Warm Up with Soup in Lincoln Square

It’s officially soup season! Luckily, Lincoln Square’s eateries offer a wide variety of delicious soups for a warm, nourishing lunch. Whether you’re in the mood for a comforting classic or something with a bit more flair, here’s a roundup of local spots where you can grab a bowl (or cup) of soup for lunch.

For those craving familiar flavors, Old John’s Diner (148 West 67th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway) delivers with chicken soup and matzo ball soup, while Westside Restaurant (2020 Broadway between West 69th and West 70th Street) offers a rotating soup du jour, along with French onion and matzo ball soups. If you’re looking for something a bit richer, P.J. Clarke’s (44 West 63rd Street at Columbus Avenue) serves creamy tomato soup, New England clam chowder, Manhattan red clam chowder, and chicken vegetable soup. The Smith (1900 Broadway between West 63rd and West 64th Street) features roasted tomato soup topped with garlic croutons and cheddar melt on their weekday lunch menu.

If you’re looking to stray from the classics, Lincoln Square has plenty of options to spice up your lunch hour. Wok City (153 Amsterdam Avenue at West 67th Street) offers a robust selection of affordable soups, from wonton and egg drop to tofu vegetable and seafood soups. For noodle lovers, EA Dumpling (201 Amsterdam Avenue at West 69th Street) has beef noodle soup, pork or veggie wonton noodle soup, hot and sour soup, and corn chowder. Meanwhile, ramen fans can head to Momofuku Noodle Bar (10 Columbus Circle) for savory bowls of smoked pork, garlic chicken, or mushroom ramen. For a Mexican twist, Rosa Mexicano (61 Columbus Avenue at West 62nd Street) serves up Chicken Tortilla Soup with a pasilla chile broth, crispy tortilla strips, avocado, and queso fresco.

For a quick and casual lunch, Lincoln Square’s cafés have you covered. During the cooler months, Breads Bakery (1890 Broadway between West 62nd and West 63rd Street) serves a different type of soup every day of the week, including split pea, white bean, and Moroccan harira, plus a side of bread. Épicerie Boulud (1900 Broadway between West 63rd and West 64th Street) offers seasonal soups in various sizes, served with a baguette. A block north, Le Pain Quotidien (60 West 65th Street between Broadway and Central Park West) provides options like chicken soup with farro and organic lentil soup (which is also vegan) paired with artisanal bread daily, and offers butternut soup on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and tomato basil on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well. Plant-based eaters will enjoy Le Botaniste’s (156 Columbus Avenue between West 66th and West 67th Street) "Magic Miso Soup" with quinoa noodles, tofu, and veggies, or their soup of the day. At Maman (152 Columbus Avenue at West 67th Street), try Carol’s tomato soup topped with crème fraîche and country bread croutons, or head to Tartinery (10 Columbus Circle) for butternut squash, chestnut and mushroom, or lentil soup. For a change of pace, you can spend your lunch hour in David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center with a bowl of The Independent Café’s (61 West 62nd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue) daily soup.

For a leisurely meal, there are several sit-down options to choose from. Café Fiorello (1900 Broadway between West 63rd and West 64th Street) serves Italian wedding soup with meatballs, chicken, and farro, while its sister restaurant, Cafe Paradiso (144 West 65th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue), located inside Film at Lincoln Center, serves a soup of the day or Tuscan vegetable soup. Robert (2 Columbus Circle) offers a rich mushroom barley soup with crispy wild rice, and at Nougatine (1 Central Park West at West 60th Street), you’ll find a butternut squash soup with black trumpet mushrooms and chives. MO Lounge (80 Columbus Circle at West 60th Street) at the Mandarin Oriental, New York also offers a luxurious setting to pair with a butternut squash soup starter or wonton noodle soup as a main.

Of course, sometimes you might just want a quick cup or bowl of soup to go. On those days, head over to local grocery stores like Morton Williams (2015 Broadway between West 68th and West 69th Street), Whole Foods Market (10 Columbus Circle), and Gourmet Garage (155 West 66th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway) for ready-to-go options. Wonder (2030 Broadway at West 70th Street) also offers soups from several restaurants that can be easily ordered for pick-up or delivery.

No matter what you’re craving, Lincoln Square’s soup scene is sure to warm you up with a delicious variety of flavors this season! And for a full list of restaurants in the district, check out our Neighborhood Guide.

Photo Credit:
Image 1 - P.J. Clarke’s
Image 2 - Le Botaniste
Image 3 - Momofuku Noodle Bar