expat V

The best hot chocolate

This is an old cafe in the center of Hanover, always packed with people, especially grandmas (THE experts in sweets.) Decorated in the old Vienna cafe style, it is my absolute favourite for a cup of hot chocolate (order the wiener Schokolade with cream and pieces of chocolate on top!) and a piece of cake/pie on a cold winter afternoon.

expat V lo descubrió en enero de 2008

etiquetas: cafe , cake , germany , hannover , hot chocolate , sweets

local hang-out

Plümecke is what Germans call a Kneipe, a very simple neighborhood bar/restaurant, nothing fancy but surely authentic. This one is in our neighborhood, List, and is quite an institution as it's been there forever. It's only open on weekdays and always packed with students, groups of co-workers, etc.

The waitresses behind the bar will ask you how many you are in your group before seating you at one of the big wooden tables. You might share a table with other people. My recommendation is to order a draught beer and the currywurst, which is renown to be the best in town. What is a currywurst you wonder? A grilled sausage served with a type of ketchup and curry on top. Germans adore this, so give it a try! You might want to try the half portion by the way, given that the normal currywurst is huge and comes with french fries.

Don't expect anything fancy, but just a local, cheap and relaxed scene. When you ask for the check, the waitress will come and everyone's beer coaster, where she wrote what each had (in Germany, each person tends to pay for their drink/food separately) and will so give you your total.

expat V lo descubrió en enero de 2008

etiquetas: bar , currywurst , germany , hannover , kneipe , restaurant

Highly recommend it

We stumbled upon this place while looking for a place to eat in East Berlin on a cold January evening. A sign outside read something like "the pizzaioli club in Berlin" and we decided to go in. A old man in smoking welcomed us and brought us to a table "near the 2 blondes" as he put it. The two blondes were two old 70 year old women by the way.

In the middle of the room was a stage and a huge dancefloor, then empty. The people sitting at other tables were a mix of all ages. We ordered a delicious pizza and some wine and were soon able to watch the dancefloor getting filled with all sorts of people dancing to old German songs from the DDR. Couples of old grandmas dancing together, and old 70 year old asking every woman to dance, groups of youngsters from Berlin, etc. all ages and all backgrounds. It was incredible. Like a trip back to how it must have been back in the DDR (as pictures on the wall prove it, as well as the 75 year old man working at the vestiaire can confirm to you telling you stories from the DDR times.)

The pizzas were good, the wine ok, the prices a bit "overpriced" but the experience was priceless. A place not be missed while in Berlin. We'll definitely go back!

etiquetas: berlin , dancing , east berlin , germany , pizza , restaurant

delicious Syrian restaurant

A fabulously delicious restaurant in Hannover, serving authentic syrian cuisine. Syrian food is quite similar to all other middle eastern cuisines, which consists of ordering a huge variety of starters (tapas style) called mezze/mazza/etc. You'll find all the typical ones such as tabuleh, hummus, kibbeh, filled wineleaves, eggplant mousse, etc. There are also several menus to choose from if you don't know what to order but want to try as many dishes as possible. The main dishes, which could be easily skipped given the amount of delicious mezzes you can order, mainly consist of lamb. And the portions are huge, so be warned. The prices are affordable.

The whole setting is quite nice, very middle eastern-like, but on the luxurious side. This restaurant is the dream of its retired syrian doctor, who already opened a first Al-dar in Gifhorn. Reservation recommended!

expat V lo descubrió en enero de 2008

etiquetas: germany , hannover , mezze , restaurant , syria