Soulmama

Posted by: crmelb | 31 December 2009, 4.09pm

I remembered Soulmama as a funky, interesting, creative place with good vegetarian food. Either my memory was faulty or it has changed because my recent dining experience there was mediocre at best. I fully agree with the previous review that it has the feel of a student dining hall, the wonderful views notwithstanding. The food was plentiful, filling, reasonably priced and thoroughly forgettable. Nothing special or refined. The table service was jovial and casual (read: not very professional), and some of the staff at the food counter were downright rude. If you come here for a quick fill-up after a day at the beach and don't expect a restaurant feel, it's fine. If you come for a decent dining experience, I'd give it a miss.

Food:			Visit: Wed 30 December 2009 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: Review-Person | 25 April 2008, 10.10am

I had heard many great things about this place from friends and was eager to give it a try.

We were seated in the middle of the restaurant where throughout the night people were walking past us constantly. The staff are friendly and willing to help out with the menu for first timers. The restaurant runs on a ticket system. You queue at the buffet and exchange your pre-purchased ticket for a meal of your choice. The line to the buffet can get rather long though.

Although the portion sizes of the food are large, I was rather disappointed with the taste. There is just something unappealing about food that is sitting in a bain marie all night.

The dessert was probably the most appealing part of my dining experience. There are a variety of appetizing cakes on offer.

Don't believe the hype surrounding this place. It's really rather average. The restaurant has a great view which can be peacefully enjoyed if you are lucky enough to get a window seat.

Food:			Visit: Thu 8 March 2007 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: Bramley | 6 March 2008, 12.16pm

This was my 3rd visit to Soul Mama. The first was a very pleasant evening of drinks with friends looking out over the bay. We all said that it looked like a great place to eat and how could it not be with probably the best views in the world!

So we booked a reunion dinner, which turned out to be reunion drinks because the food queues were so long we all said 'stuff it', let's go to the Stoke House. Yes, I did say 'food queue'! You sit down and they take your drinks order, and then you decide on a plate size and have to go and queue with all your mates at a serving counter like being in a student union refectory.

And then there was the 3rd visit... Friends booked it so I had no choice but to go along. Again the drinks service was fine, the view was spectacular, but the food, oh the food, well it was as generous in portion as it was lacking in quality. My instincts were right, it was like my old student union refectory! The meal cost $15 or so, not a bad price for the amount but it was simply not thought through, obviously sitting under a hot light for hours on end. In fact I really have to think hard to say something nice about this place... the view is probably the best in Melbourne. Which made me think, what a waste, they could do so much more with this great location.

Food:			Visit: Tue 26 February 2008 Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:

Posted by: teardrop_3d | 7 December 2007, 11.35am

Some really great creative food set in a beautiful location in the St Kilda Sea baths. With the bay on one side and the internal courtyard on the other. Some friendly staff round off a great restaurant. However, it's not the cheapest place to eat considering all food here is buffet style - with only a very limited menu for a la carte. Nevertheless a great place for a couple of friends to chill out for the night or afternoon

Food:			Visit: Fri 7 December 2007
Service:
Atmosphere: