I had heard good things, and strolled in one evening for a late bit. We had the sangria, a foie gras appetizer special, seafood papparedelle special, gaucamole, and the beer battered shrimp (camaron caribe). Everything was so fabulous! Lots of great flavor without going over the top. Simple flavors with unique twists. For example, the hubby really loved the pappardelle had a bit of corn in there. Unexpected but worked really well. We will be back to try more dishes! read more

Ena - Foie gras appetizer on special, so delish. Lychee jelly spread over the foie gras spread at the bottom. Love! - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dangerous place if you have food allergies. We ordered takeout for a celebratory dinner. I reminded the host that because of a food allergy, we needed to order the Lubina (the sea bass, which comes with pistachios) with no nuts. (I had to remind them that pistachios are a nut). In addition, I asked that there be no sauce put on the fish, just in case. When we got home, seeing that there was no sauce on the entree, my son took a big bite, and immediately felt his cheeks swell up. Pistachios had been sprinkled all over the fish! After we doused him with allergy medications, I called Ena to verify if there were nuts in the fish (or if he just had a random allergic reaction). The person who answered the phone said, "No nuts," and then, after I asked, "How about pistachios," they said, "Yes, pistachios." I then asked to speak to the host who had initially taken my order, and they verified that the kitchen had in fact put pistachios on the fish. When I mentioned that we have a serious allergy in the house, which is why I gave careful instructions, they answered, "It was a miscommunication." I reminded them that life-threatening allergies is not simply a "miscommunication." I hope Cafe Ena puts some serious protocols in place to prevent something like this from happening again. While Ena gave us a refund, the damage done to peace of mind (especially for a family who has to deal with serious food allergies) cuts very deep. read more

Great food, good service, poor parking. read more

Ena - Conchas - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Came here Saturday night with a party of 8. Our server was nice and pleasant. No complaints on service. We were seated about 15 min late even though we arrived on time. Overall, the food was disappointing. The presentation was nice but the seasoning and execution didn't match the prices. We ordered the guacamole which everyone raves about. I loved the presentation but it wasn't salty enough. The tortilla chips were nothing special. The plantain chips appetizer was very good and I would get them again. The bread and butter were good. Would've been better had the bread been warm. My husband ordered the beef medallions. The beef was tough and lacked flavor. The risotto side was bland and lukewarm. The vegetable and sausage side was decent and probably the best part of his entree. I ordered the scallops. There were three seared scallops around a bed of squid ink spaghetti. The sear was not crispy. The scallops were a bit on the fishy side but tasty. The cream sauce on the pasta was pretty good although heavy. It came out piping hot which was nice. We skipped dessert. Surprisingly, our server didn't include an auto gratuity on our bill even though we were a large party. And she was also willing to split the check, including the appetizers we shared. Some other reviews mentioned they add 20% tip to parties of six or more and they won't split checks. However, this was not our experience. Glad I went and tried this place as it has been on my list for awhile. However, I don't feel the need to return given how many other options there are. read more

Walked in for lunch on a Saturday and were sat immediately in a table of our choice. The server was very friendly, but I think he was serving everyone in the place so very busy! The guacamole is to die for!! You get so much and it tastes super fresh - it has pieces of grapefruit in it I believe. Yum. The fried shrimp appetizer was delicious and big enough to be a main portion. The seafood empanadas and my tinga chicken sandwich were nothing special - the fries were good but incredibly greasy. I would definitely go back - for the guac!! read more

Vivisted the restaurant while on a business trip to Minneapolis. Food was delicious and staff was fast and courteous. Ordered the plantain appetizer and the ribeye special. Both were delicious. Chocolate lava cake for desert topped a great dinner experience. read more

Ena - Plantain appetizer - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Came for work, sat inside and listened to eclectic music. I would recommend the guacamole. It is chunky and great flavor. For the main had lamb chops. Ordered them medium and they were over cooked. The veggies were tender and great. read more

Great quality of food and excellent service. The patio outside is also lovely in the summer.

The menu was expensive for the food I got. I got the mushroom quesadilla for $12. I received the meal and the rice and beans where not hot. No chips and salsa offered either. read more

The server literally ruined our night. I asked a simple question of how pink a medium steak would be and his ultimate response over a tedious and contentious back and forth was that he needed to press a button for "medium", "medium rare", or "rare". Don't be deceived by the price point, this is a lower tier restaurant. read more

I really wanted to love this place because it is close to my new home (Yep. I'm a card-carrying Minneapolitan now... wait - that sounds like a pizza). But, it was "Meh." So - it's a Friday night at around 10pm. I've developed a healthy appetite after my first tango dance class ("poosh from dee heeps.") My tango partner and I are famished. We explore the menu and land on three things: corvina bahia (corvina is a white, flaky fish and I ate the heck out of it growing up in Central America), a shrimp app (forget the name, but they were served on a corn hush-puppy thing), and a tomato and queso fundido salad. The tomato and queso - slam dunk (or "goooool!' if you want to stick to the Ena theme). The corvina - not so much. The sauce was too buttery, too rich. The fish has a delicate flavor and it got lost in the snauce. The shrimp - soggy and pasty. My mom always warned me about pasty shrimp - they make you sick in an instant. Luckily, no sickness (but, I know where the bathrooms are now!). But, that tainted the experience. "A" for effort, though! Oh - we had a mango sorbet for dessert. Our waitress recommended adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the mix. tasted just like a mango cream-sickle. Aye! Muy bueno, senorita! There is no hard booze on the liquor, which made my cocktail-loving date fret. Just beer (great prices) and wine (ok selection, a bit pricey for what you get). Service was ok, ambiance was good (I felt Mayan). Maybe it was an off night? I'll give them another shot since they are so close to my legal residence. Plus, they are open until midnight. read more

I have always loved Ena's concept and vibe. Food at times is absolutely excellent. As in, everyone at the table hits pay-dirt (as we say in my family). From previous times I would probably give it 4 stars, but I hadn't been in about 1.5 years until last weekend. Went with 3 girlfriends. The good: 1. guacamole w chips 2. scallops would have been great if hotter 3. Great atmosphere and vibe The mediocre: 1. empanadas - just ok 2. food was good (also tried the grouper) but none of it was very hot so that was a bummer 3. got a bit expensive for what I felt like we got 4. service was fine The bad: 1. they asked us to leave after we had paid our check bc another table was waiting. I mean, I get it, but it felt rude. Probably will be back at some point based on the other times I've been and had great experiences, but: everything just felt pretty mediocre when I was there last week + being asked to leave - other good experiences awhile back = 3 stars. read more

Given the Latin Fusion characterization, I was disappointed. The food was above average (good, not great), notably lacking the flavor I would expect from Central/South American cuisine. Our group of six dined last night (Friday), with three appetizers and six different entrees. I tried everything; unfortunately, nothing blew me away. Closest were two of the apps: guacamole and chile en nogada (stuffed poblano pepper). The guacamole was fresh, chunky, and wonderful. The chile en nogada featured a blend of sweet and spicy flavors that I would come back to eat. Entrees were well-prepared, well-presented, but, well, bland. Other: atmosphere (location/decor/style) was great, service was impressive. All-in-all, pleased with the experience, but not in any rush to return. read more

Everything from the honey-pepper infused butter and bread to the delectable cheesecake desert was mind-blowing and full of flavors. Started with a seafood ceviche dish served in a edible bowl of delicious plantains for an appetizer. Got the beef medallions for the entrée served with creamy risotto, golden potatoes, asparagus and Andouille sausage - every element of the entrée had unique, rich flavors that could stand on their own as fantastic. The server was extremely helpful and straight forward in his recommendations, and I absolutely loved his suggestions. When I asked about the butter (that comes with the bread) he replied: "We would sell it by the pint, but that keeps everyone coming back" Love that response! Because I will be coming back! read more

Wow. The absolute best Halibut dish I've ever had in my life. Mind blowing flavors that complimented each other so well. Tried some of the other dishes on the table - all phenomenal. Love this place! read more

I went to Café Ena tonight with my dining club. We shared some bites and oh how booming those bites were... bites of calamari, mussels, carrot soup, mole, ahi tuna, arepas, chocolate flan, and strawberries. Every bite was brimming. The mussels were the best I've had in years. I savored the chicken mole. The carrot soup was an early dessert. My dinner at Café Ena was my favorite of the year, so far, maybe even of the decade, rivaling the defunct À Rebour. I'll be back. read more

This is a revised review "Up Close And Personal" (the last one was from afar). I finally made it to Cafe Ena in person. It was great. The atmosphere was good, the service was great and the food was divine. The proof I offer is hard to argue, there were 6 of us there, we all ordered different dishes and we all cleaned our plates. Even with being stuffed 2 of us ordered dessert. 6 people and all satisfied and happy and we all would recommend it to others (what more could you ask for?). So a tip of the hat to everyone at Cafe Ena. My old Review. A review from afar. I had flu like symptoms (guessing Swine Flu). My gal Deb M. and her friend Deb H. went to check it out. While I stayed at home (so I wouldn't infect others). My Deb said it was a bit pricey for everyday eating but would be great for a date. Her food was so good she all but licked the plate clean. Before she went she asked if she could bring me something thing back, I told her something pork based (revenge for the Swine Flu). The pork loin dish she brought me was excellent (even if it was a bit cold by the time I got it. So based on what she says and the food I had from there I will definitely go there in the future. I have to find out if the food is really as good as I thought it was or if it was partly a case of sweet revenge. (seriously eating pork while having (possibly) the Swine Flu has to add something to the meal). read more

Went with friends for Restaurant week, and everything was fabulous. The staff was attentive and friendly, and the food was unbelievable. They had a nice "think pink" rose wine list--good rose's, not the yucky pink stuff (although it is still pink!). Also had a very nice red. The food was what made the evening, though. I had the ceviche, the grouper, and the chocolate torte. The ceviche was my favorite, but everything was terrific. My husband had the romaine salad, the pork, and the lemon torte dessert. I tried all of his too (he loves that!), and everything he had was good as well. I still thought mine was better, except for the dessert. I love chocolate, but the lemon was unbelievable! Will definitely go back for more. read more

We went to Cafe ENA with high expectations - unfortunately 3 of our four dinners came cold. We sent them back and we received them back "Luke warm" AND my tuna gave me food poisoning.I called to report the problem and the restaurant offered to comp my meal - but I just wanted to let them know so no one else would have the same problem. I will not return read more

I like the happy hour here. Excellent deal. Guac is great. I do tend to ask the servers for their recommendations. Some of the servers are excellent: some are ok. For lunch or brunch, we'll eat lunch at Cafe Ena and then go to the patisserie (spelling?) across the street for dessert. read more

We were there last night to celebrate a birthday. Lovely service and wonderful food. Our group ranged in age from 30 to 94, and everyone was happy with their meal. The cost came to about $30/person, without alcohol. You could certainly spend more, but it would be unlikely to be more than $50 per person. Definitely a fair price for the quality. We will go back. read more

I love this restaurant! I have been here several times, for lunch and dinner. The food is always good, service is great and very friendly. Prices are reasonable. I almost always get the guacamole because it is the best I've ever had outside of mexico - the cilantro green sauce the drizzle on the plate makes it spectacular! Try all of their restaurants (there are 4 now) - all have been consistently good with interesting a delicious choices. Cafe Ena has the best atmosphere, but I have not tried their newest restaurant. read more

Delicious! I highly recommend Cafe Ena, from service to entree, superb! Must try the Chilaqiles, so good. Everything we had was wonderful. The flavors were unique and well composed. read more

Ena - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We are here right now and waited over 15 minutes before being acknowledged by anyone. They look horribly understaffed. Looks like food will get here in an hour. read more

My favorite guacamole ever. It brings me back again and again. Best I've ever had. The entree food is always great too. Super flavorful and good portions for the price. The chilaquiles and heuvos rancheros are both fantastic. read more

The churros are freshly made and differently made shape. No long sticks, looked more like fat bean pods. The sugar was light and there seems to be more than just cinnamon. It was served with a side of warm chocolate ganache. I had the seafood empanadas, they were okay I just didn't like the powdery flour on the outside. It was gooey and cheesy on the inside. The salsas that came with it were very flavorful I saved it for tortilla chips instead. I would go again. Order online and pick up inside. Slightly out of my budget but it was a nice drive into another neighborhood. read more

Went on a Tuesday night. Sat outside, kind of wished we went to King's across the street the whole time because we were the only people at Ena... Overall the food was good, a bit rich, literally-- both price and composition. Felt like i wanted/needed to go to sleep after eating half of my entree-- halibut wrapped in prosciutto with spinach and potatoes, covered in a hollandaise like sauce. Everything was good except the spinach. No drinks-- probably would have crashed had I had one. good but we probably won't go back. We did see a table of 4 older folks come in, get seated, look at the menu and leave and go across the street... must have been the prices. at least $17 per entree. read more

Ena does Latin American/Caribbean food. It's outstanding every single time we go regardless of what we order. There's an abundance of plantains, seafood and Chilean wines. The presentation of dishes is always impressive. If it's just two of you, sit at the bar on a Thursday or Friday night. The bar sits directly in front of the kitchen and you have the opportunity to see each dish before it goes out. If it looks good, get it. Recommended: The menu varies seasonally but start with the Ceviche and then get whatever is on the menu that resembles Proscuitto Wrapped Shrimp. Unbelievably good. And again, whenever possible, finish with their latin american variation on Crème Brûlée. read more

Cafe Ena is an amazing restaurant. From its beautiful outdoor seating area to its wonderful servers to the amazingly flavorful food. Its outdoor seating area is beautifully covered in flowers, and its servers are very helpful and kind. Its food is bursting with flavors and is really creative. I love the fusion if the Latin cuisines! It is a great restaurant and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Ena - Guacamole and chips - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Why didn't I know about this place sooner! Had dinner at Cafe' Ena last evening and was absolutely delighted. Ordered the halibut and it was the best I have enjoyed in years! The waitress suggested the guacamole appetizer and it was amazing - refreshing and with the surprising, but pleasing touch of pineapple. Everything was so good, while I was very full - I didn't want to stop eating! Even ordered dessert and the lava cake did not disappoint - the ice cream was perfect for a summer evening. Service was a little slower toward the end of the meal - but that is only because the place filled up and that is absolutely understandable. The outside seating was lovely - the surrounding flowers created a lovely screen from the street while allowing in the energy of the area. Can't wait to go again. read more

The juice, pineapple mint... yellow sugar water. No taste, just sugar and little green chunks floating around in it. The dinner menu, avg. $22... literally two items without meat or seafood. And do not offer substitutes or the good without meat and no additions at all. Also, it was fairly slow and when I mentioned an item on the lunch menu, all the waiter said was "yeah..." Dinner plate portions that I saw come out definitely did not look big enough for how spendy they are. The guacamole, $11, one of the two vegetarian items... pretty much just cut up chunks of avocado and tomatoes with some citrus juice on top. The chunks are too big. The chips were OK. Overpriced. But, the staff was great and had a great attitude. I'm sure that by the other great reviews, that this place definitely hits the spot for others; just wasn't my cup of tea (or sugar water for that matter). read more

Visiting for a day and a friend recommended the restaurant. I was expecting a typical Mexican restaurant, but boy I was wrong. The food was good and you could tell the chef was hard at work because the plates come out fancy looking, but the portions were small ( I did skip lunch) and over price. I agree with another reviewer, the place should have $$$. I left hungry and my wallet felt lighter, that why I gave it 3 stars. I would come again read more

Great place if you wanna get a little fancy. Their menu changes slightly with the seasons, so you cannot always get the exact same thing. But it's good to switch things up. The borrego is worth it. read more

This place makes really great food which I didn't expect. I would say it is quite pricey and would give it a $$$ instead of 2, so for all you gents there want to impress the girl by paying for the bill you might want to consider another place. I had the guacamole appetizer with chips, I could tell the chips are store bought and the guacamole was good but it didn't really stand out like what other people claim. As for my entree, I had Chiyo which was great! The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce made with cilantro that really lifts the freshness of the dish. However, I'm not a fan of the mash potato (which I love) in this dish because it didn't go well together. Food was good, but for the price I really would divert you to get a table at Spoon and Stable instead. read more

Ena - Latin American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hmm. Ena has all the components of what could be a solid Latin experience. It didn't add up though. The hostess was ambivalent, rude, and self absorbed. There was a mix up with our waiter initially but that worked out after the three of them bantered back in forth in Spanish. We started with the guacamole and that was very good but I consider this a must for this genre. The fried calamari and shrimp were a HUGE disappointment. Greasy soggy and gross. They dish smelled off and the grease tasted stale and spent. Think gag reflex. For dinner two of us got the filet and one got the fish. The beef here is NOT quality beef. Both of our filets were over cooked and filled with gristle. It was near inedible and we each just could not eat it. The fish was so over salted that it too was inedible. Food quality and preparation was more like a burrito house than Latin cuisine. All in we spent $250 for three people and left extremely disappointed and hungry. read more

I've been here 6 times, for both dinner and just drinks and apps. Every time has been excellent. When we sat at the bar counter and just had wine, they didn't mind at all and the server was just as doting on us as if we were a party of 4 with full on courses. The wait staff is friendly, knowledgeable and understand they work on tips, so there's never been any 'tude. Starting with apps, we always get the calamari , which has a nice light breading and the tuna tartare, both dishes have always been great. Our last dinner we had the Lomo pork tenderloin and Camaron jumbo shrimp. Everything was prepared perfectly, the presentation was nice and the flavors coming together is the the reason why we continue to make this a go to choice. It's a small dining room, so yes it gets very busy and noisy even on weeknights. We have always made a point in going off peak to avoid those hassles. read more

Great experience here. Went on a Saturday evening, it was jam-packed with a long wait. Make sure to make reservations if going on a weekend! It was dimly lit, loud, and pretty cramped, but I like that kind of an atmosphere. The guacamole appetizer was some of the best guac I've had (chunky, tangy, so flavorful!). I had the pescado entree - delicious. The sangria does not disappoint! read more

Great guacamole appetizer. Sadly my entree, Carne Frita Con Mofongo which had only had about 2 oz of meat was so salty that I'm still tasting salt 8 hours later and I generally like salty things. read more

The food was outstanding! Veggie empanadas and the guac were a good starter for 5 people. They had a scallop special that was delicious! The only gripe I have is that it took an hour to get our food. Our server was great and very friendly but the meal itself took forever. I'll definitely go back here! Bonus: ample street parking is available! read more

I like Cafe Ena. The menu is biased towards seafood, which is a plus to me. The thing I question is whether the menu is too large. Maybe they need to focus on doing a few dishes really well(like Heidi's). For a neighborhood chef driven restaurant they may be overly ambitious. That is not a bad thing. I want them to stay around. Tighten up the menu and it is a winner. read more