Warm your soul this winter at these Fall River area soup spots
The weeks after the holiday season are when the winter cold really starts to set in.
And now with the first real snowstorm of the season in the books, we gaze in awe from our windows at the sight of this winter wonderland before being quickly reminded as we head into the icy outdoors how much we miss that warm summer sun.
Depending on how you feel about winter, it’s either something you dread or delight in.
Regardless of how we all feel about that chill settling in deeper, we can all agree upon some tried and true methods of staying cozy and warm until the weather changes.
We’ve got our favorite blankets, our fluffiest slippers, thickest sweaters, warmest beverages, whatever keeps us feeling toasty.
But nothing drives away those winter blues quite like a hot bowl of your favorite soup.
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January is the National Soup Month
And it just so happens January is National Soup Month. Here are some fun facts about soup:
Did you know Campbell’s founded National Soup Month in 1986? And that Americans eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup each year?
Also, the earliest evidence of our ancestors eating soup was about 6,000 BC. And just what kind of soup was it? Why, hippopotamus of course.
Doesn't sound so appealing? Well it seems most people these days prefer good old chicken noodle, which takes the prize as the most popular soup in the U.S.
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If you’re looking for a place to grab a nice bowl of soup, or take it to go, we put together a list of some restaurants from around Greater Fall River serving up soup to warm both the hands and the soul.
So go ahead, grab a spoon, and enjoy a piping hot cup of comfort food:
Blount Company Soup Store (Fall River)
Where: 100 Graham Road, Fall River
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Sunday
More info: 774-888-0050, https://blountretail.com/fall-river/home, https://www.facebook.com/BlountSoupStore
Get delicious gourmet soup to go at Blount Company Soup Store. There you can shop a wide array of over 40 chowders, bisques and more to heat and enjoy at home.
Customer favorites include lobster bisque, New England clam chowder, broccoli and cheddar cheese Soup, Portuguese kale soup and the tried ad true chicken noodle soup.
Unlike their now closed Bedford Street location, there is no eat-in option at the Blount factory site. But check out their soup bar featuring four hot soups available everyday from Monday to Saturday to take to go.
In honor of National Soup Month, Blount is offering 20% off full price bags of soup every Wednesday in January. So stock up for the chilly weather.
Say It With Soup at Faneek's (Fall River)
Where: 269 Rhode Island Ave., Fall River
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
More info: 508-678-8261, https://www.sayitwithsoupclub.com, http://www.faneeks.com
When you're looking for some cozy comfort food to keep you warm, Faneek's has you covered. A Fall River staple for decades, Faneek's is known far and wide for its specialty Coney Island hot dogs. But as the chill of winter sets in, soup is where it's at.
Say It With Soup is a creative food delivery service Faneek's launched last January and proved a big hit with customers. Who doesn't love the gift of a hot container of soup hand-delivered to your door with a special note from a loved one? Or maybe you just want to treat yourself.
At sayitwithsoupclub.com, Faneek's offer several flavors of soup — either quart of half-gallon bucket — made to order and delivered hot. Try their stuffed pepper soup or spicy shrimp ramen, among their most popular items. Faneek's also offers low-carb and vegan options — substituting any of the meats for vegan crumbles.
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Sweet Rose Cafe (Fall River)
Where: 268 Highland Ave., Fall River
Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Monday
More info: 508-567-1100, https://www.thesweetrosecafe.com, https://www.facebook.com/sweetrosecafe
When it comes to dedicated vegan and gluten-free eateries, options are often few and far between. The quaint Sweet Rose Cafe aims to fill that void.
According to their website, Sweet Rose Cafe's mission is "to provide options for plant focused diets by offering delicious vegan food that even meat-eaters will enjoy."
The vegan bakery and sandwich shop serves breakfast and lunch. Those looking for a warm-up can enjoy a coffee or espresso drink with plant-based milk, and drop in or check out their Facebook page for soup specials. Previous specials have included tomato basil and vegan butternut bisque soup.
Hong Meas Restaurant (Fall River)
Where: 418 Quequechan St., Fall River
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Monday
More info: 774-704-5226, https://hongmeasrestaurant.com, https://www.facebook.com/HongMeasRestaurant
Take a culinary journey through Southeast Asia with a visit to Hong Meas Restaurant. The Cambodian eatery serves a wide range of flavorful Asian cuisine, but is a local go-to for its popular Cambodian kuy teav (Vietnamese pho) soup.
So just what is kuy-teav? Considered Cambodia's national dish, this soup consists of savory broth, rice noodles, fresh herbs and a choice of beef, chicken or shrimp, according to Hong Meas website.
"If you've never had pho soup, you're in for a treat," states Hong Meas.
Also on the menu you'll find Thai Green Curry Chicken Soup — prepared with chicken, coconut milk that is garnished with green beans, bamboo shoots and kaffir lime leaves — and Somlor Machu Youn. This Vietnamese sweet and sour soup is prepared with large, marinated shrimp wrapped in a spring roll wrapper then deep fried and served with a house sauce on a side dish. Both are perfect post-snowstorm eats.
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LePage's Seafood & Grille (Fall River)
Where: 439 Martine St. (Route 6), Fall River
Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
More info: 508-677-2180, https://lepagesseafood.com, https://www.facebook.com/lepagesseafood
Looking for a scenic spot to sip your soup?
LePage’s Seafood & Grille — overlooking Watuppa Pond — has been a go-to casual, old-fashioned choice for New England surf 'n' turf classics for over three decades.
Their lobster bisque, clam chowder and French onion soup compliment any dish on the menu, or enjoy a bowl on its own as a warm pick-me-up after a chilly trek along the waterfront walking trail.
For takeout: https://bit.ly/2FwQa7N. For delivery: https://bit.ly/3hLNUq2
Patti's Pierogis (Fall River)
Where: 1019 South Main St., Fall River
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday
More info: 508-679-4001, http://www.pattispierogis.com, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patties-Perogies/169655473090706
Patti's Pierogis' reputation precedes itself. Famous nationwide after being featured on programs such as Phantom Gourmet and Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," it's even recently welcomed celebrity diner Bill Murray.
Most are drawn to the Fall River eatery for it's vast selection of unique Polish pierogis so good you will never want to say "do widzenia" (goodbye).
Pierogi options — which also come in dessert form — range from traditional potato and cheese to the unusual, such as the chourogi, frenchogi, shepard's pierogi, buffalogi or mac and cheeseogi, to name a few.
Pierogis may be its hallmark, but don’t overlook the soup.
Before you dig into those heavenly dumplings, why not start your meal with some kapusta, a traditional Polish cabbage soup that's a soul-warming, healthy blend of cabbage, sauerkraut, potatoes and white beans that you can get with or without slices of kielbasa? You won't be sorry.
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Barrett's Alehouse (Fall River)
Where: 4171 North Main St., Fall River
Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m./kitchen hours (full menu), 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., pizza only 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m./kitchen hours (full menu), 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., pizza only 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
More info: 508-674-3600, https://www.barrettsalehouse.com/fall-river, https://www.facebook.com/BarrettsAlehouseFallRiver
At Barrett's Alehouse, home to pizza, burgers and American pub grub, you'll find clam chowder, French onion soup with swiss and parmesan cheese, croutons and scallions and Barrett's chili with monterey jack cheese, red onions and tortilla chips. They also offer an ever-changing soup of the day. You can find these same options with a waterfront view at Barrett's Waterfront, 1082 Davol St., Fall River.
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Rea's (Swansea)
Where: 566 Wilbur Ave., Swansea
Winter hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More info: https://www.eatatreas.com, https://www.facebook.com/eatatreas, https://www.instagram.com/eatatreas/
When it's cold outside it's nice to get a warm welcome at Rea's food trailer, a new fixture at Coles Landing.
Since setting up shop this past fall just off Route 103 in Swansea's Ocean Grove neighborhood, Rea's has generated quite a buzz in the community. From its specialty cold brew coffee to bagels, desserts and various lunch options, it's the perfect place to swing by on the go for a pick-me-up.
Craving something to help thaw out on a cold winter day? Check out their latest soup of the day offerings on Instagram or Facebook. People looking for a warm-up will enjoy Rea's chicken noodle and garden vegetable soups, as well as Portuguese kale soup with chourico.
Thyme Blossom (Fall River)
Where: 10 Purchase St., Fall River
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. tp 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More info: 508-340-3381, https://thymeblossom.com, https://www.facebook.com/thymeblossom
Thyme Blossom Café serves fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, coffee and sweets, including vegan and gluten-free options.
Offerings vary by the day, and feature savory fare such as a caprese sandwich served on freshly baked bread cooked in the Panini press, Italian sandwich and puff pastry with spinach, artichoke and chicken.
As for soups, their daily specials have included everything from chicken pico de gallo to clam chowder, lobster bisque, homemade chicken tortellini, homemade Italian wedding and broccoli cheddar.
Roger's Family Restaurant (Somerset)
Where: 1229 Wilbur Ave., Somerset
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to noon; closed Monday and Tuesday
More info: 508-678-0201, https://www.rogersfamilyrestaurant.com, https://www.facebook.com/rogersfamilyrestaurant
At Roger's Family Restaurant, which has been family owned and operated since 1959, a steaming bowl or cup of kale soup, creamy chowder or French onion soup can't be beat on a cold day.
Wild Honey Café (Westport)
Where: 670 Main Road, Westport
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Monday
More info: 508-938-5150, https://www.wildhoneycafe.com, https://www.facebook.com/wildhoneydartmouth
Wild Honey Café, a cute coffee and sandwich shop with a baked goods as well as vegan and gluten-free items, opened at its new Westport location in April 2021. It offers various soup of the day options such as butternut apple. Drop in or check out their Facebook page for their latest soup offerings.
Partners Village Store and Kitchen (Westport)
Where: 865 Main Road, Westport
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
More info: 508-636-2572, https://partnersvillagestore.com, https://www.facebook.com/partnersvillagestoreandkitchen
At Partners Village Store and Kitchen you can shop and get a yummy lunch to go. They have a variety of soups made daily as well as salads, sandwiches, wraps, desserts, and more.
Mesa 21 (Fall River)
Where: 21 Lindsey St., Fall River
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
More info: 508-678-1980, https://mesa21fallriver.com, https://www.facebook.com/mesa21fr
This Fall River restaurant, which specializes in Portuguese and American dishes as well as lunch and dinner classics, serves up local go-to favorite Portuguese kale soup as well as French onion soup and black bean chili.
Panera Bread (North Dartmouth)
Where: 84 N. Dartmouth Mall Drive, North Dartmouth
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
More info: 508-994-9640, https://bit.ly/3JKqIaZ
The obligatory fast food pick, Panera actually has some fairly decent soup selections. Their vegetarian autumn squash soup is creamy and hearty, topped with toasted pumpkin seeds. They’ve also got turkey chili, broccoli cheddar soup, chicken noodle soup, creamy tomato soup, vegetable soup, cream of chicken and wild rice soup, and French onion soup. If you’ve got an appetite, you can also order the soup in a bread bowl.
Craving some sopas?
When it comes to comfort food with a side of nostalgia, there's nothing like the aroma of a hot panela (pot) of Portuguese sopa (soup) from vavo's kitchen. Standing at any point in Fall River, you are just a stone's throw away from authentic Portuguese fare.
And each restaurant is sure to feature Portuguese soup and caldo verde — a soup of fresh kale in pureed potato broth with sliced chourico, vegetables, beans and either noodles or orzo pasta — on their menu.
All serve up their own variations of the traditional Portuguese soups. So take your pick (there are plenty of options and these are just a few) or try multiple and see who does it best:
Fall River Grill, 363 2nd St., Fall River, 508-673-9151, https://www.fallrivergrill.com
Sagres Restaurant, 177 Columbia St., Fall River, 508-675-7018, https://www.sagresrestaurant.com
Caldeiras Restaurant, 990 Pleasant St., Fall River, 508-673-0026, http://www.caldeirasrestaurant.com
T.A. Restaurant, 408 S. Main St, Fall River, 508-673-5890, https://tarestaurant.us
Estoril, 1577 Pleasant St, Fall River, 508-677-1200, http://www.estorilrestaurant.com
Terra Nostra Restaurant, 262 Rodman St., Fall River, 508-677-9878, http://terranostrarestaurant.com
O'Gil's, 915 County St., Fall River, 508-673-7250, https://www.ogils.com
Clipper Restaurant, 455 S. Main St., #5328, Fall River, 508-679-4700, https://www.facebook.com/TheClipperFR
Caravela, 637 S Main St, Fall River, 508-235-1030, https://www.caravelafallriver.com
Avo’s Feast, 1601 Pleasant St., Fall River, 508-674-2268, http://avosfeast.com
Barcellos Family Restaurant, 1214 Stafford Road, Tiverton, 401-624-6649, https://www.barcellosfamilyrestaurant.com
Spring Primavera Restaurant, 118 Main Road, Tiverton, 401-624-2621, https://www.springprimaverarestaurant.com
Herald News Digital Producer Kristina Fontes contributed to this story.
Ashley Schuler can be reached at aschuler@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Get soup in Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Tiverton
