Two summers ago I had an internship in Mitte, on Chausseestraße. To get there was about a 30-minute bike ride, and, weather permitting, I rode to work every day. This was easily my favorite part of the day, because it was always the jump I needed to kickstart my energy and be awake and ready to work/write.
Meanwhile, the least favorite part of my day was deciding what to eat for lunch. As people who live or work in Mitte know, it’s not exactly a mecca of places to eat, at least for vegans. At least, that was the case then. So more often than not, my lunches were made up of random items I’d picked up at the nearby Rewe or the Bio Company further down the road.
But as I found myself walking through the area earlier this week, I noticed that more options have sprung up, one of which is Shiloh.
Located on Torstraße, not so far from Rosenthaler Platz, Shiloh is a brand new vegetarian and kosher cafe. The owner, Keren, also lives in the neighborhood, and opened the restaurant after noting the lack of affordable places to eat, particularly those that catered to specific food needs. So, since March, the cafe has been there, serving Israeli food, along with baked goods, and refreshments like beer, wine, smoothies, and coffee.
The menu is 100% vegetarian, as well as kosher. That said, it’s also possible to order things vegan; in my case, I ordered an Israeli platter, and Keren replaced the non-vegan item with hummus. Similarly, sandwiches with cheese or egg can have eggplant or tofu substitutes, etc. And the food? It’s homemade, healthy, and tasty. The pricing is also good. For my meal (pictured below) and a glass of house-made lemonade, the total was €10.
In addition to being a place to eat, the owner’s goal is to make it a place people can hang out, socialize, and relax. In the back is a room that has the beginnings of a library, with books in Hebrew and English, and there are plans to make it more of a gallery space, where artists can display their works. I’m keeping my thumbs pressed that Shiloh does well, because it’s just what the area needs.
Torstraße 159
10115 Berlin
Germany
+ 49 17 67 06 76 858
Sunday-Friday: 12pm-8pm
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