10/10! Very cute small restaurant, with amazing atmosphere. Mufasa, who I assume was the owner, was our main server. I can tell how passionate he is about the food and he was proud we were trying new things. We went for a girls night and every person left satisfied and full. I had the salmon ravioli and chefs kiss! My friends love tiramisu, and I'm not a fan of it because I don't like coffee, but I had about four bites of it because I couldn't stop going back for more, I wish I ordered my own. I can't wait to go back and try more items on the menu. read more

Lovely evening celebrating my son's graduation from SFSU! His choice of venue and it did not disappoint! Everything was delicious from plate to plate. We started with apps, garlic toast with special Marinara, asparagus wrapped in Filo , beets sprinkled with feto. For dinner we shared the entrees family style which was a delight! Buscatini with chicken, eggplant and lamb, stipe bass with white sauce, palella with seafood. Bucatini and sauce was delicious. The chicken that topped it was a bit dry. Eggplant was good! The lamb was a bit gamey tasting. My son thought it was from New Zealand as their lamb taste is more prominent. Stripe bass with white sauce and veggies good! We wanted salmon but it was sold out. Palella was flavorful and enjoyable. Everything on this plate cooked just right! To continue the celebration we ate dessert! Crème brûlée, raspberry sorbet, chocolate crème. Delectable and hit the spot finish :-) Thank you Asena for capping off a beautiful day with tantalizing our tastebuds. read more

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Went to Asena to celebrate my sister's bday. We had a large group (9 people) and they set us up in a great spot in the back. This place definitely is popular and got crowded even though it was a Thursday evening. Our waiter and all the staff were very attentive. I ordered the paella and, boy, was it delicious! Lots of mussels, chicken, sausage and shrimp and the rice was so flavorful. My family also enjoyed their dishes. For dessert, I ordered the panna cotta with caramel. It was sweet and the texture was very creamy. They brought out a slice of tiramisu on the house for my sis' bday. We all tried some and it was definitely one of my faves. I would definitely go again. read more

Asena Restaurant - Panna cotta with caramel - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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very charming dinner spot. the food is amazing, the service is great and the team is very hospitable. we will be back :) the chef made our experience so wonderful and you can tell he really cares about the restaurant and quality of food! read more

Recent dinner with my husband. Reason I have been going here for 30 years. Food is always fantastic and delicious! Owners Muhittin and Mustafa treat you like you are their only customers. Love this place and our go to when we want a fabulous food experience and want to feel spoiled!! read more

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Best food In Alameda. Staff fit me and my wife in with no reservation before dinner rush. Very accommodating. Food was amazing. Would drive from Sacramento just to eat again. read more

My favorite Alameda restaurant. Very good food and the owners really understand how to treat their patrons. Always a treat!

Such a pretty restaurant with such kind staff. It's beautiful inside and the outdoor area is also very cute. It's the perfect date night spot or dinner with friends/family. The food is delicious and fresh! The owner makes everything in house, including the dessert. He's owned this place for decades and was very welcoming to everyone at the restaurant. This is such a gem in Alameda, I would highly recommend it! I'm looking forward to going again! read more

Truly a gem in Alameda! Phenomenal food and even better service. Be prepared to be wowed! The food is next level delicious! Thank you to the entire staff for always making dining such a special experience. read more

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Excellent restaurant and may be the best place I've tried in Alameda. Mushroom soup was great. Bruschetta with white sardines was the best. Pastas were good. The ravioli were excellent. read more

We came for our anniversary and brought our dog and luckily got a seat on their patio which was so peaceful! The service was great even though we were the only ones on the patio they did not forget about us, just was a tad bit slower. FOOD (what we ordered): - Red Sangria - Fried artichokes w/ chili lime sauce - Mixed green salad - Ribeye steak special w/ roasted veggies & potatoes - Prawns with pasta in lemon cream sauce FOOD REVIEW: Everything was great, but the entrees and the salad were over the top! We both agreed that the Pasta dish was the best pasta we've had in a LONG time! Overall we're excited to say we will be back. read more

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Best little restaurant on the island...finally reviewing after coming here multiple times over the years...have never had a bad experience or meal here. Service is always on point and the staff/owner are great.Had the Ciopinno this time...full of fresh seafood and a broth that was excellent especially when dipping bread in it. Bring your own bottle of wine ..$20 corkage fee I believe it was. Its definitely a small space and you'll be close to the next table but it's always a good crowd...highly recommend! read more

I love that one of the owners is always on staff. They are both so friendly and make me feel very welcome. I have never had a bad meal there in all the years they have been in business. read more

Great food and service! A gem in Alameda. Weeks day walk in, nice ambient, easy street parking.

Food--fabulous, tasty, and filling. Service -- amazing. The owner was fantastic. Super catering, pleasant, humble, and great charisma. Ambiance-- great tuck away vibe. If you want a little reprieve from the hustle and bustle all while getting a little taste of the quaint vacation spot vibe, this is the place. Can't wait to go again! read more

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Everything we ordered was excellent. I had artichoke ravioli with lemon cream sauce that was divine. And the tiramisu was superb!

Came last nite. The food I would say was good 7/10. We had there mushroom special 3 small mushrooms filled with something the sauce was good and Fresh Burrata was fresh and good. And we shared a main eggplant with lamb. The main server while taking an order was terrible my daughter asked how much the special salmon was he didn't know. Go to any $$$ restaurant they have eye contact and can explain and give y the price without any hesitation. Just don't understand why it's so complicated to get professionals to work. Also ordered lemon drops which were $15 each but very low budget and were not good. It was my daughter's birthday we brought a little cupcake I asked them to add candles. But for a young lady they could have and should have dressed up the plate or even brought something on the house like ice cream. Service was terrible I always had ti flag down to get utensils they took ours and never bothered bringing new ones to get the table cleaned. When dining out this is a given. For the price no white table cloth. Very overpriced for not fine dining and didn't even make my birthday girl feel special. There are so many places to eat. And I would not be returning. The owner was there and couldn't bring anything out not even to decorate a plate. ‍ read more

Arrived on a Friday night and the place was packed. We lucked out and was seated quickly . The restaurant is quite cozy. We started with drinks and the bread which arrived warmed paired with evoo and balsamic. We ordered the following: *****- kabocha special was delicious and perfect for a cold evening ****- paella w/shrimp, chicken and mussels; shareable **** - eggplant stuffed lamb; very small serving Our food arrived hot as we were seated near the kitchen. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. She was waiting on several tables and was very hospitable. The owner was very warm and inviting. Overall, the food is $$$ for what you get and is ok for once in awhile date night. Would be pricey for everyday casual dining. read more

Asena Restaurant - Paella - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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Really excellent sea bass special. Moe, the owner, does a great job of keeping the menu seasonal and interesting, and the service and ambiance are excellent. read more

Very overpriced for the food, the service, and the experience. My wife and I tried a Asena for the first time. They couldn't seat us in the back outside (more desirable seating area?) and instead sat us in the alleyway (high traffic area) that leads to back. Menu and the day's specials sounded good. The prices seemed high but we expected to get a dining experience reflective of that pricing. We ordered their special appetizers of the day...crispy potato puffs and bacon-wrapped dates. Though very tasty...not worth the $13 each for the small portions. $14 each for a rum and coke and a basic manhattan were also overpriced. My wife had the squash ravioli (only 4 non-meat raviolis) and I had the gnocchi...each for $23. Both arrived with just pasta and sauce. Not very satisfying. Still hungry, we both ordered the chocolate pot de creme at $10 each. We should have gotten ice cream at Tucker's. On top of the overpriced meal, the service was very slow. They forget one of our appetizers (didn't deliver it until we reminded the waiter after we received our entrees). Though staff kept walking by our table, we had to flag someone down for more water, to order dessert and to get the check. Worse still...we left hungry. Not good for dinner out. Overall, an unsatisfying dining experience. We won't be returning and we can't recommend Asena to other diners. read more

Food was delicious!! Service was excellent. Wish the portions were a tad bigger but that's probably just because the food is so tasty.

I explored many Alameda eateries and photographed a few of Asena's highlights during Restaurant Week. I loved the closeness and intimate atmosphere, and these are the coolest dishes I saw. They serve very fresh Mediterranean coastal lighter fare, and there's a great backyard. It feels friendly and familiar. read more

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We visited Asena with a 5pm reservation for a party of 8 on 07/29/2024. This was my first time at this restaurant. It was slow early on; however, it got quite busy as the evening went on. This restaurant was awesome! The service was great, the prices are reasonable and the food was spectacular. It is a small-ish restaurant that seems to also have a large outdoor area; however, we were seated indoors. It has a full bar and wine menu. Our table shared some of the appetizers including the hummus, which was excellent. I had the Sofia's Chicken, which was incredible. It was a pistachio crusted chicken breast with mushrooms and a sherry sauce. Yum! For dessert, I shared the chocolate bread pudding with another member of our party and it certainly did not dissapoint. I would most definitely return to this restaurant again. read more

We were seated outside, I loved the string lights, the scenery was really nice. The service was amazing, the server and other staff frequently checked in with us. The food was really good! We started with Mussels for our appetizer. It was swimming in a delicious cream sauce, very flavorful and comforting. Highly recommend dipping the complementary bread in the sauce! For entrees, we had Paella and Ribeye! The Paella was packed with seafood flavor. Loved every bite of it. The ribeye was cooked to medium rare perfection. Solid experience overall, definitely coming back! read more

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Such a homey place to eat in Alameda! I absolutely loved everything from the food to the service. The owner was very enthusiastic and hospitable. They start you off with some fresh bread paired with olive oil & balsamic vinegar. The bread is addicting and we definitely got a couple rounds. The Brie special (4.5/5) was great and cheesy so if you're a Brie lover I highly recommend! The mussels were good too (4/5). The veal ravioli was delicious (5/5). Meat was tender inside and the flavor of the pesto was amazing!! Finished off with a creme brûlée which you can never go wrong with. I loved this spot and will definitely recommend to anyone in the area. read more

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Ughhhh, I feel so bad writing this. Promise I do. I'll be quick. Just giving you a glimpse. Asparagus appetizer--literally 5 asparagus $14 Fried artichokes --literally 5 small pieces $14 Anyhow, for 4 of us ---the above appetizers, a salmon plate, a pesto pasta, paella and 2 cocktails....with a 20% tip...$230. And I still went home to eat something because I was hungry. Food was good. Service fantastic. Just too pricey. read more

This is a very cute restaurant in Alameda, a block or two from Park Street. Street parking was easy. We were meeting a friend and the servers were kind enough to sit us early and take our drink orders while we waited. We ate dinner on a weeknight and it was quite busy, so I would recommend making reservations prior. We ordered the hummus with linguica, which was an interesting addition. I got the small mixed greens salad with pear, and it was nice and light. For the entree, we shared the squid ink fettuccine with shrimp, which was just enough to share between two people. We also walked by the outdoor seating area and it looked very cute. Would love to stop by next time! read more

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Everything went really well! This was our very first time dining at this excellent establishment! Great service & charming cozy ambiance too! The 3 of us really enjoyed all the courses! I especially liked my squid ink pasta dish with Mussels & Shrimp with the super deeelish addition of the tart braised red cabbage on top (should have asked for a bit more actually), just the right compliment to the mussels & shrimp and Parmesan topping! Also loved my Pot de Creme dessert We'll be sure to return even though we live fairly far away on the Peninsula! read more

It was my birthday dinner with five of us . They went over the top to give us everything we wanted or needed. It was wonderful homemade food enough for another meal very happy to find the restaurant and we will return soon read more

Our friend was moving to SoCal and we wanted to take her out for a farewell dinner at Asena, which was conveniently located to where she lives. I've been wanting to dine her but never made it happen. We were here on a warm Wednesday and planned on dining in their back patio, but it was full, so we dined inside. It was quaint with about 12 tables. Our server, I think was the owner, welcomed us. He handed us the menu and described the specials. As we looked over the menu, we were served focaccia bread with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip. The bread appears to be homemade and was warm, soft and was delicious. We got seconds and thirds of the bread. We started with the Charcuterie Plate, which was one of the specials. It came with four cured meats, prosciutto, coppa, and two types of salami drizzled with olive oil with marinated vegetables in the center. The cured meats were so fresh tasting. Delicious. I had the Paella. It had chicken, linguica, mussels, prawns, leeks, and peppers. The saffron rice was moist and flavorful and the seafood was perfectly cooked. One of the best paellas that I've tried. Roasted Veal Ravioli in a house made pesto sauce. It came with four large veal stuffed raviolis in a light pesto cream sauce. Orderer enjoyed the raviolis and was impressed with the veal stuffing. Mushroom Ravioli in a mushroom cream sauce. This was a special and our friend loved it. Tiramisu and Vanilla Bean Gelato - We shared the desserts. I liked the tiramisu, which was light, moist and not overly sweet. How could I have not dined here before? The food was delicious and service was friendly with a quaint ambiance. A great Alameda spot and looking forward to dining here again. read more

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Fantastic food and service. This is truly an Alameda gem! We love their outdoor patio, so we can take our dog too! read more

One of the standouts for me at Asena is the service - The servers are very attentive and the owner is so pleasant and sociable. Overall, the decor may be very simple, but the atmosphere is warm and inviting, particularly because of the people who work there. My partner and I arrived at around 5:30pm on a weekday, so it wasn't too busy and we didn't need a reservation. We were seated right away. We were started with fresh bread along with olive oil & balsamic vinegar - the perfect way to start the meal! It definitely brings me back to Italy. We ordered the following: 1) Crispy Breaded Artichoke with a lime aioli - The breaded artichoke was fried nicely with a crispy exterior and paired well with the lime aioli. There wasn't a lot of artichoke flavor to it, so if you don't like artichokes, this might a good dish for you! For me, I wish there was a stronger artichoke flavor. 2) Steamed Mussels with fresh spinach and sun dried tomato in cream sauce - Solid dish and as expected. The mussels were fresh and I particularly enjoyed the fresh spinach! Personally, for me, I think the cream sauce could have had a little more flavor. 3) Paella with chicken, linguica, Mediterranean mussels, prawns, leeks, peppers, saffron, rice - This is a good dish to share. It's flavorful with plenty of protein! Overall, I enjoyed the meal and the service. It's a nice and cozy location for a meal with friends or a date. In addition, they have an outdoor eating area, which looked really nice as well. Next time, I'll want to try a few of their pastas dishes as it seems to be more popular! read more

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Hidden gem In alameda with beautiful cozy outdoor dining Start off with complimentary bread dipped with vinegar and oil, fellowed by a refreshing strong old fashion The salmon was flicky with a hint of sweet and tangy The ribeye grilled perfectly to medium rare Each dish comes with garlicky mash potatoes and seasoned veggies Such a full meal not enough room for dessert . read more

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Four pieces of pasta for so much money. Terrible value. Staff and chef were very friendly but just absurd prices. Grossly overpriced.

I will not go back. Our meal for two was 2.5 hours long, most of that time waiting for our server. The salad was overdressed, my salmon was over sauced. For these prices, I'll stick to Trabocco. I'm disappointed because many friends had recommended it. The complete picture has to include that the owner greeted every table but ours, and we were seated at 5:30, not really busy. And after seating us, someone came over to check if we had had a reservation. Hmmm. Completely unwelcome. Never again. read more

This was good. I mean real good. As a sucker for squid ink dishes, the homemade pasta here was stellar... with the odd cabbage and Turkish tinge of spice on the shrimp, an amazing combo of cultures. The other half gave the branzino fish dish an ok. That's not the only reason to drop a star... the place is sloooooow. Too slow. The staff is super friendly but still. In 1.5 hours we got a salad and mains. The mousse looked stellar but at this point it was almost 9pm (we got there at 730). You guys should get rid of some outside tables to make the place more efficient. read more

*Open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, and takeout* Came here about a week ago on a Saturday evening to try Asena for the first time. It was near closing, so there were still folks dining, but the number was dwindling down. I also dined again last night (Friday night), where it was more popular and a bit crowded. Staff and service: - The staff is friendly and is very good about checking on you to see if you need anything (they don't over do it) - There are multiple bottles of hand sanitizer by the front door - On my first visit , we were seated quickly. On my second visit, it took some time to get noticed by the door since it was crowded - My only downside is that because this restaurant is popular, it is crowded inside, with tables quite close to each other. This does make it a little hard to hear each other Food: - House-made hummus with linguica and flatbread: I ordered this both times and will probably continue to order it. I'm a hummus and flatbread fan, so this is delicious - Stuffed chicken: this was tasty, especially with the mashed potatoes and vegetables. Fair warning to not order if you do not like olives or artichokes. Unfortunately, this was not my favorite as I'm not an olive fan, and our waiter added a ton of pepper after I had asked for just a little bit - Cesar salad: tasty and I wish there was more! - Gnocchi: this was so delicious. The portion is a little on the lighter side, so this is enough for one person if there is a small appetizer as well. The ricotta, the basil, the texture of the gnocchi - all delicious - Beets: super tasty if you like beets - Crème Brûlée: comes in a cute little mason jar to enjoy alone or share with someone. This was quite divine Miscellaneous: - Be sure to hear their daily specials - Street parking available Overall, enjoyed both of my dining experiences here and will be coming back for more! read more

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Best food we've eaten in Alameda. Fabulous, homey atmosphere. Super-nice and knowledgeable staff. Every dish tasted of tradition and home-cooking, while elegant and bursting with flavor. One of the best Caesar salads I've eaten (and it's one of my go-to FAVs). My wife loved the mussels and my ravioli was quite good. Nice wine selection; very cozy outdoor seating. read more

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Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or have friends & family visiting or maybe just a nice treat after a long week, Asena is always the perfect choice! I think it's one of the best, if not the best restaurant in Alameda! I know it sounds like an ad but I'm not being paid for this review lol read more

Asena Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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Excellent food and excellent service! First time trying this place out tonight and it was outstanding! I had the lam stuffed eggplant and was living for it! I would happily take a bath in that sauce! Lol. Will definitely be back! read more

Asena Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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