Noodles & Company Brings a World of Pasta
to Downtown Silver Spring

by Patricia B. Grossman

Some say that noodles were first formed in China and have been a staplehere for thousands of years. According to culinary lore, Marco Polo carried home to Venice the secrets of Chinese pasta making. However, evidence shows that the Italians had, in fact, been using noodles for centuries--in recipes passed down from the Romans and North Africans In fact, the first noodle may have actually been boiled in Jerusalem. Whatever the origin, one thing is certain, Chinese and Italians both agree that noodles are an ideal delivery system for tasty sauces.

That's where Noodles & Company comes in. In 2002, the Colorado-based company opened a restaurant in College Park and found it so successful that they have since established almost a dozen more in the DC Metropolitan area. The Silver Spring location opened in the summer of 2004--situated along the newly redeveloped Ellsworth Drive.

Noodles & Company is not an Asian noodle restaurant, nor an Italian pasta place. This restaurant is an eclectic mix of the most popular noodle dishes from around the world, including some exciting new entrees like "Whole Grain Tuscan Fettuccine without the Nutritious Cardboard Taste."

The menu is short but has enough variation that each dish is worth consideration. "Noodlicious Specialties" include Japanese Pan Noodles, Pasta Fresca, Bangkok Curry, Indonesian Peanut Sauce, Thai Curry Soup and Penne Rosa -- each generous portion averaging $5.50.

Some "classic" dishes include Pesto Cavatappi, Pad Thai, Mushroom Stroganoff, Chicken Noodle Soup, Tomato Marinara, Buttered Noodles and Parmesan and Wisconsin Mac and Cheese. These "Classic" dishes come in two sizes: "Entrees" ranging from a mere $3.95 to $5.95 and "Small" for $2.75 to $3.95.

While these entrees stand on their own, add-ons are offered: Thin-cut grilled steak ($2.00), grilled chicken breast ($2.00), sautéed shrimp ($2.25), sauteed organic tofu ($1.50), cheese ($.75) or select vegetables (red pepper, tomato, snap pea, broccoli, carrot, kalamata olive, spinach, sautéed mushroom, shitake mushroom, cucumber or sprout) can be tossed in with any selection.

Not knowing how delicious the entree would be by itself I ordered the grilled steak as an add on to my mushroom stroganoff. The sauce was so tasty I could have done without steak. The steak was quite tender, but the next time I go there--and it will be soon--I'm not going to order the steak. I will, however, order more than one dish--because I just can't make up my mind as to which one I liked better, the stroganoff or the Pesto Cavatappi; they were both so good and the price so right!

The cold, snowy night that my dining companion and I visited Noodles & Company we ordered three dishes and shared them. The Japanese Pan Noodles, ginger-soy glazed fresh udon noodles with broccoli, carrot, shiitake mushroom and sprouts, were quite spicy. Long noodles in a brown sauce with colorful vegetables filled a chic, angular white plate. My partner loved them. I relished the mushroom stroganoff with the wide egg noodles. We also ordered the Pesto Cavatappi, curly pasta tubes--similar to fusilli--sautéed in olive oil and tossed with basil pesto, mushrooms, roma tomato, white wine, a dash of cream and finished with shredded parmesan. We ordered shrimp as an add on to this dish. At first I couldn't find the shrimp, they were covered in pesto sauce and blended in with the pasta but upon further investigation I found them.

Salads are also on the menu with some unique combinations: I especially enjoyed the Chinese Chop Salad--consisting of sesame-soy, tossed chopped vegetables, field lettuces and cabbage topped with red pepper, cucumber, crunchy wonton strips and black sesame. The Spicy Peanut Noodle Salad was also excellent--a combination of warm rice noodles and chopped crisp greens tossed in a spicy peanut dressing topped with cucumbers, carrot, Asian sprout and crushed peanut. The Spicy Thai Caesar Salad and the Med Salad are also worthwhile choices.

Bread, either flatbread or organic rustic rolls, are offered for an additional 75 cents each. The rustic roll was warm, soft and a little chewy, which I love.

Beer, wine and a selection of soda, juices and pop are available. Sparkling Clementine was the flavor of the Izze brand bottled pop I chose as my beverage.

The meal was fun, tasty and­­­--well--cheap. And for vegetarians it's a real change of pace from the ordinary, especially if you include dairy in your diet.

Be ready to contribute $1.00 to the tsunami efforts when you order. Noodles & Company has partnered up with UNICEF to build a school for the kids in Indonesia and your cashier will ask you if you want to donate. The entire contribution will be sent.

Noodles & Company is located at 905 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring. 301-588-5312. Hours: Daily 11 a.m. -10 p.m.