Restaurant Review: Soul Mate

I know that I have no 资格 to really write any food review of any sort, but if you trust my sense of taste and opinion, it wouldn't hurt to share some of my food experiences in Nanjing.

Soul Mate
China is full of hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and often this can be taken quite literally.  But in the midst of all these niches, I alongside Kamla made a recent delightful discovery of a place called, Soul Mate.  Supposedly French-owned, or so the sign outside their door claims, Soul Mate is a small cafe-restaurant located down a small alleyway called 南秀村.  Serving primarily Western foods, nothing particularly "French" other than the crepes, the prices are reasonably set for what you order.

Food

Bacon Hamburger
I was extremely impressed by the bacon hamburger that I ordered twice at Soul Mate, a testament to its consistency.  The attention to detail is worth mentioning, as the chef had lightly toasted sesame buns atop the perfectly grilled patty.  A stunningly authentic all-beef patty in a nation bereft of normal beef that isn't dry, the patty was grilled to perfection, juicy but completely done. Paired with a slice of white cheese instead of cheddar, the creamy texture of the cheese mixed with the tangy French mustard sauce is a combination that makes you ask for more.  Served with freshly fried up french fries, the dish leaves the American feeling rather satisfied.  The french fries are a bit of a disappointment due to their oiliness and perhaps overly crispy shell.  However, overall, the dish is certainly full of flavor and is not bland as some Chinese-cooked Western foods tend to be.  Though by American standards, this might be a mini-hamburger or a "small" one at that, the portions are reasonable for the average female; the male, not so much.

Vegetable Bacon Soup
Pureed, the soup has a somewhat grainy, fiber-y texture, though it retains some of its creaminess from the cream base.  It is reminiscent of the soups that are advertised as do-it-yourself with a blender, such as the VitaMix they sell at Costco.  The soup is certainly a nice change of pace from the usual cream of mushroom soup that every Chinese-based Western restaurant serves, and is low-sodium, though a dash of salt adds to the flavor much more. But, overall, there is nothing stunning about this soup, but it is a nice accompaniment on a cold day to a meal.

Coffee
Although a cafe, the coffee is disappointing to say the least.  Having ordered a caramel coffee, the presentation was nice with an elaborate dobble of whip cream and  is drizzled on top with caramel.  However, the coffee itself tastes watered-down and bitter, probably from a combination of poor coffee beans and no flavoring.  If you need an immediate caffeine fix, this is an option, but it certainly is not cheap and does not seem worth it.

Atmosphere
 A walk into the restaurant, and you are greeted by a barista area.  The restaurant is two stories, though most customers frequent the first floor.  Cozy, each table seats roughly 2-4 persons with comfortable seats and lighting. The restaurant is delightfully quiet compared to oft-boisterous restaurants, and plays delightfully quiet music, mostly French.  The tracks do not repeat, or to my knowledge, they do not unlike most Chinese-owned restaurants, and does well to offer a nice area to chat quietly or study.  There is free wi-fi.

Service
A delight, the waitresses are attentive to detail, refilling glasses with water without the customer even asking.  While this is to be expected in the states, in China, it is virtually impossible unless you're going to some 5-star hotel restaurant.  Extremely polite and full of quiet smiles, the waitresses do not make odd comments about customers behind their backs and respectfully serve customers diligently and efficiently, making the overall experience that much more valuable.

Overall Rating
Overall, I would give Soul Mate a 7.5 out of 10 rating.   The food is certainly worth it, delicious and pocket-friendly, though the coffee should best be avoided.  A good overall ambiance, for every American missing some good Western food, Soul Mate is a cafe restaurant worth paying a visit to for a relaxing time without the frustration of Chinese "customer service."