Soul Kitchen

Zinos runs Soul Kitchen, a shabby warehouse restaurant in Hamburg. The business is barely afloat as tax inspectors demand payments, threatening penalties. Meanwhile, a punk band uses the space to practice and an old sailor Sokrates works on his boat but can't pay rent.

At a family gathering in an upscale restaurant, Zinos argues with his journalist girlfriend Nadine who is about to depart for Shanghai. During the dinner, the chef Shayn is fired from Soul Kitchen. The confrontation foreshadows the strains between old menus and new ambitions.

Zinos agrees to hire his gambler brother Illias on special leave from prison to work at Soul Kitchen. Lucia, the bartender, is unhappy about the hire, fearing trouble. Illias asks Zinos to keep his past secret.

While moving a heavy dishwasher, Zinos injures his back, prompting a course of physical therapy. He meets Anna, a physical therapist, who becomes involved in his recovery. Anna's care begins to change Zinos’s perspective on his life and restaurant.

Zinos hires Shayn as the new head cook, pushing for a haute-cuisine menu. The shift alienates the existing, working-class clientele and the business dips. Gradually, the new approach draws some attention and the restaurant's fortunes begin to swing.

Thomas Neumann reveals designs to purchase Soul Kitchen's property for redevelopment. He offers to buy the restaurant, but Zinos refuses to sell. The confrontation highlights the pressure from real estate interests on small businesses.

Lucia begins to see Illias in a new light as his loyalty grows, though Zinos remains wary of his brother's criminal past being exposed. Zinos's focus shifts between protecting the business and personal loyalties. Nadine remains distant but keeps in touch via Skype.

To reconcile with Nadine and secure the future, Zinos plans to leave for Shanghai and appoint Illias as manager with full power of attorney. The plan sets the stage for a potential departure from Hamburg. Nadine's return and the new man Mr Han complicate matters.

At Nadine's grandmother's funeral, Zinos discovers Mr Han is Nadine's new boyfriend. The revelation fractures their relationship and Zinos disrupts the ceremony. The moment accelerates the collapse of their plans to renew ties.

In Zinos' absence, Illias loses Soul Kitchen in a poker game to Neumann and signs away the deed. Zinos, Illias and accomplices attempt to steal the title deed to prevent the deal, but the plan fails. The operation ends with their arrest and Zinos being released, while Illias remains confined.

Anna takes Zinos to see the chiropractor Kemal, the Bone Cruncher, whose extreme therapy finally relieves his herniated disc. The treatment marks a turning point in his physical and emotional recovery. Zinos re-engages with his life and business with renewed vigor.

Tax authorities arrest and convict Neumann of tax fraud, removing a major obstacle to Soul Kitchen's future. Zinos borrows from Nadine, now wealthier from inheritance, to bid for Soul Kitchen at auction. Meanwhile Illias continues his relationship with Lucia behind bars.

Zinos wins the auction and buys back Soul Kitchen, reclaiming his life and the restaurant. The path back is rough but the restaurant is saved by the combined effort of the team and Nadine's support. Illias remains connected to Lucia as he serves his sentence.

The film closes with Soul Kitchen hosting a private party for Zinos and Anna, who visits the restaurant for the first time. The feast marks a new beginning for Zinos and his healing, both personally and professionally. The once-shabby venue stands renewed, even as the world outside remains hazy.