Pinci — Restaurant in Berlin

This was by far the worst place I’ve been to in Berlin - or even in my life. And I say this as someone who fits their supposed "target group": a late-20s, fashionable Berlin-Mitte type. I mention this because some reviews suggest you need to look or act a certain way to be treated with basic respect, which is absurd.

My friend and I came by for after-work drinks and dinner around 18:20. The outdoor tables were full, so we were seated at the bar. We asked if we could move outside to eat once a table freed up. The waiter told us it might take up to an hour, but rotations happen regularly and he’d let us know. We said we’d start with drinks at the bar and then eat once seated. He informed the person responsible for the outside area (who turned out to be the owner). The owner gave us a wave to acknowledge this - so we assumed we were on some sort of informal waiting list. We ordered a Bellini, a Campari, and some olives. Drinks were mid, nothing special. After an hour, a table outside freed up. I asked one of the waiters if we could take it, but he said others were „ahead of us“, though he assured me we were still on his mind.

Then, around 20:00, we noticed several tables outside were cleared and new guests who had just arrived were being seated. After the fourth table went to someone else, I went out again to ask the owner if we could finally sit. He looked me dead in the eye and said, “We don’t do that.” I reminded him his colleague and he himself had acknowledged our request earlier. He flat-out denied it and said he’d known the other waiter for 18 years and that he would never go against their policy - which, apparently, is that if you're seated inside, you're bound to your table (a policy we were never told about). When I said that was exactly what we had been told TWICE he doubled down and told me I must have misunderstood. Then he called over the inside waiter, who also denied ever promising us anything. In front of me were now two men gaslighting me.

As a woman, I know the feeling of being dismissed by men who refuse to acknowledge your words, and it genuinely was deeply uncomfortable. I was being talked over, patronized, and made to feel like I was imagining things. When I told the owner that this is no way to treat customers, he raised his voice and said, “Drinks are on the house. PLEASE NEVER COME BACK”. Keep in mind that I wasn’t crazy screaming in the street, we were simply discussing.

It was humiliating. Honestly, any Späti owner at closing time has better vibes.

In short: We were gaslit by the owner and staff, told to never return, and served mid drinks in a space that turned out to be hostile. It’s a shame, because I really wanted to like Pinci. A lot of people I know have either been or want to go, so I had high hopes. Yes, the place is popular right now - but the critical reviews are piling up, and many mention the same problems: dismissive, unprofessional service and a pretentious atmosphere. Also, not to be that person, but you should genuinely keep in mind that the people you are serving can be well connected in different communities, and that words do travel...

If you read any reviews about this place that are more than one star it’s coming from the owner or a friend of the owner….

I would give this place zero stars if I could. My visit to pinci was, without a doubt, the worst dining experience of my life. Not only was the food absolutely horrendous, but the service was beyond despicable.

When my friends and I arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, yet they crammed the three of us into a tiny two-person table, forcing us to pile our bags onto a chair behind us. That decision turned out to be a nightmare—I had my luxury handbag with me when I arrived, but by the time we were leaving, it had been stolen. When I brought it to the staff’s attention, their response was shockingly rude and dismissive. They insisted, over and over again, that “no one here would ever steal a bag” and that they “knew everyone in the restaurant.” Yet, I had only gone from home to the restaurant—I definitely had my bag when I arrived, and I definitely didn’t have it when I left.

As I waited for the police, the treatment only got worse. The staff forced us to stand outside in the freezing cold for two hours while waiting for officers to arrive. My phone died in the meantime, and I desperately needed to reach my babysitter, who was home with my one-year-old and three-year-old. Instead of showing even a shred of decency, the staff screamed at me and kicked me out when I asked to charge my phone. They actually told me I “wasn’t the most important person in the world” simply because I needed to make sure my children were safe.

They didn’t offer us so much as a glass of water while we stood outside, let alone any sympathy or assistance. They ignored us when we tried to speak to them and treated the entire situation as if we were the problem—not the fact that someone had stolen my bag inside their restaurant.

To make things even worse, the hostess—who should have been working—was standing outside smoking, gossiping in German with her friends about the situation, laughing about how my bag had been stolen. Instead of doing her job or showing an ounce of professionalism, she treated my loss like a joke.

Oh, and let’s not forget—the food was absolutely disgusting. Even if none of the above had happened, I would never return because the meal was barely edible.

This restaurant has the most unprofessional, heartless, and downright cruel staff I have ever encountered. Avoid this place...

If I could give zero stars, I would. My experience at Pinci was not only incredibly disappointing—it was genuinely infuriating. While Berlin isn’t typically known for exceptional service, this place manages to set a new low. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt cold and unwelcoming, thanks in large part to the dismissive and, frankly, rude staff.

Let’s start with the service. The hostess was arrogant and unprofessional, prioritizing friends and so-called “VIPs” over guests who had been waiting in line for over 30 minutes. There is a no-reservation policy, but it’s clear that doesn’t apply if you’re in the owner’s inner circle. When we asked how long it might take to get a table, she brushed us off, too busy chatting and smoking outside with friends to even pretend to care. Once inside, the service didn’t improve—the staff seemed more interested in socializing with their regulars than in providing even the bare minimum of hospitality. If you’re not part of their curated scene, expect to be treated like a nuisance.

And then there’s the food. To put it bluntly: a total ripoff. The frittata was nothing more than a flimsy, flavorless omelet—barely 3mm thick and made with what tasted like supermarket eggs. The artichoke dish? One single artichoke sliced into five sad pieces and priced at €11. Cheese that looked like it came straight from the Rewe dairy aisle. And the pasta? Bland, lifeless, and clearly rushed. If you can’t execute Italian basics like pasta and salad, why even open an “Italian” restaurant?

The drinks weren’t any better. We were served a “natural wine” we didn’t order and, when we asked for an alternative that was clearly listed on the menu, we were told it wasn’t available. The cocktail was forgettable—weak, uninspired, and as overpriced as everything else.

This place is all hype, no soul. It’s not a real restaurant—it’s a gatekept social club for the owner’s friends, with a side of mediocre food. The atmosphere is chaotic, the acoustics unbearable, and the entire experience feels like a performance for Instagram, not a celebration of Italian cuisine or hospitality.

In short: avoid Pinci at all costs. The food is bad, the service is worse, and if something goes wrong, you’ll be met with cruelty rather than compassion. Berlin has so many incredible places to eat—don’t waste your time...