Best food and service on the North Shore, IMO. Drinks from the bar are consistently on point, and the service from the bar is top notch. Ask about the specials, and prepare yourself to be impressed. The kitchen staff obviously take pride in the work they do to produce such unique renditions of traditional favorites while still respecting the dish's origins. Awesome creativity going on in the back, for sure! Great food, great drinks, great service, wonderful place. If you haven't been, go see what you've been missing. Favorite appetizer: Bille's Bacon. Available with fried or grilled shrimp, or fried oysters on top of a THICK slab of bacon. Seafood rests on generous amounts of Gorgonzola cheese, and the Calabrian chili honey glaze drizzle just puts the kiss on top. KILLER grub! I had the grilled shrimp. Gulf shrimp, of course. read more

Cena Hammond - Insalata de Mare - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

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Pretty dope Italian spot in Hammond! OpenTable brought me and fellow teammates here for a couple team dinners. Located in the downtown area of Hammond, this may be my favorite restaurant in the area and for good reason! The interior has the right amount of lighting to give an intimate feel and there's plenty of indoor seating where tables can be pushed together for large parties. The bar area is also comfy if you're looking to pop in for a glass of wine or a cocktail. Speaking of which, there's plenty of wine by the glass and featured bottle wines. It doesn't have as expansive of a bottle wine menu like other Italian spots but they don't need to as they offer about a dozen wines each from the USA and from the Italy/Spain/Argentina regions. So you'll find whatever you need to suit your tastes. And then there's cocktails. All the classics (Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Old Fashioned) are here with some Italian favorites like the Negroni. The popular ones amongst us were the Limoncello Spritz (think of a vodka sparkling lemonade), the Espresso Martini, and the Basil Cucumber Gimlet. Tasty and pretty presentations! As for eats, the shareables that are must-orders are the Italian Meatballs (served in polenta w/ spicy tomato sauce), the Calamari, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and Caprese Salad. These always made the table whenever we were here; the meatballs and brussels sprouts being the ones people couldn't stop eating. The turtle soup is also a good first course if you're going light. It was my first time having turtle soup and I enjoyed the heck out of it! For pastas/entrees, it depends how heavy you want to go. The pastas that we loved were the Fusilli and Casarecce. The Fusilli has a cajun spicy tomato base w/ shrimp, italian sausage, basil, and mushrooms; an excellent combination of ingredients for a delicious pasta dish. The Casarecce is more simple using a parmeson garlic cream sauce and a pan-fried breaded chicken breast on top. For entrees, the pork osso buco, duck breast, and diver scallops were all wonderful. The osso buco especially being super tender was a crowd-pleaser. They also have a filet mignon special w/ a fried potato cake and asparagus garnish finished in a red-wine demi glaze; this special was ordered by several people each time and had all of us oohhh'ing and ahhh'ing every time it was delivered. The filet is super tender and the potato cake is a great complimentary side to it. For dessert, we usually share the house cheesecake which has chocolate chips and caramel with a cookie crust; a perfect way to finish off the meal. That's if we save room for dessert! This spot is a must-visit and a place we plan to frequent whenever we're in Hammond. They also have a lot of gluten-free options in case you have a gluten intolerance. Do yourself a favor and check this spot out; you won't regret it! read more

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Good food, great service. Surprisingly so for Hammond! Rather expensive, but worth the price for a nice meal out.

The service was phenomenal and the food was so delicious that I would definitely consider this a restaurant worth revisiting read more

Cena Hammond - Squid ink scampi - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

Good Italian food. One of the nicest restaurants in town. Good servers, nice ambiance!

Food was excellent, service was excellent, price was excellent atmosphere was excellent, parking was excellent. Have nothing but good things to say about this place. read more

First time here after hearing great things. Was not disappointed. The atmosphere is amazing. Our server, Paige was super! She knew eve eh thing about the menu and never left us hanging. The food was outstanding. I can't wait to go back. read more

Fabulous food, great excellent ambiance, and very attentive and knowledgeable staff. You will not be disappointed!

Location, came to Louisiana for a graduation, stayed in a neighbor town next to Hammond, found Cena online before arriving a made reservations. The restaurant was super cute, and intimate. Small but fierce. Food; started out with the Caprese, and it was fresh and melted in your mouth. I ordered one of the specials of the night, and did not regret it; I ordered the Halibut dish of the day, the sauce on the fish was a garlic goodness, the fish was cooked as ordered, this dish was soooo good. Service; Our server was so freindly and helpful, and hope he continues with school I believe he goes to the school within town. read more

Cena Hammond - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

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Cena;Hammond is by far one of the best restaurants in the region. The ingredients, techniques, and attention to detail are outstanding. Service is friendly and welcoming, and you just feel at home and experience bits of nostalgia in each dish. The chef successfully prepares regional Italian cuisine with a unique blend of flavors from southeast Louisiana, with a creative twist, reimagining the classics that guests enjoy. Must visit read more

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Came here for anniversary dinner. I was unsure how it'd go at first bc the menu was very short but our food was SO good. There are also some options not on the menu that our server recited to us. The restaurant is much smaller than I anticipated. Service was 10/10, food was 10/10, overall was 10/10!! Would come here again. Not pictured: boudin balls which are a must try read more

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Service was excellent. Ambiance nice and homie. Food was ok. Had carbonara... Had better. Had shrimp and grits... could've been cheesier. The thing that got me though was an image of taramasu on yelp was misleading. They brought out a "scoop" of the dessert about a third of that size. read more

Flounder was overcookedand had an awful smell. Veal was all crust like Popeyes fried chicken with very little picayta sauceand it was deep fried like fried chicken . it's Friday night and they were out of lettuce for a Bibb salad. Just lost a long time lloyal customer. Never again will w eat there. Just wasted $140 on terrible food. read more

I've driven by this restaurant quite a few times and put it on the list for places to try and I'm glad that I did. This place is perfect for a date night or even a night out with friends. The food is also really good and I definitely enjoyed everything from the appetizer to dessert. If you're looking for an Italian restaurant then I would definitely recommend as I plan on returning myself! read more

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Disappointing. Why bother to offer gnocchi if you can't plate a halfway decent version of it? It was dry, heavy, and chewy (ie, the opposite of the delightful silky clouds that it can be), no better than something you might get off the shelf at Rouses. The salad was better, but nothing special. I gather they do a better job with other dishes, but they lost us with this one. read more

Sat at the bar for dinner. Food was flavorful but not great. Smaller portions . The bartender was a good server. Good for an area like Hammond read more

Turtle soup was very flavorful according to my hubby. The crab claws were delicious. The peppardelle and paneed chicken were garlicky and fabulous. Hubby had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and raved about it. We will definitely be coming back here. read more

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Very small place, so be sure to make a reservation! Amazing service and recommendations. All the food was very fresh and nicely plated. We left full and happy. Bonus - one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had! read more

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Overall - the service was excellent and our entrees were tasty (Chicken Piccatta and Chicken Pappardelle). However, the 16$ crab finger appetizer with 8 fingers was actually kind of insulting. It was also extremely difficult to get the meat off the claw. read more

Cena Hammond - 8 crab fingers - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

This was our first time at Cena, and it definitely won't be the last. Everything was perfection! Starting with the amuse-bouche, which was fantastic, each additional dish was exactly what I would expect from this chef. The crab claws were insanely good, the veal piccata was the best I've had, and the soft shell crab was amazing. We finished with the crème brûlée and it was just so damn good. Our server was so sweet and made sure we had an excellent dinner. We can't wait to go back! I just wish I had taken photos of the food, I was just in a hurry to taste everything. I'll take photos next time! read more

I had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant two weeks ago with my husband and some of his former colleagues. We did not pick this restaurant and we were honestly worried that we wouldn't particular care for the food. We're not big on Italian style dishes, but this place completely changed our minds!! This restaurant has a beautiful ambiance, even on a Thursday night in Downtown Hammond. The place was pretty packed and full of patrons. We started off with trying the turtle soup. We had never had turtle before, but it was actually good. We ordered cocktails, the Bourbon Smash and an Old Fashioned (I believe)! These cocktails were made to perfection. We're still taking about how good they were! Strong, crafted, and flavorful! Of course we ordered a second round! Then for our entrees, he ordered the Pork chop served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. I ordered the full size Pappardelle. OMG is all I can say! The food was crazy good. The pork chop was so tender and juicy! My pasta and paneed chicken were amazing. This restaurant gets 5 stars and we'll definitely have to return. The service was 5- star as well! The waiter and the owner were great hosts! My only regret was I have no pictures this time. My phone died before we got there. That just means I'll have to go back! read more

Oh my! This was the best steak every! A little pricey but worth every $44! This is a cute restaurant I would've never know was there if I wasn't looking for a new place to dine. I sat at the bar which was a few days before Valentine's Day. All the tables were reserved. The bartender was well informed about the specials of the day and made the perfect lemon drop for me! Everything was cooked to order. My date had the chicken pasta. The pasta had to be made there it was delicious also. I will be back! read more

Cena Hammond - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

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Oh my god that was one of the best meals I have had in years from the service which was perfect it's an adorable little restaurant in downtown Hammond. my turtle soup was one of the top three or four turtle soup I've ever had in my lifetime. And my soft shell crab dish was incredible. My wife's crab meat Napoleon was to die for. And meeting chanc the owner was an extra special treat we will be back with friends. read more

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First time eating here. We absolutely loved it! Food was delicious and service was suburb! We will definitely be back!

Best Restaurant experience we've had in awhile. The food and service were both excellent! read more

Cena Hammond - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

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Great martini! Worst charcuterie plate ever made. It was an $18 plate of condiments. Won't be back due to the corner-cutting. read more

on the recommendation of a hammond local we had dinner at this italian restaurant while traveling to new orleans. the staff went above and beyond to ensure we were happy with the food and service. each of us ordered one of the nightly specials, blackened and fried soft shell crab for him fresh wahoo for me. both were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. the restaurant is dark wood and white table cloth but the price point was as on spot as the food. give this place a visit, you won't be disappointed! read more

We saw that they had outdoor seating so that is why we stopped and we were so glad we did. The waitress was very friendly and gave us suggestions which we took her up on and they did not disappoint. It was lunch so we ordered the handhelds. One was the Cuban special and the other was sweet and spicy chicken. Also ordered the drink of the day which was the limoncello spritz. It was very good. If we are in the area we will Definitely visit again. read more

Cena Hammond - Limoncello spritz! - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

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The restaurant staff was very friendly and pleasant. The venue was well lit and comfortable. We started off with the meatballs which were placed on a soft fluffy bed of polenta.....delicious!! I went with the Pork Osso Buco....amazing!! It was cooked to perfection and layed on a bed of creamy parmesan risotto. My husband had the filet. He said it was seasoned and cooked to the perfect medium. read more

Cena Hammond - Pork Osso Buco....amazing!! It was cooked to perfection and layed on a bed of creamy parmesan risotto. - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

My family and I randomly stopped in for brunch late Sunday morning. Food and service were excellent. Great corner cafe atmosphere. Really good kid's menu - they had pasta dishes. Also had a really nice bar. The Grits & Grillades dish were outstanding! We will be stopping by again! read more

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This was our first time having dinning at Cena. From the beginning, the atmosphere was vibrant, warm and welcoming. Our waiter this evening, Nate, was very friendly and helpful. The dinning room is elegant and spacious. We order the specials this evening and Nate helped us with any questions we had regarding the menu. The head chef, Gage, sent out our beautiful 4 course dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection. And we ended our diner with the delicious tiramisu and hand-crafted cocktails. Both the Limoncello Spritz and seasonal Old Fashion were made exceptionally well by the bartender. I would highly recommend this establishment. 10/10 read more

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Brought my two sons here on a Thursday night. Wasnt crowded. Had a nice ambiance. Our server was great and informative. The food and drinks were amazing! It is pricey but well worth it! I highly recommend this place. Especially for a date night. read more

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Great experience! Table of 3 ordered meatball and shrimp appetizers, filet, pasta, and daily fish special. All were terrific. Atmosphere invited a lengthy, relaxed meal. Service was very good. Strongly recommend! read more

All I can say good is we tried a new place and our waitress was good! If, you like your food cold this is the place to go! The plate was warm but not the food. Told the waitress and they just microwave the dish and made the bowl warm again but still had cold food. The shrimp and grits is actually better at Don's Seafood. Cena puts this fried pancetta as edible garnish on the dish that smells like it was deep fried and fried and fried again in old rotten oil. My wife ordered Fusilli, bowl was warmer then the food. It didn't taste good at all and she returned it. read more

Hands down my favorite date night spot in Tangipahoa! The food and drinks are incredible. The service is top notch. Chance has a great spot for a couple or for a group. read more

The absolute BEST restaurant in Hammond. Amazing cocktails, wonderful service, and the food is SUBLIME!

Do yourself a favor and stay away!! The food was terrible!! The place is nice and the service was great but the food was not good!! The duck tasted like a cheap chinese buffet and the fillet was mediocre at best!! Everything just tasted cheap!! We had 2 apps, 2 entrees, one kids meal, 4 glasses of wine and a sprite and the bill was $235!! Totally ridiculous!!! I truly would have preferred a cheeseburger and fries!! read more

Beautiful 1pm on Sunday. Parking was plentiful but a bit full. Artist performing when you walk in. Hostess had to prepare a table for us. Then two other servers stepped in to assist us which made us feel very welcomed. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Short glasses of water was poured. Server was great. Kept us informed. The food took quite some time to arrive but it was good. The biscuits was crispier than anticipated. Grits was on the gelatinous side of things. Could've used some butter. Chicken biscuit had a generous amount of pickles. Overall the environment was lively. I would come back. read more

Cena Hammond - Shrimp and Grit, Crawfish omelette and fried chicken biscuit. - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

I've eaten there twice and both times was AMAZING The food is amazing good The Bartenders are the show. They know the menu at heart and really go out of there way to please you. I highly recommend eating at the Bat. No regrets The atmosphere is high end cool. They play contemporary music at the right level A little pricy but worth every penny when you want to treat yourself or loved ones read more

Had a rehearsal dinner there for our son's wedding. Chance and David took such attention to detail in the planning to accommodate our large group. The service was incredible and the food was exceptional. Highly recommend this place. How could I forget the tiramisu....... to die for. Guys you made this young bride and groom's experience so memorable. read more

Cena Hammond - Dylan & Alyssa with best man Brennan in the background. - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana