Soups Make Winter Sexy At The Sexy Salad

, inside Hauppauge’s industrial park, serves up much more than salads. Those stepping in for the first time might be surprised to find homemade soups, panini, wraps, sandwiches, veggie burgers, pastries, coffee and more.

The enticement of hot, homemade soup during a cold day was enough for get Patch to stop, grab lunch at the

 The Dish: Chicken and Dumpling soup ($6.95 for 12 oz., $8.95 for 16 oz., $15.95 for a quart)

What's Inside:  A light cream base seasoned with Italian herbs that blends together bite-sized dumplings with chunks of white and dark meat chicken. Vegetables are represented by carrot and celery slices.

 How's It Taste:  Despite a very rich appearance, the cream base is light, savory and filling without being too heavy. The Italian herbs lend it a mild favor to it.

The dumplings are plentiful, treasures within the sauce that are soft, tender dough that melt in your mouth. A spoonful with a  piece of chicken creates a hearty soup where the meat and dough blend together while vegetables round out the soup, and bring color. 

All hot soups at The Sexy Salad are served with a soft-baked pretzel, lightly salted. The dense bread of the pretzel and salt bring out the flavors of the Chicken and Dumpling soup.

 Eat This Because: It feels the need for a rich hearty soul that combats the winter cold without giving off a weighed-down feeling. 

Sides: If you still want a fresh salad, any of the Sexy Salad’s small side salads ($2 with purchase of a soup, otherwise $3.50) make a great compliment. The Garden Salad is considered “basic” by owner John Robertson, while packing lettuce, red lettuce, cucumber, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, green and black olives, and a jalapeno. Add to that more mix-ins than can be listed and choice of dressings. 

Check out Patch's business article on how .