Can someone give me some good restuarants in and near Berlin? I'm a college student on a fairly tight budget but want to get a taste of what German cuisine is really about. Any restuarants or little pub like places that you would otherwise not find would be great. Thanks

Lots of college students, families, etc frequent 'Marche' restaurant. This Swiss chain has a terrific, economical restaurant near Berlin's Zooglischer station and the Ku'Damm (across the street and catty-corner to the Ka'De'We department store). The closest comparison of Marche restaurants would be to liken them to Sizzler restaurants in the U.S. They offer a variety of foods, including a pasta bar, meat/chicken/fish, a large salad bar, and large quantities of desserts, etc. You pay for your meal based on the size of your plate!

There are a lot of food carts around Berlin that sell Turkish food (donner kebabs, pita falafels, etc) that are all very cheap, filling food. In the Potsdamer Platz, there are restaurants that you can buy the typical German fare (bratwurst, sauerkraut, etc) as well. You might want to try "The Twelve Apostles" (Die 12 Apostlen - sp?). It is actually an Italian restaurant and there are 2 locations in Berlin - 1 in Charlottenburg, near Richard Wagner platz and the other near Humboldt University and Unter den Linden Blvd. The food is fabulous and cheap! Hearty portions all served in a lively atmosphere with lots of students and locals alike. Be prepared to wait for a table on a busy weeknight or weekend - the place is always crowded! (I insist on my sister taking me there every time I visit her in Berlin - it is my most favorite place to eat in all of Berlin!)

I take it you want to taste some German cuisine. Thus, I will throw in Lutter & Wegner on Gendarmenmarkt (slight Austrian influence) which is not exactly cheap, but won't cost the world. Same goes for Borchardt just around the corner from there.

Frankly, whether one likes it or not, wurst it all its forms IS part of "German cuisine"...I say that because so many Germans eat the stuff.

You can sample that, too, in the same area mentioned above (Wittenburger Platz..where the KaDeWe is located)...the stuff is sold everywhere and you should try it at least once.

On another note, you'll find a lot of German young folks hanging out in American-style fast food places...whether that qualifies as "German" is anyone's guess.

You might also consider the Movenpick near the Zoo Station (in the Europa Center).

I think, unfortunately, you'll find food is pricier in Germany than in the US so get ready for some sticker shock...unless it is beer which seems to be "cheap" everywhere and is definitely part of the "cuisine" as well...enjoy your trip.

2 years back a friend of mine living in Berlin took me to this small student-type place that served great relatively cheap German food. Don't remember the exact name, but it was located in/underneath the S-Bahn viaduct (know what I mean?) close to the Tiergarten stop going towards the Bellevue stop, on the left hand side going in that direction...