CENA Italian Trattoria - Permanently Closed

CENA Italian Trattoria - Permanently Closed reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

1. r

   rose1114

   Louisville4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 28, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food excellent as was service. Sorry you are moving !!! Yuck
   

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2. LM

   LouisvilleMike

   Louisville10 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 21, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing 4 course tasting menu...as usual. Hopefully some of our favorites dishes pop up in the new place.
   

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3. GL

   GLouisville

   Louisville1 review

   5.0

   Dined on November 8, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Cena is one of our favorite restaurants in Louisville. One of several culinary gems owned and operated by Fernando and Christina Martinez, it consistently stays at the top of our list of go-to places for special occasions. The food is always amazing and we quite often opt for the four-course tasting menu. The pistachio and chocolate torte is one of the best desserts on the planet! Great atmosphere, outstanding cuisine, and excellent service!!!
   

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4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Louisville2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 8, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We are sad to see Cena leave Jtown but will absolutely still visit after the move to Norton Commons!
   

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5. w

   wildcatpetie

   Louisville1 review

   3.0

   Dined on November 6, 2015

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 5

   Our waiter recommended a couple of entrees. I did not enjoy my entrée nor did one of my two girlfriends. We sat for quite a while before he came back to check to see if everything was alright. At the end when he asked me if I wanted to box up my entrée I told him no, that I did not like it at all. He said he wished I had spoken up and he could have brought me something different, however he never checked back with us until the other two gals were almost done eating. Very disappointing. Ambience was great, however I will not return.
   

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6. FF

   FinickyFoodie

   Columbus2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 5, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I've said it before and I'll say it again, best restaurant in Louisville. The occasion, unfortunately, for our visit this time was to say "good-bye", after having heard the news that Cena will close on November 28th. Word on the street is that the "concept" will reopen at some point in a different location, but what I've heard sounds like quite a departure from what Cena is now - delicious, worth every dollar spent, and just an overall quality dining experience. So, go and enjoy while you can. A continuation of the concept will NEVER meet or exceed the current Cena experience unless it is, in fact, Cena in some downtown or Highlands or Frankfort Avenue digs. And order things you might not otherwise. I especially recommend the goat cheese appetizer, as well as the smoked egg appetizer and the spare rib ravioli. If you don't have them here, you'll likely never find anything like them anywhere else. Truly a sad day for the Louisville restaurant scene is on the horizon when Cena dims it's lights for the last time. Chef/Owner Fernando Martinez seems to truly know what he's doing in the wonderful world of restaurateurs, given his notable list of wonderful restaurants, but on this decision, I remain a skeptic. Goodbye Cena, I'll miss you.
   

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7. V

   Vogy

   Naples32 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on November 4, 2015

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We sent two appetizers and one entrée back to the kitchen to be heated. The pork entrees were so ordinary and so much was left on the plate, the server should have asked what was wrong them. The owner's other restaurants have been excellent throughout the years but this one was a real disappointment.
   

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8. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Louisville1 review

   5.0

   Dined on October 22, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything was great about this dining experience. The food was remarkable, the wine was excellent and our table in the wine room was a nice touch for our anniversary dinner.
   

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9. AN

   AllieN

   Louisville11 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on October 18, 2015

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   I came back after a wonderful first experience, specifically because I wanted the same dish. I ordered, and 20 minutes later was informed that they were out of what I wanted. It was rather disappointing. I ordered something different and it was alright but nothing spectacular. Service was great and the appetizer was awesome. However, I probably won't be back for a while because of high prices and frankly this past time the price wasn't worth the experience.
   

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10. DI

    DIane

    Louisville1 review

    3.0

    Dined on October 17, 2015

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1

    I felt claustrophobic in Cena due to no windows and low ceiling. It seems our waiter was trying to upsell the menu to us. We had to ask twice for the cooler for our wine after he said he would bring it to the table.
    

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