I love weasels. It is this thing that I have always had, ever since I saw my first weasel in the wild. Slender, furry and oh-so cunning creatures with centuries of beautiful myth and fascinating intertextual references surrounding them. Because of this, I like stuffed (vintage!) weasels. One of those you have left in your bookcase because your grandmother left it to you, not because you actually shot and killed a weasel. And Fuchsbau in Kreuzberg is the first bar-cum-brunch-spot that combines my love for alcohol and food with my love for weasels. Its name already implies a link to foxes, but Fuchsbau actually sports a stuffed weasel too. Comfortably curled up to the stuffed Fuchs.

Eating at Fuchsbau

The little and picturesque establishment Fuchsbau – literally: Fox burrow – is a hip and trendy bar, that also does nibbles, brunch and breakfast. This is the kind of place you go to if you want to meet inspiring and fun people, or before a night out on the town. Hip, trendy and oh-so Kreuzberg. It looks cosy and informal and Fuchsbau is located on the corner of the Kottbusser Straße, looking out over the Planufer. A great view on sunny days as well as beautiful in winter.

The menu offerings at Fuchsbau are drink, drinks and breakfast, brunch and lunch-related foods. The menu is nicely sized: not large, but varied enough to make most picky breakfast eaters enjoy themselves here. Brunch foods range from bread baskets, baked, boiled or cooked egg dishes, veggie cheese plates to varied meaty platters. You can personalize your breakfast with small side dishes, such a goat cheeses, extra croissants or dips.

Brunch and Lunch at Fuchsbau

I tend to be hungry on early mornings in the weekend, when you can feel that special tingle that tells you that is weekend! Fuchsbau is a great and low-key place to start off any kind of weekend: either lounging in your relax-a-pants or all dressed up for a day of shopping or a nights of partying.

On the weekend-y morning I ventured into Fuchsbau, I was hungry as usual. And I like eggs. I like eating eggs and egg-related dishes for brunch and lunch. Therefore I happily ordered the eggs on toast dish off the menu. Fuchsbau’s food is great yet simple. Toast with eggs is not eggsiting you say? It is at Fuchsbau: with delicious dips (a curry-based butter and fresh tomato chutney) that add a whole culinary perspective to the eggs. Other delicious breakfast platters include a Gemischtes Frühstück (a mixed breakfast) with a selection of cheeses (such as brie and sliced cheese), meats (from chorizo to ham) with a large and varied bread basket – and olives and tomatoes on the side.

The prices are just as humble as the menu: budget-proof and smile-inducing. You can breakfast here from 4 (for the simplest choice) to 8 euros (for a more elaborate breakfast) p.p.

Where to go?

Fuchsbau
Planufer 95
10967 Berlin
(+49) 30 6917595

Schöneberg, Schöneberg – oh, how we adore Schöneberg. Not just because it is the gayest of Berliner Bezirke, but because of its surprising restaurants, shops and bars. Due to the classy nature of most of the areas in Schöneberg, you will get an instant dose of beauty poored down your eyeballs when you walk through the imaginary doors of its entry. Essentially, Schöneberg is an expensive Bezirk when it comes to renting or buying a flat here. Therefore, most buildings are gorgeous, the streets are clean and calm and in small sidestreets you may suddenly find a surprisingly delicious restaurant previously only known to the locals living in that exact street.

One of these restaurants is Der Bamberger Reiter, only around the corner from the sadly closed down Afghan restaurant Chraazan. When you enter this establishment, you will be blown away. It has an aura of the 20^th century Cabaret-style oozing down each and every one of the walls. Chandeliers, pink silk adorning the walls and slight-sparkling notes on the table we had reserved.

 Eating Food at Der Bamberger Reiter

We explored one of their menus, consisting of three courses: an appetizer, main course and dessert. Before the meal itself started, we received some bread-based nibbles supplemented with some nice dips. I always love places that give their guests something on the house to nibble on. And with an atmosphere as the one you experience when at the Bamberger Reiter: you will definitely enjoy yourself. If you like pink, that is.

We ordered a variety of food, consisting of appetizers, mains and desserts. The classical tomato and mozzarella salad that I nibbled on, was delicious and fresh. Personally, I could have done without (so much of) the dressing. But the ingredients were fresh and very flavoursome.

After that refreshing salad, I had ordered a deer steak with home-made gnocchi and red wine sauce. Since I absolutely adore gnocchi, I am generally inclined to ordered it whenever I see it on a menu – especially when it is home-made. The main courses at the Bamberger Reiter are mostly meat-centered dishes, so I would advice ordering a delicious meat dish here. The deer was very tender, soft and moist and perfectly complemented by the creamy and softly textured gnocchi and the heavy and powerfully sweet flavour of the red wine. A classic dish for a cold evening: simply fabulous.

As a dessert lover, I enjoyed a raspberry ice with fresh berries and honey as its companion. A refreshing and sweet closing deal after the so deft main course with deer.

Restaurant the Bamberger Reiter

The restaurant has recently undergone a make-over, added a small stage and upgraded its outdoor area. In summer and spring it is a great place to sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere of Schöneberg in a soothing way with greenery all around. With a classical menu that focuses both on German food as well as other culinary influences, it is a traditional restaurant with an edge. A beautiful place with super-friendly staff that we can only recommend whole-heartedly. Daily specials also on offer.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Great, fresh and quality food.
• Authentic and beautiful deco and atmosphere.
• Good price-quality ratio.

What Makes this Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• If you are not into the more heavy, German-esque meals than maybe this is not the best place for you. Although you can order one (or more) of the delicious salads and/ or appetizers.

Where to Go?

Der Bamberger Reiter
Regensburger Straße 7
10777
Berlin
030 / 749 200 90

We have got chills and they are definitely multiplying. And just so we do not lose control: we pop into the nicest and coziest restaurants of Berlin to warm up our cold and chilly hands after a long and refreshing autumn walk.

Berlin is beautiful in fall and you should enjoy its gorgeous colours and delicate scents while you can. Before soft and white snowflakes will turn Berlin into a whole different kind of magical fairy tale city (but that is all in Weihnachtsmärkte-modus, and it is not that time just yet). So: what kind of things should you get up to Berlin during this season and what are the most suitable locations to chill and eat at afterwards?

What to Do in Berlin During Autumn

f you are visiting Berlin for the first time, or if you are a passionate resident of Berlin – sometimes you can do with some inspiration. And during the fall season, there is inspiration galore in and around the streets and gasses of Berlin.

Zoologischer Garten Stroll

The first thing you need to be during in Berlin is walking, strolling and languidly stepping around the town. Make the walk the goal itself and do not worry where you might end up. Berlin is full of U- and S-Bahn stations, so you will never have a problem getting back. One of the great areas that are worth a stroll in the green area around Zoologischer Garten. Here you can enjoy the many large parks this area has to offer and even visit the actual Zoo. (If you really want to experience a great Zoo, we recommend you check out the Friedrichsfelde Zoo. Only a short ride on the S-Bahn away!) In the parks around the Zoologischer Garten you might take some mind-blowingly beautiful fall shots of the city. Plus: you are close to the main street Unter den Linden for a nice sit down or touristy shop.

Sauna Explorations in Berlin

One of my favourite things to do in fall and in Berlin is going to the sauna. It is at its best when the weather is getting chilly outside and the all-encompassing warmth of the sauna is a welcome variation on the continuously cold feet outside. So: why not relax in one of the many saunas Berlin has to offer? You can either hop in for a couple of hours (most saunas will offer two to three hour tickets) or enjoy an entire leisurely day in the sauna and spa. Larger sauna complexes that we can recommend is the sauna Thermen am Europacenter (Berlin Zoologischer Garten) and the Liquidrom (Berlin Mitte). Another great sauna spot that is unique to Berlin is the Badeschiff: a boat on which you can swim and sauna while looking out over the Spree. Sadly, this is closed due to renovation work during the winter of 2012.

What to East in Berlin During Autumn

It can get chilly in the October and November months in Berlin. What better way to solve those cold hands and feet than eating and drinking good food?

Drinking Hot Chocolate at Manolo

This place is our favourite when it comes to chilling with a cup of hot chocolate – they do a mean rum and chocolate, but it also tastes great without the delicious alcoholic shot. Manolo is situated on the big crossing with the Schönhauser Allee and the Eberswalder Straße. If you sit down here, you have a lively view of the many Berliners crossing and walking around: a great spot in autumn as well as the cold winters. We spent many wintery evenings here, looking out over the snowed in streets while sipping our warm drinks. Great spot for meeting up with friends, having a break from shopping through the Kastanienallee and even for working for a few hours.

Warm Cheese Fondue at Ars Vini

What better way to shoo the cold chills away but a warm, sticky cheese fondue? We know just the place: Ars Vini is a small chain with two restaurants in Berlin. You can order whichever way you like your melted cheese here, from spicy cheeses to mushroom cheeses. With cosy restaurant locations to boot, you will have problems getting out of this place when the winds are blowing outside. A great idea and a cute place for a long and intimate dinner.

Sometimes you want to find a small, secluded and low-key place to shut yourself away in. With a little bit of wi-fi, a freshly baked bread roll and some strong and flavoursome coffee. Nothing too special or crazy, just a small moment of relaxation in Berlin’s busy and fast-paced life. Especially since autumn has introduced its cold chilly winds, beautifully coloured leaves and the promise of winter in the air. But finding those nice and special coffee and sit-down places can be a drab. Especially when you just want to go out and be there – instead of having to wander through the streets looking for a place that is just right.

Coffee and Breakfast in Berlin Kreuzberg

We have written on a variety of nice breakfast and lunch places in Berlin, but the majority of that selection is rather nice or special. The kinds of places you go to if you want to spend time with a special someone, a long-not-seen friend or just for some great food. But a low-key place for some personal space?

Tagesbrot, a small and functional little bread-and-coffee place in Berlin Kreuzberg, is exactly the kind of place you want if you want to have a quick(ish) seated down coffee with a pal, or if you want to dip your croissant in dark caffeine while reading through some work e-mails. Easy-going and located off the beaten path in a small side street off Kottbusser Damm.

Eating Breakfast at Tagesbrot

Tagesbrot has a couple of nice comfy armchairs that you can drown your sorrows in. You order at the till, get a nice strong coffee (or which way you want it) that you can complement with one of their ready-to-eat (and take-away) breads, or with a more elaborate breakfast/ lunch order. You can get your boiled or cooked eggs and some other traditional side orders to be expected with a breakfast meal. After which you can sit down in one of the nice and intimate seating corners and log on to the wifi or just browse through a few magazines or newspapers.

The coffee is nice and big, a good strong one to wake up with when Berlin has been calling all night. The bread products are fresh and for just a coffee and a croissant, Tagesbrot is a great place. It is basically what it’s own title already suggests: perfect stop for your daily bread.

Not a fancy place, but highly functional and well-suited for a brief coffee morning moment. Especially when you want to enjoy such a moment on your own, without having to sit in an overcrowded coffee shop or overly hyped brunch hot spot. Budget-proof prices and a great casual atmosphere.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• It is cosy, small and very functional (incl. WLAN).
• Good coffee, fresh bread.
• Low prices for a functional coffee-n-bread relax spot.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• They offer basic breakfast and bread amenities. If you are looking for an extensive brunch location, I would recommend one of the many other options in Berlin.

Where To Go?

[googleMap name="Tagesbrot" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Dieffenbachstrasse 52 10967 Berlin[/googleMap]

Tagesbrot
Dieffenbachstrasse 52
10967 Berlin
030-521 326

Brunch in Berlin is an essential post-dancing-the-night-away activity, also adopted by trendy parents in the outskirts of Prenzlauer Berg. In Kreuzberg and Neukölln brunching is still young and populated mostly by the trend setting hipsters that Berlin is so well-known for. Mathilda is one of these places, with its small-scaled restaurant located in the Graefestraße right in the middle of the super hip Graefekiez in Kreuzberg, known only to those whose blood is filled with that Kreuzbergian edge. Some Kreuzbergers are even said to never leave their Bezirk, proud of their Kreuzhipsterness.

Brunching at Mathilda in Berlin

Hipster, trendy or Kreuzberger or not – if you are looking for that Berlin-y edge to chilling and eating, Mathilda is a good bet. Put on your too-cool-for-school glasses and mismatched designs and hop onto your Dutch bike. Matilda’s essential Kreuzköllnian atmosphere and clientèle will be just your cup of tea. Young, hip and trendy and located in a small restaurant on a side street off the Kottbusser Damm, it is right in the middle of Kreuzberg leading up to Neukölln. If you feel like chilling with your friends or on your own in casual surroundings for budget-proof prices, Mathilda is the place to be.

Basically, after a long and pleasure-filled night and morning, Mathilda is the place where you can regain your strength while sipping on some freshly squeezed orange juice and/ or Sekt. This little place offers your run of the mill traditional brunch and breakfast dishes, such as fresh fruits, bread baskets with either cheeses, meats or both and a large collection of warm egg dishes. All for affordable prices, home-made affection and LP-spinning DJ’s. But do not worry, they spin chilled music during the hours of brunching.

The menu at Mathilda is fashionably brief, but includes all of the brunch ingredients you might be craving for. Yoghurt and fruits, croissants, bread baskets with a variety of cheeses, bread baskets with a variety of meats, and so much more. For about five euro’s you can satisfy any traditional breakfast and/ or brunch needs. Mathilda is also a nice place for a drink, a piece of pie, or a nibble.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Budget-proof: you can enjoy an elaborate brunch here for less than 10 euros
• Freshly home-made dishes
• Chilled atmosphere

What Makes this Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• This is a low-key chillzone, do not expect posh or luxurious brunching

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="Mathilda" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Graefestraße 12 10967 Berlin[/googleMap]

Mathilda
Graefestraße 12
10967 Berlin
030 8179 7288

Easter is probably the best time to visit Berlin. The last four years that we celebrated this bunny-induced and egg-rich holiday, it has been mindblowingly fabulous weather in the center of the Deutschland universe. Sunny, hot and basically smoldering like a summer’s day. So if you are considering visiting the German capital over Easter: definitely do it.

And apart from walking through one the city’s beautiful parks, lounging in the sun in Mitte and maybe visiting a relaxing spa or sauna, one needs to eat. Over Easter you traditionally meet for an Easter brunch, mostly outdoors when it comes to celebrating Easter in Berlin. So what kind of places are the best for the kind of Easter brunch you are looking for? We bring you some sumptuous suggestions.

Easter Brunching in Berlin

Quite some restaurants offer proper and exclusive Easter brunches. If you would like to engage in one of these brunches, you can check the restaurant of your choice and reserve some places rightly in advance. But, if you are spontaneous or do not know where to start when it comes to hot spot for yummy brunching, you can always wander the streets and pop in. Do beware that basically everyone will be brunching over Easter; expect lively bustling brunch locations. Easter is essentially an elongated Sunday: chilled and relaxed. But do not let this hold you back: Easter brunching is fabulous.

Oranium (Mitte)

If you are a tourist, or not very familiar in Berlin, we recommend you definitely brunch at Oranium. It is a traditionally classic restaurant right in the middle of the vibrant Bezirk Mitte, on the Oranienburger Straße. Perfect if you are exploring the city and like to be centrally located with some delicious food. Oranium also caters to your German food wishes and is perfect for a luxurious champagne brunch. The Ausstrahlung of Oranium is dark wooden furniture, cosy corners and interesting views from the windows. Oranienburger Straße is one of the most well-known streets in Mitte, filled with a large collection of shops and food spots. After brunching here, you can easily turn the corner and walk up to Friedrichstraße and Unter den Linden.

Oranium’s strength is surely the brunch and breakfast platters that they offer. You can wallow in fresh fruits, nibble on croissants, order egg dishes, enjoy crêpes – or have it all. My personal favourite breakfast-meets-brunch food at Oranium is the süßes Frühstück (sweet breakfast), which is budget-proof at around 4 euros, which gets you a fresh croissant, a Brötchen (bread roll), a boiled egg, a plate with a crêpe with mango cream , fruits, jam and butter. A perfect little elaborate breakfast for an Easter morning. They also serve fresh fruit and yoghurt breakfasts. For a restaurant on the Oranienburger Straße, this is a very decently priced spot with some nice dishes.

Oranienburger Straße 33/34
10117 Berlin‎
030 3088 2967‎

Mathilda (Kreuzberg)

If you are looking for that Berlin-y edge to chilling and eating, Matilda’s essential Kreuzköllnian atmosphere and clientele will be just your cup of tea. Young, hip and trendy in a small location on a side street off the Kottbusser Damm in the middle of Kreuzberg leading up to Neukölln. If you feel like chilling with your friends or on your own in casual surroundings for budget-proof prices, Mathilda is the place to be.
Basically, after a long and pleasure-filled night and morning, Mathilda is the place where you can regain your strength while sipping on some freshly squeezed orange juice and/ or Sekt. This little place offers your run of the mill traditional brunch and breakfast dishes, such as fresh fruits, bread baskets with either cheeses, meats or both and a large collection of warm egg dishes. All for affordable prices, home-made affection and LP-spinning DJ’s. But do not worry, they spin chilled music during the hours of brunching.

Graefestraße 12
10967 Berlin
030 8179 7288

Kuchenrausch (Friedrichshain)

If you fancy something more luxurious, elaborate and classy, Kuchenrausch is the place for your brunch. This semi-large restaurant in the middle of Friedrichshain on the popular Simon-Dach Straße specializes in Kuchen (pie), which is apparent as soon as you enter. A large Tresen filled with about a dozen of different pies tempts you inside. But regardless of the pies and your desire for them: before eating a piece of pie, you could and should indulge in a fabulous brunch here. Kuchenrausch offers a cosy-meets-luxurious vibe to its eating surroundings and even the menu reeks of down-to-earth luxury. You can order anything from a sweet breakfast, a basket of croissants, any egg-combination imaginable up to meat, cheese and elaborate mixture platters of brunch delicacies.

Kuchenrausch is the place you go to if you wish to enjoy a long-winded brunch and if you want to eat a lot of food. Do not take me wrong: you can eat as little as you want here, but with the elaborate offer on display here, it is best your stomach is empty and hungry enough so you get to enjoy most of it.

Simon-Dach-Straße 1
10245 Berlin
030 55953855

Café Bilderbuch (Schöneberg)

Our last, yet very special, suggestion for brunch places over Easter weekend is one of my personal favourites. Café Bilderbuch is a brunch restaurant based on Märchenbücher (fairytale storybooks). All of the dishes and platters are named after well-known fairytale characters, such as the little mermaid and puss in boots. The decoration of this surprisingly large restaurant is an eclectic mixture of your grandmothers furniture with vibrant colours, musical instruments, big bookcases filled with books and even a doll’s house. At Café Bilderbuch you can sit down at nine in the morning and still be there in the evening. Desserts, drinks, many many different breakfast and brunch platters (order-able all day!) will make it impossible for you to leave, especially when curled up in one of the many comfy chairs. For example, the “Tausendundeine Nacht” (one thousand and one nights) breakfast dish. This oriental fairytale on a platter consisted of goat cheese, garlic sausage slices, cheese, olives, jam, butter, vegetables and two rolls (one white, one sunflower seed) and three slices of dark bread. A very filling, flavoursome and well-balanced brunch. They also offer larger platters perfect for sharing, and fresh orange juice and a glass of Sekt is often included.

Little tip: the Café Bilderbuch has its largest seating area behind the bar (after walking past the toilets). If you do not know this, you might end up sitting in the smaller room looking over the street, but the magic is to be found at the back.

Akazienstraße 28
10823 Berlin
030 78706057

Want more?
If you need more inspiration: you can always check out our tags for the best places for brunch in Berlin.

Eating breakfasts in beautiful restaurants, enjoying brunching in atmospheric locations – it is the essence of Berlin’s magic. You do not stay at home to cook your little boiled egg, and wait for blackened croissants to waft their way out of the oven. No, you put on a warm coat, a scarf and if desired, you dress up – if not, you can just lounge in your comfy Sunday pants –   and you make your way to Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg or another cozy Bezirk where the streets are littered with locations for brunch, breakfast or lunch. And do not hurry – in a city like Berlin, you have breakfast 24/7.

Brunch Buffet in Berlin?

Many restaurants offer buffet brunches, which means that for a set amount (usually around 8 to 10 euros) of money, you can eat at much as you want from the displayed buffet in the restaurant. The buffet-style is a cheap fix, in mostly overcrowded restaurants where you eat more than you want, and cannot indulge in the relaxed languid breakfast that ought to traditionally be combined with breakfasting and brunching in a city like Berlin. So, my  personal advice: stay away from the buffets. For the same price you can enjoy a proper brunch, in a more beautiful and friendly restaurant.

À la Carte Breakfast in Friedrichshain

Yes, I am a fan of the à la carte brunch and I do not enjoy breakfasting/ brunching the buffet way. Especially in Berlin. With this exact state of mind, I wandered the streets a few Sundays ago in the the most Wochenende Bezirk of all: Friedrichshain. I wanted classy, slightly posh and simply cosy, classic and à la carte for my brunch location. The night before had lasted traditionally long and with a tired and slightly post-intoxicated smile, we came across Kuchenrausch (Rush of Pie). I used to suspect this place is only interesting for their pies and cakes, but Kuchenrausch is actually a great breakfast restaurant too. Classy and German, the way I like it and with that attentive kind of extra service I enjoy.

We were hungry. Really, really hungry. That kind of hungry where you cannot even have a normal conversation anymore, but need to order (immediately!) and keep eyeing the waiters in an obsessed-kitten kind of way, drooling at the sight of other people’s meals.
Anyway, we were hungry. So we ordered an elaborate brunch. Kuchenrausch offers classic and traditional brunch and breakfast dishes, such as platters (of the basic, elaborate and luxury variety – in both cheese or meat types), egg dishes (with bread baskets includes) and simple combinations (croissants, jam, the likes). Freshly squeezed juice on the side, a nice cup of coffee and the proper awakening for the weekend can begin. Apart from these meals, you can also enjoy

Brunch at Kuchenrausch

We ordered a cheese and a meat platter and two dishes of omelet. One omelet with mushrooms and one with onions and tomatoes. And after an excruciating wait – which actually did not take long – we received our desired dishes. The cheese and meat platters came with luxurious bread baskets filled with bread and bread rolls in white, dark and wholegrain varieties. If you order an omelet without another dish that includes the bread basket, you will get bread to go with it as well. The cheese platter consisted of a large variety of cheese-y delicacies, ranging from Frischkäse (cream cheese) with dipp-able vegetables, slices of cheese (with cumin, paprika and traditional) and home-made strawberry jam. On the meat platter you can find Serrano Schinken (ham), pepper salami, chorizo and some normal ham – plus a bowl of jam. All complemented with creamy butter and fresh fruits.

Brunch was delicious. The cheese was yummy, the meat was fresh, the bread was nice and warm and the omelets were a fabulous addition to our platters. Afterwards we were so stuffed, we could only manage a cup of coffee and had no space for one of the tempting pieces of pie Kuchenrausch is so famous for. We will be back.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?
•    Great atmosphere, a perfect and slightly luxurious for a languid Sunday brunch.
•    Delicious food, good traditional brunch dishes.
•    Friendly staff.
•    Decent prices. You won’t stuff yourself with brunch for 2 euros here, but with prices ranging from 5 to 10 euros for the elaborate brunch dishes, it is a safe place for your wallet.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?
•    The fact that they have too many delicious pies on display. The temptation can at times be too much.

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="Kuchenrausch" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Simon-Dach-Straße 1 10245 Berlin [/googleMap]
Kuchenrausch
Simon-Dach-Straße 1
10245 Berlin
030 55953855

When I first heard of the concept being explored at the restaurant Sauvage, I could not believe my ears. Their website and folders advertise their food, bio Paleo-style. So what the hell is Paleo? Paleo food amounts to eating like our Prehistoric ancestors (in the Paleotological times) did. Apart from a restaurant-style, Paleo is also up and coming as a lifestyle and a way of dieting. When you are sticking to a Paleo-diet, you eat only authentic and close-to-nature food, free from any additives and non-natural supplements so present in our current day food lifestyle. When eating Paleo food, this does not mean you cannot indulge in meat or carbs – far from it.

Paleo Restaurant Sauvage

But, let’s look at the restaurant Sauvage. In one of Neukölln’s hip and still slightly secretive streets, you can find the small restaurant location of Sauvage. The name already hints to the slight posh and fashionable exclusivity you find behind its doors. With a rugged, typically Berlin-Neukölln deco, around ten small and a few bigger tables and some beautiful bits of art, Sauvage is a gorgeous spot for an elaborate meal. Their menu for dinner is small – with four different main courses and various appetizers, salads and daily dessert specials to choose from. The main courses generally consist of two meat dishes and two fish mains. Sauvage also offers a vegetarian option on every meal. Their menu changes very regularly and is based on seasonal ingredients.

Eating Bio and Paleo

As an appetizer we ordered wholegrain nibbles with a home-made pesto of rucola. The nibbles were reminiscent of dark bread with the texture of a crispy baked roll. A fairly fascinating appetizer of which I found the flavours too much – both bread as well as the pesto had very dominant flavours that did not seem to go together very well.

Afterwards, the daily mains during our visit were based on wild boar and pollack. We ordered a goulash with wild boar, a red wine sauce, grilled pumpkin – the second main consisted of pollack with a sauce of green cabbage and root-vegetable delicacies. All mains at Sauvage come with a large and tasty (and extremely fresh) salad. Portions are huge, to say the least, in proper Paleo caveman-style. The boar goulash was very tender, soft and basically melted in the mouth. The pollack, a white fish with more flavour to it than your average white filetted fish, was also huge – it looked like the entire actual fish was present on the plate.

After dinner, we were so absolutely full because of the huge portions (and a bottle of wine), we did not manage to explore the desserts. These change as often as the menu does, and consists of a collection of original takes on modern classics – such as a coconut crème brulée or home-made tarts.

What Is This Paleo Thing?

What makes the food at Sauvage have this typical ‘Paleo’ hint to it, is a bit difficult to describe. Flavours are more authentic, you practically taste that someone just dragged the vegetables from their own garden, after personally shooting the boar you are enjoying. Flavours are more direct, dominant and simply very present – compared to your traditional pre-prepared food. Consequence: it fills you up mightily. Sauvage is a great place to go to if you want something particularly special, both food as well as atmosphere-wise.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• Great, original concept.
• Beautiful and authentic atmosphere.
• Great and surprisingly interesting food.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• It is quite pricey for Berlin standards with around €20,- a main. Use it wisely – for special occassions.

Where to go?

[googleMap name="Sauvage" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Pflügerstraße 25 12047 Berlin[/googleMap]

Sauvage
Pflügerstraße 25
12047 Berlin
030 53167547

We have already written about the Weinerei. We have also been here many, many times. Sadly, the format of the restaurant has changed. Where before we could rave about the fabulous feature of not-having-to-pay-a-set-bill, we now have to inform you that you pay normal prices at the Weinerei these days. Previously, after wining and dining, the rule was that you give as much money to this institution as you wanted. Two euros, or two hundred – it was basically up to you.

Restaurant the Weinerei in Berlin Today

These days, you pay 25 euros for the complete four course dinner, as well as set prices for the wine. But the food nor the place has changed any of its appeal. Maybe not so interesting for international students who enjoy fleeing restaurants without paying, but moreso interesting for the culinary guest or resident of Berlin.

As we mentioned before, in our previous (I think even very first) review, the Weinerei does four course meals. You ought to order the lot, as it is part of the experience and simply worth a try. Some nights you can find some gastronomic jewels on your plate here in the midst of languid Prenzlauer-bordering-on-Mitte décor. But other nights you may very well be left disappointed. It’s the charm as well as the curse of this little eatery. Each night they have one menu, with two choices on each course (excluding the dessert, that is a choiceless course). Once I ate delicious Perlhuhn here – a meat generally consired quite upscale – but I also stuck my fork in a unambitious chicken. I find it challenging and exciting, to go to a small-scaled restaurant like the Weinerei where you can either hit the jackpot, or be left with with a sour smile.

Eating at the Weinerei

However, back to food, as we finally got around to shoot this place up properly. To give you a current example of the menu at the Weinerei.

Two appetizers that were absolutely amazing. A salad with slices of rabbit, avocado and a subtle mustard dressing. The second Vorspeise was literally one for the books: a little tower that reminded me of a English pie, but with German sausage (Blutwurst), Rotkohl and a slightly salty and sour sauce. With a photographic frothy foam creation on top. Detail: it tasted great.

As the second, in-between dish, the Weinerei regularly offers their home-made filled pasta. This is one of the best dishes they do, so make sure to order this. You get a small selection of four to five large pieces (pelmeni-like, the Russian stuffed pasta) and you will enjoy every taste. Last time I had a truffle pasta here, which was the best pasta food I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Absolutely recommendable.

The main courses of the evening (two to choose from) consisted of a fish and a meat dish. The meat was a classical steak on a bed of green beans, mushrooms and other fresh vegetables. The fish choice of the evening was a catfish, a rather rare kind of fish to eat in your average restaurant. The fish was combined with hearty lentils (great combination!) and carrots topping the bulging hill of lentils. Both dishes were well-prepared, savoury and subtle. The Weinerei knows that they should not overdo food with dominant sauces or over the top combinations. It was absolutely delicious.

Last but not least, we know I enjoy a good dessert. The Weinerei generally does exciting desserts – but it can be a bit of a chance. Our last dessert collection here looked fabulous (a trio of fruity desserts: a little tart, parfait and a drink-like substance), but was disappointing. The tart looked great, but tasted bland, the parfait was still frozen (a classical mistake) and the drink was just strange.

All in all, a great dinner and a great place to go for getting a culinary discovery and surprise without too much of a hassle or too much thinking. Definitely worth going to.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous:

• The food, which just tastes fantastic (most of the time). You can really taste that they prepare everything right there on the spot, which makes it a very authentic and yummy experience. Do order all four courses!
• The atmosphere, which consists of  some funky art-deco on the walls and cosy DDR-furnishings, which makes it a great place to spend an intimate evening.

What Makes this Restaurant Less Fabulous:

• It can be busy here, but since the change of price-philosophy, it has been a bit more laid-back. Do reserve a table if you are coming for a special occasion.

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="The Weinerei" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Zionskirchstraße 40 10119 Berlin[/googleMap]

Frarosa Weinerei
Zionskirchstraße 40
10119 Berlin
030 6570-6756

Prenzlauer Berg is one of the most cosy and relaxed Bezirke in Berlin where you will be able to find a nice restaurant on basically each and every corner of most streets. Of course there are big favourites, such as the Helmholzplatz, the Kollwitzplatz and other silly little streets off the Schönhauser Allee. A few weeks ago we were browsing the streets around Eberswalder Straße, inbetween the Kollwitzplatz. Here you find – among many others – the alluring brunch hot spot Anna Blume and a classical restaurant called November. Quite German, but not per se. Yes, you can eat your well-known schnitzel here, but they also do some more generic Western-European cuisine. Since the weather is so nice these days, we chose to lounge outside.

Eating Good Food at November

If you are looking for a nice place to eat a classical meal, November is the place to be. They do German-infused dining as the main food fetish  – with many potatoes, meats and stylish German food. No currywurst haunts the kitchen here, as it is proper dining in a cosy yet low-key atmosphere in this little Prenzlauer restaurant. As we sat outside, sipped on a nice g&t, we browsed through the menu. November does a weekly special and has a standard à la carte menu. One of the specials was roast beef with potatoes and a side salad, which my dinner companion ordered.

The roast beef was sliced into thin and succulent slices with crunchily baked potatoes and a refreshing salad. And to make things even better:  it came with wasabi mayonaise. And since I was trying to eat a bit more healthily, I chose a salad with turkey, parmesan, tomatoes, lettuce and a subtle honey-mustard dressing. A simple, yet yummy answer to the salad craze. Both dishes were well-prepared and flavoursome.

But the best bit is yet to come. Dessert and my undying devotion to this section of eating out has not wavered. And my truest of all dessert lovers has been – and will remain? – the crème brulée. As soon as I had seen this delectable dish on the dessert menu at November, I knew what I was going to order. It had to be the crème brulée. Served in a traditional low and relatively flat and rounded bold, the creme had a nice large surface where its sugar had been melted into a crunchy top. It offered near-to-perfection in the way only a crème brulée can tempt and seduce a woman.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Nice, atmospheric yet low-key restaurant. Perfect for a slow and sultry evening eating out.
• Classical dishes with a German sauce.
• Nice outside space, cosy neighbourhood.

What Makes this Restaurant less Fabulous?

• It is not overly beautiful, gorgeous or special. It is a classical run-off-the-mill German restaurant. Nice, but nothing too over the top.
• And it is not the cheapest place, granted, in Prenzlauer Berg. You will be spending at least 15 euros for a main dish.

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="November" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Husemannstrasse 15 10435 Berlin[/googleMap]

November
Husemannstrasse 15
10435 Berlin
030 4428425