Good Taste : Mmm-mm good: Soup for dinner

By Eleni Collins
Published: September 24, 2009

Menus continue to change at Island restaurants in tune with the changing season. With fall here, restaurants offer warmer and heartier dishes. Away with tuna sashimi; in with chicken noodle soup.

Nothing warms cool fall nights like hearty soup. Photo by Susan Safford

Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown has daily soups featuring freshly harvested produce. This week, such specials have been vegetarian split pea, fungarian mushroom, and butternut squash with apples and sage. All soups are $4.95 for a cup.

Also in Edgartown, Atlantic Fish and Chop House serves huge bowls of New England and Manhattan clam chowder for $8.

For a hearty bowl of soup, visit Linda Jean's for chicken and corn chowder ($3.99 cup, $4.99 bowl), The Wharf for chili served in a French boule with jack and cheddar cheese ($8), Deon's for Caribbean conch soup with root vegetables, herbs, and spices ($12), Danny Quinn's in Oak Bluffs for a hefty bowl of Guinness beef stew served with vegetables ($15.95), and Garcia's in West Tisbury for daily selections including butternut squash, hearty lentil, and Tuscan white bean ($2.95-$6.25).

French onion soups tend to be a favorite. Try them at The Newes (with four cheese and garlic toast for dipping for $6), The Ocean View ($5.99), Le Grenier ($9), and Seasons Eatery and Pub ($6.95).

Espresso Love in Edgartown features two soups of the day along with clam chowder. This week, find spinach tortellini, butternut squash with apple, and beef and barley, which all come with an herb biscuit ($4 for 8 oz., $7 for 16 oz.).

State Road in West Tisbury serves Island corn soup finished with roasted corn and scallions ($8).

The Net Result in Vineyard Haven sells clam chowder and lobster bisque by the cup ($4.75), bowl ($6.50), and quart ($11.50).

And the Scottish Bakehouse offers seasonal soups such as Portuguese kale with linquica, tomato, and chicken with rice ($6 small, $12 large).

That time of year

If you haven't visited some of your favorite seasonal spots, now is the time. Many are closing soon. Chilmark Chocolates is open today through Sunday, then they're closing for a break. The Chilmark Store closes on October 19; Outermost Inn in Aquinnah and Chesca's in Edgartown both close on the 11th.

Prices are subject to change and do not include tax.