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A velvety mushroom soup takes center stage on Gravitas’s tasting menu this fall.
Leading DC

Must-Try Soups Around D.C. This Fall

Spot slurp-worthy bowls at Michelin-rated restaurants, casual cafes, and more

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A velvety mushroom soup takes center stage on Gravitas’s tasting menu this fall.
| Leading DC

November marks the start of soup season around D.C., and a mix of fine-dining and affordable establishments recently unleashed a set of spoon-worthy creations fit for fall.

Some soups play a significant role on elaborate tasting menus, while other liquid delights are available for takeout, delivery, and a la carte orders. Mushrooms are currently a star component of some seasonal soups, while others loop in lots of shellfish, squash, and cheesy components.

Here are 11 warming bowls to devour right now around D.C.

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Joy by Seven Reasons

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Chef Enrique Limardo’s playful Seven Reasons spinoff opened last month in Chevy Chase with a warm vichyssoise soup (potato, cauliflower-leeks, chile guajillo oil, sea bean, and rosemary oil).

Warm vichyssoise soup at Joy by Seven Reasons,
Jen Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Gravitas

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Chef Matt Baker’s Michelin-rated modern American eatery in Ivy City showcases a velvety mushroom veloute on its seasonal chef’s tasting menu. The gorgeous bowl is a compilation of black trumpet mushroom ragout and poached lobster with an oyster mushroom conserva.

Creamy mushroom and seafood soup at Gravitas.
Leading DC

Annabelle

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Chanterelle and button mushrooms join forces in a warming soup topped with fried oysters at Ashok Bajaj’s dreamy Dupont restaurant headed by chef Frank Ruta.

El Cielo

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Cazuela de mariscos (seafood soup) at D.C.’s Michelin-rated Colombian marvel cooks clam shells, shrimp, prawns, lobster, squid, and the fresh catch of the day in white wine. A dollop of citrus air foam, coconut crisps, and cocadas (popular Colombian sweets) round out the show-stopping soup.

El Cielo’s hearty seasonal soup is akin to gumbo (sans the pork).
Christopher Hwag/@4mybelly

Destino

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The sopa of the moment at La Cosecha’s polished Mexican eatery is shrimp huatape soup with guajillo oil and chipotle cream.

Blue Duck Tavern

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Park Hyatt’s sleek dining room sends out a roasted kuri squash soup with spiced pepita pesto, chestnuts, and crème fraiche.

Rebel Taco DC

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Rebel Taco’s warming new birria bowl features homemade noodles, consomme, shredded lamb, chickpeas, onions, soy sprouts, cilantro, jalapenos, and tortilla wonton.

Immigrant Food+ at Planet Word Museum

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Immigrant Food’s creamy Hungarian mushroom soup is topped with a Parmesan crisp, parsley oil, and green onion. Available for lunch at both of its downtown D.C. locations.

minibar by José Andrés

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Leave it to two-Michelin-starred Minibar to take New England clam chowder to new heights. A deconstructed version is making appearances on its 22-course tasting menus this fall.

New England clam chowder, Minibar style.
Life Expressed Online

Bistro du Jour

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Bistro Du Jour’s soup du jour at the Wharf is a decadent French onion soup smothered with Gruyere cheese and crunchy baguette croutons for a nice textural contrast.

Dig into Bistro du Jour’s ultra-cheesy French onion soup.
Bistro du Jour

Patty O’s Cafe

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Inn at Little Washington, D.C.’s sole three-Michelin-starred restaurant, recently added a cafe counterpart with a premiere bowl of Calvados-perfumed French onion soup. A white bean soup with Virginia ham is also not to miss. Head to its rural grounds this weekend to take home rare piece of the Inn. Chef/owner Patrick O’Connell’s first-ever “attic sale” (Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27) includes pieces of fine china, gently used cookbooks, and glassware.

Joy by Seven Reasons

Chef Enrique Limardo’s playful Seven Reasons spinoff opened last month in Chevy Chase with a warm vichyssoise soup (potato, cauliflower-leeks, chile guajillo oil, sea bean, and rosemary oil).

Warm vichyssoise soup at Joy by Seven Reasons,
Jen Chase/Jennifer Chase Photography

Gravitas

Chef Matt Baker’s Michelin-rated modern American eatery in Ivy City showcases a velvety mushroom veloute on its seasonal chef’s tasting menu. The gorgeous bowl is a compilation of black trumpet mushroom ragout and poached lobster with an oyster mushroom conserva.

Creamy mushroom and seafood soup at Gravitas.
Leading DC

Annabelle

Chanterelle and button mushrooms join forces in a warming soup topped with fried oysters at Ashok Bajaj’s dreamy Dupont restaurant headed by chef Frank Ruta.

El Cielo

Cazuela de mariscos (seafood soup) at D.C.’s Michelin-rated Colombian marvel cooks clam shells, shrimp, prawns, lobster, squid, and the fresh catch of the day in white wine. A dollop of citrus air foam, coconut crisps, and cocadas (popular Colombian sweets) round out the show-stopping soup.

El Cielo’s hearty seasonal soup is akin to gumbo (sans the pork).
Christopher Hwag/@4mybelly

Destino

The sopa of the moment at La Cosecha’s polished Mexican eatery is shrimp huatape soup with guajillo oil and chipotle cream.

Blue Duck Tavern

Park Hyatt’s sleek dining room sends out a roasted kuri squash soup with spiced pepita pesto, chestnuts, and crème fraiche.

Rebel Taco DC

Rebel Taco’s warming new birria bowl features homemade noodles, consomme, shredded lamb, chickpeas, onions, soy sprouts, cilantro, jalapenos, and tortilla wonton.

Immigrant Food+ at Planet Word Museum

Immigrant Food’s creamy Hungarian mushroom soup is topped with a Parmesan crisp, parsley oil, and green onion. Available for lunch at both of its downtown D.C. locations.

minibar by José Andrés

Leave it to two-Michelin-starred Minibar to take New England clam chowder to new heights. A deconstructed version is making appearances on its 22-course tasting menus this fall.

New England clam chowder, Minibar style.
Life Expressed Online

Bistro du Jour

Bistro Du Jour’s soup du jour at the Wharf is a decadent French onion soup smothered with Gruyere cheese and crunchy baguette croutons for a nice textural contrast.

Dig into Bistro du Jour’s ultra-cheesy French onion soup.
Bistro du Jour

Patty O’s Cafe

Inn at Little Washington, D.C.’s sole three-Michelin-starred restaurant, recently added a cafe counterpart with a premiere bowl of Calvados-perfumed French onion soup. A white bean soup with Virginia ham is also not to miss. Head to its rural grounds this weekend to take home rare piece of the Inn. Chef/owner Patrick O’Connell’s first-ever “attic sale” (Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27) includes pieces of fine china, gently used cookbooks, and glassware.

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