The French-oriental sequel to a legendary joint that was never that legendary. Café Jaques was once renowned as Berlin’s ultimate French Bohemian café – complete with French-speaking beret-clad owner. Then, urban legend has it that Jacques left and the place went down the pan. Although we hate to destroy myths, let’s point out a few facts: Jacques doesn’t exist, never did and therefore never left. The place was never amazing, but never got worse either.
A new Café Jacques opened in Senefelder Straße in the spot that housed the Offenbachstuben for many years (another Jacques). The food gets the same average marks as the Neukölln location: multi-kulti inspired (the cooks are French, Spanish and Italian), French style (roasts with gratin, cheese plates) with a marked oriental (the oriental platter and couscous twice a month) and Mediterranean slant (Spanish wines, Italian specialties and ingredients). The large oriental platter in its two variations – meaty and vegetarian – is a regular, along with the four choices of salads and the French cheese plate.
Except for those basic and quick alternatives, the lunch and dinner menu change every day and the three multinational cooks join forces to concoct fresh creations. Just like the food, the restaurant’s interior is a mix of casual modern and oriental. Low wooden tables and chairs are just the right setting to enjoy a cigarette (yes, it is still possible) before or after the meal. The service is warm and friendly.
Designed to cater to the brat-toting Prenzlauer Berg crowd, the café boasts one of the best kids’ corners in town with an entire separate room filled with toys and games, cut off from the grown-up Gauloises-puffers’ area. A great place for smoking parents to eat in peace.
