FIRST PLACE

COQUINE, 2075 YONGE STREET

“This is the classic presentation,” says Marc Thuet, studying Coquine’s soup bowl before breaking through the thick layer of Gruyère for a first taste. “The cheese is great, the onions were cut properly and the bread … amazing.” Price: $9

SECOND PLACE

LA SOCIETE, 131 BLOOR STREET WEST, UNIT 211

“We can’t have a tie?” Thuet laments. He awards new bistro on the block, La Societe, the title of runner-up for its expertly reduced stock. “The broth is fantastically seasoned.” Price: $11

THIRD PLACE

BISTRO 990, 990 BAY STREET

“The colour is beautiful; this is how it should look,” Thuet says of Bistro 990’s rich, dark broth, which he explains has been prepared in the Burgundy region style. “But there is just too much bread.” Price: $9.50

LE MONTMARTRE, 911 SHEPPARD AVENUE WEST

After tasting a spoonful of Le Montmartre’s soup, Thuet shakes his head in disappointment, explaining that the onions are too finely chopped. “The cheese is nice, though,” he says. Price: $8.50

BODEGA, 30 BALDWIN STREET

Thuet scrunches his nose at Bodega’s broth: “It’s very bland,” he says, before taking another bite. “I like my broth to be rich. This is very light.” He does, however, appreciate the presentation, which he says is very important. Price: $8.50

CAFE EN PASSANT, 10133 YONGE STREET, RICHMOND HILL

“There is something in here that overpowers everything,” Thuet says, tasting the herbs used in Cafe En Passant’s take on the classic recipe. “It’s different.” Price: $8.50