ROCKET & BASIL- BRUNCH THAT PACKS A PUNCH
Serving up Persian-inspired brunch and lunch, Rocket & Basil has become a firm favourite in the Berlin foodie community.
Food blogger duo, Xenia and Sophia, made a name for themselves in the Berlin gastronomy scene with their insanely popular breakfast pop-up, Das Brunch.
Now, they own and run the highly anticipated cafe, Rocket & Basil, serving up snacks, pastries, salads and stews with a unique Persian twist.
We took a trip one Sunday to try their weekend brunch menu.
The cafe is just a few minutes walk away from Potsdamer Straße, and at midday on a Sunday, we find its is already full with friends and families tucking in to vibrant plates and a few weary faces nursing their hangovers, clutching iced coffees.
Inside, the space is beautifully minimal. Painted a distinct, minty green and flooded with natural light, the interior feels breezy, yet cosy. Little handmade pastries and cakes sit patiently behind the glass, waiting to be picked. A fresh coffee aroma fills the air.
It’s a relaxed affair and sharing a table is totally normal, so we settle down outside, given the beautiful sun, and say hi to our neighbours. Scouring the mouth-watering menu, it’s impossible to choose.
The options aren’t typical of your everyday Berlin brunch, instead usual breakfast plates have an Iranian, Turkish or Aussie twist, reflecting Xenia and Sophie’s international background.
I agonise over the cardamom porridge with toasted hazelnuts and the smoked aubergine omelette, eventually settling happily on the saffron cauliflower breakfast sandwich. My companion opted for the newly added Rocket & Basil breakfast plate; a flavourful amalgamation of spiced sausage, garlicky wilted spinach, smokey, peppered eggs, slow roasted heirloom tomatoes and a generous dollop of buffalo ricotta.
I was almost overcome with a serious case of food envy, until my sandwich arrived; a large open flatbread filled with cinnamon-spiced sweet potatoes, golden florets of cauliflower tumbling out the sides. The spicy, green tahini spread holding it all together provided a beautiful, tangy zest.
Falling slowly into a food coma, we ordered two more deliciously smooth coffees not wanting to leave, and a gooey square of tahini brownie.
Easing into the afternoon, we finish with a bloody Mary, full to the brim with dill and cucumber, crimson and spicy.
As we finish up, I think about how Rocket & Basil seems a fitting name for a cafe that packs a fragrant punch and provides plenty of vibrant greens per plate (though I’m told the name actually takes inspiration from beloved pets!)
For seasonal, fresh food, creative dishes and an inviting atmosphere, try Rocket & Basil.
