The atmosphere makes this restaurant worth the visit
Petrocelli’s has a few locations, but get off the beaten path to Savigniplatz to this gem of a location. The patio is a showcase in European dining and the ambiance is unlike any place in Berlin. The restaurant sits literally beneath the S-Bahn(train) tracks just before the station by the same name. This small street is home to more than one quant dining spot, but Petrocelli’s is at the top of my list. I love to be off the KuDamm, and the place is full of West Berliners eating and enjoying the street life. Inside is just as spectacular, with the arches of the railway carving the ceiling and mirrors casting the glow of the candles throughout the restaurant.
We ordered a bottle of wine and some water…and then we waited and waited! I mean longer than the typical poor European service kind of wait! After bordering on ridiculous I went inside to ask a manager for help and things quickly improved. Ahhh bread…finally…and well worth the wait! Make sure you ask for it or may not make its way to the table. We made the mistake of ordering the chateaubriand. Being from Texas I should have known better than to order a beef tenderloin from anywhere other than my home state. The meat was ok, and edible, but lacked the flavors of American beef and was honestly not well prepared. It looked great on the plate and the salad was amazing form start to finish. Don’t let my their version of a beef delicacy slow you from choosing this place. I have had other great dishes here and the pizza is close to amazing, but this trip suffered all around. In short, sit inside, enjoy the pizza and definitely have a salad!
The positives first! Petrocelli’s has a busy, vibrant vibe where the noise level is not too loud yet not too quiet. It is a neighborhood restaurant located underneath the S Bahn. Outside, the patio is inviting and perfect for people watching. The inside is cozy and elegant, boasting fresh flowers and a large bar with plenty of little discreet nooks for private conversations. We ordered a bottle of wine and were told bread would be coming soon. This is where the negative’s start. It took an enormous amount of time to receive our wine and some bread. The staff was very friendly but seemed a little scattered and did not quite know which tables were to receive what. The menu is large with plenty of options. We chose to order the Chateaubriand which came with seasonal vegetables and potatoes. It was good but not overwhelming. Overall, the service was efficient enough just not what was expected of a restaurant in this price range. After seeing some of the pizzas come out which looked amazing I am beginning to think this would be a great place for lunch which would also make it a little bit more reasonably priced. The atmosphere makes this restaurant worth the visit and is located in a great area.
