While I have read a lot of reviews for lunch, I have only been to dinner here twice and both times I have vowed to return. The pasta is indeed fresh and very good and I love the ability to pair the sauces. This past Friday, I had the shrimp, scallops and mushroom white wine sauce over spinach fettuccine. It was very good but perhaps could have used a bit more red pepper flakes to spice it up. I am sure I wanted it more spicy as I must admit my finace ordered the better dish of the two. As a special that evening, a perfectly cooked paella loaded with seafood was the hit of the evening. The wine selection is always interesting and I am hoping I can save room for dessert next time. It is a very cozy place and while it can get loud at times, a perfect date place on a quiet street close to home.
(4)
David R.
I silently pooh-poohed the idea of needing to make a reservation for some place called "The Noodle" in downtown Wilmette at 6:30 on a Tuesday evening...but I was wrong. It's a small dining room and quite popular with the locals. Even with the outdoor seating area to augment the capacity, new guests were being quoted twenty- or thirty-minute waits. Further refuting my expectations was the menu: I had imagined a boring red-sauce joint, but the menu was pleasantly diverse. They have numerous "choose your pasta and your sauce" selections, but the other sections offer tasty-sounding options as well, such as pork tenderloin, italian sausage and peppers, and several seafood dishes. Plus I was sorely tempted by some of the weekly specials, such as the stuffed trout. But I was in a light-eating mood and ordered the gourmet garden salad with grilled chicken. They made a typo on their menu: it should say "chicken with gourmet salad" as all the greens in my bowl were obscured by the two massive chicken breasts atop. Egregious ingredient imbalance aside, it was a great salad--fresh, delicious, and nicely enhanced by the creamy garlic dressing. I ate my fill and ended up taking almost half of it home. I undermined the healthy tenor of my dinner by sampling the gorgonzola potato chip appetizer (thankfully less gorgonzola-y than expected), the garlic bread (heavily buttered, simple but fantastic), the vegetable risotto (delightful cheesy flavor combined with awesome grilled vegetables), and half a piece of carrot cake (a-okay). So, I'm sorry for underestimating you, Noodle. I'll happily return anytime that my Wilmette dinner-buddies want to.
(4)
Captain G.
What can you say about a place that does it right all the time? The menu is varied and the food is always good. There are some all-time favorites like the shrimp, scallop and mushroom pasta with tasty bay scallops and pleanty of shrimp. The rock cornish hen was the best I have ever tasted. The wine list is complete and the garlic (free) bread is the best I have ever had. A great neighboorhood place with friendly staff and outdoor seating in the warm weather months. A must stop if you are on the north Shore.
(5)
Daniel S.
Good homemade pasta- have had a couple and both tasted great. Meatballs tasty with the pasta. Cool chicken Caesar pasta salad- tasty too
(4)
Beth R.
I've been a Noodle fan for years and years and years. When I visit my parents up north, we get carry-out but have also dined-in periodically. In fact, when the dinner choice is up to me, it's always the Noodle, but I have to toss a coin between the gourmet salad and the vegetable risotto. If I land on "salad" I then need to toss the coin again to determine whether to add grilled chicken or salmon. The chicken is grilled and sliced, and there is always enough for leftovers (or enough for a couple of happy and grateful dogs if they're very, very good). The house dressing is a creamy garlic that I get, well, really excited about. The salad itself is a mix of leafy greens, cucumbers, shredded carrots, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and olives with a quarter lemon. If I land on "risotto" I am in for a hearty and wholesome mix of just-barely-grilled vegetables like squash, carrots, asparagus, pepper and anything else seasonal. Again, there is enough food for two meals. This being Yelp, I guess I can admit that it usually doesn't make it - I just eat it all. What? Follow the probability tree if you want, but the bottom line is, I love the Noodle and consistently love my food. Four stars and a thumb's up.
(4)
C T.
Service was so-so. Food was comfort-style and also so-so.
(2)
Ehow C.
The garlic bread is crack. Please don't give me more, otherwise I'll have no room for dinner. On second thought, maybe I'll just have the bread for dinner, thanks. On third thought, your pasta and dishes very tasty with such variety! And the dinners are very reasonably priced for the amount of food. So no more bread, please. Plus, the desserts are very tasty. Unless I can have garlic bread for dessert...
(4)
Dan M.
A perennial favorite of the family. It is a standby that always is included in the "where should we go for dinner" discussion. Space is tight but the food more than makes up for that. Most of the wait staff is over the top with a "what else can I do for you attitude" however, there is one waitress that is just ok
(5)
Michelle C.
The food was pretty good. Nice portions. But you can find great food in a lot of places. However, customer service is number 1 in my book! I am out of town and my mother wanted some takeout-she lives in Wilmette. It was my first time at noodle in Wilmette. When I walked in some cook walks out from the kitchen with an annoyed look on his face. I don't know his name, but he was hispanic dark skin and hair up to his neck slicked back. Absolutely no professionalism. I was not even greeted when I came through the door, How may I help you. etc. When I asked if I could put my order in for pick up, he said I don't know what you want mam with such a bad attitude. Stuck up, arrogant workers should not be the restaurant business. I will never go to this (particular) noodle again. I have gone to others in Lakeview, River Grove/Oak Park, and have received kinder service. The guy who took my order was attentive and respectful though, but one person can spoil it all. Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)
Matt T.
Ok, but there was plastic and unwanted vegetables in our food I live close by and I been here a million times. I only came here because my car had a nail in the tire. I am not coming back here for a while.
(2)
Keith A.
This is a great little spot. I decided to get lunch from here and was left a real fan. I got a full order of whole wheat linguine with chicken romano. The linguine was really tasty and chewy. You can tell the difference of using fresh made pasta. The sauce was really good as well with the chicken being cooked great I also got a small chicken pasta salad that I had later for dinner. Again, the pasta was nice and chewy and the caesar sauce on it was real good as well. Along with the salad I had their tomato basil soup. It was really creamy and thick, but also really really good. There was just the right amount of basil and herbs in it along with some cheese used in it as well. The pasta alone makes me want to come back here soon. While its a bit more expensive to have fresh made pasta, it's great and makes that extra difference
(4)
William H.
Love the noodle, great service and excellent food! A great family owned restaurant in the heart of Wilmette. It's a little small so reservations are always helpful.
(5)
caitlin j.
Sure, it's a pasta place. But they're in Wilmette, so that means they serve gluten-free noodles too. Fantastic. I have ordered so much catered food from this place. And you know what? They are some totally amazing people. I can call them up and say, "Hey! I've got to feed seven people who are allergic to black pepper and tomato, four vegans, two celiacs, and eighteen people who only eat meat and potatoes!" and they can come up with a great catering package for me without hardly blinking an eye. Oh operator of The Noodle, I marvel at your talent. Dining-in is no less charming. The place is really small but the staff is attentive, knowledgeable and so accommodating. And the food? Well, that's at least half of the why people come here, right? (Or something...)The gluten-free pasta with a number of sauces is all I really need to keep me pleased, but there is an extensive menu of deliciousness. My husband cannot get enough of the tomato basil soup. Yes, the food is good, of course, it is. But the great people working here giving great service to bring you great food... well, it's a powerful combination that makes loyal customers of us all.
(5)
William F.
Great cuisine, great owners. I really appreciate the careful and moderately-priced winelist. Support this restaurant!
(4)
Jenny R.
I have three things to say: 1. For lunch, get the tuna melt. 2. For dinner, get pasta with the tomato, chicken, and onion sauce (can't recall the name) 3. Don't be a schmuck; ask for the garlic bread. L.O.V.E The Noodle.
(5)
Jaime P.
I went to this little place today...was so excited to eat the food I had heard so much about. I ordered the wheat garlic fettuccini noodles with basil pesto with Italian sausage. Unfortunately it was probably the blandest meal I've ever had at a restaurant. It was fresh, well made, with. ZERO flavor. I did order the mocha for my desert drink, and it was the best mocha I. Had ever drank, so that was the upside. I wish the 27 dollars I spent on my meal was more memorable. :(
(2)
Yvonne Y.
I struggle between 3 and 4 stars. The food is ok (tortellini is alright). Cream of mushroom soup was very delicious but the herbs weren't ground finely enough. Large pieces of sage inside that you have to spit it out. Garlic bread was very yummy. Service is excellent and take advantage of the outdoor seating.
(3)
Natalie B.
Fabulous food every time we go. Service is always great, food wonderful and the staff is extremely accommodating.
(5)
JJ Z.
Two of my friends used to work here, fell in love and got married. After eating here it's kind of amazing to think that they ended up with each other, and not that they took home a sack of fresh fettuccine to spoon with every night. Do you like noodles? I think they're the best thing in the entire world. Get the fresh pasta and treat yourself to two sauces in the same dish. Why didn't anyone else ever think of this?! The service is prompt and friendly. The restaurant could also just as easily be called "The Famous Garlic Bread." We didn't have to wait, but if we did, I would, till death do me part from my noodles. Noms.
(5)
Jeffrey Z.
My fiance and I have been here three or four times, and every time, the food has been amazing. The pasta is fresh and delicious and they have a lot of great pasta and sauce options. I especially like the tarragon asparagus with spinach pasta. The tomato basil soup is a great first course, and their garlic bread is to die for. In addition, their staff is incredibly friendly in welcoming in a cozy environment. After we got engaged, we went in, and they gave us free dessert as a celebration! Great spot for lunch or dinner whether it's a casual family gathering or date-night.
(5)
Drew N.
The Noodle is one of only a few places I would say never fails to disappoint. The pasta is all fresh, and the staff is wonderful. Go during lunch and get endless garlic bread, and soup/sandwhich combos or pasta dishes that are incredibly reasonably priced. Half dishes always leave me pleasantly full and mixing sauces is a good trick to get the perfect dish (although anything you try will be good). I will keep coming back here week after week.
(5)
Christine P.
What a place. It's a hole in the wall in the most endearing way. At 7:00 on a Friday, we waited for about a half hour to get a table at this pasta joint. The wait staff was really nice and I could tell immediately from the folks eating that The Noodle was worth the wait. It's not that The Noodle is slow, it's SMALL. The dining room is about the size of my living room (which you haven't seen, but still!). The coolest thing was the noodle maker(?) (i don't know what it's called) is in the lobby of the restaurant, so you see your noodles go right through the machine - that's fresh! The food was amazing. The wine list was as extensive as the pasta combinations one could order! I was so full by the end of the meal i had to take half my food home. And the garlic bread is fantastic. How can something so simple be so good??
(3)
Monica M.
Fresh ingredients; great pasta; super tasty salmon; love the grilled veggies; and I may have a slight addiction to the carrot cake!
(5)
Emily A.
I have been eating here for 20wears. It is a great neighborhood place. Love the tomato basil soup and pasta. It works well for our 3 generation family. Service has been consistently good.
(5)
J. S.
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place. The food melts in your mouth, and it's one of those restaurants that no matter what you order, it's awesome! My husband and I often eat here when we want excellent Italian food and good wine. He loves the salmon, and my favorite dish is the jumbo garlic shrimp and pasta. They also have a tomato basil soup that is the best I've ever had. The garlic bread is amazing too. They serve it hot with melted butter. They also offer carryout, and we often grab a frozen lasagna or mac and cheese (my daughter's favorite), and cook it at home for the kids. The staff is very attentive, and I've never had to wait for a refill or wonder where my server is. If you want good Italian (with homemade noodles to order), this is the place. Actually, I've made myself hungry just writing this, so I may be there tonight. I'm usually a conservative reviewer, but this place is very good.
(5)
Glenda C.
Let me start by saying that this place has the BEST pasta i've ever tasted. I tried the Smoked Mozzarella Ravioli in their Alfredo sauce. I can not even begin to describe how delicious it was. I've also had the West Coast Chicken Wrap--which was very good. I find they are a little pricey, though. I ordered the half size of the pasta mentioned above, and it was just barely enough to get me semi-full and cost $9.50 before tax and tip. Looking forward to trying more on their menu!
(5)
jen d.
This is a great little lunch and dinner place. Niceftesh food. Their sister restaurant is also fantastic!
(4)
Nick K.
I love this place. The eponymous noodles are fine but this place deserves kudos for its specials and other menu items. Quality fish/seafood and chicken dishes rule.
(4)
Melanie K.
Trying to please everyone? Go to the noodle. The customization and quality of the food is top notch and their soups are divine!
(4)
Jen M.
Great staff, yummy food. The pasta doesn't seem to hold up to take out very well but other things do.
(4)
Amie S.
I looove this place...The food is excellent, especially the tomato basil soup. I wish I could order it by the bucket. All of the pastas are awesome, and I've tried almost every combination. I would have given it five stars, but I miss the old Glenview location!! This place is a little too small...really wish they hadn't closed the larger one!
(4)
Rina Y.
My co-worker was always getting take out from this place for lunch and was RAVING about the tomato basil soup every time so I added in an order of the soup when she was ordering next. Warning! This is NOT diet food! There must literally be a whole stick of butter and a cup of cream in my soup, which of course, made it taste heavenly! You can tell the soup is homemade and is sooo comforting to have on a cold winter day. And the garlic bread that comes with it - super greasy, meaning super delicious. My co-worker and I went there another time to dine in for lunch. The place is small (maybe a dozen small tables) and has a homey feel to it. We placed our orders and saw a little sign on the table that said we had to request garlic bread to get some. We tried about 3 times unsuccessfully to flag someone down so we could request some and when we finally got someone's attention, they said they were out at the moment and were working on another batch right now. We were half-way done with our meal by the time the basket of garlic bread got to the table. I prefer to get my bread before my meal arrives, not towards the end. I got the soup (tomato basil of course) and half sandwich option and went with the West Coast Chicken sandwich as a wrap (chicken, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, tomato, herb cream cheese). Soup was great like before, but the wrap left much to be desired. It had everything the menu said it did, but the chicken was not flavorful (just some regular chicken breast) and the tortillas I buy at Jewel were much better than the tortilla it was wrapped in. My co-worker got the Asian sesame crusted scallop salad. I didn't try it but it looked good and actually had pasta as one of the salad ingredients (I am a big fan of pasta on my salads), but she didn't eat much of it and said it was just ok. I would suggest take out for just the soup and garlic bread.
(3)
Jen B.
My favorite restaurant in the entire world. The garlic bread and tomato basil soup are incredible. Would eat every single meal here if I could!!
(5)
Erin L.
The best fresh pasta I've had in a looong time. Nice for a dinner date with my hubby. We will be back.
(4)
John R.
love the chicken tarragon pasta. The spaghetti and meatballs is goobled up by my kids. The chicken parmesan is solid. Great garlic bread, homemade pasta. Decor could use something a little more, but carryout here is perfect. Good outside seating too.
(5)
Seth A.
The Noodle has long been a favorite of my family and even in carry-out mode, it did nothing to disappoint. While their non-pasta menu is rather limited, including daily specials there are probably a dozen entrees I would happily order on any visit if only their freshly made pasta weren't so good. But with a choice among numerous pasta cuts, three flavors and 8 sauces, this place always has me dreaming the "In-Pasta-Bowl Dream." Tonight, I got Whole Wheat Garlic-Parsley Fettuccine with Bolognese Sauce, which even for carry-out was accompanied by a garden salad (their raspberry vinagrette is delightful), garlic bread (free on every table for in-house visits) and fresh parmasean cheese. The pasta and sauce was well-packed, traveled well and tasted great. The restaurant itself is rather small and I was glad to see it full on a Friday night. But had I wished to dine-in, it only would've been a 15 minute wait, so whether you're eating in or taking out, use your own noodle and check out one of the best restaurants in Wilmette.
(5)
John C.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. This restaurant has become my default choice whenever I am looking for a meal on the north shore with excellent quality ingredients, good wine, and a relaxed atmosphere. There are many restaurants on the north shore, but most fall into two disappointing categories: either the food is mediocre, or the food is ok, but the pretentiousness of the place spoils the experience. The Noodle avoids both of these traps. There is a regular menu with an emphasis on seafood and pasta dishes but the real action is on the weekly specials. There are usually one or two excellent seafood specials, a pasta sauce special, and a lasagna choice. Last night I had a nicely prepared trout that was combined with a serving of the weekly pasta special. The soups are uniformly excellent. The wine list is good and is supplemented by a weekly special wine and beer. Since I come to this restaurant often, I would recommend that they expand the number of choices for wine offered on the weekly specials. The place is tiny, which in my opinion adds to the charm. Decor consists of art work by local artists, that changes from time to time. If you don't have a reservation you can expect a wait for a table, but they will always provided you with a glass of wine while you wait for your table. In the warmer months there are outdoor tables in front of the restaurant, which adds to the atmosphere. The servers are friendly and non-pretentious, a perfect fit for this restaurant.
(5)
Melissa M.
Fantastic, forget everything else in the area! This place is wonderful, fresh food, kid friendly, and great service. Finally something yummy to go to up here.
(5)
Andrew D.
This review is short and simple....This place is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The food is unmatched and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. If you want to have a great meal this place is a must.
(5)
Ryan B.
My fiancee and I had dinner at this cozy little cafe for my birthday this year. We started with the complimentary garlic bread, probably the best I've ever had. It was so delicious I spoiled my dinner a bit! Thankfully I brought a big appetite, because my entree was a very tasty chicken parmesan dish served over white angel hair pasta with meatballs. The pasta was good though unexceptional, but he chicken parm was great. What I liked most about it was that it was a bit different from the norm. If you love chicken parm like I do, you've had it enough to know that it tends to be pretty similar everywhere you go. At the Noodle Cafe they describe it on the menu as "lightly" breaded, and they mean it -- it almost seemed like it wasn't breaded at all. I found this an interesting take on chicken parm, a nice change of pace from what you'll find at most other places. Overall the food was great and the service was superb. I recommend checking this little place out. It's worth it for the garlic bread alone!
(4)
Jami F.
We've been fortunate to know and love this little suburban gem for the last 10 years. We started going to the Glenview location (now closed), and now find ourselves venturing to the Wilmette location. Each date night at The Noodle never ceases to amaze! The Noodle is a very small restaurant, seating only about 25 inside and 15 or so on the patio (during peak seasons). The atmosphere is cozy and casual, and eludes a warm, welcoming ambiance. Much of it's charm is found in its appealing "neighborhood restaurant" feel. On a regular Saturday night you'll see most in jeans and shirts/tops, but may also see some in dresses and slacks. You'll see couples enjoying a special Date Night as well as families with little ones...all are welcome! The servers are friendly, fun, and always able to answer any questions thrown their way. The food is AHHHHmazing. We've tried a few different dishes; we always seem to go there with the intention of trying something new, but can never seem to stray from the pasta dishes. The pasta is outta-this-world. It's all fresh, homemade pastas, and in some instances you can create your own pasta dish by choosing the pasta type (Angel Hair, Linguine, Fettuccine, Ravioli, Tortellini), the pasta flavor (white, spinach, whole-wheat garlic), and the pasta sauce. I personally recommend the "Sample 2 sauces - Fresh Basil Pesto & Shrimp Scallop and Mushroom sauces over spinach fettuccine...yummo! My Italian husband ALWAYS orders the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, and he's the Italian one?? All the meals come with a soup or salad. And being creatures of habit, we always order the creamy tomato-basil soup. It's a must try! You' d think the soup couldn't get any better, until you dunk their warm, homemade, perfectly seasoned garlic bread in it...whoa! You could make a meal out of that alone. No complaints here. Absolutely none.
(5)
Arielle M.
Always lived fairly close to this place, but never thought to check it out. Went for a little lunch and the food was fresh and hit the spot. I started with the Tomato Basil Soup, which is pretty hard to screw up. Really good to dunk garlic bread, mmm. Then shared the unique Caesar Salad with noodles mixed in. I think I liked that but I am still deciding. Also shared a Shrimp and Scallop Linguini. The shrimps, as my mom would say, were scrumptious. Definitely a good lunch spot that will require a dinner visit.
(4)
Mimi W.
Every time I go to the restaurant, I hope I will order something -- anything! -- that will make me like the entrees here because I do really enjoy the chocolate mousse cake they have. Unfortunately, every time, every entree I taste is disappointing and sometimes even just plain un-tasty. The dishes I have had were oftentimes oversalted or just plain strange-tasting. After four attempts at liking this restaurant, I have finally given up. That mousse is good, but it isn't worth the ordeal of dining there. The staff is great though -- very friendly!
(2)
Katherine R.
Well, I did not return to the Noodle as quickly as I would have liked to but nonethless my food was still spectacular. Brought a new friend to this spot one weeknight and she now is obsessed! I got the eggplant pasta dinner and it was fabulous....I was thinking about eating it all night for lunch the next day. Kind of weird,yes. They serve awesome garlic bread before dinner and it seriously took my friend and I over 20 minutes to decide what to get. She ordered a chicken pasta dish....and both were very pleased with our entrees. We enjoyed the wine, but didn't drink much.... The food is very reasonabley priced for how good the food is....not a place to pass up. The place is small, so expect to wait....and they don't have a bar, so I am not sure if they will pour you a glass while you wait. Maybe bring a flask if it's that big of a deal.
(5)
Ben k.
We order from this place with some frequency and it's without a doubt solid. We had a taste for fish the other night and didn't want to order out. We dined in and it was a great experience. The Mahi Mahi was perfectly cooked and tasted extremely fresh. We ordered the Burre Blanc on the side and I think it would have overwhelmed the fish if it had been on it. The Chicken, current, apple salad was very tasty. I always think of this place for salads and pastas take out but dinning in was a really good experience. The only draw back is the decor. It is totally fine for a little cafe, but leaves a lot to be desired for a $20+ dollar dish. Personally it doesn't bother me but its worth mentioning. Their wine list is very workable. They had some good options, American and European in the $30-$40 range. We had a $32 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir (Van Duzzer) which I was very happy with. A good neighborhood restaurant, run by good people, definitely worth supporting. My 2 cents.
(4)
George O.
The service was incredibly pleasant and helpful. The garlic bread, which comes with the meal, was super tasty. I ordered one of the specials: pasta carbonara with angel hair. It was reasonably good, although I wasn't blown away. The fact that the pasta is made fresh makes a difference, though. I agree that it's a good place for a not-too-fancy date. It's very affordable, too, which makes it a good place for those not as well endowed in the wallets.
(4)
Dieter B.
I didn't like this place: it is cramped but not very cozy, the food was mediocre and the worst part is that I felt sick all evening after that meal.
(1)
Laura P.
This is the cafe to the restaurant that is located in Glenview. It is a nice place to grab lunch if you are in the area or even to order and pick up (though you need to make sure they get your order correct). The pasta is fresh and the tomato basil soup is the best! This place is great for lunch with the girls or maybe even a low key date, but if you want something a little nicer try the grown up, more mature older sister restaurant just a short drive further in Glenview.
(3)
Sarah S.
We loved this place - the homemade pasta was delicious. And garlic bread was highly addictive. :) I loved the whole wheat garlic parsley pasta with marinara sauce and italian sausage. Huge portions but not too big - just right. Loved the split pea soup too.
(5)
Alison E.
When I worked in the area, my coworker and I used to get the noodle at least once a week. A couple major points: 1)Daily soups= the tits 2) The Garlic Bread. If you order out, make sure you ask to get some with your order. gargggarrgggggg...those are salivating noises. My goto favorite (and what I order almost every time without fail): The Noodle Chopped Salad w/ Balsamic. The fresh cooked chicken with melted bleu cheese on top adds a delightful warm surprise on the cold, crisp salad. The little oriental noodle type topping also adds great texture. The restaurant is small (to the point that if someone's a loud talker you can hear absolutely everything going on in their life) and homey. They have outdoor seating in the nice months. Service is great and not transient. I have been going there for years and I recognize that some of the people have been working there a long time. It must mean that the owner treats them right, another plus. And last but not least, "scruffy" as my friend and I like to call him, works there. What can I say? I have a thing for cute men with scruff and sewing-wild-oates type hair. I went to a liberal hippy school...explains some of it, I guess. But seriously, first and foremost I go there for the food.
(5)
Ingrid P.
Local place that's great for take out, but for me, the restaurant is too small. Really nice staff, food is good, but it gets crowded. Order and pickup!
(4)
J M.
The staff and service are great. So nice! I like the salads. The rest of the food is heavy and everything tastes the same. The soups and entrees all have the exact same spices and not in a good way. (Tomato soup shouldn't taste like cream of mushroom shouldn't taste like clam chowder.) The various chicken dishes all use these boring grilled chicken breasts that appear to be made beforehand. Again, it makes every dish taste the same. For sure this place is better than what else we have in Wilmette (i.e., nothing), but the food could be a lot better.
(2)
A.J. M.
YUM! The noodle. So delicious! The pasta is just solid, and that marinara sauce I to die for. I might sound a little crazy, but this is true. And the garlic bread???????????Good god. I had their chicken Marsala once, and that was pretty good, but not as great as the pasta. Prefer doing take out, cause the restaurant is a tad tiny and getting a seat is a challenge. But take out or eat there, this place is just plain delicious.
(4)
Denise B.
The Noodle was one of my favorite restaurants in the burbs growing up for take-out, and it's still one of my top places when I come back and visit. The pasta is absolutely delicious, a great deal, and is usually ready for take-out within 20 minutes. I've only eaten at the cafe a couple of times, but it's rather cute and cozy from my experience. Seating is rather limited, though, so you may have to wait awhile if it's busy. For take-out, though, they can't be beat!
(5)
Dana D.
This is my favorite restaurant on the norhtside of the city. The service is always friendly and accommodating. The garlic bread is delicious, but sometimes tastes like it has been sitting out for awhile. But most of the time is great. I enjoy that they have different noodle options, my favorite is the spinach kind. TOMATO BASIL soup is the key to the great experience at the noodle. And as said below, chocolate cake for dessert. There are a few faces I have seen regularly while returning to the noodle over the past years and they never seem to disappoint. Everyone is extremely friendly.
(5)
Kate R.
i absolutely love this place. my fam and i have been coming here for a long long time and it is always an amazing meal with excellent service and wonderful food. whether you come here for lunch or dinner, eat in or takeout, you will never be disappointed. i usually stick with the pasta or fish dishes, but my favorite is any of the fresh pastas with their pesto. i just love it. but i'm obsessed with anything basil so......yeah. i also get this salad with salmon that has tons of fresh veggies and grilled salmon with their awesome salad dressing (it technically isn't on the menu anymore but i still order it) and it's perfect for a light dinner. and their tomato basil soup is my all-time favorite and the bread that comes to you when you sit down is perfect to dip into it. excellent. they have a small but great wine list that pairs perfectly with their dishes, and their coffee and desserts are, again, amazing. the interior is verrrry small, so call ahead or expect a small wait. or do what i do and just get some takeout. and they do have a minimum $$ amount per person at a table, but i have never experienced any difficulty with this. in 13 years i have never been disappointed by the food or staff...i think that statement speaks for itself.
(5)
Jonathan Y.
This is one of our favorite local restaurants. The pasta is made fresh, comes in different varieties, and you have your choice of various sauces to go with them. All the sauces are terrific and full of flavor, but one of our favorites is the tarragon asparagus. The entrees are also great. Everytime we've eaten here, we've had a terrific meal. The restaurant has a pleasant, cozy atmosphere, but if you live nearby, you can also get the meals to go. The prices are moderate and fair.
(4)
Chloe G.
I absolutely LOVE the Noodle!! The garlic bread is ah-mazing and they have the best pesto sauce I've ever had in my life.
(5)
Rachel M.
Maybe the best restaurant on the North Shore. Seriously. The homemade garlic bread is reason enough to go, but the homemade pasta is reason to stay. The soups are always incredible, never skip them, the only excuse to do so is to try one of their amazing salads (but seriously, try the soup), and never, ever turn down the pasta side dish; you pick the flavor of pasta, the cut, and the sauce, either as a side (try the salmon! Or the filet!) or as a main dish (you can even try two different sauces). This place is quaint and cute, don't let the fact that it's sometimes crowded bother you, and in the summer, don't miss the outdoor seating.
(5)
Jenny H.
Craving fresh homemade pasta? This is the place to go! Located on 12th street, you'll notice the red and white striped awning with outdoor seating. Plenty of free street parking. We ordered the chicken romero with spinach fettuccine ($14) and the spicy italian sauce with garlic angel hair ($14). At first, I thought the prices were too high, but changed my mind immediately after seeing how large the portions are. You start off with a soup or salad, and we went with the chicken gumbo and the roasted pepper with spinach. The chicken gumbo was delicious and very filling, since it had rice in it as well. The roasted pepper was a little too cheesy for my liking, but others might enjoy it. You also get complimentary garlic brrad which was honestly the best garlic bread I have ever had. We polished off the bread so quickly that we were almost full before we even got out pasta! The pasta comes beautifully presented on huge colorful bowls, and as mentioned before, the portions are huge! We both barely made a dent in our pasta before we had to wave the flag and get it to go. They also brought us more garlic bread, which was nice. You can watch them make the noodles, which is kind of fun. Keep in mind that each person has to order their own entreè or there is a sharing charge. Definitely a place to check out if you are hungry!
(4)
Jane H.
The noodle is always a reliable choice! The gourmet salad is my go to meal, but u can't miss with the soups or daily specials. It's a small place which might be its only downfall, but they do carry out as well. Yum!
(4)
Linda G.
Wonderful food! Fresh pasta, great seafood, yummy desserts! Friendly and attentive service, family friendly
(5)
Regina P.
The food here is not even memorable. I had the white sauce lasagna and garlic bread, and the Side of roasted Brussel sprouts. I would not recommend at all.
(1)
Kathy L.
Best restaurant in Wilmette! Of course you may have to wait but they take reservations now! The salmon is always the best and with roasted veggies it was amazing as usual. Make sure to have some garlic bread! Had a glass of Pinot and it was a perfect meal.
(5)
lise j.
Be prepared to bring all of your money if you're going to their carryout store. I stopped in here after they opened to help out their new initiative and support Wilmette. The veggie lasagna is $75!!! Crazier. I paid it! I don't know what I was thinking. The noodle itself is pretty good and has been in Wilmette forever, but the cost of the carryout items is insane. Plus, it wasn't even that good, we ended up throwing most of it away.
(2)
John N.
Everyone in our large carry-out group thinks this place has the wrong name, not reflecting the selection of fish and meat dishes that are better than their pasta items. Two in our group had the filet and loved it. The rest of us had different pasta and fish entrees and everything was enjoyed. It's a funky and cramped location, so you may decide as we did to order take out over the phone and then pick it up. Another winner in the expanding, quality restaurant scene in Wilmette, except Noodle Cafe has been here for 22 years! Garlic bread was terrific. So were all the different soups.
(4)
T S.
Let me borrow the sentence from Mr. Just Me E. 'Was I eating at the same place as the folks who gave 4 and 5 stars?' because it perfectly explained my feeling when I took the first bite of my pasta dish. Noted the garlic bread is good, and it is sadly the only good thing I ate there. and it's supposed to be a free side dish. My boyfriend had it worse. His fettuchine with seafood tasted like a bad Chinese noodle. He barely touched the dish and we decided to comment on it to the waitress. She politely said 'oh, you should have told us earlier so that we could have fixed it for you' But what we thought was that we just did not know how to fix it. It's just THAT bad. The pasta was soggy, the sauce was bland, the seafood was overcooked. I have tasted the real handmade pasta. Both from Italy and from here, this is not what the handmade pasta should taste like. I would trade it for a box of Barilla any day. and this place is supposed to be a pasta restaurant?
(1)
Just Me E.
Was I eating at the same place as the folks who gave 4 and 5 stars? Food was just ok, (tomato basil soup was very good) service was kind of indifferent and mostly absent, prices a little on the high side for what you get. Yeah, it's the North Shore, blah, blah, but even the leafy streets and rarified air couldn't elevate this to anything other than 2 stars.
(2)
Tony F.
The restaurant is about a 20 drive from my house and I always fight my family about going. They love it so I always cave but once I get there I love it. Food is great, healthy and quick. The wine is moderately priced and the food is a bargain. I'll probably argue again next time but it's worth the drive.
(5)
Brian D.
Honestly, I order take out at least once a week if not twice from here and it's always awesome. If I get the chance in the summer to sit outside and eat, it's always a bonus. As everyone else stated previously, yes the tomato basil soup is ridiculously good, especially with the garlic bread all up in it. They have great specials but the BLTA and basil pesto steak sandwich are my standards. If I'm looking for something lighter, I'll do the shrimp caesar salad or the basil pesto steak salad for lunch. Dinners are great too. My fiance is gluten free and they have a bunch of options for her as well. Service is always great and attentive and they always get my order right when I call in. Keep up the good work!!
(4)
Judith M.
Great food and excellent service at a good price point. Only problem when families come with noisy children can ruin the ambience.
(5)
John B.
Food: 3 stars Ambiance: 3 Service: 3 This is a casual local place with outdoor seating. I wish I had something really interesting, but the food was merely okay. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad, it was perfectly okay; just not memorable or compelling.
(3)
Michelle K.
Amazing dinner. The food was great. Artichoke dip was really good but crostini should have been more toasted. Customer service was great and they checked on us when necessary. Nice little place to grab dinner, I plan on coming back when I visit again and I advise everyone reading this to try their famous tomato basil, it was impeccable.
(4)
Sarah P.
I haven't had much of their food so I feel like I can't vouch for the place completely, hence the 4 stars not 5....but.... GO GET THE TOMATO BASIL SOUP AND GARLIC BREAD. Thank me later! I'm currently kicking myself for not getting some extra to go from their market after eating at the restaurant last week. So if you go, please bring me some!
(4)
Angela S.
Ten minutes to kitchen close, I stopped in here yesterday for a business meeting and left knowing I'd be back again. There was absolutely no rush for us to order, and the service was excellent though they were closing for lunch. Also, what an adorable spot! Not super hungry I opted for the gourmet salad, and the person I was dining with ordered the veggie sandwich wrap. Knowing the kitchen was about to close, and having worked in the restaurant industry for several years, I opted for something light, quick and simple (in truth I really wanted some good old noodles). My salad returned with giant beautiful sun-dried tomatoes and a side of house dressing with a lemony, garlic zest, and perhaps some basil in it. It was really deliciously strong, so I only needed a small dollop for the entire salad. Overall, the salad was exactly what I expected (fresh and yummy), and if they have goat cheese, perhaps I would consider having then throw it on there. Feta would be fine too. Garlic bread available upon request. Lucky to be able to try the veggie sandwich wrap, with just one bite you could taste the flavor of each individual vegetable, though they were all mixed together. Instead of a side dish, the sandwich came with oranges. Very interesting. Another observation while dining was the fact that there was a wine tasting taking place a few tables down. Perhaps the owner was selecting wine for the restaurant. Cool and impressive. Next time I come here I plan to be hungry so I can order noodles...since it's first and foremost a noodle shop. Now the difficult part will be deciding what type of sauce I want! Stay tuned for a noodle update!
(4)
Debbie S.
I'm a big fan of this place. I have been here twice to meet a friend since moving to Evanston and I can honestly say that this is some of the best pasta that I have had in a long time. I don't usually eat pasta, but I'll make an exception here. Build your own pasta dishes with various types of noodles, sauces, and meats to be included. Delicious wine, fabulous garlic bread (in unlimited quantities), great desserts and excellent service make this spot one of my new suburban favorites. Check this place out -- you'll be glad that you did.
(4)
Yanyao N.
A terrific lunch spot in super quaint and cute Wilmette. They are known for their noodles, of course, and the fun part is that you can customize by choosing your pasta (noodles of all kinds, stuffed pastas, and gluten-free) and pairing it with a sauce. I had a bite of the smoked mozzarella ravioli with bolognese sauce. Deeeeeeelicious! For me, due the summer heat, I opted for a cup of their gazpacho and the Caesar pasta salad with grilled salmon. Gazpacho is a godsend in weather like this, and The Noodle makes a good one - it packs a lot of flavor and is tomato-y and refreshing. I love (love LOVE!) salmon Caesar salads. This one is even better, in that it has pasta on it too, making a salad lunch more filling than if it consisted only of greens. The fact that you can request* anchovies is a winner in my book. The service was a smidge slow, but waters and iced teas (particularly great!) were never left empty, and everyone was very friendly. The crowd skews old (rather than young) - welcome to the North Shore! This seems to be a pretty popular lunch spot. I can only imagine it being packed at dinner time - so, do yourself a favor and make a reservation before you come. The dining room is very small, and I know that personally, I don't like to wait for my noodle fixes. * Don't forget to request the garlic bread.
(4)
Evan G.
Brought two teenage competitive swimmers here to 'carbo-load'. Since they were famished from being at a swim meet, we called ahead to make sure a table was available. The friendly staff assured us we would be seated right away and even put our orders in over the phone. Twenty minutes later when we arrived, a cozy table in the corner was waiting for us. Our server (Sharon) brought out heaping dishes of pasta immediately. And throughout our swimmers' three courses, she was super-attentive. Everything was delicious and the restaurant's relaxed atmosphere helped improve our moods after the long swim meet. It was just what we were looking for. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Randy L.
Overall, a three. The food deserves a strong four but the ambiance is awful. Crowded. Two entrances where folks gather, wait for their table and blather LOUDLY about banal topics no one could possibly care less about. Even worse at the rear entrance where the take out is located. We had four wonderful dinners then all four of us said, "Cross this one off". Fellow North Shore denizens, learn about inside voices.
(3)
Mary V.
Great Restaurant. Food, service and atmosphere were wonderful. It's not just pasta but also very good fish and entree dishes. We definitely plan to go again.
(5)
T. K.
The weekly special prosciutto wrapped asparagus was very good, not too salty or tough. The garden salad was small but tasted ok. The garlic bread was very good. Perfectly crispy and balanced in taste, not too buttery or too strong in garlic. The pesto pasta was good, but not the best I had. I liked that they make their own noodles and you get to choose what kind of noodles for your dish. The weekly special red wine was good too... not too strong tasting. The lamb shank was very good too. The atmosphere is simple and comfortable and the service was ok.
(3)
Kathleen C.
I have such a soft spot for The Noodle. This is a spot I have eaten many meals at (and a few at their now closed Glenview location...) and I have always been happy. If they would just serve their salmon sandwich at dinner... In any case, The Noodle is consistently good. I've never visited when it isn't crowded, but the staff is always pleasant and quick to serve drinks. The wait never seems too bad. I usually sit inside, but both the indoor and outdoor seating is comfortable (a bit tight inside sometimes...). The atmosphere is fun and lively. The service is always great. I've never been rushed out and I've also never had to wait too long for food. The food itself is great (obviously heavy on pasta). At lunch, there are more sandwich options. You can't go wrong with pasta, but the entrees are consistently tasty as well. This spot isn't inexpensive, but there is definitely value for money. A great spot in downtown Wilmette. Fives all around (though the bathroom could be slightly updated). P.S. Don't forget to ask for the garlic bread!
(5)
Rachel S.
Living in Wilmette, we have a hard time justifying going into the city for fabulous food when it's right here! The only complaint I have about The Noodle is that it is too small inside so it can feel crowded and loud. Well, that and it's a beer/wine option and I might rather have something stronger. But you can't beat the food--especially the tomato basil soup and I recommend the shrimp, scallops, and mushroom over your personal favorite pasta. The staff is fantastic. We have never had anything but wonderful experiences here and we go often.
(5)
Eric M.
Great food, sizable portions and fantastic customer service. Although the restaurant is small and can feel cramped, they have outdoor seating in the summer.
(5)
Mitch D.
Love the salmon Caesar salad. I have I say I am apprehensive about ordering salmon in the Midwest, however, they make it perfectly. Almost everything I have had here has been great. The atmosphere is very plain but I think that is what makes it so good.
(5)
L. F.
If you are craving pasta you must check out The Noodle Cafe. I've had my eye on this place since moving to Wilmette and finally tried it -- ordered take out. The pasta and ingredients are very fresh and tasty. I will definitely return to this gem of a restaurant!
(4)
Gerry G.
So the food was good but the tactless man, who I presume was the owner, ruined the experience. We used our "Member Card" for a discount, and the man came to our table, presented the discounted receipt and said, "so I took off that discount for the public radio or whatever..." Then he added "you know you're supposed to tip on the original price, not the discounted one." I don't need a lecture about proper tipping etiquette just because I used a discount card that you chose to offer. Look, if you don't like people using your discounts, stop running them. Otherwise, keep your thoughts to yourself if you want them to return. I know we won't be back.
Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Mark C.
While I have read a lot of reviews for lunch, I have only been to dinner here twice and both times I have vowed to return. The pasta is indeed fresh and very good and I love the ability to pair the sauces. This past Friday, I had the shrimp, scallops and mushroom white wine sauce over spinach fettuccine. It was very good but perhaps could have used a bit more red pepper flakes to spice it up. I am sure I wanted it more spicy as I must admit my finace ordered the better dish of the two. As a special that evening, a perfectly cooked paella loaded with seafood was the hit of the evening. The wine selection is always interesting and I am hoping I can save room for dessert next time. It is a very cozy place and while it can get loud at times, a perfect date place on a quiet street close to home.
(4)David R.
I silently pooh-poohed the idea of needing to make a reservation for some place called "The Noodle" in downtown Wilmette at 6:30 on a Tuesday evening...but I was wrong. It's a small dining room and quite popular with the locals. Even with the outdoor seating area to augment the capacity, new guests were being quoted twenty- or thirty-minute waits. Further refuting my expectations was the menu: I had imagined a boring red-sauce joint, but the menu was pleasantly diverse. They have numerous "choose your pasta and your sauce" selections, but the other sections offer tasty-sounding options as well, such as pork tenderloin, italian sausage and peppers, and several seafood dishes. Plus I was sorely tempted by some of the weekly specials, such as the stuffed trout. But I was in a light-eating mood and ordered the gourmet garden salad with grilled chicken. They made a typo on their menu: it should say "chicken with gourmet salad" as all the greens in my bowl were obscured by the two massive chicken breasts atop. Egregious ingredient imbalance aside, it was a great salad--fresh, delicious, and nicely enhanced by the creamy garlic dressing. I ate my fill and ended up taking almost half of it home. I undermined the healthy tenor of my dinner by sampling the gorgonzola potato chip appetizer (thankfully less gorgonzola-y than expected), the garlic bread (heavily buttered, simple but fantastic), the vegetable risotto (delightful cheesy flavor combined with awesome grilled vegetables), and half a piece of carrot cake (a-okay). So, I'm sorry for underestimating you, Noodle. I'll happily return anytime that my Wilmette dinner-buddies want to.
(4)Captain G.
What can you say about a place that does it right all the time? The menu is varied and the food is always good. There are some all-time favorites like the shrimp, scallop and mushroom pasta with tasty bay scallops and pleanty of shrimp. The rock cornish hen was the best I have ever tasted. The wine list is complete and the garlic (free) bread is the best I have ever had. A great neighboorhood place with friendly staff and outdoor seating in the warm weather months. A must stop if you are on the north Shore.
(5)Daniel S.
Good homemade pasta- have had a couple and both tasted great. Meatballs tasty with the pasta. Cool chicken Caesar pasta salad- tasty too
(4)Beth R.
I've been a Noodle fan for years and years and years. When I visit my parents up north, we get carry-out but have also dined-in periodically. In fact, when the dinner choice is up to me, it's always the Noodle, but I have to toss a coin between the gourmet salad and the vegetable risotto. If I land on "salad" I then need to toss the coin again to determine whether to add grilled chicken or salmon. The chicken is grilled and sliced, and there is always enough for leftovers (or enough for a couple of happy and grateful dogs if they're very, very good). The house dressing is a creamy garlic that I get, well, really excited about. The salad itself is a mix of leafy greens, cucumbers, shredded carrots, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and olives with a quarter lemon. If I land on "risotto" I am in for a hearty and wholesome mix of just-barely-grilled vegetables like squash, carrots, asparagus, pepper and anything else seasonal. Again, there is enough food for two meals. This being Yelp, I guess I can admit that it usually doesn't make it - I just eat it all. What? Follow the probability tree if you want, but the bottom line is, I love the Noodle and consistently love my food. Four stars and a thumb's up.
(4)C T.
Service was so-so. Food was comfort-style and also so-so.
(2)Ehow C.
The garlic bread is crack. Please don't give me more, otherwise I'll have no room for dinner. On second thought, maybe I'll just have the bread for dinner, thanks. On third thought, your pasta and dishes very tasty with such variety! And the dinners are very reasonably priced for the amount of food. So no more bread, please. Plus, the desserts are very tasty. Unless I can have garlic bread for dessert...
(4)Dan M.
A perennial favorite of the family. It is a standby that always is included in the "where should we go for dinner" discussion. Space is tight but the food more than makes up for that. Most of the wait staff is over the top with a "what else can I do for you attitude" however, there is one waitress that is just ok
(5)Michelle C.
The food was pretty good. Nice portions. But you can find great food in a lot of places. However, customer service is number 1 in my book! I am out of town and my mother wanted some takeout-she lives in Wilmette. It was my first time at noodle in Wilmette. When I walked in some cook walks out from the kitchen with an annoyed look on his face. I don't know his name, but he was hispanic dark skin and hair up to his neck slicked back. Absolutely no professionalism. I was not even greeted when I came through the door, How may I help you. etc. When I asked if I could put my order in for pick up, he said I don't know what you want mam with such a bad attitude. Stuck up, arrogant workers should not be the restaurant business. I will never go to this (particular) noodle again. I have gone to others in Lakeview, River Grove/Oak Park, and have received kinder service. The guy who took my order was attentive and respectful though, but one person can spoil it all. Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)Matt T.
Ok, but there was plastic and unwanted vegetables in our food I live close by and I been here a million times. I only came here because my car had a nail in the tire. I am not coming back here for a while.
(2)Keith A.
This is a great little spot. I decided to get lunch from here and was left a real fan. I got a full order of whole wheat linguine with chicken romano. The linguine was really tasty and chewy. You can tell the difference of using fresh made pasta. The sauce was really good as well with the chicken being cooked great I also got a small chicken pasta salad that I had later for dinner. Again, the pasta was nice and chewy and the caesar sauce on it was real good as well. Along with the salad I had their tomato basil soup. It was really creamy and thick, but also really really good. There was just the right amount of basil and herbs in it along with some cheese used in it as well. The pasta alone makes me want to come back here soon. While its a bit more expensive to have fresh made pasta, it's great and makes that extra difference
(4)William H.
Love the noodle, great service and excellent food! A great family owned restaurant in the heart of Wilmette. It's a little small so reservations are always helpful.
(5)caitlin j.
Sure, it's a pasta place. But they're in Wilmette, so that means they serve gluten-free noodles too. Fantastic. I have ordered so much catered food from this place. And you know what? They are some totally amazing people. I can call them up and say, "Hey! I've got to feed seven people who are allergic to black pepper and tomato, four vegans, two celiacs, and eighteen people who only eat meat and potatoes!" and they can come up with a great catering package for me without hardly blinking an eye. Oh operator of The Noodle, I marvel at your talent. Dining-in is no less charming. The place is really small but the staff is attentive, knowledgeable and so accommodating. And the food? Well, that's at least half of the why people come here, right? (Or something...)The gluten-free pasta with a number of sauces is all I really need to keep me pleased, but there is an extensive menu of deliciousness. My husband cannot get enough of the tomato basil soup. Yes, the food is good, of course, it is. But the great people working here giving great service to bring you great food... well, it's a powerful combination that makes loyal customers of us all.
(5)William F.
Great cuisine, great owners. I really appreciate the careful and moderately-priced winelist. Support this restaurant!
(4)Jenny R.
I have three things to say: 1. For lunch, get the tuna melt. 2. For dinner, get pasta with the tomato, chicken, and onion sauce (can't recall the name) 3. Don't be a schmuck; ask for the garlic bread. L.O.V.E The Noodle.
(5)Jaime P.
I went to this little place today...was so excited to eat the food I had heard so much about. I ordered the wheat garlic fettuccini noodles with basil pesto with Italian sausage. Unfortunately it was probably the blandest meal I've ever had at a restaurant. It was fresh, well made, with. ZERO flavor. I did order the mocha for my desert drink, and it was the best mocha I. Had ever drank, so that was the upside. I wish the 27 dollars I spent on my meal was more memorable. :(
(2)Yvonne Y.
I struggle between 3 and 4 stars. The food is ok (tortellini is alright). Cream of mushroom soup was very delicious but the herbs weren't ground finely enough. Large pieces of sage inside that you have to spit it out. Garlic bread was very yummy. Service is excellent and take advantage of the outdoor seating.
(3)Natalie B.
Fabulous food every time we go. Service is always great, food wonderful and the staff is extremely accommodating.
(5)JJ Z.
Two of my friends used to work here, fell in love and got married. After eating here it's kind of amazing to think that they ended up with each other, and not that they took home a sack of fresh fettuccine to spoon with every night. Do you like noodles? I think they're the best thing in the entire world. Get the fresh pasta and treat yourself to two sauces in the same dish. Why didn't anyone else ever think of this?! The service is prompt and friendly. The restaurant could also just as easily be called "The Famous Garlic Bread." We didn't have to wait, but if we did, I would, till death do me part from my noodles. Noms.
(5)Jeffrey Z.
My fiance and I have been here three or four times, and every time, the food has been amazing. The pasta is fresh and delicious and they have a lot of great pasta and sauce options. I especially like the tarragon asparagus with spinach pasta. The tomato basil soup is a great first course, and their garlic bread is to die for. In addition, their staff is incredibly friendly in welcoming in a cozy environment. After we got engaged, we went in, and they gave us free dessert as a celebration! Great spot for lunch or dinner whether it's a casual family gathering or date-night.
(5)Drew N.
The Noodle is one of only a few places I would say never fails to disappoint. The pasta is all fresh, and the staff is wonderful. Go during lunch and get endless garlic bread, and soup/sandwhich combos or pasta dishes that are incredibly reasonably priced. Half dishes always leave me pleasantly full and mixing sauces is a good trick to get the perfect dish (although anything you try will be good). I will keep coming back here week after week.
(5)Christine P.
What a place. It's a hole in the wall in the most endearing way. At 7:00 on a Friday, we waited for about a half hour to get a table at this pasta joint. The wait staff was really nice and I could tell immediately from the folks eating that The Noodle was worth the wait. It's not that The Noodle is slow, it's SMALL. The dining room is about the size of my living room (which you haven't seen, but still!). The coolest thing was the noodle maker(?) (i don't know what it's called) is in the lobby of the restaurant, so you see your noodles go right through the machine - that's fresh! The food was amazing. The wine list was as extensive as the pasta combinations one could order! I was so full by the end of the meal i had to take half my food home. And the garlic bread is fantastic. How can something so simple be so good??
(3)Monica M.
Fresh ingredients; great pasta; super tasty salmon; love the grilled veggies; and I may have a slight addiction to the carrot cake!
(5)Emily A.
I have been eating here for 20wears. It is a great neighborhood place. Love the tomato basil soup and pasta. It works well for our 3 generation family. Service has been consistently good.
(5)J. S.
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place. The food melts in your mouth, and it's one of those restaurants that no matter what you order, it's awesome! My husband and I often eat here when we want excellent Italian food and good wine. He loves the salmon, and my favorite dish is the jumbo garlic shrimp and pasta. They also have a tomato basil soup that is the best I've ever had. The garlic bread is amazing too. They serve it hot with melted butter. They also offer carryout, and we often grab a frozen lasagna or mac and cheese (my daughter's favorite), and cook it at home for the kids. The staff is very attentive, and I've never had to wait for a refill or wonder where my server is. If you want good Italian (with homemade noodles to order), this is the place. Actually, I've made myself hungry just writing this, so I may be there tonight. I'm usually a conservative reviewer, but this place is very good.
(5)Glenda C.
Let me start by saying that this place has the BEST pasta i've ever tasted. I tried the Smoked Mozzarella Ravioli in their Alfredo sauce. I can not even begin to describe how delicious it was. I've also had the West Coast Chicken Wrap--which was very good. I find they are a little pricey, though. I ordered the half size of the pasta mentioned above, and it was just barely enough to get me semi-full and cost $9.50 before tax and tip. Looking forward to trying more on their menu!
(5)jen d.
This is a great little lunch and dinner place. Niceftesh food. Their sister restaurant is also fantastic!
(4)Nick K.
I love this place. The eponymous noodles are fine but this place deserves kudos for its specials and other menu items. Quality fish/seafood and chicken dishes rule.
(4)Melanie K.
Trying to please everyone? Go to the noodle. The customization and quality of the food is top notch and their soups are divine!
(4)Jen M.
Great staff, yummy food. The pasta doesn't seem to hold up to take out very well but other things do.
(4)Amie S.
I looove this place...The food is excellent, especially the tomato basil soup. I wish I could order it by the bucket. All of the pastas are awesome, and I've tried almost every combination. I would have given it five stars, but I miss the old Glenview location!! This place is a little too small...really wish they hadn't closed the larger one!
(4)Rina Y.
My co-worker was always getting take out from this place for lunch and was RAVING about the tomato basil soup every time so I added in an order of the soup when she was ordering next. Warning! This is NOT diet food! There must literally be a whole stick of butter and a cup of cream in my soup, which of course, made it taste heavenly! You can tell the soup is homemade and is sooo comforting to have on a cold winter day. And the garlic bread that comes with it - super greasy, meaning super delicious. My co-worker and I went there another time to dine in for lunch. The place is small (maybe a dozen small tables) and has a homey feel to it. We placed our orders and saw a little sign on the table that said we had to request garlic bread to get some. We tried about 3 times unsuccessfully to flag someone down so we could request some and when we finally got someone's attention, they said they were out at the moment and were working on another batch right now. We were half-way done with our meal by the time the basket of garlic bread got to the table. I prefer to get my bread before my meal arrives, not towards the end. I got the soup (tomato basil of course) and half sandwich option and went with the West Coast Chicken sandwich as a wrap (chicken, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, tomato, herb cream cheese). Soup was great like before, but the wrap left much to be desired. It had everything the menu said it did, but the chicken was not flavorful (just some regular chicken breast) and the tortillas I buy at Jewel were much better than the tortilla it was wrapped in. My co-worker got the Asian sesame crusted scallop salad. I didn't try it but it looked good and actually had pasta as one of the salad ingredients (I am a big fan of pasta on my salads), but she didn't eat much of it and said it was just ok. I would suggest take out for just the soup and garlic bread.
(3)Jen B.
My favorite restaurant in the entire world. The garlic bread and tomato basil soup are incredible. Would eat every single meal here if I could!!
(5)Erin L.
The best fresh pasta I've had in a looong time. Nice for a dinner date with my hubby. We will be back.
(4)John R.
love the chicken tarragon pasta. The spaghetti and meatballs is goobled up by my kids. The chicken parmesan is solid. Great garlic bread, homemade pasta. Decor could use something a little more, but carryout here is perfect. Good outside seating too.
(5)Seth A.
The Noodle has long been a favorite of my family and even in carry-out mode, it did nothing to disappoint. While their non-pasta menu is rather limited, including daily specials there are probably a dozen entrees I would happily order on any visit if only their freshly made pasta weren't so good. But with a choice among numerous pasta cuts, three flavors and 8 sauces, this place always has me dreaming the "In-Pasta-Bowl Dream." Tonight, I got Whole Wheat Garlic-Parsley Fettuccine with Bolognese Sauce, which even for carry-out was accompanied by a garden salad (their raspberry vinagrette is delightful), garlic bread (free on every table for in-house visits) and fresh parmasean cheese. The pasta and sauce was well-packed, traveled well and tasted great. The restaurant itself is rather small and I was glad to see it full on a Friday night. But had I wished to dine-in, it only would've been a 15 minute wait, so whether you're eating in or taking out, use your own noodle and check out one of the best restaurants in Wilmette.
(5)John C.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. This restaurant has become my default choice whenever I am looking for a meal on the north shore with excellent quality ingredients, good wine, and a relaxed atmosphere. There are many restaurants on the north shore, but most fall into two disappointing categories: either the food is mediocre, or the food is ok, but the pretentiousness of the place spoils the experience. The Noodle avoids both of these traps. There is a regular menu with an emphasis on seafood and pasta dishes but the real action is on the weekly specials. There are usually one or two excellent seafood specials, a pasta sauce special, and a lasagna choice. Last night I had a nicely prepared trout that was combined with a serving of the weekly pasta special. The soups are uniformly excellent. The wine list is good and is supplemented by a weekly special wine and beer. Since I come to this restaurant often, I would recommend that they expand the number of choices for wine offered on the weekly specials. The place is tiny, which in my opinion adds to the charm. Decor consists of art work by local artists, that changes from time to time. If you don't have a reservation you can expect a wait for a table, but they will always provided you with a glass of wine while you wait for your table. In the warmer months there are outdoor tables in front of the restaurant, which adds to the atmosphere. The servers are friendly and non-pretentious, a perfect fit for this restaurant.
(5)Melissa M.
Fantastic, forget everything else in the area! This place is wonderful, fresh food, kid friendly, and great service. Finally something yummy to go to up here.
(5)Andrew D.
This review is short and simple....This place is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The food is unmatched and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. If you want to have a great meal this place is a must.
(5)Ryan B.
My fiancee and I had dinner at this cozy little cafe for my birthday this year. We started with the complimentary garlic bread, probably the best I've ever had. It was so delicious I spoiled my dinner a bit! Thankfully I brought a big appetite, because my entree was a very tasty chicken parmesan dish served over white angel hair pasta with meatballs. The pasta was good though unexceptional, but he chicken parm was great. What I liked most about it was that it was a bit different from the norm. If you love chicken parm like I do, you've had it enough to know that it tends to be pretty similar everywhere you go. At the Noodle Cafe they describe it on the menu as "lightly" breaded, and they mean it -- it almost seemed like it wasn't breaded at all. I found this an interesting take on chicken parm, a nice change of pace from what you'll find at most other places. Overall the food was great and the service was superb. I recommend checking this little place out. It's worth it for the garlic bread alone!
(4)Jami F.
We've been fortunate to know and love this little suburban gem for the last 10 years. We started going to the Glenview location (now closed), and now find ourselves venturing to the Wilmette location. Each date night at The Noodle never ceases to amaze! The Noodle is a very small restaurant, seating only about 25 inside and 15 or so on the patio (during peak seasons). The atmosphere is cozy and casual, and eludes a warm, welcoming ambiance. Much of it's charm is found in its appealing "neighborhood restaurant" feel. On a regular Saturday night you'll see most in jeans and shirts/tops, but may also see some in dresses and slacks. You'll see couples enjoying a special Date Night as well as families with little ones...all are welcome! The servers are friendly, fun, and always able to answer any questions thrown their way. The food is AHHHHmazing. We've tried a few different dishes; we always seem to go there with the intention of trying something new, but can never seem to stray from the pasta dishes. The pasta is outta-this-world. It's all fresh, homemade pastas, and in some instances you can create your own pasta dish by choosing the pasta type (Angel Hair, Linguine, Fettuccine, Ravioli, Tortellini), the pasta flavor (white, spinach, whole-wheat garlic), and the pasta sauce. I personally recommend the "Sample 2 sauces - Fresh Basil Pesto & Shrimp Scallop and Mushroom sauces over spinach fettuccine...yummo! My Italian husband ALWAYS orders the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, and he's the Italian one?? All the meals come with a soup or salad. And being creatures of habit, we always order the creamy tomato-basil soup. It's a must try! You' d think the soup couldn't get any better, until you dunk their warm, homemade, perfectly seasoned garlic bread in it...whoa! You could make a meal out of that alone. No complaints here. Absolutely none.
(5)Arielle M.
Always lived fairly close to this place, but never thought to check it out. Went for a little lunch and the food was fresh and hit the spot. I started with the Tomato Basil Soup, which is pretty hard to screw up. Really good to dunk garlic bread, mmm. Then shared the unique Caesar Salad with noodles mixed in. I think I liked that but I am still deciding. Also shared a Shrimp and Scallop Linguini. The shrimps, as my mom would say, were scrumptious. Definitely a good lunch spot that will require a dinner visit.
(4)Mimi W.
Every time I go to the restaurant, I hope I will order something -- anything! -- that will make me like the entrees here because I do really enjoy the chocolate mousse cake they have. Unfortunately, every time, every entree I taste is disappointing and sometimes even just plain un-tasty. The dishes I have had were oftentimes oversalted or just plain strange-tasting. After four attempts at liking this restaurant, I have finally given up. That mousse is good, but it isn't worth the ordeal of dining there. The staff is great though -- very friendly!
(2)Katherine R.
Well, I did not return to the Noodle as quickly as I would have liked to but nonethless my food was still spectacular. Brought a new friend to this spot one weeknight and she now is obsessed! I got the eggplant pasta dinner and it was fabulous....I was thinking about eating it all night for lunch the next day. Kind of weird,yes. They serve awesome garlic bread before dinner and it seriously took my friend and I over 20 minutes to decide what to get. She ordered a chicken pasta dish....and both were very pleased with our entrees. We enjoyed the wine, but didn't drink much.... The food is very reasonabley priced for how good the food is....not a place to pass up. The place is small, so expect to wait....and they don't have a bar, so I am not sure if they will pour you a glass while you wait. Maybe bring a flask if it's that big of a deal.
(5)Ben k.
We order from this place with some frequency and it's without a doubt solid. We had a taste for fish the other night and didn't want to order out. We dined in and it was a great experience. The Mahi Mahi was perfectly cooked and tasted extremely fresh. We ordered the Burre Blanc on the side and I think it would have overwhelmed the fish if it had been on it. The Chicken, current, apple salad was very tasty. I always think of this place for salads and pastas take out but dinning in was a really good experience. The only draw back is the decor. It is totally fine for a little cafe, but leaves a lot to be desired for a $20+ dollar dish. Personally it doesn't bother me but its worth mentioning. Their wine list is very workable. They had some good options, American and European in the $30-$40 range. We had a $32 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir (Van Duzzer) which I was very happy with. A good neighborhood restaurant, run by good people, definitely worth supporting. My 2 cents.
(4)George O.
The service was incredibly pleasant and helpful. The garlic bread, which comes with the meal, was super tasty. I ordered one of the specials: pasta carbonara with angel hair. It was reasonably good, although I wasn't blown away. The fact that the pasta is made fresh makes a difference, though. I agree that it's a good place for a not-too-fancy date. It's very affordable, too, which makes it a good place for those not as well endowed in the wallets.
(4)Dieter B.
I didn't like this place: it is cramped but not very cozy, the food was mediocre and the worst part is that I felt sick all evening after that meal.
(1)Laura P.
This is the cafe to the restaurant that is located in Glenview. It is a nice place to grab lunch if you are in the area or even to order and pick up (though you need to make sure they get your order correct). The pasta is fresh and the tomato basil soup is the best! This place is great for lunch with the girls or maybe even a low key date, but if you want something a little nicer try the grown up, more mature older sister restaurant just a short drive further in Glenview.
(3)Sarah S.
We loved this place - the homemade pasta was delicious. And garlic bread was highly addictive. :) I loved the whole wheat garlic parsley pasta with marinara sauce and italian sausage. Huge portions but not too big - just right. Loved the split pea soup too.
(5)Alison E.
When I worked in the area, my coworker and I used to get the noodle at least once a week. A couple major points: 1)Daily soups= the tits 2) The Garlic Bread. If you order out, make sure you ask to get some with your order. gargggarrgggggg...those are salivating noises. My goto favorite (and what I order almost every time without fail): The Noodle Chopped Salad w/ Balsamic. The fresh cooked chicken with melted bleu cheese on top adds a delightful warm surprise on the cold, crisp salad. The little oriental noodle type topping also adds great texture. The restaurant is small (to the point that if someone's a loud talker you can hear absolutely everything going on in their life) and homey. They have outdoor seating in the nice months. Service is great and not transient. I have been going there for years and I recognize that some of the people have been working there a long time. It must mean that the owner treats them right, another plus. And last but not least, "scruffy" as my friend and I like to call him, works there. What can I say? I have a thing for cute men with scruff and sewing-wild-oates type hair. I went to a liberal hippy school...explains some of it, I guess. But seriously, first and foremost I go there for the food.
(5)Ingrid P.
Local place that's great for take out, but for me, the restaurant is too small. Really nice staff, food is good, but it gets crowded. Order and pickup!
(4)J M.
The staff and service are great. So nice! I like the salads. The rest of the food is heavy and everything tastes the same. The soups and entrees all have the exact same spices and not in a good way. (Tomato soup shouldn't taste like cream of mushroom shouldn't taste like clam chowder.) The various chicken dishes all use these boring grilled chicken breasts that appear to be made beforehand. Again, it makes every dish taste the same. For sure this place is better than what else we have in Wilmette (i.e., nothing), but the food could be a lot better.
(2)A.J. M.
YUM! The noodle. So delicious! The pasta is just solid, and that marinara sauce I to die for. I might sound a little crazy, but this is true. And the garlic bread???????????Good god. I had their chicken Marsala once, and that was pretty good, but not as great as the pasta. Prefer doing take out, cause the restaurant is a tad tiny and getting a seat is a challenge. But take out or eat there, this place is just plain delicious.
(4)Denise B.
The Noodle was one of my favorite restaurants in the burbs growing up for take-out, and it's still one of my top places when I come back and visit. The pasta is absolutely delicious, a great deal, and is usually ready for take-out within 20 minutes. I've only eaten at the cafe a couple of times, but it's rather cute and cozy from my experience. Seating is rather limited, though, so you may have to wait awhile if it's busy. For take-out, though, they can't be beat!
(5)Dana D.
This is my favorite restaurant on the norhtside of the city. The service is always friendly and accommodating. The garlic bread is delicious, but sometimes tastes like it has been sitting out for awhile. But most of the time is great. I enjoy that they have different noodle options, my favorite is the spinach kind. TOMATO BASIL soup is the key to the great experience at the noodle. And as said below, chocolate cake for dessert. There are a few faces I have seen regularly while returning to the noodle over the past years and they never seem to disappoint. Everyone is extremely friendly.
(5)Kate R.
i absolutely love this place. my fam and i have been coming here for a long long time and it is always an amazing meal with excellent service and wonderful food. whether you come here for lunch or dinner, eat in or takeout, you will never be disappointed. i usually stick with the pasta or fish dishes, but my favorite is any of the fresh pastas with their pesto. i just love it. but i'm obsessed with anything basil so......yeah. i also get this salad with salmon that has tons of fresh veggies and grilled salmon with their awesome salad dressing (it technically isn't on the menu anymore but i still order it) and it's perfect for a light dinner. and their tomato basil soup is my all-time favorite and the bread that comes to you when you sit down is perfect to dip into it. excellent. they have a small but great wine list that pairs perfectly with their dishes, and their coffee and desserts are, again, amazing. the interior is verrrry small, so call ahead or expect a small wait. or do what i do and just get some takeout. and they do have a minimum $$ amount per person at a table, but i have never experienced any difficulty with this. in 13 years i have never been disappointed by the food or staff...i think that statement speaks for itself.
(5)Jonathan Y.
This is one of our favorite local restaurants. The pasta is made fresh, comes in different varieties, and you have your choice of various sauces to go with them. All the sauces are terrific and full of flavor, but one of our favorites is the tarragon asparagus. The entrees are also great. Everytime we've eaten here, we've had a terrific meal. The restaurant has a pleasant, cozy atmosphere, but if you live nearby, you can also get the meals to go. The prices are moderate and fair.
(4)Chloe G.
I absolutely LOVE the Noodle!! The garlic bread is ah-mazing and they have the best pesto sauce I've ever had in my life.
(5)Rachel M.
Maybe the best restaurant on the North Shore. Seriously. The homemade garlic bread is reason enough to go, but the homemade pasta is reason to stay. The soups are always incredible, never skip them, the only excuse to do so is to try one of their amazing salads (but seriously, try the soup), and never, ever turn down the pasta side dish; you pick the flavor of pasta, the cut, and the sauce, either as a side (try the salmon! Or the filet!) or as a main dish (you can even try two different sauces). This place is quaint and cute, don't let the fact that it's sometimes crowded bother you, and in the summer, don't miss the outdoor seating.
(5)Jenny H.
Craving fresh homemade pasta? This is the place to go! Located on 12th street, you'll notice the red and white striped awning with outdoor seating. Plenty of free street parking. We ordered the chicken romero with spinach fettuccine ($14) and the spicy italian sauce with garlic angel hair ($14). At first, I thought the prices were too high, but changed my mind immediately after seeing how large the portions are. You start off with a soup or salad, and we went with the chicken gumbo and the roasted pepper with spinach. The chicken gumbo was delicious and very filling, since it had rice in it as well. The roasted pepper was a little too cheesy for my liking, but others might enjoy it. You also get complimentary garlic brrad which was honestly the best garlic bread I have ever had. We polished off the bread so quickly that we were almost full before we even got out pasta! The pasta comes beautifully presented on huge colorful bowls, and as mentioned before, the portions are huge! We both barely made a dent in our pasta before we had to wave the flag and get it to go. They also brought us more garlic bread, which was nice. You can watch them make the noodles, which is kind of fun. Keep in mind that each person has to order their own entreè or there is a sharing charge. Definitely a place to check out if you are hungry!
(4)Jane H.
The noodle is always a reliable choice! The gourmet salad is my go to meal, but u can't miss with the soups or daily specials. It's a small place which might be its only downfall, but they do carry out as well. Yum!
(4)Linda G.
Wonderful food! Fresh pasta, great seafood, yummy desserts! Friendly and attentive service, family friendly
(5)Regina P.
The food here is not even memorable. I had the white sauce lasagna and garlic bread, and the Side of roasted Brussel sprouts. I would not recommend at all.
(1)Kathy L.
Best restaurant in Wilmette! Of course you may have to wait but they take reservations now! The salmon is always the best and with roasted veggies it was amazing as usual. Make sure to have some garlic bread! Had a glass of Pinot and it was a perfect meal.
(5)lise j.
Be prepared to bring all of your money if you're going to their carryout store. I stopped in here after they opened to help out their new initiative and support Wilmette. The veggie lasagna is $75!!! Crazier. I paid it! I don't know what I was thinking. The noodle itself is pretty good and has been in Wilmette forever, but the cost of the carryout items is insane. Plus, it wasn't even that good, we ended up throwing most of it away.
(2)John N.
Everyone in our large carry-out group thinks this place has the wrong name, not reflecting the selection of fish and meat dishes that are better than their pasta items. Two in our group had the filet and loved it. The rest of us had different pasta and fish entrees and everything was enjoyed. It's a funky and cramped location, so you may decide as we did to order take out over the phone and then pick it up. Another winner in the expanding, quality restaurant scene in Wilmette, except Noodle Cafe has been here for 22 years! Garlic bread was terrific. So were all the different soups.
(4)T S.
Let me borrow the sentence from Mr. Just Me E. 'Was I eating at the same place as the folks who gave 4 and 5 stars?' because it perfectly explained my feeling when I took the first bite of my pasta dish. Noted the garlic bread is good, and it is sadly the only good thing I ate there. and it's supposed to be a free side dish. My boyfriend had it worse. His fettuchine with seafood tasted like a bad Chinese noodle. He barely touched the dish and we decided to comment on it to the waitress. She politely said 'oh, you should have told us earlier so that we could have fixed it for you' But what we thought was that we just did not know how to fix it. It's just THAT bad. The pasta was soggy, the sauce was bland, the seafood was overcooked. I have tasted the real handmade pasta. Both from Italy and from here, this is not what the handmade pasta should taste like. I would trade it for a box of Barilla any day. and this place is supposed to be a pasta restaurant?
(1)Just Me E.
Was I eating at the same place as the folks who gave 4 and 5 stars? Food was just ok, (tomato basil soup was very good) service was kind of indifferent and mostly absent, prices a little on the high side for what you get. Yeah, it's the North Shore, blah, blah, but even the leafy streets and rarified air couldn't elevate this to anything other than 2 stars.
(2)Tony F.
The restaurant is about a 20 drive from my house and I always fight my family about going. They love it so I always cave but once I get there I love it. Food is great, healthy and quick. The wine is moderately priced and the food is a bargain. I'll probably argue again next time but it's worth the drive.
(5)Brian D.
Honestly, I order take out at least once a week if not twice from here and it's always awesome. If I get the chance in the summer to sit outside and eat, it's always a bonus. As everyone else stated previously, yes the tomato basil soup is ridiculously good, especially with the garlic bread all up in it. They have great specials but the BLTA and basil pesto steak sandwich are my standards. If I'm looking for something lighter, I'll do the shrimp caesar salad or the basil pesto steak salad for lunch. Dinners are great too. My fiance is gluten free and they have a bunch of options for her as well. Service is always great and attentive and they always get my order right when I call in. Keep up the good work!!
(4)Judith M.
Great food and excellent service at a good price point. Only problem when families come with noisy children can ruin the ambience.
(5)John B.
Food: 3 stars Ambiance: 3 Service: 3 This is a casual local place with outdoor seating. I wish I had something really interesting, but the food was merely okay. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad, it was perfectly okay; just not memorable or compelling.
(3)Michelle K.
Amazing dinner. The food was great. Artichoke dip was really good but crostini should have been more toasted. Customer service was great and they checked on us when necessary. Nice little place to grab dinner, I plan on coming back when I visit again and I advise everyone reading this to try their famous tomato basil, it was impeccable.
(4)Sarah P.
I haven't had much of their food so I feel like I can't vouch for the place completely, hence the 4 stars not 5....but.... GO GET THE TOMATO BASIL SOUP AND GARLIC BREAD. Thank me later! I'm currently kicking myself for not getting some extra to go from their market after eating at the restaurant last week. So if you go, please bring me some!
(4)Angela S.
Ten minutes to kitchen close, I stopped in here yesterday for a business meeting and left knowing I'd be back again. There was absolutely no rush for us to order, and the service was excellent though they were closing for lunch. Also, what an adorable spot! Not super hungry I opted for the gourmet salad, and the person I was dining with ordered the veggie sandwich wrap. Knowing the kitchen was about to close, and having worked in the restaurant industry for several years, I opted for something light, quick and simple (in truth I really wanted some good old noodles). My salad returned with giant beautiful sun-dried tomatoes and a side of house dressing with a lemony, garlic zest, and perhaps some basil in it. It was really deliciously strong, so I only needed a small dollop for the entire salad. Overall, the salad was exactly what I expected (fresh and yummy), and if they have goat cheese, perhaps I would consider having then throw it on there. Feta would be fine too. Garlic bread available upon request. Lucky to be able to try the veggie sandwich wrap, with just one bite you could taste the flavor of each individual vegetable, though they were all mixed together. Instead of a side dish, the sandwich came with oranges. Very interesting. Another observation while dining was the fact that there was a wine tasting taking place a few tables down. Perhaps the owner was selecting wine for the restaurant. Cool and impressive. Next time I come here I plan to be hungry so I can order noodles...since it's first and foremost a noodle shop. Now the difficult part will be deciding what type of sauce I want! Stay tuned for a noodle update!
(4)Debbie S.
I'm a big fan of this place. I have been here twice to meet a friend since moving to Evanston and I can honestly say that this is some of the best pasta that I have had in a long time. I don't usually eat pasta, but I'll make an exception here. Build your own pasta dishes with various types of noodles, sauces, and meats to be included. Delicious wine, fabulous garlic bread (in unlimited quantities), great desserts and excellent service make this spot one of my new suburban favorites. Check this place out -- you'll be glad that you did.
(4)Yanyao N.
A terrific lunch spot in super quaint and cute Wilmette. They are known for their noodles, of course, and the fun part is that you can customize by choosing your pasta (noodles of all kinds, stuffed pastas, and gluten-free) and pairing it with a sauce. I had a bite of the smoked mozzarella ravioli with bolognese sauce. Deeeeeeelicious! For me, due the summer heat, I opted for a cup of their gazpacho and the Caesar pasta salad with grilled salmon. Gazpacho is a godsend in weather like this, and The Noodle makes a good one - it packs a lot of flavor and is tomato-y and refreshing. I love (love LOVE!) salmon Caesar salads. This one is even better, in that it has pasta on it too, making a salad lunch more filling than if it consisted only of greens. The fact that you can request* anchovies is a winner in my book. The service was a smidge slow, but waters and iced teas (particularly great!) were never left empty, and everyone was very friendly. The crowd skews old (rather than young) - welcome to the North Shore! This seems to be a pretty popular lunch spot. I can only imagine it being packed at dinner time - so, do yourself a favor and make a reservation before you come. The dining room is very small, and I know that personally, I don't like to wait for my noodle fixes. * Don't forget to request the garlic bread.
(4)Evan G.
Brought two teenage competitive swimmers here to 'carbo-load'. Since they were famished from being at a swim meet, we called ahead to make sure a table was available. The friendly staff assured us we would be seated right away and even put our orders in over the phone. Twenty minutes later when we arrived, a cozy table in the corner was waiting for us. Our server (Sharon) brought out heaping dishes of pasta immediately. And throughout our swimmers' three courses, she was super-attentive. Everything was delicious and the restaurant's relaxed atmosphere helped improve our moods after the long swim meet. It was just what we were looking for. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Randy L.
Overall, a three. The food deserves a strong four but the ambiance is awful. Crowded. Two entrances where folks gather, wait for their table and blather LOUDLY about banal topics no one could possibly care less about. Even worse at the rear entrance where the take out is located. We had four wonderful dinners then all four of us said, "Cross this one off". Fellow North Shore denizens, learn about inside voices.
(3)Mary V.
Great Restaurant. Food, service and atmosphere were wonderful. It's not just pasta but also very good fish and entree dishes. We definitely plan to go again.
(5)T. K.
The weekly special prosciutto wrapped asparagus was very good, not too salty or tough. The garden salad was small but tasted ok. The garlic bread was very good. Perfectly crispy and balanced in taste, not too buttery or too strong in garlic. The pesto pasta was good, but not the best I had. I liked that they make their own noodles and you get to choose what kind of noodles for your dish. The weekly special red wine was good too... not too strong tasting. The lamb shank was very good too. The atmosphere is simple and comfortable and the service was ok.
(3)Kathleen C.
I have such a soft spot for The Noodle. This is a spot I have eaten many meals at (and a few at their now closed Glenview location...) and I have always been happy. If they would just serve their salmon sandwich at dinner... In any case, The Noodle is consistently good. I've never visited when it isn't crowded, but the staff is always pleasant and quick to serve drinks. The wait never seems too bad. I usually sit inside, but both the indoor and outdoor seating is comfortable (a bit tight inside sometimes...). The atmosphere is fun and lively. The service is always great. I've never been rushed out and I've also never had to wait too long for food. The food itself is great (obviously heavy on pasta). At lunch, there are more sandwich options. You can't go wrong with pasta, but the entrees are consistently tasty as well. This spot isn't inexpensive, but there is definitely value for money. A great spot in downtown Wilmette. Fives all around (though the bathroom could be slightly updated). P.S. Don't forget to ask for the garlic bread!
(5)Rachel S.
Living in Wilmette, we have a hard time justifying going into the city for fabulous food when it's right here! The only complaint I have about The Noodle is that it is too small inside so it can feel crowded and loud. Well, that and it's a beer/wine option and I might rather have something stronger. But you can't beat the food--especially the tomato basil soup and I recommend the shrimp, scallops, and mushroom over your personal favorite pasta. The staff is fantastic. We have never had anything but wonderful experiences here and we go often.
(5)Eric M.
Great food, sizable portions and fantastic customer service. Although the restaurant is small and can feel cramped, they have outdoor seating in the summer.
(5)Mitch D.
Love the salmon Caesar salad. I have I say I am apprehensive about ordering salmon in the Midwest, however, they make it perfectly. Almost everything I have had here has been great. The atmosphere is very plain but I think that is what makes it so good.
(5)L. F.
If you are craving pasta you must check out The Noodle Cafe. I've had my eye on this place since moving to Wilmette and finally tried it -- ordered take out. The pasta and ingredients are very fresh and tasty. I will definitely return to this gem of a restaurant!
(4)Gerry G.
So the food was good but the tactless man, who I presume was the owner, ruined the experience. We used our "Member Card" for a discount, and the man came to our table, presented the discounted receipt and said, "so I took off that discount for the public radio or whatever..." Then he added "you know you're supposed to tip on the original price, not the discounted one." I don't need a lecture about proper tipping etiquette just because I used a discount card that you chose to offer. Look, if you don't like people using your discounts, stop running them. Otherwise, keep your thoughts to yourself if you want them to return. I know we won't be back.
(2)