Joes Wirtshaus | Restaurant in Berlin — Restaurant in Berlin

Be prepared if you don't speak German - the senior male waiter's gonna charge you 19% tip for no reason and absolute no service at all. He wouldn't give a shit to you - I dare say.

The dining experience was not a problem at all, as we both enjoyed the food very much. What happened was, after asking for the bill (remember, here is Berlin, a city / the capital of Germany) we waited for more than 15 minutes and still did not get the bill, WHEREAS other customers who asked for the bill LATER then us got their bills and paid even EARLIER THAN US.

So we asked, once again, for the bill from less senior waiter. He said to us it was the senior waiter who took our order responsible for the payment... Ultimately still not receiving the bill, we went to the counter and the senior waiter charged us 70€ without any explanation! The card reader and 70€ with no detailed invoice or bill!!

So my partner and I just got 2 white asparagus cream soup (approx. 7€, each), 1 currywurst with french frieds and sauerkraut (approx. 16€) and 1 dish of white asparagus with pan-fried fish fillets (approx. 28€), costing us in total 58,40€

We were desperate to seek explanation and that senior male shouted "service charge, service charge!" And he now got us the detailed invoice, tax-inclusive price of 58,40€ in total. He charged us 19% tip for such delayed service! He didn't even introduce the menu and suggest us anything! Neither did he mention to us the dish of the day option which would cost only 9,80€!

Let's be fair - another pair of customers who ordered 2 dishes of the day, and 1 glass of beer (defo less than 5€). So they paid 1 x 20€ note and coins of not more than 6€ (3 coins in total, max face value of coin in EU is 2€) to that senior male waiter. Guess what they got - a broad grin and gratitude from him!

Eventually that waiter even didn't bother discussing with us. He just shouted out like "I have no time" and "Never come back, never come back!" Anyway, thanks to his extraordinary service, we paid only the amount as it was, 58,40€ in exact amount. Now he's got what he deserved - 0€ tip and a heartfelt recommendation not to visit the restaurant or even to tip him anymore.

Photos:

1. Currywurst with french frieds and sauerkraut, which was actually a good portion of food and fairly got the taste it should have;
2. White asparagus (coz it's spring) with ?boiled potatoes and pan-fried white fish fillets;
3. The only receipt that we could take as a proof of the senior waiter's 5-star...

Joe’s: Delicious Traditional German Food, but Unfriendly Service

Joe’s serves authentic and delicious German cuisine, but unfortunately, the service leaves much to be desired. We visited on a Thursday for lunch, and while the restaurant was bustling with locals and a bit understaffed, we were patient with the wait time. However, what truly disappointed us was the rude and impatient attitude of our server.

When we asked about the types of beer available—since we are not German and unfamiliar with the selection—the waiter barely gave us 10 seconds before snapping: "Do you know what you want? If not, I’ll go to another table." It felt unnecessarily arrogant and unwelcoming.

On the bright side, the food was excellent—probably the best we had during our trip to Berlin. It was served quickly, and the flavors were truly traditional and well-executed.

Overall, if you're looking for great German food and can tolerate cold, impatient service, this place is worth a visit. But if hospitality is important to you, you might want to...

I truly think this place has one of the best lunches in Berlin. For less than 6 euro, you can get a beautifully prepared, hearty meal and some authentic German cuisine. (I've also had an excellent dinner here.) The entire restaurant has a warm atmosphere, but the terrace is particularly nice, especially in the fall because the block is lined with trees. The staff is attentive and will gladly explain the menu, to those less familiar with the fare, and can do so in several languages (at least German and English for all the waitstaff I encountered and German, English, French, and a little Russian for the manager).

It's become a regular staple for when I visit Berlin, and I cannot recommend it...