Sohaila

I came here for dinner, after hearing about the restaurant through social media and its reviews. I had never had Lebanese food before, but was so pleasantly surprised. The food is very tasty and fresh. The service is also very kind and attentive. I had a glass of a lovely red wine too (Lambrusco). Whether you are a lover of Lebanese food or not, I’d recommend this lovely gem.

Sohaila is just perfect! I’m traveling alone and a couple of restaurants in shoreditch were really funny about me booking a table for 1. I was feeling quite down when I phoned Alexandros, who was so nice and kind to me, he booked me into a wonderful table in the restaurant. The other staff I met were genuine, curteous and kind, we had wonderful conversation even though they were very busy. My waitress was particularly fantastic. She helped me pick food and drinks and was very attentive. The food was so delicious. Produce focused with the right amounts of meat and cheese simply to compliment the vegetables, fruit and herbs. My favorite dish was the aubergine, which had the perfect balance of sweet, salty and acid and a wonderful texture. When I went to leave I was treated to a delicious free dessert and wine. A perfect solo evening, it would be great for a get together or date as well. I will be back!!!!

+5

Sohaila is wonderful! The food is always flavourful and the atmosphere (downstairs) is brilliant. Alex always gives amazing wine suggestions and the team are friendly and accomodating. 10/10!

Excellent food! The staff are very attentive - great service. Really nice atmosphere. I highly recommend!

Cute spot for Middle Eastern food and wine - loved every single dish, including dessert, and the staff was great at helping us choose. Will definitely be back!

+1

As a Mediterranean girl I can guarantee that all the dishes took my back to a sunday at my grandma's. It is definitely one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch! Andrew was extremely helpful and took really good care of us, shout out to the refreshing coctails as well.

Great vibe, big portions and food is incredible. Amazing vegan options

Wow ! What an absolute treat to be taken here for dinner by my son last Friday evening! Wonderful, delicious food , and both the waiters who served us were so knowledgeable about the food and wines Nothing was too much trouble and they showed real interest in helping us choose ! What an asset they are to the team ! Ambience was spot on ! Would definitely return ! Thankyou guys 👏

This a great spot in Shoreditch. The food was absolutely delicious. I’d suggest trying as many small dishes as you can because they are all scrumptious. Labneh and Chilli Butter, and Spiced Chickpea Hummus were amazing. Labneh was airy and beautiful. Hummus had added cinnamon to it which was a standout. I enjoyed all the main dishes I got to sample but my absolute favourite was the Delica Pumpkin. Do not leave the place without enjoying Almond Sfouf from their desserts’ menu :-) Great place for vegetarians!

+3

An absolutely fantastic experience! 🌟 This restaurant and natural wine bar exceeded all expectations — every dish was bursting with flavor and creativity, truly emotional and full of character. The food was simply delicious, and the wine selection was exceptional — perfectly balanced and thoughtfully curated. The staff were wonderful: warm, friendly, and passionate about what they do. You can really feel the heart behind this place. ❤️

Every mezze and main dish is phenomenal and bursting with flavor! I love the boho chic interior decor and lounge music that they play. Was obsessed with the grilled halloumi with beets dish. I could eat this type of food every day for the rest of my life with no complaint. I’ll tell my friends back California they must try this gem when visiting London. Great service by Sahil and Cam

Great food and lovely atmosphere. Service was quite slow to start as they were very busy for a Monday but once it settled down food came out quickly and our waiter was lovely. Loads of options for vegetarians as well.

I came here on Friday after work, just as they opened and was warmly greeted by of the waiters, Cam. In conclusion, everything was great! The food, the service and the wine I had was amazing! 😍 The dish that really stood out for me was the aubergine with feta, honey and walnuts. It completely surprised me with how good it was. The combination of salty feta, sweet honey, crunchy walnuts and soft aubergine was perfect, and the leafy greens added a nice freshness too. The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly, and Cam in particular was kind and professional. He even ran across the street to bring me my jacket when I had forgotten it, which I really appreciated. I’m definitely coming back soon! 😍😍 P.s. not wheelchair accessible but staff were really lovely and accommodating, seated me near the window so I could look at my chair 😊.

Nice contemporary and fashionable Lebanese and NearEast inspired cuisine. Decent selection of “natural” wines including from Lebanon. Gentle and efficient service from Martha. The food is very good, both savoury and sweet.

We passed by this tiny place on Friday night, but the kitchen was closed, so the next day we decided to come back. A super hidden gem in my opinion. There is not a lot of variety in the food area, but definitely they compensate on the wine side. Lebanese cuisine with a small twist, but super delicious. The Italian rose we had was super good and the overall atmosphere was very pleasant and romantic. They are part of Fat Macy’s foundation which is a charity that aims to hosting trainees in hostels and help them learn Horeca skills

Absolutely love the decor and authenticity of the dishes which are inspired by Middle Eastern ingredients on the background of Lebanons vibrant culture. I found the halloumi, the fattoush and all the dips delicious. Love the concept and very keen on supporting all Lebanese businesses but Sohaila needs to curate a better experience. For example tables are too far apart and the servers sometimes came across as sloppy and did not have a good handle of the menu. I also think they should make one of the Lebanese wines more affordable akin to a house wine. Feel like that would be in tune with the concept. Will still promote the restaurant because society needs to know about all the food Lebanon has given them! 🇱🇧

Cute little spot for Lebanese inspired food and some quirky natural wines. The service is extra friendly and the atmosphere really cosy. A great find just a few steps from Liverpool Street station!

One of the best Lebanese restaurants I’ve been

went there for my bf’s birthday and to be honest we couldn’t even decide our favourite dish, everything was so rich and tasty! would definitely go back

Great restaurant with amazing food and unique wine and drinks selection. The atmosphere is really accommodating, ideal for couple or friend’s gatherings.

One of the best meals I had in months. The food is delicious. I would recommend the mackerel and the hummus amongst other things. Don't miss this jewel!!

If I'm being honest, I didn't do my usual extensive research before booking this place. I just stumbled across Sohaila online while craving some Lebanese food and decided to give it a try. I had no idea what to expect, but I’m so glad I did! Our host was truly amazing. He recommended some fantastic dishes and an orange wine that paired beautifully (I need to go back and find out the name of it!). Everything was absolutely delicious. What made it even better was finding out that Sohaila is a social enterprise, it adds so much more meaning to the experience. If you're in the area, please come visit.

Absolutely great little gem near Liverpool Street station! Food was very delicious, with great sized portions and service was very attentive but also relaxed at the same time, allowing me and my friend to catch up properly. We totally forgot to take photos as got stuck into food straightaway 🐽 highly recommended!

We loved our dinner here last night, all the food was very tasty and fresh. We loved the different dips as an appetizer and the chicken skewers for our mains. The place is small and cozy, has a nice atmosphere and very friendly staff.

Love love LOVE this place. I came for a catchup with two friends and we found the food and service very warm and friendly. Attentive but not too attentive. Also lovely wine list with wines you wouldn’t find in many other restaurants. Would 100% go back 🙏🏽 special mention to Cam - give him a raise, he was well nice 👌🏽

What a lovely libanese restaurant!! Great food and the setup is awesome!! Andrew treated us like his own, suggested great dishes and was super friendly and funny🤙🏽definitely made our night better 🙌🏽

I was so pleasently surprised. Each dish was full of flavour and we struggled to pick our favorite. Each dish came out slowly - a few at a time - my favourite way to eat a meal. I would say save this for a special occasion because it is a bit more on the expensive side

The food is absolutely delicious, which is the most important thing. But food aside, the customer service and welcoming staff are outstanding. A big group of us booked a table and we kept chopping and changing as the RSVPs changed. Alexandros went above and beyond to accommodate us, and was so helpful, patient and friendly. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Amazing food and service. Everything was delicious and Alex and his team went our of their way to accommodate our dietary requirements - thank you. We will definitely be back.

Incredible restaurant with magnificent service, lovely wine and great food. Atmosphere is spectacular and Sahil is the most welcoming server I have ever had a restaurant. If you want to impress someone, take them here.

I booked this restaurant on Monday and managed to get a table for a party of three on the same day. We ordered around four starters between 3pm and 4pm. We think this was a bit much as the starters were all quite similar and mostly dips. The cod roe dip was particularly creamy and delicious, while the other three starters were average. For mains, we ordered the ox. It was good for those unfamiliar with ox, similar to lamb. However, it lacked a strong flavour and was quite bland. The other dish was spicy potatoes, which were good and I would recommend. The halloumi was great and had a good flavour. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate mousse. I wouldn’t recommend it. It tasted very rich and the olive oil added to the mousse seemed unnecessary and slightly forced. Overall, we spent £140 for all these dishes. I would give it a 7/10 recommendation with the extra point due to the great service from the waiters.

Sohaila's dishes are innovative, mostly tasty, but sadly a bit small and overpriced. The wine I tried was excellent, but at £10 a glass, it was rather expensive. The restaurant itself is quaint and creates an intimate experience. The staff are very friendly and efficient. Would I come again? Yes, but only if someone else is paying!

+6

It was good, but a little over priced in my opinion. I had the hummus (which is not served with pita but crisps/chips), some veggies, and the lamb kebab which was by far the best item I ordered. Cozy atmosphere. Server was really helpful with the menu and making sure I ordered a balanced amount.

Nice little Lebanese place. Labneh was incredible and our favourite thing on the menu. But does it really need that much butter on top? Pita was excellent - soft and fluffy. Mains were a touch disappointing. Overall a little too heavy-handed with the oil. You leave feeling like you've drank a few shots of olive oil. Really good atmosphere inside, and nice wine list. Reservations a must.

Really friendly service and great atmosphere for a friend catch up for 2 to 4 people. Fantastic wine list, loved the Georgian wines I tried. The dishes are tasty and designed to be shared. The labneh with chilli butter is super thick and luxurious, the chicken rice good, as was the mushroom 'ravioli'.

Labneh and chilli awesome, as was the house wine!! Only issue was that they served us water without us asking and then charged us for it? And then put an optional donation on which at £1 we fell silly taking off but they should really ask on both these things. Next time I come back both of these will come off the bill

Lebanese inspired small plates. The menu looks quite interesting but the dishes were just ok. The chicken wings came out much later than the rest of the dishes and the second plate which was orders came even later still. Felt a bit overpriced

+2

Plates arrived at different times, which made the wait frustrating. The chairs were uncomfortable, and the lemonade was overpriced. The dishes themselves were okay. The service felt impersonal, and there was an automatic charity fee added to the bill. Overall, not a great experience.

Upon arriving for an early dinner, we noticed that the restaurant was relatively quiet, with only one other occupied table besides ours. While we understand that the dining experience can vary based on various factors, our experience, unfortunately, left us feeling disappointed. Perhaps we didn't make the best choices when it came to selecting our dishes, as they did not meet our expectations. Specifically, the lamb dish we ordered was noticeably gamey, which affected our overall enjoyment of the meal.

Cute restaurant and very good service. For the food the Fatayer was great, but for the rest, even if the products feel very fresh, the dishes are just ok (lack of seasoning) especially at that price. Wine overpriced big time.

I had this restaurant on my list for about two years and I was extremely disappointed by the quality of the food! It’s not only inauthentic but it’s just not done well. The portions are way too small and I found both the batata harra and the falafel to be extremely dry. Nice ambiance and service, but nothing to write home about. I wouldn’t return or recommend it to anyone, unfortunately.

Sohailas, thank you for replying, but your response reads more like a defence of your concept than a reflection on the customer experience. Where the tables came from is irrelevant to the point being made. They may have a story, but they are still small, basic wooden tables in a room charging fine-dining prices. When you price at that level, the setting, comfort and generosity should match — and here, they simply didn’t. Ethical sourcing is admirable and something we actively support, which is exactly why we booked. But ethics don’t replace value. £11 for halloumi, £7 for a mediocre soft drink, £6 for two pitta breads and £16 for a tiny portion of mussels is not “exceptional produce” pricing — it’s poor value, full stop. Social value should enhance hospitality, not be used to justify inflated prices and minimal portions. Yes, 12.5% service charge is common — but adding it automatically to an already expensive, underwhelming meal made the bill feel punitive rather than appreciative. In our case it was large enough to deserve its own course. On wine, quoting duty increases and supplier philosophy avoids the point. The issue is simple: the wines did not taste like they were worth what you charge for them. Calling the menu “Lebanese-inspired” doesn’t excuse a confused offering. The choices were limited, oddly mixed and poorly executed. Lamb heart and chicken wings as the main meat options feel more restrictive than thoughtful. Pork gelatine in a dessert at a Lebanese-inspired restaurant is also unusual and surprising for many diners, and with only two unusual desserts, we skipped them. Even more surprising: no coffee or tea at the end of the meal. The bill was £120 without starters or desserts — four small dishes, a few drinks and service charge. That’s the reality customers judge, not the backstory. We support social projects wholeheartedly, but social value does not substitute hospitality value. In our case, the gap between price and experience was huge. The food, portions, setting and pricing simply did not align. In short: this felt like a very basic restaurant charging like fine dining — expensive, underwhelming, and extremely poor value for money.

The portion size here is ridiculously small. I normally don’t complain about food prices in London, but honestly, I felt scammed paying £23 for a lamb belly dish that was smaller that a tapa and couldn’t have had more than 50g of meat in there. I left hungry and frustrated, and ended up stopping at Smoke a Goat nearby, where I got three generous, delicious dishes for £21. That meal was satisfying — this one was not. Avoid.