John White
I've been waiting for the new menu to drop at Ansonia Soup Company at the Rock. I haven't been very patient, asking Monica at least once for a preview. She politely informed me that the new menu was worth the wait, so I waited.
Today was the day, though. Brittany and I usually have our weekly lunch date on Thursday, but the flu moved us back to Friday this week.
I ordered a soup flight that included Thai Coconut Lemongrass Soup, San Francisco Cioppino and Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup. When Jana asked me which sandwich I was going to choose, she informed me that the staff had designed the sandwich offerings for this quarter. So I asked her which sandwich she created, and she replied, “The Love Lane.” She went on to explain that the ingredients were inspired by her late husband's favorite things, so I chose the Love Lane.
Brittany chose the Mini Beef Meatloaf with smashed redskin potatoes. There was nothing "mini" about the meatloaf, by the way. She also ordered the pretzel-crusted popcorn chicken so we could try it.
If you haven't been here yet, the environment is the best. If a menu item doesn't make sense, just ask an employee, and you'll receive a genuine reply. In other words, no one makes you feel bad for not quite understanding a dish. If you're a picky eater, just have the conversation with your server. Neither Monica, Alice, nor their team are stuck in the “it has to be this way” mentality. I saw this happen at least once today with Paige, and the customer appeared very pleased with her response. Also, most of the bowls and cups don't match, which is quietly one of my favorite things.
Jana popped out with our meal pretty quickly. Brittany's meatloaf and smashed potatoes were hearty, tasty and decadent. Those are probably the best smashed potatoes I've gotten in a restaurant. I originally said that they were the best potatoes I had ever had, but I drew a sharp look from Brit, so we'll leave it as “in a restaurant.” The popcorn chicken was exactly as advertised — cooked to perfection, tasty, and unassuming. The pretzel crust quietly added a very pleasant dimension as well. If you have a picky eater in your party, the popcorn chicken is a pretty safe bet.
For my soups, each cup was distinctly different and absolutely delicious. The lemongrass soup had just enough heat to remind you that it was a Thai dish. The cioppino had a rich, umami broth and was full of cod, shrimp and mussels. The gnocchi soup was a velvety example of what I would have expected from a Nonna, made with love. The soups came with ASC's signature focaccia. Their focaccia turned me into Houdini at the RO's Christmas dinner, because I made a plate of it disappear.
The Love Lane sandwich is an all-around winner. I have no idea how Monica, Fred and Samantha got that amount of food between two pieces of wonderfully crusty bread, but they managed to do so with care. Stacked with Wagyu and plump lemon-butter shrimp, this sandwich was truly unlike any other sandwich I've had.
If you haven't been, or haven't been in a while, I encourage you to stop by Ansonia Soup Company at the Rock and try some of their new offerings.
John White is a photographer and lover of food who lives in Hamlet.
