"a Cena is our favorite restaurant in Portland hands down. The atmosphere is that of an authentic Italian dining experience. It’s an intimate space with beautiful decor. The staff are talented and knowledgeable in both the food selections and the wine pairings. Our ongoing experience has been that we can throw out what we are craving for wine that evening and our server will always give us just what we are looking for. Now, the food. Oh. My. Gosh. It’s unmatched! To start, we like to enjoy the burrata. It’s wonderfully chilled with the proper amount of seasoning and oil melts in your mouth. The bread basket that is served when you’re seated is fresh, aromatic and full of flavor. Not to mention the addicting crispy breadsticks! On to the main course if you come to a Cena for the first time and aren’t sure what to get, it’s easy. The Lobster Agnolotti will take your breath away. Topped with a generous serving of tender lobster that has been cooked to perfection, the Agnolotti is a wonderful pasta stuffed to the brim with a beautiful and delicate creamy corn mascarpone filling. A soft buttery goodness envelopes the dish and it makes my mouth water just writing this! To finish is the tiramisu. Always! It’s light and fluffy in all the right places and dense and filling in all the other right places! The flavors come together extremely well and leave you wishing you could indulge all over again! There is nowhere else like it! The owner Chris will come and greet you with his kind humor and love of food. He’s wonderful! The entire dining experience is one that you just have to have here in Portland! You will leave already planning your next visit back!"
