Five Senses Restaurant, Bar & Catering — Restaurant in Murfreesboro

Tonight, I dined with my newer foodie friend at Five Senses Restaurant & Catering and let me go on and tell you it's worth it. She made the reservation, so I was able to walk in and be seated while she was on her way (look, I'm early everywhere lol). I ordered an old fashioned (you know I did) and perused the menu. Everything looked amazing. I had already looked, but they had some specials on. By the time my friend arrived, I could tell this place was going to be in between Steakhouse Five and Primrose Table in terms of service type for me. There are places for everything, and I am not going to say one type is superior than the other. For me, Steakhouse Five is stuffy. I like to laugh and joke. Primrose is more my speed. You can cut up with the server but also get superior service. Five Senses seemed between that though slightly leaning toward Steakhouse Five. A little stuffy, but our server seemed cool. She was kind and attentive, respectful and knowledgeable. She kept my small water glass full 99% of the time. I say 99% because I chugged it and filled it again at one point. There was not enough time for her to see if empty! (They leave a carafe of water on the table; I didn't rush the kitchen or anything.) We started with the octopus appetizer on the menu plus the chorizo quesadilla, which was a special. When I tell you that this octopus was the most tender octopus I have ever eaten. They brought out a steak knife for it, but I probably could have cut it by pinching it between my fingers. It was like butter, the smashed potatoes and chorizo perfectly cooked and paired so well as not to overpower the octopus. It was really a perfect plate. The chorizo quesadilla special was really good, though not as adventurous. It was just a solid plate. For entrees, she had the chicken rigatoni because she said she'd never had pasta there. We all know I rarely order pasta out because I make it at home haha. But she loved that pasta, and the bite I took was really good. Nicely sauced without swimming. It stuck to the noodles in the right way. I had the lamb shank (and you can laugh at me trying to fit it in one of my containers lol). It was also so tender I didn't need a knife. Seriously. Fork tender, falling off the bone, cut like butter... However you need it said. It was deliciously tender, and the greens on top were perfectly seasoned and paired. I didn't eat many beans (most of them are in my takeaway container), but the ones I did eat seemed perfectly cooked. We finished off with the blueberry lemon dessert (minus the ginger and almond for my dining companion). Lemon and blueberry are just the perfect pair, and they shined here too. Simple, moist, and the perfect size for 2 people. We each got 2 drinks and we added an appetizer to the date night special (it's on Monday nights and it's worth it), so we spent about $150+ tip. I couldn't do it every Monday, but it's worth putting in the rotation for sure. I hope you'll give...

Confused about the reviews on here and how this has 4.7 stars.

I have to say, my experience was quite perplexing. With prices hovering around $40-$50 per plate, I expected a high-end ambiance and quality to match, but I was left feeling disappointed.

Upon entering, you're greeted by an interior that feels more disjointed than chic. The lack of tablecloths and the old wooden laminate tables – some of which were peeling and flaking – gave a rather unrefined vibe that didn't correspond with the upscale pricing. In addition the random 2 cheap looking abstract canvas paintings from Ross on the left hand side of the wall was very random being the only thing on the wall and oddly placed.

Now, let’s talk about the food. The pork belly dip was a real letdown; it seemed to have been reheated in a microwave, resulting in very hot and cold spots that hinted at frozen or refrigerated ingredients rather than anything made fresh.

The tuna dish was bland and nearly absent of flavor, with the pistachio garnish barely noticeable. The asparagus was a soggy, flimsy side that was served cold, further dragging down the overall quality. The yellow sauce at the bottom was somewhat buttery but lukewarm, which didn't do much to elevate the dish.

As for the steak, while it was decent, the pairing with carrots felt cheap and a bit odd. With such a limited menu, one would expect the restaurant to showcase their expertise, and have outstanding dishes but that didn't happen here.

One of the more surprising aspects was the cornbread, which appeared to be straight from a JIFFY box, served with sweet butter. It didn't align with the supposed high-end experience and left me wondering about the overall quality of the ingredients. On top of that the corn bread was nearly cake and didn’t need anymore sweetness.

On a brighter note, I did enjoy the whiskey coffee drink—it was quite good and the highlight of the meal.

In summary, my experience at Five Senses was underwhelming. Between the confusing decor, lackluster food, and overpriced menu, I wouldn't be inclined to return. Even though I had a gift card with a remaining balance, I’d much rather explore other dining options. If you’re considering this place, I recommend you look elsewhere for a more satisfying meal. Overall, it gets a D from me. You can find better food and better quality at much cheaper restaurants.

To highlight, several hours later me and my party experienced an upset stomach. So...

This weekend I decided to travel and review Five Senses, an upscale restaurant whose owner I met in the VIP section at Bonnaroo last year. He was very welcoming at the festival and invited me to visit the restaurant since I enjoy artisan gourmet foods. Fast forward nine months and I finally made the trip! This is going to be a treat. So here is my review without bias or embellishment. The storefront was clean and tidy with clear signage and a welcoming feel. Entering the restaurant was like walking into a well loved favorite hangout and I was seated immediately. I waited for the waiter. The menu, which is classy and beautifully succinct, showed offerings ranging from blackened salmon to beef tartare and the wine selection was equally diverse. I studied the menu and decided on the tartare for an appetizer and seared scallops as my entrée. The new potatoes sounded excellent as well and I would have requested them along with the appetizer. I finished my glass of water and refilled it from a beautiful glass decanter the hostess provided. And I waited for the waiter, or for another staff member to check on me since it had been ten minutes without a greeting. I attempted eye contact with staff members. At fifteen minutes I decided to forgo dinner but was curious how long a person could sit unattended at a well staffed restaurant. Twenty minutes, as it happened. The hostess stopped back by and seemed confused that the menus were still on the table and she kindly refilled my empty water glass from the glass decanter. I related this series of events to her and departed quietly. Giving her credit, she wanted to make it right, but by then my attitude had soured. Our discussion was cordial. To the owner I would like to express regret at leaving a negative review. I liked you and was impressed with your restaurant until the entire staff overlooked me. I will return to try again and will be happy to replace this review with a more complete one. No...