Berlin is one of my favourite cities in the world: it's edgy, modern, creative and inexpensive, with a vibrant arts and thriving gastro scene. I went twice last year, and a couple of times in 2006/ 2007, and I don't think I've eaten a bad meal there. In December, after a chilly day outside visiting the Christmas markets, we hopped in an uber and headed southeast to the hipster Kreuzberg district for dinner at Restaurant VOLT.
The chic Michelin Guide restaurant opened in 2011, housed in a former electricity station (hence the name) built in 1928, with exposed brickwork and industrial decor lit with warm pools of light from candles and copper lamps. Head Chef Matthias Gleiß combines contemporary cooking with seasonal, regional ingredients to create modern German cuisine, and we were in for a treat.
We started with a glass of riesling sekt brut from Weingut Hermannsberg, which was creamy, elegant, and the perfect palate-cleanser. We couldn't resist the five course tasting menus, and went for one Menu I and one Menu II, and shared everything. After the amuse-bouche, we started with quail and egg with barley, turnip, dandelion and corn, and a delicious smoked halibut with beetroot and artichoke. For the second course, we had pike perch with celeriac, onions and delicious black trumpet mushrooms, and excellent monkfish cheeks with leeks, grapes and vulcano bacon.
Next, a beautiful, simple kale dish served with hazelnut, vinaigrette and horseradish, and seared pigeon breast served with mushrooms, hokkaido pumpkin and fermented garlic. The next dishes were a bit too rich for me: duck breast with black salsify, plum and chocolate, and lamb shank with dill, cucumber, braised bell peppers, anchovies and fregola, which was the only dish I wasn't keen on as I felt it had too many flavours. The desserts were lovely, fresh and light: clementine, walnut and carrot, and cheesecake with rosemary and passion fruit. Great food, friendly staff, relaxed ambience and sophisticated decor: highly recommended.
The chic Michelin Guide restaurant opened in 2011, housed in a former electricity station (hence the name) built in 1928, with exposed brickwork and industrial decor lit with warm pools of light from candles and copper lamps. Head Chef Matthias Gleiß combines contemporary cooking with seasonal, regional ingredients to create modern German cuisine, and we were in for a treat.
We started with a glass of riesling sekt brut from Weingut Hermannsberg, which was creamy, elegant, and the perfect palate-cleanser. We couldn't resist the five course tasting menus, and went for one Menu I and one Menu II, and shared everything. After the amuse-bouche, we started with quail and egg with barley, turnip, dandelion and corn, and a delicious smoked halibut with beetroot and artichoke. For the second course, we had pike perch with celeriac, onions and delicious black trumpet mushrooms, and excellent monkfish cheeks with leeks, grapes and vulcano bacon.
Next, a beautiful, simple kale dish served with hazelnut, vinaigrette and horseradish, and seared pigeon breast served with mushrooms, hokkaido pumpkin and fermented garlic. The next dishes were a bit too rich for me: duck breast with black salsify, plum and chocolate, and lamb shank with dill, cucumber, braised bell peppers, anchovies and fregola, which was the only dish I wasn't keen on as I felt it had too many flavours. The desserts were lovely, fresh and light: clementine, walnut and carrot, and cheesecake with rosemary and passion fruit. Great food, friendly staff, relaxed ambience and sophisticated decor: highly recommended.
Volt Restaurant, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 21, 10999 Berlin, Germany
