Hello everyone. I haven’t been here for a hot minute due to so many reasons – from the pandemic to anxiety, focusing on Youtube and Instagram, a death in the family, and so many other reasons that will bore you. But hey – I’m back and in a way, I think I should have gone back sooner as writing has always helped me cope with so many things. Especially when I’m writing about something that puts a smile on my face. Case in point, I have a pretty big one on right now as I type about the dining experience I recently had in Bricole.
This restaurant which has been around for over three years now – an eternity in Berlin terms – was able to survive the city’s highly competitive gastronomy scene due to its innovative fine dining menus that offer quite the foodie experience without breaking the bank.
Tucked away in Prenzlauer Berg, Bricole is nestled in a leafy, family-friendly area of the city. Small shops thrive in this area, still on a roll in resisting rampant gentrification. “You don’t need a fancy address to attract those who are really interested with good food,” Bricole’s Fabian Fischer shared over dinner. “We started with a very relaxed atmosphere where people can laugh. If you don’t have this too formal attitude then people won’t be that intimidated.”
With over 200 different types of wine and menus that range between four to six courses, Bricole can seem pretty intimidating on paper but definitely warm and cosy once you step into the restaurant. Friendly faces paired with the patience to explain what goes into each dish, Bricole’s team is a group of 5 that has gotten closer during the pandemic. A challenge they were able and still surviving from.
Now that the city has allowed people to dine in restaurants again, Bricole has opened up 22 seats plus two more at their bar. Keeping the appropriate distance is – of course – observed. But don’t worry – the dining experience can actually make you forget that the world is really going crazy, even just for a little while.
Quite an unforgettable menu at Bricole
To start off the meal, you get amazingly-soft bread that comes with caramel butter. I have a thing for butter as it just makes absolutely anything better. If only we can smother the world’s problems with butter then utopia is at hand. But alas, we have to make do with having it for food and I guess we can’t really complain there. Good news is that Bricole also sells their smooth and rather fluffy caramel butter. Just make sure to take it out of your fridge at least 10 minutes before consuming it.
The Kohlrabi (German turnip) Dumplings are a summer treat. A light and refreshing start to open up your palate. The salmon profiteroles that come after come with salmon tartare and a dash of cumin. An interesting pairing with textures that will only leave you excited for the first course.
In all my years of writing about lifestyle topics, food among them, it has rarely happened that a dish served as the first course will make such an unforgettable impression. After all, they are usually the front act or a minor band in the music festival that is your dinner. That was not the case for Bricole’s Flamed Salmon.
You get a taste of cooked, slightly smoky salmon through the outer layer of the thick-cut with the juiciness of having it raw. Swimming in a shallow pool of yoghurt dashi and creme, it adds a light tartness to each bite. I was immediately obsessed.
I love myself a great vegetarian or vegan option and Bricole’s chanterelle concoction is pretty up there on my list. You’d think there’s actual bacon inside with the way it was flavoured. The potato creme and leek sauce provide a creaminess on top of the fresh chanterelles that offer a bit of a bite.
The main highlight for me has to be the fish dish. “What? Not the meat?” you say. Why yes, believe it because it’s true. The dish is also my friends Gil and Ute’s favourite. I forgot to ask Xenia who was also with us but I’m pretty sure she enjoyed this one too.
The turbot is prepared with almond creme, coconut, merguez, and beans. It was absolutely divine and was paired with a Krebs 2015 Viogniere. A match made in heaven.
Me loving the turbot doesn’t mean I wasn’t able to appreciate the onglet, though! The rosey-perfection was tenderly served with an intense combination of parsley, chimichurri, and cherries.
For dessert, we were lucky to try the refreshing pavlova with raspberry, citrus, and macadamia. This was followed by a plate of chocolates in varying textures – my favourite was definitely the pralines in the middle with the creamiest cores. Don’t have a sweet tooth? No worries. You can also opt for a cheese plate instead.
You pair the desserts with a Sauternes from Chateau Liot and believe me when I say I’d take it over water or coffee on any day.
What you need to know
As I mentioned earlier, Bricole offers menus that go beyond what you pay them for. Four courses will set you back EUR 49, 5 courses are at EUR 59, and you can get 6 courses for EUR 69. Adding 31, 38, and 45 Euros will allow you to pair your dishes with wine. I suggest you splurge a little and go for it as the pairings do elevate each dish.
Also, it’s worth noting that Bricole is the first restaurant I encountered in Berlin that doesn’t charge you for water – both still and sparkling. This leaves you more room for wine, in my opinion.
Since the pandemic is still around, distancing and safety are of utmost importance. Happy to report that the 22 + 2 seats offer ample space in between diners. Since there are not a lot of seats and the restaurant doesn’t do double seating, it’s best to make a reservation.
I know I will as I plan to come back. 😉
Restaurant Bricole
Senefelderstraße 30, 10437 Berlin
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 1830 till 2200
Phone: 030 84421362
Reservations: Click here
**I was a guest at Restaurant Bricole but that does not – in any way – affect my review and opinions expressed in this article.
