DECIDEDLY OVER-RATED! Lunch, 30June2018. Hands-down delicious, multi-courses food, in a pleasant environment...except that this is the sort of place that you would dine, just before hanging yourself! No music, just the click-clack of cutlery against plates, and the drone of aged voices speaking of "Boards" and "tech". Why a place like this exists in Mitte is perplexing. Then again, it's Berlin, an odd mixture of old, new, and things that are buried but all too visible. Ah, the cherry-focused dessert has been delivered, with shock-frozen yoghurt pearls. All is well with the world once more, here in Europe, far away from Donald Dumb and his court of Dummies. I retuned to the Pauly Saal bar later today after a very satisfying dinner at Night Kitchen only to be poured a 5oz Chardonnay at Eur10! Recommend you skip this joint and head elsewhere to Night Kitchen where the food is more satisfying, less expensive, and the wine pours are more generous, thereby beckoning you to return to Night Kitchen. Additionally, at least one of the bartenders (specifically the dude with sleeves) is a major a-hole (beyond rude) maybe it's a homo phobic thing. Maybe he just a jerk. I don't need to pay for attitude, thank you [end] read more

Pauly Saal - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

What a phenomenal surprise during my brief stay in Berlin...! Pauly is a Michelin-rated restaurant, and it certainly is classy and a little pricey but SO worth it, and not stuffy at all. We came on a local's recommendation, and it was a great one. We dined in a lovely courtyard behind the main building/entrance. The service was incredible, and the sommelier was a true gentleman and expert at his craft. He paired our meal delightfully and without breaking the bank. Service was wonderful, and paced well. Each course came out in good timing, and we never waited long for anything. There was always something to nibble on at the table, even between the more substantial entrees. Each course was better than the one before it, and the ingredients were creatively integrated and used (mackerel "chips"?? Rhubarb 4 ways for dessert?! AWESOME!). The plating was sublime, and the presentation, as you can see in the photo my friend put together from our evening, was total art. The rundown, from the photo: Clockwise: bread basket, deconstructed cucumber soup amuse-bouche, mussel chips with mackeral and strawberry, wild zucchini with risotto and corn foam, ox cheek with potato coins, rhubarb four ways for dessert, chef's gift of gold macarons and "coal" ice cream, and the brave survivors. :-) We enjoyed the flavors and even a few little surprises from the kitchen, chef's treat...so much fun to dine here! We had an experience, both in flavor and in the dining setting, that none of us will soon forget. German dining in style, for sure. And yes, smoking is allowed in Europe, for the other reviewers that were harsh about that, it's a cultural misunderstanding I guess...really not a problem in our group's opinion, and we had several Americans in tow. Can't wait to visit again in the near future...! read more

Pauly Saal - Clockws: bread, cucumber soup amuse-bouche, mussel chips w mackerel & strawberry, wild zucchini w/risotto &corn, ox cheek, rhubarb 4 ways... - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

Pauly Saal definitely lived up to the hype in my opinion and also was more than enough food over the 7 courses. The four of us arrived early for a reservation at 6:30pm and it felt like we were having a private dining experience for a few hours before the other guests showed up. The decor is quirky with a huge missile on the ceiling and random bandaged stuffed foxes hanging out in the corners-- but somehow it worked. The food was divine. There was a complimentary starter and service was wonderful- very attentive and kept our water and wine filled all evening. Food is considered "new German" and so lots of different mousses and they really like their Pike Perch. The presentation was amazing and we were looking forward to every reveal. Complimentary post-dessert included an ice-cream "rock" that was nestled among real black rocks-- what a nice surprise. Overall, I think Pauly Saal deserves their 1 Michelin star for their daring menu, decor and presentation. However, it's one of those places where I'm not sure I would come back to- hence the 4 stars. read more

Pauly Saal - Menu for tonight. Sooo full!!! - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

I came here when I was traveling in Germany and was very glad that I did! The restaurant was located in a somewhat old building, which used to be a Jewish girls school. Upon arrival, I was greeted warmly by the staff and led to my table. The restaurant was actually full by 7pm on a Wednesday night! Food: -Appetizer: grilled mackerel with cucumber sorbet. Very refreshing and delicious. I was amazed by the combination of these two really different flavors and they really enhanced by appetite. -Wine: A bottle of Bordeaux. It was highly recommended by the sommelier and I was so glad that I gave it a try. Very well-balanced and I greatly enjoyed it. The sommelier seemed knowledgeable and service was great. -Main course: ox entrecôte. I really enjoyed it as the meat was so juicy and the outside was charred perfectly. The meat came off the bone easily and was very tender. -Dessert: chocolate hazelnut layers. This was the only thing that was disappointing in my entire meal. It was quite mediocre. In conclusion, it was definitely a nice experience to dine here. Stop by if you are ever in Berlin looking for some good food! :) read more

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Pricey but awesome. We chose the full set of courses and paired wines. The theme seemed to be tart with sweet. We started off with some "amuse bouche", mainly cucumber or radish dishes. All were quite delicious. The wine pairings were mainly whites; some local varieties and some from further South. We especially enjoyed the Macabeo from Northern Spain, which was paired with a fantastic oyster dish. The sommelier knew his wines to a T and explained the reason for the pairing, the grape, and the region along with a bit of history here and there. He also treated us to a very nice white Xarel-lo to compare with the Macabeo, which we recommend to anyone who likes whites. All in all very much deserving of a Michelin star with superb taste combinations, terrific wine pairings, and a very attentive but relaxed wait staff. Highly recommended! read more

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Probably the best executed fine dining I've had in Berlin. I was a fan of their sister restaurant Dottir, which I was sad to see close. The flavors are interesting, execution, presentation and quality were top notch. Service was good, and the fresh baked bread and multiple amuse bouche = great! Bill was steep (astronomical by Berlin standards) but if someone else is paying... read more

Pauly Saal - Lachs = delicious - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

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We ordered the pre-fix din and everything was perfectly balanced and flavorful. The staff and servers were all very professional and friendly. One of the best food we've eaten in Berlin! The cocktails were also very nice! read more

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Built on what used to be one of the wings of the Jüdische Mädchenschule Pauly Saal brings the well to do a place where they can rest and spend their well earned money in good food and good wine. Those who can shell out the cash can enjoy a utopian present that obliterates a sad past brought to you on spot for your amusement. Dinning this exquisite cuisine while watched by ghosts of a not so distant past can be a haunting experience adding thrill to the affair. I didn't have a chance to enjoy the kosher food at the Kosher Classroom next door but I'm sure it is as a joyful experience and will fulfill the curiosity of the intrepids venturing this exotic cuisine. read more

Looking for a fine dining experience with a German take on locally sourced and inspired food in a trendy designed restaurant space Pauli Saal might be a good choice for you. This geared to compete to other high end dining in London, NYC and other major cities and comparing it to the average German restaurant is a valid comparison. I had no idea of the history of the restauranteurs having gone to the building because my friend's aunts went to school here and to visit the galleries that are also located here. One of the main reason we can here was my dining companion's aunts went to the Jewish Girls school here before they were sent to the camps. While others (like the reviewer Augusto may find it distasteful that the school is now galleries and a high end restaurant, my friend who's mother and that entire branch of her family all were sent to the camps and myself with a grandmother who also survived the camps (most of her family did not) loved that the same has been rehabbed and did not find it to "obliterate the history" but to preserved the school it was and the history (there is a display in the main lobby FYI). Another thing that brought us here was the young goat, not just goat but young goat. Not sure if this a regular item or a special but goat is certainly underserved in the Europe and the US. The decor is gent's club meeting art deco with amazing huge chandeliers, a massive rocket and in a nod to hipsters, some taxidermist fancy dress foxes. If you are planning on getting three courses then it will be 70-100 euros a person which is high even for fine dining restaurants in other cities but seems to be the average in Berlin. The wine list will be a delight for people wanting to explore German wines. Our meal: Starters: 1. Fried vealhead with truffled endive cream- 18 euro, this dish was four croquettes of veal with a very mild cream and a slice of white truffles, good but not memorable. 2.young goat ravioli-18 Euro, without a doubt one of the best dishes with everything part of the dish full of flavour. Mains: 1. Shoulder and liver of goat à la gremolata with lentils and palm kale-33 euro, the goat was more mild than I'm use to but it was cook beautifully and the side dishes for both the mains were amazingly good. I could have had a bowl of the pilaf of kale & lentil. I have no idea what herbs they added to it but it was so savory and delicious. 2.Pigeon with creamed pointed cabbage, brioche and elderberry sauce 36 A beautiful dish cooked mid-rare and again excellent sides. The desserts seemed unappealing from the menu but when the server described them we both found things we wanted to try. They are price far higher than most desserts in the US but the prices seem comparable to other restuarants at this price point in Berlin. Both were very interesting compositions but I don't think I would get the pear helene again. 1.Nougat tartlet with cranberry and tonka bean ice cream-This wasn't a traditional tartlet at all with a mousse like cake with hazelnut flavour. There were lots of different elements for you to mix and match and the flavours were good. 2.Pear Helene, this dish didn't really come together but it had lots of good elements including cream, half a poached pear, chocolate. We were walk-in and the first table served and the place was dead for the first 1/2 hour but by the time we left more than 3/4 of the tables were filled. Our server was great and I think probably amused by us. He was very helpf at answering questions in German and English. The diners were a mix of German and international people. The crowd was on the older side with most being over 30 and many over 50 and it looks like it's popular with the business card scene as well as people celebrating special occasions. Is this a must go place? Is it a nice place to go especially if you want a special treat and a fine dining experience. Does it deliver the dishes it offers, for the most part yes. read more

Pauly Saal is situated within the gymnasium of a Jüdische Mädchenschule. The room is beautifully decorated with a small selection of modern art juxtaposing the otherwise minimalist but comfortable setting. Of particular note are a series of amazing amber chandeliers which provide a truly special ambiance. The kitchen itself is semi open - it can be seen behind a series of internal windows. This strikes me as the best of both worlds as you can see what the chefs are up to without any danger of cooking smells intruding upon your meal. The food might be best described as modern German albeit it would be fair to say that I have insufficient German food experience to be able to determine this conclusively. Eating at lunch, I opted for a fairly priced set menu (EUR 34) featuring a starter of pumpkin soup, a main of Pommeranian beef fillet and a lukewarm plum-cake to finish. Every course was a delight. The pumpkin soup was delicately flavoured with pumpkin seeds and croutons providing texture and interest. The beef fillet was a step above. A good sized hunk was perfectly cooked, sitting amongst the most wonderful mashed potato I have eaten and other equally delicate vegetables. It is not often you can order beef fillet in a Michelin starred restaurant for less than EUR 34, let alone it being one course of a three course menu. The star of the show was the pudding. The cake was moist and delicate and perfectly complemented by a scoop of caramel ice cream. A Riesling Sabayon topped everything off. I would have quite happily eaten a second helping but maybe I am just greedy? For your libation, a comprehensive wine list (over 600 bins) provides plenty of options with German and Austrian wines naturally to the fore. There did not appear to be a sommelier which made my decision significantly more difficult. However, with a little knowledge of German wine, I don't think you could go far wrong. Overall, I would recommend Pauly Saal to anyone visiting Berlin who would like to sample a fine dining take on German food. read more

I would recommend this place to others. An excellent execution of French cuisine. I was about 15 minutes early for my reservation, without hesitation, the waitress was able to seat me. Once seated a polite waitress took my drink order and gave me a walk thru of the menu. I was sat at a lovely table with a clear view of the kitchen. Being a solo diner this was entertaining. The dishes were spaced appropriately. The waiter checked with me to see how I would prefer my courses spaced out, for example, in between the 3rd and 4th course I asked for more time. I thought it was very polite and considerate of them to ask the guest that question. Beyond the amazing service, the food was delicious. Any French chef would agree. The fish was cooked perfectly and the star of the show for me was the broths. The broth that accompanies the monkfish is very light and savory. The broth that accompanies the porcini consommé is also equally as delicious and really has a strong mushroom flavor. I was shocked at the flavor bc it can be tricky extracting bold flavor from mushrooms. The chef and his team are talented. My last favorite was the Blanc Manger. The bavaroise was delicious and my first time having the dessert. I'm sure it would be great with an array of toppings. The quenelle held its shape despite being an icy sorbet. The rhubarb was still very crunchy and not mushy. The powered sugar on the strawberries reminded me of a dessert I would eat as a child. Great food, great view, great service. read more

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Unreal. Pretty much the best fish I've had in Germany, the monk fish was absolutely perfect, the eel bites combined with the vegetables were incredibly well constructed, and the cod - omg the cod. These people are great purveyors of umami. The venue is warm and stimulating without taking away from what you're there for. The only thing I wasn't thrilled with were some of the cocktails; too much ice. I'd like to see one big ice cube. But really, the 7 course meal was such a delight. read more

The location is really nice. The well decorated old gym from the Jewish girl school is now a design restaurant. I ate baked spring chicken on potatoes with cucumber salat and vienna chive sauce. Really good and nice served. For drinks I got some sparkling water. The atmosphere was suitable to the raised clientele. In advance we got a homemade bread with salted butter which was great as well. During the lunch we could look into the kitchen with the hanging pots and pans. Was an amazing experience. read more

Pauly Saal - Baked spring chicken with potato cucumber salat and vienna chive sauce - Bars Near Me - Berlin, BE

We had a 7-course menu for 3 people and a 6-course for another friend who didn't want one of the dishes. The food was innovative and good but the whole dining experience was ruined by the service! Such a bad service! The waitress was so rude and not at all helpful. She never checked on us to see if we needed anything, we had to ask twice for a bottle of water and when she finally brought it, she banged it down on the table... Who does that? Even in a Kneipe they are more friendly. When we received the 5th dish, my friend who was supposed to only have 6 courses also received it by mistake. Instead of apologizing and taking it out, the waitress didn't say a word and picked it up so fast that she shoved my friend... All that to prevent my friend from touching the food before he realized it wasn't what he ordered. The waitress was so unskilled and rude that I was wondering if it was her trial shift... If it is was, I hope she didn't get hired! read more

This review is mainly for the bar and Andrea, the resident Chief Mixologist Officer. Impeccable skills and innovative suggestions combined with a super broad knowledge about whiskeys - this is Andrea in a few words. I recommend you try his weekly creations (I had a pisco and vermouth blend that was exquisite! Worth every single cent. Bravo Andrea! read more

The food at Pauly Saar lives up to its reputation. It is innovative and the presentation exceptional. However, I have NEVER experienced such bad service. I arrived with a friend at 7:30 but our main courses hadn't appeared by 9:30. Our waitress was no where in sight. She never checked on us, our dinner or our drinks. I flagged down another waitress who checked. The manager came by to apologize with an impossibly lame excuse. I ate my fish with a meat fork because the service was never completed. Our original waitress appeared only to to present the bill- no apologies. One of the entrees had been removed and they offered us 1dessert but I was shocked that they did nothing else. This is certainly not up to star standards. read more

High end, borderline trendy dining in a former Jewish girls school, sharing the space with another restaurant, a museum, and a couple of galleries. After walking in to the main building, you enter the restaurant to the left. There's a decent size bar area up front, with occasional live music. Behind that is a well-lit restaurant facing an open kitchen. Our meal here started off great with a warm greeting by the staff, and a wonderful appetizer of small bites of regional ingredients (steak tartar on pickles, egg custard with roe, minced beet root on baby cabbage leaves, small bites of pate, etc.). For the main course, we had the ox entrecote, which was delicious -- charred on the outside, and buttery smooth inside, cooked perfectly at medium rare. That dish came with two sides chosen from a list of about six. We went with spinach and bean cassoulet. Both were great, though portions were a little small given the comparative amount of meat (a lot!). At that point, we were headed for an across the board 4/5 star experience, but then a few things started to go off the rails. We were starting to reach our price limit (not the restaurant's fault -- they serve expensive food!), but still wanted another drink or dessert. The bottles of wine were all quite pricey, and we didn't feel like ordering more wines by the glass, so we went with dessert. From a choice of only three (sweet-sour plum dish, banana split, cheese), we went with the banana split. Being in a nice, haute cuisine restaurant, we expected a new take on the common dessert, and to give Paul Saaly credit, that's what we got. But for 13 euros, we had about 6 bites of "meh": a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream, one dipped in chocolate, an interesting caramel sauce and maybe three slices of baby banana, about the size of a 10 or 20 cent coin. After that, I stepped out to use the bathroom - a shared restroom on the other side of the building's lobby. Smokers are welcome inside the lobby, and there were about two dozen of them puffing away. Their smoke clouds stayed away from the dining area, but not from where the staff keeps the checked coats, so we had a little bit of that smell on us at the end of the night, which was disappointing. The bathrooms are also "maintained" by an attendant, who busks for change. Very disappointed that a restaurant charging €€€€ prices won't let its customers answer nature's call without having someone charge them for that too. If overly precious desserts, smokers in the lobby, and paying to use the restroom in a restaurant you're already paying serious money to eat at don't get under your skin, this would be a great place. We really enjoyed our food, but those little annoyances at the end will probably keep us from going back. read more

The food is great, and the atmosphere and service is good. However I do not think that either food nor service can live up to what I have come to expect from a michelin star restaurant. The lack of a set wine menu for the set menu is also a problem. However it doesn't take anything away from a really good dining experience. read more

We went for lunch and Pauly Saal is honestly one of the best restaurants I have ever been to in my life. My husband took me and my visiting sister and her boyfriend here a couple of weeks ago, they left and we're still talking about it. Everything I had was so delicious. The complimentary bread is the best!! Buttery, crunchy, full of flavor.. My mouth is watering just thinking of it now. I love their set menu set up and how there's always 2-3 options to choose from so you're not stuck with a dish you don't love. Everything is super fresh. The portions are very small but so beautifully plated; an art piece for your eyes and a treat on your taste buds. Everything was cooked, seasoned, flavored perfectly! Dessert was to die for. I don't find it necessary to write down the specifics seeing that the menu changes frequently. Decoration very contemporary, interesting taxidermy with the "injured" squirrels.. Beautiful chandelier. I personally like that the space is incorporated with galleries and I don't mind that the bathroom is not inside of the restaurant. It was nice that my son and I could go out to the lobby and run around while we waited for our food, because you'll definitely be there for 2-3 hours! Service was fantastic, recommend going during the week for lunch when it's not so busy. Will definitely be coming back. read more

We had dinner in the garden. Nice setting and the service was friendly, helpful and prompt. All starters, main courses and desserts were well cooked; we enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere and had a great night throughout. What I don't like is that they do have smoked eel on their menu. According to IUCN eel is a critically endangered species. This means that each eel eaten brings them nearer to extinction. Environmentalists agree that the number of eels is so low that they should be deleted from every Restaurant menu. Isn't it the responsibility of a chef to do research, before a dish gets put on the menu? Who likes to eat endangered species? read more

I so wish I could have had a better experience. Have done many tasting menus however and this one already seems a little out of date. We had the 7 course menu (I believe 89 or 99 euro) and sat on the patio. Maybe they were down servers that night but the average time between courses was 45 minutes. Which means sometimes we waited an hour and sometimes they came in 10 minutes. The food was imaginative and well plated and prepared (except for the chicken which for us was dry). The high concept menu was wonderfully offset by the rustic schoolhouse atmosphere and furnishings. The front of the house staff was disorganized and under trained. read more

Artistic and beautiful food. Woefully understaffed for a restaurant of this quality. Service level does not match food. Waited 25 minutes to have wine glasses refilled with purchased wine. Really? Resting on their laurels. Served course from another table. Exited restaurant and front desk was not even staffed and so could not give feedback on service. read more

Went to restaurant on a Saturday night. Atmosphere outside is beautiful and the drinks are spectacular but that's about it. The wait staff was stuffy and unapologetic, took more than 25 minutes between each course, chicken arrived undercooked and had to send back. Overall, not worth the money AT ALL! Will not be back. read more