In February 1980, Walter Nathan Harby opened Nathan’s Old Fashioned Soups in Rochester, NY. Soonafter, the trendy Park Ave restaurant became Rochester’s iconic soup stop with lunchtime lines out thedoor. In 2007, with his love of cooking and friendly nature, Rick Torcello jumped at the opportunity to purchase the restaurant from the Harby family, now named “Nathan’s Soup and Salad.”

Building upon over 40 original recipes, Rick added some of his own family’s favorites such as Grandma’s Italian Wedding Soup that he got from his mother-in-law. Rick says, “People tell me it’s the best Italian Wedding Soup they’ve ever had, so we offer it every day.” In addition to homemade soups, fresh green salads, and their signature over-stuffed sandwiches, Nathan’s famous cheese breads are still baked fresh daily. The menu has evolved with an eye toward clean eating and includes selections that are plant-based, gluten-friendly, and dairy-free.

From a one-man show to family-owned-and-operated, Nathan’s began to expand when Rick’s sons -Jake and Joshua (both graduates of MCC and, respectively, RIT and Cornell) - got involved. Moving from Park Ave to the Regional Market for in-person dining and take- out, it is now a USDA inspected production facility, supplying wholesale distribution to the U of R, the Taste of Rochester (at the Rochester airport), Finger Lakes Welcome Center, local hospitals, and other small businesses. Nathan’s also supplies one of the local cancer centers with soups and breads daily. In addition, Nathan’s offers catering for luncheons and special occasions and is a certified co-packer for small businesses (some of the sauces you get at local restaurants and grocers are made by Nathans!).

You can also find Nathan’s in the RIT Student Alumni Union building where it is a favorite eatery among students. With a tagline of “Comfort in a Cup,” given by Rick’s wife, Jody, and known locally as “A Rochester Tradition,” Nathan’s Soup and Salad is a family business that values its employees, the community, and enjoys providing quality food and friendly service to every customer.