London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-location"><strong>THE LOCATION</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_stage-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4760" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_stage-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_stage-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_stage-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_stage.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Tucked away amidst the starkness of Stratford high-rises, Soul Mama’s sunset-lit bar and glittering stage pop out of the backdrop. Less than 10 minutes on foot from Stratford megastation, it’s easily accessible from the city on any of three tube lines and the DLR. Founded by musician of many talents YolanDa Brown OBE DL and her epic manager and friend, entrepreneur Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola, Soul Mama&#8217;s based in the swanky Gantry Hotel and YolanDa&#8217;s insistent that Stratford is on the up-and-up (check out our interview with YolanDa <a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/yolanda-brown-interview/">here</a>).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe"><strong>THE VIBE</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_mama_bar-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4759" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_mama_bar-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_mama_bar-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_mama_bar-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_mama_bar.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Soul Mama&#8217;s brand new on the music scene, and everything about the interior feels box-fresh. The place is lit by a mega circular sunset lamp behind the bar, illuminating the spirits and casting cool, relaxing light across the tables. Thirty-plus small tables are arranged around the centrepiece stage, glistening in gold and purple, and there isn’t a bum seat in the house. YolanDa’s impeccable taste (and clout) speaks through the music, with some huge names in the upcoming lineup. I saw electrifying Hungarian jazz pianist Tomi Balogh with US-based bassist Bubby Lewis and band play a blinding two-hour set to a spellbound audience.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_band-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4762" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_band-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_band-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_band-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_band.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re tossing up what to wear, this ain&#8217;t no Ronnie Scott&#8217;s. Think modern, young, stylish. My fellow guests looked smart but not preppy, dressed up without trying too hard. You&#8217;d be more likely to feel underdressed than overdressed, but don&#8217;t sweat it too much. Jeans and trainers are A-OK, you just might feel a bit out of place in a hoodie.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-and-quaff"><strong>SCOFF AND QUAFF</strong></h2>



<p>The music might be the main event at Soul Mama, but they take their food very seriously indeed. The menu ranges across African, Caribbean and South American cuisine &#8211; the portion sizes are big, as is the range of options, and the food is bursting with flavour. I loved it. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_arepas-1024x683.jpg" alt="Soul Mama Stratford arepas" class="wp-image-4739" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_arepas-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_arepas-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_arepas-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_arepas.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Braised beef arepa, £8</figcaption></figure>



<p>We started with a braised beef arepa (a flatbread topped with tender shredded beef, seasoning inimitable and divine) and 24-hour marinated jerk chicken wings with Mama’s original sauce (each £8). </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_salmon-1024x683.jpg" alt="Soul Mama Stratford jerk salmon fillet" class="wp-image-4740" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_salmon-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_salmon-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_salmon-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_salmon.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jerk Salmon fillet, £24</figcaption></figure>



<p>For mains, I chose Ital stew with mini dumplings and bok choi, recommended ‘for your soul’ and served with the chef’s speciality rice (£22). It&#8217;s thick and creamy with a warm kick on the aftertaste, and there&#8217;s satisfying variety in softness of the dumplings and the crunch of the bok choi. My friend went for the jerk salmon fillet with tenderstem broccoli and rice, which got top marks. We squeezed in a shared carrot cake with Chantilly cream for dessert &#8211; rich, moist (sorry), and just as sweet as it looks.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_cake-2.jpg" alt="Soul Mama Stratford Carrot cake" class="wp-image-4749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_cake-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_cake-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_cake-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_cake-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_cake-2-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Carrot and orange cake with Chantilly cream, £8</figcaption></figure>



<p>It would have been rude not to sample all three cocktails available on the night, a passionfruit martini, piña colada and a tingaling. All delicious, but the tingaling takes the biscuit. One thing worth noting &#8211; the digital menu (a mobile app) dwindled significantly as the kitchen ran out of certain things, to the point that there were only three or four food options left by about 9pm. So if you&#8217;re eating, make sure you get in quick!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_pina-colada-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4746" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_pina-colada-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_pina-colada-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_pina-colada-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_pina-colada-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_pina-colada-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-and-about"><strong>OUT AND ABOUT</strong></h2>



<p>Stratford&#8217;s probably best-known as the home of the Olympic Park, which is well worth a zip around if you&#8217;ve not been before. Otherwise, squeeze in some shopping beforehand at the Westfield outpost by the station, or a walk through one of the many green spaces in the vicinity (Victoria Park, Olympic Park, Hackney Marshes). There&#8217;s many a spot for a gorgeous city sunset.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_sunset-1024x768.jpg" alt="Sunset in Stratford" class="wp-image-4743" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_sunset-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_sunset-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_sunset-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_sunset-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/09/Soul_Mama_sunset-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict"><strong>THE MUDDY VERDICT</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Best for</strong>: This place has got date spot written all over it. Dimly lit, cool jazz, cocktails and top grub (and all for a very reasonable price).</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: The music is very much the main event, and the audience is hushed and attentive, so not great for a larger group or a catch-up with old friends. And younger kids are probably best left at home, too.</p>



<p><strong>The damage</strong>: Not cheap, but great for what you&#8217;re getting. For a two-hour intimate gig, a two-course meal and a couple of drinks you&#8217;re looking at £70-80 a head.</p>


Review: Soul Mama, Stratford

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