Bernd's Bar - German
Roppongi
Reviewed by Hans Sautter

Address - Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Roppongi 5-18-1, 2F Opening hours - Open 5pm to midnight. Closed on Sundays Map - Yes. See also directions Telephone - 5563-9232 Menu - In German and Japanese CC - OK

 The only German restaurant here in Tokyo I take into consideration is Bernd's. The others are all to different degrees fakes, yet they advertise themselves as typical. Bernd's is the real thing, a completely unpretentious bar and restaurant where Bernd busies himself talking to his friends about soccer and assorted gossip, creating atmosphere, while his wife does the real work. 70% of the customers are Germans working for Daimler, Hoechst and other German firms, Japanese working for the same companies or Japanese who know Germany well.
The cooking is what Germans eat at home, simple and unsophisticated but excellent stuff. And Bernd is a good guy.

The beer: the beer is of course great, and there is Weizenbier vom Fass at about 1000 per pitcher.

Francesco's Note

I have also been to Bernd's bar, and liked it a lot. They have seven different kinds of high quality German draft beers, pure luxury to the beer lover, and food is simple but excellent. The other day we had Sauerbraten (roasted beef, 1800), Jaegerschnitzel (a Schnitzel in mushroom sauce, 1800 yen), Rettichsalat (radish salad, 1000 yen) and a Wiener Schnitzel (1800 yen) with plenty of beer and tasty brown bread. By the way, Bernd looks interesting, to put it mildly. In a picture on the wall he wears short pants with a white shirt and a bowtie. Gentleman from the waist up, riffraff from the waist down. Just one thing: Bernd's isn't cheap. At all. So bring with you a well fattened wallet.

To get there: walk from Roppongi crossing towards the Tokyo tower on the right side of the street. After maybe a five minutes walk, you will see Bernd's Bar sign.

February 10, 2000