Cafe Berlin On Capitol Hill

Have you ever fantasized about dining in Berlin in the 1920s? What about relaxing in a Munich Biergarten while sipping on a refreshing Hefeweizen? Perhaps a traditional German breakfast in a mountain village would be appropriate? We may not have the views, but we can save you money on airfare and provide you with a taste of Germany without having to travel. Come join us for dinner in one of our dining rooms designed in the style of the 1920s. Take advantage of the sunshine on our patio or come in for Sunday Brunch with us. You will always be welcomed with open arms at Café Berlin. Café Berlin has established itself as a Capitol Hill institution over the course of nearly three decades. Established in 1985 by two German-born friends who met while working at another local German restaurant, it has remained a popular gathering place for Congressional staffers, neighborhood friends, and tourists alike. Current owners Rico Glage and Clytie Roberts-Glage have maintained this status. Café Berlin boasts the best patio on the Hill, as well as traditional German dishes and seasonal menus made with ingredients sourced from the surrounding area. The late 1980s brought Irene Khashan from near Rothenburg ab de Tauber and Peggy Reed from Lübeck together. The two women became fast friends and decided to take on the challenge of establishing an authentic German restaurant on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. They were able to accomplish this initially without the assistance of any staff, as they did all of the cooking, cleaning, and serving themselves. Despite the fact that the neighborhood was close to the nation's capital, the neighbor at the time was not the best. Although the neighborhood was in the process of being revitalized, it remained a high-crime neighborhood. It went so far as to have a crematorium across the street, which necessitated wiping ash from the entire restaurant every morning before opening. Fast forward to 2007, when Rico Glage arrives from Germany to work for a year at Café Berlin, where Clytie Roberts accepts a position as a server after five years on Capitol Hill.