The Noodle Station And The Pearl & Swirl
courtesy of dartbeat.com
After much anticipation, I escaped the cold Hanover winds and entered the Noodle Station and The Swirl & Pearl to get a taste of what these new restaurants are all about. I ordered a meal and observed these unique combination of two such different restaurants here on Lebanon Street.
Comfortable booths and plain wooden tables welcome each customer. The meal options are displayed on neatly written, albeit crowded, chalkboards, which grab the attention of the customer due to the flashy colors. The “Create your own” meal menu presents the opportunity to order exactly what the customer desires. While waiting for food, customers can watch their meal being cooked right behind the counters. If you’re lucky, you’ll get dinner and a show when high, exposed flames are used to prepare food.
When I visited the Noodle Station, the restaurant was nearly empty and the wait was not long, so it was hard to get a feel for what the service is like, although it is easy to tell that the staff are friendly and ready to serve. The meal came out fresh and piping hot and lived up to my expectations. Be prepared to ask for a container for left-overs because the Noodle Station will not leave anyone hungry. Ample portion sizes are generously given to each individual. Quantity is not valued over quality, however, as evidenced by the clearly fresh vegetables and other ingredients. Although I have read a few negative comments online about the Noodle Station, I did not see anything there that was of poor quality. The cost of the meal altogether at the Noodle Station was a little over $15 , but the price could definitely skyrocket quickly if one gets too tempted with the food.
I managed to save a little room for dessert, so I decided to finish off lunch with frozen yogurt at The Swirl & Pearl, which is only a short walk to the other side of the building. Just like the Noodle Station, The Swirl & Pearl lets the customer make their own creation. Toppings ranging from chocolate treats to slices of fruit may be placed on the “fro-yo”. The Noodle Station can get a bit expensive, and the same can be said of The Swirl & Pearl. Filling a cup of frozen yogurt to the top and adding a few toppings cost me $6. The price was a bit higher than I expected, but it was still worth buying.
The Noodle Station and The Swirl & Pearl is absolutely a destination worth going to in Hanover. Many meals made in the kitchens of the Noodle Station cannot be found in other restaurants in the Upper Valley. I would certainly go again. A fair amount of money will be spent, and one must be in the mood for a very starchy lunch of mainly noodles and soup. However, the combination of the Noodle Station and The Swirl and Pearl will not disappoint as a result of the wonderful meals prepared fresh and ready to go. Two solid thumbs up for a new location that may soon become very popular.