By Ralph

Tucked away at 526 Oakfield Drive, not far from Brandon Regional Hospital, is a small restaurant where schnitzel, sauerbraten, spaetzle and currywurst have been bringing a taste of Germany to Brandon for nearly 15 years.

Taste of Berlin German Cuisine isn't a national chain or a German-themed concept created by a restaurant corporation.

Its roots actually lead back to Berlin.

From Berlin to Brandon

When Holger and Margitta Engel opened Taste of Berlin in Brandon in late 2011, they weren't newcomers to the restaurant business.

The couple had spent years operating Engel's Party Service, their own restaurant and catering business in Berlin, before moving to the United States.

Their connection to the Brandon area came through family. Their son, Bo, and Margitta's sister were already living nearby, and the Engels had visited the area before deciding to make the move themselves.

Shortly afterward, they brought something with them:

the food they knew from home.

Taste of Berlin opened on Oakfield Drive and promoted itself as Brandon's first authentic German restaurant.

What's on the Table?

The restaurant concentrates on traditional German comfort food rather than trying to make the menu enormous.

Schnitzel plays a starring role, with several preparations available.

Other traditional offerings include sauerbraten, beef roulade, bratwurst, Berliner currywurst, spaetzle, red cabbage, sauerkraut and bread dumplings.

One item particularly reflects the owners' roots.

Berliner Currywurst consists of sausage served with a curry-style ketchup sauce. Taste of Berlin makes its own version of the sauce.

And don't forget dessert.

The restaurant lists traditional selections including apple strudel and German plum cake. German beer and wine are also available.

Small Is Part of the Experience

Taste of Berlin isn't a sprawling restaurant.

It's a relatively small neighborhood dining room, and that appears to be part of its character. Current information describes it as a cozy, casual dinner spot rather than a large German beer hall.

The restaurant remains in the same Oakfield Drive location where Holger and Margitta established it years ago.

For a locally owned restaurant, that's no small accomplishment.

Did You Know?

When the Engels opened Taste of Berlin, they had been living in the United States for only about a year.

Holger had decades of culinary experience behind him, but he still spent time learning what Brandon diners liked before opening the restaurant.

In a 2012 interview shortly after the restaurant opened, he explained that he had been helping at his son's nearby restaurant while becoming familiar with local tastes.

More than a decade later, Taste of Berlin is still serving Brandon from that same little restaurant.

Know Before You Go

Taste of Berlin German Cuisine
📍 526 Oakfield Drive, Brandon, FL 33511
📞 (813) 685-9392

Current published hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30–8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 4:30–8:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday.

Because hours and menu availability can change, we'd recommend calling ahead before making a special trip.

The Crosstown Takeaway

One of the reasons we created Crosstown Eats was to find places around Brandon that have a story behind the sign out front.

Taste of Berlin certainly has one.

A husband and wife leave Germany, move thousands of miles from Berlin to Florida, bring decades of restaurant experience with them and open a small German restaurant in Brandon.

Nearly 15 years later, that restaurant is still here.

And you don't need a plane ticket to Berlin to find it.

You just need to know where to look on Oakfield Drive.