Oh, the weather outside ain’t frightful — but as temps cool into fall and thoughts turn toward Halloween, a steaming bowl of soup might just summon the spirits! Or at least lift them, anyway. Here are some of our favorites. —Ellen Ritscher Sackett
Pasta Fasuli
The star of this rich, all-vegetarian soup is Italian white beans combined with bite-sized pasta. Fast-casual meets Old World in both cuisine and decor as customers order authentic Italian fare at the counter and dine amid pillars and arched stonework, a nod to ancient European wood-fired brick ovens. Pair the soup with the eatery’s namesake dish, the classic frittella, that’s similar to a calzone (or pizza folded in half) but deep-fried in olive oil rather than baked; the recipe for this stuffed savory pocket was brought to the Brazos Valley from the owner’s hometown of Brindisi, Italy, on the coast of the southern peninsula. Other soup options include traditional Minestrone and Chicken and Vegetable (add $.50). $4.25
Frittella Italian Cafe
3901 S. Texas Ave., Bryan
(979) 260-6666
frittellacafe.com
Tom Kha Kai
Like a kitten happily lapping up milk, one may want to slurp this light
and creamy Thai soup straight from the bowl. Call it “liquid comfort food” — No. S2 on the menu is slightly sweet, made with coconut milk as the basis, with chicken, straw mushrooms and galangal, a traditional Asian spice, added. It’s filling without being heavy and can whet your appetite or make for the main meal. Pam and Woody Kowitjaroenphal, the former owners of Kluay Kluay, create authentic Thai cuisine for their customers. They relocated three years ago to this intimate strip-mall restaurant, which seats 26 and does a walloping to-go business. Small $5; Large $9.95.
Bangkok Thai Kitchen
507 N. Harvey Mitchell Pkwy., Bryan
(979) 485-5244
Tanaka Classic
House-made noodles in a savory but not too salty broth with thick, tender cuts of pork (chasu) is a must-try Japanese dish for any Brazos Valley ramen fan. The entree also includes black wood ear mushrooms (kikurage) and crunchy bean sprouts with a bit of a kick, topped with green and fried onions, garlic oil, and a hard-boiled egg. Chicken-based broths and vegetarian ramen options are available for those unable to eat pork. The touch of spice isn’t enough to numb the taste buds, and while this colorful dish is deceptively small, there is more than enough food for one meal with leftovers almost guaranteed. $12.50
Tanaka Ramen
1617 Texas Ave. S., College Station
(979) 704-5060
tanakaramen.com
Caldo de Res
Nearly all Tex-Mex restaurants serve a chicken tortilla soup, and Casa
Rod, as locals call this downtown Bryan hotspot, is no exception. But the real soup draw is served fresh on the weekends only until gone: the Caldo. This hearty stew can be ordered with fall-off-the-bone short-rib beef or chicken and is chock-full of big chunks of veggies, served with a side of Spanish rice and a choice of two flour or three corn tortillas. Caldo-craving customers know to show up early for their favorite fare, otherwise they might be out of luck as the popular dish tends to sell out quickly. The menu touts Casa Rod’s Caldo de Res as “The Best in the Brazos Valley.” Try a bowl, and see if you agree. Small, $8; large, $9.50.
Casa Rodriguez
300 N. Bry
an Ave., Bryan
(979) 314-2213
casarod.com
Sambar
This Indian twist on this delicate vegetable soup ushers in a taste of autumn and may tempt you to cozy up under a blanket. This soothing starter is spicy without being hot, and its thin texture is easy to digest. It consists of onions, cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, lentils, and moringa — commonly referred to as drumsticks — a green, stocky vegetable with a texture like celery from the Drumstick tree found in South India. This soup can be a warm-up to the main course chosen from Taz’s extensive menu that includes 21 different types of vegetarian curry dishes. Check out the lunchtime buffet that makes it easy to run back for seconds. $4.50.
Taz Indian Cuisine
2416 Texas Ave.S, College Station
(979) 696-6560
tazcuisine.com
