I really wanted to like this place and give a higher review, but the service I received was downright disappointing. To start with the good: The food was delicious, and came out very quickly. Drinks too. If the review was just for food and drink, it would be 5 stars. Sadly, the service I received was very different than the quality of food/drink. The bad: My friend and I wanted to come check it out for happy hour. The restaurant posted on their instagram in the last week that happy hour is 3-6. I arrived at 4:45 and was told they could just squeeze me in before they cut off seating. I was sat at the bar, and the bartender immediately told me I would need to order food now if I wanted to get that order in. No mention of them changing their published happy hour times. After the 2 of us received 1 drink each and our food, the bartender never once checked on us or even said another word to us. We had to ask him multiple times for water (to be fair don't think he heard us, though we were sitting at eye level and trying to make eye contact). We were never asked if we wanted another drink, or any other food. The person sitting next to us left a plate of food, and a manager had to come over to bus it. In the entire time we were sat, the bartending did not say a single word to us after taking our initial order. We sat for 30 minutes trying to get the bartender's attention to ask for the check, and my friend had to hold his card in the air - only then did the manager come over to close out our check. The restaurant was bustling with staff, so it was not a lack of staffing issue. We felt treated less than other guests, and we assume it was due to ordering happy hour instead of the normal menu. We would have gladly ordered additional drinks at full price if anyone had checked on us. The happy hour prices were great, but do not justify us being treated so poorly. I am disappointed because I was excited for this restaurant, but in my experience it was just another chance to receive exceptionally poor service. I hope they take note and retrain their staff, because our experience was unacceptable. Also maybe let people know you've changed the happy hour times (a totally acceptable thing to do, but really not ok to make no mention of it on an active social media account). read more

We recently met some friends for dinner we all tried the Odyssey dinner menu, which was created in partnership with the IMAX theater next door. It was a clever concept. The three-course meal included a fantastic arugula citrus salad, and the steak and chicken mains were cooked to perfection. While we didn't care for the phyllo dough dessert, the staff kindly offered a much better alternative. Overall, the ambiance was spot on and the service was solid. read more

Aiona was awesome! First and foremost; I like that there was sound dampening on the ceiling bc my wife and I can have a normal conversation without yelling at each other. You didnt hear the silverware on the plates; which if youre like me hurts the ears. The food was great! The portions were much larger than I thought they would be. Calamari: Lightly breaded with great dipping sauce. Papas Bravas: Fried to a golden crisp with a creamy interior; the two sauces were also great. Branzino: Buttery, flaky, and with a crispy skin. Perfect. Golden beat salad: Earthy but with the accompanying citrus sweetness was a perfect balance. Overall great ambiance; great decor and good service. I highly recommend for a date night or drinks and apps to catch up with friends. read more

Amazing food and service! Everything came out fast and perfectly plated. We absolutely loved the freshness and unique flavors of every plate. Can't wait to try more. read more

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We originally had reservations at 715 on a Friday holiday weekend, but arrived early around 6. The restaurant is very authentically decorated. The arches, the colors, just very Mediterranean. It wasn't super busy for a Friday evening and we were sat originally outside, but honestly at even 6pm it felt like a hot box. The outside patio is glassed in with very little air flow. They did offer to turn on the portable air conditioner, but it can only do so much. They were kind enough to move us inside. The service was quick, friendly, knowledgeable. We were going back and forth between a few things and the server recommended the seasonal peach bruschetta. Unfortunately this was a miss for us. The focaccia had a nice crust to it however the peaches were more puréed and mushy. Combined with the burrata and balsamic sauce the focaccia crust wasn't enough texture and it just felt over sauced/dressed. The prosciutto added to the top was fantastic and balanced out the sweetness. Something else added a heat on the backend which was a nice surprise. The souvlaki was delicious. Some pieces were way over cooked compared to others. Maybe we just like it more medium rare than medium/well done; less tender. Our next course was The Brutus salad. These dishes are all meant for sharing and provide a generous portion for such. Sadly we felt the salad contained more of everything but the actual cabbage. The pita chunks were very large, it was overly dressed and contained a ton in parm cheese in addition to crispy cheese pieces. Salads are definitely hard to serve dressed as everyone likes things served differently. I think over all, we just wished there wasn't enough lettuce/green. The main dish was the fire roasted branzino. This is half a fish and probably serves 2 comfortably. It was tender, perfectly cooked. For being wood fired it was a little oily and over salted. Made me wonder if it was pan seared? The Phil Phil sauce was interesting! In the best way! Such a great addition to the fish if it weren't so oily. It's kind of mayo-y based which didn't help break up the texture/taste of the fish. They do serve it with house made Giardiniera which does help. Overall we had a good experience and the food was good, I wouldn't say over the top. Authentic in certain aspects. We ended up spending $174 for the food alone including tip and the 4% kitchen fee. read more

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Sac really needs more date night, high ambiance spots and this is one of them now. The fries and beef were a tad oversalted but still tasty and the prices were reasonable for the overall package. The pasta seemed to be made from scratch so I'd recommend going with that. Honestly it's a bit cheaper than other places in its category, like Ella. read more

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Legitimate for food, service, ambiance -- you'd never know they were only open for a few months! Worth a whole trip to Sacramento just to eat here! Order: hummus, peach bruschetta, Bistecca, and date pudding dessert! read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

We went to celebrate 3 birthdays. It was 14 of us. Where do I start!!! First, the entire staff was very kind and professional. They allowed us not to do a set menu which we do not like. Our server, Mathew was beyond amazing and accommodated us very well. We loved the food and enjoyed every minute of it. Very beautiful place and that patio experience was also amazing. Will definitely go back again and highly recommend this place. read more

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Aesthetic is there. The brand association with Allora is comforting. The service is solid. But the food is reminding me once again that Sacramento remains in a serious rut. Every dish tasted the same. Not one dish had that WOW moment or factor. All of it was "it was decent" vibe. And I think we were hoping for more than that. It pains me to say this and maybe it's still early so will be back a few times. My last visit was a week ago, so will revisit as newer restaurants need time to acclimate and find their groove. read more

Great Ambience, craft cocktails and even better food. My mouth was watering as I was eating the hummus, it was delicious ! Looking forward to introducing friends to this new wonderful restaurant read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We're returning to Aiona! The second I walked in, I was blown away by the amount of detail put into creating a visually stunning backdrop for what turned into a memorable dining experience! The hospitality was on point. A smile goes a long way and the waiters were very attentive to making sure we were content. Every dish served was beautifully plated with vibrant pops of color that made it almost too pretty to eat. The flavors absolutely lived up to the presentation. Each bite was fresh, balanced, and full of depth. One of my favorite things on the menu was the hamachi crudo. The fish was incredibly delicate and melted in my mouth, paired with refreshing slices of charred citrus and thin-sliced chilis. The combination of flavors was bright, clean, and unforgettable. We also had the pleasure of enjoying roasted carrots, hummus, porchetta with strawberry and apple chutney, and wood-roasted branzino. Everything we ordered was exceptional! The wine selection is outstanding! Something that I also appreciate on the menu is non-alcoholic beverage options. I had the Righteous Odyssey, Ritual 'rum' ginger and lime. It was a lovely way to cheers in the night with my family. Overall, a delicious and beautifully curated Mediterranean meal that felt both elevated and heartfelt with the rustic accents from the open fire in the kitchen. I can't wait to go back with more friends and family! I appreciate all the options on your menu. I truly wish I could dine at your restaurant everyday. Thank you Aiona!!! read more

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Whew! Aiona is all the things! Sexy, cool, moody, midtown Manhattan, date night, getting together with friends, amplified solo date on you name it. We were dining to celebrate a friend's birthday and if I had to summarize the entire experience: 10's across the board! I was greeted by Li, the GM, when I arrived. Very kind lady who gave me an overview of the restaurant that only heightened my expectations. Li walked me to my party's table of which I told her just point the way, but she insisted. Victoria took excellent care of our party, as did Jenny. We started out with the hummus, kalamari, eggplant, souvlaki and they were delicious. Special nod to the eggplant; the flavor combinations, blend of temperature's and texture was the table favorite. For dinner we shared grilled baby squash, fettuccini, papas bravas, and bistecca. Again, 10's! Table absolute faves were the steak and fettuccine. I could sit here and just write about the steak...OMG! I was on the fence about the fettuccine but in our friend group majority rules, and I'm so glad we ordered it. The creamy sauce was completely bananas! Stuffed beyond tick at this point, no girlfriend's dinner is complete without sweets! We ordered the tiramisu and oooh'ed and ahhhh'ed until the last bite. What an unforgettable time at Aiona, can't wait to return for date night with my hubby! read more

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Wow! Every detail was perfect. I hade the streak sandwich and fries. Tasted amazing. I was able to walk in without a reservation. Will be back to try the market special. read more

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Food was ok but the ambiance is gorgeous. I loved their drinks! I would definitely recommend.

The hummus was fresh and the pita was light but flavorful. There are set hours for lunch, Happy Hour, and dinner. It does not cross over, so plan for each menu. The wine selection for Happy Hour was also exceptional. Not the cliche Chardonnay and Merlot but slightly more exotic. The Chenin Blanc was nice and crisp, with great notes of green apple. Not a standard for the default happy hour in downtown. The hummus looks to use local produce and was reasonably priced. Service was also fantastic, with the appropriate amount of attention. Not too much or too little depending on how the clientele seemed to require. The couple next to me tried the majority of the happy hour offerings (excluding the hummus) and were between the Saganaki and Carpaccio. Definitely worth a stop off if you can sneak out of work a bit early and try the samples that are included in happy hour (2:30-5:00 Monday thru Friday) read more

Aiona - Hummus (Happy Hour) - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Good food! Recommending. Nice atmosphere. Accommodating servers. Looking forward to returning!

The service and food was excellent. I definitely recommend having the ribeye and roasted beets, absolutely amazing. The restaurants is very nice. read more

The hostess was very attentive, had a great personality and was very friendly. The server was very responsive although toward the end, after I mentioned I wasn't in a hurry, started to feel like I was being rushed (I think he may have been at the end of his shift). The drinks were amazing, not a big dill and the gin and tonic I would definitely order again. The beef carpaccio is one of the best I've had. The gnocchi had excellent flavor but after a few bites the texture was a little soggy and I couldn't finish it. I definitely want to come back again and try different things! Beautiful ambiance, patio and decor! read more

Aiona - Not a big dill - delicious - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Amazing food and service! Service: Made a reservation for Saturday dinner to celebrate our anniversary - they called to confirm and I mentioned we will bring our two little kids, they planned a booth for us, and our server Samantha knew their ages from that phone call. Just one example of their attention and focus on details, just like at Allora. The wait staff fills the water, clears plates, offers help as a team, we felt very cared for. Food: everything was amazing! We went all in and got the steak, porchetta, risotto, cauliflower, giant beans, papas bravas, hummus, and carpaccio. Definitely the steak was the highlight but everything was delicious. Next time we want to try the branzino their other top dish. They made the kids fries when we asked. So accommodating. Parking/ location: easy valet $15. Decor: really beautiful and easy to hear each other, despite the place being completely full! Wines: as we expected, amazing list and knowledge and we loved chatting with Elizabeth Rose. Overall, we can't wait to return for many future dinners and will plan some happy hours as well. A new staple for us that is kid friendly but also date-night worthy if we have childcare. read more

Service was excellent bartender had crazy knowledge on his craft. Food was excellent I can't wait to go back.

The menu was confusing, overly unique, and difficult to understand. The ambiance also felt inconsistent throughout the restaurant. The front areas appeared upscale and thoughtfully designed, but our family was seated in what felt like a separate "family section" with overly bright, cafeteria-style lighting, while other nearby areas had much nicer seating and atmosphere. This was especially disappointing since we had reservations for a special occasion. Unfortunately, the service was also lacking at the start of our meal. Our server seemed far more attentive to another table and took our drink and small plate orders, but never returned to take our entrée orders or check on us afterward. After waiting quite a while, I had to make obvious gestures with my menu before a manager finally noticed and came over to help us. As for the food, most dishes lacked flavor. The highlight of the meal was the date pudding dessert, which was excellent. Overall, the experience did not justify the price we paid. My family brought me here for an early Mother's Day celebration, so the disappointing experience made it even more unfortunate. I truly hope the restaurant improves both its service and food quality because it has potential, but our visit fell far short of expectations. read more

We had the opportunity to dine at Aiona on 4/23/26. What a great addition to the Sacramento dining scene. Beautiful interiors and e velvet service all the way around. Some of the offerings that we indulged in were: Carpaccio, Foccacia, Hummus, Kalamari, Maroulosalata, the Chicken, the Short Rib and the Cauliflower. All were very tasty. The standouts were the Foccacia, Maroulosalata, the short rib and the Cauliflower. The service is exceptional and the wine selection is fantastic! We can't wait to return again and again. read more

Had an incredible meal there last night! The food was absolutely fabulous and the service was amazing. Neal was outstanding!!

Love the outside dinning and the live fire. Been twice with a large group outside. We did family style for the group and pre-selected several wines and dishes. Service was very good, finished plates were picked up and refreshed with the next plates. Favorite was the Calamari, the Maroulousalata Salad, (Romaine-Radicchio-Fennel-Pistachio-Citrus, and the 72 hour short rib, Valet parking also very convenient. read more

Aiona - Group of 28 outside patio - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Had an incredibly wonderful experience with my wife and son at Aiona last night. If you've never had Live-Fire Mediterranean, I'd highly recommend. It's a completely unique and pleasurable experience. We had reservations at 6 pm on a Saturday and it was packed. The decor is amazing and fits in perfectly with the cuisine. Our waiter was Curtis, who was very attentive, and so were all the support team that accompanied him with food, water and clean up service. Our booth happened to be directly across from the exposition kitchen, so we had a front row seat in watching how most things were prepared. Everyone was consistently professional, working in teams and together, along with a conductor, Chef Lee Hinton, to lead the way. Craft drinks were delicious, then there was the food - wow! For small plates, my favorite was the Carpaccio. Coupled with the toast and cheese curd, the texture and taste were amazing. I've never had anything like it before. Felt like something you would only be able to taste in the Mediterranean, yet here we were being served this wonderful dish in the heart of Sacramento. For our main plates we had the Porchetta and Wood Roasted Branzino. Both excellent! The Porchetta was so unexpected with the sweet flavor of the strawberry and apple chutney. All so fresh. We had the pleasure of speaking to the owner Deneb Williams, who mentioned they plan to slightly change ingredients to match the freshness of each season, such as the Strawberry's to Peaches when ready. We asked more about the grill as well. It's a MIBRASA, custom made in Spain, they only make about 50 per year. He and his lead chef Lee, went to Spain to purchase as well as spend time to experience other Live-Fire Restaurants to come up with their own unique menu. I'd say job well done! Finally for deserts, we had the Crema Catalan and Date Pudding. The Catalan was like a mousse but with a very delicate and distinct flavor. We all liked it very much. The Date Pudding was totally unique, both hot and cold, with a sweet sticky toffee texture. It was our favorite! Hands down, a great place to dine! Wonderful atmosphere, service and food, can't wait to go back and experience more of this exceptional restaurant. read more

The drinks were exceptional, Obie was warm and took excellent care of us - thank you!

I got the clam mix with muscle Alfredo. Could not finish it, salad was very good beat salad with some other stuff, loved it. People were very nice. read more

First off, I came hear because of there tie to Allora, which is great. We came at happy hour, ordered the skewers, the half chicken, the calamari, the hamachi crudo, and a few drinks. Calamari is a 6/10. Mid, nothing special, comparable to Bj's Brewhouse quality. Came with a chili butter sauce, that was flavorless, would have been better with an aioli. Hamachi Crudo is a 7/10. It was solid and the fish had a great texture and taste. The Skewers are a 3/10. I'm not sure if it was the ones we got, but the lamb tasted horrid. It would start with a mid decent taste and right at the end, a very specific, not good rancid taste comes in. So stopped eating it. The half chicken is a 6.5/10. It's rated that high because of how damn tender it was. Unbelievable. That's where it ends and falls flat. The sauce tasted like tomato and butter, that it. Like pretty much any dish we tried here, presentation is great, but almost everything was lacking flavor or seasoning/salt. Not quite better than the food a brewery would serve you but much more expensive. If Allora is a 8.5/10 they are currently a 5.5/10, mid not bad but needs much more development. Otherwise the ambiance is really nice, our waiter was cool, the drinks were solid. read more

Jess was an exceptional server. Her recommendations were great and she was a fun time. Food was awesome, family style is highly recommended. The ambience was great as well with the open kitchen and the decor. read more

Aiona - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Our team recently hosted a company luncheon at Aiona, and it exceeded every expectation. From the very beginning, the entire team was incredibly easy to work with, making the planning process seamless and stress-free. Their communication, flexibility, and attention to detail gave us complete confidence that our event would be a success. The luncheon itself was absolutely perfect. The service was attentive, professional, and welcoming throughout the entire event. Every member of our group felt genuinely cared for, and the staff anticipated our needs before we even had to ask. The food was exceptional. The family-style dining experience was one of the highlights of the afternoon, giving everyone the opportunity to sample an incredible variety of beautifully prepared dishes. Every course was flavorful, fresh, and thoughtfully presented, and our guests couldn't stop talking about how amazing everything tasted. The venue itself was the perfect setting for our celebration. It created a warm, inviting atmosphere that encouraged conversation, connection, and an unforgettable experience. Thank you to the entire Aiona team for helping create such a memorable event. We couldn't have asked for a better venue, better service, or a better dining experience. We highly recommend Aiona for corporate events, celebrations, or any special occasion. We look forward to returning! read more

Came for a graduation dinner with about 10 people so we got soooo many dishes but everything was 10/10 amazing. Vibes, service, and generally every dish was incredible. Highly recommend this place, everyone loved it all! Not a bad dish at the table. Beautiful atmosphere inside and decor made it all chefs kiss perfect. Will def be back here! read more

Aiona - Branzino, beef, risotto - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

I dropped into Aiona with one mission: to see if the Wagyu burger a friend raved about lived up to the hype. It did, and then some. The venue perfectly strikes a rare balance - upscale and sophisticated, yet entirely welcoming and unpretentious. Between the stunning glass-enclosed patio and the formal dining room, I opted for the central bar, where Matt T. provided top-tier hospitality. You immediately get the sense that you're in a special place that pairs the soul of a neighborhood staple with the execution of a fine-dining landmark. The Wagyu burger arrived beautifully composed alongside a vibrant arugula salad and artisanal pickled vegetables. Built on a flawless house-made bun, the burger was rich with intricate flavor layers. It was so exceptional that I abandoned all modesty, grabbed a fork, and ate it slowly just to dissect and savor every nuance. With perfect portions and a highly reasonable price point for the caliber of food, Aiona is a gem. I lucked out with zero wait by beating the crowd, but that won't last long as word spreads. Though I don't live in Sacramento, this is officially my first stop whenever I'm back in the city! read more

We celebrated our friends' 10-year anniversary at Aiona and had a wonderful experience. The food, atmosphere, and service were excellent. A special thank you to Lee, the general manager, for going above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. She truly made our celebration memorable! read more

We sat outside on a lovely evening. Sommelier Li made some wonderful wine suggestions and we found a wonderful bottle to enjoy. Perfect experience and food...we will definitely be back! read more

This is a review for the vegetarians! Mediterranean cuisine is excellent for vegetarians, so I was disappointed that Aiona does not provide enough options for vegetarian entrees. The only entree was a cauliflower dish that is just cauliflower, yogurt, and sauce with spices. I am sure it's delicious, but that's not an entree, that is an appetizer, and it's crazy that they charge $32 for cauliflower. I ended up choosing a risotto pasta instead that they removed the meat from (there is no vegetarian pasta dish on the menu which is also crazy), and it was fine. I'm sure the meat makes it feel like a more complete dish. As just a pea risotto it was tasty but boring. The eggplant appetizer was amazing! Very good. But I didn't want another vegetable with sauce dish as an entree. For the cauliflower dish, consider adding a grain like cous cous or rice to make it feel more filling and worth the money. The wine was excellent! read more

Happy hour - hummus and carpaccio are bomb, love their house G&T! Service is always on point, and how can u not love this gorgeous space

The food and atmosphere was great!! ER at the front was very helpful as well in the experience. Would highly recommend.

Service was ten stars as well as the atmosphere. We went on Saturday for our 1 year wedding anniversary and decided to splurge. 3 hours after leaving, I fell VERY ill and ended up in the ER. The doctor told us that this fast of "food poison" is likely due to mayo or dairy. We are guessing the sauce on the papas or the lamb skewers. read more

Aiona - Post iv and medication for nausea and vomiting. - Mediterranean Near Me - Sacramento, California

Roasted chicken was so good! Served on top of roasted tomatoes and herbs, really nice pairing. The pickles were yummy too. My husband ordered pasta, the vegetable one, and oh boy, too good. We sat outside, it was really nice. read more

Amazing food and service. Absolutely loved this place and the atmosphere. Will definitely be back! read more

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