Cena
805/811 Ballarat Rd, Deer Park VIC 3023, Australia
03 7042 3755
Italian
$$$
Food
- 100 Layer Lasagna
- Spaghetti Marinara
- Prosciutto Pizza
The Good
The Spaghetti Marinara was the highlight of the evening. The squid ink spaghetti was perfectly oily and incredibly fragrant, tossed with a generous amount of fresh, high-quality seafood and king prawns that had a satisfying, snappy crunch.
Prosciutto Pizza was a very solid showing where the prosciutto was the star. It was delicate, tender, and not at all stringy. The plentiful cold cut sitting atop a dough that was impressively fluffy and spongy. While the toppings were great, the execution of the bake felt slightly rushed; the base was missing that essential crispness and the crust could have easily handled another 60 seconds in the oven to develop a proper char.
The Mediocre
Despite being the signature dish, the 100 Layer Lasagnaย was easily the biggest letdown of the night. Despite the name, it was closer to 20 layers, and the ends were parched and dry. The meat sauce between the sheets lacked moisture, and the pool of bolognese on the side was noticeably stingier than what weโd seen in photos from just a few months ago.
Service was friendly, but not the most attentive. We had to ask for water 3 different times before being brought some.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Cena delivers some high notes with their pasta and quality toppings, but inconsistencies in the kitchen, particularly with the over-hyped lasagna, hold it back from being a must-visit.
Stick to the seafood and the pizza (and maybe ask for a little extra time in the oven).
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Maybe.