If you have any semblance of interest in Berlin's brunch scene, you've probably seen photos of…read moreRoamers online. This tiny restaurant in Neukölln is the stuff that hipsters dream of: succulents and other plants galore, rustic decor, food served on wooden slabs instead of plates, long waits, and Instagram-worthy food. I'll admit to snapping a quick pic or two of my food before I dig in, but to my horror, one of the diners actually whipped out his DSLR and had a five-minute photoshoot with his meal before actually eating. So... yeah. You should know what to expect from Roamers before you get here.
That being said, some of the obnoxiously hip clientele shouldn't put you off from visiting Roamers because the food is more than pretty good -- if you visit at a strategic time, of course. (Swing by on a weekday morning!) Immediately after walking in, I had the impression that the owner must be enamored with California -- the state flag, a license plate, and the plethora of succulents sort of gave it away. But there was an out-of-place Southwestern vibe that didn't quite jive with this Californian aesthetic. I asked the owner about it before I left and he revealed that he was inspired by Joshua Tree in Southern California. The food reflects this Californian/Wild West/Mexican aesthetic -- kale on kale, jalapeño cheese sandwiches, french toast, avocado toast, huevos rancheros, etc.
I had the french toast, which was absolutely impeccable. Roamers really takes it up a notch with their interpretation of this classic breakfast dish: caramelized pear, berries, jam, and greek yogurt! At €8, it was worth every cent. And having complimentary tap water is definitely a plus because it's such a rarity in Berlin!