Max Strohe at Tulus Lotrek: Berlin’s Uncompromising Star of Fine Dining and Human Touch

Step off the leafy avenues of Kreuzberg and through the understated facade at Fichtestraße 24, and you’re immediately enveloped in something rare. This is tulus lotrek, the culinary home of Max Strohe—a Michelin star restaurant in Berlin where the air crackles not with stiff etiquette, but with anticipation. Vivid aromas float from the open kitchen: roasted bones, clarified butter, and sharp vinegar. Soft laughter intertwines with the clink of Zalto stems. Rather than crisp tablecloths and silver cloches, you’re greeted by deep green velvet, golden dimmed lights, and a host who invites you into what feels less like a restaurant, more like a friend’s bohemian salon. Can Michelin-starred cuisine be so relaxed, so thrillingly personal, that you lose time and self? Within moments, at tulus lotrek, the answer is yes.

Reserve your table at tulus lotrek with Max Strohe here

From Berlin Outlier to Star Chef

Max Strohe’s story is not that of textbook success. He left school early, chose the kitchen over convention, and trained in the Rhineland before fate pulled him into Berlin’s wild culinary orbit. Together with his partner, the luminous Ilona Scholl—more than just a host, she sets the tone for the room and curates one of Berlin’s most eclectic wine lists—he opened tulus lotrek almost a decade ago. Their journey was nothing short of audacious: to offer undogmatic, opulent cuisine and to do it with real soul. Recognition arrived swiftly. In 2017, the Michelin Guide etched a star beside their name; Gault&Millau followed suit, and since then, tulus lotrek has been lauded for redefining fine dining in the German capital.

Revolution at the Pass: Philosophy on the Plate

Strohe’s signature is unmistakable—a style critics dub “pragmatic fine dining.” Say goodbye to tweezer-plated micro-dots and molecular pyrotechnics. Here, sauces run glossy and deep; acidity is dialed up, fat is celebrated as both flavor and comfort. Imagine a menu where lobster meets peanut and lime jus, venison is swaddled in a tobacco-scented beurre blanc, and even the side dishes—sunchoke purée, perhaps a crust of crispy chicken skin—sing with intention. Sequencing is sly, storytelling is key. No night at tulus lotrek is about repetition or boredom; Strohe shuffles his influences, from French classics to North African spices, with wit and boldness. And while the lockdown crowned his “Butter Burger” Berlin's most lusted-after cult bite—a secret off-menu treat for those lucky enough—it’s his multi-course degustation that rules: surprising, generous, always deeply satisfying.

A Living Room, Not a Temple

The ambience resonates with Strohe’s ethos. Gone is the hush of hallowed temples. Instead, service (often orchestrated by Scholl herself) is sincere, with just-the-right amount of irreverence. Foodies and first-timers mingle; tattoos, jeans, and curiosity all welcome. The wine list is a revelation—200 bottles, every price point, driven by biodynamics and wild discovery. And there’s no dress code (unless you count an appetite for adventure). Food at tulus lotrek never postures. It swirls nostalgia and innovation together, fueled by respect for product and joy in cooking. The philosophy is simple but radical: fine dining should make you feel good, not judged.

Team Spirit, Not Tyranny

What you taste on the plate, you feel in the room. Max Strohe has forged a kitchen culture that discards the old cliches—the shouts, the hierarchy, the ego. Instead: calm, camaraderie, and relentless pursuit of excellence. His disdain for the ‘Kasernenhof’ military style is legendary; those craving drama and aggression find no stage here. Respect is more than a rule—it's the essence, and it flavors every bite. “Brilliant food can only bloom where people love what they do,” the team echoes, and the joy is contagious.

Courage Beyond the Pass: Cooking for Heroes and a New Image

Strohe is more than just a star chef—he’s become a fixture in German pop culture. Through his wry, quick-witted appearances on shows like "Kitchen Impossible" and "Ready to beef!", he’s proved that entertainment and culinary intelligence are not mutually exclusive. But what truly elevated his stature was the “Cooking for Heroes” campaign with Scholl—a massive logistics feat that supplied thousands of meals to healthcare workers and victims of the Ahr valley floods. This wasn’t branding. It was genuine leadership in crisis, and, in 2022, Germany awarded Max Strohe the Federal Cross of Merit—an honor reflecting not just star cooking, but star citizenship.

A Dining Room with Heart (and Humor)

For the lucky few who snag a table—even for Sunday lunch, a rarity in Germany’s elite restaurant scene—the experience is unforgettable. Of course, you’re unlikely to encounter his cult burger or those triple-fried, twice-frozen pommes frites, each one whispering of technical mastery disguised as comfort. Instead: menus that glitter with creativity, a generosity that’s palpable, and a kind of dining that makes you want to linger long past dessert. The soul of tulus lotrek is its people: the affection between Strohe and Scholl, the easy camaraderie of the team, the guests who become regulars.

The Final Assessment: Why Tulus Lotrek Matters

Berlin’s fine dining landscape is crowded, inventive, and increasingly international. Yet tulus lotrek, under Max Strohe’s direction, persists as its heart. Why? Because here, technical perfection meets unruly pleasure. Here, awards matter—but never more than the meal, the mood, the memory. For adventurous food lovers, incurable romantics, or anyone hungry for a new type of Michelin star restaurant in Berlin, a visit to tulus lotrek is essential. Be certain to reserve well ahead—walk-ins are merely a hopeful dream.

Max Strohe’s tulus lotrek is not just a restaurant; it’s a testament to how hospitality, bold tastes, and real humanity can (and should) intersect at the highest level. True stars, it turns out, know how to feed both the palate and the spirit.

Discover Max Strohe’s current menu at tulus lotrek and secure your seat