Restaurants
Grill Royal Hamburg Berlin Hanseatic at the Binnenalster
A Berlin nightlife institution has opened a branch in Hamburg. Appropriately, in a prominent location on Balindamm, with an unrestricted view of the Binnenalster through large, floor-to-ceiling windows. Grill Royal Hamburg has been residing in a listed Kontorhaus in an exquisite neighbourhood to Jungfernstieg, Europapassage, Kunsthalle and several private banks since May 2023.
Creating a place that radiates joy and elegance was the declared goal of the three enterprising creators of Grill Royal Hamburg. Looking at the implementation of this idea, one can only conclude: Impressively successful: Grill Royal Hamburg's premises extend over three levels and offer space for almost 200 guests indoors.
The interior exudes a mid-century aesthetic. Oiled oak panelling, expansive Murano glass chandeliers and columns with handcrafted smoke mirrors. On the room dividers between the table groups, Ikora lamps by WMF spread their soft, warm light. Attention to detail is the order of the day here.
1 | 6
All the elements here have been expertly selected and arranged. On the walls are works by Daniel Richter, Tamina Amadyar, Yngve Holen and Angela Mewes, among others, who have designed one of the generous wall surfaces with a wall installation. Playful, light, open, tongue-in-cheek, sophisticated, hedonistic, professional and elegant are some of the terms that come to mind during our visit.
The restaurant's seats are distributed over tables with upholstered benches and armchairs, as well as the seven-metre-long, seated bar, above which floats a rocket by artist Cosima von Bonin. If you sit on the bar stools and look up, the view penetrates the sky through a glass ceiling.
By the way, the bar area can also be visited without a reservation, so walk-in guests also have the opportunity to indulge in creations from the bar team and little things from the culinary treasure chest of Grill Royal Hamburg. Be it with a glass of champagne with a plate of oysters, a freshly tapped beer or a classic like a Negroni with a Tuvèt.
The "Captain's Table" was placed directly in front of the large kitchen, which is completely visible from two sides. From here, guests have an unobstructed view of the entire dining area and, when the sun is shining, of the golden Alster lake. At the back of the restaurant are transparent dry-age refrigerators, where meat matures and vegetables are stored, and two wine storage rooms. One of these wine warehouses also functions as a private dining room that can be hired for small groups and events.
At the table. Grill Royal Hamburg also serves the greatest hits of the parent house. Among others, the fried prawns with garlic, deep-fried sweet potato slices, tomahawk steaks or the whole green head of lettuce served with a special, in-house vinaigrette. This has been on the menu at Grill Royal since day one and has been served to perfection ever since.
Under the direction of kitchen director Oliver Pfahler, who previously worked at the "Balthazar" restaurant on the Baltic Sea and received a Michelin star with his team in 2016, tried-and-tested classics such as entrecôte, beef fillet or lobster are served. Vegetarian and vegan dishes, vegetables en papillote, and seasonal specialities are also on the menu.
The high-quality ingredients are primarily sourced locally and regionally, such as the Helgoland lobster, the dyke beef from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and vegetables from Haidehof in Hamburg. The food is preferably eaten from shared platters, based on the concept of the traditional Grill Rooms.
The extensive wine list, which currently offers 700 items, includes big brands and classics from Europe as well as young vintners with biodynamic approaches and mature wines from private stocks. The declared goal is to expand the menu to 1,200 positions. Respect. Also to the entire team of the shop, which is young, good-looking, present, precise and charming.
We are already looking forward to the next evening at Grill Royal Hamburg and advise our readers to visit this exceptional gastronomic phenomenon soon.
