Where We Are Going Today: Sofia’s Bistro – Italian dishes

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Updated 05 July 2025
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Where We Are Going Today: Sofia’s Bistro – Italian dishes

  • The pepperoni pizza was topped with thinly sliced Italian beef pepperoni and buffalo mozzarella

Sofia’s Bistro is a cozy Italian-inspired eatery with great options for pizza and pasta lovers.

On a recent visit to the Hayy Jameel branch with friends, we sampled several dishes, starting with the taco de pollo, a grilled chicken taco with pickled cabbage, fresh salsa, jalapenos and guacamole.

There were a variety of salads to choose from including the kale and goat cheese salad, which offered a contrast of creamy goat cheese and crunchy, caramelized pecans. The Thai shrimp salad brought bold flavors but while it seemed promising it did not fully live up to my expectations.

We tried the spaghetti bolognese and truffle fettuccine from the pasta section. The latter was rich and indulgent, though bordering on heavy, while the former was hearty, if slightly under-seasoned.

The pepperoni pizza was topped with thinly sliced Italian beef pepperoni and buffalo mozzarella. The margherita, a classic done right, stood out for its simplicity and balance of sauce and cheese.

The dining space is relaxed and modern, with soft background music. It strikes a middle ground between casual and slightly upscale, making it a good spot for casual lunches.

The menu includes gluten-free options for both pasta and pizza, along with drink and dessert offerings.

Sofia’s Bistro has branches in Hayy Jameel and Al-Hamra. For more details, see Instagram @sofias_bistro.


Where We Are Going Today: Under 500

Updated 20 February 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Under 500

  • Both their soups, the lentil and the roasted tomato, are wonderful; I’ve been enjoying pairing either one with a main (a combo special Under 500 offers)

A place for all the gym rats and diet fiends, Under 500 offers fairly tasty meals complete with nutritious goodies, all of which are, well, under 500 calories.

I’ve quickly grown fond of this cloud kitchen — I won’t tell you it is the most delicious food you’ll ever have, but would absolutely recommend it if you want good meals that will leave you feeling energized and satisfied.

They have a wide selection of options; pasta, sandwiches, salads, bowls, rice meals, soups and some breakfast options.

First things first; all of their food smells amazing. They definitely load it up with spices to kick up the flavor since they are being conscious about what to put in it.

Both their soups, the lentil and the roasted tomato, are wonderful; I’ve been enjoying pairing either one with a main (a combo special Under 500 offers). The lentil, though it may need an extra pinch of salt and pepper, gives you a little taste of home while the roasted tomato is creamy and packed with Italian flavors.

They also add fresh kale to the lentil soup, an unusual choice I was a little iffy about but have grown to enjoy for its texture.

Another favorite is the grilled chicken burger, topped with a chipotle mayo, tomato salsa, guacamole and sauteed mushrooms in a multi-cereal bun. Be warned that it is a little messy, but very tasty.

Also recommended is their cheesesteak sandwich, made with tenderloin beef strips and topped with grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms, mixed peppers and mild cheddar cheese in a whole wheat baguette; perfectly good and enjoyable.

Their chicken quesadilla is also not a bad choice for a light meal — a little thinner than I would like maybe and I wish the salsa was spicier, but I did enjoy the flavors of this dish.

Now their hot meals; while yet to try their pasta, I have become well acquainted with the rice dishes.

The kabsa, chicken tikka biryani and their famous butter chicken are all solid picks. For me, the best out of the three is the butter chicken, which comes with a small side salad made up of cucumbers, tomato and pomegranate seeds (again, unusual choice but I don’t mind it).

A meal I would not order again is the chicken mushroom with mashed potatoes — the chicken and sweetcorn mash were good and so were the steamed vegetables on the side, but the mushroom sauce was not the right taste at all — much too tangy and no true mushroom flavor.

I have been recommended the steak and eggs and the honey mustard salmon bowl, and have to say the salmon quinoa looks very interesting with the grilled vegetables on the side; all of which I look forward to trying.

Overall, will Under 500 blow your mind? No. Will you find yourself reordering from it because of its reliability, decent cost, health factor and pretty good flavors? Yes, so try it out.