面 was originally a picture of a face — an outline with an eye inside. From 'face' it extended to 'surface / side' (the face of anything), and to direction (the side you face). The 'noodles' meaning comes from a separate character 麵 (wheat-flour), simplified to also be 面.
面 wears three hats. FACE: 见面 (to meet, 'see faces'), and the famous 面子 (miànzi) — 'face' as in social dignity/reputation, one of the most important ideas in Chinese culture (给面子 = to give someone face/respect). SIDE/SURFACE: 上面 (above), 外面 (outside — you've used it!), 前面 (in front). NOODLES: 面 (or 面条) — and northern China runs on them; a bowl of 面 on your birthday means long life. Watch the tone and context to tell which 面 you've got.
An outline of a face with an eye — FACE, surface, side (and noodles!).
面子 ('face') is social honor — 给面子 means to show someone respect, losing 面子 is deep embarrassment. The same 面 is also noodles: birthday 面 means long life.