Nooshi Oodles Noodles, Washington, D.C......A New Name and A New Look
Written: Nov 01 '03
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Pros: Fairly good looking, inexpensive restaurant in a convenient downtown location
Cons: The menu is all over the map, and not everything is perfect
The Bottom Line: Nooshi Oodles Noodles is a good alternative to other places nearby. This isn't a destination of itself, but a good standby.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Oodles of Noodles |
Oodles of Noodles was one of those places which was simply not on my radar screen. Hidden away on a busy stretch of 19th Street downtown, it's easy to miss. I finally found it yesterday and went in for dinner. What had I been waiting for?
The Look
A recent renovation transformed the formerly dreary premises into something fairly inviting. The look is clean and crisp, with steel walls, marble columns and a smart looking sushi bar near the front of the dining room. Sure it's nothing too fancy, just a noodle shop at heart, but it's nice to run across something like this now and then. I will be back for more.
The Menu
First Course
The menu is all over the Asian map, but there appear to be more items from Thailand than not, so I believe that the owners might be Thai.
I began with the Oodles Spring Onions Cake ($3.25). Not bad, if a bit greasy. Served attractively in a bento box with a lurid orange sauce for dipping, there were three large pancakes, though this doesn't exactly describe them accurately. Rather like fried discs, the pancakes had a hard, crunchy exterior dripping with oil. After overcoming my initial concern, I delved into them. The verdict? Fairly good, with lots of flavor from the scallions. I would have preferred more fire in the tepid orange sauce, but I nearly got myself into trouble later on....more on that later. In theory, there was ginger somewhere in there, but I couldn't find it.
I visited the place again tonight and tried the Sweet Corn Wonton ($3.95). Another bento box came with five crispy wontons filled with chopped shrimp, crab meat and corn. While good enough, the wontons lacked character and the sauce was suspiciously familiar to the one I had had the night before. The menu has spring rolls ($3.25), garden rolls ($3.95) and also the Vietnamese variety of spring roll- cold and served with a pungent fish sauce ($3.95 as well). Each dish is served in an approximation of local style, an inventive touch.
You can try all sorts of things, and I'll be doing just that.
Main Course
This is a noodle house, so the natural thing to have is noodles right? Absolutely.
Last night, I tried the Curry Laksa ($7.95), a big earthenware bowl of noodles (egg and rice noodles) in a coconut based red curry. The curry itself is fairly mild, but if you are a fool, as I am , you may ask them for more fire. They brought out a small dish of red curry paste and I applied it liberally. No need to visit the sauna today.
Not having had my fill of spicy noodles, I opted for the Phuket Noodles ($7.50) this evening. Another dish from Thailand, this one came in a big bowl as well. Thin rice noodles, tender slices of chicken breast, hot slivers of ginger and basil leaves made up most of the dish. The julienned carrots added color, if not much taste. The broth? Thin, watery and incendiary, the broth is enough to throw your sinuses into the next room. Like the curry, the dish was well balanced, but this time I had the good sense not to tamper with the seasoning. When they warn you that the dish is hot, you are to take heed.
Noodles are the heart and soul of this restaurant, but there are a few other things worth mention. If you are fond of Nasi Goreng, the national dish of Malaysia, you may be pleased to find it on the menu here ($8.95). I have had far too much of the stuff to be excited when I find it, but it may be what you are looking for.
They have a few grilled items on the menu as well, like Grilled Jakarta Shrimp ($9.95) which is served with rice noodles and a spicy peanut sauce. Doesn't it seem sometimes that the whole of Indonesia is drenched in peanut sauce? I don't doubt that it may be good, however. For those who want something plainer, the Grilled Lemon Chicken ($7.95) may be just the ticket back to the nursery. Who says you can't have comfort food in a pan-Asian restaurant?
As for the sushi bar, I haven't yet tried it, so that will have to wait for another visit. For sushi in this area, the prices aren't too bad. The most expensive selection is the Grand Sushi at $15.00.
Dessert
Forget it. I had no strength to go on after all of that. Curiously, the couple next to me were having a creme brulee, not exactly what I might have expected to find among the usual ginger ice cream and the like.
Wine List
A token wine list is offered, but you may know how I feel about wine in Asian restaurants. Don't bother. Tea is served in those little iron pots which spill all over you however gingerly you pick them up.
Service
The service is competent without being effusive. I had no service issues, but one cannot say too much about the service here. The staff are fairly welcoming, but manage to maintain a sense of reserve.
Cost
The good news is that this place is very reasonable. Dinner for one (two courses) was only $15.00! In downtown Washington, that's hard to beat.
Reservations Etc.
This is more of a walk-in place than one for which you might plan in advance. The atmosphere is casual, so you don't have to worry about how you will look. All major credit cards are accepted.
They are open as follows:
Monday- Thursday 11:30 AM- 10:00 PM
Friday- Saturday 11:30 AM- 10:30 PM
Sunday 5:00 PM- 10:00 PM
Nooshi Oodles Noodles
1120 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel. 202-293-3138
FAX 202-467-0558
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Reservations are probably not needed, informal
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 443 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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