There are quite a few Cuban restaurants in Berlin, one of which we already reviewed in the QBA location on the Oranienburger Straße. But there are many more, one of which is located around the corner from the Eberswalder Straße U-Bahn station in Prenzlauer Berg. It is called La Bodeguita de Medio (named after the famous bar in Havana where Hemingway & co used to hang out) and its official address is on the Lychener Straße, only a few steps away from the popular Helmholtplatz. This Cuban restaurant has a partially grubby atmosphere to it, with writing on the walls and a big smoker’s room where you can have dinner while taking a much needed drag from your menthol cigarettes. Friendly and beautiful authentic Cuban ladies will come and take your order while you sip on a couple beers. They even do live music on certain evenings, embellishing the Cuban exoticism even more.

Eat Cuban food

La Bodeguita offers what one would expect a Cuban restaurant to offer, with many different varieties of wraps, burrito’s, tortilla’s and do-it-yourself hot fajitas. Appetizers include calamares, nacho’s and salads. An original recommendation would be the chimichurry, which is a wrap-esque variety (available with many kinds of ‘stuffing’) with a surprisingly original texture. Of course one can also order one of the gamba or calamares salads, if the scrumptious meat or vegetable fillings are a bit too much for the tummy. On the note of desserts, they unfortunately offer only one kind of Cuban crème caramel, which you simply have to try! It is thicker and more intense than a normal crème caramel and perfect for sharing when on a date.

About Cuban Food in Berlin

As we have reviewed Cuban food before, a comparison cannot be completely ignored. I really like La Bodeguita because of its frank and unpretentious atmosphere. It is real food, decently priced and surrounded by nice people. It is not an extremely pretty, special or beautiful restaurant. It would be a nice location for showing your visiting friends how Berlin ‘does’ a Cuban restaurant, or simply when you feel like eating great and filling fajitas, burrito’s or tortillas.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous:

• It’s atmosphere is chilled, relaxed and very authentic.
• The food is yummy and very decently priced.
• Especially when the live music is playing, it is a great location for a long night of deep and intimate conversation.

What makes this restaurant less fabulous:

• It is neither really budget, nor very extremely great or fabulous. What makes it cool is its low-key and friendly decorum.

Where to go?

[googleMap name="La Bodeguita Del Medio" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Lychener Str. 6, 10437 Berlin[/googleMap]

La Bodeguita Del Medio
Lychener Str. 6
10437 Berlin
030 – 40 500 601

Excellently located on Oranienburger Strasse (close to sushi hot spot Wasabi) opposite Tacheles, this Cuban restaurant tempts you with a heart-wrenchingly irresistible chalkboard offering cocktails for your pocket money. Just like the neighbours up and down the street. To survive on this strip of lively eateries in Berlin Mitte, you have got to be good. You have got to tempt in the pedestrians whose noses have been brushed with the flirtatious aromas of curry and who have bravely defied the Brick Lane style waiters gathering up the rumbling tummies into the Indian restaurants.
And anyone not quite craving a poppadom, or anyone who likes to flex their Erasmus Spanish like me will be delighted to know that the staff are Cuban natives – and it is good food. (I feel qualified to say this as I’ve stayed in the Hotel Nacional de Cuba and been served dried bananas, stale crisps and cold potato croquettes as nibbles – ‘nuf said.)

Atmosphere
The well-worn interior boasts Che Guevara wall motifs and seductive candlelight, whilst in Berlin’s sensational summer months one may prefer to people watch from the street tables.
Cocktails
So naturally one begins with a thirst quenching cocktail – and aside from the classic Mojitos and Cuba Libras there are some delicious fruity options which really pack a punch whilst awaiting the grub’s arrival.
Food
Even the menu is a tastebud tickler with a flummoxing array of meats, fish, “salads” and tapas platters. Start with nachos or fried plantain. Main dishes are generous, satisfying and surprisingly authentic (if one ignores the fact now-capitalist Berlin has no shortage of necessary ingredients). Sautéed fish filets  served with humps of rice; chicken and beans; Hemingway platefuls; excellent seafood, great garnishes. Pretty divine if you’re craving a little Latino.

What makes this restaurant fabulous:

• The staff – beautiful curvy Cuban ladies; dark and handsome barmen
• The cocktails – stylish & strong
• The menu – satisfies all meaty / vegetarianistic cravings
• The location – Tacheles, Monbijou Park, Hackescher Markt… if you’re falling out of the Jewish Synagogue this might just restore your faith in the world
• Che Guevara beaming down on your tastiness
• Brushing up your Spanish (impressing friends/dates at the same time)

What makes this restaurant less fabulous:

• Slightly misleading seafood “salad” – beware, its just mussels and limp lettuce drowning in garlicky oil!

Getting there

[googleMap name="QBA" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Oranienburger Str. 45, 10117 Berlin [/googleMap]
QBA
Oranienburger Straße 45
10117
030 28 04 05 05