Cordo Berlin

Casual vibe with innovative food

canapes of sturgeon, shrimp and wagyu

Unlike Spanish, Italian, or French cuisine, German cuisine is hardly on travelers' top list to try, so it wasn't easy for me when I was researching where to eat when I got a trip to Berlin. Interestingly enough, Germany has more Michelin-starred restaurants than the UK, and far more 3 stars too. While Berlin is not the biggest city in Europe, and most things are within walking distance, it is packed with restaurants, many new Asian concepts, and high-end western venue openings. I came across Cordo as somewhere close enough to the center and has a casual vibe despite being a high-end venue with a tasting menu only format, but in a very relaxing manner with no dress code, just what I need in the summer when wearing a shirt and jacket is a tough demand.

Trout, cherry, almond

Aspargus, parmesen, garlic

Peas, ham, parsley

The tasting menu for sure has a modern French feel to it, the canapes of shrimp tart were especially outstanding, fresh and sweet, with a good drop of caviar lifting up the umami taste. The trout dish was smashing too, it had an oily and meaty texture yet it felt light at the same time, almost like tasting fatty tuna sashimi, the smoked element went into the almond instead of the fish which was a nice touch as sometimes I do found smoked fish took away the fresh taste. The chicken dish was served in 3 courses so the tasting menu ended up as 10 courses instead of 8. The chef used the whole part of the chicken, from the liver, breast to the legs, and even the head, but all done in a very refined manner. I especially enjoyed the chicken leg with mushrooms course which had a comforting feel to it, yet tasted edgy with that unusual dill element in the mix.

Oyster, beurre blanc, chives

Chicken and mushrooms

Pear, nougat, sprouts

It was a hot summer day and I was placed in its backyard dining space instead of its main dining room, so it felt even more relaxing and laid back. All the servers dressed casually too and spoke very good English. If I got to be picky, the wine recommendation wasn't the best as the strong white I was offered with a dry sherry-like profile was a touch too bold when it paired with the earlier courses as they were light dishes. Other than that, it was overall a great casual fine dining experience and Cordo totally deserves its Michelin star status.

Food 4/5

What I paid: 
£155 per person with wine

Average cost without drinks and services:
150 Euro

Große Hamburger Str. 32, 10115 Berlin, Germany

https://cordo.berlin/en/cordo-restaurant/