There's a lot of comfort in a bowl of soup. It doesn't even have to be the canned chicken noodle of childhood to evoke feelings of warmth and safety and nostalgia.
If you're in search of a cup of comfort in these pandemic days, you'll find several recipes here for making your own. But if you don't cook or can't find the ingredients or you simply need an instant pick-me-up, here are a few places where soup's on.
Keep in mind that menus may be limited and ordering is restricted to carry-out or delivery.
* Barbecue restaurants: Brunswick stew is a mainstay at barbecue restaurants, but some places have other options as well. The menu makers at Sticky Fingers Ribhouse have a range of specialty soups to complement other courses.
"There's a lot you can do with smoked meat," said Alex Daunter, chief executive officer.
"We're always looking at how can we best use our smoked meats," he said. "That's what we're known for."
Recent additions to the menu include Smoked Brisket Chili and Chicken Tortilla Soup.
* Southern-style eateries: Any place that specializes in down-home cooking is likely to have a signature soup or a house-favorite chili.
Southern Star prepares a couple of soups every day. There, too, Brunswick stew is a staple.
"We've made [Brunswick stew] every day for 20 years," said owner Nancy Adams. "That's our most popular by a long shot."
The restaurants also rotate through clam chowder, chili and gumbo, she said.
"And generally, in both stores, we make a batch of chicken and rice or chicken noodle," Adams said. "We always have that on hand."
* Soup specialists: If you want several choices, check out the daily menu at Panera Bread. The restaurants rotate through multiple soups of the day, ranging from broccoli cheese to French onion.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.