Amazing, amazing, amazing all the way around. They catered our mother's funeral, came into the house while we were gone, set it all up and left. Every single item was delicious. My brothers and I were thrilled with every bite! We highly recommend you try one of everything!! read more

Meticulously prepared food and great service. Always attentive wait staff. Small inside seating area.

Had dinner there recently with friends. It was delicious. Easy street parking mid week. Takes reservations. I had the salmon special and have been craving salmon ever since. Outside dining area looks nice but didn't try it yet -ate inside and had great service. read more

This place never disappoints. Great food. Great service. And employees/management that truly goes all out to make sure the experience is top-notch. read more

What a hidden gem! It's off the beaten path but well worth the effort. Everything we ordered was off the charts! The service is amazing too!! read more

We had an early evening out at Asena's lovely outdoor patio where the tables are set about 8 feet apart, and the heat lamps are well placed to keep us cozy and warm. The tables are under an arbor, and you feel as if you are in the wine country or a small European town. The dinner was delicious! I had the lamb tenderloin which was spectacular. It was tender, beautifully seasoned and cooked to perfection. We started with an artichoke appetizer a lovely salad with grilled persimmons that was perfectly dressed, and then finished the meal off with lovely desserts. Throughout the evening, the staff made us feel like guests in their home. They checked in several times during our stay and provided wonderful service. read more

Our family came here for Christmas Eve dinner. We had the mussel appetizer, beet salad, steak, stuffed portabella mushroom and lobster raviloi. All the dishes tasted great! Fresh ingredients and perfect portion sizes. The lobster ravioli and the beet salad were my favorites. Even the kids enjoyed the meal. Looking forward to coming back... read more

Ordered in for three. It was a birthday. Had two mezzo: artichokes and curry bread with garlic, the Caesar and house salad. For mains: shrimp and linguini, salmon, and hanger steak. Everything was done with care and perfection including the delivery. Outstanding!!! Best ever service and take out we experienced read more

Asena is such a special place for our family. We frequent there to gather with friends, celebrate special occasions and enjoy their amazing food and hospitality. In these turbulent times, Mustafa and his family were at the top of our list of great restaurants to support by weekly takeout. Our dinner this week definitely did not disappoint: hummus and flatbread, goat cheese salad, prawns with penne and chicken with artichokes and olives, along with a yummy bottle of Chilean Cabernet. Great work Asena team- we know you are working hard to continue to produce amazing food despite the circumstances in the restaurant world right now. See you again soon! read more

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Great restaurant, and friendly but knowledgeable waitstaff. I ordered the chicken roulade, and I am now looking up the recipe to add to my personal rotation. My girlfriend ordered the flat iron steak, which was also killer. Defiantly among the best restaurants in Alameda. read more

We had a fantastic dinner (to go) from here the other night. I was out on Alameda after my boyfriend and I had had a busy week of work and recalled this restaurant as a recommendation from a friend who lives on the island. I rang up and ordered a few entrees (admittedly, I ordered 3 entrees for the 2 of us since I couldn't decide! Hey, it was Thursday...) along with some appetizers and desserts. Everything was delicious. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates - wow! So good! The portion was a little on the smaller side, but given these were bacon-wrapped dates (aka - super rich!!!), that was probably a good thing. We also got the endive salad w/ blue cheese, which was also delish and a perfect pairing for the dates - light, fresh, and flavorful. The entrees were AMAZING - the stuffed eggplant especially! We also had the stuffed Petaluma chicken and homemade garlic-fettucini w/ prawns. All equally satisfying and solid portion sizes (I only keep mentioning portion sizes due to another review I read)! Since there were 3 entrees and 2 eaters, I can also verify that all leftovers reheated with equal delicious-ness. As for dessert, it was refreshing to find a place that charged a reasonable price for a reasonably sized piece of a home-made dessert. Apparently, I've grown accustomed to paying $10-12 for a large dessert. $6 for a dessert appropriately sized for 1 person. Love it! We ordered panna cotta and tiramisu, both excellent. Easy parking, since they're about 1/2 block off Park and outside seating. Looking forward to my next trip out to the island for a repeat experience! Thanks Asena!!! Service was also very nice - even helped carry my bags out to the car! read more

We attended a private dinner at Asena and everyone in attendance would agree to my 5 star rating. We enjoyed a 5 course dinner in which each course was paired with chefs choice in wine. Standout dishes for me included the scallops wrapped in crisp Spanish bacon sitting on top of an apple with a bechemal sauce. The fava bean ravioli, ricotta and mint was very flavorful and the lemon souffle topped off a wonderful meal. The other two courses, salad with goat cheese and filet with mixed vegetables were executed perfectly but not new to my palate. Asena is located a couple blocks off Park Street. Venture that way and be rewarded with a 5 star meal complete with attentive service. read more

I have a hard time writing about Asena's. My love affair with Asena's predates Yelp by several years. I remember the tiny dining room with the beautifully painted multicolor walls and the lights that dimmed if they ran the dishwasher at the same time as the fan. I fondly recall long (looooonnnnggg) dinners lasting three hours or more during which we got to know the entire staff, and often our fellow diners, very well. Asena's was an exercise in patient, slow dining on wonderful Mediterranean food. When I left Alameda for the Pacific Northwest, Asena's was one of those places I knew I was going to miss. And because nothing is ever the same when you come back, I guess I avoided Asena's when I returned to the island. I didn't want to change those memories. Until my mother came to town and wanted to visit her favorite Alameda restaurant... Yes, things have changed. The multicolor, gilt murals are gone. They've fixed that little electrical issue with the dishwasher and the lights. It's not the same - except for the fantastic Mediterranean food and the warm ambiance. Still tiny, still family-owned and run, still kind of a slow-paced dining experience. It's a cliché already to say that this or that small business is the perfect reason for Yelp. But I would argue that Asena's is definitely one of those places. Small, local, beloved by the community that has supported it for years, Asena's is one of those places you would never find on your own. read more

Yelp lied to me. The price range here is definitely not $$. More like $$$$$$$$$$! Planned an end-of-semester dinner with some friends, and I was left in charge of picking the place. Out comes the handy-dandy Yelp app, and this place seemed to work out for all of us. When our entire party arrives, we look at the menus and notice how overwhelmingly expensive it is. None of us had the balls to get up and leave after being seated and drinking their water, but we did try to come up with an excuse and make our escape to the Japanese restaurant across the street. Total fail - the waiters assured us that we were "at the right place!" The bread was delicious. It's one of the reasons this place isn't getting a one-star rating from me. Free unlimited bread + broke college student = WIN! I ordered the caesar salad, and given the price of it, was expecting a high-end, mouth-watering salad of the gods. Uh, SIKE. They brought out three sad-looking salad leaves on a plate and tried to pass it off as gourmet food. Are they forreal? What the hell is this, seaweed that washed up from Alameda Beach? I've had better salads at Burger King for half the price! They couldn't even take a pair of scissors and slice up the ginormous leaves into something more suited for the size of, oh I don't know, a HUMAN MOUTH. It was awkward having to use a knife to cut up some lettuce. Just as it looked, it didn't taste any better. I could've easily dumped ranch on it, added a dash of pepper, and called it a salad. No secret ingredients there! I had a taste of my friend's appetizer, but it wasn't anything too special. Nothing big enough that justifies for a better review. Sorry, friends. Next time, I won't pick the place! Quick tips: (1) You better expect to cash out for this place. (2) Free bread! Eat up to your heart's content. Side notes: (1) Customer service was great. (2) The food wasn't. read more

I love Asena! Any place that starts me off with fresh, warm bread is off to a good start. Asena is small, but very intimate and comfortable. Their wine list is pretty good, even though I opted for a Diet Coke. I had the breaded chicken breast stuffed with bosc pear. It was a little sweet for me, but delish. I was full half way through the dinner. The staff is super friendly as well, which is pretty important to me. read more

My fiancé brought me to dinner here after proposing that morning and showering me with surprises all day. I thought it was just going to be the two of us, but he surprised me again by flying my parents and best friend up from Los Angeles, as well as inviting his parents, best friend, and his brother and girlfriend. As you can imagine, this caused a lot of (probably noisy) excitement on my part, but the staff at Asena did not mind at all. I guess I should start from the beginning. My fiancé went into the restaurant with our wine and champagne, and they immediately chilled the whites and sparklings and opened the reds to let them breathe. It took nearly an hour for everyone in our party to arrive, since they had been instructed to stagger in for effect, and again, the staff weren't at all bothered. Once everyone was there and seated, they cleverly anticipated events and poured a flute of champagne for everyone so that my fiancé could announce our engagement to our family and friends. This, naturally, got everyone talking, so we weren't ready to order for quite awhile. Our servers cordially poured us wine, congratulated us, and allowed us to take our time. Eventually we got around to ordering, and the food was delicious! The fried artichoke hearts were to die for; I could have eaten several plates of them. The lamb and eggplant were also excellent. I didn't taste everything, but there was praise all around. At one point we thought my father hadn't been served yet, but it turned out he had just devoured his meal so quickly we never saw it! The lemon soufflé I had for dessert was also outstanding. Altogether, the ten meals came to less than my fiancé had budgeted for, so of course, he was thrilled! Thank you, Asena, for being the lovely final destination on our special day. read more

If I were taking an 18 year old on a date, they would think this place is a great date restaurant, but they wouldn't know any better (and I wouldn't date an 18 year old). Asena is a Cal-Mediterranean restaurant in quaint Alameda. Summary --- good, but not great food, spotty service in a handspun decor, served mostly warm at a great value. Being used to SF restaurants I didn't want to take my family of six out and spring for the whole thing, but at Asena we ate heartily, drank plenty, and the bill came to about $50 per person tax and tip included. The menu is one page only, about ten mezze (Turkish for small plates), we sampled the artichoke hearts (so so), the smoked salmon (good, but not great), lamb stuffed mushrooms (pass them up, unseasoned ground lamb in mushroom caps), and the mussels (DELICIOUS). The dinner menu is about eight entrees, heavy on the pasta, but with a nice selection of salmon, beef, and lamb. I had the salmon, it was good, but not great. My Spanish step-mother had the paella, while they ate it, they certainly didn't wolf it down. We enjoyed a nice Zinfandel ($28/bottle), and the Chateneuf du Pape ($48/bottle). The service was good at first, but as the restaurant got busy quickly degraded --- no water refills, no offer of additional wine...when I did get another bottle they asked me if we wanted fresh wine glasses ---OF COURSE I WANT FRESH WINE GLASSES IT"S A DIFFERENT WINE. They auctioned off the food ("who had the ...? Who had the...?"). We made reservations for six on a Friday night. We arrived about 20 minutes early, and they were able to accommodate us without problem. Sadly when we left, no one thanked us or said goodbye. Asena, you look good from a distance, but when you get close you can see the pimples. read more

I've walked, ridden, and driven past Asena probably two million times at least, peering in at the dark dining area and adjacent fairy light-lit and space heater-heated outdoor patio. Whenever we've considered stopping in, the white linen table cloths and crispy pressed napkins made us sneer. Not sure if this makes us slobs or snobs.... Maybe snobby slobs. Huh.. In any case, we always keep walking and wait for a table at Kamakura instead (which manages to be equally formidable a restaurant by the way and as, if not more, formal too, however! sans easily stained tabletops and difficult to lift flatware). Nevertheless, my boss took me for lunch for my two year anny (ahh... two years of bliss) and this made me very happy! Despite the vast array of finer things they share with their clientele (the nice glasses, the white linens, the spotless service, etc, etc) the atmosphere is still California casual and quite comfortable for those sneakers-wearing schmucks among us. We both got pasta specials (he, the sausage rotini and I, the garbanzo bean ravioli). My split pea soup was a little watery, slightly bland, and it definitely had mint in it (wait, what? huh?) oh yeah, I'm still writing about the gee-dee pea soup and, yes, I remember quite clearly that it did indeed have MINT in it. Minus one for the somewhat far flung flavor profiles, but other than that, I'd say our lunch was a huge success. My entree was fab, but not nearly fab enough to make me want to order it again... I would recommend it if you want to eat something super rich (think - saturated fat counts surpassing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's annual contribution to NPR). Next time around I'll go for the lighter side... Probably the seafood bucatini. But honestly, seafood pasta aside, the service here really was splendid and overall, Asena makes for one fine Alameda eatery. The wine list did not look half bad and, though I did not partake, the full bar option can't be a terrible idea on a date night. I'd recommend Asena for special occasions, but warn that the menu might be unusually edgy for the unseasoned Mediterranean fine diner?? read more

I'm often disappointed by Mediterranean restaurants. Its the food of "my people" after all. So therefore I have expectations of what that style of food should be, that being said here's my synopsis: bad service, dusty wine bottles, food mediocre and a fusion of Italian, and maybe French and very few actual "Mediterranean" selections on the menu, everything was overpriced. My view on Medi food is that although Italy and France do touch on the cuisine, that style of food is best represented by the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean regions, Sicily, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morrocco. Where a lot of garlic and herbs and fresh-from-the-garden ingredients are used for flavoring rather than heavy sauces. Anyway, that is my Mediterranean rant. And here is my long winded review/recounting... So my husband and I decided to try this place after we realized that the restaurant we originally came to Alameda to dine at had changed hands and this Asena place had 4 starts with over 100 reviews. We get there, it looks cute enough (its rather small, but they made good use of the space), liked the decor. When we stepped inside however we were looked up and down by the wait staff instead of being greeted warmly. Granted we weren't dressed for white table cloth or anything, we were pretty casually dressed (I'm 8 mos pregnant, give me a break, I can't fit into any decent clothes) but its not like we were in sweats and flip flops or anything. I noticed right away that there was a greasy-dust coating on their wine selection which was prominently displayed on the bar, so who were they to judge our appearance anyways? Once the staff finally acknowledged we were there to dine, the host said, "give me a few minutes". We were a little bewildered by this request because there were 4 empty 2-person tables right in front of us. We should have been tipped off that the experience would go downhill from there, but we were hungry and weren't too keen on driving back to Oakland to find a different place and we don't know Alameda too well so we stayed. We're finally seated with a nice view of the wait staff's station and the kitchen storage area. Mind you they could have seated us with a view of just the bar, but I suck it up hoping the food will be decent. We get the menu and I'm disappointed right away because there were few offerings of what I would call actual Mediterranean dishes. It was mostly Italian-esque fare with some lamb thrown in and some heavy creamy sauces. We also thought the prices were a little high, here on yelp, this place had been given $$, I would give it $$$. We ordered the cremini mushrooms stuffed with lamb (which again had a creamy heavy sauce??) as an appetizer and the special which was salmon-filled ravioli with a lemon cream sauce. Again NOT very MEDITERRANEAN. The only truly medi things I remember seeing on the menu were the olive plate, and mint used in a savory dish (gnocchi). So the food arrives and the portions were very small, we only got 3 tiny mushrooms and 4 smallish raviolis. To top it off, the mushrooms arrived cold and the salmon was "fishy" and low quality. The only things we liked were the bread (fluffy -spongy stuff but tasty, however not very Mediterranean) and the lemon-cream sauce on the salmon raviolis. The owners may have been Turkish, which was my best guess considering they had Turkish wines on selection and you don't see that anyywhere, so they should know their sh*t about Mediterranean cuisine. The waiters were unfriendly and ignored us for the most part and rushed us with the bill, and two dishes, a sprite, and 2 beers were over 40 dollars. So if my hubby and I had not split everything, that's around 40-60 bucks per person if you ordered a full course: an appetizer, drink, salad, and entree. That's without dessert. In my book if two people can't get out the door for under $60, its a $$$ place. The food was so not worth it either. I'm curious to try the Turkish wine, but I'm going to have to find it somewhere else after this baby is born. :P Looking at the other reviews, maybe they were just having an off-night or maybe they have something against pregnant ladies because they don't order wine, and maybe I'm being harsh because I am pregnant, but basically meh food + crap service + for the price = two stars from me! read more

Yummmm and exceptional service! The food was seriously good. The menu seemed a little narrow which made me apprehensive but boy oh boy the taste of the food made up for it. The service was beyond! We brought our young boys, which I will say are well behaved in restaurants, but even so everyone treated them so kindly which is always a plus for us. read more

Delicious food,great service and beautiful back yard.Me and my wife love this place,they did our catering it was very professional and great taste of food. read more

Asena Restaurant - Asena back yard. - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

Good food served at a romantically slow pace - great for a date, but AVOID BRINGING KIDS. Staff has no idea how to change up or merge courses when, say, only one person gets a salad everyone else waits through that course. Painful with a group of mixed ages/tastes. I'd give a 4-5 on food alone, depending on the season. But service has always been spotty - made worse by obvious special attention to regulars. Fine when you're busy, but not cool when you're basically empty. read more

I made a reservation a few days prior for my sisters graduation party. The owner was cheerful and accommodating on the phone. The day of, the graduation ended early and when I called an hour before to ask if we could come in sooner, he said the table was ready! Upon getting seated we had drinks and bread immediately and he sold on us on all of the specials. It is rare to see the kind of enthusiasm and passion in servers nowadays. The service was excellent and the food was even better!!! Everything tasted fresh and delicious. He made my daughter a custom plate since they don't have a kids menu (it is more of an adult restaurant.) The chocolate bread pudding was to die for! I highly recommend this establishment and cannot wait to come again! read more

Stumbled on this place by complete accident. I had errands on the same street, and was hungry by the time it was done. I was even craving something completely different, but then I saw the menu and couple things stood out as a must try. I decided on the house made gnochhi with sage cream sauce and kobocha squash (my favorite type of squash and whenever i see house made gnocchi i have to order it) and lamb stuffed eggplant (yes and yes and yes). Both were done well. It came with fresh bread (loaf pan) which was perfect for soaking up the sauces in their dishes. They made a butter penne pasta with cheese for my niece too. She declared it was the best penne butter cheese pasta she's had and that's she's had a lot. She was also stuffing her face and she said she only does that when the food is good. She also declared that is where she wants to eat whenever we are in the area. It was also Halloween and with no trick or treating this year, they were so kind and gave me niece a caramel pannacotta. The owners were so sweet and the food excellent. I'll be back, Asena. Also, their logo is hard to read, so I had to look at my receipt the next day to figure out where this excellent place I had ordered from was. I had no idea there was a back patio too but I enjoyed my takeout. read more

Asena Restaurant is located in a nondescript building near the Park Street area of Alameda. The dining area is quite small, and the kitchen is probably even smaller. However, I was happily surprised by the quality of the food, the reasonableness of the costs and the efficient service of its staff. Its food is described as Californian-Mediterranean (owners are Turkish), with an emphasis on fresh and local ingredients. We started out with the very fresh tasting and addictive foccacia bread. The roasted garlic soup of day ($2 with order of an entree) came next and was a welcomed start to the meal. My entree was the mussels and prawns with saffron rice ($13.95). It came with about a dozen mussels arranged around the perimeter of the plate, a few good size prawns and a mound of saffron rice in the center. The most special quality of the dish was the soupy broth, which tied together all the wonderful flavors of the dish. After this satisfying meal, I couldn't resist trying something from their dessert menu. There were probably seven or eight choices on the dessert menu, each $5.75. I picked the creme-brulee, which was certainly good but was perhaps a little too pricey. A slice of cheesecake was generously portioned for sharing by two. Bottom Line: Excellent menu and execution, plus most items are very reasonably priced. read more

We got together with some very good friends of ours, Jon and Lynn, for dinner before they took off for the holidays to visit their daughter finishing a semester abroad. So, we decided on Asena. As we are all veterans of Asena we know the menu pretty much by heart now so now I live for the specials. (It's great that there seem to be quite a few folks that are regulars there since they opened. Good for us and good for them!) That evening the waiter barely got "Osso" out of his mouth when I dropped my menu and said, "That's it! Osso Bucco! I'm in." I think I embarrassed Laurie with my enthusiasm. Look, it's mouth watering and rarely on the menu when we're there, so yeah, I was excited. Sometimes good food does that to me. Needless to say it was a great meal started off with a nice cocktail (Hangar One martinis, Old Fashioneds), the Osso Bucco paired with a very nice Turkish red wine (I forgot to write it down) and finished off with some really tasty desserts and a nice port. Love this place during the holidays, mostly because of the warmth of the owners and the wait staff, but also because everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves. Here's to 2011. read more

Its with a heavy heart that I give Asena a 3 star review. I've been here probably 20 times in the last 2 years. The first 15 were 4-5 star dinners. But in the last 6 months the food has taken a pretty big slide. Steak specials are never very well trimmed and typically average. But their go to plates have also taken a dip in quality and attention to detail in the seasoning dept. Here is hoping they start to get some honest feedback from folks and get the quality back up. Service, I should note, is still top notch, no complaints about the staff what so ever. Very good folks in that respect. read more

Maybe they were having an off night, or maybe I should really start taking other people's reviews with a grain of salt... but hmmm. Everything we ordered tasted really meh, and that's putting it lightly. The food is SOMEWHAT Mediterranean influenced. The breaded artichokes appetizer was a joke as we only received 3 dinky little pieces with the aioli. My husband ordered the lamb stuffed eggplant and I ordered the papperdelle with Italian sausage and we both agreed that the dishes tasted like stuff we could have made at home for 1/3 of the price. My husband didn't even finish his lamb dish, he was so disappointed, and he LOVES lamb. And by the way, I HATE that. I hate going to a restaurant and throwing down my hard-earned cash for dishes that I could have made at home with my eyes closed. We go to restaurants for a REASON - to eat beautiful, well made dishes that we don't have the resources for and/or the desire to make at home. Asena totally let us down, and my husband and I left feeling really angry. Our server was kind, but not very attentive. In fact, most of the servers seemed a little flakey. I had to ask him twice for more bread and our water glasses were empty for about 10 minutes before he called someone over to refill them (and we weren't guzzling the water down, it was sipped at a normal pace.) The atmosphere made us feel like we walked into a secret club to which we were the outsiders. The owner or manager or whoever kept schmoozing with a few tables, who I assumed were either his friends or regulars. Not once did he pass by our table to ask us how we were doing. There was lots of loud talking and laughter, but instead of making us feel like we stepped into a lively, fun place, it made us feel like the mouth-breathing, pocket-protector D12 geeks stuck at the losers table at a high school cafeteria where everyone else knew everyone else. When we finally paid the bill and stepped out of the restaurant with sunken souls and angered hearts, the sour waft of stale urine coming from the outer entranceway suddenly felt fitting. read more

We went for lunch around 2pm. It was quite and empty. But got crowded around 3pm. Food. The focicca was quite good. I think they bake it there. We had the lamb in philo. It was ok needed more spices. Also had the Chicken with lemon. it was ok too. Atmosphere: Nice. but got loud when the crowd came. Price. It is a bit pricy for what you get. Not sure if I would go again. read more

Great food, and great casual yet tasteful vibe. We enjoyed the beet 'carpaccio' very much, as well as the goat cheese salad, hangar steak special and mushroom-stuffed chicken breast. The service was solid and the bartender went out of his way to make special beverages for us according to our tastes. The dessert we tried (vanilla bean gelato) was amazingly delicious. Solid and sweet evening here. Only disappointing note: the bathrooms were surprisingly not up to par with the rest of the restaurant. At least I can speak for the men's, which was cramped and a bit dirty and smelly. All told, this is an Alameda gem worth treasuring. read more

We ordered delivery for our anniversary on Tues as a treat. We weren't disappointed the delivery arrived right on time at 7pm as requested. Everything was piping hot and delicious. We had the artichokes to start, the mixed salad w goat cheese for two(easily for 3) and entrees of stuffed eggplant w lamb and shrimp linguine. All dishes were so amazing and really made our anniversary special during our stay at home celebration thanks Asena read more

First time dining at this place. I am impressed. Food was delicious. I had the lamb and my friend had the gnocchi. We both ate off each other's plates. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgable. He share his wine pairing recommendations and the restaurant's popular dishes. Everything was spot on. I am a picky eater and don't give reviews for places that fall short of my taste. Leave room for dessert and try the tiramisu. read more

After a super rough day at work yesterday, I was eager to have a nice dinner and de-stress with great conversation. The chosen venue was Asena. Although I made reservations, my party-of-two did not need them; the place was not bereft of diners, but it was comfortably empty. The service was pretty great, except that as a water drinker, it occasionally took some effort to get refills quickly. Not anything that would interfere with my eagerness to return here, pretty much any day of the week. Nibbles: The breaded artichoke hearts could have been amazing, but were instead only tasty. Kind of bland; I would recommend going with something a bit more interesting, like charcuterie plate, which we also sampled. Salad: Sweetness and light, the caramelized Fuyu persimmon salad was ridiculously good, and large enough to be a main course all on its own. I could have eaten just that, and been over the moon, although I would like a bit more persimmon in my next one! Entree: Last night, I was served the biggest porkchop I have ever seen. It was the mother, father and uncle Joe of all porkchops. Dressed with bing cherries and a port wine reduction, it was also one of the most delicious porkchops I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. Do not look for this on the regular menu, I got lucky by coming in when it was one of the daily specials. Extra points to our server for not batting an eye when I asked for my 'chop medium rare. Bless the cooks in the back, too, 'cause that is precisely what I got. Dessert: Oh yes, blood orange cheesecake happened. And an espresso. The combination was just shy of perfection. My date had the pot de creme - AVOID that unless you really want some chocolate Jello pudding, because that is exactly what it tastes like. read more

Let me start with Valentines Day 2009... Amazing service, amazing food and amazing people. Period. It was an extremely memorable night... Now, bring on a need for a great restaurant, with a wonderful family feel, for our wedding lunch. I initially made a reservation, thinking we'd order off the menu. Convinced by a friend to go in and speak with Mustafa, my (now) hubby and I headed to the restaurant with our friend to talk 'menu'. Let me add that I was rather burnt out with the wedding planning, and really not 'feeling' the moment, prior to arriving. Now take an eraser and wipe away any bummed out feeling I had. Five minutes with Mustafa and his wonderfully animated and excited way of talking about his food made me suddenly happy and I clapped with joy. He sorted out the most beautiful wedding lunch menu, complete with catering to the needs of a vegetarian and a 4 year old in the group. Bring the wedding day. AMAZING food...AMAZING service...a truely memorable experience. Period. We'll be using them for our big post wedding bash next summer, and look forward to Mustafa and his crew...we know they can throw down for 200 people. read more

Right there in the top bracket. I had the chicken roulade on a Tuesday night. It was almost empty, and I couldn't believe it because the food is great and the price for the quality is excellent. For $30 I got a stuffed chicken breast that stayed interesting with every bite; the filling was built on olives and spinach but there were enough other ingredients for complexity and savor. It was served with roasted vegetables, seared for flavor and roasted until just tender enough not to crunch yet still be toothsome. And that $30? It includes the blood orange cheesecake, house made. That particular interpretation of cheesecake was not precisely my style; the cheesecake itself was very mild. But I nevertheless enjoyed the ample evidence of craft and care. The grain was very fine and even, and the thin slices of orange on top were brought to a texture just a little firmer than the cheesecake. In fact for me one of the most notable signs of skill in the kitchen was the control of texture of every part of the meal. Don't know why I haven't been here more often, other than it's a little off of the main street and easy to overlook. read more

This place is really special. I've been here several times now and have had a wonderful experience each time. It's fits nicely in between the super special occasion once-a-year restaurant and the casual spot you can indeed afford on a weekly basis (I think this applies to most people, "in today's economy"....god I'm sick of that phrase, but I'll use it anyhow.) The space is cozy, and off the main drive in Alameda; I think it's very romantic. The owner has always been there on my visits, and always makes rounds to make sure his customers are happy. It's a family owned restaurant, and I definitely feel that the staff--of Turkish descent--are at once polite, efficient, and at ease with the customers. The female server is very beautiful, as well. The food is really good. Not "OMG this is so creative, what IS this new crazy flavor?" good, but just well prepared, homemade Mediterranean-California cuisine; I love it. Last night, we started with the crispy breaded artichoke hearts with lime aioli, and baked black pepper brie, crispy bruschetta. Both heavy starters, but yummy. I had the whole stuffed Italian eggplant with loose lamb, gruyère, and a Marsala wine reduction--the portion was perfect, the presentation was lovely, and it tasted just right. No starch to accompany, but with the delicious complimentary bread they serve, no starch is necessary. My date had prawns over house-made papperdelle with fresh arugula, lemon béchamel--heavy, but good. We finished every last morsel. And the house red is an astonishing $5 a glass, with Alameda's Rosenblum Vintner's Cuvee Zinfandel next up at $6.50. Not bad!! If this was SF, they could easily up each entree by $10 bucks. But it's Alameda, and it's just perfect the way it is. read more

My husband and I like to stop by Asena for a mid-week lunch or a weekend dinner when we have time for a "grown-up" meal in Alameda. The food and ambience is that of a slightly upscale family restaurant, and the wait staff is VERY friendly and accommodating. The menu is seasonal, but I always find (and usually start with) the mixed greens and pear salad with fried balls of chèvre. (Yum!) The homemade pasta and the red meat dishes (as well as whatever specials we try) have never disappointed. Asena is definitely worth a visit for light Mediterranean fare. read more

The service was incredible. Our server surprised us with awesome anecdotes about fried cheese, his tales of dry sherry, and his spectacular gesticulations. He was the best dinner host ever. Everything at Asena is delicious. And impeccably prepared. The lamb...or paella...or halloumi. Or bread pudding with gelato. All 5 stars read more

Paella - Awesome! Veal Ravioli -Amazing! House Pinot Noir - Super tasty! Service - Impeccable! Ambiance - Perfect! Warriors win the championship - Fantastic! There's nothing bad to say about this place! My girlfriend and I loved it! read more

How fortunate we are that we can continue to enjoy the delectable meals of Asena Restaurant during this shelter-in-place! Walking in the door with delicious and comforting food during these challenging times brings joy to our family. As a regular customer of Asena, I typically lean toward the seafood entree, however, during these take-out days when comfort food is especially warranted, the mushroom ravioli and the gnocchi entrees have been spot on! My husband goes for the red meat of the day and he gives nothing but 5 stars for the flat iron and rib eye steaks. With two vegetarians in the house, there is such a great variety of other entrees and salads to choose from. And don't forget the starters and soups - delish! Thankfully, we are able to support this small business during the temporary transition to a take-out service so that Mustafa and his staff can continue to support their families. I think they have done a fabulous job making this difficult transition and we look forward to returning to the restaurant for the full fine dining experience in the warm atmosphere of attentive staff. It is then I will thoroughly enjoy my all-time-favorite chocolate bread pudding!! For now, we will continue to bring the delicious meals back home and find peace in knowing we are supporting our local community. Stay safe. read more