VAU is one of Berlin’s best restaurants and situated in the city’s historical, reconstructed and thriving Mitte district at the Gendarmenmarkt Square.

Head Chef Kolja Kleeberg was the protégé of famous Josef Viehhauser before he started his very popular VAU. Just as his gastronomic mentor does, Kolja Kleeberg follows the simple rule never to use more than three products on a plate and it works surprisingly well.

VAU’s contemporary design works very well for the most and is made by talented architect Meinhard von Gerkan. The interior decorations are made by Peter Schmidt and on the walls are works of art by the Cologne artist Oliver Jordan. The overall impression is intimate and modern and Head Chef Kolja Kleeberg will come and greet you at the entrance door.

Kolja Kleeberg strives to use as much local ingredients from Berlin or at least Germany as possible and succeeds quite well with that. The menu often changes, but dishes like aspic of suckling pig with sauerkraut; lobster with mango and black olives; and ox cheek braised in balsamico with thyme polenta and sautéed radicchio are typical dishes from the mind of Kolja Kleeberg.

VAU manages to stay fresh and to be one of Berlin’s best restaurants so make a reservation if you are in town. Not all dishes will please your taste buds as they should and some are more interesting to look at than to eat, but the overall impression is never the less great.

Written by Andy