Snow flakes are starting to fly here in Boston and with chillier weather upon us I start craving anything that will warm me up from the inside out. Soup is my go to, and with so many restaurants serving up a variety of types it's easy to find a great big bowl of soup to push away those cold weather blues.
There is, of course, the ultimate comfort food- Tomato Soup paired with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. There is something so wonderfully childlike about dipping a hot, gooey piece of cheesy sandwich into a big hot bowl of tomato soup that brings me right back to snowy days when I was a kid. Now, when Im looking for that feeling I head to The Abbey in Brookline's Washington Square. During lunch hours (week days and weekends) they serve up a big bowl of acidic tomato soup bright with fresh herbs and just a subtle hint of spice, and with it a perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese is stringy and ultimately gooey, leaving strings as you pull pieces apart to dip into the soup. Decadent and delicious, this pairing is the perfect way to venture into chilly weather.
Moving to the more exotic side of things, there is my personal favorite soup out there- hailing from Vietnam- Pho. Pho is a perfect blend of rice noodles, fragrant broth, your choice of proteins, onion and cilantro. Tableside you are served lime wedges, sprouts, and Thai Basil to add at your discretion along with a host of sauces. Pho has long been my favorite for several reasons, one of which being this hands on approach where you can customize the finishing flavors and even its heat level. I gravitate to Pho Pasteur in Chinatown when I need a Pho fix. They efficiently seat their guests and expertly dole out their Pho, a clean broth with notes of lemon grass, and gently floating circles of onion and fragrant cilantro throughout. I opt for rare beef as my protein,finding the mix between the beef, broth, noodles and a lot of Siracha sauce to warm my soul.
Perhaps, however, when its chilly outside, you crave something a bit more decadent? How does French Onion Soup with a beef morrow crostini on the side sound? Deuxave, located in Boston's Back Bay is serving up a French Onion Soup that they simmer and cook for nine hours to concentrate the flavors and bring out the notes of true beef flavor as well as notes of thyme and white wine. Individual servings are divvied out into small crock pots, chunks of French Bread added, and topped with cheese- every spoon full brings out the rich broth, tender onions, pieces of soaked bread and utter globs of incredible cheese. Then, as if it wasn't rich enough- along side sits a perfectly toasted piece of bread, slathered with a little bone marrow making it salty and delicious and a perfectly crunchy addition to the soup.
Soup is the perfect way to warm up as these months get colder, and no matter what your preference, there is a spot out there for you. So the real question is what type is going to keep you the warmest?
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Food & Drink in Northbridge
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Brian's Restaurant's 110 seats play host to dining on authentic New England homestyle pub fare categorized on the menu. Sample one of the daily dinner specials, such as Monday's all-you-can-eat prime rib rubbed with a house seasoning and slow roasted for hours ($15.99) or Wednesday's family-style chicken with pasta, fries, and a soup and salad bar ($8.99). Seafood entrees such as the fried-seafood plate with Atlantic haddock, Maine clams, Bay scallops, and shrimp ($19.99) delights coastal carnivores, and land-based meat eaters can enjoy one of Brian's delectable beef or chicken dishes. A selection of old-time favorites such as meatloaf with roasted onion and mushroom gravy ($9.99) and chicken pot pie ($9.99) conjure up memories of home, family, imaginary childhood friends, and imaginary childhood bosses as patrons feast in Brian's wood-paneled dining room.
91 Providence Rd
Northbridge,
MA
US
Red Rock Grill and Bar's chefs seek out seasonal ingredients, whenever possible, from local sources to craft homegrown favorites and American comfort foods. Using fresh meats and produce, they braise pot roast in a blend of Guinness and smoked jalapeños, make marinara sauce in-house, and infuse macaroni 'n' cheese with fresh lobster. At the bar, a selection of microbrews and cocktails keep patrons spacing out their mugs of ice water. Beyond the menu, Red Rock entertains visitors by hosting regular performances from live musicians and loaning out canoes and kayaks with which to explore the nearby waters through Good to Go Kayak Rentals.
66 W Main St.
Upton,
MA
US
Pepperoni Express
Bright reds and yellow oranges color the exterior of one Pepperoni Express location, signaling the tangy tomato sauce and gooey cheese commingling on pizzas inside. The other location sports reddish-pink walls, which resemble the spicy sausage that inspired the eatery’s name. In each kitchen, cooks make fresh dough each day, which forms the base of pizzas studded with ingredients such as shrimp, broccoli, and mushrooms. They offer a choice of more than 20 ingredients for build-your-own pies and rectangular 18”x24” party pizzas; rectangles suit parties because they have edges and thus are more likely to attract U2 guitarist The Edge. Pepperoni Express’s thin-crust pies brim with Italian ingredients such as olives, oregano, and prosciutto, as do italian authentic subs. Wine and beer can grant a hydrating reprieve for any dining session.
72 Worcester St
North Grafton,
MA
US
The meat maestros at The Burger Grille stock a protein-packed menu with 14 specialty creations and build-your-own burgers made from 6-ounce, hand-pressed patties. U-Bridge burgers stuffed with cheddar cheese steep under a flavorful storm of thousand-island dressing and crispy bacon. Amateur aliment architects choose from beef, turkey patties, or chicken breasts to craft custom hamburgers, cheeseburgers, or bacon burgers with 12 choice-worthy toppings from mayo to roasted peppers. To keep incisors snacking on all sides of the food pyramid, each meat-centric entree arrives paired with a battalion of hand-cut fries, sweet potato fries, curly fries, or onion rings, which, much like engagement rings, taste better dipped in ketchup. After main courses, 20-ounce sodas rinse palates, enabling fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies to satiate any lingering hunger pangs.
316 N Main St
Uxbridge,
MA
US
Melted butter and housemade cracker stuffing coat the succulent pieces of tail and claw meat inside Bridge Street Bistro's lazy lobster pie. The name cheekily undersells the rich entree, as well as the bistro's culinary team, whose extensive menu showcases a commitment to cooking that's anything but lazy. Dishes range from panko-crusted pork chops to Italian-style entrees such as haddock parmesan and flatbreads topped with pesto-infused mozzarella. Besides hearty lunches and dinners, the bistro's cooks add upscale twists to brunch with options such as pumpkin-stuffed French toast, which, at the stroke of noon, turns into a carriage for your ride home. Gluten-free dishes are available at any of the bistro's mealtimes.
10 Bridge St
North Grafton,
MA
US
