Berlin Restaurant Tips by SandiMandi

Frida Kahlo: Mexican at Helmholzplats

Frida Kahlo is a bright coloured restaurant at Helmholzplats, Prenzlauer Berg. They serve Mexican food as you can guess from the name. The location on the corner of Helmholzplats is very good and on a sunny day it's so nice to sit outside and watch the world go by and enjoy a tasty Mexican meal.

We went there three times during our last visit, twice for breakfast and once for dinner. There was always a lot of people when we were there, but the service was efficient.

The breakfast we had was typical bread basket and cheese, cold cuts, fruit etc., cost under 5 €. In the menu there are several choices for breakfast, which is served from 10 till 17. For dinner I had "Ensalada Frida Kahlo", which was a basic chicken salad, cost about 9 €.

Address: Lychener Strasse 37, Berlin

Comparison: about average

Other Contact: info@fridakahlo.de

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.fridakahlo.de

Cafe Morgenland: Nice place to start your day!

Morgenland is one of our favorite cafes in Berlin, we go there every time we visit Berlin. I just now realized that I haven't yet written a tip about it! So it's about time..

You'll find Café Morgenland on Skalitzer str. in Kreuzberg. Not very welcoming surroundings I think, as this part of Kreuzberg is quite shabby. But don't let it prevent you from paying this little café a visit!

Unfortunately we've always managed to miss the big breakfast buffet (served only on weekends), but they serve good breakfast on weekdays, too. You can choose from several options from plain coffee and croissant to crepes with fruit and quark. In the photo you can see my breakfast from our last visit, cost about 8 € (and it also included a bread basket, not seen in the picture).

Address: Skalitzer Strasse 35, Berlin

Comparison: about average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Breakfast

Crêpestation: Delicious crepes!

A new cafe in Prenzlauer Berg, near u-bahn station Schönhauser Allee. I think this place has only recently been opened since everything seemed brand new. We stepped in mainly because of the pictures of yummy looking crepes in the window! Although we were the only customers at the time, it took them quite a while to make our two crepes. But the taste made up for it, so we didn't mind.

They serve only crepes, and there are many different fillings to choose from. Price was right as well, they had an offer where you got a crepe of your choice and a cappuccino for 4,50 €.

Favorite Dish: I had a "fruit mix" one and it tasted as delicious as it looks!

Address: Pappelallee 58, Berlin

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.crepestation.de/

An einem Sonntag im August: Cheap breakfast

This cafe offers probably the cheapest brunch buffet in Berlin, and because of that and also for the ambience, I'm sure, the place is very popular. The interior is pretty charming with old sofas and old cups and plates which all are of different size and colour.

The brunch buffet costs only 2,95 EUR (March 2008) and although it's not so fancy as in other cafes, it's enough to get your stomach full. There's fresh bread, toast, cold cuts, omelette, salads, cereal and jams, so all you need for breakfast is available. And for that price, what more could you ask for!

Address: Kastanienallee 103

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: U-bahn: Eberswalder str.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Coffeehouse

Eckstein: Restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg

Eckstein is located in Prenzlauer Berg and seemed to be quite popular among the locals. Ambience is relaxed, although it might get crowded esp. on weekends. We tried to get a table on a Friday night but decided to give it a try on another day since there was none available. On the next day as we went there earlier, it wasn't so packed up and we had a nice meal there. Not really my favourite dish, but what I had was roasted chicken with tagliatelle and boiled cabbage (which didn't look so delicious, but was ok).

I have to update this tip, just returned from Berlin and this time we tried out the breakfast buffet at Eckstein and it was amazing! There was a huge selection of cold cuts, cheeses, salads, fresh fruit and warm dishes, not to mention the sweet dishes (chocolate mousse was my favourite) and pancakes. The breakfast is served from 9:00 till 15:00 and the buffet costs 7,50 €, not bad at all.

Address: Pappelallee 73 10437 Berlin

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

El Sol: Mexican in Prenzlauer Berg

Colourful Mexican restaurant in the corner of Stargarder Strasse and Pappelallee in Prenzlauer Berg. There were many reservations but we managed to get a free table on a Saturday night. It's better to get there early or make a reservation.

Besides Mexican specialities they also serve hamburgers and pasta. While waiting for our dishes they brought us a bowl of roasted peanuts. We enjoyed the cosy ambience and delicious food.

Favorite Dish: Fajitas con pollo (fajitas with chicken), the chicken-tomatosauce was served separately on a hot pan. The dish was very generous and very tasty!

Address: Stargarderstraße 14, 10437 Berlin

Comparison: about average

Directions: U-bahn: Schönhauser Allee

Phone: 030 - 44328441

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.elsol-berlin.de/

Cenacolo: Great Italian!

Cenacolo is a lovely Italian restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg, situated on Sredzkistrasse just a block away from Kollwitzplatz. The pizzas are made right in front of your eyes and baked in a big wood-fired oven. The service was very friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our meals.

Favorite Dish: I had a dish called "Pappardelle Verdure" which was pappardelle pasta with vegetables and it tasted so good with a glass of white house wine.

Address: Sredzkistr. 23, 10435 Berlin

Comparison: about average

Directions: U-bahn: Eberswalder Str.

Phone: 440 447 43

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Italian

Esperanza: OK for the price

Esperanza is a quiet, yet cosy restaurant on Danziger Strasse in Prenzlauer Berg. There was only a few people besides us there, so the service was quick. They serve salads, pizza and pasta and the prices were very reasonable. For example a salami pizza cost 4 € and penne pasta with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes was 7 €. The pizza was good, but I was a bit disappointed with my chicken pasta, which was way too salty.

Esperanza is ok for the price, but it wouldn't be my No 1 choice. Nice place to sit and have a cup of coffee, though.

Address: 3 Danziger Strasse, Prenzlauer Berg

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: U-bahn: Eberswalder str.

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Hard Rock Cafe: Doesn't need introduction... Hard Rock Cafe Review

Well, everyone must know what Hard Rock Cafe is all about, so I don't think it needs an introduction. Hard Rock Cafe Berlin is situated in Western Berlin just off Ku'damm so it's a great place for a delicious meal after some serious shopping! ;)

Address: Meinekestrasse 21, 10719 Berlin

Comparison: about average

Directions: U-Bahn: Zoologischer Garten

Phone: + 49 30 884 620

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: American

Website: http://www.hardrock.com

Nosh: Relaxed atmosphere

Nice and cozy little restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg, very good service. They have a day's special menu written on a big chalk board, which they carry around for every new customer to see. It was quite funny, but I liked the idea! We ate there on two nights, mainly because it was so close to our apartment, but also because we enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was really good. I had Thai noodle soup on the first night, and although it was tasty I found it difficult to eat. They serve vegetarian food, burgers and Thai food.

Favorite Dish: Chicken burger with side salad and french fries. Basic chicken sandwich, but so good!

Address: Pappelallee 77 Prenzlauer Berg

Comparison: about average

Directions: U-Bahn: Eberswalder Str.

Phone: +49 30 44040397

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.nosh-berlin.de