Mine Berlin – A Review
Many regard summer in Berlin as the best time of year. I can certainly appreciate that sentiment – people finally properly emerge outdoors after the Winter, enjoy wine with friends in the park, and stay out late, with the sun only just starting to set around 10pm. That said, it can get oppressively hot during the day – heatwaves seem to be an increasingly common thing in Europe now.
Fortunately, I picked a day in between heatwaves to visit the restaurant Mine Berlin.
Once again, I found myself in the west of Berlin, meeting up with my long-time friend and fellow enjoyer of good food, Freya Choi.
First Impressions
I must say that Mine has some of the best interior design of any restaurant I’ve visited in Berlin. The quality of the décor rivals that of a high-end hotel.
When I arrived, I was greeted by friendly staff and seated at a table near large open glasses doors that looked out onto the street. The natural light was beautiful, especially that soft twilight glow... perfect for taking a few photos and enjoying a pre-dinner Negroni while I waited for Freya to arrive.
Classic cocktail
Menu
The menu leans heavily toward modern Italian cuisine. There’s a strong selection of freshly made pasta dishes, as well as meat and fish mains.
We started with a shrimp ceviche for me and a sliced beef special for Freya, before later splitting a truffle pasta and some octopus in tomato sauce. And of course, we finished with some tiramisu.
Shrimp ceviche
Pasta and truffle
Octopus and tomato sauce
I sampled several wines by the glass throughout the evening (always a treat), and I have to say – wine seems to be a real specialty at Mine. Every wine I tried was excellent, and the staff were both friendly and impressively knowledgeable.
Red wine
Tiramisu
A Little History
We had a great chat with one of the general managers, Dima, who took excellent care of us throughout the evening. Later on, he showed us Mine’s dedicated wine bar – an intimate space used for special occasions, where the design is taken to an entirely different level.
Wine Bar
Wine Bar cieling
He also shared a bit about the history of the location. Before the current team took it over, the building had been home to another restaurant – one that operated even during the Cold War, as a bastion of fine dining in West Berlin back when the city was still divided.
No, really – the original restaurant at this site was one of the first in Germany to receive three Michelin stars. There’s a long culinary tradition behind those walls.
Final Thoughts
I immensely enjoyed my evening at Mine. From the excellent menu, to the friendly and attentive staff, to the atmosphere of the space itself – I would absolutely recommend it.
While you can spend quite a bit if you're indulging in their finer wines, I think the overall value is excellent. The food is high-quality, well presented, and fairly priced for what’s on offer.
