Noodles and company is a franchised chain and has grown popularity recently. My wife received a bogo free coupon via email so we decided to check it out. The premise of the business is a quasi fast food/cafeteria/restaurant. You place your order, pay for it, then sit down and someone will serve your meal once it's prepared. All dishes are prepared fresh and made to order.
The menu has pre-defined dishes, but also allows you to customize them. You can also create your own by selecting a starch (type of noodle), a protein, vegetables, sauces and spices. They boast a large variety of noodles from traditional flour based (spaghetti, bow tie, penne, macaroni, etc.) to pad thai (rice noodles), to Pan (Japanese) noodles. Sauces and spices also cover the globe from fresco, to pesto and curry! Other menu items included appetizers (meatballs, pot stickers, garlic bread), soups, and salads (not customizable -- is that even a word?). There is also a limited kids menu of pre-selected entrees. You get to pick two sides and a drink; all for $5, which in my opinion, offers good value if you have little ones.
Being our first time, we decided to go with some of their signature and most popular items. I opted for the Steak Stroganoff and my wife selected the Spicy Korean Beef noodles. We opted up to add a side for a nominal charge. I had a side Caesar salad and my wife had the Thai curry soup. When the food arrived, it looked and smelled great. Taste, to my delight, was not a disappointment! All pastas are cooked exactly how we like it, al dente (a consistency that is firm to the bite). Both dishes were a little lacking as the protein/vegetable to starch ratio was off, but the flavours made up for it. My side Caesar was nothing special, but the Thai curry soup was good. It was a toned down version from authentic Thai Curry; while it was lacking coconut milk (a staple in Thai soups), the cumin was not overpowering and neither was the heat from the chilies.
The portion was appropriate if not a little on the generous side, and the prices are very competitive considering the dish (the prices are amazing if you have a bogo free coupon!). Our meal came to just over $10 for both (the bogo free coupon rememeber) and we had enough for lunch the next day.
Overall, I think Noodles and Company has all the right ingredients for success! A fresh, made to order concept, with unlimited combinations of flavours with the create your own, at a price that's very reasonable and fair.
We will definitely be returning to try their other creations, and may possibly even conjure up some of our own... read more