HONCA - Berlin

Honca is a high end Turkish restaurant that will not break the bank. Similar to the 1 Michelin Star restaurants in Berlin, Honca offers a relatively small menu at very affordable prices. Lunch for two courses will only set you back €19.50 which is an absolute bargain. Dinner is more pricey but then the selection is also greater. I went for lunch and they had three appetizers, three mains and one dessert to chose from. As appetizer I had the Turkish meat balls on poatatoe puree which was very good. The puree had a great consistency and was refined with other vegetables and spices. The meat balls were nicely spiced but could have been a bit loser. As a main I had the veal marianted in Cemen on a bed of Humus accented by drops of rosmarin essence and lemon pesto. The arrangement worked suprisingly well and the meat was cooked to order and perfection. The accompanying glass of red Turkish wine, recommended by the waiter was also excellent. The dessert was a milk rice topped with nuts and cinnamon. It was also very good and creamy but would have worked better with fresh fruit in season. At the end they offer free tea and sweets which was a nice touch. The whole restaurant is very classy, starting with the white linens on the tables, a nice interior and great wait staff. The restaurant is also nicely segemented with walls/seperators so there are a number of smaller alcoves made up of two to three tables. Tables are well spaced so this is a great place for business or a first date. Service was very welcoming, friendly, efficient but yet understated in a very nice way. Highly recommended!

Surprisingly good food, definitely Turkish but of unexpected rich variety, well prepared, with unobtrusive waiting. Highly Commendable.

This restaurant has undergone a complete transformation since we were last here. Honca was very good before. It is excellent now. There are two menu suggestions: 4 appetizers, 2 main courses and 1 dessert each. You can order 3 dishes for 45 Euros, 4 for 55 Euros and 5 for 65 Euros. It's okay to mix from either menu. A wine accompaniment is available for 15, 20 and 25 Euros, respectively. As appetizers we had hummus with grilled sausage (manufactured on the premises) and red beets and ayran jelly, scallops in sage butter with dry cottage cheese and tomatos, slices of large prawn with sweet chili sauce, and home-made fresh pasta with a wild mushroom sauce. The products were excellent, perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and seasoned with turkish spices and herbs. The main courses were lamb filet with puried beans and various vegetables and sauce, and a filet of sea bass with parsnip puree, celeriac and cauliflower espuma. Again, all was perfectly cooked and presented and enhanced by turkish spices and herbs. The amuse gueule, a soup with beef, and the sweets offered with turkish coffee, were delicious. This is not only the best turkish restaurant in Berlin - by far. With its friendly interior, its helpful service and its delicious food, it is a top-notch dining experience not to be missed!

I've been about 3 times before but the last time wasn't great, so coming back this time I was slightly apprehensive. The food was absolutely amazing as was the service!

Perfect place for a business dinner. Professional people and nice ambient. Impressive way of cooking and using vegs in all dishes, really good combination. Good Spanish and Turkish wine offer. I will go again as soon as I'm back in Berlin, sure.