Vietnam Restaurant

Style:
guess what? It is a Vietnamese restaurant

More:

Reviews:
DJ writes in the SaoDaly blog: "I decided to have lunch at Vietnam Restaurant
that I found by accident the day before. A big bowl of pho (fer) gave me enough energy to last the entire afternoon. It was not quite like the pho that I am used to in Paris or in Amsterdam but it was delicious and good enough for 7.50 Euros, cheaper than here or in Paris, with less stuff of course."

The Basics:
Georgenstraße 25, 10117, Berlin-Mitte (U/S Friedrichstrasse)

URL: Vietnam Restaurant (German)

+49 (0)30 52 00 28 84 8

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:

Mitte

A visit could be integrated with Berlin's Architectural Tour or with The Wall tour, or just with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

5 *****
The Westin Grand Berlin
4 ****
NH Jolly Berlin-FriedrichstraßeMARITIM proArte Hotel BerlinHotel Melia Berlin
Artist Riverside Hotel & Spa
3 ***
Hotel AlbrechtshofApartHotel Residenz am Deutschen TheaterHotel Allegra
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Hotel
2 **
Hotel am Scheunenviertel
1*
baxpax downtown Hostel Hotel
Hostels:
baxpax downtown Hostel Hotel

Apartment Hotels and Serviced Flats
ApartHotel Residenz am Deutschen Theater

Euphoria

Style:
Cocktail Bar/eclectic international food

More:


Reviews:

This popular spot in the Simon Dach Kiez has received several good reviews. It serves the regular "cafe fair" and international dishes (including pasta and breakfasts); and is also a cocktail bar. Tim and Megan write on their blog: "we returned to Simon-Dach Strasse for dinner, this time visiting a restaurant called Euphoria. Again the servings were huge and the prices were not. Germans, it would seem, eat a lot of meat..."

The Basics:
Grünberger Str. 60A, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain (U Frankfurter Tor)

URL: http://euphoria-bar.de/

+49 30 29 00 46 83

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:

Could be integrated with "Communist Berlin", or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

5 *****

4 ****
Upstalsboom Hotel Friedrichshain
3 ***
Juncker´s Hotel GarniHotel 26
Gold Hotel am WismarplatzHotel Klassik Berlin
2 **
Hotel garni ComeniusHotel Bulgari Inn
Hotel Friedrichshain
1*
All In Hostel / Hotel Berlin
Hostels:
All In Hostel / Hotel Berlin

Yesil Firin

Style:
Turkish

More: Good and affordable Turkish fast food

Reviews:
Yesil Firin might look like a slightly upgraded version of the standard Turkish Imbiss (that is, fast food place), with its Doener Kebap grill. They always say that first impressions are important, and Yesil Firin is clean, has quick and cordial service, and fresh, not outrageous design. The food itself is an advanced version of the Turkish fast-food restaurant: you have your Doener and grilled meat, but also salads, first courses, Turkish stews that taste as if you mother might have made them (if she were Turkish and knew how to cook, that is), desserts, and even breakfasts with kiddie-menus.

On top of all of that, Yesil Firin is also highly affordable: a meal of three first courses, two main courses and lots of drinks cost 27 EUR including service; you can get a full meal (from the Ayran, through soup, grilled meat with salad and all the way to the rice-pudding dessert) for as little as 9.99; and a "daily special" stew with rice/chips and salad for 5 EUR.

The Basics: Badstr. 15, 13357 Berlin-Mitte/Wedding (Gesundbrunnen)

URL: email is alc at conceptcenter24.de

+49 30 494 50 11

Accessible? small step in the entrance, no disabled toilets

Child-Friendliness? high chairs and friendly attitude, in addition to children's breakfast; but no toys/playground/etc.

Related Tours/Sites:
Humboldtshain Park

Could be integrated with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

5 *****


4 ****
Holiday Inn Berlin Mitte
Grand City Hotel Berlin Mitte

3 ***
Berlin Apartments

2 **
Hotel Citylight
Amadeus Hostel Berlin

1*
Berlin-Apartement

Hostels:
Amadeus Hostel Berlin

Mittmann

Style:
Berlin style, workers' restaurant

More: Simple Berlin cuisine in big dishes and small prices; quite a contradiction to yesterday's restaurant...

Reviews:
Two reviews in German on Qype basically say the same: very cheap food (lunch for 5.55 including a drink), very big dishes, good Berlin style cuisine, nothing fancy.

The Basics: Rungestr. 11, 10179 Berlin-Mitte (Märkisches Museum or Jannowitzbrücke)

URL: you're kidding, right? but I have a phone for you - +49 30 2793502

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:

Märkisches Museum and the Koellnische Park

Could be integrated with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Naturally, it is in The Mandala Hotel

5 *****

4 ****
Hotel Luisenhof
art'otel berlin mitte, by Park PlazaDERAG HOTEL AND LIVING - Hotel Großer Kurfürst DERAG HOTEL AND LIVING - Hotel Henriette
Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin
NH Berlin Heinrich Heine
Novotel Berlin Mitte

3 ***

2 **
alameda berlin
A&O Hotel Mitte
Hotel Ibis Berlin City Ost

1*

Hostels:

Kuchen Kaiser

Style:
Café, German, Eclectic, Cakes

More: A veteran restaurant with good German and non-German food

Reviews:
Kuchen Kaiser is one of our old recommended restaurants. It is located in Kreuzberg, and has a real Kreuzberg spirit: a mixture of locals of all kinds, foods of all kinds (mostly German, though) and excellent cakes.

Jane, for example, writes: "Kuchen Kaiser, a restaurant in a somewhat residential area that claimed to be the emperor of cakes. We got a light lunch to ensure we had room for cake. We all got different kinds and shared them…and they were all delicious"


The Basics:
Oranienplatz 11, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg (Kottbusser Tor)
+49 (0)30 614 02 697

URL: Kuchen Kaiser

Accessible? Yes, including toilets if we remember correctly (we were so impressed by the ramp and the friendly attitude to wheelchair users)

Child-Friendliness? very much, including a "surprise pack" for children and general tolerance; outside, there is a garden, but there isn't a real playground; changing a baby is done in the toilets and is not highly comfortable.

Related Tours/Sites:
In Kreuzberg SO36

It could be integrated with "The Spirit of 1968" and the Kreuzberg tours and with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Motel One Berlin Mitte

Defne

Style:
Turkish

More:


Reviews:
Fodor's recommend this restaurant:
"Among the myriad Turkish restaurants in the city, Defne stands out for its exquisitely prepared food, the near-perfect warm service, the tasteful setting, and an authentic atmosphere. Beyond simple kebabs, the fresh and healthy menu here includes a great selection of hard-to-find fish dishes from the Bosphorus, such as acili ahtapot (spicy octopus served with mushrooms, olives, onions, garlic, and bell pepper in a white wine and tomato sauce)."

The Basics:
Planufer 92c, 10967 Berlin, Germany (U Kotbusser Tor)
+49 (0)30 81 79 71 11

URL:

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
Kreuzberg, close to the Kreuzberg Synagogue and the Turkish Market
Could be integrated with Berlin Kreuzberg Tour, with "The Spirit of 1968" tour , or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Best Western Euro Hotel (3 ***)
Hotel Ludwig van Beethoven (3 ***)

Motel One Berlin Mitte (2 **)

More hotels and accommodation in Mitte near the Defne restaurant

Café do Brasil

Style:
Brazilian

More:
Brazilian restaurant that serves the Brazilian community in Berlin, hence rather authentic

Reviews:
The Zamum blog published a review on the place, unfortunately in German. They were very excited by the cheap Brazilian buffet (8.90) and by the dessert: a great mango purée, they claim.

We must agree - we have visited the restaurant twice and found the staff cordial, the atmosphere great and the prices more than reasonable.

The Basics:
Mehringdamm 72, 10961 Berlin, Germany (U Mehringdamm)
+49 (0)30 780 06 887

URL: Cafe do Barsil

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
Kreuzberg
Could be integrated with The Spirit of 68 Tour, the Kreuzberg Tour or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Meininger Hallesches Ufer (3 ***)

Hostel/Pension:
Columbia
Meininger Tempelhofer Ufer

More hotels and accommodation in Kreuzberg near Cafe do Brasil restaurant

Samadhi

The Basics:
Wilhelmstraße 77 , 10117 Berlin-Mitte (near S-Unter-den-Linden or U-Mohrenstr)
+49-(0)30-22 48 88 50

URL: Samadhi Vegetarian

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Asian/South Asian-Fusion

Related Tours/Sites:
Mitte: the "Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe", Brandenburg Gate, The British Embassy, etc.
Could be integrated with the "Berlin's Top Sites" Tour, with Third Reich Berlin tour or with customised Berlin tours

More:
Vegetarian South Asian restaurant

Reviews:
Jul writes on "Veggie Chic": "I had a great meal at Samadhi on my last trip to Berlin. This vegetarian restaurant specializing in Southeast Asian cuisines is very centrally located, not far from the Brandenburger Tor. The menu was extensive - so much so that I had trouble deciding given how many choices I had. I settled for tofu grilled in lop leaves (pictured), while my friend chose pad thai. We started the meal with some summer rolls.

The food was tasty and reasonably priced (main dishes are about 10 euros each). The service was friendly, if a little slow, and the decor was nothing to write home about, but I didn’t mind a bit - the food was definitely worth my time. I think Samadhi will be earning a place on my must-visit list for future trips to Berlin, as well.

Samadhi is closed Mondays, but open for lunch and dinner every other day of the week."

Clärchens Ballhaus Mitte

Style:
Happy, 1920s style ballroom with live-music and German-Italian simple food

More:

Reviews:
On Been There, Emi writes: "Berlin in a nutshell. [....] Good food and delicious home-made cakes. Music changes depending on the day (cha cha, swing, waltz and tango). In the summer, the garden is an additional attraction."

A review on the New York Times focuses mostly on the fun ballroom and not on the food, but also mentions some celebrity factor ("Willem Defoe, Bjork, the artist Matthew Barney, Charlotte Rampling and other names Mr. Schulz is too tired to tick off, have come to Clärchen’s").

The Basics:
Auguststraße 24, 10117 Berlin-Mitte (S Oranienburger Str.)
+49-(0)30-282 92 95

URL: Clärchens Ballhaus Mitte

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
The "Jewish Quarter" (Scheunenviertel)
Could be integrated with the Jewish Berlin Tour, or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

HSH Hotel Apartments Mitte (4 ****) (apartment hotel)
Ramada Hotel Berlin Mitte (4 ****)

Hotel Augustinenhof (3 ***)
Mercure Hotel Berlin an der Charité (3 ***)
Hotel & Apartments Zarenhof Berlin Mitte (3 ***) (apartment hotel)

Am Scheunenviertel Hotel garni (2 ** )

Hotel Novalis (1 *)

Hostel:
Flower´s Boardinghouse Mitte

Monsieur Vuong

The Basics:
Alte Schönhauser Str. 46 10119 Berlin-Mitte (U Weinmeisterstrasse or S Hackescher Markt)
+49-(0)30-9929 6924

URL: Monsieur Vuong

Accessible? Not really: there is a small stair in the entrance (there is a bell for wheelchair users, but according to the waiter, it is for a ramp); the restaurant is crowded and narrow and most importantly no wheelchair accessible toilets.

Child-Friendliness? No real catering for the needs of kids, except for one thing (that is more important with older, well behaved, but hungry kids; and with adults who are not much of an eater): all of their dishes are available as a smaller portion, with even cheaper price. Believe me, "small" is relative and their "small" Wonton Soup was almost satisfying in itself.

Style:
Vietnamese

Related Tours/Sites:
Hackescher Markt and the "Scheunenviertel" (Barn Quarter)
Could be integrated with the Classic Jewish Berlin Tour with customised Berlin tours

More:

Reviews:


Our review: The design in Monsieur Voung is very nice, the food excellent. Despite busy hours, the service is rather quick; and all of that with cheap prices and the availability of all dishes at smaller rates for those who are less hungry (or less of an eater). The only thing that has perhaps diminished a little from the experience has been the fact that one of us has ordered two dishes (the others had each only a main course), and received both courses together (the waitress also didn't ask whether to bring the entrée separately). Despite that, the one who received the two dishes at once was satisfied however and said that the main course one was not too cold by the time she's gotten her way with it.

Jim Boyne writes in "Lost in Europe": "I got in there a little before the lunchtime rush, but it was still packed with people. There are only about three dishes on menu, and I went for a kind of green curried chicken with stir-fried vegetables which was probably the best meal of my trip so far, and only cost me nine euros with a drink as well."

More reviews: Life in Milano
Another positive review comes from Ryan at "Backpacking Across Europe", which points out something important: any non-vegetarian dish on the menu could be with tofu instead.

Tiergarten Quelle

Style:
German/Berlin Cuisine

More:
Affordable students restaurant with good German and local (Berlin) cuisine

Reviews:
"Yuri" writes on her blog: " The Tiergarten Quelle is this great restaurant located underneath the S-Bahn train tracks. It’s very close to the station, which made it really easy to find and you can hear the trains traveling above.[...] The food was delicious." (she wonders what she had - it looks like pork schnitzel with brocolli and chips to my untrained eye).

Jane writes in her blog: "It was a hole in the wall place under the subway, but inside was fantastic. Although very tiny, it was packed with people, clearly a popular hang out for regulars. A traveling band (a violin player, a bass player, and an accordion player) entered and played a few songs. We all got traditional (very heavy) German food, washed down with traditional (very good) beer."

The Basics:
Bachstr. 6, 10555 Berlin

+49-(0)30- 392 76 15

URL: Tiergarten Quelle

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Related Tours/Sites:
Hansa Quarter, the University of Technology, the flea market on the Strasse-der-17.Juni
Could be integrated with the Jewish Tour in West Berlin, or with customised Berlin tours

Nearby Hotels/Accommodation:

Novotel Berlin Am Tiergarten

Hotel Hansablick

Vapiano

The Basics:

An international chain with several branches/franchises:

(1) Potsdamer Platz 5 , 10785 Berlin-Tiergarten
+49 (0)30-23 00 50 05

(2) Augsburger Str. 43, 10789 Berlin-Mitte
+49 (0)30-88 71 41 95


URL: Vapiano in Berlin

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Pasta etc. slow food in fast pace

Related Tours/Sites:
Both could be integrated with a general Berlin tour.
First Branch: Potsdamer Platz; near the Marriott
Could be integrated with the Weimar Berlin, Third Reich Berlin Tour, Jewish Tour in West Berlin or with customised Berlin tours

Second Branch: City-West, near the Zoo and the Swissotel/Concorde
Could be integrated with Jewish Tour in West Berlin or with customised Berlin tours

More:
A pasta restaurant with a fast food system: you get an e-card in the entrance. Everything you order at the counters (pasta, wine, desserts, etc.) is now tipped into the card. After the meal, you walk out through a till, where you pay according to the amount on your card. No more arguing with your friends "who ordered the lobster", no more waiting for service when you're dead hungry. On the other hand, fast food is also fast food, even when it is quality pasta in fair prices, and the cafeteria feeling exists.

Reviews:
On Been There, user Shatgoth liked the place: "Fantastic pasta bar near Potsdamer Platz. You pick any pasta and any sauce and then wait at the counter while the chef cooks it for you. They use fresh pasta so you only have to wait a few minutes. They have pots of fresh herbs at the tables that you can help yourself to. When you go in you are given a card, which you hand over to the chef who swipes it for you, then if you want to order drinks or desserts hand the card to the counter staff. When you leave, give the card in at the till and then you pay. This is the best pasta I've ever eaten and prices are really reasonable, from about 5 euros. I particularly recommend the rustica ravioli and pasta with lemon and mint. It's so good I went twice!"

Gorki Park

The Basics:
Weinbergsweg 25, 10119 Berlin (Mitte)
+49 (0)30 448 72 86

URL: Gorki Park.de


Accessible? Only outside (and no disabled bathroom)

Child-Friendliness? No (no changing table, no play-corner)

Style:
Russian

Related Tours/Sites:
Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte
Could be integrated with the Classic Jewish Berlin Tour and with customised Berlin tours

More:
Russian restaurant/cafe with a twist: names of dishes are all pun of Soviet propaganda terms ("People's Breakfast"; "Worker's Blinichi", etc.)


Reviews:
Matt Robinson writes in DirtCheapBerlin: "This little cafe provides some of the best Soviet-style lazing and grazing in the post-Soviet world, which despite what the old Russian propoganda posters might suggest is served largely without the oft pungent aroma of Communist nostalgia. Wifi access is free daily, 10am to 10pm, and they also serve a legendary Brunch every Sunday from 10am until 4pm. Turn up an hour before the end and you get to scrounge through the leftovers for a discount price.[...] Gorki Park serves some of the best borschtsch in Berlin, sells Russian Moskwa beer on tap and of course plenty of lashing of Wodka on request (ask for it served the traditional way, with black bread). The whole thing is very tounge in cheek, all down to the cafe motte 'long live hospitality.'"

Urban Foodie also recommends Gorki Park, this time their Sunday breakfasts: "I plumped for a small borsch followed by a mixed platter of baked cheese blinis, eggs, pancakes with soured cream, aubergine in tomatoes, various fruits, more soured cream and some jam with a glass of black tea on the side."

We were a little less impressed on our visit there, perhaps because it was still when smoking ban was not enforced in Berlin, and people sort of smoked right into our plates. The food was good, but not fantastic, and we were not impressed that Gorki is "Dirt Cheap" (relatively to Berlin, of course), but has fair prices. In other words, we found it to be a good, but not an excellent, place.

Babel

The Basics:
Two branches:

Gabriel-Max-Str. 16, 10245 Berlin
+49 (0)30-293 687 84

Kastanienallee 33, 10435 Berlin
+49 (0)30-440 31 31 8

URL: babel-berlin.com


Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Lebanese/Arab

Related Tours/Sites:
Prenzlauer Berg (branch II); Friedrichshain (branch I)
Branch I (Friedrichshain) could be integrated with the Communist Berlin Tour; Branch II (Prenzlauer Berg) with the Jews and Booze tour and both with customised Berlin tours

More:
Lebanese imbiss (fast food): Felafel, Schwarma, etc.


Reviews:
Matt Robinson writes in DirtCheapBerlin: "[...] Opened in 1999, Babel has been serving its legendary bites to the local community with gusto, and was recently voted one of local Berlin guide TIP's best places to eat, and also featured in American guidebook Let's Go. [...]"

Hoai Nam

The Basics:
Skalitzer Str. 103, (U-Bahnhof Görlitzer Bahnhof), 10997 Berlin
+49-(0)30-43023450

URL:


Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Vietnamese

Related Tours/Sites:
Kreuzberg
Could be integrated with the Kreuzberg Tour and with customised Berlin tours

More:
Small and cosy Vietnamese place, imbiss (fast food) prices.


Reviews:
Silentglow writes on BeenThere: "An excellent little Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of Kreuzberg. The menu is limited, but there's a daily specials board in English along with a range of tasty lassi drinks. The service was impeccable with the food cooked right in front of your eyes. The best thing is, a meal and a lassi only cost me 8 euros."

Romiosini

The Basics:

Several branches:

(1) Romiosini in Spandau, Seegefelder Str. 134, 13583 Berlin
+49 (0)30-3721797

(2) Romiosini in Tegel, Berliner Str. 103, 13189 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30-43095999

(3) Romiosini Wilmersdorfer Str., Pestalozzistr. 37 10627 Berlin
+49 (0)30-30831253

(4) Romiosini "Astoria" am Halleschen Tor, Brandesstr. 7 10969 Berlin
+49 (0)30-25935850

(5) Romiosini in Pankow, Dietzgenstr. 59 13056 Berlin
+49 (0)30-45031301

(6) Romiosini am Jahn-Sportpark, Milastr. 4, 10437 Berlin
+49 (0)30-44058900

(7) Romiosini am Bundesplatz, Bundesplatz 2, 10715 Berlin
+49 (0)30-81487870

(8) Romiosini am Zoo, Budapester Str. 13, 10787 Berlin
+49 (0)30-85621774

(9) Romiosini am ICC, Neue Kantstr. 17, 14057 Berlin
+49 (0)30-30105506

URL: romiosini-berlin.de/

Accessible?

Child-Friendliness?

Style:
Simple, affordable Greek

Related Tours/Sites:
(4) "The Spirit of 1968" ; (3) and (8) Jewish West ; all could be integrated to a customised tour

More:

Greek food in affordable prices and despite the many branches, it is still serves fine dishes.

Reviews:
Simon Kingsley, Variety, Jan 25 2008.