Berlin Food
Berlin offers a wide range of gastronomic delights and in no other German city can you be fed and watered quite as well as here.
Berlin is home to a varied mix of culinary delights from around the world, and as well as offering a selection of traditional German dishes, there are excellent Indian, Greek, Japanese, Thai, modern European and Turkish restaurants.
There are numerous places to eat in Berlin, from some of the trendier restaurants that require you make a reservation well in advance, to the corner bars where you can enjoy a simple bar meal. It is also worth sampling the great German custom of Kafee and Kuchen (coffee and cakes) in one of the many patisseries than line Berlin's streets. Alternatively, when in Rome do as the Romans and dine in one of the old breweries and beer halls.
Traditional German food tends to be heavy, rich and filling and is served in large portions. Berlin is famed for its hearty breakfasts, with most cafes serving a selection of cold meats and cheeses as a standard morning treat. Smoked salmon and horseradish is also a favourite among the Berliners. If continental-style breakfasts are more to your taste, croissants, yoghurt and muesli feature highly on menus.
Lunch tends to be a fairly simple affair in Berlin, with a range of snacks and sandwiches on offer. For those wishing to sample a standard German snack, the curried sausage with tomato sauce accompanied by chips is not to be passed up.
Dinner in Berlin is a more lavish affair, with a range of fixed-price as well as a la carte menus offered in most restaurants. Traditional German dishes consist of a main course of meat such as pork or schnitzel of pig's knuckle. Other tasty specialities include pickled eggs, eel boiled in dill sauce, sautéed liver and lentil soup with sausage.
When it comes to drinking in Germany, beer is by far the preferred option and Berlin has two of its own breweries – Schultheiss and Kindl. Beer is usually served on tap or in bottles and comes in Bock, which is dark and rich, Pils, which is strong but slightly lighter and Export – the lightest and smoothest variety. Berliner Weisse, a pale-coloured wheat beer that is served with fruit syrup, should also be sampled.
Most bars also sell a selection of German wines that originate from the Rhine and Mosel regions and strong fruit schnapps is also popular although, as usual, it is often chased with a glass of beer! An alternative to wine is also Sekt, the cheaper, German equivalent of wine. Cocktail fans will also revel in Berlin's choice of bars although many of the speciality cocktail bars do not open their doors until after midnight.
Remember that although Berliners love their beer, they are not larger louts and they tend to behave respectfully at all times. Waiters, waitresses and bar tenders should be tipped for good service, with ten per cent a generally acceptable amount.
Berlin has become a cultural and culinary melting pot where old and new traditions and east and west unite. With its vast array of gastronomic delights and multitude of bars and pubs, Berlin will cater for almost every palate and budget.
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Eating and Drinking
