In Which Lisa the Waitress Finally Tries Soup from Northstar

Anyone who has been reading my site for awhile, or who knows me, knows how much I have taken Northstar to task for not having soup available.  So it was funny when they finally started making it a few months ago - I receive a flurry of emails and text messages, pictures from iPhones and everything "Lisa!!  Did you know Northstar has soup now?!!!"

Thanks, faithful readers.  It took me awhile to get to Northstar to try out their new soup, and in the meantime, there was a lot of hubbub over the fact that the new soup sold for around $8 a bowl.  Could it possibly be worth it?

This past Saturday, for no particular reason I can think of, I was getting ready for work and then realized it was 3pm, I was ready for work, standing at the bus stop, when I realized I was over an hour ahead of time.  I decided to stop off at Northstar for a little pre-work lunch and email answering.

By the way, a cup of soup is available for around $5.  I ordered a veggie burger with a cup of soup instead of salad and a coffee.  I think there might be a slight discount when ordered this way, because my total was $15.  It is a little high for lunch, but if you consider I can only eat half of the veggie burger at once, and have the other for a mid-shift snack, then I suppose it isn't so bad.

The veggie burger was good as always; I really love the Northstar burger.  How about the soup?  The soup was good.  Made from canned tomatoes and dosed with a good bit of olive oil, the soup tasted nice and tomato-ey.  It was topped off with lots of crumbled toast bits, a little scoop of lightly spiced olive relish with basil and Parmesan.  It was a tasty soup.  Was it worth the price tag?  I'm not sure.  $5 does seem a little high, but it is a good soup.  Even the best Sicilian tomatoes are only about $3 per 28 can, and that's retail, at a specialty shop.  A 28 ounce can would made around four 4 ounce servings, with reduction factored in, so with toast and peripheral ingredients figuring $1 per serving (which is high), even at $3 a can, we're looking at around a 500% markup (400% profit), or a food cost of 20%.  I will admit, that does seem a bit greedy.  I haven't seen the bowl of soup size, so I can't say if it's worth $8 or not.  But, keep in mind that I calculated these prices based upon retail, and Northstar is paying wholesale for their ingredients.  Of course, I didn't factor in the labor, either, and considering there are always around 6 cooks in the kitchen, I'm guess that is mostly what you are paying for.

So, that being said, value is in the tongue of the eater.  I can't say I necessarily felt ripped off by my $15 lunch, except that I forgot to eat the other half of my veggie burger at work, and my busser ate it instead, I did feel a little let down with the soup, because I felt as though I could make an equally delicious soup at home.

I like Northstar.  I think their success has made them a little lazy in the idea department; I can't eat there as often as I'd like, because you can only eat the same things so many times before they grow old.  If there were anything I would change, it would be expanding their menu by having around 5 specials per day, and not the same specials every day.  But I suppose they might say why mess with a good thing. 

info: Northstar has 2 locations: 951 N High (Short North) & 4241 N High (Beechwold)

Comments

[RH]

I will let you know that alot more goes into the soup than just canned tomatoes (Muir Glen Organic to be exact) there are also very high quality mushrooms, onions and spices. The olive tapenade consists of fresh basil, Grana Padano cheese and top grade olives. The rosemary focaccia croutons are made to order from bread that is baked every day. Organic flour, fresh rosemary etc. I'm not sure of all of the ingredients but trust me, you're paying for good stuff.

[AJ]

I agree, it was a great place when it opened, but it needs a big menu change. It is too crowded, too noisy, and too pricey for what it is. Food is good, but needs updated, maybe a seasonal change, and try to make the organic veggie stuff a bit healthier. Dont kid yourself, it may be organic and veggie, but the portion size (the burgers) are way over on the calorie count.

[Chris]

I liked NorthStar when it first opened, but after years of the same menu I'm really over it. I decided to be kind and take my friend there for a quick dinner, and it ended up costing me nearly $30--for just burgers, sodas and a cookie!

I understand that high quality requires high prices, but it seems that without any marketing costs, any hidden expenses like hostesses and without having to pay to constantly to change the menu, the food is too expensive for what you get.

And $8 soup?! Rosendales doesn't even charge that!

[tom]

I agree on the menu comments for sure. The food is good, and I appreciate the fact that much (all?) of it is local and organic, but I always end up ordering the same thing. Expanded daily specials would be great, and really showcase what they're capable of using fresh/local produce.

And maybe it's just be, but I get the sweet potato thing. I don't need sweet potatoes in every dish. Is it not possible to source local organic REGULAR WHITE POTATOES?

[Dave]

I love Northstar and maybe because it is too expensive. We can only eat there about once a month. We could afford more, but two adults and a 5 year old can easily run $25. And, last I noticed in the Clintonville branch, they had a tip cup. For mostly self serve, and premium prices, I resent it.

I am weak for the sweet potato hash though. Once I create my own version, I'm outta there.

[Bear]

I actually had the soup and sandwich there today myself, and they meet you halfway on the price, more or less -- there's an upcharge for substituting soup for your side, but it's less than the soup plus sandwich/burger would be otherwise.

I'd like to see lower prices too, but don't forget their no-tipping policy. I'm usually about a 20% tipper, so whenever I start to get annoyed with Northstar's prices I mentally subtract a hair over 15% of the cost of the meal to get to what it would have been in a normal restaurant where one leaves tips. Thinking of that $8 bowl of soup as a $6.66 bowl of soup that I would have left a $1.34 tip on makes it easier to swallow, literally and figuratively.

[Ben]

I think your analysis on price is key. Increasingly when I eat at Northstar I'm analyzing pricing and trying to rationalize what I'm paying. That's a bad thing. I'm not really that cheap, so I know I can't be the only one thinking this.

BTW, I tried their onion soup and it was very good. Not $8 good, but good. Maybe more like $5 good, which is still a lot for a bowl of soup from a casual restaurant.

I'd like to see Northstar do a better job of showing that organic, ethical food can be sustainably produced, taste really good, AND be sustainably priced...

[amy]

We eat there a lot- but i have begged them to change th kiddos meals- same same same and my kid is tired of the same. I love how they cook- I alco crave new additions...I will tyr the soup.