Aiona

Description and review of Aiona, an upscale live-fire Mediterranean restaurant with an open kitchen located in Downtown Sacramento.

Two friends and I recently dined at Aiona prior to attending a theatre performance at the Music Circus.  We had reservations for 5:30 p.m.

Aiona, located on K Street next to the Esquire IMAX theater, opened on April 19.  The site, under construction for what seemed (to me) like an exceptionally long time, formerly housed the Esquire Grill.

Chefs Deneb Williams and Lee Hinton, and Advanced Sommelier Elizabeth-Rose Mandalou (all of Allora in East Sacramento) are the forces behind Aiona and its 3,000-bottle wine cellar.

See related blog posts: Esquire Grill and Allora

SacramentoRevealed.com – All Things Sacramento (from a personal perspective)

Aiona – The Venue

The transformation of the space as a result of the remodel-redesign is striking.  The end result is a space that is both warm and inviting. A large Greek-themed mural on one wall sets the tone.

The good-sized restaurant contains a lounge area, a bar, a more formal dining room area and a large enclosed patio on K Street.  The open kitchen is visible to the majority of patrons.

The open kitchen utilizes a Mibrasa live-fire grill and oven manufactured in Spain to cook many of its dishes.  Live fire cooking is the preparation of food over glowing embers of wood/charcoal to control the heat.

Aiona – The Menu

After ordering beverages, the three of us decided to share a small plate – the Hummus (Sesame Chili Crisp, Scratch made Pita) ($16).  Aiona offers a limited variety of cold and hot small plates as well as several breads and dips.

For the main course that evening one friend ordered the Malloreddus* (Pancetta, Zuchini, Cherry Tomato, Basil, Parmesan) ($26).  The second friend ordered the Risotto (Prosciutto, Smoked Maitake, Corn) ($24).   I settled on the traditional Greek green salad – the Maroulosalata (Radicchio, Mizithra, Pistachio, Citrus) ($22).

* Malloreddus, commonly known as Sardinian gnocchi, is a traditional ridged shell shaped pasta from Sardinia.

Review

All three of us loved the Hummus, and the fluffy pita bread served while still warm was the perfect accompaniment. I have eaten many hummus dips over the years, but I dare say this is my new favorite.

The Malloreddus and Risotto were said to be very good.  My salad was substantial – but a green salad is just that. The dressing did not stand out.

Service

The service was exceptional; from the time we entered until we departed.  Staff were friendly, efficient and professional adding greatly to the enjoyment of the evening.

To Sum Up

To sum up, Aiona is a great new addition to the Downtown Sacramento dining scene.  It is a bit pricey, but definitely a great choice for a special occasion celebration.

I personally am looking forward to checking out both the Happy Hour and the patio area in the near future.

Note:  Aiona adds a 5% “Kitchen Support” charge to the bill.

Comments on Aiona?

What has been your experience at Aiona?

Aiona Snapshot:

• 1213 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (13^th & K Streets)
• (916) 790-3473
• Hours: Monday – Thursday (11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.); Friday (11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.); Saturday (5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.); Sunday: Closed
• Happy Hour (bar, lounge, patio only): Monday – Friday (2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Large enclosed outdoor patio
• Parking: Valet & nearby parking garage

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