Rutz

From a wine bar of 2001 in Berlin-Mitte

Rutz sits at Chausseestrasse 8 in Mitte, a few minutes from Oranienburger Tor station and the tram lines that cross there. It began in 2001 as a pure wine bar, founded by the late Lars Rutz together with Anja and Carsten Schmidt, who run the house today. The first Michelin star came in 2007, the second in 2016, and in 2020 it became the first three-star restaurant in the city. It has held those three stars ever since, and in 2022 the Green Star for sustainable work was added. After a rebuild the house reopened in April 2022, redesigned by the architect Gesine Weinmiller, who in her own words wove workshop, kitchen and dining room together like a tailored suit. Two levels merge visually into one another, joined by roughly worked natural stone walls of Brannenburger Nagelfluh. There are around thirty seats inside and a further twenty-five outside, and a shelf of preserving jars from the kitchen runs through both floors as a kind of backbone.

Thirteen inspirations under the theme of nature and aromas

The kitchen is shaped by Marco Mueller, who has been in the house since 2004 and answers for it as kitchen director. At the turn of 2025 Luca Mathes and Tim Gronemeier took over the day-to-day kitchen leadership under him, after Dennis Quetsch left Rutz of his own accord following twelve years. A single menu is served, which the house calls its inspiration menu and places under the theme of nature and aromas. In its full version that means thirteen courses for 360 euros, in the shorter one twelve for 340 euros, and the vegetarian version carries the name Edgy Veggie and costs the same. The wine pairing runs from seven to nine glasses and starts at 179 euros, with a non-alcoholic pairing as an alternative. The house describes its line as a light and balanced cuisine built on contrasts and clear flavours, and names simplicity and clarity as its guiding terms. Anyone who likes can take one course standing at a table opposite the kitchen pass.