Kirchenklause Closed - Beeskow

Beeskow isn't on most tourist destinations. A pity. The whole region between the rivers Oder and Spree in Brandenburg is the very best of old Prussia. Glorious rolling countryside filled with forests and lakes. Lovely walks that don't involve exhausting climbs up great big hills and mountains yet walks you can spend all day on, through woodland tracks with wildlife and game on either side, from village to unspoiled little village. There is yachting, there are glorious spas, there is game fishing and hunting. There are ancient churches and fine monuments. And the fascinating social histories of the Oder Spree's beautifully preserved communities breathes through the living fabric of their stones. Beeskow itself, for instance, if you study the photos hanging in Dan and Cindy Kantner's friendly Kirchenklause restaurant, seems hardly to have been touched by the past two centuries, beyond a motorised carriage or two in the main square. The restaurant lies in the shadow of Beeskow's handsome Kirche St Marien, opposite the oldest building in this capital of the Oder Spree region, and close by the medieval city wall. The welcome is friendly, the atmosphere animated, the interior comfortable. The menu's emphasis is on regional specialities and I was not disappointed by my Zanderfilet in an almond butter. I love this fragrant, delicate freshwater game fish indigenous to these Eastern parts, known in English as the pike perch though not related to the former. So easy to spoil by overcooking and this was cooked excellently. My partner enjoyed her Schweinefiletspitzen, though I thought the white wine sauce was if anything too creamy, and the pasta I suspected of having been batch cooked earlier in the evening, because it seemed a touch tough and tired. And (not often a complaint you hear from me! there was simply too much of it on the plate! Nevertheless I would give the Kirchenklause a warm recommendation. The same goes for the whole region. The economy in Eastern Germany has become progressively more moribund since re unification. Consequently the image people have of the region is one of gloomy post industrial towns menaced by groups of far right skinheads huddled on grey street corners. Nothing could be further from the truth here. This region is crying out for tourists to discover its historic and rural charms. Do yourself a favour. Discover Brandenburg. Go to Beeskow, make it your base for the region, and while you're there, eat at this friendly, tasty restaurant.

It is a very small restaurant but very cute and cozy. The staff was really kind, the chef very fast with cooking and we all like our food. They also serve a good coffee. The Interieur is old furniture but absolutely cute for this old house. Very nice but better make a reservation before.

We stopped in here for lunch during a bike tour. The service was friendly, the food very tasty, and the beer tasted great. We had a couple of different hot dishes and both were prepared quite well. It's a nice quiet location right next to the church and a nice outdoor patio.