Coats, boots and winter have arrived. That means runny noses, cough syrup and hot tea are necessities. With this weather, it means only one thing hits the spot — and it’s soup. We went on a journey near Vanderbilt’s campus to find the perfect soup to warm your body in bone-chilling winter weather.
Meet Noodles: 6/10
When we first walked in, there were barely any customers and yet, there did not seem to be a waiter in sight. Finding a seat was incredibly confusing; we wanted to sit at a table, but there was no indication of whether we should choose our own seats. So, we sat down, and eventually a waiter came over and told us no. They then led us upstairs to the waiter’s stand that we didn’t even know existed. The upstairs was cute; it had karaoke, arcade games and was decorated with lots of LED lights. This would be a fun time if my group and I were not confused about what was happening. The waiter then led us back downstairs to an open table and only gave us one menu. My group had six people, so this was slightly frustrating, but we made it work. We ordered many appetizers, and they came out fast. For dinner, I ordered a make-your-own vegetable ramen, and it was amazing. I loved all the options and how you could customize your ramen to your personal liking. The soup was salty and warm, which really hit the spot.
All in all, the place was nice and easy to get to from campus; however, the confusion that we experienced made us uncomfortable and put a damper on the experience. I would possibly go back if Sushi 88 were closed. Commodore Cash is accepted here, allowing for a financially guilt-free trip.
Grilled Cheeserie: 7/10
Grilled Cheeserie is a Hillsboro and Taste of Nashville staple, so we just had to give it a visit. When we arrived, they were out of their classic tomato soup, which was disappointing, so we had to settle for the roasted red pepper and tomato soup that was a little spicy but did warm us up on a cold day. The soup was great to dip the grilled cheese in, but it was not the star of the show, as the grilled cheese outshone the flavor. While it was not my favorite soup, it was still enjoyable. Was it worth $13 for soup and grilled cheese, though? That’s debatable. If you have extra Commodore Cash, though, this is definitely a place to try.
Urban Juicer: 7/10
You would not typically think that a smoothie place would have good soup, but we have found that to be the contrary, as Hillsboro’s Urban Juicer had grilled cheese and homemade tomato soup that we had to try. The combo ended up being a great deal, as the soup ended up being only a dollar with the purchase of a panini. Another great aspect was that I was able to use my Commodore Cash to pay for the cozy meal, saving me a lot of money.
The soup was as good as tomato soup ever is — creamy with just enough basil — but nothing special. The panini grilled cheese was lacking in comparison to its neighbor’s, the Grilled Cheeserie. If you want a decent warm meal and to use up your Commodore Cash, this is a great option, but don’t expect anything overly revolutionary.
Sushi 88: 9/10
Sushi 88 is perfect for when you are craving a warm bowl of pho or ramen. Their vast number of options is perfect for vegetarians, meat lovers and everyone else in between. I got the Tofu Pho, which was unbelievable. For the lack of pho places near campus, this makes up for it. The soup was rich and savory. The umami had a great kick. The vegetables were a perfect balance with the tofu; however, the one downside was that the egg was not as warm as I would have hoped it to be. However, the salty and savory taste of the egg made up for it.
Not only was the soup great, but it was the perfect lowkey place to go with friends on a weekday or weekend. The vibes were quiet and cozy. The place was soothing, and the food came out fast. Being close to campus and on Taste of Nashville, it was a good experience, and I would recommend going.
Food Company: 9/10
Food Company is an order-at-the counter and then sit-down type of restaurant — fast casual and a favorite among Nashville natives. The place is located in a gorgeous green house with beautiful seating. The line to place your order moved fast, even though there were a lot of people ahead, making this an efficient stop in Green Hills after you get your holiday shopping done at the mall. Finding a seat was also not too difficult. After 5 p.m. CST, the place turns into a bar, so this is a perfect “early dinner, late lunch” or late-night hang-out spot.
The soup was great, getting wonderful reviews from us. We tried the tomato basil, chicken and cabbage, which were delightful. Food Company does a rotating menu of soups with a new one each weekday, while their tomato basil stays a daily staple. There is reason for that, as it was the best of the two in our opinion. If you are looking for a tomato basil soup, Food Company is the way to go. The only issue with Food Company is that it is not on Commodore Cash, making it a slightly more inconvenient financial option if you are on a budget.
Nashville, Tennessee has many soup places to offer while we battle the frigid temperatures the winter will throw at you. Give our recommendations a try!
