Foodies in Colombo are constantly checking out new venues to dine, and it doesn’t just end with a good meal - there are aspirations beyond that! A friend recommended that I check out the Berlin Sky Lounge located on level 7 and 8 at a quiet avenue of Colombo 2. As the name implies this was bound to be a night of authentic German cuisine. Within the local food realm German food has not made a great impact among Sri Lankans: in contrast to Chinese or Indian cuisine. There are very few restaurants in Colombo that serve German food in a consistent manner, thus my expectations of this venue were very high.
The Berlin is divided into two levels – level 7 has an indoor bar, and seating that extends out to offer some stunning views of the city at night, set against the Beira Lake. Level 8 is reached by a spiral staircase, which some ladies in high heels might find out of their comfort zone.
The view from level 8 is magnificent, supplemented by the chill night breeze: the perfect ambience for a romantic dinner date. While sipping a mocktail I was trying to identify the new buildings that aspire to dominate the city’s skyline. Berlin has a unique line up of beer cocktails, with a proclamation of being the first venue to introduce this concept using the skills of a foreign mixologist. The menu is concise, but has a lovely variety to select from. Needles to say German food centers on meat and poultry with emphasis on pork. So, for starters we opted for the Mix Teller - a dish that has sausages, meat balls and liver pate. All the meat is ground at the restaurant which is a plus factor. The meat balls exploded with flavour.
The next dish was pork schnitzel presented on a white plate accompanied by potato cakes. The latter is a nice variation in comparison to mashed potatoes, and the cakes were crispy on the outside and soft inside. The accompanying mushroom sauce infused with black pepper was good.
Local gourmets must understand that the element of spice in German cuisine is totally different and does not manifest itself like the Asian spice mix - to which our tongues are so used to. The pork schnitzel is a very filling portion.
The options for dessert don’t reflect many German delights, as German sweet sensations have not made their impact in Sri Lanka (maybe except during Christmas). I decided to try the lava cake. This delicacy takes 20 minutes to make, but is worth the wait. Served hot with cream in a separate tiny cup it is quite an inspiring dessert.
Friday nights are very ‘happening’ at the Berlin with loads of young souls soaking in the pulsating music. Established in 2016, Berlin has managed to impress with good German food at decent prices. It can accommodate almost 100 diners.