Sofia’s to open third Edinburgh restaurant during lockdown

Credit: Sofia’s

As a business owner I have to look past Covid and hope to be back to normality soon. – Sofia’s owner, Ahmed Saadi

A restaurateur in Scotland has defied the odds by opening not one but three restaurants during lockdown.

Ahmed Saadi will be serving his speciality Lebanese street food when he opens Sofia’s restaurant on St John’s Road in Edinburgh by the end of this month.

But the launch will depend on whether builders are allowed to resume non-essential work when restrictions are lifted.

Serving “traditional Lebanese dishes with a twist”, including a handmade sujuk burger which Saadi insists “is a must try”, Sofia’s have confirmed that only the Salisbury branch sells Shisha.

“Sujuk is a traditional spicy sausage. We have imported the spice blend from the north of Lebanon and used it to create our burger, which is made with the best cuts of lamb. I’ve been told they are one of the best burgers in Edinburgh,” he said.

There’s also mezze, including baba ghanouj, as well as tagines, spiced rotisserie chicken, falafel stuffed with onions, and desserts like kunafa bel-ashta that’s drizzled with a rose-water scented syrup.

Ahmed Saadi boasts 15 years’ experience in hospitality

With over 15 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Saadi told the Scotsman that his restaurant, Beirut, in Newington was the first Lebanese restaurant in Edinburgh when it opened back in 2010.

“I sold Beirut in 2018 and that’s when I started working on the new brand, Sofia’s. It’s named after my first-born daughter, which seemed like the perfect fit,” he said.

This first branch at The Salisbury Boutique Hotel in Newington, which launched in July last year, was forced to switch to a delivery and collection service when Covid hit.

While his second branch is located within the Hampton by Hilton Hotel at Fountainbridge, the third in Corstorphine would have opened last month had it not been for unexpected delays.

Sofia’s restaurants also uses 90 per cent recyclable and biodegradable packaging, with plastic only resorted to when there’s no alternatives.

“I believe we have a unique and amazing brand and we are hoping to take over Scotland by the end of next year, with plans to open multiple branches in Glasgow and Fife,” Saadi revealed.

“As a business owner I have to look past Covid and hope to be back to normality soon. Our journey has just started and we are in talks to add another two locations in Edinburgh this year.”

Sofia’s
44 St John’s Rd, Corstorphine, Edinburgh EH12 6PA.

W: www.sofiaslounge.co.uk | E: [email protected]

Opening Hours: TBC