Excellent food, wine and company was the tone for the evening and the 5 sense team ensured we had the best possible experience.
I recently had the pleasure of attending a fine dining menu tasting at 5 senses restaurant, where Chef kim unveiled his latest dishes. Upon entry we received a delicious welcome drink and bittings as we mingled and got our palettes ready for the mighty 10 course awaiting us. If you were not careful you could easily fill up on the entrees and run out of space. So I paced myself to ensure I’d have enough room for dessert. Click here to watch the video
I really enjoyed the fine dining experience at 5 Senses and definitely had to come back for a second look and taste.
Ambience: Located in the heart of Kilimani area the interior has a contemporary outdoor – indoor feel with stone-clad pillars, plants and an indoor pergola. Seating is intimate with soft lighting as smooth jazz plays in the background. However should you want to host a birthday dinner or event there is enough room for larger seating arrangements.
Starters
To start we had a heartwarming blended broccoli soup which honestly felt like a hug in a bowl. Made with almond cream, fresh vegetables and a hint of chili, this soup was creamy yet refreshing at the same time. Not to mention it’s a vegan friendly dish so great for the soul and the body. My date rated this 11/10
Next we had the cured cold smoked salmon on a blini, smoked cream cheese, lemon condiment, balsamic vinegar reduction, and micro greens. Literally a melt in your mouth experience, I recommend pairing this dish with a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc for maximum enjoyment. Each ingredient has a distinct flavor and texture profile but together they create a luxurious mouthfeel which we thoroughly enjoyed. What appears to be caviar on top is actually mini balsamic glaze balls. Just heavenly.
Jumbo Prawn Lime & Ginger – a delicious grilled jumbo prawn with yellow curry lime,pineapple, a ginger condiment and a prawn sauce served with a side salad. This dish is tropical, meaty, sweet and savory. Loved that the prawn was cut into bite size pieces and served in the shell maintaining the integrity of the dish and beautiful presentation.
MAINS
Local Mackerel Fillet – smoked from the gods of the sea. One of my favourite fish to eat is mackerel and the smoked element of this dish made it feel like a BBQ by the seaside. Grilled mackerel fillet, grilled purple kale, blanched romanesco squid ink rice, a lemon condiment and fish jus. Should you fancy a lunch outside the office this one would be a great choice. It’s wholesome, filling and refreshing.
Rack of lamb – Juicy tender pieces of lamb in a mint and pea sauce does not get any better! This is a flavor classic and will always be a favourite dinner option. Pan-seared Lamb Rack, Green Pea Puree, Shelled Green Peas, Green Peas Micro Greens served with a Lamb Jus.
Dessert
Molten Lava Cake – The name says it all. If you’re a fan of decadent chocolate paired with creamy vanilla ice cream, this one is for you! Chocolate cake with a molten center served with Vanilla Ice-Cream and berry sauce.
Cheesecake – Just like unraveling a beautifully wrapped gift every layer of this dessert was a joy to break through. A passion cheesecake mousse with a kiwi compote insert served with an apple passion jelly and glass tuile. What a wonderful surprise.
To Drink
To drink we had a selection of cocktails that were equally as adventurous and tasty. Let me just say the 5 Senses cocktail menu will have you singing in no time. They’re not shy on the booze and the flavor profiles are so diverse! Each having a little background story to its creation.
Chef’s Kick (small glass with basil), Five sense gin (orange drink), Wine Sauvignon blanc, Love Portion – (Red drink not pictured but a personal favourite).
Budget
The budget is actually fairly priced for a fine dining restaurant ranging from 1,500ksh-5,000ksh and above for mains. Depending on if you have a starter, main, dessert and drink you can budget around 5,000Ksh but not limited to. The food portion sizes are great so you can easily share some dishes with your date.
A big thank you to Chef Kim and his team for hosting a great fine dining experience. It’s been one of a kind and I can’t wait to see what’s next for 5 senses. Check them out at 5senses.co.ke and follow them on instagram to stay up to date with their event calendar.
