Trattoria Cinque

Mädchenitaliener has been cooking on Alte Schönhauser Straße since 2001 and builds its menu around tagliatelle, from the lemon version to the one with truffle. Main courses cost 12 to 21 Euros, a fixed-price menu is available at lunchtime, and for groups of seven or more the dishes are served family-style in bowls. Two dishes are fully vegan.

A Trattoria in the heart of Boxhagener Kiez in Friedrichshain

Gabriel-Max-Straße is one of the streets in Friedrichshain’s Boxhagener Kiez where bars, cafés, and small shops line up closely between Boxhagener Platz and Wühlischstraße. Trattoria Cinque is located at number 15, right in this row and thus at one of the busiest addresses in the district. Getting there is uncomplicated, as tram M13 stops at Wühlischstraße and Gärtnerstraße, just around the corner. From Frankfurter Tor subway station and Warschauer Straße train station, it’s about a ten-minute walk each. It’s much harder by car, as the side streets around Boxhagener Platz are constantly parked up in the evenings, and the nearest larger parking spaces only start on Frankfurter Allee. If you want to be sure to get a table, you should call ahead, as the restaurant only accepts reservations by phone and deliberately foregoes an online form. The establishment is run by Dan Qollaku, who manages the restaurant as its owner and is also responsible for it according to the imprint.

Pasta menu with truffle and homemade gnocchi

The menu’s focus is clearly on pasta, and Trattoria Cinque offers a broader selection than most neighbors on the street. Those looking for Italian classics will find Penne Arrabbiata and Spaghetti Carbonara at the lower end of the menu. Those expecting more elaborate dishes can order Pappardelle with Bolognese and Stracciatella or Tagliolini al Tartufo. Prices for pasta range between just under 13 and just under 20 Euros, which keeps the restaurant within the usual range for the district. The Gnocchi di Cinque with goat cheese in a truffle butter sauce deserve special mention, as these gnocchi are made in-house by the kitchen. It’s also striking how prevalent truffle is on the entire menu: it appears in several dishes and explains why prices vary so significantly upwards. There’s also a manageable wine selection, which includes open wines by the glass. The restaurant does not offer a separate lunch menu; the same menu is served continuously. For guests, this means that the more elaborate truffle dishes are also available at lunchtime, but cost the same as in the evening.