Note: Sadly, this pizza place is now permanently closed. However, as we love all things weird and offbeat, we’ll leave this up as a memory of what was.
Have you ever heard of Canadian pizza? I’d always thought it an Italian specialty, with some American cities like Chicago and New York garnering some attention for their unique take on the food. Still, I’ve never once thought that pizza was uniquely Canadian. Maybe poutine, but certainly not pizza.
Then you’d expect to find Canadian pizza … in Canada, most likely in the foodie heavens of Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal. You’d never guess that a little place known as Ron Telesky Canadian Pizza would exist in the heart of Berlin.
Celebrating Canada Day In Berlin At Ron Telesky Canadian Pizza
I’m a bit embarrassed that I learned about this place from two Germans, a couple from Munich. They told me the place was filled with kitsch Canadian memorabilia and even a pizza topped with maple syrup. How is it possible that such a place exists? And how is it possible that the place is owned and operated by a German and not a Canadian trying to introduce a little Canuck to Berlin?
I needed to head to Kreuzberg to see this place ASAP and thought it fitting to check it out on Canada Day. I invited a couple of friends from Toronto to go along with me for the experience. To our surprise, when we arrived there was actually a Canadian meetup in full swing. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who thought of honoring our national holiday by eating themed pizza. Everyone was sitting outside on wooden stumps and lawn chairs; some even gathered in a canoe.
The iconic Canadian symbols continued on the interior. As the Bavarian couple promised, the place was very kitsch, but I loved the sweet reminders of home nonetheless.
The menu includes some pizza dishes: the Cronenberg Cash, Back To The Future, Montreal Blow, and the Wayne Gretzky. As a former ice hockey fanatic, I was all about the Wayne Gretzky, which is made with feta, mozzarella, and cheddar cheeses, Italian salami, speck and chorizo, hot peppers, chili flakes, and caramelized onions.
While you can sample a slice for about €3, ordering a giant pizza, which generally runs about 20 euros is way more fun. While it seems expensive, you get your money’s worth as the pizza could easily feed a small nation. The kind shop owner served us our Gretzky (see him pictured above holding our pizza).
Another delightful surprise was the North American sodas. I had both a Cream Soda and a Root Beer! If you prefer beer that tastes like piss, you can order some Moosehead.
Want to experience a taste of Canada in Berlin? Visit Ron Telesky for some weird and wonderful Canadian pizza.
Good To Know
1) Find a place to stay while you’re visiting Berlin.
Booking.com2) Make your time in Berlin extra special and take a guided tour.
3) If you are a fan of Germany, check out some of my other posts:
- Berlin Christmas Market Guide: WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt – If you’re looking to experience a Christmas market in Berlin, then visit the atmospheric WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt in the heart of the city.
- Cool Things To Do Around Hamburg Schanzenviertel – Read this guide stuffed full of cool things to do around Hamburg Schanzenviertel, including where to eat, shop, drink, stay, & more.
- How To Spend A Wonderful 24 Hours In Warnemünde – How to spend a wonderful 24 hours in Warnemünde, Germany. Think seafood feasts, therapeutic spa time, and sunset at the Baltic Sea.
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“and some even gathered in a canoe”
hahahah! AMAZING. I (heart) Kreuzberg!
PS I really love that photo of the A&W cans.
@Adam – Yeah, sit outside in a canoe and eat a party sized Canadian pizza in Berlin possibly flavored with maple syrup. BA HA HA!! So weird, yet so amazing as you say! 🙂
Thanks re: the A&W cans photo!
This must be the place in Kreuzberg that Tim was telling me about! My reaction was the same as yours ‘pizza isn’t Canadian!’
@Sabrina – For sure! So weird, right? I love it, cheesy as it is. 🙂
Thanks to your post, Cheryl, I realize I must make a pilgrimage to this place this fall to honour the symbols of our country … by consuming a Canadian pizza! Yum.
Love that pizza so much! Actually, this is the first time I have heard about this Canadian pizza.. I want to try this if I can come to Canada someday.. Love this idea!
I am not sure they know about this place! On Sunday we were invited to their place for a Canada Day Party with delicious food and of course, Pizza!
A maple syrup pizza? While I have yet to see this at home, it kind of looks delish. And I kind of want to try it!
@Henry – It’s definitely worth a visit, that’s for sure.
@Lhizzie – I am not sure if these pizza styles actually exist in Canada!? Apparently, the owner lived in Canada for a while and picked up some of these recipes while there. I do like his idea though, it’s fun and for me nice to experience a bit of home. 🙂
@Chantelle – Sounds pretty good to me! 🙂
@Marie – You need to come Berlin! Then we’ll make the visit together. 🙂
Bloody hell I’m feeling hungry now. If only they had pizzas this big in Spain.
@Will – It’s a great excuse to come and visit Berlin! There’s a shit load of travel bloggers here too that you can hang out with. 🙂
What a find for all the Canadians living in or visiting Berlin. I think I’ll pass on the maple syrup on a pizza – though in Boulder, Colorado there’s a place that puts honey on a pizza.
@Leigh – Very true! I’m not sure if I’d try the pizza wtih maple syrup either. 🙂
Maple syrup on pizza? YUM.
I remember learning about how Germans have a fascination with North America and Canada, particularly the cultural, wilderness and First Nations. So I’m not too surprised there’s a Canadian pizza restaurant with so much memorabilia.
That looks soooo good! Love the hockey sticks and root beer…LOL I just discovered Chicago Deep Dish pizza in Korea. I’ve in heaven 🙂
@Samuel – It wasn’t bad! And nice about discovering a deep dish … in Korea of all places! 🙂
@Margaret – I don’t know about that maple syrup pizza … lol! And do you know about the German’s fascination with How I Met Your Mother? They think the country is filled with Robyn Sparkles’ types 🙂
Looks like so much fun Cheryl!
Love your hair and the new look of your site!! I’ve heard of Canadian bacon but not Canadian pizza – looks like a fun way to celebrate the holiday =)
@Megan – It was a blast! I wouldn’t go there often, but now definitely have a place to take visiting Canadian friends. 🙂
@Andrea – Thanks! There really isn’t any Canadian pizza … but I like these guys for trying. 🙂
Kitsch is only truly appreciated when outside your home country.
@Stephanie – True dat!
I love it! I was in Cairns Australia for Canada day but there was nothing really Canadian happening in the city… too small I guess… but last year I was in Wellington and found this random cocktail bar serving Canadian style cocktails with perogies on the side! Amazing!
So cool! Please take me there the next time I’m in Berlin. What I would do for a rootbeer. That’s what I miss most about living in Germany, although I did find a place in Munich that sells it – for 2.95 Euro/can – ouch!
@Jade – Ha ha, me too! I’m not sure how perogies and cocktails pair but I love the weirdness of that as I love the weirdness of Canadian pizza. 😀
@Laurel – It’s a date then! And wow, that’s really expensive for a single root beer.
@Matt – Thanks and same to you! yep, Berlin us super fab. 🙂
Happy Canada D’Eh! Looks like you’re having a good time in Berlin!
We got into Berlin on July 1st & are staying through August 4th in the Kreuzberg area….we have literally walked past this place 10 times and always wondered what the heck Canadian pizza was!
It looked delicious though… so upset we missed an event like this! At the very least, we are now putting this on our radar as a dinner spot in the next few nights. Thanks for the tip!
SO much fun, but what is on the Gretsky pizza, does he like chiles?
@Ayngelina – I wonder if he knows there’s a pizza place named after him in Berlin? 🙂
Everything is big in Canada, including the pizza, huh? Looks delicious! Its great you could celebrate your special national holiday all the way across the world.
@Sherry – This is not typical pizza in Canada or anywhere but some crazy Berlin adaptation. 🙂
It was cool to celebrate Canada Day in Berlin though.
I’m writing from Toronto, Canada. If you go back to this restaurant please tell them the correct spelling for the pizza name of the Canadian author is Farley Mowat.
Hey Eric! Greetings from Berlin. I’m a Toronto native myself. Will do! Or feel free to also reach out to them directly as well. 🙂