San Francisco Soup Company

by Jessica on December 4, 2011

1600 28th St./Menu

★★★(★)

Just the name alone sounds enchanting: San Francisco Soup Company. A company specializing in soup, all the way from San Francisco. I’m intrigued.

We visited the SF Soup Company for lunch on opening day. Though perhaps the opening was not as grand as they were expecting, the customers milling around, sampling from each station, seemed extremely pleased. To draw customers in (or perhaps to deter undecided patrons from similar neighbor Modmarket), employees were offering samples of several soups outside. And if the one that caught your attention wasn’t being offered outside, head in and request a taste from the happy employees ready to help. Customer service: A+. The owner even came over to check on us!

As far as the menu goes, they specialize in soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps, with substitutions, combinations and alterations being offered for anything you’d like. Though I’d assume the spot is renown for their soup, especially in a San Francisco sourdough bread bowl, I couldn’t bring myself to do it on this warm, sunny day. Instead, I opted for the Greek wrap.

Yes, it looks more like a salad than a wrap. The menu advertised that each salad and wrap could be ordered as a half size. But when I requested a half Greek wrap, she said it wasn’t possible. Instead, she only succeeded in stuffing half the greens into the wrap, and piled the other half on top of the wrap. So they could use a little practice…

Aside from this minor setback, my wrap was quite tasty. It came with romaine, roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes, kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, croutons and balsamic vinaigrette (yes, a little bizarre). I loved the amount of options the restaurants gave to each diner to foster a more individualized experience. Maybe it was superior service for opening day, but they were absolutely aiming to please.

Next time, soup is definitely necessary. As I munched on my wrap, I kept finding myself staring at the heaping pile of sourdough bread bowls on display in the soup section, a little eye candy to tempt me for next time!

I was craving some good, warm soup, and was excited when I learned about this place. Unfortunately, I felt that my wallet was much lighter when I left, and my stomach was hardly heavier. In fact, after spending $17 for two large soups and a coke, I went next door to Chipolte to buy a burrito I knew I was sure to eat shortly because I was still hungry. I thought the soups I tasted really lacked that special “omph” and were in bad need of some salt. I am a person who harly ever adds salt to my food, so this must mean something! I ordered my soup in a bread bowl, for which I was charges extra; though I am not sure why. There is much less soup in a bread bowl, and to make matters worse, the bread was totally bland. Not an authentic SF sourdough I was hoping for. Customer service was awesome, but I will not be going back.

by Michelle on December 28, 2011 at 12:48 pm. Reply #

Thanks for the heads up, Michelle! I have been wondering about the quality of their other products, especially the soup, ever since I walked out the door after my first visit. I’m glad you put my assumptions to rest in assuring me that the name is no match for the service.

by Jessica on December 31, 2011 at 1:16 am. Reply #

Do I have to say how much I love these pictures?No, I do not, baesuce I am clogging the tubes of the Internet with big happiness. How lovely to see familiar faces of Boston with some new faces at Soup Swap.Well done! Well done!And now, tell us about Karen’s Soup .

by Madan on June 28, 2012 at 6:30 pm. Reply #

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