Berlin Eats: Café Maître Münch

On Valentine’s day, I found myself dateless. Work, my husband’s ever demanding mistress, got this year yet again. Almost every other year, my husband and I are apart for this Hallmark holiday. Some conferences he needs to attend are usually scheduled around it. Even when we were in Manila and Kuala Lumpur. This time around, it was the Munich Security Conference. Not one to pass up on an excuse have cake after a meal, I decided to take myself on a date with Juancho, our corgi who recently turned one. I then had a double celebration situation. So, we made our way to one of the cafés I’ve been dying to try in our neighbourhood but haven’t gotten around to doing so: Café Maître Münch.

It’s a popular café so it’s quite weird I haven’t gone to see it sooner. I guess it’s because I tend to go far from our kiez and try things I know I would have a hard time getting to later on. After visiting Café Maître Münch that day, I know it’s a new spot I would obsess about and bug my friends to go to. As I usually do when I fall in love with a place.

The place is popular with locals as it’s not directly on über popular Kurfürstendamm. It’s a wee bit of a walk and if the weather is pretty good, then it’s a walk that you’d enjoy. Especially since the café is in one of Berlin’s pretty streets lined with altbaus (old houses) that look straight out of a Europe travel book.

You have chic interior that will make anyone with expensive taste happy. The menu at Café Maître Münch, however, remains affordable.

Winning Quiche

I love quiche but it’s a dish that usually becomes cloying just after a few bites. Theirs, however, is served with tomatoes and mushrooms that keep the taste fresh. The cheese is also light with a soft crust. Pure perfection.

It was served with a side salad that I finished while eating the quiche. As someone who’s not big on veggies, this is such an achievement. I know I need to eat my greens but it was never a pleasurable experience. That day, however, I actually loved every forkful of it and even contemplated ordering another round.

It has some of your usual greens topped with a couple of tomatoes. What made it a winner was the light vinaigrette that had a spicy kick at the end. Nothing too much. But it was a delightful twist to the flavour. Really refreshing.

Favourite eisschokolade

Is it too early to call it? I still have some time in Berlin to check out other cafés. But after living here for over a year, I can say that nothing comes close to the eisschokolade (chocolate milkshake) in this café. It’s so smooth and sweet with a hint of dark chocolate flavour. It feels unlikely at this moment but if I do find a better one, I’ll update this post.

Bring an appetite for dessert

Most cake shops and cafés in Germany offer pretty big servings. Café Maître Münch is no different. If you have a small appetite, I would suggest you share with a friend because when I asked for one slice of Marmorkuchen (marble cake), I got this:

I ended up taking the other slice home. Couldn’t share this with Juancho, obviously. At least, I had dessert for a later time. Their marmorkuchen was divine and I can’t wait to try the others when I come back.

Café Maître Münch is the brainchild of pastry chef Gerhard Münch. He started his career in KaDeWe and later on opened his own pastry shop in Stuttgart back in the 80s. Café Maître Münch is his comeback to Berlin where he offers his expertise on pastry. The café also offers French and German menu using seasonal and organic products.

Café Maître Münch

Giesebrechtstraße 16, 10629 Berlin
Phone: 0163 3160304

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday
10:00-18:30
Website

Service Rating: 9/10. There were only two people available that day to serve the customers. However, they were quick and friendly. Very attentive too. The lady was kind enough to help me practice my German with her but was open to speaking in English to me if I needed her to. They were also extremely sweet and happy to see Juancho.