Berlin's Kurfürstendamm is home to a number of boutiques by leading designers, drawing fashionistas by the hordes, while the hotels and restaurants in this upscale boulevard are equally popular with locals and visitors alike. In the midst of all these trendsetting shops is the Austeria Brasserie, an elegant and very chic French-inspired restaurant, where you could indulge in some of the best oysters, lobster, fish and other delicacies.

As you enter Austeria Brasserie, the serene atmosphere sets to work, lulling your senses, helping you to fully relax and enjoy the fabulous food on offer. The plush furnishings, warm lighting fixtures, and eclectic murals on the walls create an ambience that is quietly refined. You could choose to sit in the restaurant over an elaborate meal with coffee and cocktails later in the stylish lounge or if you just want a snack, say a homemade pie, then the bistro will suffice, providing you with a number of options for some light enjoyment.

For oyster lovers, there are well known names in the menu that will trigger a keen sense of anticipation whilst those who prefer lobster could try it grilled, with tarragon mayonnaise, cream and chervil vinaigrette. The boiled version, served cold, with garlic and cocktail sauce also makes a handsome dish, while butter poached langoustines with noodles and Newburg sauce is a veritable treat indeed.

Amongst the appetizers, the choices are numerous, and you could try out the pot roast goose liver with pear and Mesclin lettuce salad; spaghetti with cherry tomatoes, basil, parmesan, garlic and chilli, or pumpkin cream soup with saffron and crayfish. Moving on to the more substantial dishes, the sea bass in salt crust with spinach and parsley potatoes; a large sole meunière with glazed vegetables or the oven roasted dorade filled with Provençal herbs and served sautéed with fennel, all deserve special mention.

Austeria Brasserie also has some specials lined up, and you could treat yourself to Russian caviar, served with crème fraiche and foil potato or different variations of smoked salmon with red horseradish and sour cream. Desserts are not left behind in this quest for culinary excellence and a mere sampling will prove that they have hit it spot on. Whether it is the crème brûlée, delicately sprinkled with brown sugar, or the mousse au chocolat with Valrhona chocolate, kumquat compote and vanilla cognac foam, or the sorbets and homemade tarts, these confections are almost bound to afflict you with calorific amnesia of a high order.

Not content with just a selection, Austeria Brasserie has an entire walk in wine cabinet with over 140 choices from across the world. Two different temperatures are maintained, ensuring that the optimum level is retained consistently. 

While this idyllic restaurant is well suited for a meal with friends or family, their business lunch menu has some delicious options and is just the thing over which to spend some quality time with your associates.