FlatTop has a wide offering of cuisine served up by local oriental folk, or perhaps they are islanders of a mysterious origin. Â I am a simple man, a Son of The Soil and have spent most of my humble life as a Ranch Hand so I found the unbelievable variety of faraway meats and spices both intimidating and enchanting. Â I personally really enjoy Fusion style restaurants because most of my lower spine is fused after countless hours of baling hay on the Hearst Ranch in a forgotten part of Southwestern Texas. Â Though hardworking, I don't trust a slant as far as I can throw 'em (not far bc of the aforementioned spinal fusion) so I was wary of their food, presented raw for your perusal not unlike an untamed Vietnamese market but it is both safe and delicious.
However, I cannot give this restaurant a full 5-stars because my girlfriend, Elle-Bernadette dumped me over my 3rd bowl of SesameHorseradish Chorizo and noodles. Â She called me a xenophobic, braindead hick and cited that we weren't really into the same "scene" and how different our musical tastes and friends were considering that she is more of a Eco-Goth Ravequeen and I'm more of a Drifter and also that I'm 60 years her senior. Â That night I had flashbacks to the war, I do not know if it was from the spiritual mojo coursing through the shared bloodlines of the North Korean man I killed in cold blood in the war working his way into my food from the hands of the prep chef or if it was just a wound that was opened that my precious Bernadette once kept shut...I know one thing, I'll never forget the ecstasy fueled night we first made love on the dance floor of Berlin...
Overall, I'd recommend this establishment.
I haven't been to Flat Top or a Flat-Top like restaurant in years. I was pretty rusty on how things worked, but luckily my friend was there to help me along the way.
You write your name on one of the sticks, grab a bowl and start filling! Their offerings were plenty. Veggies, sauces, rice, noodles, meats, etc. They had some recipes on the wall for newbies. After that, you grab some more colored sticks if you want egg, prati (bread), etc added on. My bowl was pretty good since I knew how all of the ingredients would work together. I would definitely recommend getting some bread with your bowl! So soft and slightly sweet.
But overall, it's just not something that I'm really into. I found some ingredients that weren't in the bowl originally, but that's perfectly fine. The service was alright, nothing spectacular. I'm rounding this up to 3 stars because I accidentally left my phone at the table after I left! Thankfully, the bus boy was nice enough to turn it into management rather than pocket it himself. There are nice people in the world. THANK YOU!
Very delicious stir fry, many options of vegetables and meat and sauces to build your own stir fry, definitely recommend. Busy place though, you better get there early or make a reservation in advance. The only part I didn't like about is that the tables were really close to each other, making it difficult to walk around or getting out of your seat, unless you are very skinny, which is not my case.
Review Source:My first Flat Top experience. We used to come all the time but then a few things changed and now we're more likely to come here to get a stir fry fix only every once in a blue moon. We normally go with the one bowl a piece option but we have definitely gone for the gusto and eaten our weight in stir fry. They used to have this amazing peanut sauce but then they messed with it. They also started preserving all of their meat in soy sauce which made me swell up like a balloon after all that sodium. They also used to add shrimp skewers at no extra cost, now you get 10 pieces but have to pay a hefty sum. The roti bread is still free and worth adding, it soaks up all of the juice and you can make a stir fry pita wrap up all by yourself. YUM! I'm still a fan because the service is spot on and the horseradish sauce makes my heart sing, I always add a spoonful or two more than I should. The iced teas here keep me on my toes because there are so many flavors! The lava cake for dessert isn't the best I've ever had but it's tasty and the peanut butter pie? My boyfriend is quite a fan. It can get busy here and they didn't take reservations way back when (now they do). We never tried the breakfast here but I always found the concept interesting. This place does not pretend to be something that it's not but the recent changes have done more harm than good.
Review Source:If someone served me the bizarre combination of 30+ ingredients and sauces that I created last night, I would probably would give it a two-star rating or never would have ordered it in the first place. However, I loved it and proudly left with a stomach ache from eating too fast and perhaps taste-testing about 10 sauces.
Perfecting a create-your-own Flat Top stir fry (or even one that resembles a thoughtful dish) probably takes the patience and self-restraint that I don't have. Seeing all those fresh healthy ingredients and then sizing up my bowl becomes a physics challenge to pile the largest mountain of noodles, zucchini, tomatoes, edamame, tofu, corn, bok choy, beans, onions, garlic, etc possible into my bowl.
I'll refrain from giving specific advice on ingredient selections as that would take all the fun out of the Flat Top concept. Warning, don't try to mix the heavier ethnic sauces together (e.g. Vindaloo with Thai Red curry). One ethnic theme per bowl is usually best. You need to add enough sauce though! 3-4 generous scoops is advised. Also, skip the rice, the noodles are way better. Always get the Roti bread!
If you are trying to stay within the boundaries of a recognized recipe, make sure to check out the pamphlet of recipes at the table. The chalkboard listing the nutritional info of all the sauces is also much appreciated. As a calorie-conscious eater (even when trying to conquer a mountain of food), I really appreciate knowing what's what when it comes to choosing between 20 different sauces. The low cal options are not necessarily less flavorful. Give them a try!
Service is great. Come at off-peak dining times and days to be seated quickly, otherwise expect to wait because its always packed. I wish it was a little cheaper. My bill was $21 for just one bowl and a tiny glass of wine. Remember your student id for $2 off.
All-in-all, its deliciously fun to see what comes from being such a culinary mad-scientist. I'm a genius! I love this place!
Went for the first time and I can't say I plan on going back. You essentially pick a bunch of veggies, starch and protein and they mix it up and heat it for you. The chaotic wait/setup/order of the restaurant paired with the so-so food does not call for a repeat appearance. For those of you who like the roti-type bread, do yourself a favor and go to Devon and buy a pack of Kawan's frozen parathas. Same great taste, ready in 2 minutes on a frying pan and the same half the price of Flattop for a bag of 20.
* from my visit on 1/7/2012
The best thing about this place is how many vegetarian and vegan options there are, and how much attention they pay to allergies and other food restrictions. Â If you can't eat here you're lame. Â They have several meat alternatives, including Veat and Quorn, and they both cook up nicely. Â You can ask for them to be cooked in a separate skillet if you don't want them on the grill.
Review Source:A cooler version of Mongolian BBQ, focused more on health conscious folk and unique meal ad-ins. Restaurant is pretty self explanatory when you walk in, except waiters could be a little more helpful for first timers. Definitely go for the make-your-own stir fry.... Â No one orders the few menu items that are pre-made for you. Takes the fun out of the whole restaurant.
Great place to go if you want to have a healthy meal with TONS of vegetable options. Make sure not to miss the pamphlet in the middle of the table which has recipe suggestions and sauce creations. Both times I've gone I have forgotten about this crucial item until after my food was put on the grill. Never turns out bad though, any combination of sauces is tasty!
The colored sticks at the end are a must. The blue gives you hot pita bread which is 100% delish. The other colored sticks give you options such as tofu, lettuce for lettuce wraps and soup options. Don't be mistaken for the two soup options like I was. Â By choosing these two sticks, they will make your stir-fry into soup! Wrong choice for me but they were nice about it and drained the broth and made it back into stir-fry? Still a little confused on the details of that maneuver but whatever happened, I'm not complaining.
Flat Top is a solid place for a casual fun dinner. I love being able to make my own stir frys. Plus now they have a few featured ingredients of the month. This month it was figs!! Fancy!
It's not going to be the best cooked stir fry ever but if you like to try a lot of different things this is a fun way to do it.
MUST TRY the Roti bread. It is heavenly :)
Mmm. I used to frequent Flat Top in Naperville, once I realized it was far superior to Mongolian BBQ. I just got a gift card here as a gift and my love for Flat Top was rekindled.
Why the bad reviews? Seriously, people, are your expectations really that high? This isn't some swanky establishment, and if you believed it to be than that is your issue. You can't really complain about the food since... well... you make it yourself. Someone really gave a 1star review because she felt the need to lysol wipe the tongs? You're either insane or you have lived a very charmed life (or maybe a little bit of both). I guess if you hate all people, you hate having to choose your own food, and you hate noise of any sort... then yeah, maybe Flattop isn't for you.
The food is healthy if you want it to be. The roti bread is one of my favorite things this world has to offer. -1 star because you have to pay and extra 50% to bring your food home with you. I get that it is similar to a buffet style, but an extra 50%? C'mon!
I would highly recommend this place, because as far as chains go this one is more than palatable.
I went to Flat Top for the first time on Monday night with a few friends. Â I had gone to similar places before so I had an idea of what I to do.
Once all my friends arrived...we walked up to the station to figure out if we wanted white or brown rice. Â I skipped that part and went for the rice noodles. Â I decided to make a Pad Thai inspired dish. Â I went down the line picking all of my vegetables and meat. Â I went with chicken. Â I decided on a combo of sauces being the Pad Thai Sauce and a spicy Honey Mustard. Â Suprsingly the two were very good together. Â I added egg and the bread.
I placed my bowl near the grill and headed back to my seat at our table. Â A few minutes later we all got our bowls. Â The waiter was nice and came over right away to ask if we needed anything else.
The food was good, the service was decent. Â Plus, how can you go wrong when you get to decide on exactly what you want.
Flat Top Grill is a great alternate to any fast food restaurant - if you have time.
You will be great by a friendly face and seated. Â The tables are rather close but I've never had to sit next to someone. Â The server take the drink order then remind you or give you the instructions how mix and match your ingredients for you meal.
You have a choice of white or brown rice for your base. Â From there, place any of the ingredients, sauces, and meats that you may want. Â For those "food counters" there is the board that lists all of the calories and all.... Â It's a great way to try new combos. Â Before you have the bowl to the chef, make sure you order your bread.
Once the food is cooked, the food runner will bring the meal to you along with your choice of breading. Â I generally pick the roti bread. Â Then enjoy. Â Just remember, it's all you can eat.
The restaurant (including the bathrooms) Â are generally very clean. Â The service has not been overbearing, at least the times I've been there. Â As previously mentioned, the parking can be tough.
For a casual and reasonably price meal, go to Flat Top.
So. Here I am at a flat top grill again cuz I'm with a coworker that's in the mood for this and we both want some veggies. I already knew I was in for mediocrity but things could be worse.. Spoken too soon? ok I guess it wasn't THAT bad but still...
This place is freaking cramped. We were seated at a two top and thisclose to our neighboring tables. I don't like that. This location had me yearning for the west loop location. It's also even more annoying when the middle aged men beside us were belching loudly throughout their meal. Good Lord. Not the restaurant's fault but I don't want to be super close to that kind of shit. So the clientele -gaaaah. I'm aware I'm a little snobby and what? but c'mon people. Is there no decency left when in public... Ugh. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when it's trash sitting next to us and this isn't the four seasons.. but Come. On. The servers are MIA for the most part only appearing before and after the meal. My coworker needed a fork and he ended up just swiping one from a table across the room.
Anyway, besides being seated so super close to cavemen that we could nearly reluctantly cuddle with them.. I remember that I wish I had packed me some Lysol wipes to handle the tongs and ladles here. The food station is a mess and I just had to get over myself like I do on the CTA and think happy thoughts of not getting sick and doing up some retail therapy later. Happy thoughts! They had cut up filipino sausage so that was kinda cool. My food came out tasting just fine with the roti bread. Average american friendly food, what's new..?
Not the most enjoyable location though. I couldn't wait to finish our meal and get the hell out. Next.
As much as I love Flat-Top Grill, I feel like this location in particular has something sort of lacking compared to the other Flat-Tops.
For one, parking can be difficult because there is only street parking around. Â And the place seems to be more condensed, but oddly not crowded, compared to other Flat-Tops. Â There is some odd green lighting that makes all the food look a weird, toxic green. Â And the staff seemed to be more interested in prepping for the dinner rush (I went there for lunch) than taking care of lunch-goers.
The food was still good though. Â There's that...
I still love Flat Top and the food was amazing, but Christine was NOT a good server. When we asked for to-go boxes she tried to tell us we'd get charged to take it home even though it was only our first trip each. Â Isn't she supposed to keep track of that? Â She also got my friend's drink refill wrong after writing it down. There were also initially two charges for shrimp on our receipt when only one person got shrimp once. She said she had to double check before taking it off the receipt which definitely came off as pretty rude and accusatory.
I'm pretty sure I won't be coming back to this Flat Top location.
[Sorry for posting this so late. Â I wrote this review in May 2011]
Perhaps it was because I was accompanied by someone who was super familiar with Flat Top Grill and didn't get the proper "how to" introduction, but I found the DIY approach to mixing things a little confusing. Â I kept looking around for some sort of cheat sheet, but it wasn't until after my meal that my lunch partner handed me something useful... Â :/
Also, is this supposed to be asian food? Â A little confused by the random mexican food staples (black beans, cilantro, sweet potatos) that are available. Â There were enough to make you wonder, but not enough to make a proper mexican style dish.
I like when people tell me what to put in my food... not vise versa.
You went culinary school, right? Big shocker here, I didn't! So, with that being said, I'd prefer someone to tell me what combinations, flavors, etc. taste good.
Flat Top just isn't my cup o' tea...
Damn, can't believe I wasted #200 on this....
Moving along!
Why I love Flat Top
1.Creating my own stir fry (somehow I always manage to mix it right but I could see how this could turn out as a disaster - so if you're a picky eater, read the sauce guidelines on your table first!)
2. I love the veggie options (Don't get me wrong, I looooooooove meat, but I am always impressed with the meat substitute - bbq one yum! - and all their options make it great place to take healthy eaters and your herbivore friends).
3. Great service! (The servers and hostesses are always on top of everything and I really do get service with a smile - take note other restaurant chains, Flat Top is doing something right!)
Why I DON'T like Flat top - these aren't serious enough to knock it down to three stars, but worth noting.
1) Seating is tiiiiiiiiiiight. (I was lucky enough to score what I can only imagine was round booth meant for 4 people last night for the husband and myself - but normally you are rubbing elbows with everyone and you can basically reach over and grab some of their stir fry. I have only been to this location, maybe others are better? But they really need to spread it out, which is hard, because its always packed.
2) Food layout is also a little odd (Bar style seating right behind the start of the food line - ehhhh, not good. Also, everything is really really close. I always feel like I have some hungry hungry hippo on my tail elbowing me to hurry up and get to the next station.)
3) Sauce area should be at the end - after the meat (With the way it is now, everyone is taking their sweet ass time tasting sauces and then the line builds up fast. I think this would help the situation).
My complaints aren't huge, and will not turn me away from Flat Top, they could maybe just use a little tune up.
Well I am a big fan of Flat Top. Â The only complaint I ever have is the seating arrangements. Â I feel like I'm rubbing elbows with the parties on either side of me. Â But then again, that's just one of our problems today, being uncomfortable with proximity to strangers. Â And then AGAIN, why wouldn't we, living hip to hip with everyone in Chicago?
Um anyway I do love me some Flat Top and I enjoy everything that I make. Â I usually get the mu shu wrap. Â Add lots of sauce and I would recommend adding plenty of cheese and an egg. Â I'm always sad when I fill up after 2 servings at best.
It can be pricey for dinner so I recommend lunch. Â It'll fill you up for the rest of the day anyhow. Â Don't bother with drinks, I had my 21st birthday dinner here and none of the alcoholic beverages were worthwhile.
I have been to three Flat Top Grill locations in Chicago and the food has always been very good - this one included. The food was fresh and cooked nicely. Even though they only gave me one flat bread when I requested two!
I left this place feeling really irritable from my experience. The tables are packed so close together that it was a major pain to get up to prepare your ingredients. The noise was out of control. Even when the place was half full it was still very loud. The seating area is very close to the grill and for the entire meal, the clank clank clank clank constantly clanking of the metal cooking utensils on the metal grill was about to lead me to freaking homicide.
I do like the Flat Top Grill but my favorite location is the one at 1000 W Washington. they will give you two breads, the noise is bearable, you can relax comfortably and the food will be just as good.
Yeah.... I kind of have issues with this place. Â I'm all for cooking my own grub (hello San Soo Gab San!) but for some reason my bowl of Asian goodness never comes out, well, that good. Â My flavors are off, I try to get creative with sauces, experiment with egg vs. no egg, etc. Â I'm at a loss.
However, the restaurant itself is set up well. Â Tall tables with half of the seating on booth benches and the other on chairs, tasty cocktails and reasonable prices, it suits my needs. Â I'll be back as soon as I can find someone who can tutor me on how to build a bangin' bowl.
I am bit conflicted about Flat Top. Â It is a great restaurant, don't get me wrong. Â However, whenever I come here I always get overwhelmed by all the choices.
And the problem is, that since this place is so popular, the line is constantly moving, so if you do no know what you want, you are potentially holding up the person behind you.. then you get all nervous and just start throwing random stuff into your bowl. Â Which is not good.
But FT is great if you get in on a day where there aren't many people in there. Â You can take a little bit more time picking out your ingredients and be a little more satisfied with your end result.
Some tips BEFORE you get up to create your bowl:
*Decide what you want to eat first (meat, no meat, chicken, beef) Â The reason I say decide is because the place is a buffet, you can always go back up if you didn't like your dish, or you want more later!
*Move quick - someone is likely to be moving quickly behind, and they will rush you for that sauce!
*Dont overload your bowl - again, its a buffet, you can come back
*Experiment - (it's a buffet you c......)
*Get the bread every time.
*Come again
I'm so conflicted about Flat Top. Definitely NOT one of the better Mongolian BBQ-type places I've frequented. Yet every time we end up here, I start out with massive amounts of optimism. All the veggies! All the sauces! All the options! They'll even turn it into a mu-shu wrap for you!
However, it's usually downhill from there. It's not that I've ever had a BAD experience. It's just that I've never had a particularly GOOD experience. Everything usually ends up tasting the same, no matter what combination of sauces you dream up to put on it. The meat never tastes very good (although I am picky), and even the veggies are hit-and-miss. For example, the last time I was here the broccoli was really gross. Why?! No idea.
So, for the purposes of giving a somewhat helpful review, I will offer you my Flat Top tips:
1) Use a white stick even if you don't have allergies, because it means they'll cook  your dish separately and you'll have a better chance of it actually tasting like... something other than what everyone else's at the table tastes like.
2) HAVE THE ROTI PRATA BREAD. It is by far the best part about Flat Top. However, don't expect to get 2 pieces of it even if you put in 2 blue sticks -- you'll need to ask your server for an extra.
3) If you get the mu-shu option, your stir-fry won't come out quite as "juicy" as they normally do.
4) Put extra sauce on your meat in its separate bowl. It still won't taste very good, but it'll at least taste slightly better.
5) If you're wondering whether or not to save room for dessert or go back for 2nds, you may as well get 2nds. The dessert isn't bad, but I'm not sure it's worth whatever ridiculous price they're charging for it. And 2nds are at least free!
I like the fact that I can completely customize my meal without having to tell the waiter every little detail about what I want. The sauces here are great, and the selection of different proteins (including quite a bit of vegetarian options) and veggies is good. My only qualm is that you do often find pieces of other people's dishes in yours: other meats, tofu, things you didn't put in your bowl. I don't eat pork or shellfish, and I was sort of worried they'd end up in my food by accident after I found tofu from someone else's order.
The space is cramped and service can be sort of spotty. Once while we were making our bowls we returned to find that our server had moved us to a different table to put two tables together, without asking, which I found to be sort of disrespectful. They have a few decent beers available, but they tend to be a bit overpriced.
The food is good, and I love being able to customize my meal, but this location does have a few shortcomings. We'll probably be back, though, since we do enjoy this place.
Flat Top Grill is the perfect option if you are on any kind of special diet. Weight Watchers? Vegetarian? Low-carb? Dining exclusively on korean pork and butternut squash these days? No problem. You get to make your meal however you want without  insulting the chef, annoying your server, or gettting funny looks from anyone.
Since I am  eating low-carb, I filled my bowl with chicken, beef, broccoli and a spicy sauce and it was delicious.  I love that they list the nutritional info (and points for those on WW) for each sauce. You can have your creation turned into moo-shu (wrapped in chinese pancakes) or soup, or served as stir-fry.
Drinks are average priced, except for the staggeringly cheap house wine which is $4 a glass or $13 a bottle. One trip through the line is $12.99 and unlimited trips are one dollar more. If you want to make a bowl to take home, it's $3.99 after the first bowl. So if you are on a budget, make your first bowl huge and then take any leftovers home.
Service was excellent. Our server fully explained the process to us and checked on us as we created our bowls. I also liked that, unlike at the Mongolian BBQ's in Michigan, you don't have to stand around and wait for your food. You take your seat and then they bring it to you when it's done.
It's kind of a novelty and not the place I would go often, but on a day when I want to eat out and stay on my diet and don't think I have the willpower or patience to customize my order to be carb-free, this place offers a delicious diet friendly solution.
Ok, not to be cliche...but Flat Top Grill....IS what it IS. It's a stir-fry bar. You pay a hefty sum to eat your weight in vegetables and meat, and then they dress it up fancyish. It usually ends up costing a lot, but if you are absolutely famished, the all-you-can-gorge option might be in your best interest...however, there are obviously better, more unique options....like, within spitting distance.
However, my boyfriend and I had our first date here (He gets a pass, he's from the burbs, and I lived down the street). It went well, so I have fond memories...though my tastes have matured a bit beyond vats of rice and making my own food. For that much money, they should at least mix it up, I'm a terrible cook, and a terrible stir fry creator! Plus, buffets always sort of freak me out, especially ones with piles of meat. I think it goes back to my brief days of working at Mongolion BBQ...but I digress.
This location is small and cramped, as well. Skip it.
Usually, when going out to eat, passerbys stop and gape. The waiters cease flirting and my boyfriend just leans back and smiles proudly.... I can eat a lot: Â an-entire-field-of-farmhands-lot.
Credit the demanding Italian-American genes if you will, or the hardy "walk a 75-pound yanking, pulling Muttweiller" daily workouts, but this place made me sad.
Tiny, tiny little bowls that you fill buffet style? That are then cooked on greasy everything-tastes-the-same-like-the-grill(s)? What, did I fall from civilized society and land somewhere wrong?
Maybe I chanced on the wrong day of the week, but the veggies were cooked limp and the meat was too tough to be tasty.
Geez, my poor boyfriend was worried i'd go from Monica Belluci to joyless anorexic twig... and that is NO good...
I'd been to Flat Top a number of times before noticing a table top card mentioning they serve breakfast. Â Being an Asian "stir fry" place, I was perplexed by the breakfast offerings and didn't give it much of a thought. Â Enter my co-worker who explained the breakfasty goodness that is Flat Top breakfast.
For $8.99 you are treated to some of the world's best breakfast combinations - I mean, candy bar chunks for your pancakes?!? Â Who could go wrong! Â My personal favorite is the butterscotch chip, pecan and brown sugar pancake that I create on a regular basis. Â Their omelettes are ok - but I'm not paying attention to anything but pancakes when I go. Â They serve them one at a time (they are huge, filling the entire plate) and worth the wait. Â
Go early - it fills up fast, and they only serve breakfast until 12. Â So, not a brunch place that you can roll out of bed at 12:30 and waltz in asking for pancakes. Â Although, their lunch offerings are good enough. Â But breakfast has really endeared this place to me.
I'd actually go 3.75. I love that Flat Top has fresh ingredients and lots of them. The flavored waters to add to the sauces are great (lemongrass, garlic, ginger) and the sauces themselves are so very tasty. The flavored lemonades are great too and they brew their iced tea fresh. Oh, and you better eat the flat bread with your meal. Seriously.
I've always had great service there, and tonight was no exception, but the one thing I really wish they'd do is remove one high top table and one two-top table to make some more room. No room to put coats and purses plus bench-style seats means always having to muscle past your neighbors with either elbows or rear ends. Awkward. I think that it can be a bit overpriced, even if it is all you can eat, but it doesn't keep me from going back.
Not your usual all-you-can-eat place (but that's a good thing).
I won't explain how the meal system there works, since that's already been done by other reviewers. They have the usual meats- plus seafood if you ask, a large variety of veggies, and a great collection of sauces and spices. It's a lot of fun putting it together yourself, without the hassles of the rest of cooking. You don't have to stand over the hot stove, just go sit down and wait.
They bring you the food, which may seem like awhile if you're really hungry, but at least your food is fresh and hot off the grill. The service we got was great, the gal was right there when you needed her. She also explained how the Mongolian barbecue system works, to my kids.
Not a good place for little kids, since seating is so close together and the place gets crowded easily. Grade-school kids should do fine though.
Great place for those who love to eat (including older kids who enjoy being able to put it together themselves) and those who prefer to eat healthier. Also a great place for those who like to experiment with food.
Since the place had a more lively warm atmosphere to it (the space, service, and lighting), the fact that the place was small but crowded, came across as social and friendly, not cramped and annoying.
I wasn't quite sure what was bugging me about this place but Dan T. and Matt W. pretty much nailed it on the head. If I could eliminate or improve everything except for the food itself, I'd be happy.
I think this is a great place to bring vegetarians, vegans, picky eaters, and anyone with the appetite of a horse but don't go in there expecting stellar service. I do like Flat Top and I'd recommend it, but it's probably not the #1 place to go if you're trying to impress your date or anything. I think it'd be a good place if, for instance, your boyfriend was meeting your parents for the first time. It's low-key and the premise automatically gives people at LEAST a half hour's worth of small talk to work with.
The one thing that really kind of annoys me is how small the bowls are that you put your ingredients in. I like to load up on the veggies so it's like, can I get a real bowl? I just end up spilling snow peas everywhere. And yes, I do kind of want to stab people with my wooden namestick.
Oh and I really wanted to try this drink called a Horny Monkey but I'll be damned if I'm asking for a Horny Monkey in public.
On the upside, I've been there twice and haven't had to wait for a table! That's good, right?
The food here is great, don't get me wrong. I love the idea of choose-your-own-grilled-dish. That's why I keep going back too! I have yet to dislike my food. There are a variety of things to keep vegetarians happy- from a huge sauce selection (I'm a big fan of the blackbean/garlic) to the seitan.
Sadly, everything other than the food is the suck.
Once, some hot soup was spilled on my wife by a waiter. No sorry! No attempt to clean it up! Just an "Oops! Sh@#!" and they ran off for some paper towels to clean up the floor. I was livid. Every other time the hosts have abandoned the station to gossip by the bar, and ditto with the waiters, who in leiu of bringing you your check within 2 hours of your finishing your meal will loiter by the food selections and try desperately to make small talk about food options with patrons, their sh!t-eating grins cracking from boredom. Â If they aren't doing one of these things, the hosts and waiters generally disappear and you have to find someone in a uniform and beg them for your check.
Look, if the place is largely self-service, don't hire college kids with no waiting experience. Hire some folks who can add to the atmosphere in a professional way.
In a nutshell - bring your appetite, your patience and a tolerance for yuppies.
It's on Southport, that should say something about the clientele but I swear, nay I guarantee you the food is worth it as long as you have patience to wait while it's cooked. The inane conversation you'll be privy to is almost worth the wait but bring your own personality to keep yourself and your friends amused because after 5 minutes of hearing Chad ramble on about his day in sales and marketing you'll be ready to stick the clear blue roti bread stick straight up your nose into your frontal lobe.
In terms of combinations, the only real advice I can give is respect the spice, a little goes a long way. I've made enough mistakes ladling the Thai red death sauce onto my chicken thinking I'm the next Mario Batali and then suffering through a plate of mooshoo napalm while I grin and bear it - my bed, sweet dreams. That is to say the right amount of spice can transform anything at FlatTop from good to absolute heaven. Some baby corn, water chestnuts, peapods, bamboo, mushrooms and spice served over rice is the best way to wind down a long week. Plus their deserts are to kill for.
I highly recommend FlatTop, just ignore the patrons. The waitstaff hates them and anyone with half a personality will too but they're harmless at worst, fantastic conversation fodder at best.
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