Caribbean Soup

By Karen Harrellcaribbean soup david norman

When the weather gets chilly outside I start to crave soup.

Very often, I’ll order soup at restaurants and be disappointed by the quality.

I want a creamy, hearty, thick soup that sticks to your ribs – the home made kind – not reheated from a can.

The kind of freshly-made soup you get at the Caribbean Soup Company in Pensacola.

“We think you get better flavor out of using fresh spices and ingredients,” said restaurant manager and executive chef David Nelson. “We make everything from scratch.”

The restaurant is owned by the Southern Restaurant Group, the same folks who run several other quality establishments in the region including the Back Porch, Pompano Joe’s, Louisiana Lagniappe, Café Grazie, San Roc Delicatezza and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Caribbean Soup Company is a favorite destination for the Pensacola working lunch crowd and the restaurant is only open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Try to avoid the lunch crowd from about 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The restaurant is located on Gregory St., which boasts several popular eateries including McGuire’s Irish Pub, Zea’s, Outback Steakhouse, Copelands and more.

caribbean soup perfect lunchUnlike the Soup Nazi from the sitcom “Seinfeld” who rushed his customers to make a decision, servers at this restaurant actually offer samples before you make your choice and give details about the soup’s flavor.

The restaurant offers five signature soups each day plus five more “specials” chosen from than two dozen recipes which are posted daily on the restaurants website: www.caribbeansoup.com.

I would recommend that you take the opportunity to sample a few before making your decision.

Nelson said the most popular soup by far is the Key West Shrimp and Corn Chowder. The broth is creamy and just a tiny bit spicy. The shrimp are plentiful and each serving is filled with potatoes and carrots.

Another favorite is a lighter fare, but is a bit spicier, the St. Thomas Chicken Tortilla. This comes with tortilla in the broth and additional serving as a topping.

On a recent visit I tried the Shrimp and Artichoke. The server warned that it had a strong garlic component, but that made it even more attractive to me.

This cream soup was filled with plump shrimp and chunks of artichoke.

Prices at the Caribbean Soup Company are reasonable and portions are hearty. One popular option is to pair a cup or bowl of soup with the restaurant’s signature Cuban sandwich or hearty Greek salad.

For those of you planning a day trip to Pensacola to tour the historic district or shop in downtown, the Caribbean Soup Company is a quick inexpensive dining option.

Fast Facts
Caribbean Soup Company
810 East Gregory St.
Pensacola, Fl
850-469-0025