Taste Test

Souper Bowls

It's getting cold - time to taste some of South County's best soups

Small Axe Café
One staffer, who shall remain nameless, will not eat “chunky” soups, only bisques. (It’s a texture thing apparently.) Small Axe’s tomato bisque was an office-wide hit. In fact we all enjoyed this creamy, slightly tangy soup, which consisted of roasted tomatoes, hints of Italian spices and notes of black pepper. It tasted healthy – full of vitamins and minerals – and the consistency was just right. We think Goldilocks would have approved too. 4820 Old Post Road, Charlestown. 364-3638

Beach Rose Cafe
Who doesn’t love a great clam chowder? (Well, besides the aforementioned bisque-loving staffer.) Beach Rose’s white chowder was creamy and smooth, almost buttery in its decadence. While it was substantial, it wasn’t too thick. The potatoes were plump and tender; the clams were cooked as should be. The nice array of spices, including salt and a hint of dill, elevated this chowder to the next level. As one person stated, “It’s herbalicious.” 85 Brown Street, Wickford. 295-2800

Fra'sItalian Gourmet
Upon first glance, we thought this bright orange soup was carrot rather than butternut squash. Upon the first delicious slurp, however, our cheeks flushed in delight. The warm soup had a very savory, roasted squash flavor with hints of onions and leeks. Its hearty texture assured that it would make a wonderful main course. It’s soup just like your mom used to make if you had an awesome mom who was a great chef, that is. 57 Shore Road, Westerly. 596-2888

Quahog Emporium
This creamy corn chowder was a nice twist on traditional clam chowder; the clams were replaced with succulent and perfectly cooked shrimp. The cream-based broth wasn’t too thick, leaving our tummies feeling light. This would make the perfect starter course to your holiday dinner, or served along side some nice crusty bread for dipping. The Emporium served theirs with some oyster crackers, adding a pleasant crunch. 60 Brown Street, Wickford. 885-2020

Posted Thursday, October 25, 2012 10:13 am

Erin Swanson

Keywords

small axe cafe, charlestown, beach rose cafe, wickford, fra's italian gourmet, westerly, quahog emporium, wickford, restaurants, food, dining, soup, south county, so rhode island