Mädchenitaliener: a Review

[Image description: interior shots of the front dining area]

We arrived for lunch at a quarter past midday after a recommendation from the proprietor at Stetson on Münzstraße, Berlin (one of the main shopping zones in the city) to try out Mädchenitaliener on Alte Schönhauser Straße 12. The place was empty other than a very obviously in-love couple. We enquired of our affable server whether we were early for German luncheon. She advised that we were not. We ordered the apéritif from the specials' board, a cocktail of Prosecco, raspberry purée and fresh mint - tasty and refreshing with a wonderful, fruity aroma.

As a starter, Vorspeise, we ordered a sharing-platter for two. From the photographs below one can observe just how colourful and healthy it was. Nought remained once we had devoured every last morsel.

[Image description: sharing-platter & cocktails]

We ordered a dry, white wine to accompany our mains & desserts. My companion opted for fresh, spelt spaghetti & pesto rosso with fresh mint and Parmesan. I ordered the gnocchi. For the first time in my life I experienced gnocchi that had been sautéed after being cooked to give a satisfyingly crunchy outer texture before reaching the soft centres. Fresh mint had been added which had the texture of Chinese seaweed. Nothing went back to the kitchen. My only criticism was that the portion of gnocchi was too large and slightly over salted.

[Image description: spaghetti & pesto rosso and sautéed gnocchi]

I ordered a panna cotta for dessert, Nachspeise, with was decorated with poppy seeds, freshly grated chocolate, raspberry coulis and topped with a physalis. My chum ordered honeycomb & honey with whipped cream and sourdough. Again nothing remained on our platters other than tell-tale smears of deliciousness!

[Image description: panna cotta and honey, cream & sourdough]

Mädchenitaliener was incredibly relaxed and friendly: so much so, that we ended up conversing with the folk on the next table. Richard and I were there for the longest duration. Most other diners seemed only to want a quick one- or two-course meal. As we left there was still nary an empty seat - surely a good sign.

[Image description: diners eating]

We had a friend coming to meet up with us in Berlin, so we attempted to take her for dinner. Alas, the place was so popular we could not get a seat without waiting at least an hour. Instead we booked for the following night: even then we were the last space available!

The evening's service was not at all comparable with that of lunchtime. We waited in a line streaming through the restaurant, completely ignored by staff. An acknowledgement, even a quick explanation to us all would have been the courteous step to take.

We were not led to table and had menus thrust into my hands. It took thirty-six minutes from reaching our table before we even received our first drinks. Our starters took fifty-five minutes to arrive. Given we were booked in for nine pm we were famished by the time the food arrived. There are no images because we were so hungry we all three just tucked in.

The food was delicious. The mains - tagliatelle with fig (mine), gnocchi (2nd friend) and tagliatelle Lorenzo (1st friend) - were completely consumed. So stuffed, none of us could continue on to dessert.

 

 

[Image description: tagliatelle with fig, top; gnocchi, middle; tagliatelle Lorenzo, bottom]

 

We did give a 5% tip, but explained to our waitress that had there not been such long delays we would have given a 10% gratuity.

The food is well worth visiting this restaurant. If in any kind of hurry however, turn up for lunch NOT dinner.

%P

In/accessible Europe (7): Bristol Dinner Eateries

[Image description: map of Old City area of Bristol; © bristololdvic.org.uk]

Hobbling in twenty-eight degrees of heat at eight-fifteen from the Pride concert we again passed a floating restaurant moored next to Welsh Back near to Bristol Bridge. On my very first visit to Bristol, around a decade ago, I had attempted to dine there one evening but all covers were taken. In brilliant daylight, the barge did not look so clean. As the day had progressed and we had passed the self-same restaurant on several occasions, I noticed that their advertising hoarding looked more and more dishevelled. My assistant and I agreed that if the restaurateur could not be bothered to fix what first caught one’s eye, we probably could not expect decent presentation of food-stuffs. I hobbled on.

We passed Aqua restaurant with a large outdoor terrace. My helper glanced at the plates on the tables and pointed out how the food appeared to have been thrown at them. For a foodie that is a no-no - and I was not yet starving. I hobbled on.

We reached Loch Fyne which had one very high entry-step, probably do-able in my manual wheelchair and definitely accessible to me with my assistant’s assistance; but I was not making the ascent to determine that there were no places available. My assistant strolled in to make enquiries. A couple of minutes later he was back to apprise me that the maître d’ was checking. A few moments later, the lovely lass appeared to offer us a basement table - alas out of the question for me as there was no lift (elevator). The manageress was really apologetic and hoped we would visit again upon next visiting. She did however recommend a Spanish tapas eatery on The Grove. I hobbled on.

Tiring now, in pain and becoming petulant in the humid atmosphere, we detoured into Queen Square for a wee rest. The air was cooler and fresher under the mature trees lining the plaza. I recuperated. I hobbled on.

We passed several more restaurants: some of which were accessible from an entry perspective, but no accessible WC facilities (which is fine if one does not need them!); others were up several flights of stairs. Even a newer restaurant had no lift. Mud Dock had four flights of stairs and no lift!

The tapas restaurant had caught our eye earlier in the day when zooming past in one of the taxis we had taken. It appeared quite expansive with several patio windows opening inwards as well as two or three open entrances. As we neared one could smell the garlic. Upon reaching the building all one could feel was the intense heat streaming out of the edifice’s orifices. The place was packed. But there was no laughter and little chatter. Folk sitting at the French windows were distinctly leaning out, all lobster-red, sweating and looking thoroughly uncomfortable if not downright miserable. As I limped past each opening a repeat of the initial furnace blast. There was absolutely no way I was even entering the establishment.

We agreed to go back to the hotel. However bland the menu appeared, on this occasion - what was later confirmed by meteorologists as the hottest day of the year thus far - air-conditioning was the priority. En route we decided to take a very slight detour along Narrow Quay to check out the water-front dining spots, just in case. On the far side of Pero’s Bridge were several businesses serving food, some accessible per my guide. However, they all were heaving and the raucous cacophony was even deafening on our side of the quay... We turned to head reluctantly to the hotel. As we did so, we were faced with one final restaurant (photo below © The River Grille)

The River Grille was neither empty (surely a bad sign when everywhere else was so busy) nor fully packed out. There were no open windows, so we made the assumption that it probably was fully air-conned. Then we noticed diners were chatting calmly, smiling, some even laughing. That did it: we entered.

Penny, the lovely maître d’ immediately smiled and gently welcomed us. A table for two was no problem. Gin & tonics straight away - again no problem - and we had a choice of gins. They even had my fave of the mo, Tanqueray. Diet tonic was also available. I was liking the joint already! Penny enquired after any other beverages we might like. I requested a bottle of Prosecco be placed on ice. Unfortunately, not a line that was on the menu. However Penny recommended a Cordoníu Cava that was surprisingly light and fruity despite the brut epithet. We left the Cava unopened and chilling in its bucket. Sipping our G&Ts we perused the menus (table d’hôte and à la carte) whilst listening to the tinkling keys of the mezzanine-bar piano. The pianist (photo below) charmed us with light classics and film scores. Unobtrusive and a quite delightful surprise!

A waitress brought over a small plate of tomato bread with dipping oil & balsamic vinegar (photo below) upon which we happily nibbled. My assistant would later have a second serving, at which point the waitress herself admitted it was delectable and that she too had a fondness for it.

As a starter, I selected Loch Duart smoked salmon, fennel shavings, local crab-meat & watercress (photo below). The colours captivated the eye and the flavours tantalised the palate. My assistant plummed for the hake & salmon fish-cake, mousse & watercress. The plates were cleaned. For a first course it was just the right quantity to stimulate the taste-buds and get the saliva flowing.

For my main course, having first checked that they were home-made, I ordered the gnocchi as a starter but with an additional side-salad. Again this was not an issue and I was advised that many diners choose similarly. I use gnocchi as my barometer against which to judge a restaurant: if they do not live up to the standard of my Grandmother, I do not return. In this instance, it is true that my Grandma makes better gnocchi. Chef’s version had a very heavy-handed, doughy texture. However, the flavour was great and so my plate was emptied (photo below). My side-salad of rocket, Parmesan and balsamic vinegar was a veritable symphony of flavour: pepperiness; sweet- and sourness; sweetness. Minor criticisms here were that the salad was somewhat drowned in liquid and there was just too much cheese - not a criticism one could normally make anywhere else!

My assistant had the pork saltimbocca, pea mash & capers (photo below). Once again the platter was licked clean.

Desserts were fantastic (photo below)! I went for the Earl Grey Tea ice-cream with pear tarte Tatin & caramel drizzle. If I had not been so full, I could have eaten it a second time even though it takes fifteen to twenty minutes to prepare, as I was so expeditiously warned before placing my order. Assistant chose the lemon meringue (the straws are the meringue), lemon jelly & lemon sorbet. OMG: puddings to die for!

Throughout the repast, the service was unobtrusive and kept to the minimum without us feeling ignored. Each course averaged at about half-an-hour, which is my preferred time giving one plenty of time to digest and, naturally, to converse.

According to Bristol’s disability access guide (available from their tourist information office), the restaurant does have a disabled WC; but one has to enter the hotel attached as the restaurant’s rest-rooms are upstairs. However, on this occasion they were not needed.

Ambience, service, temperature (on this occasion), price and of course the cuisine were just spot-on. Fully sated. Quite content. Totally recommend The River Grille at the Bristol Hotel. I for one shall become a loyal habitué.