Stopped in for cocktails before the theater ! Place is on fire ! Beautiful hand crafted cocktails and impeccable service

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Every single morsel of food was delicious. The wine list and the cocktail list are perfect. I had the sauv blanc and a martini as my drinks. The starters of crudo, focaccia, and lamb/steak skewers were amazing. The Romesco and the tatami sauces for the starters were equally delicious.The roasted half chicken was mouth watering. Michael was my server and he was fantastic. The ambiance is all things in one, brunch, elegant dinner vibes, business dinner, date night, and group night, rolled all into one! I'm going back in a week!! read more

See all

I visited this new Mediterranean restaurant in Sacramento for my graduation, & overall it was a really positive experience that made the occasion feel a bit more special. The service was good, attentive, and genuinely friendly throughout our visit. Our server was especially sweet & she made us feel very welcome, and while I did wonder if the extra attention was partly because the restaurant wasn't very busy at the time empty, it still contributed to a great first impression. The food was solid overall with a few clear highlights. The pasta, in particular, was excellent and easily a 9/10 for me random pasta at a mediterranean spot. A couple of the other dishes were good but not as memorable more like a solid 7/10. The drinks were also enjoyable, the space itself is very cute, and thoughtfully designed, with a nice ambiance that works well for celebrations or a relaxed night out. It is on the pricier side, but considering the food, drinks, & overall experience, I would definitely come back again. Would be interested in exploring more of the menu next time. read more

See all

I really wanted to like this place and give a higher review, but the service I received was downright disappointing. To start with the good: The food was delicious, and came out very quickly. Drinks too. If the review was just for food and drink, it would be 5 stars. Sadly, the service I received was very different than the quality of food/drink. The bad: My friend and I wanted to come check it out for happy hour. The restaurant posted on their instagram in the last week that happy hour is 3-6. I arrived at 4:45 and was told they could just squeeze me in before they cut off seating. I was sat at the bar, and the bartender immediately told me I would need to order food now if I wanted to get that order in. No mention of them changing their published happy hour times. After the 2 of us received 1 drink each and our food, the bartender never once checked on us or even said another word to us. We had to ask him multiple times for water (to be fair don't think he heard us, though we were sitting at eye level and trying to make eye contact). We were never asked if we wanted another drink, or any other food. The person sitting next to us left a plate of food, and a manager had to come over to bus it. In the entire time we were sat, the bartending did not say a single word to us after taking our initial order. We sat for 30 minutes trying to get the bartender's attention to ask for the check, and my friend had to hold his card in the air - only then did the manager come over to close out our check. The restaurant was bustling with staff, so it was not a lack of staffing issue. We felt treated less than other guests, and we assume it was due to ordering happy hour instead of the normal menu. We would have gladly ordered additional drinks at full price if anyone had checked on us. The happy hour prices were great, but do not justify us being treated so poorly. I am disappointed because I was excited for this restaurant, but in my experience it was just another chance to receive exceptionally poor service. I hope they take note and retrain their staff, because our experience was unacceptable. Also maybe let people know you've changed the happy hour times (a totally acceptable thing to do, but really not ok to make no mention of it on an active social media account). read more

I loved the atmosphere. The appetizers and drinks were a hit--so delish! I wish I can say the same about the entree, risotto. Risotto lacked a lot of flavor. Unfortunately, had to ask for fresh cracked black pepper and salt on the side to spruce up the flavor pallet. Also the risotto texture was porridge like; watery and running, possibly due to the peas. Giving it a 4/5 because of apps and drinks! read more

Aiona - Risotto - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

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

Amazing food and service! Everything came out fast and perfectly plated. We absolutely loved the freshness and unique flavors of every plate. Can't wait to try more. read more

See all

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

Outstanding in every way. The food was excellent and interesting. Our server pointed out some items that we had overlooked, and they were the highlight of our meal. But everything was delicious. Our cocktails were excellent. The service was truly impeccable. Engaging staff at every level, and I'm pretty sure that every person that came to our table wished me happy birthday. It felt like Disneyland level of service and attention to detail. We will be back, and you should be there too! read more

Aiona - Our excellent cocktails - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Sac really needs more date night, high ambiance spots and this is one of them now. The fries and beef were a tad oversalted but still tasty and the prices were reasonable for the overall package. The pasta seemed to be made from scratch so I'd recommend going with that. Honestly it's a bit cheaper than other places in its category, like Ella. read more

See all

We recently met some friends for dinner we all tried the Odyssey dinner menu, which was created in partnership with the IMAX theater next door. It was a clever concept. The three-course meal included a fantastic arugula citrus salad, and the steak and chicken mains were cooked to perfection. While we didn't care for the phyllo dough dessert, the staff kindly offered a much better alternative. Overall, the ambiance was spot on and the service was solid. read more

We originally had reservations at 715 on a Friday holiday weekend, but arrived early around 6. The restaurant is very authentically decorated. The arches, the colors, just very Mediterranean. It wasn't super busy for a Friday evening and we were sat originally outside, but honestly at even 6pm it felt like a hot box. The outside patio is glassed in with very little air flow. They did offer to turn on the portable air conditioner, but it can only do so much. They were kind enough to move us inside. The service was quick, friendly, knowledgeable. We were going back and forth between a few things and the server recommended the seasonal peach bruschetta. Unfortunately this was a miss for us. The focaccia had a nice crust to it however the peaches were more puréed and mushy. Combined with the burrata and balsamic sauce the focaccia crust wasn't enough texture and it just felt over sauced/dressed. The prosciutto added to the top was fantastic and balanced out the sweetness. Something else added a heat on the backend which was a nice surprise. The souvlaki was delicious. Some pieces were way over cooked compared to others. Maybe we just like it more medium rare than medium/well done; less tender. Our next course was The Brutus salad. These dishes are all meant for sharing and provide a generous portion for such. Sadly we felt the salad contained more of everything but the actual cabbage. The pita chunks were very large, it was overly dressed and contained a ton in parm cheese in addition to crispy cheese pieces. Salads are definitely hard to serve dressed as everyone likes things served differently. I think over all, we just wished there wasn't enough lettuce/green. The main dish was the fire roasted branzino. This is half a fish and probably serves 2 comfortably. It was tender, perfectly cooked. For being wood fired it was a little oily and over salted. Made me wonder if it was pan seared? The Phil Phil sauce was interesting! In the best way! Such a great addition to the fish if it weren't so oily. It's kind of mayo-y based which didn't help break up the texture/taste of the fish. They do serve it with house made Giardiniera which does help. Overall we had a good experience and the food was good, I wouldn't say over the top. Authentic in certain aspects. We ended up spending $174 for the food alone including tip and the 4% kitchen fee. read more

See all

Aiona was awesome! First and foremost; I like that there was sound dampening on the ceiling bc my wife and I can have a normal conversation without yelling at each other. You didnt hear the silverware on the plates; which if youre like me hurts the ears. The food was great! The portions were much larger than I thought they would be. Calamari: Lightly breaded with great dipping sauce. Papas Bravas: Fried to a golden crisp with a creamy interior; the two sauces were also great. Branzino: Buttery, flaky, and with a crispy skin. Perfect. Golden beat salad: Earthy but with the accompanying citrus sweetness was a perfect balance. Overall great ambiance; great decor and good service. I highly recommend for a date night or drinks and apps to catch up with friends. read more

Had a wonderful salad and glass of sauv blanc for lunch at the bar. Aesthetic is fun and bright. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We were greeted and welcomed by a friendly hostess, which isn't always the norm these days, so I really appreciated that touch. Looking forward to returning soon for dinner! Highly recommend! read more

Aiona - Entree salad minus the sheep's milk feta. - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I enjoyed this place better than Allora actually. It is pricy, but worth it. The service is attentive but unobtrusive. The wine list is varied and well curated. The food is well prepared, seasonal, and inventive at times while having a strong traditional base. Really well done. We will be back. read more

Great Ambience, craft cocktails and even better food. My mouth was watering as I was eating the hummus, it was delicious ! Looking forward to introducing friends to this new wonderful restaurant read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

We're returning to Aiona! The second I walked in, I was blown away by the amount of detail put into creating a visually stunning backdrop for what turned into a memorable dining experience! The hospitality was on point. A smile goes a long way and the waiters were very attentive to making sure we were content. Every dish served was beautifully plated with vibrant pops of color that made it almost too pretty to eat. The flavors absolutely lived up to the presentation. Each bite was fresh, balanced, and full of depth. One of my favorite things on the menu was the hamachi crudo. The fish was incredibly delicate and melted in my mouth, paired with refreshing slices of charred citrus and thin-sliced chilis. The combination of flavors was bright, clean, and unforgettable. We also had the pleasure of enjoying roasted carrots, hummus, porchetta with strawberry and apple chutney, and wood-roasted branzino. Everything we ordered was exceptional! The wine selection is outstanding! Something that I also appreciate on the menu is non-alcoholic beverage options. I had the Righteous Odyssey, Ritual 'rum' ginger and lime. It was a lovely way to cheers in the night with my family. Overall, a delicious and beautifully curated Mediterranean meal that felt both elevated and heartfelt with the rustic accents from the open fire in the kitchen. I can't wait to go back with more friends and family! I appreciate all the options on your menu. I truly wish I could dine at your restaurant everyday. Thank you Aiona!!! read more

See all

Whew! Aiona is all the things! Sexy, cool, moody, midtown Manhattan, date night, getting together with friends, amplified solo date on you name it. We were dining to celebrate a friend's birthday and if I had to summarize the entire experience: 10's across the board! I was greeted by Li, the GM, when I arrived. Very kind lady who gave me an overview of the restaurant that only heightened my expectations. Li walked me to my party's table of which I told her just point the way, but she insisted. Victoria took excellent care of our party, as did Jenny. We started out with the hummus, kalamari, eggplant, souvlaki and they were delicious. Special nod to the eggplant; the flavor combinations, blend of temperature's and texture was the table favorite. For dinner we shared grilled baby squash, fettuccini, papas bravas, and bistecca. Again, 10's! Table absolute faves were the steak and fettuccine. I could sit here and just write about the steak...OMG! I was on the fence about the fettuccine but in our friend group majority rules, and I'm so glad we ordered it. The creamy sauce was completely bananas! Stuffed beyond tick at this point, no girlfriend's dinner is complete without sweets! We ordered the tiramisu and oooh'ed and ahhhh'ed until the last bite. What an unforgettable time at Aiona, can't wait to return for date night with my hubby! read more

See all

Aesthetic is there. The brand association with Allora is comforting. The service is solid. But the food is reminding me once again that Sacramento remains in a serious rut. Every dish tasted the same. Not one dish had that WOW moment or factor. All of it was "it was decent" vibe. And I think we were hoping for more than that. It pains me to say this and maybe it's still early so will be back a few times. My last visit was a week ago, so will revisit as newer restaurants need time to acclimate and find their groove. read more

Legitimate for food, service, ambiance -- you'd never know they were only open for a few months! Worth a whole trip to Sacramento just to eat here! Order: hummus, peach bruschetta, Bistecca, and date pudding dessert! read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

We went to celebrate 3 birthdays. It was 14 of us. Where do I start!!! First, the entire staff was very kind and professional. They allowed us not to do a set menu which we do not like. Our server, Mathew was beyond amazing and accommodated us very well. We loved the food and enjoyed every minute of it. Very beautiful place and that patio experience was also amazing. Will definitely go back again and highly recommend this place. read more

See all

It would have been nice to have some kind of notice that their patio was going to be closed before heading down there with our dog. I was really wanting their fried fish sandwich. That's ok tho because Ella was more than accommodating to us and our dog. read more

Service was great. Waiter came around often continually clearing the table. While he provided us a description of the menu item since it was all Greek to us, I do wish he would have described the quantity Zabuton ($56) was 4 thin slices of steak about 2.5 inches in diameter. Also, I was grateful that he made provisions like extra utensils because he knew we were going to share our food. The quality of the meal itself depended on what you ordered. For example the 2nd of the 3 course meal was a pork chop. The pork chop was horrible. It was full of gristle and difficult to cut even. For the cost, there are number other places you can get tender higher grade pork loin dinner for similar prices. Our eggplant appetizer was very good, but we had greens I believe was broccoli and spinach and also Risotto that were so...so...so salty (as if you swallowed ocean water). After almost a $300 bilI (which by the way included a 5% kitchen charge and a 20% to 25% suggested tip), I walked out thinking there are too many restaurants even in Sac'to that serve tastier food at a better price. So bottom line..... unimpressed despite the price. read more

The hummus was fresh and the pita was light but flavorful. There are set hours for lunch, Happy Hour, and dinner. It does not cross over, so plan for each menu. The wine selection for Happy Hour was also exceptional. Not the cliche Chardonnay and Merlot but slightly more exotic. The Chenin Blanc was nice and crisp, with great notes of green apple. Not a standard for the default happy hour in downtown. The hummus looks to use local produce and was reasonably priced. Service was also fantastic, with the appropriate amount of attention. Not too much or too little depending on how the clientele seemed to require. The couple next to me tried the majority of the happy hour offerings (excluding the hummus) and were between the Saganaki and Carpaccio. Definitely worth a stop off if you can sneak out of work a bit early and try the samples that are included in happy hour (2:30-5:00 Monday thru Friday) read more

Aiona - Hummus (Happy Hour) - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

All I can say is wow! What a wonderful place to dine. Their Happy Hour menu is delightful and very tasty, We came here with a group of 5 people and ate our way thru the entire menu. Food is delicious and the staff was nothing short of superb! I highly recommend trying this place for a group get together or a romantic dinner for two. The decor in the restaurant is simple yet elegant and very welcoming. Definitely going to be my go to place to eat when coming downtown! read more

The hostess was very attentive, had a great personality and was very friendly. The server was very responsive although toward the end, after I mentioned I wasn't in a hurry, started to feel like I was being rushed (I think he may have been at the end of his shift). The drinks were amazing, not a big dill and the gin and tonic I would definitely order again. The beef carpaccio is one of the best I've had. The gnocchi had excellent flavor but after a few bites the texture was a little soggy and I couldn't finish it. I definitely want to come back again and try different things! Beautiful ambiance, patio and decor! read more

Aiona - Not a big dill - delicious - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Food was ok but the ambiance is gorgeous. I loved their drinks! I would definitely recommend.

Good food! Recommending. Nice atmosphere. Accommodating servers. Looking forward to returning!

The service and food was excellent. I definitely recommend having the ribeye and roasted beets, absolutely amazing. The restaurants is very nice. read more

The menu was confusing, overly unique, and difficult to understand. The ambiance also felt inconsistent throughout the restaurant. The front areas appeared upscale and thoughtfully designed, but our family was seated in what felt like a separate "family section" with overly bright, cafeteria-style lighting, while other nearby areas had much nicer seating and atmosphere. This was especially disappointing since we had reservations for a special occasion. Unfortunately, the service was also lacking at the start of our meal. Our server seemed far more attentive to another table and took our drink and small plate orders, but never returned to take our entrée orders or check on us afterward. After waiting quite a while, I had to make obvious gestures with my menu before a manager finally noticed and came over to help us. As for the food, most dishes lacked flavor. The highlight of the meal was the date pudding dessert, which was excellent. Overall, the experience did not justify the price we paid. My family brought me here for an early Mother's Day celebration, so the disappointing experience made it even more unfortunate. I truly hope the restaurant improves both its service and food quality because it has potential, but our visit fell far short of expectations. read more

We had the opportunity to dine at Aiona on 4/23/26. What a great addition to the Sacramento dining scene. Beautiful interiors and e velvet service all the way around. Some of the offerings that we indulged in were: Carpaccio, Foccacia, Hummus, Kalamari, Maroulosalata, the Chicken, the Short Rib and the Cauliflower. All were very tasty. The standouts were the Foccacia, Maroulosalata, the short rib and the Cauliflower. The service is exceptional and the wine selection is fantastic! We can't wait to return again and again. read more

Wow! Every detail was perfect. I hade the streak sandwich and fries. Tasted amazing. I was able to walk in without a reservation. Will be back to try the market special. read more

See all

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

Service was excellent bartender had crazy knowledge on his craft. Food was excellent I can't wait to go back.

Amazing food and service! Service: Made a reservation for Saturday dinner to celebrate our anniversary - they called to confirm and I mentioned we will bring our two little kids, they planned a booth for us, and our server Samantha knew their ages from that phone call. Just one example of their attention and focus on details, just like at Allora. The wait staff fills the water, clears plates, offers help as a team, we felt very cared for. Food: everything was amazing! We went all in and got the steak, porchetta, risotto, cauliflower, giant beans, papas bravas, hummus, and carpaccio. Definitely the steak was the highlight but everything was delicious. Next time we want to try the branzino their other top dish. They made the kids fries when we asked. So accommodating. Parking/ location: easy valet $15. Decor: really beautiful and easy to hear each other, despite the place being completely full! Wines: as we expected, amazing list and knowledge and we loved chatting with Elizabeth Rose. Overall, we can't wait to return for many future dinners and will plan some happy hours as well. A new staple for us that is kid friendly but also date-night worthy if we have childcare. read more

Love the outside dinning and the live fire. Been twice with a large group outside. We did family style for the group and pre-selected several wines and dishes. Service was very good, finished plates were picked up and refreshed with the next plates. Favorite was the Calamari, the Maroulousalata Salad, (Romaine-Radicchio-Fennel-Pistachio-Citrus, and the 72 hour short rib, Valet parking also very convenient. read more

Aiona - Group of 28 outside patio - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Had an incredibly wonderful experience with my wife and son at Aiona last night. If you've never had Live-Fire Mediterranean, I'd highly recommend. It's a completely unique and pleasurable experience. We had reservations at 6 pm on a Saturday and it was packed. The decor is amazing and fits in perfectly with the cuisine. Our waiter was Curtis, who was very attentive, and so were all the support team that accompanied him with food, water and clean up service. Our booth happened to be directly across from the exposition kitchen, so we had a front row seat in watching how most things were prepared. Everyone was consistently professional, working in teams and together, along with a conductor, Chef Lee Hinton, to lead the way. Craft drinks were delicious, then there was the food - wow! For small plates, my favorite was the Carpaccio. Coupled with the toast and cheese curd, the texture and taste were amazing. I've never had anything like it before. Felt like something you would only be able to taste in the Mediterranean, yet here we were being served this wonderful dish in the heart of Sacramento. For our main plates we had the Porchetta and Wood Roasted Branzino. Both excellent! The Porchetta was so unexpected with the sweet flavor of the strawberry and apple chutney. All so fresh. We had the pleasure of speaking to the owner Deneb Williams, who mentioned they plan to slightly change ingredients to match the freshness of each season, such as the Strawberry's to Peaches when ready. We asked more about the grill as well. It's a MIBRASA, custom made in Spain, they only make about 50 per year. He and his lead chef Lee, went to Spain to purchase as well as spend time to experience other Live-Fire Restaurants to come up with their own unique menu. I'd say job well done! Finally for deserts, we had the Crema Catalan and Date Pudding. The Catalan was like a mousse but with a very delicate and distinct flavor. We all liked it very much. The Date Pudding was totally unique, both hot and cold, with a sweet sticky toffee texture. It was our favorite! Hands down, a great place to dine! Wonderful atmosphere, service and food, can't wait to go back and experience more of this exceptional restaurant. read more