Noodles & Company, a fast-casual brand known for its noodle-focused menu, will debut pasta-free versions of four of its most popular pasta bowls on April 1.
The limited-time dishes, called “Buff Bowls,” replace the noodles with a double portion of vegetables topped with protein and served on a bed of spinach. Each dish has fewer than 400 calories.
The lineup is designed to appeal to guests who are avoiding carbohydrates, including those following the paleo diet. But the dishes also give guests a variation on some of their favorites, said Nick Graff, the Broomfield, Colo.-based chain’s executive chef.
“We wanted to offer an opportunity for guests to cut back on carbs and increase their veggies and proteins, and all the nutrients that come with that,” said Graff.
The four dishes are all priced at $8.49 — the same price as the pasta-based versions.
Kevin Reddy, Noodles & Company’s CEO, said in a statement, “We have always encouraged creativity and customization for our guests looking to enjoy our world of flavors, and our new Buff Bowls featuring only 14 to 39 grams of carbs and packing in 17 to 31 grams of protein take that extra step to make it easier for our guests looking for a lighter offering without skimping on satisfying flavor.”
The pasta-free bowls include:
• Buff Japanese Pan with Marinated Steak, which includes steak, broccoli, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, Asian sprouts, black sesame seeds and cilantro in a sweet soy sauce
• Buff Pesto with Naturally Raised Pork, including pork raised without antibiotics tossed with basil pesto, garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes
• Buff Bangkok Curry with Organic Tofu, which has broccoli, carrots, red bell pepper, onion, mushrooms and spinach with black sesame seeds and Asian seasonings in a sweet coconut curry sauce
• Buff Fresca with Grilled Chicken Breast tossed with tomato, garlic and red onion with olive oil and topped with feta
Customers can substitute any protein or double their protein portion for an extra $2.
Noodles & Company operates and franchises 453 units in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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