Berlin Report

[Fuffy]

Alas, we didn’t make full use of the helpful Chowhound advice. We felt rushed so instead of going out of our way to travel to the best restaurants, we usually ate near wherever we happened to be and, as you can see, became obsessed with asparagus soup. May is asparagus time and every place has a similar menu of various soups and combos. None very expensive and prices overall surprisingly low. Many places offer 5-6 euro lunch specials though many of our meals were closer to Paris prices

In Mitte We liked Chowhound recommendation SCHWARZWALDSTUBEN, Tucholskystrasse 48. Tel [phone]. Informal and very inexpensive. We had mounds of fried- with- egg- and- leek stuffed spatzle (?) and salad. One dish with 1 glass of Riesling 12.70 euros. Said to be noisy and crowded in the evening. We had two pleasant lunches at their outdoor tables on quiet street. Roughly a 15 minute walk from the top of Museum Island.

Also in Mitte is a Michelin listing which is conveniently in a courtyard off a central Mitte street NEU, at Orianenburger strasse, 32. Tel. [phone]
I think Michelin describes the style as modern international.We had asparagus soup, asparagus mousse, calves liver with apples and mashed potatoes, juicy chicken breast with “caramelized” salad. Three cheeses. One of us had the three course 19 euro lunch. Altogether with 4 glasses of wine and bottled water our two meals cost 45 euros. All good and in an appealing quiet place with glassed section and outdoor patio. Roughly a fifteen minute walk from the top of Museum Island.

Also in Mitte near our apartment we stumbled upon Italian restaurant LOCANDA PAVIE. Ackerstrasse 17. Tel [phone] Generally looked expensive; made a silly businesses of pouring our four glasses of wine and refused to serve free tap water but we had only their excellent 12 euro pastas and were very happy. One was asparagus, shaved black truffles and cream, the other a delicious shellfish pasta. Two pastas and four glasses of wine 45 euros. The kitchen is in the middle of the room. Small so better book.

In the same street (north end of Ackerstrasse)is a crowded, popular and very good pizza place. In the evening arrive early to avoid line. Our pizzas were 6.50 euros each. Two pizzas with beer and bottled water 18 euros.

Also in Mitte we had dinner at MAXWELL , Bergsrasse 22. which our Time Out guide raves over. Tel [phone]. Formal with napkins in spires and over-starched tablecloths but in a courtyard in a handsome old brewery. We had an excellent foamy asparagus soup, a decent plain roast veal with mashed potatoes, four snow peas and a dry crepe triangle. Also not good beef broth and not good assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Four dishes and three glasses of wine 60 euros. Our worst price/quality ratio.

Near Kurfustendamm our favorite was Chowhound recommendation LITERATURHAUS. Fasanenstrasse, 23. Tel [phone]. . Literaturhaus is a foundation to promote German literature and a bookshop in a nineteenth century villa. It is near the Kathe Kollwitz Museum. A lovely place with rooms, a conservatory and tables in the garden for dining. We had two meals there. Once three of us had asparagus soup; then steak with mushrooms; roast veal with chive & cream sauce; and little sausages and mash with horseradish and apple sauce. With a bottle of Riesling, bottled water and good coffees 105 euros for three. Another time we had waffles and berries and delicious potato pancakes with applesauce for brunch, for all of 18 euros.(with coffee and a ginger lemon drink recommended by a neighbouring table).

Same area near Savigny Place we liked Time Out recommendation FLORIAN, Grolmanstr. 52. Telephone [phone]. www.restaurant-florian.de We arrived early, completely full later. We had good asparagus soup, adequate beef broth, delicious veal in cream and mushroom sauce, OK boiled beef. With one aquavit, half a bottle of French wine, and bottled water 68.30 euros .Time Out says evenings only.

Also near Savigny Place and our hotel, we liked Chowhound recommendation very friendly MARJELLCHEN, Mommsenstr. 9.Tel. [phone] . We had a dish of calves liver with onions, apple and mashed potatoes, and pigs knuckle in sauce with good bacon sautéed potatoes and a dull shredded cabbage salad. We liked the cheery owner’s favorite German wine and local decor. Two dishes, half a bottle of wine, bottled water 43.90 euros. Open 5 pm on. Specialties are from East Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia.

We also went to two branches of Lutter and Wegner. Although the Charlottenstrasse, 56 branch has many outdoor tables and attractively local interior, we didn’t think the food at either one was up to scratch and not worthy of their Michelin listing.

[linguafood]

Nice report, and good to see you made use of all the local and seasonal specialties available!