Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

JohnnyLee1 I would love to have liked this - a restaurant romcom- but none of the characters is likeable. So much arguing, anger and unkindness. Maybe my funnybone has gone missing! If you're feeling sympathetic and in the right mood you will enjoy it. (Only got through 30 mins. 9/16)

SnoopyStyle Greek-German Zinos Kazantsakis operates the rundown working-class Wilhelmsburg restaurant Soul Kitchen. He has money struggles. Sokrates works on his boat in the adjacent storage but never seems to pay Zinos rent. During a family dinner at a high-class restaurant, he sees arrogant chef Shayn getting fired and hires him on the spot. His girlfriend Nadine leaves for China and later he decides to go to her. His convict brother Illias gets leave from prison and convinces Zinos to sign off on work release. Zinos hurts his back trying to move in a replacement dishwasher. With no health insurance, he gets help from physical therapist Anna. Tax collectors confiscate his sound system. Shayn changes the menu driving away the regulars. Former classmate and sleazy developer Thomas Neumann wants to buy the restaurant and secretly calls in the health department. New customers love the food and soon it becomes a gastronomical success. Waitress Lucia hates Illias until she finds out that he's a bad boy criminal. He's a degenerate gambler but Zinos gives him power of attorney.The story is a bit rambling with a lot of turns. It's got a jazzy rocking feel. It works well enough. It's got its fun. The jam-packed story may work even better as a TV show. As for the food porn aspect, the most memorable scene is Shayn taking apart fish sticks and french fries to create a high-class plate.

moviescriticnet Awared with Special Jury Award in Venice Film Vestival "Soul Kitchen" is one of the best Faith Akin movies (2nd best after "Gegen die Wand" in my book) and an excellent mixture of comedy and drama. The German/Turkish well known director features in Soul Kitchen a story filmed in Hamburg with a strong Greek element. The film depicts excellently life in Hamburg (which is one of the most different and great German cities) in a story that unlike most of Faith Akin's films is not too sad and is in fact quite funny. Moritz Bleibtreu is as always a safe and good choice and in few words this film will probably (if you have some sense of humor) leave you with a big smile in your face.Grade: A-

Juan Martinez Faith Akin, the director, presents a beautiful Hamburg, creates again diverse and strong characters, in a film that returns him to the genre of comedy, and all of these surrounded with an amazing soundtrack. I enjoyed very much this film, the scenography and music is lovely, I could laugh a lot, which is not very common in the recent Akin films such as Gegen die Wand or The Edge of Heaven, which were exquisite, but in a more dramatic and touching way. This film is somehow a return to the soul of much more than a kitchen. Is a sight into the soul of music, food, purpose in life and people indeed. I highly recommend this film, especially for those who, like me, had a great time seeing Im Juli, some years ago.