If you enjoy meeting friends for long brunches, you’ve probably been to Annelies or Distrikt Coffee a few times already. The concept at Annelies is simple: the food is made with seasonal and regional ingredients and, in addition to menu classics, there are unusual dishes you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. With their new (third) location, Sophie Hardy, Hannes Haake and Matthew Maue offer you the same kitchen concept, as an evening version. Since Bertie’s soft opening at the beginning of May 2024, you can try chef and co-founder Matthew’s dishes virtually every hour of the day. The large, floor-to-ceiling French windows give you a taste of what awaits you inside. The wooden benches are reminiscent of classic American diner booths and the bar counter with its steel bistro stools transports you to NYC. Bertie not only draws on the metropolis for its interior design but also its menu. No wonder, because Matthew grew up in the US’s big cities and has tasted his way through New York, Chicago, Brooklyn, San Francisco and beyond. Most of his interpretations are served as sharing plates and bar snacks, making them particularly suitable for a quick detour to the bar.
Deviled eggs with smoked egg yolk and chives, marinated mushrooms, flatbread with bouillabaisse, mussels and saffron aioli, or a Caesar schnitzel with salad, parmesan, and gravy — the menu is fun and, with its different portion sizes and varied selection, leaves little to be desired. The deep-fried potatoes with bouillon seasoning and lemon aioli and the buffalo wings with ranch and celery have already become my clear favorites. Those with a sweet tooth will love the banana pudding with salted peanuts and caramel sauce (I promise!). There are also classic cocktails such as negronis, margaritas and pisco sours, draft beer, natural wines, and a fine selection of non-alcoholic drinks. All good things come in threes, as Sophie, Hannes and Matthew prove once again with their new bistro, Bertie. Incidentally, reservations are not possible here for the time being, and this is how it will remain in the future.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Bertie, Schwedter Str.13, 10119 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
@bertieberlin
