Fine-dining destination Ernst attracted international attention when it opened in 2017, and not only because of its exclusive concept and “hidden” location in Wedding. The cuisine from talented founders Dylan Watson-Brawn and Spencer Christenson was so sought after that you could wait months for a table at the 12-seat restaurant. Luckily there’s now a second place you can taste the duo’s cuisine: Julius, the small, casual brother of Ernst that opened right across the street. The new neighbor does things a little differently, with a more accessibly priced menu and a walk-in dining policy (currently offering food and drink to-go). While Ernst is all about long, elaborate menus, Julius lets you order individual dishes at whim. The grab-and-go offerings change weekly, and recall the Japanese influences that Ernst is known for, like the brioche with green tea and verbena, the Japanese orange tarte and the chirashi bowl.

What hasn’t changed is the quality of the ingredients, which are sourced from the same artisan suppliers that Julius’s Michelin-starred sibling uses, such as Erdhof Seewalde in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for the dairy produce. Restaurant manager and partner Inga Krieger was thrilled when the large-windowed space in the white building opposite Ernst became available, having been on the lookout for a second location for some time. As for the interior, the linen curtains, glazed front and dark wood furniture make this light, bright space an inviting place to dine. Outdoor seating is to follow as soon as conditions allow – we’ll be the first in line for a space on the terrace to enjoy a home-brewed, non-alcoholic blood orange, grapefruit and juniper honey drink or the self-roasted, hand-filtered coffee from Shoji Hara in the evening sun! For now, we’ll have to be content with the takeaway options: this weekend you can pick up the likes of donuts with white chocolate and cherry blossom for a little taster…

Text: Annika Hillig / Photos: Julius

Julius, Gerichtstr.31, 13347 Berlin–Wedding; map
Thu–Sun 10–19h

You can currently pre-order the menu online for pick-up and delivery from Thursday to Sunday. 

@julius.ernst.berlin

If you are looking for a boundary-pushing brunch or a decadent dinner, Berlin has a raft of options. But what about the humble lunch? Enter Sorrel, the cafe-restaurant in Kreuzkölln offering an innovative update to midday meals with a seasonal menu of genre-busting dishes. Located on the south-facing corner of Pflügerstraße and Pannierstraße, the eatery’s mainly glass frontage lets light flood into the whitewashed brick and polished concrete interior. While the cuisine rightly qualifies it as a restaurant, the layout of the place remains relaxed, with lots of open space and a large oak-panelled coffee bar in the center. This focus on coffee is no accident: the project was dreamt up in part by Silo co-founder Morgan Love who, having established his Friedrichshain cafe as a coffee and brunch institution, was itching to start a new venture.

Morgan opened Sorrel with co-founder Paul Bangerter in September 2020, before Corona forced the pair to close over the winter. Now the guys are back on weekends with a pared-down takeaway menu of seasonal, moderately-priced dishes that are a step up from the avo-based staples you get at Silo. Expect food that draws on all kinds of cultures and cuisines, like the mushroom tempura sando, a chunky battered mushroom sandwich that comes served with beer-soaked daikon pickles – a nod to Paul’s Japanese roots. The potato galette, meanwhile, comes straight out of rural France, yet is topped with smoked salmon and a horseradish labneh for a Mid-Eastern twist. The pair hope to serve a full menu on their large streetside terrace in the summer, but until then you can get the dishes to go along with a flat white courtesy of in-house roasters Fjord Coffee. We’ll be first in line.

Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Merle Büttner

Sorrel, Pannierstr.40, 12047 Berlin–Neukölln; map
Currently open for takeaway Sat & Sun, 10–16 (to be extended when conditions allow)

@sorrel.berlin

If you are a fan of pastry-based pick-me-ups, feel free to add another entry to your address book: since we first wrote about the heavenly eclairs at Canal in 2019, the patisserie pros at Hackescher Markt have been busy planning a second location, which finally opened in late 2020 on nearby Linienstraße. Developed alongside Berlin designers Modiste, the latest shop’s rescued wood and tile interior is sleek and thoughtful, putting the star of the show – the eclairs – in full view. Canal has been bringing filled Choux pastries (plus Italian gelato in summer) to a growing fanbase of Berliners since their original founding back in 2015. Full of different textures and flavors, these fine-formed mini cakes are delightfully indulgent snacks that also make for eye-catching desserts at dinner parties. Take the pistachio-raspberry eclair, which is filled with decadent pastry cream and fine raspberry coulis and topped with whipped ganache, fresh fruit and crunchy roasted pistachios.

Founders Dana Barriobero Canal and Guadalupe Eichner are originally from Venezuela and, having studied mechanical engineering, decided to devote themselves to the sweeter things in life after moving to Berlin. Chef Dana’s background in engineering is noticeable in the perfection and attention to detail found in her intricate toppings and decorations. Each eclair really is a colorful work of art. The ice cream is equally impressive, with picks like “Crema Canal” with salted caramel and pistachio and even an olive oil, peach and rosemary variety. Accompany your scoop with a tasty eclair and you have a daytime treat that’s hard to beat. 

Text: Lottie Mac / Photos: Luke Marshall Johnson

Canal, Linienstr. 54, 10119 Berlin–Mitte; map
Tue–Sat 12–19h, Sun 12–18h

Both locations are currently open for takeaway. You can order your choice of eclairs for pickup in advance online.

@canalberlin