View Dining Pick of the Week: Rock’N’oodles
Rock’N’oodles
1108 S. Third St. at East Charleston Boulevard, 702-522-9953
How many ways can you reinvent pasta? At Rock’N’oodles, the menu’s flavor notes are as varied as the musical ones that inspired them. Billing itself as serving “eclectic noodle creations,” Rock’N’oodles carries its rock music theme through from the tiny eatery’s decor (framed album covers line one wall, paying homage to everyone from Michael Jackson and Cher to Wham! and Whitney Houston) to the names of its pasta dishes: Born on the Bayou features chorizo, andouille sausage, bacon, smoked ham and chicken jambalaya served over orzo pasta; Great Balls of Fire is pork and beef meatballs with jalapeno and red pepper, served over spaghetti with zesty vodka sauce. And I bet Axl Rose himself would be down to visit this Paradise City: fettuccine tossed with chicken, Alfredo and topped with crispy pancetta and fresh herbs. And Lynyrd Skynyrd fan or not, you’re probably going to find something worth reminiscing about in the Sweet Home Alabama: creamy smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese with purple onion and bacon, topped with buttermilk-marinated popcorn chicken and a swirl of barbecue sauce. There are also some cold noodle dishes (One Night in Bangkok has rice noodles, marinated chicken strips, baby bok choy, bean sprouts, carrot and scallions tossed in a sweet chili sauce, topped with cilantro and peanuts) and salads (these also get the rock music treatment —China Girl includes shredded napa cabbage, Mandarin oranges and soy ginger vinaigrette with fried wonton strips). Small plates include the Smells Like Teen Spirit french fries, which are tossed in fresh herbs and Parmesan and served with a spicy chipotle aioli. A case of dessert selections varies, and a children’s menu is available. The only thing somewhat lacking here is seating (and parking), but take out and limited delivery service are available. Prices average around $7 for a half order of pasta to about $10 to $12 for a full order. Rock’N’oodles is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m Monday through Saturday. A happy hour with buy-one-get-one glasses of wine and beer is offered from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit rocknoodles.com.
