As we all know, Singapore is commonly referred to as a melting pot, known for its diverse population and cultures. That said, we’re very lucky to have a widespread variety of international cuisines at our convenience.
Nevertheless, I’ve never had the opportunity to try authentic Berlin food which can be hard to find in Singapore.
How many of you can relate to this?
Tucked away in Stanley Street is Berlin65, a casual restaurant focused on capturing the essence of Berlin’s culinary scene, including an international menu like Asian street food, Middle-Eastern cuisine, and German street food.
The minute we stepped in, we were greeted with a super cosy and warm ambience — decked with wooden furniture alongside a vibey graffiti wall (it really made us feel as if we were in the streets of Berlin).
Get ready to have loads of bread when you’re there such as the Simit Bread (sesame seed Turkish bagel) priced at S$4.50, served with a tangy chilli tomato sauce dip.
Nothing says cosy like a warm loaf of freshly baked bread, am I right?
For myself, however, I preferred something spicier like the Turkish Flatbread (S$4.50) as it came with juicy pickled chillies and garlic yogurt.
It was sour, and spicy, and creamy when paired with the bread — a unique flavour combination that you don’t really find elsewhere.
It’s no surprise that German cuisine is known for having a lot of meat-forward dishes and Berlin65 is no exception. The Currywurst (S$16) or german sausages, came slathered in ketchup and kewpie mayo.
The sauce included a mix of German curry powder and tomato paste, bringing out more of a smoky and sweet flavour from the German sausages.
If you’re the type to visit IKEA frequently for meatballs, this might just be for you.
Unlike the usual Swedish-style meatballs known for using heavy cream in its sauce, the Konigsberger Klopse (S$16) AKA German meatballs uses a traditional white roux sauce topped with capers — carrying a much lighter palette.
Furthermore, their meatballs are prepared with veal and beef, making it tender and softer as compared to the variations served at other eateries.
What really surprised me was their Watermelon and Cherry Tomato Salad (S$18).
Some salads that I’ve had tend to be dry and bland but this was pleasantly refreshing as it comprises a mix of crunchy veggies, sprinkled with feta cheese and mint to make it lighter on the palette.
You mustn’t miss out on the Berlin Doner (or doner kebabs) as it is a highly raved and popular street food in Germany. So if you can’t travel to Europe anytime soon, here’s your chance to satisfy those cravings at Berlin65.
We had the opportunity to try out The 1972 Berlin Original (S$18) — made with their special in-house rotisserie chicken from the vertical spit, sandwiched in between flatbread.
Stuffed to the brim with fresh veggies, homemade tomato chilli and garlic yogurt, the chicken sandwich was evenly grilled, and most importantly, not dry at all.
Alternatively, go for The Banh Mi (S$18) instead. Inspired by Asian flavours, Berlin65 puts a unique spin on the banh mi by coming up with their own special variation comprising chicken liver pate, coriander, and crunchy pickles and tomato.
This would be a great choice for those who enjoy rich flavours and crunchy textures.
Surprisingly, what I enjoyed the most was the Adana Kebab (S$26), a mix of beef and lamb skewers and fragrant basmati rice. As someone who typically avoids lamb (because of the gamey taste), this was savoury and well-balanced.
After consuming so much meat and bread, I was delighted to wash it all down with their signature array of drinks.
The highlight was the Ayran (S$8), a Turkish drink made using yogurt, salt and water in flavours that you can choose from — classic plain, mango, or sour passionfruit.
As it was my first time trying ayran, it tasted pretty similar to lassi, the Indian-yogurt beverage, but with a thicker consistency with bits of mango flesh. If you enjoy drinks that are less sweet, you should totally go for this.
Like I always say, no meal is complete without dessert. Luckily for us, we were served with a piping hot fried Berliner donut (S$8).
Sink your teeth into the pillowy soft dough with a crispy crust, filled with oozy vanilla bean custard, strawberry, or apricot jam. My personal favourite was the strawberry as the tart jam helped to cut through the sweetness of the donut whilst making it soft and moist.
Such a good way to end the meal.
I’d never have thought that there would be a day where I got to have a taste of Berlin-inspired food without having to travel overseas and safe to say, it did not disappoint!
Will you head down soon?
Berlin65
Instagram | Website
📍30 Stanley St, Singapore 068739
🕐 11.30am–11pm (Mon to Sat), Closed on Sun
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Photos by Jermina
Sugar, spice, and everything nice 😼