BITES ON A BUDGET is a toothsome and tasty series where members of the OC family forage for great food––under $10!
Brätwurst, Wienerschnitzel, and Haribo Gummy Bears. Those are just three examples of German foodstuffs that one might encounter on a trip to Berlin. Reuben sandwiches and New York cheesecake, on the other hand? To this New Yorker, those seem more suited to a Lower East Side deli than the European capital. Yet, they’re exactly what I found when I visited Berlin's Mogg & Melzer for lunch last week. Just two years old, Mogg & Melzer has taken culinary inspiration from traditional Jewish-American eateries like Carnegie Deli, serving everything from roast beef sandwiches to smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels.
Of course, many of the food American delis are known for originated in Central and Eastern Europe, and the word delicatessen itself is German. But deli culture as we know it came to be in early 20th century New York. It's this culture that Paul Mogg and Oskar Melzer, two German natives, wanted to emulate. Housed inside Jüdische Mädchenschule, an old Jewish girls school in Mitte, Mogg & Melzer shares the building with a stable of art galleries and restaurants, as well as Museum The Kennedys (remember “Ich bin ein Berliner”?).
In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the average New York deli, Mogg & Melzer is relaxed. But it's not without its Americanisms: according to a friend of mine who’s made the restaurant her regular hangout, it’s actually quite chic to request your coffee and food “to go.” Plus, in true heartland fashion, Mogg & Melzer forgoes portion control in favor of stuffing its Reuben sandwiches full of saltbeef and mayo (€13.50) and loading its vegetarian option with clumps of avocados, lentils and chipotle (€6.50). Our server even warned us about our rather gutsy order of two French onion soups (€7.50 each), two sandwiches, and an extra side of coleslaw. “You have to leave room for cake,” he said shaking his head. Don't worry, we did.
MOGG & MELZER
Auguststrasse 11-13
10117 Berlin
Germany
MAP
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The classic Reuben sandwich with salt beef, mayo, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. Photos by Clarke Rudick
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The avocado, lentil, and chipotle sandwhich on rye bread
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The French onion soup
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Check out the two huge New York cheesecakes on the top shelf of the display case!
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Brätwurst, Wienerschnitzel, and Haribo Gummy Bears. Those are just three examples of German foodstuffs that one might encounter on a trip to Berlin. Reuben sandwiches and New York cheesecake, on the other hand? To this New Yorker, those seem more suited to a Lower East Side deli than the European capital. Yet, they’re exactly what I found when I visited Berlin's Mogg & Melzer for lunch last week. Just two years old, Mogg & Melzer has taken culinary inspiration from traditional Jewish-American eateries like Carnegie Deli, serving everything from roast beef sandwiches to smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels.
Of course, many of the food American delis are known for originated in Central and Eastern Europe, and the word delicatessen itself is German. But deli culture as we know it came to be in early 20th century New York. It's this culture that Paul Mogg and Oskar Melzer, two German natives, wanted to emulate. Housed inside Jüdische Mädchenschule, an old Jewish girls school in Mitte, Mogg & Melzer shares the building with a stable of art galleries and restaurants, as well as Museum The Kennedys (remember “Ich bin ein Berliner”?).
In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the average New York deli, Mogg & Melzer is relaxed. But it's not without its Americanisms: according to a friend of mine who’s made the restaurant her regular hangout, it’s actually quite chic to request your coffee and food “to go.” Plus, in true heartland fashion, Mogg & Melzer forgoes portion control in favor of stuffing its Reuben sandwiches full of saltbeef and mayo (€13.50) and loading its vegetarian option with clumps of avocados, lentils and chipotle (€6.50). Our server even warned us about our rather gutsy order of two French onion soups (€7.50 each), two sandwiches, and an extra side of coleslaw. “You have to leave room for cake,” he said shaking his head. Don't worry, we did.
MOGG & MELZER
Auguststrasse 11-13
10117 Berlin
Germany
MAP
The classic Reuben sandwich with salt beef, mayo, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. Photos by Clarke Rudick
The avocado, lentil, and chipotle sandwhich on rye bread
The French onion soup
Check out the two huge New York cheesecakes on the top shelf of the display case!
