Pleasantly Surprised By Great Atmosphere at Soup’s Sports Grill

Ever since Soup’s Sports Grill opened in 2007 I have been meaning to stop by, but haven’t for one reason or another.  I’d say really it boils down to two reasons.  First, they have an outdoor seating area in the front, and it always looks dead.  It just didn’t seem like a happening place to go.  Also, they – at least in the evenings -  seemed to always have valet parking.  I’ll be honest – I’m a purist – I don’t want or need valet parking at a sports bar.

It seems as of my recent drive-bys that the valet parking may be gone or reduced.  That is a good thing.  There is parking on Ventura Blvd. and the restaurant has a smallish lot in the back.

So, this past Saturday I decided to finally stop in an give Soup’s a try.  It’s owned by a guy named Jeff Suppan, a Major League Baseball veteran pitcher who currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers.  That’s pretty neat.

So, the first thing that strikes you when you enter the place is that despite the dead appearance of the exterior there’s a bunch of people inside and it’s really busy.  It’s striking.  I’d suggest they figure out a way to make the places exterior look less sterile and do something to convey the fact that people do indeed actually go to this place.

Saturday is of course college football gameday, and the place was filled with people watching the games.  There were still a few tables available, so that was nice and I was quickly seated.  I was impressed with how bright and airy the place is.  It was a very nice, wholesome establishment with families and a clean cut crowd of sports fans there having drinks, eating food, and watching the games.

I checked out two items  from the menu.  The first was the Buffalo Chicken Wings ($7.95).  I am from the East Coast, where chicken wings are practically one of the major food groups.  In LA, it’s hard to find good chicken wings.  Oddly enough, I find myself going to Friday’s when I’m really itching for wings, as I find they do them pretty well.

Sadly though, I was unimpressed with the wings at Soup’s as it appears they came from the chickens at Karen Carpenter’s house.  As you can see in the picture, no one on Earth would be wowed by that wings presentation.

The other menu item I tried was the Barbary Coast Burger ($9.95).  Since I’ve been trying burgers area town I figured I’d continue the trend here, too.  The menu describes it as:

1/2 lb. Angus ground beef with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato & thousand island dressing served on grilled parmesan bread

So, much like the burger I tried yesterday at Gaucho Grill this is an 8-oz burger, which I also ordered rare.  I also upgraded for $1.00 from the fries to the onion rings.  First, I’ll say that the onion rings were really good, so I was definitely impressed with them.  And, the burger was pretty damn good too.  The bun was buttery and delicious, and was definitely a highlight.  But the meat itself was flavorful and juicy.  Definitely a good burger.  I don’t think it’s probably going to end up on the list of Best Burgers in Woodland Hills, but definitely makes honorable mention status.

I think what ultimately makes Soup’s a winner is the fair prices and nice atmosphere.  It’s definitely one of the better places in Woodland Hills to catch a game on one or more of it’s many flat screen TVs.  Check it out soon, if you haven’t already.  They also have a full liquor bar with many beers to choose from, too.

Also, during college football and NFL football seasons (hint: now) they open at 9:00AM on Saturdays and Sundays – and serve breakfast! (See that menu here)

Happy Hour is Mon-Fri from 3pm to 7pm, features $2 bud bottles, and appetizer specials. (See Happy Hour menu here)

Post your comments and let me know what you think.

Popularity: 2%

• Featured Local Business: Soup's Official Site