Tonight, I took my sons to the Flat Top Grill, a "create your own stir-fry restaurant." It is a fun concept, but the learning curve is steep. Check out the website, where they explain the system. Now imagine the servers explaining that to everyone who walks in. It was pretty chaotic, and in a group of four, I suspect that at least one person is destined to make some bad choices. In our group, only half of us were pleased with the result, and one of my sons thought his was inedible. (They removed that one from the bill because he had followed the server's recommendations!)
So far they have only 10 locations, but if you are close to one of those, it's worth a try. My tip: unless you are experienced as assembling stir fry, stick with the "recipies" until you have the feel for it. Oh, and get the Indian flatbread by adding a blue stick to your bowl. Mmmm, good.
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1. Posted by Larry on August 15, 2006 @ 20:42 | Permalink
ever since i got food poisoning from that place, i haven't had the courage to eat at any of those sort of restaurants (bd's mongolian barbeque, stir crazy, etc.). sort of disappointing because i really liked the place before the food poisoning.
2. Posted by Gordon Smith on August 15, 2006 @ 21:00 | Permalink
That thought crossed my mind as I was going through the "stir fry bar" tonight. I wonder if they get a lot of that ...
3. Posted by Christine on August 15, 2006 @ 21:26 | Permalink
I really like the own "design your entree" concept. We like a restaurant here in Champaign called Za's where you design your own pasta, panina or pizza. When you walk in you fill out a form, checking off your ingredients, then had the form to the cashier. Our kids also love filling out the form. So far, we've stayed healthy!
4. Posted by Larry on August 16, 2006 @ 0:08 | Permalink
za's is a bit different (and is probably the greatest place ever); they don't let you actually gather the food yourself from a "bar" - they make it to order in their kitchen.
the problem, i think, with places like flat top, which cater quite a bit to families, is that the sneeze guard doesn't really protect against kids, probably the group likeliest to be carrying germs and whatnot. of course, i got sick from one in a "hip" part of chicago that likely gets very few kids.
5. Posted by Jesse on August 16, 2006 @ 10:22 | Permalink
There was a place like this over at Greenway Station for awhile that I really liked. I think it was called the Chinese Wok or something like that. I'll have to see how Flat Top compares.
6. Posted by Rita on September 18, 2007 @ 9:29 | Permalink
Larry - Me, too! I ate a meal at the Flat Top Grill in Bloomington/Normal, IL (near Ill. State University) and got violently ill that evening. I should have listened to my gut when I walked in and the place didn't quite smell right. I feel the same...I don't think I could eat at another Flat Top (or any similar type place). That night was one I won't forget for a long time!!!
7. Posted by coinage on May 10, 2008 @ 17:54 | Permalink
Kobe in Bloomington is an EXCELENT place to eat and they do it all for you in a show at your table.
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