New York's Wurst

Germany, specifically Berlin seems to be 'The Place' to be right now. I've got several friends visiting the Reichstag and learning about the history of the Brandenburger gates. Mutti is expected to fly over anyday now. After reunification, redevelopment of the entire city has turned it into a towering tourist attraction with hundreds of wonderful eateries and new restaurants. But unless its a media sponsored trip, I generally opt for a more affortable fix for potato pancakes.

On Friday, with help from several city friends, I discovered a comparative beer hall right here in New York - it's called Hallo Berlin and it's located in Hells Kitchen. With a witty poster declaring "Welcome to New York's Wurst" on the front window and a head chef named Torri, with cheeks as pinchable as Dizzy Gillespie's, it's no wonder our birthday girl Ms. Jenn fell in love with the place...oh, and the cook! Torri offered up a 50/50 concoction called 'Diesel' to wash down my original spicy-laden German fries. The half soda and half dark lager tastes more appealing than it sounds but it's in high demand here. Make sure to eat at one of the beergarden picnic tables shadowed by a Berlin Wall replica on the back patio. It will make you feel like your in Potsdamer Platz as opposed to the corner of 10th and 44th Street.