Soup Quest

If there’s one dish that dominates BKR’s lunch and dining thoughts, it’s wonderful, warming, hearty, healthy, flavour-packed, fabulous soup.

As a little addition to our reviews, here’s a summary of the best soups he’s sampled on his travels. This will be regularly updated, as new and intriguing soupy soups are consumed.

In cases where he’s sampled more than one soup in a given location (like with the excellent Union of Genius, Hula, Domenico’s etc), his favourite soup is listed.

Exceptional

Al Dente – Cappelletti in Brodo
A brilliant dish, packed with heaps of flavour, delivering a hugely satisfying effect. An inspired choice for their festive menu.

The Apiary – Curried parsnip and chorizo
A delicious soup, with wonderful aromatics and sweetness.

The Arches – Tomato and cumin
An excellent soup expertly balancing sweetness and earthiness.

The Atelier – Cauliflower
A beautifully presented, warmly spiced soup, which was oh so satisfying.

The Bakehouse – Creamy sweetcorn
A wonderfully nourishing soup, beautifully seasoned, and with a perfect velvet texture.

The Butterfly & the Pig – Cream of Chicken and Leek
Beautiful soft chunks of chicken set in a richly creamy soup made this one of the standout dishes of 2012.

The Caffeine Drip – Brown lentil
A warming an extremely hearty bowl of goodness, this was a really excellent dish, packed with flavour.

Castle Terrace – Broccoli and Blue Cheese
A gem of a dish, as you would expect from our most recent Michelin star recipient. Knockout flavours perfectly balanced to achieve maximum satisfaction.

Club Sandwich – Potato and Double Gloucester
Beautifully judged potato soup with wonderful explosions of flavour from the cheese.

Crolla’s – Cock-a-leekie
A perfectly seasoned, traditional delight from a really friendly little New Town cafe.

Cross & Corner – Celeriac
Stylish, elegant and highly accomplished.

Edinburgh Larder – Ham, Broccoli and Watercress
A wonderful combination of flavours, showcasing excellent local produce. The Edinburgh Larder is a magnificent place and their soup is gorgeous.

Field – Apple and celeriac
The finest soup of 2013, this creamy and well-balanced blend of apple and celeriac, topped with walnuts, was simple and elegant, just like the restaurant in which it was served.

Forsyth’s Tearoom – Broccoli and stilton
The place is a curious little tourist-focussed nook, but the soup is absolutely first rate, with this broccoli and stilton one of the finest I’ve been served.

Gamba – Fish
This all-time classic is profoundly flavourful and richly indulgent.

Girvans – Cauliflower
A wonderful soup served in lovely surroundings in Inverness.

Lezzetli – Cream of Spinach
Deeply green, packed with Popeye goodness, and beautifully seasoned, this soup was an absolute winner.

Natural Foods Etc – Apple and celery
With cinnamon served on the side for you to apply to your requirements, this was a beautifully balance soup that really hit the spot.

New Town Deli – Lentil, sweet potato, and cardamom
Lovely notes of aromatic spice raised this plain looking soup to another level. Lovely consistency and beautiful flavour.

Porto & Fi – Sweetcorn, coconut and chilli
A perfect winter sunshine soup. Warming, with beautifully judged spicing. Really high quality stuff.

Purslane – Celeriac
Beautifully seasoned and crammed with flavour, this was a wonderful bowl of autumnal majesty.

Rafael’s – Potato, asparagus and dill
A wonderful combination of flavours in this velvety soup made it a complete joy.

Souped Up – Leek and potato
With a whisper of mustard running through it, this was a hearty and deliciously warming soup.

Stag Espresso – Kashmiri chicken
An aromatic delight, full of wonderfully balanced flavour.

Stage Door Cafe Bistro – Celeriac, pine nut and truffle oil
A rich and creamy treat, with delicious depth added by the pine nuts and oil.

Sushiya – Miso
Quite simply, the best miso soup in the city.

Union of Genius – “Big Green”
Full of green vegetable goodness, with lovely citrus notes, this was a fantastic, reviving soup, from Edinburgh’s premier soup cafe.

Wedgwood – Pork fillet and black pudding in pea and ham soup
The soup was a sweet and velvety dream-like substance, perfectly uniting the meaty elements of this elegant starter.

Whiski Rooms – Cauliflower
Spectacularly good. Perfect, velvety texture and bursting with flavour. Magnificent!

Yellow Bench – Borscht
An absolutely outstanding soup, beautifully seasoned, with a wonderful balance of flavours.

Very Good

1780 – Cullen skink
With profuse smoky fish, this was a really tasty bowl of this Scottish classic.

Angels with Bagpipes – Cauliflower veloute
Wonderfully creamy cauliflower delight.

The Antiquary – White Onion
Intensely oniony, with well judged sweetness, this was a really well-executed bowl of quality soup.

Appetite Direct – Carrot and parsnip
A well judged blend of sweet and savoury made this an enjoyable soup.

Area C Coffeehouse – Yellow split pea and coconut
Beautifully seasoned, with a lovely light aroma of coconut, this was a deeply satisfying soup.

Aroma Coffee Bar – Yellow split pea
A wonderfully velvety textured soup, with oodles of flavour.

Auchingarrich – Mushroom
Lovely and creamy, this was packed with nutty mushroom goodness.

Avery & Co – Pea, chilli and lemon
A fresh and zingy soup that was full of charm.

Babu Kitchen – Moong daal tadka
An excellent balance of spicing in this complex and zingy soup.

The Baked Potato Shop – Bombay Potato
Chunky potato goodness, with warming spices, beautifully balanced, in a bowl of soup guaranteed to wake up your system and fuel it perfectly for the afternoon ahead.

Bar Soba – Pulled pork ramen noodle broth
A flavour packed broth, with lovely pulled pork and good chunky vegetables

Barolo Grill – Minestrone
With a beautiful texture bringing together soft and chunky vegetables, this was a really enjoyable bowlful.

B’est – Broccoli, cauliflower and blue cheese
Excellent depth of flavour made this a really satisfying soup.

Bijou Bistro – Mushroom and garlic
Packed with mushrooms, and with a well-judged garlic creaminess, this was a very pleasing soup.

Bisque Bar & Brasserie – Seafood bisque
Flavour-packed and really satisfying.

Bistro Provence – Butternut squash and rosemary
A stylish soup, full of autumnal flavour, accompanied by a lovely crisp garlic crouton.

Bite Me – Lentil and red pepper
High quality, flavour-packed goodness.

Bites – Indian Potato and Spinach
Lightly aromatic and packed with potatoes, this was a generously hearty soup.

Blackfriars – Courgette and leek
A beautifully textured soup, which was just a slightly over-seasoned whisper away from being exceptional.

Blue Parrot – Bean
Flavour packed, with a good backbone of chilli heat, this was a really satisfying bowl of bean goodness.

The Bluebird Cafe – Pea and ham
A rustic and tasty soup from Bluebird’s ever-changing selection.

Bobby’s Sandwich Bar – Lentil
Just plain good lentil soup. Thickly satisfying and bursting with flavour.

Bombay Bicycle Club – Daal
Warmly spiced and beautifully seasoned, this was a very satisfying soup.

Bon Vivant – Leek and Potato
Light, but flavour-packed, this was a sumptuous, summery rendering of one of the more popular soups served in Edinburgh dining spots.

The Bonham – Spiced Parsnip
A satisfyingly clean taste and texture. Soup at The Bonham is of consistently very good quality.

Brazilian Sensation – Black bean
Packed with beans and profoundly tasty.

Butternut Squash – Chicken and sweetcorn
Fresh, light and full of flavour, this soup was quite tremendous!

Cafe 9 – Cream of mushroom
Richly flavourful, with a lovely, creamy broth.

Cafe Camino – Tomato and lentil
Packing in profusely chunky tomato, this was a very enjoyable eat.

Cafe Casablanca – Harira
A really good example of this Moroccan classic.

Cafe Cockburn – Lentil
A surprisingly good version of this staple served in slightly curious and stilted surroundings.

Café Domenico’s – Pea and Prosciutto
Sweetness of pea, saltiness of parma ham, a great combination, extremely well-executed by the master chefs at Domenico’s.

Café Marlayne – Lentil and ham hock
Lovely depth of flavour to this hearty soup.

Café Tartine – Onion
A satisfyingly warming soup.

Calistoga – Seafood chowder
With a lovely balance of textures and flavours, this was a creamy delight of a soup.

Casa Angelina – Butternut squash, carrot and lemon thyme
Sweetly herby and deliciously satisfying soup.

Castello Coffee – Leek & potato
Lovingly homemade and completely triumphant, this was an excellent soup.

La Cerise – Carrot & sweet potato
Delightfully fresh and warming.

China Town – Seafood
Very well judged, with good chunks of seafood goodness.

City Merchant – Seafood
A classic seafood soup, with pleasing depth of flavour.

City Patio – Veggie lentil
Wholesome, rustic and totally satisfying.

Clock Cafe – Leek and potato
A beautifully rustic rendering of this soupy favourite.

Corner Grill – Black Isle potato
A simple, creamy soup, which allowed the quality of the potatoes to shine through.

Creelers – Fish
A nicely spiced and deeply flavoured soup.

Crombie’s – Vegetable
A velvety and warmly spiced soup. Delightful.

Deli Fresco – Carrot and coriander
A lovely take on this classic combo.

Eastern Cuisine – Hot and sour
Intensely hot and sour, so very much lived up to its name.

Ecco Vino – Leek and potato
A very herby rendering of this popular soup. Very enjoyable.

Elbow – Spicy red pepper and tomato
A beautifully presented soup, full of warmly spiced charm.

Elm Rose – Lentil and bacon
Very moreish and packed with flavour.

Enjoy – Tomato
A fantastically hearty rendition of a classic soup.

Fair Trade Coffee Shop – Vegetable
A deeply nourishing broth, full of restorative barley goodness.

Feast – Rainbow tofu
Elegant, visually stylish and with a great variety of textures, this was an really enjoyable soup.

Finnegan’s – Lentil
A very satisfying lentil soup.

Firth of Froth – Cock-a-leekie
A really tasty rendition of the classic Scottish soup.

Fish Eatery – Seafood chowder
With a generous amount of corn and seafood, this was a well-textured and satisfying soupy delight.

Fishers in the City – Spinach, wild garlic and nettle
Fresh, smooth and delightfully light.

The Fountain – Celeriac, sweet potato and ginger
Rustic and warming, with a herb oil topping, this was a really enjoyable soup.

Fredericks Coffee House – Tomato and lentil
Full of flavour and beautifully textured, this soup was a complete joy.

Gaia – Cauliflower
Simple and straightforward, this was a flavour-packed soup.

Galvin Brasserie de Luxe – Parsnip veloute with spiced apple
Beautifully prepared and highly elegant.

La Garrigue – Onion
The best French onion soup in the city, with lovely notes of juniper to offset the sweetness.

The Gateway – Broccoli and mushroom
A lovely, warming, richly savoury soup.

Golden Dragon – Chicken noodle
A beautifully seasoned broth packed with lovely soft noodles.

Gran Caffe – Butternut squash, sweet potato and chilli
Elegant and flavour packed.

Green Cat Cafe – Leek and potato
A very tasty version of this staple.

Grill 48 – Leek and potato
Hearty and flavour-packed.

Guildford Arms – Leek and potato
A well-seasoned and rustic soup.

Gurkha Brigade – Nepalese chicken
A really nicely judged blend of flavours made for highly enjoyable eating.

Hanna Cherries Teashop – Cauliflower, cheddar and mustard
A good blend of heat and sourness made this soup surprisingly enjoyable.

Harajuku Kitchen – Miso
One of the most satisfying miso soups we’ve been served in the city.

Hemma – Pea and spinach
Packed with citrus and dill, this was a lovely Scandinavian soup.

Henri – Thai spiced peppers
A warmly aromatic soup, full of lively goodness.

Hula Juice Bar – Haggis, neep and tattie
Great fun and smashing quality from the Hula maestros.

Hungry Henry’s – Potato and sweetcorn
A smooth soup with considerable punch.

Italia Nostra – Tortellini in brodo
A lovely version of this Italian favourite.

Jasmine – braised tofu and seafood
Delicate and elegant.

Just the Ticket – Parsnip
Thick and full of flavour, this was a perfect winter warmer.

Karen’s Unicorn – Hot and sour
A richly meaty broth, full of shredded goodness.

Khublai Khan – Mushroom
A lovely mushroom soup, full of excellent nutty flavour.

Kilimanjaro – Chicken chowder
A great soup for keeping out the cold on a bracing Edinburgh day.

King’s Wark – Fish with vermicelli and egg white
A first-rate chowder, with generous amounts of seafood, in a lovely creamy broth.

Kweilin – Seafood chowder
A beautifully delicate soup, from the Chinese seafood experts at Kweilin.

Leith Beer Co – Mushroom
A creamy and delightful rendition.

Leo’s Beanery – Winter vegetable
A perfect winter warmer.

Lettuce Eat – Chicken chowder
Outstandingly tasty soup, full of replenishing delight.

Lian Pu – Mixed meat ramen
Profuse and delicious, this was a very smart dish.

Lime – Chicken broth
Full of shredded chicken and leek, this was a complete soupy joy.

The Little Inn – Tomato & basil
One of the best tomato soups I’ve tried.

Le Marche Francais – Highland vegetable
A truly amazing depth of flavour made this a sumptuous soup.

Meat Bar – Corn chowder
A meal in itself, this was a warmingly hearty bowl of creamy goodness.

The Melville – Carrot and coriander, with caramelized orange
A sophisticated soup, with an elegant orange centrepiece, around which a pleasing broth was poured.

Nawroz – Tomato, Lentil and Mint
Unusual and complex, this was deep and warming, yet still somehow light and refreshing. Really skillful.

New York Steam Packet – Sweet potato and coconut
Lovely, aromatic and deeply satisfying.

Nira Caledonia – Prawn bisque
A sophisticated soup, packed with amazing depth of flavour.

Nobles – Courgette and rosemary
Intensely herby and smartly executed, this was a high quality dish.

Oasis Cafe – Cauliflower
A light and flavourful soup.

Olive Tree Cafe Bistro – Lentil
A lentil soup in the spiced Middle Eastern style, this was packed with warming flavour.

Ondine – Smoked Haddock Chowder
Rich, smokey flavour, with accurately diced pieces of potato and fish, beautifully served directly from the tureen.

Osteria del Tempo Perso – Broccoli and tomato
A tasty flavour combination.

Out of the Blue Drill Hall Cafe – Courgette, pea and mint
A hearty winter broth. Delicious.

The Ox – Onion and ale
Beautifully balanced, with fantastic depth of flavour.

La P’tite Folie – Cream of parsnip
Beautifully presented and full of flavour.

The Pantry – Caramelized swede
A warming seasonal favourite.

Papavero – Potato and lentil
A simple soup, packed with flavour.

Patisserie Jacob – Potato and kale
A delicious soup with a lovely blend of flavours.

Papoli – Lamb shorba
A lovely, meaty soup, full of Mediterranean goodness.

Piano Cafe – Minestrone
Hearty and entirely pleasing, this was one of the better minestrones I’ve been served.

Picnic Basket – Creamy mushroom
Richly satisfying lunchtime mushroom goodness.

Pinocchio – Chickpea
Warmly spiced, made with love, and deeply satisfying.

Preacher’s Patisserie – Lentil
A very good, old school lentil soup.

Qua – Minestrone
A satisfyingly chunky minestrone.

Queen’s Arms – Parsnip
A warming and delicious soup, with a lovely texture and oodles of flavour.

Qupi – Leek, potato and lentil
An enjoyably rustic rendition of this tasty flavour combination.

The Regent – Parsnip and ginger
A rustic soup, packed with parsnip goodness.

Rendezvous – Crab and sweetcorn
A really nicely prepared soup, full of crabstick and sweetcorn goodness.

Reverie – Mushroom, spinach and tarragon
A wonderfully aromatic soup, with judicious use of tarragon.

Richmond Cafe Bistro – Bean
A satisfying soup in the Mediterranean style.

Riverhill Coffee Bar – Celeriac, apple and blue cheese
A smashing soup, which pleased me, greatly.

The Roamin’ Nose – Sweet potato and fennel
Beautiful texture and packed with flavour. One to savour.

Rocca – Wild mushroom
Elegant and delicious.

Rogano – Celeriac and Mushroom
Thick and hearty, Glasgow’s Rogano is one of my favourite soupy spots, when I’m in the West.

The Roseleaf – Cullen skink
A flavour-packed version of this Scottish classic.

Royal China – Chicken noodle
A light and pleasing rendition, packed with noodles and tender chicken strips.

Safari Lounge – Asian vegetable broth
Wonderfully aromatic, this soup was packed with vegetable goodness.

Salvo’s Caffe – Lentil
A light but well-seasoned broth, full of chunky vegetable goodness.

Sambuca – Pasta e fagioli
Full of pasta and beans, this was a beautifully seasoned soup.

Sandwich Delights – Mushroom
A chunky and well-seasoned soup.

The Scottish Cafe and Restaurant – Cullen skink
A rustic and hearty version of this Scottish classic. A meal in itself.

The Scran and Scallie – Sheep’s heid broth
A Scottish classic, this was a nicely executed dish.

Sicilian Pastry Shop – Lentil
A fantastic lentil soup from this wonderful bakery.

Social Bite – Carrot and coriander
Lovely and creamy, this was an excellently produced, rustic soup.

Songkran – Chicken tom yum
Punchy and aromatic, this soup was really satisfying.

Spirit of Thai – Chicken tom yum
A spectacular soup, full of wonderful zing and chilli power.

Sprio – Potato and chickpea
A lovely combination of flavours and textures in this expertly prepared soup.

Stac Polly Bistro and Gin Bar – Chestnut mushroom
An outstanding broth that was a little let down by its accompaniment, but was very tasty nevertheless.

Suburban Pantry – Red pepper, lentil and tarragon
A bonnie and well-executed soup with a nicely judged balance of flavours.

Sugarhouse Sandwiches – Curried carrot and butter bean
Smart and tasty, with whole butter beans providing pleasing hidden treasure, this was a lovely lunchtime soup.

Sylvester’s – Wild mushroom
Wonderfully nutty and beautifully balanced.

Tani Modi – Minestrone
Beautifully seasoned and full of hearty goodness.

Tasty Noodle – Chicken noodle
A meal in itself, the chicken in this noodle soup was outstanding.

Thai Lemongrass – Tom kha
Full of fragrance, with an excellence balance of flavours.

Thistle Sandwich Bar – Minted Pea and Ham
Lovely consistency, sweet pea and ham flavours, beautifully balanced by fragrant mint. Really good.

Three Birds – Garlic
Full of rich garlic creaminess, this was as enjoyable and quirky soup.

Time 4 Thai – Chicken and Mushroom
A riot of flavour, with citrus, coconut, chilli and coriander, this soup was one of the more memorable dishes I’ve sampled on all of our quests. A touch out of control, but relentlessly interesting!

Toast – Butternut squash and spinach
A highly accomplished, beautifully balanced soup.

Traverse Theatre Bar – Pea and Mint
A generous portion of really nicely made, flavour-packed soup.

Two Thin Laddies – Roasted vegetable
A beautifully thick and hearty soup, full of wonderful roasted flavour.

Urban Angel – Leek, potato and fennel
An excellent, blended, velvety soup, served with delicious bread. Creamy, elegant and satisfying.

Voujon – Lentil
An excellent blend of textures made this a very satisfying soup.

Water of Leith Cafe Bistro – Cullen skink
A lovely rendition of this smokily fishy Scottish classic.

The West Room – Lentil and Ham Hock
A lovely looking soup, packed with flavour and generous chunks of ham.

Wildfire – Lentil and bacon
A deeply flavoured, profoundly satisfying soup.

Woodland Creatures – Sweet potato and coconut
A really well-judged balance of flavours in this satisfying soup.

Wong’s – Hot and sour
Packed with flavourful morsels, this was a satisfying soup of real quality.