In a day and age of chain restaurants and the craft of creating a dining experience declining, La Cena was an outstanding experience. The amazing food served in generous portions, and the wait staff is superb in their knowledge of the large menu and wine. This place is unique in Jacksonville and is worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hector Carbajales
Been to a lot of restaurants in Jacksonville nothing to really write home about but this place really was a special treat when it came to the food I recommend everyone to try it and call call ahead for reservations which is a really good touch so you don't have to wait if they're busy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Debs
Extraordinary food. The dining room is a rare example of brilliantly executed simplicity. And- OMG the food is wonderful. Be prepared for a nuisanced overtone of strong suggestion by the staff of what the experience should be........accept this and enjoy an amazing evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carmen Kelsick
I have been in the restaurant a few times. Never fails to amaze me, the food, the service and the ambiance is incredible. Highly recommended đ đ đ đŻ
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laura
We love it here! Bruce is an expert at wine advice. Jerry the owner/chef is quickly and fun. The food is the only Italian in the area and is fantastic! TY Jerry.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ed Boner
My dining experience at this establishment was disappointing, and due to several significant issues, I would not return. The food was satisfactory but unremarkable. I ordered the halibut with olives, capers, and tomato, while my wife chose the chicken Florentine. We both enjoyed appetizers, which were adequate but did not stand out. However, the service was notably poor and detracted significantly from the experience. Upon being seated, we waited 15 minutes without any acknowledgment from the staffâno water, no drink order taken. When a server finally approached, my wife requested a glass of house Chardonnay, only to be curtly informed that drink orders would not be taken until the entire meal order was placed. The serverâs demeanor was unwelcoming and dismissive from the outset, setting a negative tone. Other staff members were either absent or overly rushed, with one instance of water being poured so carelessly it nearly spilled. The pacing of the meal was excessively slow, stretching to over three and a half hours despite arriving early for our reservation. This prolonged duration was due to consistent delays at every stage of service. Additionally, the restaurantâs pricing policies were unreasonable and not clearly disclosed. Splitting a meal incurred an unexpected $32 fee, and dividing the bill added a 22% surcharge. Our total bill, as anticipated, exceeded $400 before tip, but the process of obtaining the check required me to seek out a staff member after waiting over 20 minutes. Most frustrating was the attitude of the staff. One serverâs response to my wifeâs wine requestâstating, âWe have what we have, and youâre going to like it,â before abruptly walking away and delivering an unwanted substituteâwas particularly off-putting. Throughout the evening, we had to repeatedly request basic items like drinks, bread, water, and the check, which added to the sense of neglect. While the ambiance was pleasant, with appealing lighting and decor, it could not compensate for the poor service and hidden fees. There are many other establishments offering superior food and welcoming service that leave diners feeling valued. This experience left us feeling frustrated and undervalued, and I would not recommend this restaurant.
I really appreciated the timing of the courses â everything came out at the right pace, so we never felt rushed or overwhelmed with food. I ordered the clam pasta (full size) and it was massive, flavorful, and completely worth it.
Iâll absolutely be coming back â and next time, Iâll skip breakfast and lunch to save room!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bob Tabone
Great food, very good service! We celebrated a birthday for my wife and it was a very nice event/dinner.
Im missing LaCenna all the time living in North Carolina.. ate there one a week when I was going thru cancer treatment.. Jerry and the staff are the best and cant wait to return.. Thanks Jerry John Kaye (The musician) with the bald head..hope to see you soonâŠ
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael H
From start to finish, our first experience here was exceptional. The curated Italian wine list complemented an impeccably prepared menu, and the level of service reflected true professionalism and care. After years of anticipating this visit, it was everything we had hoped forâand more. Chef Jerryâs gracious hospitality made the evening truly memorable. We look forward to returning soon.â
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dr. Barry Stevens
Thoroughly enjoyed dinner tonight at La Cena. Service, food, and atmosphere were excellent. Jerry and his Team made us feel welcome and appreciated. As always the Pasta Emiliana was delicious. Jerry has been preparing it for almost 40 years and it never disappoints. Clams Oreganato were spot on and the veal / Chicken dishes were wonderful. Looking forward to returning soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ainsley Freshour
So, the food is great! We knew the owner's personality quirk before we went and didn't have a problem with it. The reason we choose 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the overall experience and expense. The portions are gargantuan. Neither my husband nor myself can eat that much. But, we were required to order two entrees or pay a $28 surcharge. So, we started with carpaccio, which was fantastic! We moved on to the Trenette with Shrimp and Scallops which was dynamite! We dismissed the salads and bread, as we were already running out of stomach space. Then, we moved onto the Veal Brascaiola, which was tender and flavorful. We finished with Chocolate Mousse which was light and perfect. The kitchen split everything in the back for us which was really nice. We ended up taking 3/4 of everything home, which is never as good as if it was fresh. Our bill was about $250 with a $55 bottle of wine. I would rather come back several times to try the different dishes as opposed to being forced to order two entrees simultaneously. For this reason, we probably won't return. Have difficulty paying for food we can't eat; kinda dampens the otherwise great dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Rosine Bramly
What a fabulous experience the best Italian food in town the service is impeccable the wines are great we waited for the food but it was so worth the wait the owner is a special person
Simply amazing food and sophisticated atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
In a day and age of chain restaurants and the craft of creating a dining experience declining, La Cena was an outstanding experience. The amazing food served in generous portions, and the wait staff is superb in their knowledge of the large menu and wine. This place is unique in Jacksonville and is worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been to a lot of restaurants in Jacksonville nothing to really write home about but this place really was a special treat when it came to the food I recommend everyone to try it and call call ahead for reservations which is a really good touch so you don't have to wait if they're busy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Extraordinary food. The dining room is a rare example of brilliantly executed simplicity. And- OMG the food is wonderful. Be prepared for a nuisanced overtone of strong suggestion by the staff of what the experience should be........accept this and enjoy an amazing evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have been in the restaurant a few times. Never fails to amaze me, the food, the service and the ambiance is incredible. Highly recommended đ đ đ đŻ
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love it here! Bruce is an expert at wine advice. Jerry the owner/chef is quickly and fun. The food is the only Italian in the area and is fantastic! TY Jerry.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
My dining experience at this establishment was disappointing, and due to several significant issues, I would not return.
The food was satisfactory but unremarkable. I ordered the halibut with olives, capers, and tomato, while my wife chose the chicken Florentine. We both enjoyed appetizers, which were adequate but did not stand out.
However, the service was notably poor and detracted significantly from the experience. Upon being seated, we waited 15 minutes without any acknowledgment from the staffâno water, no drink order taken. When a server finally approached, my wife requested a glass of house Chardonnay, only to be curtly informed that drink orders would not be taken until the entire meal order was placed. The serverâs demeanor was unwelcoming and dismissive from the outset, setting a negative tone. Other staff members were either absent or overly rushed, with one instance of water being poured so carelessly it nearly spilled.
The pacing of the meal was excessively slow, stretching to over three and a half hours despite arriving early for our reservation. This prolonged duration was due to consistent delays at every stage of service. Additionally, the restaurantâs pricing policies were unreasonable and not clearly disclosed. Splitting a meal incurred an unexpected $32 fee, and dividing the bill added a 22% surcharge. Our total bill, as anticipated, exceeded $400 before tip, but the process of obtaining the check required me to seek out a staff member after waiting over 20 minutes.
Most frustrating was the attitude of the staff. One serverâs response to my wifeâs wine requestâstating, âWe have what we have, and youâre going to like it,â before abruptly walking away and delivering an unwanted substituteâwas particularly off-putting. Throughout the evening, we had to repeatedly request basic items like drinks, bread, water, and the check, which added to the sense of neglect.
While the ambiance was pleasant, with appealing lighting and decor, it could not compensate for the poor service and hidden fees. There are many other establishments offering superior food and welcoming service that leave diners feeling valued. This experience left us feeling frustrated and undervalued, and I would not recommend this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Right when we sat down, we were greeted and told the center breadsticks were edible â and they were absolutely delicious! The menu is vast, and you definitely wonât leave hungry. EntrĂ©es come with both an appetizer and a salad, which was a nice surprise. Since there were four of us, we ordered two different appetizers to share, and both were fantastic. The house salad was fresh and refreshing â the perfect start to the meal.
I really appreciated the timing of the courses â everything came out at the right pace, so we never felt rushed or overwhelmed with food. I ordered the clam pasta (full size) and it was massive, flavorful, and completely worth it.
Iâll absolutely be coming back â and next time, Iâll skip breakfast and lunch to save room!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, very good service! We celebrated a birthday for my wife and it was a very nice event/dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nasty attitude
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Im missing LaCenna all the time living in North Carolina.. ate there one a week when I was going thru cancer treatment.. Jerry and the staff are the best and cant wait to return..
Thanks Jerry
John Kaye (The musician) with the bald head..hope to see you soonâŠ
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
From start to finish, our first experience here was exceptional. The curated Italian wine list complemented an impeccably prepared menu, and the level of service reflected true professionalism and care. After years of anticipating this visit, it was everything we had hoped forâand more. Chef Jerryâs gracious hospitality made the evening truly memorable. We look forward to returning soon.â
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thoroughly enjoyed dinner tonight at La Cena. Service, food, and atmosphere were excellent. Jerry and his Team made us feel welcome and appreciated. As always the Pasta Emiliana was delicious. Jerry has been preparing it for almost 40 years and it never disappoints. Clams Oreganato were spot on and the veal / Chicken dishes were wonderful. Looking forward to returning soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So, the food is great! We knew the owner's personality quirk before we went and didn't have a problem with it. The reason we choose 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the overall experience and expense. The portions are gargantuan. Neither my husband nor myself can eat that much. But, we were required to order two entrees or pay a $28 surcharge. So, we started with carpaccio, which was fantastic! We moved on to the Trenette with Shrimp and Scallops which was dynamite! We dismissed the salads and bread, as we were already running out of stomach space. Then, we moved onto the Veal Brascaiola, which was tender and flavorful. We finished with Chocolate Mousse which was light and perfect. The kitchen split everything in the back for us which was really nice. We ended up taking 3/4 of everything home, which is never as good as if it was fresh. Our bill was about $250 with a $55 bottle of wine. I would rather come back several times to try the different dishes as opposed to being forced to order two entrees simultaneously. For this reason, we probably won't return. Have difficulty paying for food we can't eat; kinda dampens the otherwise great dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
What a fabulous experience the best Italian food in town the service is impeccable the wines are great we waited for the food but it was so worth the wait the owner is a special person
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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