I am writing this review on behalf of my mother, who insists that I let everyone know that Ditsch…read morehas by far the best soft pretzel in Germany. Even though I told her that Ditsch is like the 7-11 of Germany and there is one on every corner, she insists that people should know that this is the place to find the perfect, warm, soft, delicious pretzel. To be fair, my Mom is right, guys.

best snack for the price and if you are in a hurry nothing like a fresh, warm and salty pretzel hot…read morefrom the oven!! sehr lecker!!

One thing about Germans here is that they love their cappuccino's, pastries, and pretzels for…read morebreakfast! This cozy little spot with a chill vibe was nice to relax at noshing on some pretzels while in town to run the Berlin Marathon. Had a few visits here to help me carb load the days before the race -LOL! Menu all in German and little English was spoken here but staff was friendly and had no problem ordering.

I could live in here honestly. Between the amazing pretzels, the tremendous music always playing…read moreand the strong coffee, jet lag's got nothing on me! Cash only and tap water on request (snicker). Seriously though, if this place were in Nashville I would honestly move my office here. The vibe is mellow and welcoming even for us from the states.

Pretzel with butter…read more I had a crappy hard-soft pretzel at Hofbrauhaus and was looking for something redeeming. This was not it. Maybe it's because it was late in the day, but the pretzel still had some hard spots in it. As I bit in, I realized that it had butter smothered on the bottom, and that it was split in half with more butter. Perhaps too much butter for my liking, or I'd have preferred that it was melted...

German food can be hard to find in Berlin…read more You can find German food at Prater Garten. Prater Garten has a double distinction. Outdoors, it has the oldest biergarten in Berlin. Indoors, it has an upscale German restaurant of distinction. The biergarten is not my style. If I am going to spend all day sitting outside drinking beer, I want the location to be outstandingly beautiful. Prater Garten's Plain Jane courtyard doesn't cut it. The indoor restaurant though is a different story. This is the traditional German restaurant of your dreams. The Gaststatte was the culinary peak experience of a month of serious Berlin eating. * * * Prater Gaststatte looks just the way you would expect a German restaurant to look. Dark woods. Wainscotting. Cream walls. The menu for both food and drink are limited, although they do change seasonally. This means that they make the same dishes over and over and over again. They have brought them to a high level of perfection. They only serve three beers at Prater Gaststatte, beers they brew themselves. I have no doubt those beers are wonderful. However, Prater Gaststatte had the Holy Grail of what I had come to Germany looking for Artisanal German Schnapps and Artisanal German Distilled Spirits. Bars in Berlin just don't carry those. Prater Gaststatte had a curated selection of six. (Actually a curated selection of five. The sixth item was a traditional Czech rarity.) Indiana Jones had just found his treasure. German Spirits are strong. Judiciousness limited my consumption to three. I went with a Nordhauser Doppelkorn, a Dirker Hasselnussgeist and a Stahl Birnenschnaps. Doppelkorn is a German alternative to vodka. It is 76 proof, just slightly weaker than a traditional vodka. It can be made from any of five different grains, but the rye-malt combo is the most common. The Nordhauser is an eminently superior alt-vodka - consummately smooth yet full of taste. I could have done a string of those happily. The Dirker and Stahl were both schnapps: hazelnut and pear respectively. I have never had a beverage like the hazelnut schnapps. It was not a liqueur. It was a strong brandy. Nothing sweet or cloying here. It was commanding like a brandy but smooth like the Doppelkorn. The hazelnut taste was overwhelming. It was as baritone and nutty as an Amaretto. An utterly unforgettable beverage. I stuck my neck out by going with a pear brandy. Most pear brandies are awful. I had had one and only one in my life that was good, the Finnish product Xante. Nothing is as good as Xante. Xante tastes like the canned pears served in heaven. But the Stahl Birenschnapps impressed. Nothing cloying. A real fresh pear taste. I was a very happy guy. * * * Note that although my beverages were outstanding, The food was even better. Given the quality of my distilled spirits, that last sentence is saying quite a lot. Never mind the strawberries I had for dessert. It is the beginning of strawberry season in Germany, And my meal had been so substantial that anything other than fruit would have been a crime. Spring is asparagus season in Germany. German restaurants will have one third to one half of all the dishes be asparagus dishes. I ate my fair share of mediocre asparagus dishes elsewhere in Berlin. The cream of asparagus soup at Prater Gaststatte is utterly to die for. Nothing tastes more like asparagus than that cream soup. And good cream soups are one of the fundamental pleasures of life. However, the headliner act which blew me away was their Brandenburger Pork Chop. A Brandenburger Pork Chop is a thick double-cut pork chop. The only way to get a "good" pork chop in the United States is to go to a steak house and pay steak house prices. American steak houses typically cheat by cooking it in apple juice so the pork chop gets caramelized. You eat well, but you are still covering up a ho-hum pork chop. This was a we-don't-have-to-hide-under-anything superlative pork chop. Yes there was about a tablespoon of red cabbage on top of the pork chop. It was like a maraschino cherry on top of a huge slab of meat. That pork chop had nothing to apologize for. It was a magnificent piece of meat. Easily a third of it was outer fat - outer fat that had been broiled to perfection. The pork chop fat was the star ballerina. The pork chop meat was the male dancer holding up that ballerina in a romantic pas-de-deux. It was the absolutely perfect pairing. (Anyone who uses that pork chop and ballet to make a joke about "Swine Lake" will be thrown off Yelp permanently.) Suffice it to say, I liked the meat course. Accompanying that was the potatoes au gratin of your dreams, And the green beans with bacon of your dreams. I never wanted to wake up. * * * If you come to Berlin, Come to Prater. Skip the Biergarten. Eat at the Restaurant. Deutscheland, Deutscheland Uber Alles!

Just noting that as of this review the hours are incorrect on Yelp so better check the website…read morebefore you go. It opens at noon, not 6pm on Saturdays. There are plenty of tables with communal seating. It wasn't super busy when I was there but admittedly the weather was pretty poor so I imagine it gets buzzier when the sun is out. I ordered a beer, some sauerkraut and a pretzel. Beer was nice, as was the food. Pretzel seemed stale upon initial inspection but was actually pretty good. They have mustard on the side. Overall, didn't wow me, but it was a nice stop and I'd recommend for someone wanting a chill biergarten to visit in Berlin.

Nice outdoor Beer Garden…read more Good selection of beers Food menu changes often. The place is really laid back and fun in spite of the lack of attentive service.

This is one of several biergartens (beer gardens) that I visited. But this one I made a return. The…read moreatmosphere was very warm and laid-back. It's not your traditional beer garden. There are traditional tables and benches to sit to drink and eat. But there are also seating with Adirondack chairs, couches, the corner areas gave more intimate settings for small groups and couples, and the double decker bus was a treat to hang out in. They have a modest beer selection both draft and bottle. If you're not in the mood for beer, they have wine and some specialty (spirits) drinks. Don't plan on ordering a pretzel. They call the menu street food and I enjoyed their selection. I would recommend ordering several dishes and sharing. Don't expect a Michelin star experience. When you're ready to order drinks and food, you'll need to go to the counter. The staff is what you expect, laid-back and friendly. That's why you're here. Bring euros because it's cash only. I highly recommend Republik Berlin so that you can compare it to other beer garden experiences.

Trying another German restaurant while in Berlin. Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt didn't disappoint…read more Nice large restaurant, nice ambiance and friendly and fast service. Although I wasn't very hungry, I tried the currywerst with fries. It was good. I really would of ordered the pork knuckle, but I did get a taste from son in law I recommended

Was looking for something casual, "authentic" and near our hotel downtown, and this place fit…read moreperfectly. It was also reasonably priced. Started with a German red wine and a bottle of almdudler with a pretzel. My potato soup came out at the same time as my two Bavarian sausages. And the pork was good. I know that German restaurants aren't the same kind of rush experience that Americans are used to but we had literally been seated for a full hour and had nothing beyond the drinks and the pretzel (which technically was a side for my sausages). Even the waiter was surprised. But two glasses of wine two bottles of lemonade and two meals came to a total of 55 euros. We couldn't do that back home. Great vibe. Friendly staff.

Nice charming neighborhood bakery! Went to get some good German pastries and pretzels.read more

Nice spot not too far from our hotel while walking and exploring the neighborhood the days after…read morethe Berlin Marathon. very nice little breakfast spot. Casual vibe and nothing fancy but the food offerings were good and tasty. Of course, it was another place offering all kinds of yummy pastries, breads, and cappuccinos! Germany does it right for breakfast!

Don't let the "kitschy" statue at the door turn you away! This place is authentically German, from…read morethe attire of the waitstaff to the menu offerings. Walking in the door gives you the feeling of dining in a Bavarian beer hall where there are plenty of locals enjoying the atmosphere. For us tourists, photos are included for most of the menu selections. I tried their signature dish: knuckle with cabbage and a potato dumpling. Even the half portion was huge! The veal schnitzel and steak entrees were also delicious. My server spoke little English, so knowledge of German would be a plus if dining here. The restaurant seems to be known for their beer and has quite a selection, however, a smaller wine menu is also available. I would definitely recommend making a reservation or coming early. As my friends and I were leaving, the line for entry was out the door.

Restaurant Maximilians offers an elevated (and perhaps more tourist-friendly) take on Bavarian…read moreclassics, with a polished exterior that draws you into a refined yet friendly dining environment. Inside, the design leans toward a hybrid of a traditional German restaurant and modern luxury: dark woods, crisp table settings, and ambient lighting create an upscale but comfortable atmosphere suitable for all occasions ranging from date nights, celebratory dinners, or refined travel meals. The general vibe feels more sophisticated than casual tourist spots, with a bustling (yet not overwhelming) ambiance. Patrons range from international tourists to locals grabbing a drink after work, and a cosmopolitan mix of languages echoes throughout the space. After a 4-hour walking tour of Berlin, our group of eight was hungry for a hearty German meal. The same morning, we made a reservation for our party of 8 for 6:30pm later that night, and we appreciated the fact that the reservation process for large parties is easy and convenient. Additionally, When we arrived at the restaurant, we were immediately seated at a large table, and our waiter kindly directed us to a QR code with a translated English menu complete with pictures. The menu itself is extensive, with a range of options (from the more familiar pretzels and schnitzel to German classics like Pork Knuckle and Munich Bratwurst). Our server was charismatic and friendly, joking with us and guiding us through his favorites on the menu. When it came time to order, he asked us if we could order in the dishes' real German names (which we subsequently butchered), and he graciously corrected our pronunciation and explained any questions we had about some of the more traditional items. Some members of our party ordered their Ofenwarme Brezn mit Fassbutter (Pretzel with Warm Butter, €3,90): a generously-sized pillowy pretzel, generously salted and served with a creamy knob of decadent butter. For my entree, I selected the Halbe Haxe (€17.80), which is a half portion of crispy pork knuckle with Bavarian sauerkraut and a bread dumpling. For being a half portion, this dish was absolutely huge (with the bone, the knuckle was almost the size of my head!). The exterior skin had been wonderfully crisped up, almost like a German chicharron, whereas the interior was a mix of shreddable "pulled-pork"-like meat marbled with succulent fat, all served atop a rich, savory gravy. The Bavarian sauerkraut had a slight tang to contrast the decadence of the dish, and the bread dumpling was dense, yet soaked up the gravy perfectly. This was the tastiest dish I sampled during my time in Berlin, and certainly a great value as well. From asking my friends, other great plates included their Saftiger Schweinsbraten vom Schopf (€19.90 - a roast pork dish with bread dumplings, potato dumplings, gravy, and Bavarian sauerkraut; very similar to the Halbe Haxe but with what seemed like pork loin), 3 ECHTE Kalbsfleischpflanzer (€21.40 - three succulent veal meatballs with mashed potatoes, gravy, and buttered onions), and Handgeschabte Käsespätzle (€17.40 - homemade cheese noodles with mountain cheese and pear, topped with fried onions and served with a side salad; basically a bougee Bavarian mac and cheese, and a great vegetarian option). Two members of our party also ordered their Ausgezogener Apfelstrudel (€8.60), which was a sumptuous apple strudel with perfectly al-dente apples, flaky pastry, and warming spices, served with ice cream and a caramel-like sauce. In terms of price point, Maximilians sits in the moderate to premium range for Berlin restaurants: obviously pricier than your average beer hall or currywurst stand, but fitting for its polished service, urban location, elevated cuisine (with huge portions, might I add), as well as its large audience of tourists. If you're ever in the area, I would highly recommend Maximilians, and I'll certainly be back to sample some of their other colossal dishes!

One of my favorite local spots. I often take work associates here during their business trips to…read moreBerlin, and they always have an excellent time. If you are a beer-drinker, this establishment has a wide variety of local brews. It is quite un-touristy, as well. Locals only! Overall, one of my favorite spots in Berlin.

If you wanna avoid tourist traps and go where the locals go, Zur kleinen Markthalle is the place to…read morego. The food and beer is not marked up so you get a good bang for your buck. The food here is great. Especially the lard & bread, Pork knuckle and the chicken. I am a big fan of their lard and butter. The prok knuckle is good, but my favorite is the chicken. Almost every table here will have at least one order of the chicken. It is crunchy on the outside and moist and juicy inside. Every dish is prepared fresh to order so there will be a wait. Also its cash only. Food : Good Service : Friendly Ambiance : casual Worth the price : Yes

Weihenstephaner is a Berlin classic. Even though it originally hails from Bavaria, bringing with it…read morebeers from the oldest brewery in the world, plus authentic Bavarian, Tyrol and South Tyrol cuisine. With its prime location on Hackescher Markt and easily accessible by the S Bahn and a few other bus lines, you have no excuse not to dine here. The prices will be on the higher end of the spectrum, since this is also tourist central. I needed a venue to accommodate 20 people with good English speaking servers, hence the decision was made to have an early dinner here. For a big group, you'll be seated in their vaulted cellar. The ancient architectural feel of the place, coupled with the dim lighting makes you feel like you've stepped backwards in time. Due to the unstable, humid weather Berlin was experiencing when we dined here, we were moved to the upstairs restaurant which had a more brighter, airy feel. The extensive menu contained soups, some salads, a whole variety of regional dishes and of course, bratwurst. The enormous variety of beer and some wine, plus non alcoholic options also satisfied every person's appetite. A few strong recommendations on the food front: Bavarian potato stew with bacon (add on sausage!), any of the bratwurst plates, and of course, the massive Schweins "hax'n" -- this is a gigantic pork knuckle served on a bed of mashed potatoes and dark beer sauce. You won't be disappointed! The service was also outstanding for the way they handled our big group. That's an automatic extra star earned for Wiehenstephaner.

10/2/23 I enjoyed our early dinner here. The restaurant is in a very popular area with lots of…read moreother restaurants and shops and right down from the station. There's lots of outdoor seating. The table was clean when we sat down. I ordered the schnitzel which also came with mashed potatoes. It was delicious! Our waiter was satisfactory. Not overly friendly but average service. If I'm ever in the area, I would go again. The prices are reasonable.