Asena — Restaurant in Alameda

I instantly enjoyed the atmosphere when we walked with out a reservation early in the evening. Wish they had some nice music on in the background and the women in our group were not blown away by the womens bathroom but the mens was pleasant. The staff was very attentive and our waiter knew the menu although not to the degree I would have expected. The stuffed mushrooms were very well prepared and I was excited for our entrees as it seemed there was a experienced executive chef in the back. Out of the four entrees we ordered two got the Pella, one got stuffed raviolis which were all very well prepared with care. I got the Petaluma stuffed chicken breast. To my disappointment my dish was breaded and fried or baked which in either case the chicken was dry, the port reduction sauce was mixed with pomegranate juice which created a dry turkey dinner memory. My entree was a total let down which I had high hopes for. I do not recommend this dish. All the entrees coming out of kitchen looked really well prepared. Our waiter did have empathy and offered a free dessert. The desserts and coffees were great and overall the the experience was good but in this one instance the Petaluma stuffed chicken breast should be removed or improved...

Just when I thought my Friday evening stroll through the Island of Alameda couldn't get any better, I stumbled upon Asena, a Mediterranean restaurant with their roots from Turkey! I started my culinary adventure with their house-made bread paired with a delightful balsamic and olive oil dip. The Parma prosciutto wrapped asparagus was a flavorful and indulgent appetizer, setting the tone for what was to come.

For the main course, I opted for the whole Italian eggplant with lamb, Gruyere, and Marsala demi-glace, and let me tell you, it was perfection on a plate! The flavors melded together beautifully, and each bite was a symphony of taste.

To top it all off, I indulged in their blood orange cheesecake with a pomegranate reduction. It was the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic meal.

And let's not forget the service—extraordinary doesn't even begin to describe it! The staff was attentive, friendly, and made me feel right at home.

Overall, Asena is a hidden gem in Alameda that should not be missed. 10/10, would dine...

I had the muscles and the shrimp pasta with paprika creme sauce, along with the creme brulee (because it's creme brulee and I will never say no to that.).

Everything was delicious, the flavors were very balanced, and nothing was overshadowed by any particular ingredient. The muscles were cooked to perfection, which is challenging for most restaurants, apparently. I enjoyed everything I ate enough to be willing to make the long-ish trip back for a second & third round.

The items are limited, but I'd rather have fewer choices that were made incredibly well than a mountain of options that were all executed at average or below average.

If I had one criticism, it would be that the creme brulee was smaller than I'd like, and they didn't use real vanilla, but charged as if they did. Any creme brulee with real vanilla bean will have visible black flecks from the actual vanilla beans. I didn't see any. But don't let that stop you from going to this place for a night it. You will absolutely...