Soul-Satisfying Soups from Local Restaurants
There’s something amazing about how soup makes us suffer a little less. Here are some of the best bowls around.
Editor’s note: This story was updated from a previous version.
Chili
Our pick: Wes’ Rib House, 38 Dike St., Providence, 401-421-9090, wesribhouse.com
Why: It’s slow-cooked with chunks of beef, topped with onions and cheese, and it makes the perfect precursor to their pork ribs and brisket options.
Chowder
Our pick: Blount Clam Shack and Market, 406 Water St., Warren, 401-245-1800, blountretail.com
Why: You can always count on a consistent cup of good chowder, whether it’s New England-style, red clam-style, or – our favorite – clambake-style with clams, potatoes, chorizo and corn in a clear broth. But if you’re dunkin’ clam cakes, be sure to go for the trademark creamy white version.
Hot and Sour
Our pick: Hon’s, 790 Reservoir Ave., Cranston, 401-946-2188, honscranston.com
Why: You can’t go wrong with any piping hot potage here, but we like this style for its mildly spicy broth with pineapple chunks, bean sprouts, basil and your choice of chicken, shrimp, fish or tofu.
Minestrone
Our pick: Venus de Milo, 75 Grand Army Highway, Swansea, Mass., 508-678-3901, venusdemilo.com (takeout only)
Why: Try as you might to recreate it using one of the many recipes available on the Internet, it’s never the same as the hot bowl of ground beef, orzo, vegetables and tomatoes served right at the table at your cousin’s wedding (or your cousin’s kid’s wedding).
Pho
Our pick: Sunrise, 823 West Main Rd., Middletown, 401-848-4545, sunriseviet.com
Why: You can get your pho customized any way you like it. We prefer ours with rice noodles, Thai basil, lime, bean sprouts and as many different parts of a cow as possible.
Portuguese Kale
Our pick: O Dinis, 579 Warren Ave., East Providence, 401-438-3769, odinisrestaurant.com*
Why: It contains everything it should have in it: healthy kale, salty chourico, cabbage, beef and more. And because when we asked how big the bowl is, the answer was “Portuguese.” *Note: This menu item may not always be available. Be sure to ask for O Dinis’ soup of the day, which changes daily.
Ramen
Our pick: Boru Noodle Bar, 36 Broadway, Newport, 401 -846-4200, borunoodlebar.com
Why: Rameneophiles (yes, we invented a word) flock to this Newport eatery for piping hot bowls of house, spicy miso and — our fave — chicken escarole ramen. Don’t sleep on the coconut turmeric pork nachos with peanuts, fried wontons and cilantro or the crispy Brussels sprouts appetizers.
Shabu shabu
Our pick: Ebisu, 38 Pontiac Ave., Providence, 401-270-7500; 250 Warren Ave., East Providence, 401-434-0037, ebisuri.com
Why: Cook your own soup using the plug-in hot pot servers bring to your table. You decide the meat and seafood combination, and you can add as many noodles or as much rice as you like with garlic, hot peppers, chives and two sauces. The result is under your control.
Vegetarian
Our pick: Garden Grille, 727 East Ave. #7, Pawtucket, 401-726-2826, gardengrillecafe.com
Why: We like the soups of the day here for the many veg-friendly combinations they cook up. There’s never a dull moment when it comes to options like coconut curry red lentil, Mexican quinoa and beer onion soup.
Gazpacho
Our pick: Little Sister, 737a Hope St., Providence, 401-642-9464, littlesisterpvd.com
Why: Made Spanish-style with black garlic-oil, Little Sister’s iteration of this chilled tomato soup can be enjoyed no matter the weather outside.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Our pick: Gregg’s Restaurants and Taverns, 1303 North Main st., Providence, 401-831-5700; 1940 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, 401-438-5700; 1359 Post Rd., Warwick, 401-467-5700; 4120 Quaker Ln., North Kingstown, 401-294-5700; greggsusa.com
Why: Who better to turn to for a homey, classic dish than a homey, classic restaurant? No matter which location you decide on, Gregg’s chicken noodle and onion soup is available everyday for just $4.99 per cup or $5.99 per bowl.
Matzo Ball Soup
Our pick: Maven’s Delicatessen, 727 East Ave., Pawtucket, 401-205-8560, mavensdeli.com
Why: While the Best of Rhode Island award-winning restaurant humbly says its “not as good as your bubbe’s of course,” it’s pretty dang close.
