I had lunch with a friend at one of my favorite noodle houses in Oakland yesterday: Noodle Theory. It is a small place with a small menu that is both well-loved and well-patronized. Owner Louise Kao’s concept is simple: get as many friends and family as you can in one room on any day, offer a reasonably priced, seasonal menu featuring noodle dishes from various Asian cultures, infused with elements of California cuisine—and enjoy some great food. That’s exactly what we did.

Noodle Theory’s tabletops are made of Plyboo flat amber plywood, and for the constant use they receive, they’re holding up remarkably well. If you are in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood sometime, stop in, try the noodles and check out the Plyboo tabletops.