la Frontera In the News

Round Rock Leader

August 28, 2004

Nothing But Noodles opens doors in La Frontera

by Mistie Householter, Leader Staff

The aroma sifting off the noodle dish that David and Jeannie Weaver ate at Nothing But Noodles in Amarillo had them hooked at first bite.

"The food blew us away. It is a definitive taste. We thought 'Man, we have to do this,'" David Weaver said.

And they did. Jeannie Weaver, along with friend Debby Davis, opened a Nothing But Noodles franchise next to Ben and Jerry's in the Vintage Plaza in La Frontera.

The Round Rock location, open now for four weeks, is only the third Noodles location in Texas. Along with the Round Rock and Amarillo locations, the Arizona-based corporation also has a franchise in Addison.

Noodle's menu, as it implies, offers 15 noodle bowls but also eight salads and eight low carbohydrate selections.

Davis said she was concerned at first about no-carb dieters' reactions to the restaurant's name but was convinced of its appeal to all lifestyles.

"I think in our low-carb conscious society, most people on the diet can still have carbs but can still be selective," she said.

Each low-carb and regular menu item has a cultural flair, either American, Italian or Asian, to please every palate. The pad Thai noodles, beef stroganoff and fettuccini alfredo are among the favorites.

"Ultimately I think one of the most difficult things when trying to figure out a place to eat is finding something for everyone," Weaver said.

Each dish, with the exception of the beef stroganoff, is listed on the menu without veggies, beef, shrimp, chicken or tofu. Any menu item can be customized with any of the five extras. The noodle dishes without meat range in price from $4.49 to $5.99.

Nothing But Noodles operates in a fast-casual, non-tipping style, directing hungry patrons to order at the open kitchen and be seated while their dish is made-to-order at one of 18 wok stations. Each pasta and sauce is made fresh each morning.

"You get the food quality of a high-end restaurant without having to dress up or tip," Davis said.

The restaurant also caters to families with their kid-friendly atmosphere, under $3 kids menu and crazy cotton candy dessert. The fluffy dessert is "every parent's nightmare" Davis joked.