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

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.

Since I generally go out to eat sushi most of the time in Berlin, I have not been able to explore the various options of sushi ordering too much. (I mean: why order in when for the same price, you can enjoy it outdoors and have a funky experience to boot?) Well, sometimes one does need that lazy Sunday night on the couch, for which ordering sushi is absolutely perfect. One of my recent discoveries is an actually real good place for sushi, with budget-proof and wallet-friendly prices and a very nice menu to choose from. Apart from Yuuka sushi in Prenzlauer Berg, I had never before found such potential in ordering sushi in Berlin.

Sushi-ordering in Berlin

Sushi for you is a sushi ordering service that is usable from any area in Berlin somehow close to its center – ranging from Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg to Friedrichshain. Regardless of the online portal you choose to order from, Sushi 4 you has a respectable menu you can choose from. Classic sets of maki sushi, slightly more exciting inside-out rolls – and all the way up to tempura rolls and special sets. Now, the key to orderering here is to order one of their big menus. They are very affordable and offer a fabulous and varied collection of the best types of sushi. Especially when ordering for at least two people, you should not even considering ordering anything else.

Since I was feeling particularly lazy as well as hungry, I chose to order the luxury Takashi menu with no less than 28 pieces of sushi. This menu includes a nice selection of tempura (slightly fried) rolls, classical inside out rolls (two varieties), vegetarian avocado maki, special rolls with salmon and more. For around 13 to 14 euros you can order one of these menus, with some quite luxurious sushi rolls. Most menus include only basic sushi, which I find always disappointing and this is exactly where Sushi for you managed to positively surprise me.

For two people, a menu with 28 to 30 pieces is just right.

Eating Sushi for you sushi in Berlin

One remark has to be made about Sushi for you: they may take their time and getting the sushi to you. If you are unsure or they are taking too long, make sure to give them a call. The quality of the sushi however is really good. Great even, for a takeway and ordering sushi kind of place. Like I mentioned before, I have not really found any really good place where I can order sushi and that is why I generally tend to stick to the ‘proper’ sushi restaurants that I am actually physically sitting in.
The menus from Sushi for you however, are a great alternative to going out if you are in need of some home-delivered comfort food. Great prices, good, fresh and varied sushi. Especially great if you like some fancy-schmancy sushi in your menu and suitable for romantic sushi dinners from the comfort zone of your own couch.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• Good quality sushi.
• Elaborate selection of order-able sushi.
• Great budget-proof prices.

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• Sometimes they may forget your order. Give them a ring, you may very well get a discount out of it.

Where To Go?
Online. You can order straight for their own website (www.sushi-for-you.de), of use one of the larger ordering platforms such as pizza.de.

I used to have this silly thing with Italian restaurants and going out to dinner in them. I would always try to shy away from Italian places, fearing boring pizzas and flavourless pasta dishes. And even though such places still exist, fabulous Italian restaurants in Berlin have taught me well. After the cosy and authentic Giorgio and the conceptually exciting Lavanderia Vecchia, I am officially hooked.

Italian Restaurant in Berlin Schöneberg: Belmonte

Another great little Italian restaurant is to be found in Schöneberg, in between the Bülowstraße and the Kleistpark. Belmonte is classy, posh, yet sleek and not decorated with frustrating or over-the-top frills. It has a clean and beautiful atmosphere and the staff is friendly and authentically Italian. It is one of those semi-fancy Italian mini-restaurants that you tend to look for, but never find. And even though Belmonte does not look like much from the outside, the inside is all the more interesting. A romantic and intimate place for dining with a special someone, or impressing business acquaintances – or parents the like.

Schöneberg is also one of my favourite corners in Berlin that you should not leave to be undiscovered. In the many side-streets along the Barbarossaplatz there are many small and authentic restaurants and eateries that are more than worth a visit. Belmonte is one of these restaurants; generally a spot you would not normally stumble unto. Well, that is what this article is for.

Eating Good Italian Food in Berlin

With small wooden tables, large wine-racks and cleanly laid linen,  dinner could only be off to a good start. Like any self-respecting Italian, Belmonte has a decent wine menu with some proper wines for decent prices – drinkable per glass as well as the entire bottle.

The food menu consists of a consequent à la carte menu (with pizzas, a little bit of pasta) and a daily special menu. This latter menu is what you should be focused on: this is where the real specials and delights can be found. For an appetizer we chose an Italian classic: the mozzarella with rucola, cherry tomatoes, serranoham and pine nuts. The salad-esque appetizer was flavoursome and a delight to eat, with properly flavoured mozzarella and a good side of salad. Afterwards, we had home-made (fresh!) ravioli with boar, apple and sage. Oh, how I passionately adore authentic and self-made pasta, especially with delicious stuffing. Belmonte has good pasta down to a tee. This is the Italian stuff that I love so much, where I cringed from orgasmic flavor explosions at the Weinerei and where another Italian hot spot in Schöneberg made me enjoy life again.

Belmonte: a great Italian little restaurant for intimate dining and if you fancy some real good Italian food.

What Makes This Restaurant Fabulous?

• Classy, subtle decoration.
• Relaxed and intimate atmosphere with friendly and attentive (Italian) staff.
• Great, home-made food. Try the daily specials!

What Makes This Restaurant Less Fabulous?

• It is is residential Schöneberg, therefore the prices are slightly higher than in slummin’ East-Berlin. Nevertheless very decent and budgetproof foods. Pasta’s range from 6-10 euros. You can budget and indulge here as much as you want.

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="Trattoria Belmonte" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Schwäbische Straße 5 10781 Berlin[/googleMap]

Trattoria Belmonte
Schwäbische Straße 5
10781 Berlin
030 – 2 111 990

Since some of Berlin’s great sushi restaurants have closed their doors and others have blossomed – or changed for the worst, it is time for a second and current up-to-date list of the best sushi restaurants in Berlin. Sushi is and will always remain one of our biggest foodie passions. Many, many places in Berlin offer sushi as a delicious culinary experience, which makes it difficult for hungry people in Berlin to find the best and most special places. Sometimes we run into a little eatery that you would never initially enter, but which surprises you with great sushi. Some restaurants are beautiful and posh, others are more about the food than the decoration. That is why, in this version of the best sushi restaurants, we distinguish between beautiful locations (with the style and the service) and the low-key sushi eateries. Both are worthy in their own right and suit different occasions and needs. We also cater to lazy sushi fans with a sub-section on sushi take-away places.

Enjoy the list and please leave a comment if you have any sushi tips or experience to add. We are always looking for input, since we simply cannot eat every bit of sushi Berlin has to offer.

Stylish sushi restaurants

Sasaya (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

Sasaya is a quaint and original restaurant that gives off the vibe of authentic sushi eating. Sporting a large sushi bar in the center of the restaurant, it offers you a good view of the sushi chefs in action. Sasaya is the kind of place where you want to go for a special, fusion-esque experience. The menu changes regularly and they offer mighty interesting nibbles as well as sushi. Grilled squid is only one of the few delicious bites Sasaya prepares in its kitchen. Since their menu changes at least once a month, you will have to let yourself be surprised by the side-dishes and main orders that do not entail sushi. Their time-bound menu also gives you the choice to order special sushi rolls, but most beloved sushi classics can be ordered throughout the year. Essentially, Sasaya is a Japanese restaurant for the advanced sushi –eater. If you have grown bored of simple makis and run-of-the-mill selections, you should give this place a try. Cool and funky atmosphere, for the young at heart. Reservatiosn required.

Sasaya
Lychener Straße 50
10437 Berlin

Kuchi (Berlin Mitte)

A place I personally adore – it oozes beauty and a relaxed atmosphere while serving delicious sushi. It has the style of a fashionable restaurant, it serves both sushi and warm meals – and is simply pretty. Located in the middle of Berlin Mitte, it is a beloved after-work location for hip and trendy executives. A stylish place if you feel like eating good sushi in a proper atmosphere – and if you do not mind spending a little bit more than getting take-away. Kuchi is a proper sushi restaurant, but apart from the sushi, they also service warm main courses and Asian salads. But sushi is what you should go here for. Nicely prepared, beautifully delivered and simplistic food enjoyment. Kuchi is the sushi restaurant that you go to if you want to show someone a culinary as well as visually good time.

Kuchi Mitte
Gipsstraße 3
10119 Berlin

My Keng (Potsdam)

Not in Berlin, but located in the beloved tourist village of Potsdam, you can eat some fine sushi on the Brandenburger Straße in the middle of the shopping crowds. My Keng is a tiny, atmospheric little restaurant with an open kitchen. It is always warm, full and stuffed with mouth-watering smells. This is the essence of good sushi eating rolled into one small restaurant. Even though My Keng is not large, they offer a nice ambiance without resorting to tackiness. A pretty and special little place that does some of the best sushi rolls I have had the pleasure of eating. My personal favourite is a tempura sushi roll (with lightly fried dough on the outside) and scallops on the inside. Absolute heaven – perfectly balancing the crunchy exterior with the subtle soft texture of the inside. Whenever I visit Potsdam, I cannot not visit My Keng.  A great location for a rewarding and much-desired elaborate sushi meal after a daytrip in Potsdam. Cosy, romantic, great food and friendly staff.

My Keng
Brandenburger Straße 20
14467 Potsdam

Zaza (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

This sleek, hip cocktail and sushi bar on the Kastanienallee is to be found in the middle of Prenzlauer Berg. Amidst young and fashionable people and right in the middle of the lively hustle and bustle of one of Berlin’s most popular Bezirke.  A great location with a large outdoor space in summer and also a large smoker’s lounge where you can chill, eat and sip in that nicotine. Trendy at times, relaxed and chilled at slow evenings. Zaza offers nice Asian appetizers, good sushi and an elaborate menu of sushi choices. If you feel like eating good sushi and you want to do it in a trendy and good-looking kind of place, without overspending, you want to go to Zaza. Next door to many of Berlin’s fun bar and clubs, you are in a great location to start off a long night. Sushi restaurant Zaza has a happy hour, every day until seven (for cocktails) and after eight (for sushi). Keep an eye on that clock, and start enjoying. Good quality sushi, a large and extensive menu for every kind of sushi foodie.

Zaza
Kastanienallee 12
10435 Berlin

Simple sushi restaurants

Bamboo (Berlin Zehlendorf)

If you are a bit out of the way of the city center, or exploring other parts of Berlin, you should give Bamboo a try. Do not let the thirteen-in-a-dozen cheap name fool you, this restaurant does some mighty nice sushi. In a traditional Zehlendorf-esque house, with a classical-romantic vibe to it, you find the sushi restaurant Bamboo. Modern and sleek decoration determines its style – nothing too beautiful or fancy, but you do feel at home. The reason why you should be visiting Bamboo is the sushi. A lot of delicious, fresh sushi. Their menu offers your traditional sushi, but also good appetizers, exciting soups and large sushi menus. If you order a menu-selection of Bamboo’s sushi, you get a great variety of fresh fish, ranging from eel to scallops. With some  good wines on the wine menu and helpful staff, Bamboo is a great recommendation.

Bamboo
Machnower Straße 23
14165 Berlin

Cube (Berlin Kreuzberg)

Small, no-nonsense cosy sushi eatery. Affordable prices, practical cubes for sitting at and freshly prepared sushi. Cube is a great place for meeting up with friends in Kreuzberg, hanging out after a shopping spree on Bergmannstraße. This little restaurant is a comfortable place that seats around 15 people. Small, but atmospheric and relaxed enough to spend a languid Sunday afternoon. Cube’s menu is traditional, yet offers some more luxurious and special rolls for the more advanced sushi hunger.

Cube
Zossener Straße 18
10961 Berlin

Ishin (Berlin Mitte)

This restaurant is definitely my simplistic favourite because of its very specific style. Ishin is one of the few actually authentic places you can find in Berlin when it comes to sushi eating. It is not a posh restaurant, but a down to earth Asian eatery with sushi and sashimi. When you enter this large space you smell fish – lots of fish. You can order off laminated menus after getting your free unlimited green tea fix. For merely a few euros you can easily stuff your face with delicious sushi. You do not come here for the class or the fanciness, but for the sushi. A beloved place for local lunches and quick dinners. Great if you have been craving sushi for a long time and you want to engage in all-you-can-eat-esque binges.

Ishin Friedrichstraße
Mittelstraße 24
10117 Berlin

Mikoto (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

Prenzlauer Berg must be one of the Berliner Bezirke with the highest sushi to inhabitant-ratio. You can practically eat sushi on every streetcorner here. Nonetheless more so reason to be careful. Some sushi restaurant are simply disappointing when it comes to price-quality and especially the extent of their menu. Depending on what kind of sushi-eater you are, it is essential you can order to your heart’s desire. Where some people are satisfied with a sushi maki roll, others may demand fresh scallops, lobster and exotic fusion sushi creations. Mikoto is a simple sushi restaurant that sports a healthy, elaborate menu that will satisfy even the more advanced sushi-eaters: inside-out rolls, California rolls, futo maki and all the way up to tempura. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere relaxed and brimming with young trendy excitement during the weekends. Great lively place with good sushi and with a budget-proof price.

Mikoto
Pappelallee 22
10437 Berlin

Cogai (Berlin Schöneberg)

Oh, how this place will always have a special place in my heart. I love its semi-futurist decoration, the clean and hip look in the middle of the busy Bülowstraße in Berlin Schöneberg, merely a stone’s throw away from the infamous Kudamm and its KadeWe. Cogai is a cool restaurant in a location where you would not expect it – practically hidden from beautiful views by the U-Bahn rolling by. Nevertheless, a great place for eating sushi and other Vietnamese-related nibbles. Apart from a relatively elaborate sushi menu, Cogai makes delicious salads (beef and spicy papaya) and flavoursome summer rolls. If you are in the neighbourhood of Schöneberg and you are looking for affordable foodie indulgences, this is worth a try.

Cogai
Bülowstraße 9
10783 Berlin

Ordering sushi and sushi take-away

Steel Shark (Berlin Neukölln and Mitte)

A low-key and cheap sushi ordering little place. With locations in Mitte and Neukölln, you can only order food from within these respective areas. Steel Shark has an elaborate menu for a sushi-ordering kind of place and with very budget-proof prices. The staff is friendly and helpful, yet their German sometimes leaves something to be desired. Some of our orders have gotten mixed up in the past, but the Steel Shark staff is ever so friendly to solve everything. But do not let that keep you from ordering here: the salads, soups and sushi are absolutely delicious. If you want to make sure you get the good stuff: visit one of their locations and get sushi take-away style. It is worth it.

Steel Shark
Karl-Marx-Straße 13
12043 Berlin

Hangi (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

A small, non-descript sushi eatery on the picturesque Zionskirchstraße in Prenzlauer Berg, bordering on the Torstraße of Berlin Mitte. I used to frequent this little place during my lunch hours, or for a quick after-work bite. Hangi offers a traditional selection of different types of sushi, ranging from simple maki rolls to California rolls, soups and other flavoursome appetizers. Hangi sushi is budget-proof and easy to take-away. The location itself is simple and fine for a quick bite, with cubistic seating arrangements. Nothing too fancy, just proper sushi for proper prices.

Hangi
Zionskirchstraße 42
10119 Berlin

Yuuka (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

There are not many sushi delivery places in Berlin that offer a) an extensive menu, b) decent prices and c) good sushi. Yuuka is one of the few that actually does decent sushi and has a lively menu. Whenever I order from Prenzlauer Berg, this is the place I order from. Yuuka offers vegetarian, classical and more exciting maki rolls, appetizers, soups and salads. For decent prices you can order a lazy night of scrumptious sushi. Basically, the place to order from if you are looking for good sushi, for an affordable price.

Yuuka
Schönhauser Allee 134
10437 Berlin

Sushi Number One (Berlin Prenzlauer Berg)

A no-frills and no over-the-top decoration location. With three different restaurants in Berlin (all in Prenzlauer Berg), you can believe in Sushi Number One’s success. It is simple: a restaurant that offers your main sushi favourites, soups, salads and a few hot daily specials. All for good and budget-proof prices, in a relaxed atmosphere where you can sit inside, or lounge outside. Or, if you fancy eating at home, to take away. Sushi Number One is the kind of restaurant you go to if you are peckish for some sushi loving, and you wish to add some summer rolls or a salad to your order. Lovely and friendly staff – and a big plus: you can pay with your ec-karte. Also a cool place to hang out with friends, if you are not looking for any luxurious restaurant locations. Not for ordering sushi, you have to come and get it yourself.

Sushi Number One
Oderberger Straße 51/52
10435 Berlin

For more and even more up-to-date sushi, check out all our sushi restaurants in Berlin.

 

Let me start off with getting something off my chest. I love and adore Turkish food. Yes – not just döner. I mean real Turkish food. Delicious bread products, cous cous, rices, meats, yoghurts, herbs, sauces and much much more. The most predominant “Turkish” food in Berlin is the döner. You can enjoy a really good döner (personal recommendation: the chicken döner place on Hackescher Markt next to the Edeka supermarket does really good döner and dürum), but mostly the döner will suck. But I am not going to write a review on döner foods. Because I like restaurants. Sitting down, relaxing, unwinding and languidly picking and choosing the dishes of one’s desire, that is what makes having dinner so nice. And more than a year ago, a friend of mine took me to a very nice Turkish place on the Maaßenstraße in Schöneberg, around the corner from the Nollendorfplatz. By accident I ended up in another Hasir restaurant on Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg – and this time, I documented the experience.

Hasir Turkish Food

Hasir has grown into a small local chain of four restaurants. Where it all started off was started on Kottbusser Tor. This original restaurant features a large stove where they grill the meats and offers around ten to fifteen tables to its peckish customers. Hasir is the kind of restaurant that offers a relatively quick bite, in a comfortable and nice atmosphere. The restaurant is pretty and cosy and shows off its homely deco with dozens and dozens of pictures on the yellow walls. Tables and chairs are made out of dark wood and the staff is very accomodating and friendly. They know the place and they know the food.

My lunch companion recommended a “Fleckensoup” (literally translated: spotted soup), which consist of pieces of stomach. Personally, I cannot stand pieces of unidentifiable meats in my soup, so I chose to merely taste the broth and photograph the delicacy. It was interestingly salty and did not taste bad – except for the quite overbearing meatiness. If you like meat, this may be your cup of tea. For a main lunch I chose a classical dish, a grilled stick of beef with some fine herbs, vegetables and bread on the side. The traditional and typical meat one thinks about when reminded of the Turkish cuisine. Of course there is much much more nice stuff to enjoy, but sadly I can only manage one dish during lunch.

But the best is yet to come. It is no surprise to any regular readers that I passionately adore desserts. Suitable sweetness finishes off an otherwise half-arsed meal for me. Hasir offers five to six desserts, all of them described in a similarly generic way. If you are part or whole-heartedly Turkish, you may know these dishes, but to me a “Turkish dessert” and a “Turkish pudding” sound similarly non-descript. But with a bit of help of our very friendly waiter, I decided to go for the Turkish pudding. He promised I would love it. Oh, and how I did! The base of the pudding was a thick, custard-esque cream with cinnamon on top. It was sweet, but not in an overpowering way and very dairy-like and fresh. Absolutely fantastic dessert.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• Some real good Turkish food.
• Nice decoration, comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff will make you feel right at home.
• The Turkish pudding – you have to give this a try!

What Makes this Restaurant less Fabulous?

• It is actually relatively expensive for a restaurant in Kreuzberg. A main dish with meat will cost you around ten euros. Fine for dinner, maybe a bit pricey for lunch.

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="Hasir" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Adalbertstraße 10 10999 Berlin[/googleMap]

Hasir
Adalbertstraße 10
10999 Berlin
030 6142373

Maybe we do not always end up eating in the most exciting restaurants that Berlin has to offer us. We adore sushi and preemptively tend to choose familiar yet fresh eateries that we either have partially experienced or heard from before. But thankfully sometimes we get really cool and out of the ordinary tips and recommendations  and we are ushered into new and exciting places. A couple of weeks ago we were taken to a very unusual restaurant in the dark and enticing snowy depths of Schöneberg, around the picturesque Viktoria-Luise Platz. Maybe not a place where you would normally hang out if you are one of Berlin’s typical Mitte’esque fashionistas. Nevertheless, I personally adore Schöneberg and would stress anyone in Berlin for a short or a long haul to definitely put on their walking boots and take to loving and visiting Schöneberg.

Eating Afghan Food in Berlin

But back to the food: we struggled our way down the Bamberger Straße to find a small and subtle restaurant called Chraazan. Initially it may remind you of a thirteen-in-a-dozen Turkish eatery – but do not let yourself be deceived. Behind the facade of  an average-looking restaurant there hides an surprisingly authentic Afghan dining facility. We actually got our recommendation from a young man originally from Afghanistan, as he had been absolutely raving about the place. So it goes without saying, we were very curious.

Chraazan has the allure of smallness, which wafts over your Rudolph-ish winter nose upon entering.  It is, however, not that small at all, it is merely the dominant  home-like atmosphere that will immediately make you feel at home. It is not an over the top profesionally decorated restaurant like many of Berlin’s fashionable hot spots, but do not let that scare you away. Chraazan is real, authentic and its staff is sweet, sincere and friendly. We enjoyed the luxury of sitting in the boudoir-ish harem-esque corner where taking off your shoes is only the first part of an adventurous journey. Snuggled comfortably on couch-reminiscent pillows, we splendidly sipped our glasses of wine – or try some of the special Afghan tea infused with kardamom. Chraazan carries a surprisingly large menu with dozens of appetizers and more than thirty mail dishes. Guided through the long list of scrumptious meals by our recommendation man, I chose the sweet yellow rice (with almonds, pistachios and orange zest) with a turkey dish flavoured with masala. As appetizers, we all shared a collection of authentic Afghan dumplings, filled with a variety of delicacies (potatoe, peas and onions). The nibbles were delicious and although not too different from something found in an Asian cuisine – managed to surprise us. And the main meal – even though I was not too hungry – was so flavoursome I had to eat it all. The sweet yellow rice was subtly sweetened with the bits of almonds without being to overbearing and the sumptuous bits of turkey were soft and still rich in their typically turkey texture. All in all: a great meal.

What Makes this Restaurant Fabulous?

• The food is mind-blowing, delicious, original and authentic.
• The staff and the atmosphere is relaxed and very friendly.
• The prices are fabulously budget proof, one person can dine and drink for less than twenty euros.

What Makes this Restaurant less Fabulous?

• Well, if you are looking for a posh or gorgeously luxerious restaurant, maybe Chraazan is not the kind of place where you want to go.

Where to Go?

[googleMap name="Chraazan" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Bamberger Straße 49 10779 Berlin[/googleMap]

Chraazan
Bamberger Straße 49
10779 Berlin
030 65708560

Years ago, when I visited Berlin for the very first time in my life, I went straight to the Motzstraße, to the pulsating gay heart of Berlin. My eyes sparkled and my heart did a little headstand in my chest. I was here, finally. I hopped happily through the lively streets in Schöneberg, lined with bars and cafés where I would love to spend my many nights in the city. I said then, that I would love to have a flat on the Motzstraße. Although my current house is quite far away in Prenzlauer Berg, I still hold a candle for this corner of Schöneberg. And maybe, one day, I will have my desired flat.

That day, around 2 and a half years ago, after browsing through the many possibilities and temptations Berlin had to offer, me and a friend sat down to eat a meal on the Motzstraße. We chose a small cosy-looking Italian place called Giorgio. I haven’t written too many reviews on Italian food because I tend to think it bland and boring. But that day I was tired and cold and I just wanted to sit down and eat a meal. And right in the middle of the Motzstraße, only a stone’s throw away from the U-Bahns station Nollendorfplatz, there was Giorgio. It looks like any normal Italian restaurant, so I did not expect anything too fabulous. But oh, my lord, is this place fabulous. I am not kidding.

Is Italian Food Never Exciting?

Generally, I tend to think of Italian food as simplistic and I associate it with not too culinairy pizzas and boring pasta dishes, to be copied easily in the own kitchen. I know this is a silly assumption and I have never been to Italy to experience the pleasures of real Italian food, but sadly my negative opinion of Italian foods does apply to most restaurants in cities such as Berlin. However, of course, thankfully, there are always exceptions. Giorgio is one of them, and if you even moderately enjoy Italian food I would recommend eating here.

That first evening I went here, I had a spinach-ricotta canneloni (the large round tunnels made out of pasta, filled with delicious stuffings). Nothing too exciting, normally. But the difference between real, quality Italian food and boring, fake Italian food is that even the most simple things taste mind-blowing when prepared properly. I adored the pasta.

But then again, years afterwards, and only two days ago, I ended up in Giorgio again. And this time I ordered a chestnut gnocchi with a pea bolognese (which was a daily special). But not after we ordered two rounds of bruschetta with tomatoes, basil and olive oil. The bruschetta was still warm and fresh, and the tomato topping was absolutely scrumptious. A very simple appetizer, but it was fabulous. And my main dish, the home-made chestnut gnocchi melted in my mouth and treated my taste buds to a very nice and subtle flavour experience. It was simple, yet brilliantly prepared. Their tiramisu dessert was an original, yet authentic interpretation of an all-time classic and the half a liters of Merlot we drank to accompany our meal was a nice full-bodied wine. All in all: a great restaurant in a great street, which is definitely worth our recommendation. Prices are budgetproof.

What makes this restaurant fabulous?

• It is small, authentic and simply sweet. The déco is that of a simple and subtle Italian restaurant. Nothing too posh or cosy, but just nice.
• The food. Absolutely fantastic food. Home-made pastas, fingerlicking good.
• Great informal atmosphere, a real ‘Kiez’ (neighbourhood) restaurant. You can also take-away your favourite pizza, salad or pasta to enjoy at home.

What makes this restaurant less fabulous?

• Nothing, really. You can eat a great pasta for less than ten euros. Great place.

Where to go?

[googleMap name="Giorgio" description="10777 Berlin" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Motzstraße 11[/googleMap]

Giorgio
Motzstraße 11
10777 Berlin

Mitte has been my new restaurant Bezirk du jour for a while now. I end up having dinner after work or doing small lunch meetings in the area. Since so many people work or visit Mitte, you can find a very lively and varied area of culinairy delights in the streets of Berlin Mitte. You will have to pay for the luxury of being centrally located in the city’s pulsating heart, but I would say it is mostly worth it. Mitte is definitely an area you do not want to be skipping, if you are into slightly posh and fashionable restaurants where 90% of its clientèle consists of suit-wearing men and women, passionately talking into their iPhones or writing e-mails on their Blackberrys. I like that kind of executive vibe.

Eating Meat in Berlin

So far for popular cellular brand commercials. Back to the food. This week, I ended up in a chain restaurant. If you have read me writing about chain restaurants before, you know I am not a big fan. But sometimes you just end up in one – even without knowing it. Block House I did know. The restaurants are big and quite present in Berlin throughout the city.  The logo with a feisty black bull already suggests they might be specialising in meats. And yes, of course, Block House is a steak restaurants. A beefy place. A restaurant dedicated solely to the eating of parts of Rindfleisch. It is a great and simplistic restaurant if you are having one of your meat binges, not unsimilar to eating fleshy products in the American burger joint the Bird.

Meat Restaurant Block House – Not for Vegetarians

Obviously, Block House is a restaurant you go to if you feel up for a night of eating meat. Sometimes – and I gather men have this all the time – you just need to eat a big steak. And last week, after a couple of gin and tonics, I definitely felt a raging thirst for meat flowing through my veins. So we set off to order steaks, in the Block House restaurant close to the Alexanderplatz, looking out on the Roter Rathaus.

The Block House restaurant atmosphere radiates old-fashioned rustic meat-eating dinner places. Dark wooden furniture and decorations, accompanied with red and white chequered cloths and waitresses with naughty nicknames – Block House has it all. And right in the middle of the back wall, they feature a large semi-open kitchen where the meat receives its final roasting, resulting in many enticing smells wafting through the entire large dining area. A casual, low-key restaurant where you can eat some real meat. If such a thing still exists nowadays.

Block House offers a basic menu with six to eight different kinds of meat – ranging from your classical steak to t-bones, and filet mignon. All supplemented with a big Ofenkartoffel, sour cream and a salad. Additionally, Block House has ‘seasonal’ meat specials, which include specific meats from certain countries – we had Irish beef on offer. Their menu also mentions burgers and other dishes, but if you end up here, you should definitely order a proper steak. I went for a small selection of beef filets, with which I got a nice big potatoe, sour cream dip and salad.

I am one of those terrible people who order meat almost well-done. This time I went for a medium-meets-well-done style of preparation and I was not disappointed. My beef was juicy, yet nicely roasted. I simply cannot say anything but good, well-prepared meat. Certainly a nice place to go to if you are with a couple of friends or collegues to eat meat in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Very German-esque in its style and will surely make you feel comfortably at home.

Why this restaurant is fabulous:

• Good, real meat. If you are in that meaty mood and/ or a meat lover, you should give this place a try.
• The deco. I love old-fashioned cosy restaurants where I partly feel like I travelled 50 years back in time.

Why this restaurant is less fabulous:

• Do not expect budget meat. A proper piece of cow loin at Block House will cost you at least twenty euros.

Where to go?

[googleMap name="Block House" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 7 10178 Berlin[/googleMap]

Block House (am Alex)
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 7
10178 Berlin
030 2423300

I have mentioned it briefly before, in our best locations for drinking a cup of coffee in Berlin. But Café Bilderbuch (Café Picture Book) deserves a lot more than a brief coffee recommendation. It is a library, a place for art, a gallery and a restaurant all in one. It is the place to be when you want to spend a comfortable afternoon in your grandmother’s living room, while chatting with friends, reading a book or working on that important paper. It lives up to its name and is a perfect start (or ending) to exploring one of Berlin’s most beautiful Bezirke, namely Schöneberg. When I came to Berlin for the very first time, I walked through Schöneberg in awe, mumbling that one day I wanted to have a flat on the Motzstraße (one of the most lively and colourful streets). I still adore Schöneberg, but I do not get out there often enough – but always too happy to visit this restaurant.

Breakfast in a Picture Book

Café Bilderbuch is essentially a place to go for breakfast. But do not fear: you can order breakfast dishes from seven in the morning until eleven o’clock at night. It is a popular and beloved place, but not too touristy or stuffed. I would personally recommend (especially when you want to go here during the weekend) getting in here a bit after the lunch rush hour, as you will find the place in a bit more of a chilled atmosphere. So sleep as long as you want on Saturday or Sunday and stroll in around two’ish.

The best thing about Café Bilderbuch is their menu. On a newspaper-esque paper menu you can find their large selection of breakfast dishes. All of which are named after fairytales – which simply makes my inner child purr with delight. I almost ordered “Die Kleine Meerjungfrau” (the little mermaid) just because of the name and “Der Wolf und die sieben Geißlein” (the wolf and the seven little goats) sounded equally cute. But in the end I did not go for a dish with salmon and caviar (the mermaid) or a mainly meaty platter (the wolf), but I settled on the “Tausendundeine Nacht” (one thousand and one nights) breakfast dish. My 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. For me it was perfect and a very filling, flavoursome and well-balance weekend breakfast/ brunch.

A Lot More Than Only Breakfast

But the great thing about the Café Bilderbuch is that it is so much more than a place for breakfast. The last time I was here, I almost spent six (!) hours here, lounging about and drinking hot chocolate with rum and indulging in a naughty Apfelstrudel dessert. Apart from the breakfast platters, they do casual nibbles, hearty dinners and sweet desserts. And in the department of coffees, hot drinks, beers and juices – Café Bilderbuch does not disappoint. But the sexiest feature of all is that they have a couple of walls lined with books, where you can browse and borrow a book for reading in one of the many comfy armchairs. Other walls and corners display antique tables, chairs and other quaint knick-knacks – they even have a classical doll house. They also have Wlan, so you can even bring your laptop for a bit of working away from home and the office.

If you like a classical, cosy atmosphere and you enjoy eating long breakfasts or lunches – you absolutely need to check out this place. You will not be disappointed.

More pictures on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/goodfoodinberlin

What makes this restauarant fabulous?

• It is one of a kind. It is eclectic, beautiful, quaint and absolutely cosy. Cannot be missed in autumn and winter.
• The menu is cute, the dishes are budget proof and simply yummy. Everything you could possibly want for breakfast you can eat here.

What makes this restaurant less fabulous?

• When you get here at prime time (between 11-13) on a weekend day, it can be busy. And the staff can be very busy and may therefore be quite occupied. That is why I would simply recommend coming in a bit later and enjoy a more lounge-esque vibe.

Where to go?

[googleMap name="Café Bilderbuch" width="400" height="400" mousewheel="false" typecontrol="false" directions_to="false"]Akazienstraße 28 10823 Berlin[/googleMap]

Café Bilderbuch
Akazienstraße 28
10823 Berlin
030 78706057
Web: www.cafe-bilderbuch.de