"It 's no question that A Cena is considered to be one of the best restaurants in the borough of Richmond, consistently serving rustic Italian food in a barely luminate setting. What is isn 't however, is a traditional Italian haunt. You won 't find the menu overflowing with typical pasta classics and a bit of steak on the side. It 's more the opposite plenty of quality produce with a bit of pasta on the side. I actually recall a service once having no pasta items on the menu at all, apart from a Risotto, wait... that 's not even pasta. I rest my case. Anyway, to me the food is similar in style to that of Hammersmith 's River Cafe, minus the extraordinary riverside location and fabulously bright dining ambience (it is quite dark in A Cena but I think this adds to its own feel). I started, as usual, with the Parmesan fritters, I really need to get a life, I order this every time I go there but they are great and I am usually starving (carbohydrate gremlins). The Chic geek opted for asparagus served with parmesan and egg. My parmersan fritters were very nice, a little undercooked (they were doughy) but have a nice cheesey flavour, a slightly crunchy exterior and a creamy dressing, yum. With the asparagus and egg I guess the pic says it all really. The presentation of the egg was sloppy, and served with a small sprinkle of parmesan. The asparagus surprisingly didn 't really have much flavour and was served firm. Jury 's still out on that dish. For mains, I had a pork cutlet (this thing was huge) served with smoked baby aubergine, and the Chic Geek opted for the duck and potatoes. I feel this is where A Cena really shine and have the River Cafe style coming in. Although the duck serving was somewhat smaller than the serving of pork, protein wise, everything with the mains was perfectly executed cooking wise. Listen, when duck is cooked really well and I mean really well, its flavour can truly be savoured. The texture of meat itself is quite dense and duck has plenty of good fat, which means flavour so when its cooked right, its all there. With A Cena the duck came out pink, moist and the fat rendered perfectly, it had a bit of peppery spice to it and just on its own it was 10/10, absolutely delicious. Note: I was only offered 'just ' enough duck from the Chic Geek 's plate to make this observation, a distraction that took the force of 1000 oxen to stop me stealing more! But not to worry, I refocussed on my own dish of Pork Cutlet. It was thick, satisfyingly meaty with a definite barbecue and aniseed flavoured flair. The baby aubergine were sweet but also smokey, and combined with the barbecue smokiness already with the pork, the aubergine would have been just fine natural, to offset the barbecue. Overall, another very hearty flavour filled dish. For desserts we had the cheeky dough nuts and panna cotta each paired with a dessert wine. Hand 's down the best panna cotta around, and a must try with the paired wine. The dough nuts were delicate, crunchy outside and soft inside, not over blitzed with cinnamon. You can 't really beat these guilty pleasures. The dessert wine served with the dough nuts was totally overpowered by the sugar, maybe a Muscato may have paired better. The service at A Cena is attentive, not intrusive and always at hand and always pleasant. A Cena consistently serve high quality of food, with perfectly executed mains and desserts, the service is excellent and this is why they are one of the best in the borough. Like this? Goodkai has many more photo 's and articles on foods on her blog below:"
Full menu - 4 options
All prices are estimates on menu.
Rice
Risotto
Creamy Arborio rice cooked to perfection, with a rich blend of Parmesan and fresh seasonal vegetables.
Pasta
Linguine
Linguine pasta served with a light sauce, garnished with fresh herbs, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures.
Dessert
Panna Cotta
Creamy, silky Italian dessert with a hint of vanilla, topped with berry coulis or fresh fruit.
Vegetarian
Parmesan Asparagus
Grilled asparagus spears topped with savory melted Parmesan cheese.
Poppy
Great food, fine wine. Friendly staff and good value
Address
Reviews
Cathrine
nice Italian food. nice eating, good wine list, good service. best italian in richmond
Poppy
Honest food with Northern Italian influence, excellent cocktails, great service and a superb atmosphere one of the best
Jiřina
Service was excellent and very attentive. Ambience and decor great as well. Entrees were great (Had the Risotto and Linguini). Steak was okay (Butter infused with Pesto was not my jam... Beef was great quality). View menu
Poppy
Excellent food! I dine at Acena about once a month with my children, and we absolutely love it. The meals are outstanding, the staff is friendly, and if I let them, my kids would happily eat just the homemade focaccia bread!
Jiřina
I just got home from an unexpected dinner with my aunt. We shared the bruschetta, the risotto named "for pornstars," and a recommended dessert whose name I can’t quite recall. It was an orange-flavored cake served with cream cheese and orange zest. I’m not usually a fan of orange in desserts, but this one really impressed me! The service was excellent, the atmosphere was calm and charming, making it the perfect spot for a peaceful night out!
Michael
Just popped in this lovely restaurant 'A Cena ' to see if they served Irish Coffee with Tia Maria, and to our surprise they did : We were greeted by the owner and his wife, such a warm welcome. Professional, friendly along with a lovely setting, clean and kept well. The delicious homemade Italian bread with quality Olive oil was superb, the best I 've tasted in a long time. Earl grey tea served in a pot, was lovely. We will definitely be visiting again, I highly recommend. View menu
Jordan
We had a delightful lunch at Cena with my wife and parents on Saturday. The service was excellent, though there were only 4 or 5 tables occupied, so perhaps everyone had made reservations for Sunday dinner. We enjoyed a variety of dishes, including risotto, cauliflower, bruschetta, sea bass, stuffed boar, and gnocchi, plus dessert. We also had two bottles of wine, coffee, and a glass of wine to pair with my cheese, and not one of us had a complaint. We left a generous tip of 200.
Mark
One of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever tried! This is not the typical pizzeria or pasta restaurant, this is a place where you have delicious and high quality Italian dishes. You can choose great pasta options as starters, I had the Linguine Vongole and it was just…amazing! Then, for the main course, there are some delicious options as well. I had a tasty pan fried sea bass with corn and spinach. Wonderful options! The facilities are excellent, the atmosphere is perfect and the staff is the best of the best. They are very friendly and welcoming since the moment you arrive to the restaurant. Regarding the parking, people can park in the street just in front of the restaurant. Ver...
Poppy
It 's no question that A Cena is considered to be one of the best restaurants in the borough of Richmond, consistently serving rustic Italian food in a barely luminate setting. What is isn 't however, is a traditional Italian haunt. You won 't find the menu overflowing with typical pasta classics and a bit of steak on the side. It 's more the opposite plenty of quality produce with a bit of pasta on the side. I actually recall a service once having no pasta items on the menu at all, apart from a Risotto, wait... that 's not even pasta. I rest my case. Anyway, to me the food is similar in style to that of Hammersmith 's River Cafe, minus the extraordinary riverside location and fabulously bri... View menu
Categories
-
Coffee Indulge in our rich and aromatic coffee selection, expertly brewed to awaken your senses. From classic espresso to creamy lattes, discover the perfect blend to start your day on a flavorful note.
-
Cheese A curated selection of artisanal cheeses from around the world, featuring diverse flavors and textures that delight the palate. Perfect for sharing or savored individually with the ideal accompaniments. View menu
-
Italian Savor the rich and diverse flavors of Italy with our menu, offering classic pasta, savory risottos, and traditional meat and seafood dishes, all crafted with authentic ingredients and passion. Buon appetito!
-
European
