Noodles & Company
http://www.noodles.com/

Looking back at the archive, we have discussed Noodles & Company a few times.   If I go, which is rare, I usually order the Japanese Pan Noodles.

Before I go on, quick question:  if I make dried pasta, it usually takes 10 minutes to cook…at N&C, you can usually get your meal within five minutes or so.  What am I missing?

What I Got:  Pesto Cavatappi; consists of tomato, mushrooms, cream, Parmesan cheese , wine parsley, olive oil and Cavatappi noodles.  I also added a meat, parmesan chicken.

First, take a look at the picture…I didn’t move anything.  Where exactly are the mushrooms…and only one tomato?  After moving it around a little, a little more produced surfaced, but it was almost all noodles.  As far as taste, pretty awful.  The oily cheese glued everything together and I didn’t taste any cream.  The chicken was odd as well,with the breading separated from the chicken in all one piece.  I can’t think of anything that I liked about this dish.

My wife tried the Pad Thai.  This was better, but a poor version compared to 90% of the Thai restaurants in this city.  The chicken tasted warmed over and I didn’t taste any real peanut sauce.   Bleh.

Would I Buy It Again?   Nah. Noodles & Company is a jack of all trades, but a master of none.  I had two buy one get one free coupons and I think that I am going to let the other one expire.  If I went to Noodles and Company again, I think that I will stick to my Udon Noodles, which are not all that bad compared to these two dishes, but still nothing to write home about…or on a blog about.

-wibia

Sawasdee Thai
1222 West 86th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana  46260
http://www.sawasdeeindy.com/

86th and Ditch is a great intersection for food lured me to try a highly recommended Thai place.  I think that Thai food in Indy is far below average for what we should have in this large of a city.  I have had a few good dishes here and there, but I can’t say there is one Thai place that I enjoy.  And yes, I like Thai food and have had plenty of it.

I had my fingers crossed that multiple comments and e-mails would prove me wrong.   Spoiler:  they didn’t.

What I Ate: Thom Yum, Pork Pad See Ewe $6.95.  Wide noodles, eggs, sweet soy, veggies.

Brief lunch menu, but I am sure that 90% of the orders are Pad Thai anyway.   Thom yum soup/spring roll was average, there was nothing special here.

The entree arrived quickly and my first glance didn’t look that appetizing.  As I dug in, many of the noodles were stuck together.  I would guess this might be a bi-product of the sweet soy?  Either way, noodles that are stuck together is never a good thing.   I found the vegetables (esp. broccoli) to be a few days past their prime and the egg was a non-factor.

Would I Buy It Again?  Eh…no.   When I think about what they are there for, I would assume they are a lunch Pad Thai pusher that strives to give Indy another option for Thai.  However, not really a better option.  I would be tempted to return, but there were some technique and preparation issues here that should’ve never left the kitchen.

-wibia

I found this post via IndyScan.com, but this is absolutely awesome and gave me a good chuckle.  I don’t know what compelled this site to make this post, but it is such an obvious topic, yet hardly anyone ever posts about it.

Regardless, I agree with most of the choices.  The only one that I really disagree with and can’t understand is noodles.  I can tell you that I’ve NEVER had any sort of craving for noodles late at night.  I’ve never had waffles as a late night snack either, but I can at least see why some people might crave them.  Noodles just totally confuse me though.

The Top Ten Most Delicious Foods to Eat When You’re Drunk

-IndianapolisEater