Well, we're home from another fabulous meal at Asena Restaurant on Santa Clara in Alameda. We've been dining there for years, and we've always had a terrific meal. The hosts are both very warm, welcoming, and friendly. There's a full bar, a great wine selection, and delicious salads, appetizers, and entrees. There are great desserts, although they tend to favor creamy selections, so beware if you're lactose intolerant.The wait staff is friendly and polite, the prices are reasonable, and there's usually parking right at hand. One of the best restaurants in the East Bay! read more

Excellent service and meals. Egg plant and mushroom ravioli were delicate and delicious. Tiramisu was as good as it gets. Got busy about 7 p.m. Resy may be a good idea if later. Nice patrons-atmosphere. read more

Service was really great. The staff were really attentive. The food was fresh and delicious. They don't have a kids menu but offered to make certain dishes in a kids portion, but my kids ended up ordered pasta from the adult menu and sharing and love it. read more

Great waiter. Nice patio. Flavorful but a little skimpy on the goat cheese and persimmon salad toppings given the price. Delicious salmon.

Great food, the wine was amazing and the service was good. Cozy and relaxed atmosphere topped it off.

Dinner tonight was amazing! Asena has been one of my favorite restaurants in Alameda serving Mediterranean cuisine with a Cali twist in a cozy vibe. You must order their signature mushroom ravioli as an appetizer. It's currently a main entree that serves 4 raviolis that you can split as an appetizer. The sauce is so good made from wine, butter, and Gorgonzola! You cannot eat here and not try it. Also dip the bread in the sauce before they clear the plate. Trust me and you'll thank me later. Some other delicious mains are the petrole sole fish, squid ink pasta with prawns, and the paella. Also highly recommend their house salad with Gorgonzola and balsamic dressing. Their dressing is simply exquisite! Their cheesecake and vanilla bean gelato are a perfect way to end your meal. All entrees range from around $21-$34 and they have responsibility priced wines and a full service bar. All their food is simply delicious! Been going here for 10 years and never had a bad meal or service. The staff and owner love what they do. Check them out for date night, girls night out, business dinner or a family celebration. read more

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Went here a few weeks ago, and I can't stop thinking about the delish food and amazing attentive service that we got from every staff member that we came across. Stand outs were definitely the fava bean crostini GET THESE!! As well as the homemade scallion fettuccine with prawns in a creamy lemon sauce. I still dream of these flavors and the perfect homemade pasta frequently. We can't wait to get back here. The salads are delicious and crisp too, you can just taste the quality of the ingredients used, and everything is plated wonderfully, presentation is key you know! Vegetarians will also be delighted as they have quite a few options to choose from aside from the apps and salads. My partner had a wonderful eggplant dish. We were wayyyyy too full after everything lol we could barely even finish our wine, but we will definitely be going back to try deserts, and order different entrees if I even dare because like I said that pasta was AMAZING!! We were given more fresh bread to take home which was a sweet touch, and they put away our left overs and bagged them for us. Can't wait to visit again :) read more

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total five-star experience, including food inventiveness, presentation, quality and value, combined with excellent service and beautiful ambience, inside and out. Turkish/Mediterranean cuisine loved the spinach and feta filo triangles and the soup of the day was a mushroom soup which was fantastic. the orzo "risotto" with grill chicken, gnocchi and grilled eggplant were all delicious they have a few really interesting martinis and I opted for their version of an espresso martini, but made with Turkish coffee, so it wasn't as sweet as you might expect. I'd like to try all the others so will return soon! but above all, the service was outstanding. attentive, friendly and not obtrusive can't wait to come back! read more

I've been wanting to try this place for some time now. It was a cold night, and I made reservations for two and figured we would be able to sit inside. But being that it was a very busy holiday evening and we had to sit outside. At first, I was a little turned off by not having the option, but it wasn't all that bad since they do have heat lamps. The staff was friendly and the service was okay. The food came out warm, yet the pasta dish I ordered was overcooked. The noodles were somewhat mushy, but the steak we ordered was delicious. The steak btw is big enough to share. The only I didn't like was while the two of us were still eating, one of the waiters kept coming to the table asking if we were done like 3x's within 5 minutes, and even once tried to grab the plate while there was clearly still food on it and we were still enjoying it. Other than that, the place was cool, and might try it again, not sure as of yet. read more

Asena Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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Absolutely marvelous!! The owner himself served us and made food recommendations. He recommended the Ribeye steak topped with a garlic butter. Fantastic! And paired with the Trefethen cab from their collection was the best I've had in quite awhile. Thank you Asena for keeping a tradition of pride and excellence in your restaurant. read more

The service was great. The atmosphere was great and packed. We made a reservation in advance. We ordered the housemade gnocchi with fresh ricotta and the paella with chicken, linguica, Mediterranean seafood for dinner. The paella was good but a bit salty. The gnocchi was good but a bit cheesy for me. If you like salty and cheesy flavors, this restaurant would be great for anyone who wants to try Mediterranean food. read more

Asena Restaurant - Paella with chicken, linguica, Mediterranean mussels, prawns, leeks, saffron, rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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** Review for Alameda Restaurant Week's Dinner Menu ** Asena delivers again! Seasonal cuisine with Mediterranean influences that's light, flavorful with friendly and welcoming hospitality. S T A R T E R (choice of soup or salad) * Arugula, citrus, sliced beets, feta, pickled onions tossed with balsamic - nicely balanced salad as arugula can be peppery and bitter...dressing was lightly sweet, feta giving that salt and citrus giving a little tang...(4/5) * Beef Barley Soup with applewood smoked bacon - sampled my friends soup and it was rich in flavor with a hint of smokiness. Owner said it's a soup cooked all day (5/5) E X T R A (not part of the fixed menu) * Breaded quartered artichoke hearts with a spiced aoili - nicely crisp and yummy if you like artichokes. D I N N E R (choice of salmon, Asena's signature mushroom ravioli) (4.5/5) * Filo filled with minced lamb, caramelized onions, Parmesan, in a sherry Demi-glace - wonderfully crispy filo with a sweet and savory filling with a rich sauce...Friend and I agreed this was a definite favorite. * Scottish Salmon filet with basil brute blanc - friend said it was perfectly cooked and nicely seasoned D E S S E R T (5/5) * Panna cotta with caramel - oh my! I can honestly say my first time having it with caramel as normally it's with a coulis of berries or fruit...the panna cotta itself was decadently creamy and the caramel layer on top pushed it to new heights! NEFIS (yummy)!! menu offerings, extensive wine list, welcoming and friendly service from the owner: explaining each dish, how it's prepared, and recommendations. Staff attentive and efficient. Relaxed atmosphere with a lot of regular Alameda locals. Plenty of metered street parking ($1.50/hr!) and off busy Park Street. read more

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This was definitely a 4.5 star dining experience. It was such an enjoyable relaxed atmosphere, although the staff works very hard and diligently. They were very professional and completely pleasant throughout the meal. We started with salads and I had the mixed greens that came with nuts, sliced pear and a block of grilled cheese. It was dressed just perfectly and quite satisfying. Everything was fresh and rightly proportioned. My dining companion had a house salad that looked equally good and he commented perfectly dressed too. I tried the eggplant entree and YUM it was delicious. Layered with onions, artichokes, tomato, cheese and lots of delectable flavors, but the standout was the roasted red sauce surrounding the eggplant. It was heavenly and I could have eaten a soup bowl full of it. The plate arrived a bit too hot to eat, but I'd prefer that over way cooled down. I just had to wait some to not burn my palate. My dining companion had the gnocchi and they were unusually shaped and big! He said they were the best gnocchi he's ever had to eat, quite a claim! I tried one and the flavor was spot on, grilled and a bit sweet too. Excellent. Both entrees were quite plentiful and filling. I washed mine down with a Spanish white wine, a perfect accompaniment. They had a bread and oil/vinegar dip that were good, and the servers kept the water glasses continually full. The place had a great upbeat vibe and everyone seemed very content and convivial. Definitely a place to return to try more! read more

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This is one of the best restaurants I've recently been to. The service was impeccable. Our server knew his stuff. We celebrated a birthday at the restaurant and was delighted with delicious dessert (tiramisu + cheesecake) after our main courses (paella + steak). I highly recommend this restaurant! The ambiance was also very nice. It's the perfect spot to come with your friends or even a days. read more

The food is amazing! The service by Lulu is exceptional. We highly recommend this place. read more

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Hands down our go to restaurant for special occasions and a heck of a great dinner! Always ask for specials. Also they do a fish or beef carpaccio. My go to for dinner! Service is the upmost BEST in Alameda! Also if you are into wine, ask the servers! You'll be surprised. read more

Francisco is a fabulous server. Full bar, nice vibe, great tasty hummus. Easy parking. Excellent mashed potatoes.

I brought my godson here for some quality time. He had the shortrib special. I had the eggplant. We both found our meals enjoyable. We also shared the sweet potato, curry bread, and salad. The salad was really good, the sweet potato was okay and the curry bread not our favorite. They graciously gave us dessert, which he enjoyed. The restaurant is intimate and the service was good. Be mindful, you can hear others' conversations pretty clearly. read more

Asena Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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We stopped in for my Wife's birthday and had the backyard section to ourselves. We ordered a bottle of a Cab as well as the Salmon and Ribeye and these dishes were amazing. Definitely the best quality food of any restaurant in Alameda. To add to that, the ambiance of the backyard was incredible and it was amazing to have it all to ourselves. Finally, the service was excellent and the waiters were very attentive throughout the night. We'll definitely be back given we only live so close and I hope this place keeps doing well. read more

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

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Arena's wonderful flavors are back! This restaurant started by two Mediterranean gentlemen, one tall and one short, some 25+ years ago, has survived the COVID downturn and revitalized its traditional cuisine. The last time I reviewed this restaurant ( 18 months ago after 2 unsatisfactory visits), I was only able to give it three stars. Though the menu was the same basic affair it had been for years, the exquisite sauuces that had always drawn my hearts desire had lost their zest. ƁUT NOW l All is restored, the earth and stars as once again is in their proper orbits, and Asenas Eastern-Mediterranean- Californian fusion cuisine is once again a delight for lovers if good food. Welcome home! ....The lamb and traditional Turkish salid are especially good! We also had the Bucatini pasta ( they could have had a little lemon zest and basil to kick up the flavor, but it was ok.Bon appetite! Pictured is their great Tiramisu and raspberry sorbet. read more

Asena Restaurant - DESERT. Raspberry zinfandel sorbet (background) and Tiramisu. - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

Asena has become one of our favorite restaurants. My partner suggested an impromptu date night at Asena the other night, and I happily took him up on it. We had yet another great experience. This time RB ordered the stuffed chicken and I ordered the gnocchi. Everything was good, but I particularly loved the chicken as it came in a delicious red pepper sauce. Yum. Be sure to ask for the full wine list (separate from the daily menu), as they have some gems in the back, and the owner does a great job at making recommendations. The owner/head chef is extremely passionate about what he does, and it comes through in the food and the experience. Take your significant other here, you won't regret it. read more

The best outdoor seating in Alameda! Very cute and romantic setting. It has the outdoor patio heater that'll keep you warm. Great presentation of the food and they were delicious! We ordered 'Red & Yellow Beet Carpaccio Feta', very fresh and the balsamic drizzle sauce was citrusy and super tasty. The 'Fresh arugula salad' was enough to share for 2 people, and it taste great. The 'Gulf Prawns over house-made scallion fettucine' was very delicious, one of the best pasta I've ever had. Highly recommended especially if you want to impress your date! read more

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Had a great Valentines dinner last minute without having a reservation. The owner Mustafa was super friendly and accommodating, and the staff is very polite and professional! I had the petrale sole, and it was excellent! Thanks Mustafa! read more

The location is small and quaint, low lighting and tables close to each other like in an European restaurant. Asena with Turkish cuisine as well as Italian and Spaniard cuisine sets the mood for a mesh of tastes. "Asena" a myth of a she wolf from a Turkish folklore. The restaurant serves from lamb eggplant, gnocchi to Paella. My companion ordered the gnocchi which the rich cream had a nice flavor. I ordered the chicken, linguica, mussels and shrimp Paella, although it was tasty and lots of mussels and chicken, the rice was creamy and kind soupy not a complete Spaniard original. The plates were good portions and beautifully served. The blood orange cheese cake was yummy and the Turkish coffee great! The music playing had a Brazilian tune which made the experience a mixture of cultures in one place! read more

Asena Restaurant - The Gnocchi with cream sauce - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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Thank you to Restaurant Week for introducing me to some of the most DELICIOUS food on the island! We were so intrigued by the specials and regular menu that we didn't even do the prix fixe. Every single dish we tried was savory, perfectly prepared and satisfying. We started with the bacon wrapped dates which come in a plate of 3. Great mix of savory and sweet. Then we had the seared haloumi cheese plate with olives, sooooo gooooddddd! It's like an upscale mozzarella stick. We also tried their Manhattan seafood chowder which had a great broth. Then we had a wonderfully dressed tangy dressing with blue cheese endive salad. I haven't had such a tasty dressing in a long time! For our main dishes we had a tender rib eye in a burgundy sauce with roasted cauliflower in the side that paired well. The smoked salmon ravioli was so good as well. My favorite though is the paella! Really good portion of seafood and great sauce in the rice. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Food was really good, but nothing to brag about to the folks at Michelin. Dessert was good--they make it fresh daily, pasta is made fresh there as well and delicious. Service was excellent. Made sure our water was full and checked in at the right moments, not interrupting good conversation. Ambiance is intimate, comfortable ans not stuffy. Enjoy really good food in an undiscovered spot. read more

Wonderful visit to Asena. Last visit was about 15 years ago. Had forgotten this gem of Mediterranean dishes offered. Last day of Alameda restaurant week. Brought the family. All of us will return soon again. Thank you for a very nice family evening dinner! read more

Asena Restaurant - Shrimp Risotto -Prix Fix entree - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

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Definitely a solid restaurant in Alameda. Four stars for great customer service and good food. No dish knocked my socks off so minus one star. There is a small bar for wine and cocktails. We had a salad, the market price salmon and the market price ribeye. I would definitely get the salmon again. read more

Awesome food, perfect service and nice ambiance. Make reservations if possible Seasonal menu with all items being delicious read more

If I could give more stars I would! My wife and I absolutely love this place! We go as often as we can! They have delicious food! I could eat the creme brûlée forever! They make good drinks too! The service is impeccable! The atmosphere is a nicely balanced! We recommend this place anyone and everyone! read more

One of the best meals we've had in a while. I got the ribeye special and the steak was perfectly cooked. My partner had the gnocchi and neither of us had leftovers. The owner is very gracious and happy to see his customers. read more

Alameda just opened up, again, to outside dining so we started looking for a place. I found this place after making sure they got the memo about being open. We decided to go. My partner say she has mentioned this place to me in the past, but I don't recall. I think she was holding out on me. Any who. This place is nice. They have a great brick patio area  with trees and vines.  There is only outside seating because of the virus silliness. When they do have indoor seating it looks like a romantic spot.  Date night!!! They call the menu Mediterranean with a Cali twist. I see it. They have a full bar, extensive beer list and totally adequate wine list. My partner started off with a lemon drop and I had tequila and lime. I also had a split of Pol Clement Brut (not in the menu) We started of with Shishito peppers with a garlic yougart  sauce. I love Shishito peppers in any kind of sauce. My partner had the smoked salmon ravioli and I had the eggplant stuffed with lamb and guyere cheese with a marsala wine reduction. There was chicken breast, salmon, and hanger steak also on the menu tonight but I was very pleased with my choice and my partner was pleased with her choice. So they also had a 2012 Trefethan Cab on the menu. Since it's one of our favorite wineries we had to have a bottle. The dessert menu was nice but I went with a cognac and coffee. Cognac is dessert, right? I can't believe I I have been living in Alameda this long and my partner has never taken me here. This is one of the nicer places in town. Also, apparently the wine list is very extensive but during this goofy time, not completely published, since they have to discard all the paper menus. If you don't see something you like on the wine list, just ask. One more time. Very, very nice. I am impressed. We will be back frequently. It's not Joel Robuchon, or The French Laundry but for Alameda it is totally a 5 star restaurant. read more

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We have always had amazing service! The food is cooked very well and fresh! A favorite on the island and great for special occasions!

Date: 2/14/2018 Time: 6:57 PM 51° Partly cloudy I have bookmarked this restaurant almost a year ago. Today is Valentine's Day and my honey-do asked me where I would like to dine at. My first choice was Asena, followed by Paradiso in San Leandro. I love Paradiso, but I wanted to stay in town. My honey-do and I have never dined here and this evening was our first time. We did not know what to expect. However, my first impression was a lasting impression. We did not have reservations to dine here. However, one of the owners (Muhittin Arpaci) was very accommodating and kindhearted. He did not turn us away; instead he had us wait for available seating on a drop-in basis. Okay, it is about 7:15 PM. Do we have time to order from the menu, to enjoy our dinner and dessert, and to finish eating before 8:30 PM? It could be, and it was done. I really cannot say enough for Mr. Arpaci making our Valentine's Day a memorable one. Such hospitality and graciousness should not be left unmentioned. His demeanor was one of compassion/passion - compassion for all the diners and passion for doing his best to please everybody. While waiting for a table, I observed how he was with other patrons coming in to dine - so welcoming and jovial in personality, greeting them with the utmost courtesy and respect. I love it! The ambiance is cozy and intimate. The lighting was perfect for a romantic dinner for two. Red heart shaped mylar balloons were placed in the dining room. Windows were decorated with red garland trimming. Framed artwork on one side of the walk. The opposite side was the full bar. Since it was Valentine's Day, Asena had a special Valentine's Day Menu 2018 for one's dining pleasure. The courses were soup (cream of asparagus), choice of four different salads, choice of six appetizers and choice of seven entrees. My husband could only have something on the soft side, nothing crunchy or hard. He opted for the fresh Dungeness crab cakes with lime aioli and a small side salad. I went for the Petaluma chicken breast stuffed with wide mushroom, Parmagiano-Reggiano, Marsala reduction. The dinner was excellent. Both he and I enjoyed everything from Mr. Arpaci's kindness to the memorable Valetine's Day dinner. Most definitely we will return to Asena for lunch. read more

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Best food in Alameda. Eggplant with lamb was marvelously tasty. Cozy place with great service. I will definitely return.

Always get the special fish of the day. It's so good! We came in on a late night after work ( still in work clothes) We felt welcome and well served read more

Lovely garden with well spaced tables. Food straddles the line between middle eastern and Italian. Mushroom soup was a stand-out and eggplant stuffed with ground lamb was off-the-hook. Others had salmon and pasta with chicken--all ver good. No time for dessert this time, but cheesecake looked tempting from a distance. read more

I chose Asena to celebrate my 74th birthday. I love Mediterranean food and the pictures of the patio were great. When we arrived, no one was outside and there were free tables inside. My daughter asked about eating outside and they immediately agreed. I usually go right to the food but I must begin with the service. No one hovered but they were very attentive given that the three of us were the only customers on the patio. The food was excellent. I had the pistachio chicken. It had some korma vibes with a cravable sauce. My husband is not a big eater but he cleaned his plate of the eggplant with mushrooms. My daughter had eggplant ravioli. She was very impressed. They had a candle on my dessert and sang. I am an old foodie and I really enjoyed my dinner but I will return because of the friendly service. read more

Best restaurant in town! We planed out our courses so we would have room for dessert and it was perfect!

Monday night, very good service, appetizer was a olive/pepper fried cheese combo was excellent, house salad was very fresh and tasty, the entree and special was a mild sausage ravioli with a cream pepper sauce was excellent, great selection of Belgium style beers and craft beer, I travel alot and this meal was extremely delicious and enjoyable! read more