Noodle Bar

Wandering the village listlessly in search of delicious, I was struck by the Noodle Bar’s retro sign and inviting open storefront. Less inviting was the price of their lunch special $8.25, on the higher side of what I like to spend on lunch. And yet, down I sat. I was eating within ten minutes.

I didn’t realize this was a Thai joint until I read the menu. The lunch deal is for two taro spring rolls, a cup of soup (supposed to be a salad, but it’s getting chilly out these days), and an entrée. The spring rolls were the best, with a thin, crunchy shell, and tasty gooey innards. They tasted different, yet I couldn’t quite tell which was the vegetarian one and which was filled with crab and shrimp. The soup was clear vegetable broth with seaweed, tofu, and carrots floating inside. It was good, if a little bland. There were plenty of entrée choices. I got me goreng with shrimp - noodles with egg, fried tofu, peanuts, and shallots. It was nice and tangy, and the shrimp tasted fresh. The sauce was a little thick. Actually, the slightly-bland broth and the slightly-too-strong noodle sauce created nice contrast and balance, and eating the two together was nicer than either would have been on its own.

When I was paying up, I realized that eating at the bar meant that a tip was expected. Total came out to slightly over $11. That breaks the dreaded $10 threshold, so even though it was a nice meal, I won’t be back unless it’s a semi-special occasion.

Location: 26 Carmine Street (Carmine and Bleeker)
Rating: ***

What are we doing here?

So I guess this is the mission statement.

I eat out for lunch in the village basically every day. I crave novelty, and I resent the thought that there are delicious things out there in the vast thicket of this neighborhood that I have yet to visit, sample, or even imagine. I have assigned myself the implausible task of eating my way through Greenwich Village, and I will be sharing what wisdom I glean with you, dear reader, along the way. I may occasionally write about places outside of the village; consider that special bonus content.

So what do I look for in a lunch place? Deliciousness is the first criterion, obviously. Second is price. If it's under $5, I can go whenever I want without guilt. If it's under $10 I can go pretty frequently and only feel a little bad. If it's over $10, though, I'm probably not going back for lunch unless it's a special occasion. Or it's really, really good, and I'm feeling slightly sorry for myself that day. Lastly, convenience (meaning speed of service and proximity to Washington Square Park) is important, but I'm aware that's probably the least interesting to anyone reading this.

I will rate restaurants on a scale from 1-5 stars.
* I am angry that I went here. I feel embarrassed that I didn't figure out just by eyeballing it how terrible this place is.
** This has some redeeming value, but I still wish I had been somewhere else for lunch.
*** either the food is mediocre, or the food is solid but there's some other factor making it so that I won't go back on my own. I might bring someone here if it was just what we were in the mood for. This will probably be my most common rating.
**** The food here is great. I like this place, and will go here as regularly as price and distance allow. I am pleased to bring friends here.
***** I bring this place up in casual conversation. I bring friends who are only visiting in the city for a few days here. The food may or may not be better than the average **** place, but if not it has something else going for it. Sometimes I would rather eat here alone than elsewhere with company.

Now, let us pillage Greenwich for all it's worth.