The story
Chef Mario Aliberti’s 5 SEN:SES, which opened in Karlsruhe in July 2024, brings together Italian and Asian culinary traditions in a single, harmonious kitchen. The team works with fresh, seasonal ingredients and natural flavors, paying close attention to the visual composition of each plate. The result is a cuisine that feels both inventive and balanced – an Italian-Asian fusion that engages all the senses.
Guests can choose from a changing à la carte selection or a four-course special fine dining menu (€255). A sharing menu is also available. Standout dishes include kingfish crudo with leche de tigre, cucumber, and miso; glazed duck breast with five-spice jus, Jerusalem artichoke, and baby vegetables; and agnolotti of smoked salmon with mushroom cream, truffle, and caviar. Other offerings range from Hereford beef tartare and cod with quail dim sum to Pré-Salé lamb with black bean jus and octopus cooked in dark beer with ponzu beurre blanc. The kitchen also prepares a surf & turf and Glen Douglas salmon, each dish reflecting the kitchen’s creativity and respect for the ingredients.
The restaurant’s quality was quickly acknowledged: it received a recommendation in the Michelin Guide 2026. 5 SEN:SES is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, with a relaxed atmosphere that welcomes dogs. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and offers outdoor seating. Catering and takeaway options are available for those who wish to enjoy the food at home or at an event.
Recognition
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Details
History
Mario Aliberti offers a globally inspired Italo-fusion cuisine, where Mexican "aguachile" or Asian dim sum also have their place. You can order a set menu (also vegetarian) or choose à la carte.
Concept À la carte and three menus: "Il mio mundo" featuring Asian techniques and flavors, a classic Italian menu (4 or 5 courses), and a sharing menu (3 courses). Culinary Style (Southern) Italian-Asian fusion cuisine. For the "crudo" of yellowfin tuna with tomato-jalapeño sorbet, corn, and tamarillo (tree tomato), Mario Aliberti places the raw fish slices on a leche de tigre base. Also beautifully presented were the dim sum filled with pork stuffing, braised in a pork belly-soy broth with crispy bacon cubes. A signature Aliberti dish features octopus arms cooked in dark beer, pan-fried until crisp, served in a light ponzu beurre blanc with fermented garlic and steamed pak choi hearts providing a crunchy contrast. Wine A well-chosen selection spanning renowned Italian wine regions. At least ten options available by the glass. Atmosphere The Southern Italian chef from Baden is well-connected as a fan of the local second-division sports club and stops by the table after service for a chat. Verdict Relaxed elegance and exciting culinary delights in a prime city location.
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