Ena

A friend and I tried this restaurant out for the first time, and it was genuinely one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The avocado starter was to die for, tasting better than any guacamole I've ever had. I had the chicken skewers, which were packed with flavor and had a good spicy kick without being too hot. Finally we ended with a tres leches cake that basically melted in our mouths. Both of our drinks were delicious as well, with me having a non-alcoholic raspberry drink that I had to stop myself from drinking all at once. On a Thursday evening, the restaurant was not very busy, and we quickly got a table. The service was good, with the waitresses being attendant to our needs. For the quality of the meal we got, I thought the price was reasonable as well, though it was higher than I usually pay. Overall, this meal was delicious from start to finish, and I'll definitely be stopping by again when the time is right!

Everything was phenomenal. Both the food and the service. Highly recommend the lamb and empanadas.

Café Ena is one of those spots that kind of flies under the radar, but absolutely delivers. The staff is always friendly, the food is top-notch, and plates come out surprisingly fast. The vibe inside is super relaxing — easy place to settle in and enjoy a meal without any fuss. Bonus: one time I was seriously craving French fries, and even though they weren’t on the menu, they just made some for me anyway. Total sleeper spot in south Minneapolis that more people should know about.

My first experience was wonderful and Ill definitely come back next time I'm visiting Minneapolis!

Hector worked with us for a remarkable food and drink experience. 6 different small plates shared for a top 5 all-time dining experience experience for me. The fusion of Latin foods with French flavor, texture and visual aesthetic was absolutely wonderful. Do not miss the opportunity to dine here for a real taste treat.

Had a truly satisfying dinner at Ena tonight and was pleasantly surprised at the flavors, thoughtful plating and attentive service. Our sever offered really knowledgeable details about considerations for our orders and great direction on the wine list. It had been too long since I’d been in and I won’t be waiting long to revisit this time around.

I was so happy to find this spot locally, I had no idea it was there! I had been craving Latin American food and was curious to check this place out. The one negative I will say is that they were severely understaffed. Them being understaffed did not help with the number of tables that were occupied (yes, there was social distancing.) This made them not really pay much attention to detail and messed up our appetizer order (gave us cheese empanadas instead of beef empanadas) and did nothing to correct it. Not the best customer service, in my opinion. Only negative! On to the food! Appetizers: Guacamole - this was delicious and presented beautifully. All of the ingredients that went into it were fresh as if they were grown in the back. Top tier guacamole. 5/5. Empanadas - We ordered beef empanadas but received cheese empanadas, they were still delicious and the roasted tomato salsa topping was delicious. 5/5 Entrees: Bife De Chorizo - I loved this. However, I would have preferred another starch rather than fries. Maybe chopped potatoes or even mashed potatoes would have been wonderful. This meal was flavorful. I'm a very picky eater and absolutely hate artichokes, asparagus, and red peppers but I ate this meal like no tomorrow. Well done! Carne Bravo - This was so full of flavor! The flat iron steak is pimento crusted, and it has sauteed baby potatoes and veggies. The demi-glaze is... *chef's kiss* I would highly recommend this dish. Dessert: Creme Brulee & Churros: Both fantastic dessert options. Delicious, perfectly made, and full of flavor. I can't wait to go back to Cafe Ena. I'm excited to order from here to-go if we end up in another lockdown.

Always one of my favorite places. Tried the ceviche this time which had amazing flavor. The sea bass was very good but I prefer the steak over the bass. Drinks were awesome also.

This is a tough one. The food was really good-really good, however the prices blew my mind for the size of the portions. I got the ZANAHORIAS - Roasted brown butter garlic carrots, guajillo butter sauce, asparagus, mushrooms, micro arugula, tangerine oil, sherry glaze. This was my main dish and although it was delicious, it was like 4 carrots, 8 mushrooms, and 3 asparagus. I was still hungry when I finished and it was $18! So good and just ok

Amazing food and Miguel was super attentive. Totally recommend the place and the food. This is a secret jewel in Minneapolis.

I've been coming to this South Mpls neighborhood gem for years . Especially love sitting on their outside patio in the summer and sharing the guacamole,which I personally think is the best in the cities! Chef Hector Ruiz grows all the ingredients on site for the guac,I also like the Corn shrimp fritters for appetizer. I used to really enjoy the rest of the seafood but lately the menu has changed and unfortunately the execution of some of these dishes just don't taste the same. Still it's a great place to enjoy drinks and apps if in the area

Good food, cute location. A fireplace would make the ambiance amazing. Service here was outstanding and we would be pleased to go back again in the future.

Went here for an early dinner on an Monday evening. The place was empty since they had opened just a few minutes ago. Clean place with a open and airy atmosphere even though not a very big place. Welcoming staff and very helpful when it came to ordering from the menu. We started of with a few drinks and continued with the drinks throughout the evening. The margarita and the Pencelina were the crowd favorites in our party. The menu is setup as tapas style with small plates to share and everything we had was really good. There were some standouts that I would definitely be ordering again. The avocado, the corn fritters and the tiradito were a good start to our meal. The corn fritters and avocado were the standouts in that trio and the ice-cream with the salmon was really a unique combination. The sauce with the chicken (anticuchos) was quite outstanding and the empanadas (empanadas chilenas) were very well spiced and chock full of flavor. The lamb (cordero) was the weakest of the second round but the beef was cooked perfectly and a welcome finish to our savory plates. For dessert, we got the flan and the churros and they were a perfect end to a very good meal. Will definitely be going back.

Service was great Restaurant is cozy but well designed Food was good but portions were very small for the price too. I thought the dinner was good but dessert brought the score down. Overall Food & Vibe 7/10

The staff were lovely. The restaurant was sparsely populated for an early Sunday evening in Minneapolis. The food was underwhelming. Nothing was bad, but neither was anything memorable or more than passable.

Everything we ordered to eat was great! Corn fritters, avocado, paella, fish, and steak. Beautifully presented and tasted fabulous. Service was attentive but not obtrusive. Highly recommended!

The food prepared here is as high end as you will find anywhere. The empanadas were amazing and the entrees were incredible. I loved the coconut risotto and the cheviche. Did I mention the sangria?. Heat and flavors suitable at any top line restaurant. It was once a packed establishment that needs the respect and patronage it deserves. This place is 10 out 10. Full stop. Must try.

I have been looking for a neighborhood staple and I finally found it! Not only does Ena have outstanding, like mouth watering food but they also have outstanding service and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The service is fast, friendly and you feel at home here. If you're in the neighborhood- or not, add Ena to your rotation, you won't be disappointed!

I was so happy to find this spot locally, I had no idea it was there! I had been craving Latin American food and was curious to check this place out. The one negative I will say is that they were severely understaffed. Them being understaffed did not help with the number of tables that were occupied (yes, there was social distancing.) This made them not really pay much attention to detail and messed up our appetizer order (gave us cheese empanadas instead of beef empanadas) and did nothing to correct it. Not the best customer service, in my opinion. Only negative! On to the food! Appetizers: Guacamole - this was delicious and presented beautifully. All of the ingredients that went into it were fresh as if they were grown in the back. Top tier guacamole. 5/5. Empanadas - We ordered beef empanadas but received cheese empanadas, they were still delicious and the roasted tomato salsa topping was delicious. 5/5 Entrees: Bife De Chorizo - I loved this. However, I would have preferred another starch rather than fries. Maybe chopped potatoes or even mashed potatoes would have been wonderful. This meal was flavorful. I'm a very picky eater and absolutely hate artichokes, asparagus, and red peppers but I ate this meal like no tomorrow. Well done! Carne Bravo - This was so full of flavor! The flat iron steak is pimento crusted, and it has sauteed baby potatoes and veggies. The demi-glaze is... *chef's kiss* I would highly recommend this dish. Dessert: Creme Brulee & Churros: Both fantastic dessert options. Delicious, perfectly made, and full of flavor. I can't wait to go back to Cafe Ena. I'm excited to order from here to-go if we end up in another lockdown.

Why I haven't given props to Ena before, I don't know. You see, we go there every time we come to Minneapolis, which is about every three months. Edna's menu is all about small plates (which, actually aren't that small). They're certainly not small in flavor. We haven't tried everything on the me u yet, but we're working on it. But, you have to have your favorites when you go, and two of those are the Avocado (actually an incredible chunky guacamole), the Lubia (a wonderful sea bass preparation), anything with shrimp, and the lamb chops. In fact, we have not had a disappointing dish - ever. Like I said, we come every time we're in town and see nothing wrong with always coming back to wonderful.

I went with my family for my husband's birthday. We ordered lamb, sea bass, salad, avocado, Empanadas, and shrimp appetizers. They were all delicious that unique combination of French and Latin American dishes. We also ordered desserts. The waiter added a candle on the cake for my husband. It was very nice of him and the service was very quick and friendly.

So many good things to say about Ena. First timer last night and it definitely won't be the last. This average sized cafe is very well lit and culturally appealing. The walls and shelves are decorated in a way that takes you out of S. MPLS for a moment and into a Latin atmosphere immersed with music and culture. The staff were exceptionally nice and checked on us frequently. You could tell they took great pride in the food they presented to each guest- taking the time to explain exactly what your taste buds are going to seize over. Empanadas are always a safe and delicious choice. Personal favorite was the ground beef ones. Don't get turned off by the raisins. I also tried the corn fritters. Those are a must try with the sweet chili sauce. I also loved the cauliflower. The potato purée underneath set this dish off. Everything was presented beautifully and added something to the flavor even down to the garnishes, the sprouts helped to add flavor. I had a rose wine from their special list and was impressed. Very happy to know of this place.

This cafe in the Kingsfield neighborhood is worth a visit. If you are shopping at Patisserie 46 (which is just across the street) you will not be disappointed if you stop here for lunch. The menu is Latin American focused. We tried a couple of appetizers. The guacamole is very good. Freshly made and served with house made chips and red salsa. Also, tried the calamari. This was not impressive as it was a small plate of soggy rings. Cafe Ena has a variety of sandwiches. We had the Cubano. So good! You can get fries with it for an extra charge. They have lunch entrees like pastor tacos, salmon, huevos rancheros, arroz con pollo. I had the chicken enchiladas with mole which comes with black beans and rice. Really good, the mole sauce is milder than some I have had but very tasty. They also have a dessert menu including churros, which we did not try but it looked great. Cafe Ena has beer and wine, sangria and does coffee and tea too. Great spot for lunch or dinner.

So yummy! We did three courses and all were amazing. Service was great. Will definitely be back!

Great Pan-Latin restaurant near Lake Harriet. The first thing that stuck out to me was the clientele - the vast majority lived within a couple blocks and were clear regulars, even the owner lives a block away. A stellar endorsement to me. With our servers recommendations we had a lovely meal. Parking is plenty and bike lanes near if that's your preferred mode of transportation!

Ena has been a mainstay at the corner of 46th & Grand for a while now, which should not be surprising given how consistently great the food is. The inside of Ena is cozy and inviting - they also have a sizeable sidewalk patio when the weather permits. I have had a number of dishes here and all of them have been excellent. The steak and fries have been ordered multiple times and probably will be ordered again. Their guacamole is arguably my favorite in town. Service has always been friendly, though this place is generally quite busy, so it's generally been more geared towards efficiency. Overall, it's a great neighborhood spot for a date night or just a casual night out.

One star because the vegetables on every dish were cooked very well, but everything else was a disappointment. -Server gave incorrect allergen information when ordering. -Mezcal Old Fashioned was sickly sweet -- I could barely taste the liquor for all the sugar. -Proteins were all disappointing. Lamb was more fat than meat, tenderloin was not tender at all, and shrimp ceviche was overcooked and tough. -Dessert was tasty, but badly mislabeled. Described on the menu as "creme brulee with blueberry compote," a more accurate description would have been "egg custard with apples." I still enjoyed it but my dining partner did not. I would not come here again, or recommend it to anyone unless they are looking for a vegetarian option and don't mind paying a lot for a small plate.

I really wanted to love Cafe Ena, but it was such a disappointment. I'm trying to figure out how my experience was so different from all the reviews! Perhaps my expectations were too high for a birthday dinner with friends? But, really? Is there such a thing as too high of expectations for a birthday dinner with friends? Cafe Ena IS an adorable little place that was bustling with people in every seat. We felt fortunate to get a table for 6 on a Saturday evening! Unfortunately, the entire experience felt so amateur. The server was okay, but not very attentive and/or helpful. It felt like we sat there unattended for quite some time, then she took our drink orders, but only one side of the tables'. We order a bottle of wine (which all the women were drinking), and then she just left without taking drink order from any of the men. It felt like we received half-committed service throughout the night. But, you know, I can look passed not-great-service when the food is DELICIOUS! Unfortunately, the food was far from it. Again, I read these other reviews and wonder what went wrong that night. We started with the ceviche and empanadas - the ceviche was super watery, the seafood cuts were small and chaotic and the entire dish lacked flavor. The empanadas were ... ok. I already started to worry about our main dishes if these were any indication of what to expect. I got the "LUBINA: Pistachio crusted Chilean sea bass, yellow aji sauce, braised potatoes, broccolini, baby spinach, truffle-pea sauce, fresh mango salsa." Sounds delicious right? I don't know, when I read pistachio crusted, I expect crushed pistachio nuts all along the side(s) of the fish - I don't even remember seeing any pistachio! Everything else was just basic. There was absolutely nothing extraordinary about this dish at all. I always thought sea bass was a sure thing! This was surely a disappointment. My partner got the "BIFE DE CHORIZO: Argentine style grass fed steak, gorgonzola, garlic herb fries, artichokes, asparagus, red peppers, drizzled with chimichurri." Which, was a basic steak, fries and some sautéed peppers on the side. Again, nothing notable. We also got the lemon-lime pie and handmade ice cream ... sorry for sounding like a broken record, but these desserts weren't even basic. I guess what WAS notable was that they weren't event good. The ice cream was icy, not creamy. And, the pie was absolutely not memorable at all. One of my least favorite things to do is to give back reviews, but this was just so disappointing. It just wasn't for me.

I had dinner at Ena a few nights ago, and, as always, it never disappoints. Great service, nice interior design, and terrific food. Ena knows how to do Latin cooking right, and every dish is a treat. I had the scallops last time, and they were perfect - seasoned just right, cooked to perfection. And, as always Ena's guacamole is one of the best in town. Hands down, Ena is one of the best Latin restaurants in the Cities. Love it.

Were there for my daughter's birthday. Great place. Cozy place. Finally, a Fusion Latino real place. I have been part of my job and part of myself a world traveler and my passion for food and being a humble amateur Chef fortuned to enjoy many different restaurants during my trips. Thank you all for opening a great and relaxing place to enjoy a nice and vibrant Menu. This place has a very positive Vibe and crossing the door you feel welcome and you know you will have a very nice time. A worldwide traveler and seldom I found restaurants at this level where spice hot food is not there or extravagant menus are there to show off some kind of upgraded food. I am not saying that I am not ready to try them but some time those menus go beyond price and reasons. The food is fantastically gourmet with that Latino taste but also with a French touch. No presentation is equal. All are genuinely creative. Tried many different dishes and I should say all of them were absolutely great. One of a kind wines and superb desserts. Worth the trip.

This restaurant is such a hidden gem. The food is absolutely wonderfully innovative and rich. This is a perfect place to explore Latin cuisine with a modern twist. The staff are amazing and the service is impressive. Every time I go in it is not half as packed as it should be. This place needs more publicity because it deserves it!

Outstanding, charming, top notch service and the food Sublime! I haven't eaten such delicious, beautifully presented food in this state like this in a long tine- not loud, no bright lights..., so happy! We tipped 40% , that's how happy we were!

Food was terrific. Service was not. A two hour dinner is okay if you always have food or drink in front of you. Waiting ten minutes to see a waiter and 20 minutes to get the check is not.

Everything here is fantastic. For appetisers, we ordered the Calamari, which had the best Chimichurri I've had to date. The Guacamole was simple, fresh, and delicious. The chips were homemade, not oily, and perfectly salted. For our main courses, we had Risotto and the Pollo Limon y Ajo. The chicken was the absolute best I've ever eaten. It was moist, flavour to the bone, and had a perfectly crispy crust. The Risotto was equally as good, and reminded me of Paella without the broth. For dessert, we had one of each (Churros, Mouse, Creme Brûlée, and Tres Leches). The Tres Leches was delectable. It was moist but not soggy, and the spices were brilliantly balanced. The Churros were fried to the point that they snapped, but somehow still had a soft centre. They were to die for. Served as a small side, their vanilla ice cream was a pleasant surprise. The chocolate mousse was good, although definitely the bottom of the bunch. The creme brûlée was made with Mexican vanilla custard, and again absolutely fantastic. We will be repeat customers.

Cafe Ena is a very charming restaurant that offers outdoor seating when the weather allows. Seating indoors is cozy and intimate although it can get a little loud when the restaurant is full, which I imagine is often because the secret is out that they offer a stellar dining experience. I would highly suggest you consider making reservations otherwise you'll be in for a considerable wait. The Cameron Caribe appetizer will change your life. The beer battered shrimp are delicately fried then placed on cilantro-potato-curry fritters, topped with jalapeño aioli, sweet chili sauce, pickled onions, and micro cilantro. Seriously, what genius put this dish together? It was executed to perfection and I would return again just to order this app. We also ordered the guacamole which was good, but didn't stand a chance to shine next to the Cameron caribe. The Betabel salad was a play on flavors where the bitterness of the arugula was balanced with the tartness of the citrus dressing and the fullness of the pancetta. For our entree I chose the Argentine style grass fed steak, gorgonzola, garlic herb fries, artichokes, asparagus, red peppers, drizzled with chimichurri. The steak was cooked to perfection and the fries were crispy. The vegetables didn't necessarily standout but they served their purpose. The Curry crusted scallops, asparagus, spinach and red onion citrus couscous, fried shallots, basil oil, chili oil dish was excellent. The scallops were executed to perfection. The couscous was creamy, and indulgent almost like a risotto. Of course we closed the meal with lemon-lime pie and a mango sauce. That too, was excellent. Not too sweet or tart, just right. Service was good. I would definitely come back to try one of the other many seafood options they offer!

Extremely expensive for the location, the shoddy ambiance and the heating music. It advertises as a restaurant but it is a tapas bar and the items are extremely expensive. The wine list is poor and limited. A pretentious and deceptive loud and not very pretty place. The Mojave is charging a 12% surcharge for "employee living expenses." In other words we, the customers, take care of the employees because the owner is too cheap to do so. A very unpleasant experiences.

Love the unique, tasty food, intimate atmosphere, and fun neighborhood joint. We have been going here for years and the service is always wonderful.

SO GOOD. Not sure why it wasn't crowded on a Friday night (red flag?) but my family loved every dish that we ordered. I think the fav was ceviche

My friend and I went here on a Wednesday evening. One of us is dairy-free and I'm practicing dairy-free, there were a few items we were told that could be made and would still taste good. We had to leave quickly so we shared the rack of lambs dish that had a mix of potatoes, purple broccoli, brussel sprouts. It was seasoned well and every thing was delicious!! So so good. I will be back to try more items.

I met my mom and sisters for lunch and we'd heard some good things about Cafe Ena and decided to give it a try. The space is very nicely laid out and quite pleasant...great woodwork, lots of windows, and has a nice warmth even on what was a frigid day outside. That being said it was a bit cold in there temperature wise, but many places struggle with that when the temperature dips suddenly and they have all the windows to contend with as well. The positives and negatives of having lots of windows I guess. The service was friendly and attentive. They had a nice wine list and offered a variety of beers and some hard ciders along with several non-alcoholic choices. I decided to try the sangria. It was pretty good, and came in a wine glass, which was fine, but it had quite a bit of ice in it and for $7 I wished that I had skipped it to be honest. They also had very tiny bits of fruit cut up in it, which was nice to be able to drink, but a little awkward as it was also easy to swallow pieces or get them stuck on your lips or in your throat as you were drinking. They did have a very nice, rich cup of coffee which I enjoyed and my sister tried a new beer and was happy with that. The food: The food was excellent! We started with the guacamole and that was wonderful with big pieces of avocado, yellow and red tomatoes, salsa, and red onion. Very Fresh and tasty! I had absolutely no intention of eating breakfast with my Sangria, but I ordered the mango French toast. It just sounded so good....and it was! Very good flavor, cooked nicely with a bit of a crunch (more of a ciabatta bread type) but had a softer middle, and a mango sauce on it. It honestly tasted quite a bit better than it looked though as an FYI. It came with eggs and three strips of crispy bacon as well. One of my sister's had the salmon which was not only beautiful, but delicious. An excellent choice! My other sister had the mushroom quesadillas, and she and I kind of shared between the French toast and those. They had nice mushrooms with a bit of a cream sauce and had great flavor. We had some guacamole leftover that we added to it and that put it up a notch flavor-wise. Finally my mom had one of the sandwiches (Cochino) which was excellent, and I think I may try a sandwich next time. I wasn't in the mood for one until I tried a bite of hers, and it had wonderful flavors and was bright with the lettuce against the flavorful thinly sliced pork....excellent! So a hit all around! I would definitely try Cafe Ena's again and maybe branch out into some of the other items next time, but four happy people out of four entrees is pretty good!

I had a great experience at Cafe Ena. I arrived at about 4:30 on a Saturday, and we were the only customers there for a good fifteen minutes, but after that the people started flowing in. Ordered the seafood risotto, and it came so fast! Totally recommend for something you can't cook at home. Hot, delicious flavors, and just well done overall. Plus of course don't miss the guacamole. We ate outside in beautiful weather and were there and gone in about under an hour for a group of two. Editing to say it's 4 star because the service was just alright, and I don't know if I want to give it 5 star because the prices were a little much compared to what it apparently used to be.

We're from out of town and found this place through Yelp and are so glad we did! We arrived around 4 PM on a Sunday and first ordered the house guacamole and homemade chips for $7 along with an $18 Spanish red blend bottle. The guacamole was the most delicious I've ever had and could honestly stand alone separate from the chips. The wine was also great. I appreciated when the server opened the first bottle and decided that another bottle was warranted for freshness purposes without any prompting from us. Then, we shared the sea bass and halibut for dinner. Amazing. Wonderful seasoning without being overpowering. The desserts - berry sorbet and churros - were also delicious! Can't say enough about how happy we are we ate here!

Food was good and service was friendly. Parking was easy hit only because a spot opened right in front of it when we arrived otherwise you will need to search a hit and walk.

Service was excellent and we were able to get a seat out on the patio right away. Waitress was helpful in making suggestions. We ordered the highly recommended guacamole for the table and it was pretty tasty and a good size for three people to enjoy although I wouldn't say it's the "best" guac I've ever had. I ordered the Bife de Chorizo which was very well-seasoned with a Latin-inspired twist. My friends both ordered the Conchas with scallops which was a good, light dinner option for them. Would definitely go back to try some of the dessert options since we passed on it this time.

I was very excited to go to Cafe Ena for the first time because I feel like we don't have too many elevated Latin food options in the area. It's a busy and energetic place. When we first entered, the hostesses were a bit stressed and swearing in Spanish, but more to themselves than anything - I didn't think it was unpleasant, more funny than anything as they were perfectly sweet when talking to the customers. The food here is very well priced - it costs a lot less than other restaurants of their caliber which makes them pretty accessible. It would be a good place to take a date if you are trying to be conscious of spending. Personally, I would be totally willing to pay a bit more for the food if it meant the food just stepped up a level - the menu is great and I think they could really knock it out of the park with some tweaks. My husband and I started our meals with glasses of Sangria - this was unfortunately pretty disappointing as it came to us pretty watered down and full of ice cubes. I'm sure they go through a lot of it, but if it's popular they need to do it well if they want repeat customers. For food, we ordered some ceviche to start - I really loved it. I loved the sauce that it comes in - it's fresh and citrus-y, but still savory. I could have eaten a bucket! I'm a ceviche fan in general, but I hadn't had it like that before - definitely worth an order. For mains, we each got fish. I got the halibut with a beet risotto, and he got the sea bass. I was SO excited to try the beet risotto - I was expecting something earthy and rich - but I was actually very disappointed. The fish was slightly under-seasoned but well cooked; the risotto was INCREDIBLY bland though. It needed salt and it needed a focus on flavor. The sea bass on the other hand was really nice! It was rich and tasty and the accompaniments were great. For desserts, we got key lime pie with a mango coulis that was very good! I want all my future key lime pies to come with mango coulis in the future!!! My final opinion is that it's definitely worth a go, but ask your server for recommendations. They can probably steer you towards the good and away from the bland.

Loved the chicken curry! I ordered it with extra veggies instead of rice for my keto diet. The curry was packed with flavor, but it wasn't too heavy.

Prices for lunch were really reasonable. It was pretty empty so getting a seat was easy. I got the steak torta without mustard and it was good (nothing extraordinary), but a bit dry. While an au jus style dipping sauce would have been great, all they had was a side of spicy chipotle sauce which was HOT. If you try it, definitely use if sparingly or else your lips might fall off. The house-made lemonade was extremely tarte, but with a little sugar (actually 4 packets) it went from bad to good. My friend got the salmon entree, which was good. I'm not a huge fan of salmon, but liked this one because it was flavorful and not fatty. Overall I liked Cafe Ena, but am only giving it a 3 star rating for now. I look forward to trying it again and perhaps even giving a higher rating.

A fantastic treat! Ena reopened table service 4 days ago and are running virtually flawlessly. We split the Campesino salad. What a delightful balance of fresh tomatoes, creamy grilled panela cheese, and sweet balsamic dressing! We each had a different fish entree: grouper and sea bass. Each were uniquely seasoned, with their own delicious combination of fresh veggies, resting in just right amount of a scrumptious sauce. We topped it all off with their fabulous churros accompanied by cinnamon ice cream & chocolate sauce laced with ahi. The staff is very friendly & helpful. We will be back!!!

Our first choice of restaurants was a 40 minute wait, Ena was just a 4 minute drive and they had immediate seating so our group wen there. We arrived and told them we had just called for a table for 5, that sat us inside. After less than a minute we decided to go outside, as they either didn't have the air on or it was broken, it was way too stuffy. They only had a single waiter servicing all the tables, which was disappointing. We all ordered drinks, appetizers and entrees. The speed with which they came out wasn't the best and several of the dishes could have been and should have been warmer. But the food was quite good, flavor wise and the presentation was beautiful. I'm not sure going back would be in the cards, if we lived there. It was ok, but certainly not an "OMG I need to go back"

Cafe Ena is a great spot for a nice dinner date. I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot and wished I was more hungry at the time to order full entrees. The appetizers we got were enough to impress us though. I can't give it a full 5 until I try one of their main courses to give Cafe Ena the more well rounded review.

I can't say enough about this place! Found a nice review on the net and drove over with my husband for a Saturday evening meal. Everything was perfect. The service, the food, my fellow diners. This is definitely a new fav, along with The Meritage in St. Paul. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! EDIT: Living in Arizona now. This review is seriously old. Summer 2009. I'm sad that I didn't finish posting. Hopefully, they are still around and thriving. I loved this place.

Bottom line: The food is decent, even good, but the portions are small. This place hasn't yet earned the right to serve small, artistically served, marked-up portions. It may get there some day, but it's not there yet. Still, management seems to be trying hard to make this into some kind of Minneapolis version of a Michelin rated restaurant. They've even hired a waitress that stands out -- literally -- from the rest of the staff, I assume so she can add some Anglo flair to the place. They don't need that -- a Latino crew is fine. But Ella, who appears to be the sole Anglo waitress on the staff, at least on the evening I dined there, does add a certain interest. She claims she's a displaced artist, though I couldn't pin her down on what art medium she prefers. But her sainted physique and quiet charm do add some sophistication to the place. Though, Ella -- consider losing the Chuck Taylors and crop top. They look fine on you but don't convey the sophistication that Ena aspires to. A silk blouse and tailored slacks with leather flats would be more flattering. You have a great future in hospitality or public relations, but never forget your art. But I digress. The food at Ena is fine, even good; and they have a small but decent selection of wine and local beer. I recommend it.

We ate here this past Sunday(super bowl) because Hola was closed and WOW what a happy mix up. We had actually heard great things about Ena for a while but hadn't got the chance to stop in. Really glad we finally did. Our server Connor was top notch, funny, attentive and had great suggestions for the meal. All around would have to encourage everyone to stop in for an incredible meal.

Just came in on a Friday around 7pm and was promptly seated. Nice ambience for a date night. We ordered the Halibut and Steak with a beer and sangria. The house sangria was excellent and the service was great. Here's where things start to get "fishy". The halibut entree arrived lukewarm on the outside but refrigerator cold on the inside. The steak (ordered medium well) arrived cooked on the outside and disgustingly raw on the inside. When the waiter was informed about the steak he rudely replied that is how medium well is. Wasted $90 on two tiny uncooked entrees (fish and steak) and two drinks. Unacceptable skill level in the kitchen for a place charging $28+ for an entree

I am from Puerto Rico and I am always looking for tastes from home all the way up here in the north. I was lucky enough to have gone on a day which they ran out of plantains and they used yuca! Such a pleasant surprise! I had not had yuca mofongo in ages. I don't know if they will always offer this version of mofongo, but I highly recommend the place... also appetizers and drinks were great!

I really want to love this restaurant, but both of the times I was there, everything was overall OK. I visited Cafe Ena for lunch- once with a large group and once with my boyfriend. -Guacamole: MUST GET IT! It's the best guacamole I've had at a restaurant. It looks like a tower. I was actually so inspired by the guacamole tower that I tried to make my own! I'll save myself the trouble of a crumbling tower and come get it from Cafe Ena next time. -Ceviche- excellent for Minnesota in the winter. Very flavorful and just the right amount of acidity. -Calamares- Nothing too special. -Carne frita con mofongo- The first time I had this dish, it was amazing. The white wine was reduced perfectly. I'm not sure what happened the second time I got this dish. It tasted like the meat was drenched in soy sauce. I also loved the aguas frescas. The pineapple with mint was lovely. Excellent horchata as well. The service was good both of the times I went. (Note: The boy and I were the only ones in the restaurant when we went- we got plenty of attention).

As a Puerto Rican this place spoke to my belly and my soul. The food is legit. Flavorful, authentic, and well-portioned. Service can be slower than normal, but always warm and helpful. I only call it out, because this is not a get in and get out place. It's like eating at someone's house. Theres no rush. The arroz con pollo and tacos were top shelf. Ditto with the mofongo. Get in here!