Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Table

By Ben Giles

brgiles1@vwc.edu

The noodles are coming.

Noodles & Company, a Colorado-based noodle restaurant, is rapidly expanding across the East coast. The restaurant already has numerous locations in the District of Columbia, and is expanding south into Northern Virginia and onward. Further south, locations are popping up in Chapel Hill, N.C.

For those who ve never been, the closest location to date requires an hour-long road trip to Mechanicsville, Va. It s well worth the trip.

Noodles offers a simple variety of food: bowls of noodles in two sizes, small or regular. The restaurant, which prides itself on being a healthy destination, offers a two dish meal containing a small bowl of noodles, a choice of meat to complement the noodle order, and either a side salad or soup.

More so than a healthy diet, what Noodles prides itself on is its noodle selection. Pasta from three global settings is available: American, Mediterranean and Asian. Each setting has four choices of noodles well-known from that area of the world, as well as a soup and side salad as a complement.

The Asian menu offers dishes like Pan Noodles, Bangkok Curry and Indonesian Peanut Saute, along with sides of Thai Curry soup and Chinese Chop salad. Try the Pan and the Peanut for a spicier outing.

The Mediterranean menu brings a more Italian persuasion to Noodles: there s your basic Pasta Fresca and a spicier Penne Rosa. Tomato Basil Bisque takes care of the soup.

Wrapping up the menu are the American dishes, with delicious Wisconsin Mac & Cheese and Mushroom Stroganoff Chicken Noodle Soup and a Caesar Salad round out the offerings.

In each setting, the menu makes recommendations for a meat addition to the bowl: Buttered Noodles are great with parmesan-crusted chicken; shrimp make a great addition to the Bangkok Curry; and don t get the Pesto Cavatappi without a grilled chicken breast.

The Noodles environment provides a good mix of fast food and fine service. It s a no-tip joint, but waiters will deliver your order to your table in a matter of minutes. Other minor details about the restaurant give it high class feel, at least for fast food. Fresh vegetables are a new addition to an already healthy menu. The worst thing for you at Noodles may be the beverages: choices range from organic teas and juices to beer and wine in some locations.

The prices are no worse than a Subway or a Quiznos, which also pride themselves as being a healthy alternative.

The noodles are creeping up on all sides, and it s safe to say an invasion of Hampton Roads would be welcome.