New England Soup Factory

Now that the weather is turning chilly, the wind is kicking up, and rain is more common, I’ve started to crave hot comfort food.  There aren’t many meals as soul satisfying and body warming as a bowl of thick and hearty soup.  If you are anything like me, then you need to check out the New England Soup Factory, located in both Brookline (2-4 Brookline Place) and Newton (244 Needham Street).  Their motto is “Feed Your Body Well,” and they aren’t kidding.

Food

Every day the New England Soup Factory has Chicken Vegetable, Chili Con Carne, Clam and Corn Chowder, Lobster Newbury, Beef Stew and Chicken Pot Pie on the menu, with four additional rotating soups (from 150 varieties!).  All the soups come with rolls, perfect for sopping up whatever you can’t get at with a spoon.  Aside from soups they have plenty of gourmet sandwiches, salads, delicious homemade baked goods, and my absolute favorite: giant barrel pickles!

As far as soups go, I’d recommend the Chicken Pot Pie Soup.  For those who don’t believe that soup is a real meal, I dare you to eat this and not change your mind.  It’s thick and full of chunks of chicken, potatoes, carrots, and all other traditional pot pie ingredients.  But best of all there is a delicious biscuit on the bottom and on the top that really adds to the meal, and fills you up.

For those days where you’re feeling under the weather, there’s no cure quite like the chicken vegetable soup.  Add matzoh balls (or noodles) to it, and your cold is as good as gone!  Bring this home in a quart or gallon size and you are sure to please the whole family.

If you try the soups and love them (which you will), and want to attempt at making them at home, you’re in luck!  The New England Soup Factory sells a cook book full of all the soups they sell!  Chef Marjorie put her most requested and favorite recipes in a book that is easy to follow and perfect for the budding chef.

Complaints

If you want a basic soup for cheap, then this isn’t your place.  There is great variety and high quality ingredients, but you definitely pay for it.  Matzoh balls are $1.50 each to add to a soup, and the soup prices range from $4.75 to $5.50 for a bowl and $37.95 to $52.95 for a gallon depending on the type of soup you get.

My other problem with the New England Soup Factory is the inside is clearly for take-out.  It’s small and gets packed around dinner time.  So either be prepared to weight or try and get there at an “off” time.  Additionally, it could really benefit from an expansion or at least a major facelift.

Lastly, I highly recommend you sample the soups before you order.  Since they are made from scratch, they are typically excellent.  However, the soups are sometimes extremely over–salted.  While everyone loves salt, and have no problem with drinking some extra water to combat the sodium, I suggest sampling before you buy to avoid being unhappy with the dehydration that may accompany your meal.

Rating

3.5 out of 4 forks

Perfect for a cold fall or winter night, the New England Soup Factory has enough variety to satisfy any group.  Get there early to avoid lines and bring it home for an easy and delicious meal.