Review of Restaurant Mille Sens, Bern, Switzerland

Good, Asian inspired cuisine in a prime location:

My husband and I were looking for a pre-concert dining venue in Bern’s old town. We wanted to have dinner in a not too elegant restaurant with fine cuisine near the main station as we were going to an outdoor event afterwards and were rather casually dressed. We succeeded in finding Mille Sens and considered it as the right choice for this purpose.

Ambiance

The restaurant is contemporarily styled and rather large. Despite its size there are few windows, only a small part of the tables are near the windows fronts, where we were seated, and this at lounge tables. This was a bit peculiar, as these do not have the same table height as regular ones. But we did not mind – although we had reserved quite in advance – especially when we saw that most tables do not have a lot of natural light. And you have to take in account that the location at the Spitalgasse near the main station indeed is a privileged one.

Interior

Menu/cuisine

There are different menu options and even a quick tray version, but we opted for the a la carte menu. This one is kept rather small, but many dishes could be ordered as small and large portions so you have quite many possibilities to combine the dishes. There is a wine proposal (by the glass) for each dish, which I find convenient. The cuisine is modern, European style with heavy Asian influences.

Starter: Swiss Char, Scallop Sashimi, Asparagus & Tobiko w/Sour Cream-Curcuma-Kalamansi-Sauce

Sampled dishes

As starter we both had seafood: Swiss char, scallop sashimi, asparagus and tobiko with a sour cream-curkuma-kalamansi-sauce. We found it creative and tasty. For mains we went for following ones: Swiss veal short ribs with a ginger-maple syrup coating, spicy cashew nuts, Dijon mustard rhubarb mousse and spring vegetables as well as pizzocheri (buckwheat pasta) with asparagus, spinach, Swiss cream cheese and cress foam. Both dishes were excellently prepared, nicely arranged and a savory taste experience. Also the desserts were a highlight: bar of chocolate, praline, yuzo and strawberry with a strawberry-woodruff sorbet and a caramel biscuit as well as rhubarb-ginger-tiramisu with granola and dandelion honey cream cheese ice cream.

Main: Swiss Veal Short Ribs w/Ginger-Maple Syrup Coating & Dijon Mustard Rhubarb Mousse

Staff/price

Service was friendly, although not always very attentive and a bit slow, especially after having served the mains. As we had an appointment after the dinner, we were a bit rushed, but did not want to skip the desserts. This proved to be quite a difficult matter, but finally it could be arranged, but not without pressing the service crew a bit. As to the price level, dining at the Mille Sens is certainly not a bargain, but given the quality of food and presentation prices are adequate.

Main: Pizzocheri with Asparagus, Spinach, Swiss Cream Cheese & Cress Foam

Dining at this restaurant was a good overall experience, although I have some reservations as to the setting (not enough natural light) and to the service (a bit slow towards the end of the meal). However, food is well prepared, inventive and delicious.

Dessert: Rhubarb-Ginger-Tiramisu w/Granola & Dandelion Honey Cream Cheese Ice Cream

Date of visit: June 2016