Datscha (Berlin)

After an incredulous work-out (navigating our way from the air-port to our hostel in a foreign land with language barriers and lugging our duffel up and down various flight of stairs) it is only natural to be rewarded with food.

Our hostel is located at  Warschauer Straße and seems to be alienated from any real food places, unless you are into settling for some push-cart fare. A brief conversation with the receptionist and us looking very much like tourists, diving into maps and looking at the road signs saw us winding up in a  funky looking street, reminiscent of Haji Lane with a much more natural vibe to it.  The receptionist had recommended us a cafe but we gave it a miss for the entire street  of Kopernikusstraße  and beyond was lined up with a rich variety of cafes and shops.

Eventually we settled for Datscha (Gabriel-Max-Straße) after being drawn to the whole set up of the place and it’s popularity with the locals. and  all I can say is this was one of the best brunches I’ve ever had. Best impromptu decision ever!

It was Easter then so it was supposedly chilly but we were blessed with sunshine amidst the cold on this beautiful Sunday morning. Shades on, alfresco dining, the German accent drifting around, people smoking, backs against walls… ghetto cars, a quiet but happening corner in a neighbourhood…. dining in with the locals with our tired feet and hungry tummies, Datscha puts a great start to our time in Berlin.

The Grill Room at Royal Castle Hotel (Dartmouth)

The Grill Room at the Royal Castle Hotel in Dartmouth, where we stayed at on my Easter visit, is probably the place to go to for a traditional, proper dinner with your family; it is known among the officer cadets at the nearby Royal Naval College as ‘The Castle’ and offers a lovely sea view alongside immensely well-prepared seafood (think mussels and haddock!) which are in my opinion rather value-for-money, given the generous quantity and quality! Thanks to the newly-commissioned SLT Tan for the treat; It was an amazing meal.

On a side note, the restaurant itself was also posh without being overwhelmingly intimidating, and is a really comfortable environment to just spend the night catching up with loved ones.

My Old Dutch

 If you are my friend you will probably know how much I love pancakes & crepes.

During my last visit to London, Han Qing and Calvin brought us to My Old Dutch for dinner. My Old Dutch is a haven for crepe/pancake lovers.

Taylor’s Restaurant (Dartmouth)

Dartmouth, Devon has just made its way to one of my favourite places in the UK. It is a charming coastal town all the way down South, a good 5 hour train ride from York (and a little under 3 hours from London Paddington station!) There are so many reasons to enjoy dining in a seaside town like Dartmouth: the fresh seafood, idyllic sea views, and just the experience of savouring a languid meal in a small , sleepy area.  We made our way to Taylor’s Restaurant on Friday before HT’s Easter Ball at the Royal Naval College.