Soup Lady at the 412 Diner
As I step outside of my car, I’m hit in the face by the cold wind. I wait as a couple cars go by and I double-check my wallet to make sure I have some cash on hand. Why do I need physical cash? Because that’s what you need to enjoy the food at the Soup Lady at the 412 Diner on Oliver St. And honestly, I think this all adds to the charm.
So, who and what IS the Soup Lady at the 412 Diner?
Inside the diner
For starters, it’s a diner. But not a normal diner, but rather an old train car, designed to be a tiny, little spot for people in the area to grab some grub. And when I say tiny, I mean, I can’t imagine more than 10 people fitting into this place.
From the outside, sandwiched between two houses, you will find the diner with its bright blue cover and cartoonish font displaying the Soup Lady logo up above.
You enter from the left side, and will notice instantly that this diner is unlike anything else in Western New York. Hell, probably most places if I’m being honest.
As you work your way through the narrow entrance, you are most liking going to sit down at the bar, which runs pretty much the whole length on the restaurant.
So after you sit down on some old school stools, you’ll find yourself face to face with the Soup Lady. Her name is Barb. She’s owned this place for X years, which means this diner has had several previous owners over its lifetime.
The menu is simple. Which I’m sure you figured would be the case, but, here’s what I noticed. This is the kind of food and cooking your mom did back in the day. From the grilled cheese sandwich, to the throw away soup bowl, it doesn’t get much more nostalgic than this.
Also, let me say, to double down of this trip down memory lane, when you enter, there is a little refrigerator that she has placed both cans and bottles for you to drink. And that’s when I found Vernor’s. Vernors! Who has Vernor’s? Barb does. This is an old-school ginger soda that my grandmother always had around her house when I would visit her as a little kid.
The soup I had was a classic, turkey noodle soup and it was great. It paired very well with my Vernor’s and conversation I was having with her regulars.
One gentleman got up, went to the back of the building, and came back with a book about the old diner. It was a delight seeing the history of this structure and its story from when it was designed to where it is today.
If you feel like you want to revisit the good ole days of when you were young? Or you have some physical cash itching to find a bed in a register drawer, then I think it’s time you check out the Soup Lady at the 412 Diner over on Oliver St.
Be sure to say hi to Barb for me.
