Food and service here is always wonderful. The menu changes each season, but they are always happy to make any favorite dishes you might have if they have the ingredients available, which is awesome. One of my favorite things to order is a seafood pasta. Always delicious and satisfying. This place is great for birthdays and special celebrations - they provide a small dessert with a candle to celebrate! Parking: street parking, but there is also a private lot directly across the street from the restaurant (you have to look for the sign). Also wanted to mention that they are dog friendly! read more

Asena has been my family's go-to for all our celebrations for as long as I've lived in Alameda: birthdays, graduations, Valentine's Day, anniversaries. It's also our favorite place to take guests from out of town when we're not up to hosting a dinner party. The food is consistently excellent, and the hospitality is always warm and welcoming. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but I order the stuffed eggplant more often than any other entree. I crave it, every so often, and nothing else will do! The other things we always order are the hummus with linguiça, any housemade pasta (the mushroom ravioli is rich and so, so satifying!), and tiramisu for dessert. As many special meals as I've enjoyed at this restaurant over the years, none were as special as the one I picked up and ate at home last week, in the midst of our statewide shelter-in-place to help stop the spread of Covid-19. I was so glad to see that Mustafa and his team have been able to make the shift to take-out only service at this time. And while there's not much to be celebrating at the moment, being able to partake of our Asena favorites at home made me certain that happy days will come again. I savored every bite! read more

Asena is our family's favorite restaurant, period. The food is amazing and the people are so friendly. When our daughter was little, we would come to Asena all the time because she was a super picky eater and we knew she would find something there she likes. As for myself, I love the mushroom raviolis, but really all their food is just so delicious. Moreover, the folks there are so kind and really work hard to make sure your experience is fantastic. We are really fortunate to have such a wonderful restaurant in our little town. read more

I love this place. I still remember those days when I first started to eat here. I've been to this restaurant for 3 years and don't know why I took so long to write a review. Apart from a little slow to get your food, if you are there as part of a big group and difficulty to find street parking, I don't have any complaints about dining here. This is a family owned restaurant with a cozy ambiance and their service has never been better. You'll be seated as soon as you get in and soon, hear their daily specials, with a mouthwatering description of each special dish. Their mushroom stuffed ravioli, vegetarian pappardelle, salads and soups, all tastes yum! Heavenly desserts! They have good bread that they serve as complementary bites with olive oil. Very good selection of wine and beer. Cocktails were never a wrong choice. If you are dining during summer or later spring, try their nice outdoor tables, surrounded by beautiful plants and trees, a nice garden look. You will never be disappointed with your dining experience. read more

SERVICE = Man-who-has-a-name-but-I-don't-know-it.. he was okay. FOOD = My co-worker and I went in for lunch. From the lunch menu, he had: "Minced lamb, caramelized onions, Parmagiano-Reggiano in Filo pastry, Sherry wine sauce" for $9.95. --It was yummy.. we found that the sauce was good and should definitely be mixed in with every bite. I had: "Seasoned 'loose' lamb sandwich, caramelized onions, mint, cucumber, cilantro vinaigrette" for $7.95. --It's a lamb sloppy joe! Ha.. it was good, but I was craving cheese in there.. Feta anyone? We also had complimentary bread. It was so good.. slightly crunchy top and bottom. Even better with the oil and vinegar. PAYMENT/PRICING = I think the pricing was decent. A little more than what I would want to pay for lunch, but I felt I got a good amount of food for the money. PARKING = We parked down the street around the corner on Broadway to avoid metered parking. Not a far walk at all. *EXPERIENCE* = Overall, I'd say we had a nice "go somewhere for our lunch break" experience. The place seemed a bit dark for lunch and there were flies hovering over the space in the center which was gross.. but other than that all was well with the food. I'd want to come back to try dinner.. maybe there won't be flies. :-P read more

If you like good food, this is the place to be. Great food, great service and good drinks. Ambience is perfect; outdoor is even more exotic. Most of the items are worth trying. The desserts are so good. Owner makes it worth coming back by treating you like a house guest. read more

Asena Restaurant - Bread pudding - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

I went here last night going in with high recomendations and Asena did not let them down. This place was unknown to me for a long time. I feel that is not as well known as it should be. Alameda restaurants are usually a let down but this place is on the top of my list now. The ambiance is very nice but it can get a bit loud. The food is great and would be at least double the price if the restaurant was located in San Francisco. Our meal consisted of stuff mushroom caps with lamp which were awesome. I ordered the paella for my entre and this was a good sized portion. It came with at least 12 mussels. What kind of restaurant would give you 12 mussels! And at such a great price. For dessert we shared the Creme Brulee and this a key dish for any fine restaurant and Asena passed with ease. Go here. It is one of the finer places in Alameda by far. read more

We have lived in Alameda for 14 years and without a doubt this is the restaurant I compare everything else to. It does get very lively on the weekend and agree with other posters - probably not a good place for children but very cozy and romantic... read more

Every time I have eaten their food has always been excellent! I am looking forward to eating their food again. So delicious! They are very nice people. You will not be disappointed! They are great in catering too!! Thank you, Asena for a job well done! read more

I went to Asena a few years ago and liked it well enough. I went this past month and LOVED it. The owner was there, giving us the royal treatment and the chef was on pointe. The food was delicious and they have secret off the menu wine selections if you are interested enough. This is NOT your typical Mediterranean place with hummus couscous and tabouli. That is a good thing for me, and i think calling it "Mediterranean" might be limiting them. It is more like an Italian slash Mediterranean slash Ca Cuisine fusion. Their flavor combos are impressive and choices are great. The patio is beautiful and the place is good for special occasions. I needed somewhere to replace Pappo (which has gone serriously downhill) so I am happy read more

I started going to Asena not long after it opened, and I can honestly say that I've never been disappointed. I'm not one for blogging or "yelping", but I really felt compelled to write something on the restaurant's behalf after reading the post from Hilda Gee G. (3/13/2009). I - like Lisa C. (3/14/2009) - have to wonder about the motivation behind the post. I've had countless meals at Asena, both dinners and lunches (I used to work in Alameda as well as living here), and have taken many people there. NOT ONCE have I - or anyone I've been there with - been let down. The owners are incredibly warm and generous in their genuine desire to please clientele in every aspect of the meal... from service, to food preparation, through dessert. Running a restaurant isn't just about putting good food on the table; there's the human element - the part that makes people feel good about being there, and want to experience it over and over again. I've been to restaurants where meals were technically excellent, but service and attitude were so poor that I have no desire to return to them. Asena is a restaurant that has a heart and soul... they take pride in serving the community. If Hilda Gee G were ever to go there again, she'd find herself being greeted warmly, served fabulous food, and treated with respect. read more

I definitely need to go back to Asena, as I've only been once on New Year's Eve with 2 other couples. I had a delightful vegetarian entree. My only regret is I filled up on bread, couldn't finish my entree, and then accidently left behind my leftovers! (I love leftovers and often try to set aside a bit of a favorite meal so I can enjoy it twice.) My dessert was pot de creme, which was somewhat disappointing since I thought it was going to be a warm souffle-type of dessert. Nonetheless, I want more of Asena! read more

Asena is like going home for me. The owners and staff make us feel like family whenever we visit. Varied, fresh, mediteranian/continental menu is wonderful. My only problem is settling on 1 of 4 or more entrees that I want to try. Always a fresh fish, entree, and pasta. Hands down my favorite restaurant in Alameda because of the quality cuisine, friendly service, and value., read more

Asena is a good safe bet for a nice meal. You can take clients there or relatives and everyone will be fine. It is a little hit or miss, but when you get something good, it is pretty darn good. The salads I think are a little ho hum, but someone I knew ordered the chicken Cesar and that is definitely the salad to get. The lamb burger is a little weird. The pasta is usually very good. The portobello mushroom sandwich is a disappointment, as is the prawn salad. I had some grilled eggplant with cheese and mushrooms and artichoke hearts in a tomato sauce that was so good I had a hard time not just picking up the plate and licking it. I think the prices are fair for what you get and the atmosphere. read more

This was my first night out to dinner since the exodus of my gallbladder. It was a welcome back to the world of food containing oil. I dip dip dipped the bread in the olive oil balsamic mixture and ate it freely. I ordered a celebratory glass of wine and was even offered a free glass if the one suggested was not to my liking. My entree was gnocchi with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and white bean sauce. It was excellent. Don enjoyed a nice piece of fish with a side of roasted vegetables and potato. He ordered a porter which I tried and liked (I normally hate beer). I asked to take my left overs to go and forgot them. Worried they were tossed with the table cleaning, we went back. They saw me coming and double wrapped my little box of cherished pasta. I don't want to imply that my enjoyment of Asena was only due to my reclaimed freedom eat what I want. It was more than that. Unlike some places in town, it was not lost in time or in meat heavy oversized portions. It was pleasant and the food was good. Plus there was enough variety to keep me coming back. read more

Pleasant little restaurant just off Park street, with a nice selection of well-prepared Mediterranean food, and competent, attentive service. My daughter and I stopped in for a weekday lunch, and the place was well patronized but not crowded. It's a nice, if not lovely room, with plenty of natural light, deep blue tablecloths with white linens, and occasional artistic touches on what would otherwise be rather ugly, blemished walls. The lunch menu has a good variety of salads, sandwiches, and full entrees, including some daily specials that looked terrific, if a bit heavy for my tastes during the noon hour (canneloni, anyone)? We stuck with sandwiches, and both the pulled lamb and grilled chicken sandwiches were terrific. Surveying the room, I got a chance to catch a look at most of the other menu items, and all looked fairly tasty, demonstrating if nothing else that Asena has got the presentation aspect of the meal down nicely. I'd certainly return to Asena for lunch, as the food and service were great, and the prices were quite reasonable. While I can't comment on the quality of the dinner experience, Asena has enough of the fundamentals right to give me confidence an evening here would also be a good experience. read more

I was first introduced to Asena by my parents about 4 years ago. Mo the owner is so friendly and welcoming and always seats us right away. I have to be honest, my parents are regulars there. Some of my favorite dishes include: their lamb, blackened salmon caser salad, and dessert (pacatta). The food is extraordinary! They have a small menu; however I have to say everything on it is wonderful including their mashed potatoes. The only thing I wish that they would do is change up the interior of the restaurant. It needs a richer feel and needs to expand a bit given their quality of service and amazing food. read more

Came in for lunch one day and had a really great salad with watermelon and shrimp that was very tasty. The next week, my boyfriend asked me to pick up two salads for dinner and although it wasn't on the dinner menu, the manager who took the phone order assured me that he could do dinner portions of the salad with extra shrimp. My fault for not looking before I brought it home and got the raised eyebrow from the boyfriend - the "dinner" portion was exactly the same size as the lunch portion that I had before, with 3 only shrimp on each, a few slices of flat bread were included making this a mere $45 for two takeout salads with 6 pieces of shrimp - total. 2 stars for it being a good salad - boo for the value for 2 salads for dinner. Was excited at first but not sure we will be back. read more

My all-time favorite Alameda restaurant. It was one of the first to pull the Island City out of the Sizzler, pub grub, fast food abyss. Great food, varied menu and specials, good wine selection (the house white is excellent) and the owners and staff make you feel like you're an old friend. After 10+ years it's still a winner! read more

I ate lunch here for the second time on Friday. The first time was long ago for my birthday with a coworker. I don't remember much about the first dining experince except that I thought it was odd that my coworker wanted to take me out solo for my birthday. I guess it was a bonding thing. This time I got the scampi salad with blue cheese. YUM! It was exactly what I was looking for and I loved every bite of it. The bread with the olive oil and balsamic was also scrumptious. I had a cocktail too. It was one of those funny named ones that I always have a hard time pronouncing - the caipirinha. It was good too. read more

My man took me here on our date night... and I was so pleasantly suprised!! I've lived in Alameda for 2 years, and hadn't even noticed this little gem. I have always had a problem with Greek places because most of the meals are meat focused, and I am not... But here... there are plenty of veggie options... (and there's good stuff for the meat eaters too!) The staff was lovely... our waiter was so sweet and recommended a perfect wine for my meal. It was a little chilly in the dining room, but I probably should have brought a sweater! I will definately go back again.... read more

An absolutely charming restaurant! I loved everything about it. Went for dinner on an early Thursday evening; shared appetizers of cremini mushroom caps stuffed with minced lamb, gorgonzola and sherry wine sauce; and cumin seed-crusted brie on crostini. For entrees, we shared the filo pastry stuffed Swiss chard with French feta, fire-roasted bell pepper; and salmon fillet wrapped in grape leaves with tarragon-lemon béchamel. Had the orange cheesecake for desert. The wait staff were charming, the atmosphere friendly, and it just made my day being able to walk down the leafy, pretty little neighborhood to get there on a warm summer's evening. Mediterranean food as it's meant to be! read more

I recently descended upon this place after an afternoon at a kick-ass tour and tasting at St. George's Spirits on the island with a couple of friends. The ambiance was nice. We chose to sit outside on the patio -- great day for it. The bread was good (focaccia style); the rest of the food was simply okay. I ordered a Mediterreanean sampler appetizer (hummus, eggplant, fire-roasted peppers). Not bad, not great. I can't remember what one friend got, but the other got a house salad. Among the three appetizers, however, I distinctly felt that the house salad not only looked the best, but was also the best value. For entrees, one friend ordered the paella, another a spicy salmon dish, and I, a house-made gnocchi with fresh corn, sweet peppers, and a ricotta salata. The gnocchi sounds much better than it is. The gentleman with the paella insisted that his dish was delicious. The other with the salmon felt similarly as I did to my gnocchi. Would I order it again? Not likely. I wasn't terribly excited about other vegetarian options, however, so that limits my choice. I can see the appeal of Asena, and I appreciated my friend's insistance on staying in Alameda and supporting local businesses after boozing the afternoon away at an artisian distillery. In a word, it's fine. I wouldn't rush to return. read more

Nice find for dinner just off Park street in Alameda. Ambiance is casual, but nice. Service is friendly. Food is delicious. We enjoyed the salmon ravioli special and paella with chicken. Good cocktail menu too. I had an excellent caipirinha that brought me back to Ipanema beach in Rio. read more

I have walked by Asena repeatedly for over a year, never during business hours, and admired their tasty looking menu in the window. Last week I happened to be in the neighborhood during their lunchtime and finally got a chance to go in. There was no one in the restaurant since it was really close to closing time on a Tuesday afternoon. The service was impeccable and I did not feel uncomfortable dining alone or being the only customer (sometimes the waitstaff just makes it awkward to dine alone). They also didn't mind that I stayed a while after closing enjoying a cup of coffee and reading a book. They even kept offering to refill my coffee after closing. I had the house salad, followed by one of the specials, smoked salmon ravioli with lemon and sun-dried tomatoes, a glass of house wine and coffee. With tip this meal came out to $25 and it was well worth it. I will definitely come back here for dinner and many more lunches. read more

Seriously the only thing I could complain about is the small bathroom and they ran out of soup when we tried to order more to go. My mom and I shared the lavender honey chicken sandwich and the warm goat cheese salad with caramelized apples. Everything was great! read more

I had a delightful experience dining here. The staff was tremendous. Honestly it would be a nice little date night spot in my opinion. Not sure if shishito peppers are Turkish but hey I enjoy the peppers. The hummus unexpectedly came out with little pieces of sausages on top but it worked well. The eggplant with Mozzarella was worth ordering anytime I come into town. I'll be back whenever I'm in town. read more

See all

I had a lovely dinner there on New Years Eve. If you want to feel like a ROCK STAR, allow Nuitin and Mustafa to treat you! The food is so carefully prepared and fresh. There's pride in this place! And a lot less expensive than other good restaurants. It makes sense. read more

My husband brought me here for our 10 year anniversary and the food was amazing. I'd give this place 5 stars on the food alone. They're docked a point though for some hiccups with the reservation. The restaurant was packed when we got there and there clearly were issues with the reservation schedules. We showed up around 6:50 for our 7:00 reservation and didn't get seated until around 7:20. There was a couple that showed up after us with the same time slot and got their seats before us. Thankfully it was a nice night because there isn't much room to wait inside the restaurant with everyone clamoring over each other to get the attention of, well- anyone. The fellow who I assume is the owner saw our annoyance tried to make up for the wait by offering us some wine, which was a lovely gesture. He also took over serving us. He was a very friendly fellow but not too attentive and we had to call over the other waiters to get our bread, refill drinks, and get our check. Other than that, the food came out quickly considering how packed the restaurant was and everything was delicious. I really appreciate the fact that they tried to make up for having us wait and would certainly give it another go. read more

This is by far our most favorite restaurant in Alameda! We're huge fans of everything on the menu, but do yourself a favor and try the paella...whether it's takeout or the beautiful patio we are never disappointed. read more

Dinner Recommendations - Fresh watermelon, French feta and mint with arugula, & pomegranate vinaigrette - Fresh salmon carpaccio, capers, fennel, balsamic strawberries, & red onion - Smoked salmon ravioli - Prawns over scallion fettuccine, fresh fennel, & citrus butter Their Desserts are good, but I feel like they could be better. I Love their Food. I recommend dining at Asena. read more

Delicious and great for vegetarians and meat eaters alike! Food and restaurant experience was so much fun, coming back.

Great Food and Excellent Service: I loved the food. It was stuff that I hadn't had before. A blend of Italian and other Mediterranean dishes. The chef was actually out at the table talking to us. It was great to understand the dishes and how they were put together. I love this place. I had seared Tuna, chilled cucumber/yogurt soup, and an incredible chilled lemon souffle. read more

Went here for a friends birthday dinner and the service was great. We had a large group of about 15 people and they did all they could to make sure that we got food and gave extra time to those who arrived late or couldn't decide on food to order. First I had a Lemon Drop which was great and hit the spot. Next I order 2 appetizers to share and got the Roasted head of garlic on Asena's own onion-curry bread with Gorgonzola and Crispy breaded artichoke hearts. The Roasted Garlic was great but the onion-curry bread had no flavor at all so I was disappointed in it. The Crispy Artichoke was great and the lime aioli was better then I expected it would be. Next I had the soup of the day Potato Leek. I love Potato Leek. I will eat it every day and twice on Sunday if I can. That said the soup was flavorful and good. It was blended which is not my preference (I like a little chunky goodness in it) but it was good enough that I didn't mind and ate it up. I ordered the Skinny Colada drink and it was really good. For dinner I had Prawns over house-made scallion fettuccine, roasted Jalapeño-lime cream. The dish was OK. The fettuccine was great the prawns were great but the sauce had none of the kick I expected and if there were jalapeños in it they were hidden in other flavors. Last I had Blood Orange Cheesecake. I was debating between this and the creme brulee but decided that I should adventure out and try the cheesecake. I regretted my decision. The cheesecake had only one flavor, orange. Now, yes, that was supposed to be part of it, but there was no cheesecake bite. I've had many flavors of cheesecake and they always are a blend of cheesecake kick and whatever you combined it with. This had none of that. It was straight orange. Some of the guest ordered the creme brulee and were very happy. Others ordered the gelato and really liked that. So if I go back I will try one of those. All in all the place had a great ambiance but the acoustics made it a very loud place and once it was packed it was very hard to hear anyone talking. The service was great and our food was brought quickly and overall I liked the food, but for a few dishes. read more

4.5 stars. We went there for lunch. Great food (I had the eggplant sandwich, my date the Orange Roughy "cooked to perfection," she says), perfect service. A family friendly locally owned restaurant. Pleasant decor, enough space between the tables so you don't feel you are sitting in your neighbors' laps. read more

I went here with my cousin for my 25 birthday dinner. We searched Italian and this interestingly enough came up on yelp! Staff/restaurant: extremely nice and attentive staff, the restaurant was just the right size for coziness. Great for family or date night! Drinks: their signature cocktails are only $8 each, such a good price. The three citrus margarita is my recommendation! Food: food was very good with fresh and full flavors We got the blue cheese endive salad - that was my favorite! Mmmm the shredded pieces of pear the blue cheese on crispy iceberg lettuce was delicious! And the hummus bread plate with their homemade linguica! Mmmmmmm. And then last let we shared the shrimp champagne fettuccine ! Keep in mind this is not my first time I came back 3 more times with my mom and grandma - they also loved it! read more

Nice little unusual place in Alameda. The food is good, sometimes great, the service is attentive and the menu is appealing. I give Asena a four star rating for the atmosphere - not a lot happening in this department. The dining area consists of one single large room packed with tables. A small built-in bar is crammed in one small corner but you can't sit at the bar. It is there merely for looks. If you're easily chilled (like I am), make sure to dress warmly. The outside door opens directly into the restaurant and the front is completely floor to ceiling windows. Great for people watching but not so for keeping warm. If I was the owner, I'd install some big thick curtains that could be drawn in the winter evenings. Would make the place more intimate. Otherwise, I definitely recommend checking Asena out. One of the few bastions in Alameda. read more

Ordered the pizza and hummus. I order the same thing every time my family comes here because of the incredible flavors in this pizza. I also want to mention the staff is always at a premium level and had never left me not welcomed or satisfied. Their an amazing crew. Give it a chance. read more

Asena Restaurant - The bar - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

See all

The food is overpriced. I was thinking that giant Mediterranean meal, but this was too dainty for me especially given the prices. If the entrees were about $5 cheaper then this would be more acceptable. I really didn't like the way we had to pay with the credit card machine on the table and the server looking down on us as he asked about the tip ranges. read more

Asena Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Alameda, California

Always great food and service. We live a couple blocks away and have been going here for years. Never disappointed. Daily specials are great. Prepared with passion. Outdoor seating with heaters some nights. read more