My first thought: OMG, I love noodles! I can't wait to try this place!
My afterthought: Blech.
My husband and I stopped by when Noodles & Co. opened up. I ordered Pad Thai with shrimp... not sure what he had. As far as my dinner went, everything was bad, especially the shrimp. When shrimp tastes and smells like fish, you know you're in trouble. I tried avoiding the shrimp at that point. I can comfortably say that it was the worst Pad Thai that I've ever had. The portion size was small - though in hindsight that was probably better, because I wouldn't have finished a larger size. The tastes and textures were just off-putting. I've even made Pad Thai from a box that was leaps and bounds ahead of this dish.
Everything tastes like fast food, and I guess that's the point sort of. It's the convenience factor, which is why I gave Noodles & Co. 2 stars instead of 1. The servers were also pleasant enough, and the place felt clean. I may go back to try another dish, but I certainly won't be rushing there anytime soon.