Berlin has made heroic strides to overcome its culinary reputation as a city of overcooked, fatty foods. A case in point is how the recent farm-to-table movement has appealed to Berliners' appetites. Come prepared to have an involved conversation with your server about the precise sourcing of every ingredient. Here is a roundup of the best, ranging from simple German fare to full-on Brooklyn-style artisanal heaven.
Picture: Little Otik – Courtesy of Little Otik
Katz Orange
Don't let the rec room–style wood paneling or the rickety-looking chairs in this two-floor restaurant fool you; Katz Orange is one of Berlin's most adventurous and upscale farm-to-table places to eat. High on the list of lip-smacking winter courses are a tartar of free-range beef that includes boudin (the beloved French-inspired blood sausage), and 12-hour roasted pork served with Champagne cabbage and lemon-garlic yogurt. Vegetarian dishes deliver too: A bean salad includes pea cream and sake mayonnaise, while a decadent fried potato pancake comes with braised heirloom vegetables. Tasting menus start at €47.
Picture: Katz Orange – Courtesy of Juliane Spaete and Sven Hausherr
Little Otik
Little Otik is a 20-seat, candle-lit bistro with stripped back plain walls and dark wood floors that's located in the ultra-hip Graefe Kiez neighborhood. It kick-started the local-and-seasonal movement in Berlin with some talent from Brooklyn's Diner. Dishes are kept simple, with appetizers ranging from radishes with fleur de sel and butter, to spare ribs served with raisin chutney. The list of main courses changes often, but usually includes fish such as Zander (similar to perch) and seasonally appropriate meat such as wild-boar sausage served with lentils and figs. The wine list is budget-friendly, with most bottles priced under €20. People-watching bonus: This is Berlin's favorite place for starving artists to bring their better-off parents. Appetizers €3–9, mains €21–23.
Picture: Little Otik – Courtesy of Little Otik
Lokal
The prime lunch spot for Mitte—the pioneering chic neighborhood of East Berlin that's still going strong—Lokal is the epitome of a modern Berlin restaurant. Flooded with light from its many tall windows, the plain dark wood tables and white chairs make for a minimal interior. Char is a frequent star on the fish menu, and the meat selections run typically to game, including lots of venison and the only wild-boar schnitzel in town, though more typical bistro fare like côte de boeuf makes an occasional appearance. Appetizers €5–12, mains €13–20.
Picture: Lokal – Courtesy of Berlin Reified
Three city bistros for locavore lovers