Soup Up

I ordered the chicken and dumplings soup and a jerk chicken egg roll. For 15 dollars, I am disappointed that I was served ONE small eggroll and a medium bowl of soup– but I guess that is Bethesda for you
The soup was OK, but not worth the money. Also, I had a chicken wing bone the size of a finger in my soup– how in the world did that slip by? Thank God I did not choke on that! Unacceptable
The atmosphere of the restaurant and the service was great, the gentleman who took my order and delivered my take out were very kind and patient so no complaints on the service
Overall, I will probably not return– mostly due to the giant bone and expensive nature of the restaurant

Soup is very good.
Prices a way too high.
Took a small soup home. It was about 7 – 8 oz.
Cost $ 8.50
That’s a dollar an Oz!!!

The soups are delicious and they let you sample them before you buy. I appreciate them making the soups healthy with no weird oils. The soups are fresh and the meat is not skimped on. The jerk chicken spring roll was delicious and not as oily or heavy feeling as a traditional Chinese egg roll. The corn bread was slightly sweeter than I am used to but $ 6 was very steep. Overall I really liked this place and will be back, but not too often because the prices are high for lunch

Really excellent soups for a cold evening. We’ve tried the Herb Roasted Chicken, Cashew Chickpea with Shiitake, and Chili Fiesta (OK, technically not a soup) and have enjoyed each. The fact the soups don’t contain butter or salt isn’t a selling point for me. I love butter and salt. But the combination of fresh herbs and other fresh ingredients makes the soups taste like your grandmother made them. That I’m a fan of. The owner, Donna, is (like her soups) warm and welcoming. Generous portions. Generous people. We’ll be back again soon.

I only tried the chicken soup and I thought it was very good but pricey for the size even by Bethesda standards.
They have excellent service. One of the male servers opened the door for me because I was having trouble with a baby and he also set up a high chair. Another mail server helped me with the door as I left. Both were extremely nice.

Worst service in the history of service. I walk in, totally empty, 3 employees yapping away. I stand at the counter and am ignored so I decide to sit at a table. 5 minutes later the «servers» finish their conversation. Finally one of the people turn to me — «are you waiting for someone or what are you doing ?» I confused say «I would like to order a soup?» The woman condescendingly looks at me and points in front of her — 3 feet away– you come up HERE to order. Uh. No. I had to walk out of there.
I don’t care how bad a day you’ve had or whatever– there’s no reason to make a customer in an empty restaurant feel like an idiot. Plus it’s just lazy. If you want me to order at the counter indicate that so I don’t have to stand there and intuit it from a group of people who don’t even care that I’m there. Or you can be cool with me just telling you my order from my table and I’ll get up and walk the three feet when it’s ready to pick it up and bring it back to my table myself if you’re too lazy to do even that for a customer.

Employees were friendly and patient with everyone wanting to taste soups before me. Vegan and gluten free items are clearly marked. Options are plenty. Wifi is great. Ambiance is bright but nice. The Green Machine soup was surprisingly great and with a spicy kick. I went with the Butternut Squash with Red Lentil. Not as sweet as I’ve had in other places, but it tasted fresher and more wholesome. Would recommend. Good meet up place for friends or something casual.

Soup up is bringing all kinds of tasty excellence to Bethesda– if only this winter were cold enough to bring out people’s intense soup cravings. I will say, these are more stews than soups– both of the soups I sampled today (the excellent chicken curry soup, and the lasagna soup) were incredibly thick, especially the lasagna soup. So if you’re imagining something more broth-​y, this could disappoint. But the flavors were absolutely, utterly, and unstoppabl-​y delicious, even if the soup prices are about $ 2 on the high side. (I guess we can refer to this as «Bethesda pricing.»)
There are two puzzling things about this spot though
1– Spring rolls. I’m not sure why they decided to pair soup with spring rolls but I fear it doesn’t work. What these soups need are a really delicious, really fresh, crusty bread. That’s what I was craving when I tried to dunk my spring roll into my soup. And soup should COME with bread — the two go together. No extra costs for bread.
2– I’m sure it’s because of the unusually warm weather, but it was uncomfortably warm in Soup Up today.
I look forward to hearing back to Soup Up to sample more of what’s on tap.

I love this quaint place! The architecture set up is AMAZING!!! I was coming in here 15 – 20 years ago to get my vacuum repaired by a nice older gal.
A cool friendly young man served me this time.
I started with the cornbread buttons 2/​$ 1.00
Banana Mania: fresh banana, strawberry, jalapeño pepper, peach and coconut very tasty!
Jerk Chicken spring rolls with yummy sauce are next up for me.
$ 4.00
Fresh Herb Roasted Chicken Soup with Roasted Corn and Vegetables $ 9.00
Piping HOT and it is a HUGE bowl.
Once the weather subsides I think this place will be packed on a snowy wintry day.

I have driven by this place many times. Glad I stopped in today. My girlfriend had a cold so I suggested she get some chicken soup. We ordered two soups the Chicken and Jambalaya. They were both excellent. All natural ingredients, no salt and gluten free. The Kale Salad was excellent with some of the freshest greens. The balsamic vinegrete reduction was superb along with roasted pine nuts, raisins and cherry tomatoes. We also ordered the Mini Cornbread Buttons which had a sweet taste of cinnamon. The breading on the Jerk Chicken Spring Rolls was a bit soggy but had great flavor and packed with chicken. The meal was so good we ordered a large chicken soup and Kale Salad to eat later. Oh… by the way the space is really artsy industrial with cool music and a lot of windows for people watching. Definitely check this place out for lunch or dinner.

Three and a half stars. Tasty noms at steep Bethesda prices. I can’t tell if the name is a nod to Barney Stinson’s rallying cry, but the space and décor are posh enough to back it up (and probably sets different expectations than rustic, homemade grub). They set up in an existing non-​restaurant space, so I’m not inclined to knock them for the awkward entrance layout. Glass walls make for lots of natural lighting, and there’s a loft for more seating, hipster table furniture, and a couple outlets. A medium serving is adequate for a moderate appetite, but the economics of going family size next time would soften the multi-​meal blow.
Service was super friendly. Someone whisked me to the counter with a menu after a few seconds of me wandering around in confusion, then later checked in to make sure I had been helped. Equal population staff and patrons, I gathered my order-​taker was still in training and at least two of the other workers were focused on food production. Spring rolls are a bottleneck to the fast casual efficiency here– the soups themselves are kept warm out front, so with a fairly slow day just over a month after opening, I was in and out in 10 minutes. With so many people working, the efficiency is slowly coming together. My soup was portioned shortly before my spring roll was boxed up, and only when I was handed my order did they request payment. Given that I could have paid during my wait, I think I overheard a veteran staffer point out the learning opportunity.
Comments to the business: I understand wanting to funnel people through a specifically monitored door when the bar island is your center of operations, but maybe split the difference and allow the convenience of entrances on the side doors. Also, utilize social media to promote extra menu specials, which could drum up more business. Whether that means building out second accounts to distinguish from the Union Market spot (I’d call the existing Twitter account dead weight, content-​wise), or labeling posts accordingly? Up to you. You probably don’t have the space and equipment to crank out bread, but maybe consider it down the line.
Food: in the freezing 5 minute walk back to the office, I discovered that my stew stayed scalding hot. As it cooled to an consumable temperature, the fat rendered from the meat settled at the top. Rustic lumps of tender lamb with gristle attached (my fave). Spice levels were mild, but herbed for lots of flavor. The tiny tubs of basmati rice with dates were a nice touch to add satiety. Jerk chicken spring roll was tasty, and totally elevated by its jerk sauce with shreds of chicken. but worth $ 4 for one roll split diagonally? Eeh.
Will be back to try out the Jamaican pumpkin soup, creamy white bean soup, and sweet n’ spicy cornbread buttons… someone else let me know how cornbread ice cream sandwiches taste, please. (Or show me the orchard where money grows on trees.)

The food was ok. Got 2 medium sized lamb stews and a couple different spring rolls to try. Like I said, it was OK, but not worth $ 11 each for the soup. Our favorite things were probably the garden vegetable spring rolls, but again overpriced at $ 3-​$ 4 a pop, and cold and soggy after a 5 minute drive home — makes me think they came that way. And I don’t mind paying more for high quality food. This just ain’t it.
My husband had a small skeleton’s worth of bones in his soup. I get it, a testament to the home cooked nature, etc. But he literally had 9 small bones in there.
The real problem is the service. I walked in on a Thursday night at 6 pm. There is nothing indicating where to place your orders or what to do — or anyone greeting you, you just have to assume that someone at the «bar» will help you. There was one couple trying some samples, one lady leaving with her order and one guy looking at a menu. I waited for about 7 minutes for someone to even take my order, while 3 people milled about looking desperately for anything to do besides help me. The owners (I guess) sat at a corner table covered in mounds of paperwork ignoring everything and talking loudly on the phone. Very professional. But I was hungry, I had already gone to the trouble of finding parking in this ludicrous town, and I promised my husband soup, so I ordered take out. Took the guy 3 times to get it right. I guess because he was so busy… I know it’s hard to find experienced wait staff for a new place, but how about just some people that instinctively know you should greet your customers. Or who don’t actively avoid working. That doesn’t take experienced wait staff, just regular people skills.
Probably won’t be back. And this place will probably fall victim to the high restaurant turn over rate in Bethesda anyway. Which sucks because I’ve been drooling over the site of this place going up for months.
TLDR; Mediocre overpriced food, terrible staff. Disappointed bellies.

I’ve never been much for soup; I always thought of it as a quick meal substitute when you have nothing else available, but I had read that the owner of Soup Up wants to change the way we think about soup, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I have to say, my expectations were far exceeded.
My first impression of the place was that it was set up specifically to prevent you from entering There is only one door, at the very point of the building, where you can actually enter, but there is a fountain and row of bricks directly in front of it, so you have to walk around to the side of the building to access the walkway that actually leads to the entrance. But then there’s a side door right where you access said walkway, but that door is locked. Confusing much?
Once I managed to find my way inside, though, I was greeted by a warm, comfortable atmosphere and smiling, helpful service. I also hadn’t realized before I came in here that it was table service — I expected just to order at a counter and take it to my table, but they actually just hand you a menu and tell you to pick a seat, and then they come and take your order, bring your food, etc. Even though it is table service, I did not feel strange eating here by myself, since the table arrangement seemed to encourage every party size from 1 to about 5 or 6 (you can always put together a few two-​tops). There was also a nice mezzanine level seating area (the restrooms were also up there).
As for the soup, I had the lasagna soup and it was absolutely amazing. There were high-​quality ingredients, and not just broth, in every single bite. If you eat every bite mindfully and appreciate what’s in it, there’s no way you can still say this place is overpriced for what you get. Even better, they use no oil or added salt in any of their soups, and the natural flavor is so full and well-​rounded that you’d never want them to. As others have mentioned, I ordered the medium size, and even though I was really hungry when I entered, I was completely full and satisfied when I left.
The only downer about my visit was that I wanted to try some of the cornbread buttons, but not only did they not have the kind I ordered, but they didn’t have a single flavor available at the time (and this was at 12:30 PM on a Saturday, so there’s not really any excuse not to have anything available at that time).
For anyone with food allergies, they clearly list out each ingredient of every soup on their menu, and the employees seemed very knowledgeable about what they were selling. None of their soups contain dairy or butter. Even the lasagna soup I ordered, which lists cheese as an ingredient, does not actually have the cheese mixed in, but they give it to you in a separate, sealed container so that there is no chance of accidental contact.
Everything about this place just shows the amount of thought and effort that went into it. If anyone ever says to me that soup is not a real meal, I will make sure to bring them here, and they’ll never think of soup the same way again.

Medium soup was 11.00 and pre-​made mint ice tea was 6.00! I ordered the classic lentil soup which was above average and homemade tasting. I think on par with Souper Girl. Price point is about double of their competitor though. It would go a long way here if they included bread with their soup as left hungry and with the feeling like I overpaid. Bread is cheap and filling. I would give the soup 4 stars, but here is why I drop score to two stars.
1. Customer service– was not greeted or spoken to until I placed my order, had to grab my own menu and go up to the counter to order and the place was empty. Is it sit down or carry out? Upon handing me the bill they said CC machine was down idefinitely and had to pay cash! They should have told me prior to eating, but oh well it happens. No employees seemed to know where there was an ATM so had to walk around downtown Bethesda for 15 minutes post meal until I found ATM. No apologies when I came back. They still had not posted sign outside regarding CC machine not working. Quick lunch became long lunch!
2. Overpriced. Left Hungry.

I think all the locals need to rally around this restaurant if for no other reason, to give the owner (Donna) a fighting chance against the banal, cookie-​cutter, corporate restaurants all around her. So many of the negative comments on here reflect expectations that we’ve developed by eating at these corporate-​backed giants.
The impact of deep pockets isn’t readily apparent to most customers. For example, one of the reasons Soup Up has run out of soups so often is because the owner cooks them herself as if she were cooking for her own family. They are her own creations inspired by her Caribbean background (the reason why some of the dishes have a kick). Up until recently, she also had to manage the staff. Unlike these corporate restaurants that can afford the outlay of big cash up front to hire a fully staffed kitchen that continuously cooks and brings out soups to order, an independently owned (anything) is hamstrung from the outset. This place more than makes up for these perceived imperfections with its innovative, unique, and rich-​tasting soups and salads.
Another frequent comment was the poor service, which is also impacted by the fact she’s an independent business owner. Professional wait staff know that many new restaurants close within the first year. They are reluctant to commit so much time to a place that may not be there in the future. Instead, they’d rather go to an established location where their time will eventually be rewarded with better/​more shifts, seniority, and frequent clientele. The owner actually pays her staff significantly more than businesses around her just to coax them into staying. Again, hamstrung because of the lack of deep pockets.
The tradeoff of an occasional lack of an item or service that is not quite sharp yet, or even a buck or two more than a comparable soup elsewhere, is a small price to pay for the delicious wonders she is producing. That they taste so good, is impressive enough, but add the healthy factor and lack of salt and butter, and I believe she is a cooking genius.
The comment about the small pieces of chicken bone or slithers of pumpkin is a testament to the homemade nature of these soups. Industrial soups have machines that wick all that stuff away — and many of the soups in «fine» restaurants start with a mass –produced base. After all, how many of us would go to grandma’s and complain about these small «imperfections?» We’d celebrate them! Those complaining are probably the same persons that would on Thanksgiving prefer cranberry sauce that sits up in a plate in perfect uniformity as if it were still in a can, rather than digging into a lumpy sauce made of fresh cranberries picked from the farm earlier in the day.
I recommend everyone visit Soups Up, and if you are not completely satisfied, seek out Donna and let her know what she can do better. Or, better yet, if it involves the staff, tell them directly. If she is given a fighting chance, these rough edges will be smoothed out in no time. For now, we need to support an adventurous, creative and talented cook whom has brought some much needed vibrance to the menus in downtown Bethesda.

I LOVE soup, but I was not a fan of this place. I did come here with high expectations since I think soup should totally be part of the food pyramid.
Here’s the positives:
1) Beautiful place; I love the setup of the soup bar where you can sit around the central area while the soup master spoons out piping hot bowls of soup.
2) You can sample the soups before deciding.
3) The soups are very filling! A medium bowl is enough for even a big appetite.
4) They have a large variety — about 6 different ones and are friendly for those with dietary restrictions.
5) The soups were all very flavorful and I was shocked to hear they had no salt! They came out piping HOT!
Here are the negatives:
1) Service — while there was a ton of people and they were friendly, service was spotty and we had to ask several times for things to be brought. E.g. spoons, napkins, etc. I get it, opening kinks that will work itself out, I’m sure.
2) Quality — I had the chicken noodle soup which was delicious and was exactly as described — a hug from grandma. As I was eating it, I picked out a small handful of bone, fat, gristle, and skin from my soup making it less appetizing with each scoop.
3) The spring roll — Comes out 1/​order. Though they should interesting and delicious, they came out barely warm. We tried the jerk chicken, banana, and sweet potato. The jerk chicken was great and the latter two were nice, sweet treats with coconut in them that ended up dominating the entire flavor profile. I’m sure these would be better if they came out hot and crispy!
Overall, I would likely give them another shot when I’m back in the area in hopes that they’ve made improvements to the quality and service. The soup honestly was very good, but for the price point, I expect more.
Tips: street parking or elementary school lot across street AFTER 5.

I am a huge soup fan (seriously, huge fan, could eat soup for every meal) so I was super excited when I found out about Soup Up opening a store in Bethesda. I’ve gone twice now, and the food has not disappointed. The Herb Chicken with Corn and the Fiesta Chili are both fantastic, and SO filling! With the heartier soups, you can definitely get the small size (12oz) and feel sated. I had the medium (16oz) my first visit, and was full for the rest of the day!
Their sides are good too — the Roasted Vegetable Cornbread and the Jerk Vegetable Spring Rolls were both delicious. I preferred the cornbread *slightly* more than the spring rolls, but both provided fun twists on classic sides.
They just opened a few weeks ago, so some kinks are still getting ironed out regarding service. Everyone is friendly throughout, but they’re clearly a new staff. Overall a great experience.

Nice staff and space/​decorations, but food was unremarkable and unsatisfying.
Creamy pumpkin soup with apple and pear — Bland, didn’t have a good pumpkin flavor and the pieces of apple and pear were completely flavorless, I was expecting a bit of sweetness when biting into a fruit piece, but it had none. I also had a few inedible fibrous pieces of something in my soup.
Vegetable spring roll with taro — dry with very little flavor. It seemed like it was just filled with faintly seasoned dry rice. The dipping sauce was unremarkable as well.
I wanted to like this place, but I won’t be going back, thumbs down and a waste of my $ 15.

My son and I went to soup up this Sunday for lunch. We had the chicken rigatoni and the herb chicken soup — my son said it was the best soup he ever had (and he is very finicky) — we look forward to coming back soon to try the rotating soups! I would recommend a visit to soup up anytime! And finally a bethesda restaurant owned and operated by a small business owner — some wonderful personality for the neighborhood. My son was officially won over by the restaurant owner Donna — it’s official Matthews favorite restaurant.

Really happy to have Soup Up in the neigthborhood… been there twice. Had the pumpkin soup the first day and their jerk chicken salad today. Both were excellent — tried a sample of the «bed & breakfast» soup and looking forward to having it my next visit. The owner is extremely attentive and friendly — making the experience that much better. Still new — they appear to be working out the kinks.
The décor is really nice… energy level is high.