Eismanufaktur Potsdam (Potsdam, Germany)

Brandenburger Str. 67, 14467 Potsdam, Germany

 

Eismanufaktur Potsdam is a bit of a hipster ice cream place that serves almost only more or less original combinations rather than classic flavors. They have some 20 house-made flavors, divided into a few sorbets and many more milk-based.

 

I get a cone with two enormous scoops (€2.60): quark, honey sesame, which is creamy but quite fresh, and Himbeer-Limetten, which is fresh and fruity.

 

VERDICT: 86/100

Quite good but a bit too artsy for me

The Best Hot Dog (Potsdam, Germany)

Brandenburger Str. 67, 14467 Potsdam, Germany

 

Small shop that serves a bewildering list of hotdogs, which can also be made with bratwurst, as well as drinks and candy. From Danish to French and from Chicago to Greek. I get a Chile Hot Dog (€2.80), which comes with chili sauce, fresh onions, toasted onions and Danish remoulade. The bun is toasted and dry, the sausage tiny and the overall experience underwhelming.

 

VERDICT: 75/100

Better stick with the bratwurst as the regular hot dog is below par.

Hauptstadtburger (Berlin, Germany)

Leipziger Pl. 12, 10117 Berlin, Germany

 

Hauptstadtburger is a hip burger joint in the food court of the Mall of Berlin. It has a real grill and serves several different kind of burgers and fries.  Very much based on US model. Ordering is insanely slow. Fortunately, the burgers are made quite quickly.

 

I get a Chilli-Cheese Burger Meal with fries and drink (€10.30): 200gr beef, chili sauce, jalapenos. Because of ultimate incompetence I actually get a different burger, seemingly a basic one with Mayo, ketchup, onion, tomato and pickles. It’s quite tasty, although a bit undercooked (asked for medium), and the bun is a bit too dry. Fries are crispy but kind of bland and, surprisingly, dry.

 

VERDICT: 80/100

Has potential but incompetence level is too high. Stick with burgers.

Falafel Me (Berlin, Germany)

Kurfürstendamm 166 in 10707 Berlin, Germany

 

Falafel Me is a small falafel place on one of the biggest shopping streets in Berlin. While it looks like a chain, it (currently) has only one location. It has a very limited menu: falafel, fries, and salads.

 

I get a Pita Falafel (€3.50), which comes with fresh vegetables, 3-4 falafel balls, and mild white (yoghurt) sauce and/or hot red sauce.  The falafel balls are not too dry, not too moist and the sandwich overall tastes pretty good.

VERDICT: 84/100)

Very affordable and very decent falafel on the go.

Hasir Burger (Berlin, Germany)

Leipziger Pl. 12, 10117 Berlin, Germany

 

Hasir is a famous traditional Turkish restaurant in Berlin, which severallocations in the city. It more recently started HB Hasir Burger, jumping on the by-now global upscale burger restaurants trend. They currently have two locations in Berlin, and I visit the one in the Mall of Berlin. The menu includes a broad range of burgers, in single or double patty, and as sandwich or meal (burgers mostly range from €6.50 to €9 and meals add some €2.50 to it). They also have specials, such as a tofu burger. I get a spicy one, which comes with jalapenos and spicy sauce. The bun is a big and seems based on a more dense form of Turkish bread. The burger is ok, but has a bit of an odd taste. The fries also have an odd taste and are crispy but too airy.

VERDICT: 82/100

Not bad, but fairly pricey and odd taste

Curry One (Berlin, Germany)

Oranienburger Str. 50A, 10117 Berlin, Germany

 

Pretty open small Currywurst place in the hipster Mitte area, serving almost exclusively Currywurst and fries (though also vegan and beef options)

 

I get the Berlin Meal: Currywurst, fries, and a soda (€6) but add spicy onions (0.60). The fries were mediocre, prefab and uneventful, the Currywurst decent but made much better by the really spicy onions.

 

VERDICT: 84/100

Not bad, despite the location.

Schäfer’s Lädchen (Berlin, Germany)

Heidelberger Str. 90, 12435 Berlin, Germany

 

Schäfer’s Lädchen is a small "Imbiss & Cafe" that sells mainly a few different meats - several types of sausage, boulette, jägerschnitzel - with bread or poßßtato salad -- in addition to drinks and newspapers.

 

I get the Jägerschnitzel (€1.50) with a roll (€0.30). Like all meats, it's pre-cooked and heated up in oven, but the chunky meat with flavorful coating is actually juicy and tasty.

 

VERDICT: 88/100

Old-school prices and quality!