Spoon tarama, sip tsipouro, forget about time — a visit to File Ásto feels like a quick getaway to Greece. Solomon Papadopoulos and Alex Vezakiadis missed this in Berlin, so they created a place in Kollwitzkiez where you can relax and sample small plates, with the ease that only a vacation can offer. It draws inspiration from Greek kafenio culture: meeting places for meze, conversation, and a glass of wine in between. The plates feature what they like to eat and share: classic dips such as tarama and tyrokafteri, tuna sashimi, seasonal vegetable dishes, fava, Greek cheese, and sausage specialties. Alex cooks together with Chef Amalia – both bring experience from London, Berlin, and the Greek islands, from Anafi to Samothraki. The ingredients? Almost exclusively sourced from Greece, from small producers. There is also fresh bread from Keit and Greek wines, carefully selected by Alexis Fallias, who most recently worked at Remi. Those who prefer to spend the evening alcohol-free will find suitable options, with plans to expand the range even further. A Greek Negroni, for example, will soon be on the drinks menu, which I’m looking forward to. Inside, File Ásto is reminiscent of the kafenia of their childhood: stainless steel meets wood, with furniture brought over from Greece or made especially for the wine bar. The walls are decorated with analogue family pictures from previous generations. Those who sit outside look out onto the street, eat at small round bistro tables, drink in good company even when visiting alone, and forget for a moment that they are in Berlin, not the Cyclades.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
File Ásto, Kollwitzstr.26, 10405 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
@file_asto
