Restaurant Umspannwerk Ost — Restaurant in Berlin

It's slightly infuriating how close to absolute excellence this place is, and how unnecessarily it lets itself down in some areas.

Decor is excellent inside but utterly spartan outside; blankets are a nice touch, but the absence of meaningful lighting meant by 8pm I couldn't see what I was eating. I also felt like the only patron under 50, which was a bit depressing. Service was very friendly and enterprising, but then failed to bring any cutlery for the main dish; after asking for it, I was eventually handed a bog-standard blunt knife, which made it pretty hard to cut the (overcooked) rump steak. Food was almost schizophrenic. A starter of bacon-wrapped goat cheese with sweet jams was THE BOMB, absolute top quality that I'd happily gobble down every day of the week. But just when I was ready to start a campaign for a Michelin star, on came the main; and it was such a disappointment. The steak was hard and overcooked; the remarkably well-prepared veggie sides were all over the place in terms of taste, and it was a shame that they just couldn't succeed on their own. In despair I gave desserts a chance - and I'm glad I did, because the iced kaiserschmarrn was lovely, soft and sweet and boozy, surrounded by fabulous sour cherries and various other berries. I considered licking the plate clean, like a starving dog, but the chance of a heart attack was already pretty high for most patrons and I didn't want to push it up any further.

The bill came in under 60 euros, which I was more than happy to pay - three large quality dishes and a very generous glass of quality Merlot, in a metro capital, can often command much more than that. Paying by card, I wasn't even given a chance to tip - which I would gladly have done, if anything for staff friendliness (never guaranteed, in Europe). I left in a bittersweet mood, thankful but also frustrated by having flown so close...

Umspannwerk Ost is the restaurant that is part of the 'Kriminal Theatre'. So a lot of people go there to eat something before the show or have a drink afterwards. But the restaurant is also more than worth a visit if you don't attend a show. The food is more than decent, the prices very fair and the service is fast and friendly. The best part, however, is the whole atmosphere and design of the restaurant. They've done a splendid job integrating the restaurant in the interior of an old factory. A great place I would...

Umspannwerk Ost has a great vibe and a solid menu, but there’s one odd omission – no cheese for the burgers! The setting is fantastic, with a cool industrial feel, and the burgers themselves are delicious and well-prepared. However, it’s a little surprising that cheese isn’t an option on any of them. That said, the flavor is still on point, and the sides and other options more than make up for it. Overall, a great spot for good food and atmosphere – just be aware you might have to...