Indisches Restaurant Maharadscha — Restaurant in Berlin

My husband and I were recently in Berlin for a week. I had not been to Berlin in 30 years, and it was his first time. This restaurant certainly added to our overall lovely visit to Berlin. We were at the nearby historic bookstore, the Eisenherz, and we did a quick search for nearby restaurants, and this one popped up. The restaurant is run by a family. Our hostess, and server, was the wife and business owner. Unfortunately, I did not catch her name. She was gracious, helpful, and convivial. We learned from her that she and her husband run the second oldest Indian restaurant in Berlin! We heard stories about the locals, their families, and friends who have going there for so long that the owners also now have gotten to know their patrons' children. My husband and I considered ordering the Punjabi meal for two, but decided against it because it seemed like too much food. In retrospect, we wish we had ordered it. I can say that we both absolutely loved the lentil soup! Indian food is one of his all time favorite cuisines. I enjoy it, too, but not quite as much as he does, and we both agreed that the lentil soup is the best we have ever had anywhere. And we've been to quite a lot of places. We enjoyed everything we ate. Our hostess told us that next time we ought to try their garlic soup, which she told us another story about. I don't know when we'll return to Berlin as everything in life these days has become so very expensive, but you can bet that if we return we will definitely return to this restaurant. Also, the first several days we were there it was unseasonably sweltering in Berlin. Most restaurants, and businesses, do not have central air, or even properly circulating air. This restaurant had all their front windows open, which make up the entire front wall of the restaurant, and a stand up fan or two going. It was the only restaurant we visited that was not uncomfortably hot. In fact, by comparison, it was comfortable all things considered, which was another distinct plus. We will always hold a fond memory for this restaurant, its family, and our hostess....

I'd been hunting for some authentic Indian food in Germany since arriving in Heidelberg last month. I'd found some good ones, but none that were willing the eschew the German fear of spicy food. It was with this is mind that I was willing to order "real, Indian spicy" lamb vindaloo at Maharadscha. They weren't kidding. I thought I could handle spicy food pretty well, but this blew my head off. It was fantastic though. The 2 mango lassis (lassii?) I ordered helped too. We started with a samosa and mulligatawny soup Both were very good. The soup was spectactular, nice and spicy, enough to warm you up on a cold, wet, snowy day in Berlin, but not painful or overwhelming. The samosa was also excellent.

We also had the lamb vindaloo and chicken madras, probably the two spiciest options on the menu, and as mentioned, were persuaded by the waitress to try the "Indian spicy" versions as we were from the US and could handle it. These were without a doubt incredibly spicy, probably the most I've ever had, but were still phenomenal. It goes a long way toward explaining this that even when sweating like crazy and having to blow my nose every minute, I cleaned the plate. Don't get me wrong, it was spicy, but still delicious and not unenjoyable. I'm not sure how it can be that spicy and yet maintain a great flavor profile but they found a way.

The staff was incredibly friendly, spoke great english, and gave us suggestions. She also talked with us a bit about where we were from and what kind of Indian food we had had before.

The price was also very good for Berlin.

Definitely worth a visit for authentic Indian food...

It felt like stepping straight into a vibrant, spice-filled street in India. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile and the inviting aroma of cinnamon, cardamom, and grilled delicacies.

The menu was a delight for both the eyes and the taste buds, from beloved classics like butter chicken and dal makhani to exciting options like paneer tikka and lamb in aromatic rogan josh. Every bite tasted authentic, perfectly balanced, and lovingly prepared.

My personal favorite was the naan bread soft, fluffy, and just buttery enough, perfect for soaking up those rich sauces. Paired with a creamy, refreshing lassi, it was the perfect way to balance the gentle heat of the spices.

The service was attentive without being intrusive, and the cozy atmosphere with soft music and warm lighting made me want to linger.

In short, Maharadscha is a gem for anyone who loves Indian cuisine or wants to discover it. I’ll definitely be back, next time with friends!

P. S They have great...