SE Portland, OR - A Cena Ristorante 7.13.18
It was a Friday night in July, Alexis was working and the boys were on the East Coast. Usually when flying solo I reach out to our good friend Boz who is always ready to meet up for a quick chat, dinner or bike ride. The night took us to a Cena Ristorante (a chay na) in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland. It is a quaint Italian restaurant situated on the corner of SE 13th and SE Lambert St.
Along the exterior of the building are tiny tables for those who enjoy dinner outside and some good people watching. It was a colder than usual night for July so we made our way inside to enjoy dinner. As you walk in, there are a few tables and a bar area. The hostess lead us into the adjacent room that was softly lit, giving guests a feeling of walking into a family dining room.
They served us with the most delicious bread and oil to start. At A Cena they serve fresh seasonal ingredients from local Portland farmers alongside hand made ingredients. Therefore, the menu changes seasonally. We decided to share the grilled artichoke appetizer. For an entree, Boz ordered their well known lobster ravioli. I sampled the dish and it was like butter in your mouth. It was so delicious. I chose that nights special, trout served with seasonal vegetables. A unique variation, they de-boned the fish for me table-side.
Overall the experience was amazing and I would highly recommend stopping in to visit.