Barini NK | Between Turkey and Italy

Cafés are opening up in Neukölln on a weekly basis now, even in the less hyped areas like Richardplatz and Böhmischer Platz.  Tanya Baruth and Nadine Frontini recently opened up their restaurant Barini in this neck of the woods, where guests sit outside or cozily inside at one of the massive oak tables that date back over 150 years. The back room fits a long wooden table where - inspired by Baruth and Frontini's Southern European roots - guests are invited to socialize with each other in a low key environment. 

Both Tanya and Nadine come from families that have long standings in the restaurant business, as well as a Kurdish-Turkish and Sicilian-Croatian background. While Tanya and Nadine had actually broken the spell and pursued careers in the media industry, they have now decided to return to their roots, combining Italian and Turkish cuisine. Luckily, they've managed to come up with more than your standard pizza shack or Döner joint.

Barini offers a fixed breakfast and snack menu along with daily varying specials for lunch and dinner, like Sicilian bruschetta with caponata (cooked eggplant) or lentil soup and gnocchi with sage butter and walnuts. If you're an open-minded eater, try the venison back filet with cranberry pomegranate compote, risotto and multicolored carrots. Top things off with a ristretto (a very small espresso shot) for 1 euro, as is the custom in Italy.

Barini also offers housemade pies and tarts and events like author readings and the "121 Minuten Party" that runs into the wee morning hours on every first Saturday of the month.

(ms)