Diners who don’t leave The Tree happier than on arrival are missing something, as a visit to this Chinese restaurant is like taking a mini break — the senses are stimulated and the mind can relax. That’s mainly due to the restaurant’s calm interior, which owners Ling Ma and Xiaoting Zhang have designed in harmonious tones, with wooden tables and chairs accompanied by arrangements of dried flowers and twigs. An eye-catching branch lamp illuminates the room, while the soft sound of birds chirping completes the garden theme. The menu is centred around noodles, served in earthy clay dishes as dishes or soups and peppered with fresh hand-picked ingredients that satisfy every tastebud. A focus on seasonal, regional fare leads to options like the lamb’s lettuce-topped “Ginko” soup with okra pods, Chinese morel mushrooms and peanuts. We recommend the starters like the “Maackii” — a salad of potatoes and lotus roots that’s perfect for sharing. The Tree’s inventive dessert menu rounds off the sensory experience before you end your trip to China’s Sichuan province and step back into the crisp Berlin night again. (Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Sven Hausherr)
The Tree, Brunnenstr.167, 10119 Berlin-Mitte; map
Mon-Fri 12-15h & 17.30-21.30h, Sat closed, Sun 13-21.30h