MARINEHAUS Restaurant — Restaurant in Berlin

A Deeply Disappointing Experience

I arrived at this restaurant with reasonable expectations—the location is nice, the decor is stylish, and the music sets a pleasant atmosphere. However, despite the overall pleasant vibe, I was extremely disappointed with the food, which was the main reason I came.

From the very start, it was clear that something was off. One waiter was responsible for all the customers and the service only one!, which meant that even the most basic service required an almost meditative level of patience. It took me 15 minutes just to get a menu.

I came to this restaurant based on the reviews, expecting a higher standard. Unfortunately, what followed was far from what I had hoped for. I ordered what was advertised as a "seasonal vegetable soup," but what I received was a bizarre mix of eggplant, cucumbers, lemon, and other ingredients that had no logical connection to a vegetable soup. When I asked the waiter which vegetables were in the soup before I ordered, he couldn’t provide an answer, which made me even more confused. The dish felt like a random assortment rather than something thoughtfully put together.

To be clear, the waiter was very polite and accommodating. When I told him that I wanted to cancel the main course, he was kind enough to cancel it without hesitation, which I truly appreciated given the circumstances. But despite his efforts, the overall experience was still lacking.

At that point, I decided it was best to leave. The restaurant needs to be much more specific when describing its dishes, as a "seasonal vegetable soup" should not be a confusing mix of ingredients. A beautifully designed space and good music can’t make up for slow, chaotic service and food that misses the mark. I won’t be...

After a hectic week my wife and I stopped at Marinehaus for dinner. We sat outside and had ice cold beer while watching brightly lit boats float up and down the Spree. A bit further away we could see an elevated train racing into downtown Berlin and we talked about all the Berliners rushing home to their loved ones.

We both ordered a German dish called Haxenpfanne, which is a fried pork leg with sauerkraut, a wild garlic dumpling and some other sides. The leg looked a bit dry but oh... my.... god. The dry part was crackly skin and the pork underneath was tender and juice. We were both kind of blown away by how good it was.

Last night we went back. My wife said she had been craving the pork dish and she said the Haxenpfanne was just as good this time! I wanted to try something different so I ordered the Schnitzel. It was the BEST schnitzel I've ever eaten.

We both ordered apple streudel for dessert and our orders included whipped cream, some kind of nut brittle (as a garnish), a tiny cookie, and vanilla ice cream.

Surely this unassuming little restaurant can't be good at everything, right? I expected the dessert to be average, but NOPE. Not only was it the best apple streusel I've ever had, I took a bite of the nut brittle and looked at my wife with a "what the hell is happening???" expression on my face. It was the best nut brittle I've ever tasted, and she agreed. Even the tiny cookie was amazing.

Now that we are living in Berlint this is definitely going to be "our place", and we're looking forward to many more...

The Marinehaus presents itself as German, down-to-earth, and somewhat upscale—at least in terms of price. The menu features a few dishes, all of which are put together as if someone had delved deep into their experimental box while scrolling through old cookbooks. Schnitzel with tzatziki, sunny side up eggs and fried potatoes, for example, sounds like a joke, but tastes surprisingly good. The location on the Janowitz Bridge is nice; the outdoor seating is pleasant, and you can choose between a view of the Spree or the Chinese embassy. The service was warm and attentive. Unfortunately, none of that helps when your beer doesn't arrive until you've long since forgotten your thirst. The wait times are epic, and the prices are ambitious. For the money, you'd expect a bit less experimentalism and a bit more speed. In summary: good food, friendly staff, nice location—but the timing should be retired. Four out of five points because, despite everything, you somehow...