Staying in Berlin for Xmas? Feel the corners of your mouth drooping 'cos you'll be missing out on your mum's roast turkey? Fear not expat traditionalists - there are plenty of festive feasts to banish any holiday blues.
Schillerbar’s German ChristmasStranded in Berlin for Christmas? Fear not, traditionalist readers: these five places should fulfil your festive appetites.East London: Merry BritmasUPDATE: East London is booked out!
For the kind of Christmas roast Tiny Tim dreams about, make a stop at East London, a restaurant that prides itself on authentic British cuisine. This year they’re serving up a three-course meal for a modest €25. Choices include a boned and rolled stuffed turkey with mashed potatoes and an equally filling vegetarian dish of baked goat cheese with tomatoes and cranberry sauce. Let that settle with a slice of Baileys cheesecake or mince pie with whisky cream. FV East London | Mehringdamm 33, Kreuzberg, U-Bhf Mehringdamm, Dec 25, 13-17:00.Kopps: Meat-free with style
Want a vegan Christmas? Björn Moschinski, head chef of Mitte’s most lavish vegan restaurant, is your man. For €29, three courses include chestnut-stuffed ravioli and a walnut and date risotto to tide you over, and a crepe suzette to sweeten you up. No bland soya ‘meat’ here; instead, you’ll find experimental veggies like beet carpaccio and truffled celery. A luxuriously healthy option in gluttonous times. SOD Kopps | Linienstr. 94, Mitte, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Dec 23 and 26, 10-late.Rosa Caleta: Jamaican holiday
The attentive owners of the Kreuzberg Jamaican restaurant provide an appropriately warm, homey holiday atmosphere. The Caribbean-European menu offers four three-course meals ranging from €24.50 to €37.50. It’s the usual Christmas fare with an island twist: roast lamb leg with a mint, thyme, peppercorn crust, or a sweet potato caramel tart. The pumpkin chestnut soup, roasted guinea hen and tofu and walnut ravioli will whet your appetite throughout the festivities. SODRosa Caleta | Muskauerstr 9, Kreuzberg, U-Bhf Görlitzer Bahnhof, Dec 23-26, 17-23:00.Schillerbar: Definitely Deutsch
No one does Christmas Gemütlichkeit quite like the Germans. Get cosy at Schillerbar with a three-course meal priced at €19.50. The starter is a mushroom soup with truffle oil – if you’re not a fan, skip it for a €2.50 discount. This is followed by traditional roasted duck, served with potato dumplings and red cabbage – or potato gratin for a Gallic twist. The dessert is equally Germanic: roasted apple straight out of the oven filled with marzipan and walnuts, or a “Lebkuchenstrudel” with vanilla sauce. FVSchillerbar | Herrfurthstr. 7, Neukölln, U-Bhf Boddinstr, Nov 15-Dec 23, Dec 25-26, 17-23:00.Ganymed Brasserie: Goosed up
In France, Christmas is all about the food. Chef Attila Konrad’s three-course meal (€32.50) kicks off with shellfish tartare on wakame and a black currant coulis. Next, choose between a goose leg and half a roasted duck served with rather teutonic sides: apple red cabbage and potato dumplings. Top it off with a currant ragout and marzipan mousse. If you’re feeling especially ravenous, order a fourth course (€39.90). The kitchen will also be serving traditional roasted goose on special order till Dec 30. FVGanymed Brasserie | Schiffbauerdamm 5, Mitte, S-Bhf Friedrichstr. Nov 19-Dec 30, 12-24:00.
