119 replies to this topic

[robyn]

Hey everyone!

I'm going to be in Berlin for the first time for two days this Friday and Saturday, and I'm looking for somewhere to eat on the Friday night.

I'm on a pretty tight budget and don't really want to spend more than €20-€30 for two or three courses including drinks (non alcoholic). As I'm on a budget, and don't posses that sophisticated a pallet (!), somewhere serving traditional good home-style German cuisine would be perfect.

I don't know Berlin at all, but I'm staying on the Hallesches Ufer, just down from Potsdamer Platz, so somewhere in that area would be ideal, but I'll probably buy a public transport pass, so it's not essential.

I'll certainly make sure that I visit KaDeWe on the Saturday afternoon to splurge a little for lunch; after what I've read on here it sounds like quite a fantastic place!

Many thanks in anticipation.

With all best wishes, Jack.

In case you don't know - the German World Cup soccer finals (men's and women's) are in Berlin on Saturday May 26 (perhaps that's why you're going to Berlin). I suspect you'll need reservations at most restaurants that weekend. Robyn

[SideBurns]

In case you don't know  - the German World Cup soccer finals (men's and women's) are in Berlin on Saturday May 26 (perhaps that's why you're going to Berlin).  I suspect you'll need reservations at most restaurants that weekend.  Robyn

Ah, no I didn't know that - in fact, it might have been a reason for not going this weekend had I known! Oh well, any suggestions for places that aren't as likely to be as busy would still be gratefully received :).

Jack.

[glauer]

I would rather expect the opposite actually.......restaurants might be pretty empty as people might stay home. The soccer fans certainly will not spend much on food, their money goes all for beer. And in addition, Berlin is a pretty big city.

[Kouign Aman]

I stayed in an apt in W Berlin, near a Woolworths, and an underground stop. My Berlinerin friend describes it as a working class neighborhood.
A short walk in the other direction was a very traditional german restaurant (I had to drag my hostess to it - she is "more modern"). The food was excellent. There were antlers on the walls, etc. The waitress had a classic Berlin accent, and found us americans highly amusing. I'm trying to dig up enough information to identify it and give an address.

[SideBurns]

Well I've just back from an oddly deserted Berlin. Well, apart from the squares packed with football fans! It's a really lovely city and despite only being there for two days I think it's probably the best place I've visited this year so far. Highly recommended.

I visited Berlin's Farmers' Market on the Saturday morning as well which worth a little trip.

Anyway, I didn't really eat out anywhere properly. The first night I found an outdoor concert along from where I was staying and indulged in the obligatory wurst. On the second day I went to the absolutely amazing KaDeWe for lunch and ate at the Lenotre pattiserie on the 6th floor, having a Quiche Lorraine and the Chocolate Etoile - both very good. Unfortunately I only ventured up to the 7th floor restaurant after I'd eaten, but it looked like a nice place with good food.

Of course, anyone going to Germany has to try a Bretzel as well - delicious.

[glauer]

Though a Brezel should only be eaten in the south of Germany, ideally around Stuttgart. That is the real thing and I never had a really good one anywhere to the north.

[jrichman]

Hi All,

I have seen a few Berlin posts out there but wanted to start a fresh Berlin post to get some new information.

I will be in Berlin for a few weeks on a business trip. I'll be working and staying right near Potsdamer Platz which I believe is downtown Berlin.

I am looking for suggestions for both lunch and dinner places in and around the area. For lunch I want them to be close by (walking distance). However for dinner I'd like some close by places and also some places that require a cab / train / subway ride.

Looking for all sorts of ideas....good local food, a lot of healthy options, and whatever suggestions you have.

Thank so much!

[robyn]

What kind of places are you looking for - high end - low - or in the middle?

For higher end - Vitrum in the Ritz Carlton at Potsdamer Platz is excellent (has 1 Michelin star but tastes like 2). So is Vau (1 Michelin star) - about a 25 minute walk/5 minute cab ride away.

The Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz has a lot of restaurants - a multiplex theater - etc. Nothing there is a big deal - but it's a nice casual place for dinner and perhaps a movie. There's also a "restaurant area" a couple of blocks away (near the Daimler building). Again - nothing fabulous. But you won't be looking for fabulous every night.

Note that Potsdamer Platz really isn't "downtown Berlin". It is kind of in the middle between what used to be downtown West Berlin - and downtown East Berlin. But there's a lot there. Robyn

[robos]

We were in april in Berlin and the dinner in the " Restaurant 44 " was outstanding ! The restaurant is part of the Swissotel Berlin at the Kurfürstendam. The chef Tim Raue is in my opinion at the moment one of the best in Germany. It is magic how he uses herbs and spices, incomparable. Very good German wine.

[kpzachary]

I will start from the west and move to the east.

Charlottenburg: High end shopping district called Ku'damm.

1. 44: In the Swissotel. Modern food done right. Healthy choices. Chef is a Berliner and the flavor combinations that he uses reflect this.
2. Schlemmermeyer: This is a chain of delis from München. They have the best brautwurst and leberkäser sandwiches.
3. Ka De We: The largest department store in Europe. On the top two floors there is a great high end food court. Paul Bocuse has a seafood restaurant there. Don't pass up a currywurst in the imbiss outside next to the store. It is true Berlin street food!

Tiergarten: The large city park area in Berlin.

1. Hugos: In the InterContenental Hotel. One star mediterranean influnced cusine.

Potsdamer Platz: Right in the middle of Berlin, though not considered downtown.

1. Brassarie Desbrosses: In the Ritz Carlton. Best brunch in Berlin, also a great lunch spot.
2. Facil: In the Mandala Hotel. Modern, one star food. Young talented chef.
3. Vox: In the Grand Hyatt. Asian influences, and sushi bar. Great lunch spot.
4. Lindenbräu: In the Sony Center. Simple bräuhaus food. Great beer and wurst.
5. Vox Bar: In the Grand Hyatt. Good cocktails, modern young scene.
6. Cotton Club: In the Ritz Carlton. Nice classy bar with a lot of German spirits.

*Unfortunatly, Vitrum closed Monday for their month long summer break.*

Brandenburg Gate: A very historical must see. Only three blocks from Pots. Platz.

1. Margaux: Nice classic french restaurant. A bit over priced but healthy options.
2. Lorenz Adlon: In the Hotel Adlon. Classic french two star restaurant.

Mitte: The area with the television tower. This is the downtown area.

1. Borchardt: German Brassarie. The biggest Weiner Schnitzel I ever attempted to eat. This is where all the movie stars eat when they are in town, so a reservation is a must. I love this place for both lunch and dinner. Simple but stylish, and always done well.
2. Grill Royal: Modern Steakhouse on the river Spree. This is another stylish "in" restaurant but the chef worked in great American steakhouses and the food is really good.
3. Monsieur Vuong: Authentic, healthy Chinese. Always packed to the max! No, always over packed! But, it is very good, if you can get in.

Prenzlauer Berg: Young hip part of town. East Berlin at its best.

1. Due Forni: The best pizza I've ever had! Served by Italian punks, and cooked in wood burning stone ovens by Italian pizza masters.
2. Moa Thai: Best Thai restaurant in Berlin. There are a lot of others but this is the only good one that I have found.
3. delizie d'Italia: My favorite Italian restaurant here in Berlin. Simple, small, classic, and good. Reservation is a must. (If you go two blocks north, on the left there is a beer store that sells an amazing variety of German beer.)

These are just a few (I could list a hundred more), but they are my favorites.

[dharold]

Oderquelle on Oderberger Strasse is a favourite of mine. The place is best called funky - I don't think it's seen more that a little lick of paint since the wall came down, but the food is great and they're rightly proud of it. The menu, which last time I went included a blackpudding ravioli as well as more traditional German dishes, is changed daily and the food is all prepared market-fresh each day.

Last time I had: Uckermärker Reh- und Hirschkalbrücken auf sautierten Steinpilzen dazu gestofter Wirsing und Schupfnudeln. Basically deer shoulder with sauteed vegetables and a potato noodle side dish. It was hearty, but not heavy.

Dinner for three including a couple of drinks each was just over 60 euros. Cheap by UK standards - you can barely eat at Pizza Express for that - but there was nothing cheap about the food or the standard with which it was cooked.

Service was great with the waiter taking time to explain what was on the menu and how it was prepared.

I plan to dine there again in September, 3rd year running...

www.oderquelle.de - the daily menu is always online (click the plate).

[jrichman]

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

To be a little more specific, for breakfast and lunch options I'll be at Postdamer Platz - looking for some healthy type options for breakfast and lunch in this area.

[robyn]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. 

To be a little more specific, for breakfast and lunch options I'll be at Postdamer Platz - looking for some healthy type options for breakfast and lunch in this area.

The Ritz Carlton (right at Potsdamer Platz) has a casual restaurant which serves a nice 2 course lunch - pick just about any starter and any main - for 19 euros (a relative bargain). I'm sure there are at least some healthy options on the menu. Robyn

[pennylane]

I went to the Ka De We food court. Oh my God, it was so good. I still dream of it to this day.

[nibor]

Hard to beat breakfast on the top of the Reichstag. The view is fabulous, and the food is quite good too. You have to call ahead for a reservation. Eating there also lets you bypass the line to the dome, which is worth the price itself.

You keep saying "healthy" as if that means something in particular. Our opinion of what is healthy may not be the same as yours, and, really, how useful a term is it when you are talking about international travel? A brat and a beer works just fine for many Berliners.

[John Talbott]

The new Saveur suggests the Kurfalz-Weinstuben, Restaurant 44 Im Swissotel + Weinstein.

[robos]

News ! Tim Raue has left the "44" in the Swissotel. New chef there is Danijel Kresovic.
Tim Raue starts a new projekt in Berlin-Hotel Adlon ?

[lanchon]

I am looking for a high-end restaurant in Berlin with more German fare instead of too much French-influenced. Hugo? Facil? Vau? Help....

[John Talbott]

I cannot answer lanchon but did see an article in the NYT today Bites series that talks of wine bars - Fra_rosa, Perlin + Forum - where the food and wine are on the honor system. Interesting if dangerous idea, authod Andreas Tzortzis posits.

[kpzachary]

44 in the Swissotel is a very good restaurant (one star) with a modern take on German cuisine. The cuisine has a great sense of place which I really enjoyed. Although, when I ate there the chef was Tim Raue who has since departed for another restaurant yet to open. To be honest with you most of the "high-end" restaurants (with stars) in Berlin are more French influenced.

[malacitana]

I am looking for a high-end restaurant in Berlin with more German fare instead of too much French-influenced.  Hugo?  Facil?  Vau?  Help....

The most german fare is to be had at Vau.

[lanchon]

Thanks everyone. Yes, I thought about 44, but as you mentioned, it is a new chef now. Alright, I will go to Vau.

[robyn]

I think you'll enjoy Vau. We had a very good lunch there. Note that lunch is a relative bargain compared to dinner. Robyn

[Prometheus]

Hi all!

My first post so please forgive any mistakes I may make but, I'll be in Germany this April with Frankfurt and Berlin as definite stops. While I've loved food longer then he's been famous, I'll describe myself as a foodie of the "Bourdain School" My big thing is street food and markets, trying to avoid the tourist hordes. I don't care what's in it, I'll try anything, as long as it's authentic and the local folks are lining up for it too. I'm also woefully versed in my germanic dishes but want to try it all and I fear no ingredient! What are some innapropriate-in-some-company-groan inducing mother dishes that I can't leave Germany Without having? Bring on the suggestions!

I'll also be traveling through The Netherlands (Maastricht for sure), Belgium (Brussles), and the U.K. (Huddersfield and Edinburgh) if anyone is familiar with those areas also, I'm all ears!

Jeremy

[John Talbott]

May’s Bon Appetit had an article on the “Hot 10/euro bargains” that mentioned Schneeweiss.

[robyn]

Prometheus - We were in Germany last spring. At least in Berlin - I don't think you have to worry about "tourist hordes". There weren't any - which is kind of surprising given Berlin's size - vitality - and (relatively) low prices these days. We went to the Carnival of Culture (early May). It's a really big street food/music festival - and I wasn't overwhelmed by the street food (the best was some tasty grilled wurst - regular wurst - not currywurst - wurst with ketchup and curry powder - which I really disliked). But we had plenty of good meals in "sit-down" restaurants. One place to go around and sample things that is quite civilized is the food courts at Ka De We (big department store). Robyn

[Prometheus]

Thanks for the recomendations, it's appreciated but I didn't catch them until we got back. However, we had a great, great time throughout the whole trip. Someone in another thread had suggested the "Kleinmarkthalle", a large indoor market in Frankfurt, which we very luckily happened across. It was one of the most beautiful things I've seen in my travels and would suggest it to anyone in the area. Whatever you could possible desire, it was to be found, and usually in its freshest and most vibrant form. Germans do take charcuterie and sausage making to a whole other level and it was well represented there. I don't think they appreciated my desire to crawl into the sausage case to suck my thumb. It was meant as a complement!
As for Berlin, I really loved that city much more then I thought I would. Strangely enough, we had Turkish food twice while there but it makes sense when you consider that it has the second highset population of Turkish people outside Istanbul. (one was Hasir, I can't remember the other) While in Kreuzburg, we came across a Turkish bakery where I decided, if I had the choice, I want to die to the smell wafting from that lovely place! We did have some Currywurst and it was pretty decent but it was more of a "have to try it once while we're there" sort of thing. We tried to get to Ka De We for the exact reason you mentioned (our freind living in Berlin echoed your sentement) but were unable to.
Thanks again for the suggestions, I love reading from others who love food and travel as much as I do. Keep up all the good work!

[Prometheus]

May’s Bon Appetit had an article on the “Hot 10/euro bargains” that mentioned Schneeweiss.

John,

That issue was in my mailbox when I got back! I wish I'd seen it before we left, I'd give a review of it!

[nibor]

Strangely enough, we had Turkish food twice while there but it makes sense when you consider that it has the second highset population of Turkish people outside Istanbul. (one was Hasir, I can't remember the other)

Not so strange - the Germans are all eating Turkish too. When we lived in Berlin we went to the Hasir's behind KaDeWe at least once a week. It doesn't have the ambiance of the original but it was closer to where we lived. Mmmm, the excitement of digging down through the meat to get at the eggplant... And I miss those adorable waiters!

[John Talbott]

In the May Travel & Leisure (usually available on the web in a month) there was a big article on Affordable Europe that mentioned the following: Leo Bettini, Schwartzwaldstuben, Clarchens Ballhaus + Grill Royal.