Soup's On first caught my eye during cross country practice as I ran with my team through the neighborhood of Hampden, just west of Homewood. I had never seen a restaurant specializing primarily in soups, and I thought, "what a great idea!"
After wanting to try Soup's On for several months, I finally made the journey back to Hampden last week. Soup's On is about 15 minutes from campus by foot. To walk there simply walk past Wyman Park and take a right on the Avenue, Hampden's well-known shopping and dining area. The small, cozy café is squeezed into a row of eclectic boutiques and other shops. It's a perfect destination for a hot lunch. Tasteful decorations reflect the whimsical nature of Hampden itself. The door handle is shaped like a soup ladle and a sign on the door reads "Soup's On" when the café is open and "Soup's Off" when it is closed. Inside, the vibrant paprika walls, showcasing various modern works of art, contrast nicely against a hardwood floor.
Seating inside, however, is quite limited. There are several wooden tables and a counter with stools runs along the right wall, accompanied by a row of hanging blue lights. I've found it can get quite warm inside the restaurant at times, so take advantage of the outside seating that Soup's On offers, if the weather permits.
Cynthia Shea, the chef and owner of Soup's On, offers a different selection of soups daily. Before you travel to Soup's On, you might want to check their Web site (soupsonhampden.com) for the day's soup choices.
All soups are made from scratch, and every ingredient is fresh. The soups are heated to order and then brought to you at your table, so rest assured that your soup will be piping hot. A bowl of soup comes with either a French baguette, or, for an extra charge, a half salad or half sandwich.
On my first visit to Soup's On, I ordered a bowl of chili and a slice of baguette on the side. It was probably the best bowl of chili I have ever had. It wasn't too spicy, nor was it too salty, both of which I consider common chili faults. The red beans didn't overpower the flavor of the ground beef, and the cheese sprinkled on top was a nice touch. The crusty, soft French baguette matched the quality of the chili as well.
I enjoyed my bowl of chili so much that I made a second trip to Soup's On one week later. On this day, Cynthia offered New England Style Clam Chowder, Sweet Potato with Pecan Crostini Soup, Sausage, Tortellini and Spinach Soup and Squash and Crab Bisque with Cinnamon Croutons.
As soon as I saw the words "Crab Bisque" I was sold. Who would have ever thought to combine crab with squash? The result: The squash toned down the richness of the crab - an incredibly brilliant, imaginative idea. I also loved the cinnamon croutons, which meshed well with the subtle sweetness of the squash. Wow.
Wanting to try the other options but faced with a full tummy, I discovered that Soup's On will let you sample all of the soups before ordering.
I highly recommend the Sweet Potato Soup, which has a delicious taste with a subtle hint of curry. The pecan flavors saved the soup from being too rich or sweet. I wasn't as impressed with the Clam Chowder, which wasn't nearly creamy enough.
Soup's On also offers homemade chicken pot pies and tuna sandwiches daily. The salads - Caesar with parmesan and croutons and arugula with apples, almonds and cheddar - both looked appealing. Even so, I don't think I could order anything but soup here. The soups are just too good to pass up.
For those with a sweet tooth, Soup's On also offers dessert. I wasn't enthralled by the chocolate chip cookie, which skimped on the chocolate and was too thin and crunchy for my taste. The chocolate frosting on the cupcake I tried next was first class, but I found the cupcake overall to be a little dry.
So maybe desserts aren't Soup's On's specialty, which is fine, because it more than makes up for it with soups.
Though clocked at 15 minutes, the walk to Soup's On is more than worth it. My bowl of soup was an excellent value at $6.50. Nearly every soup contains the perfect amount of ingredients and flavors that would seem too rich, like crab, but never are. At Soup's On, Cynthia's soups have an innovative, gourmet flair that is difficult to match elsewhere.
