It's soup season and The Waterhole, located at 503 Main Street, in Clearwater, is ready to tempt taste buds with scrumptious soups and comfort food.

Co-owner Debb Pofahl said lunches will be served twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning Jan. 2.

Pofahl said the decision to serve lunches was customer driven. They asked and bar owners said yes.

"We started serving lunches because of the limited availability for places to eat or have lunch," Pofahl said. "We feel adding lunches benefits Clearwater as patrons can have another option for lunch. It will also help those passing through town."

The bar completed a trial run of noon meals in December and drew hungry customers by offering hot lunch options, including generous portions of casseroles, made-from-scratch breads and melt-in-your-mouth desserts.

Courtney Soper, of Page, will cover kitchen duties. She said during January, The Waterhole will offer a soup one day a week for National Soup Month.

"Soup is a good meal to eat with family and friends, so stop by and visit us for lunch," she said. "We're planning to serve chicken noodle, chili, taco and potato soups."

Dine-in and carry-out options are available.

Other lunch items planned during the month include homemade pot pies and chicken fried steak, served with mashed potatoes and gravy.

"We'll have the menu for the month finalized soon," Soper said. "We are open to suggestions from our customers about what they would like, too."

Soper will also take orders for baked goods and breads. In addition to white and wheat breads, Soper specializes in Yule bread, a braided Danish bread with hints of cardamom.

LuAnn Schindler | SAM

Enchiladas, Spanish rice lettuce, sour cream and churro bars are served for lunch at The Waterhole in Clearwater. The bar will serve lunch twice a week, beginning Jan. 2.

"I can make any type of cookie your heart desires, muffins, cupcakes with homemade butter-cream frosting and more," she said.

Pofahl said eventually, the bar may expand the number of days it's open for lunch.

"We may certainly expand if we see the value and or success we need," she said.

The Waterhole is open for lunch from on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. To-go orders may be placed by calling 402-485-2511.

Follow the bar's Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/waterholeCLWNE, for menu updates, drink specials and events.