The menu is so fresh, original, and carefully planned. Everything I've tried has been well executed and delicious. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. Lovely atmosphere. read more

This restaurant always feels like the best kind of neighborhood gathering. Friendly patrons and great people watching combined. Fast, knowledgeable staff. Tables close together but private conversation doable. A bit noisy when busy. Love the guacamole; chunky, cilantro lime, beautifully presented with homemade chips. Have been multiple times. Most recently, a generous portion of Sea bass dressed with a accessorizing sauce. Great spot for Valentine's Day and New Years Eve. read more

I've never had a bad meal at Cafe Ena, but the mofongo today was outstanding. Honestly better than any mofongo I've had in many meals in Puerto Rico. Thank you. read more

I have family in the neighborhood and they're always complaining about how bad it is for them to park in front of their house on the weekend because of how busy the restaurant gets so I figured it must offer something special. I tried it out on a Wednesday to get a good feel for the place without the crowds to effect my judgement and I'm happy to say that the expirence was wonderful. Service was pleasant and the menu was simple but they offer a variety of dishes so it was hard to decide what to try. I got the guacamole based on the servers recommendations and had a sandwich. Both were appealing to my tastes and I look forward to taking my family there sometime soon. read more

It's been awhile since I've been to one of my now former favorites, Cafe Ena. In the words of my mother, "They've gotten too big for their britches." When the most reasonable entree on the menu is $26, I'm out. Three entrees (Bife de Chorizo ordered medium came almost raw and we couldn't find a waiter to send it back; Mero was O.K.; Pescado was O.K.), a carafe of sangria, and a tip for $150 is much too rich for my blood. Service was also dreadfully slow and not the friendly attentiveness I remember. Sigh. read more

What a great little restaurant. Great fish specials. The guacamole is great. The sangria is not the best I have had, but I also think my own Sangria is the best so I am biased. I have been wanting to make a weekend trip again just to eat here. read more

So my partner and I showed up for our 8o'clock reservation on Valentine's Day after working a terribly hard week ( we own a flower shop!) and the entrance to Cafe Ena was jammed with folks who were waiting to be seated ( I'd say at least 30)....so crowded I couldn't even get to the desk to check in. So I used my cell phone. A very gruff voice answered, I told him about my reservation, he replied with " we're running behind, I'll call you when your table is ready". No apology...nothing. 10 minutes later this line isn't moving at all ( I begin to notice that some of the folks waiting have glasses of wine.....where's our wine? ...Not one person of the 3 behind the desk has stepped out to greet, talk to, or offer wine to additional folks who have arrived. Finally, my partner makes his way to the desk....he inquires again....he's told it would be 30-45 minutes more wait! Again, no apology at all. Obviously this place is way overbooked and these people haven't a clue how to handle reservations or people who have already made them. The food is good...but it's not good enough to put up with lack of courtesy. We live in the neighborhood.....we probably won't be back. Take heed Cafe Ena...mightier giants than you have fallen for bad service. read more

Great happy hour apps. Great sangria. Portions are a little small but still amazing over all. Very good ambiance.

We tried cafe ena last for the first time last night. Yes, we know it was Valentine's day and we are usually very go with the flow. However, we waited a half hour past our reservation time to be seated. During our wait we tried the sangria we heard rave reviews about, but probably because of the rush it tasted like cheap red wine with two tiny pieces of cubed fruit in it. Our empanadas were cold, the guacamole was made from unripe avocados, my lamb was tough and dry, and my husband's steak was RAW in the middle. We were SO disappointed. Our waitress was friendly but inattentive. Sadly, we won't try it again. read more

Everything everything the guacamole the freshly made waters the chicken steak salmon it's the best restaurant ever

They were very unprofessional. I called them on a Saturday night at 8:15 and asked what time you close they said at 10, I asked when do you close the kitchen they said we close at 10. I drove for half an hour with two kids and arrived at 9:30 to be told that sorry we closed early today. While food was good when I last tried, I find this unprofessional. read more

My boyfriend and I were on our way to La Fresca due to such amazing reviews. However they had some event going on that had reservations and were closed to the public. They recommended this place as well as a local by the door. Possibly they're the same owners? Not mad at all at the first restaurant. Anyways from the moment you enter Cafe Ena it is so cozy. Small but not too small with nice flowers and a rose on each table next to a small candle. The waiter was excellent, easily the best service I've ever had, and my boyfriend and I aren't exactly new to eating out. He introduced himself but I'm terrible with names they always go over my head the first time I meet someone. He was middle aged I would say. Very smiley but not overdone I've had 5 cups of coffee pep if you know what I mean. Made recommendations and was very timely and attentive. We started out with a stuffed pepper with beef I believe inside of it and that was different to us and I really loved the sauce. For an entree I had the steak with vegetables fries and some sort of green sauce I don't remember exactly what. Cooked nicely and the green sauce to the fries was definitely something different. If I were to nitpick and make one recommendation I'd say just a little more of that sauce as it was pretty tasty! I also had some tasty cucumber and lime I think drink. I liked the flavors wasn't too sweet and I thought they went together pretty well. We were stuffed but powerless over the desert menu and ordered ourselves some desert. I was pretty tired at that point so I can't tell you exactly what I ordered it I know it had a raspberry sauce to it. Boyfriend I think ordered this apple desert with an aged balsamic. If i remember right. Also had the option to add cappuccino! Overall a very good night and worth the price with all the drinks and desert. Would definitely come back and wish I wasn't so terrible with names so I could recommend the server! read more

The food here was creative and delicious. We had ceviche--Fantastic! Also, the sea bass and the pollo. Chicken might not seem like a daring choice, but it was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The sauces and vegetables accompanying both entrees were spot on. We shared churros (with chocolate sauce and cinnamon ice cream) for dessert. Crisp and delicious. The price was not a bargain, but the food was tasty and well prepared, so no complaints there. The bill for two (one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, two beverages, and two coffees, plus tip) was $100. read more

Book club meeting at Cafe Ena to discuss our monthly selection on The Path Between the Seas about building the Panama Canal. Closest restaurant we could find related to Panama. I had the Lechon which was pork tenderloin over a gnocchi and other garnishes that I can't remember. What I can remember was that it was absolutely delicious and I'd order it again in a heartbeat. The Apple cake was a great way to finish off a delightful meal, along with the half price bottles of wine from a selection of wines on the wine list. The other outstanding part of the evening was the superb service - our server was attentive to every detail while still catering to 8 quirky brainiacs in the book club, including separate checks. She was experienced as well as being pleasantly cool, calm and collected. I had never heard of this restaurant being from the burbs, but wi go out of my way to return. Prices are a bit steep, but the evening was thoroughly enjoyed. read more

Loved the neighborhood location and the atmosphere is great. A little noisy if you're outside due to traffic and flight route. Menu selection was great. Good price on beverages. Food is excellent. Limited choices if you prefer meat, but many seafood choices. The accompaniments with the dishes were excellent; not your standard vegetable and potato. The poblano beef appetizer was amazing. Staff was courteous and responsive. read more

An absolute experience. The atmosphere and decor were wonderful. Service top notch. The food was well thought out, presentation amazing and everything was superbly prepared using only the finest quality ingredients. Taste was out of this world. Don't miss this quaint neighborhood gem. Will definitely come back next time here. read more

Four of us last evening (17Aug17). Great tasty fish dinners, imaginative presentation, great service. We'll be back. We were there at 6 PM; they were busy and still prompt service. read more

One of my favorite restaurants because the food is fresh and delicious. It ALWAYS tastes good. Been coming here for years, but never wrote a review. Best on the lunch menu? Guacamole, heirloom tomato salad, bistec tips, and arroz con pollo. The shrimp appetizer is also delicious. Sundays 1/2 price wine. Service is brilliant. And again, this place is reliable. You can count on a great experience every time. read more

Loved the outdoor dining, the menu and the service was great. Sangria was tasty and refreshing on a hot summer night and it was difficult to decide what to try off the delectable menu. I will definitely be back. read more

Pretty fantastic! Quaint patio, good food, street parking, in a grest location! Had calamari, i had the beef medallions, gf got the sea bass. Everything was prepared perfectly. Service was attentive but not over attentive, they are getting everything right here, missing a star only because they do not have a full liquor license. Beer and wine only, if you can't drink beer and don't care for red wine, your alternative is water. Bummer. Good think I like beer , guess ill have my gf drive us to a bar now:) read more

Really great restaurant with a wonderful vibe! Had a great dinner here in a group. Couldn't have asked for better service and the food was great. Excellent guac read more

Can't believe I waited so long to try this place. The guacamole is amazing and the service was fantastic. My husband's steak was a bit underdone, but the fixed it immediately and offered free dessert. read more

This was my first time visiting this neighborhood spot. I decided to venture there with an out of town guest given its location and positive reviews. We had a reservation, but when we arrived the host seemed a bit frazzled and had us wait for a table. We didn't mind the wait at all, but we did mind the lack of service once we were seated. It took a good 15-20 minutes before a server acknowledged us and about the same amount of time to get beverages. In general, service was spotty and we even had to flag someone down to get water refilled. They were busy, but not any busier than most Twin Cities eateries on a Saturday evening. The food was wonderful - guac is a must, and the specials were delicious flavor combinations I would have never thought of. Unfortunately, the evening was tarnished by the lack of attention from the wait staff. I would go back for the food, but wouldn't take another out of towner there as there are so many other places in the Twin Cities that have mastered the delicate balance of exquisite food and attentive service. read more

Love the location and ambiance. Nice menu with lots of seafood selections. Service is nice and responsive to special requests which I always have. Cafe Ena is consistent and you can count on a very interesting and well prepared meal. Not that interested in large mass market places for dining out and Cafe Ena is perfect size right in a real neighborhood not a mall. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Love the guac! Great neighborhood gem. In our party we had the Grouper, Snapper, Lamb, and Salmon special. Each item was cooked well beyond what I consider delicate or proper cooking. The fish was cooked to a crisp, and quite dry, and the medium rare lamb didn't have any pink or red in the middle. Side items were excellent, and presentation was great. read more

We had a very pleasant dinner. Great menu; great service; no waiting. The food was really well presented and tasty and nicely seasoned

Enjoyed the patio seating. Had the guac appetizer and spicy tacos for main course. Fresh taste and generous servings. Entrees reasonably priced but appetizers seemed on the high side. Very enjoyable meal. read more

I love the ambience and the idea of the Pan-Latin menu. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly. However, unless you get the Lubina (sea bass), the cooking leaves something to be desired. First visit, I ordered Bife de Chorizo and it was way overcooked (I had ordered it Medium). The 2nd preparation was better, but still not exact. Last night, I ordered the rack of lamb off the prefixe menu for Valentine's Day. Three attempts later, and the chef still hadn't gotten it right. First round was WAY over (even though I assented to the medium rare description provided by the server). I sent it back. 2nd time was so under that it was cold in the middle and inedible. 3rd time was the same as the 2nd. So, I gave up. I want to love this place, but until the quality of cooking improves, it is way overpriced for what is served. If I am going to drop $120 on a meal, then it needs to be exquisite...my experiences have been far from that. In fairness, my wife received an excellent sea bass dish once, and we have received a discount for the poor quality (15%). That still doesn't make it okay. Last night's salmon (what my wife chose off the prifixe menu) was very dry, so it isn't just me. I HATE leaving negative reviews, but after $300 spent on 2 meals, it seems like a 25% success rate is a low bar, and a high price. read more

Best steak in MLPS. Casual intimate setting. Great for date night or to take out of town guests. The honey chipotle butter is to die for. I could eat the butter alone with no bread. Sangria has fresh fruit in it which is a fun touch. A must visit for anyone in MLPS! read more

My wife and I have a huge affection for El Meson and we were excited to try Cafe Ena, knowing the owner was one and the same. We were promptly seated after the hostess cleaned off a booth for us. Then shortly after that, our waters we're filled -- and those two acts constituted the high points of the attentiveness we received on a Thursday night. Other tables were given bread and told about the evening special. Meanwhile, the gentleman who had first filled our water finally returned to the table after a long stretch of time away. It turns out he was our waiter though he had barely acknowledged us when he had come to the table prior. I actually had assumed he was just the busperson. Dinner was a struggle from there on out. We didn't feel like we were being waited on, but rather being an inconvenience when we put in our appetizer and entree orders. To the chef's credit, the food was decent, but the flavor wasn't strong enough to overcome the bitter taste developing in our mouths from lousy service. We might have ordered dessert, had our server come back to check within 30 minutes of clearing our entree plates. Churros and other after-dinner fare looked delicious as we saw more attentive members of the waitstaff taking various treats to their seemingly happy tables. By the time our waiter was kind enough to grace us with his presence again, all we were in the mood for was the bill. El Meson will remain a fav, but we're in no rush to return to its sister, Ena. read more

Tried this cozy neighborhood cafe for the first time recently. The guacamole was amazing - fresh and delicious! The scallops and ahi tuna were excellent as well. Service was very helpful and attentive. Well worth my drive in from the suburbs. read more

We had heard a lot of good things about Cafe Ena and tried lunch. We were very disappointed. The place was about empty but it took forty minutes to get lunch. Once we were served the portion were small and very salty. It tasted like they drowned everything in Worchester sauce. We would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

My son first took me there for Mothers Day, WOW! all I can say is EXCELLENT. Went there again tonight with my son for my birthday. It just gets better, had the swordfish and there sangria is excellent loaded with bits of apple and orange. Desert-YUMMY. Thank You Café Ena Almost forgot had the Ceviche Duo, batter was just perfect the inside was to die for. read more

Like everything about this place. Wonder food, service and atmosphere.

I was really disappointed after going here. My fiancé and I got all decked out and dressed up to go have a fancy date night that, sadly, fell short. We got seated fairly quickly and got drinks, which were good. We finally flagged our waiter down to order our food. We got the guacamole to share, I got the Risotto, and my fiancé got the salmon and lobster ravioli. The guacamole was AMAZING. VERY good and fresh. The actual food, however, was disgusting. My food tasted like everything was soaked in cream overnight and then stuck in a very hot oven for about 5 minutes. The food was soggy, lukewarm in the middle, and overall, gross. My fiancé complained that his salmon was too dry and inedible, and wouldn't eat half his food. Luckily, I had apparently complained loudly enough about MY food that the owner came over and asked what was wrong. I was blunt with him and I've never seen a restaurant owner so crushed. I almost felt bad, but the food was bad enough that I didn't. I understand that they probably cater to the people in the neighborhood (ie. yuppy middle class people who eat out more than they cook and don't really know what food is supposed to taste like,) but they could've tried at least a LITTLE bit. read more

Interesting and creative menu. Not quite Mexican, not quite caribbean, not quite anything - but all tasty. Very good Sangria, so-so wine list. Loved the guacamole - nice presentation too. Waiter was very nice, very attentive but kept calling our group of 40-70 year old ladies "you guys." read more

Husband and I came in here for a late brunch yesterday. It was pouring rain so there wasn't anyone else in there. Ordered huevos rancheros and chilaquiles. Both were great! The sauce on the chilaquiles was just like the one my mom makes at home (my fam is from Mexico). The menu had a bunch of other latin plates that I can't wait to try. Service was great but since we were the only ones in the restaurant, not sure how that would change when it's crowded. Will be back here for sure. read more

Fabulous. Extremely good menu and excellent service. They claim the guacamole is the best in the city, and they are right. Diverse menu, and everything on the menu looks great. We will definitely come back. read more

My favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities. The wine list is fantastic, the food is always great, the ceviche is a MUST (so good, the best in the Cities for sure), and the staff is so great - attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Great atmosphere as well. read more

Great food and service. Great neighborhood gem! I ordered the guacamole, ceviche and the scallop entree and I went back a week later to have the same thing because it was so good the first time! Service was excellent. I am taking 6 girlfriends there tonight! read more