Eating out in Berlin

Berlin offers a refreshing gastronomic experience. The city abounds with ethnic restaurants, fresh produce markets, and welcoming establishments serving nourishing, delightful German food. Furthermore, it offers food-shopping possibilities that are disappearing fast in modern-day metropolises. You are invited to rediscover neighbourhood markets, butcher stores, Turkish groceries and organic food shops. The food retail tradition is very much alive here, unlike the UK and US. You won't find a gigantic, impersonal supermarket at every street corner. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find one.
That being said, you have no reason at all to worry that you won't find what you're looking for. You will find everything you need and more, depending on whether you are looking for Asian, English, Italian, Jewish, or Arabian food. There are also excellent bakeries with world-famous German pastries, cafes and bars.
The Asian Pazifik supermarket is one of the best places to go for Asian food and spices. They have every Asian variety you can imagine - Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, India and more. The selection is truly astounding. Some great choices are golden palace rice and shrimp-egg noodles. You can use fresh lemon leaves and green chillies for salad, and take some fine 12-year old liquor for a nightcap. The supermarket also offers some unique Oriental souvenirs, such as glowing fountains. Another great venue for Asian food is Reiskorn, with fresh chilli, bean sprouts, tofu and many exotic treats. An artist manages the market, which is evident in the décor.
Two British gourmet shops worth visiting are Broken English and the aptly named English Food Shop. Broken English is a well-supplied, convenient venue offering all possible types of English tea, chocolate, cereal, shortbread and beer.
There are several Italian shops in Berlin. Salumeria Via Ludovico is a spacious store and a restaurant. A fine selection of Italian wine and hams, aged vinegar (some types are almost a century old), fresh antipasti and a myriad of delicious snacks - you will find all this and much more.
Kosher foods are in stock at Kolbo, the Kosher Deli and Schalom. Kolbo is a charming little shop, selling kosher foods and wine. Objects for sacred rituals are also available here, as the shop is associated with an orthodox congregation. There is frozen poultry, imported from France. The cakes and bagels are homemade. The owners themselves prepare the sumptuous gefilte fish. Israeli ice cream is available in the summer, and horseradish before Passover. The Deli is the only kosher butcher's in the city. It offers fresh poultry, lamb and beef. There are classic kosher foods and snacks and a counter with savoury delicacies.
The Schalom was the first kosher shop in Berlin, opened in 1965. It retains a romantic, traditional atmosphere.
Contrary to popular belief, German food is far from bland and drab. For example, the Imbiss, which has become something of an institution, serves excellent sausages according to a recipe, unchanged since 1930. Many people do not know that foods we associate with the US today like hot dogs, devilled eggs, meatloaf and hamburgers were originally made in Germany. Germans enjoy simple, replenishing and well-prepared food. The Imbiss serves staple dishes like curry wurst, pommes frites, kabobs and bratwurst. Nola's am Weinberg offers nutritious Swiss dishes in a relaxing setting. The restaurant is in the vicinity of a lush green park. You will find the trendy Greenwich bar, the FC Magnet football bar and an authentic Scottish bar, the Jarman, in this area. If you crave original Czech food, visit the Prager Hopfenstube on Karl-Marx Street. You will enjoy the efficient service. Finally, the Gugelhof on Knaackstrasse offers excellent Alsatian cuisine in a welcoming environment.