Restaurant Facil — Restaurant in Berlin

I am glad many of you are enjoying this establishment, perhaps I had an off night? But I will share with you my experience below:

First, fine dinning is a hobby of mine and a ritual were I get to treat myself. Facil was not on my radar during my recent trip but I have seen countless positive reviews online and I felt like I had to give it a try. My experience was uncomfortable and to be honest, Facil practices some of the most stereotypical haute cuisine tropes I have seen in a very long time. They put out bread on a silver plater (no one does this anymore...) and the bread was cold. An important attention to detail that is reflected on the food which ranged from strange to gimmicky. I had ordered the wine pairing to go along with my meal yet the sommelier was ignoring me most of the time. He hardly spoke, chose not to make eye contact and unfortunately he would not go over the wine with me. He would pour the wine in silence and walk away... One of the pairings was so off, I had to finally ask if its ok that I get a description of what I was trying which I think as a guest puts me in an uncomfortable position. There was a very helpful server who picked up on what was happening mid-service and was the only person to engage with me my entire meal. I had politely shared that my meal thus far was not the best and I was honestly contemplating leaving. That would have been the first time I have ever done so for any establishment. He assured me that things would get better particularly with the dessert. I took his word for it.

Unfortunately things did not get better, they got worse. The Som had returned to talk with me randomly to ask what was my favorite dish thus far and I had said the "cucumber dish with the habanero," which was floral, fun and I felt like showcased some of the Berlin flair the chef was trying to highlight. He reacted with total astonishment and remarked, "really! That one?" I have to admit that at that point I was pretty upset. Facil could pass as a hoax Michelin restaurant, borderline gaudy vibes but what's more disappointing is how much they try to charge you for a place like this. You can eat a far more delishious meal elsewhere. At that point, the Som had stopped speaking to me until the end of service where he said, "I hope the flight I selected was ok?" I hardly drank as the pairings just did not work. There were huge contrast in flavors and I would argue even cuisine wise, the lack of detail reflects on their dishes. The dessert was exactly how I thought it would be, another gimmick, it was a plate of rocks and gel. If Facil had taken me on this whimsical journey so I understood how we landed on a plate of rocks then I would be mezmorized. Instead the server was scared to put the plate down because he already knew I could see dead past the curtain and straight into Oz himself.

This place relies on a lot of smoke and mirrors that quickly dissipates. The glass ceiling for instance is a centerpiece, which is a huge draw for the space, however if you look for a few seconds you could see it was really dirty. I had taken photos and videos to marvel at the dinning space but quickly stopped after you could see the dirty windows on all the shots. During my Europe trip I was fortunate to visit other establishments, in fact the next day I had visited Tim Raue (which is also in Berlin) and you would laugh to yourself if you try to compare those two experiences. Tim Raue was easily one of the greatest meals of my life and had a clear vision with an experienced, confident team that were casual yet engaging. Not to mention Tim Raue was HALF the price I paid at Facil. I understand what Facil was trying to go for but being a "fine dinning" restaurant is not an identity. If you enjoy an outdated white table cloth experience, then this place is for you but if you are engaged with the local hospitality scenes, I would not recommend Facil at all. I should have walked away mid meal and grabbed a Doner across...

The restaurant is located on the 5th floor of The Mandala Hotel, near Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin. I arrived a little before opening time and was able to wait in the hotel's lobby. At precisely 12 PM, the hotel staff smoothly guided me to the elevator.

Ambience: The restaurant features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, surrounded by bamboo on the exterior, with flowing water inside, creating a tranquil, garden-like atmosphere. By 1:30 PM, the restaurant was fully occupied, mostly with couples. I was the only solo diner, which made me reflect on the prevalent couple culture in Europe.

Service: Since I had listed my country as "Japan" when making the reservation, the staff interacted with me entirely in English. Their English was fluent, and the menu was also in English, ensuring seamless communication. Outside the hotel, I often encountered conversations in German, so I was impressed by the staff's professional approach.

Menu: The lunch menu offered a prix fixe option with Two Courses (€68) or Three Courses (€88). I opted for the Three Course meal, which included an appetizer, a main course, and dessert.

Appetizer: OCTOPUS 'BOMBAY' - BEETROOT, FENUGREEK, AND VADOUVAN A Mumbai-style octopus dish featuring a blend of fragrant spices, with a distinct curry essence that stimulated the appetite. The interplay of flavors, enhanced by the sauce, made for an exciting tasting experience.

Main Course: CORN-FED CHICKEN FROM PRIGNITZ - GOCHUJANG AND KAFIR LIME The chicken, raised in the lush natural environment of Prignitz, was reportedly raised under stress-free conditions with a special diet. Though small in portion, the flavor was rich and well-defined.

Dessert: THE HAZELNUT-BANANA, COCONUT, AND LEMON* The elegantly plated dessert was irresistibly cute. The combination of cream, sauces, meringue cookies, and sorbet provided diverse textures, while the sweetness of hazelnut paired harmoniously with the tanginess of banana, lemon, and cassis, making it an engaging dish until the very last bite.

Overall Impression: FACIL is an elegant restaurant with a refined atmosphere, highlighted by its glass-enclosed interior and bamboo surroundings. The amuse-bouche, reminiscent of chirashi sushi, reflected a respect for Japanese culture. Although the portions were small, they were visually and tastefully satisfying. The dessert, in particular, exceeded expectations, delivering a stunning experience both aesthetically and...

The lunch menu offers two options the full gourmet experience or just a 2,3 or more course meal and is severed between 12 - 2pm. Overall it’s an unique experience, the menu was creative and the restaurant space is an experience itself - you can see the 2 Michelin star rating immediately. The reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is simple. It’s a two Michelin star restaurant and while it met our expectations somehow - it was way far from exceeding it in some disciplines.

The service was great and impeccable. The drink menu was great, but specially for the lunch menu choices there were no clear wine or drink recommendation for the specific dishes offered. As mentioned, the menu was interesting and reflected a new interpretation of European cuisine (German and east European). For the lunch menu you can choose any combination of plates as listed - which is really great (specially for the one that are not loving desserts, you can keep it savory - although the desserts are something you shouldn’t miss out).

The cold summer borscht for instance was a refreshing starter (from it modern approach and quite literally since it was served cold) . The bread and butter were ok but could be improved. The mains where good but did not convince us in their flavorful’ness. The calf’s head with tripe was interesting, but not was flavorful as you might except it, the Halibut was a little dry and only the side with the oyster saved this dish. The leg of Guinea fowl was served almost rare (raw chicken is something I know from Japan). This was the most difficult dish to judge. The meat was not as soft as it should be. Also the meat cut contained some veins and tendons - overall it was OK but not what it should be. The desserts were 5 stars though … it really helped to get over the a little...