OLLIE’S NOODLE SHOP AND GRILL

1991 Broadway (among other locations)
[1, 9 to 66th Street]
It feels silly to choose just one Ollie’s when I’ve literally been to just about all of them. I’ll always feel squelchy about the one in my old neighborhood, even after its Maoist makeover; it was the first place my Dad sent my baby sister and I out to on our own. In high school, it was all about the Lincoln Square location, with the Friday afternoon dinner and a movie bit. College so far also belongs to Lincoln Square – Noni and I had a helluva lunch with Julien and Trevor; I’m sure there is a reason why we never got those guys together in the first place. Also, it’s the only place we can lure Amreeta out to when she’s got family visiting – that’s where she met Mel over Thanksgiving and stood us up over Christmas.
Ollie’s is rock solid, which is why we keep going back: the food is super fast and dirt cheap, but doesn’t taste like either.