We had Cafe Berlin cater for our cocktail hour at our wedding and it was AMAZING! The food was incredibly delicious and even surprised our "authentic" German guests! It was a big hit and we barely had any leftovers! Highly recommend!! read more

Long-time Capitol Hill favorite not to be overlooked. The burgeoning restaurant scene has given this stalwart some competition. It is still a go-to for winter-time. Their game menu is a family favorite. It is also a welcoming restaurant for a multi-generational dinner, a particular niche that is harder to find. Cozy. Their apple strudel is a favorite; if I remember correctly, the apples are locally sourced. read more

German food, just doesn't scream 'interesting' to me, as it is mostly just variations of sausages and schnitzel. I ate here on a business lunch, and I was not very impressed with the food. I ate the fish sandwich and I feel like it is something I could get just about anywhere. The potato soup to start with was also lacking luster. My companion had the goulash however, which was excellent. I recommend that you switch out your soup for the goulash, it is worth it. I also replaced the potato salad with a green salad as I had the potato soup. It was supposedly pretty delicious, but I had enough of potatoes for the day. The greens were a bit wilted though. Overall it tasted ok, but I probably won't return. There are too many other great places in the area. read more

Exceptional food and waitress was awesome! Came during lunch time on a Saturday it was easy to get in and not terribly busy

This is one of my abortive restaurants in DC. We are greeted like regulars (we have been going for over 12 years), so it feels like a family place. In fact we bring family there when they visit town. Order the following and you'll be happy. Potato pancakes! Wurstplatte, kassler ripchen, Hungarian goulash, schnitzels. They have a great spring asparagus menu. The fish specials are unusually pretty good. Our fishatarian friends love coming here with us. They havea moderate, but good beer selection. Some good wines. They make a great bourbon manhattan. Desserts can sometimes feel a little sad. But they have improved over the years. The very first time I ate here, I felt like I was at my grandmothers house for Christmas dinner. I love that feeling and for that reason, cafe berlin,stays near the top of my list! read more

The food is authentic German and just delicious. The staff was great. Best wiener schnitzel i have had in a long time, perfectly thin and flavorful. read more

Very nice small Authentic German restaurant in a nice area of DC. The owner/chef visited our table a few times during meal, it was almost like being in Germany. It would be best to call ahead before to ensure they have room for you and your party. read more

We were in DC with friends for Memorial Day weekend. We found this through Fodors and made a reservation. The food was very good and authentic. We went with four people who have spent a lot of time in Germany and all if them loved it. The portions are huge and we could have easily split the dishes, but the food was great. They had a very limited draft beer selection (3 - Warsteiner, Späten Optimator, and a Hefeweisen) which is why I only gave 4 stars. They do have a good selection of German beer in bottles. They have a great patio area which we took advantage of. Would definitely go back. read more

We came back for a delicious linner recently, and holy cow, I practically licked my plate clean of the Jagerschnitzel. Just wanted to post a quick update to recommend that and the Schofferhofer grapefruit beer (for all you non-beer drinkers - it doesn't taste like beer at all)!! These two alone were enough to escalate us up to a 5-star review :) read more

I went here a little bit hesitantly since I know nothing about German food. My idea of it is that it is all pork sausages with cabbage and beer. However, I was quickly blown away by every course. The bread that was served was accompanied by an amazingly delicately flavored home made butter that has to be tasted to be believed. For an appetizer I ordered the Brie, which I HIGHLY recommend. It's like mozzarella sticks taken to the next level. It was served with pears and Lingonberries. Wiener Schnitzel is not made with Pork as I thought, but veal. The Apple Strudel was the icing on the cake of the evening, and it was absolutely delicious with warm fresh apples, fresh cream and delicate layers of pastry. The beer was so good. The had only three choices but you can't go wrong with any. The outdoor seating was beautiful at night with lots of lights and intimate tables. If you have never tried German food, or went to Germany and miss the food, this is the place to go. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Washington D.C. My family has German lineage, and always love going to German restaurants. We discovered this location years ago while it was under different management but have continued to come every visit we make to D.C. (which is at least once a year). It has a nice patio so if it is good weather I absolutely recommend sitting outside and enjoying the ambiance! The restaurant itself is located down some steps in the lower level of a building. There is a small bar at the entrance, and two rooms for seating. While there are multiple options for drinks here, my favorite and go-to is a liter of Warsteiner beer. It is a delicious pilsner and of course the best pairing with German food! I had the Goulash soup which is nice and hearty with a spice, and the gemischte salat which is a sampling of four German salads - each different but all light and refreshing. For my entree I had the zweibelrostbraten - it is AMAZING. It is a strip steak that is served with crispy onions on top as well as with cheese spaetzle. It is very filling but so delicous you will not want to leave anything on the plate! When it is time for dessert, if you are able to fit it, the server brings over a dessert plate and shows you the samples of the options that are available that evening. I don't often order a dessert, but when a marzipan raisin rum cake was on the plate, I decided to take a shot - and I am so happy that I did! This restaurant is definitely a little on the more expensive side, but it is worth every penny! I can't wait for my next trip to D.C. to go back! read more

See all

Atmosphere: Pretty quiet, nicely decorated family place. Everyone in the restaurant joined in when we sang Happy Birthday! Went here in the winter, but the entrance/patio looked very cute. I can see why people might like it in the summer. Service: Good; knowledgeable and helpful waitress Food: I don't know a lot about German food, so I can't comment on the authenticity, but I sure thought it tasted good! I had a meal with sausages, saurkraut and potatoes -- wanted to have the full experience. I very much liked it having never had German before; others at the table had elk which got a "meh" response. Drinks: I hear the beers are good, though I didn't have one myself. Overall: I recommend you try it once, although it seems some don't like it...I didn't see a problem. read more

Not a fan of basement restaurants. Went here for lunch on Sat, and our party of 4 was the only one until an hour later. Dark with '80s carpeting, the friendly service cannot compensate for the dated decor. I think eating outside on the patio would be nicer. The food was alright, nothing offensive. Started with the Kartoffel Pfannkuchen (potato pancakes) - greasy and crunchy at the same time. Worth the order. The Wiener Schnitzel was slightly dry, but ok otherwise (large portion on this one). The Ungarisches Goulash was strong. The chicken salad sandwich is seasoned with pineapple and oranges (enjoyed this), and comes with goulash soup and potato salad (lemony, delicious). The spinach salad with breaded flounder was a special of the day (wish it had more seasoning). Used a $25 restaurant.com gift certificate; otherwise wouldn't have gone. read more

We're still in prime Oktoberfest season, so if you're in the mood for good beer and hearty German grub, there's time to indulge. I had dinner here with a co-worker last night (we're both German nerds). The place is extremely cozy, especially on a chilly, rainy night like yesterday. It's small without feeling stuffed, but is definitely working a small-shop vibe that makes it feel homey. We each ordered beers, a quarter-liter for me and a full liter for my friend. Be aware that the draft beer menu depends on what they have on hand, and some pours aren't available. The Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier I had was lovely. We started off with pretzel bites with mustard aioli that were a tasty snack. For dinner, I had the chicken cordon blue and my friend had the Jagerschnitzel, smothered in mushroom gravy and spatzle. The portions are incredibly generous and they have all the classics: schnitzel, spatzle, Schweinhaxe, potato salad, the works. If you like German/Austrian comfort food, this is your place. We each polished off our food, but they give you more than enough. The cordon blue was delicious, not dry at all, and it was served with lightly herbed rice and an orange cream sauce that I could drink. For dessert I had a blackberry torte and my friend had a coffee. The atmosphere was buzzy but not cacophonous, and the servers were all wearing lederhosen outfits. Everyone was good-natured and cheerful. And when you have excellent beer and German food, what's not to be cheerful about? read more

I was specifically in the mood for some fine German food, so I went to Cafe Berlin after reading glowing Yelp reviews. I don't have the most educated palate, as far as German cuisine goes, so I kept my expectations minimal. I did not have a reservation, it didn't seem likely that such a tucked away restaurant on a rainy evening would be fully booked. The bar was cozy and seemed well-manned by beer-imbibing patrons, but I was surprised to learn that they thought they were all booked, and why didn't we make a reservation? Oops... the Frau seemed frosty at first, but bristled with resolve and sat us anyway. I was overly-conscious of appearing to be some degenerate, unschooled in the honor of reservations, so I tried to hurry the entire dining experience. The beer, in beautiful, hefty glassware, was cold, delicious and so inviting. I ordered the Jaegerschnitzel, never had that before, but the pork, while reasonably tasty, was very thinly sliced. That was my only 'mah' about the experience. The service was pleasantly punctilious, the staff were all courteous and respectful. I will definitely go back once the weather allows for patio dining, at least to quaff some of that fine German beer. Yum. read more

We went there a few months ago and I had German food for the first time. We ordered Cesar Salad, Sauerbraten, and German Sausage Sandwich, oh and black beer. The salad was decent, the sandwich was pretty okay, and the saubraten but the side (thick and short spaghetti )was a little sloppywas really good because of the sauce. We sat outside and the weather was nice. Service seriously needed improvement. We waited for a long time before the waiter stopped talking to another table and paid attention to us. Not good not good. read more

Came here for dinner without many expectations and were pleasantly surprised! This restaurant serves plentiful and incredibly delicious entrees in addition to a variety of tasty appetizers and a great selection of draught beers from Germany. It took us a while to make our selections from the menu because we wanted to try everything! For our appetizer, we chose the potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream before our braised beef with spatzle and jagerschnitzel entrees. All SO flavorful, delicious, and filling! They also had a nice selection of five or six different pies, which all look and sounded appealing. The raspberry tart did not disappoint. I highly recommend Cafe Berlin. We will definitely be returning soon and again in the late spring when we can enjoy dining on the front patio. read more

Had such a wonderful brunch here on Sunday after Thanksgiving! My parents, sister, fiance and I called ahead for 5, but I don't think it was necessary. Cafe Berlin appears very authentically German to my uneducated eye. They had a wild game menu that looked fascinating and an extensive beer list. We stuck to more traditional brunch fare, but loved it. The potato, dumpling, sausage, and egg gravy bowl (can't recall the name in German) got good reviews, as did the assortment of german cold salads, sauerkraut and brat plate with potatoes, and my dish, a delicious combo of potato pancakes, smoked salmon, gravy, and poached egg. The highlights were great coffee, great bloody marys, bier cheese with pretzels, and the sweet and sour pumpkin soup with whiskey cream! My mother was disappointed with the potato pancakes, however. Our lovely waitress was gracious enough to apologize, thank us, AND offer free dessert simply because they were out of a couple of things and because of minimal delays with thr food. It was all affordable, too, and pretty and clean. A+ read more

Nice short walk from where we are staying for a visit to Washington DC. Started with a 4 at the end of our meal and ordered desert to go (have not tried the desert yet). The food was deserving of a 4. The reason for a 2 is because the waiter took my card, Was gone for a very lengthy time and then came back with the charge slip and no card. Card was not at the waiter station and the waiter had to go "find it". In today's world with card fraud and theft this is un excusable I really hope this is a fluke and not common here. Now I have to watch my card like an eagle for a few months. read more

This is a good restaurant but we waited an hour to get our food. The dishes were delicious but the mess up used up our entire lunch break and more. read more

If you want a delicious and atmospheric place to eat, Cafe Berlin is for you. Wait staff was friendly and helpful, and the food was mouthwatering. 10/10, would not have changed a thing. read more

After reading my stellar reviews I expected great things from Cafe Berlin, but my experience led me to not come here in the near future. First, the positives: +HUGE Beers +Nice outdoor seating area Now the negatives: -SLOW service... I don't know if they were short staffed, but lunch should not take 2 hours on a Saturday. The waiter also seemed more concerned with waiting on a huge table of tourists to even look our way. -Mediocre food. I ordered the potato pancakes and pork sandwich. The pancakes were rubbery and way too oily and seemed like someone had just microwaved them. The pork sandwich (when I finally got it) was small, flavorless, and served on a huge platter which made it look smaller. It was also served with a bland ice cream sized scoop of German potato salad. Overall, not really worth the bother. read more

Café Berlin is one of my favorite DC restaurants. I can't get out of there without spending at least $30, but it's always a fun experience. This place is great on a cold, wintry day with its heavy German fare. They have some good, lighter items like their delicious coconut chicken salad, but it seems like a waste not to get schnitzel or my favorite, sauerbraten. Their appetizers are interesting and tasty, but dessert is mandatory. I rarely order dessert, but their cakes and especially their amazing apple strudel is not to be missed. This is a great place to go to celebrate, or forget your troubles on a rough day. I couldn't go there more than once a month, but it's always fun when I do. read more

Delicious German cuisine. Easy to navigate the German food items with descriptions in English. Helpful staff to direct you with your choices. read more

People are really nice there and you must try the wine beef stew and German sausage ! Incredibly awesome! read more

Cafe Berlin - The bed and sausage are incredibly great! - German Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Without a doubt, my favorite restaurant in the area. The staff, the beer options, the food - all as wonderful as the ambiance. Cafe Berlin has a great seasonal menu with interesting wild game options. If you're in the mood for something big and bold, give it a visit. I would recommend the Currywurst to start and if available, the strawberry-rhubarb cake for desert. read more

Authentic German food, homemade desserts, good beer...doesn't get much better than that. I would call for reservations if its on the weekend. read more

The food was authentic and elegantly served, the beer was excellent, and the prices were very moderate for a classy evening out. The menu had a wide variety to choose from, the seasonal menu was a nice touch. Had a double date before the theatre with my parents. They arrived before us and were welcomed with a beer at the bar. When my date and I arrived we moved to our table which I had reserved through Open Table. The process was easy and it was an overall nice experience. read more

What can I say about perfection. Try this place because of a coupon...worth a trip back. Excellent service and wonderful food. Authentic... read more

See all

Loved cafe Berlin. Goulash soup was great, so was the curry chicken wurst. I had the vienerschnitzel as the entre and sample the hunerschnitzel. Both were great. Drank a Boot. I will be back read more

Despite great reviews from a friend who lives in the neighborhood, we did not have a great experience last night. It appeared they may have been under staffed but the manager was not being very helpful. There were many open tables on the patio, but he was not seating people outside, saying there were 20-30 minute waits. The situation seemed very strange. We decided to have a drink at the bar in hopes we would get a spot outside, but decided to leave after the manager gave a large party a hard time despite their willingness to order a considerable amount. This disagreement happened right next to us. Maybe it was just a bad night. The patio looked great and the food we saw seemed fun and authentic. read more

Went to the restaurant on a Thursday afternoon at around 4pm. We wanted to dine outside and luckily, there was no one there except for one person, who was looking at their laptop. Went inside and was asked by the server if I had a reservation. Since the courtyard was completely empty, albeit this person with the laptop, I assumed that their policy must be that you had to have a reservation, no matter how busy they were. I stood in the courtyard with my cell phone and brought up my Opentable app, made a reservation, and then went back inside to let the server know that a reservation had now been made. As we are walking back out to be seated, this person with the laptop starts to admonish me, saying 'you didn't have to make a reservation now that you're here. You're costing us money'. Huh? Found out that this person at the laptop was the manager/owner of the restaurant, a woman named Clytie. Very rude. How about when we arrived, saying hello and letting us know that someone would be with us shortly? Or how about in a pleasant 'customer-oriented voice', saying 'thanks for making your reservation. Just so you know, the next time you come, there is no need to make the reservation unless you do it in advance'. This lady acted like I did her a disservice on purpose! She negates a potential $80 or $90 dinner for a $2 fee that she has to pay to Opentable? We ended up leaving. I don't like spending my money in places where I am treated poorly. I wonder if this interaction was racially motivated. We frequently dine out, and I have never been treated this way in a restaurant before. This manager was completely RUDE. Then, when I got riled up by her inconsiderate comments and I let her know that it wasn't my problem about the fees that she had to pay, she started shouting, 'God bless you! God bless you!' in a snarky and condescending tone. I would NEVER patronize this place again. There is never a reason or an excuse to be rude to potential customers or paying customers, unless they do something to disrupt service of the establishment. This manager obviously does not honor her customers. read more

My friend and I went for dinner and was really looking forward to some authentic German food. She is from Czech and married to a German. She lived in Germany for several years. She said the food was not too close to authentic. I have traveled and I also thought the food was not close to authentic. My friend had the Wiener Schnitzel ... veal pounded thin, breaded, pan fried. It was not veal. Also, it was so dry she could hardly eat it. I had the Jägerschnitzel ... pork loin, pounded thin, breaded, pan fried, bacon and mushroom gravy, spätzle. Mine was very good. A little close to authentic.I was surprised that all the meals were not served with red cabbage. The service was not good. Our server was from Russia. He seemed very confused and was over seated on his tables. I would give them a second chance, but that night was not the best. read more

This place can aptly be described in one word: FUN. My dining companion and I chose the potato pancakes and tuna tartare to snack on while we we enjoyed our main course: the 2L boot of Hefeweizen. "Das Boot" was hilariously large and delicious. Oh, and yes you do have to drink out of the boot. The potato pancakes and tuna tartar were both very good as well. We sat outside on the patio, which was wonderful and had a very Euro feel. The waitstaff was German and friendly and very funny. Bring a date here for some beer in a boot and some great food! What more could you ask for? read more

The little bar area in front is enjoyable - nice and cozy and comfortable. The bartender we had was very attentive (of course, there's only like 9 spots max, so how could he not be). The actual restaurant was a bit more disappointing. I got some sausages, but didn't particularity enjoy them nor the associated sides. Service was slow, with our waiter disappearing for up to 15-20 minutes at a time. Decor was fine, but the place is in a basement and overall felt a bit stuffy. If you really like German food, give this place a shot. I'm not tempted to go back there. read more

I wanted to love this place...I really did. It's in a fantastic location on Capitol Hill, the patio is always decked out during the summer, and the interior was quaint and intimate. Before I get to the food let me just say that the service was fantastic. From the beautiful hostess at the front door to the incredibly friendly wait staff, they were excellent. The food however, was underwhelming. I don't expect heavy seasoning or spice, that's typical to German food. What I do expect for the price is something that atleast resembles freshly cooked, and not premade. I was disappointed that my appetizer (sour kraut balls) were cold in the middle, and my Wildschwein was tepid at best. Dessert was tasty, but still barely warm. Granted we were there on a weekday, so to some degree you can expect this. For these prices, I expect better. Bottom line, don't be afraid to give this place a shot, I'm sure they have other dishes that are delicious, and the patio is great in the summer. read more

Café Berlin is a delightful establishment. The owner is very nice, and attentive. The names of the beers and food are so German, it adds to the authentic feel. The sauerkraut balls appetizer with mustard aioli are unbelievable. The pretzels are good too, but I don't think anything compares with the sauerkraut balls. I've tried many things on the menu, and they are all good, but my favorite is the meat platter (schlattplatte?). Great meats and sausages. I usually go for lunch, so I have yet to have a beer, but the giant mugs they are served in are so enticing. I am dying to go back for happy hour one day! Five stars for delicious food and authentic ambiance! read more

Great place for German dining in dc- sauerbraten with spatzle was excellent - my wife had German Mac & cheese which was very fine. Its a smaller place an cozy. I highly recommend this place. read more

Amazing food and amazing service! Went with a large group for a friend's birthday and we all had a great time. First, the food. Even though it is a truly German, authentic restaurant, there are quite a few options for vegetarians, and the selections were delicious! All of my meat-eating friends cleaned their plates too. Second, the service- just phenomenal. We were given the perfect amount of attention- had our waters refilled when we needed, ordered courses as we were ready, but never felt either neglected or pressured to move things along. We were also allowed to really enjoy each course and despite being the last people left in the restaurant were in no way rushed to hurry and finish/leave. In fact, at the end of our meal we were brought a round of shots on the house! Our server, Michela, did a great job and the owner came around to talk to us too. Will DEFINITELY go back and recommend to friends. read more

Sat outside at Cafe Berlin on a recent June evening in a party of 7. I had the grilled flounder (I know, at a German restaurant, mea culpa) and it was spectacular, with a caper, tomato and red onion salsa on top. My companions all had german items and I tasted most of them - unbelievably good! The beers were good, too - I had a German wheat beer. They offered the liter size, and it was huge (like those steins you'd get in Munich!) so I went with the half liter and was satisfied. As dusk settled, fireflies came out. There were umbrellas over the tables to block out the sun, and it actually made you feel like you were in another world. Be sure to check out the art in the ladies restroom...apparently similar art in the men's but without the punchline...that's all I'll say about that. read more