Soul Kitchen - Macedonian Wine & Cuisine — Restaurant in Municipality of Centar

This is one in a string of six or seven practically interchangeable restaurants along the riverside promenade in Skopje. Apparently, what sets this aside is breakfast served until early afternoon. That's good, since it is practically impossible to ruin fried eggs with bacon.

Anyway, all those places offer several vaguely traditional dishes, a steak or two, endless varieties of chicken dishes, pizza, pasta... in the place of this place's eggs others will have burritos or more pasta or something else in line with the name of the place, but 90% of the menu will contain the same generic stuff.

Perhaps I just gut unlucky, and it is unfair to judge the place based on the sample of one, but the execution of the extremely simple dish of grilled calf liver was mediocre at best. One side of each piece was practically burned (but the presentation was decent.)

My server, an elderly, wiry, energetic gentleman, was perfect. Well, perhaps not Michelin star level perfect, but certainly tourist trap level perfect. Others perhaps not so much, but this guy tried to pick up all their slack. So, five stars here

Despite many tables in cavernous semi-enclosed terrace (just like any other olace there), the atmosphere is surprisingly cozy.

As to me a meal is incomplete without an espresso and a small cigar, I am happy to report than in at least part of the venue smoking is allowed, with very good ventilation. That obligatory aspresso was good, but I had much better in Skopje. Then again, one should drink Macedonian (a.k.a. Turkish, Greek, Serbian) coffee here, preferably with a piece of Rahat locum.

All in all, as could...

Soul Kitchen - Macedonian Wine & Cuisine in Skopje offers a dining experience that is passable but far from memorable, largely due to its abysmal service. The food is decent enough—simple, competently prepared dishes that don’t offend but also don’t excite. The flavors are standard, with nothing standing out as particularly unique or noteworthy. For the price, it’s acceptable, and the portions are reasonable, making it a functional choice for a quick meal. The wine selection is adequate, featuring a modest range of local varieties that pair well enough with the food but fail to leave a lasting impression.

However, the service is an outright disaster. The staff is shockingly cold, with not a single smile or gesture of warmth throughout the entire visit. Their attitude is blatantly dismissive, bordering on rude, as if customers are an inconvenience they can’t wait to be rid of. From the moment you sit down, it’s clear they’re more interested in rushing you out than ensuring a pleasant experience. This frigid, unwelcoming demeanor completely overshadows any redeeming qualities the food might have. The ambiance, while pleasant with its cozy decor, can’t make up for the staff’s eagerness to see you leave.

In short, Soul Kitchen’s food is tolerable, but the deplorable service makes it a place to avoid. I wouldn’t return, as the lack of basic hospitality ruins what could have been a...

Overall, while I've been to this restaurant numerous times before, my latest visit has left me with little desire to return. The combination of poor service, mistakes in orders, and mediocre food quality make it difficult to justify another visit.

Mistakes: There were several mishaps during the course of the evening. Initially, the waiter brought us regular water instead of the sparkling water we requested. When we pointed out the error, he claimed he couldn't exchange it because it was already opened, even though he was the one who opened it.

Slow Service: It took an excessively long time for our orders to be taken and for the food to arrive. I waited nearly 20 minutes just to receive a beer, and when our main dishes finally arrived, they were not what we ordered. Instead of chicken with cranberry, we were served chicken with almonds, dried tomatoes, and spinach. The waiter even tried to convince us that the cranberry was in the sauce, which was clearly not the case.

Quality of Food: While some of the dishes were passable, they were not exceptional. The Caesar salad, for instance, had an overwhelming amount of mayo, making it less enjoyable than expected.

Bill: To top it off, it took an additional 15 minutes for the bill to arrive after we requested it, prolonging an already frustrating...