[eat] Now Where Do I Go? Alternatives to Tanya’s Soup Kitchen
That store where they always have your size in your new favorite pair of shoes. The restaurant where they cook your steak just right. The bar where they always know your name. These are the things we love about our favorite local businesses. But what do you do when these places close? This feature is designed to spotlight some of those options.
Tanya’s Soup Kitchen (Formerly located at 725 E. Douglas)
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a cooking demonstration at Wichita Center for the Arts by Tanya Tandoc, former owner of Tanya’s Soup Kitchen. The evening was memorable for a couple of reasons – first, I tried Vietnamese pho for the first time, and fell in love, and second, because of Tanya’s candid discussion about her feelings after her restaurant’s closing in 2003. She talked about being depressed for a long time after that, and she’s not the only one.
If you had the pleasure of experiencing Tanya’s in the six years that it existed, you are among the lucky ones, my friend. There was usually a line to get a table, and as I waited, my eyes would scan the soup of the day board to see if my favorite, tomato bisque, was available. I usually got the same thing – a salad with apricot chutney dressing, a bowl of the tomato bisque and bread pudding for dessert. Oh, the bread pudding.
There were so many things that made Tanya’s special, even beyond the amazing cuisine. The restaurant was decorated with religious kitsch – votive candles with pictures of saints with bleeding hearts and wind-up nun toys. And although the waiters weren’t always friendly, they kept your drinks refilled and always inspired conversations around the table about the origins of their tattoos and piercings.
This is the first installment of the “Now Where Do I Go?” series that I haven’t immediately been able to come up with alternatives. Tanya’s was a really, really special place. But, this post is not just about reminiscing. It’s about solutions. So, here are a few options that might begin to fill that soup bowl shaped hole in your heart.
Old Mill Tasty Shop (604 E. Douglas) If you’ve never had the green chili here, run, don’t walk. I usually get a small cup of the chili and the hummus wrap. I feel like Old Mill is a good alternative to Tanya’s because it has a unique atmosphere, colorful servers and some of the best desserts around. Try the carrot cake.
The Anchor (1109 E. Douglas) I’ve made it perfectly clear how I feel about the hummus here, but they also have a lot of great soup and sandwich options. And the servers are often tattooed to Tanya’s standards.
Caffe Moderne (300 N. Mead) I know when this restaurant first opened, Tanya contributed to its menu, so it makes sense that it would be good alternative. Their pumpkin soup is in the top three soups I’ve ever tried.
Watermark Books (4701 E. Douglas) I always forget about Watermark as a lunch option, but it is a great one. Their grilled cheese and tomato soup is comfort food at its best.
Readers, help us help you. What local businesses do you miss that you want us to find some alternatives for? Sound off in the comments.
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