Everyone knows where Selig is – we’ve all walked past it countless times. But only a lucky few know what we’ve been missing.

Know the church at Herrfurthplatz in the idyllic Schillerkiez? The one you walk past on the way to Tempelhofer Feld? Selig is there – connected to the church in the centre of the square. Trust us, you won’t find a better place for a snack in the kiez.

The space known as ‘Selig’ has always been there. Formerly a drab and low-key kiez cafe that served mainly the aging worshippers at the church, new owner Christian has brought it to life, injecting colour, light and love into that already holy place. BERLIN LOVES YOU were invited to get a feel for what Selig is bringing to the Schillerkiez.

They know a thing or two about what makes a good breakfast

Selig offers a wide range of breakfasts, lunches and a constantly changing evening menu. It is lovingly prepared by Ahmed, who Christian knew for only days before the pair started working together at Selig. Christian immediately identified with Ahmed’s energy and values and they’ve put together a great menu that reflects their shared interests and experiences.

We kicked things off with an English Breakfast. Tastefully presented and featuring all the classic components, this was a real treat. For me, the beans are always the most important of a fry-up and they didn’t disappoint here. They were lightly peppered and presented in a separate bowl – just the way they should be! We were impressed to learn that they’re Heinz branded too – no compromises have been made here!

Next was the Avocado-Bagel, something of a new Berlin breakfast classic. The scrambled eggs were served perfectly whilst the avocado was served in a guacamole style. Amazing? Just look at the photo…

Their ‘Jerusalem-Teller’ belongs on your Instagram feed

Moving onto Selig’s lunch options, we couldn’t believe our eyes when the Jerusalem-Teller appeared in front of us. Selig’s most popular dish, this was a wonder to behold. Served on the bitter/sweet burnt skin of the aubergine with fresh Turkish bread, we could eat this all day. The beetroot puree was lightly tangy whilst the aubergine mixed with tahini had a smooth, nutty quality.

This is a serious treat, trust us. To accompany our technicolour teller, we had a Mimosa (sparkling wine with a dash of Crème de Cassis) which was light, punchy and refreshing.

Selig serves high-end international comfort food

It occurred to us, as we tucked into the Himmel und Erde, that Selig offers a certain kind of comfort food. The menu is packed with everyone’s favourite foods from around the world, the ones that we all turn to in times of need, and Selig does them so well.

The Himmel und Erde is a German classic and with good reason – everything from creamy mash to the apple sauce and melt-in-your-mouth blood sausage tasted so right. The Croque Madame, reassuringly extravagant and featuring ham from a local Italian supplier, needs to be tested as a hangover cure. Do the French know something we don’t?

Selig is–my God–GREAT value

Considering the delicious food, Selig’s menu is very reasonably priced. Everything costs under €11 for a large portion, which is certainly going to go down well with Berlin’s deal-grabbing residents. We were reaching the point of being komplett-satt at this point, but we soldiered on.

Selig offers a constantly changing selection of evening meals. Today Bao Burgers were on the menu. Served in sticky rice bao buns and with smoky sweet potato fries on the side, the beef and chicken burgers are just the kind of thing that goes down well in Neukölln.

Althought Christian’s only ran Selig for a few weeks, it’s already taking on a life of its own. A veteran Berliner of sorts, he cut his teeth at Kottbusser Tor’s Südblock. The open and fun vibe of that colourful hotspot has clearly rubbed off on Christian, who has made a real effort to make Selig as inclusive a place as possible. He’s got involved in the local community, playing host to church-related events as well as Fete de la Musique and 48 Stunden Neukölln. The locals are already using the place how they see fit – we were surrounded by beer drinkers, coffee suppers and groups of friends.

Selig means ‘blessed’ in German, and we were certainly #feelingblessed after sampling its amazing menu. Check it out for yourself – we know you’ll be in the area again soon…

Selig
Herrfurthplatz 14, 12049 Berlin

Breakfast
Tuesday – Friday 9am – 12pm
Saturday – Sunday 9am – 4pm

Lunch
Daily from 12pm

Brunch on Sunday (new!)
9am – 4pm

Evening meals
5.30pm – 10pm

The website is here.

Check out the menu here.

Camera: Canon EOS 6D