Woke up today craving noodles bad, but that gluten thing had me sweating. Remembered Noodles & Co. claims gluten-free options. Figured, what the heck, let’s put that to the test. My guts don’t mess around.
The Online Hunt was a Bust
First step? Hit the web. Grabbed my phone, punched in “noodles and co gluten free menu”. Website popped up fast enough, but man, finding the actual gluten-free stuff? Like finding a needle in a haystack. Scrolled forever. Menu looked big, pictures looked yummy, but where’s the GF mark? Tapped everywhere. Nothing clear. Frustration level: rising. Almost gave up. Said screw it, just gonna drive over and stare them down.
Walking In Blind (But Hopeful)
Parked outside, stomach already growling. Budget was tight today, so couldn’t afford a wrong order. Walked in, stood there scanning the giant overhead menu. Eyes darting like crazy. Still… nada. No obvious signs screaming “GLUTEN FREE HERE!” Panic started creeping in.
Caught a cashier’s eye. Took a deep breath. “Hey, uh, what’s actually gluten-free here?” My voice might have cracked. Poor dude.
The Cashier Saves the Day
Guy didn’t even blink. “We got you,” he nods. Pulls out this actual printed list. Felt like finding treasure. The mythical Gluten Free Menu! Here’s the real deal he showed me:
- Gluten Free Pasta: Penne! Looked legit, not like mush.
- Sauces: Bolognese tasted hearty, Pesto tasted green and good, Spicy Meatball… well, spicy. Classic Butter & Parmesan was safe too.
- Bowls: Bangkok Curry (with rice noodles) and the Thai Green Curry Bowl were big wins.
- Salads: Mediterranean kinda basic but fresh, House salad too.
- Extras: Grilled chicken strips (gotta have protein!), Veggies like broccoli or zucchini… they throw those in for free.
Felt a huge weight lift. Actual choices! Went with the Spicy Meatball sauce on GF penne. For kicks, added grilled chicken and broccoli. Slammed my card down before I could chicken out. “Yeah, that, gluten-free pasta for sure, right?” Double-checked like a nervous wreck.
The Moment of Truth… With Chopsticks
Grabbed my tray, found a sticky table. Unwrapped the flimsy chopsticks they gave. First forkful of that GF penne with meatball sauce… braced myself. You know how gluten-free stuff can be sad sometimes?
Not this time. Penne held its shape, no weird aftertaste. Sauce had actual spice! Chicken tasted grilled, broccoli wasn’t soggy. Surprise hit? Those chopsticks. Made me eat slower, actually taste stuff. Fingers got covered in chili oil. Totally worth it. Sat there, happy chomp chomp, guts quiet. Mission accomplished.
So yeah, their gluten-free thing is real. Just gotta ask for the secret list. Tooling online sucked, but they deliver where it counts – the food.