When you move to a new city, all sorts of unexpected feelings pop up, seemingly out of nowhere. Excitement about the new and anxiety about the unknown are two sides of the same coin, and when I first came to Berlin I was shocked by how uncomfortable I often felt. When travelling, I had relished the foreignness of places, and now, as a new resident I craved familiarity.
Eckbert Zwo
Not long after moving here, we discovered Eckbert, a humble, unassuming restaurant then located on the corner of Maybachufer and Bürknerstraße in Kreuzberg. Strolling past on a chilly autumn night, we were drawn in by the simple but cosy candlelit interior. Inside, the welcome was just as warm as the ambience, and while the food itself was at the time pleasantly exotic and unfamiliar, there was something about the warmness of that place and the friendliness of the staff that made me feel instantly at home.
The traditional German food is, admittedly, comforting too. Vegetarians are catered for in the form of Pfannkuchen, a German version of pizza, but much healthier, with a thin, crispy base and creme fraiche topping and a choice of other accompaniments such as leek or apple. The stars of the show, though, are the spectacular meat dishes, such as the organic beef goulash and bio bratwurst. Seasonal specialities are also well covered: watch out especially for entire menus dedicated to asparagus (late spring) or Pfifferlinge (chantarelle) mushrooms (mid-summer) creatively served in every culinary form imaginable.
My favourite item on the menu by far is their homemade Serviettenknödel.
Serviettenknoedel image Copyright: "Takeaway"
A type of traditional German dumpling made using breadcrumbs that are twisted into a napkin (Servietten) with herbs and spices and then boiled before being baked or fried. Served with a rich Jäger or creamy mushroom sauce with or without meat, this dish is heaven on a plate at any time of year.
Eckbert moved to Görlitzerstrasse 53 two years ago to a larger but no less gemütlich venue and remains, for me, a trusty old friend who never disappoints.
Written by local Berlin resident Natalie Holmes
