Reporting on my Berlin weekend...After an absolutely perfect plate of raclette at KDW for late lunch, I had dinner in the neighborhood at Good Friends, which surprisingly was terrific. The hot & sour soup wasn't memorable, but it was certainly better than average, and the pork belly, crispy on the edges, was terrific. Low expectations being everything, I suppose, it was shockingly good.

On Saturday I headed over to the Winterfeldtplatz Market and searched high and low for Jurgen and his grilled mackerel as well as the Thai dim sum, but came up completely empty. I must have somehow walked down the wrong aisle or was too busy eating a lousy waffle...I'm sure they were there. I just couldn't find them. Big disappointment. I made up for it (partially) with a wonderful burger at Burger Heaven. Though I wasn't as enamored with their homemade ketchup as you are, the burger itself was outstanding. The french fries, on the otherhand, were a little too bits and pieces for me...I like my fries a little lengthier if you know what I mean. Comparing B-Heaven to B-Meister (which I had the next day), I gotta say I'd still lean to the Meister. It's close, but the Meister experience is richer and their burgers, to me, slightly better. Both are better than The Bird, though.

For dinner on a rainy Saturday night, I stayed local again and tried what I guess is a tourist trap, The Paris Bar. The steak frittes was nothing special, but the cream of asparagus soup (in season!) was great and I loved the old timey waiters and their attitude and the ancient local clientelle who littered the place. A cool experience.

Sunday night was Henne night. A success, but what's the deal with charging $5 for a small plate of potato salad (the half chicken is only $10)? I actually thought the salad came with the chicken...It wasn't a big deal for me, but the two budget-minded traveling college kids I shared the small bar table with were crestfallen. (Crestfallen for a college kid means about two minutes of a blank stare and then forgetting about it.) And as good as the chicken was, I have an Azerbajani place in Moscow which does it just as good...albeit for about twice the price.

Anyway, thanks so much, Lingua, for all the help and suggestions. You made my trip to Amsterdam in 2010 a success and replicated it for my brief visit to Berlin. You're the best!

E

You really are the best, lingua. I've been reading and rereading your posts. Just amazingly helpful in every way. I'll put off the Heaven burger for Sunday and take all that the market can throw at me tomorrow, especially Jurgen's mackerel (and I'll give him the heads up that he'll be seeing you soon!). Thanks a ton for the help. I'll report back.

PS: Let me know if I can return the favor if or when you visit NYC or Moscow.

Thanks for the multi-option reply. From previous posts of yours I've read I know you're not a huge fan of Good Friends or any Chinese food here. I'm staying a stone's throw away from Good Friends, though, and may just go there tonight out of convenience.

After tonight, I'm in town for 4 meals (lunch/dinner) tomorrow and Sunday--- I had a late lunch a couple of hours ago...a wonderful ralette plate at KaDeWe--- and was thinking of doing the Winterfeldtplatz Market tomorow (thai dumplings, I know, but anything else worthwhile there?) with a Burgermeister kicker for lunch and Zer Henne dinner (will I be able to get in...I'm solo and am wondering if they have a bar I can sit at?). On Sunday, I want that crackling pig dish you mentioned in a post a while back. Where was that again? I guess that's dinner. Again, since I'm solo without a reservation, will I have trouble getting in? What do you think I should do for lunch on Sunday? Pretty open for anything. Vietnamese maybe? Is there any banh mi here?

Try not to laugh at me...Where can I find the best Chinese food in Berlin?