“Balikci Ergün” located under the S-Bahn arches close to “Bellvue”, once an illegal restaurant, is actually a fishmonger. Outside you are seated in allotments, facing the German parliament members’ bizarre apartments. Inside you feel as if being on vacation in Turkey or at least somewhere outside of Berlin. That’s what’s so great about this place – not only are you spared from German assiduity and correctness – but spontaneous music is revered as something important to life here, along with their superb and fresh fish delivered every Monday and Friday, that are then prepared and served by the huge family. A rustling cloud of paper with handwritten declarations of love to this tiny piece of Turkey in the heart of Berlin hangs from the ceiling – so close yet so far away from the Bellvue castle and big politics.
Opening hours: daily 15-24h, Balikci Ergün, Lüneburger Str. 382, 10557 Berlin-Tiergarten; map
Text: Kirsten Hermann
Published in Cee Cee #6 on 26.5.2011
