TooDooPolaris.com Polaris Mall

Among Columbus home offices is Charley’s Grilled Subs. We recently tried one of their locations, on Polaris Parkway in the Polaris Lifestyle Community. Charley’s has over 370 locations, and not just in the United States. They maintain the same vision since the original 1968 Philly CheeseSteak numero uno: “To honor God and strengthen our neighbors. In the spirit of brotherly love, we hope to nourish hearts with the simple pleasure of a great Philly Cheesesteaks”.

Charley’s Grilled Subs has a special niche featuring premium and unique tasting grilled sandwich cooked in front of the customer, and served hot in less than 90 seconds. Every sub is prepared fresh upon order and made from scratch. No pre-grilling or pre-cooking. Fresh bread, quality meats, dairy cheese and fresh vegetables.

Adding to the Grilled Sub menu is their famous fresh squeezed lemonade and gourmet thick-cut french fries. Subs may be ordered from three selections; Steak, Chicken and Deli.

The Steak Subs include Philly Cheesesteaks, Philly Steak Deluxe, Bacon 3Cheese Steak and Triple Cheese Steak. Each comes with steak, grilled onion and provolone. The Chicken Subs are Chicken Bacon Club, Philly Chicken, Chicken Buffalo and Chicken Teriyaki. They all include chicken, bacon and provolone.  The Deli Subs are Turkey Cheddar Melt, Italian Deli Deluxe, Chicken California, Ultimate Club, Philly Ham and Cheese and Philly Veggie. All come with turkey and cheddar.

Gourmet Fries are available in Cheddar, Cheddar and Bacon, Ranch and Bacon, Cheddar, Ranch and Bacon and the Original.

Grilled Salads are Grilled Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki and Chicken Buffalo.

Our Philly Steak Deluxe was way above average for a Philly Cheesesteak. We give it five of five Philly ups. Our original lemonade was excellent. Lemonade is available as Original, Raspberry and Kiwi. And the Gourmet Cheddar, Ranch and Bacon Fries were more than enough to fill our appetite.

I’ve had Philly Cheesesteak in Philly, and they have nothing on Columbus’s own Charley’s Grilled Subs.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., located on Gemini Place in the Polaris Lifestyle Communities, just looks like a good place for the All American Hamburger. But why call it “Red Robin”? Guess what we learned. Red Robin started as “Sam’s Tavern” near the University of Washington in the 1940’s. Sam sang in a barber shop quartet and loved to sing the song “When the red robin goes bob bob bobbin along…” Sam enjoyed the song so much he eventually changed the name of his tavern to Sam’s Red Robin.

Since that little tavern, the menu and locations grew into a nearly four hundred chain covering most of the US. The original Red Robin business was founded on four solid core values: Integrity, Honor, Having Fun, and Continually Seeking Knowledge. These are the foundation for every Red Robin decision from making its delicious gourmet burgers to hiring lively staff members.

Red Robin also has an exceptional and unique approach to Guest service known as Unbridled Acts. Red Robin’s astonishing culture takes care of each and every customer to the highest level of quality. It is listed as one of ten of the Best Family Restaurants in Parents Magazine.
Red Robin is the place where you can get a burger stuffed with chili, grilled pineapple rings, guacamole, fried egg, and onion straws. Or one of their popular Gourmet Burgers. With more than twenty four Gourmet Burgers in an amazing selection of recipes served with “eat all you can” Bottomless Steak Fries. All are served as their famous “Smiling Burgers”. Their menu includes soups, salads, entrees, desserts, appetizers and their signature Mad Mixology specialty beverages.

Our first sample of a Red Robin Gourmet Burger was in memory of Elvis. The “Burnin Love Burger”. One cayenne seasoned beef gourmet burger to which they add crispy-fried jalapeno rings (honest) tangy salsa, spicy pepper jack cheese, shredded lettuce, and tomato; all served on a jalapeno-cornmeal kaiser roll with chipotle mayo. Wow! I mean “Thank you very much”.

We will need several more visits. Have to try a Whiskey River BBQ Burger, and a Banzai Burger, Sauteed Shroom Burger, Blackened Bayou Burger, Gaucamole Bacon Burger, Bonzai Burger, A1 Peppercorn Burger, and a monster Burger. Once those are tasted, we will move on to Chili Chili Cheeseburger or a Bruschetta Chicken Burger. Of course a Grilled Salmon Burger really sounds delicious.

With all the awards won by Red Robin, we add one more. Best selection of delicious gourmet burgers.

After being a fan of P. F. Chang for some time, we decided to try the “Junior Size”, Pei Wei Asian Diner, located on Polaris Parkway in the Polaris Lifestyles Community. We wondered how could P. F. Chang become fast food? Upon entering, we were immediately in line to place out order. That is definitely different from the wait at P. F. Chang’s China Bistro. Like many of the newer eateries, you make a menu choice at the front counter, fill your drink cup and find a table. The menu choices are prepared and delivered to you.

is a newer concept of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, a very popular   Asian Restaurant located in most of the U.S. Pei Wei is basically a Pan-Asian noodle restaurant with counter service that offers a very tasty lunch option. The rice dishes and noodles are served it decent portions and no menu items exceed $9. Their chefs are professionally trained and have the skill to mix everything just  the way you choose. Pei Wei is great if you wish to avoid greasy, unhealthy lunch. You can get the freshest vegetables and other mouth watering dishes at a very affordable

P. F. Chang China Bistro calls this new venture a “faster more casual take” of the parent company. Menu offerings remain Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Koran. An excellent selection of pan-Asian appetizers and meals.

The menu offers selections from four categories: First Tastes (appetizers), Salads, Rice and Noodle Bowls and Signature Dishes. If your in a real hurry, just stop in for a First Taste. The choices are delicious Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Crab Wontons,
Pei Wei Spring Rolls, Hot and Sour Soup, Crispy Potstickers and Edamame. We sampled three of the six and all were excellent.

One Pei Wei Asian Signature Dish is the new Thai Dynamite. Inspired by the bold flavors and colors of Thailand, the flavors of this new dish are similar to the spicy, soy and kaffir lime flavors found in sauces sold at street markets all across Thailand. Thai Dynamite is offered with your protein choice of chicken, crispy shrimp, or pork; wok-seared with scallion sticks, red bell pepper, carrots, and Thai basil. Add your choice of Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, Vegetables, Tofu, or Tofu and Vegetables. Excellent taste and heavily recommended.

Every choice is seared to order and delivered hot and fresh to your table. That’s enough to remove any “fast food” references.

Noodles & Company is a tip-free, worry-free restaurant. Since originating in Colorado in 1995, Noodles & Co. has grown to offer noodle loving consumers a casual atmosphere of noodles. Although there are several locations in the Columbus, OH area, our first visit to the noodle empire of Noodleville was a newer location on Gemini Place in the Polaris Lifestyle Community. As a noodle lover, I was anxious to learn why a restaurant serving only noodles had gained such acceptance.

Upon entering, one is immediately in line to place an order. The line of hungry noodle lovers moves quite fast, as your not required to stand and wait once your choice is selected. You receive a number and the selection is brought to your table by Noodle & Company employees. Menus are easy to read and placed in holders on the wall as you enter, avoiding the neck straining attempts to read the large menu behind the counter. By the short time you reach the counter, you know your selection.

The menu is a fold out brochure, and fully explains the Noodles & Company way to select a wide variety of combinations. Choose a selection from three categories: Mediterranean, American and Asian. Choose a small or large offering. In addition to noodles, select a soup or salad. Their Trio is a wide selection of any small noodle, add Chicken, Beef, Shrimp or Tofu, and a side of tossed green salad, Caesar Salad, Tomato Bisque or Chicken Noodle Soup.

Since every menu item is prepared with fresh ingredients, they don’t even own a microwave or freezer. All fresh, prepared to order noodles and pasta, vegetables, authentic herbs, spices and artisan sauces which are matched with your selection of chicken breast, parmesan crusted chicken breast, sauteed or braised beef, organic tofu or seasoned grilled shrimp.

The noodle offerings are wide, and include everything from Indonesian Peanut Saute to Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. If you are in the mood for Asian, definitely try the Japanese Pan Noodles. If you’re into Thai, try the Thai Curry Soup.  Or perhaps a Mediterranean selection of Pesto Cavatappi.

As a noodle lover, my choice was American. As a noodle lover, my choice was Buttered Noodles. As a noodle lover, the wavy egg noodle covered with melted butter, Italian seasoning and parmesan was excellent. Although the menu recommendation for Buttered Noodles is Parmesan Crusted Chicken, I choose Sauteed Shrimp.  Good choice. Out of five, I give it five noodles.

Most specialized restaurants offer their specialty, so after one visit, you know what your selection  will be if you return. At Noodles & Co. you leave planning your next visit. Maybe Pad Thai from the Asian choices, Whole Grain Tuscan Linguine from the Mediterranean choices or Mushroom Stroganoff from the American choices.  I WILL be back. Did I mention I’m a noodle lover?

TooDooGuru

www.TooDooPolaris.com

For a few years, fast food chains offered a “light menu” to keep consumers who were seeking nutritious alternatives to fats and grease. Their “light menu” simply reduced the amount offered and did not really address the nutritional debate issues.

Enter Planet Smoothie. Opening in 1995, they began by offering a variety of smoothies, promoting low cal, low carb, low fat, high energy, high protein, high in vitamins and supplements. Planet Smoothie provided stability in our civilization of extremes. Consumers demand healthy choices to fit their healthy lifestyles. Planet Smoothie’s WEIGHT LOSS smoothie contains a Fat Burner, Chromium Picolinate and Mustard Seed. Chromium Picolinate helps reduce food cravings and suppress appetites while Mustard Seed raises blood temperature, increases metabolism and helps burn fat.

Have you heard about Acai? People Magazine recently had a full article on Acai, while Oprah included it in a lifestyle program. Acai is an Amazon Zen Berry bursting with fatty acids, essential omega oils and antioxidants. It is called one of the healthiest fruits every known, containing more Vitamin C than orange juice and excellent dietary fibers.

After fast becoming a favorite with health conscious adults and smoothie loving kids, Planet Smoothie extended the menu with Breakfast ( Acai Energy Smoothie, Acia Energy Bowl or their famous Frozen Goat), Sandwiches, Salads and soft drinks. Planet Smoothie calls the new menu the “one-stop program for your fast food abatement program”. Kids smoothies offer Strawberry Shortcake, Purple Primate, Peanut Butter Dream, Captain Kid, Bonzai Berry, Plain Jane and Twig Jr.

Smoothies remain the staple offering at Planet Smoothie. With Low-Carb Shakes, Protein Smoothies, Cool Blended Smoothies, Wellness Smoothies, Weight Loss Smoothies and Energy Smoothies, new locations continue to open, such as on Polaris Parkway in the Polaris Lifestyle Community.

With healthy and delicious options for a hurried fast food day, Planet Smoothie might just attain their goal to reach all who seek an lifestyle that includes a healthy appetite and increased metabolism.