"Huge loss"

Günther Jauch closes his top restaurant

In 2019, Jauch received the "Restaurateur of the Year" award for his restaurant - now it is closing its doors.(Bild: Georg Wendt / dpa)

The top restaurant in TV presenter Günther Jauch's legendary "Villa Kellermann" in Potsdam is closing this summer, causing a stir in Berlin. Jauch opened it around five years ago together with star chef Tim Raue, who retired from the restaurant in 2023.

"We would have liked to continue. But coronavirus, a sharp rise in operating costs and a tense staffing situation meant we couldn't make any other decision," said Managing Director Manfred Dengel in a statement on Friday. The restaurant will close on June 21.

"Huge loss"
However, it is conceivable that the restaurant could be leased out or offered as an event location in the future, the press release continued. Jauch (67, "Who wants to be a millionaire?") himself did not want to comment on the matter when asked.

"A huge loss for the Potstdam gastronomy scene," wrote a fan of the restaurant on Instagram, full of regret. "We will miss your creativity, great taste and fantastic service." Others explained how sad they were that the restaurant was closing. "This is super sad news. I always loved it here."

Jauch was even named "Restaurateur of the Year"
Jauch, who lives in Potsdam and has long been committed to the preservation of historic properties in the Brandenburg state capital, had the villa on Heiligen See renovated in line with its listed status.

Shortly after the restaurant opened, the TV presenter received the "Restaurateur of the Year" award in 2019. The restaurant guide "Gault&Millau" called his "Villa Kellermann" a piece of cultural heritage and a showpiece restaurant with cosmopolitan flair.

Built in 1914, the house has an eventful history. It is named after the writer Bernhard Kellermann, who is known for his novel "The Tunnel". During the GDR era, the villa was the headquarters of the Kulturbund and a meeting place for intellectuals, artists and writers. After reunification, the popular "Ristorante Villa Kellermann" with Italian cuisine was run there for several years until 2009.