Very good food and very nice romantic atmosphere. This is one of my favorite places in Hammond for special occasions. Really enjoyed the scallops. Service was excellent. Would definitely recommend. read more

Went for Saturday lunch. Even with their a/c at 1/2 capacity it was very nice. The temperature was comfortable, very nice decor and great service. The portion sizes were just right. The food was very rich and very good. Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Meatballs over Grits for appetizers. Yummm Seafood Salad was perfect. 4 large prawns, lump crab meat, several other goodies with a citrus remoulade dressing. Finally dessert... 3 small cannolies with chopped pistachios, mini chocolate chips and pistachio Gelato. Just right! Will definitely be back. read more

Cena Hammond - Dining area - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

THE BEST PASTA AND FOOD!! The service is formal and incredibly nice. The ambiance is nice dim light vibe but stil casual-nice dress code.

This is personally the first time I have ever been to this restaurant and for being high dollar, I was not impressed. Had a reservation for 7 got there early, was seated immediately. Ordered a wine and cocktail both took about 10 minutes. Not to mention, having to wait on the server to order. Server was very nice and knew the menu but not on top of water or checking on table. I ordered the duck and my girlfriend ordered the steak. For being a $48 steak would at least expect it to be cooked correctly it was not. Asked for medium rare was given medium well. The duck was great no complaints there, ended up getting the steak remade and brought to go because we did not want to wait any longer. From being seated to leaving the restaurant took an hour and forty-five minutes. The steak to go ended up being cooked medium. Overall, atmosphere was nice, definitely cozy but the service and food is really lacking. read more

Came to Cena while in Hammond for a graduation at Southeastern...great experience! Servers were very pleasant, food was fresh and tastey (I had the Chicken Pancetta), and the old school hits were a surprise musical selection! Very good Italian! read more

Cena Hammond - Chicken Pancetta! - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

My wife and I treated the Southeastern Woman's Basketball coaches to dinner here last night and the entire experience was spot on fantastic!! Great atmosphere and the food was terrific! Service was great and most importantly we were not rushed throughout the dinner. Well done Chanc!! read more

Had the red fish special and it was very good. Don't forget the bread! Antipasti plate was a nice appetizer. Especially for a group. Service was great. read more

This place is perfect , food was great , service was on point . Can't wait to go back !!!

Nice atmosphere which is pretty much what you're paying for... the food is decent when it gets to you... but not worth the price tag in my yelpers opinion read more

our first trip there several months ago, our meal and service were excellent but yestetday was disappointing Bibb salad was limp service was slow our Italian pasta dish tasted like chef boyardid - from a can Bread tasted like white bread from a store read more

Don't even know where to begin but I had my birthday dinner here and Riley was our waitress and she was absolutely amazing. So attentive, helpful, and very charismatic. She gave amazing recommendations! We will be coming back all thanks to her! She is so wonderful! read more

Cena is so good. Never disappoints. Great food, drinks and atmosphere. Exactly what I expect from a high end restaurant. Service is always great. Brunch and dinner are at the top of the list for the parish. read more

We love Cena. Very delicious food. Especially the Pappardelle with chicken. Homemade pasta. Yum! Great service too!

We had a pretty good experience in this hidden gem located on a corner further down from Cate street restaurant. The menu is creative, and the food is seasoned very well. I ordered the Bibb salad - Fresh and delicious. The mussels (a special they were running) - There were about 12 mussels in a flavorful broth, and one or two mussels weren't as fresh but this could happen to anyone easily so I just set those aside. The gingery curried broth that they came in was excellent and I love that our server kept the French bread coming. We also had the peach and burrata special - something I make a lot at home during peach season, and it was delicious although I think there could've been more prosciutto and burrata on the plate. The mains were the highlight for me - Veal piccata and short ribs were around $50 per plate but worth every penny. The drinks here are excellent, and the atmosphere is nice. Our server was very detail oriented and explained the menu very well. read more

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Great atmosphere, wonderful service, unique menu items and delicious food! We went for a family birthday celebration, sadly they were out of what I really wanted, but my second choice did not disappoint! I got the Jumbo Lump Crab Napoleon and grilled asparagus (vegetables of the day) they were amazing! For dessert was a unique cheesecake with fig compote. Very nice evening indeed. read more

Cena Hammond - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

I've been to this restaurant twice now. Each time we brought others (once 3 people, next time 4 people in our party). The first time , 5 Stars easy!! The pasta is hand made, and the food was fresh and delicious. The sauces were plentiful and amazingly good! We had the same meals each trip: The Pappardelle, Paneed Chicken, Garlic Cream, Parmesan, Fresh Herbs. Also both the Chicken & Veal Piccata, Lemon, Capers, Spaghetti, Roasted Brussel Sprouts. We also had a delicious Appetizer of Crayfish Risotto. It was all delightful. The Service was great and the Owner was in house and very friendly. He even strolled through and asked us, and most other tables how we were as well as how we were enjoying our meals. Now, our second visit is the reason this review only has 4 Stars. The sauces were lacking, as in not enough on the pasta. The pasta itself was beyond Al dente. It was just plain undercooked. Also the Service was quite slow. Also, another thing to note is that this restaurant has a relatively small menu. So, some Italian standards may not be on it. Check it out online before you go to make sure what you are craving is there and available. It's also a small place. Call ahead for reservations if you can. Especially on weekends. As for the building and it's interior, very nice. Great atmosphere for a meal with friends, of a date night out. Overall, I think (Hope) our second visit was just an off night. That being said, I'd recommend you to give it a try for yourself. read more

We had a family gathering here for a special occasion with half of the group from out of state. There were 9 of us, 5 adults, 4 children. It was miserably loud. The ambiance is very disruptive, tight walkways, unable to hear the server so she had to repeat her spiel to each of us. The food....gnocchi like rubber marbles, crab leg appetizer looked like they were taken from crawfish, chicken piccata was a dry little piece of probably frozen, breaded chicken with about 5 capers on it and had to ask for lemon to give it some flavor. Drinks were thin and expensive. Dessert...tiramisu was from Sysco according to our server, and it tasted like it. At about $70 a head I would have expected a MUCH BETTER meal. Thoroughly disappointed and would have been better off at Cane's. read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem in Hammond, Louisiana. Pastas are homemade every day. Parpedelle pasta is my favorite, and you can't go wrong ordering this dish. Another one of my favorites is the Brussel sprouts, which melt in your mouth! If you are in the area, it is a must try! read more

Even to go, their food was delicious. The crawfish risotto! The crispy Brussels! Can't wait to try them again. Bellissimo!

Wow! Carbonara and Italian potato gratin for the win! I'm just in town for the week and sad that it took me until Thursday to discover this place. I would literally fly from Texas to eat this again! I the reconstructed Moscow Mule with fresh ginger?? Amazing! read more

Cena Hammond - Carbanara and Italian potatoes - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

2nd straight Sunday eating here, absolutely amazing food. This time around we tried the blueberry pancakes and the Lamb meatballs as an appetizer alongside the Lump Crab Napoleon (both visits). Then my wife got the Osso Bucco and it didn't disappoint, was fork tender with a fantastic sauce. I got the Veal Oscar Special topped with lump crab and also fork tender. And finally my daughter got the Grits & Grillades which were in a wonderful dark rich sauce and tasted wonderful. Let's be honest, Chef Alex and his crew are killing it in the back of the house. . And Chanc has the front of the house in a perfect harmony with smiling faces. Overall, if I could add a Star or two I would. Kudos read more

Cena Hammond - Blueberry pancakes & Lump Crab Napoleon - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

Our server was a very pleasant woman named Page. She was so accommodating and helpful to someone who needed gluten free food. She was prompt and very communicative. The food was 10/10! read more

Ive dined there 2.5 times. The menu is small, prices are sorta high, pasta is made in house and doesn't reheat well. My favorite items were the lamb meatballs and chicken piccata. Least favorite was the squid ink pasta with lump crab meat. I think the menu should change frequently to have a rotating diners and prices need to be lower. read more

So, typically when I take time to review a restaurant, several pictures accompany the post. Well, this is my second visit to Cena and let me just tell you, I've gotten way overexcited both times and forgot to take pictures. ‍ Amazing service, food, and atmosphere! The pappardelle, clams, gnocchi and even the classic caesar salad are top notch! No other place in Hammond offers this level Italian inspired refinement hands down. P.S. The lunch menu is super affordable as well. read more

The service and the food were incredible! I had the pork chop which I never order at restaurants because it's usually over cooked and tough. The owner came by our table and one of his recommendations was the pork chop so I trusted his word. It was hands down the best pork chop I've had in my life. It was better than most high end steaks I've had. Everything from drinks to appetizers to entrees were off the charts! If you don't try Cenas when you're in the New Orleans (Hammond) area you've missed out. read more

This is not a New Orleans-style Italian restaurant. It's Italian with a Yankee flair -- risotto instead of pasta, Brussels sprouts instead of eggplant, brownish gravy instead of red gravy. If you prefer that brand of Italian, you may be in luck. Otherwise, look elsewhere. read more

Cena is a local favorite of ours. The staff are always great with our children and the food never disappoints. The gnocchi and their daily fish specials are two go to orders for our family. If you are in the mood for Italian food then definitely check out Cena. read more

Went there on a whim last night. Adorable place. Great service and very knowledgeable. Everybody was super friendly. Loved their specialty cocktails. We had way too many! Unfortunately, everyone's main dish was way over seasoned. The shrimp and grits was so good but way too salty. I couldn't finish my plate. But I highly recommend the crispy Brussels sprouts. Most amazing dish I've ever had. Definitely on the pricey side! read more

Best restaurant in Hammond La. High end menu with a high end wait staff ! I cannot wait to go back ! read more

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Hammond. Love the rotation of specials and specialty cocktails. They are constantly reinventing new menu ideas that are worth every penny. Love the atmosphere as well. And my husband and I happened to get the truffle fries one time, just thinking they'd be pretty normal fries, but they were the best FREAKIN' fries I'd ever had. Go here for your next girls night or date night!!! read more

Six of us went to dinner last week. I had Swordfish which was a Special and it was delicious. My spouse is somewhat of a picky eater and he found only 1 item he was willing to order, which was pasta in red sauce with crawfish. OK, but got old. The prices are higher than average for similar entrees elsewhere. Service was good. Based on menu and prices, we won't be going back. read more

Some of the most delicious Italian food I've had! Last visit we had the meat & cheese board, gnocchi, and Brussels sprouts. All of which were phenomenal. read more

Cena Hammond - Gorgonzola gnocchi with balsamic reduction. Pancetta Brussels sprouts - Italian Near Me - Hammond, Louisiana

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Struggling to give it more than 2 or 3 stars. Food was amazing, staff, manager and organization lacked. We made reservations for 6 a week, yes a week in advance and still waited 45 minutes to be sat. When I asked about our table they said it was still being occupied, mind you they had a couple open tables for 4 they could have pushed together, but, could not because of other LATER reservations. When I complained, the manager did keep apologizing but was annoyingly checking in with us after I dismissed him to enjoy our dinner. We spent over $100 bucks at the bar waiting, another $300 plus on food. Our server would drop off the food/drinks and immediately leave never asking if we needed anything else unless we flagged her down. I will never go back here no matter how good the food or drinks were. I also feel that because we waited 45 mins (6:30 reservations) we missed out on menu items and specials. I wasn't happy, even if the manager had 17 years experience...well I have 48 years experience eating at restaurants! Even with all that experience he should have offered a round of drinks or appetizers or desserts. Again. Great food. Poorer service. read more

Just outstanding the food and service. Hammond needs more restaurants like Cena. Owner seems to be onsite and makes everyone feel welcome!

Holy hell on earth. Start to finish it was an amazing experience. Sat at the bar and was taken care of by Bailey. Top grades for customer service. I had the crab claws to start and a short rib over polenta. 10/10 coming back when I am back in town. read more

My first visit to Cena will not be my last...that was evident as soon as I tasted my roasted beets! Delicious! So, one star... The caprese salad with fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes gets us to two stars. Then there was the wine lIst. Extensive enough to find a nice bottle without being "too much." A third star.... The entrees we selected (coriander crusted tuna and the "market fish" which was mahi-mahi) were delicious and portioned perfectly. Star #4. The service was impeccable...Matthew was friendly, courteous and professional. That gets us to five stars! So I guess the perfectly crafted Sazerac after dinner was lagniappe! Try Cena! You won't regret it! read more

We ate there Wednesday afternoon We had the tuna, meatballs and lobster mac n cheese , great service it was all excellent read more

My husband and I celebrated our 40th Anniversary lunch here. Oh my, so delicious. So much flavor. I started with the lemon-cello spritzer. He had a dirty Martini. We ordered the Crab Napoleon appetizer and the crawfish risotto for starters. Oh my, so good. Then for the main course he had Veal Parmesan, I had the Market Fish plate with the artichoke, tomato and crabmeat on top. I can tell ya it was all delicious. Our waitress Adele and the owner Chase were very kind and helpful. We will definitely be back!! Thank you for a great dining experience!! read more

Four of us went here for lunch. Two ordered the $14 Pappardelle (braised beef short ribs over pasta), which was very good. The other two ordered the $15 lasagna, which was average. The service was excellent. There are no side salads or vegetables on the menu. Most entrees do not come with a side, so if you want a salad you are forced to order the $10 entree salad. No bread was served. The prices are high for what you get. Most other Italian places in town have comparable-quality lasagna for much less, and these usually come with a side salad. The short ribs were good, but $14 for a half order is ridiculous. The A/C needs to be reworked. It blows forcefully right on the diners and food, so both get chilled quickly. I will not be returning. There are better Italian restaurants in town. read more

Wow! Real homemade pasta and choice serving size if sf int wish overload on carbs. The specials best choices. Tight area but comfortable. read more