Although burgers and hotdogs are popular worldwide, Germany hasn’t really gained the global recognition for its food that pasta, tapas and sushi has. The only possible reason for this is that I can see is that it’s just not that sexy. But then, adjectives like ‘nice’ and ‘honest’ don’t tend to evoke in us burning passion, and rarely do the words ‘simple’ and ‘wholesome’ leave us quivering...
But worry not! This is not some cheap attempt to sexify the sausage (as if it needed it) but just a bit of a nudge to encourage you to Give Wurst a Chance.
Traditional German fare is like a great big hug from a family member you actually like, or from the best friend you’ve missed a lot. It’s real and it’s easy and it’s comforting. (If you hate your family and have no friends, eat German and you won’t care.)
You know exactly where you are with this food. You don’t have to worry about what you order because if the menu says “Bratwurst with fried potatoes and sauerkraut”, that’s exactly what you’re going to get, which is quite lovely really. Then, when your meal arrives, take one look at your plate and you can identify everything on it. How nice is that? And a German meal is a proper meal: it’s filling and it’s good for you and it tastes really, really nice.
Unsexy as it may be, there is no denying that German food is good. Damn good. And who doesn’t like good food?
Speisen-Gaststätte zum Schusterjungen
Danziger-Straße 9, 10435 Berlin
Tel 4427654
A bit of a mouthful, right..? But if you’ve still got room in there, and you’re after some traditional grub, this little place is worth stopping in at. Offering daily specials, and a selection of fresh-baked cakes, a husband and wife team run this unassuming inn, open every day until midnight. Expect tasty German fare; unpretentious recipes made with good ingredients. Service is quick and friendly - though if you are seated outside, the waitress may take a while to notice you at first. Prices are very reasonable, with snacks and soups from 2.50€ and main courses averaging around 7.50€. Drinks and desserts are cheaper than elsewhere, so go on and enjoy a full meal just like Mutti used to make. The menu is in German, so if your Deutsch is less than wunderbar and you don’t fancy risking it, go for the Bratwurst or the Schnitzel.
MiKa
Graefe-Straße
The kind of lazy avenue that you just know is going to be ‘so in’ given a few years, Graefe-Straße has a peaceful calm to it: a calm, in which the constant birdsong is sweet, rather than irritating, and the sound of piano music on the breeze is soothing, rather than cheesy. Inside dingy bar; outside relaxed dining, MiKa is one of several eateries on the street and a winner if you’re after a quick and easy lunch. The menu offers up a good selection of mostly German dishes and bar food. A nice old guy with an equally nice moustache holds down the fort with a little help from his barfly chums, who are more than happy to take orders if he’s in the back. Service is casually efficient and portions are great-value huge. Not exactly gourmet cuisine, but the food is tasty and inexpensive, and the atmosphere pretty darn pleasant.
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