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| I would like to thank all our guests for their support and taking the time to send reviews and comments. Your feedback is very valuable to us. Jean-Christian Jury (General Manager - La Mano Verde Berlin) |
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The food was simply amazing!
What a great find and the absolute highlight of my recent trip to Berlin. I've been to many "fancy" vegan restaurants worldwide and La Mano Verde not only takes the cake but sets the bar pretty high in my opinion.
I was in Berlin on business and although my hotel was a little far away the reviews made the place sound too good to miss. I definitely wasn't let down! The food was simply amazing. Presentation is top notch, everything that came out of the kitchen was a piece of art! After admiring it for a little while the urge to taste it was overwhelming. Everything I tried could only be described as utterly delicious. I wish I had a bigger stomach so I could have tasted everything on the menu in one sitting! Needless to say I made sure to come one more time before we left and I even dragged two colleagues along who were not vegan and a little hesitant. They honestly didn't know till that night that there could be vegan food that made them not miss meat!
I want to say thank you to Jean, his incredibly talented cooks and the very friendly and professional server at La Mano Verde for creating such a wonderful and memorable experience at each visit. From now on every trip I make to Europe will definitely have to include a stop in Berlin!
Marsim - Vancouver / Qype / May 19th 2010
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'La Mano Verde'
Super friendly staff, unstressful but yet very elegant ambiance- and on top of this exquisite vegan food.
Sergio / May 17th 2010
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The food is inventive, healthy and delicious throughout
La Mano Verde in Berlin-Mitte provides outstanding food with enthusiastic and knowledgeable advice from Jean-Christian Jury and his team. The food is inventive, healthy and delicious throughout. The ambience is one of contentment and the main surprise is that it is to be found in Berlin, a place not normally noted for vegan fare. This is a very special gastronomic location which should be visited by anyone, including non-vegetarians, with a love of fine dining.
B.Sethia / Top Table / May 17th 2010
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"Warmly recommended"
Refined food in a soberly decorated place, in a neighbourhood well away from the masses. A meat eater will be pleasantly surprised to find interesting ingredients on his dish, simple yet full of flavour because of the quality of the ingredients and the talent of the chef. He/She will not notice that this restaurant serves vegan food. I had polenta, which for the first time ever, I ate without any sauce, because it was full of taste as it was. My carnivore friend was impressed and said that this restaurant deserves to be judged by Michelin.
ssstique / Happy Cow / May 5th 2010
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The food looks so delicious, light and refreshing
La Mano Verde has so improved since I was last there in May 2009. The food looks so delicious, light and refreshing. The more vegan food you eat, the more you learn about good vegan food but this time I hesitated a long time before ordering, I had to read the menu twice to make up my mind, I did want to order everything :>) I can recommend the Terrine du Chef and the Spaghetti with algae’s, I had no place left for the dessert but what a wonderful experience from start to finish. The prices are a tad high, but the ultimate in Vegan food is achieved here.
chloe / Qype / 30 April 2010
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"Excellent for a special treat"
As a seasoned vegan eating with a veggie/omnivore group I can safely say we all loved this place - the omnis have already made a new booking! Well worth the slightly higher than average prices.
BigVegan / Happy Cow / 7 April 2010
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The ambience and service are calm and relaxed
La Mano Verde in Berlin is an excellent vegan restaurant with a menu to excite the vegetarian palate. The ambience and service are calm and relaxed while the food, while vegan, is interesting and original. Hot and cold options are available for all courses and a hint of Thai is available in many of the dishes.
Martin Healey / Top Table / 5 April 2010
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"Excellent all-round eating experience"
Superb restaurant. The food looks and tastes wonderful, and the staff are very friendly. 10 minute walk from Haupbanhof (main train station). I had a three course meal: - starter: raw beetroot ravioli (little discs of crunchy beetroot with soft cashew nut cheese and pickles) - main: tempeh cutlets served on a bed of caramelised chicoree, with carot/potato puree and a spicy relish - dessert: raw kiwi trifle All three courses were very good, the main in particular. Total cost (including a glass of German wine) was 36 euros excluding service. The menu was large and varied. It was in German but reasonably easy to understand with the assistance of the waitress. It's not in the nicest part of town but very easy to get to by foot from central Berlin. Note that the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
kwanza / Happy Cow / 2nd April 2010 _________________________________________________________________________________ The new chef is a woman and you can taste the difference.. This is my first visit to La Mano Verde since the re-location, the improvement is just amazing. The choice of items on the menu is modern and fresh, no heavy soya meat and vegan replicas. The new chef is a woman and you can taste the difference. The combination of flavours is sophisticated and unique. I am a big fan of "Pure Food and Wine" in New York and I have to admit that La Mano Verde is since yesterday on the top of my list. Service is great. Well done La Mano Verde and congratulations from a new fan. Shintonny / Qype / 30 März 2010 _________________________________________________________________________________ For sure we will be back It is hard to describe how excellent the food and place was. Run by two lovely people with whom we had pleasure to talk to. Well done guys and for sure we will be back. Kuba & Rachel / Berlin / 20 December 2009 _________________________________________________________________________________ Raw food is just the best Une très bonne soirée passée à nouveau ici, cuisine excellente. Raw food is just the best. It was a great pleasure to see you again. Wir mögen's einfach Rohköstlich! God bless! Nelly Reinle-Carayon / 18 December 2009 _________________________________________________________________________________ Superb dinner, very nice staff As it was my 76.th birthday, I asked my youngest daughter to select a restaurant. She came up with La Mano Verde (then still at Wiesbadenerstrasse). Superb dinner, very nice staff and we had a nice chat with director Mr. Jury. After a couple of days we went back the two of us, my wife and I and enjoyed again. In March 2010 we will be back in Berlin for a short holiday and we sure will visit La Mano Verde at its new location. Hope to see Mr. Jury and his nice assistant Ramona again. Dr. Niels Wiedenhof / 1st December 2009 _________________________________________________________________________________ Thanks for two memorable evenings at La Mano Verde I can unhesitatingly say that the food at La Mano Verde is the best I ever had!! The Sushi Mock Tuna Togarashi is so close to tuna it is scaring and was just so smooth, round and nice! The same goes for their Mousse au Chocolat, simply amazing. And their Ravioli Rouge, a raw starter, was so well combined with their home made cashew-ricotta served on a bed of fennel.. Everything we had there was excellent, really. And my girlfriend, to whom the whole vegan cooking world is quite new, was astounded by the tastes of their animal free food. And what better presentation of that than to try so nice food made with compassion and tenderness, ey! The staff there ensures a complete dining experience served with elegance and friendliness. I even managed to network my own vegan project quite a bit with the owner, who is so easy going. We miss La Mano Verde and Berlin already.. Graeme Cochrane / Happy Cow / Friday 6 November 2009 _________________________________________________________________________________ Such a pleasure to travel to Berlin and find such a rare gem of vegan cuisine.. Enjoyed the wonderful food. Such a pleasure to travel to Berlin and find such a rare gem of vegan cuisine. Thank you for a delicious meal. Keep up the good work your passion shows in your food. Bernadette Bohan / www.changesimply.com / Wednesday 21 October 2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for all the best times at your restaurant! We had the Best Day Ever today! The taste...the flavor...the quality of your cuisine....outstanding! David Wolfe / www.davidwolfe.com / Wednesday 19 October 2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ Looking forward to be in Berlin again one day.. It was such a pleasure to have met you, experienced the delightful cuisine and felt nourished on the very highest level of "Life Food", which you made into an artform of excellence. Looking forward to be in Berlin again one day. Piter Caizer / Wednesday 19 October 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ Each of my friends could not have been happier... It is difficult to tell you exactly how much I enjoyed being with my friends, and you, for my birthday dinner at your incredibly lovely, comfortable yet strikingly elegant restaurant. And, it would be equally hard to describe the beauty and memories of the evening for my firends and me. I appreciate all that you did; and each of my friends could not have been happier or more genuinely impressed with the quality of everything...from the beauty of the restaurant, to the wonderful food, to your impressive graciousness, generosity and attitude. Thank you for making the evening such a joy and pleasure. Just a great evening. All my best, Peter Cohn - Denver / Wednesday 30 September 2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ I finally found "Vegan Paradise" The Paradise for Vegans is located in Berlin, it's called "La Mano Verde". I have travelled extensively in my 26 vegan years and tried almost the best our planet have to offer, from San Francisco to New York, from London to Brighton, from Istanbul to South Africa and La Mano Verde is from far the best choice-presentation-taste for vegan people looking for quality food and great service. The waiter know perfectly the menu and answer politely and professionally all the questions I asked about an extensive menu where creativity compete with great taste. The sommelier came to my table to recommend a perfect match with my starter, and again a perfect match for my main course. Since I am vegan, I never had a meal in a restaurant where I felt so gracefully and politely served. La Mano Verde has a wonderful team of professionals well trained. At the end of my dinner, I meet the owner and we had a long chat about the future of vegan food and I am still impressed by the vision and the level of creativity of this entrepreneur. Well done guys, I wish you all the success you deserve in the future. With all my respect, Stanley Stanley Conrad / Happy Cow / 30.08.2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ La Mano Verde was a wonderful experience from all points of view. Before you read the rest, you should know that: 1) I have been vegan for 13 years. 2) I have visited virtually all restaurants in London, Stockholm, Berlin and other places as well. I know the ropes and consider myself a demanding customer 3) I am not content with mere replicas of the "real things", such as mock meats and all that. 4) I am a ravenous eater: I always make it a point to stay for more than 2 hours, interact with the owners/waiters and order as many dishes as possible. so here's a quick rundown: - set in a quiet, nice neighbourhood. easy to reach - interiors are in good taste - perfect service: great manners, very thoughtful, hospitable, perceptive, with great timing and highly educated (the waiter even speaks fluent Italian - French is also spoken, as well as fluent English). The waiter is also passionate about raw food, very knowledgeable and has his own catering business. The chef has extensive experience and is 100% vegan himself. These are people with very in-depth food culture. - absolutely fabulous presentation. The food looks fantastic. - incredibly tasty food. Very delicate, sophisticated dishes. - high attention to detail. Painstaking. - very creative. they add their own spin to international dishes. They draw inspiration, while still retaining their own, strong personality. - generous portions. great value. - everything is fresh, homemade and with a strong focus on raw items. I am known for my ravenous appetite, and had a HUGE feast (ordered a number of dishes) . Notwithstanding, I left with the feeling of replenishment, but didn't feel heavy at all, which is not the case for many other restaurants I visited. La Mano Verde has made its mission clear (and hardly needs any explanation): to make gourmet vegan food that is attractive to people from all walks of life and different food habits! This place will appeal to omnivores as well. With the vegan Gyros I ordered, you could hardly tell the difference. Not merely a vegan Gyros: a GOOD Gyros, PERIOD. However, they are not content with merely replicating. They only do it when it really makes sense. Most of the menu is made up of creative re-interpretations. A lot of dishes are entirely the result of their own creativity. Please do not be put off by what might seem like a pricey meal. It is entirely worth it. I used to think Saf in London was the best experience so far. I had to think again. This is an absolute must. Broken by Whispers / Happy Cow / 25.08.2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ 100% Satisfaction At “La Mano Verde”, my boyfriend and I probably had the three most delightful hours and a half ever spent in a restaurant. The service was undoubtedly perfect (extremely competent and super friendly staff), and so was the food offer. I had a delicate but tasty fresh Tomato soup, amazing Ravioli filled with a mixture of spinach and tofu, incredible Summer Rolls and a great selection of desserts. Words can’t definitely tell all the knowledge and ability to combine food and tastes, that we had experienced at “La Mano Verde”. Furthermore, the location is charming and the patio garden creates a cosy and relaxing atmosphere. 100% Satisfaction! Elisa Go / Happy Cow / 25.08.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ "The best vegan experience I ever had" From far the best vegan experience I ever had in a restaurant. Food and service are amazing. A lot of creativity and flavours in the all vegan 3 courses menu we choose. The cocktails where beautifully decorated with fresh fruits and the mix of champagne and raspberry liqueur was so perfect that we ordered a second round. Can't wait to go back to Berlin and indulge more of this great food... Frank Schmidt / Happy Cow / 17.08.2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ Simply amazing. I had the best time ever. ... But the best part of this trip was the final evening in La Mano Verde in Berlin. This is probably THE most renowned and distinguished vegan restaurant in Germany. Simply amazing. I had the best time ever. The atmosphere is very fancy and glamorous, the food is 100% vegan and 100% organic - it was my personal paradise! Awesome. If you happen to go to Berlin, please make sure you go there to eat, you will not be disappointed! Just have a look at the menu, and you will see that I'm not exaggerating, it speaks for itself. I had the Green Papaya Salad (an exotic mix of shredded green papaya, cherry tomatoes, green beans, garlic, chili, lime juice, palm sugar, soya sauce and roasted peanuts), the Pineapple Boat (filled with Thai fried rice, vegetables, mushrooms, chilli, pineapple, lemon grass, ginger, chilli and aromatic Thai rice), and as a dessert the Raspberry Cream (a perfect harmony of light cream and raspberry mousse, topped with fresh fruits and candided walnuts). Yum-my. Scarlett O'Hasi / 16.08.2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ A very nice bio wine selection A Fantastic Experience, food it's great, nice looking, the atmosphere of the place is cool and elegant. A very nice bio wine selection, try mock tuna and the maki sushi! The owner is very friendly and professional. Thanks. Ciao! Daniela & Dario Vestidelo / 12.08.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ Relaxing and charming atmosphere Thanks to the staff of Restaurant "La Mano Verde", we had a very delightful dinner. We appreciated particularly the relaxing and charming atmosphere and the kindness and cordiality of the staff. The food is absolutely special, joining traditional vegan cuisine with amazing new tastes and an exceptional way of presenting them. We will come back to "La Mano Verde" as soon as we are in Berlin Donniedarko. / Happycow.com /16.07.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ The Best Mousse au Chocolat I ever tasted in my life! Although we live in Berlin we never ventured to the "Bezierk" where this wonderful 100% vegan super delicious exquisite creative Restaurant is located...now we know it is MORE than worthy the trip and the price, and OMG, the dinner was to celebrate my boyfriend Birthday and it turned out to be the PERFECT vegan dinner ever! Romantic and classy atmosphere, very friendly staff and impeccable service and...the Food, yes Food with capital F! We were über-impressed and especially enjoyed the mock Tuna, all the attentive "extras" to go with the meal (uhmmm the homemade veggie crackers! uhmmmm the vegan Parmesan to go with the - let me add since I am of italian origins - perfectly "al dente" pasta)..and the desserts!!! the best mousse au chocolat I ever tasted in my life! and let´s not forget the homemade organic Liquors... (uhmmm Ginger+Chili+Apricot)!! fantastic!!! And the vibe there was fantastic as well...conscious people for a conscious world...I wish La Mano Verde a great great success ..we will be definitely be back there soon and with all our friends! Simona V. / Happycow.com /12.07.2009 _____________________________________________________________________________ Everything tasted fantastic! I want to thank you all for the wonderful evening we had. The atmosphere, the service and THE FOOD! it was fantastic and über-delicious...thank you for making it the perfect present for my boyfriend´s birthday! Everything tasted fantastic! and the cocktail and the liquor were amazing...not only the best Vegan restaurant we have been to, but the best restaurant in Berlin! We wish you a lot of success and we will be definitely be back soon! My deepest respect and admiration, S. Vinati / TwilightRose.com /11.07.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ "Probably the nicest vegan restaurant in the world" I had no idea what to expect as we rounded the corner and walked up to La Mano Verde. We were greeted with White Table Clothes, Crystal Chandeliers and an attentive and helpful staff. Berlin continues to amaze me on a daily basis, but this was the highlight of our trip. I wish I had known what a nice place La Mano was before going, I would have dressed a little nicer, but it was no problem. We got a wonderful table at the window and enjoyed an amazing meal. The Mock Tuna Sushi rolls defy imagination and expectations! Do not miss them. We also had Spinach Raviolis & another dish with the mock tuna baked into dumplings on top of tomatoes... it was so mind blowing we've decided to name it the best Entree on the planet. We also went for the dessert sampler, which was a perfect end to the meal, not to mention the several flavors of flavored vodka they create and age in house. I also must not leave out the amazing red wine the owner suggested to accompany our meal. La Mano Verde was the perfect celebration for the end of our trip, no trip to Berlin, much less Europe would be complete without indulging in the pinnacle of vegan dining. Gr8vegan / Happy Cow / 02.07.2009 ______________________________________________________________________________ The Mojito-Diablo will change the way you think of Mojito Yes he did it again! JC releases his new menu full of suprises and brand new creations - leaving you with an open mouth when you try the tuna sushi or the Pasta Valentino, a luxury for your senses. And, if after a creamy, bikini-attentive-light mousse au chocolat you had enough, let him challenge you with some spicy, selfmade, BIO-cocktails. The Mojito-Diablo will change the way you think of Mojito - you won't ever drink a "classic" one again somewhere else. Valerio Neri / Top table / 29.06.2009 ______________________________________________________________________________ Yum! We visited La Mano Verde our first night in Berlin and it was a great find. We were happily surprised to find such great vegan fare in Berlin. We had the pineapple boat and the raw tagliatelle. They were both excellent dishes, but we especially appreciated the raw 'pasta' dish. We highly recommend this restaurant to everybody, regardless of their dietary preferences. Ya! Maryjoy / Happy Cow / 24.06.2009 ______________________________________________________________________________ "Amazing" I was slightly sceptical when I first read about La Mano Verde because although it sounded good, it sounded a bit on the pricey side, and I am always fine with a 4 dollar veggie burger. However... I would have paid double what I did if asked to, because the food here was so amazing. The chef obviously takes vegan food seriously, because this was a gourmet restaurant. One would never be able to tell this was a vegan restaurant on first sight, its very classy with candle-lit tables and nice tablecloths. The whole menu is vegan, and where they can they use local and organic ingredients. This place is totally suitable for parents, spouses, vegans and meat-eaters (as long as they have an open mind). I had the ravioli rouge, which was a raw ravioli dish made from beetroot and cashew ricotta. Also I shared a country chicken and potato dish and a tasteful spinach ravioli, a dessert sampler, and two drinks, and it was all 55 Euros, which was a lot less than I actually expected. I couldn't give this restaurant a higher recommendation. H Baley / Happy Cow / 21.06.2009 _____________________________________________________________________________ Wouldn't be surprised if some Michelin stars are on the horizon.. Faultless, one of the best places I have eaten. The restaurant was comfortable and service great, they took time out to talk and were interested that we were there, it felt like we were guests not just customers. Good wine and some bio drinks which packed a punch. The food was outstanding and I forgot that it was vegan, just enjoyed great tasting food. Easy to get to from Charlottenburg so worth making the effort. , Hasn’t been opened that long but wouldn't be surprised if some Michelin stars are on the horizon Bowbelle - Nothingam UK / Qype / 08.06.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ We appreciated particularly the relaxing and charming atmosphere We would like to thank you very much the staff of Restaurant "La Mano Verde" for a very delightful dinner. We appreciated particularly the relaxing and charming atmosphere and the kindness and cordiality of the staff. The food is absolutely special, joining traditional vegan cuisine with amazing new tastes and an exceptional way of presenting them. We will come back to "La Mano Verde" as soon as we are in Berlin. 'Bis bald'. Andrea e Sergio (from Italy) 12.06.2009 ______________________________________________________________________________ The world needs more restaurants like this! I visited La Mano Verde with my husband (who eats meat :( ) and our one year old daughter and it was a fantastic evening. The atmosphere is relaxed and elegant, the staff are lovely but the food is the real star! My husband and I had three courses each and we ordered an extra portion of sushi for our daughter (although she ended up eating most of my avocado gazpacho and a good bit of my husbands penne!). This was a lot of food but we just about managed between the three of us! The cheescake was the best I've had, better than any dairy cheesecake I have tried. The prices are very reasonable for the delicious food. The world needs more restaurants like this! Catho / Happy Cow / 27.05.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ The menu is very creative and the service impeccable Best vegan food I had in years. The menu is very creative and the service impeccable. Vegan for years, I am traveling from New York to Berlin on a regular basis and La Mano Verde became rapidly my favorite vegan restaurant. I recommend this restaurant to any vegan/vegetarian travelling to Berlin. B.Shinton - New York / TripAdvisor / 26.05.2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ This is by far the best restaurant of its kind. La Mano Verde has quickly become both me and my boyfriend’s favourite restaurant worldwide. We are both vegans and very much into raw food as well. After having been to the New York raw food restaurant scene and then visited Berlin and La Mano Verde, we are convinced: This is by far the best restaurant of its kind. Not only is the food amazing, there is also great wine and cocktails on the menu, and the service is the best we’ve had in any restaurant. The atmosphere in the restaurant is cozy, sophisticated and still very friendly. The prices are also very reasonable, and you not only get great food, you get a unique experience when you dine here! Hotvegan - Copenhagen / Qype / 25.05.2009 _____________________________________________________________________::_________ Smart and stylish vegan It's a bit of way out, but easy to get to, and it's nice to get away from the city centre for an evening. And the restaurant itself is smart and sophisticated, with very friendly and efficient service. The food is delicious - it's a rare opportunity to go to a restaurant and have more than just the pasta as an option. LGaryThomas / Trip Advisor / 05.05.2009 _________________________________________________________________________::_____ The service is very efficient and attentive.. La Mano Verde in Berlin is a typically classic styled restaurant with white linen and candlelight’s, quite similar to top fine dining Restaurants in New York and Paris. The menu features 100% all organic Vegan dishes. The creativity and the freshness of the food are unlike anything I have experienced in years of travelling. The service is very efficient and attentive. We were more than satisfied with the whole experience. La Mano Verde is well-deserving of the high praise that I found on the net. Barbara - Top Table / 26.04.2009 ________________________________________________________________________________ The first time I went there I almost fainted from all the goodness... This is a 100% organic vegan restaurant (with raw&gluten-free options) around my corner which I highly suggest you to pay a visit should you be in Berlin for whatever reason! Hey, even Woody Harrelson & Ben Foster were there. The first time I went there I almost fainted from all the goodness and was close to dropping down on my knees in front of the cook and praise him. Whenever I have extra money to spare I stop by and pretty much order the same things every time. The Curry or the raw Red Beet Ravioli. Just writing this makes me want to go over there immediately. Lizzy / Trying Veganism / 16.04.2009 __________________________________________________________________________________ I don't remember the last time I had such a nice evening with so much good food. ... My parents started the menu with a tomatoes-coconut soup, my brother choose the Avocado Gazpacho and I had some sushi. Everything tasted really good and made us feel for more. The main course was amazing to all of us. My gyros plate surprised me, since I didn't expect anything interesting by ordering typical snack stall food. The other orders were two filled flaky pastries, a mushroom risotto and astonishing exquisite mushroom ravioli. After two hours of eating, talking and laughing my dad and I ended our gluttony by having Mousse au chocolat and a coconut cream. The cream was simply perfect, it was not too sweet, had a full but not too pushy coco taste and was topped-off with a fresh mango sauce. I can't wait to eat this in summer again. I don't remember the last time I had such a nice evening with so much good food. The La Mano Verde exceeded all my expectations, it is a restaurant I can really recommend to every one who wants eat in an exalted setting with interesting and remarkable vegan dishes, herbivore or not! Marijke / Berlin / 22.02.2009 __________________________________________________________________________________ This is exquisite food by any standards.. This restaurant is a jewel in Berlin. It's a little off the beaten track, but well worth the effort. The interior is clean and modern with touches of nostalgia. In the evening candlelight and subdued lighting create a warm, relaxing and classy ambience. The service we experienced was second to none and the food was outstanding. Forget any vegetarian preconceptions. This is exquisite food by any standards. Try the cocktails - out of this world. By far, the best meal we had in Berlin. Louise Wood / 17.02.2009 __________________________________________________________________________________ A rising star in Berlin... La Mano Verde Coming back to Berlin from vegan's and raw foodist's heaven San Francisco, I was afraid, I would never be able to go out again if I wanted to keep eating a purely organic, vegan, rawfood diet. I should be wrong: Doing a little Google search on vegan and rawfood in Berlin, I came across La Mano Verde, a recently opened vegan restaurant with a partially raw vegan menu. Fantastic! And perfect timing, because opening up the link to their website the first thing that caught my attention was an upcoming raw food showcase event on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of January. Guest chef and health consultant Urs Hochstrasser offered exclusive 4 or 5 course raw food dinners and lunches. I had to go and compare to my recently acquired skills :-) So I convinced my friend Roisin to spend the astronomical sum (for Berlin standards of course) of 25€ on a four course raw food lunch last Saturday. After our 25 minute trip out to Friedenau, we entered the very classy and tastefully furnished restaurant and were seated by owner and manager Jean-Christian Jury. After only a few minutes I could not help my excitement and introduced myself as a newly graduated raw food chef from the Tree of Life. I could see an uplifting smile in his face and throughout the entire lunch, we kept talking end exchanging experiences... The soup was a creamy blend of zucchini, served with a dollup of an almond paste that resembles a crème fraìche and some edible flowers on top. The taste was simple but delicious. As a starter, we got served a farmers salad from endive, field salad and sprouts, tossed in a creamy macadamia nut dressing and served with a crunchy flax carrot cracker on the side. The main course was a cauliflower curry, beautifully arranged in a heart shape with a web of dehydrated red beet shreds stuck in it. This was accompanied with a carrot pinenut raita on a carrot cream. Desert was a mango coconut cream with marbled raspberry coulis. Mango coconut cream with marbling of raspberry coulis.The presentation of each course was very beautiful with lots of love for detail. It all tasted delicious: subtle, natural flavours that complemented each other well. And on top it was very comforting and reassuring to see that I was very familiar with all of the dishes and their preparation methods and could have easily assembled a similar menu myself :-) The Saturday lunch experience got me so excited, I had to go back to the restaurant on Sunday evening with my lovely neighbours Philip and Michael to taste chef Björns creations. I was impressed! I had Raw Beet Ravioli with Cashew Ricotta Filling on fresh fennel followed by Zucchini and Bell Pepper "Linguini" with a Cashew Cream Sauce and Marinated Shitake Mushrooms. Both plates were beautifully presented and well composed in terms of both colours and flavours. Also my two friends and raw food newbies were very pleased. The athmosphere of the restaurant in the evening is very intimate. The large dimly lit chandeliers and candles on every table and on the counters and relaxing jazz and piano music in the background create a stylish at the same time cozy and comforting athmosphere. Then, the moment of truth: Raw Blueberry Cheesecake was the seasonal raw food desert of the day. Will it reach the level of "Desert Godess" Gisela's magic Sunday Brunch deserts at the Tree of Life? When it arrived, I was already bought by the presentation: it came surrounded by a marbled duett of a white and dark sauce and with a handful of extra blueberries, my favourite fruit. I spooned the first bite, put it on my tongue, and.... HEAVEN... I wanted to melt away... it passed :-) The resumé: It's a little out of the way from central Mitte, Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg, but La Mano Verde is a rising star that's certainly worth seeking out on Berlin's new horizon. Boris Lauser / Spiritual Life Food Instructor & Raw Food Chef - 19.01.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ "Wonderul atmosphere, delicious food" The food was fresh and creative. the environment was warm and romantic. it's set in a charming neighbourhood, as well. i will definitely return here the next time i'm in berlin and desire a special meal. the tables are spaced well apart. you dont feel over crowded like in a nyc restaurant. the staff was very helpful because my dining partner and i did not speak german very well. Pros: excellent food * good service * pleasant environment Corey 19,01.2009 _______________________________________________________________________________ The candle lights and the background music probably help to enhance the romantic feel of the place.. La Mano Verde homepage looked a bit too nice to be true, so we carefully booked a table for two last night and enjoyed every minute of the smooth and classic atmosphere. La Mano Verde is a smart-chic-vegan-fine-dining-restaurant with an interesting menu reflecting the Middle East, Asia and Italy. I really enjoyed the Bio Cabernet Sauvignon, under 20 EUR the bottle, great value. La Mano Verde was crowded with nice couples, the candle lights and the background music probably help to enhance the romantic feel of the place. It’s the first time I witness couples holding hands in a all-vegan-restaurant, brilliant! Great concept, great food, great service. Veggie-Berliners, you’re very lucky! D. Vaessen 14.12.2008 _______________________________________________________________________________ The Mousse au Chocolat at the end was insanely good.. OMG and OMG again… the food was absolutely amazing, service was impeccable. Every course a surprise and a treat. I cannot remember the last time I was so completely impressed. The Mousse au Chocolat at the end was insanely good. I will be back and recommend this restaurant. When is La Mano Verde opening a branch in London? Rachel West / 04.12.2008 ________________________________________________________________________________ Wonderful gourmet vegan food in an elegant setting.. Wonderful gourmet vegan food in an elegant setting. I tried the spaghetti bolognese and found it very satisfying. The decor in the place is nearly as appealing as the food. A cool balance between modern and the antique feeling of an Altbau from the early 1900s. The menu displays an interesting range of dishes from Thai to Italian. All 100% vegan. My husband had a deliciously aromatic soup made from coconut milk, mushrooms and lemongrass. NatashaBergson / 04.12.2008 ________________________________________________________________________________ Affordable Prices and excellent service I was very excited to find out about La Mano Verde in Berlin. I’ve been experimenting Raw and Vegan on and off for years and have been 100% Raw for several months now. I wish I could eat here every single night. What great food! The deserts are the best of all the raw and vegan places I have experienced so far. Affordable Prices and excellent service. Bravo! A.Adhi / 02.12.2008 ________________________________________________________________________________ Best vegan restaurant ever.. Service is very friendly and efficient, the atmosphere is chic and relaxed, I absolutley loved it here! My non-vegan boyfriend took me here and we were in heaven. From start to finish, the quality of the dishes is superb. Best vegan restaurant ever. I will definitely be back the next time I visit Berlin. AlicieAguire / 01.12.2008 _________________________________________________________________________________ The cocktails are fab... We ate at La Mano Verde on our first night in Berlin.What a brilliant restaurant. The staff were extremely helpful and we chose dishes recommended by them. We were not disappointed, the food was delicious and very generous portions. Very romantic candellights.The best meal we had on our 3 day trip.The cocktails are fab. Would truly recommend this restaurant. Ivanohe / 29.11.2008 _________________________________________________________________________________ Don’t be put off by the “vegan” bit... This opened late in 2008 and is a very welcome arrival. Don’t be put off by the “vegan” bit, which I think always sounds a bit like a hair-shirt meal - eat it because it’ll do you good!. We tried this shortly after it opened and the quality was excellent. My wife’s selection included a raw beetroot salad, which sounds off-putting, but the presentation was very good & my wife said it was delicious. My mushroom risotto was brilliant. We will be regular visitors here, although the prices are comparatively high for Steglitz, I think it’s worth it & the “gourmet” part of their name is appropriate. Englishman in Berlin / 28 November 2008 _________________________________________________________________________________ So pleased... I am so pleased, for the first time I found a vegan restaurant where I can invite my non-vegan friends for dinner. The menu is ecclectic, a little from every part of the world, great presentation, great taste, loved the Ravioli Rouge and the Thai Curry. Friendly service, nice sense of humour, I agree with previous feedback, the label "Berlin's First Vegan International Gourmet Restaurant" is not an understatement. I'll be back at la Mano Verde very soon!!! Jerry Rothmann / 23 November 2008 __________________________________________________________________________________ "A Perfect Dinner.. " Super friendly staff, unstressful but yet very elegant ambiance- and on top of this exquisite vegan food. Their website says they opened Berlins first 'vegan international gourmet restaurant'- which is certainly not an understatement. They just opened up a little while ago- so I really, really hope a lot of people go there! Food was not too expensive, mains were 12-14 €, desserts (i.e. yummy Mousse au Chocolat!) 4-5€. Reasonable, regarding the quality (and to the reassurance of my boyfriend also quantity :) of the food. Highly recommendable!! Happy Cow 22 November 2008 __________________________________________________________________________________ Extremely good quality... I went here with my mother in law, and we were very pleased with every aspect of our experience. The food was original, and extremely good quality. I would highly recommend La Mano Verde! Paul Johnson - Berlin - 10 November 2008 __________________________________________________________________________________ Outstanding! Outstanding! I am not a vegetarian but I find a meal here very nice indeed. I recommend it highly! Sandra Müller - Berlin - 8 November 2008 ___________________________________________________________________________________ Everything was exceptional! Very surprised! Didn't know they had created such a great vegan menu.. Everything was exceptional! The atmosphere was quiet and staff was very friendly. Can't wait to have another mango martini! Mathias Barnard - Berlin - 8 November 2008 |
