Berlin Brasserie€€€mitte
Borchardt on Berlin's Franzoesische Strasse has cooked the city's defining Wiener Schnitzel since 1992; the 1850s dining room runs 200 covers.
Signature: Wiener Schnitzel, Kalbsleber
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 the easier seating than dinner. Bookings open four weeks ahead by phone.
Japanese Izakaya€€€charlottenburg
The Duc Ngo's 893 Ryotei on Berlin's Kantstrasse cooks a Japanese-Peruvian izakaya menu with a sushi counter; the dining room runs late. Priced at €€€.
Signature: Yellowtail sashimi, Black-cod miso
Order: The yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-truffle, the black-cod miso, and the chef sushi omakase.
Tip: The bar counter for omakase is the room's best seating; book it eight weeks ahead via the website.
Modern German, Seasonal€€€charlottenburg
Sophia Rudolph's Lovis inside Berlin's Hotel Wilmina on Kantstrasse cooks a modern-German seasonal tasting from regional Brandenburg producers.
Signature: Brandenburg vegetables, Seasonal fish
Order: The five-course tasting menu, paired with the seasonal Brandenburg vegetable course and the river-fish dish.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The garden in summer is the seating to book; reservations open four weeks ahead online.
American Steakhouse€€€prenzlauer-bergMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:00
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.
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.
Berlin Brasserie€€€mitte
Lutter und Wegner on Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt has cooked the city's traditional Wiener Schnitzel since 1811; the wood-panelled room runs the long lunch.
Signature: Wiener Schnitzel, Sauerbraten
Order: The Wiener Schnitzel with cucumber-potato salad; the Berlin sauerbraten in winter.
Tip: Sunday lunch from 12:00 is the easier seating than weekday dinner. Bookings two weeks ahead by phone.
Contemporary European€€€Mitte
Veronika in Berlin Mitte sits on the 4th floor of Fotografiska on Oranienburger Strasse, with its own entrance under the arch. Priced at €€€.
Signature: Lobster omelette with French fries, Seasonal vegetable plates