Uncle Cheetah’s perfect on a cold, windy day
If there’s one thing I haven’t seen in Grand Rapids yet, it’s a good soup shop. Other than Zoup’s and Panera, I can’t think of a place that gives me the one thing I love to have on a cold day — a warm bowl of soup and a hot sandwich. Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop, also known as the former Electric Eel, changes all that.
If you had the chance to check out the Electric Eel, much of the decor hasn’t changed. There is a little extra seating, but the tiny shop is still catered towards take out. But that’s about all that’s left of the Electric Eel remnants. Instead, the service is fast, and the food is great. You can walk up to the kitchen counter and ask for a sample of their 12 soups of the day, or chat with the chefs about what they recommend as a tasty dessert.
During my visit I had the chance to sample three soups. The first, a Roasted Red Pepper Asiago, had a substantial amount of flavor and a bit of a peppery kick. The second, the Safron Tomato Bisque, was perfectly seasoned and very filling. Finally, I tried the Lobster Bisque, which had just a hint of lobster flavor and plenty of herbs and spices to finish it off. Today, the Safron Tomato Bisque hit the mark for me, but I would’ve been happy with the other two as well (even the Lobster Bisque, and I’m not a fish person). The rustic feel, along with the seasoning and amount of flavor, just blew me away, and I figured it was as good a choice as any for a cold fall day.
I also went ahead and ordered half a grilled cheese. Now, this isn’t the typical grilled cheese that your mom used to make for you to dip in a bowl of Campbell’s. Instead, it’s a rich, cheesy dish that went great with the soup I ordered. You can choose from several bread options, but it was recommended I go with the Three Cheese bread. And what a recommendation it was. I was a bit nervous to have that much cheese in a sandwich, but it was paired perfectly. The cheese was gooey and the bread was thin enough that it didn’t take away from the amazing flavor that it was holding together. They usually have a daily special sandwich option as well.
Finally, I had to try a dessert. While there were plenty of cookies, espresso brownies and even ice cream to choose from, I couldn’t help but immediately be drawn to the pumpkin cupcake. In what could have been one of the best cupcakes I’ve had, the pumpkin and spice was just enough to provide a rich, fall flavor. And the cream cheese frosting, while a little sweet, countered the spices in the cake like I had never experienced before. I would go back again — if not to just get another cupcake.
It seems like the “Cheetah family” has produced another winner. It blows the Electric Eel out of the water, and in my opinion is a little better (and more unique) than its Electric counterpart down the street. The staff is friendly and full of ideas. In our discussions with them, they mentioned that a “soup flight” is being considered down the road, which would allow various samples of soups. And they’re definitely not short on knowledge, and in my experience, know exactly what to recommend.
Like the Electric Cheetah, all of the ingredients come from local farms too, making it all the more worthwhile. My only question is how they’ll attract diners in the summer months, when soup is on less people’s minds than it is during the cold months. If they keep the success up, by possibly introducing cold or iced soups and additional menu options, Uncle Cheetah’s could quickly become a staple of Wealthy Street.
Uncle Cheetah's Soup Shop ( Rating:
out of 5 )Where: 1133 Wealthy St SE
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Ambiance: Gourmet soup shop
How much will it cost you: A full meal, with soup, half a sandwich and drink, costs around $10.
Credit cards: All major
Alcohol: No
Reservations: No
Wireless Internet: No
Contact: (616) 451-4780
Online: http://www.electriccheetah.com/
