Asena

Wonderful experience! The owner talked with me about the menu, suggested dishes, and checked in during each course. Most importantly, this might be the best tasting food I’ve ever had. Honestly just perfect. Friendly atmosphere in the restaurant as well.

My favorite restaurant in Alameda. The service is great, and the atmosphere is warm. Food is top notch. My favorites were the hanger steak and fava bean crostini, but everything we had was great.

I explored many Alameda eateries and photographed a few of Asena's highlights during Restaurant Week. I loved the closeness and intimate atmosphere, and these are the coolest dishes I saw. They serve very fresh Mediterranean coastal lighter fare, and there's a great backyard. It feels friendly and familiar.

We had an early dinner on a weekday evening. The entrees were varied, excellently prepared, full flavored, beautiful. and delicious. I enjoyed a novel cider from Denver. The desserts were not as unique but delicious and beautiful nonetheless. The ambiance was such that we talked until quite late and were accommodated easily.

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 again! #GRUBLYFE

An Alameda institution, we’ve been coming to Asena for over a decade, typically for special occasions. Their restaurant space is compact, but cozy and homely. There is a small ally adjacent to the main dining room for outdoor seating with lightly romantic ambiance. Their food is wonderful. Our favorite was the perfectly cooked salmon and warm freshly baked bread! Over the years, we’ve found certain dishes to be more salty than we’d prefer, but our comments were happily taken and future adjustments were always accommodated. The owner and staff is always friendly, courteous, and prompt. Give Asena a visit for a nice dinner or for that special celebration!

Delicious food and great cocktails! One of the best upscale Mediterranean restaurants in the Bay Area! The staff was super courteous and nice, their service was quick too in spite of running full house. We had the Ribeye Steak 🥩 and Eggplant stuffed with minced Lamb & topped with demi-glaze - ahh! So satisfying! It was my birthday and they also gave us a complimentary Pana Cotta! It is now one of our go-to places for sure.

Pretty decent Italian place. Had the Paella and the Tiramisu. The Tiramisu wasn’t anything to write home about if you’re a tiramisu fan. Needed that kind of soaked liquor flavor that was missing.

Everything went really well! This was our very first time dining at this excellent establishment! Great service & charming cozy ambiance too! The 3 of us really enjoyed all the courses! I especially liked my squid ink pasta dish with Mussels & Shrimp with the super deeelish addition of the tart braised red cabbage on top (should have asked for a bit more actually), just the right compliment to the mussels & shrimp and Parmesan topping! Also loved my Pot de Creme dessert We'll be sure to return even though we live fairly far away on the Peninsula!

Arrived on a Friday night and the place was packed. We lucked out and was seated quickly . The restaurant is quite cozy. We started with drinks and the bread which arrived warmed paired with evoo and balsamic. We ordered the following: *****- kabocha special was delicious and perfect for a cold evening ****- paella w/shrimp, chicken and mussels; shareable **** - eggplant stuffed lamb; very small serving Our food arrived hot as we were seated near the kitchen. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. She was waiting on several tables and was very hospitable. The owner was very warm and inviting. Overall, the food is $$$ for what you get and is ok for once in awhile date night. Would be pricey for everyday casual dining.

Very overpriced for the food, the service, and the experience. My wife and I tried a Asena for the first time. They couldn't seat us in the back outside (more desirable seating area?) and instead sat us in the alleyway (high traffic area) that leads to back. Menu and the day's specials sounded good. The prices seemed high but we expected to get a dining experience reflective of that pricing. We ordered their special appetizers of the day...crispy potato puffs and bacon-wrapped dates. Though very tasty...not worth the $13 each for the small portions. $14 each for a rum and coke and a basic manhattan were also overpriced. My wife had the squash ravioli (only 4 non-meat raviolis) and I had the gnocchi...each for $23. Both arrived with just pasta and sauce. Not very satisfying. Still hungry, we both ordered the chocolate pot de creme at $10 each. We should have gotten ice cream at Tucker's. On top of the overpriced meal, the service was very slow. They forget one of our appetizers (didn't deliver it until we reminded the waiter after we received our entrees). Though staff kept walking by our table, we had to flag someone down for more water, to order dessert and to get the check. Worse still...we left hungry. Not good for dinner out. Overall, an unsatisfying dining experience. We won't be returning and we can't recommend Asena to other diners.

This is an amazing restaurant n Alameda You are transported to a small European restaurant with fantastic linguini with clams Cold smoked salmon and lamb stuffed eggplant All the food is delicious Cocktails were also very tasty Pomegranate martini and the French connection Service was friendly and very professional We will definitely be back Thanks again for a great meal

Food--fabulous, tasty, and filling. Service -- amazing. The owner was fantastic. Super catering, pleasant, humble, and great charisma. Ambiance-- great tuck away vibe. If you want a little reprieve from the hustle and bustle all while getting a little taste of the quaint vacation spot vibe, this is the place. Can't wait to go again!

We were seated outside, I loved the string lights, the scenery was really nice. The service was amazing, the server and other staff frequently checked in with us. The food was really good! We started with Mussels for our appetizer. It was swimming in a delicious cream sauce, very flavorful and comforting. Highly recommend dipping the complementary bread in the sauce! For entrees, we had Paella and Ribeye! The Paella was packed with seafood flavor. Loved every bite of it. The ribeye was cooked to medium rare perfection. Solid experience overall, definitely coming back!

We visited Asena with a 5pm reservation for a party of 8 on 07/29/2024. This was my first time at this restaurant. It was slow early on; however, it got quite busy as the evening went on. This restaurant was awesome! The service was great, the prices are reasonable and the food was spectacular. It is a small-ish restaurant that seems to also have a large outdoor area; however, we were seated indoors. It has a full bar and wine menu. Our table shared some of the appetizers including the hummus, which was excellent. I had the Sofia's Chicken, which was incredible. It was a pistachio crusted chicken breast with mushrooms and a sherry sauce. Yum! For dessert, I shared the chocolate bread pudding with another member of our party and it certainly did not dissapoint. I would most definitely return to this restaurant again.

Ughhhh, I feel so bad writing this. Promise I do. I'll be quick. Just giving you a glimpse. Asparagus appetizer--literally 5 asparagus $14 Fried artichokes --literally 5 small pieces $14 Anyhow, for 4 of us ---the above appetizers, a salmon plate, a pesto pasta, paella and 2 cocktails....with a 20% tip...$230. And I still went home to eat something because I was hungry. Food was good. Service fantastic. Just too pricey.

This is a very cute restaurant in Alameda, a block or two from Park Street. Street parking was easy. We were meeting a friend and the servers were kind enough to sit us early and take our drink orders while we waited. We ate dinner on a weeknight and it was quite busy, so I would recommend making reservations prior. We ordered the hummus with linguica, which was an interesting addition. I got the small mixed greens salad with pear, and it was nice and light. For the entree, we shared the squid ink fettuccine with shrimp, which was just enough to share between two people. We also walked by the outdoor seating area and it looked very cute. Would love to stop by next time!

Excellent service and meals. Egg plant and mushroom ravioli were delicate and delicious. Tiramisu was as good as it gets. Got busy about 7 p.m. Resy may be a good idea if later. Nice patrons-atmosphere.

One of the standouts for me at Asena is the service - The servers are very attentive and the owner is so pleasant and sociable. Overall, the decor may be very simple, but the atmosphere is warm and inviting, particularly because of the people who work there. My partner and I arrived at around 5:30pm on a weekday, so it wasn't too busy and we didn't need a reservation. We were seated right away. We were started with fresh bread along with olive oil & balsamic vinegar - the perfect way to start the meal! It definitely brings me back to Italy. We ordered the following: 1) Crispy Breaded Artichoke with a lime aioli - The breaded artichoke was fried nicely with a crispy exterior and paired well with the lime aioli. There wasn't a lot of artichoke flavor to it, so if you don't like artichokes, this might a good dish for you! For me, I wish there was a stronger artichoke flavor. 2) Steamed Mussels with fresh spinach and sun dried tomato in cream sauce - Solid dish and as expected. The mussels were fresh and I particularly enjoyed the fresh spinach! Personally, for me, I think the cream sauce could have had a little more flavor. 3) Paella with chicken, linguica, Mediterranean mussels, prawns, leeks, peppers, saffron, rice - This is a good dish to share. It's flavorful with plenty of protein! Overall, I enjoyed the meal and the service. It's a nice and cozy location for a meal with friends or a date. In addition, they have an outdoor eating area, which looked really nice as well. Next time, I'll want to try a few of their pastas dishes as it seems to be more popular!

My boyfriend and I have had dinner at Asena 2 times now for Valentine's Day. Oh my gosh, each time has been spectacular. The food is absolutely amazing! We got the crab cakes, citrus arugula salad, crusted halibut, osso buco and for dessert we had the crème brûlée. The service is awesome and the ambiance is inviting.

Such a homey place to eat in Alameda! I absolutely loved everything from the food to the service. The owner was very enthusiastic and hospitable. They start you off with some fresh bread paired with olive oil & balsamic vinegar. The bread is addicting and we definitely got a couple rounds. The Brie special (4.5/5) was great and cheesy so if you're a Brie lover I highly recommend! The mussels were good too (4/5). The veal ravioli was delicious (5/5). Meat was tender inside and the flavor of the pesto was amazing!! Finished off with a creme brûlée which you can never go wrong with. I loved this spot and will definitely recommend to anyone in the area.

This was good. I mean real good. As a sucker for squid ink dishes, the homemade pasta here was stellar... with the odd cabbage and Turkish tinge of spice on the shrimp, an amazing combo of cultures. The other half gave the branzino fish dish an ok. That's not the only reason to drop a star... the place is sloooooow. Too slow. The staff is super friendly but still. In 1.5 hours we got a salad and mains. The mousse looked stellar but at this point it was almost 9pm (we got there at 730). You guys should get rid of some outside tables to make the place more efficient.

My wife and I came to this restaurant on 7/20. The proprietor, Mustafa, seated us at a table for two outside in the patio near a circular waterfall with hanging plants surrounding us, and we were off to a romantic bang! To start our meal, we shared a cream of mushroom soup. Our server, Eugene, suggested the specials, and we ordered smoked salmon ravioli for her and filo pastry filled with chicken with a coconut cream sauce and apple slices on the side for me. To top it off, we shared a wickedly delicious blood orange cheesecake. Our server Eugene was fantastic, our meals were superb and Mustafa came by our table to ensure our satisfaction! I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant for an all around delightful dining experience!

Francisco is a fabulous server. Full bar, nice vibe, great tasty hummus. Easy parking. Excellent mashed potatoes.

Our friend was moving to SoCal and we wanted to take her out for a farewell dinner at Asena, which was conveniently located to where she lives. I've been wanting to dine her but never made it happen. We were here on a warm Wednesday and planned on dining in their back patio, but it was full, so we dined inside. It was quaint with about 12 tables. Our server, I think was the owner, welcomed us. He handed us the menu and described the specials. As we looked over the menu, we were served focaccia bread with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip. The bread appears to be homemade and was warm, soft and was delicious. We got seconds and thirds of the bread. We started with the Charcuterie Plate, which was one of the specials. It came with four cured meats, prosciutto, coppa, and two types of salami drizzled with olive oil with marinated vegetables in the center. The cured meats were so fresh tasting. Delicious. I had the Paella. It had chicken, linguica, mussels, prawns, leeks, and peppers. The saffron rice was moist and flavorful and the seafood was perfectly cooked. One of the best paellas that I've tried. Roasted Veal Ravioli in a house made pesto sauce. It came with four large veal stuffed raviolis in a light pesto cream sauce. Orderer enjoyed the raviolis and was impressed with the veal stuffing. Mushroom Ravioli in a mushroom cream sauce. This was a special and our friend loved it. Tiramisu and Vanilla Bean Gelato - We shared the desserts. I liked the tiramisu, which was light, moist and not overly sweet. How could I have not dined here before? The food was delicious and service was friendly with a quaint ambiance. A great Alameda spot and looking forward to dining here again.

Great waiter. Nice patio. Flavorful but a little skimpy on the goat cheese and persimmon salad toppings given the price. Delicious salmon.

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or have friends & family visiting or maybe just a nice treat after a long week, Asena is always the perfect choice! I think it's one of the best, if not the best restaurant in Alameda! I know it sounds like an ad but I'm not being paid for this review lol

Hidden gem In alameda with beautiful cozy outdoor dining Start off with complimentary bread dipped with vinegar and oil, fellowed by a refreshing strong old fashion The salmon was flicky with a hint of sweet and tangy The ribeye grilled perfectly to medium rare Each dish comes with garlicky mash potatoes and seasoned veggies Such a full meal not enough room for dessert .

Dinner tonight was amazing! Asena has been one of my favorite restaurants in Alameda serving Mediterranean cuisine with a Cali twist in a cozy vibe. You must order their signature mushroom ravioli as an appetizer. It's currently a main entree that serves 4 raviolis that you can split as an appetizer. The sauce is so good made from wine, butter, and Gorgonzola! You cannot eat here and not try it. Also dip the bread in the sauce before they clear the plate. Trust me and you'll thank me later. Some other delicious mains are the petrole sole fish, squid ink pasta with prawns, and the paella. Also highly recommend their house salad with Gorgonzola and balsamic dressing. Their dressing is simply exquisite! Their cheesecake and vanilla bean gelato are a perfect way to end your meal. All entrees range from around $21-$34 and they have responsibility priced wines and a full service bar. All their food is simply delicious! Been going here for 10 years and never had a bad meal or service. The staff and owner love what they do. Check them out for date night, girls night out, business dinner or a family celebration.

If I could give more stars I would! My wife and I absolutely love this place! We go as often as we can! They have delicious food! I could eat the creme brûlée forever! They make good drinks too! The service is impeccable! The atmosphere is a nicely balanced! We recommend this place anyone and everyone!

Best food we've eaten in Alameda. Fabulous, homey atmosphere. Super-nice and knowledgeable staff. Every dish tasted of tradition and home-cooking, while elegant and bursting with flavor. One of the best Caesar salads I've eaten (and it's one of my go-to FAVs). My wife loved the mussels and my ravioli was quite good. Nice wine selection; very cozy outdoor seating.

Excellent food and excellent service! First time trying this place out tonight and it was outstanding! I had the lam stuffed eggplant and was living for it! I would happily take a bath in that sauce! Lol. Will definitely be back!

*Open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, and takeout* Came here about a week ago on a Saturday evening to try Asena for the first time. It was near closing, so there were still folks dining, but the number was dwindling down. I also dined again last night (Friday night), where it was more popular and a bit crowded. Staff and service: - The staff is friendly and is very good about checking on you to see if you need anything (they don't over do it) - There are multiple bottles of hand sanitizer by the front door - On my first visit , we were seated quickly. On my second visit, it took some time to get noticed by the door since it was crowded - My only downside is that because this restaurant is popular, it is crowded inside, with tables quite close to each other. This does make it a little hard to hear each other Food: - House-made hummus with linguica and flatbread: I ordered this both times and will probably continue to order it. I'm a hummus and flatbread fan, so this is delicious - Stuffed chicken: this was tasty, especially with the mashed potatoes and vegetables. Fair warning to not order if you do not like olives or artichokes. Unfortunately, this was not my favorite as I'm not an olive fan, and our waiter added a ton of pepper after I had asked for just a little bit - Cesar salad: tasty and I wish there was more! - Gnocchi: this was so delicious. The portion is a little on the lighter side, so this is enough for one person if there is a small appetizer as well. The ricotta, the basil, the texture of the gnocchi - all delicious - Beets: super tasty if you like beets - Crème Brûlée: comes in a cute little mason jar to enjoy alone or share with someone. This was quite divine Miscellaneous: - Be sure to hear their daily specials - Street parking available Overall, enjoyed both of my dining experiences here and will be coming back for more!

This is one of the best restaurants I've recently been to. The service was impeccable. Our server knew his stuff. We celebrated a birthday at the restaurant and was delighted with delicious dessert (tiramisu + cheesecake) after our main courses (paella + steak). I highly recommend this restaurant! The ambiance was also very nice. It's the perfect spot to come with your friends or even a days.

Definitely a solid restaurant in Alameda. Four stars for great customer service and good food. No dish knocked my socks off so minus one star. There is a small bar for wine and cocktails. We had a salad, the market price salmon and the market price ribeye. I would definitely get the salmon again.

The service was great. The atmosphere was great and packed. We made a reservation in advance. We ordered the housemade gnocchi with fresh ricotta and the paella with chicken, linguica, Mediterranean seafood for dinner. The paella was good but a bit salty. The gnocchi was good but a bit cheesy for me. If you like salty and cheesy flavors, this restaurant would be great for anyone who wants to try Mediterranean food.

Went here a few weeks ago, and I can't stop thinking about the delish food and amazing attentive service that we got from every staff member that we came across. Stand outs were definitely the fava bean crostini GET THESE!! As well as the homemade scallion fettuccine with prawns in a creamy lemon sauce. I still dream of these flavors and the perfect homemade pasta frequently. We can't wait to get back here. The salads are delicious and crisp too, you can just taste the quality of the ingredients used, and everything is plated wonderfully, presentation is key you know! Vegetarians will also be delighted as they have quite a few options to choose from aside from the apps and salads. My partner had a wonderful eggplant dish. We were wayyyyy too full after everything lol we could barely even finish our wine, but we will definitely be going back to try deserts, and order different entrees if I even dare because like I said that pasta was AMAZING!! We were given more fresh bread to take home which was a sweet touch, and they put away our left overs and bagged them for us. Can't wait to visit again :)

One of the best meals we've had in a while. I got the ribeye special and the steak was perfectly cooked. My partner had the gnocchi and neither of us had leftovers. The owner is very gracious and happy to see his customers.

Wonderful visit to Asena. Last visit was about 15 years ago. Had forgotten this gem of Mediterranean dishes offered. Last day of Alameda restaurant week. Brought the family. All of us will return soon again. Thank you for a very nice family evening dinner!

Awesome food, perfect service and nice ambiance. Make reservations if possible Seasonal menu with all items being delicious

Food was really good, but nothing to brag about to the folks at Michelin. Dessert was good--they make it fresh daily, pasta is made fresh there as well and delicious. Service was excellent. Made sure our water was full and checked in at the right moments, not interrupting good conversation. Ambiance is intimate, comfortable ans not stuffy. Enjoy really good food in an undiscovered spot.

total five-star experience, including food inventiveness, presentation, quality and value, combined with excellent service and beautiful ambience, inside and out. Turkish/Mediterranean cuisine loved the spinach and feta filo triangles and the soup of the day was a mushroom soup which was fantastic. the orzo "risotto" with grill chicken, gnocchi and grilled eggplant were all delicious they have a few really interesting martinis and I opted for their version of an espresso martini, but made with Turkish coffee, so it wasn't as sweet as you might expect. I'd like to try all the others so will return soon! but above all, the service was outstanding. attentive, friendly and not obtrusive can't wait to come back!

I've been wanting to try this place for some time now. It was a cold night, and I made reservations for two and figured we would be able to sit inside. But being that it was a very busy holiday evening and we had to sit outside. At first, I was a little turned off by not having the option, but it wasn't all that bad since they do have heat lamps. The staff was friendly and the service was okay. The food came out warm, yet the pasta dish I ordered was overcooked. The noodles were somewhat mushy, but the steak we ordered was delicious. The steak btw is big enough to share. The only I didn't like was while the two of us were still eating, one of the waiters kept coming to the table asking if we were done like 3x's within 5 minutes, and even once tried to grab the plate while there was clearly still food on it and we were still enjoying it. Other than that, the place was cool, and might try it again, not sure as of yet.

The food is amazing! The service by Lulu is exceptional. We highly recommend this place.

Hands down our go to restaurant for special occasions and a heck of a great dinner! Always ask for specials. Also they do a fish or beef carpaccio. My go to for dinner! Service is the upmost BEST in Alameda! Also if you are into wine, ask the servers! You'll be surprised.

Monday night, very good service, appetizer was a olive/pepper fried cheese combo was excellent, house salad was very fresh and tasty, the entree and special was a mild sausage ravioli with a cream pepper sauce was excellent, great selection of Belgium style beers and craft beer, I travel alot and this meal was extremely delicious and enjoyable!

Arena's wonderful flavors are back! This restaurant started by two Mediterranean gentlemen, one tall and one short, some 25+ years ago, has survived the COVID downturn and revitalized its traditional cuisine. The last time I reviewed this restaurant ( 18 months ago after 2 unsatisfactory visits), I was only able to give it three stars. Though the menu was the same basic affair it had been for years, the exquisite sauuces that had always drawn my hearts desire had lost their zest. ƁUT NOW l All is restored, the earth and stars as once again is in their proper orbits, and Asenas Eastern-Mediterranean- Californian fusion cuisine is once again a delight for lovers if good food. Welcome home! ....The lamb and traditional Turkish salid are especially good! We also had the Bucatini pasta ( they could have had a little lemon zest and basil to kick up the flavor, but it was ok.Bon appetite! Pictured is their great Tiramisu and raspberry sorbet.

We stopped in for my Wife's birthday and had the backyard section to ourselves. We ordered a bottle of a Cab as well as the Salmon and Ribeye and these dishes were amazing. Definitely the best quality food of any restaurant in Alameda. To add to that, the ambiance of the backyard was incredible and it was amazing to have it all to ourselves. Finally, the service was excellent and the waiters were very attentive throughout the night. We'll definitely be back given we only live so close and I hope this place keeps doing well.

I brought my godson here for some quality time. He had the shortrib special. I had the eggplant. We both found our meals enjoyable. We also shared the sweet potato, curry bread, and salad. The salad was really good, the sweet potato was okay and the curry bread not our favorite. They graciously gave us dessert, which he enjoyed. The restaurant is intimate and the service was good. Be mindful, you can hear others' conversations pretty clearly.

Asena has been our go-to place for affordable food and drinks. Lovely garden Seating too. We've been in Alameda for 25 years and Asena has never failed. They had a continental cuisine with fish, meats, pasta, and great appetizers and salads. Good wine menu and cocktails too. Turkish ownership directs the flavors and spicing and also the top-quality personal service. I take my family and many friends here. It never fails to satisfy. Bravo!

Best food in Alameda. Eggplant with lamb was marvelously tasty. Cozy place with great service. I will definitely return.

Always get the special fish of the day. It's so good! We came in on a late night after work ( still in work clothes) We felt welcome and well served

Owner seemed like a very nice guy. Although the servers were all polite, the day that my husband and I dined here the service was slow. We had the fried artichokes, salmon and steak. I thought the food was okay. I wouldn't say this is a date night restaurant, but a good local option if you live in Alameda.

** Review for Alameda Restaurant Week's Dinner Menu ** Asena delivers again! Seasonal cuisine with Mediterranean influences that's light, flavorful with friendly and welcoming hospitality. S T A R T E R (choice of soup or salad) * Arugula, citrus, sliced beets, feta, pickled onions tossed with balsamic - nicely balanced salad as arugula can be peppery and bitter...dressing was lightly sweet, feta giving that salt and citrus giving a little tang...(4/5) * Beef Barley Soup with applewood smoked bacon - sampled my friends soup and it was rich in flavor with a hint of smokiness. Owner said it's a soup cooked all day (5/5) E X T R A (not part of the fixed menu) * Breaded quartered artichoke hearts with a spiced aoili - nicely crisp and yummy if you like artichokes. D I N N E R (choice of salmon, Asena's signature mushroom ravioli) (4.5/5) * Filo filled with minced lamb, caramelized onions, Parmesan, in a sherry Demi-glace - wonderfully crispy filo with a sweet and savory filling with a rich sauce...Friend and I agreed this was a definite favorite. * Scottish Salmon filet with basil brute blanc - friend said it was perfectly cooked and nicely seasoned D E S S E R T (5/5) * Panna cotta with caramel - oh my! I can honestly say my first time having it with caramel as normally it's with a coulis of berries or fruit...the panna cotta itself was decadently creamy and the caramel layer on top pushed it to new heights! NEFIS (yummy)!! menu offerings, extensive wine list, welcoming and friendly service from the owner: explaining each dish, how it's prepared, and recommendations. Staff attentive and efficient. Relaxed atmosphere with a lot of regular Alameda locals. Plenty of metered street parking ($1.50/hr!) and off busy Park Street.

Had a great Valentines dinner last minute without having a reservation. The owner Mustafa was super friendly and accommodating, and the staff is very polite and professional! I had the petrale sole, and it was excellent! Thanks Mustafa!

We had a wonderful dinner date last evening in the outside dining area. Service was attentive and gracious; our wait person was just so lovely. The runner with the bread and busser pouring water and clearing our table were attentive and efficient. I would say all are nicely trained in food service and customer service. Our appetizers were spot on (loved the red sauce accompanying the fried burratta special). Gnocchi was pillow soft in the cream sauce and eggplant savory. Thank Asena, for consistently providing yummy dishes and fine service. Love the outdoor seating!

I chose Asena to celebrate my 74th birthday. I love Mediterranean food and the pictures of the patio were great. When we arrived, no one was outside and there were free tables inside. My daughter asked about eating outside and they immediately agreed. I usually go right to the food but I must begin with the service. No one hovered but they were very attentive given that the three of us were the only customers on the patio. The food was excellent. I had the pistachio chicken. It had some korma vibes with a cravable sauce. My husband is not a big eater but he cleaned his plate of the eggplant with mushrooms. My daughter had eggplant ravioli. She was very impressed. They had a candle on my dessert and sang. I am an old foodie and I really enjoyed my dinner but I will return because of the friendly service.