Maybe it was just the dish I had but the beef was very dry and the whole dish was very salty. The food was lukewarm with hot spots possibly indicating it was microwaved. I was not a fan of my food but the service was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
John Maharg
The best place to eat in Washington, DC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jägerschnitzel, Potato Pancakes, Sauerbraten Red Wine Marinated Braised Beef Roast Potato Dumplings & Red Cabbage
SimonB
As a long-time patron of Cafe Berlin, it pains me to leave a poor review. But last evening's experience has forced me to. The problem was mostly related to service. While the servers were certainly very polite, I found their service rather poor. The biggest issue was waitress with the eyebrow extensions who presented us with a loud symphony of percussion that last ~ 30-40 minutes as she sorted through the cutlery. Really, why should customers looking for pleasant evening meal in a fine restaurant be subjected to this? The second issue was that one of the plates we ordered never arrived. The third (and least problematic) was that while we hadn't yet worked out all our drinks when requested to order, and needed another minute, we were then ignored for over 10 ten minutes before a number member of the wait staff (the guy at the bar) finally rescued us. Usually the wait staff at Cafe Berlin have been so good in the past. I especially like the couple of wait staff who also work/worked at My Henry's. While most of the food was still very good as usual, and the beer as excellent as ever, the side-dish of red cabbage included very large wedges of uncut red cabbage rather than the usual completely shredded cabbage. It just felt extremely sloppy. Then finally the loud banter and swearing between patrons at the bar is also something I would expect this establishment to control better. I fear this place is going downhill.
John Hardwick
Found this gem while working a concert in DC. Legit atmosphere, nice staff and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yixin Tang
The soup and salad are a little bit salty but the sandwich bread is amazing! Ordered two and will come back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ging
It was a lovely dinner. The Sauerbraten with potato dumplings and the Boar Goulash with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes Entrees we had were superb. We shared the potato pancakes and the cup of goulash as our appetizers were excellent. The pink lady apple strudel is not to be missed. Order it at the same time you're ordering Entrees as it's made and baked to order. Everything was amazing. My husband was stationed in Germany for many years. He was so impressed with the food. We will be back to dine once again. Thank you!
AllanL
Waitress didn't inform us that the apple strudel required 35 mins. to prepare until after we finished dinner. We would have preferred being told during dinner so that we wouldn't have to wait for the strudel. As a result we ordered the pancake desert which was very good. Still would have liked to try the strudel.
Manisha Sabat
We initially booked reservations and were confirmed for it. However, when we went, they seated us at the patio saying that we had outdoor dining confirmation and it was freezing cold. There was no mention of outdoor dining in the confirmation. They had a fireplace, but it didn't provide heat at all even though we were seated right next to it. They should at least have a couple of heaters outside if they put people outside for dining. That's what other restaurants do. They provided blankets, but it wasn't enough as it was super cold. They later seated us by the bar when some of the guests were gone. The service wasn't great as well as they messed up our order, and the little lamps provided outside weren't working. We had to tell the server a couple of times about it. When we were seated back indoors, the server didn't help us out with carrying our water or food. However, the guy at the bar was really nice and got our orders right. He also made sure we were given all of our orders, and he checked on our orders. All the pointers to him for giving us a good service than our previous server. The food was okay too. The sausage, salad, and sauted vegetables were the only good things at the place. Everything else was okay. I would definitely suggest checking out the food options beforehand as there are very few options for non-meat eaters. I would also recommend knowing what kind of reservations you have to have a better dining experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
ChrisA
We made our booking a few weeks earlier and for some reason chose outdoor seating. On the day of our booking, it was a verrry cold night. We got there and they decided to sit us outside because we had obviously booked outdoors (which I honestly don't remember doing). The problem with this is that, it was one of the most chilly nights and they had absolutely nothing to help with the cold. When I told the waiter it was too cold, she said "well we have blankets and we sell hot drinks!". The blankets were so thin that they did not make a difference. I was really dissapointed because, if they are going to offer outdoor sitting during winter, they should be able to create a warmer environment. The french place next door has fire places, and a better option for outdoor sitting. After shivering for about 30mins, we realised they had a little fire pit and asked the waiter to turn it on for us. Shocking that we had to beg them to turn on the fire pit. Drinks took too long to be served and the meal wasnt authentic enough. I most likely would not be going back there.
Gigi L.
Food is so good. The food still hasthe same taste after 10years! I love their sausages.
We had a great dinner here on a Thursday night and were glad we had reservations because it's not a big place and was busy even on a mid-week night in February. We started with some potato pancakes and they were fresh, crisp and delicious served with applesauce and sour cream. The beer selection is good with German selections on tap. I had a great seasonal beer in a half-liter size. For my entree I had the rouladen which was a special that night and it was delicious and authentic complete with pickles in the middle. The meat was tender and flavorful and the mashed potatoes made this great comfort food. The red cabbage side was perfect and reminded me of Grandma's homemade version which is definitely a good thing. The three of us shared two desserts which was the perfect amount. The bread pudding and chocolate cake were both excellent. Service was good and the atmosphere in a converted house was lovely.
BobK
This was our first visit to the restaurant. It was noisy when we arrived, but quieted down when two large parties left. Food was delicious. Service was OK. We had water but only one water glass. The waitress removed my empty beer glass without asking if I wanted another beer. Overall, good visit and will definitely return.
Katie Bruner
Delicious. Unique. Charming, and a special find in the ever busy, overpopulated DC capitol.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pretzel, Sauerkraut Balls
Dirk Ludwig
Had a great meal here with friendly staff. Reminded me of Germany.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cafe Berlin in Washington DC serves up a delectable array of authentic German cuisine that will transport your taste buds straight to Bavaria. From hearty sausages to savory schnitzels, every dish bursts with flavor and tradition. The cozy atmosphere and charming decor create the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. The menu boasts classics like bratwurst, sauerkraut, and schnitzel, all expertly prepared with top-quality ingredients. Pair your meal with a refreshing German beer or a glass of Riesling for the ultimate culinary journey. With friendly service and impeccable attention to detail, Cafe Berlin truly delivers a taste of Germany in the heart of DC.
Maybe it was just the dish I had but the beef was very dry and the whole dish was very salty. The food was lukewarm with hot spots possibly indicating it was microwaved. I was not a fan of my food but the service was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
The best place to eat in Washington, DC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jägerschnitzel, Potato Pancakes, Sauerbraten Red Wine Marinated Braised Beef Roast Potato Dumplings & Red Cabbage
As a long-time patron of Cafe Berlin, it pains me to leave a poor review. But last evening's experience has forced me to. The problem was mostly related to service. While the servers were certainly very polite, I found their service rather poor. The biggest issue was waitress with the eyebrow extensions who presented us with a loud symphony of percussion that last ~ 30-40 minutes as she sorted through the cutlery. Really, why should customers looking for pleasant evening meal in a fine restaurant be subjected to this? The second issue was that one of the plates we ordered never arrived. The third (and least problematic) was that while we hadn't yet worked out all our drinks when requested to order, and needed another minute, we were then ignored for over 10 ten minutes before a number member of the wait staff (the guy at the bar) finally rescued us. Usually the wait staff at Cafe Berlin have been so good in the past. I especially like the couple of wait staff who also work/worked at My Henry's. While most of the food was still very good as usual, and the beer as excellent as ever, the side-dish of red cabbage included very large wedges of uncut red cabbage rather than the usual completely shredded cabbage. It just felt extremely sloppy. Then finally the loud banter and swearing between patrons at the bar is also something I would expect this establishment to control better. I fear this place is going downhill.
Found this gem while working a concert in DC. Legit atmosphere, nice staff and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The soup and salad are a little bit salty but the sandwich bread is amazing! Ordered two and will come back again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was a lovely dinner. The Sauerbraten with potato dumplings and the Boar Goulash with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes Entrees we had were superb. We shared the potato pancakes and the cup of goulash as our appetizers were excellent. The pink lady apple strudel is not to be missed. Order it at the same time you're ordering Entrees as it's made and baked to order. Everything was amazing. My husband was stationed in Germany for many years. He was so impressed with the food. We will be back to dine once again. Thank you!
Waitress didn't inform us that the apple strudel required 35 mins. to prepare until after we finished dinner. We would have preferred being told during dinner so that we wouldn't have to wait for the strudel. As a result we ordered the pancake desert which was very good. Still would have liked to try the strudel.
We initially booked reservations and were confirmed for it. However, when we went, they seated us at the patio saying that we had outdoor dining confirmation and it was freezing cold. There was no mention of outdoor dining in the confirmation. They had a fireplace, but it didn't provide heat at all even though we were seated right next to it. They should at least have a couple of heaters outside if they put people outside for dining. That's what other restaurants do. They provided blankets, but it wasn't enough as it was super cold. They later seated us by the bar when some of the guests were gone. The service wasn't great as well as they messed up our order, and the little lamps provided outside weren't working. We had to tell the server a couple of times about it. When we were seated back indoors, the server didn't help us out with carrying our water or food. However, the guy at the bar was really nice and got our orders right. He also made sure we were given all of our orders, and he checked on our orders. All the pointers to him for giving us a good service than our previous server. The food was okay too. The sausage, salad, and sauted vegetables were the only good things at the place. Everything else was okay. I would definitely suggest checking out the food options beforehand as there are very few options for non-meat eaters. I would also recommend knowing what kind of reservations you have to have a better dining experience.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
We made our booking a few weeks earlier and for some reason chose outdoor seating. On the day of our booking, it was a verrry cold night. We got there and they decided to sit us outside because we had obviously booked outdoors (which I honestly don't remember doing). The problem with this is that, it was one of the most chilly nights and they had absolutely nothing to help with the cold. When I told the waiter it was too cold, she said "well we have blankets and we sell hot drinks!". The blankets were so thin that they did not make a difference. I was really dissapointed because, if they are going to offer outdoor sitting during winter, they should be able to create a warmer environment. The french place next door has fire places, and a better option for outdoor sitting. After shivering for about 30mins, we realised they had a little fire pit and asked the waiter to turn it on for us. Shocking that we had to beg them to turn on the fire pit. Drinks took too long to be served and the meal wasnt authentic enough. I most likely would not be going back there.
Food is so good. The food still hasthe same taste after 10years! I love their sausages.
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a great dinner here on a Thursday night and were glad we had reservations because it's not a big place and was busy even on a mid-week night in February. We started with some potato pancakes and they were fresh, crisp and delicious served with applesauce and sour cream. The beer selection is good with German selections on tap. I had a great seasonal beer in a half-liter size. For my entree I had the rouladen which was a special that night and it was delicious and authentic complete with pickles in the middle. The meat was tender and flavorful and the mashed potatoes made this great comfort food. The red cabbage side was perfect and reminded me of Grandma's homemade version which is definitely a good thing. The three of us shared two desserts which was the perfect amount. The bread pudding and chocolate cake were both excellent. Service was good and the atmosphere in a converted house was lovely.
This was our first visit to the restaurant. It was noisy when we arrived, but quieted down when two large parties left. Food was delicious. Service was OK. We had water but only one water glass. The waitress removed my empty beer glass without asking if I wanted another beer. Overall, good visit and will definitely return.
Delicious. Unique. Charming, and a special find in the ever busy, overpopulated DC capitol.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pretzel, Sauerkraut Balls
Had a great meal here with friendly staff. Reminded me of Germany.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cafe Berlin in Washington DC serves up a delectable array of authentic German cuisine that will transport your taste buds straight to Bavaria. From hearty sausages to savory schnitzels, every dish bursts with flavor and tradition. The cozy atmosphere and charming decor create the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. The menu boasts classics like bratwurst, sauerkraut, and schnitzel, all expertly prepared with top-quality ingredients. Pair your meal with a refreshing German beer or a glass of Riesling for the ultimate culinary journey. With friendly service and impeccable attention to detail, Cafe Berlin truly delivers a taste of Germany in the heart of DC.