Food was great, vibe was great, but the thing that made the night fantastic was Obie's incredible service. We sat in the bar, and he provided excellent table service, making us feel welcome and appreciated. His cocktail game is on point. He clearly enjoys sharing his well honed craft. read more

Aiona - Cocktails - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

First time at Aiona since it opened about four months ago, and we were really impressed. It's from the same owner as Allora, and you can definitely see some of the same attention to detail here. They offer valet parking out front, and the restaurant itself is beautiful--spacious, upscale, and comfortable without feeling overly formal. We were able to walk in without a reservation, although I'd probably make one on the weekend. One of our favorite things about Allora has always been the cocktails, and thankfully the drinks at Aiona are just as good--definitely on point. The food was where Aiona really stood out, though. The menu is seasonal and rotates fairly often, which makes this feel like the kind of restaurant you can come back to regularly without getting bored. The watermelon salad was a great example of the extra effort they put into the dishes. They compress additional watermelon juice into the watermelon, making it exceptionally juicy while somehow keeping it crisp and fresh. The pasta was also excellent, with a nice kick of spice and plenty of herbs to brighten everything up, and the branzino was very good as well. But the clear highlight was the zabuton steak. It was sous vide to 130°F--exactly how I like it--and was ridiculously tender. I honestly don't know many restaurants where you can readily order a properly sous-vide steak, and this might become my new go-to place for steak, even over Fleming's. The steak was paired with beautifully caramelized peppers, herbs, and greens, and everything on the plate worked together. There really wasn't a boring bite. For dessert, our server recommended the date pudding, which turned out to be another highlight. It reminded me of a more elevated pizookie, but instead of a cookie underneath, there was a warm date pudding cake. Even the way they served it showed the level of thought going into the food--the ice cream was separated from the hot pudding by a thin crispy layer, helping keep it cold instead of immediately melting into the dessert. That attention to detail was probably what impressed us most. There are a lot of elevated cooking techniques being used here, but they're not there just for show--they actually improve the food. And considering the ingredients, preparation, and effort going into each dish, I thought the pricing was surprisingly reasonable. Beautiful atmosphere, excellent cocktails, creative food, and some seriously impressive execution. We'll definitely be back. Highly recommended. read more

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My best friend and I stumbled upon this restaurant after walking around to check out the area where we had just watched a show. Their receptionist seated us right away by on their beautiful, spacious patio area and as we walked to the patio, I was like a kid in a candy store, as my eyes looked around this absolutely gorgeous restaurant. From the lights, to the art work, to the furniture designs, to the open cocktail bar and kitchen areas, I was excited to be in this restaurant and even more excited for the food. When we looked carefully through the menu, we seriously wanted everything that caught our eye, but since we had eaten dinner already, we thought, let's focus on small plates and sides to try multiple menu items this evening and next time we can try their entrees. We ordered the carpaccio with fried feta-caper and salt cured egg, souvlaki, kabocha squash, and papas bravas. Our server and all staff who brought our food did an excellent job and it was as if I was back in Napa in my fav restaurants, without needing to drive all the way there! We were absolutely taken aback by how savory and mouthwatering every bite of ours was. The exquisite presentation of the beautiful, flavor-rich mix of all we ordered made us agree we could only imagine how their entrees taste! The souvlaki plus the sumac tzatziki were nothing short of perfection, so much that I used a spoon to gently scrape off every last bit I could to enjoy it all! Then, an unexpected, disappointing moment happened as I continued to enjoy another crostini with a serving of carpaccio on top. I noticed something very thin moving in the carpaccio due to the fans above and the table light. When I got a hold of it with my aimed pinch, and I pulled all of it out, my best friend and I realized it was a very long strand of hair! Thank goodness our server was not too far away, so I raised my hand to bring attention to our table. Our server quickly reacted by apologizing and pulled away the carpaccio plate with papas bravas on it. The manager immediately followed and came to us to apologize, then offered for us to order anything we wanted from the dessert menu. Of course, we accepted this gesture. The desserts were PHENOMENAL. I ordered the tiramisu with espresso, mascarpone, and cocoa. My best friend ordered the black velvet cake with chocolate, blackberry sorbet, and cocoa nib(gf). When our server checked on us, I exclaimed that this is the BEST tiramisu I have ever enjoyed so far! Our server agreed. As if the desserts weren't enough to make up for the moment of carpaccio hair surprise disappointment, they removed the carpaccio and papas bravas off of our bill. We are thankful that the manager and staff handled the situation graciously and professionally, apologized sincerely, and made it right by removing two small plates from our bill and treating us to complimentary desserts that I raved about to friends and family. And this, folks, is why I give Aiona a 4/5 stars rating! read more

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I have been here a couple times with friends and have had a great experience. Service is always on point. The food is also delicious. My favorite is the prix three menu with alcohol pairing. I like that you are not committed to all of the drinks in the pairing. You can choose whichever drinks that are paired with each course to consume. The restaurant is beautiful. I love the decor. It can get quite loud when dining inside, but it is overall worth the experience. read more

We came here after a movie at the IMAX theater next door for our first visit. Aiona has been on my list for a long time so it was great to finally make it. The restaurant itself is spectacular - open, airy, beautifully designed. We got there a little early for our reservation and they were able to take us in without a wait which was great. Our server was really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They had a prix fixe menu which normally I am all for, but I really wanted to try some of the small dishes so I went all starters. My husband got the prix fixe and it was nice we could mix and match. I definitely over-ordered and our waiter did warn me. I probably should have skipped one of the starters I got but we managed to finish a lot. I got hummus, watermelon and feta salad, and the pork souvlaki. I am so glad I got the hummus because it was just outstanding. It comes beautifully presented with a fresh pita which we devoured so they brought us another one. I also loved the watermelon and feta salad - I don't know what they did with the watermelon but it was very firm texture, almost like a chunk of meat. Those two were my top two dishes of the night to be sure. The pork souvlaki was ok, not my favorite, but tasty and a generous portion as an appetizer. My husband got the pork chop for his main course and out of everything we tried, it was definitely not the best. The flavor was good but it didn't really seem like a good piece of meat to begin with. His other two courses, the salad with radicchio and pistachios was really great as was the olive oil cake. Looked beautiful with flavors to match. I thought the prix fixe overall was a good value for the amount of food. If it wasn't for the pork chop I'd definitely give Aiona five stars. But I do look forward to coming back. read more

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Pretty, but also pretty bland... Came here for a team dinner. The place is nice, and servers were immediately attentive. We came with happy hour still going on, so we got a couple apps and drinks to start. We got calamari, the skewers, and hummus. Hummus and skewers were good and flavorful, but the calamari was bland, and the sauce that accompanied it didn't do much for it. The saving grace of the calamari were the little fried lemons in it. For the mains, we split the zabuton and branzino. Again, both on the real mild side from a flavor perspective. Got my boyfriend the half chicken Togo, since the waiter said it was great, and again, real bland. It's definitely a healthy option, and the happy hour deal makes the apps worth it, but if I end up having to come back for work, would just stick to the skewers and hummus or try a salad. read more

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I've been to this restaurant twice now and both times I had great experiences. All the crew members here are very friendly and professional. I absolutely love the ambience here. While the space is large, it doesn't feel too open and still hasn't intimate and warm vibe and is very lively. My dinner experience here both times was delicious. Elena and Victoria are both phenomenal servers and were super helpful at each of my dinners. The Crudo, carpaccio, lamb souvlaki appetizers were incredible. My favorite entrée so far has been the Fettuccini which is nothing like you would expect but is delicious (beware-it is unexpectedly spicy)! And their oozo cocktail is to die for! I will come back for the dry aged, Bistecca! Overall fantastic experience and hope this place survives it's a great location and menu! read more

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I visit Sac downtown a bunch for work, and since I first found them last year they've been in my rotation when I stay at the downtown Hyatt. Dishes I loved 5/5: hummus, porchetta, grilled octopus -- I thought these were the standout dishes. Would recommend anybody coming here the first time to start with these. Other dishes that I thought were good 4/5: calamari, souvlaki, branzino, papas bravas Service was attentive and the interior was cute. A few times we did walk-in and we sat outdoors their tent area which was pretty hot despite the fans, so keep that in mind when booking a reservation. All in all they're great and now on my hit parade of Sac establishments I hit when in town. :) read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Second visit. This time we sat on the patio. Even on a warm day, they had A/C units outside which made it pleasant. The cauliflower main dish was lightly grilled and tasty. The spicy sauce and labneh was a nice and complementary to the dish. The zatubon (Japanese marbled steak) was also served over labneh. We came back for the excellent hummus we had last time, but the pita was a bit dry and hard (unlike the hot and fresh pieces we craved for last time). Great serve and friendly staff as always. read more

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This place was great! We went for happy hour after an IMAX movie... it's right next to the theater. We loved the drinks and all of the food we ordered...Fried Kalamari was light and crispy not oily and the Souvlaki kebabs were perfectly cooked with a delicious tzatziki. We tried the Ouzo cocktail and the gin drink both were sooo yummy! The service was quick and attentive and the atmosphere was relaxed and upscale good for date night - I can't wait to go back for dinner and try some of the other menu items! read more

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Service was wonderful, but the food wasn't astounding. The beef zabuton was tender but not very flavorful and not worth the price. The watermelon fig salad was decent but not the typical refreshing flavors as the prosciutto was very crispy and strong and the fig was a little jammy. The patatas bravas was the best but still not the best I've had. read more

Aiona - Patatas bravas - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came here for happy hour with friends and we all loved it! The staff was incredible, super helpful and kind and tolerated our indecision. We got almost everything on the menu as well as the Village Salad and Pear Bruschetta. Would go back just for the salad it was so delicious and fresh. The bruschetta was on focaccia which we loved on its own but the ricotta was a bit bland and flavorless it needed something else. Wouldn't get that again. The hummus, kalamari, focaccia, souvlaki and papas Bravas were all great and would get again for sure. Overall it's great ambience, incredible service and delicious food! read more

Aiona - Kalamari, Papas Bravas, Souvlaki & Pear Bruschetta - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Phenomenal! From start to finish, the entire experience was poetry in motion. If you're looking for an upscale restaurant that moves when you move, and just like that, you're having a glorious evening, you absolutely must dine at Aiona. Diners tip: make reservations. Valet parking is available, street parking is not. We started off our meal with the hummus platter that was served with warm wedges of pita. This easily could've been a girl meal and I totally would've been satisfied. The staff is really on top of Service and without blinking and I additional pita was brought to the table so that we could continue enjoying the hummus. Next, we had the lamb Slovakia. A lovely grilled combination of beef and lamb skewers. That absolutely were shareable. The meat was flavorful, and I may have enjoyed it with some hummus and pita. Perfect bite! Grilled octopus joined the table, and well, this wasn't my favorite bite, everyone enjoyed it For our entree, we then enjoyed the dry aged Bistecca, along with papa's brava, and grilled zucchini. The steak was presented and sliced, so that none of us had to fuss about how to cut, share, and enjoy this delicious steak. It was perfectly seasoned and prepared, medium rare, which is what we all had wanted, and despite how delicious it was, we all managed to share it. The zucchini was absolutely delicious. Literally everything was, and each dish that we enjoyed silently encouraged us to try more and more. The papas brava absolutely delicious. Who doesn't like delicious potato wedges that are crispy on both sides with a little bit of heat added to the top of them. I may have enjoyed a bite of potato with steak. Another perfect bite! We shared a tiramisu, which was easy because at this point we had all eaten so much and yet there's no way to not enjoy dessert. It's a moral imperative when you've had such an amazing meal and topping it off with a delicious dessert is indeed total perfection. Service is flawless, and we felt catered too, well taken care of, and there was never a glass that was left, emptied, a dirty plate that wasn't removed without notice, and replaced with the next dish that we had ordered. This is exactly what we all want when we want to enjoy a lovely evening out! The wine cellar is filled with so many choices, and I love the fact that it's visible. The decor while Greek inspired is clean, and this is the epitome of gentle elegance. Chef Deneb, you've created the perfect Mediterranean experience, and I cannot wait to come back and have have another wonderful meal! read more

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Honestly loved the food here I always get the fish at Mediterranean restaurants and it passed the test. Ambiance is top tier interior design on point. read more

Aiona - Fish, pasta, old fashion, old liar - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Amazing food!! This place is great to order a bunch of different things to share and try. We ordered everything at once and our waiter paced it out for us. We started with the hummus and village salad. Both great!! Then we got the souvlaki, half chicken, and papas bravas. Everything was incredible, with large portions so we had some leftovers. We really enjoyed the food and the inside is very aesthetic. The waiters were all very nice and attentive. Would definitely recommend and excited to come back! read more

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The food was good. But in the middle of our dinner the fire alarm went off. It wasn't a full restaurant and the alarm blared for a good 5+ min. Really killed the vibe and management could have dealt with it better such as offered a dessert or a small dish to make up for this inconvenience. read more

Finally, a new restaurant on K Street! Aiona is located at the base of the Esquire Building where I work. We were already looking forward to it because they catered the building Christmas party and the food was so good! It recently opened up so I came for lunch with 2 of my coworkers. The restaurant is gorgeous and we were sat outside. Our server Reid was amazing and so knowledgeable about the food and we had alot of questions. The menu is not large but the food was delicious. I had the kalamari, it was good but I did not like the garlic butter dip. My coworkers got the Aiona Verdure and the Wagyu Burger. The stand out for me was the potato leek soup. I would come back alone for that! It is pricey but it's delicious. Just for the convenient location alone I'll be back. read more

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I really wanted to love Aiona because there was a lot to like. The atmosphere is beautiful, the vibe is warm and inviting, and the food itself was enjoyable. It's the kind of place that feels perfect for a special dinner or a night out with friends. Unfortunately, my experience took a serious turn after the meal. Within hours of dining here, I became extremely ill with symptoms consistent with food poisoning. Based on what I ate, I strongly suspect the calamari may have been the source. It was severe enough to significantly impact the remainder of my trip and required several days to recover. I don't write negative reviews lightly, and it's disappointing because the ambiance and overall dining experience were otherwise excellent. I'm leaving this review in the hope that the restaurant takes food safety concerns seriously and reviews its preparation practices. If not for getting sick, this would have been a much higher rating. The setting is lovely, but my experience after the meal unfortunately overshadows the positives. read more

Aiona - The first part of our meal - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

I was excited to try out Aiona after having eaten a number of meals at Allora (their other restaurant). The location of this place kinda sucks; though, they do have valet parking, which I didn't see until after I had already parked my car in metered parking a block away. The inside of this place is very nice... nicer than Allora. The place feels bigger and brighter. The inside dining room area is fairly spacious, and they also have a big, largely-enclosed patio area outside. Since it was quite hot the day I stopped by, I opted to sit inside. They were pretty busy for a weeknight dinner; I'd say the dining room was 3/4 full or so? Our server was very nice and professional, and they had lots of servers running around helping out the guests. I guess since this place is located right next to the IMAX theater and The Odyssey had just come out, they decided to make an Odyssey themed prix fixe menu. It seemed like a good deal, so I tried it out along with some other dishes. And, I know the wine selection at Allora was always great, and it is here as well. I do believe the wonderful sommelier/co-owner was filling in at the host stand when I was seated. - maroulosalata (radicchio, mizithra, pistachio, citrus): this was a bitter citrus salad. It was fine. I don't really like radicchio; I find it to be too bitter for my liking. So, while I don't think there was anything wrong with this salad, it just wasn't my thing. The bites of the salad with the grapefruit were quite nice though. - focaccia (walnut parsley romesco, olive tapenade): the focaccia was pretty good; though, it would've been better to just have some bread grilled over the wood fire instead. Good, not great. - souvlaki (lamb and beef skewers, sumac tzatziki): these were good. They tasted like gyro meat, but were solid chunks for beef and lamb instead of ground up. Yummy. - fettuccine (chorizo, shrimp, mussels, calamari, tomato): this was probably the best dish we had, and I'm not surprised based on the excellent pasta served at Allora. Good, strong seafood flavor throughout. Perfectly cooked shellfish. The pasta itself was a tad softer than I would've preferred, but otherwise, just a solid pasta dish. - grilled beef zabuton (eggplant purée, lemon potato salad, mustard vinaigrette): this was a tasty dish. I thought the meat was going to be on the tougher side based on the effort it took to slice a piece off, but it was nice and tender. The eggplant purée was just as good as the beef. Very tasty. - portokalopita (Greek yogurt gelato, orange blossom syrup): this was surprisingly great. I wasn't expecting much, but it was a very nice light way to end the meal. It was quite a refreshing way to end the meal. I probably wouldn't have ordered this if it wasn't part of the prix fixe meal, but I'm glad it was a part of it. There was a bit of a hiccup in the service. Our server had told us that we'd get started with the appetizers that were part of the Odyssey menu (salad & focaccia), then we'd move on to the rest of our meal, but we pretty much got hit with all our dishes minus the beef and dessert at the same time. This was kind of a bummer bc I wanted to try all the food when it was nice and fresh. So, I was jumping quickly from dish to dish to try everything out, which wasn't the greatest experience. I'm not sure if things got messed up bc I only ordered one of the Odyssey meals and a couple other separate dishes. read more

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Had to post a review about downtowns favorite new spot! The space itself is magnificent and the service was wonderful. Little details here and there that could probably be refined (we were given the lunch menu instead of dinner at 9pm, the lighting seemed incredibly bright for a late night, etc). Drinks were top tier. I had the "not a big dill" which was complex but delicious- slightly savory but well balanced. My bf enjoyed his cocktail as well. Carpaccio was our favorite dish by far. Mussels with chorizo were ok and lamb kebab was pretty standard. We opted for the short rib as well which is called by another name on the menu because they were out of our first choice of main. Overall, glad to see another elevated and thoroughly curated spot in downtown! It missed the mark for me a bit as the prices seemed high for the quality and value of the meal but we will try again soon. read more

Aiona - Not a Big Dill - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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The food was fantastic, nothing more nothing less except for the Tiramisu, it was on the sweeter side, but if you have a sweet tooth for it then this would be perfect for you. The service was quite outstanding. Spencer took care of us, and he was quick with his feet. However there was an incident that was quite disturbing where he pre selected his tip to the highest amount and just told me to sign it off. Other than that I'm not going to point any fingers. The ambiance was quite nice and was very comfortable, definitely a must try if any of you get the chance it's a wonderful experience. read more

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Aiona is a new live fire restaurant next to the IMAX theater by the same head chef that operates Allora. The atmosphere and food were amazing! The only tip off that they are a new restaurant is that there was a little bit of a wait for our reservation (about 10 minutes), but other than that, the service was very smooth and professional. They were packed, and it's only week 2, so all considered, this was a great experience. To start, we ordered the tahini old fashioned and a glass of moscato. The lamb souvlaki appetizer was amazing! I hope they add a lamb souvlaki plate as an entree offering in the future because that was my favorite dish all night! The salad we ordered was a nice, light complement to offset the richness of the other dishes we ordered. My husband and I split the risotto and the porchetta for our entrees. They were both incredible! The flavors were amazing. I don't think the porchetta needed the fruit chutney it was served with, but my husband enjoyed it. For dessert, we ordered the date pudding and a glass of Hungarian dessert wine recommended by the sommelier. Those were also amazing. Such a unique combination of flavors. Highly recommend both! We were celebrating our wedding anniversary, and I'm so glad we took a chance on a new restaurant! I hope we'll be back at Aiona for more special occasions in the future. read more

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So delicious! Everything was super fresh and high quality ingredients. This was a chic and charming experience. I felt great being able to doll up and come eat here with my girls. I ordered the risotto, and it was very delicious, creamy, and lots of flavor. The papas fritas were crispy, and had a kick of spice. Their drinks were also delicious! I loved their scallops too, but most of everything is pricey so just be aware! Our server Max and all the workers were so informative, attentive, and super kind!! read more

Aiona - risotto, half chicken, fettucine, zabuton - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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What an amazing experience I had for my friend's birthday party. The food was amazing, the vibe was cozy, and the service was top notch. Shout outs to our server, Matt! He made our experience at Aiona phenomenal. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared it family style. My favorites were Saganaki and branzino. Aiona is definitely a place to check out with friends or significant other. You will have an amazing time and full belly! read more

Great restaurant in Downtown Sacramento. Food was delicious! Textures in all three of our dishes were perfect. Very impressed by the chef. The bucatini texture was perfect. Super tasty dish. Wished it was a bigger portion though. The rotisserie chicken was ridiculously good. Great blend of flavors. Surprised by how tasty the roasted grapes and onions were with the sauce. The papas bravas was the IDEAL potato texture. If I were ever to get home fries anywhere, I'd want it to have this crunchy, crispy, airy texture. Perfect. (Update: microwaved these potatoes in a hotel the next morning and the crunchiness shockingly held up - this is a five-star dish!) Outdoor patio was very nice. Ambient is cool and modern. Bonus for being pet-friendly! read more

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I knew Aiona was a vibe from the moment we walked in. The hostesses were on top of it--welcoming, organized, and set the tone right away. The entire staff was friendly, and you can tell they work seamlessly as a team. I watched this place get built from scratch and waited a full year to finally dine here--and it was absolutely worth it. I'm not easy to impress, but Aiona made it look effortless. They clearly understood the assignment. We started with a dirty martini ($22), and honestly, it was one of the best I've ever had. From the eggplant to the lamb skewers, everything was exceptionally well-seasoned--flavorful and tender. The wild prawn bucatini was cooked perfectly al dente. Not a single flaw all night. We sat at the small tables across from the bar. Our server, Alexander was incredibly sweet, knowledgeable, and professional--you could tell he was properly trained, which made the experience even better. The overall execution here is top-notch. With the perfect combo of great food, excellent service, and standout cocktails, I don't have any reason not to come back--especially since it's so close. See you again soon, Aiona read more

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It was couples date night and we did an early 6:15 seating. We were seated right away. The decor was bright and clean and welcoming. We brought our own bottle of wine I immediately I'm cooked it for us and brought out glasses. We had Sammy as our server and she was lovely went over the specials and shared with us some of the menu items. The food is really flavorful and the service was really good. We started off with the beats and the pop bravo as appetizers and they were delicious. My husband and I did the prefix menu and enjoyed the entrée. Very was not a fan of the traditional dessert that was part of the entrée and it was very sweet that the server brought out some additional gelato as an apology.. It wasn't necessary, but it was a class act. Overall all four of us had a great experience and we would definitely come back again. read more

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So cool to see this place come together. It's got an old-Hollywood-meets-Greece ambience, which I love. Got served by Brett at the bar, who evidently developed the opening cocktail menu (slam dunk, sir). We came for the happy hour specials and everyone was VERY happy with their drinks. In particular, I loved that the Kind of a Big Dill cocktail is rimmed with sugary, ground dehydrated orange that makes the curaçao pop. The sliced cucumber ribbon not only looks chic, but adds a delicious, fresh essence to the whole thing. 10/10 For food we ordered the papas bravas (if you like paprika, order these now!) and the calamari. Potatoes were delish. Calamari wasn't cooked in hot enough oil and was more soggy than crispy. Brett noticed we were avoiding them and asked if there was anything wrong. I sheepishly told him the issue and he was quick to correct it. Excellent service. We felt taken care of. Only word of caution, it smells amazing to be in here-- I think there's a wood burning stove or something that infuses the whole place with a rich woody aroma-- but you will also be infused with this scent. Not quite "campfire" level, but your clothes will smell edible when you leave. Lol read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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5/5 interior and decor Located next to a parking garage near the Wells Fargo building I believe it was. The doors were a bit tricky to get here. 4/5 Service - very sweet front desk staff. Food took a bit to come out during lunch hour. 3.5/5 Risotto well presented but lacked some flavor 3.5/Waygu burger with side salad The decor looked beautiful but for the price I was a bit disappointed in the food flavors. read more

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We planned our visit around happy hour at Aiona, only to find out the hours had changed without any notice. What was advertised as 3-6 PM is now 2:30-4:50 PM pretty significant difference, and one they made just one week after announcing happy hour. The ambiance of the place is modern but warm, and loved the murals. The drinks and food was delicious. Both the cocktail for dirty martini and gin and tonic was very well balanced and the presentation was beautiful. Burger was delicious! Definitely tasted the wood fired char, and the meat was thick and hearty. I thought the house made giardinera really complemented the dish. House salad was simple, but very fresh and unfussy with the ingredient and loved the shaved vegetables & fruit. With that being said, the service was just horrible experience. One of the worst I've ever had. After our initial order, we were completely ignored the entire time. We had to grab our server's attention multiple times just to get one cup of water. They never once checked in to ask if we wanted to order more drinks or food. We wanted to order more of delicious cocktails... but since we were ignored, we never got the opportunity. When it was time to pay, I tried to get the server's attention repeatedly and got nowhere. I held my credit card out hoping they would notice. Still nothing. I ended up having to wave my hand with my credit card in the air before the manager finally came over to settle the bill. Just comical experience... It was a really disappointing experience because Aiona has so much going for it. The ambiance is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the drinks are outstanding. But the service completely overshadowed all of that. I really hope they improve and wish them the best of luck. Will I be back? Probably not after being ignored multiple times. read more

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Last night we ate at a new restaurant on its first-ever Saturday night, and it was absolutely poppin! Man, am I glad I made a reservation. We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and I'm so happy we did. Right away, I loved the menu. It was easy to read, beautifully laid out, and had such a perfect balance where everything sounded delicious. We started with the Kalamari, followed by the Brutus Savoy Cabbage Salad with tahini, parmesan, boquerones, and egg. I was a little nervous about the anchovies, but they were surprisingly light and honestly delicious. For dinner, my friend and I ordered the 72 Hr. Short Rib with labneh, spice fried onion, and chermoula. It was perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. But then my husband ordered the Porchetta with strawberry & apple chutney and mustard demi, and WOW. I instantly had food envy. My short rib was great, but that porchetta is the dish I'll be telling people about. We also ordered the Roasted Carrots with hazelnut sesame dukkah and white balsamic, and they were the perfect side to round out the meal. We finished with two desserts, and while I didn't grab a photo of the dessert menu, they were a great ending to the night. Beyond the food, I loved the interior. The colors, furniture, and overall vibe were so warm and welcoming. I also loved the communal bathrooms. We sat in a booth near the runner station, so we got to watch the kitchen and team in action, which honestly made the experience even more fun. It was a little smoky, and we definitely left smelling like a campfire, but I didn't even mind. Watching the team work through their first big Saturday night, support each other, and keep pushing out dishes was such a cool part of the experience. Overall, this was such a fun dinner and a strong first Saturday showing. I'm excited to see this place grow, and I'll definitely be back especially for that porchetta. read more

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The restaurant opened less than a week ago. The interior was spacious with nice pink and green walls/ furniture. The mural is also a nice focal point. Outside seating is available as well. Parking can be tricky. There is some street parking a block or so over. I parked in the garage for convenience. Valet is also an option- $12. I was looking forward to their happy hour after looking at the menu online. After being seated at the bar and looking at the menu, I was disappointed. They had taken several items off the original menu that was posted. Honestly, I wouldn't have came if I knew this beforehand. I ended up ordering the calamari and carpaccio. To be fair, both of them were excellent. The calamari portion was quite big and the sauce was interesting. The carpaccio also came with a piece of fried feta, which was tasty. I'll have to come back and try more things in the future. read more

Aiona - Carpaccio - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Went for lunch, got the Italian sandwich, it was excellent. Service was great and while it was priced at $22, I felt it was worth it and even took 1/2 to go. read more

Aiona - Italian sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

The knowledge of each item on the menu was impeccable. We walked in with some business owners who knew the owners of this business, and they treated us like rock stars. The service was amazing to say the least, and the ambience of the place really set the mood for our beautiful wives. What a great way to celebrate a birthday, eat light and enjoy our favorite people. read more

Aiona - My people - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Upbeat bistro inside and glass-covered patio that we chose. New and old world wines at more fair price points. We chose too many plates but managed to finish them all. We ate strictly to enjoy creativity and flavors. Service matches cuisine. A special occasion restaurant that we will make a regular selection if only we can control the number of selections. read more

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From the moment we arrived, the upscale atmosphere set the tone for an incredible evening. I ordered the sweet corn risotto with Bordelaise mushroom and ham, and every bite was an absolute masterpiece--perfectly creamy with an amazing depth of flavor. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations and attentive service throughout the night. I highly recommend this spot for a special dinner. read more

Made a reservation for this place and was seated on time. Ordered the hummus and carpaccio as a starter and they were both flavorful and delicious! For the man dish, I got a half rotisserie chicken. Keep in mind it doesn't come with any carb. Service was great. Bathrooms were clean and also all-gender! read more

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We were excited to celebrate our wedding anniversary here, but unfortunately the experience was disappointing. Our food did not arrive until about 1 hour and 20 minutes after we ordered. When we asked about our order after the first hour, we were told there had been a server change. Because no one had informed us about the server change or provided an update during the wait, we were left feeling forgotten. It still took another 15-20 minutes for all of the food to arrive. When the food finally began to arrive, we still had to remind the server that part of our order was missing. By then, we had no choice but to take it to go, so I can't fairly comment on the food itself. I'm giving two stars because the restaurant did comp some items, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of it. As we were walking back to our car, the restaurant called and asked us to return to pick up a credit card that did not belong to us. I'm happy for those who have had a great experience here, but ours was disappointing especially for a wedding anniversary dinner. While I do not currently have plans to return, I would be open to giving them another chance for lunch or on a less time-sensitive occasion. However, based on this experience, I would not recommend this restaurant for an anniversary or other special celebration. read more

First time here and sat at the bar. Matt was our server he was great. We stopped in before a show. We had drinks, kalamari and focaccia bread. All of it was really good. I want to go back again and have dinner. The restaurant was clean and busy. I heard they just opened 5 weeks ago so go give them a try. read more

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Celebrated a birthday dinner here tonight and I have a few things to say about this new restaurant in downtown Sacramento. First of all most of the food was absolutely delicious that said it took forever to get served. I must Say that the service is strange. If you get up and go to the restroom, the server comes running over and re-fold your napkin and puts it on you chair or at your place. I personally did not care for this. I don't really want the server, touching my napkin. Getting the food was very slow like about an hour from ordering to Service once the first course was served, things came along pretty quickly. Before we had even eaten, however, a server came by and tried to give the birthday girl her dessert. Oops, wrong table! The valet parking was not working properly either.. the valet was unable to send a text through. Kind of frustrating. Other than the Service problems, the food was absolutely fantastic. It's about all of us ordered the gazpacho and the Branzino.The papas bravas are absolutely not to be missed! The dinner was a more than two hour affair so do come prepared to spend time. read more

Aiona - Papas Bravas - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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