Thursday 18 October 2012

Hipsters Eat Too

Whether you're still doing your vegan thing, only eating raw organic products grown locally by midgets with one arm or you just want to fill that sensation of a gaping void of nothingness inside you Berlin has an ever growing range of eating options. Here are two that probably won't be in the other guide books.

The Bird
Falkplatz 5, Prenzlauer Berg
U2 Schonhauser Allee
Mon-Thurs 6-11pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 12-12am, Sun 12-11pm
In 2006, a couple from New York realised Berlin lacked an authentic American burger joint and decided to open their own in the trendy district of Prenzlauer Berg. The staff at this steakhouse are probably more hipster than the clientele, with a mixture of visiting hipsters and burger loving Germans regularly coming in the door. You may have to wait for a table at this very popular restaurant, even if you made a reservation, but the English speaking staff will be sure to take care of you. The exposed brick walls, dim lighting and loud American tunes from the 50's up to ironically played mainstream hip hop of today, makes The Bird a chaotic but cosy place to enjoy a meal. The bar is decorated with redneck bumper stickers such as “If it's called tourist season, why can't I shoot them?” and sorely missed PBR logos. The burger prices are a little steep at about 12€, but you easily get your money's worth. The gargantuan beef patties (imported from Iowa) are accompanied by a choice of blue cheese, orange American cheddar or bacon and are reminiscent of a true New York burger, served of course, with a mountain of fries and a pickle. However, the greasy hunk of the best burger mince in Berlin is sandwiched in between an inappropriately sized English muffin. Upon arrival of your beast of a burger you will be given a roll of paper towels and frowned upon if you don't use your hands; a worthy challenge for any burger enthusiast, but it is likely to leave you feeling like you need a shower once your plate is empty. American expats or those of you who have spent the obligatory exchange semester at Penn State or U-Dub are especially encouraged to go to this ironically redneck restaurant and have a nostalgic night about The States. You can even get a tap beer to go, and pretend you're back on Frenchmen St in New Orleans while you nurse your burger belly.


Mundvoll
Waldermarstraße 48, Kreuzberg
U1/U8 Kottbusser Tor
daily 10am-1am
On the corner of Waldermarstraße and Adalbertstraße lies the newly opened cafe whose exterior walls are adorned with worn pine crates and flowers. Unless you dine at Mundvoll you are unlikely to see the name of the establishment, and as such the restaurant is commonly referred to as The Cafe With No Name. The elusive title directly translates as “mouthful” which is something every foodie should sample from this restaurant. The main menu offers exquisite dishes such as beetroot crepes, barbecued chicken and a special that changes daily. While bare and minimalistic yet rustic on the inside, Mundvoll creates a pleasant dining experience at any time of the day. The attractive and trendy waiters will be sure to look after you, as they will treat you how you feel you should be treated, waiting for you to finish your wine glass before topping it up for you. During the day and night, the rickety tables outside are almost always occupied by classic hipsters enjoying a vegan salad and swapping poetry or reading Nietzsche.

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