Chronicle readers say: Houston's Runners-up: HighLife Cafe, Eastside Cafe Honorable Mentions: Hickory Street Bar & Grill, Souper Salad, La Madeleine

My house!

This year, Chronicle reader's say... Houston's Runners-up: County Line, Eastside Cafe, Las Palomas Honorable Mentions: La Madeleine, Hyde Park Bar and Grill, El Sol y La Luna, Korea House and from the Critics Poll Entire Soup Menu at Formosa

I'm running a Tomato/Red Bell Pepper Bisque garnished with basil olive oil a couple a days a week at the restaurant...

El Sol Y la Luna is a place I've enjoyed going to for Sunday brunhes after Body Choir. The Body Choir folks favorite hangout.

Mmmmmm Basil!

Soup is viewed differently by consumers and restaurant operators, according to research sponsored by Land O' Lakes. Although 87% of operators surveyed said they view soup as a side accompaniment to a main meal, just 52% of consumers said they felt this way. Many operators may be pricing soups as sides rather than featuring them as entrees. More than two-thirds of operators said they believe customers want traditional, classic soups but only 43% of consumers agreed with this. Nearly one-third of consumers said they like to experiment with different soups and nearly one-quarter like to be able to choose between a classic variety and a more trendy one.

Souped Up Soup Kitchens Take-out "restaurants" continue to proliferate in cities across the country, although New York City, as with everything, has more of them than anywhere else. These spots are as different as the personalities behind the concept. They range from simple, store-front, just-soup joints, where the only amenity is a plastic spoon like Soup Nutsy and Soup Kitchen International in New York City, to free-standing establishments with tables, drinks, complimentary items such as bread, salad, and more substantial chilis and stews, like Boston's New England Soup Factory with two locations. --excerpted from the Dec 98 issue of FOOD ARTS

Well, since I make all of Tuscany's soups from scratch, and have for over a year now, I'd say ours are the best.

Soup Tie: Manuel's, The Soup Peddler Runners-up Whole Foods Market, Jason's Deli Honorable Mention Central Market Cafe, Cafe Caprice, Eastside Cafe, Houston's, Mirabelle Restaurant from the Austin Chronicle 2006 restaurant poll.