Pret A Manger Berlin Central Station — Restaurant in Berlin

Edit, November 2022: Sadly, there are menu changes and price increases. My favoured items are no longer offered: no Miso soup, the egg sandwich has been done up, spoilt with additions and a hefty increase in price. Similar things have happened at the Heathrow airside locations which I visited recently, I don't go to Prêt so often now. Never for the coffee!

😟Revised review: lose a star. The service has lost the keen edge of a newly-opened place and is a bit sloppy. Also last time I was there I was blasted by nasty noises from the loudspeakers. My wife was served a lukewarm, insipid coffee. I enjoyed my usual sandwich and miso just as much as in London, and I'm very glad that Prêt is in Berlin. Just stay away from the coffee, there's much better nearby.

At last! Prêt arrives in Berlin! Long overdue. Good, fresh food at reasonable prices. When I walk into a Prêt, I usually pick up an egg sandwich and order a miso soup - and I could here, too, even though the miso was nowhere that I could see on the posted menus (it’s there now). Smiling service (and that is rare in Berlin, sorry to say) and a positive buzz about the place. A good lunch for under €5. I shall be a regular.

Edit, November 2023: I no longer come here; the prices have risen disproportionately, much more than the competition. Coffee? Costa. Sandwich? Le Crobag are...

Today, I just wanted to buy a banana and a porridge, all ready made and good to go. But then, despite two workers, I could not even get to the cash desk. The workers were just too slow and incompetent. The one operating the cash desk took too much time and was even waving with his arms out of self-induced boredom. The other guy was making coffee but created confusion by giving away a latte without actual coffee in it. I had 10 min before my train, but this level of incompetence in such a straightforward job just kills it and the business. After 7 min waiting in a line of 3 customers before me, I just left the goods and ran to my train. These workers should just not work in a train station but in a more laid-back coffee shop in Kreuzberg where people have...

I love the quality of their food, it is mostly healthy, lots of veggies, salads, nuts and herbs. They could add more spices and/or sauce though, to make it even tastier. Unfortunately they have not too many vegetarian options.

Today I bought a sandwich for breakfast, a wrap, a bowl and a cheesecake, crisps, tea and a chai latte. Now sitting on the train with no cutlery, looks like they just forgot about it.

How will I eat my cheesecake and my bowl? I have no idea. Probably a 30 minute walk to the train's restaurant which I wanted to avoid by buying so much food in the first place.

The service was good, otherwise. Friendly, professional and fast.

P.S.: The oatmilk chai latte had an artificial aftertaste, a bit like sweetener maybe? Cannot...