FRIEDA

"When seasonal-regional-small-plates spot Mrs Robison closed its doors, its more laid-back, fun younger sister Frieda took the spotlight, soft serve in hand. While we may not see eye-to-eye with Frieda on what qualifies as a main dish, if you’re seeking an accessible fine dining restaurant that delivers on flavor, Frieda’s your girl. What it lacks in portion size, it more than makes up for in quality. The menu changes often depending on the best ingredients local producers have in the bag that week—and if it’s bluefin tuna belly, you’re going to see tuna pop up in more than one dish. Every meal at Frieda should end with a bowl of their signature ice cream that’s made of local cow’s milk and shows off in the way all younger sisters do." - Olivia Ladanyi

"You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in a cool Parisian bistro when entering this vibrant eatery just off Helmholtzplatz park in East Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg, where co-owners chef Ben Zviel and sommelier Samina Raza have created an accessible ode to seasonal cuisine. A huge seating counter wraps around the open kitchen, with additional tables on either side, and a comfy red banquette, matching the restaurant’s red curtains, lines one wall. Vinyl records and speakers—reminiscent of a Tokyo listening bar—sit alongside wine bottles and colorful books. They take their sustainable credentials seriously here, working with local producers and growers who focus on biodiversity. The result: market-driven small plates, with a number of daily specials. If you see it on the menu, don't miss their grilled whole red mullet with fermented tomato and house crispy chili sauce. The sourdough, also made in house, is to die for." - Liz Humphreys

"What were your first impressions when you arrived? You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in a cool Parisian bistro when entering this vibrant eatery just off Helmholtzplatz park in East Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg, where co-owners chef Ben Zviel and sommelier Samina Raza have created an accessible ode to seasonal, sustainable cuisine. A huge seating counter wraps around the open kitchen, with additional tables on either side, and a comfy red banquette, matching the restaurant’s red curtains, lines one wall. Vinyl records and speakers—reminiscent of a Tokyo listening bar—sit alongside wine bottles and colorful books. It’s all bright, cheery, and fun, a reflection of the light, contemporary food on offer here. What’s the crowd like? A youngish contingent of freelancers chat over coffee and fresh baked croissants during a mid-afternoon meetup. Then the after-work crowd trickles in, enjoying a glass of orange wine. Finally diners arrive for their evening meal, a mix of ages but a lot of neighborhood residents, heavy on the English speakers. Some are there for the relaxed vibe, some for the creative food. What should we be drinking? It’s natural wines all the way, with a large selection of European choices (heavy on the French) by the glass. You also have your choice of European vermouths, perfect for an aperitif before a nibble. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss. Café Frieda takes its sustainable credentials seriously, working with local producers and growers who focus on biodiversity. The result: seasonally focused, market-driven small plates, with a number of daily specials. If you see it on the menu, don’t miss their classic grilled whole red mullet with fermented tomato and house crispy chili sauce. Plus, the housemade sourdough bread is to die for, and the soft serve ice cream using local milk, with rotating flavors like hazelnut praline with sea salt and Meyer lemon with olive oil, is truly next level. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you? Staff can be a bit distracted, as expected in such a busy place, and there are sometimes waits between courses. Chalk it up to the hazards of popularity. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? The beauty of Café Frieda is that it can be whatever you want it to be: a pitstop for a quick coffee, a hangout for early evening oysters and pét-nat, or a late-night dining destination (it’s open till midnight), grooving to jazz on the turntable." - Liz Humphreys