Noodles & Co.

I am not a shopper. I hate shopping. My dad calls it "malling." I hate malling. I hate when I need new jeans or an outfit for an event. I hate when I need something as simple as new underwear or socks. I hate if I have to go to more than one store to find what I'm looking for. I hate when I have to drive from store to store to store, dealing with traffic and idiot drivers and idiot shoppers in search of a pair of shoes or the perfect jacket. I especially hate shopping in November & December because of all the other shoppers. If I must go malling, I insist on being there first thing in the morning because it's less crowded.

I received a bunch of birthday and holiday coupons in the mail, like 25% off anything at Vera Bradley, BOGO candles at Yankee Candle, Rewards Certificates for Hallmark, more Macy's coupons, and well, sometimes, you just need to investigate because of the potential extra savings.

So last Saturday, armed with a list of malling stuff we had to get (OK, maybe not had to get, more like wanted to look at & possibly purchase), we set off bright and early for the mall. Starting a malling trip at 10 am means that by noon, I am positively sick of the mall and shoppers and kids and strollers plus I'm hungry so I'm even more annoyed with people. This time, we were at South Hills Village Mall so we went to their food court.

If there's something I hate more than malling, it's mall food court food. It's always so salty or greasy or just... putrid and unappealing. I used to be able to enjoy something decent from Au Bon Pain, but that is no longer there. After Au Bon Pain disappeared, I tried to get by with soft pretzels for lunch during malling trips, but that really doesn't satisfy my tummy. This time, we decided to try a new-to-that-mall-place, Noodles & Co. I think it opened over the summer.

SP tried the Pad Thai (rice noodle stir-fry with scrambled egg, carrots, napa and red cabbage, sweet chili, citrus, peanuts, Asian sprouts and cilantro) with shrimp and a side salad. He said it was fine. I thought it smelled gross, but then again, I hate peanut butter and peanuts and cilantro and chili, so...

His side salad was pretty decent.

I opted for Wisconsin Mac & Cheese (a classic blend of cheddar and jack cheeses, cream and elbow macaroni). It was pretty good. I like it better than Kraft mac & cheese. Definitely better than the usual salty, greasy mall food. I'd get it again.

As far as mall food goes, Noodles & Co. is pretty good. Plus they have a nice little dining area separate from the main mall food court dining area, which was nice, although it did not block out the ear splitting noise from a horde of screaming children in the food court.

I seriously hope that any holiday gift shopping we decide to do can be done online. I've had enough malling.