I Ate My Feelings At Shuka And I Have Thoughts

Shuka is a Mediterranean spot in Soho with a menu that leans into chef Ayesha Nurdjaja’s travels through Spain, North Africa, and Tel Aviv kitchens.

The vibe inside Shuka is unreasonably good for a weeknight dinner — think red cushioned seating, dark wood tables, floral arrangements, a striped ceiling, warm lighting, and decorative mirrors, plus Moroccan-influenced tiles and textiles everywhere you look. There's also a greenhouse-style back room strung with fairy lights and a lively outdoor area.

Now. Let's talk about The Feast.

Perfect for sharing, the Shuka Feast is less "appetizer" and more "here is a small buffet, please rearrange your entire evening around it." It includes an assortment of delicious dips like Labne topped with roasted grape, Hummus with beets, and my favorite Squash Skordalia made with roasted butternut squash. The appetizer platter also features Market Vegetables, Medjool Dates, Fried Halloumi with spiced yogurt, Turmeric Pickles, and crispy Falafel.

For the main, each person got to choose a protein. We got the Niman Ranch Sirloin and Grilled Shrimp, both of which were very tasty. The sirloin was charred on the outside, juicy in the middle, no notes. The shrimp was smoky and snappy. And the zhoug deserves its own fan club — it's spicy and herby and I put it on literally everything. It also came with Mixed Greens and Basmati Rice with roasted peppers, red onion, cumin, and cilantro.

We also tried the seasonal Heirloom Tomato Salad with cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olive, and feta, as well as Crispy Cauliflower on a bed of pickled mustard seed aioli.

This place is10/10, would dismantle this feast again. Bring people. Bring a big appetite. Bring stretchy pants.