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Heard that this was the oldest restaurant in Berlin and that notables like Napoleon and Charlie Chaplin had dined here, so naturally I had to also come by and give it a shot. Call and make a reservation otherwise you won't be able to get a table. The building is super historic and you can definitely feel the age of the building -- a metal spiral staircase takes you up to the second floor (if that's where your table has been assigned). Our waitress was very friendly and spoke very good English, so no worries about coming here if you're a tourist (I'm sure they've dealt with enough tourists by now). We ordered the grilled pork knuckle, the veal liver, some blackcurrant juice and a dark beer. Everything was really delicious! The grilled pork knuckle -- crispy skin on the outside, flavorful tender meat on the inside. If anything was a tad bit salty but not a dealbreaker at all. I personally prefer boiled pork knuckles but they no longer make them boiled here apparently. Not a dish that is commonly seen in the US (us Chinese folk do cook pork knuckles relatively often, but in a different style). The veal liver -- super tender and no overpowering flavor that you would get with organs in general. Paired excellently with a bit of apple and leek, plus the sauce was really tasty as well. This is not a dish that you commonly get in the US either, so it was awesome to be able to try this. The blackcurrant juice -- absolutely delicious and refreshing. Paired perfectly with the meat dishes. Again not a type of juice that is commonly seen in the US (unfortunate because it's so tasty!) Beer was great too! This place isn't a tourist trap, it's a legitimate restaurant serving great food with great service. Definitely call in advance and make a stop if you're in Berlin!
It's not too often that you get to be a patron at a piece of history. Zur Letzten is Berlins oldest restaurant and a gem in the city. We came here on our last full day in the city and we're super impressed with the ambience and feel of the restaurant. The menu is a bit small but it's to ensure that each item is properly made and taste great. We started with the dumplings, the cheese and meat plate, vegetables and some wine and beer. Great apps and definitely recommend. Our server was attentive, although towards the end he started to get a bit more busy and needed some help! For the main meal we had the pork knuckle, onion tart, poached eggs, and meatballs. Everything tasted great and came out in great time. For desert we had the apple pie, cheese plate and the flan. The flan and cheese weren't my cup of tea but the apple pie looked great. Great spot and definitely would come again!
It is the oldest restaurant in Berlin- 1621. We sat outside in the shade. The waiter went over the food and drink menu with us. He was more talkative and friendly then other waiters/ waitresses we've encountered in Germany. I came upon this place when I was trying to find a restaurant that serves schweinshaxe- pork knuckle. The pork knuckle is a big dish as there is a lot of meat. My favorite part of the pork knuckle is the crispy skin. It also came with a side of potatoes, either fried or mashed. I was very full after this meal and wasn't able to finish everything. I enjoyed my time here.
Great place to go if you want authentic German cuisine. This can be heavy but if you choose wisely from the menu it can also be relatively light and delicious. Service is excellent. Ambiance is what you might expect from the oldest restaurant in Berlin: old-fashioned, not at all stylish, historical. A good evening out of you want to experience a straightforward German meal without any finickety 21st century pretentions. Sorry the pictures aren't of pristine plates of foods but I was very hungry.....
What do Beethoven, Napoleon, Charlie Chaplin, Angela Merkel, Jacques Chirac and I have in common? We had all enjoyed a fine meal and downed some delicious beer at this restaurant, the oldest in Berlin. More accurate to history, while this location has been serving food since 1621, the current restaurant name and ownership is relatively recent. Nonetheless, it's no hype, the delicious food it serves is worthy of its fame and line. Pork knuckle is a popular German dish. I was told that it's usually oven roasted in the south and boiled in the north. Here they offer both versions, though I suppose it's no surprise that eisbein, the boiled version, wins out here, with a melting soft skin and tender, juicy meat. The baked one is too dry and definitely does not measure up to the ones I've tried in southern Germany. Fried fish fillet is also delicious with a crunchy oatmeal coating. Special mention is worthy of the cucumber salad. Crunchy, fresh, buttery and loaded with dill, the best cucumber salad I've tried. On my second visit I asked the waiter to substitute my side with cucumber salad, but either he misunderstood or it couldn't be done, it came as an extra order. If you didn't make reservation, try coming off hours. The waitstaff seems to only take as many table as they and the kitchen can effectively serve. So even if the place is not full, they may tell the customer apologetically, in English or German, that they are full. But if 10 minutes later a group leaves, then the next customer who walks in may get seated. Nothing discriminatory, just how they operate, like it or not.
Loved this place! Came in without reservations but they fit us in ( with a time limit, but totally understandable). Staff was very attentive, explained food well, made recommendations. Food was excellent. Pork knuckles is a staple and a must try. So tender, good abd delicious you would want to take it home and introduce to your mother! And then we had cheese dumplings.... Seriously, I craved them for the rest of my stay in Berlin. Meal was paired with some beer and schnapps and it was a delightful experience. Will visit this place every time we come to Berlin!
What can you say it's a 600 year old restaurant in Berlin. Many people famous people have been there. My husband and I went on our last day in Berlin and it's very quaint. My husband got the pig knuckle which was actually better than it sounds and I've got the classic stuffed cabbage rolls. They had a different flavor but they were good. The staff was very friendly very accommodating. Just a nice little restaurant to visit if you have the time while you're in Berlin.
Being the oldest restaurant in Berlin, you would imagine that the building would have that old world flare. Well, it definitely did. We first went on a late night hoping for a table but the man told us they were closed, so we went back the next day at 530pm. They were booked with reservations but he was nice enough to seat us outside on the patio which was absolutely lovely. We had a couple of beers before 6pm rolled around which was when food would start to be made. The first thing we ordered was a few appetizers, meatballs and pickled pork. I wasnt a fan of the pickled pork but the Meatballs were so delicious! I then ordered the stuffed cabbage which is filled with a meatloaf type meat made out of sausage and beef. It was brilliant! The last thing we did was share a apple streudel pie thingy with vanilla ice cream which was one of the best desserts I have ever had. There is absolutely a reason that this place has existed for over 400 years, and in that time they have perfected recipes. It was a memorable meal between 4 friends and a place I would definitely visit again if I make my way back to Berlin.
Read about this place and walked here one night for dinner, wanting to eat in the oldest restaurant in Berlin. Unfortunately they were booked, so we made reservations for the following night. Came back and had a great dinner experience. Our food was delicious, the staff were friendly, the ambiance was excellent. It was very authentic german and made us feel very native. We would definitely come back again.
The reviews are correct. Tasty Traditional German Food in a historic building away from all tourist activity. I loved their small outdoor garden under big trees. Definitely can recommend the Cabbage Rolls with German fried potatoes. YUM I'll be back
seriously amazing food, very nice ambiance inside the restaurant with everyone clearly having a good time. also the staff was super nice
Wonderful food. Best we have had in Berlin and dare I say Germany. Service was perfect, prices were low for the quality. The lamb sausages were absolutelty amazing. Quaint decor and easy to get to. We will go back.
Wasn't sure if Napolean really dine here before but since I saw it online, it's worth a try. Although I was never a big fan of pork knuckle before, I decided to give it another shot. It is to my surprise that I actually liked it. Besides the pork knuckle, we also had deviled eggs as appetizer, a bowl of chicken/veggie soup, and the house special meatball. Everything was delicious but we just ordered a bit too much lol. P/S the service was a bit slow due to understaff but the waitresses were extremely nice regardless :)
20 days ago
So good! Food was great, beer was great. Had the mustard eggs for an appetizer and than we ordered, meatballs, pork knuckles and the stuffed cabbage. We ate outside, it was so charming!! Food was SO GOOD! Don't miss out! read more
3 months ago
The food was very delicious and the service was wonderful. The place was so charming. The night was so special. We had the mountain cheese balls, meatballs, pork knuckle and apple pie. One of the best meals I have had in a long time. read more
2 years ago
Est. 1621 Its customers have included notables such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Beethoven, and Jack Nicholson, and now us! The place exudes old world charm, but the foods represent a modern twist on timeless classics. We had the meatballs and stuffed cabbage rolls, and we enjoyed the dishes very much. The flavors were delicate and although the portions were generous, we did not left feeling heavy. Service was friendly. You can sit inside, or out on the cobblestone courtyard and admire the remaining city wall that dates to medieval times. read more
3 years ago
Heard that this was the oldest restaurant in Berlin and that notables like Napoleon and Charlie Chaplin had dined here, so naturally I had to also come by and give it a shot. Call and make a reservation otherwise you won't be able to get a table. The building is super historic and you can definitely feel the age of the building -- a metal spiral staircase takes you up to the second floor (if that's where your table has been assigned). Our waitress was very friendly and spoke very good English, so no worries about coming here if you're a tourist (I'm sure they've dealt with enough tourists by now). We ordered the grilled pork knuckle, the veal liver, some blackcurrant juice and a dark beer. Everything was really delicious! The grilled pork knuckle -- crispy skin on the outside, flavorful tender meat on the inside. If anything was a tad bit salty but not a dealbreaker at all. I personally prefer boiled pork knuckles but they no longer make them boiled here apparently. Not a dish that is commonly seen in the US (us Chinese folk do cook pork knuckles relatively often, but in a different style). The veal liver -- super tender and no overpowering flavor that you would get with organs in general. Paired excellently with a bit of apple and leek, plus the sauce was really tasty as well. This is not a dish that you commonly get in the US either, so it was awesome to be able to try this. The blackcurrant juice -- absolutely delicious and refreshing. Paired perfectly with the meat dishes. Again not a type of juice that is commonly seen in the US (unfortunate because it's so tasty!) Beer was great too! This place isn't a tourist trap, it's a legitimate restaurant serving great food with great service. Definitely call in advance and make a stop if you're in Berlin! read more
It's not too often that you get to be a patron at a piece of history. Zur Letzten is Berlins oldest restaurant and a gem in the city. We came here on our last full day in the city and we're super impressed with the ambience and feel of the restaurant. The menu is a bit small but it's to ensure that each item is properly made and taste great. We started with the dumplings, the cheese and meat plate, vegetables and some wine and beer. Great apps and definitely recommend. Our server was attentive, although towards the end he started to get a bit more busy and needed some help! For the main meal we had the pork knuckle, onion tart, poached eggs, and meatballs. Everything tasted great and came out in great time. For desert we had the apple pie, cheese plate and the flan. The flan and cheese weren't my cup of tea but the apple pie looked great. Great spot and definitely would come again! read more
It is the oldest restaurant in Berlin- 1621. We sat outside in the shade. The waiter went over the food and drink menu with us. He was more talkative and friendly then other waiters/ waitresses we've encountered in Germany. I came upon this place when I was trying to find a restaurant that serves schweinshaxe- pork knuckle. The pork knuckle is a big dish as there is a lot of meat. My favorite part of the pork knuckle is the crispy skin. It also came with a side of potatoes, either fried or mashed. I was very full after this meal and wasn't able to finish everything. I enjoyed my time here. read more
3 years ago
Great place to go if you want authentic German cuisine. This can be heavy but if you choose wisely from the menu it can also be relatively light and delicious. Service is excellent. Ambiance is what you might expect from the oldest restaurant in Berlin: old-fashioned, not at all stylish, historical. A good evening out of you want to experience a straightforward German meal without any finickety 21st century pretentions. Sorry the pictures aren't of pristine plates of foods but I was very hungry..... read more
What do Beethoven, Napoleon, Charlie Chaplin, Angela Merkel, Jacques Chirac and I have in common? We had all enjoyed a fine meal and downed some delicious beer at this restaurant, the oldest in Berlin. More accurate to history, while this location has been serving food since 1621, the current restaurant name and ownership is relatively recent. Nonetheless, it's no hype, the delicious food it serves is worthy of its fame and line. Pork knuckle is a popular German dish. I was told that it's usually oven roasted in the south and boiled in the north. Here they offer both versions, though I suppose it's no surprise that eisbein, the boiled version, wins out here, with a melting soft skin and tender, juicy meat. The baked one is too dry and definitely does not measure up to the ones I've tried in southern Germany. Fried fish fillet is also delicious with a crunchy oatmeal coating. Special mention is worthy of the cucumber salad. Crunchy, fresh, buttery and loaded with dill, the best cucumber salad I've tried. On my second visit I asked the waiter to substitute my side with cucumber salad, but either he misunderstood or it couldn't be done, it came as an extra order. If you didn't make reservation, try coming off hours. The waitstaff seems to only take as many table as they and the kitchen can effectively serve. So even if the place is not full, they may tell the customer apologetically, in English or German, that they are full. But if 10 minutes later a group leaves, then the next customer who walks in may get seated. Nothing discriminatory, just how they operate, like it or not. read more
5 years ago
Loved this place! Came in without reservations but they fit us in ( with a time limit, but totally understandable). Staff was very attentive, explained food well, made recommendations. Food was excellent. Pork knuckles is a staple and a must try. So tender, good abd delicious you would want to take it home and introduce to your mother! And then we had cheese dumplings.... Seriously, I craved them for the rest of my stay in Berlin. Meal was paired with some beer and schnapps and it was a delightful experience. Will visit this place every time we come to Berlin! read more
3 years ago
What can you say it's a 600 year old restaurant in Berlin. Many people famous people have been there. My husband and I went on our last day in Berlin and it's very quaint. My husband got the pig knuckle which was actually better than it sounds and I've got the classic stuffed cabbage rolls. They had a different flavor but they were good. The staff was very friendly very accommodating. Just a nice little restaurant to visit if you have the time while you're in Berlin. read more
Being the oldest restaurant in Berlin, you would imagine that the building would have that old world flare. Well, it definitely did. We first went on a late night hoping for a table but the man told us they were closed, so we went back the next day at 530pm. They were booked with reservations but he was nice enough to seat us outside on the patio which was absolutely lovely. We had a couple of beers before 6pm rolled around which was when food would start to be made. The first thing we ordered was a few appetizers, meatballs and pickled pork. I wasnt a fan of the pickled pork but the Meatballs were so delicious! I then ordered the stuffed cabbage which is filled with a meatloaf type meat made out of sausage and beef. It was brilliant! The last thing we did was share a apple streudel pie thingy with vanilla ice cream which was one of the best desserts I have ever had. There is absolutely a reason that this place has existed for over 400 years, and in that time they have perfected recipes. It was a memorable meal between 4 friends and a place I would definitely visit again if I make my way back to Berlin. read more
3 years ago
Read about this place and walked here one night for dinner, wanting to eat in the oldest restaurant in Berlin. Unfortunately they were booked, so we made reservations for the following night. Came back and had a great dinner experience. Our food was delicious, the staff were friendly, the ambiance was excellent. It was very authentic german and made us feel very native. We would definitely come back again. read more
7 years ago
The reviews are correct. Tasty Traditional German Food in a historic building away from all tourist activity. I loved their small outdoor garden under big trees. Definitely can recommend the Cabbage Rolls with German fried potatoes. YUM I'll be back read more
5 years ago
seriously amazing food, very nice ambiance inside the restaurant with everyone clearly having a good time. also the staff was super nice read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Wonderful food. Best we have had in Berlin and dare I say Germany. Service was perfect, prices were low for the quality. The lamb sausages were absolutelty amazing. Quaint decor and easy to get to. We will go back. read more
11 years ago
Wasn't sure if Napolean really dine here before but since I saw it online, it's worth a try. Although I was never a big fan of pork knuckle before, I decided to give it another shot. It is to my surprise that I actually liked it. Besides the pork knuckle, we also had deviled eggs as appetizer, a bowl of chicken/veggie soup, and the house special meatball. Everything was delicious but we just ordered a bit too much lol. P/S the service was a bit slow due to understaff but the waitresses were extremely nice regardless :) read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
Nice and cozy. Must have reservation or call first at least! I called before arrival so I went to a table shared with others but other people without reservation had to wait for the seats to be vacant. Nice place & food. Should visit at least 1 time. read more
8 years ago
Allegedly the oldest pub in Berlin and it definately delivers on the old style charm you might expect. Allegedly Napoleon used to hang out here, back in the day. The hearty food and drink were superb and the serving staff were very friendly too. Can get very busy so if you are planning a late evening visit you should book in advance. read more
10 years ago
The food is fantastic. My wife ordered the veal meatballs and I ordered the lamb sausage, and even though it turned out to be a salad, I loved it. The service was also excellent, if a bit slow. But it was the middle of a Saturday, and the patio was nearly full. The only sour note was the tiny notice at the bottom of the menu: Cash or debit card only for under 50 euros. So I tried to pay with a debit card, but the waiter wasn't too happy about it. He gave me grief for a couple of minutes, but eventually ran the transaction. If I'm back in Berlin, I'll go again, but I'll bring cash. read more
8 years ago
We had no idea what to expect as it was a place recommended by a few travel bloggers. The first thing the waiter asked was if we had a reservation. So maybe it is important to have a reservation. We didn't have one and had 1 hr to order/eat. We came here for the history and pork knuckles. We were told that the boiled pork knuckles was traditional. However, the fried pork knuckles was more popular. The boiled pork knuckles was very very tender although not as visually appetizing. I can tell why the fried pork knuckle is more popular. The skin is crispy and very flavorful. I definitely would recommend this meal and experience. The server was quite friendly and the ambience is very homey. read more
8 years ago
Great food and nice waitress. Both of the grilled and boiled knuckle of pork is brilliant! Just in case you drive here, there's a space next to the backyard of the restaurant which is free of charge if you dine here. We actually parked on the street and paid 2 EUR per hour. read more
15 years ago
Awful, awful, awful. Took the advice of Lonely Planet, and wish we hadn't. Awful... cannot say it enough. Rude staff, who couldn't give a toss about the people in the place. Huge, but unpleasant servings of meaty, meat-lovers food. Awful. Avoid. The only think going for it, is that it's the oldest operating restaurant in Berlin (or so Lonely Planet told us). But that's not enough for me to recommend it. read more
15 years ago
Napoleon ate here and allegedly tried have his way with the waitresses so I guess he must have enjoyed himself. We did too (though not with the waiting staff) and we found the place really has a nice low-key historic ambience, which is surprising as it was almost wholly destroyed and then rebuilt after WW2. Service was efficient, friendly and not that slow considering the size and layout of the restaurant which has quite a few separate dining rooms. The food was also quite good, mainly traditional German fare like haxe and the Berliner eisbein or duck and blutwurst and even a modern currywurst. Both of the wursts were rather insipid so do stick with the proper meats or the calf liver, which was really delicious and beautifully pink (but don't forget to tell the kitchen that you want the liver pink if you don't want it well done). This is a great place to bring newcomers to Germany or Berlin. I am sure they would appreciate the food and atmosphere as much as you! read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
So satisfied! Grilled one is obvious my type of tea but pickled one seems to be recommended more. read more
9 years ago
10 years ago
8 years ago
10 years ago
The oldest restaurant in Berlin. Nice and cozy beer garden. Great selection of traditional food . Pork knuckle, red cabbage, dumplings are a great choice. Service, however, seems to be slow! read more
11 years ago
11 years ago
8 years ago
A Must Go if you are in Berlin. Number 1: You must eat a German Meal when you're here; Number 2: Zur Letzten Instanz opened in 1621. I had to kill 2 birds with one stone. So... For my German meal, I had the Pork Knuckle and mash potatoes. Which was phenomenal, and for history, If it's good enough for Napoleon and Beethoven to "supposedly" eat here, I "Gotta Eat Here"!!! read more
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More info about Zur Letzten Instanz
Waisenstr. 14 - 16
10179 Berlin
Germany
Mitte
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030 2425528
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http://zurletzteninstanz.com/
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