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Soul Mama Music Venue and Restaurant in Stratford - Soul Mama Music Venue | Restaurant, London, Greater London

Soul Mama Music Venue | Restaurant

3.8
3.8
10 Reviews
£26 to £40
Soul food

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
  • Great for live music
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
Discover Soul Mama, an immersive dining & music experience blending the vibrant culinary traditions of Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Listed in the Evening Standard’s "Top Restaurants to Look Forward to in 2024,"

Launched by acclaimed musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL with music manager and creative entrepreneur Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola, Soul Mama is not just a restaurant but a celebration of music and food. Through a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, Soul Mama became a Guinness World Record Holder as the largest Kickstarter-funded restaurant globally.

Under the inspired direction of Executive Chef Aleandro Brown, Soul Mama’s menu celebrates a rich fusion of flavours that transports diners on a culinary journey. His passion for cooking was cultivated in Jamaica, learning from Grandma's kitchen. He has honed his expertise across prestigious kitchens, from The Ritz to Gordon Ramsay's establishments.

Join us on a live music night or for an intimate dinner.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Soul food, Caribbean, African
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–5:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat, Sun 6:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    020 4519 6262
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Aleandro Brown
  • Private party facilities
    We are available for Private events. Please get in touch and let's help bring your celebration to life.
  • Neighborhood
    Stratford
  • Cross street
    We are on Celebration Avenue on the ground floor of the Gantry Hotel
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    By Train: ​We are 2 minutes from Stratford International Train Station and Stratford International DLR ​6 minutes from King's Cross via the Javelin High speed train ​ Stratford train station is a 5 minute walk to easily connect with central London.​By Car: ​Numerous multi storey car parks at both Stratford International and Westfield.​Nearest Car Park - Stratford International Car Park
  • Additional
    Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 10 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.8
3.8 based on recent ratings
  • 3.8Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 3.9Ambience
  • 3.5Value

NoiseEnergetic

10 Reviews
  1. Samantha Nurse

    Liverpool

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    When did paying the bill before any food passes your lips become a thing ? It took half a hour just to place & pay for the order ! Was really excited to be dining at this restaurant but very disappointed on all counts and to top it off we were told we could not place our coats & bags on a empty chair as they were fully booked (which they were clearly NOT). Not a great experience. I will not be returning or recommending unfortunately. Such a shame
    Soul Mama Music Venue | RestaurantResponded today
    Dear Samantha, We're truly sorry to hear that your visit did not meet your expectations and left you feeling disappointed. Regarding the payment process, we understand that this may have felt unusual. Our approach is designed to streamline service, especially on gig nights, but we take your feedback and will review this process. We sincerely apologise for the delay in placing your order, we’ll be addressing this with our team to improve efficiency. We’re sorry for the misunderstanding regarding your coats and bag. We aim to maximise comfort and accommodate everyone, it’s clear that the communication fell short in this instance. Your experience is not reflective of the standard we hold ourselves to, and we’d love the opportunity to welcome you back in the future. Best, Team Soul Mama

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  2. Folu

    VIP

    London

    51 reviews

    1.0

    51 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    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 I've 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 apologized 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 companion's 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.
    Soul Mama Music Venue | RestaurantResponded today
    Dear Folu, Thank you for sharing your experience. We sincerely apologise for the disappointment caused during your visit. We understand your frustration regarding the Christmas menu differing from the one on OpenTable and are reviewing our processes to ensure accuracy across all platforms. The delays in service and billing error are unacceptable and fall short of our standards. We’ve addressed these concerns with our team to prevent future issues. Your feedback on pricing and overall value is appreciated, and we’ll consider it as we refine our offerings. We hope for the opportunity to welcome you back and provide the exceptional experience you deserve. Best, Team Soul Mama

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  3. Basil

    Spain

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As a party of 30, we had anticipated there might be a logistical issue or two. Pleasantly surprised that any issue was rectified instantly. Staff were low key, unintrusive and efficient. Food flavorful and imaginative, experience was excellent. My guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening. If you don't know ......... get to know !!
    Soul Mama Music Venue | RestaurantResponded today
    Hi Basil, Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback! We’re delighted to hear that your group had such an enjoyable evening with us. Thanks for choosing us to celebrate life. It’s great to know that any challenges were resolved swiftly and that our team provided efficient and unobtrusive service. We're so pleased your guests loved the flavourful and imaginative food—it’s exactly the kind of experience we aim to deliver. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. If you don’t know… now you know! Love that! 😊

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  4. Leonore

    London

    4 reviews

    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    Disappointing Experience at Soul Momma Stratford My friend and I had eagerly anticipated our dinner at Soul Momma, booked well in advance to celebrate Christmas. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and directed to our table, but unfortunately, the rest of our experience fell short of expectations. The cocktail I ordered tasted off, almost chemical-like, as though the glass hadn’t been properly cleaned. The wine was overpriced, and the food was equally underwhelming. The rice and peas were dry, and the jerk-smoked salmon, though nicely coated, lacked flavor. What made the experience even more frustrating was being asked to pay for our meal halfway through dining, without prior explanation. While I understand that it is a music venue and payment at each stage may be their policy, this detail would have been helpful to know when placing our order. Additionally, as there was no live music that evening and the restaurant was sparsely attended, the interruption felt unnecessary and disrupted our dining experience. It left us feeling undervalued as customers. Sadly, this will be our last visit to Soul Momma. The ambiance and service didn’t match the anticipation, and I would not recommend this restaurant for a special occasion
    Soul Mama Music Venue | RestaurantResponded today
    Dear Leonore, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry your visit didn’t meet expectations, especially for such a special occasion. We apologise for the cocktail tasting off and the food not meeting our usual standards—your comments on the rice and peas and jerk salmon have been shared with our kitchen team for immediate review. We also regret the miscommunication regarding our payment process. While it is a policy tailored to our venue setup, it should not have ben implemented on a dining only sitting, disrupting your experience and was an error by the member of staff. Please know we take your feedback seriously, we are new and still tweaking our offering. We’d appreciate the chance to welcome you back and provide a better experience in the future. Warm regards, Soul Mama Team

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  5. Deborah

    London

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great venue which is easy to access. Went at lunch time so was not too busy. Staff very attentive. Food selection tasty. Portions were generous. Great to see my name on the list of donaters. Will definitely return to experience live music. Thank you.
    Soul Mama Music Venue | RestaurantResponded today
    Dear Deborah, Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your visit... It’s wonderful that you noticed your name on our list of donators – your support means so much to us! We look forward to welcoming you back soon to experience the live music atmosphere we’re so proud of. Thank you again for your kind words!

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  6. Carol

    London

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Great disappointment. Arrived to be put in a corner table near entrance booking right next to staff, table was for 2 when there was 3 of us so our drinks and food could not properly fit on it. £13 a drink which tasted like juice,when I told a waiter the answer was to buy another shot to add to it. My partner is vegetarian so only offer for mains was a Mushroom mixed with pure black pepper & veg which is £23 tasted horrid so he was hungry.By the way when Soul Mama advertised food wise it looks like there is lots on offer as an option, so we were looking forward to trying prawns & other stuff .Handed a different menu with 3 options one was wings. My choice was lambsneck,I was brought oxtail like I don't know the difference at this point I was so hungry I just ate it.The starter literally the only thing called a trio full of salt cost £22 .I was talking in a normal voice when a member of stuff asked me to talk quieter when band was playing so,I saw her do the same to someone else.And to top it all something they don't advertise YOU PAY AS YOU GO WITH FOOD & DRINK! So as your sitting there trying to eat you have to be paying for each thing Madness,not get a bill at end.Young waiters stretching over your food & grabbing your plate before you finish. Imagine I paid £27 to get a cab to what I thought would be Beautiful food & good seating.Our bill for 3 was nearly £150 the only good thing was Jazz playing. Believe me save your money another over priced place with hardly a good portion, no manners only offering an ambience. I wish I could recommend but I do not, we didn't even stay the 2 hours.

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  7. Jenny

    Hertfordshire

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were a party of 20+ for a christmas lunch. The service was friendly, flexible and fast. Everyone enjoyed the food and ambiance. Between us we tried everything on the menu and there wasn't one complaint. Shout out to Nathaniel and the two young female waitresses who all made it seamless. Great venue that I would highly recommend, we will be back. They do veggie food as flavour packed as the meat dishes too.

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  8. Chinelo

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    A* Food and A* live music, super impressed we were!

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  9. Jeremy

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great quality, friendly and professional. Good venue to have a birthday or a special occasion. The Jazz/blus music was on point, especially when the young lady sang few Billie Holiday classics.

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  10. Marine

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 5, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the vibes and service was exceptional. We chose the neck of lamb stew with broad beans. However I had 2 beans and my friend had 1. For us, it was too salty and too much gravy. The carrot cake dessert was far too sweet. The entertainment was ace. Saying that, I would recommend you give it a try. I would also go again and try a different dish.

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FAQs

Soul Mama Music Venue | Restaurant is rated 3.8 stars by 10 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Google Map for Soul Mama Music Venue | Restaurant

Gantry Hotel, 40 Celebration Ave, East Village, London, Greater London E20 1DB

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    We are on Celebration Avenue on the ground floor of the Gantry Hotel
  • Neighborhood
    Stratford
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–5:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat, Sun 6:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Soul food, Caribbean, African
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    By Train: ​We are 2 minutes from Stratford International Train Station and Stratford International DLR ​6 minutes from King's Cross via the Javelin High speed train ​ Stratford train station is a 5 minute walk to easily connect with central London.​By Car: ​Numerous multi storey car parks at both Stratford International and Westfield.​Nearest Car Park - Stratford International Car Park
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Aleandro Brown
  • Additional
    Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    020 4519 6262
  • Private party facilities
    We are available for Private events. Please get in touch and let's help bring your celebration to life.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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