5 SENSI restaurant - Martina Franca - Puglia — Restaurant in Martina Franca

This was the worst restaurant that we visited in Puglia. In short, the best thing about this place is Vlad. Their teenage, polyglot waiter. A charming, hard-working young lad who surely has a bright future ahead, although not working at this restaurant. The only good dish presented to us was a staple Pugliese local bean puree and vegetables with lovely oil (can't go wrong with olive oil in Puglia though) although my Pugliese partner told me that it wasn't made with the right type of beans! Still, the rest of the meal was a huge disappointment, in fact, a disaster. Our "freshly made pasta and gnocchi" dishes were not freshly made quite the opposite, do bear in mind that we spoke to the owner before we sat down, and he reassured us that all pasta and gnocchi were freshly made on prem. However, when the food arrived, the gnocchi was clearly not freshly made, but machine made. I've no doubt that you can have a similar experience from a Lidl gnocchi bag. The green pasta with squid and broccoli was just a gloopy, stodgy experience with unforgivably overcooked pasta and squid. Why would you overcook the squid and make it chewy? Italian cuisine is about emulsifying sources, not gloopy, stodgy dishes resembling Play-Doh, and this is what my green gloopy pasta was, Play-Doh. At this point, we decided to cut our losses and go to a real Pugliese restaurant for the main dishes. Oh, and be aware this place is very expensive. Most dishes start from c Eu 20/25. Though it advertises itself as fine dining, the only fine thing about it is, again, Vlad, because there are plenty of real Pugliese restaurants in Martina Franca and for a fraction of the price. I'd give this restaurant a very wide berth...

Both the food and the service were fantastic, and I would highly recommend this place .

My family and I were visiting Martina Franca for the day and were looking around for a spot for dinner. As its the off-season for tourists, most places don’t open until 7:30 or 8pm as the culture here is a late dinner. We arrived early around 6 and we were lucky enough to meet the owners who were both incredibly kind and generous. They even called in the Chef early, who prepared us a free, off-menu, appetizer of Scorpion fish with strawberry and garlic jelly that was tasty and fresh. They also gave us a free Lemon cake slice for dessert, which was fantastic and a must have if you come here.

As for the price, it says $$$$, but my family of 5 ordered multiple drinks, two appetizers, entrees, an after, and two desserts, and the bill was less than expected. Perhaps because we are used to American prices, (this would be a $$) but all in all this was a great experience I would highly recommend if you are visiting...

This place is an insult to Puglian Cuisine This restaurant is a mockery of everything Puglian food stands for. While they lure you in with promises of fresh, handmade pasta and local delicacies, they deliver a cheap, supermarket-grade imitation. It's a slap in the face to all the hardworking restaurants in Martina Franca that strive for authenticity. Imagine paying a premium for pasta that tastes like lukewarm Play-Doh and seafood that's more suited to a rubber band factory. This place is a tourist trap designed to fleece unsuspecting diners. Do yourself a favour and avoid this embarrassment. There are countless genuine Puglian restaurants that will treat your taste buds (and wallet) with respect. The one saving grace? Vlad, the charming and multilingual waiter. He deserves to be working at a restaurant that reflects the quality and care he brings to...