Soul Mama Music Venue | Restaurant in London

Positives: the background music is great. I love afrobeats. The venue also looks very nice and the staff are polite. Negatives: The staff are disorganised and the dishes are quite expensive. I cant tell you if the dish I ordered was value for money because it never came (im so glad id eaten a snack beforehand as I never imagined id be leaving a restaurant hungrier than when i arrived). I was still charged for it however they did it take it off the bill when I challenged. The Christmas menu (£55 for two dishes, £65 for three) was the only option offered when we arrived so we were unsure whether there was also an a la carte menu available. It appears some of the staff were unsure too because when we asked one we were told no. Then when we asked another who confirmed there was. Confusion everywhere! I also ordered a mocktail and realised later that i had been given a cocktail. I dont drink but maybe in this case it was a benefit because who wants to be sober and hangry. The venue wasnt busy enough for all the confusion and disorganisation and there are cheaper places to go if I want to hear afrobeats.

We reserved a table for brunch and were surprised to be presented with a Christmas menu upon arrival, which differed from the menu displayed on OpenTable. When I asked the waiter if there was another menu, he said no. The Christmas menu was quite expensive £55 for two dishes and £65 for three without the added value of live entertainment, unlike other nearby restaurants Ive visited in the area. With no alternative offered, we reluctantly ordered two dishes each, though I was already feeling uneasy. Upon checking the OpenTable reservation, I noticed the menu on the app was different, so I approached the manager. The manager apologised and provided another menu. Feeling misled, we decided to cancel the two dishes and order only one dish each instead. Unfortunately, the experience went further downhill. My dish was served quickly, but my companions order was significantly delayed. After waiting, I ended up eating my meal alone, and the other dish still had not arrived. Frustrated, we decided to cut our losses and asked for the bill, which incorrectly listed two dishes despite only one being served. Based on TikTok reviews, my expectations were high, but this visit fell far short. The service was poor, and the high prices were unjustified. Management needs to better understand pricing, customer service, and the overall dining experience elements they failed to deliver on this occasion.

My friends and I had a truly awful experience here on 18th December. We waited 40 mins to be greeted and for orders to be taken (we had to call a member of staff over). Food timing were inconsistent. One persons main meal arrived before the rest of the table had finished ordering, a few more came out 45mins- 1hr later and after 2hrs one member of our party had still not received any their main meal. Sides came out long before mains so they were cold by the time the rest of the meals arrived. The food itself was subpar. It was either underseasoned (salmon), over seasoned (rice and peas) or overcooked (chicken wings). When we raised concerns with management, we were met with rude and abrasive behaviour. If I could rate my experience lower, I would.

If you re looking for a top notch experience that combines soul-stirring music and African/Caribbean cuisine, Soul Mama is a must-visit. This vibrant gem not only serves up delectable dishes but also offers an atmosphere that you d hate to forget. The nightly live music shows are the real highlight there s something electrifying about the energy in the room when the band takes the stage. From the pulse of the drums to the smooth grooves of the bass and piano, every note reverberates through your soul, leaving you with goosebumps every single time. The talented artists bring the house down, creating a truly immersive experience that feels like a celebration of culture, rhythm, and joy. What truly sets Soul Mama apart, however, is the impeccable services. It s not every time that you find the restaurant s directors, CEO s serving the customers. A rare experience indeed, giving you an idea of the vision of Soul Mama; that s it s not just a restaurant but a home. The waitstaff are not just professional but genuinely attentive, treating each guest with warmth and respect. Their attention to detail and friendly demeanor make you feel like a VIP, encouraging you to relax and savor every moment of your time there. But of course, the heart of the restaurant is its food. The Chefs at Soul Mama are clearly masters of their craft. You can taste the passion in every bite from perfectly seasoned meats to flavorful sides and irresistible desserts. The dishes are a testament to the depth of African/Caribbean culinary traditions, elevated with a modern twist. It s clear that these Chefs don t just cook they pour their heart into every plate, making the meal an experience itself. All in all, Soul Mama is a place where music, hospitality, and food come together to create a perfect storm of joy. If you re in the mood for an evening that delights all your senses, this is the place to be. Big ups to the incredible team behind this soul-satisfying haven!

Great music and good food, let down by erratic service (twice brought the wrong drinks and needed prompting to bring food ordered)

Made a reservation, turned up and was told that there was a private event and that if we wanted to eat there was a set menu for significantly more money than the normal menu. This was not communicated to us despite us making a reservation days beforehand. Truly disappointed as I was looking forward to the food.

Attended on the 2nd Friday after the launch party. The venue is nice however, no cloakroom available, bar sells canned cocktails. Member of staff was unprofessional and abrasive after one of the cocktails was declined. Ordered rum and coke, remainder of coke not given to the customer although it was from a bottle. A strange experience.

Have visited several times. Great venue, great atmosphere. Food is nice too. Much needed music venue in east london.

Fantastic performance in a wonderfully intimate venue. The staff were very attentive and I will definitely be back.

Great music good food and a warm atmosphere

Great venue fantastic food

Firstly the menu in person is different to what is advertised online, two of the main things we wanted they didn t have and what we did get was unfortunately underwhelming to say the least. The printed drinks menu was basic , only offering pre made can cocktails which we reluctantly ordered , only to be told they don t have it. The waiter then showed us a menu on his tablet which had various proper cocktails , unfortunately this was disappointing- the worst mojito I ve had. We also had to wave down staff for ages to get cutlery or any service to be honest. The overall vibe was like an open mic freshers night. I planned to get content here but I didn t have anything good to add so I didn t bother. Unfortunately we retired early and opted to get dessert elsewhere as we didn t have want to be disappointed further. The concept is great but the execution needs work, definitely not the worth it for the money. Will try again in a few months in the hopes it s just teething issues.

Music and food were incredible

The staff initially seated my partner and me at separate tables and questioned whether we had booked together, despite having done so. Although they eventually moved us to the same table, they later asked us to move again. Overall, the service was unhelpful, the menu felt overpriced, and the slow service added to our discomfort. The seating arrangement was awkward, mixing groups at long tables, which made for an uncomfortable experience. Our table was cluttered with menus and flyers, and the outdated menu forced us to use a poorly designed app to place our orders. While the music was enjoyable, we couldn t stay long due to the overall discomfort of the environment.

Had a lovely time would definitely go back

Went with my wife to see Yellowjackets band. Wasnt sure what venue would be like as 1st visit. Booked VIP best seats in the house tickets so was well excited that we would see the band clearly. Unfortunately this was not the case as we were put on a long table for 10 people which was a shock. Thought I would be on a table for 2 people, spoke to front house guy and was told first come first service , which made no sense if a ticket has VIP. Crazy and misleading. The view we had wasnt great. As regards ordering food or drinks this is another ridiculous set up for a small club. When we were shown our seats no-one told us how to order drinks etc. I checked with a waitress and was told use the QR code to order. I only wanted 2 drinks and couldnt be bothered with app lark. Eventually I ordered direct with the waitress and paid by card on her machine. But what a malarkey!!!. The band was excellent great music and they were the only thing that saved the night. Its great there is a live music venue in East London, and it could rival other venues. However, the owners really need to sort out the seating arrangements , long canteen tables are a no no , get better waiter service to take orders direct. We spoke to some other people on the night and they were very unhappy with the seating. Its not a cheap ticket. You should be able to choose your seat from a seating plan that should be on their website ,like you do when you go to a theatre concert hall or stadium.

A spectacular night out! The perfect place to vibe to great, live music while enjoying some soul food! We really enjoyed the food accompanied by the amazing talented musicians!

A beautiful place, with a lovely atmosphere.

Enjoyed the Omar and Lindsey Webster concerts. Good atmosphere.

We travelled for 2hrs to attend Soul Mama it was really worthwhile as we had an amazing time. The live music was great and the food we ordered was presented well and was delicious. Every staff member was kind, helpful and courteous which added to our great experience. I will definitely be recommending this venue to my family and friends. We are looking forward to attending again hopefully in the near future.

Visited at the weekend with my partner after hearing about the venue on local radio. Absolutely superb evening, live music great, food great, all the staff friendly and welcoming. To be completely objective its not the cheapest night out when you add together the entrance fee, food and drinks, but definitely worth it and we ll be back several times over the course of the year and spreading the word to our friends

Classy, great vibes, I have been looking for a venue like this for a long time. Highly recommend. Food is amazing. Watched the wonderful Etana here with my husband and absolutely loved the ambience

I was disappointed with food selection and cocktails. The quality of cocktails was very poor. The music experience was great apart from that we had a table which allowed us to see a musician s back. If the settings on the stage would be organised better we would be able to see the main star of the band and what was actually going on on the stage.

Great show by Etana. Cant wait to see how this venue and musical events grow. Lovely to have such breadth of music so close by. Hope next review will be 5 star. Thank you Soul Mama team for this new adventure. Lovely food. Good drinks.

Great new live music venue in Stratford. Loved the Afro jazz combo eclectic mix. Friendly staff team and welcoming hosts and managers. Also great food and drinks available. The venue is in the Gantry Hilton hotel and you have to use the hotel toilet facilities on first floor. We will definitely return to this venue.

Simply incredible!!!

Worst service. You may need to wait 1 hour for the drinks. Morover the food delivered to wrong table

Great music venue with excellent staff, bar and menu.

Definitely going to be a must visit! Get there before it s too known! Great night in Soul Moma, thanks to all the team, brilliant food especially, with great flavours! An absolutely brilliant show thanks to Snake Davis! Will be back!

Fab last night to celebrate the launch of SoulMama - fab sounds and tasty eatings . Well done Y&T for getting this wonderful concept up and running ! Penx

Incredible venue and vibe! Cancel all other plans and GO

Phenomenal experience. Delicious food to excite both senses and soul. Warm and friendly service. And terrific live music too. What s not to like? Will be back! Soon!! Highly recommended

We had the best food and music experience! We will definitely recommend it to anyone. It could be a great experience for both couples and families! The staff was super friendly, we just loved it!

Absolutely amazing venue and great food What a vibe

Incredible place. We went to see ABBA and was on the way back to the hotel when we say this place was buzzing. We went in asked for a table. It was busy but they found one for us. The food is simply incredible soul food but well presented and there was a live gospel choir singing while we ate. Honestly I m not sure where we had more fun this place or ABBA

Stumbled across this place as we were staying in the hotel attached and we were trying to find something to eat. The manager managed to squeeze us in even though we didnt have tickets and he and all of the staff we super helpful and accommodating. London gospel choir were performing who were amazing and the band were incredible too. Such an awesome vibe and the place looks gorgeous! Omg and Ive not even mentioned the food yet. Wow, we werent expecting to be served such beautiful soul food. 10/10 experience, food, music and service. We will definitely revisit when we are next in London and we really how you open up some northern locations (were based in Liverpool) Thanks for a great evening and you really deserve all of the success, this place is brilliant !

Sunday 15th September presented LCHC an amazing evening of soulfulness and gospel. The entertainment was incredible, however, the table service had teething problems! Once sorted, this is the place to be for the most comfortable and enjoyable time! Loved it!