Garnishes and accompaniments can turn a predictable bowl of soup into a craveable signature item—aim for contrasting textures and colors, like crisp fried chickpeas or a drizzle of herb purée, to set a soup apart.
Feature a soup of the day that can be hand-sold by servers—and cross-utilize ingredients and prep from other menu items.
Consider cold soups for summer weather—not just gazpacho and its variations, but also vichyssoise, cucumber-yogurt, mul naengmyun (a Korean cold noodle soup), and even elegant chilled fruit soup recipes.