Ask George: Where are the best places for soup in St. Louis? —Dave G., Dardenne Prairie
Despite the fact that it was still lemonade season yesterday, it’s safe to say that soup season will begin tomorrow. Below is a list of the best places in town for soup (in general), as well as several of the city’s more noteworthy soups (in particular). Slurp on!
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Soup Spots
Canyon Café: Both the South Texas Tortilla Soup and Poblano Chicken Chowder are memorable, the latter especially so. Every year that Canyon Café has entered the soup in Manor Grove’s annual Soups On! competition, it’s brought home a medal, an unprecedented feat.
The Civil Life Brewing Co.: Three soups are served each Sunday (one of them vegan) during fall and winter.
Colleen’s: It’s a smart move by Colleen Thompson to offer a trio of homemade soups this season, each with its own garnish.
Companion Café: Four rotating soups are featured daily. The New England Clam Chowder is arguably the best in the city. (We thought so anyway). If you see it, order it.
The Daily Bread: The vibe is reminiscent of Saint Louis Bread Co., with four varieties of soup per day and the option of a bread bowl. The fall menu includes Mushroom Brie, one of the better cream-based soups in town.
Fountain on Locust: Several soups are made fresh every morning. (The roster is now 50 recipes deep.) The one constant is the signature, potato-based Polish Dill Pickle Soup, one of many examples of the whimsy found within.
Local Chef STL: Chef Rob Uyemura creates at least two seasonal selections daily. High marks for every variety sampled so far.
Saint Louis Bread Co: Besides introducing St. Louisans to the sourdough soup bowl, Bread Co. offers seven soups each day, as well as two broth bowls (with items based loosely on Asian noodle soups).
Straub’s: The self-serve selection (with six varieties per day) always has an agreeable option or several. Quarts of soup are $8.99 hot or $7.99 cold; it’s a great value, especially for the velvety Shrimp Bisque.
Zoup! The local outpost of this national soup-based chain has the biggest selection in town (a dozen varieties per day), including fun options like Chicken Potpie and Burger Cheeseburger.
Notable Individual Soups:
Beef Barley at Iron Barley
Bone broth at Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions (not exactly soup, but it’s delicious and warming)
Chicken Noodle at Blueberry Hill
Crab Bisque at Nordstrom Cafe Bistro
Creamy Reuben Soup at Monty’s Sandwich Company
Creamy Tomato at Big Sky Café
Cucumber Bisque at Balaban’s
French Onion at Brasserie by Niche, Café Provencal, and Truffles
Hot and sour at Wonton King
House Soup (with smoked chicken, tomato broth, roasted vegetables, saffron orzo) at YaYa’s Euro Bistro
Italian chicken soup (aka Italian Ramen) at Pastaria
Kale & Garbanzo at Union Loafers (and it’s vegan, to boot)
Lobster Bisque at BRIO Tuscan Grille
Oyster Chowder at DeMun Oyster Bar
Posole at Southwest Diner
Posole (weekends only) at Taqueria Durango
Ravioli Soup at River des Peres Yacht Club
Salsiccia Romano at Adriana’s
Taiwanese clear clam soup at Tai Ke
This article did not take into account any examples of pho or ramen, popular Asian soups worthy of their own popularity contest. That said, if we missed one of your favorite soup spots or individual soups, please feel free to note it in the comment section below.
If you have a question for George, email him at [email protected].
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