Borchardt on Berlin's Franzoesische Strasse has cooked the city's reference Wiener Schnitzel since 1992; the 1850s dining room runs 200 covers and a political lunch.
Signature dishes: Wiener Schnitzel, Kalbsleber
Must order: The Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad; the calf's liver Berlin-style is the long-running second pick.
Tip: Lunch from 12:00 is easier than dinner. Book four weeks ahead by phone.
Address: Franzoesische Strasse 47, 10117 Berlin
House of Small Wonder on Berlin's Johannisstrasse cooks a Japanese-American brunch in a leafy spiral-staircase room; the okinawan taco rice and eggs benedict anchor the menu.
Signature: Okinawan taco rice, Eggs Benedict
Order: The okinawan taco rice bowl with avocado; the eggs benedict with miso hollandaise.
Tip: No reservations, walk-up only. Arrive before 11:00 on weekends or wait 60 minutes.
Mogg in Berlin Mitte's former Jewish girls' school cooks the city's reference pastrami sandwich; the room runs the lunch crowd and the matzo ball soup on Sundays.
Signature: Pastrami sandwich, Matzo ball soup
Order: The pastrami sandwich on rye with mustard and pickles; the matzo ball soup in winter.
Tip: Closed Saturdays. Lunch from 12:00 is the easier seating; tables walk-in mid-afternoon.
Hummus and Friends on Berlin's Oranienburger Strasse runs a fully kosher vegetarian Israeli kitchen with hummus, falafel and sabich; the room seats 50 with a counter.
Signature: Hummus plate, Falafel pita
Order: The hummus plate with extra olive oil and warm pita; the falafel sabich with egg.
Tip: Kosher-certified, closed Friday evening to Saturday evening. Lunch from 11:00 is the easier seating.
Standl 20 inside Berlin's Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg cooks a modern-German lunch counter from market stalls around it; the Sunday roast runs from 13:00.
Signature: Brandenburg trout, Pork-shoulder Sunday roast
Order: The Brandenburg trout with brown butter; the Sunday pork-shoulder roast with kraut.
Tip: Lunch only, market hours. Sunday roast from 13:00 is the room's headline; arrive early.
Panama on Berlin's Potsdamer Strasse cooks a modern-European tasting in a former workshop courtyard; the dining room and garden share 60 covers with natural wine.
Signature: Whole sea bass, Smoked-trout tart
Order: The seven-course tasting at EUR 115; the whole sea bass for two is the signature main.
Tip: Garden in summer is the best seating; book three weeks ahead online via the booking page.
The Bird on Berlin's Am Falkplatz has cooked dry-aged ribeye and burgers in a New York-style room since 2008; the bourbon list runs to 60 bottles, the soundtrack runs loud.
Signature: Dry-aged ribeye, New York cheesecake
Order: The 300g dry-aged ribeye with truffle butter; the New York cheesecake for dessert.
Tip: No-frills, cash-friendly, loud. The 22:00 second seating is easier than the 19:30 wave.
