E. T. A. Hoffmann, Classic Food, Kreuzberg

I had the oddest dinner at E. T. A Hoffman.  Good. But odd.

Good because the food is cooked by someone who clearly knows what he is doing, obviously has a lot of kitchen mileage and loves what he is doing.

Odd because of the enormous, almost cafe like dining room, the large platter like plates and a tendency to serve the food in ’duos’ or ‘trios’.  (My duck liver came as a smooth terrine with chocolate and another incarnation with chunky bits and grapes.)  

You can and should order the menu because it’s scandalously cheap.  Normally the starters are around €12, the mains €21-€24 and dessert €8. So 12 + 22 + 8 = 42. Except that for €35, you can get 3 courses, choosing your dishes from the a la carte. Or you could opt for four courses, €41 or even 5 courses, €47.  I assumed the dishes would get smaller if you ordered the menu option, but no.  Portions were huge.  ”Skip lunch and have an early dinner” huge.

The service was young, female and friendly.  Menus are available in English and are handed over promptly when a non-native speaker is identified (Hooray!).

I enjoyed the desserts (although they too were huge) a creme brule with a little glass of poached blueberries and a quenelle of ice cream on the side and some poached rhubarb with cream. 

I’ve only eaten there once but I’m thinking, definitely a keeper.

Go hungry.

E. T. A. Hoffmann
Yorckstraße 83
10965 Berlin, Germany
030 78098809
Open daily (closed Tuesdays) from 5 p.m.