Melanie S.
Yelp
This place is special.
I wandered in here while I was killing time before an appointment, as the cold weather had me craving soup. I was immediately feeling warm and fuzzy based on the way the woman working the counter greeted me, which was really friendly and welcoming. I inquired about their soup selection, and she did a good job at explaining what the soup that day was like. I asked for a cup, and parked nearby.
At first I was thinking it was taking a minute more than I expected. Usually there's just a vat in the back, or they stick a pre-prepared soup in the microwave, but soon I saw who I assume was the owner slowly heating up the soup in a pot on the stove. I loved this! At a place this small and with this many options, it is not crazy to have soup pre-made, and I thought it was lovely that he was taking the time on a busy day to slowly heat the soup to make sure it was delicious.
When it was set in front of me, I was delighted to find it was amazing. I was reading a book on my phone, so appeared a bit disengaged, but the owner took the time to come over and explain that his friend prepares this soup, and asked if I wanted sriracha. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a full body sriracha suit, and would put it on anything, so I was thrilled! Sriracha was just the ticket to take this soup to the next level, as was the owner going out of his way to make sure I was eating the best version of the soup I could be.
Later, I noticed a little girl run behind the counter to give him a hug, and saw how genuinely delighted he was to see her. I figured it may be a relation, but after observing the interactions between the owner, the girl, and her mother, it seemed like they may just be regulars. He then wandered to her table when things calmed down so she could excitedly show him videos on her phone. Another man began leaving, and the owner made sure to let him know he still had his book, and would be returning it soon. I have never really seen interactions like this in the city, especially in the super trendy and popular Highlands. This owner knew almost everyone in the shop (and it was pretty busy for a random mid-day), and everyone loved him. It makes sense, he took the time to speak with me and offer me sriracha when I was completely unwelcoming and absorbed in my phone.
The magic of this place is in the ownership. There are a lot of cafes, and even though my soup was amazing, there's a lot of good soup. The thing that will make this cafe a staple is the amazing warmth of the staff. It was like a small neighborhood spot in a giant city. I left raving about it to my husband, and telling him I couldn't wait to come back and try it with him, knowing he would love it. Never change, Maci! What you have is so magical.