese sticks. Her recommendations from the wine list were knowledgeable and the wine we picked based on that superb. But back to the food. We had an antipasto de carne (meat appetizer) that was both incredibly tasty and perfectly sized for two to share. What a tasty selection lined with sweated fennel and olives! The baby artichokes special was popular too - and we had the last one in the restaurant. It was a toss-up which pasta dish was better - hubby's lamb ragu or my butter-poached lobster. And while we didn't have a secondi, we did share the daily special salted caramel gelato for dessert. Yes, we'll be back, and based on the rush, we'll always make a reservation if we can!

We met out of town family and was presented the most delightful dinner. a Cena Ristorante was clean the food was absolutely wonderful and the service was exceptional.

We had an excellent lunch in this charming neighborhood gem. Service was very attentive, and the chef made a special dish for one of our friends who wanted a simpler meal. Everything was delicious and well-prepared. It was quiet enough for conversation on the day we went. We'll go back.

Excellent Italian food. Very fresh and tasty. Good selection. Waitress was helpful and attentive. Quaint restaurant in outskirt of Portland neighbourhood.

We took our son and his family to a pre-Mother's Day dinner. A very intimate place with outside dining as well. A somewhat small menu with an emphasis on seafood the evening we dined. Very adequate wine list and reasonably priced. We enjoyed a bottle of pro secco before the meal and a very nice Soave Reserve with the meal. The ladies enjoyed the wild salmon entree. It was on a bed of lentils, onions, cherry tomatoes and olive oil. The salmon seemed to be topped with a pear marmalade. My son and I ordered branzina style whole sea bass. Very moist, sweet flesh with no fish smell. Not an every day priced place, but definitely a place to go for a special occasion with your family, including kids of all ages. Quiet enough you could carry a on conversation in a normal tone of voice, Definitely recommended.

Had friends in from out of town that love Italian food. Found this place and booked a table. The staff was super polite and very detailed in their descriptions of the menu choices. I had steak and potatoes and was quite pleased. Understand the Scallops were the best ever had, but I'm not a seafood fan so I didn't try them. Oddly enough, the table next to us received their dinners just prior to our ordering and the subject of scallops was overheard. They volunteered the scallops they were eating were *the best* they'd ever had. That sealed the deal and scallops were part of our foursome's dinner selections. Friendly staff. Attentive. Nice atmosphere. Great place for a date or a get together with friends. The after dinner treats menu was quite well apportioned. We tried three things and found them all to be outstanding. Everything brought to our table exceeded our expectations and delighted us all.

There's a reason this place has won awards. I go for the lobster agnolotti. The focaccia is the best I've ever had. The wine is list is well thought out. The owner is awesome as are all the staff. I bring friends and family here frequently and they always ask to take them back again later. Get on their email list and you'll get recipes :)

This is my fourth visit back to A Cena. Because it's tucked away in the Sellwood neighborhood I sometimes forget it when deciding where to dine on date night. For this meal my BF and I split the fried artichoke for an appetizer. Deep fried in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt it was surprisingly delicious. I started out with the limoncellotini and my BF had the pear brandy sidecar. I was hoping for something a little more sour and "lemon droppy" in flavor. I followed with my own pear brandy sidecar which was quite yummy. I had the casa salad with arugula and radicchio and BF had the spinach salad. Both were nicely done. For the main course I had the short rib and BF had the veal. Both were very tasty. I'm not a fan of fatty meat so I actually enjoyed BF's veal more than my short rib. Saucewise, both entrees were quite good. We finished off with the tiramisu. Delicious.

Used to eat here more frequently several years ago, just returned last night. They are still doing a fine job. Atmosphere is excellent for conversation (place was about half full on Monday night). The rigatoni with pork was quite tasty, and the branzino (sea bass) was a special treat. Will return more frequently.

Their starters are great, the pasta was excellent, and the secondi were very good. They had a fig bruschetta that was simple but very well done. The value is also good, a half portion of pasta +/- an antipasto is a very reasonable mean (and most of the half portion plates are less than $20). Their desserts were well done, the Panna cotta special had an impressive burst of passion fruit. I would readily recommend this place to anyone.

Being from Eugene and road-tripping over to Bend and then up to PD, we just flipped coins as to where we should eat, referring to either Yelp or TA as to what businesses were near enough to us. Hubby and I went on a binge with Italian food in our home town and found a few items that we enjoyed enough, some were above par, but the pasta experience has been average. 4 of us dropped in last night (w reservations) and sat at the bar until our table was ready. The restaurant is cozy (2 rooms) and boy was it bustling with customers and waitstaff. :) We started off with a very nice bottle of Tempranillo for us girls as suggested by our bartender. The boys were ordering mixed drinks and beer. We were led to our table and enjoyed the help of our waitress and the company of the owner who was welcoming and fun! We ordered the caprese appetizer and grilled romaine salad to start (they dropped a basket of focaccia and Parmesan sticks w fruity olive oil, as well) and so far... EVERYTHING was delicious. Entrees: lobster w corn ravioli, 2 sea bass dinners, pork meatballs w marinara and parmesan. Delicious!!! BRAVO!!!! The lobster was TO DIE FOR! The raviolis were tender and literally burst in your mouth w the creamy filling. Mmmmmmm.... Sea Bass was roasted and crispy, loved how they put a crunch of salt at the bottom of some of the dishes. Clever! Last time we had pasta somewhere, we had to ask for more sauce. Not here-- no way!!! Good thing! Deserts: choc and pistachio cannoli and a butterscotch and whip pudding. The cannoli was not sweet, which is usually a good thing, but none of us cared for the flavors inside. No big deal. The pudding was not overly sweet, as well (yay) and the flavor was delicious, tho a bit gritty. Hubby didn't get any butterscotch flavor on his palate, but I can't stand butterscotch, so I probably consumed half the dessert that was meant to be shared by all of us. Ha!!! All in all with 2 bottles of good wine, all the above and 2 glasses of 20yr aged port w dessert (fladgate) our bill was $300. Would we go again? In a heartbeat! In fact, the next time we visit, I would order some type of pasta (which I rarely do in order to avoid being disappointed) but I'd order up a ravioli here everyday all day long! Kudos to the owner, Chris. A job very well done!

On a visit to Portland, I took my family to a Cena for dinner. We were seated a couple of doors down the street from the main dinning room in a non-descript room which apparently housed another business which had recently gone under. The wait staff was very efficient and helpful. The servings were tasty and generous. My wife raved over the corn and lobster Angolotti. Unfortunately, the Cannoli was ruined by adding chocolate to the cream

On matter when we dined here or with friends or alone, we have always been met with great service. The grilled romaine Caesar salad is great. The pastas are fresh and tasty. The lobster raviolis are fantastic. Their veal chops are huge with the best flavor.

Last night we returned to a Cena again with friends and had 4 superb meals. The frito mixta is always exceptional, the Cesar with tender radicchio was great and each of the pastas was devoured by us. We are long time PDXers and foodies and a Cena is where we go when we want a great meal in a friendly atmosphere with professional servers. the vibe is upbeat and you can hear your tablemates!

This place is really good. The server was super friendly, and our food was delicious. This is in a great neighborhood in South East Portland, I highly recommend it.

Loved the space and the service. Two in our party had the steak special and were underwhelmed -- wished they had stuck with the more traditional Italian fare (especially when the bill arrived). Another had a perfectly portioned half dish of ravioli with lobster and loved it. Fourth person very happy with her pasta. We were 1 for 2 on the appetizers. Would advise people to be a bit less adventurous when ordering here. We will return but maybe will go after 8pm.

delicious food, great service, acceptable price, pleasant setting. a great place for a party, an intimate dinner or a fun get together.

What a special treat. We arrived earlier than our reservation and were seated right away, I enjoyed an Apperol Spritzer and my husband a cappucino. The grilled Romano salad was especially wonderful and larger than I expected, very rich. Bacon was more like seared pork belly cubes. A shareable dish. The bread and homemade cheese straws (special mention!) came with top quality olive oil for dipping. We loved our spot tucked into a table out of the way next to the window, framed in the velvet curtains. Entrees-I had Agnolotti-luscious pillows of ravioli filled with velvety smooth sweet corn & mascarpone, topped with clarified butter and lobster. Lovely! The half portion was still a good size and I couldn't finish. Hubby's entree was a special not listed on the menu. Curly pasta ribbons with garlic, chives and shrimp. Also amazing, he ate every bite. For dessert I had a cannoli, which I was hesitant to try because I've yet to have a good one, authentic, outside of Italy. We spend time in Tuscany last summer and I loved good Italian cannoli, which are sadly not the same here.Until now! This was the best cannoli I've ever had in this country. Crisp shell lined with chocolate on the inside, creamy/cheesy filling not too sweet, studded with lightly crunchy pistachios and chocolate bits. Yes. Hubby had tiramisu, which was also rich, creamy and perfect, not boozy though. Service was amazing and top notch. We'll be back.

Had dinner with friends. Menu had a nice selection. Service was very good. Among the 3 of us we had a nice selection of food. All of it was well prepared and tasty. As a nice touch at the end of the meal the owner stopped by and offered us a free sampling of a home brewed Italian liqueur made with black walnuts and vodka...tasty. The only downside was that the price of one of their specials, which was not provided by the server, turned out to surprisingly high.

We went for dinner on a Friday night, and had a two-top, but the noise was so loud I couldnt hear either the server or my guest. Food is just average, despite the fact that all the pasta is house-made, much of it is cooked in butter and too rich. Service was good, but far from perfect: we had to wait ten mins for the server to first come to the table. Once you order, the food comes very quickly. Very good wine list, particularly for Italian wines. I hate noisy restaurants, and would not recommend this one at all. There are too many better choices in Portland!

My wife and I went on a golf outing on Saturday to play Eastmoreland GC. After dinner, we decided to find a spot nearby since this is not our usual haunt. We came across a Cena and had a wonderful dinner. We snagged a table outside on the sidewalk - pleasant, marred only by the occasional passage of a TriMet bus. I started my dinner with what was described as a "black Manhattan" made with a slightly herbaceous Italian liquor. We shared a great caprese salad with ripe seasonal tomatoes. My wife had a vegetarian pasta entrée which she really enjoyed (even though she is not a vegetarian), and I had a pasta dish with rabbit. Delicious. We topped our dinner off with a shared tiramisu. Not sure how often we would visit since it is out of the way for us, but if you are in the area, I would definitely give it a try!

Delicious food and a comfortable yet lively ambience. Will definitely be back for more! Try the squid!

Excellent food and service . Their signature dish, lobster ravioli was to die for! Wine was great too

A group of 6 of us (mostly Italians) visited this long time establishment in the Sellwood area of Portland tonight. We shared several appetizers, countless entrees, many desserts and several bottles of wine. I must say this is one of the top restaurants in Portland in my book. All dishes were superb! I was totally impressed!! And the service and facilities were fantastic. Please try them. It would be well worth you're time and dollars!

A quaint spot in a lovely part of town, the menu is focused and diverse. Our starter of octopus was very tasty, and nicely presented. The lamb ragu over tagliatelle was delicious and the pasta fresh. The lamb chops were seasoned well and cooked to temperature correctly. The polenta was good, creamy and flavorful. Wine choices were varied with a reasonable range of prices. The service is attentive. Too much so. It became quite intrusive as my wife finished her meal, with multiple servers trying to remove her plate before she was done. While it was a Friday evening, there were still many open tables and no one waiting for a two top. One really does not wish to be rushed out when trying to enjoy a meal (especially for a $150+ tab for two).

I have wrote a 5 star review for this restaurant before, however they have not lived up to that since then. And it’s mostly due to service. We have waited 2 hours to be seated before, as multiple other parties walked in and were seated because they had reservations. I’ve been told multiple times that they don’t take reservations for smaller parties. Not necessarily true, because I have made reservations for my husband and I. Staff needs to get on the same page. That’s the longest time I’ve ever waited for a seat and will never wait that long again. Also, Loris is consistently the most rude waitress my husband & I have ever encountered. And we dine out quite a bit. We are a younger couple, and she always makes us feel discriminated against based on that. She will see our empty drinks and plates, make eye contact with us multiple times, and not come to check on us once, but literally checks on the couple of senior ladies sitting RIGHT NEXT TO US. I counted and she checked on them 7 times to our 1 time, within about 20 minutes. Had to ask a busser to send her over so we could get refills. Similar situations have happened other times when we’ve been here. This was our anniversary, we were not offered desert, and I will never give them my plate to box up my leftovers again. There was multiple large pieces of lobster meat on my dish when I gave it to them to box up. When I opened the box at home, there was no meat. Just pasta. I wish I would’ve taken a picture. Unacceptable for a plate of food that costs $47. I will come back because the Agnolotti is my favorite meal and it’s worth it to me, but I will look forward to the experience more when Loris is not serving us. And I will make sure she doesn’t serve us when I come back. My husband doesn’t want to go back.

Great neighborhood, very quaint, on street parking was no issue. Our company took a group of us to this fine restaurant for a first dinner in Portland. We started off with wine which had an excellent selection. It was moderatly priced and was wonderful. Appetizers followed with an assorted olive tray, breads with dipping oil and herbs. The mixed salad was next with a great cheesey house dressing that was great. For dinner I ordered the crab and shrimp stuffed ravioli. This also came with large chunks of lobster in a delicate white sauce over the top of the dish. It was heavenly and had a great mixed seafood flavor. For desert I ordered the taramasu which was top notch. I would definitely come back here anytime I'm in Portland as it was an outstanding dining experience.

This restaurant has a menu that varies regularly and offers regional Italian specialties. The wine list is superb. The standard house salad is great and easily large enough to share. The Campania Pork chop was moist and very flavorful.