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Café Aroma
Unfussiness is the theme here, from the uncomplicated decor, friendly casual service, to the dishes made with fresh, high quality seasonal ingredients. Try the Quatro Stagioni dotted with mushrooms, marinated artichokes, savory ham, and olives or the Pizza di Zio Pepé with mouth-watering Taleggio cheese, sensational spicy salami and black olives. Wash it down with the fullbodied, berry-flavored house wine. Hochkirchstr. 8, S-Bhf Yorkstr., Tel 782 58 21, www.cafe-aroma.de, Mon-Fri 18:00-late, Sat 12:00-late, Sun 11:00-late, pizzas 6.20-8.20 euros, EC accepted
Dachkammer
Dachkammer is not just a dimly lit room but also a lovely rustic atmosphere that spills out onto the street during summer. Affordable drinks are well accompanied by great pasta or potato bakes served right up until midnight. Simon-Dach-Str. 39, S+U-Bhf Warschauer Str., Tel 296 1673, Mon-Fri 12:00-1:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-1:00, cash only
Delizzia Italia
If you’re longing for real Italian pasta, go no further. This constantly crowded trattoria offers some of the best homemade pasta treats, fresh with four rich sauces - tartuffo, porcini, gorgonzola or nuts, as well as great cannelloni and a delicious selection of other pasta classics. Quality salads with fragrant olive oil and lemon (buffalo mozzarella or coppa) and, of course, great (Italian) coffees served on red-checkered tablecloths in this most leafy street of P’Berg. La Dolce Vita! Kollwitzstr. 100, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str., Tel 4849 4977, daily 10:00-23:30, main courses 6.90-17.90 euros, EC accepted
Dolce Centrale
The wooden benches outside this walk-up foccaceria are usually filled with a happy crowd intently enjoying Dolce’s crispy slices, made and served by real Italians. Fresh, huge, simple and delicious: Wolf it down on the spot or take one away. Conveniently located next to an ice cream shop for a perfect summer lunch. Maassenstr. 6, U-Bhf Nollendorfplatz, Tel 2005 1585, Mon-Sat 12:00-late, Sun 14:00-late, pizza 1.50 euros per slice, ‘mini’ 5 euros, large 10 euros, cash only
Focacceria
This Italian-run snack bar was a forerunner of the new focaccia craze, and to date serves the most popular Romanstyle focaccia in this part of town, be it to take away or zum hier essen at their outdoor tables or inside the tiny café. The topping selection is endless and prices are digressive: 1.45 euros a piece but 3.90 euros for three, 6.50 euros for five, and 18 euros for 10! At 3.50 euros, the cannelloni or lasagne is unbeatable. It’s quick and tasty, just across from the Volkspark am Weinberg, its toddlers and junkies. Fehrbelliner Str. 24, U-Bhf Rosenthaler Platz, Tel 4403 2771, daily 11:00-23:00, from 1.45-3.50 euros, cash only
Francucci’s
This place is rumored to be on the Italian government’s ‘Top 25 Abroad’ list, and with fresh ingredients flown in from Italy, it comes pretty near to pizza perfection. The crust is thin and chewy in the middle, crispy on the edges, and topped with the authentic cheeses and meats that give Italy its mouth-watering international reputation. The same focus on quality applies to homemade pasta dishes and changing weekly specials. Located across from the Schaubühne, the kitchen is open until midnight, perfect for a pre- or post-show meal. Kurfürstendamm 90, U-Bhf Adenauerplatz, Tel 323 3318, www.francucci.com, Mon-Sat 12:00-24:00 (kitchen closes, but bar still open), Sun 14:00-24:00, pizzas 10-15 euros, main courses 10-22 euros, credit cards accepted
I due Forni
A favourite of EXBERLINER readers, this is where Italian anarchos serve up great crusty pizzas topped with a wide range of quality ingredients, including smoked horse meat, in a graffiti-covered cantina-style dining factory. You can also make your own salad from raw veggies served in a large bowl and vinaigrette. On summer days everyone sups outside, atop the small hill overlooking the Allee. Expect a crowded lively atmosphere, casual professional service, uneven delays and a great playground for kids. Schönhauser Allee 12, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, Tel 44017333, Mon-Sun 12:00-24:00, pizza 5.40-8.50 euros, cash only
Il Casolare
Signatures, scribbles and set lists of bands plaster the walls of this Italian, punk-run, bustling pizzeria. Frequented by many a rock star en route to Columbiahalle, locals, tourists, buskers and their dogs, il Casolare is something of a Kreuzberg institution. The atmosphere is loud, fast, raucous and filled with the aroma of delicious authentic stone-oven baked pizza. It is packed to bursting point seven days a week, so be sure to book well in advance. Grimmstr. 30, U-Bhf Schönleinstr., Tel 6950 6610, Mon-Sun 12:00-24:00, main courses 4.90-12.10 euros, cash only
Jalla Jalla
The delicious aroma wafting from this Arabic/Mediterranean kitchen will make your mouth water. A family-run restaurant with friendly service and meals prepared with care. Expect a large menu and cocktail selection with good portions at reasonable prices.
Kopenhagenerstr. 4, Tel 448 6388
Daily 11-01, Happy Hour 16-20
SPECIAL APPETIZER PLATTERS AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP
Moreno Carusi
An oasis of good traditional food and warm atmosphere in a desert of junk food and fakeness, this modern but homey Italian restaurant offers a well thought-out selection of dishes chosen according to inspiration and the season, a pleasing balance between well-executed classics and gourmet concoctions. The atmosphere is stylish yet cosy, and Chef Carusi says he has ‘nothing to hide in his kitchen,’ so you can spy on the maestro busy at work through a large glass window. They also serve good-value business lunch menus. Leipziger Platz 15, S+U-Bhf Potsdamer Platz, Tel 2248 8156, www.morenocarusi.com, Mon-Fri 11:30-24:00, pasta from 8.50 euros, main courses from 18 euros, credit cards accepted
Ossena
Some of the best pizzas in town in an easy location opposite Hackescher Markt so great for pre-drinking carbs. Rosenthaler Str. 42, Mitte. Tel 030 28 09 98 77. Daily 9:00-1:00. A second branch is at Oranienstr. 39, Kreuzberg. Tel 030 615 2622.www.ossena.de
Pasta Divina
Unique pasta and lavish antipasti plates are offered at this new gourmet Greek-owned coffee shop/deli. The secret? High quality local and organic ingredients prepared with flair according to season, market, and the phenomenal Anthi Lyda Galinou’s mood of the day. The wines, oils and salts (from Greece, Portugal, France or Italy) are also available to take away as well as the delicious olives and house caviars (try the caper one!), salami (donkey!) and cheeses that make up the antipasti plate. The pasta is made fresh daily and served with a choice of velvety tomato succo or the pesto del giorno. Try the outstanding wild herb salad with caramelized onions and cherry tomatoes … lounge under the large red parasols - another piece of the tarte du jour maybe? This is food prepared with love! Non-smoking inside and a choice of bio, lactose-free and soy milk. Kollwitzstr. 88, U-Bhf Eberswalder Str., Tel 4373 9568, www.pasta-divina-berlin.de, Tue-Fri 12:00-21:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-late, from 5.60-8.90 euros, EC accepted
Trattoria del Corso
The wood-oven turns out perfect pizzas, the homemade pastas are simple and fresh, the specials unexpectedly good (ravioli filled with mint and potato and sage butter!), and prices are pleasingly low. Families and couples sit under wine racks and let their kids play in this comfortable neighborhood joint as unpretentious as it is authentically tasty. The lunch special includes a main dish, salad, drink and espresso for only 7 euros. Hauptstr. 70, S+U-Bhf Innsbrucker Platz, Tel 8540 1459, daily 12:00-late, main courses 5.50-13.50 euros, cash only
Trattoria Noiquattro
Sick of your latte looking like soap suds? Let an Italian show you how it’s done at Noiquattro, serving the creamiest coffee this side of Milan. For some satisfying midday indulgence try the mouth-watering antipasto and a glass of fine wine from the extensive
list of classics. Yield to the lingering Italian lunch break, don your Versace sunglasses and
sunbathe among the gorgeous people under the ethereal canopy of Südstern cathedral./LT Südstern 14, U-Bhf Südstern, Tel 3253 4583, www.noiquattro.de, Mon-Sun 12:00-late, pizza/pasta 6-10 euros, main courses 13-15.50 euros,coffee 2.30-3.20 euros, EC accepted
Trattoria Popolare
Great pizzas and in summer great outdoors eating on the terrace. Schönhauser Allee. 143, Prenzlauer Berg. Tel 030 47 37 45 43. Daily 11:00-1am.