Phone: 816.421.SOUP
Website: http://www.soupkc.com
Pros:
- Gourmet Lunch with Fresh Ingredients
- Souper-fast
- Filling Sammie and Soup for about $6
- Order from your office on-line
Cons:
- Tricky Parking
- So Many Great Choices, it's hard to decide
Guide Review
Not so many years ago--I had a cubicle-esq job in the middle of downtown. In those days, finding lunch wasn't just a struggle, it was a total fiasco. Trying to find a quick, healthy and tasty lunch... almost impossible. Those days have fortunately come and gone thanks to the revitalization of the Crossroads, downtown redevelopment, and the reality that the Power and Light District might actually have tenants. Just a mere two weeks ago, caped crusader Souperman swooped into downtown, opened their doors and finally put an end to the lifelong KC struggle of finding something quick and taste bud tempting downtown.I'd heard the buzz last fall about a soup and sammie combo opening up in the Crossroads and had long anticipated it's opening. We headed to Souperman on a recent blustering Thursday afternoon--"perfect day for soup and sandwich' my mom remarked as my car thermometer read a chilly 13. As I did a quick u-turn on Main to find a front row parking spot in front of Souperman, located in the street level of the newly revamped rocket wheeling TWA building (and Barkley-Evergreen home) --we had no idea what we were in for. As we entered (at a ripe 12:15) it was no doubt the word was out--it was bustling with activity, people coming, going, eating and carrying out.
As we stood in the quickly moving line, I couldn't make up my mind fast enough. Soup/sammie combo? Faced with indecisiveness, I quickly turned to the girls behind the counter to help in my soup choosing decision. 'Pumpkin' or 'Thai'??, I asked....'Oh, that's a tough one' they both laughed. 'They're both really good,' 'But Thai is my favorite though.' So, I went with the Thai Coconut Chicken Soup with Rice noodles and a Portobello Mushroom Sanditto with Roasted Peppers, Goat Cheese, and Grilled Onions, in my mind, pure heaven. My mom, Clam Chowder...same sanditto. A nano-second later, our name was called only to find Dalzell standing at the end of the counter, packaging up lunches in a smart to-go- or not-to go card board tote that we took to our table.
As we unwrapped our sandittos and took our first bites, we oohh'd and ahhh'd in amazement. Goat cheese, one of my personal faves, oozzed out of our expertly crafted sandittos. The onions, peppers and portabellos were deliciously (and evenly distributed) throughout. I hate when all the good stuff mysteriously ends up at the BOTTOM of your burrito. With first bite you didn't end up with a bunch of tortilla--but actual ingredients.
The thai coconut soup was a perfect concoction of sweet and spicy nicely rounded off with rice noodles and perfect for a cold January KC day. My mom's clam chowder was a delectably creamy and spicy version of the Boston fave that didn't skimp on the clams.
