Restaurant Review: The Bird, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany

I spent a month in Berlin recently, and about 3 weeks into my trip I started feeling a little homesick for some good old-fashioned American fare. I was staying in Prenzlauer Berg, which is a great neighborhood in (formerly) East Berlin, and upon doing a search for American-style food in the area, I found The Bird, an unassuming bar on a very out-of-the-way street in Berlin.

On the inside, The Bird looks like any other dive bar in America - lots of heavy wooden tables, dim lighting, a couple of big TVs for watching sports. Perfection - the Bird was just what I was looking for! As I checked out the menu, however, I could tell that the food at the Bird was going to be somewhat different from what you normally get at an American dive bar. They take beef seriously at the Bird, no question about it. The meat for their burgers is ground fresh onsite, from cuts that would normally be served as steaks in America. All of their steaks are American Black Angus beef that has been dry aged for 30 days. Instead of offering a single size, each steak can be ordered in a variety of sizes, ranging from 250g to 600g, so each diner can get exactly what they want. All of the Bird's sauces and salad dressings are homemade. The usual deep fried appetizers that you find in American bars are absent here, with the exception of chicken wings.

I was really looking forward to a burger and fries, but the chicken wings caught my attention. It states on the menu that they're much, much hotter than Buffalo wings, and since I am always up for a challenge, I decided to order a few just to see. I traded some New York stories with the owner (who was tending bar) while I waited. When they arrived, just the fumes from the pepper sauce were nearly enough to knock me out. The Bird's wings were the hottest thing I've ever eaten, bar none!

Anyway, I powered through them and finally got my mouth cooled off around the time my burger arrived. It was gargantuan and cooked perfectly medium rare, served with a mountain of the best hand cut fries I've ever eaten. The Bird's owner, who is obviously proud of his food, smiled approvingly as I stuffed myself. The burger was incredibly flavorful and juicy - their attention to quality beef and fresh grinding makes all the difference. I asked for a side of blue cheese salad dressing for my fries and was treated to a huge dish of freshly made dressing studded with enormous chunks of Stilton. WOW. This burger was head and shoulders above any burger I've had in the United States, and I've had some damn good burgers here. I asked the owner what his secret was, and he replied that they simply use better beef and fresher ingredients, and take more care with preparation.

I have a feeling there's more to it than that, but he's not telling, and I was too busy eating to push it. The only drawback to The Bird is that it's located in Berlin, approximately 4,000 miles from my home in NYC. I'll be back, though - I can't wait for my next trip to Berlin, and to The Bird!

Address: Am Falkplatz 5, Prenzlauer Berg, 10437 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 5105 3283
Hours: M-Sat 6pm-late, Sunday 12pm-late
Price Range: Burgers € 9-12, Steaks € 15-40