€€€€ • Tedesca • Capitol Hill
Café Berlin has been serving authentic German cuisine on Capitol Hill since 1985. It occupies the ground floor of three townhouses whose front yards serve as Biergarten for outdoor dining. The interior features a small bar and two cozy dining rooms. A short walking distance of Union Station and the U.S. Capitol, it draws politicians, congressional staffer, and tourists as well a loyal following of neighborhood residents. The traditional dishes are authentically prepared with lighter touch by chefs with extensive experience in German cuisine. In addition to the year-round menu, the restaurant offers seasonally changing menus that feature fresh asparagus in the spring, salads and light fares in the summer, Bavarian dishes during Oktoberfest in the fall, and wild game in the winter. Desserts which are freshly made in-house include apple strudel, bread pudding made with pretzel dough, and boozy Eiskaffee. The bar offers a selection of imported German beers, wines, and schnapps.