Three restaurants. Two diners. One item. Everyone leaves with a little egg on their face.
Andrew Johnson: Skeptical first-time taster for a Pittsburgh fave. Not usually "bowled" over by soups (sorry).
Alla Swan: I'm a wedding soup connoisseur, so I'm a bit picky.
Bravo! Cucina Italiana250 W. Bridge St.The Waterfront 412-461-1444 $4.50
Andy: More impressed by the sides -- fresh parmesan slices, olive oil dip and terrific bread -- than so-so soup. Small carrot bits, five miniature-size wannabe-chunks of sausage, didn't satisfy. Relatively oily, unremarkable, pricey for just a cup.
Alla: For those with rich taste, this is your stop. Thick shreds of fresh parmesan top the soup, highlighted by an indiscernible spice that adds extra punch to the finely shredded greens, pasta and carrots. And the focaccia bread -- divine!
Mariani's Pleasure Bar and Restaurant4729 Liberty Ave.Bloomfield412-682-9603$3.95
Andy: Basic and good. Had to get your face close to the bowl to get at these sopping wet green vegetables, which didn't really fit on a spoon (that's a compliment). Kind of oily, but not fatal for a B+ soup that got most things right. Nice taste.
Alla: An abundance of long, thick greens highlight the broth and make it a little stringy for my taste. Tiny chicken pieces with the baby meatballs were a nice surprise. The Italian bread was dry and ordinary.
Alexander's Pasta Express5104 Liberty Ave.Bloomfield412-682-9824$3.25
Andy: Real deal, for me. Heaps of rock-solid ingredients -- hunks of chicken and sausage, pasta bits -- made for a soup masquerading as a meal. Easy-on-the-grease broth made me tip back the bowl and finish the whole thing -- an accomplishment.
Alla: Is this chicken soup or wedding soup⢠Shreds of chicken make their presence known -- and overpower the greens, pasta and scarce meatballs. At least the large portion of thick Italian bread was there to fill me up.
