Once upon a curly noodle, soup was eaten before a meal, possibly along with salad, and usually during the winter months. In recent years, however, soup became more popular as a main-course meal, and one that's eaten year-round, thanks to soup restaurants ladling up hearty, homemade creations.

The Soup Market in Bay View is one of these relatively new gourmet soup eateries. Dave Jurena, who opened the restaurant about three years ago, says soup is more popular then ever.

"Soup is a comfort food that people are familiar with from childhood," says Jurena. "It also works well for people with a lifestyle that's always on the go because it's a quick food that's not fast food."

Affordability is another factor in soup's popularity. For around $5, most soup restaurants offer a big bowl along with a slab of bread or roll.

So if you crave soup that's a step beyond the red-labeled variety, you can either cook up your own or visit one of these, er, soup-er Milwaukee restaurants.

Soup Brothers
209 W. Florida St., (414) 270-1040
Soups Brothers serves six different kinds of soup every day, ranging from meaty to veggie, for $4.50-$7. Comes with bread or a roll. Sandwiches also available.

Soup Ladle
770 N. Jefferson St., (414) 347-1418
Soup Ladle offers a choice of four soups everyday. A 16-oz. bowl with a huge slab of bread costs $6. Homemade cookies and brownies are also available.

Soup's On
221 N. Water St., (414) 283-9244
Soup's On features four different soups, ranging in price depending on size and type of soup. All come with bread. Hotdogs, deli sandwiches, salads, bagels and bakery desserts are also available.

The Soup Otzie's
3950 S. Howell Ave., (414) 747-9670
Soup Otzie's has six soups to choose from every day. Prices vary depending on whether you dine-in or carry-out (carry out orders are slightly more expensive). All soups come with a side of bread.

Soup Market
2211 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 727-8462
Soup Market serves chicken noodle and chicken dumpling ever day. They have a "chili of the week" and a rotating selection of other soups. Prices vary depending on size and type of soup. The Soup and Stock Market is a smaller version of this restaurant inside the Public Market.

Other restaurants with great soup / chili:

Beans & Barley
1901 E. North Ave., (414) 278-7878
Recommendation: Beans' vegetarian chili is consistently good, especially with cheese and chopped onions.

Jake's Delicatessen
1634 W. North Ave., (414) 562-1272
Recommendation: The matzoh ball soup is famous city-wide.

Shahrazad Middle Eastern
2847 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 964-5475
Recommendation: Try the lentil soup. It comes with many of the sandwiches, including the falafel with hummus.

Water Buffalo
249 N. Water St., (414) 431-1133
Recommendation: The tasty tortilla chicken soup is thick and crunchy.

West Bank Café
732 E. Burleigh St., (414) 562-5555
Recommendation: Try the pho, a spicy, slightly-fishy soup floating noodles and pieces of medium-rare beef.

What's Fresh
146 E. Juneau Ave., (414) 273-5677
Recommendation: Signature soups include the cream of mushroom and the tomato.