The döner sign was calling to me as I entered A. Venue Mall. "Ah! Another Vietnamese diner," I thought to myself, knowing that döner kebabs are all over the streets of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. I didn't know how wrong I was until the friendly attendant pulled the door open for me and said, "Come, sir, try our authentic sausages and German sandwiches. They're really good!"
Looking at my wife's quizzical look, I responded with, "A table for two, please." Inside, I was introduced to the history of döner. Apparently, Germany's number one fastfood sandwich is Turkish in origin. In the 1960's it was brought to Berlin by immigrants.
Bamm's beef döner is made of juicy meat cooked using Middle Eastern spices. It is served stuffed in a toasted pita bread pocket along with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. An order also includes potato chips on the side. The server wasn't lying. The sandwich was really delicious. It was huge too! It also comes in chicken or mixed (beef and chicken) varieties.
My wife ordered the Smoked Cheese Krainer. It is a mild smoked Slovenian sausage with aged cheese. Meaty and cheesy are the two words that best describe this sausage. It was a bit overcooked, but nevertheless delectable. The platter includes toasted pita bread and sauerkraut.
I also noticed a plaque proudly displayed near our table. It says there that during the 2013 National Hummus Day, an international event celebrating hummus as an Arabic and Middle Eastern delicacy, Bamm has been awarded the Certified True Hummus recognition. Upon reading the award, I immediately ordered hummus. True enough, it's the best-tasting hummus that I have ever had! That's coming from someone who always orders hummus at every Greek, Persian, or Mediterranean restaurant he visits.
For our drinks, I tried the Dirty Beer or beer spiced up with other stuff that makes its color deep brown. My wife ordered Radler, which is a beer-based drink mixed with other beverages like lemonade or soda.
Next time, I will definitely try the Currywurst. The only problem I have with Bamm is the presence of two tiny German cockroaches on the couch we were sitting on. read more