Moving to Berlin from London...need some addresses!

[Charlie Louis]

I am moving to Berlin, after living in London for 13 years! My favorite places in London are...Barrafina, Brindisa, Raoul's, The Harwood Arms, Ottolenghi, Melrose and Morgan, The Formagerie, Terroirs, Dinings, Taqueria, Monmouths...
Basically small, independent, no table cloths and people who really know (and believe in) what they are selling, where its from, fresh, in season!
When I visited Berlin a few months back, the only place I thought was cute was Chi Sing, the Vietnamese place.
Do you have any treasures to share with me?

[Russel Shank]

This is exactly what you're looking for..

Schwarzwaldstuben Gastronomie
Tucholskystraße 48
10117 Berlin, Germany
030 2809-8084
(in Mitte -- a few minutes walk from the Oranienburger Tor or Rosenthaler Platz U-Bahn stops, or the OranienburgerStr S-Bahn)

----
alternately..
Tian Fu is the best chinese in the city (w/ lots of Sichuan dishes)
Uhlandstraße 142, 10719 Berlin, Germany‎ - 030 8613015‎
(in SW part of the city between Wilmerdorf & Shöneburg, a one min walk from the Hohenzollernplatz u-Bahn)
tianfu.de

p.s. -- I hate when people gripe about searching the other threads. I presume most people do, but information changes, restaurants close, new ones open, etc. and people are curious what others personally have to say about what's good to eat in their city right now. People aren't dumb. However, if they are and they receive few replies, they'll search the threads (some of which are years old.)

[Russel Shank]

p.s. - I think the pork entree is the best thing at Schwarzwaldstuben, and the bacon and onion sour cream pizza thing is really great with it.

[linguafood]

I kinda disagree. There are plenty of pretty up-to-date threads with TONS of info, which are a really good starting point. And naming a bunch of places in London nobody in Berlin has probably ever heard of is not an ideal strategy to get good suggestions.

Just like on the Manhattan board, it's vital you post your budget, neighborhood & cuisine pref, and yes, also do some research first.

As for the "sour cream pizza thing", I think you mean Alsatian tarte flambée.

[Russel Shank]

not sure, but I think the menu at calls it "pizza" with a caveat about it being "german pizza"(? can't remember.) They do a few regular "pizzas" as well I think.

I think you can get away with naming restaurants in the major cities (NYC, London, Paris, Berlin, etc.) They're international enough cities, that people bounce around them frequently and probably know of the restaurants. More than other forums, CH has an audience with the curiosity, 'education;, and financial means to be conscious of specific dining all around the world. The foodie community can get pretty small, and has a wide media reach. I've never been to Vietnam, but I've watched enough shows to know that if someone likes a famous spot in Saigon, that I can point them to some place they'll like in NYC.

There's some snarkiness and needless impatience to be found on CH (Internet in general, but its a little surprising here considering the audience.) It is ironic to see folks post comments about searching other threads, not b/c they're being helpful but b/c they want to express frustration at being inconvenienced by the poster's thread (an inconvenience they compound by replying at all.) If someone is gonna go through the of replying, why not add something new -- "There are older threads w/ great and pertinent Berlin info you can find. Something you wont see there though, is this new place near EberswalderStr...."

[Russel Shank]

Actually, speaking of EberswalderStr U-bahn...

Kauf dich Glücklich
www.kaufdichgluecklich.de
Oderberger Straße 44
10435 Berlin, Germany
030 4435-2182

Awesome funky little waffle/ice cream parlor. Really good for a indulgent/fun breakfast, open late also. It's off of or near Kastanienalle (sp?) which is a bohemian area.. lots of second hand shops, music, etc.

[linguafood]

And I tend to add something new, while referring people to "older" threads.

I've heard mixed things about the waffles at Kauf Dich Glücklich. The lines can be a bit long in the summer. I've had a good meal at Hüftgold, across the street. Oderquelle, on the other hand, can be hit or miss...

[Russel Shank]

Yeah, I've seen pictures of Kauf Dich in the summer and it looks like a mad house -- typical summer ice cream parlor mobbed by people. This winter though, it made for cozy relaxed breakfasts and late night hang outs (rarely more than a few pairs of other customers there.)

Nearby is the knock-off cafe Napoljonska, which is actually a little better in some ways (smaller, some of their dishes are better, fresh squeezed juices, etc.) The vanilla, pear waffle thing, which wears their namesake, is... pretty ridiculously delicious. If the atmosphere isn't you thing or you think the food is kinda amateur, try this because it really is nice and the tastes are incredible -- its not the easy win that the other sweet waffle options are.

The tomato, pesto and mozzarella waffle at Kauf is actually really good too.

[linguafood]

Wow. That vanilla & pear waffle thing sounds awesome! Must. Try.

Urgh. Only 2.5 more months.... >sigh<

[bropaul]

As always, I suggest you do a search on this board for "Berlin". There have been tons of threads about Berlin.

[linguafood]

First of, most all restos in Berlin are independently owned, save for the ubiquitous McD's. That said, here's a round-up that should get you started. And, btw, nobody really needs a car in Berlin, there's a fabulous and not too expensive public transportation system. Just sayin' (I sold my car when I moved there).

Mexican: Maria Bonita
Dumplings: Wok Show
Italian: Paparazzi, Femmina Morta, Su Mirtu
Burgers: The Bird
German: Rutz, Neugrün's Köche, Oderquelle
Sushi: Sasaya
Vietnamese: Monsieur Vuong, Si An

Gourmet:
Mâ, Umâ
Margaux

All of these are in or around Mitte / Pberg. That should get you started.

[linguafood]

Any particular cuisines you're interested in? Neighborhoods? Budget limits?

[Charlie Louis]

Penzlauerberg and Mitte. I have a car there so will be able to move around. Budget limits - none really, I spend all my money on food...