Noodles and Company, a Colorado-Based Chain Featuring Various Permutations of Cheap Noodles and Starch

[kirite]

This chain recently opened a new restaurant on Route 7 in Falls Chuch-Pimmit Hills. To its credit the website has extensive nutritional information. I looked at the sodium content and was not surprised to see that many of the items at least contain 2000 mg. The FDA recommends no more than a daily intake of 2400 mg. Diabetes anyone?

[Tujague]

Don't you mean "high blood pressure, anyone?" Sodium isn't a precipitator of diabetes, but it is a problem for people who already have it, since they are more susceptible to high blood pressure and low potassium levels.

At any rate, those numbers certainly aren't good. But they also represent a serving size that is probably at least twice, maybe three times, the size that the FDA recommends, regardless of sodium content. But this is probably all a topic for another forum.

[DonRocks]

Don't you mean "high blood pressure, anyone?" Sodium isn't a precipitator of diabetes, but it is a problem for people who already have it, since they are more susceptible to high blood pressure and low potassium levels.

At any rate, those numbers certainly aren't good. But they also represent a serving size that is probably at least twice, maybe three times, the size that the FDA recommends, regardless of sodium content. But this is probably all a topic for another forum.

Maybe if the conversation deepens, it can be split off, but yours is a good post, and exactly the same thing I thought of when I read "Diabetes, anyone?" (which probably should have been written, "Anyone have diabetes?")

Cheers,

Rocks

[bookluvingbabe]

We've been a few times after glowing reviews from one of the little guy's favorite grown ups.

Awful is too nice a word for it.

Shuddering to remember. Overcooked noodles. Very salty. Not a place I would wish on anyone.

[jayandstacey]

I've been many times as my kids love it, it is quick and cheap and the fast food alternative is much worse to me.

Oddly, I found that the mushroom stroganoff with a dose of soy sauce applied at the table (and maybe a touch sriracha) to be pretty good, albeit I'm sure high in salt. I'm not afforded too many other opportunities to enjoy stroganoff with soy sauce. The pasta/noodles are not served al dente but the butter nodles, the ones used in the stroganoff, are fairly thick and thus seem OK when served.

More than anything else, when we go to our local outlet we're treated nicely and accomodated at every turn...consistently...for years now. That combined with about $25-$30 for 4 to eat is a deal for which I'll return. Could I get better food elsewhere? Absolutely Yes. Could I get better food at that price point with such gracious service in my neighborhood? Yes, but only at one or two other places we also frequent....that don't serve the mac and cheese my kids so dearly love

Is it horrible? I think some dishes could be - I stay away from the pad thai for instance, as there are other (local, inexpensive) places better suited for that. But I do think there are ways to go and at least survive.

[Bob Wells]

_{It's not as bad as CiCi's Pizza. Take that however you wish.}

[jayandstacey]

_{It's not as bad as CiCi's Pizza. Take that however you wish.}

hahaha! Indeed!

Cici's is, to this day, is about the worst food experience I've ever had that wasn't some kind of charity/volunteer event. I was out of town and didn't know what I was walking into, I thought it was just a local pizza joint. I left ashamed.

To this day as we pass a Cici's in our travels, the kids and I will have some fun. I'll cup my hand over my mouth like speaking into a microphone and sounding like mission control in Houston: "OK rotund friends, we've rolled out a massive 4 foot wide pizza featuring a stick of butter atop each slice. That's a full hectare of buttery pizza, folks. Prep you cistern with your favorite brown soda served by our mixologist, famous for his CO2 creativity, and get your behinds up here for a slice that's so big it'll be at least 17 minutes before you're back for more."

[jayandstacey]

So how about this:

Noodles & Co, at least the one in Gaithersburg, is a bit like Blackjack in a casino. Over time, it's a net loss. But if you know how to play the game, bet with your head and limit your table time, it can be a fun diversion and provide a bit of entertainment. And on rare occasions, with the right cards and a pleasant dealer, you can walk out a winner.

[B.A.R.]

I like how if you type "sodium ridden" in the Google machine, this thread comes up 3rd. Don Rockwell = Evil Genius

[Barbara]

I tried the one in Woodley Park a while back and was really turned off by the whole corporate vibe. I had the Pad Thai with a few shrimp thrown on it and was terribly disappointed. Never again. There are too many half-way authentic places around here to get my Asian noodle fix to bother with that place.

[hopsing]

I've never been tempted to try Noodles & Co. although I live near the Ballston Mall. However, I have been to Cici's several times, and although not great, beats other fast food pizza chains, esp. if you are lucky enough to get the deep dish kind in their buffet. That is pretty good and I thought I might order a deep dish pie for dinner sometime. I don't remember the pizza being buttery at all. Re sodium levels in restaurants, sigh.... I've been combatting high blood pressure in recent months and as long as I don't eat out, I'm okay. I wish restaurants would be as cognizant of sodium the way they are about gluten these days. I did have luck on my recent visits to Crystal Thai. I've asked for Pad See Ew with beef -- not too salty and they have complied!

[jayandstacey]

I tried the one in Woodley Park a while back and was really turned off by the whole corporate vibe.

They're the McMuffin of Noodle Chains!

I had the Pad Thai with a few shrimp thrown on it and was terribly disappointed. Never again. There are too many half-way authentic places around here to get my Asian noodle fix to bother with that place.

Yeah, the Pad Thai has always been mushy. My wife mistakenly orders it every now and again and the bites I sneak reaffirm why I never make that mistake myself.

But I still think the mushroom stroganoff is fine, simple and somewhat unique. It wouldn't compare it to other real stroganoffs around the city, rather, I'd compare it to, say, other stuff you can get cheap and fast, like burgers and fries. And on that scale, it is acceptable.

[yfunk3]

It's not a bad alternative if you're looking for something hot for lunch instead of sandwiches and burgers/soup. Just don't get any of the Asian-inspired stuff. Stick with the "Italian" and "American" pasta dishes and you'll probably get a decent lunch worth what you paid. They also give you good birthday deals during your birthday week if you sign up for the emails.

And honestly, no one's going to mention that virtually any dining establishment's main course will have at least 2000mg of sodium in it, or more, no matter how "low class" one thinks it is? It's not exactly a problem that exists mainly in the "food for poor people" category.

[Barbara]

It's not a bad alternative if you're looking for something hot for lunch instead of sandwiches and burgers/soup. Just don't get any of the Asian-inspired stuff. Stick with the "Italian" and "American" pasta dishes and you'll probably get a decent lunch worth what you paid. They also give you good birthday deals during your birthday week if you sign up for the emails.

And honestly, no one's going to mention that virtually any dining establishment's main course will have at least 2000mg of sodium in it, or more, no matter how "low class" one thinks it is? It's not exactly a problem that exists mainly in the "food for poor people" category.

My memory is a little bit hazy, but I think I looked at the calorie count and chose the least insane one, IIRC. I'm sticking with Pho from now on. (Although I had a lovely Pad Thai at Thai Basil out in/near Chantilly over the weekend.)

[Soup]

It is really easy to find fault with this place - chain, pretty pedestrian food, etc.

However, my kids love this place. Mac and cheese and spagetti w/ meat balls. Both dishes I can make easily and better but we still go there once a month. It is really cheap and easy. It has taken over from ja jang mein place as our go to pasta place. I don't really think it is that great but the kids like it. I've had the asian stuff and all i can say is go with non asian dishes.

But like chipotle, jersey mikes and other good chains, it is good for what it is.

Soup

[jandres374]

Taking over half of the old RiRa space in Bethesda (Elm St) - disappointing that something more original not going there but seems par for the course in this area.

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Blogs/Table-Talk/March-April-2014/Noodles-and-Company-Ri-Ra-Bethesda/

[Kev29]

disappointing that something more original not going there but seems par for the course in this area.

Yeah, an interesting place probably couldn't afford the lease on such a big space right in the heart of downtown Bethesda.

[DonRocks]

"Police Officer in Virginia Denied Service in Noodles & Company, Department Says" by Rachel Weiner on washingtonpost.com

[genericeric]

On 7/27/2016 at 7:31 AM, DonRocks said:

"Police Officer in Virginia Denied Service in Noodles & Company, Department Says" by Rachel Weiner on washingtonpost.com

Two employees involved in denying the officer service have been fired, according to WUSA.  Something tells me they won't just be shifted to a different location like the recent Peter Chang incident.

[DaveO]

couple of things:

I suppose in this time and age and with events and news reflecting all this hatred in many varieties there will be single examples of the anger and hatred coming to the forefront, at various times and places.  Some will hit the news.  I think all of it is sad.   (better not to see this anger at all...but "not serving a uniformed cop is better than shooting one").   We are living in a tough time.

I was looking at the entire thread.  As far as quick serve/ fast casual places go, I like Noodles and Things relative to quite a few others, and I like some above have gravitated toward the Italian dishes versus the Asian dishes.  Its fast casual quick serve.  They are fast, casual, inexpensive...and while I haven't been to one in a while I recall they installed those great multi flexible coke machines where you can customize your "coke" product with flavorings (coming from flavoring pouches inside the machine).  Man;  if you add lime flavoring to your drink those machines put out a great whiff of lime in addition to the flavoring.  Its a nice perk!!