Cena is one of the newest Italian restaurants in Tampa offering an assortment of modern and traditional Italian fare from their laid-back and contemporary Channelside location.
Opened in March, Cena is the brainchild of owners Ken Stoltenberg and Frank Bombeeck brought to life with inventive, yet authentic Italian fare courtesy of head chef Michael Buttacavoli.
Buttacavoli, whose previous work at Bern's, SideBern's and various restaurants within the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino earned him his stripes, has crafted a diverse menu of Italian favorites with some modern twists sure to pique the palate.
This dedication to modernity with respect to tradition is shown through menu highlights at Cena including beef short rib and braised pork in Bolognese sauce; a rich seafood risotto featuring shrimp, scallops, and calamari; braised oxtail gnocchi; and their namesake Cena Carbonara with guanciale, peas, egg, parmesan, corn spaghetti, and black pepper.
Cena also offers an abundance of Italian and other wines well-suited for pairing with a variety of their menu selections and a dazzling desert menu that shouldn't be glossed over. Enjoy authentic Italian deserts like bococcini with caramel-crusted cream puffs stuffed with a pistachio cream; zuppa inglese with sponge cake and roasted pine nuts; and more.
Sound good? Give Cena a try, then let us know what you think with your own rating and review on the Cena 813area business listing.
