Noodles & Company, a Garden City nibble

Before hitting the Bloomingdale’s and Saks outlets in Garden City, I stopped into Noodles & Company for a quick lunch. It was about noon and there wasn't much of a crowd at the attractive new eatery, situated next door to Ulta at the Gallery at Westbury Plaza. About half an hour later, a line stretched from the counter almost to the door.

Here, you order at the register and are handed a number. Then, your food is delivered to you when it's ready. Trouble is, things can cool quickly as the server walks up and down every aisle searching tables for the right number.

I didn’t want to eat big and so ordered a small Bangkok curry ($5.89, 260 calories), described as having  broccoli, carrots, red pepper, onion, mushroom, cabbage and black sesame seeds and  “a light portion” of rice noodles. The vegetables were bright, the flavors vibrant, but the portion so minuscule that I ended up raiding my companion’s highly flavorsome pad Thai, made with vegetables, sweet chili, peanuts and egg. It, too, was a small order, but was heavier on the noodles — carrying, of course, a much higher calorie count. ($5.89; 420 calories). Bottom line: There may be no such thing as a filling 260 calorie lunch — at least one that involves noodles.

Noodles & Company is at the Gallery at Westbury Plaza, 996 Old Country Rd., Garden City, 516-794-4942, noodles.com.