A friend suggested we meet for dinner at the Block House, an American-style steak chain restaurant with locations across Germany. We agreed to meet at the location by the Friedrichstraße Bahnhof in Berlin-Mitte. When I mentioned my plans to a cohort, they insinuated that the restaurant was "touristy". My experience was somewhat mixed. My dinner companion was seated at the bar with a great vantage point of the room and wanted to dine there as well, where we could people watch. As such, the occasion and ambience were relaxed. The service was attentive and friendly. Drink service was prompt. Menu service and ordering seamlessly followed. The order came up within 20 minutes. A simple porterhouse cut cooked rare and a baked potato served with sour cream, chives and a side green salad. The cut of beef was surprisingly tender and cooked to my exact specification. However, it was clear the potato was not baked. Rather, it appeared to have been wrapped in a moist towel and steam cooked in a microwave oven. The consistency was anything but baked as the potato quite literally fell apart to the fork. It was mushy, watery tasting and after a single bite, decidedly inedible. I sent it back. The kitchen's second attempt got it only a little better. The potatoes at this chain restaurant are apparently purchased in bulk, frozen to preserve shelf life and then thawed via microwave, which accounts for the end result. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the decent quality of my steak. The salad was alright. Desert, adequate. A local beer. Dinner for two ran around 80€, which isn't bad for a steakhouse. If I should return in the future, it will be for lunch with a side of fries.