Cambridge isn’t blessed with a wide variety of Greek or Spanish restaurants, and that goes doubly so for al fresco dining. So imagine my delight when I caught wind on The Cambridge Foodies Facebook group that Soleá Bistro had opened last December. 

This recently opened bistro offers Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on Greek, Spanish, and Italian dishes, complete with a lovely courtyard hiding in plain sight on the corner of East Road and Norfolk Street.

It was my wife and I’s 5th wedding anniversary and she is a big lover of Greek food, so I thought this would be a wonderful spot to take her and celebrate (while also getting a cheeky review out of it at the same time!).

The Restaurant

The courtyard sits in a public space, but thanks to the surrounding trees and bushes, it feels remarkably private. It was a scorching day when we visited, but the natural shade kept it lovely and cool, and the restaurant even has a handy little hatch to serve food and drinks straight outside. Traffic lights nearby can be a touch noisy at times, but otherwise, it is a lovely place to sit back and relax.

We popped inside for a quick nosey, and the place has real character that fits the Mediterranean vibe down to the ground. Downstairs is more casual but upstairs looks smarter while providing a more formal style. On a practical note, the toilets aren’t gendered, which makes baby changing facilities so much easier for us blokes too.

The service is relaxed, friendly, and genuine. They really took the time to speak with us and make us feel comfortable. The red wine list is mostly rioja (except the house red – which was out of stock) which my wife doesn’t enjoy but they really took the time to make sure she was catered too by letting her sample certain wines before making her final decision. We ended up with a lovely bottle of rose that was light, smooth but also had a surprising depth.

The Menu

The food menu skews more Greek than anything else, but it was a very reassuring size: nine starters, eight mains, a small salad selection, and a few desserts on the back. It made me confident they weren’t spreading themselves too thin. Mains start around the £22 mark, but they come complete with your choice of carbs and veggies for a balanced meal. Our eyes immediately caught the mixed grill sharing platter at the bottom, which gives you a bit of everything for £39 between two – making it both the most exciting option and the best value at £19.50 each.

Greek Salad

We also ordered a Greek salad to start. Everything tasted so fresh, loaded with creamy feta, Kalamata olives, fresh cucumber, red onion, and incredibly vibrant tomatoes. In fact, the tomatoes were so fresh that it sparked a whole conversation at the table about how supermarkets one’s simply don’t come close. the Feta is served as an entire block on top, allowing you to break off the size you want.

The Sharing Platter

When the sharer arrived, everything was served on a board and charming ceramic plates that fit the whole Greek aesthetic. The sharing platter was an impressive sight, with grilled lamb chops, chicken, and Greek sausages piled high over large lettuce leaves alongside our homemade chips and lemon potatoes. By eye, the lamb chops looked on the smaller side, but they were actually pretty thick and almost entirely meat, carrying very little excess fat. All the meat tasted incredibly clean with a subtle grill flavour rather than a heavy smokiness, which I actually prefer, as it lets the quality speak for itself.

The Greek sausage was the absolute star of the show. Juicy, mildly spiced, and bursting with flavour; it had everything you could possibly want from a sausage. Even the chicken – something that often turns out dry or boring on a mixed board – was tender and generously portioned. As for the sides, the oven-baked lemon potatoes and rosemary chips were absolute magic. They were a bit softer rather than super crispy, but the tangy citrus infusion was a refreshing twist.

We were too full for dessert, though the menu was tempting with pistachios and walnut baklava, Basque cheesecake, and Italian gelato. The gentleman serving us was from the South of Italy, so I have a strong feeling that gelato is going to be good while also giving me a solid excuse to return. To finish off, we were offered a complimentary shot of limoncello. I must say, it might be the best limoncello I have ever had: thick, ice-cold, sharp, and exactly the refreshing hit needed on a warm afternoon.

Soleá Bistro is a fantastic addition to Norfolk Street but also for the entire city of Cambridge. It offers a quaint little courtyard experience right in the heart of town without feeling like you are trapped in the city centre, paired with great food executed with real love and care. It is a lovely spot to escape from the hustle and bustle of Cambridge and proved to be a real success for date night.

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