Somewhat ashamed to admit, since I try hard not to patronize chains, but I love Noodles & Co.

I've never eaten at one, but it sounds kind of like what Olga's Kitchen was for me as a child - a fresh but lowest common denominator-spiced gateway to real cuisine (Greek, then Lebanese and Turkish, in the case of Olga's).

But, ORR, please do find the local noodle joint. I'd still rather spend my money there. Especially if they don't bland down the spicing.

I tend to go Noodles and Company once a year, which is right before I go to the Gucchi Giant to shop for Passover.

I would agree with Richard, it's pretty good and a nice value. It also works well with the wife, as she prefers the Mediterranean fare and I like the Asian noodles.

Me too ET.

Funny title for fellow sandboxers: I've been on the blog a lot today because I'm having to reload all the music that I lost when my laptop was taken off-line from my previous position. Put in a disk, let it spin, check the posts.

So a title pops up from a Will Ackerman compilation: "Slow Motion Roast Beef Restaurant Seduction." The original album was from 1976, A Search for the Turtle's Navel.

Who wants to go first??

There is a place down here called The Spicy Noodle. The sign is a graphic of a smiley onion or garlic clove, I'm not sure.

I hear its quite good, but its out on the West End. Once I move there in the fall, I will check it out.

@Lissa, I've been to Olga's in Detroit several times and really enjoy it. Olga bread, and peasant soup! This is not Olga's.

Noodles is a perfect place for the family. It's cheap, filling and fast. Far from gourmet.

For people looking for a locally owned noodle shop in Howard Co., I’ll recommend Noodles Corner, off Dobbin road, south of 175 in Columbia. At least, I’m pretty sure it’s locally owned and not a chain. All Asian, so it won’t help the people who need a Mediterranean option. It has several dishes that will be familiar to people (pad thai, chow fun, etc.), but at least some of the offerings are “adventurous” enough for the servers to caution you when you order them. (I got a fantastic noodle soup, with fish stock and fish balls, last time, and the server made sure in advance that I knew how fishy it is, since many American diners are taken aback by it.) And it's very reasonably priced.

I'm completely befuddled by Richard. He loves Noodles & Company but doesn't care for Fazzini's in Cockeysville?

Oh well, some times you just have to realize that other people have completely different tastes than you.

Chaka Khan à son goût I always say, Miles

As many reviewers also say, the best we can hope to do is give the reader an honest account of an experience. It's always going to be subjective.