"We are visiting Portland from Northern California for a few days and in our foodie driven research, had heard that A Cena Ristorante was worth checking out. October 31st happens to be my husband and I’s “dateaversary”—the date of our very first official date, now 7 years ago. We always try and do something special on this day, and A Cena felt like a good spot to celebrate one of our personal milestones. We started with an Antipasto appetizer, a tray of yummy pickled veggies and accoutrement, and probably hands down the best burrata we have ever had. Firm, rich and not mucous-textured or watery. My husband got the hangar steak, and I got half portions of two different pasta dishes since I couldn’t quite decide. Our waitress was very nice and cordial at the beginning of our visit, but both my husband and I sensed that by the end of our dining, she was a bit cold and what we described as “bored” of us. Our interactions with her had been nice, enthusiastic, thankful, appreciative—and we did not linger at the table longer than it took to eat…so I’m not quite sure why she seemed to be disinterested with us by the time we finished up desert, paid the check, and left. Other than that, I’m glad we now can say we’ve tried A Cena Ristorante, and can cross it off our culinary bucket list."
