Flat Top Grill
707 Church St, Evanston, IL, 60201
Flat Top Grill Menu
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Appetizers
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Create Your Own Stir Fry
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for Flat Top Grill
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Appetizers
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Create Your Own Stir Fry
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Desserts
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Address :
707 Church St
Evanston, IL, 60201 - Phone (847) 570-0100
- Website https://www.flattopgrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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S C.
I recently sent this email to them with no response... I was very disappointed by yesterday's service at your Evanston, IL location. Entering, I could see this restaurant needed some work. For example, they have one toilet available, the bathroom seemed dated, and the floors were sticky. We were seated and we found ourselves waiting a long time to place orders, get bowls, and to get served. Our waitress seemed nice, but her voice was monotone and she lacked eye contact. My biggest disappointment was waiting for my second bowl (I wish unlimited bowls were still here). I filled my bowl and indicated, sausage, egg, and two rotis. After waiting quite some time, my bowl had 4 small pieces of sausage, what looked like a small - burnt on one side egg patty, and no rotis. I notified the server that I thought this was made half assed and that I no longer wanted it. She then returned and said her manager took off the $4. I would have appreciated it if the manager had come by. It was not terribly busy... I used to really like flat top, but this just turned me off from it
(1)Oliver Y.
What happened to unlimited!!! $12.99 for dinner then seconds will cost you $4. Where have I been?!! Bring back unlimited!!!
(2)Katherina O.
I have visited a flat tops before and have had a great experience until I went to this location. They have two stations to add to your meats one station was completely empty the other one was almost empty but they were both disgustingly messy. It was very unappetizing I think the manager here should have a little bit more of a priority of keeping the stations cleaned and filled very disappointed. It was a Sunday night and I wouldn't return back to this location.
(1)MoMo K.
These reviews are harsh, people fail to realize that the changes made are at all FTG locations because of corporate. [Besides that, I e-mailed Derek Templeton (the manager) about the other negative Yelp comments. I pasted his response at the bottom]. We had a group of 16, we were first seated at a table in the middle section of FTG. I didn't like it... so I asked if they can move us to the back because we wanted to surprise a friend and a table their just cleared up. The waiter without hesitation said yes and started cleaning the tables in the back (she called for her waiter squad to help her). Fastforward: we surprised our friend, sat down, a waiter came and explained how the bowl stuff worked and we were on our way. (Note: now you have to give your meat options to the waiter instead of filling up the mini-bowl like before) Once we got to the line, the Jalapeños container was empty, so we told the attendant and he filled it up after 2 minutes. We noticed we had to alternate from Line A to Line B to get the sauces (it ran out on one side but not the other). There are a lot of people on this yelp page that are complaining about the small things... my friend describes them as people with "sticks up their butthole". But if you're just their to chill, enjoy good food, and have a good time with a large group... you won't mind these small things. Overall, we all had a great time! This FTG is huge and VERY VERY accomodating for huge groups! They can seriously accommodate a group of 30. I would highly recommend this to anyone with big groups. We all liked our food and had a great time because we basically had our own "party room" for free. One thing that can mess your food up is if you don't know how to portion the sauce and double check your stick colors with your friend if you're colorblind. Sometimes the customers mix up the sticks. As promised, here is the Derek's response to my e-mail: "Most of the concerns with allergies/cross contamination issues are from people who are not fully educated on our concept and how everything actually works. If someone has a food allergy, they are encouraged to use a white stick when creating their bowl, which in turn tells our cooks that it need to be cooked in a separate pan and not on the grill next to anything else. We have extensive ingredient listings and also lists that itemize what one may or may not use when their are certain food restrictions. Our sauces are all covered and it is virtually impossible to get one sauce into another, unless the lid was taken off and purposely poured into another. The raw meat was removed from the Food line in March, so the issue of any raw meat contamination (which was not truly an issue before, just a perception) has been addressed. I'm sure you can see in our newer Yelp reviews that most people are unhappy that we made changes to our Food line to become cleaner, quicker and more sanitary, however, we have gotten many more compliments in the store about how much more sanitary it is than previously."
(5)J K.
No more unlimited bowl option. Every additional bowl costs you extra $4. Their business model changed, and as a result, I bet their revenue already declined significantly.
(1)Sandeep G.
This is one DYI place you can either love or hate. If you don't know how to cook, then go by their recommendation. Fresh flavorful food!
(4)Pat G.
Very disappointed. Heard great things and decided to head out there on date night. Unique concept, you order meat/protein and then go in the salad bar style-line, pick veggies and other things to add in, add a few colored straws based on how you want it prepared (in a wrap, in a burrito, in a soup, etc.). I mixed beef and sausage, got my receipt, gashed it with the stick with my name, picked my additions, and then sauce, and was excited.......this was a new experience for me after all. I upped my expectations. Until my girlfriend and I got our food. Then it went downhill. It was just my veggies/extra additions in the burrito. A couple bites in I noticed there wasn't any meat, so I opened it up and confirmed there was no meat. I called ou waitress over to let her know that I had ordered the beef and sausage and it wasn't added. Hey I get it, mistakes happen--it was Saturday night just before 7 PM; it was packed, maybe it was short staffed? I saw our waitress running around like a chicken with her head cut off. But she just shrugged at me. My girlfriend ordered it in the lettuce wrap and she was given the soup format. I tried to prod a little because that wasn't quite the response I was expecting, and she then gave me an exhausted "well........I can get my manager if you want." At that point I just cut my losses and asked for the check, I told her I didn't want the manager. I've been at places where there are customer discrepancies, and the place/staff does everything they can to make it worse (stalling out time to hope people just drop it and leave, continually saying that "their manager is busy, it will only be a few more minutes, etc). I didn't want to risk one of those on top of an already sub-par experience. I'll be half-full, because I'm not one to complain for the sake of doing so. The food was good quality, everything mixed well,the sauce I wanted was nice and spicy, the way I like it and the desert flavored beverage/mango mist beverage (what my gf ordered) were great. But this was my first, and last, visit to FTG. Bad experience.
(1)Mitesh S.
Had a great experience, would recommend to others. We had a large group of about 20 people but the store was well accommodating for us and had quick service as well! We had a large group of people with many various needs (Veggie and meat lovers) and they still did not mess anything up and continued to provide service in a great way. They only problem we had was the self serving food was not continuously replenished. Many of us didn't get the sauces we wanted because many of the bottles were already done. Also when I usually go to Flap Top I have had prior service where our server focused on helping us try/recommend various sauces and flavor but I understand that can be a bit difficult with 20 people. Overall I would recommend for a big group and we did not have any cleanliness problems as stated in other reviews.
(4)Fannie L.
Service is always poor at this location. Orders are usually messed up or mixed up which isnt good for individuals with allergies. But the food taste like all the other Flattop grills of course which is why they get the one star.
(1)Anand S.
This is a great stir fry place. The food is fresh and the selection of sauces are great. Some of the apps are pretty decent.
(5)Jackie G.
This place is a good place with tasty food but if you don't put in the right sauces then your whole experience is ruined.
(3)Paul C.
Been years since I was last there and know things change. But wow, now they charge $4 for the second trip and although increases their seating capacity, didn't increase the flat top or the bathrooms; so expect to wait. 3 single occupancy bathrooms (1 men's,1 women's and 1 unisex) for over 150 patrons. Waited 10 mins to use a bathroom. We waited 15 mins to be seated and as we were taken to our table we passed over 15 unoccupied set tables Loud environment/atmosphere. I get its in a college town, but don't go there and expect to have a conversation without raising your voice, or to use the bathroom. Place could use some sound absorbing material. Bathroom were pleasantly clean and bright. We were never asked us for a refill of water or for a second cocktail. Dirty dishes from appetizer not removed when main dish arrived. Tasty & warm naan bread arrived after we were done eating. As we were in on our way to a concert, we gave our credit cards to the waitress and told her to split the bill; she goofed up the cards and receipts, and never provided a detailed receipt. Host was running around like he didn't know where to go or what to do. Most staff seemed like they could use a smile and life in they're step. Food was delicious. Potstickers great!! Main dish - Almost like I remembered from its original beginnings. Return - most likely but will be prepared.
(3)Brian H.
While we've long been fans of Flat Top in Evanston, this review is about recognizing an extraordinary effort in handling a difficult situation we witnessed while there this past weekend. We arrived for dinner and immediately noticed a disabled man in front of the store. It appeared that he was having trouble with is electric wheelchair and had declined help from a couple of people who'd offered. Benjamin Andrews (Operations Manager) was informed and immediately took action in a way that was truly impressive. He quickly made the man comfortable while making phone calls to the man's friends to get some help, set him up at a table with a glass of water and checked with him numerous times to be sure he had everything he needed while he waited. Benjamin was able to connect and help a man who was clearly in a bad spot and trying to avoid bringing attention upon himself, all during the peak of a very busy dinner hour on a holiday weekend. I have no doubt that Benjamin Andrews is a significant asset to the operations of the Flat Top Grill and makes a big difference when he's off the clock too. Great work and an example for all of us!
(5)Andi E.
I went there with my wife and there were a few changes I didn't like. One the price went up while the meat portion definitely went down. It might be a vegetarian's haven but for those who eat meat(like me), it's far from a good deal for what you get. The service from the waiter was not good also. I probably would only ever go here if it was on a Groupon.
(1)Grace H.
Going to Flat top is super exciting and fun because there is this extensive buffet of ingredients that you can play with. They offer beef, chicken, pork, and white fish, and a variety of alternative proteins and fake meats. There are tons of veggies, legumes, sauces, etc. I think the experience of choosing your ingredients is fun, but the food in actuality is not worth the money. 8/10 they will mess up your order, or get someone else's ingredients into yours. Whenever I ask for no meat, I always end up with a few chunks of beef, chicken, etc. I don't think that's okay that they allow people's dishes to mingle, because some people actually do have food allergies or dietary restrictions. It's definitely not safe to go here if you do have strict food allergies! I think if you know how to make good stir fry you should save your money and make your own. Or if you suck at making stir fry like me, and you want better stir fry for the same price or cheaper, go to another restaurant. This is just my honest opinion. Nevertheless, the experience is good, and if you are lucky or skilled you might end up with a yummy dish!! Also, I am just mad that they got rid of the wildcard discount.
(3)George G.
Just wow. I failed to read the recent reviews. I wish I had. Would have saved me my money. I couldn't agree more with these 1 star reviews. Last time I was here, unlimited bowls! Now, $4 for another bowl! I say no thank you. That right there lost me. I will never be back here until they go back to what we all loved about it. Looks like they are trying to save money any way they can. Produce isn't as fresh as I remember it, service is slow. The place is going down hill fast. Such a shame. Goodbye flat tops. Goodbye.
(1)Fancy N.
Adios Flat Top, a customer I will be no more! I used to love this place. Loved making my own custom dish, load with whatever sauces, mix up some meats and get it all grilled into a delicious mess. Well... guess the health inspector caught up with them. Raw meat out, with dirty customers hands meddling in it, no temp control, no idea how many hours the raw meat sat out... only to be put back in fridge and out next day. Recipe for disaster I bet, I hope no one got sick. But the new way with them choosing my meat is total BS. I asked for steak & chicken mix. I got 1 piece of chicken, 3 small pieces of steak. Stop being so darn stingy on the meat, or else I won't come back... wait you already know how this ends. The sauces were previously with laddles which you could pour your gooyiness on top to make your own concoction. Now the sauces are in bottles, that are very hard to pour, and only a little pours out. Easier for them to handle end of day, but if they only care about their experience and not mine as a customer, it won't go well. We sat outside, knowing that outdoor service is pretty crummy to begin with cause they always forget about you. i asked for a napkin once, twice, 4 times, it came out with the bill, too late for your tip college kid. In the end, the stir fry tasted nasty, much too burnt (at least 1/3 was charred black). I swear I can get much better tasting stir fry in a microwave than what I got here. Sadly I wave good bye to this Evanston favorite, a customer no more!
(1)Rachel M.
Flattop used to be my favorite! However, I visited this place today and there were so many things wrong. First off, it took 15 mins for our server to come and welcome us and get us drinks. Second, the veggies were almost all gone and the sauces. Seriously, now that they give you a small portion of meat, they need to do their job continually and restock all that's there on the stir fry bar...which are veggies and sauces. The veggies don't taste the same. They do not taste fresh. Third, the booth we sat in was dirty and greasy. Fourth, the cook at the grill forgot my roti bread even when I put the blue stick in there. Overall, since flattop has changed with not letting you pick your meat at the stir fry bar and now they cook it separately and pick your portions... This place has gone down hill. Even though that had changed, I still gave this place another chance. And I was so disappointed. It's dirty, bad service, and the food does not taste the same! Any stir fry lovers like me... Should drive and head to MongolIan BBQ! That place has never disappointed. I used prefer flattop over them, but now I'm NEVER coming back here. Sorry flattop, this location sucks and I'd rather go to chipotle next door than to you again!
(1)Pedro D.
Oh Flat Top. You used to be my jam. Years ago when I abused your system made a towers of meats for you to grill and over sauced my base of rice and veggies. When four hour pow wow with friends supported by your unlimited bowls for 15 bucks and you took my old college ID without asking too questions. Where have you gone? It looks like you've grown up, and I applaud you. Health inspectors finally called you our on your bacteria growing experiments you called a meat station. Your cross-contamination sauce station that made me grateful I do not have severe nut related allergies has been cleaned up. And now, in health inspector improved glory, I leave your establishment hungry. The food quality is still solid and the unlimited bowl has been done away with, but something else is missing. I cant tell if your veggie bowls are smaller or not, but something else has changed. While I cannot place my finger on it yet, I still like you Flat Top, it's just not the love that's had me coming back since college. I'll be back, it's just not the same anymore.
(3)Mai N.
Had not been here for several months. Let me tell you, things have gone down hill fast. Overall service from host to server to food has dramatically slipped. Bowl prices changed, no more unlimited option. They now add your protein choice instead of you putting what you want. Sauce area changed again. Ingredients are not fresh as before. Any customer can notice the vegetables aren't fresh anymore. In conclusion we were fighting off fruit flies most of the night in the restaurant. Well I can say we won't be coming back. Too any better choices in the area. Sad how they have gone down hill.
(1)Kevin C.
I'm really sad that Flat Top has changed so significantly. I had always thought the point was to come here and try a bunch of combinations. That's no longer possible with their new price structure, and I don't really know why anyone would choose this place over so many more affordable places in Evanston. They advertise choice... but I can make a choice in a grocery store too. The cooking has no technique, just lump everything on a grill and cook until grey. Flat Top was my absolutely favorite place for the longest time, but without a bottomless option... or a cheaper price point... I can't see myself returning.
(1)Natalie P.
My biggest qualm with restaurants that "allow" you to create your own dish is the fact that most of us are venturing out in the bone-chilling cold for a hot meal prepared by somebody other than our microwaves. However, I can get over that, if the service is good. They do have recipe suggestions, however every time that I have wanted to enlist such assistance, I can't seem to get any help! This is true of almost any Flat Top (I've frequented many locations, but this one the most). The food regularly takes 30-45 minutes to arrive to the table, the lines for ingredients are long, and the spillage of sauces across the other sauces is to be expected. There are also always delays in refilling vegetables that have run out. I understand that this is a hot spot for college kids to feast on a fancy-ish meal, so it is always crowded, but that demand should be met by an upgrade in the quality and/or quantity of staff. Negatives aside, the food is fairly good. This of course, depends on the steadiness of your hand in ladling sauces and your intuition about compatible sauce combinations. Their roti bread is definitely delicious and the food is always cooked well (I've never had undercooked or burnt food). The sauce and vegetable options are very generous and they have multiple preparations of your food rather than the standard stir fry: such as the wrap and soup options. My dad once accidentally turned his dish into a soup, and the staff allowed him to create another bowl, at no extra charge (the one time that the service was actually good). Overall, I think the biggest reason why I don't love this place is because the service is poor and the integrity of the raw ingredients is compromised when vegetables and sauces are strewn about, mixing together, and making my dishes horrible disasters. If the service improved, I would gladly give it another chance.
(3)Stephanie C.
When the concept of Flattop was still novel to me, I was obsessed with it, but now that the novelty of "make your own stir fry but we'll cook it for you!" has worn off a bit, Flattop has become more of a rarity to me. It is a bit pricey for what you're getting, unless you decide to do unlimited (at lunch). What bothers me is that the prices for lunch and dinner are different but the ingredients offered are exactly the same. The restaurant itself is pretty clean and large, but they often have trouble with big groups in my past experience.
(3)Jackie H.
I love this place. Location is clean and servers are friendly. Full bar is nice too. I have food allergies and have never had any problems eating here. I love how they often change their selection of meats and veggies too. My only complaint is that the food is very heavy, and very rich, which is to be expected with stir fry. This isn't the place to go if you can't handle heavy, rich food. But it is still excellent, and the roti bread is what makes the dish complete! My typical bowl: brown rice, noodles, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, sliced yellow potatoes, edamame, 4 ladles of peanut sauce, and one ladle of soy sauce topped with roti bread. So good. Give it a try!
(4)Tara r.
Eaten at many Flat Top Grills over the years many different locations and this one is the worst! I always order tofu and it's cooked and wonderful. NOT today! They used silken tofu which is for smoothies and sauces! After talking with the manager he confirmed his shipment of regular tofu was substituted with silken and he was happy we confirmed this for him so he could get a free case of regular tofu on his next shipment! My dinner and my sons dinner (not a kids meal) was ruined and mushy, he never offered to remake it nor to remove them from the bill. He did give us 2 coupons for free kids meals. We will NOT return to this location and I may or return to any Flat Tops! I forgot to mention the fruit flies that where everywhere!
(1)Susheel S.
It's my go to place for lunch in between work. Being a vegetarian, I was pleasantly surprised at the sheer variety of options available for people who eat only veggies. A major issue with the place (which affected non-vegetarians more) was the change in the meat policy. Overall however, I love the food, its healthy, tasty and very filling.
(5)Courtney K.
I've grown up loving this place (its a short drive from my childhood home) and highly recommend. Definitely add the stick for the roti prata bread- its buttery and delicious and one of the main reasons I love this place so much! The asian ginger sesame dressing is the other- I'll usually mix that with either the soy or teryaki dressing and its a great combo! I almost always get chicken or steak but last time I went with my brother he got the sausage...I tried a bite and it was wonderful! I never would've thought to put sausage in a stir fry but it was quite good! I have also come here a few times for drinks and it has never disappointed. HIGHLY recommend the desert pear margarita if you like sweet things. If you're under 21, the desert pear lemonade is great too.
(4)Sameer R.
Good stir fry at a fair price. Always a good place for families and it has an extensive arsenal of ingredients. Always good service. Just wish there was more room in this place because it always gets packed.
(4)James M.
The restaurant said it had improved itself. Not so much. Restaurant is dirty looking. Waitress smelled. This new way of measuring sauce is a bust. These little cups and pouring containers that can't help but spill all over. And the food took 15 minutes to arrive and did not include all of the ingredients I ordered. It tasted pretty good though so two stars.
(2)Antony v.
My favorite part of Flat Top was that I could create a couple of small bowls per meal, each one withI different ingredients and sauces. Well no more. According to the note on the table, they listened to us and removed the endless bowls option. Now you pay the same price for one trip and if you want more, you pay again. So instead of encouraging a few trips for small tasty bowls, you now see how many veggies you can pile into your tiny-one trip bowl so you can get a little value for your money. No more Flat Top for me. You took away what made you special, what made you unique, what made you worth visiting.
(2)Lane Y.
I have been dining at Flat Top since it opened. No more. Despite its relative distance Flat Top was a place I would dine at several times a year. It offered a fun atmosphere and the chance to have some good all you could eat food all at a reasonable price. It made for a winning combination. Well maybe not so winning for Flat Top. In recent years they seemed to noticeably cheapen the quality of their ingredients. First the meats went down in quality from cheap but fine to noticeably cheap. That was a livable change. Next, however, the vegetables, always the most important ingredients at Flat Top, took a turn for the worse. My several times a year turned into once a year. That once a year was Fathers Day. This year owing to an illness we had to reschedule Father's Day to a Saturday. My father is worthy of celebration, the changes Flat Top has made are not. The big benefit for the customer is supposed to be less waiting for your meal. As noted we were present at an off-peak time and there was no decrease in wait time. It still took a long time for some bowls to come out. I am skeptical that at busier times it would be any faster if you're having a second bowl since now you not only have to wait for your food to be cooked, but also your over burdened server to come by so you can get your receipt for the correct meat. Once you have your receipt in hand you can go through the buffet that Flat Top says is not a buffet to fill up your bowl of ingredients as before. However when you get to the end you now get to gamble over how much sauce is correct as the ladles are no more and instead there are pitchers with sauces. As the Flat Top representative says in response to some other reviews you could use the "tasting" cups to measure. Except that before Flat Top would offer guidance about how much sauce was right AND there would be recopies of the different vegies and "2 ladles of this and 1 ladle of that" if you wanted further guidance. While you can make sure you don't get too much sauce with the tasting cups (something I can't imagine doing at a busy time when there are 10 people behind you in the not buffet line) you can't easily ensure you have the right amount and so I guessed right about how much to put, but my mom didn't. Too bad for her as she was stuck with this unflavored bowl as her only one. Unlike some other reviews, I am not scandalized by the $4 more for a second bowl (or "a second meal", according to the parlance of Flat Tops in-artfully written table guide explaining the changes) as Unlimited had always cost more than 1 bowl. That seems fair. Especially because the vegetables seem to have been restored to their previous good (not great) quality. Except the quality of the ingredients aren't so much better than a Fast Casual Place. You know your Chiptoles, Paneras, and (most aptly in this case) Noodles & Cos. When I go to a Fast Casual restaurant, I can have a complete meal, including drink and tax, for around (or less) than the $12.99 Flat Top charges for 1 dinner bowl. In fact going to a fast casual place for two meals (to align with my supposed two meals/bowls at Flat Top) would still come out cheaper than Flat Top once you factor in the $4 surcharge, soft drink, tax, and tip (something unneeded at those Fast Casuals) and I would have spent less time at those two meals than 1 at Flat Top. Though those other places don't have Flat Top's delicious Roti Bread, I'll take the two meals. It's too bad that they had to make so many changes which have harmed the core customer experience without enough improvements to compensate.
(2)Mitchell Y.
Flat Top used to be such a great experience. You'd go in, try some new crazy culinary concoctions, and then see how they turned out. Now it's a discredit to this once wonderful restaurant. Now you can only go up once, or $4 more for a second. Don't even think about making three small dishes to really get a range of flavors- that would be a full charge as if you were a separate customer. Gone are the sauce ladles, so you either better be great at judging liquid volumes by eye or use the microscopic tasting cups for some consistency. You don't even get to put in your own meat anymore. You tell the server and they bring you a receipt for your pre-designated protein. To be fair, the portion of meat was generous- that did not seem like a money grab, unlike the rest of the changes. Supposedly this is all in place because it reduces wait times for customers. My group of four was there when it was dead early Saturday and the wait times were the same as ever. Per their card on the table Flat Top is "not a buffet." That's fine, but they're also not worth your time - or money- anymore.
(2)A. S.
I have gotten food poisoning here 4 times now. Why do I go back? Assurance that the problem is resolved. XYZ bad batch of food has been dumped. They talked to the cook about cooking food longer, etc. etc. My husband has gotten food poisoning, my friends have gotten food poisoning, and the list goes on. Doesn't help that the staff is generally unfriendly and hard to find when you need something. I once waited for 35 minutes AFTER I asked for the check. I physically went back into the kitchen to get it myself. The only person that I have found pleasant is their manager. And even still when I addressed the food poisoning, they offered me money and no other solution. I contacted the person who commented on my review and explained that unless there was going to be an evident change in staff and quality of food, that I would not be interested in RE discussing their lack of quality. I don't need their gift card because I will not be returning.
(1)Victoria W.
This place was disasterous. Dined here last night on a saturday night. 6:30 PM was rold the wait would be 5-10 min, gave them our phone number. Then we waited by the crowded entrance(too cold to wait outside) and they did not call us until 25 min later. Argh!! Sat down, the waiter was talking super fast on how everything works. But at least she is attentive with my friend who is vegan, brought out a book that explains what sauce is vegan or not. Yet, she missed the roti bread is made from margarine. 12.99 for this quality of food, when i followed instruction to use 3/4 scoops of sauce was still extremely lack of flavor! I had to ended up going to get me some soy sauce and salt to make it palatable. My friend scooped some cilantro and sweet and sour sauce to make hers edible as well. Then the bathroom, apparently there are two sets of bathroom here, one set in the back and one in the middle of the restaurant. In such a huge restaurant you dont think you can add a couple more stalls? Just 1 per gender? Female bathroom ran out of paper towel. Waiter asked if we wanted soy or hot sauce, we said yes and never brought it out. Took a long time to deliver our checks and to charge us. Not coming back, loud music, nothing great about it.
(2)Lauren B.
Lets just get it out there: my boyfriend and I are Flat Top snobs. We're regulars at the Loop location (see my review of that one for tips on filling your bowl!) Buuuuut we live closer to this one now, so we figured we'd give it a try. (We've been to the Loop, Lakeview, Naperville, and now this location). It's no Loop location, but the restaurant is clean and spacious, and the servers were friendly. Food took longer than usual to cook, but they may have been busier than normal/understaffed on the 4th of July weekend. We'd come back!
(4)Nick R.
This place is a lot of fun and has a delicious food. Its basically a make your own stir fry with a wide variety of ingredients you get to choose from. I usually make a brown rice fried rice and I include lots of veggies Peanut sauce and chicken. The sausage is actually really delicous as well. Definitely have to try the tofu options. just toss a few in your bowl and try them. They are amazing For a few bucks extra you can opt for the all you can eat version and go up and make a few different attempt at the stir fry. One tip is to make sure to put in a good amount of the sauce or your food will taste bland. the service here is really good and downtown evenston is a great place to stick around and go for a walk afterwards.
(4)Sarah B.
This place is horrible. Food is mediocre and staff are bitchy. Terrible loud music plays in the back. The food is laid out like a buffet but it's unkempt and not fresh. Seems like a serious health hazard.
(1)Tina C.
I wanted to come here for a huge meal for a good price but was disappointed. Their bottomless is now $12.99 PLUS and extra $4 a person. When we were asking about it the waiter was rude and curt with his answers. We left and went to chipotle next door.
(1)Cathlyn D.
There use to be a choice that you can get as much meat as you want (buffet style) Now they changed it and the server tells you you're only allowed up to three meats of your choice (1/2 lbs each which is not much) I don't think il come back here anytime soon. Save your money and go else where.
(1)Jessica S.
Love this place! We come all the time for girls night. The restaurant is always clean and the servers usually always do a good job (it is self serve, so sometimes they tend to disappear on you). The food tastes great, but it is heavy so you need to watch how you portion everything (remember you get to go up there more than once.) I love that its make your own stir fry--you choose how much of what you want. Also, makes great leftovers for the next day! The Roti Bread & Desert Pear Lemonade are must haves!!
(5)Robin M.
There is no more unlimited option for the make your own stir fry. A second bowl is $4. Extra meat per bowl is $4. There is a limit of 3 meat choices per bowl. If you get a 3rd bowl, it is full price. The only time I'd ever come back here would be with the email list coupons that Flat Top sends out on occasion. I suspect someone at corporate wanted to save on food costs because this does not add to the consumer experience. I am hoping that Flat Top will reinstate the unlimited menu after they consistently lose customers each quarter.
(1)S. S.
Really need to update the decor, clean the bathrooms regularly and mop the floors. There are clumps of mud stuck to the floor, the bathroom floors were sticky, the lighting is dark, cracks on the leather booth etc. Just a gross restaurant environment that doesn't make you want to sit there and eat. Also made me think if they don't have a meticulously kept restaurant then maybe they also don't care about the freshness of foods, sauces, meats and preparation stations. Also $12.99 for 1 serving and $4 more for unlimited dinner per person is pretty expensive. I gave 2 stars for our waitress who was friendly and attentive, but I'm pretty sure I won't come back unless they update this location.
(2)Allie Z.
Have been to this restaurant many times and always had pretty good service. Not so on my most recent visit. Went on a Sun. afternoon w/3 girlfriends for my birthday lunch. They were obviously understaffed since our waitress was also acting as bartender. She was slow and inattentive and we had to aggressively seek her out for everything we needed--even to take our orders. To top it off we had a VERY long wait for our food from the grill. Two of my friends who had ordered non-grilled entrees, were served and done eating before the rest of us even got our food. Asked the waitress to check on our orders--that didn't help. Finally one of us went up to the grill to inquire but still we waited even longer. Probably half an hour, which is a ridiculously long wait time! Unbeknownst to me, a bunch of other friends were waiting at my house for a surprise party and this really threw off the timing. That wasn't Flat Top's fault...just sayin'. At least the (double-shot) tiki punch was epic!!!
(1)Dan L.
They lost the point of being flat top grill. They still expect you to create your own dish but there's no longer bottomless food. What's the point of letting yourself mess up your own food? It used to be about experimentation but now you pay to pick one combo that you're likely to mess up.
(2)Hannah H.
I actually really enjoy Flat Top Grill. If you're an NU student, you get a student discount, which is pretty awesome (about $1-2 off the regular price) - just show them the ID. I used to come here for a lot of dinner get-togethers as it is fun and a laid-back atmosphere. The spread is usually kept clean and usually refilled efficiently. Veggies, starches (white rice, brown rice, noodles), to meats (beef, chicken, pork, seafood), and the sauces are all available. There are also colored sticks to spruce up your bowl; I usually get the blue stick that gets you the Roti Prata Bread, which is this nice slightly-fried roti bread that is chewy and delicious. They used to have grilled shrimp for free, but now it's an additional $3 :( Once you're done selecting your starch and veggies and add the meat (in a separate bowl) and choose your optional sticks, you stick your wooden stick with your name on it at the counter in the front; then the stir-fry gurus up at the front cook it up for you and your server delivers them for you, based on the order it was received. I usually stick with the teriyaki and peanut sauce, as I like that combination of the sauces. You can either stick with one bowl or unlimited, and the service is usually friendly. This place can definitely get packed on weekends. +discounts for NU students +Roti Prata Bread +teriyaki & peanut sauce +AYCE stir-fry
(4)James P.
I really have two problems with this place: a) If I go to a restaurant and didn't like the food, the solace I get is to complain about the chef. At Flattop you can only blame yourself. The concept of the Flattop restaurants is just weird. In the past I had to experiment to get a 'creation' just right, Which meant I made small batches, because you can always go back and try something different. Which gets me to the next point b) The restaurant appears to have changed so you get only one bowl of food. I am sorry but that is one of heck of a change that should be made very clear right from the start. I would have loved to know that before I walked up and filled my bowl only 1/4 full in order to cautiously try my mixture of veggies, sauces and meat (the meat by the way has to be pre-ordered). This at something like $13 the bowl which is a price straight from fantasy land and not based on the fact that you essentially get a few hand-fulls of vegetables. I am certainly not going back.
(1)F K.
Pretty horrible experience where a massive lemonade was accidentally dumped down my mother-in-law's back. The (waitress and manager) were apologetic, and all of us at the table were super nice about the incident, BUT they didn't even remove a single meal off the bill. VERY poor decision especially when the coat and sweater will likely have to be dry-cleaned, and she was soaking wet and cold the entire meal. They have also changed some of their sauces and ingredient options for the worse.
(2)Sahil A.
I came here for the first time after passing this place everyday for two years. Sadly, I could have skipped the place. The basic concept is pick out your vegetables, select up to 4 meats and they'll cook it all up for you stir fry style on a flat top grill. The vegetables were fine, but the meat was a bit skeptical. The pork tasted like gray and the fajita chicken tasted like salt. Plenty of food, but there are better options in Evanston.
(2)Jane W.
Surprised I haven't reviewed this place after going for the past 3 years. The idea of a make-it-yourself stir fry place is pretty cool, and you get a lot of food for the price you pay. Basic rundown: Pros: good variety of meats (calamari, white fish, Filipino sausage, chicken, pork, beef), lots of healthier/vegetarian choices, ROTI BREAD, friendly service Cons: Usually end up overeating and have to practically roll myself out of the restaurant. Sometimes the chefs seem to lose bits and pieces of my stir-fry.
(4)Jon L.
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO and you'll be alright. Your enjoyment of Flat Top entirely depends on your own ability to put together a delicious meal. I personally love the variety of veggies, grains, sauces and meats and always wind up with something tasty and interesting. If putting together your own meal is not your thing, don't come here!
(4)Richard B.
It was Fathers Day, and my family wanted to take me out for lunch. I figured that they would take me to a place for dumpster diving, or maybe escort me to a fast food place which was offering some kind of two-fer. But, wonder of wonders, they took me to a real eatery in mysterious and exotic Evanston, home of the WCTU, NU, and high property taxes. Flat Top Grill is one of these do-it-yourself wok places. I have patronized a few restaurants like Flat Top, and I wrote a review of the Mongolian Grill a few months ago. (In this case, I shall not make any references to a South Park episode featuring the City Wok guy.) Like many of these restaurants, we were immediately greeted by a friendly and efficient receptionist, who showed us to our table. Our gracious waitress explained their modus operandi and had the patience to deal with my silly jokes and puns. Either she had the patience of Job, or really wanted a nice fat tip. We were issued two bowls. One was to fill up with veggies, sauces, and other items made available to us, and the other was used to fill up with protein entries. They offered many types of sauces, so I brewed up an eclectic brew of peanut sauce, soy sauce with sesame, and a splash of other goodies. I chose a mix of chicken and some vegetarian protein for the smaller bowl. Diners can also choose breads, lettuce, and other add-ons. The concoction was stir fried and returned to our table within ten minutes. As far as I was concerned, everything was OK, and I was completely satiated. One minor drawback is that due to the design of the ingredients table, some of the contents tended to migrate from one bin to another - or to the floor. So in conclusion, I liked going there, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes stir fry. Our waitress did a nice job, and I authorized a nice tip. What do I care? My family picked up the tab - not me!
(4)Steve A.
This is my go-to place for a light lunch in Evanston. I completely skip the meats, and have two vegetarian courses. The first I turn into soup, and the second into a stir fry with roti bread. Ingredients are always fresh, and there is a broad selection of interesting sauces. Service is quick, friendly and efficient. I wish there was one of these close to my home!
(5)Angela B.
In the past I have always enjoy coming to flattop I was there yesterday May 4 very disappointing almost a $20 meal for one serving and a drink ( Pop ) wish I had went next-door to chipotle. It look like they has some citations that's why all the new changes.
(1)Jim G.
Sad that they now portion out the protein to 1/4 lb. per trip. Adding more protein to my bowl was my favorite part.. That will definitely influence future trips here.
(2)Jimmy J.
This place has declined so badly over past 5 years In need of serious money makeover and renovation. Bowls, plates are old. Crap ambiance. Nothing looks fresh and appetizing. Go to L.E.Y.E Big Bowl to see how well run operation looks like.
(1)Sara K.
Service is terrible. Always understaffed, always overbooked. Silverware is dirty. Food is cheap and good if you can stomach a ridiculous wait. And don't even try making reservations on a weekend night, or they'll tell you they're "not taking any more reservations" at 4pm.
(2)Catherine Z.
Read the full review on my food blog! catthecritic.wordpress.c… Flat Top Grill allows you to create your own stir-fry dish, and it's pretty simple. When seated, you write your name on the stick at your table, and then bring that and your bowl up to the counter where you can make your own stir-fry, aka you pick the portions, you can mix-and-match sauces if you so desire. If a protein (say, chicken or pork) is desired, then you grab a few ladle-fulls of raw protein, some of which have been marinated, and put it in a separate bowl. Some locations offer seasonal items to mix into your stir-fry, like asparagus and quinoa in the summer! You can also choose side items or extra additions to your bowl, including tofu, eggs, cheese, shrimp, or their famous roti prata bread, which, by the way, is actually quite on-point. Then you bring your bowl to the flat top grill that's visible from the restaurant's window and wait for them to bring your food to you! I have little complaint about the food itself. Nothing was under-done or over-cooked. The prata bread was crispy yet chewy and I seemed to have added the perfect amount of sauce (3 ladles). If you want a more soupy consistency, add another scoop, but beware of all that sodium and sugar! The red bowls are meant to increase appetite. Smart move, Flat Top. Maybe we'll all upgrade to the buffet-style meal for $4. A few setbacks: On a Sunday evening, the wait for the food itself was around 30 minutes, though the restaurant was pretty busy. Seems to go against the concept of stir-fry, which is meant to be speedy quick. It's also quite loud. But you should expect this, as Flat Top is a popular go-to restaurant for Northwestern students. Make-your-own-anything is appealing, and when the meal at hand is stir-fry, you know the place will be filled with rowdy young people. Don't order any appetizers. Though they may taste good, they are so ridiculously overpriced that nothing is worth it. ($5 for 4 dumplings?!) The whole ordeal seems like a disaster waiting to happen if you have severe allergies. Even though they attempt to prevent this issue by cooking your meal separately if you indicate you have allergies, it still seems very likely that their sauce bar could get messy, very quickly. Or the table that everyone's bowls are placed upon could easily suffer a mix-up. As it pertains to authenticity, Flat Top seems to take a fusion-like approach to Asian cuisine. Their website concedes that the strongest Asian influence is "Asian style" and "Asian-inspired"... The final verdict: every Northwestern student should try this place out at least once in their time here. Go with a small group of people for the best experience, and go for lunch. The lunch option is $10 (limited time only!) on weekdays, while the dinner costs $13, which is nothing different. You might consider upgrading to unlimited food, but if you are strategic, you can fill your stomach up easily if you pack your bowl well enough.
(4)Eliza G.
Service was terrible. Felt like we weren't welcomed. Food was ok. My meal was Luke warm .
(1)Yuki Z.
A go-to place near school. went to there for so many times. Very casual and tasty! sometimes it really depends on the sauce you added. One concern is waiting. Usually only need to wait about 20 minutes, but last time waited for about 40 minutes. Kinda ridiculous.
(4)Emily S.
I come here mostly with my boyfriend or best friend. I always enjoy the food, never really had a problem with it. Also the brownie for dessert is delicious! Never have gotten seconds, and I have only ordered alcoholic drinks occasionally because they are a bit pricey in my opinion. Everything is good however the last few times I've been here the service hasn't been great. I went about a week ago with my boyfriend on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. Everything was fine in the beginning, but while we were still eating our waitress asked if we wanted any dessert or anything else and we said no at the time, and then she proceeded to give us our check. This wouldn't have bothered me but my boyfriend was just about finished but I still had a lot left in my bowl. I just thought it was incredibly rude to bring the check while we were not even finished yet. We did not get dessert and I did leave a tip but not a generous one because I hate feeling rushed. Being a server myself, I understand if you're busy or want to get out of work but at least wait until were both finished eating to bring the check. Like I said the food never disappoints me but the service hasn't been good the last few times I've been here.
(3)Ivaylo B.
A make-your-own stir fry joint is not unpleasant, like it seems. Just as Nogai Khan decided to micromanage Bulgaria himself by instating Smilets I as Tsar, designing your bowl of stir-fry is best when done yourself. Though I'm not too keen on the fact that they don't let you eat the raw beef and that ram's blood is not an optional sauce, everything else is exactly as it should be!
(4)Stacy O.
I struggle with restaurants that are are chores in addition to being dining experiences. It's why I don't order fajitas -- someone cooks a bunch of food and then delivers it to me and expects me to do the assembly work. I like Flat Top for what it is. I appreciate the ability to customize my food, try new things, and eat way too much edamame. But it's priced high, particularly for the single bowl serving. They do a great job with managing allergies, though, so we'll keep going back as long as they keep me allergen free.
(3)Sharon C.
I love going to Flat Top! Every time I go I say that I'm going to take some home, but somehow I always eat so much that it stops being worth it. I always get both noodles (layer the noodles and vegetables for maximum piling), two bowls of meat (the Filipino sausage is so good), and tofu, two eggs, and two roti pratas. You might be able to tell that I seriously work at getting my money's worth out of Flat Top. Their meats and vegetables are always very fresh, and personally I've never found a way to go wrong with sauce combinations. TIP: Sign up for their mailing list and get BOGO on your birthday!
(4)Cheryl C.
DO NOT trust the safe allergy claim. The food bar is a mess and I should have known better. Cries contamination caused my daughter a reaction. The floors are sticky too. Stay away is you want a clean and safe restaurant.
(1)L E.
This was our favorite go to dinner / lunch place, tonight we went there and I noticed the chicken looked seasoned. I asked the cook at the grill if it was spicy and he said no. The chicken was always just natural chicken as there are so many variety of sauces to add your own taste. We got our bowls and after the first bite, it tasted like fajita chicken and a terrible combination! I complained to the waiter and he was aware. He said they have had many complaints and blamed it on their corporate location had sent it and it would be replaced in a few weeks. No discount on my check either, pretty sad!
(2)Sanford R.
It's very expensive for what it is. Some people enjoy being able to make their own bowls, but I personally don't like the experience and would rather go somewhere that has that already figured out. The food itself is average, but I didn't care for seconds. My wife on the other hand really enjoyed her meal, so circumstances may bring me back. I can't say I am a fan though.
(2)Carlos B.
Flat top definitely has an interesting concept...create your own stir-fry. It is usually very busy during the dinner hours, especially during the weekend. In one occasion we had to wait 40 minutes for a table. The waiting time is just ridiculous. However, the stirfry can be a hit or a miss. On Saturday, after not visiting the restaurant for months due to a bad experience, I had the best stirfry. The noodles were perfect and the sauces really gave the dish a great taste. I must admit their ingredients bar needs to be clean constantly because it was a mess. Someone should be in charge of keeping the ingredients neat to avoid mixing. Our waitress was okay, I felt that she could have come to our table more often to see if we needed anything. Overall the food was great for the price paid.
(3)Shahina V.
I used to love this place and since they've changed the setup for their items it really has affected my opinion of this place. They've bumped up the price on drinks or taken away refills on certain non alcoholic signature drinks. The taste was compromised and I don't think I will be returning here. I will miss you, old FTG.
(2)Daniel A.
Good food. Service has been good too. Disappointed they stopped the all you can eat lunch. $10 is too much for a bowl of stir fry. I won't be going back unless they revert to all you can eat. Otherwise this review would have been four stars.
(2)Sara J.
NO LONGER BOTTOMLESS!!!! Now you pay $12.99 for the first bowl, $4 for the second, and $12.99 for the third. You order the kind of meat you want and they bring you a bowl with a ticket. You get a half pound of meat and if you want a full pound it's $4 extra. They've become just like stir crazy :( When stir crazy did this, it was the last time we ate there, and now we are disappointed to be having our last meal at Flat Top.
(1)Adrienne M.
Not clean! It's so unsanitary there. Once the food is cooked, it tastes great but where you go up to put meat/veggies/rice etc seems like a hot mess every time I go. The sauces get mixed in with others and all the meats end up get mixed together too. Definitely not the place to go if you have food allergies! Whatever oil they cook/sauté the food in always gives us major diarrhea and stomach pain. :/
(2)KevCheng ..
We used to really like this Flat Top Grill, but our most recent visit was very disappointing. It took about half an hour to get each round of food, so a 3 round meal took close to 2 hours. Soup came out lukewarm, hot and sour soup came out all sour and inedible. Service was very slow. A miserable meal.
(2)Jay L.
I want to like this restaurant. The concept is great -- design your own stir-fry -- and there are lots of fresh vegetables. Our son likes choosing his own food and sauces. And I've taken some friends there because they seem very accommodating with food allergies. But the service is a bit of a crap shoot every time. Today our drink orders were lemonade, Diet Coke, and Pinot Noir. We got lemonade, Coke, and Pino Grigio. We waited for what seemed like a rather long time to get our food. I could sort of deal with that, but the food we could see sitting out for five minutes waiting to be delivered turned out to be ours. The servers seemed to be in back more than they were on the floor -- which seems odd for a restaurant that has the cooking area in full view. The service problems strike me as more about training and management expectations than the number of servers or the busyness of the restaurant. I think we've officially given up on this restaurant.
(2)Demerike P.
I seriously don't understand why I come back. Worst customer service and I always leave pissed
(1)Lois C.
I've already reviewed for flat top but something keeps coming back to me.. how dirty this place is. Although the food is good and I love being able to make my own food, I feel like the plates/bowls being dirty has me grossed out enough that I don't want to come back quite as frequently. Wish they would step up their game when it comes to cleaning their dishes. Today the manager was walking around and did a great job of asking each table if they were doing okay. I saw the manager around more than I did my own server. You would think that without having to actually hand out everyone's meals, etc. that the server would be around more often but he was hardly around and he never even gave me his name (which I hate when I go to a restaurant). Definitely subtracting a star from my original review because of the cleanliness but i still do enjoy the restaurant.
(3)Brad S.
I loved this place and came religiously for years but father time has not aged it gratefully. The staff was funky now they treat you like you smell funky. The vegetables were plentiful and constantly changing now it looks like the leftovers from the back of the freezer. When I called for reservations in was told that they were booked up and I could wait, I asked for an estimate and was told it was impossible to tell. When I got here there was no wait and the place was empty. The waitress was full of attitude and could not be bothered with the simple like may I have an extra bowl. The manager Sandy(?) was the lone bright spot, she was playful with my kids and attentive to the issues. I hope that the management can save this ship. Just to be clear this is a one star for tonight but I gave one more for history.
(2)Lisa A.
It's not my favorite go to place to eat because I like table side service. I don't like making my own meal, but that being said, the food is of good quality each time I have gone in with the kids. My kids love it and like making their own dishes. The trick is to get enough sauce so your food has plenty of flavor and is not too bland. Follow the suggestions on the menu or ask for assistance from the hostess or servers. 3 ladles of sauce in total is usually good or 4 scoops at the most. I like that there are several different starches offered, white or brown rice, egg or rice noodles. At the end of the line, you have to add the stick for ROTI bread. I walked the restaurant and there is not one table that did not have Roti bread by them. I usually don't have room to order and appetizer or dessert because the food is so filling. Food is reasonable priced and they offer student discounts with ID.
(4)Xida Z.
Great choices, great atmosphere Returning to Chicago usually means a trip to Flat Top with a few friends. I wasn't surprised to run into another friend here too. The things that distinguish Flat Top from other build-your-own grills are the great sauces and the roti bread. There are so many choices of meats and veggies that you can really build whatever meal you want. One bowl is relatively expensive ($15) but the multiple bowls is not, so make each bowl a small one and have three meals in one. Ambiance and Service 5/5 Food 4/5 Value 4/5
(4)Claude L.
The restaurant is clean, the food is average, and the service for my table was minimal, though to be fair we weren't very demanding customers. The major turn off was that it took about 30 minutes from when we turned in our food to have it cooked and brought to us. I don't want to spend half an hour waiting for food that should be prepared in 15 minutes top, and I don't plan on going back. There are plenty other options that are faster, and plenty better quality options. If I'm going to have a sit down lunch, I wouldn't get stir-fry.
(2)Carrie V.
Meh. I have gotten sick pretty much every time I have been to Flat Top over the course of the last 15 years or so. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since the food is sitting out for you to choose your protein, veggies, sauce, etc. - but I would think that fact would cause them to be more diligent about maintaining the cleanliness. People seem to like it, but I just can't get on board with it. And I've tried, mightily. On the plus side, there is a lot of variety.
(2)Caren L.
I been at a few locations and revisited over many years. The Evanston location has not aged well and badly needs a facelift. Service is also just ok as attention to detail is lacking: no pencils on table, no menu. Smartphone ftw PDF menu! Still busy as ever...
(3)Wei Z.
Interesting DIY grill.. But the bowl is small to carry the food I want.. $9.99 is not reasonable actually I think.
(2)Nick R.
My wife and I LOVE Flat Top Grill! However, do yourself a favor and go down to the West Loop location in Chicago rather than this one. Here's why: 1) The first time I ate here, my food came to my table luke warm! There were chunks of the fake meat that were cold in the middle. Every other time I've been to this location it's been piping hot, though, the way it should be! 2) If you go downtown, you can put in two roti bread sticks in your bowl and guess what? You get two roti breads! No problem! However, at the Evanston location, they won't give you two. You have to ask for another (and then wait for them to cook it). Just put the delicious roti bread in my bowl, please. You know I'll eat it. Let's not play these silly games. 3) This location is always packed. The waiting area is a TINY little room in the front. If the weather is bad, you're going to be crammed in with tons of other people. 4) Numerous times I've had servers that are SLOW. Service is not very impressive. That said, the food is still delicious. It's still a Flat Top Grill after all! Just go downtown if you have a choice.
(2)Charlie K.
The decorations were nice, but it just wasn't the place I was looking for. When I got seated, my plate had some brown grease over it, and it did not look appetizing. The food quality was mediocre although the cook disappeared and didn't reappear for good 10 minutes.... Now this is a Stir-Fry restaurant, so I understand that the overall food quality kind of depends on me too. However, there's one thing that I can't overlook, and it's the service. Just simply one of the worst service I've ever received. Slow and ignorant servers just degraded my overall dining experience. Yelp's description of three stars is "A-OK". One star is "Eek! Methinks not". 3 stars for the food, and 1 star for the service. Average the two, and it comes out as a two! I don't count the decors because I believe restaurants, other than those expensive, fancy restaurants, should be rated based on how it looks. If the food quality and the services are exceptional, then it's an exceptional restaurant. This one? "Meh. I've experienced better"
(2)Sarah C.
For starters.. I've eaten at several flattops. I grew to love this restaurant 9 years ago at their Oak Park location. The staff at Oak Park always keeps the place clean and seems quite happy to work there. Fast forward to my experience at Evanston's Flattop... I wanted to leave. We were seated outside (which was fine) but after looking around at all the food and chopsticks thrown on the ground I started to tell my husband How disappointing it was. We waited for 10 minutes for the waitress and just as we were about to get up, she approached. After asking how we were doing she apologized that she was overwhelmed. This was another reason I wanted to leave. I felt like I was the one overwhelming this poor young girl, when in reality, they were prob understaffed. Your customer shouldn't know what a crappy day you're having or how understaffed you are. Just my two cents. Fast forward to our bowl making. ANOTHER reason I wanted to leave. The stations were filthy. And here was a guy wiping away sauces on a ledge and all he kept doing was swearing them all over. Then a guy came buy I fill the chopped ingredients and dumped the new on top of the old. Yuck. Aren't you supposed to discard or rotate.. Or whatever. We ate, paid and left feeling sick. So disappointing. Thank goodness my husbands bowl was free. That was the worst experience I've ever had in a flat top and I will never return to that location, it's poorly run. Two stars only for the BRAND.
(2)Bethany A.
Came here for Sunday lunch with two of my friends. It was not busy at all and I only saw one or two waitresses/waiters and one man working the grill. I really loved the huge selection of fresh raw veggies they had at the buffet. I've never seen some of them at other stir-fry restaurants before, so that was really cool! Their selections for meat were also pretty good (I did wish that they had cut the chicken into thinner, smaller pieces though) and the sauces all seemed delicious. I didn't even know which ones to pick. Our bowls were served to us hot right off the grill and it was delicious. My friend had put octopus/squid in her bowl though and said it was a little chewy, but overall we really enjoyed our food. Next time I want to try the curry sauces and the flavored lemonade! A little pricey, but come for lunch and it's a few bucks cheaper. Also they offer a student discount!
(4)Cherie W.
Used to love this place. So much so, we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here. Not impressed anymore. Got here at 9PM and they clearly were closing up for the night. They were cleaning all around us. Non appetizing!!! Things were removed from the stir fry choices, appetizers we once ordered were off the menu. Liquor choices lame. Also the selections of what to add to your stir fry are greatly limited. WOULD NOT COME BACK. :0(
(1)David F.
The food was not good this trip. Service was nonexistant. Waiter left us with empty drinks for over half hour and took 55 minutes to bring our stir fry on a Monday night! Manager did discount our meal because the service and food were so bad. Cold food, poor service and a leak under our table by the kitchen that they mopped up 3 times while we were sitting there. Bad, Bad, Bad
(1)Ania R.
I feel like this place is a hit or a miss. Sometimes the food turns out perfect and other times it just doesn't. I've also had some pretty bad experiences with the waiting staff. So all in all this place is okay.
(3)Young R.
Came here for brunch on a Saturday. About half full of people, so service was very quick. You can fill a bowl with ingredients for an omelet or pancake or french toast. (Don't overload your bowl because they won't give you extra eggs to accommodate!) My egg white omelet was very good. They had all the mix-ins that you could want -- I think I had spinach, carrot, corn, ham, etc. They ran out of sliced strawberries though. Loved the roti bread even though that's not exactly the first thing I'd normally think to eat for breakfast. French toast was solid too. Pretty fun concept with all the different colored sticks and very good value for $10!
(4)OG Corweezy K.
Yo so this place was legit, but damn son it was pretty pricey for what you got. Some people say I'm cheap but frugality is whats up. The one time bowl trip was like $13 and you got a lot of food so I took some home and made two meals out of it which makes it better. Let me tell you about my favorite part though and that was the green bean appetizer things. Not only were they seasoned perfectly but damn son these things were cooked so perfectly I had to check and see if Gordan Ramsey was at the grill. Bottom line is when I make it big I'll prolly take my entourage there. Also the waitress kept my iced tea full the whole time and that shit is off the chain.
(4)Frank N.
Oh wow! I can sit here for hours and experiment with so many choices! I came here for lunch and while there was a modest crowd, the service was great and the food was spot on! I was craving something with a little spice and Flat Top came through once again. I can't say enough just how great the selection is catering to just about everyone's palate. Are you a carnivore? Sausage, Pork, and Meat galore Are you gluten free? They care about you Are you a spicy freak like me? So many spicy sauces and jalapenos Are you adventurous? Mix it up and dig in Are you a vegan? Still so many choices and wraps Peanut allergies? Still got you covered in a separate cooking vessel I think my mixture should be on the board for awesomeness in a bowl! The ingredients in my bowl you ask? Okay, but don't tell anyone else: - Noodles, Cilantro, Jalapenos, Corn, Onions, Tomatoes, Red and Green Peppers, Pineapple, Egg, Chicken, Pork, Sausage, Squid, Edamame, a ladle of Teriyaki, and a ladle of hot red chili sauce. DO NOT FORGET the blue stick for the Roti Bread - SPECTACULAR!
(5)Andrew S.
People like to hate on Flat Top, I even find myself doing so occasionally, but for the price the food is fresh and the portions are as mammoth as a person desires. The place is clean and efficient, both positives. The plethora of sauces could keep a person coming back if they liked the style of dining on offer. There are plenty of ingredients to choose from but a person always comes to that awkward stage after the first bowl when they try to justify getting the second and taking it home. Only if a person is able to restrain themselves from eating that second bowl at the time does Flat Top become a good deal overall. The staff is not overly friendly but what do you expect from a chain. The outdoor patio is nice as nothing brings the employees more pleasure than kicking Chipotle customers off of your table.
(4)Miri R.
Flat Top is my most favorite place to eat in Evanston. When I lived in Evanston, I ate here as often as I could. Now, every chance I get to get back home [Chicago], I be sure to have at least one meal at Flat Top Grill. I've found a few similar places in the San Jose area, but nothing that comes close to the flavor, selection, taste and over all awesomeness as Flat Top Grill. I've never had a bad experience at Flat Top - and I've never, ever left hungry Now that I'm stuck in SoCal, in the middle of nowhere, I miss Flat Top even more. I really, really wish they would open a few of these in California [San Jose and San Diego would be perfect spots!]. Please!
(5)Tian Y.
flat top is a pretty cool concept - make your own stir fry. but once you eat there a couple of times, everything starts to become the same. you can experiment, sure, but then you'd have to eat the whole damn thing if it's bad still. It's the same 10-15 veggies always there and 4-6 meats. Noodles/Rice. There are a lot of sauces which would seem to make for endless possibilities, but the idea of standing in line to mix and taste many sauces (when there are likely others behind you waiting to turn in their bowls) is really not practical. What really keeps me coming back once in a while is the roti. Fluffy, soft, and warm off the grill. Too bad they only give one with each bowl Not a bad place to take someone who's never been, or on a day when you don't feel like cooking, but really not that special food.
(3)Emily F.
What is not to love about Flat Top? Design your own fresh stir fry with a million different items, sauces, and add ons? SO yummy! First time visits - make sure you chat with your server because if you go up there blind you will miss out on what all you can do! My first visit he gave us no direction even though we said it was our first time and we had no idea we could add bread (which is amazing!!!), tofu, cheese, egg, lettuce wraps, ect! So make sure you know what your doing before heading up. Super inexpensive too! They have a drink menu too and its nice that the wine is really well priced as well. There are two reasons I can't give it five stars but I bet if I was in a different location it could have gotten 5. 1 - its SUPER crowded with students. Some even very young. They go in huge groups and are ridiculously loud. I don't mind loud, but they are crazy, messy, and the tables are so close together it can be hard to hear who you are with. Try to go on week nights and later like 8pm to try and avoid that. Because when there are huge groups you wait crazy long for your stir-fry. 2 - because of the college town and low prices, we usually get young servers that don't seem to care. We have had one or two decent experiences but usually they don't seem to care about their job. No worries, though! I will go back a million more times because it is the best go-to for a yummy, filling, option to be healthy, inexpensive dinner or lunch! Definitely try it out :-)
(4)Courtney J.
Flat Top Grill isn't a restaurant that I go to every week, but when I have a craving to build my own stir fry this is the place I go! With that said, when I do visit Flat Top I have certain expectations. While these expectations aren't absurdly high, I'm not quite sure why this certain location didn't even come close to meeting them. I hate complaining - I really do, but what occurred while we dined here last night was simply not okay. I guess the best word I can use to describe our experience is uncomfortable. Now, before I go on with what made our experience uncomfortable, let me also say that our server was great - so cheery, but not that fake cheery that just makes you want to never make eye contact in hopes that they will just walk away. Apparently her name was Gabi, which is what the receipt read and I'm sure that she told us that when she approached us as well, but I was honestly distracted by her kind yet immediate approach the minute that we sat down. So Gabi, thank you for being the one positive thing - well, one of two positive things (the Roti bread is just that damn good) - in our experience last night. So what made our experience so uncomfortable? Three major things and a lot of unmentionable minor things. The three major things are as follows: 1. Flat Top's menus used to include recipes for those who didn't want to venture on their own stir fry escapade. So my dinner partner relies on the Pad Thai recipe as she loves it so much - as much as I try to get her to try new things she simply won't budge. With this, they no longer have these recipes on their menus - well at least temporarily they don't, according to the manager. While I understand they may not have the menus at hand, I would think that the manager would do more than just say, "We are waiting for new ones to come in, but that girl up there can help you." No one helped us and even the host seemed confused when we referred to these recipes - we aren't crazy, they do exist! So needless to say, she didn't get her esteemed Pad Thai recipe and her bowl did not meet what she desired. 2. When we approached the bar of vegetables to start building our bowls everything was a mess! People are messy, especially when they are trying to pile as many ingredients into their bowl as they can, but the way that this bar looked -no one had even attempted to clean it in a while. So when do they decide to start cleaning? When we are building our bowls. Why would this bother me you might ask? She was cleaning ON TOP of me, that's why. With no exaggeration, the girl was taking her whole arm and stretching it in front of me with her wet towel and literally swiping ingredients onto my feet. I was shocked and gave her a disgusted look, but that didn't suffice, she continued to not only clean on top of me, but complain out loud in front of me about it as well. 3. In hopes that the food would make up for everything that we experienced, we crossed our fingers and stayed positive as we waited for our food to come. We waited for about 15 to 20 minutes until one bowl came. Now at Flat Top Grill, this amount of time seems like forever - we have NEVER waited that long for our food to come off the grill. I'm really not sure why it took so long as there weren't that many people ahead of us and the food that was given to us almost looked sloppy. My dinner partner didn't like her bowl (with the exception of the Roti bread of course) mainly because it wasn't the Pad Thai bowl she is used to. For my bowl, I just felt like it was ordinary. I understand that I made my own bowl, but the problem was that their bar was understocked. Things I love most, such as peanut sauce and cilantro were completely empty. I could blame the fact that we went in at 9:30PM and they close at 10:30PM, but that really shouldn't be the case. Will I be back to Flat Top Grill? Yes, probably at some point in the future, but I definitely won't be visiting the Evanston location. What is unfortunate is that this location is the closest to me, so I'm not sure if I will go out of my way anytime soon to travel farther to another location.
(2)Rowena L.
Pack it and stick it. That's the key to loving Flat Top. Pack your bowl and repack it until it really won't fit anything else, and make sure to put in the sticks for tofu, eggs, whatever you want - but most importantly, the one for roti bread. It's quite like any other custom stir-fry place, but it's always fun to go to (I'm going again tomorrow). I love the customization and the wide variety of ingredients, and now they have more vegetarian meat substitutes (seitan, quorn, etc.). There are tons of sauce choices - I always just mix together whatever I think will go together - nothing's gone wrong so far! Haven't been to their breakfast yet, but I really want to....just got to drag someone out of bed one day...
(4)Jenny B.
You serve yourself so it's up to you to make a good meal. Some people may not be so good at this. But it is still yummy, and a nice atmosphere to visit.
(3)Valerie W.
Mmmmmm..... Flat Top..... droooollllll. There is nothing better than being able to create your own dinner, but having someone else to cook it for you and clean up your dishes! I always go with relatively the same thing at Flat Top, brown rice, lots of veggies (spinach, bok choy, mushrooms) a mixture of protiens, and a sweet/savory/spicy blend of sauces (peanut/teriyaki/kung pao/thai chili). I also cannot live without their Roti. I don't know what they put into that Roti, but OMG is it delicious. Crispy where it should be, soft and gooey where it should be. We tried one of the stir fry dishes as mu shu roll ups... so good!!! Even better: I love that the dietary restrictions are clearly listed, so I know what my poor little no MSG body can handle!
(4)Darren F.
my friend brought me here since we both was really hungry.. its street parking and since its in evanston.. it can be quite challenging to find a spot.. the service was nice but our waiter could be a little more attentive tho since we had to flag him down for more water.. cant really judge them on the food since its a build your own dish and they just cook it for you haha.. but the meat, veggies, etc was pretty fresh .. there is tons of different sauce for you to choose from.. so get creative and build something crazy! this was a good experience if you never came here before like me.. definitely coming back here!
(4)Jan R.
I've been to Flat Tops before and knew i loved the food, but had never been to this location. My boyfriend and I were sat in an empty room, except we were RIGHT next to two men sharing dinner and talking about business. I shared a booth seat with one of them thats how close. After we were sat we were confused if we just go up to the grill station or wait, luckily a waitress came over and was friendly. Unfortunately, we were sat a table with only one bowl, and 1.5 sets of silverware (yup, no knife for me!) There were already half-empty waters there when we sat down luckily they took those away and gave us new ones. After looking around awkwardly, a busboy gave us another boy and we went to eat. The food was great, but i had no idea what bowls to use where, where sauces went or what the sticks mean. The attendant for the station was unhelpful and couldnt tell us much more then we knew. The food was decent, exactly what i expected. I was served mine about 5 mins before my boyfriend, so I politely waited as my food got cold in front of me. As I went to use the little girls room, there was single-toilet bathroom whose entrance is seen by everyone. After waiting in a 5 min line, i entered into the grossly scummy facilities. Overall, just go somewhere else in Evanston. They have plenty of nice places that will put their customers first and have nicer facilities.
(1)Nancy L.
This is your typical stir fry bar experience. The experience depends on your own ability to pick a great combination of fresh ingredients and sauces that go well together. They have a broad selection of vegetables, meats, rices,noodles and sauces to satisfy almost any taste. You can make Asian inspired or Indian dishes to your taste. Their flat bread is wonderful- flaky and buttery like Indian paratha. They make a special effort to accommodate allergies so items like seafood, gluten and nuts don't get into dishes. With the variety it's a good place for families. Environment is a bit loud and basic. Could use a bit of a facelift - just feel a inconsistent and cheaply done.
(3)Gary P.
Great concept, fresh food & great service! Host walked me through the process and even made a special sauce on the spot. Definitely will come back.
(5)Otto A.
If I was under 25, I might see the appeal...but I am not and for special nights my kids love this place. Just a little messy, most every time. Easy to cross contaminate food, leading to illness. Generally pleasant servers. Everything tastes the same to me.
(2)Helen S.
Love this place, it's probably one of the tastiest, relatively healthy quick eating places in Evanston. I've gotten really pro at packing my bowl to the max -- I come with friends, and they always gawk at me when they see how much food I have in my bowl compared to their measely noob half-empty bowls. You just gotta squish everything down and pack it up, and I usually have enough leftovers that it can feed me for an additional meal. I've also been here for brunch, it's so fun. I just get a whole bowl of blueberries for a pancake, and then when it comes out, my pancake is all blue because of how many blueberries I put in. So yum.
(4)Noah P.
CURRENTLY I AM ON MY WAY TO THE MOVIES FROM THE RESTAURANT. The movie starts in two minutes and I am 20 minutes away because I waited an hour and 15 mins after being told it was a 20 minute wait! If I am late to the movie I will have my lawyer all up in their business. Food was good tho. Nice overall experience.
(2)Daphne L.
I usually love the Flat Top but a recent experience skeeved me completely. Went for dinner on a Saturday night with two friends, and wanted to sit outside since it was a lovely evening. We were told it would be a 20 minute wait, however, there were maybe 3 of 8 tables occupied outside. There was a shorter wait for inside, which I still don't understand, but we were hungry so we gave up our dreams of dining al fresco. Cut to the chase: one of my friends ordered lettuce wraps, which were delivered to the table with a half-dead, struggling fly, stuck to a piece of lettuce. When we pointed this out to our server, he barely eeked out an apology. I was grossed out and immediately lost my appetite. Oddly enough, I've never felt like this location is as clean as it could (should) be.
(2)James A.
Flat top is one of those build-your-own dinner places. Overall, I think they have a great set-up, and the food quality was very high. There are plenty of reviews here already, so i'll just address what my main concern was. The biggest risk in coming here is that you'll put together a dish with mismatched flavors, spices, textures, etc etc. To be sure, this is a very real possibility if you walk in feeling over confident of your culinary skills. Me, I know that I can't cook worth a damn. So I just asked our waitress to suggest some good combinations for me. They also have a food bar tender who can assist you if you've got any questions related to sauce proportions, extras, etc etc. My advice would be to keep it relatively simple - only take like 3-4 toppings, and 2 types of sauces for your first go around. Only get more adventurous once you know what you're doing. The colored straw system can be a bit confusing, so I'd recommend going with someone who has been there before. Anyway - I had a stir fry with a mixture of the thai curry sauce and the horseradish sauce - turned out very good. My gf got the soup option with Filipino sausage and some mushroom sauce - also very good.
(4)Greg F.
Flat Top is a great place to grab lunch while walking around Evanston. A buddy and I took a bit of time walking around getting to know the town when we stumbled on this jem. If you like Mongolian BBQ then you will love this place. You pick the ingredients, meat, veggies, sauces. They have some really good sauces. They also had little wrappers that you could get your stir-fry wrapped up in. It's your choice. You pile it nice and high in a bowl and then the chef cooks it up. Delicious does not begin to explain this place.
(4)Tricia D.
I don't know if Flat Top always had breakfast on Sat. and Sun., but am I glad they do! For a flat price of $9, you can have breakfast and/or lunch and go up and get food until you're stuffed silly. I had an egg scramble, breakfast potatoes, and a pancake, and it was fantastic! There were also french toast, omelette, oatmeal, and assorted fruit and muffin options. The different topping and mixin options were plentiful. The only funky tasting thing was the breakfast potatoes, that came in the form of potato shreds that tasted like fried stringyness. But I'm over it.
(4)Nami S.
Just love the place......will be back soon
(4)R J.
I have eaten at this particular restaurant many times before, but after the service I received the other day I may never go back. Everything started off just fine first plate and a 10 minute wait. The second plate is where the problems started. We waited over 25 minutes to have our 2nd plates delivered. After they were delivered my Pilipino sausage was still raw (it was cool to touch). I called over our server and then the manager they both told me it was fine. It just looks like that. Needless to say I didn't eat it. The manager was pretty rude and had an attitude.
(1)Ord-Sf O.
Decent meal. I'm not vegan, but had a decent selection of foods. A little pushy towards closing.
(3)Dee H.
I like this restaurant's other locations, but this one is not kept clean. The cold bar where you select your vegetables and meats is dirty- especially the raw meat area. The restaurant has a bad smell and the restrooms are not kept clean.
(1)Leo S.
I'm not normally a fan of these kind of places, but Flat Top does it right. The enormous selection of ingredients and sauces is also bolstered by the many ways to get your food prepared like as a soup or lettuce wrap. The roti bread is delicious: do not forget to try it. Service is pretty bad; it's like they don't care after they get your drinks. For the price not a bad option if you want to stuff yourself.
(4)Andrew H.
The only time I was here, I saw stuff on the counters and things getting a bit dirty, but that was probably because I went around 8 at night (after a long night of traveling). I go to Purdue University in Indiana and their food is just like the dining court food back there...however, props to their naan (or bread, I believe it was the blue stick) which was really good. Good for Evanston...they do a good job getting food out fast though (well, for a stir fry). Solid 3 star restaurant.
(3)Natalie S.
Worst. Service. Ever. I Flat Top a lot. However, from now on, I'll only Flat Top at the Belmont-Southport location. All the rest are garbage. We came with a party of 9. We were sat for lunch at 1:15. The restaurant was less than half full. We got our bowls on the counter by 1:30. All of our food wasn't on our table until 2:15. Ridiculous. Then, half the orders were wrong. My aunt wanted mooshu, got stir fry. My brother wanted bread, didn't get it. Things were mixed in my Grandmother's bowl that she didn't put in there. My Mom asked for tofu, didn't get any. When my husband got his mooshu on this second trip, the wraps were so dry they crumbled. The server was incompetent. We asked for boxes... took 20 minutes to bring them. We asked for a dessert menu... never got one. Even after we reminded him. My grandma wanted more hot water for tea and it took him 15 minutes to bring it. My aunt wanted to throw her chopsticks at him in hopes it got his attention. Doubtful. We asked our waiter about the status of our food after 30 minutes and we got a blank stare, shrug of his shoulders and a "I don't know". Thanks, dude. The restaurant wasn't even close to capacity so I cannot imagine how crappy the service would be if they had a full house. Won't be back. Eva. How this establishment stays in business is beyond me.
(2)Courtney W.
My favorite Flat Top location! It's flooded with college students and they take the Northwestern theme seriously. This location is also the biggest I've seen and they have ample street parking. The service here is excellent, even when there is a lengthy wait. They keep my tea full to the brim. The make your own stir fry bench is open on both sides so there is less of a wait to get to your favorite ingredients. The grill is still the same size so it may take a little bit longer to get your food but it's worth the wait. They now take reservations so make sure to call ahead because there can be quite a wait. Ask for suggestions if you aren't sure what taste you're going for. It can get really bad really fast. I'm partial to brown rice and horseradish sauce. It's delectable if you're into that kind of thing. Add some roti bread, you will not regret it. Watch out though because they now charge to add shrimp and their meats are all preserved in soy sauce and the added sodium can really kick your butt.
(4)Park R.
Flawed concept sounds good, so many options. In reality, over-priced, do-it-yourself mediocrity. Worst of both worlds, except not having to clean up. I saw someone take raw chicken with the broccoli tongs. And I realized I'd not be back. Staff was nice.
(2)Maureen T.
We went to Flat Top on a Wednesday evening at 6:30 for my sister's birthday. We sat outdoors, which is a great place for people watching. It was a beautiful night and I'll admit that the restaurant was pretty busy. It appears that our waitress was the only one serving the entire patio area. As usual we put in our order and we waited over 30 minutes (probably more like 40 minutes?) to get our food. The food was very good but the service was downright lousy. Our waitress was just too busy even to refill our water glasses. Check out the crowd before you sit down. If it is busy you'll want to think twice. You might have a very long wait for your food just like we did.
(2)Corina V.
I have been coming to this Flat Top for a very long time, but this time was the worst that I have experienced at any Flat Top. It was pretty busy when my friend and I went for lunch and were told the wait would be about 15-20 minutes but we saw empty spots at the bar so I asked if we could sit there if there was no wait. The hostess told us that it would be about 5 minutes because they needed to set it up. 15 minutes later another group came in and asked to sit at the bar.... they got seated right away. When I asked her about it, she apologized and said there would be a table ready for us. So did you forget about us? I would comment on our server, Chantel but we never saw her. The hostess asked us what we wanted to drink while we were getting food and that was it. We waited 30 minutes for our food (which was missing a bunch of ingredients and had a lot of other ingredients that I didn't put in there). We might have seen the server when she dropped off the food but I don't know, because she never introduced herself. If I ever crave Flat Top again, I will definitely be sure to make the drive into the city.
(1)Day C.
So the thing I like about this place is the concept is different and pretty exciting. But I was so embarassed to bring my mom here because the plates and bowls were filthy. I told her lots of my friends from school enjoyed this place and I ended up looking like a fool with the way I talked it up. Also, I found that the meat that I put on my plate at the self-serve station was not what I got back, which makes me think that they cooks pull off some of the meat you put on your plate if you put too much. Other than that the food was good, but I just cant ignore those to problems.
(3)AJ M.
If you love stir fry and love to have things your way this is the place for you. Very similar to Stir Crazy, but this place is has more options, tastes better, and is cooler. The $9.99 lunch special (7.99 for students) is great for one bowl which if loaded right should be all you need. Often times when i get the unlimited I can barely finish 1 1/2 but i load mines up with shrimp, tofu, and the roti. There are so many sauces you kinda gotta mix and match flavors and hope ur creation taste good. Most times it goes well , but sometimes things turn out differently then u expect but will still prb taste good. Sometimes they have philiphino sausage which is really good.
(4)Anna S.
To say that I was disappointed is sort of an understatement. I usually LOVE Flat Top Grill, but today was a major exception. We decided to go to Flat Top because we had a coupon for a free birthday StirFry (this represents one of the stars). We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a not so confident hostess who walked away to check if there was a table available for us and of course there was..the tiniest two top table next to the door, awesome. We were greeted by our server, Gabi (the other bright and shiny star in this review) she was welcoming and cheerful. We were given the "new" menu to look over and offered our appetizers and drinks. We started with grilled edamame (always a crowd pleaser) and had a Mango Lemonade and a Desert Pear Lemonade. Gabi, gave us the "schpiel" of how to do the bowls while I frantically searched for my Pad Thai recipe that I always fall back on. HOLD UP!!! Where is my recipe? How am I supposed to know how many ladles of sauce I'm supposed to put in or exactly what vegetables to have as my base? We leaned over to the host, because she was RIGHT. NEXT. TO. US. and asked if they had any of those handy menus. Apparently this is a difficult question because not only did we stump her with it but we stumped the manager for a moment as well. Apparently they are in the process of updating the menu and all of those e handy recipe ideas have gone off to flat top grill heaven.. and no one remembers them..no one. The edamame arrived and this time with some seasonings of some sort (not listed on the menu..so we didn't know what they were.) This is a recent change from how they used to serve it with the sauces on the side. Ok..back to the oh so knowledgeable manager who was "helping" us.. he suggested that the young girl standing near the sauces could help us..and by help us I think he meant, shove us out of the way while she "cleaned" in front of us. She was so concerned with "cleaning" I noticed moments later because she was off and wanted to make her own fabulous StirFry. The whole table of ingredients was a MESS. a cross contaminators dream or an allergic persons nightmare. OY VEY..there was everything mixed with everything. SUCH A MESS. Since we arrived a little over an hour prior to closing nothing had been restocked and half of the line had been shut down. So, not only was it a mess but it was an understocked mess. have I mentioned it was a mess? just checking. As I tried to beckon the ghosts of Pad Thai's past and pray for the recipe to magically appear before me, I watched the person in front of me use the same tong for all of her protein..EWW. After that I chose to pick tofu..I'm not messing with shellfish or chicken that's been sitting out and has been mingling. We dropped off our bowls to the cooks and awaited our meals to arrive..and we waited..and we waited. After about fifteen minutes one of our bowls arrived with the second bowl coming a few moments later. Both dishes just looked.. how do I put this? Meh. The ingredients were not mixed well and I personally was disappointed because the magical pad thai fairy did not appear in my bowl. I was hungry so I slopped up my mess with a piece of roti bread ( if I could give five stars for just the roti I would..that stuff is awesome) and finished my little bowl ( it wasn't full because there was a lack of ingredients) my dining partner ended up just boxing hers with hopes that maybe it would magically become better at home. We offered up our coupon and paid the check..tipping more than adequately because Gabi was the most cheery server I've come across in a long time. No one thanked us as we left and we walked out feeling more like an inconvenience than as wanted guests or customers. This location has a lot of work to do to regain credibility in my book. My perception is that they wanted to close and gtfo and didn't care about having a clean, sanitary environment for their diners. To put it simply, you need to do a better job Evanston, you just need to do a better job. I'll go back to Flat Top..but not this one.
(2)Jade D.
I liked it A LOT. Was hesitant to come because too many choices make me freeze when it comes to food, but since it wasn't someone waiting on me behind the counter and I could do it up myself, it worked out. My creation turned out delish! Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!! Only took off the one star for the sloppy decor (needs a reface) as well as the raw meat that sits out. aside from meat sitting out which it should not, it is quite unappetizing. (and i am not vegetarian or anything... just looked icky...).
(4)Karen C.
Sometimes I think I like the idea of Flat Top more than I actually like eating here. I love the outdoor seating at this location, it's large enough to where you can almost always get a table at lunch... not an easy feat at the Chipotle next door. You get to create-your-own, so if it tastes bad, I consider it your fault... but, sometimes... I end up with random meat in my finished product. I do NOT put meat in my bowl. Ever. So it kinda freaks me out to be eating and find a random chunk of beef. Just throw me an extra piece of that awesome bread & we'll call it even.
(3)Jay P.
I have been to this particular location a few times, and it's much better to come here for lunch on a rainy day. The fewer number of diners, the faster the bowls will be served to you. I know a lot of people complain about the amount of time it takes to receive their food. I would either go heavy each time and drink a lot of soda so you're not rushing to get to your next bowl (they're quick to refill to make you full faster) or I would immediately put in what you plan on eating next, so it will arrive soon after you finish the first bowl. The service here is great. If there is something that confuses you (which there are more rules here to confuse the stir-fry beginner,) the staff is more than happy to help you or provide tips. I'd suggest that you go a bit heavy on the sauces. I sometimes added three or four ladles and was disappointed in not having enough flavor. Some servers mentioned that you don't want to add too much because it could get watery at the bottom of the bowl, but this was never a problem for me. If anything, I was kicking myself for creating a dish that was a bit on the dry side. What can be criticized about the service is the lack of friendliness from those who are actually doing the stir frying. It didn't really matter much to me in the grand scheme of things, so I didn't deduct an additional star. It's fun to mix and match different ingredients and sauces. The pork and Asian sauce combinations were really great. All of the vegetables were very fresh the times I visited. They didn't spare the egg or tofu whenever I added those sticks. I thought the hot and sour soup was more like sour and sour soup, but perhaps I didn't add the right ingredients to bring out the best flavors. The amount of food for the mu shu option was impressive, but I would have preferred having fewer wraps total and more contained in each wrap. Even on a rainy day, the customers did trickle in. This is a place that is enjoyed with others. If I end up on my own for lunch, I'll definitely bring a book along. With the time you end up waiting, you'll be doing a lot of staring at the wall if you don't have something to distract you. Enjoy exploring options with your friends and/or family!
(4)Ridge K.
Slow service, good variety and good food.
(3)Courtney M.
Flat Top is THE place for broke college kids to get an amazing dinner for a good price. The key is to skip the rice, put all the veggies in your bowl that you like, and plop a big scoopful of noodles on top of everything. Then top it with sauce. Don't forget the sticks for tofu and bread; you can get away with putting 2 bread sticks in sometimes - yay! You'll have enough food for 2 dinners this way, and don't forget the WildCard discount!
(4)Jen W.
Nice workers :) Can't go wrong with this place :)
(5)Amanda B.
After dining here once, I fell in love. However, I found the service to be lackluster. I encountered it again. The first time, the server took ridiculously long to get our checks and run everything through. The restaurant was dead. This time, two friends and I dined and weren't happy. We placed our drink orders (All waters) and made our bowls. When we came back, there were no drinks. Um? I think there was PLENTY of time while we were preparing our bowls. When the server came with our waters, she gave two to me and my friend, then drifted to our neighbor table and gave the two people their drinks, then came to our third friend with her drink. What?? We asked for extra roti and it took way too long and having to ask again for more. The check also took a long time. Ugh Flat Top, I love you and your concept but you need to re-train your servers! I have to prepare my own food, at least be helpful in things I cannot do!
(4)Plenty F.
5 stars. So, good... I'm still chewing, but had to go ahead and start writing my review. First of all, I LOVE ROTI! More on that later... I was greeted at the door by Mark... such a sweetie. He walked me through the process and explained everything to me. I tapped into my creative self and got to work... Lots o' veggies 4 ladles of mushroom sauce 1 ladle of pad thai sauce 1 ladle of soy sesame sauce A lil squiggle of siracha (sp?) I piled a mountain on beef and pork in my little bowl with a few scoops of garlic. End Result: A MASTERPIECE! (now that I'm back in the office sampling the goods...) Even Mark said..."Wow, smells good! I've been working here for a long time and, believe me, I don't say that often. I think you did a great job! I hope you like it." I put 4 blue sticks in because Roti bread sounded like something that I was gonna like... I was right! (of course, I love bread, any kind of bread) I eating my leftovers for dinner. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy...
(5)Scott H.
I have to admit up front that I think I've only chosen to eat here once when I had to pay full price. My remaining dozen or so visits were inspired by an e-mailed BOGO birthday offer (be sure to sign up!). Usually the stir-fry bar area is pretty trashed whenever I'm there, but I know they try pretty hard to keep up with the endless stream of apparently sloppy co-eds. The veggies and meats are typically fresh and well-stocked and the variety of sauces and oils seems to change over time which is good for keeping things fresh and exciting. If you arrive when they're busy (which is pretty much the norm) it can easily take upwards of a half-hour to have your stir-fry cooked and delivered to your table. For that reason it makes sense to prepare your second stir-fry (if you're doing the multiple-trip option) about 10-15 minutes after the first if the grill is full. That way, you save yourself the agony of waiting another half-hour between the first and second courses. Always add the roti (warm griddled flatbread) to your stir-fry...PERIOD. I'd add five if they'd let me, but the most I've gotten away with is two. :) Oh, and you'll smell like the place all day, so not a good dining choice before, say, a job interview or first date (unless you're dating a rottweiler who might totally be into that). All in all a pretty solid place, but I'm not sure how often I'd head back without a BOGO deal or a student discount.
(3)Todd G.
I have to say I am really impressed .... I received a response from Benjamin who was an Opperations Manager at the Evanston Flat Top Grill when we dined in the other day. I was seriously impressed with the response, appreciation and candor that Benjamin wrote me. Good news is there is a major revamp in motion and Benjamin is in the process of addressing the issues I mentioned along with many other improvements. This was refreshing to hear and honestly grateful since I was truly bummed that we had such a bad experience. I rarely write a poor review but I have to say I will be giving the Evanston FTG another shot once they get things back in shape. Thank you Benjamin for some kick butt customer service in not such a great situation.
(4)Tiffany C.
Came here for one of my roommates 20th birthday! We came with a group of 10 people under a reservation. Unfortunately, we weren't taken care of right away so we were a bit confused on how the process worked. Afterwards though it was super quick and efficient! It was $12.99, after tax $14.16 for one bowl with your choice of meat or shrimp. I really recommend PACKING the bowl as much and high as you can hold to get your money's worth. I do love that you can add extras like making it into a taco, or lettuce wrap & such. I do think $14.16 for that one bowl was in the pricier side. There's a Mongolian Grill where they do the same process however it's unlimited for like $10-12! Regardless, the food was okay. Process was easy. The inside was pretty decently big & roomie but there were a TON of annoying fruit flies flying in my face!!! Like what?!?! Their desserts are YUM!!!! And if you text a number you can catch a free one! Would I come back? Probably not
(2)Yanyao N.
01. Go during weekday afternoons. Weekend evenings are such a nightmare. I hate waiting in line behind indecisive people or noobs to put veggies in my bowl. Plus, it is a lot cheaper (even more so if you have student ID). 02. Here's a trick. If you want spinach and noodles in your stir fry (because honestly, who wouldn't?) then put the spinach in the bottom of your bowl FIRST and then the noodles. The weight of the noodles will weigh down the spinach (which cooks down to almost nothing but takes up a lot of room when uncooked) so you can put lots of other veggies in your bowl. :) 03. This is vegetable heaven for a cheap, quick lunch. I always load up my bowl with spinach, mushroom, red onions, tomatoes, edamame, snow peas, asparagus, green onions, carrots, jalapenos, broccoli and whatever other green things available. 04. Though I am far from vegetarian, this place is very vegetarian friendly. They have a stick so you can put tofu in your stir fry AND there are several fake meats such as seitan among the veggie bar. 05. Also meat lover friendly. Pile lots of chicken, beef, pork, or calamari in your little bowl. Fish also available during dinner. I had the whitefish once. It was delicious. 06. Not all the sauces blend well together so use their little recipe cards to mix and match appropriately. I like the black bean garlic with mushroom. I've also developed my "usual": 2 ladles pad thai, 1 ladle peanut sauce, 1 ladle spicy non-fat lime basil, 1 ladle chili sauce... I like a wet stirfry. :) 07. Sticks! The roti stick is a MUST. Delicious buttery flat bread. However, don't try to stick in 2 if you want more than one roti. The hubby tried that once and ended up just getting one roti, and it was burnt. Instead, when the staff comes around, ask them for some extra roti. They are always happy to oblige. I also like the tofu stick and egg stick. Mushu wraps are good too. 08. Another trick I have. If you want to take your leftovers home, you get charged a little over $4 dollars, so sometimes I just make myself a whole new bowl and take it home for dinner. Stir fry dinner for $4? Me likey. 09. The staff is friendly and sometimes the manager comes by to see if everything is okay. Iced teas are never empty. Once a server came to our table with 2 rotis in a bowl when we hadn't asked for more and I fell in love with her. Another time I asked one of the cooks if I could have an extra roti and I got one. I thought I used my girlish charm but my husband told me at the table that I had something green caught in my teeth. Oops. 10. Oh, and if you can still stomach dessert after your meal, the chocolate storm is a dream! They now do it in a taste size, so no excuses right?
(4)Melissa V.
This place has a great staff they were very nice and knew there stuff. Nicole was a great server and walked us thru since it was our first time. Food was great since you pick everything out yourself and they just cook it for you. I will for sure be coming back again.
(5)Jeanne Z.
This place is pretty cool. It's a serve-yourself place where you grab a bowl and rice, noodles, veggies, sauces, and meat into it. Then you take it to the grill and it is cooked for you while you wait at your table. I like that there is such a variety of food choices here. It's great for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. If you have allergies they will cook your food in a separate section for you. I went here during dinnertime and the place was packed. We had to wait awhile to get our cooked food. I only gave it three stars because the food tasted pretty mediocre. It was pretty bland and did not have that much flavor to it. Still, this place is worth checking out.
(3)Keiko S.
UPDATE: We just had dinner here and realized that when the place is crowded (thus the chefs are overwhelmed with orders), the dishes don't turn out all nicely cooked. Some of the veggies were still hard. They made some minor mistakes with our orders, too. Oh well... ***************************** After several attempts, we finally succeeded in dining here without having to wait in line. Apparently, the trick is to go here at lunchtime, early as possible. Despite the inconvenience of having to wait in line both outside and inside the restaurant, I enjoy going here for the "control" I have over my meal. It basically comes down to how YOU order your dish. This means that you can have it prepared in ANY way you like - meaty, leafy, carby, spicy, creamy, bland, soupy, healthy, not-so-healthy, etc. - with ANY available ingredients. Having said this, the first time is an experiment. It's a rather complicated process where you'll be poking sticks everywhere...so don't be ashamed to ask the staff for help! On each table is a list of recommended "recipes" you can create on your own. It comes in handy when you're too lazy or clueless to come up with your original mix. The wraps are seemingly popular, and you get a stack of them in one order. As for the sauce/dressing, I like the vindaloo and black bean garlic. My favorite second order is the veggie stock soup with tofu. After a whole bowl of heavy stir-fry, this relieves my stomach with a soothing effect. In sum - this is a place we go when we're (1) HUNGRY, (2) in need of fiber and (3) short on cash.
(3)Optimus P.
Slow service, questionable food quality, and dirty restaurant. I would have given it 1/2 star but the concept is good and the manager was accommodating. First off, be prepared to have your clothes smell if you sit anywhere near the grill. The restaurant was dirty from the table top, the silverware, the bowl they give you to put raw food in all had food particles left. When we asked to have the table wiped down and new utensils, the server wiped it down with clearly a dirty bar rag and then set the new dirty utensil down on a wet tabletop. I am not one to be squeamish about a little dirt and grime in a restaurant but pile that on top of slow service (repeatedly having to ask for things) and we had to physically look for our server to get the check because everyone was in the back of the restaurant hanging out. Don't go to the restaurant anywhere near closing time because not only do they start breaking everything down and hour before it closes but when asked for food items that are empty one server says we 86'd it and then I asked a manager and he miraculously appears with more stir fry mix. Funny how that works out. At the end of the night the meats look like they have been out since the afternoon, the veggies look wilted and unsavory, the steamed white rice looked like recycled stirfry, and the sauces look like everyone throughout the day took the sauces from the back and dropped them to the front sauces all day long. Very disappointed and will not be back. Good concept, poorly executed. Not worth taking a picture.
(1)Hannah E.
I have a love-hate thing going on with this place. My high school friends love it and it's a regular hangout when we all come back to our hometowns from the places all over the country we've spread. It's pretty cheap and raucously fun and I always have a fantastic time with them. But you know why I always have a fantastic time(aside from the fact that I love my friends)? Because THEY are good 'cooks'. THEY know how to make a good stir fry. THEY know which sauces complement each other, and not to mix mustard sauce and chili sauce, and that if you put too much sauce in your dish you will have to literally choke it down and then die of a grease seizure. THEY know how not to over-noodle or over-veggie and that stir-frying baby corn is never a good idea. I do not. I know none of these things. I am possibly the world's worst cook. They even have these little suggestion cards for the culinarily challenged where they tell you how to build pad thai or szechuan noodles or whatever. These cards are eminently understandable and the directions on them could be followed by a 6 year old. But not by me! I always screw them up. I always, without exception, end up with noodles swimming in a vomity tasting sauce with disappeared vegetables and giant delicious slice of bread on top (since I didn't create the bread). Luckily my friends are awesome and always allow me to eat their creations - and after a couple tries they just build my bowl for me. ::sniff::... I wish I could be good at creating Flat Top dinners too.
(3)Jessica V.
I really always enjoy my Dining experience here. I recently had Hilary as my waitress and she is just plain awesome! She explains everything and is very reassuring that we can always make another if we don't like what we prepared. Although, I hate wasting food she was very reassuring that everyone does it! I can only imagine some of the things people throw together including myself haha! All in all I found flat top to have many different well stocked items to choose from and our drinks were always filled and we never had to ask for anything! Thanks Hilary boo boo!
(5)Jocelyn O.
First things first: Add a blue stick to your bowl for Roti bread. Always. No - don't question me. Just do it. Moving on, I've been coming here for years. Dinner is cheap considering you can eat as much as you want - unlimited is just a buck or two more than the single trip. There are tons of avenues for exploration and experimentation. Even if you don't like stir fry, you can turn your ingredients into a soup, lettuce wrap, or whatever. Best of all, at dinnertime they add Filipino sausage, or longanisa, to the protein selection. So tasty. My boyfriend eats there just for that. What I do have to say, as it is the complaint I hear the most, is that waiting times for your food can get extremely long, especially when it's crowded. What I suggest, if you know that you're going for more than one trip, is to get up and make your second bowl in right after you get your first bowl sent to your table. That way, by the time you're done eating, you won't have to wait as long. If you're only going for one trip or if you're really hungry, I'd suggest popping into line and getting a small bowl of edamame or raw veggies or whatever you'd like, to munch on while you're waiting for your bowl to come through. All in all, a great place to eat. The atmosphere is nice - noisy, but not so much that you can't hear - and the food is always good. If you don't like what you made, then you can always try again.
(4)Janet B.
I always took visitors to Flat Top when I lived in Evanston. It's buffet style where you grab your favorite ingredients and put in one or two or three sticks of different colors, and they whip them up into delicious goodness! Yes, it does take some practice, advice, or good ol' intuition to get your sauces and proportions right. But isn't that the fun of it? I've tasted some horror in my friends' bowls, so I'd say go with the "unlimited" option. There are fun recipes and unlimited sampling opportunities, so you can't really go wrong. Make sure to stick in the stick for Roti bread because it is so fresh, hot, and chewy. Slightly buttery but not so much. It's so, so good. Also, don't just stick with str fry. Try making noodle soup, mushu wraps, and even salad! Go nuts on the combinations and figure out your own perfect dish. Good luck!
(5)Alissa A.
Hours later, still reeking of greasy Chinese/fast food is never a good sign. It's even worse when you weren't in a Chinese or fast food joint nor one that appeared particularly greasy. The concept, made-to-order stir fry, is great. Right? You choose the meats, sauces, starches, and veggies and they cook it up and bring it to your table. The fact that you get to even put it together via a "salad bar-esque" set up even adds to the fun. but maybe it's not really fun... it's fun minus the number of veggie and sauce containers that are picked over and down to the bottom, many are mixed/cross contaminated, unappetizing to say the least, and the meats might be acceptable if they weren't compacted cubes in the serving bowls. Our party of six got split up as we each took our time to assemble our bowls at the "salad bar" and weren't cooked together, leaving two of the party still awaiting food as another two picks the last bits of rice from their bowls. You can opt for the Indian style roti with your stir fry but you will in turn receive a greasy round of toasty dough. It's simply out of place. Service is minimal at best. A server begins taking the beverage order while a second appears, interrupts to take over, and asks the drink order to be repeated at least three times. He later, when on to tell us they were out of the signature chocolate dessert in an "oh-well, too-bad-for-you" fashion that no one saw humor in except for him. At $13.99 for a bowl of overcooked rice and meat, (then again, you wouldn't really want it less than chewy doneness here) I felt ripped off. Even more so when they dared add the 18% tip to our party of 6 for service that was sub par at best. The memory will disappear as soon as the smell in my clothes does.
(1)Insun M.
One of the more spacious and cleaner locations. Its a good place to come with a group so that everyone will find something they'll like and its wallet friendly. Everyone must get the Roti bread at the end of the station. I believe its the black or blue stick.
(4)Brittany C.
Can you complain about horrific, stuff-of-nightmares-service if they comp your bill? My thought is yes, but you give them an extra star. I've been here plenty of times and the service has been so-so, but NEVER like it was on this not-so-busy Sunday. The waiter kept on placing random bowls of food in front of me. Umm, pretty sure I used brown rice and chicken, not noodles and steak.... My dining companion gets their meal. 10 minutes pass... 20.... 25.... I am waving down all the staff that pass me, but nothing. Finally, the hostess tells me they must of lost mine if I am sure that none of those bowls were mine. YES, I am sure. I made it 10 minutes ago. My wonder is--WHO made these random meals being placed in front of me? AND who ate MY food. Hope they weren't allergic to mushrooms. I like mushrooms. Same thing happened at the table next to me. UH-OOOOH. The veggie bar and sauce containers were pecularly empty too. Hmmm. The food is still just as good as other location. Can't fault them there. ANYWAAAAY, the hostess "took care of" our whole bill. I never expect this, but this time I kind of did.... But it was still nice of them to comp my companion's meal too. Props to you flat top. Now, handle your business.
(3)Adrienne S.
For someone who's not a huge stir fry fan, I was definitely pleased with Flat Top. The fact that you can put however many noodles/peppers/etc. in your dish instead of being subject to a pre-selected mix is a real plus. The discount for NU students is also appealing. Definitely a fan!
(5)Stephen S.
It's really not bad if you know how to do it right. Don't go sauce crazy and mix a bunch of different things in. Go for the unlimited option, get smaller bowls, and try a different thing each time.
(4)Moni K.
Breakfast or lunch......Sunday 11am: I chose breakfast. This is a little unusual breakfast place because you get to make your omelet well you get to pick your own ingredients....you actually place them in a bowl and then bring it to the "kitchen" area where they throw it all together and Whoa-La! you get your omelet. Of course it would be great if all of your ingredients that you pick get used. I was missing some major ones cheese and my turkey sausage links. Other than that It was ok....I think it is hard to screw up breakfast food unless you get served egg shells. I have to say that our nice waiter made up for the missing turkey links, the cheese I just had to go without. One thing that I liked is that they serve egg white omelet and not many restaurants do that so I was happy. Overall, maybe breakfast is not their forte
(3)Lauren-ashley B.
The atmosphere is nice, local joint for the college students around here. I like that this resturaunts is customized for the Northwestern University students, it's in a great location. Nothing special about our server but the hostess was really nice and asked us how are dinner was, very personable guy. I would definetly be coming back before I leave.
(4)Amy G.
Oh, Flat Top. I want to love you. In fact, I love your other locations. I've even envied friends at school in Champaign-Urbana, just steps away from delicious, affordable, never-ending stir fry. But after repeated instances of awful service at this location, I'm quittin' it. A small group of friends and I entered the restaurant around 7:30. It wasn't busy (Northwestern's finally no longer in session) and plenty of parking was available. Walking by several open tables outside, I approached the hostesses. While one stared vacantly outside, the other chatted with a woman applying for a job for five minutes between talking to me. "Table for four, please." "That will be... hm, fifteen minutes." "There are two two-tops and a four-top vacant outside." "Huh. Let me see about that." Despite tables sitting open indoors and outdoors, my compatriots and I sat for ten minutes waiting in the steamy, unairconditioned (or so it seemed!) restaurant lobby. We were finally seated and Shane was quick to take our drink orders and explain the make-your-own-stir-fry system to the newbie at the table. Vegetables, sauces, and starches in one bowl. Meat in the other. Add sticks for extras like tofu, egg, lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps, and delicious, amazing, wonderful roti. My group meandered to the bar of ingredients to be greeted with most of the vegetable bins empty, no seitan available for the vegetarian of the group, and sauces spilled everywhere. Twenty minutes later our food showed at our table except for one dining partner's. His? Well, it showed up twenty minutes after that... after politely nudging two waiters. So, Flat Top? You're delicious. Really, you are. And with your free birthday stirfry and discounts for college students? Man-- this is a tough relationship to cut off... but I think we're going to have to remain just friends.
(2)Fawn J.
Went here last night. First, as my friend and I were waiting to be seated, I was saying that there was a similar restaurant in Michigan. The owner/manager was standing there and immediately said, "but we're better!" and then he ran through all these details about how the quality of food is higher, etc. It was great to see that he is truly passionate about the restaurant he works for. When we were seated our waitress came over and in a hurry took our drinks and got us started. But after we filled our bowls and sat down we never saw her again. Finally my friend raised her hand and a guy came over, from that point on he was totally attentive! He got us drink refills, roti refills, and was constantly checking in to make sure we had what we needed. We made sure that he was the person who received our tip at the end of the night. I loved the food, it was really good! And I really liked how they put the nutritional information about the sauces up on the board. I didn't give it 5 stars because the serving stations was messy and there were some vegetables that were running low. Also, The first server we had didn't do so great at making me feel comfortable with the process, my friend had to explain it all to me in more detail. Otherwise, it was a great experience! Loved the manager and our second server, they were really great at customer service.
(4)Pamela U.
If you like to experiment with flavors and ingredients, this is the place for you. Since you have to create your own meal here, the best thing to do is take all your favorite ingredients, all the flavors of sauce that you normally enjoy on other meals and mix them together. The more flavors you add the more tasty it gets. Here are a few suggestions that might make you completely obsessed with Flat Top... -Get the blue stick (Roti Prata Bread), -Try putting cheese on top of your meal (I know it sounds weird, but it caramelizes into the rice and noodles and tastes soooo yummmy!) -Add a little garlic and teriyaki sauce to whatever meat you choose (it's kind of like marinating the meat). Delicious! Probably my all time favorite restaurant!
(5)Kate W.
Flat Top is cool, everyone is always happy because you get to make your food exactly how you like it. Practically empty on a weekday for lunch, and $20 for two people isn't too bad. Really nice that you can get any of the meats (or multiple meats) and any of the add-ons (bread, egg, tofu, mooshu, lettuce wraps, etc.) at no extra charge. Wish there was some guidance on the sauces - I remember back in the day when they had recommendations on # of spoonfuls and good combinations, but now it's a free for all, with even more sauces to choose from. My sauce combo was ok but definitely lacking.
(4)Nina I.
This place is cute when you're looking to go somewhere to get a lot of food but for a decent price, and you don't want a buffet to be your option. I like the flexibility of customization the only thing that needs to be improved is the way servers interact. Maybe eliminating them all together? I know I'm going to sound cheap, but I don't think I should ever be made to fill the need to tip someone who pretty much only brings me my soda... I would recommend this place though. It's spacious, and in the middle of Evanston, surrounded by many young people and every one is really nice (from most of my experiences so far). Definitely come here with some one who's been there before, though, because the sauce and noodle or rice combo is sometimes hard to hit on the head the first time you try to make your own (Asians make their food look so much easier to make and flavor than it actually is! I definitely appreciate it!). Come on in a try it yourself. :]
(4)Danielle R.
Are you hungry, picky, enjoyer of veggies and noodles? No fear... Flat Top Grill is good for all of the above. I find that I typically don't like one or more ingredients in most foods at restaurants, especially Chinese/Thai. So... this place is perfect! Think a salad bar for Asian fusion food! You grab a bowl, add what and how much you want of veggies and meat (lots to choose from), add your sauce (10+ to choose from) and then a few other options like a delicious bread (blue stick) at the end of the bar. Then, the chef whips it up on the gril and the waiter brings it back to you! And, you can do this more than once if you go for the unlimited bar! They also have a delicious pomegranate margarita! I have enjoyed this place multiple times. Register for their e-mail group and receive goodies for you birthday! I did that this year and am so glad I did!
(4)Ann C.
Flat Top is kind of like a crappy version of BD's Mongolian BBQ. They have seitan and other meat substitutes, so it's better in that sense; but otherwise it's a step down. If you haven't eaten here before, haven't had it recently enough, or just have a weak stomach; prepare for the food to fight back. We used to go here for work lunches occasionally and apparently the boys used to hold group meeting in the bathroom afterward. Gross.
(2)Kelly A.
Horrible. Bad good. Lots of cross contamination and possibility of food poisoning with everything sitting out. No one seems to know anything that works there. A bunch of clueless college kids that don't care and are too busy talking to each other. Hideous service. Had to ask for water, drink refills, had to go get our bill. The cooks don't even speak English and I had food allergy concerns. On top of it all, I smell like I was in a vat of frying oil.
(2)Libby L.
Flat Top has the potential to be awesome, but it's not. I've only had something fantastic-tasting once, but all the other times it tasted like soggy chow mein in weird vinegary sauce. Or undercooked crunchy rice in vaguely indianish sauce. Disappointing. And they screw up a little more than they should: random chicken, random octopus, finding sticks in your food but not the thing the stick represents, asking for a fork that never shows, and once a bowl never showing up at all. When these things happen it sucks, because it's not like you can send it back to the kitchen and they'll make a new one. You have to make a new one yourself! And wait another half hour for it to show up! What I DO like about this place, and what keeps me coming back, is the ability to have filling semi-healthy food. Since you make it you can load up with vegetables and since they post all the nutrition info on the wall you can choose a healthy sauce if you want. They also have tons of protein options for you vegetarians and they're all pretty tasty. The curry pakora and BBQ vegetable tempeh are my favorite, they're like tasty meatless meatballs. Pro tip: if you're a vegetarian you should always put in the allergy stick, since everything is cooked on the same surface it's easy for someone else's meat to get into your food.
(3)Samantha L.
I absolutely fell in L O V E with flat top the last time that I went. You see, many years ago I went on a terrible date at the flat top on southport. Ever since the very idea of the place put a bad taste in my mouth. I just never returned. Low and behold a couple months ago I was going to a movie in evanston and needed to find a restaurant that had gluten free options for a friend who was seeing the movie with me. Flat top is very accommodating to those with dietary restrictions, you make your meal yourself and all of the options are very well marked. Our waitress was very kind helping her as well. For those without dietary restrictions it is still fantastic! I will definitely be going back, no more bad memories!
(5)Anne I.
Surprisingly inexpensive and good-as-you-make-it food! Decided to fill up with substantial dinner portions before hitting the road back to Ann Arbor, and this was a great choice. We hopped in a little before 5pm, and I guess that counted our meals as 'lunch,' which was incredibly cheap ~ $8/person. I ended up having two bowls. Basically they explain everything to you re: how you go about putting together your meal and having it cooked the way you like it. It's your typical Mongolian BBQ, but the nice thing is, they bring out the food to you when it's done so that means no more standing around the hot flat top waiting to pass out. Quite exciting. They had interesting combinations for cooking options. For example, after putting together your carbs/meats/veggies, you can pick a colored stick to add tofu, or turn your dish into a soup or wrap. I played it safe and stuck with the tofu but later decided to be edgy and had a roti flat bread thrown on for kicks. The veggie/meat selection was typical. They had everything most other places would have. They were low on the seafood options though, but it didn't bother me much since I usually have chicken and beef. It's kind of nice how they have a little hand-out that tells you popular sauce combinations. I'm sure they have people mixing all sorts of random things and going 'bleahahhaa, what was I thinking?!!' Heheh. I stuck with my classic sesame soy, soy sauce stir-fry combination. Never fails. It's a fun place to go, and FTG is situated in a convenient location. I'm sure this place is popular with the undergrads. If you show your student ID, you get a discount on your meal. As part of their decor, they dutifully drew all Big 10 logos on a chalk board with the Wildcat holding a fork, and the rest of us in a bowl.
(4)Sarah H.
The location is very nice, right next to Blu Sushi Lounge and Chipotle and only a couple minutes from South campus (Northwestern), except the food is hardly mediocre. I think our school cafeteria has better stir fry - come on! The service is horrid. I have never experienced such horrible service in Evnaston, even Joy Yees has better service. The selection of veggies is decent and the sauces are just so so, the meat selection could be a bit better. I like their roti bread, but their shrimp are measly and not that amazing. I give it two stars because if you get the student unlimited it's pretty nice (go on an empty stomach). But the side effects of flat top are disastrous. Not a very clean place (saw bugs flying around the food) and I got hives afterwards (which is strange). Overall, horrible management, decent food, horrible service, decent selection. If you're a poor student, stick to stir-fry steve or head over to chipotle.
(2)Mike K.
Okay this place serves up some great chow. Where I am from in California these go by the term "Mongolian Bar-b-Que". Same thing, pick up some rice, veggies, some meat and drench it in some kind of sauce. They throw it on the grill and walk it around, like a stroll though the park. They toss it in a bowl and then you scarf it down. But you realize this is just another stir fry of inexpensive food? You can get this anywhere for about half the price. Okay they got that cool piece of bread, you can't get that just anywhere. And I did like this place, don't get me wrong. I thought the service was very attentive, informative and friendly. But the price leaves a strange aftertaste. If you are ever in California, look up a Mongolian BBQ and tell me it's not just as good, but for only 7 bucks and money left for some desert.
(3)Anastasia B.
Love, Love, LOVE this place!!! Man its soo delicious! Parking is hard to find, kind of a congested area. Excellent staff, even better food :)
(5)Ryan H.
Really good make your own stir fry. You can either get one bowl, or unlimited, and they don't make you choose right away- they let you wait until you eat your first to decide. I generally go with unlimited, and get 4 or 5 small bowls so I can try a whole lot of different mixes. If you go in the evening, be sure to try the white fish, as it is phenomenal. They also give a sweet student deal, and are fairly close to public transit, always nice. Layout is a bit awkward, though. You are either really crowded and being constantly jostled by people going to the food, or so far from the bar that it seems like a totally different place. Drinks are pricey too, but what do you expect? They also can sometimes take forever to bring the food out, and each time I have gone one of my plates went missing for a few minutes before they could find it.
(4)Alice Y.
Well, all reviews are subjective, right? I will admit I didn't like this place because it wasn't what I expected, and you can make your own decisions from there. First, I don't like the kind of noodles they use, I prefer thicker ones. Second, it's really pricey for the food you get for dinner. Third, for that price you only get one meat. Fourth, the toppings area was a total mess when I got there. And mostly, I did not like the way my food tasted. I wanted something sweet and savory, and ended up with mostly just savory. I know what you're going to say...it's a make-it-yourself place, so the only person you can blame for that is you. Maybe. But I choose to blame Flat Top Grill for not providing an easy recipe or pre-mixed sauce that I like. I used to live in Dallas and the Genghis Grill chain does it so much better for cheaper. There's apparently one in Wheaton, just saying.
(2)Grace L.
I was 14 the first time I came here and I was really impressed with the concept of making my own noodle dish to taste (for those unfamiliar with Mongolian grill, you build your entree with your choice of meats, noodles, vegetables, and sauces). Being a little overzealous and wanting to try everything all at once can lead to some wacky concoctions. I believe this may happen from time to time, as the wait staff was very amused and merciful... they didn't make me put down my poisonous entree. Thanks! I've been back several times since to meet up with an old friend from childhood and we loooove coming here again and again. It's reasonably priced and there's a discount if you're a student! If you haven't ever tried Mongolian grill this is a great place to start :)
(3)Jacob J.
What is so awesome about mixing your own food? Years ago when they first opened I went a few times, just cause it was a new thing to do. I say don't take a date. Unless you and they are cautious with what you are adding to that dish. Whether its busy or calm also determines the final dish. If its busy, I feel that enough time is NOT given to the cooking. The result is uncooked and still hard veggies. Yes, they have recipes on a big ass wall above you. If you like stir fry anything. Check it out. Taking from anothers review. Just note that, all the items are just sitting out. Some are chilled. All uncovered. Meat is plain, not marinated.
(2)Ginny L.
This is my favorite of all the FTG locations, to the point where even if I'm in Chicago near one of the others, I'll suggest driving to Evanston for this one. I've always had great service, the staff is really nice, and last time our server was nice enough to bring us a bowl with a few pieces of roti prata while we were waiting for our bowls of food (also with roti prata, of course!) to come out, since it was a busy night. Though I'm very rarely hungry enough after, I love love love the Triple Chocolate Storm. The brownie is ridiculously rich and fudgy, and the sauce I could eat all by itself, really... but together, even better. Note: the appetizers are way overpriced for the amount you get. They're good, but really, you don't go to FTG for the appetizers.
(5)Sarah O.
Attention, Ladies and Gents.... This is important. I lived in Chicago for four years, have been away for two (going on three) and I have to say that in all my travels, from Chicago to Phoenix to London...Flattop Grill is, HANDS DOWN, my favourite restaurant....IN THE WORLD. Yes folks, it's a big statement for a great place with great memories. Basically, a high class build your own stir-fry place (and if you challenge this, I beg you to try the stir fry place in Tempe, AZ...ugh. Not high class) that is well known to all chicago student circles. You can read the other reviews on how to make it (ya throw in lots of veggies and rice, select your meats and sauces, and they grill it all for you in front of your faces!) but seriously, you cannot go wrong if you're making it yourself, It's the utmost form of control for the OCD friend among you. The drinks are amazing too. The one that sticks out is called the 'Horny Monkey' which is the first drink I ever LEGALLY had...and it has a giant banana sticking out of it like a...well, you know. The service is usually top-notch unless you get there on a friday or saturday during the peak time...then expect to wait. I swear, the first thing I'm going to do when I get back State-side i hit this place up!!
(5)Jonathan P.
I've been going here since high school and still love it. Great food and great memories. I went to Northwestern for college too and came here all the time, I've pretty much never been disappointed. It's really easy to overeat here. You always make your own food and mixes so it never really gets old. I personally love the roti prata. It's really amazing. It's kind of like indian naan bread but softer. Writing about this place actually makes me want to go asap, since I live in LA now but am visiting for the weekend. Anyhow, really fun vibe here, although long wait on weekends. It's really one of my favorites. If I had actually dated in high school I definitely would have brought dates here, but it's also a really good place to bring a big group of friends. Not expensive at all either, especially at lunch with student ID!
(4)Steve O.
The service has gotten 100% better. Have been there twice in the past month and it was great both times.
(4)Jebadiah S.
I want to give this place more stars, and perhaps it really does deserve more, but the flaws are just too much of a problem to warrant more than 2-3 stars. First the good, because there is plenty good. You want healthy, tasty and filling? You got it. You want intersting food? You got it. You want something to drink too? You got it (decent bar, not great, but its still a full bar). You want decent prices? You got it too...but That actually segways into the bad. They charge $5 or so to take anything home, its just another revenue stream for them and is unnecessary, however at least they're nice about it and don't act like they're gouging you I guess (they'll put everything in one box if you ask nicely instead of charging you for $10 for 2). But the worst thing is how damn long everything takes. They must fix this and I don't think I'm going back until they do, I just don't like taking 2-3 hours to eat a meal. A lot of the northwestern kids fill this place up, and I can see why, it can be an inexpensive place to eat, and eat decent. But damn is it gonna take you AT LEAST 30 mins to get your food. They have 2 guys making every single dish, and it doesn't matter if they have 1000 people in there or 10. And even when its not crowded, somehow, someway, it still takes 30 mins. It doesn't make sense, the owners need desperatly to hire more cooks which is a no brainer, they can fit another man on the third side of the grill, and get the rest of the staff on the ball a bit more. My hats off to the cooks, they work their butts off, but they need help and the rest of the staff has got to be quicker. Oh, and to those with children, don't take them here. Its not smart to take young kids here so they can put there hands in everything, I know you either think its adorable or you could care less but that's exactly why your ignorant entitled ass shouldn't have procreated in the first place. Just lock you and your spawn in a cave and don't come out.
(3)Jade T.
Wow, this place is an epic FAIL. The concept isn't ingenious: create your own stir-fry from the restaurant's selection of noodles, vegetables, and more. What is incredible about it? Nothing! Yet, people are volunteerily shelling up to $13.99 for dinner. Even the soda is overpriced at $2.59. When I went for lunch, all of the vegetables were old and brown, and many of the toppings were low on supply. The noodles looked pathetic, so I opt for white rice (which was overcooked). The selection of vegetarian mock meats is fantastic though, hence the extra star. There is seitan, quorn, mock chicken, and more. The sauce area was messy from people dripping sauces all over the place with their ladles. Overall, the food was alright, but it's hard to mess up stir-fry. A bowl here is worth $4 at the MAX. However, Flat Top Grill would be much better if it followed Chipotle's assembly line model. There would be no need for waiters because drinks, appetizers, and desserts would be ordered at the cash register instead. Speaking of service, it was terrible. This isn't the usual sit-down restaurant, so what gives? All she needed to do was refill drinks. Anyway, I WILL NOT be returning to Flat Top Grill. For $9, I'll go over to a Thai restaurant for good stir-fry, none of this make-it-yourself shit.
(2)Sandeep P.
Flat Top is as good as you make of it. I love coming here with groups, because it is so vegetarian friendly without being a 'lame' option for the carnivores out there. While I still prefer Stir Crazy's sauces, I give props to Flat Top for being able to make meals that are distinctly _not_ Asian-themed, with the wide variety of ingredients that many other similar stir-fry concept restaurants do not include. I also love the drink selection- I am a big fan of a lemonade, high praise from someone who doesn't normally order a drink. Also, the Paratha/Roti is DELICIOUS. You need to try one when you come out! Little known trick: waiters are able to get extra parathas at no cost, you just have to ask!
(4)Nafeesah A.
This last visit was the best because we got our regular server Christina. Christina is the best she was on time with drinks and knew when it was time to hit up a refill. She made sure we were happy and comfortable and she didnt skimp on any details. She was good about getting things we needed and even if we needed to ask the manager questions and especially when he gave us dessert on the house for a minor inconvenience when a group of college students came in after the restauarant would have normally been closed. We got a slice of their signature dessert with ice cream. Christina was better than most of the servers we had eating at Flat Top and you can't get anyone better than Christina as a server at Flat Top Grill.
(4)Joshua N.
This is where I go when I feel like eating tons of veggies. If you are really bad at making food, then you probably aren't going to like this place since you have to figure out your own sauces and what have you. Here's my recommendation; tons of veggies, egg noodles, an egg, 3 ladles of pad thai sauce, 3/4 ladle of peanut sauce, 1/2 ladle of red hot chili sauce, a little beef with tons of cumin, peanuts, and a roti stick. Oh and use the spinach trick listed in Yanyao's review. She's so smart! Gripes about this place; Sometimes the servers are a bit novice - even for a buffet. Nothing too terrible, just some occasional dry cups. It is a terrible place to be during dinner hours or anytime that they are remotely busy. You don't want to get stuck behind a gaggle of teens trying to figure out what sauces use - just put the pad thai on and move please. Sometimes when they aren't busy, they take the ladles out of one side of the line which bothers me to no end. The cumin shaker keeps disappearing which is not ok, because the beef they use isn't great and absolutely needs cumin. I pass on meat when they don't put out the shakers and just have a veggie lunch.
(4)M R.
Very slow service on Sunday breakfast. People that arrived much after us received their food much earlier than us. They took a long time to get us the check and even bring it back. Just slow service overall, and that was my first time there.
(2)Jackie G.
As a student, I think this is a great place to go, especially for lunch (not as much dinner, mainly because I'm cheap). It's not quick, so I wouldn't go here between classes. However, with the student price, it offers such variety at a reasonable price that's perfect for a weekend lunch date when you want to catch up with friends. You can personalize your meal in obvious ways by picking your own mix of vegetables, sauce, meat, etc., but be sure to take note of the sticks at the end of the buffet of choices. By adding the blue stick, you get the roti bread. As far as I can tell, this is by far the favorite selection. My friends and I have even asked for more roti bread - and you don't get charged! I also like the green stick, so I can make my stir fry into lettuce wraps. Once I accidentally stuck some stick in the bowl and my entre came to me as a soup. Also, you'll get charged for adding shrimp to your meal. Unfortunately, like the food, the service varies. I've had very attentive and funny waiters but also slow and impersonal service. The decor is modern, of the pan-asian sort, casual yet nicer than Chipotle next door.
(4)Justin H.
Build your own stir fry! mix in only what you want Mix yum sauce as well!
(4)Ngoc H.
Not a big fan of trying to make my own dish but hey, if you're adventurous and want to gt up to make your own creations, this is the place for you. There are cards they tell you how to make certain dishes but I am just not a big fan. The place is somewhat clean and the staff is nice but I wouldn't be returning. We all know how terrible parking is in Evanston during lunch hour, the place doesn't get too crowded (from what I've seen the two times I've been there at least).
(2)Allison S.
I love this place! You can make your own stir fry and pick out what you want to put in it. I love just getting a lot of veggies with chicken and tofu, and always add in the roti bread, its fried on the grill and soo good. They have a lot of veggie and sauce options and I love that they have seitan and curry pakora as options. They have all the nutrition info and are very consicious about allergies. You would think it would be pretty fast but the service is usually pretty slow. Its still one of my favorite places in evanston, mainly just because i love asian stir fry and its fun to physically be able to pick out what you want in your stir fry!
(4)K T.
Great food- you really have the option of having a nice, fulfilling meal here. The atmosphere is pretty loud and intense, so it's not exactly serene or romantic. My only complaint would be the slow service. I just don't understand that if I'm creating my own meal why it takes the servers so long to bring you your drinks and food.
(3)Jeanus T.
This place is ok, I mean if you are hungry and looking for something affordable, this is a choice. But just don't expect a great taste. The tricky part is, you can't really blame them because you pick your own ingredients and sauces to put into your own dish, in a way, you are responsible for the taste of your dish. Clever huh! OK, so I'll be responsible for the taste, but they overcooked my dish. I mean, really?? The up side is that we got a student discount at the end but we are not really students! So I guess it offsets the tension. I think 2 stars is fair.
(2)ALEXANDRA L.
OK, maybe 1.5. Frankly, this is a place where you should only go if you tolerate noise, smokiness, inefficiency, mediocre food just because you want to do-it-yourself or you go for the "infinite" portion and that's all you care about. I tried it last weekend, and the two to-go dishes were pretty small portions (lesson learned: don't put leafy veggies in your bowl to take up precious space), and the sauces we tried were (ahem) gross. My recommendation is to not go spend $15 here for a small portion of untasty food. Hit chipotle next door for a better deal/flavor options or Bat17 or Dixie for the same price but better food. If you are forced to go, stick with soy sauce & don't go fancy (a la Korean BBQ or black bean) unless you want your whole pile of food to be contaminated. The one plus was that the proteins were not gross. So maybe my recommendation is get rice/noodles, with soy & minimal veggies and lots of protein.
(1)Kristen S.
The food is gluten free friendly here, even boasting a separate grilling area to reduce cross-contamination. The food itself is just okay. I have better gluten free stir fry at many Thai Asian restaurants. But it is an option for any one who is gluten free and wants a delicious healthy meal.
(3)Stephanie L.
I always leave here not feeling so great... It's just not that good and the selection needs work. Also, it's so expensive that it honestly is just not worth going. I lived in Evanston for four years and went maybe 6 times and always regretted it. I can't put my finger on what it is that I don't like... the food is just not that great. The concept is really cool -- you pile all your favorite foods from the buffet into a bowl and they stir fry it for you. Sounds simple enough. Then why is it always so gross? Also, I agree, there is a fruit fly problem. Yuck.
(2)Andrea R.
I usually really like this place, I've been coming here for years... BUT, I returned today with some friends and I could barely eat my food there were so many flys buzzing around our table. Now, I get that we were sitting near the door, but this was just too much. I had to eat with one hand and cover the bowl with the other to keep all the flies out of my food. I'm disappointed because I've have a good time here many times. I usually come in the winter and I think I will be sticking to that.
(1)Cassie S.
I'm a fan of Flat Top. I'm especially a fan of this Flat Top (and especially so in the summer when you can sit outside). Be realistic here - The food is total hit or miss. That's because you never know exactly what you're going to get. That's what happens when you throw a bunch of things in a bowl without really thinking about how they all go together and whether they all should really cook for the same amount of time. And it definitely takes some practice to learn which sauces you like, how to combine them, and how much to use. At least if you screw up, though, you can keep going back for more until you get it right.
(3)Matt T.
If I could leave zero stars, I would. I have consistently complained to corporate about this place for well over a year to due to their fruit fly problem. Every time I eat here there are fruit flies around the tables and the food counter. Corporate sends gift certifications, I go back, and the same thing occurs. Last night was the last time I ever go to this or any Flat Top establishment. First off, we arrived on time for our reservation. It took 10 mins to be seated even though there were several tables available. The maitre d said the manager has to seat people and he was nowhere to be found. Finally after standing there with a look of frustration and hunger a server sat us down. The restaurant was in absolute chaos from top to bottom. This place was absolutely foul and disgusting. Food, including raw meat was scattered all over the counter area where you make your own stir fry. It was like the cleanup after a house party. It is a huge health risk to have raw chicken and beef sitting on the edge of the counter where people are filling their bowls. The counters were greasy and the tongs were greasy. It was just disgusting. We complained and the manager said he'd do what he could to take care of it. Needless to say, it was not taken care of. There were three of us dining and two of our dishes came out at the same time and my girlfriend's dish took another 10 mins to come. that's unacceptable. If you have three people at a table, make sure when cooking/delivering the food that they all come out together. I know the place was busy but we were not a table of 10. All of our bowls had things mixed in that were not ours. Normall I don't mind as it's usually a few pieces but my girlfriend's dish was missing half of her ingrediants, including half the meat and had veggies that she did not add to her bowl. I know they have allergy sticks to prevent mixing certain foods but it's unacceptable that my girlfriend's dish did not resemble what she put together. The bathrooms are disgusting. They resemble the look and feel of a bathroom at a ballpark. Paper towels and toilet paper strewn about, no soap in the women's bathroom and the sinks and toilets filthy. Vacated tables were left with dishes, silverware cups and napkins for a long time as no one was coming around to clean. The floors were disgusting as well. While our server was very nice and attentive, dude was profusely sweating and smelled like the rhino's butt crack. the restaurant was so warm it was no wonder he was sweating and the three of us were uncomfortable. I heard a server ask the manager to turn the A/C on and he said he was not allowed to. I guess they are trying to maximize profit margin even on a 70 degree November night. We complained about everything and had our meal comped. We could have gotten desert but declined. Before that we ordered a second round of food but it took so long we bounced before we got it. We even got $30 in gift certificates but we're giving those away. I felt so gross after eating I took a cold shower when I got home. Peace out Flat Top, get your act together! I may be calling the Board of Health.
(1)Chris D.
as good as other locations. I like it
(3)Melissa F.
I have to say, I'm a big fan of this messy, crowded, semi-overrated orgy of vegetables. The concept is pretty unique - it's not the only place to EVER do make-your-own stir fry, but I'm sure you get me (and now I feel like an American chav). One major concern of people is cross-contamination. Yes, yes, yes. Carrots wind up in close quarters with mushrooms, and green onions are shacking up with zucchini before even bothering to get married. No, but seriously, while it could be a little bit more well-maintained, that's not enough to keep me from creating my own stir fry. There is such a wide variety of ingredients you can use, it's amazing. Even the garnishes - like cilantro, basically my favorite thing ever - are there, from the previously-exalted cilantro to chopped peanuts. There are also many sauces to choose, and they even let you sample them in paper cups that remind me of shot glasses (Wait, what? Just b/c I've seen them on TV, honest, officer!). You can make dishes as authentic or inauthentic (Cheddar in Asian food! No, but it's good.) as you please. You can also get shrimp, lettuce cups, moo-shoo wrapping, and, best of all (insert heavenly noises) ROTI BREAD. It is flaky, buttery, and basically tastes like magic. I don't care if you never eat carbs, just have some, because it is the highlight of Flat Top by any stretch. Service is usually good. The last time I went was about two weeks ago and boy was it weird! I don't know what happened - some sort of PR fiasco? - but there were Flat Top people (servers, owners, managers...) everywhere smiling and greeting people. It was almost frightening. I'm telling you, there was one at the door (one thanked me for coming even though I was just going back to my outdoor table), a freakish amount swarming the already-crowded buffet area helping people pick ingredients as if it was a MENSA task, etc. At least four different employees came over to ask our non-fussy/very sane and unobtrusive party of five how things were. One younger employee, certainly on the more attractive side, came over and simply thanked us "for hanging out." Usually when I'm only hanging out I don't have to pay but, ah well, details. I saw a four-top with just two people sitting down, so the server plopped herself onto one of the remaining chairs to go over menu items. Were they preparing for the SATs?!?! At first glance, we were all wondering what the hell was going on. What prompted something of this scale? Was there a human head in the stir-fry? But at the same time, on a serious note, if something bad did happen, I should ultimately be impressed with the steps they're taking to improve customer satisfaction. Oh, and I wound up with a well-cooked, satisfying dinner, too, for a moderate price. We just had a lot of company!
(4)Luiza R.
Love this place! Their Roti bread is amazing. Overall, really good experiences every time I'm there.
(4)Beckie M.
Now that I've figured out that 6 scoops of sauce is the optimal number to avoid a dry, flavourless stir-fry, I really like this place. They have a good selection of veggies and fake meat, and the roti is delicious. However, they do sometimes overcook the food, and after about 8.30pm, when the salad bar is picked over, my rating would go down to a 2.
(4)Sarah B.
Oh, let me count the reasons why I won't eat at Flat Top: 1)The fact that you get to design your own bowl is a total gimmick. When I go to a restaurant, I want to eat food that a cook/chef has thought about and put together. Sorry, I can make my own (and often do) stirfry at home. The whole "design your own food" is a way for a restaurant to get out of making the food for you. It's lazy. 2) The food is mediocre. Even when I've followed their suggestions of combinations to try, I always end up feeling "eh" about the food. It's not necessarily horrible, but it's not necessarily yummy either. 3) Way over-priced. The most I've ever eaten is 1-1/2 bowls and quite honestly the price tag just doesn't jive with the amount most people can eat. 4) Every time I get my cooked bowl, there's a vegetable in there that I never put in my original bowl. Eww... 5) The Evanston location is so, so loud! It must be the material they use on the walls, but the acoustics are terrible. Most of my dinner conversation involves a lot of "what's?" and "huh's?"
(1)Kate W.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars but alas, I can't. They have a decent variety which I liked but none of their sauces were very flavorful... or at least the ones I tried weren't. I'm sure if I had gone for the spicy stuff it would have made a difference but I didn't. The quality was ok but there's just something about raw meat sitting out in the open that I don't like. I'd rather not have to see it. Still, it's not like I got sick or anything so they do a good job of keeping everything safe to eat. They should do something about the ladle handles though, they were all sticky and gross. Overall, it's a chain and you can find better, but it's not a bad place to try.
(3)Nona Gayle D.
I really was not impress by this concept which is pretty much the same as noodles & company and big bowl. So it's a create your own stir fry, and if you make bad decisions as far as what you add and how much sauce you use, then your stir fry will taste like crap. Case in point, my mother decided to add pineapples to her pretty sour dish, and it ruined the taste and it just did not taste good, I took one bite and had enough. I wouldn't go here again if I didn't have to.
(2)Steph R.
I've been going this Flat Top for years. The food is always good, never impressive...but the service the last time I went was atrocious. I had to literally stand up and chase my server to get our drinks and our check. He also forgot the Martini my boyfriend had ordered but by the time we got our servers attention, we had finished our meals and didn't want it anymore. It was a Wednesday night, not even that busy.
(2)Karen A.
Oh yea. The first thing I want to do when I go out to eat is cook my own damn food.
(1)Kate S.
My friends and I always end up here at least once a quarter, and they give discounts to college kids which I love. Definitely get the all you can eat portion, because it's only a few bucks more and then if you make something that you don't like, you can toss it and get something different. Definitely try the Indian flatbread option (I believe it's the blue stick that you put in your bowl after you pick what you want)--it's amazing! They also have quite the drink selection (both alcoholic and yummy non-alcoholic as well). It can get pretty crowded on weekends since a lot of college kids go here, so you may have to wait 20 minutes or so, but there are plenty of stores around (Gap, Barnes and Noble, etc), to kill time before you go.
(4)Tina K.
This was recommended as a place for brunch that is also kid - friendly. It is very family friendly and the staff is very nice and accomodating BUT - every single order for 5 was wrong. Not only were they wrong, they weren't corrected, we were told the manager was going to come and speak with us, he didn't. The place was in complete chaos today and as result the food was so-so - I won't be back to this FT Grill again.
(1)Annie S.
I really miss Flat Top. It reminds me of high school. I love the different toppings and the sauces ... even though I would always get the same dish every time :) And the price is very good and reasonable! I really want to go to their weekend brunch because it's all all you can eat. And I think it's around $8. Too bad my friends don't want to go with me :( They are too cool for this place. Haha! Anyways, I will be back!
(4)Christopher H.
Flat Top is very relaxed, good food and a fun experience. I've been going for years and have no reason to stop.
(5)Kile K.
The service at this place was horrible. I can't even tell you how many times I asked for a refill on my drink, which was overpriced btw. Our server was some nervous kid who kept forgetting about our table. All in all, the food was okay, but the service is subpar. Take your hard earned money elsewhere.
(1)Sophie W.
Quite nice. Will definitely go again. Discount for NU students. Chinese flavor. All the choices of different vegetables and meat. I tried white rice last time, next time I will try rice noodles. Good place!
(4)Sarah M.
i admit, i really like flat top. is it outta-this-world amazing...no. then why 5 stars? 1 star for customer service. i went here for lunch today, and service was prompt and polite. 1 star for price. it's definitely reasonable. 1 star for quality of food. it came out piping hot and cooked just right. this is total comfort food for me, and i like switching it up now and then. 1 star for atmosphere. after a stressful morning, i hunkered down in a corner and read a book while waiting for my food, and the laid back atmosphere was definitely what i was looking for. and the last star is because i knew going in that it was a chain restaurant with a make-your-own stir fry cuisine, and i walked out of there full of good food and a relaxing lunch experience. couldn't ask for more than that :)
(5)Jennifer H.
I went to FTG in Evanston for breakfast with 2 friends. We arrived about fifteen minutes earlier than they opened but the owner offered to get us a table and start us off with coffee while they finished setting up. Although we declined (we didn't want to be in the way) and were waiting outside for it to officially open, the owner personally came out side to get us when it opened! We were immediately sat and taken through FTG menu and process. We had been to an FTG for dinner but not breakfast. Our waiter was excellent, he was very attentive and was on top of coffee refills and empty plates. The food was delicious! I had a pancake on the first go around and an omelete on the second. While the cooks made our entrees, we enjoyed fruit, coffee cake, muffins and oatmeal, which was really delicious. After you selected if you wanted an omelete, pancake, french toast, etc and then chose your toppings, there was a manager to help you at the cooking line to make sure you thought of everything. The managers were on point with everything and on top of their staff to make sure diner's experience was perfect. The other FTG that I had eaten at was in Chicago, and their service is below par to this Evanston location. I would recommend this place for breakfast over and over again. It is great with one, two or big crowds. Get up early to avoid the lines as this is a popular spot, as it should be! Delicious breakfast with great service that will wake you up!
(5)J J.
I'm always a fan of their food and I can't really complain b/c it would be my fault. Service is typically great but don't expect your food to be turned around immediately as this place gets pretty busy in the evenings.
(4)Luke S.
I love this location, not a huge fan of the location on Belmont. I've always had great service here. I can't complain about the food because I'm the one who decides what goes in. My secret to Flat Top is lots of peanut sauce and one ladle of Sweet and Sour. If you add those two you will have good flavor almost every time. The flat bread is delicious! I also love that they offer brown rice. Very few places give you the option of brown rice. If I'm in Evanston and craving a large meal this is the place I go.
(4)Ernie C.
I love Flat Top. Located in the heart of downtown Evanston, it is an excellent place to take your friends on a night on the town. The Evanston location is the one I tried first in 1997 when I worked nearby and I still think it is the best location. Their roti bread is fantastic. Their meats/veggies are fresh and their sauces are tasty. The key to a good stir fry is not to put too many spices. Their breakfast is addicting (and I LOVE breakfast). Where else can you create a pancake, omelette or special breakfast concoction for under $10? And... you can go back for more if you didn't like your concoction or if you're super hungry.
(5)Marion P.
It took me over a year of living in the neighborhood before I tried this place out. I was never impressed with the 'make your own stir fry' concept - might I not just cook it at home myself, then? - but tonight we were lured in by the delicious smells and absolutely surprised by how good it was. I hadn't imagined they'd have 15 different sauces, including a Thai red curry sauce and and Indian yellow coconut curry sauce, 5 or 6 different meat-free alternatives (tempeh, seitan, tofu, quorn and more), lots of veggies, brown or white rice or noodles, and meats and different add-ons. The sauces really did it for me, it means you could mix and match and make each bowl really different in flavor. On the downside, it is a little expensive and it does take a while until a portion is grilled. So ideally, you'd come here absolutely starving and curious, with lots of time and friends you have a lot to say to - then I think it's really great. (Though for weekend lunches and mon/tues dinners, Lulu's (just a block away!) has their own all you can eat, which may be a little less crazy, a little more fancy, and a little more interesting)
(4)Andrew T.
I go here. ALOT. In fact, friends when they walk by on weekends will bet whether I am there or not. Love it for Sat/Sun lunches when you're starving and slightly hungover. Service SUCKS - lunch/dinner/summer/school year whenever. Either mouthy waiters or too inattentive. But who cares, I go there for the Roti Prada (indian flatbread, my gf likes it so much, she put two sticks in her bowl meaning give me two pieces, but they still only gave her one) and the horseradish sauce (approx. 140 calories per scoop). The vindaloo sauce they recently added gives any dish a healthy kick of indian flavor. Chicken is terrible. Pork is okay, only the beef is good. At night they'll add shrimp, scallops, fish, etc. Lemondaes are refillable and pretty good at 2.99 - desert pear, pomegranate and raspberry. Don't forget to add the garlic and cilantro to your bowl at the end of the line.
(4)Jordan K.
Standing in front of a salad bar full of sad looking vegetables, old meat, and greasy serving tongs -- Queensryche playing in the background -- I pondered why one would ever come here. I've been to similar concepts - Stir Crazy in Northbrook is one local example - that are far more successful.
(1)Alex G.
This is my favorite restaurant in Evanston! Nothing truly unique about this particular FlatTop aside from the great location next to Northwestern University. Pretty good service and the roti bread is phenomenal!
(5)Joe M.
I found this Flat Top Grill location to be one of the better that I've been at. It is roomier than the others and I didn't feel as if I was part of my neighbor's conversation. The food, as usual was very fresh. I really enjoy the opportunity to try different combinations of meat, sauces, veggies and toppings. Something different every time....but all good. Our server was friendly and attentive, yet not overly so. I absolutely recommend this location for a relaxed, fresh and really tasty alternative to burgers and beer.
(3)Mary F.
Nice lunch with wine before light opera works.
(4)Cindy L.
This is the only Flat Top Grill location I've ever been at so as far as the concept, the food and the price, I would definitely give it 5 stars. The thing that makes me want to take a way a star is the customer service. The waitress we had this past weekend just wasn't that nice or helpful. She walked past a few times without even looking at us and it took a lot longer than it should have to get our food, water and check. Other than this, this place is awesome and I would definitely go back again!
(4)Dave L.
3 1/2 stars. I liked this place. Though it was not super clean, and the service was just adequate, the food was quite good. We have a similar gimmick option in Boston at Fire and Ice, but my dining mates all said they preferred this place. The ingredients all seemed fresh, and there were FIVE different veggie "meat" options, not even counting tofu. The option to make your stir fry type meal into a soup or wrap was pretty cool, and the Indian bread with the meal was tasty. The pear lemonade I had was also quite good. Go during lunch. Te price was great for the amount of food we got. Note: If I lived near this place, I feel like I could get sick of it pretty quickly. It is a maybe a once every 6 months or so for lunch type place.
(3)Rysia H.
First we had to wait for a table when there were open ones. Then I found a screw in my rice when I was dishing it out. The food area was not clean and several bins were empty and needed to be refilled. The tong for the raw chicken were covered in raw chicken residue. The food took forever to have cooked (they appeared to be short-staffed). The icing on the cake was the cake. One of the waitresses came out of the single toilet rest room just ahead of me. I found pee on the toilet seat. Suspecting that perhaps the toilet sprayed water when flushed, I flushed the toilet, no such luck, no spray.......must have just been pee. Yuck.
(1)Chris S.
I used to really like this Flat Top Grill location, but recently they've taken a bit of a nose dive. They consistently forget my add ons, like flat bread, tofu or making my bowl a wrap. It's become consistent and it's starting make me lose interest in this location, which is too bad. I really like Flat Top and this one is only a couple miles from me. The one thing that really bothers me about this location is that it's not clean and they don't refill their veggies quickly. Even after you ask them to. They're always out of something, whether it's something standard like broccoli or something a bit more obscure, like saitan. If you go here, you might have to ask the waiter to wipe down your table. If you can go to either of the Lakeview locations instead, head there. It might come down to who you want to eat with, privileged northshore brats or Lakeview yuppies.
(3)Laura V.
Oh Flat Top Grill of Evanston, IL...how I miss you so. Sure, I never did learn how to perfect my own pad thai per the recipe on your wall, but while I messed up at it, I created some other really great dishes. (Although, I still wonder who puts cheddar cheese cubes in asian stir fry. I won't do that again.) The thing I like about Flat Tops is that you can eat as much as you want. And, if you screw it up, you can try again. I highly recommend the weird pancake thingy you can choose to top your dish (you'll just have to put the colored stick that corresponds with the pancake in your bowl of ingredients). The even better thing about Flat Tops is their drinks. I love the Tricky Vicki punch. The Mai Thai is good, and there was some drink that had a whole banana in it. That was kind of weird I guess. Now, Flat Top Grill made an attempt to have a location near the Ballston Metro a while back and I was SO excited to see it there. Sadly, it wasn't nearly as good and I think it has since closed. Stick to the best location for Flat Tops - Evanston - you won't go wrong.
(4)Jims L.
I was at first kind of skeptical about eating at this place as I couldn't foresee how well a place called Flat Top Grill could offer good Asian cuisine. I've always had Mongolian BBQ at places called Genghis Kahn or Emperor.. But this place is great! They have a good selection of veggies (mushrooms, onions, scallions, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, sugar snap peas, edamame, etc), meat (chicken, beef, pork, calamari), and most importantly, soooooooooo many sauces. If you're unsure about what sauces you'd like, they offer tasting cups for you to try any you'd like before you add anything yourself, and a list of suggestive combinations that other people have enjoyed. You can also add extras like tofu and roti bread (my favorite) for free, and shrimp for $1 extra or choose to have your stir fri as a soup or mushu? (wrapped in little tortillas). You can mix and match to have your food grilled fresh and ready for you to eat. Delicious! Lunch is always all you can eat for $8.99. A single serving at dinner is $12.99 but I agree that the extra dollar difference for all you can eat is worth it.
(5)Melissa M.
I know I don't hate the concept (I have given other locations of this chain many more stars), or the yuppies, or the service...but I do hate the way that at this particular location a broccoli cilantro stirfry tends to end up with mysterious bits of other vegetables. The concept here is that you pick all sorts of fresh vegetables and meat, ladle on some sauce, perhaps add some extras, and the dish comes back to your table fully cooked. Theoretically you should be able to satisfy the pickiest of eaters with the seemingly endless options. Unfortunately, despite the fact I added a white stick to signal that I have allergies and need food cooked separately, my food came back to the table with little bits of stomach irritant. For someone with a more serious allergy, such an experience could be deadly. DO NOT take people with peanut allergies or other similar sensitivities here. The actual bowl making area is also rife for mistakes, as the containers for the vegetables are set up so that contamination is easy and apparently common. Nearly every bin of vegetables contained something that didn't belong- mushrooms in the noodles, specks of peppers in the edamame, etc. The workers were apparently unconcerned by this. The service was good here, so it's a shame the grill itself was run so poorly. It's likely such problems are common in most restaurants, but here they are flagrantly out in the open, which left my family disgusted.
(1)Virginia T.
It might be expensive for what it is (make your own stir fry) but I always liked this location. It was larger and had better ingredient selections than the Lakeview location. It has definitely gone downhill though. My last trip I was on crutches. I asked to be seated nearer to the front of the restaurant, only to be seated 3 tables from the very back. We made our first stir-fry and after 30 minutes(!!) were informed our food was "on it's way". It wasn't even that busy!!! Finished that bowl and went up for a second....another 20 minutes later and still no food....it finally came and my bowl literally had 2 fork fulls inside it!!! No where near what I had created...and I wasn't about to hobble back up to the front and create another one only to wait another 20 minutes for it! We got a measly "student discount" rate for the three of us and an apology. I left hungry and vowing never to return!
(3)Mark R.
Pretty boring and blah. Not bad, but not enough to get me back in the door.
(2)Melissa B.
Yes, I'm biased. This was my first waitressing job. But the food is awesome! I ate here every day I worked, and then still brought my parents over. The only problem is I eat until I can't stand up. I believe this place would be perfect if they could get a wheelbarrow to cart me back to the car. I always get one more helping than I probably should, but hey, it's mainly veggies and noodles, right? So I'm being healthy, right? Right??? Oh, but if you're interested in dessert, the Chocolate Storm is insane. You'll probably have to share it, but it's sooooooo good.
(5)Avery S.
Well I can't very well give more than 3 stars for creating my own delicious dish but I will award 3 for providing fresh ingredients and cooking my meat and veggies perfectly. Seriously, how do you rate a restaurant where only you are to blame for shitty combinations? Points for the addition sticks(IE adding egg/mu shu/noodle thingy) but minus points for no draft beer. Enough of points though. I had fun bottom line. It's a basic Mongolian Grill that provides good quality ingredients and a good time. Would be fun for a first date or if you live on campus and don't own a car.
(3)Isabel Y.
AWESOME. Flattop was a staple of my college life and I still crave it two years out of school. My stir-fry of choice: veggies, pineapples, and chicken, with peanut sauce slathered alllll over it. With rice! So so so good. Service is friendly if not all too quick (I mean they ARE making your food). Don't bother with the drinks or dessert. They have a student discount if you just get one bowl, although it's definitely fun to try the various combos-- possibilities are endless! Make sure to get the roti bread stick, it's good here!
(5)A C.
ZERO STARS. Yes, you read correctly - If I could give ZERO STARS, I would, but the system puts the minimum to 1. I haven't been to Flat Top in quite a few months, so I thought I'd make a trip here for dinner with a friend. I used to come quite often when I was a graduate student at Northwestern. I will staying away from now on. And here's why: 1) we asked for a booth - we were seated by the maitre d' at a table with 4 chairs. We walked ourselves over to the table with a booth, and another waitress didn't want us to sit there because she said she had some customers reserving the seats for dinner later. Really? I said you must have a lot of customers reserving since the entire row of seats are available (enough to seat like 30). We then walked ourselves over to another booth, and the waiter said it was fine to sit there. 2) Food was just outright DISGUSTING. I mean, I requested one egg to be cooked for my plate - along with roti bread and of course sauces were added to the plate; when I got my cooked food, the egg yolk was still raw and liquid, there was no roti bread, and the sauces were just heavier in some parts of the food than others. This means that they didn't actually stir fry or mix in the food to get the flavors all over. They just left it on the grill, and let the food cook on one side. I went for a second dish and it turned out exactly the same way. 3) Wait times for food to cook - RIDICULOUS. I mean, I had two dishes, and my friend had one, and that cook time was about 1 hour 45 minutes between the both of us. When I went and got a third plate, we ended up waiting another 30 minutes for the food to cook. What's strange is that our food was put up at the grill counter before everyone else. When we eventually got our third plate, everyone else seated around us got it the same time. This means that the cooks cook the food all at once, regardless of when you set your raw food down at the counter. So if I'm at the beginning of a group, and another person is at the end of the group, our food arrives at EXACTLY the same time. It doesn't get cooked to order. It's cooked for group. 4) Service is TERRIBLE - I went to look for our waiter, who was busy with other customers so I went to the bar and the manager said he could help us. I told him the situation, and he said that he took care of everything for us, and even comped our meal. He wanted us to understand that it's dinnertime and busy so that's why it takes 11 minutes from the time we leave the dish up at the grill counter to the time we receive our dish. Uhm, I told him that it was 30 minutes and counting for the last dish I received. And that we've been here over 2 hours already. What lousy service. Didn't even get an apology from the manager. When we got the bill, he "comped" -$2.00 that's right, two dollars off our meal, which still ended up costing about $40 for two people, with tip. I looked more closely at the bill and realized that although we received a negative -$2.00, we were actually OVERCHARGED. My friend had one plate of food, while I had two. So really, her meal should have been cheaper. But he charged us two "UNLIMITED" meals, and subtracted -$2.00 which is incorrect. 5) Seating - too close to other guests. This white mother and daughter were sitting next to us, literally inches from our table, and overhead everything that went on. They even kept looking over and trying to read my receipt and the amount I left for tip (I gave a 20% tip - it's not the fault of the waiter; he's just a young college kid trying to pay off student tuition and bills, so I don't fault him. Rather, its everything and everyone else I have identified above). I found it hilarious and rude at the same time that this white mother/daughter kept glaring over to me and my friend - at the unfinished dish that arrive 2 hours two late, and at my receipt, and at the shoes that I was wearing the entire time). I WILL NEVER BE GOING BACK TO FLAT TOP GRILL - EVANSTON. There are so many other choices just down the street to choose from, and it's more cheap to eat there. Some suggestions: Chipotle, Le Peep, Panda Express, Papa John's, etc. etc.
(1)Dee W.
Decent, I guess. They gave out discounts for student ids - lunch was $7.99 if you only ate one bowl but we were little hungry pigs so we had two and got charged $8.99 instead. My sister tried their pear iced tea which wasn't bad, had a little kick to it. In comparison to the downtown location, I like the downtown location better. Here, service wasn't as friendly or helpful. Things weren't as clearly labeled and I ordered my food as a wrap and my sister ordered hers over tofu. We failed to get any of that. Then, my sister ordered something over salad and I ordered mine with that piece of bread on top. She didn't get her salad and I got a really doughy oily piece of bread on top of my stir fry. Now, at work, I smell like stir fry and still am not that satisfied or full. But the food wasn't bad and at least, they listed out the calories, carbs, and if it had msg for the sauces up on their board. Price-wise, you can probably eat elsewhere and get more full. Dinner is probably a better bet.
(2)Aesha W.
I enjoyed this place. I always leave really full, and the food is pretty good. It's cheaper than Stir Crazy in that you can go up an unlimited amount of times, and each creation you make is slightly different. I've tried all kinds of different sauces and stuff, and everything has been good. We went this morning for the inaugural breakfast at this location, and that wasn't bad, either. The second half of the party deemed it a new fav for breakfast, because they make their omelets really thin, just the way he likes it. They had fresh fruit and muffins, as well as oatmeal, while you waited for your creation. All the juices are had free refills, too - I don't know that I've ever been to a place for breakfast where they offered that.
(4)Peter L.
Love this place. Whenever I'm up in Evanston trying to relive my college years this is the place I want to eat at. Unlimited good food (and ROTI BREAD -- this is key) for a decent price. And if it tastes bad, you only have yourself to blame, even though it seems like whatever I put into my bowl always comes back tasting pretty similar to the previous bowl. Food takes a while to come out, but not unreasonably long. Service has always been good, nice place inside.
(4)Alan R.
I used to love this concept when it first opened (who doesn't love unlimited food for one price). Now, FTG has turned into your basic chain with a concept. They have an abundance of choices, but there is only so much you can do with stir fry. I liked that they had a Filipino sausage as a meat choice (something I definitely had not tried before). The sauces seemed limited. On the whole the food was pretty average. There are definitely better choices in Evanston.
(3)Dave Y.
the concept of this place is AWESOME, but it just doesn't work so well in execution. i love mongolian bbq but the 2-3 times i've been here the food always ended up being pretty bland, and it's a bit pricey. aside from all those mongolian bbq places out in california, there's a chain in michigan called bd's, and their food at least doesn't taste as bland so i dunno why this place isn't as good
(3)Emerson C.
I was in the Evanston area walking around since it was a warm evening. My date and I decided to try something different. We were about to go to panera before we saw the big flat top sign. Its pretty much pile as much as you can and they'll grill it for you. So I chose my noodles, veggies, and sauce... But to my surprise... FILIPINO SAUSAGE.. it has been awhile since I had Tosino. So I piled it up on my separate meat bowl. Gave it to the griller's and took them 15 min to complete it.. I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved my grilled compilation. Whenever I go to these places, I always think of everything tasting the same way... from meet to veggies. To my delight, each individual ingredient had it's own taste, especially the noodles. I will definitely come here again.
(4)Moe f.
It's a good concept but really easy to get too into it and put together too many wierd combos making for a not so tasty dish. The ingredients are always fresh and it is all-u-can eat but I would much rather go to a pan asian place and pick off a menu. Great for kids and vegetarians.
(2)Jeff K.
This place is great! It's located in Evanston near Northwest U. I used to frequent the town with a friend and stumbled on the place when it first opened. It's close to the train station. It's a nice atmosphere, kinda modern minimalism meets feng shui. It's basically a stir fry bar. Like Mongolian BBQ. You choose the ingredients and they cook it up for you. It doesn't matter what you get, everything is good. I don't know how you can mess up!
(4)Maria W.
The food is what you make of it. I would suggest a few small trials so you don't commit to a whole bowl if the sauces aren't quite as tasty as you thought. I like my food spicy and enjoy the hot chili sauce with either of the curries.
(3)Roxy A.
this place was sooo yummay!!! it's a pretty good deal too considering you can get an unlimited amount of stir fries for like $13 and they have student discounts! i like the selections of noodles..ramen & the flat noodles..they also have rice too. a bunch of different veggies, array of sauces and meats/shrimp/tofu that you can put into your stirfry. they also have these little sticks at the end of the buffet line so you can indicate whether you have allergies so they can cook yours seperate from the other stirfires. i reccomend addin the little stick for the roti bread...sooo good! *the only reason why people probably wouldn't like this place is b/c they don't know what to put in their stirfry/don't know what would taste good...you gotta add alot of sauces to make it flavorful, there are also a menu of suggestions on strifries to make if you don't know where to start.
(4)Drennen M.
I had given up on good stir-fry when I left home but this place was amazing. They had foods that it had never occured to me to put in stir-fry - blood oranges, artichoke hearts - and the flat bread that my friend recommended I order was one round disc of oily breaded goodness. It is a little pricey, although lunches are cheaper by a couple of dollars. We went there for a birthday party, and it is well-suited for that purpose, since it's so serve-yourself. Watch out for the cellophane noodles - I'm sure they taste great but they look like they could crawl back out of your throat on their own.
(4)Robyn F.
wow, totally STUFFED from flat top grill! this mongolian stir-fry restaurant is great for mixing and matching whatever foods with whatever sauces you desire. the only downside is that the "recommended recipes" list is at the table but not at the buffet selection. it would be easier if they had a recommended sauce list there with the # of portions per sauce. PLUS - the best part about this is that going from 1 bowl to unlimited portions is only an extra $1. i feel a little sick from eating so much right now, but what a great deal!
(3)Joel F.
This is bar none the best Flat Top Grill that I've ever been to. Southport is pretty good, too, but North Avenue is a pain in the rear end. I've stuck to my meat fest 2000 for the past 8 years and I'm not changing anytime soon -- white rice, with 3 soy ladles, 1-2 chili, dried red peppers, Roti Prata, and whatever meat is available. I can usually stand two rounds at the flat top -- three if I'm going to be going into hibernation afterwards. Again -- this is the nicest of all of the Flat Top Grill locations, even though there are crazy NWU students bouncing off of the walls ;)
(5)Alex K.
Flat top: eat as much generic stir fry as you want pros: if you're extremely hungry it might be a good deal cons: in the end, it's all the same. overall: go to a real restaurant, evanston is full of them.
(2)Nikki S.
One of the few places that will actually call you on your cell when your table is ready, but this can only be to their advantage given the teeny tiny entry-way space and smallish bar area. And it does get packed on a sat night. We were seated at a two-top directly behind the host station. Not an overt complaint because someone has to sit there, right? They have great options and tons of sauces. MYO stir fry is always a good time. It took forever to get our food cooked, though. After drinking all my water to kill the time, I was kind of full after my first bowl. $12.99 is definitely on the pricey side considering it was just noodles, veggies, and some tofu. Not like I was loading it up with steak. Usually you can get a noodle dish with easily twice the amount of food at any pan-Asian place for $8-9, so yeah, I felt a little underwhelmed by my meal. I'd go back only when I'm super hungry and have a few hours to kill.
(3)Sam J.
I can't help but feel like this place is a bacteria nightmare. I'm far from a germophobe, but there's something about a giant buffet with raw ingredients just hanging around all day that makes me kind of queasy. Nothing like finding a random piece of swordfish in your stir fry. Plus without fail my food always sucks, and I have only myself to blame because I picked the ingredients. For the same price you can have a chef at a real restaurant cook your food from start to finish, and it will definitely be better than this.
(2)Lauren D.
If you want to make your own stir fry and don't mind shelling out a few extra dollars, this is a fine place to go. They have some really good cocktails. I'm always satisfied with my stir fry because I can put however much peanut sauce as I want on it, and add more. It's a busier atmosphere... but I've definitely had one or two bad servings/mistakes made... usually the manager is pretty quick to take care of it.
(3)Maria K.
Flat Top Grill has a truly fun atmosphere, great service, and is a fantastic place for all ages. When we first got their we were warmly greeted and told that there would be a twenty five minute wait, but the hostesses told us that we had the option to go and walk around downtown Evanston while some room cleared, so we did and they called us right when a table opened up. The food was delicious because you got to customize your own bowl and have the chefs grill it all up at the front. I recommend this restaurant.
(5)Rob C.
I'm kind of down on the concept to begin with--I go to a restaurant to have food made for me because they make it better than I do. At least this mongolian bbq style place uses color coded bowls and sticks, which is a little different. Also roti. I just went to get full.
(2)James R.
This is one of my favorite places to get a lot of food! You can get as many bowls as you want for like $15. They have very fresh veggies, vegetarian food, as well as meats and seafood. The service is very fast, once you put your ingredients in your bowl, you put a stick with your name on it, and your meal is cooked usually within 10 minutes when it is busy. Add the Roti bread to your bowl, it is amazing. The Desert Pear Lemonade is great too. Its a very casual atmosphere, and definitely go when you're hungry!
(5)Lisa G.
I've been to almost every Flat Top in the Chicago area, and next to the one on Washington [West Loop], this one stands out as being similarly great. Service was friendly, even giving free bowls of chips and jalapeno plum sauce. As per usual, the ingredients were fresh. Service was a bit slow on a Thursday night, but it's a huge place, which is different than other locations that are small and cozier. Still, a great place to feed your stir fry needs.
(4)Gen S.
I really wasn't impressed. It seemed expensive and very crowded. The waitstaff wasn't very helpful or interested in answering questions. The food was decent, especially if you hit on a good combo, but you can waste a lot of food and time testing the waters. The buffet was messy, especially the sauces. All the raw meats mixed in together and falling on the counter top was enough to make me go veg for the night. The best part was probably the pita bread add-on. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Anna V.
Flat Top Grill is awesome! The food is very fresh, there are options for everyone, and the staff is very helpful. I love this place for breakfast and lunch. The first time I went I tried 6 different dishes. Have the options of noodles, rice, soup, salad. Great value!
(4)Jaclyn C.
Way too expensive, but what do you do - it's a fun, make your own, eat all you can stir-fry place. Popular among age groups from highschool to 30somethings, it's a fun place for Northwestern Underclassmen to take the fam and their checkbooks when they visit. They've recently added a lower-priced "1-dish" stirfry option to the menu, but at a price so close to the "all you can eat" that you may as well go for the later. Large drink menu - the mojitos were not too great. bonus - they definitely have a free-birthday dinner when you sign up online.
(3)Kat W.
Nice interior, good service. As for the quality of food, it's all up to you.
(4)David F.
This place is fun but I do have difficulty getting the food to come out right. You pick the ingredients and the seasonings, but this can be a bit difficult. I tend to prefer a simpler dining experience.
(3)Eddie S.
Concept is great, but its the lack of consistency that prevents me from rating it any higher. I've been 2 times (4 times overall throughout Chicagoland) to the Evanston location and the service, food selection have been wildly different experiences. One of the best sauces, the Flattop Grill Sauce was there the first time and not the second time. There are also certain meat selections that have and have not been there. One thing I don't understand is how long it takes to get your food. I think the wait can be 30 minutes for one bowl, so if you plan on having 2 bowls, you'll need about 1.5 hours for your meal. The roti bread is pretty amazing tasting, so that's once of the best options to add to your bowl. The Filipino sausage is my favorite meat selection. I'd also recommend the pad thai sauce. In general, stick to mixing no more than 2 sauces and go easy with the rice and noodles so you can try to get in a second bowl and taste more. Its def a trial and error kind of thing.
(3)A P.
Walked in, looked over the precooked foods, and walked out. Come on, it's Mongolian BBQ, a kinda place where you're supposed to chow down in an unpretentious setting. This place had a snooty host, dark, modern interior, bar height tables and was noisy, in spite of being rather empty. The precooked food selections were poor, rather like a salad bar than what a real Mongolian place has, which is tons of chopped vegetables. They also make you put the raw meat in a little cup. Really! If I want a heaping plate full of meat, then give it to me, you cheap, pretentious soon-to-fail restaurant. I think you were supposed to fill your place with rice or noodles too, for them to stir fry. Cheap-asses. How does this place survive?
(1)Nick B.
High end Mongolian barbecue, and the best I've ever had. Fresh meat (not frozen like a lot of places), plus they bring it to your table after you drop it off at the grill.
(3)Laura R.
I definitely agree that it is a little bit expensive, but personally I think it's worth it. I looooove noodles, so I love trying different combinations of sauces, veggies, and meat with them. You can follow some of their recipe suggestions or be adventurous and make your own. The little pita bread things you can add are really good too!
(4)Ramon R.
I like it because it's dark (which means I can hide out there with a friend) and it's a buffet. But as one reviewer has already said, it's way too expensive. I'd only recommend it if you're wealthy or don't plan to visit it more than once every few months.
(5)Mark P.
Not really a fan of the Mongolian BBQ/stir fry concept.
(1)Julie B.
Beware those with dietary restrictions. We are longtime Flat Top patrons, but recent experiences have been consistently declining. Vegetables are increasingly less stocked and less fresh, service is inconsistent. One of the main reasons we patronize Flat Top is that in concept, it's a great place to accommodate our family's dietary restrictions and eat a healthy meal. Choosing the white 'allergy stick' is supposed to mean that the cooks take special care with your good selections, and that your dish is cooked in a fresh wok, not intermingled with any other dishes. Recently my vegetarian daughter found some meat from another dish in her meal, and I found an item I'm allergic to in mine after it was cooked. Inspection of the cooking area revealed that there were no woks being used,so our dishes had been cooked on the common grill and mixed with other dishes, which explains our experience. I offered polite feedback to the manager, who offered us a discount on a future visit (we had to pay for our meals which contained food that we could not eat), but made no efforts to correct the cooking procedures used, for us or for others who might have life threatening allergies. We will not be returning, and would advise any others with food allergies or restrictions to exercise extreme caution.
(1)Samantha M.
Went to Flat Top last night--service was really unacceptably bad. We waited 40 minutes just to get a table, and the server was inattentive. Our waters weren't refilled, the food took forever to arrive, and we waited 30 minutes between finishing our meals and getting our check. The food itself is good, but it costs a lot for the poor service and time it takes to get your meal.
(1)Vu N.
Service sucks. There was only four other tables in the restaurant last night and it took our waiter thirty minutes to get our check. Our bill came out to be thirty three dollars and I gave him a five dollar tip was was pretty nice of me for him doing nothing. He didn't even refill our waters. He literally went off to do nothing and walk around after we asked for the check. Food is good but not worth it if the staff is as consistent as diarreaah
(1)Emma W.
ALLERGY PEOPLE BEWARE. I was sitting by the grill, so I literally watched as they cooked 35 meals ahead of mine just because I used the allergy stick, including dozens who arrived after me. Every person in the restaurant got to eat ahead of me. No apology from the waitress even after I pointed this out. Go the downtown location instead.
(1)George J.
I like this place, the first time might be a little tricky til you learn how to be efficient in creating your bowl. It's fun and you can keep changing it up with different combos and the all you can eat is fairly priced. The only bad thing here is the servers are unpredictable, one day you will have a server who is fast and brings you your food quick and other times you have the slow waiter who takes forever. I would rate this place a 3 1/2 star!
(3)CoraLynn C.
They have now started to charge $4 for an extra bowl of meat, at least at this location.
(5)Natalie S.
Came to FlatTop for a casual reunion dinner with 4 friends on a busy Wednesday night. We enjoyed a few appetizers, cocktails and the create your own stir fry meals. The food was delicious (defiantly try the quesodillas!) as usual and our waitress was attentive, accommodating and delightful. There was an issue with one of the stir fry's preparation and (because of how busy they were) my friend had to explain the situation to a runner instead of our waitress. While the initial encounter with this runner was not to be desired a manager quickly resolved the situation. Management and waitstaff clearly take costumer satisfaction seriously, and our party greatly appreciates their efforts. We will be coming back to this establishment soon :)
(5)Matt R.
Great when it's not crowded, poor when it is. Flat top is a great place to go, for lunches. For dinners and/or other times of the day it gets to be pretty pricey. It is however, quite awesome for what it is. It's the same as any other stir fry place: pick all your components, your seitan, your vegetables, and fry! Optionally tell them to prepare it differently, add tofu, make it into a soup, etc. To me personally every option for preparation that involves it being made differently are incredibly poor. The Mu-shu option or something like that is basically putting the vegetables into a small wrap, or you can ask to do it in a lettuce wrap. I suppose the latter might be ok, but the former is just kinda annoying. It's easier to "hold" and/or eat your meal, but I didn't like it personally. The soup option is also a bit kinda crappy. Note that you don't *have* to have it prepared differently. You could do "add tofu" on the left side of the area with the sticks without including the sticks on the right side that mean "prepare differently" Meanwhile, on the same note you don't pay much extra to eat your fill, and there are a lot of pretty good options - sprouts, seitan, quorn, and unique toppings to add. I wish I could find the garlic water (it wasn't labeled last time, maybe they moved it) as I find that to be the most simple/delicious/least unhealthy sauce option. Many of the other sauces include added sugar/oil/etc. I find I like the thai, spicy and curry flavors the most. I do think the curry mix is a nice mix. So that is the upsides of the place. Lets get to the downsides, as well. The downsides are: getting appetizers are a really, really bad idea. I get the feeling that any chefs in the back are simply not prepared/well equipped to have any appetizers brought out, even things as simple as Edamame. Every time I have ordered Edamame or any other appetizer it has come out sometime after the actual stir-fry comes back to the table. They have refunded the appetizers - we don't want it at that point, obviously, but it has happened often enough that I would be lead to believe that it's simply not going to be prepared as quickly as the stir-fry, and thus is not worth ordering. It was a nice idea, but never again. Then we get to downside #2: crowded. This is a popular location for Northwestern students, which is completely fine. However, it also can mean that the place is completely mobbed with people, which means a significant wait to get in and a significant wait in having the stir fry brought to the table. The chances of this happening seem completely random but certainly higher in the evenings, but it would certainly ruin the experience. I will continue to come here from time to time to get healthy options, as this is one of the few places in evanston you can actually get fried vegetables without oil/sugar/etc.
(4)Matthew S.
Came today for lunch and had a bad experience. Unfriendly staff and the food is not good.
(1)Hector N.
We did take out. Food was ok. Corporate emailed me saying 4 out of 5 of the alternative meats were vegan. Turns out only one is. According to the staff at the restaurant anyway. Take out took over 30 minutes to be ready. Our food was places out in the open for 5 min before being boxed up and flies were around. The host boxed it up without gloves or washing her hands after handling all those menus in her hands which on average have a million more bacteria than a toilet seat. Was not satisfied.
(2)Meredith C.
Flat top grill in Lakeview is literally my favorite restaurant on the northside. Therefore, when I moved to Evanston, I was thrilled to find this. It was the first place I went to with all there is to choose from. Sadly, I am very disappointed. No hostess when we walked in. Waited a few minutes, decided to seat ourselves at the bar. No one at bar. Finally a guy showed up and sat us. Waited about 10 minutes for another man to bring drinks. We asked if we could go get our food, he said "No. Someone will be over to serve you." Um what? Isn't that what you're doing right now? So we sat for ten more minutes and no one said anything. Finally a nice server told us to serve ourselves, which is what we asked twenty minutes prior. Food was fine, but just not as awesome as Lakeview location. No toilet paper in women's restroom. A woman with a toddler asked for some, she waited for about ten minutes while no one brought it to her. It wasn't that busy, mid afternoon. Disappointing. Meh.
(2)Erin Y.
Food quality is the same as any Flat Top. It's great when you're in the mood for stir fry, however, I think Stir Crazy is better. My main problem with my experience tonight was service. I came on a Monday night with some friends. We were seated quickly, which was nice, but received little attention afterward. The restaurant wasn't anywhere near full on a Monday; yet, we barely saw our server and the food took ages to come out. Overall, the food is typical but the service was underwhelming.
(2)S C D.
I love rice! And I love the delicious multitude of ways they have to prepare the food. Fresh vegetables galore. A host of sauces. Meat selections for those who crave them. I rediscovered how much I enjoyed this place. Our family has a variety of restrictions: all of which are easily accommodated. Great for children. Casual setting. Moderately noisy. Great service.
(4)Don F.
What a difference mediocre wait staff makes. Otherwise plenty of fresh vegetarian options. Just be prepared to wait.
(3)Robin M.
There is no more unlimited option for the make your own stir fry. A second bowl is $4. Extra meat per bowl is $4. There is a limit of 3 meat choices per bowl. If you get a 3rd bowl, it is full price. The only time I'd ever come back here would be with the email list coupons that Flat Top sends out on occasion. I suspect someone at corporate wanted to save on food costs because this does not add to the consumer experience. I am hoping that Flat Top will reinstate the unlimited menu after they consistently lose customers each quarter.
(1)Cathlyn D.
There use to be a choice that you can get as much meat as you want (buffet style) Now they changed it and the server tells you you're only allowed up to three meats of your choice (1/2 lbs each which is not much) I don't think il come back here anytime soon. Save your money and go else where.
(1)S. S.
Really need to update the decor, clean the bathrooms regularly and mop the floors. There are clumps of mud stuck to the floor, the bathroom floors were sticky, the lighting is dark, cracks on the leather booth etc. Just a gross restaurant environment that doesn't make you want to sit there and eat. Also made me think if they don't have a meticulously kept restaurant then maybe they also don't care about the freshness of foods, sauces, meats and preparation stations. Also $12.99 for 1 serving and $4 more for unlimited dinner per person is pretty expensive. I gave 2 stars for our waitress who was friendly and attentive, but I'm pretty sure I won't come back unless they update this location.
(2)Allie Z.
Have been to this restaurant many times and always had pretty good service. Not so on my most recent visit. Went on a Sun. afternoon w/3 girlfriends for my birthday lunch. They were obviously understaffed since our waitress was also acting as bartender. She was slow and inattentive and we had to aggressively seek her out for everything we needed--even to take our orders. To top it off we had a VERY long wait for our food from the grill. Two of my friends who had ordered non-grilled entrees, were served and done eating before the rest of us even got our food. Asked the waitress to check on our orders--that didn't help. Finally one of us went up to the grill to inquire but still we waited even longer. Probably half an hour, which is a ridiculously long wait time! Unbeknownst to me, a bunch of other friends were waiting at my house for a surprise party and this really threw off the timing. That wasn't Flat Top's fault...just sayin'. At least the (double-shot) tiki punch was epic!!!
(1)Dan L.
They lost the point of being flat top grill. They still expect you to create your own dish but there's no longer bottomless food. What's the point of letting yourself mess up your own food? It used to be about experimentation but now you pay to pick one combo that you're likely to mess up.
(2)Hannah H.
I actually really enjoy Flat Top Grill. If you're an NU student, you get a student discount, which is pretty awesome (about $1-2 off the regular price) - just show them the ID. I used to come here for a lot of dinner get-togethers as it is fun and a laid-back atmosphere. The spread is usually kept clean and usually refilled efficiently. Veggies, starches (white rice, brown rice, noodles), to meats (beef, chicken, pork, seafood), and the sauces are all available. There are also colored sticks to spruce up your bowl; I usually get the blue stick that gets you the Roti Prata Bread, which is this nice slightly-fried roti bread that is chewy and delicious. They used to have grilled shrimp for free, but now it's an additional $3 :( Once you're done selecting your starch and veggies and add the meat (in a separate bowl) and choose your optional sticks, you stick your wooden stick with your name on it at the counter in the front; then the stir-fry gurus up at the front cook it up for you and your server delivers them for you, based on the order it was received. I usually stick with the teriyaki and peanut sauce, as I like that combination of the sauces. You can either stick with one bowl or unlimited, and the service is usually friendly. This place can definitely get packed on weekends. +discounts for NU students +Roti Prata Bread +teriyaki & peanut sauce +AYCE stir-fry
(4)James P.
I really have two problems with this place: a) If I go to a restaurant and didn't like the food, the solace I get is to complain about the chef. At Flattop you can only blame yourself. The concept of the Flattop restaurants is just weird. In the past I had to experiment to get a 'creation' just right, Which meant I made small batches, because you can always go back and try something different. Which gets me to the next point b) The restaurant appears to have changed so you get only one bowl of food. I am sorry but that is one of heck of a change that should be made very clear right from the start. I would have loved to know that before I walked up and filled my bowl only 1/4 full in order to cautiously try my mixture of veggies, sauces and meat (the meat by the way has to be pre-ordered). This at something like $13 the bowl which is a price straight from fantasy land and not based on the fact that you essentially get a few hand-fulls of vegetables. I am certainly not going back.
(1)F K.
Pretty horrible experience where a massive lemonade was accidentally dumped down my mother-in-law's back. The (waitress and manager) were apologetic, and all of us at the table were super nice about the incident, BUT they didn't even remove a single meal off the bill. VERY poor decision especially when the coat and sweater will likely have to be dry-cleaned, and she was soaking wet and cold the entire meal. They have also changed some of their sauces and ingredient options for the worse.
(2)Sahil A.
I came here for the first time after passing this place everyday for two years. Sadly, I could have skipped the place. The basic concept is pick out your vegetables, select up to 4 meats and they'll cook it all up for you stir fry style on a flat top grill. The vegetables were fine, but the meat was a bit skeptical. The pork tasted like gray and the fajita chicken tasted like salt. Plenty of food, but there are better options in Evanston.
(2)Jane W.
Surprised I haven't reviewed this place after going for the past 3 years. The idea of a make-it-yourself stir fry place is pretty cool, and you get a lot of food for the price you pay. Basic rundown: Pros: good variety of meats (calamari, white fish, Filipino sausage, chicken, pork, beef), lots of healthier/vegetarian choices, ROTI BREAD, friendly service Cons: Usually end up overeating and have to practically roll myself out of the restaurant. Sometimes the chefs seem to lose bits and pieces of my stir-fry.
(4)Jon L.
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO and you'll be alright. Your enjoyment of Flat Top entirely depends on your own ability to put together a delicious meal. I personally love the variety of veggies, grains, sauces and meats and always wind up with something tasty and interesting. If putting together your own meal is not your thing, don't come here!
(4)Richard B.
It was Fathers Day, and my family wanted to take me out for lunch. I figured that they would take me to a place for dumpster diving, or maybe escort me to a fast food place which was offering some kind of two-fer. But, wonder of wonders, they took me to a real eatery in mysterious and exotic Evanston, home of the WCTU, NU, and high property taxes. Flat Top Grill is one of these do-it-yourself wok places. I have patronized a few restaurants like Flat Top, and I wrote a review of the Mongolian Grill a few months ago. (In this case, I shall not make any references to a South Park episode featuring the City Wok guy.) Like many of these restaurants, we were immediately greeted by a friendly and efficient receptionist, who showed us to our table. Our gracious waitress explained their modus operandi and had the patience to deal with my silly jokes and puns. Either she had the patience of Job, or really wanted a nice fat tip. We were issued two bowls. One was to fill up with veggies, sauces, and other items made available to us, and the other was used to fill up with protein entries. They offered many types of sauces, so I brewed up an eclectic brew of peanut sauce, soy sauce with sesame, and a splash of other goodies. I chose a mix of chicken and some vegetarian protein for the smaller bowl. Diners can also choose breads, lettuce, and other add-ons. The concoction was stir fried and returned to our table within ten minutes. As far as I was concerned, everything was OK, and I was completely satiated. One minor drawback is that due to the design of the ingredients table, some of the contents tended to migrate from one bin to another - or to the floor. So in conclusion, I liked going there, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes stir fry. Our waitress did a nice job, and I authorized a nice tip. What do I care? My family picked up the tab - not me!
(4)Nina I.
This place is cute when you're looking to go somewhere to get a lot of food but for a decent price, and you don't want a buffet to be your option. I like the flexibility of customization the only thing that needs to be improved is the way servers interact. Maybe eliminating them all together? I know I'm going to sound cheap, but I don't think I should ever be made to fill the need to tip someone who pretty much only brings me my soda... I would recommend this place though. It's spacious, and in the middle of Evanston, surrounded by many young people and every one is really nice (from most of my experiences so far). Definitely come here with some one who's been there before, though, because the sauce and noodle or rice combo is sometimes hard to hit on the head the first time you try to make your own (Asians make their food look so much easier to make and flavor than it actually is! I definitely appreciate it!). Come on in a try it yourself. :]
(4)Catherine Z.
Read the full review on my food blog! catthecritic.wordpress.c… Flat Top Grill allows you to create your own stir-fry dish, and it's pretty simple. When seated, you write your name on the stick at your table, and then bring that and your bowl up to the counter where you can make your own stir-fry, aka you pick the portions, you can mix-and-match sauces if you so desire. If a protein (say, chicken or pork) is desired, then you grab a few ladle-fulls of raw protein, some of which have been marinated, and put it in a separate bowl. Some locations offer seasonal items to mix into your stir-fry, like asparagus and quinoa in the summer! You can also choose side items or extra additions to your bowl, including tofu, eggs, cheese, shrimp, or their famous roti prata bread, which, by the way, is actually quite on-point. Then you bring your bowl to the flat top grill that's visible from the restaurant's window and wait for them to bring your food to you! I have little complaint about the food itself. Nothing was under-done or over-cooked. The prata bread was crispy yet chewy and I seemed to have added the perfect amount of sauce (3 ladles). If you want a more soupy consistency, add another scoop, but beware of all that sodium and sugar! The red bowls are meant to increase appetite. Smart move, Flat Top. Maybe we'll all upgrade to the buffet-style meal for $4. A few setbacks: On a Sunday evening, the wait for the food itself was around 30 minutes, though the restaurant was pretty busy. Seems to go against the concept of stir-fry, which is meant to be speedy quick. It's also quite loud. But you should expect this, as Flat Top is a popular go-to restaurant for Northwestern students. Make-your-own-anything is appealing, and when the meal at hand is stir-fry, you know the place will be filled with rowdy young people. Don't order any appetizers. Though they may taste good, they are so ridiculously overpriced that nothing is worth it. ($5 for 4 dumplings?!) The whole ordeal seems like a disaster waiting to happen if you have severe allergies. Even though they attempt to prevent this issue by cooking your meal separately if you indicate you have allergies, it still seems very likely that their sauce bar could get messy, very quickly. Or the table that everyone's bowls are placed upon could easily suffer a mix-up. As it pertains to authenticity, Flat Top seems to take a fusion-like approach to Asian cuisine. Their website concedes that the strongest Asian influence is "Asian style" and "Asian-inspired"... The final verdict: every Northwestern student should try this place out at least once in their time here. Go with a small group of people for the best experience, and go for lunch. The lunch option is $10 (limited time only!) on weekdays, while the dinner costs $13, which is nothing different. You might consider upgrading to unlimited food, but if you are strategic, you can fill your stomach up easily if you pack your bowl well enough.
(4)Eliza G.
Service was terrible. Felt like we weren't welcomed. Food was ok. My meal was Luke warm .
(1)Yuki Z.
A go-to place near school. went to there for so many times. Very casual and tasty! sometimes it really depends on the sauce you added. One concern is waiting. Usually only need to wait about 20 minutes, but last time waited for about 40 minutes. Kinda ridiculous.
(4)Angela B.
In the past I have always enjoy coming to flattop I was there yesterday May 4 very disappointing almost a $20 meal for one serving and a drink ( Pop ) wish I had went next-door to chipotle. It look like they has some citations that's why all the new changes.
(1)Jim G.
Sad that they now portion out the protein to 1/4 lb. per trip. Adding more protein to my bowl was my favorite part.. That will definitely influence future trips here.
(2)Jimmy J.
This place has declined so badly over past 5 years In need of serious money makeover and renovation. Bowls, plates are old. Crap ambiance. Nothing looks fresh and appetizing. Go to L.E.Y.E Big Bowl to see how well run operation looks like.
(1)Sara K.
Service is terrible. Always understaffed, always overbooked. Silverware is dirty. Food is cheap and good if you can stomach a ridiculous wait. And don't even try making reservations on a weekend night, or they'll tell you they're "not taking any more reservations" at 4pm.
(2)Emily S.
I come here mostly with my boyfriend or best friend. I always enjoy the food, never really had a problem with it. Also the brownie for dessert is delicious! Never have gotten seconds, and I have only ordered alcoholic drinks occasionally because they are a bit pricey in my opinion. Everything is good however the last few times I've been here the service hasn't been great. I went about a week ago with my boyfriend on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. Everything was fine in the beginning, but while we were still eating our waitress asked if we wanted any dessert or anything else and we said no at the time, and then she proceeded to give us our check. This wouldn't have bothered me but my boyfriend was just about finished but I still had a lot left in my bowl. I just thought it was incredibly rude to bring the check while we were not even finished yet. We did not get dessert and I did leave a tip but not a generous one because I hate feeling rushed. Being a server myself, I understand if you're busy or want to get out of work but at least wait until were both finished eating to bring the check. Like I said the food never disappoints me but the service hasn't been good the last few times I've been here.
(3)Ivaylo B.
A make-your-own stir fry joint is not unpleasant, like it seems. Just as Nogai Khan decided to micromanage Bulgaria himself by instating Smilets I as Tsar, designing your bowl of stir-fry is best when done yourself. Though I'm not too keen on the fact that they don't let you eat the raw beef and that ram's blood is not an optional sauce, everything else is exactly as it should be!
(4)Stacy O.
I struggle with restaurants that are are chores in addition to being dining experiences. It's why I don't order fajitas -- someone cooks a bunch of food and then delivers it to me and expects me to do the assembly work. I like Flat Top for what it is. I appreciate the ability to customize my food, try new things, and eat way too much edamame. But it's priced high, particularly for the single bowl serving. They do a great job with managing allergies, though, so we'll keep going back as long as they keep me allergen free.
(3)Sharon C.
I love going to Flat Top! Every time I go I say that I'm going to take some home, but somehow I always eat so much that it stops being worth it. I always get both noodles (layer the noodles and vegetables for maximum piling), two bowls of meat (the Filipino sausage is so good), and tofu, two eggs, and two roti pratas. You might be able to tell that I seriously work at getting my money's worth out of Flat Top. Their meats and vegetables are always very fresh, and personally I've never found a way to go wrong with sauce combinations. TIP: Sign up for their mailing list and get BOGO on your birthday!
(4)Cheryl C.
DO NOT trust the safe allergy claim. The food bar is a mess and I should have known better. Cries contamination caused my daughter a reaction. The floors are sticky too. Stay away is you want a clean and safe restaurant.
(1)L E.
This was our favorite go to dinner / lunch place, tonight we went there and I noticed the chicken looked seasoned. I asked the cook at the grill if it was spicy and he said no. The chicken was always just natural chicken as there are so many variety of sauces to add your own taste. We got our bowls and after the first bite, it tasted like fajita chicken and a terrible combination! I complained to the waiter and he was aware. He said they have had many complaints and blamed it on their corporate location had sent it and it would be replaced in a few weeks. No discount on my check either, pretty sad!
(2)Sanford R.
It's very expensive for what it is. Some people enjoy being able to make their own bowls, but I personally don't like the experience and would rather go somewhere that has that already figured out. The food itself is average, but I didn't care for seconds. My wife on the other hand really enjoyed her meal, so circumstances may bring me back. I can't say I am a fan though.
(2)Carlos B.
Flat top definitely has an interesting concept...create your own stir-fry. It is usually very busy during the dinner hours, especially during the weekend. In one occasion we had to wait 40 minutes for a table. The waiting time is just ridiculous. However, the stirfry can be a hit or a miss. On Saturday, after not visiting the restaurant for months due to a bad experience, I had the best stirfry. The noodles were perfect and the sauces really gave the dish a great taste. I must admit their ingredients bar needs to be clean constantly because it was a mess. Someone should be in charge of keeping the ingredients neat to avoid mixing. Our waitress was okay, I felt that she could have come to our table more often to see if we needed anything. Overall the food was great for the price paid.
(3)Shahina V.
I used to love this place and since they've changed the setup for their items it really has affected my opinion of this place. They've bumped up the price on drinks or taken away refills on certain non alcoholic signature drinks. The taste was compromised and I don't think I will be returning here. I will miss you, old FTG.
(2)Daniel A.
Good food. Service has been good too. Disappointed they stopped the all you can eat lunch. $10 is too much for a bowl of stir fry. I won't be going back unless they revert to all you can eat. Otherwise this review would have been four stars.
(2)Sara J.
NO LONGER BOTTOMLESS!!!! Now you pay $12.99 for the first bowl, $4 for the second, and $12.99 for the third. You order the kind of meat you want and they bring you a bowl with a ticket. You get a half pound of meat and if you want a full pound it's $4 extra. They've become just like stir crazy :( When stir crazy did this, it was the last time we ate there, and now we are disappointed to be having our last meal at Flat Top.
(1)Adrienne M.
Not clean! It's so unsanitary there. Once the food is cooked, it tastes great but where you go up to put meat/veggies/rice etc seems like a hot mess every time I go. The sauces get mixed in with others and all the meats end up get mixed together too. Definitely not the place to go if you have food allergies! Whatever oil they cook/sauté the food in always gives us major diarrhea and stomach pain. :/
(2)KevCheng ..
We used to really like this Flat Top Grill, but our most recent visit was very disappointing. It took about half an hour to get each round of food, so a 3 round meal took close to 2 hours. Soup came out lukewarm, hot and sour soup came out all sour and inedible. Service was very slow. A miserable meal.
(2)Jay L.
I want to like this restaurant. The concept is great -- design your own stir-fry -- and there are lots of fresh vegetables. Our son likes choosing his own food and sauces. And I've taken some friends there because they seem very accommodating with food allergies. But the service is a bit of a crap shoot every time. Today our drink orders were lemonade, Diet Coke, and Pinot Noir. We got lemonade, Coke, and Pino Grigio. We waited for what seemed like a rather long time to get our food. I could sort of deal with that, but the food we could see sitting out for five minutes waiting to be delivered turned out to be ours. The servers seemed to be in back more than they were on the floor -- which seems odd for a restaurant that has the cooking area in full view. The service problems strike me as more about training and management expectations than the number of servers or the busyness of the restaurant. I think we've officially given up on this restaurant.
(2)Demerike P.
I seriously don't understand why I come back. Worst customer service and I always leave pissed
(1)Lois C.
I've already reviewed for flat top but something keeps coming back to me.. how dirty this place is. Although the food is good and I love being able to make my own food, I feel like the plates/bowls being dirty has me grossed out enough that I don't want to come back quite as frequently. Wish they would step up their game when it comes to cleaning their dishes. Today the manager was walking around and did a great job of asking each table if they were doing okay. I saw the manager around more than I did my own server. You would think that without having to actually hand out everyone's meals, etc. that the server would be around more often but he was hardly around and he never even gave me his name (which I hate when I go to a restaurant). Definitely subtracting a star from my original review because of the cleanliness but i still do enjoy the restaurant.
(3)Brad S.
I loved this place and came religiously for years but father time has not aged it gratefully. The staff was funky now they treat you like you smell funky. The vegetables were plentiful and constantly changing now it looks like the leftovers from the back of the freezer. When I called for reservations in was told that they were booked up and I could wait, I asked for an estimate and was told it was impossible to tell. When I got here there was no wait and the place was empty. The waitress was full of attitude and could not be bothered with the simple like may I have an extra bowl. The manager Sandy(?) was the lone bright spot, she was playful with my kids and attentive to the issues. I hope that the management can save this ship. Just to be clear this is a one star for tonight but I gave one more for history.
(2)Lisa A.
It's not my favorite go to place to eat because I like table side service. I don't like making my own meal, but that being said, the food is of good quality each time I have gone in with the kids. My kids love it and like making their own dishes. The trick is to get enough sauce so your food has plenty of flavor and is not too bland. Follow the suggestions on the menu or ask for assistance from the hostess or servers. 3 ladles of sauce in total is usually good or 4 scoops at the most. I like that there are several different starches offered, white or brown rice, egg or rice noodles. At the end of the line, you have to add the stick for ROTI bread. I walked the restaurant and there is not one table that did not have Roti bread by them. I usually don't have room to order and appetizer or dessert because the food is so filling. Food is reasonable priced and they offer student discounts with ID.
(4)Otto A.
If I was under 25, I might see the appeal...but I am not and for special nights my kids love this place. Just a little messy, most every time. Easy to cross contaminate food, leading to illness. Generally pleasant servers. Everything tastes the same to me.
(2)Helen S.
Love this place, it's probably one of the tastiest, relatively healthy quick eating places in Evanston. I've gotten really pro at packing my bowl to the max -- I come with friends, and they always gawk at me when they see how much food I have in my bowl compared to their measely noob half-empty bowls. You just gotta squish everything down and pack it up, and I usually have enough leftovers that it can feed me for an additional meal. I've also been here for brunch, it's so fun. I just get a whole bowl of blueberries for a pancake, and then when it comes out, my pancake is all blue because of how many blueberries I put in. So yum.
(4)Noah P.
CURRENTLY I AM ON MY WAY TO THE MOVIES FROM THE RESTAURANT. The movie starts in two minutes and I am 20 minutes away because I waited an hour and 15 mins after being told it was a 20 minute wait! If I am late to the movie I will have my lawyer all up in their business. Food was good tho. Nice overall experience.
(2)Daphne L.
I usually love the Flat Top but a recent experience skeeved me completely. Went for dinner on a Saturday night with two friends, and wanted to sit outside since it was a lovely evening. We were told it would be a 20 minute wait, however, there were maybe 3 of 8 tables occupied outside. There was a shorter wait for inside, which I still don't understand, but we were hungry so we gave up our dreams of dining al fresco. Cut to the chase: one of my friends ordered lettuce wraps, which were delivered to the table with a half-dead, struggling fly, stuck to a piece of lettuce. When we pointed this out to our server, he barely eeked out an apology. I was grossed out and immediately lost my appetite. Oddly enough, I've never felt like this location is as clean as it could (should) be.
(2)James A.
Flat top is one of those build-your-own dinner places. Overall, I think they have a great set-up, and the food quality was very high. There are plenty of reviews here already, so i'll just address what my main concern was. The biggest risk in coming here is that you'll put together a dish with mismatched flavors, spices, textures, etc etc. To be sure, this is a very real possibility if you walk in feeling over confident of your culinary skills. Me, I know that I can't cook worth a damn. So I just asked our waitress to suggest some good combinations for me. They also have a food bar tender who can assist you if you've got any questions related to sauce proportions, extras, etc etc. My advice would be to keep it relatively simple - only take like 3-4 toppings, and 2 types of sauces for your first go around. Only get more adventurous once you know what you're doing. The colored straw system can be a bit confusing, so I'd recommend going with someone who has been there before. Anyway - I had a stir fry with a mixture of the thai curry sauce and the horseradish sauce - turned out very good. My gf got the soup option with Filipino sausage and some mushroom sauce - also very good.
(4)Greg F.
Flat Top is a great place to grab lunch while walking around Evanston. A buddy and I took a bit of time walking around getting to know the town when we stumbled on this jem. If you like Mongolian BBQ then you will love this place. You pick the ingredients, meat, veggies, sauces. They have some really good sauces. They also had little wrappers that you could get your stir-fry wrapped up in. It's your choice. You pile it nice and high in a bowl and then the chef cooks it up. Delicious does not begin to explain this place.
(4)Tricia D.
I don't know if Flat Top always had breakfast on Sat. and Sun., but am I glad they do! For a flat price of $9, you can have breakfast and/or lunch and go up and get food until you're stuffed silly. I had an egg scramble, breakfast potatoes, and a pancake, and it was fantastic! There were also french toast, omelette, oatmeal, and assorted fruit and muffin options. The different topping and mixin options were plentiful. The only funky tasting thing was the breakfast potatoes, that came in the form of potato shreds that tasted like fried stringyness. But I'm over it.
(4)Nami S.
Just love the place......will be back soon
(4)R J.
I have eaten at this particular restaurant many times before, but after the service I received the other day I may never go back. Everything started off just fine first plate and a 10 minute wait. The second plate is where the problems started. We waited over 25 minutes to have our 2nd plates delivered. After they were delivered my Pilipino sausage was still raw (it was cool to touch). I called over our server and then the manager they both told me it was fine. It just looks like that. Needless to say I didn't eat it. The manager was pretty rude and had an attitude.
(1)Ord-Sf O.
Decent meal. I'm not vegan, but had a decent selection of foods. A little pushy towards closing.
(3)Dee H.
I like this restaurant's other locations, but this one is not kept clean. The cold bar where you select your vegetables and meats is dirty- especially the raw meat area. The restaurant has a bad smell and the restrooms are not kept clean.
(1)Leo S.
I'm not normally a fan of these kind of places, but Flat Top does it right. The enormous selection of ingredients and sauces is also bolstered by the many ways to get your food prepared like as a soup or lettuce wrap. The roti bread is delicious: do not forget to try it. Service is pretty bad; it's like they don't care after they get your drinks. For the price not a bad option if you want to stuff yourself.
(4)Andrew H.
The only time I was here, I saw stuff on the counters and things getting a bit dirty, but that was probably because I went around 8 at night (after a long night of traveling). I go to Purdue University in Indiana and their food is just like the dining court food back there...however, props to their naan (or bread, I believe it was the blue stick) which was really good. Good for Evanston...they do a good job getting food out fast though (well, for a stir fry). Solid 3 star restaurant.
(3)Natalie S.
Worst. Service. Ever. I Flat Top a lot. However, from now on, I'll only Flat Top at the Belmont-Southport location. All the rest are garbage. We came with a party of 9. We were sat for lunch at 1:15. The restaurant was less than half full. We got our bowls on the counter by 1:30. All of our food wasn't on our table until 2:15. Ridiculous. Then, half the orders were wrong. My aunt wanted mooshu, got stir fry. My brother wanted bread, didn't get it. Things were mixed in my Grandmother's bowl that she didn't put in there. My Mom asked for tofu, didn't get any. When my husband got his mooshu on this second trip, the wraps were so dry they crumbled. The server was incompetent. We asked for boxes... took 20 minutes to bring them. We asked for a dessert menu... never got one. Even after we reminded him. My grandma wanted more hot water for tea and it took him 15 minutes to bring it. My aunt wanted to throw her chopsticks at him in hopes it got his attention. Doubtful. We asked our waiter about the status of our food after 30 minutes and we got a blank stare, shrug of his shoulders and a "I don't know". Thanks, dude. The restaurant wasn't even close to capacity so I cannot imagine how crappy the service would be if they had a full house. Won't be back. Eva. How this establishment stays in business is beyond me.
(2)Courtney W.
My favorite Flat Top location! It's flooded with college students and they take the Northwestern theme seriously. This location is also the biggest I've seen and they have ample street parking. The service here is excellent, even when there is a lengthy wait. They keep my tea full to the brim. The make your own stir fry bench is open on both sides so there is less of a wait to get to your favorite ingredients. The grill is still the same size so it may take a little bit longer to get your food but it's worth the wait. They now take reservations so make sure to call ahead because there can be quite a wait. Ask for suggestions if you aren't sure what taste you're going for. It can get really bad really fast. I'm partial to brown rice and horseradish sauce. It's delectable if you're into that kind of thing. Add some roti bread, you will not regret it. Watch out though because they now charge to add shrimp and their meats are all preserved in soy sauce and the added sodium can really kick your butt.
(4)Park R.
Flawed concept sounds good, so many options. In reality, over-priced, do-it-yourself mediocrity. Worst of both worlds, except not having to clean up. I saw someone take raw chicken with the broccoli tongs. And I realized I'd not be back. Staff was nice.
(2)Maureen T.
We went to Flat Top on a Wednesday evening at 6:30 for my sister's birthday. We sat outdoors, which is a great place for people watching. It was a beautiful night and I'll admit that the restaurant was pretty busy. It appears that our waitress was the only one serving the entire patio area. As usual we put in our order and we waited over 30 minutes (probably more like 40 minutes?) to get our food. The food was very good but the service was downright lousy. Our waitress was just too busy even to refill our water glasses. Check out the crowd before you sit down. If it is busy you'll want to think twice. You might have a very long wait for your food just like we did.
(2)Corina V.
I have been coming to this Flat Top for a very long time, but this time was the worst that I have experienced at any Flat Top. It was pretty busy when my friend and I went for lunch and were told the wait would be about 15-20 minutes but we saw empty spots at the bar so I asked if we could sit there if there was no wait. The hostess told us that it would be about 5 minutes because they needed to set it up. 15 minutes later another group came in and asked to sit at the bar.... they got seated right away. When I asked her about it, she apologized and said there would be a table ready for us. So did you forget about us? I would comment on our server, Chantel but we never saw her. The hostess asked us what we wanted to drink while we were getting food and that was it. We waited 30 minutes for our food (which was missing a bunch of ingredients and had a lot of other ingredients that I didn't put in there). We might have seen the server when she dropped off the food but I don't know, because she never introduced herself. If I ever crave Flat Top again, I will definitely be sure to make the drive into the city.
(1)Day C.
So the thing I like about this place is the concept is different and pretty exciting. But I was so embarassed to bring my mom here because the plates and bowls were filthy. I told her lots of my friends from school enjoyed this place and I ended up looking like a fool with the way I talked it up. Also, I found that the meat that I put on my plate at the self-serve station was not what I got back, which makes me think that they cooks pull off some of the meat you put on your plate if you put too much. Other than that the food was good, but I just cant ignore those to problems.
(3)AJ M.
If you love stir fry and love to have things your way this is the place for you. Very similar to Stir Crazy, but this place is has more options, tastes better, and is cooler. The $9.99 lunch special (7.99 for students) is great for one bowl which if loaded right should be all you need. Often times when i get the unlimited I can barely finish 1 1/2 but i load mines up with shrimp, tofu, and the roti. There are so many sauces you kinda gotta mix and match flavors and hope ur creation taste good. Most times it goes well , but sometimes things turn out differently then u expect but will still prb taste good. Sometimes they have philiphino sausage which is really good.
(4)Anna S.
To say that I was disappointed is sort of an understatement. I usually LOVE Flat Top Grill, but today was a major exception. We decided to go to Flat Top because we had a coupon for a free birthday StirFry (this represents one of the stars). We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a not so confident hostess who walked away to check if there was a table available for us and of course there was..the tiniest two top table next to the door, awesome. We were greeted by our server, Gabi (the other bright and shiny star in this review) she was welcoming and cheerful. We were given the "new" menu to look over and offered our appetizers and drinks. We started with grilled edamame (always a crowd pleaser) and had a Mango Lemonade and a Desert Pear Lemonade. Gabi, gave us the "schpiel" of how to do the bowls while I frantically searched for my Pad Thai recipe that I always fall back on. HOLD UP!!! Where is my recipe? How am I supposed to know how many ladles of sauce I'm supposed to put in or exactly what vegetables to have as my base? We leaned over to the host, because she was RIGHT. NEXT. TO. US. and asked if they had any of those handy menus. Apparently this is a difficult question because not only did we stump her with it but we stumped the manager for a moment as well. Apparently they are in the process of updating the menu and all of those e handy recipe ideas have gone off to flat top grill heaven.. and no one remembers them..no one. The edamame arrived and this time with some seasonings of some sort (not listed on the menu..so we didn't know what they were.) This is a recent change from how they used to serve it with the sauces on the side. Ok..back to the oh so knowledgeable manager who was "helping" us.. he suggested that the young girl standing near the sauces could help us..and by help us I think he meant, shove us out of the way while she "cleaned" in front of us. She was so concerned with "cleaning" I noticed moments later because she was off and wanted to make her own fabulous StirFry. The whole table of ingredients was a MESS. a cross contaminators dream or an allergic persons nightmare. OY VEY..there was everything mixed with everything. SUCH A MESS. Since we arrived a little over an hour prior to closing nothing had been restocked and half of the line had been shut down. So, not only was it a mess but it was an understocked mess. have I mentioned it was a mess? just checking. As I tried to beckon the ghosts of Pad Thai's past and pray for the recipe to magically appear before me, I watched the person in front of me use the same tong for all of her protein..EWW. After that I chose to pick tofu..I'm not messing with shellfish or chicken that's been sitting out and has been mingling. We dropped off our bowls to the cooks and awaited our meals to arrive..and we waited..and we waited. After about fifteen minutes one of our bowls arrived with the second bowl coming a few moments later. Both dishes just looked.. how do I put this? Meh. The ingredients were not mixed well and I personally was disappointed because the magical pad thai fairy did not appear in my bowl. I was hungry so I slopped up my mess with a piece of roti bread ( if I could give five stars for just the roti I would..that stuff is awesome) and finished my little bowl ( it wasn't full because there was a lack of ingredients) my dining partner ended up just boxing hers with hopes that maybe it would magically become better at home. We offered up our coupon and paid the check..tipping more than adequately because Gabi was the most cheery server I've come across in a long time. No one thanked us as we left and we walked out feeling more like an inconvenience than as wanted guests or customers. This location has a lot of work to do to regain credibility in my book. My perception is that they wanted to close and gtfo and didn't care about having a clean, sanitary environment for their diners. To put it simply, you need to do a better job Evanston, you just need to do a better job. I'll go back to Flat Top..but not this one.
(2)Jade D.
I liked it A LOT. Was hesitant to come because too many choices make me freeze when it comes to food, but since it wasn't someone waiting on me behind the counter and I could do it up myself, it worked out. My creation turned out delish! Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!! Only took off the one star for the sloppy decor (needs a reface) as well as the raw meat that sits out. aside from meat sitting out which it should not, it is quite unappetizing. (and i am not vegetarian or anything... just looked icky...).
(4)Karen C.
Sometimes I think I like the idea of Flat Top more than I actually like eating here. I love the outdoor seating at this location, it's large enough to where you can almost always get a table at lunch... not an easy feat at the Chipotle next door. You get to create-your-own, so if it tastes bad, I consider it your fault... but, sometimes... I end up with random meat in my finished product. I do NOT put meat in my bowl. Ever. So it kinda freaks me out to be eating and find a random chunk of beef. Just throw me an extra piece of that awesome bread & we'll call it even.
(3)Jay P.
I have been to this particular location a few times, and it's much better to come here for lunch on a rainy day. The fewer number of diners, the faster the bowls will be served to you. I know a lot of people complain about the amount of time it takes to receive their food. I would either go heavy each time and drink a lot of soda so you're not rushing to get to your next bowl (they're quick to refill to make you full faster) or I would immediately put in what you plan on eating next, so it will arrive soon after you finish the first bowl. The service here is great. If there is something that confuses you (which there are more rules here to confuse the stir-fry beginner,) the staff is more than happy to help you or provide tips. I'd suggest that you go a bit heavy on the sauces. I sometimes added three or four ladles and was disappointed in not having enough flavor. Some servers mentioned that you don't want to add too much because it could get watery at the bottom of the bowl, but this was never a problem for me. If anything, I was kicking myself for creating a dish that was a bit on the dry side. What can be criticized about the service is the lack of friendliness from those who are actually doing the stir frying. It didn't really matter much to me in the grand scheme of things, so I didn't deduct an additional star. It's fun to mix and match different ingredients and sauces. The pork and Asian sauce combinations were really great. All of the vegetables were very fresh the times I visited. They didn't spare the egg or tofu whenever I added those sticks. I thought the hot and sour soup was more like sour and sour soup, but perhaps I didn't add the right ingredients to bring out the best flavors. The amount of food for the mu shu option was impressive, but I would have preferred having fewer wraps total and more contained in each wrap. Even on a rainy day, the customers did trickle in. This is a place that is enjoyed with others. If I end up on my own for lunch, I'll definitely bring a book along. With the time you end up waiting, you'll be doing a lot of staring at the wall if you don't have something to distract you. Enjoy exploring options with your friends and/or family!
(4)Ridge K.
Slow service, good variety and good food.
(3)Courtney M.
Flat Top is THE place for broke college kids to get an amazing dinner for a good price. The key is to skip the rice, put all the veggies in your bowl that you like, and plop a big scoopful of noodles on top of everything. Then top it with sauce. Don't forget the sticks for tofu and bread; you can get away with putting 2 bread sticks in sometimes - yay! You'll have enough food for 2 dinners this way, and don't forget the WildCard discount!
(4)Amanda B.
After dining here once, I fell in love. However, I found the service to be lackluster. I encountered it again. The first time, the server took ridiculously long to get our checks and run everything through. The restaurant was dead. This time, two friends and I dined and weren't happy. We placed our drink orders (All waters) and made our bowls. When we came back, there were no drinks. Um? I think there was PLENTY of time while we were preparing our bowls. When the server came with our waters, she gave two to me and my friend, then drifted to our neighbor table and gave the two people their drinks, then came to our third friend with her drink. What?? We asked for extra roti and it took way too long and having to ask again for more. The check also took a long time. Ugh Flat Top, I love you and your concept but you need to re-train your servers! I have to prepare my own food, at least be helpful in things I cannot do!
(4)Plenty F.
5 stars. So, good... I'm still chewing, but had to go ahead and start writing my review. First of all, I LOVE ROTI! More on that later... I was greeted at the door by Mark... such a sweetie. He walked me through the process and explained everything to me. I tapped into my creative self and got to work... Lots o' veggies 4 ladles of mushroom sauce 1 ladle of pad thai sauce 1 ladle of soy sesame sauce A lil squiggle of siracha (sp?) I piled a mountain on beef and pork in my little bowl with a few scoops of garlic. End Result: A MASTERPIECE! (now that I'm back in the office sampling the goods...) Even Mark said..."Wow, smells good! I've been working here for a long time and, believe me, I don't say that often. I think you did a great job! I hope you like it." I put 4 blue sticks in because Roti bread sounded like something that I was gonna like... I was right! (of course, I love bread, any kind of bread) I eating my leftovers for dinner. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy...
(5)Scott H.
I have to admit up front that I think I've only chosen to eat here once when I had to pay full price. My remaining dozen or so visits were inspired by an e-mailed BOGO birthday offer (be sure to sign up!). Usually the stir-fry bar area is pretty trashed whenever I'm there, but I know they try pretty hard to keep up with the endless stream of apparently sloppy co-eds. The veggies and meats are typically fresh and well-stocked and the variety of sauces and oils seems to change over time which is good for keeping things fresh and exciting. If you arrive when they're busy (which is pretty much the norm) it can easily take upwards of a half-hour to have your stir-fry cooked and delivered to your table. For that reason it makes sense to prepare your second stir-fry (if you're doing the multiple-trip option) about 10-15 minutes after the first if the grill is full. That way, you save yourself the agony of waiting another half-hour between the first and second courses. Always add the roti (warm griddled flatbread) to your stir-fry...PERIOD. I'd add five if they'd let me, but the most I've gotten away with is two. :) Oh, and you'll smell like the place all day, so not a good dining choice before, say, a job interview or first date (unless you're dating a rottweiler who might totally be into that). All in all a pretty solid place, but I'm not sure how often I'd head back without a BOGO deal or a student discount.
(3)Yanyao N.
01. Go during weekday afternoons. Weekend evenings are such a nightmare. I hate waiting in line behind indecisive people or noobs to put veggies in my bowl. Plus, it is a lot cheaper (even more so if you have student ID). 02. Here's a trick. If you want spinach and noodles in your stir fry (because honestly, who wouldn't?) then put the spinach in the bottom of your bowl FIRST and then the noodles. The weight of the noodles will weigh down the spinach (which cooks down to almost nothing but takes up a lot of room when uncooked) so you can put lots of other veggies in your bowl. :) 03. This is vegetable heaven for a cheap, quick lunch. I always load up my bowl with spinach, mushroom, red onions, tomatoes, edamame, snow peas, asparagus, green onions, carrots, jalapenos, broccoli and whatever other green things available. 04. Though I am far from vegetarian, this place is very vegetarian friendly. They have a stick so you can put tofu in your stir fry AND there are several fake meats such as seitan among the veggie bar. 05. Also meat lover friendly. Pile lots of chicken, beef, pork, or calamari in your little bowl. Fish also available during dinner. I had the whitefish once. It was delicious. 06. Not all the sauces blend well together so use their little recipe cards to mix and match appropriately. I like the black bean garlic with mushroom. I've also developed my "usual": 2 ladles pad thai, 1 ladle peanut sauce, 1 ladle spicy non-fat lime basil, 1 ladle chili sauce... I like a wet stirfry. :) 07. Sticks! The roti stick is a MUST. Delicious buttery flat bread. However, don't try to stick in 2 if you want more than one roti. The hubby tried that once and ended up just getting one roti, and it was burnt. Instead, when the staff comes around, ask them for some extra roti. They are always happy to oblige. I also like the tofu stick and egg stick. Mushu wraps are good too. 08. Another trick I have. If you want to take your leftovers home, you get charged a little over $4 dollars, so sometimes I just make myself a whole new bowl and take it home for dinner. Stir fry dinner for $4? Me likey. 09. The staff is friendly and sometimes the manager comes by to see if everything is okay. Iced teas are never empty. Once a server came to our table with 2 rotis in a bowl when we hadn't asked for more and I fell in love with her. Another time I asked one of the cooks if I could have an extra roti and I got one. I thought I used my girlish charm but my husband told me at the table that I had something green caught in my teeth. Oops. 10. Oh, and if you can still stomach dessert after your meal, the chocolate storm is a dream! They now do it in a taste size, so no excuses right?
(4)Melissa V.
This place has a great staff they were very nice and knew there stuff. Nicole was a great server and walked us thru since it was our first time. Food was great since you pick everything out yourself and they just cook it for you. I will for sure be coming back again.
(5)Keiko S.
UPDATE: We just had dinner here and realized that when the place is crowded (thus the chefs are overwhelmed with orders), the dishes don't turn out all nicely cooked. Some of the veggies were still hard. They made some minor mistakes with our orders, too. Oh well... ***************************** After several attempts, we finally succeeded in dining here without having to wait in line. Apparently, the trick is to go here at lunchtime, early as possible. Despite the inconvenience of having to wait in line both outside and inside the restaurant, I enjoy going here for the "control" I have over my meal. It basically comes down to how YOU order your dish. This means that you can have it prepared in ANY way you like - meaty, leafy, carby, spicy, creamy, bland, soupy, healthy, not-so-healthy, etc. - with ANY available ingredients. Having said this, the first time is an experiment. It's a rather complicated process where you'll be poking sticks everywhere...so don't be ashamed to ask the staff for help! On each table is a list of recommended "recipes" you can create on your own. It comes in handy when you're too lazy or clueless to come up with your original mix. The wraps are seemingly popular, and you get a stack of them in one order. As for the sauce/dressing, I like the vindaloo and black bean garlic. My favorite second order is the veggie stock soup with tofu. After a whole bowl of heavy stir-fry, this relieves my stomach with a soothing effect. In sum - this is a place we go when we're (1) HUNGRY, (2) in need of fiber and (3) short on cash.
(3)Optimus P.
Slow service, questionable food quality, and dirty restaurant. I would have given it 1/2 star but the concept is good and the manager was accommodating. First off, be prepared to have your clothes smell if you sit anywhere near the grill. The restaurant was dirty from the table top, the silverware, the bowl they give you to put raw food in all had food particles left. When we asked to have the table wiped down and new utensils, the server wiped it down with clearly a dirty bar rag and then set the new dirty utensil down on a wet tabletop. I am not one to be squeamish about a little dirt and grime in a restaurant but pile that on top of slow service (repeatedly having to ask for things) and we had to physically look for our server to get the check because everyone was in the back of the restaurant hanging out. Don't go to the restaurant anywhere near closing time because not only do they start breaking everything down and hour before it closes but when asked for food items that are empty one server says we 86'd it and then I asked a manager and he miraculously appears with more stir fry mix. Funny how that works out. At the end of the night the meats look like they have been out since the afternoon, the veggies look wilted and unsavory, the steamed white rice looked like recycled stirfry, and the sauces look like everyone throughout the day took the sauces from the back and dropped them to the front sauces all day long. Very disappointed and will not be back. Good concept, poorly executed. Not worth taking a picture.
(1)Hannah E.
I have a love-hate thing going on with this place. My high school friends love it and it's a regular hangout when we all come back to our hometowns from the places all over the country we've spread. It's pretty cheap and raucously fun and I always have a fantastic time with them. But you know why I always have a fantastic time(aside from the fact that I love my friends)? Because THEY are good 'cooks'. THEY know how to make a good stir fry. THEY know which sauces complement each other, and not to mix mustard sauce and chili sauce, and that if you put too much sauce in your dish you will have to literally choke it down and then die of a grease seizure. THEY know how not to over-noodle or over-veggie and that stir-frying baby corn is never a good idea. I do not. I know none of these things. I am possibly the world's worst cook. They even have these little suggestion cards for the culinarily challenged where they tell you how to build pad thai or szechuan noodles or whatever. These cards are eminently understandable and the directions on them could be followed by a 6 year old. But not by me! I always screw them up. I always, without exception, end up with noodles swimming in a vomity tasting sauce with disappeared vegetables and giant delicious slice of bread on top (since I didn't create the bread). Luckily my friends are awesome and always allow me to eat their creations - and after a couple tries they just build my bowl for me. ::sniff::... I wish I could be good at creating Flat Top dinners too.
(3)Jessica V.
I really always enjoy my Dining experience here. I recently had Hilary as my waitress and she is just plain awesome! She explains everything and is very reassuring that we can always make another if we don't like what we prepared. Although, I hate wasting food she was very reassuring that everyone does it! I can only imagine some of the things people throw together including myself haha! All in all I found flat top to have many different well stocked items to choose from and our drinks were always filled and we never had to ask for anything! Thanks Hilary boo boo!
(5)Jocelyn O.
First things first: Add a blue stick to your bowl for Roti bread. Always. No - don't question me. Just do it. Moving on, I've been coming here for years. Dinner is cheap considering you can eat as much as you want - unlimited is just a buck or two more than the single trip. There are tons of avenues for exploration and experimentation. Even if you don't like stir fry, you can turn your ingredients into a soup, lettuce wrap, or whatever. Best of all, at dinnertime they add Filipino sausage, or longanisa, to the protein selection. So tasty. My boyfriend eats there just for that. What I do have to say, as it is the complaint I hear the most, is that waiting times for your food can get extremely long, especially when it's crowded. What I suggest, if you know that you're going for more than one trip, is to get up and make your second bowl in right after you get your first bowl sent to your table. That way, by the time you're done eating, you won't have to wait as long. If you're only going for one trip or if you're really hungry, I'd suggest popping into line and getting a small bowl of edamame or raw veggies or whatever you'd like, to munch on while you're waiting for your bowl to come through. All in all, a great place to eat. The atmosphere is nice - noisy, but not so much that you can't hear - and the food is always good. If you don't like what you made, then you can always try again.
(4)Janet B.
I always took visitors to Flat Top when I lived in Evanston. It's buffet style where you grab your favorite ingredients and put in one or two or three sticks of different colors, and they whip them up into delicious goodness! Yes, it does take some practice, advice, or good ol' intuition to get your sauces and proportions right. But isn't that the fun of it? I've tasted some horror in my friends' bowls, so I'd say go with the "unlimited" option. There are fun recipes and unlimited sampling opportunities, so you can't really go wrong. Make sure to stick in the stick for Roti bread because it is so fresh, hot, and chewy. Slightly buttery but not so much. It's so, so good. Also, don't just stick with str fry. Try making noodle soup, mushu wraps, and even salad! Go nuts on the combinations and figure out your own perfect dish. Good luck!
(5)Alissa A.
Hours later, still reeking of greasy Chinese/fast food is never a good sign. It's even worse when you weren't in a Chinese or fast food joint nor one that appeared particularly greasy. The concept, made-to-order stir fry, is great. Right? You choose the meats, sauces, starches, and veggies and they cook it up and bring it to your table. The fact that you get to even put it together via a "salad bar-esque" set up even adds to the fun. but maybe it's not really fun... it's fun minus the number of veggie and sauce containers that are picked over and down to the bottom, many are mixed/cross contaminated, unappetizing to say the least, and the meats might be acceptable if they weren't compacted cubes in the serving bowls. Our party of six got split up as we each took our time to assemble our bowls at the "salad bar" and weren't cooked together, leaving two of the party still awaiting food as another two picks the last bits of rice from their bowls. You can opt for the Indian style roti with your stir fry but you will in turn receive a greasy round of toasty dough. It's simply out of place. Service is minimal at best. A server begins taking the beverage order while a second appears, interrupts to take over, and asks the drink order to be repeated at least three times. He later, when on to tell us they were out of the signature chocolate dessert in an "oh-well, too-bad-for-you" fashion that no one saw humor in except for him. At $13.99 for a bowl of overcooked rice and meat, (then again, you wouldn't really want it less than chewy doneness here) I felt ripped off. Even more so when they dared add the 18% tip to our party of 6 for service that was sub par at best. The memory will disappear as soon as the smell in my clothes does.
(1)Insun M.
One of the more spacious and cleaner locations. Its a good place to come with a group so that everyone will find something they'll like and its wallet friendly. Everyone must get the Roti bread at the end of the station. I believe its the black or blue stick.
(4)Brittany C.
Can you complain about horrific, stuff-of-nightmares-service if they comp your bill? My thought is yes, but you give them an extra star. I've been here plenty of times and the service has been so-so, but NEVER like it was on this not-so-busy Sunday. The waiter kept on placing random bowls of food in front of me. Umm, pretty sure I used brown rice and chicken, not noodles and steak.... My dining companion gets their meal. 10 minutes pass... 20.... 25.... I am waving down all the staff that pass me, but nothing. Finally, the hostess tells me they must of lost mine if I am sure that none of those bowls were mine. YES, I am sure. I made it 10 minutes ago. My wonder is--WHO made these random meals being placed in front of me? AND who ate MY food. Hope they weren't allergic to mushrooms. I like mushrooms. Same thing happened at the table next to me. UH-OOOOH. The veggie bar and sauce containers were pecularly empty too. Hmmm. The food is still just as good as other location. Can't fault them there. ANYWAAAAY, the hostess "took care of" our whole bill. I never expect this, but this time I kind of did.... But it was still nice of them to comp my companion's meal too. Props to you flat top. Now, handle your business.
(3)Adrienne S.
For someone who's not a huge stir fry fan, I was definitely pleased with Flat Top. The fact that you can put however many noodles/peppers/etc. in your dish instead of being subject to a pre-selected mix is a real plus. The discount for NU students is also appealing. Definitely a fan!
(5)Stephen S.
It's really not bad if you know how to do it right. Don't go sauce crazy and mix a bunch of different things in. Go for the unlimited option, get smaller bowls, and try a different thing each time.
(4)Moni K.
Breakfast or lunch......Sunday 11am: I chose breakfast. This is a little unusual breakfast place because you get to make your omelet well you get to pick your own ingredients....you actually place them in a bowl and then bring it to the "kitchen" area where they throw it all together and Whoa-La! you get your omelet. Of course it would be great if all of your ingredients that you pick get used. I was missing some major ones cheese and my turkey sausage links. Other than that It was ok....I think it is hard to screw up breakfast food unless you get served egg shells. I have to say that our nice waiter made up for the missing turkey links, the cheese I just had to go without. One thing that I liked is that they serve egg white omelet and not many restaurants do that so I was happy. Overall, maybe breakfast is not their forte
(3)Lauren-ashley B.
The atmosphere is nice, local joint for the college students around here. I like that this resturaunts is customized for the Northwestern University students, it's in a great location. Nothing special about our server but the hostess was really nice and asked us how are dinner was, very personable guy. I would definetly be coming back before I leave.
(4)Jeanne Z.
This place is pretty cool. It's a serve-yourself place where you grab a bowl and rice, noodles, veggies, sauces, and meat into it. Then you take it to the grill and it is cooked for you while you wait at your table. I like that there is such a variety of food choices here. It's great for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. If you have allergies they will cook your food in a separate section for you. I went here during dinnertime and the place was packed. We had to wait awhile to get our cooked food. I only gave it three stars because the food tasted pretty mediocre. It was pretty bland and did not have that much flavor to it. Still, this place is worth checking out.
(3)Amy G.
Oh, Flat Top. I want to love you. In fact, I love your other locations. I've even envied friends at school in Champaign-Urbana, just steps away from delicious, affordable, never-ending stir fry. But after repeated instances of awful service at this location, I'm quittin' it. A small group of friends and I entered the restaurant around 7:30. It wasn't busy (Northwestern's finally no longer in session) and plenty of parking was available. Walking by several open tables outside, I approached the hostesses. While one stared vacantly outside, the other chatted with a woman applying for a job for five minutes between talking to me. "Table for four, please." "That will be... hm, fifteen minutes." "There are two two-tops and a four-top vacant outside." "Huh. Let me see about that." Despite tables sitting open indoors and outdoors, my compatriots and I sat for ten minutes waiting in the steamy, unairconditioned (or so it seemed!) restaurant lobby. We were finally seated and Shane was quick to take our drink orders and explain the make-your-own-stir-fry system to the newbie at the table. Vegetables, sauces, and starches in one bowl. Meat in the other. Add sticks for extras like tofu, egg, lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps, and delicious, amazing, wonderful roti. My group meandered to the bar of ingredients to be greeted with most of the vegetable bins empty, no seitan available for the vegetarian of the group, and sauces spilled everywhere. Twenty minutes later our food showed at our table except for one dining partner's. His? Well, it showed up twenty minutes after that... after politely nudging two waiters. So, Flat Top? You're delicious. Really, you are. And with your free birthday stirfry and discounts for college students? Man-- this is a tough relationship to cut off... but I think we're going to have to remain just friends.
(2)Todd G.
I have to say I am really impressed .... I received a response from Benjamin who was an Opperations Manager at the Evanston Flat Top Grill when we dined in the other day. I was seriously impressed with the response, appreciation and candor that Benjamin wrote me. Good news is there is a major revamp in motion and Benjamin is in the process of addressing the issues I mentioned along with many other improvements. This was refreshing to hear and honestly grateful since I was truly bummed that we had such a bad experience. I rarely write a poor review but I have to say I will be giving the Evanston FTG another shot once they get things back in shape. Thank you Benjamin for some kick butt customer service in not such a great situation.
(4)Lauren B.
Lets just get it out there: my boyfriend and I are Flat Top snobs. We're regulars at the Loop location (see my review of that one for tips on filling your bowl!) Buuuuut we live closer to this one now, so we figured we'd give it a try. (We've been to the Loop, Lakeview, Naperville, and now this location). It's no Loop location, but the restaurant is clean and spacious, and the servers were friendly. Food took longer than usual to cook, but they may have been busier than normal/understaffed on the 4th of July weekend. We'd come back!
(4)Jessica S.
Love this place! We come all the time for girls night. The restaurant is always clean and the servers usually always do a good job (it is self serve, so sometimes they tend to disappear on you). The food tastes great, but it is heavy so you need to watch how you portion everything (remember you get to go up there more than once.) I love that its make your own stir fry--you choose how much of what you want. Also, makes great leftovers for the next day! The Roti Bread & Desert Pear Lemonade are must haves!!
(5)Tiffany C.
Came here for one of my roommates 20th birthday! We came with a group of 10 people under a reservation. Unfortunately, we weren't taken care of right away so we were a bit confused on how the process worked. Afterwards though it was super quick and efficient! It was $12.99, after tax $14.16 for one bowl with your choice of meat or shrimp. I really recommend PACKING the bowl as much and high as you can hold to get your money's worth. I do love that you can add extras like making it into a taco, or lettuce wrap & such. I do think $14.16 for that one bowl was in the pricier side. There's a Mongolian Grill where they do the same process however it's unlimited for like $10-12! Regardless, the food was okay. Process was easy. The inside was pretty decently big & roomie but there were a TON of annoying fruit flies flying in my face!!! Like what?!?! Their desserts are YUM!!!! And if you text a number you can catch a free one! Would I come back? Probably not
(2)S C.
I recently sent this email to them with no response... I was very disappointed by yesterday's service at your Evanston, IL location. Entering, I could see this restaurant needed some work. For example, they have one toilet available, the bathroom seemed dated, and the floors were sticky. We were seated and we found ourselves waiting a long time to place orders, get bowls, and to get served. Our waitress seemed nice, but her voice was monotone and she lacked eye contact. My biggest disappointment was waiting for my second bowl (I wish unlimited bowls were still here). I filled my bowl and indicated, sausage, egg, and two rotis. After waiting quite some time, my bowl had 4 small pieces of sausage, what looked like a small - burnt on one side egg patty, and no rotis. I notified the server that I thought this was made half assed and that I no longer wanted it. She then returned and said her manager took off the $4. I would have appreciated it if the manager had come by. It was not terribly busy... I used to really like flat top, but this just turned me off from it
(1)Susheel S.
It's my go to place for lunch in between work. Being a vegetarian, I was pleasantly surprised at the sheer variety of options available for people who eat only veggies. A major issue with the place (which affected non-vegetarians more) was the change in the meat policy. Overall however, I love the food, its healthy, tasty and very filling.
(5)Courtney K.
I've grown up loving this place (its a short drive from my childhood home) and highly recommend. Definitely add the stick for the roti prata bread- its buttery and delicious and one of the main reasons I love this place so much! The asian ginger sesame dressing is the other- I'll usually mix that with either the soy or teryaki dressing and its a great combo! I almost always get chicken or steak but last time I went with my brother he got the sausage...I tried a bite and it was wonderful! I never would've thought to put sausage in a stir fry but it was quite good! I have also come here a few times for drinks and it has never disappointed. HIGHLY recommend the desert pear margarita if you like sweet things. If you're under 21, the desert pear lemonade is great too.
(4)Sameer R.
Good stir fry at a fair price. Always a good place for families and it has an extensive arsenal of ingredients. Always good service. Just wish there was more room in this place because it always gets packed.
(4)MoMo K.
These reviews are harsh, people fail to realize that the changes made are at all FTG locations because of corporate. [Besides that, I e-mailed Derek Templeton (the manager) about the other negative Yelp comments. I pasted his response at the bottom]. We had a group of 16, we were first seated at a table in the middle section of FTG. I didn't like it... so I asked if they can move us to the back because we wanted to surprise a friend and a table their just cleared up. The waiter without hesitation said yes and started cleaning the tables in the back (she called for her waiter squad to help her). Fastforward: we surprised our friend, sat down, a waiter came and explained how the bowl stuff worked and we were on our way. (Note: now you have to give your meat options to the waiter instead of filling up the mini-bowl like before) Once we got to the line, the Jalapeños container was empty, so we told the attendant and he filled it up after 2 minutes. We noticed we had to alternate from Line A to Line B to get the sauces (it ran out on one side but not the other). There are a lot of people on this yelp page that are complaining about the small things... my friend describes them as people with "sticks up their butthole". But if you're just their to chill, enjoy good food, and have a good time with a large group... you won't mind these small things. Overall, we all had a great time! This FTG is huge and VERY VERY accomodating for huge groups! They can seriously accommodate a group of 30. I would highly recommend this to anyone with big groups. We all liked our food and had a great time because we basically had our own "party room" for free. One thing that can mess your food up is if you don't know how to portion the sauce and double check your stick colors with your friend if you're colorblind. Sometimes the customers mix up the sticks. As promised, here is the Derek's response to my e-mail: "Most of the concerns with allergies/cross contamination issues are from people who are not fully educated on our concept and how everything actually works. If someone has a food allergy, they are encouraged to use a white stick when creating their bowl, which in turn tells our cooks that it need to be cooked in a separate pan and not on the grill next to anything else. We have extensive ingredient listings and also lists that itemize what one may or may not use when their are certain food restrictions. Our sauces are all covered and it is virtually impossible to get one sauce into another, unless the lid was taken off and purposely poured into another. The raw meat was removed from the Food line in March, so the issue of any raw meat contamination (which was not truly an issue before, just a perception) has been addressed. I'm sure you can see in our newer Yelp reviews that most people are unhappy that we made changes to our Food line to become cleaner, quicker and more sanitary, however, we have gotten many more compliments in the store about how much more sanitary it is than previously."
(5)J K.
No more unlimited bowl option. Every additional bowl costs you extra $4. Their business model changed, and as a result, I bet their revenue already declined significantly.
(1)Sandeep G.
This is one DYI place you can either love or hate. If you don't know how to cook, then go by their recommendation. Fresh flavorful food!
(4)Pat G.
Very disappointed. Heard great things and decided to head out there on date night. Unique concept, you order meat/protein and then go in the salad bar style-line, pick veggies and other things to add in, add a few colored straws based on how you want it prepared (in a wrap, in a burrito, in a soup, etc.). I mixed beef and sausage, got my receipt, gashed it with the stick with my name, picked my additions, and then sauce, and was excited.......this was a new experience for me after all. I upped my expectations. Until my girlfriend and I got our food. Then it went downhill. It was just my veggies/extra additions in the burrito. A couple bites in I noticed there wasn't any meat, so I opened it up and confirmed there was no meat. I called ou waitress over to let her know that I had ordered the beef and sausage and it wasn't added. Hey I get it, mistakes happen--it was Saturday night just before 7 PM; it was packed, maybe it was short staffed? I saw our waitress running around like a chicken with her head cut off. But she just shrugged at me. My girlfriend ordered it in the lettuce wrap and she was given the soup format. I tried to prod a little because that wasn't quite the response I was expecting, and she then gave me an exhausted "well........I can get my manager if you want." At that point I just cut my losses and asked for the check, I told her I didn't want the manager. I've been at places where there are customer discrepancies, and the place/staff does everything they can to make it worse (stalling out time to hope people just drop it and leave, continually saying that "their manager is busy, it will only be a few more minutes, etc). I didn't want to risk one of those on top of an already sub-par experience. I'll be half-full, because I'm not one to complain for the sake of doing so. The food was good quality, everything mixed well,the sauce I wanted was nice and spicy, the way I like it and the desert flavored beverage/mango mist beverage (what my gf ordered) were great. But this was my first, and last, visit to FTG. Bad experience.
(1)Mitesh S.
Had a great experience, would recommend to others. We had a large group of about 20 people but the store was well accommodating for us and had quick service as well! We had a large group of people with many various needs (Veggie and meat lovers) and they still did not mess anything up and continued to provide service in a great way. They only problem we had was the self serving food was not continuously replenished. Many of us didn't get the sauces we wanted because many of the bottles were already done. Also when I usually go to Flap Top I have had prior service where our server focused on helping us try/recommend various sauces and flavor but I understand that can be a bit difficult with 20 people. Overall I would recommend for a big group and we did not have any cleanliness problems as stated in other reviews.
(4)Paul C.
Been years since I was last there and know things change. But wow, now they charge $4 for the second trip and although increases their seating capacity, didn't increase the flat top or the bathrooms; so expect to wait. 3 single occupancy bathrooms (1 men's,1 women's and 1 unisex) for over 150 patrons. Waited 10 mins to use a bathroom. We waited 15 mins to be seated and as we were taken to our table we passed over 15 unoccupied set tables Loud environment/atmosphere. I get its in a college town, but don't go there and expect to have a conversation without raising your voice, or to use the bathroom. Place could use some sound absorbing material. Bathroom were pleasantly clean and bright. We were never asked us for a refill of water or for a second cocktail. Dirty dishes from appetizer not removed when main dish arrived. Tasty & warm naan bread arrived after we were done eating. As we were in on our way to a concert, we gave our credit cards to the waitress and told her to split the bill; she goofed up the cards and receipts, and never provided a detailed receipt. Host was running around like he didn't know where to go or what to do. Most staff seemed like they could use a smile and life in they're step. Food was delicious. Potstickers great!! Main dish - Almost like I remembered from its original beginnings. Return - most likely but will be prepared.
(3)Brian H.
While we've long been fans of Flat Top in Evanston, this review is about recognizing an extraordinary effort in handling a difficult situation we witnessed while there this past weekend. We arrived for dinner and immediately noticed a disabled man in front of the store. It appeared that he was having trouble with is electric wheelchair and had declined help from a couple of people who'd offered. Benjamin Andrews (Operations Manager) was informed and immediately took action in a way that was truly impressive. He quickly made the man comfortable while making phone calls to the man's friends to get some help, set him up at a table with a glass of water and checked with him numerous times to be sure he had everything he needed while he waited. Benjamin was able to connect and help a man who was clearly in a bad spot and trying to avoid bringing attention upon himself, all during the peak of a very busy dinner hour on a holiday weekend. I have no doubt that Benjamin Andrews is a significant asset to the operations of the Flat Top Grill and makes a big difference when he's off the clock too. Great work and an example for all of us!
(5)Andi E.
I went there with my wife and there were a few changes I didn't like. One the price went up while the meat portion definitely went down. It might be a vegetarian's haven but for those who eat meat(like me), it's far from a good deal for what you get. The service from the waiter was not good also. I probably would only ever go here if it was on a Groupon.
(1)Grace H.
Going to Flat top is super exciting and fun because there is this extensive buffet of ingredients that you can play with. They offer beef, chicken, pork, and white fish, and a variety of alternative proteins and fake meats. There are tons of veggies, legumes, sauces, etc. I think the experience of choosing your ingredients is fun, but the food in actuality is not worth the money. 8/10 they will mess up your order, or get someone else's ingredients into yours. Whenever I ask for no meat, I always end up with a few chunks of beef, chicken, etc. I don't think that's okay that they allow people's dishes to mingle, because some people actually do have food allergies or dietary restrictions. It's definitely not safe to go here if you do have strict food allergies! I think if you know how to make good stir fry you should save your money and make your own. Or if you suck at making stir fry like me, and you want better stir fry for the same price or cheaper, go to another restaurant. This is just my honest opinion. Nevertheless, the experience is good, and if you are lucky or skilled you might end up with a yummy dish!! Also, I am just mad that they got rid of the wildcard discount.
(3)George G.
Just wow. I failed to read the recent reviews. I wish I had. Would have saved me my money. I couldn't agree more with these 1 star reviews. Last time I was here, unlimited bowls! Now, $4 for another bowl! I say no thank you. That right there lost me. I will never be back here until they go back to what we all loved about it. Looks like they are trying to save money any way they can. Produce isn't as fresh as I remember it, service is slow. The place is going down hill fast. Such a shame. Goodbye flat tops. Goodbye.
(1)Fancy N.
Adios Flat Top, a customer I will be no more! I used to love this place. Loved making my own custom dish, load with whatever sauces, mix up some meats and get it all grilled into a delicious mess. Well... guess the health inspector caught up with them. Raw meat out, with dirty customers hands meddling in it, no temp control, no idea how many hours the raw meat sat out... only to be put back in fridge and out next day. Recipe for disaster I bet, I hope no one got sick. But the new way with them choosing my meat is total BS. I asked for steak & chicken mix. I got 1 piece of chicken, 3 small pieces of steak. Stop being so darn stingy on the meat, or else I won't come back... wait you already know how this ends. The sauces were previously with laddles which you could pour your gooyiness on top to make your own concoction. Now the sauces are in bottles, that are very hard to pour, and only a little pours out. Easier for them to handle end of day, but if they only care about their experience and not mine as a customer, it won't go well. We sat outside, knowing that outdoor service is pretty crummy to begin with cause they always forget about you. i asked for a napkin once, twice, 4 times, it came out with the bill, too late for your tip college kid. In the end, the stir fry tasted nasty, much too burnt (at least 1/3 was charred black). I swear I can get much better tasting stir fry in a microwave than what I got here. Sadly I wave good bye to this Evanston favorite, a customer no more!
(1)Rachel M.
Flattop used to be my favorite! However, I visited this place today and there were so many things wrong. First off, it took 15 mins for our server to come and welcome us and get us drinks. Second, the veggies were almost all gone and the sauces. Seriously, now that they give you a small portion of meat, they need to do their job continually and restock all that's there on the stir fry bar...which are veggies and sauces. The veggies don't taste the same. They do not taste fresh. Third, the booth we sat in was dirty and greasy. Fourth, the cook at the grill forgot my roti bread even when I put the blue stick in there. Overall, since flattop has changed with not letting you pick your meat at the stir fry bar and now they cook it separately and pick your portions... This place has gone down hill. Even though that had changed, I still gave this place another chance. And I was so disappointed. It's dirty, bad service, and the food does not taste the same! Any stir fry lovers like me... Should drive and head to MongolIan BBQ! That place has never disappointed. I used prefer flattop over them, but now I'm NEVER coming back here. Sorry flattop, this location sucks and I'd rather go to chipotle next door than to you again!
(1)Pedro D.
Oh Flat Top. You used to be my jam. Years ago when I abused your system made a towers of meats for you to grill and over sauced my base of rice and veggies. When four hour pow wow with friends supported by your unlimited bowls for 15 bucks and you took my old college ID without asking too questions. Where have you gone? It looks like you've grown up, and I applaud you. Health inspectors finally called you our on your bacteria growing experiments you called a meat station. Your cross-contamination sauce station that made me grateful I do not have severe nut related allergies has been cleaned up. And now, in health inspector improved glory, I leave your establishment hungry. The food quality is still solid and the unlimited bowl has been done away with, but something else is missing. I cant tell if your veggie bowls are smaller or not, but something else has changed. While I cannot place my finger on it yet, I still like you Flat Top, it's just not the love that's had me coming back since college. I'll be back, it's just not the same anymore.
(3)Mai N.
Had not been here for several months. Let me tell you, things have gone down hill fast. Overall service from host to server to food has dramatically slipped. Bowl prices changed, no more unlimited option. They now add your protein choice instead of you putting what you want. Sauce area changed again. Ingredients are not fresh as before. Any customer can notice the vegetables aren't fresh anymore. In conclusion we were fighting off fruit flies most of the night in the restaurant. Well I can say we won't be coming back. Too any better choices in the area. Sad how they have gone down hill.
(1)Kevin C.
I'm really sad that Flat Top has changed so significantly. I had always thought the point was to come here and try a bunch of combinations. That's no longer possible with their new price structure, and I don't really know why anyone would choose this place over so many more affordable places in Evanston. They advertise choice... but I can make a choice in a grocery store too. The cooking has no technique, just lump everything on a grill and cook until grey. Flat Top was my absolutely favorite place for the longest time, but without a bottomless option... or a cheaper price point... I can't see myself returning.
(1)Natalie P.
My biggest qualm with restaurants that "allow" you to create your own dish is the fact that most of us are venturing out in the bone-chilling cold for a hot meal prepared by somebody other than our microwaves. However, I can get over that, if the service is good. They do have recipe suggestions, however every time that I have wanted to enlist such assistance, I can't seem to get any help! This is true of almost any Flat Top (I've frequented many locations, but this one the most). The food regularly takes 30-45 minutes to arrive to the table, the lines for ingredients are long, and the spillage of sauces across the other sauces is to be expected. There are also always delays in refilling vegetables that have run out. I understand that this is a hot spot for college kids to feast on a fancy-ish meal, so it is always crowded, but that demand should be met by an upgrade in the quality and/or quantity of staff. Negatives aside, the food is fairly good. This of course, depends on the steadiness of your hand in ladling sauces and your intuition about compatible sauce combinations. Their roti bread is definitely delicious and the food is always cooked well (I've never had undercooked or burnt food). The sauce and vegetable options are very generous and they have multiple preparations of your food rather than the standard stir fry: such as the wrap and soup options. My dad once accidentally turned his dish into a soup, and the staff allowed him to create another bowl, at no extra charge (the one time that the service was actually good). Overall, I think the biggest reason why I don't love this place is because the service is poor and the integrity of the raw ingredients is compromised when vegetables and sauces are strewn about, mixing together, and making my dishes horrible disasters. If the service improved, I would gladly give it another chance.
(3)Stephanie C.
When the concept of Flattop was still novel to me, I was obsessed with it, but now that the novelty of "make your own stir fry but we'll cook it for you!" has worn off a bit, Flattop has become more of a rarity to me. It is a bit pricey for what you're getting, unless you decide to do unlimited (at lunch). What bothers me is that the prices for lunch and dinner are different but the ingredients offered are exactly the same. The restaurant itself is pretty clean and large, but they often have trouble with big groups in my past experience.
(3)Jackie H.
I love this place. Location is clean and servers are friendly. Full bar is nice too. I have food allergies and have never had any problems eating here. I love how they often change their selection of meats and veggies too. My only complaint is that the food is very heavy, and very rich, which is to be expected with stir fry. This isn't the place to go if you can't handle heavy, rich food. But it is still excellent, and the roti bread is what makes the dish complete! My typical bowl: brown rice, noodles, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, sliced yellow potatoes, edamame, 4 ladles of peanut sauce, and one ladle of soy sauce topped with roti bread. So good. Give it a try!
(4)Tara r.
Eaten at many Flat Top Grills over the years many different locations and this one is the worst! I always order tofu and it's cooked and wonderful. NOT today! They used silken tofu which is for smoothies and sauces! After talking with the manager he confirmed his shipment of regular tofu was substituted with silken and he was happy we confirmed this for him so he could get a free case of regular tofu on his next shipment! My dinner and my sons dinner (not a kids meal) was ruined and mushy, he never offered to remake it nor to remove them from the bill. He did give us 2 coupons for free kids meals. We will NOT return to this location and I may or return to any Flat Tops! I forgot to mention the fruit flies that where everywhere!
(1)James M.
The restaurant said it had improved itself. Not so much. Restaurant is dirty looking. Waitress smelled. This new way of measuring sauce is a bust. These little cups and pouring containers that can't help but spill all over. And the food took 15 minutes to arrive and did not include all of the ingredients I ordered. It tasted pretty good though so two stars.
(2)Antony v.
My favorite part of Flat Top was that I could create a couple of small bowls per meal, each one withI different ingredients and sauces. Well no more. According to the note on the table, they listened to us and removed the endless bowls option. Now you pay the same price for one trip and if you want more, you pay again. So instead of encouraging a few trips for small tasty bowls, you now see how many veggies you can pile into your tiny-one trip bowl so you can get a little value for your money. No more Flat Top for me. You took away what made you special, what made you unique, what made you worth visiting.
(2)Oliver Y.
What happened to unlimited!!! $12.99 for dinner then seconds will cost you $4. Where have I been?!! Bring back unlimited!!!
(2)Katherina O.
I have visited a flat tops before and have had a great experience until I went to this location. They have two stations to add to your meats one station was completely empty the other one was almost empty but they were both disgustingly messy. It was very unappetizing I think the manager here should have a little bit more of a priority of keeping the stations cleaned and filled very disappointed. It was a Sunday night and I wouldn't return back to this location.
(1)Fannie L.
Service is always poor at this location. Orders are usually messed up or mixed up which isnt good for individuals with allergies. But the food taste like all the other Flattop grills of course which is why they get the one star.
(1)Anand S.
This is a great stir fry place. The food is fresh and the selection of sauces are great. Some of the apps are pretty decent.
(5)Jackie G.
This place is a good place with tasty food but if you don't put in the right sauces then your whole experience is ruined.
(3)Lane Y.
I have been dining at Flat Top since it opened. No more. Despite its relative distance Flat Top was a place I would dine at several times a year. It offered a fun atmosphere and the chance to have some good all you could eat food all at a reasonable price. It made for a winning combination. Well maybe not so winning for Flat Top. In recent years they seemed to noticeably cheapen the quality of their ingredients. First the meats went down in quality from cheap but fine to noticeably cheap. That was a livable change. Next, however, the vegetables, always the most important ingredients at Flat Top, took a turn for the worse. My several times a year turned into once a year. That once a year was Fathers Day. This year owing to an illness we had to reschedule Father's Day to a Saturday. My father is worthy of celebration, the changes Flat Top has made are not. The big benefit for the customer is supposed to be less waiting for your meal. As noted we were present at an off-peak time and there was no decrease in wait time. It still took a long time for some bowls to come out. I am skeptical that at busier times it would be any faster if you're having a second bowl since now you not only have to wait for your food to be cooked, but also your over burdened server to come by so you can get your receipt for the correct meat. Once you have your receipt in hand you can go through the buffet that Flat Top says is not a buffet to fill up your bowl of ingredients as before. However when you get to the end you now get to gamble over how much sauce is correct as the ladles are no more and instead there are pitchers with sauces. As the Flat Top representative says in response to some other reviews you could use the "tasting" cups to measure. Except that before Flat Top would offer guidance about how much sauce was right AND there would be recopies of the different vegies and "2 ladles of this and 1 ladle of that" if you wanted further guidance. While you can make sure you don't get too much sauce with the tasting cups (something I can't imagine doing at a busy time when there are 10 people behind you in the not buffet line) you can't easily ensure you have the right amount and so I guessed right about how much to put, but my mom didn't. Too bad for her as she was stuck with this unflavored bowl as her only one. Unlike some other reviews, I am not scandalized by the $4 more for a second bowl (or "a second meal", according to the parlance of Flat Tops in-artfully written table guide explaining the changes) as Unlimited had always cost more than 1 bowl. That seems fair. Especially because the vegetables seem to have been restored to their previous good (not great) quality. Except the quality of the ingredients aren't so much better than a Fast Casual Place. You know your Chiptoles, Paneras, and (most aptly in this case) Noodles & Cos. When I go to a Fast Casual restaurant, I can have a complete meal, including drink and tax, for around (or less) than the $12.99 Flat Top charges for 1 dinner bowl. In fact going to a fast casual place for two meals (to align with my supposed two meals/bowls at Flat Top) would still come out cheaper than Flat Top once you factor in the $4 surcharge, soft drink, tax, and tip (something unneeded at those Fast Casuals) and I would have spent less time at those two meals than 1 at Flat Top. Though those other places don't have Flat Top's delicious Roti Bread, I'll take the two meals. It's too bad that they had to make so many changes which have harmed the core customer experience without enough improvements to compensate.
(2)Mitchell Y.
Flat Top used to be such a great experience. You'd go in, try some new crazy culinary concoctions, and then see how they turned out. Now it's a discredit to this once wonderful restaurant. Now you can only go up once, or $4 more for a second. Don't even think about making three small dishes to really get a range of flavors- that would be a full charge as if you were a separate customer. Gone are the sauce ladles, so you either better be great at judging liquid volumes by eye or use the microscopic tasting cups for some consistency. You don't even get to put in your own meat anymore. You tell the server and they bring you a receipt for your pre-designated protein. To be fair, the portion of meat was generous- that did not seem like a money grab, unlike the rest of the changes. Supposedly this is all in place because it reduces wait times for customers. My group of four was there when it was dead early Saturday and the wait times were the same as ever. Per their card on the table Flat Top is "not a buffet." That's fine, but they're also not worth your time - or money- anymore.
(2)A. S.
I have gotten food poisoning here 4 times now. Why do I go back? Assurance that the problem is resolved. XYZ bad batch of food has been dumped. They talked to the cook about cooking food longer, etc. etc. My husband has gotten food poisoning, my friends have gotten food poisoning, and the list goes on. Doesn't help that the staff is generally unfriendly and hard to find when you need something. I once waited for 35 minutes AFTER I asked for the check. I physically went back into the kitchen to get it myself. The only person that I have found pleasant is their manager. And even still when I addressed the food poisoning, they offered me money and no other solution. I contacted the person who commented on my review and explained that unless there was going to be an evident change in staff and quality of food, that I would not be interested in RE discussing their lack of quality. I don't need their gift card because I will not be returning.
(1)Victoria W.
This place was disasterous. Dined here last night on a saturday night. 6:30 PM was rold the wait would be 5-10 min, gave them our phone number. Then we waited by the crowded entrance(too cold to wait outside) and they did not call us until 25 min later. Argh!! Sat down, the waiter was talking super fast on how everything works. But at least she is attentive with my friend who is vegan, brought out a book that explains what sauce is vegan or not. Yet, she missed the roti bread is made from margarine. 12.99 for this quality of food, when i followed instruction to use 3/4 scoops of sauce was still extremely lack of flavor! I had to ended up going to get me some soy sauce and salt to make it palatable. My friend scooped some cilantro and sweet and sour sauce to make hers edible as well. Then the bathroom, apparently there are two sets of bathroom here, one set in the back and one in the middle of the restaurant. In such a huge restaurant you dont think you can add a couple more stalls? Just 1 per gender? Female bathroom ran out of paper towel. Waiter asked if we wanted soy or hot sauce, we said yes and never brought it out. Took a long time to deliver our checks and to charge us. Not coming back, loud music, nothing great about it.
(2)Nick R.
This place is a lot of fun and has a delicious food. Its basically a make your own stir fry with a wide variety of ingredients you get to choose from. I usually make a brown rice fried rice and I include lots of veggies Peanut sauce and chicken. The sausage is actually really delicous as well. Definitely have to try the tofu options. just toss a few in your bowl and try them. They are amazing For a few bucks extra you can opt for the all you can eat version and go up and make a few different attempt at the stir fry. One tip is to make sure to put in a good amount of the sauce or your food will taste bland. the service here is really good and downtown evenston is a great place to stick around and go for a walk afterwards.
(4)Sarah B.
This place is horrible. Food is mediocre and staff are bitchy. Terrible loud music plays in the back. The food is laid out like a buffet but it's unkempt and not fresh. Seems like a serious health hazard.
(1)Tina C.
I wanted to come here for a huge meal for a good price but was disappointed. Their bottomless is now $12.99 PLUS and extra $4 a person. When we were asking about it the waiter was rude and curt with his answers. We left and went to chipotle next door.
(1)Steve A.
This is my go-to place for a light lunch in Evanston. I completely skip the meats, and have two vegetarian courses. The first I turn into soup, and the second into a stir fry with roti bread. Ingredients are always fresh, and there is a broad selection of interesting sauces. Service is quick, friendly and efficient. I wish there was one of these close to my home!
(5)K T.
Great food- you really have the option of having a nice, fulfilling meal here. The atmosphere is pretty loud and intense, so it's not exactly serene or romantic. My only complaint would be the slow service. I just don't understand that if I'm creating my own meal why it takes the servers so long to bring you your drinks and food.
(3)Jeanus T.
This place is ok, I mean if you are hungry and looking for something affordable, this is a choice. But just don't expect a great taste. The tricky part is, you can't really blame them because you pick your own ingredients and sauces to put into your own dish, in a way, you are responsible for the taste of your dish. Clever huh! OK, so I'll be responsible for the taste, but they overcooked my dish. I mean, really?? The up side is that we got a student discount at the end but we are not really students! So I guess it offsets the tension. I think 2 stars is fair.
(2)Fawn J.
Went here last night. First, as my friend and I were waiting to be seated, I was saying that there was a similar restaurant in Michigan. The owner/manager was standing there and immediately said, "but we're better!" and then he ran through all these details about how the quality of food is higher, etc. It was great to see that he is truly passionate about the restaurant he works for. When we were seated our waitress came over and in a hurry took our drinks and got us started. But after we filled our bowls and sat down we never saw her again. Finally my friend raised her hand and a guy came over, from that point on he was totally attentive! He got us drink refills, roti refills, and was constantly checking in to make sure we had what we needed. We made sure that he was the person who received our tip at the end of the night. I loved the food, it was really good! And I really liked how they put the nutritional information about the sauces up on the board. I didn't give it 5 stars because the serving stations was messy and there were some vegetables that were running low. Also, The first server we had didn't do so great at making me feel comfortable with the process, my friend had to explain it all to me in more detail. Otherwise, it was a great experience! Loved the manager and our second server, they were really great at customer service.
(4)Pamela U.
If you like to experiment with flavors and ingredients, this is the place for you. Since you have to create your own meal here, the best thing to do is take all your favorite ingredients, all the flavors of sauce that you normally enjoy on other meals and mix them together. The more flavors you add the more tasty it gets. Here are a few suggestions that might make you completely obsessed with Flat Top... -Get the blue stick (Roti Prata Bread), -Try putting cheese on top of your meal (I know it sounds weird, but it caramelizes into the rice and noodles and tastes soooo yummmy!) -Add a little garlic and teriyaki sauce to whatever meat you choose (it's kind of like marinating the meat). Delicious! Probably my all time favorite restaurant!
(5)Kate W.
Flat Top is cool, everyone is always happy because you get to make your food exactly how you like it. Practically empty on a weekday for lunch, and $20 for two people isn't too bad. Really nice that you can get any of the meats (or multiple meats) and any of the add-ons (bread, egg, tofu, mooshu, lettuce wraps, etc.) at no extra charge. Wish there was some guidance on the sauces - I remember back in the day when they had recommendations on # of spoonfuls and good combinations, but now it's a free for all, with even more sauces to choose from. My sauce combo was ok but definitely lacking.
(4)M R.
Very slow service on Sunday breakfast. People that arrived much after us received their food much earlier than us. They took a long time to get us the check and even bring it back. Just slow service overall, and that was my first time there.
(2)Danielle R.
Are you hungry, picky, enjoyer of veggies and noodles? No fear... Flat Top Grill is good for all of the above. I find that I typically don't like one or more ingredients in most foods at restaurants, especially Chinese/Thai. So... this place is perfect! Think a salad bar for Asian fusion food! You grab a bowl, add what and how much you want of veggies and meat (lots to choose from), add your sauce (10+ to choose from) and then a few other options like a delicious bread (blue stick) at the end of the bar. Then, the chef whips it up on the gril and the waiter brings it back to you! And, you can do this more than once if you go for the unlimited bar! They also have a delicious pomegranate margarita! I have enjoyed this place multiple times. Register for their e-mail group and receive goodies for you birthday! I did that this year and am so glad I did!
(4)Ann C.
Flat Top is kind of like a crappy version of BD's Mongolian BBQ. They have seitan and other meat substitutes, so it's better in that sense; but otherwise it's a step down. If you haven't eaten here before, haven't had it recently enough, or just have a weak stomach; prepare for the food to fight back. We used to go here for work lunches occasionally and apparently the boys used to hold group meeting in the bathroom afterward. Gross.
(2)Kelly A.
Horrible. Bad good. Lots of cross contamination and possibility of food poisoning with everything sitting out. No one seems to know anything that works there. A bunch of clueless college kids that don't care and are too busy talking to each other. Hideous service. Had to ask for water, drink refills, had to go get our bill. The cooks don't even speak English and I had food allergy concerns. On top of it all, I smell like I was in a vat of frying oil.
(2)Libby L.
Flat Top has the potential to be awesome, but it's not. I've only had something fantastic-tasting once, but all the other times it tasted like soggy chow mein in weird vinegary sauce. Or undercooked crunchy rice in vaguely indianish sauce. Disappointing. And they screw up a little more than they should: random chicken, random octopus, finding sticks in your food but not the thing the stick represents, asking for a fork that never shows, and once a bowl never showing up at all. When these things happen it sucks, because it's not like you can send it back to the kitchen and they'll make a new one. You have to make a new one yourself! And wait another half hour for it to show up! What I DO like about this place, and what keeps me coming back, is the ability to have filling semi-healthy food. Since you make it you can load up with vegetables and since they post all the nutrition info on the wall you can choose a healthy sauce if you want. They also have tons of protein options for you vegetarians and they're all pretty tasty. The curry pakora and BBQ vegetable tempeh are my favorite, they're like tasty meatless meatballs. Pro tip: if you're a vegetarian you should always put in the allergy stick, since everything is cooked on the same surface it's easy for someone else's meat to get into your food.
(3)Samantha L.
I absolutely fell in L O V E with flat top the last time that I went. You see, many years ago I went on a terrible date at the flat top on southport. Ever since the very idea of the place put a bad taste in my mouth. I just never returned. Low and behold a couple months ago I was going to a movie in evanston and needed to find a restaurant that had gluten free options for a friend who was seeing the movie with me. Flat top is very accommodating to those with dietary restrictions, you make your meal yourself and all of the options are very well marked. Our waitress was very kind helping her as well. For those without dietary restrictions it is still fantastic! I will definitely be going back, no more bad memories!
(5)Anne I.
Surprisingly inexpensive and good-as-you-make-it food! Decided to fill up with substantial dinner portions before hitting the road back to Ann Arbor, and this was a great choice. We hopped in a little before 5pm, and I guess that counted our meals as 'lunch,' which was incredibly cheap ~ $8/person. I ended up having two bowls. Basically they explain everything to you re: how you go about putting together your meal and having it cooked the way you like it. It's your typical Mongolian BBQ, but the nice thing is, they bring out the food to you when it's done so that means no more standing around the hot flat top waiting to pass out. Quite exciting. They had interesting combinations for cooking options. For example, after putting together your carbs/meats/veggies, you can pick a colored stick to add tofu, or turn your dish into a soup or wrap. I played it safe and stuck with the tofu but later decided to be edgy and had a roti flat bread thrown on for kicks. The veggie/meat selection was typical. They had everything most other places would have. They were low on the seafood options though, but it didn't bother me much since I usually have chicken and beef. It's kind of nice how they have a little hand-out that tells you popular sauce combinations. I'm sure they have people mixing all sorts of random things and going 'bleahahhaa, what was I thinking?!!' Heheh. I stuck with my classic sesame soy, soy sauce stir-fry combination. Never fails. It's a fun place to go, and FTG is situated in a convenient location. I'm sure this place is popular with the undergrads. If you show your student ID, you get a discount on your meal. As part of their decor, they dutifully drew all Big 10 logos on a chalk board with the Wildcat holding a fork, and the rest of us in a bowl.
(4)Sarah H.
The location is very nice, right next to Blu Sushi Lounge and Chipotle and only a couple minutes from South campus (Northwestern), except the food is hardly mediocre. I think our school cafeteria has better stir fry - come on! The service is horrid. I have never experienced such horrible service in Evnaston, even Joy Yees has better service. The selection of veggies is decent and the sauces are just so so, the meat selection could be a bit better. I like their roti bread, but their shrimp are measly and not that amazing. I give it two stars because if you get the student unlimited it's pretty nice (go on an empty stomach). But the side effects of flat top are disastrous. Not a very clean place (saw bugs flying around the food) and I got hives afterwards (which is strange). Overall, horrible management, decent food, horrible service, decent selection. If you're a poor student, stick to stir-fry steve or head over to chipotle.
(2)Mike K.
Okay this place serves up some great chow. Where I am from in California these go by the term "Mongolian Bar-b-Que". Same thing, pick up some rice, veggies, some meat and drench it in some kind of sauce. They throw it on the grill and walk it around, like a stroll though the park. They toss it in a bowl and then you scarf it down. But you realize this is just another stir fry of inexpensive food? You can get this anywhere for about half the price. Okay they got that cool piece of bread, you can't get that just anywhere. And I did like this place, don't get me wrong. I thought the service was very attentive, informative and friendly. But the price leaves a strange aftertaste. If you are ever in California, look up a Mongolian BBQ and tell me it's not just as good, but for only 7 bucks and money left for some desert.
(3)Jen W.
Nice workers :) Can't go wrong with this place :)
(5)Anastasia B.
Love, Love, LOVE this place!!! Man its soo delicious! Parking is hard to find, kind of a congested area. Excellent staff, even better food :)
(5)Ryan H.
Really good make your own stir fry. You can either get one bowl, or unlimited, and they don't make you choose right away- they let you wait until you eat your first to decide. I generally go with unlimited, and get 4 or 5 small bowls so I can try a whole lot of different mixes. If you go in the evening, be sure to try the white fish, as it is phenomenal. They also give a sweet student deal, and are fairly close to public transit, always nice. Layout is a bit awkward, though. You are either really crowded and being constantly jostled by people going to the food, or so far from the bar that it seems like a totally different place. Drinks are pricey too, but what do you expect? They also can sometimes take forever to bring the food out, and each time I have gone one of my plates went missing for a few minutes before they could find it.
(4)Alice Y.
Well, all reviews are subjective, right? I will admit I didn't like this place because it wasn't what I expected, and you can make your own decisions from there. First, I don't like the kind of noodles they use, I prefer thicker ones. Second, it's really pricey for the food you get for dinner. Third, for that price you only get one meat. Fourth, the toppings area was a total mess when I got there. And mostly, I did not like the way my food tasted. I wanted something sweet and savory, and ended up with mostly just savory. I know what you're going to say...it's a make-it-yourself place, so the only person you can blame for that is you. Maybe. But I choose to blame Flat Top Grill for not providing an easy recipe or pre-mixed sauce that I like. I used to live in Dallas and the Genghis Grill chain does it so much better for cheaper. There's apparently one in Wheaton, just saying.
(2)Grace L.
I was 14 the first time I came here and I was really impressed with the concept of making my own noodle dish to taste (for those unfamiliar with Mongolian grill, you build your entree with your choice of meats, noodles, vegetables, and sauces). Being a little overzealous and wanting to try everything all at once can lead to some wacky concoctions. I believe this may happen from time to time, as the wait staff was very amused and merciful... they didn't make me put down my poisonous entree. Thanks! I've been back several times since to meet up with an old friend from childhood and we loooove coming here again and again. It's reasonably priced and there's a discount if you're a student! If you haven't ever tried Mongolian grill this is a great place to start :)
(3)Jacob J.
What is so awesome about mixing your own food? Years ago when they first opened I went a few times, just cause it was a new thing to do. I say don't take a date. Unless you and they are cautious with what you are adding to that dish. Whether its busy or calm also determines the final dish. If its busy, I feel that enough time is NOT given to the cooking. The result is uncooked and still hard veggies. Yes, they have recipes on a big ass wall above you. If you like stir fry anything. Check it out. Taking from anothers review. Just note that, all the items are just sitting out. Some are chilled. All uncovered. Meat is plain, not marinated.
(2)Ginny L.
This is my favorite of all the FTG locations, to the point where even if I'm in Chicago near one of the others, I'll suggest driving to Evanston for this one. I've always had great service, the staff is really nice, and last time our server was nice enough to bring us a bowl with a few pieces of roti prata while we were waiting for our bowls of food (also with roti prata, of course!) to come out, since it was a busy night. Though I'm very rarely hungry enough after, I love love love the Triple Chocolate Storm. The brownie is ridiculously rich and fudgy, and the sauce I could eat all by itself, really... but together, even better. Note: the appetizers are way overpriced for the amount you get. They're good, but really, you don't go to FTG for the appetizers.
(5)Sarah O.
Attention, Ladies and Gents.... This is important. I lived in Chicago for four years, have been away for two (going on three) and I have to say that in all my travels, from Chicago to Phoenix to London...Flattop Grill is, HANDS DOWN, my favourite restaurant....IN THE WORLD. Yes folks, it's a big statement for a great place with great memories. Basically, a high class build your own stir-fry place (and if you challenge this, I beg you to try the stir fry place in Tempe, AZ...ugh. Not high class) that is well known to all chicago student circles. You can read the other reviews on how to make it (ya throw in lots of veggies and rice, select your meats and sauces, and they grill it all for you in front of your faces!) but seriously, you cannot go wrong if you're making it yourself, It's the utmost form of control for the OCD friend among you. The drinks are amazing too. The one that sticks out is called the 'Horny Monkey' which is the first drink I ever LEGALLY had...and it has a giant banana sticking out of it like a...well, you know. The service is usually top-notch unless you get there on a friday or saturday during the peak time...then expect to wait. I swear, the first thing I'm going to do when I get back State-side i hit this place up!!
(5)Jonathan P.
I've been going here since high school and still love it. Great food and great memories. I went to Northwestern for college too and came here all the time, I've pretty much never been disappointed. It's really easy to overeat here. You always make your own food and mixes so it never really gets old. I personally love the roti prata. It's really amazing. It's kind of like indian naan bread but softer. Writing about this place actually makes me want to go asap, since I live in LA now but am visiting for the weekend. Anyhow, really fun vibe here, although long wait on weekends. It's really one of my favorites. If I had actually dated in high school I definitely would have brought dates here, but it's also a really good place to bring a big group of friends. Not expensive at all either, especially at lunch with student ID!
(4)Steve O.
The service has gotten 100% better. Have been there twice in the past month and it was great both times.
(4)Jebadiah S.
I want to give this place more stars, and perhaps it really does deserve more, but the flaws are just too much of a problem to warrant more than 2-3 stars. First the good, because there is plenty good. You want healthy, tasty and filling? You got it. You want intersting food? You got it. You want something to drink too? You got it (decent bar, not great, but its still a full bar). You want decent prices? You got it too...but That actually segways into the bad. They charge $5 or so to take anything home, its just another revenue stream for them and is unnecessary, however at least they're nice about it and don't act like they're gouging you I guess (they'll put everything in one box if you ask nicely instead of charging you for $10 for 2). But the worst thing is how damn long everything takes. They must fix this and I don't think I'm going back until they do, I just don't like taking 2-3 hours to eat a meal. A lot of the northwestern kids fill this place up, and I can see why, it can be an inexpensive place to eat, and eat decent. But damn is it gonna take you AT LEAST 30 mins to get your food. They have 2 guys making every single dish, and it doesn't matter if they have 1000 people in there or 10. And even when its not crowded, somehow, someway, it still takes 30 mins. It doesn't make sense, the owners need desperatly to hire more cooks which is a no brainer, they can fit another man on the third side of the grill, and get the rest of the staff on the ball a bit more. My hats off to the cooks, they work their butts off, but they need help and the rest of the staff has got to be quicker. Oh, and to those with children, don't take them here. Its not smart to take young kids here so they can put there hands in everything, I know you either think its adorable or you could care less but that's exactly why your ignorant entitled ass shouldn't have procreated in the first place. Just lock you and your spawn in a cave and don't come out.
(3)Jade T.
Wow, this place is an epic FAIL. The concept isn't ingenious: create your own stir-fry from the restaurant's selection of noodles, vegetables, and more. What is incredible about it? Nothing! Yet, people are volunteerily shelling up to $13.99 for dinner. Even the soda is overpriced at $2.59. When I went for lunch, all of the vegetables were old and brown, and many of the toppings were low on supply. The noodles looked pathetic, so I opt for white rice (which was overcooked). The selection of vegetarian mock meats is fantastic though, hence the extra star. There is seitan, quorn, mock chicken, and more. The sauce area was messy from people dripping sauces all over the place with their ladles. Overall, the food was alright, but it's hard to mess up stir-fry. A bowl here is worth $4 at the MAX. However, Flat Top Grill would be much better if it followed Chipotle's assembly line model. There would be no need for waiters because drinks, appetizers, and desserts would be ordered at the cash register instead. Speaking of service, it was terrible. This isn't the usual sit-down restaurant, so what gives? All she needed to do was refill drinks. Anyway, I WILL NOT be returning to Flat Top Grill. For $9, I'll go over to a Thai restaurant for good stir-fry, none of this make-it-yourself shit.
(2)Sandeep P.
Flat Top is as good as you make of it. I love coming here with groups, because it is so vegetarian friendly without being a 'lame' option for the carnivores out there. While I still prefer Stir Crazy's sauces, I give props to Flat Top for being able to make meals that are distinctly _not_ Asian-themed, with the wide variety of ingredients that many other similar stir-fry concept restaurants do not include. I also love the drink selection- I am a big fan of a lemonade, high praise from someone who doesn't normally order a drink. Also, the Paratha/Roti is DELICIOUS. You need to try one when you come out! Little known trick: waiters are able to get extra parathas at no cost, you just have to ask!
(4)Nafeesah A.
This last visit was the best because we got our regular server Christina. Christina is the best she was on time with drinks and knew when it was time to hit up a refill. She made sure we were happy and comfortable and she didnt skimp on any details. She was good about getting things we needed and even if we needed to ask the manager questions and especially when he gave us dessert on the house for a minor inconvenience when a group of college students came in after the restauarant would have normally been closed. We got a slice of their signature dessert with ice cream. Christina was better than most of the servers we had eating at Flat Top and you can't get anyone better than Christina as a server at Flat Top Grill.
(4)Allison S.
I love this place! You can make your own stir fry and pick out what you want to put in it. I love just getting a lot of veggies with chicken and tofu, and always add in the roti bread, its fried on the grill and soo good. They have a lot of veggie and sauce options and I love that they have seitan and curry pakora as options. They have all the nutrition info and are very consicious about allergies. You would think it would be pretty fast but the service is usually pretty slow. Its still one of my favorite places in evanston, mainly just because i love asian stir fry and its fun to physically be able to pick out what you want in your stir fry!
(4)Joshua N.
This is where I go when I feel like eating tons of veggies. If you are really bad at making food, then you probably aren't going to like this place since you have to figure out your own sauces and what have you. Here's my recommendation; tons of veggies, egg noodles, an egg, 3 ladles of pad thai sauce, 3/4 ladle of peanut sauce, 1/2 ladle of red hot chili sauce, a little beef with tons of cumin, peanuts, and a roti stick. Oh and use the spinach trick listed in Yanyao's review. She's so smart! Gripes about this place; Sometimes the servers are a bit novice - even for a buffet. Nothing too terrible, just some occasional dry cups. It is a terrible place to be during dinner hours or anytime that they are remotely busy. You don't want to get stuck behind a gaggle of teens trying to figure out what sauces use - just put the pad thai on and move please. Sometimes when they aren't busy, they take the ladles out of one side of the line which bothers me to no end. The cumin shaker keeps disappearing which is not ok, because the beef they use isn't great and absolutely needs cumin. I pass on meat when they don't put out the shakers and just have a veggie lunch.
(4)Jackie G.
As a student, I think this is a great place to go, especially for lunch (not as much dinner, mainly because I'm cheap). It's not quick, so I wouldn't go here between classes. However, with the student price, it offers such variety at a reasonable price that's perfect for a weekend lunch date when you want to catch up with friends. You can personalize your meal in obvious ways by picking your own mix of vegetables, sauce, meat, etc., but be sure to take note of the sticks at the end of the buffet of choices. By adding the blue stick, you get the roti bread. As far as I can tell, this is by far the favorite selection. My friends and I have even asked for more roti bread - and you don't get charged! I also like the green stick, so I can make my stir fry into lettuce wraps. Once I accidentally stuck some stick in the bowl and my entre came to me as a soup. Also, you'll get charged for adding shrimp to your meal. Unfortunately, like the food, the service varies. I've had very attentive and funny waiters but also slow and impersonal service. The decor is modern, of the pan-asian sort, casual yet nicer than Chipotle next door.
(4)Justin H.
Build your own stir fry! mix in only what you want Mix yum sauce as well!
(4)Ngoc H.
Not a big fan of trying to make my own dish but hey, if you're adventurous and want to gt up to make your own creations, this is the place for you. There are cards they tell you how to make certain dishes but I am just not a big fan. The place is somewhat clean and the staff is nice but I wouldn't be returning. We all know how terrible parking is in Evanston during lunch hour, the place doesn't get too crowded (from what I've seen the two times I've been there at least).
(2)ALEXANDRA L.
OK, maybe 1.5. Frankly, this is a place where you should only go if you tolerate noise, smokiness, inefficiency, mediocre food just because you want to do-it-yourself or you go for the "infinite" portion and that's all you care about. I tried it last weekend, and the two to-go dishes were pretty small portions (lesson learned: don't put leafy veggies in your bowl to take up precious space), and the sauces we tried were (ahem) gross. My recommendation is to not go spend $15 here for a small portion of untasty food. Hit chipotle next door for a better deal/flavor options or Bat17 or Dixie for the same price but better food. If you are forced to go, stick with soy sauce & don't go fancy (a la Korean BBQ or black bean) unless you want your whole pile of food to be contaminated. The one plus was that the proteins were not gross. So maybe my recommendation is get rice/noodles, with soy & minimal veggies and lots of protein.
(1)Kristen S.
The food is gluten free friendly here, even boasting a separate grilling area to reduce cross-contamination. The food itself is just okay. I have better gluten free stir fry at many Thai Asian restaurants. But it is an option for any one who is gluten free and wants a delicious healthy meal.
(3)Stephanie L.
I always leave here not feeling so great... It's just not that good and the selection needs work. Also, it's so expensive that it honestly is just not worth going. I lived in Evanston for four years and went maybe 6 times and always regretted it. I can't put my finger on what it is that I don't like... the food is just not that great. The concept is really cool -- you pile all your favorite foods from the buffet into a bowl and they stir fry it for you. Sounds simple enough. Then why is it always so gross? Also, I agree, there is a fruit fly problem. Yuck.
(2)Andrea R.
I usually really like this place, I've been coming here for years... BUT, I returned today with some friends and I could barely eat my food there were so many flys buzzing around our table. Now, I get that we were sitting near the door, but this was just too much. I had to eat with one hand and cover the bowl with the other to keep all the flies out of my food. I'm disappointed because I've have a good time here many times. I usually come in the winter and I think I will be sticking to that.
(1)Cassie S.
I'm a fan of Flat Top. I'm especially a fan of this Flat Top (and especially so in the summer when you can sit outside). Be realistic here - The food is total hit or miss. That's because you never know exactly what you're going to get. That's what happens when you throw a bunch of things in a bowl without really thinking about how they all go together and whether they all should really cook for the same amount of time. And it definitely takes some practice to learn which sauces you like, how to combine them, and how much to use. At least if you screw up, though, you can keep going back for more until you get it right.
(3)Matt T.
If I could leave zero stars, I would. I have consistently complained to corporate about this place for well over a year to due to their fruit fly problem. Every time I eat here there are fruit flies around the tables and the food counter. Corporate sends gift certifications, I go back, and the same thing occurs. Last night was the last time I ever go to this or any Flat Top establishment. First off, we arrived on time for our reservation. It took 10 mins to be seated even though there were several tables available. The maitre d said the manager has to seat people and he was nowhere to be found. Finally after standing there with a look of frustration and hunger a server sat us down. The restaurant was in absolute chaos from top to bottom. This place was absolutely foul and disgusting. Food, including raw meat was scattered all over the counter area where you make your own stir fry. It was like the cleanup after a house party. It is a huge health risk to have raw chicken and beef sitting on the edge of the counter where people are filling their bowls. The counters were greasy and the tongs were greasy. It was just disgusting. We complained and the manager said he'd do what he could to take care of it. Needless to say, it was not taken care of. There were three of us dining and two of our dishes came out at the same time and my girlfriend's dish took another 10 mins to come. that's unacceptable. If you have three people at a table, make sure when cooking/delivering the food that they all come out together. I know the place was busy but we were not a table of 10. All of our bowls had things mixed in that were not ours. Normall I don't mind as it's usually a few pieces but my girlfriend's dish was missing half of her ingrediants, including half the meat and had veggies that she did not add to her bowl. I know they have allergy sticks to prevent mixing certain foods but it's unacceptable that my girlfriend's dish did not resemble what she put together. The bathrooms are disgusting. They resemble the look and feel of a bathroom at a ballpark. Paper towels and toilet paper strewn about, no soap in the women's bathroom and the sinks and toilets filthy. Vacated tables were left with dishes, silverware cups and napkins for a long time as no one was coming around to clean. The floors were disgusting as well. While our server was very nice and attentive, dude was profusely sweating and smelled like the rhino's butt crack. the restaurant was so warm it was no wonder he was sweating and the three of us were uncomfortable. I heard a server ask the manager to turn the A/C on and he said he was not allowed to. I guess they are trying to maximize profit margin even on a 70 degree November night. We complained about everything and had our meal comped. We could have gotten desert but declined. Before that we ordered a second round of food but it took so long we bounced before we got it. We even got $30 in gift certificates but we're giving those away. I felt so gross after eating I took a cold shower when I got home. Peace out Flat Top, get your act together! I may be calling the Board of Health.
(1)Chris D.
as good as other locations. I like it
(3)Melissa F.
I have to say, I'm a big fan of this messy, crowded, semi-overrated orgy of vegetables. The concept is pretty unique - it's not the only place to EVER do make-your-own stir fry, but I'm sure you get me (and now I feel like an American chav). One major concern of people is cross-contamination. Yes, yes, yes. Carrots wind up in close quarters with mushrooms, and green onions are shacking up with zucchini before even bothering to get married. No, but seriously, while it could be a little bit more well-maintained, that's not enough to keep me from creating my own stir fry. There is such a wide variety of ingredients you can use, it's amazing. Even the garnishes - like cilantro, basically my favorite thing ever - are there, from the previously-exalted cilantro to chopped peanuts. There are also many sauces to choose, and they even let you sample them in paper cups that remind me of shot glasses (Wait, what? Just b/c I've seen them on TV, honest, officer!). You can make dishes as authentic or inauthentic (Cheddar in Asian food! No, but it's good.) as you please. You can also get shrimp, lettuce cups, moo-shoo wrapping, and, best of all (insert heavenly noises) ROTI BREAD. It is flaky, buttery, and basically tastes like magic. I don't care if you never eat carbs, just have some, because it is the highlight of Flat Top by any stretch. Service is usually good. The last time I went was about two weeks ago and boy was it weird! I don't know what happened - some sort of PR fiasco? - but there were Flat Top people (servers, owners, managers...) everywhere smiling and greeting people. It was almost frightening. I'm telling you, there was one at the door (one thanked me for coming even though I was just going back to my outdoor table), a freakish amount swarming the already-crowded buffet area helping people pick ingredients as if it was a MENSA task, etc. At least four different employees came over to ask our non-fussy/very sane and unobtrusive party of five how things were. One younger employee, certainly on the more attractive side, came over and simply thanked us "for hanging out." Usually when I'm only hanging out I don't have to pay but, ah well, details. I saw a four-top with just two people sitting down, so the server plopped herself onto one of the remaining chairs to go over menu items. Were they preparing for the SATs?!?! At first glance, we were all wondering what the hell was going on. What prompted something of this scale? Was there a human head in the stir-fry? But at the same time, on a serious note, if something bad did happen, I should ultimately be impressed with the steps they're taking to improve customer satisfaction. Oh, and I wound up with a well-cooked, satisfying dinner, too, for a moderate price. We just had a lot of company!
(4)Luiza R.
Love this place! Their Roti bread is amazing. Overall, really good experiences every time I'm there.
(4)Beckie M.
Now that I've figured out that 6 scoops of sauce is the optimal number to avoid a dry, flavourless stir-fry, I really like this place. They have a good selection of veggies and fake meat, and the roti is delicious. However, they do sometimes overcook the food, and after about 8.30pm, when the salad bar is picked over, my rating would go down to a 2.
(4)Sarah B.
Oh, let me count the reasons why I won't eat at Flat Top: 1)The fact that you get to design your own bowl is a total gimmick. When I go to a restaurant, I want to eat food that a cook/chef has thought about and put together. Sorry, I can make my own (and often do) stirfry at home. The whole "design your own food" is a way for a restaurant to get out of making the food for you. It's lazy. 2) The food is mediocre. Even when I've followed their suggestions of combinations to try, I always end up feeling "eh" about the food. It's not necessarily horrible, but it's not necessarily yummy either. 3) Way over-priced. The most I've ever eaten is 1-1/2 bowls and quite honestly the price tag just doesn't jive with the amount most people can eat. 4) Every time I get my cooked bowl, there's a vegetable in there that I never put in my original bowl. Eww... 5) The Evanston location is so, so loud! It must be the material they use on the walls, but the acoustics are terrible. Most of my dinner conversation involves a lot of "what's?" and "huh's?"
(1)Kate W.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars but alas, I can't. They have a decent variety which I liked but none of their sauces were very flavorful... or at least the ones I tried weren't. I'm sure if I had gone for the spicy stuff it would have made a difference but I didn't. The quality was ok but there's just something about raw meat sitting out in the open that I don't like. I'd rather not have to see it. Still, it's not like I got sick or anything so they do a good job of keeping everything safe to eat. They should do something about the ladle handles though, they were all sticky and gross. Overall, it's a chain and you can find better, but it's not a bad place to try.
(3)Nona Gayle D.
I really was not impress by this concept which is pretty much the same as noodles & company and big bowl. So it's a create your own stir fry, and if you make bad decisions as far as what you add and how much sauce you use, then your stir fry will taste like crap. Case in point, my mother decided to add pineapples to her pretty sour dish, and it ruined the taste and it just did not taste good, I took one bite and had enough. I wouldn't go here again if I didn't have to.
(2)Steph R.
I've been going this Flat Top for years. The food is always good, never impressive...but the service the last time I went was atrocious. I had to literally stand up and chase my server to get our drinks and our check. He also forgot the Martini my boyfriend had ordered but by the time we got our servers attention, we had finished our meals and didn't want it anymore. It was a Wednesday night, not even that busy.
(2)Karen A.
Oh yea. The first thing I want to do when I go out to eat is cook my own damn food.
(1)Kate S.
My friends and I always end up here at least once a quarter, and they give discounts to college kids which I love. Definitely get the all you can eat portion, because it's only a few bucks more and then if you make something that you don't like, you can toss it and get something different. Definitely try the Indian flatbread option (I believe it's the blue stick that you put in your bowl after you pick what you want)--it's amazing! They also have quite the drink selection (both alcoholic and yummy non-alcoholic as well). It can get pretty crowded on weekends since a lot of college kids go here, so you may have to wait 20 minutes or so, but there are plenty of stores around (Gap, Barnes and Noble, etc), to kill time before you go.
(4)Tina K.
This was recommended as a place for brunch that is also kid - friendly. It is very family friendly and the staff is very nice and accomodating BUT - every single order for 5 was wrong. Not only were they wrong, they weren't corrected, we were told the manager was going to come and speak with us, he didn't. The place was in complete chaos today and as result the food was so-so - I won't be back to this FT Grill again.
(1)Annie S.
I really miss Flat Top. It reminds me of high school. I love the different toppings and the sauces ... even though I would always get the same dish every time :) And the price is very good and reasonable! I really want to go to their weekend brunch because it's all all you can eat. And I think it's around $8. Too bad my friends don't want to go with me :( They are too cool for this place. Haha! Anyways, I will be back!
(4)Christopher H.
Flat Top is very relaxed, good food and a fun experience. I've been going for years and have no reason to stop.
(5)Kile K.
The service at this place was horrible. I can't even tell you how many times I asked for a refill on my drink, which was overpriced btw. Our server was some nervous kid who kept forgetting about our table. All in all, the food was okay, but the service is subpar. Take your hard earned money elsewhere.
(1)Sophie W.
Quite nice. Will definitely go again. Discount for NU students. Chinese flavor. All the choices of different vegetables and meat. I tried white rice last time, next time I will try rice noodles. Good place!
(4)Sarah M.
i admit, i really like flat top. is it outta-this-world amazing...no. then why 5 stars? 1 star for customer service. i went here for lunch today, and service was prompt and polite. 1 star for price. it's definitely reasonable. 1 star for quality of food. it came out piping hot and cooked just right. this is total comfort food for me, and i like switching it up now and then. 1 star for atmosphere. after a stressful morning, i hunkered down in a corner and read a book while waiting for my food, and the laid back atmosphere was definitely what i was looking for. and the last star is because i knew going in that it was a chain restaurant with a make-your-own stir fry cuisine, and i walked out of there full of good food and a relaxing lunch experience. couldn't ask for more than that :)
(5)Jennifer H.
I went to FTG in Evanston for breakfast with 2 friends. We arrived about fifteen minutes earlier than they opened but the owner offered to get us a table and start us off with coffee while they finished setting up. Although we declined (we didn't want to be in the way) and were waiting outside for it to officially open, the owner personally came out side to get us when it opened! We were immediately sat and taken through FTG menu and process. We had been to an FTG for dinner but not breakfast. Our waiter was excellent, he was very attentive and was on top of coffee refills and empty plates. The food was delicious! I had a pancake on the first go around and an omelete on the second. While the cooks made our entrees, we enjoyed fruit, coffee cake, muffins and oatmeal, which was really delicious. After you selected if you wanted an omelete, pancake, french toast, etc and then chose your toppings, there was a manager to help you at the cooking line to make sure you thought of everything. The managers were on point with everything and on top of their staff to make sure diner's experience was perfect. The other FTG that I had eaten at was in Chicago, and their service is below par to this Evanston location. I would recommend this place for breakfast over and over again. It is great with one, two or big crowds. Get up early to avoid the lines as this is a popular spot, as it should be! Delicious breakfast with great service that will wake you up!
(5)J J.
I'm always a fan of their food and I can't really complain b/c it would be my fault. Service is typically great but don't expect your food to be turned around immediately as this place gets pretty busy in the evenings.
(4)Luke S.
I love this location, not a huge fan of the location on Belmont. I've always had great service here. I can't complain about the food because I'm the one who decides what goes in. My secret to Flat Top is lots of peanut sauce and one ladle of Sweet and Sour. If you add those two you will have good flavor almost every time. The flat bread is delicious! I also love that they offer brown rice. Very few places give you the option of brown rice. If I'm in Evanston and craving a large meal this is the place I go.
(4)Ernie C.
I love Flat Top. Located in the heart of downtown Evanston, it is an excellent place to take your friends on a night on the town. The Evanston location is the one I tried first in 1997 when I worked nearby and I still think it is the best location. Their roti bread is fantastic. Their meats/veggies are fresh and their sauces are tasty. The key to a good stir fry is not to put too many spices. Their breakfast is addicting (and I LOVE breakfast). Where else can you create a pancake, omelette or special breakfast concoction for under $10? And... you can go back for more if you didn't like your concoction or if you're super hungry.
(5)Marion P.
It took me over a year of living in the neighborhood before I tried this place out. I was never impressed with the 'make your own stir fry' concept - might I not just cook it at home myself, then? - but tonight we were lured in by the delicious smells and absolutely surprised by how good it was. I hadn't imagined they'd have 15 different sauces, including a Thai red curry sauce and and Indian yellow coconut curry sauce, 5 or 6 different meat-free alternatives (tempeh, seitan, tofu, quorn and more), lots of veggies, brown or white rice or noodles, and meats and different add-ons. The sauces really did it for me, it means you could mix and match and make each bowl really different in flavor. On the downside, it is a little expensive and it does take a while until a portion is grilled. So ideally, you'd come here absolutely starving and curious, with lots of time and friends you have a lot to say to - then I think it's really great. (Though for weekend lunches and mon/tues dinners, Lulu's (just a block away!) has their own all you can eat, which may be a little less crazy, a little more fancy, and a little more interesting)
(4)Andrew T.
I go here. ALOT. In fact, friends when they walk by on weekends will bet whether I am there or not. Love it for Sat/Sun lunches when you're starving and slightly hungover. Service SUCKS - lunch/dinner/summer/school year whenever. Either mouthy waiters or too inattentive. But who cares, I go there for the Roti Prada (indian flatbread, my gf likes it so much, she put two sticks in her bowl meaning give me two pieces, but they still only gave her one) and the horseradish sauce (approx. 140 calories per scoop). The vindaloo sauce they recently added gives any dish a healthy kick of indian flavor. Chicken is terrible. Pork is okay, only the beef is good. At night they'll add shrimp, scallops, fish, etc. Lemondaes are refillable and pretty good at 2.99 - desert pear, pomegranate and raspberry. Don't forget to add the garlic and cilantro to your bowl at the end of the line.
(4)Jordan K.
Standing in front of a salad bar full of sad looking vegetables, old meat, and greasy serving tongs -- Queensryche playing in the background -- I pondered why one would ever come here. I've been to similar concepts - Stir Crazy in Northbrook is one local example - that are far more successful.
(1)Alex G.
This is my favorite restaurant in Evanston! Nothing truly unique about this particular FlatTop aside from the great location next to Northwestern University. Pretty good service and the roti bread is phenomenal!
(5)Joe M.
I found this Flat Top Grill location to be one of the better that I've been at. It is roomier than the others and I didn't feel as if I was part of my neighbor's conversation. The food, as usual was very fresh. I really enjoy the opportunity to try different combinations of meat, sauces, veggies and toppings. Something different every time....but all good. Our server was friendly and attentive, yet not overly so. I absolutely recommend this location for a relaxed, fresh and really tasty alternative to burgers and beer.
(3)Mary F.
Nice lunch with wine before light opera works.
(4)Cindy L.
This is the only Flat Top Grill location I've ever been at so as far as the concept, the food and the price, I would definitely give it 5 stars. The thing that makes me want to take a way a star is the customer service. The waitress we had this past weekend just wasn't that nice or helpful. She walked past a few times without even looking at us and it took a lot longer than it should have to get our food, water and check. Other than this, this place is awesome and I would definitely go back again!
(4)Dave L.
3 1/2 stars. I liked this place. Though it was not super clean, and the service was just adequate, the food was quite good. We have a similar gimmick option in Boston at Fire and Ice, but my dining mates all said they preferred this place. The ingredients all seemed fresh, and there were FIVE different veggie "meat" options, not even counting tofu. The option to make your stir fry type meal into a soup or wrap was pretty cool, and the Indian bread with the meal was tasty. The pear lemonade I had was also quite good. Go during lunch. Te price was great for the amount of food we got. Note: If I lived near this place, I feel like I could get sick of it pretty quickly. It is a maybe a once every 6 months or so for lunch type place.
(3)Rysia H.
First we had to wait for a table when there were open ones. Then I found a screw in my rice when I was dishing it out. The food area was not clean and several bins were empty and needed to be refilled. The tong for the raw chicken were covered in raw chicken residue. The food took forever to have cooked (they appeared to be short-staffed). The icing on the cake was the cake. One of the waitresses came out of the single toilet rest room just ahead of me. I found pee on the toilet seat. Suspecting that perhaps the toilet sprayed water when flushed, I flushed the toilet, no such luck, no spray.......must have just been pee. Yuck.
(1)Chris S.
I used to really like this Flat Top Grill location, but recently they've taken a bit of a nose dive. They consistently forget my add ons, like flat bread, tofu or making my bowl a wrap. It's become consistent and it's starting make me lose interest in this location, which is too bad. I really like Flat Top and this one is only a couple miles from me. The one thing that really bothers me about this location is that it's not clean and they don't refill their veggies quickly. Even after you ask them to. They're always out of something, whether it's something standard like broccoli or something a bit more obscure, like saitan. If you go here, you might have to ask the waiter to wipe down your table. If you can go to either of the Lakeview locations instead, head there. It might come down to who you want to eat with, privileged northshore brats or Lakeview yuppies.
(3)Laura V.
Oh Flat Top Grill of Evanston, IL...how I miss you so. Sure, I never did learn how to perfect my own pad thai per the recipe on your wall, but while I messed up at it, I created some other really great dishes. (Although, I still wonder who puts cheddar cheese cubes in asian stir fry. I won't do that again.) The thing I like about Flat Tops is that you can eat as much as you want. And, if you screw it up, you can try again. I highly recommend the weird pancake thingy you can choose to top your dish (you'll just have to put the colored stick that corresponds with the pancake in your bowl of ingredients). The even better thing about Flat Tops is their drinks. I love the Tricky Vicki punch. The Mai Thai is good, and there was some drink that had a whole banana in it. That was kind of weird I guess. Now, Flat Top Grill made an attempt to have a location near the Ballston Metro a while back and I was SO excited to see it there. Sadly, it wasn't nearly as good and I think it has since closed. Stick to the best location for Flat Tops - Evanston - you won't go wrong.
(4)Jims L.
I was at first kind of skeptical about eating at this place as I couldn't foresee how well a place called Flat Top Grill could offer good Asian cuisine. I've always had Mongolian BBQ at places called Genghis Kahn or Emperor.. But this place is great! They have a good selection of veggies (mushrooms, onions, scallions, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, sugar snap peas, edamame, etc), meat (chicken, beef, pork, calamari), and most importantly, soooooooooo many sauces. If you're unsure about what sauces you'd like, they offer tasting cups for you to try any you'd like before you add anything yourself, and a list of suggestive combinations that other people have enjoyed. You can also add extras like tofu and roti bread (my favorite) for free, and shrimp for $1 extra or choose to have your stir fri as a soup or mushu? (wrapped in little tortillas). You can mix and match to have your food grilled fresh and ready for you to eat. Delicious! Lunch is always all you can eat for $8.99. A single serving at dinner is $12.99 but I agree that the extra dollar difference for all you can eat is worth it.
(5)Melissa M.
I know I don't hate the concept (I have given other locations of this chain many more stars), or the yuppies, or the service...but I do hate the way that at this particular location a broccoli cilantro stirfry tends to end up with mysterious bits of other vegetables. The concept here is that you pick all sorts of fresh vegetables and meat, ladle on some sauce, perhaps add some extras, and the dish comes back to your table fully cooked. Theoretically you should be able to satisfy the pickiest of eaters with the seemingly endless options. Unfortunately, despite the fact I added a white stick to signal that I have allergies and need food cooked separately, my food came back to the table with little bits of stomach irritant. For someone with a more serious allergy, such an experience could be deadly. DO NOT take people with peanut allergies or other similar sensitivities here. The actual bowl making area is also rife for mistakes, as the containers for the vegetables are set up so that contamination is easy and apparently common. Nearly every bin of vegetables contained something that didn't belong- mushrooms in the noodles, specks of peppers in the edamame, etc. The workers were apparently unconcerned by this. The service was good here, so it's a shame the grill itself was run so poorly. It's likely such problems are common in most restaurants, but here they are flagrantly out in the open, which left my family disgusted.
(1)Virginia T.
It might be expensive for what it is (make your own stir fry) but I always liked this location. It was larger and had better ingredient selections than the Lakeview location. It has definitely gone downhill though. My last trip I was on crutches. I asked to be seated nearer to the front of the restaurant, only to be seated 3 tables from the very back. We made our first stir-fry and after 30 minutes(!!) were informed our food was "on it's way". It wasn't even that busy!!! Finished that bowl and went up for a second....another 20 minutes later and still no food....it finally came and my bowl literally had 2 fork fulls inside it!!! No where near what I had created...and I wasn't about to hobble back up to the front and create another one only to wait another 20 minutes for it! We got a measly "student discount" rate for the three of us and an apology. I left hungry and vowing never to return!
(3)Mark R.
Pretty boring and blah. Not bad, but not enough to get me back in the door.
(2)Melissa B.
Yes, I'm biased. This was my first waitressing job. But the food is awesome! I ate here every day I worked, and then still brought my parents over. The only problem is I eat until I can't stand up. I believe this place would be perfect if they could get a wheelbarrow to cart me back to the car. I always get one more helping than I probably should, but hey, it's mainly veggies and noodles, right? So I'm being healthy, right? Right??? Oh, but if you're interested in dessert, the Chocolate Storm is insane. You'll probably have to share it, but it's sooooooo good.
(5)Avery S.
Well I can't very well give more than 3 stars for creating my own delicious dish but I will award 3 for providing fresh ingredients and cooking my meat and veggies perfectly. Seriously, how do you rate a restaurant where only you are to blame for shitty combinations? Points for the addition sticks(IE adding egg/mu shu/noodle thingy) but minus points for no draft beer. Enough of points though. I had fun bottom line. It's a basic Mongolian Grill that provides good quality ingredients and a good time. Would be fun for a first date or if you live on campus and don't own a car.
(3)Isabel Y.
AWESOME. Flattop was a staple of my college life and I still crave it two years out of school. My stir-fry of choice: veggies, pineapples, and chicken, with peanut sauce slathered alllll over it. With rice! So so so good. Service is friendly if not all too quick (I mean they ARE making your food). Don't bother with the drinks or dessert. They have a student discount if you just get one bowl, although it's definitely fun to try the various combos-- possibilities are endless! Make sure to get the roti bread stick, it's good here!
(5)A C.
ZERO STARS. Yes, you read correctly - If I could give ZERO STARS, I would, but the system puts the minimum to 1. I haven't been to Flat Top in quite a few months, so I thought I'd make a trip here for dinner with a friend. I used to come quite often when I was a graduate student at Northwestern. I will staying away from now on. And here's why: 1) we asked for a booth - we were seated by the maitre d' at a table with 4 chairs. We walked ourselves over to the table with a booth, and another waitress didn't want us to sit there because she said she had some customers reserving the seats for dinner later. Really? I said you must have a lot of customers reserving since the entire row of seats are available (enough to seat like 30). We then walked ourselves over to another booth, and the waiter said it was fine to sit there. 2) Food was just outright DISGUSTING. I mean, I requested one egg to be cooked for my plate - along with roti bread and of course sauces were added to the plate; when I got my cooked food, the egg yolk was still raw and liquid, there was no roti bread, and the sauces were just heavier in some parts of the food than others. This means that they didn't actually stir fry or mix in the food to get the flavors all over. They just left it on the grill, and let the food cook on one side. I went for a second dish and it turned out exactly the same way. 3) Wait times for food to cook - RIDICULOUS. I mean, I had two dishes, and my friend had one, and that cook time was about 1 hour 45 minutes between the both of us. When I went and got a third plate, we ended up waiting another 30 minutes for the food to cook. What's strange is that our food was put up at the grill counter before everyone else. When we eventually got our third plate, everyone else seated around us got it the same time. This means that the cooks cook the food all at once, regardless of when you set your raw food down at the counter. So if I'm at the beginning of a group, and another person is at the end of the group, our food arrives at EXACTLY the same time. It doesn't get cooked to order. It's cooked for group. 4) Service is TERRIBLE - I went to look for our waiter, who was busy with other customers so I went to the bar and the manager said he could help us. I told him the situation, and he said that he took care of everything for us, and even comped our meal. He wanted us to understand that it's dinnertime and busy so that's why it takes 11 minutes from the time we leave the dish up at the grill counter to the time we receive our dish. Uhm, I told him that it was 30 minutes and counting for the last dish I received. And that we've been here over 2 hours already. What lousy service. Didn't even get an apology from the manager. When we got the bill, he "comped" -$2.00 that's right, two dollars off our meal, which still ended up costing about $40 for two people, with tip. I looked more closely at the bill and realized that although we received a negative -$2.00, we were actually OVERCHARGED. My friend had one plate of food, while I had two. So really, her meal should have been cheaper. But he charged us two "UNLIMITED" meals, and subtracted -$2.00 which is incorrect. 5) Seating - too close to other guests. This white mother and daughter were sitting next to us, literally inches from our table, and overhead everything that went on. They even kept looking over and trying to read my receipt and the amount I left for tip (I gave a 20% tip - it's not the fault of the waiter; he's just a young college kid trying to pay off student tuition and bills, so I don't fault him. Rather, its everything and everyone else I have identified above). I found it hilarious and rude at the same time that this white mother/daughter kept glaring over to me and my friend - at the unfinished dish that arrive 2 hours two late, and at my receipt, and at the shoes that I was wearing the entire time). I WILL NEVER BE GOING BACK TO FLAT TOP GRILL - EVANSTON. There are so many other choices just down the street to choose from, and it's more cheap to eat there. Some suggestions: Chipotle, Le Peep, Panda Express, Papa John's, etc. etc.
(1)Dee W.
Decent, I guess. They gave out discounts for student ids - lunch was $7.99 if you only ate one bowl but we were little hungry pigs so we had two and got charged $8.99 instead. My sister tried their pear iced tea which wasn't bad, had a little kick to it. In comparison to the downtown location, I like the downtown location better. Here, service wasn't as friendly or helpful. Things weren't as clearly labeled and I ordered my food as a wrap and my sister ordered hers over tofu. We failed to get any of that. Then, my sister ordered something over salad and I ordered mine with that piece of bread on top. She didn't get her salad and I got a really doughy oily piece of bread on top of my stir fry. Now, at work, I smell like stir fry and still am not that satisfied or full. But the food wasn't bad and at least, they listed out the calories, carbs, and if it had msg for the sauces up on their board. Price-wise, you can probably eat elsewhere and get more full. Dinner is probably a better bet.
(2)Aesha W.
I enjoyed this place. I always leave really full, and the food is pretty good. It's cheaper than Stir Crazy in that you can go up an unlimited amount of times, and each creation you make is slightly different. I've tried all kinds of different sauces and stuff, and everything has been good. We went this morning for the inaugural breakfast at this location, and that wasn't bad, either. The second half of the party deemed it a new fav for breakfast, because they make their omelets really thin, just the way he likes it. They had fresh fruit and muffins, as well as oatmeal, while you waited for your creation. All the juices are had free refills, too - I don't know that I've ever been to a place for breakfast where they offered that.
(4)Peter L.
Love this place. Whenever I'm up in Evanston trying to relive my college years this is the place I want to eat at. Unlimited good food (and ROTI BREAD -- this is key) for a decent price. And if it tastes bad, you only have yourself to blame, even though it seems like whatever I put into my bowl always comes back tasting pretty similar to the previous bowl. Food takes a while to come out, but not unreasonably long. Service has always been good, nice place inside.
(4)Alan R.
I used to love this concept when it first opened (who doesn't love unlimited food for one price). Now, FTG has turned into your basic chain with a concept. They have an abundance of choices, but there is only so much you can do with stir fry. I liked that they had a Filipino sausage as a meat choice (something I definitely had not tried before). The sauces seemed limited. On the whole the food was pretty average. There are definitely better choices in Evanston.
(3)Dave Y.
the concept of this place is AWESOME, but it just doesn't work so well in execution. i love mongolian bbq but the 2-3 times i've been here the food always ended up being pretty bland, and it's a bit pricey. aside from all those mongolian bbq places out in california, there's a chain in michigan called bd's, and their food at least doesn't taste as bland so i dunno why this place isn't as good
(3)Emerson C.
I was in the Evanston area walking around since it was a warm evening. My date and I decided to try something different. We were about to go to panera before we saw the big flat top sign. Its pretty much pile as much as you can and they'll grill it for you. So I chose my noodles, veggies, and sauce... But to my surprise... FILIPINO SAUSAGE.. it has been awhile since I had Tosino. So I piled it up on my separate meat bowl. Gave it to the griller's and took them 15 min to complete it.. I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved my grilled compilation. Whenever I go to these places, I always think of everything tasting the same way... from meet to veggies. To my delight, each individual ingredient had it's own taste, especially the noodles. I will definitely come here again.
(4)Moe f.
It's a good concept but really easy to get too into it and put together too many wierd combos making for a not so tasty dish. The ingredients are always fresh and it is all-u-can eat but I would much rather go to a pan asian place and pick off a menu. Great for kids and vegetarians.
(2)Jeff K.
This place is great! It's located in Evanston near Northwest U. I used to frequent the town with a friend and stumbled on the place when it first opened. It's close to the train station. It's a nice atmosphere, kinda modern minimalism meets feng shui. It's basically a stir fry bar. Like Mongolian BBQ. You choose the ingredients and they cook it up for you. It doesn't matter what you get, everything is good. I don't know how you can mess up!
(4)Maria W.
The food is what you make of it. I would suggest a few small trials so you don't commit to a whole bowl if the sauces aren't quite as tasty as you thought. I like my food spicy and enjoy the hot chili sauce with either of the curries.
(3)Roxy A.
this place was sooo yummay!!! it's a pretty good deal too considering you can get an unlimited amount of stir fries for like $13 and they have student discounts! i like the selections of noodles..ramen & the flat noodles..they also have rice too. a bunch of different veggies, array of sauces and meats/shrimp/tofu that you can put into your stirfry. they also have these little sticks at the end of the buffet line so you can indicate whether you have allergies so they can cook yours seperate from the other stirfires. i reccomend addin the little stick for the roti bread...sooo good! *the only reason why people probably wouldn't like this place is b/c they don't know what to put in their stirfry/don't know what would taste good...you gotta add alot of sauces to make it flavorful, there are also a menu of suggestions on strifries to make if you don't know where to start.
(4)Drennen M.
I had given up on good stir-fry when I left home but this place was amazing. They had foods that it had never occured to me to put in stir-fry - blood oranges, artichoke hearts - and the flat bread that my friend recommended I order was one round disc of oily breaded goodness. It is a little pricey, although lunches are cheaper by a couple of dollars. We went there for a birthday party, and it is well-suited for that purpose, since it's so serve-yourself. Watch out for the cellophane noodles - I'm sure they taste great but they look like they could crawl back out of your throat on their own.
(4)Robyn F.
wow, totally STUFFED from flat top grill! this mongolian stir-fry restaurant is great for mixing and matching whatever foods with whatever sauces you desire. the only downside is that the "recommended recipes" list is at the table but not at the buffet selection. it would be easier if they had a recommended sauce list there with the # of portions per sauce. PLUS - the best part about this is that going from 1 bowl to unlimited portions is only an extra $1. i feel a little sick from eating so much right now, but what a great deal!
(3)Joel F.
This is bar none the best Flat Top Grill that I've ever been to. Southport is pretty good, too, but North Avenue is a pain in the rear end. I've stuck to my meat fest 2000 for the past 8 years and I'm not changing anytime soon -- white rice, with 3 soy ladles, 1-2 chili, dried red peppers, Roti Prata, and whatever meat is available. I can usually stand two rounds at the flat top -- three if I'm going to be going into hibernation afterwards. Again -- this is the nicest of all of the Flat Top Grill locations, even though there are crazy NWU students bouncing off of the walls ;)
(5)Alex K.
Flat top: eat as much generic stir fry as you want pros: if you're extremely hungry it might be a good deal cons: in the end, it's all the same. overall: go to a real restaurant, evanston is full of them.
(2)Nikki S.
One of the few places that will actually call you on your cell when your table is ready, but this can only be to their advantage given the teeny tiny entry-way space and smallish bar area. And it does get packed on a sat night. We were seated at a two-top directly behind the host station. Not an overt complaint because someone has to sit there, right? They have great options and tons of sauces. MYO stir fry is always a good time. It took forever to get our food cooked, though. After drinking all my water to kill the time, I was kind of full after my first bowl. $12.99 is definitely on the pricey side considering it was just noodles, veggies, and some tofu. Not like I was loading it up with steak. Usually you can get a noodle dish with easily twice the amount of food at any pan-Asian place for $8-9, so yeah, I felt a little underwhelmed by my meal. I'd go back only when I'm super hungry and have a few hours to kill.
(3)Sam J.
I can't help but feel like this place is a bacteria nightmare. I'm far from a germophobe, but there's something about a giant buffet with raw ingredients just hanging around all day that makes me kind of queasy. Nothing like finding a random piece of swordfish in your stir fry. Plus without fail my food always sucks, and I have only myself to blame because I picked the ingredients. For the same price you can have a chef at a real restaurant cook your food from start to finish, and it will definitely be better than this.
(2)Lauren D.
If you want to make your own stir fry and don't mind shelling out a few extra dollars, this is a fine place to go. They have some really good cocktails. I'm always satisfied with my stir fry because I can put however much peanut sauce as I want on it, and add more. It's a busier atmosphere... but I've definitely had one or two bad servings/mistakes made... usually the manager is pretty quick to take care of it.
(3)Maria K.
Flat Top Grill has a truly fun atmosphere, great service, and is a fantastic place for all ages. When we first got their we were warmly greeted and told that there would be a twenty five minute wait, but the hostesses told us that we had the option to go and walk around downtown Evanston while some room cleared, so we did and they called us right when a table opened up. The food was delicious because you got to customize your own bowl and have the chefs grill it all up at the front. I recommend this restaurant.
(5)Rob C.
I'm kind of down on the concept to begin with--I go to a restaurant to have food made for me because they make it better than I do. At least this mongolian bbq style place uses color coded bowls and sticks, which is a little different. Also roti. I just went to get full.
(2)James R.
This is one of my favorite places to get a lot of food! You can get as many bowls as you want for like $15. They have very fresh veggies, vegetarian food, as well as meats and seafood. The service is very fast, once you put your ingredients in your bowl, you put a stick with your name on it, and your meal is cooked usually within 10 minutes when it is busy. Add the Roti bread to your bowl, it is amazing. The Desert Pear Lemonade is great too. Its a very casual atmosphere, and definitely go when you're hungry!
(5)Lisa G.
I've been to almost every Flat Top in the Chicago area, and next to the one on Washington [West Loop], this one stands out as being similarly great. Service was friendly, even giving free bowls of chips and jalapeno plum sauce. As per usual, the ingredients were fresh. Service was a bit slow on a Thursday night, but it's a huge place, which is different than other locations that are small and cozier. Still, a great place to feed your stir fry needs.
(4)Gen S.
I really wasn't impressed. It seemed expensive and very crowded. The waitstaff wasn't very helpful or interested in answering questions. The food was decent, especially if you hit on a good combo, but you can waste a lot of food and time testing the waters. The buffet was messy, especially the sauces. All the raw meats mixed in together and falling on the counter top was enough to make me go veg for the night. The best part was probably the pita bread add-on. I wouldn't go back.
(2)Anna V.
Flat Top Grill is awesome! The food is very fresh, there are options for everyone, and the staff is very helpful. I love this place for breakfast and lunch. The first time I went I tried 6 different dishes. Have the options of noodles, rice, soup, salad. Great value!
(4)Jaclyn C.
Way too expensive, but what do you do - it's a fun, make your own, eat all you can stir-fry place. Popular among age groups from highschool to 30somethings, it's a fun place for Northwestern Underclassmen to take the fam and their checkbooks when they visit. They've recently added a lower-priced "1-dish" stirfry option to the menu, but at a price so close to the "all you can eat" that you may as well go for the later. Large drink menu - the mojitos were not too great. bonus - they definitely have a free-birthday dinner when you sign up online.
(3)Kat W.
Nice interior, good service. As for the quality of food, it's all up to you.
(4)David F.
This place is fun but I do have difficulty getting the food to come out right. You pick the ingredients and the seasonings, but this can be a bit difficult. I tend to prefer a simpler dining experience.
(3)Eddie S.
Concept is great, but its the lack of consistency that prevents me from rating it any higher. I've been 2 times (4 times overall throughout Chicagoland) to the Evanston location and the service, food selection have been wildly different experiences. One of the best sauces, the Flattop Grill Sauce was there the first time and not the second time. There are also certain meat selections that have and have not been there. One thing I don't understand is how long it takes to get your food. I think the wait can be 30 minutes for one bowl, so if you plan on having 2 bowls, you'll need about 1.5 hours for your meal. The roti bread is pretty amazing tasting, so that's once of the best options to add to your bowl. The Filipino sausage is my favorite meat selection. I'd also recommend the pad thai sauce. In general, stick to mixing no more than 2 sauces and go easy with the rice and noodles so you can try to get in a second bowl and taste more. Its def a trial and error kind of thing.
(3)A P.
Walked in, looked over the precooked foods, and walked out. Come on, it's Mongolian BBQ, a kinda place where you're supposed to chow down in an unpretentious setting. This place had a snooty host, dark, modern interior, bar height tables and was noisy, in spite of being rather empty. The precooked food selections were poor, rather like a salad bar than what a real Mongolian place has, which is tons of chopped vegetables. They also make you put the raw meat in a little cup. Really! If I want a heaping plate full of meat, then give it to me, you cheap, pretentious soon-to-fail restaurant. I think you were supposed to fill your place with rice or noodles too, for them to stir fry. Cheap-asses. How does this place survive?
(1)Nick B.
High end Mongolian barbecue, and the best I've ever had. Fresh meat (not frozen like a lot of places), plus they bring it to your table after you drop it off at the grill.
(3)Laura R.
I definitely agree that it is a little bit expensive, but personally I think it's worth it. I looooove noodles, so I love trying different combinations of sauces, veggies, and meat with them. You can follow some of their recipe suggestions or be adventurous and make your own. The little pita bread things you can add are really good too!
(4)Ramon R.
I like it because it's dark (which means I can hide out there with a friend) and it's a buffet. But as one reviewer has already said, it's way too expensive. I'd only recommend it if you're wealthy or don't plan to visit it more than once every few months.
(5)Mark P.
Not really a fan of the Mongolian BBQ/stir fry concept.
(1)Julie B.
Beware those with dietary restrictions. We are longtime Flat Top patrons, but recent experiences have been consistently declining. Vegetables are increasingly less stocked and less fresh, service is inconsistent. One of the main reasons we patronize Flat Top is that in concept, it's a great place to accommodate our family's dietary restrictions and eat a healthy meal. Choosing the white 'allergy stick' is supposed to mean that the cooks take special care with your good selections, and that your dish is cooked in a fresh wok, not intermingled with any other dishes. Recently my vegetarian daughter found some meat from another dish in her meal, and I found an item I'm allergic to in mine after it was cooked. Inspection of the cooking area revealed that there were no woks being used,so our dishes had been cooked on the common grill and mixed with other dishes, which explains our experience. I offered polite feedback to the manager, who offered us a discount on a future visit (we had to pay for our meals which contained food that we could not eat), but made no efforts to correct the cooking procedures used, for us or for others who might have life threatening allergies. We will not be returning, and would advise any others with food allergies or restrictions to exercise extreme caution.
(1)Samantha M.
Went to Flat Top last night--service was really unacceptably bad. We waited 40 minutes just to get a table, and the server was inattentive. Our waters weren't refilled, the food took forever to arrive, and we waited 30 minutes between finishing our meals and getting our check. The food itself is good, but it costs a lot for the poor service and time it takes to get your meal.
(1)Vu N.
Service sucks. There was only four other tables in the restaurant last night and it took our waiter thirty minutes to get our check. Our bill came out to be thirty three dollars and I gave him a five dollar tip was was pretty nice of me for him doing nothing. He didn't even refill our waters. He literally went off to do nothing and walk around after we asked for the check. Food is good but not worth it if the staff is as consistent as diarreaah
(1)Emma W.
ALLERGY PEOPLE BEWARE. I was sitting by the grill, so I literally watched as they cooked 35 meals ahead of mine just because I used the allergy stick, including dozens who arrived after me. Every person in the restaurant got to eat ahead of me. No apology from the waitress even after I pointed this out. Go the downtown location instead.
(1)George J.
I like this place, the first time might be a little tricky til you learn how to be efficient in creating your bowl. It's fun and you can keep changing it up with different combos and the all you can eat is fairly priced. The only bad thing here is the servers are unpredictable, one day you will have a server who is fast and brings you your food quick and other times you have the slow waiter who takes forever. I would rate this place a 3 1/2 star!
(3)CoraLynn C.
They have now started to charge $4 for an extra bowl of meat, at least at this location.
(5)Natalie S.
Came to FlatTop for a casual reunion dinner with 4 friends on a busy Wednesday night. We enjoyed a few appetizers, cocktails and the create your own stir fry meals. The food was delicious (defiantly try the quesodillas!) as usual and our waitress was attentive, accommodating and delightful. There was an issue with one of the stir fry's preparation and (because of how busy they were) my friend had to explain the situation to a runner instead of our waitress. While the initial encounter with this runner was not to be desired a manager quickly resolved the situation. Management and waitstaff clearly take costumer satisfaction seriously, and our party greatly appreciates their efforts. We will be coming back to this establishment soon :)
(5)Matt R.
Great when it's not crowded, poor when it is. Flat top is a great place to go, for lunches. For dinners and/or other times of the day it gets to be pretty pricey. It is however, quite awesome for what it is. It's the same as any other stir fry place: pick all your components, your seitan, your vegetables, and fry! Optionally tell them to prepare it differently, add tofu, make it into a soup, etc. To me personally every option for preparation that involves it being made differently are incredibly poor. The Mu-shu option or something like that is basically putting the vegetables into a small wrap, or you can ask to do it in a lettuce wrap. I suppose the latter might be ok, but the former is just kinda annoying. It's easier to "hold" and/or eat your meal, but I didn't like it personally. The soup option is also a bit kinda crappy. Note that you don't *have* to have it prepared differently. You could do "add tofu" on the left side of the area with the sticks without including the sticks on the right side that mean "prepare differently" Meanwhile, on the same note you don't pay much extra to eat your fill, and there are a lot of pretty good options - sprouts, seitan, quorn, and unique toppings to add. I wish I could find the garlic water (it wasn't labeled last time, maybe they moved it) as I find that to be the most simple/delicious/least unhealthy sauce option. Many of the other sauces include added sugar/oil/etc. I find I like the thai, spicy and curry flavors the most. I do think the curry mix is a nice mix. So that is the upsides of the place. Lets get to the downsides, as well. The downsides are: getting appetizers are a really, really bad idea. I get the feeling that any chefs in the back are simply not prepared/well equipped to have any appetizers brought out, even things as simple as Edamame. Every time I have ordered Edamame or any other appetizer it has come out sometime after the actual stir-fry comes back to the table. They have refunded the appetizers - we don't want it at that point, obviously, but it has happened often enough that I would be lead to believe that it's simply not going to be prepared as quickly as the stir-fry, and thus is not worth ordering. It was a nice idea, but never again. Then we get to downside #2: crowded. This is a popular location for Northwestern students, which is completely fine. However, it also can mean that the place is completely mobbed with people, which means a significant wait to get in and a significant wait in having the stir fry brought to the table. The chances of this happening seem completely random but certainly higher in the evenings, but it would certainly ruin the experience. I will continue to come here from time to time to get healthy options, as this is one of the few places in evanston you can actually get fried vegetables without oil/sugar/etc.
(4)Matthew S.
Came today for lunch and had a bad experience. Unfriendly staff and the food is not good.
(1)Hector N.
We did take out. Food was ok. Corporate emailed me saying 4 out of 5 of the alternative meats were vegan. Turns out only one is. According to the staff at the restaurant anyway. Take out took over 30 minutes to be ready. Our food was places out in the open for 5 min before being boxed up and flies were around. The host boxed it up without gloves or washing her hands after handling all those menus in her hands which on average have a million more bacteria than a toilet seat. Was not satisfied.
(2)Meredith C.
Flat top grill in Lakeview is literally my favorite restaurant on the northside. Therefore, when I moved to Evanston, I was thrilled to find this. It was the first place I went to with all there is to choose from. Sadly, I am very disappointed. No hostess when we walked in. Waited a few minutes, decided to seat ourselves at the bar. No one at bar. Finally a guy showed up and sat us. Waited about 10 minutes for another man to bring drinks. We asked if we could go get our food, he said "No. Someone will be over to serve you." Um what? Isn't that what you're doing right now? So we sat for ten more minutes and no one said anything. Finally a nice server told us to serve ourselves, which is what we asked twenty minutes prior. Food was fine, but just not as awesome as Lakeview location. No toilet paper in women's restroom. A woman with a toddler asked for some, she waited for about ten minutes while no one brought it to her. It wasn't that busy, mid afternoon. Disappointing. Meh.
(2)Erin Y.
Food quality is the same as any Flat Top. It's great when you're in the mood for stir fry, however, I think Stir Crazy is better. My main problem with my experience tonight was service. I came on a Monday night with some friends. We were seated quickly, which was nice, but received little attention afterward. The restaurant wasn't anywhere near full on a Monday; yet, we barely saw our server and the food took ages to come out. Overall, the food is typical but the service was underwhelming.
(2)S C D.
I love rice! And I love the delicious multitude of ways they have to prepare the food. Fresh vegetables galore. A host of sauces. Meat selections for those who crave them. I rediscovered how much I enjoyed this place. Our family has a variety of restrictions: all of which are easily accommodated. Great for children. Casual setting. Moderately noisy. Great service.
(4)Don F.
What a difference mediocre wait staff makes. Otherwise plenty of fresh vegetarian options. Just be prepared to wait.
(3)Xida Z.
Great choices, great atmosphere Returning to Chicago usually means a trip to Flat Top with a few friends. I wasn't surprised to run into another friend here too. The things that distinguish Flat Top from other build-your-own grills are the great sauces and the roti bread. There are so many choices of meats and veggies that you can really build whatever meal you want. One bowl is relatively expensive ($15) but the multiple bowls is not, so make each bowl a small one and have three meals in one. Ambiance and Service 5/5 Food 4/5 Value 4/5
(4)Claude L.
The restaurant is clean, the food is average, and the service for my table was minimal, though to be fair we weren't very demanding customers. The major turn off was that it took about 30 minutes from when we turned in our food to have it cooked and brought to us. I don't want to spend half an hour waiting for food that should be prepared in 15 minutes top, and I don't plan on going back. There are plenty other options that are faster, and plenty better quality options. If I'm going to have a sit down lunch, I wouldn't get stir-fry.
(2)Carrie V.
Meh. I have gotten sick pretty much every time I have been to Flat Top over the course of the last 15 years or so. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since the food is sitting out for you to choose your protein, veggies, sauce, etc. - but I would think that fact would cause them to be more diligent about maintaining the cleanliness. People seem to like it, but I just can't get on board with it. And I've tried, mightily. On the plus side, there is a lot of variety.
(2)Caren L.
I been at a few locations and revisited over many years. The Evanston location has not aged well and badly needs a facelift. Service is also just ok as attention to detail is lacking: no pencils on table, no menu. Smartphone ftw PDF menu! Still busy as ever...
(3)Nick R.
My wife and I LOVE Flat Top Grill! However, do yourself a favor and go down to the West Loop location in Chicago rather than this one. Here's why: 1) The first time I ate here, my food came to my table luke warm! There were chunks of the fake meat that were cold in the middle. Every other time I've been to this location it's been piping hot, though, the way it should be! 2) If you go downtown, you can put in two roti bread sticks in your bowl and guess what? You get two roti breads! No problem! However, at the Evanston location, they won't give you two. You have to ask for another (and then wait for them to cook it). Just put the delicious roti bread in my bowl, please. You know I'll eat it. Let's not play these silly games. 3) This location is always packed. The waiting area is a TINY little room in the front. If the weather is bad, you're going to be crammed in with tons of other people. 4) Numerous times I've had servers that are SLOW. Service is not very impressive. That said, the food is still delicious. It's still a Flat Top Grill after all! Just go downtown if you have a choice.
(2)Charlie K.
The decorations were nice, but it just wasn't the place I was looking for. When I got seated, my plate had some brown grease over it, and it did not look appetizing. The food quality was mediocre although the cook disappeared and didn't reappear for good 10 minutes.... Now this is a Stir-Fry restaurant, so I understand that the overall food quality kind of depends on me too. However, there's one thing that I can't overlook, and it's the service. Just simply one of the worst service I've ever received. Slow and ignorant servers just degraded my overall dining experience. Yelp's description of three stars is "A-OK". One star is "Eek! Methinks not". 3 stars for the food, and 1 star for the service. Average the two, and it comes out as a two! I don't count the decors because I believe restaurants, other than those expensive, fancy restaurants, should be rated based on how it looks. If the food quality and the services are exceptional, then it's an exceptional restaurant. This one? "Meh. I've experienced better"
(2)Sarah C.
For starters.. I've eaten at several flattops. I grew to love this restaurant 9 years ago at their Oak Park location. The staff at Oak Park always keeps the place clean and seems quite happy to work there. Fast forward to my experience at Evanston's Flattop... I wanted to leave. We were seated outside (which was fine) but after looking around at all the food and chopsticks thrown on the ground I started to tell my husband How disappointing it was. We waited for 10 minutes for the waitress and just as we were about to get up, she approached. After asking how we were doing she apologized that she was overwhelmed. This was another reason I wanted to leave. I felt like I was the one overwhelming this poor young girl, when in reality, they were prob understaffed. Your customer shouldn't know what a crappy day you're having or how understaffed you are. Just my two cents. Fast forward to our bowl making. ANOTHER reason I wanted to leave. The stations were filthy. And here was a guy wiping away sauces on a ledge and all he kept doing was swearing them all over. Then a guy came buy I fill the chopped ingredients and dumped the new on top of the old. Yuck. Aren't you supposed to discard or rotate.. Or whatever. We ate, paid and left feeling sick. So disappointing. Thank goodness my husbands bowl was free. That was the worst experience I've ever had in a flat top and I will never return to that location, it's poorly run. Two stars only for the BRAND.
(2)Wei Z.
Interesting DIY grill.. But the bowl is small to carry the food I want.. $9.99 is not reasonable actually I think.
(2)Bethany A.
Came here for Sunday lunch with two of my friends. It was not busy at all and I only saw one or two waitresses/waiters and one man working the grill. I really loved the huge selection of fresh raw veggies they had at the buffet. I've never seen some of them at other stir-fry restaurants before, so that was really cool! Their selections for meat were also pretty good (I did wish that they had cut the chicken into thinner, smaller pieces though) and the sauces all seemed delicious. I didn't even know which ones to pick. Our bowls were served to us hot right off the grill and it was delicious. My friend had put octopus/squid in her bowl though and said it was a little chewy, but overall we really enjoyed our food. Next time I want to try the curry sauces and the flavored lemonade! A little pricey, but come for lunch and it's a few bucks cheaper. Also they offer a student discount!
(4)Cherie W.
Used to love this place. So much so, we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here. Not impressed anymore. Got here at 9PM and they clearly were closing up for the night. They were cleaning all around us. Non appetizing!!! Things were removed from the stir fry choices, appetizers we once ordered were off the menu. Liquor choices lame. Also the selections of what to add to your stir fry are greatly limited. WOULD NOT COME BACK. :0(
(1)David F.
The food was not good this trip. Service was nonexistant. Waiter left us with empty drinks for over half hour and took 55 minutes to bring our stir fry on a Monday night! Manager did discount our meal because the service and food were so bad. Cold food, poor service and a leak under our table by the kitchen that they mopped up 3 times while we were sitting there. Bad, Bad, Bad
(1)Ania R.
I feel like this place is a hit or a miss. Sometimes the food turns out perfect and other times it just doesn't. I've also had some pretty bad experiences with the waiting staff. So all in all this place is okay.
(3)Young R.
Came here for brunch on a Saturday. About half full of people, so service was very quick. You can fill a bowl with ingredients for an omelet or pancake or french toast. (Don't overload your bowl because they won't give you extra eggs to accommodate!) My egg white omelet was very good. They had all the mix-ins that you could want -- I think I had spinach, carrot, corn, ham, etc. They ran out of sliced strawberries though. Loved the roti bread even though that's not exactly the first thing I'd normally think to eat for breakfast. French toast was solid too. Pretty fun concept with all the different colored sticks and very good value for $10!
(4)Frank N.
Oh wow! I can sit here for hours and experiment with so many choices! I came here for lunch and while there was a modest crowd, the service was great and the food was spot on! I was craving something with a little spice and Flat Top came through once again. I can't say enough just how great the selection is catering to just about everyone's palate. Are you a carnivore? Sausage, Pork, and Meat galore Are you gluten free? They care about you Are you a spicy freak like me? So many spicy sauces and jalapenos Are you adventurous? Mix it up and dig in Are you a vegan? Still so many choices and wraps Peanut allergies? Still got you covered in a separate cooking vessel I think my mixture should be on the board for awesomeness in a bowl! The ingredients in my bowl you ask? Okay, but don't tell anyone else: - Noodles, Cilantro, Jalapenos, Corn, Onions, Tomatoes, Red and Green Peppers, Pineapple, Egg, Chicken, Pork, Sausage, Squid, Edamame, a ladle of Teriyaki, and a ladle of hot red chili sauce. DO NOT FORGET the blue stick for the Roti Bread - SPECTACULAR!
(5)Andrew S.
People like to hate on Flat Top, I even find myself doing so occasionally, but for the price the food is fresh and the portions are as mammoth as a person desires. The place is clean and efficient, both positives. The plethora of sauces could keep a person coming back if they liked the style of dining on offer. There are plenty of ingredients to choose from but a person always comes to that awkward stage after the first bowl when they try to justify getting the second and taking it home. Only if a person is able to restrain themselves from eating that second bowl at the time does Flat Top become a good deal overall. The staff is not overly friendly but what do you expect from a chain. The outdoor patio is nice as nothing brings the employees more pleasure than kicking Chipotle customers off of your table.
(4)Miri R.
Flat Top is my most favorite place to eat in Evanston. When I lived in Evanston, I ate here as often as I could. Now, every chance I get to get back home [Chicago], I be sure to have at least one meal at Flat Top Grill. I've found a few similar places in the San Jose area, but nothing that comes close to the flavor, selection, taste and over all awesomeness as Flat Top Grill. I've never had a bad experience at Flat Top - and I've never, ever left hungry Now that I'm stuck in SoCal, in the middle of nowhere, I miss Flat Top even more. I really, really wish they would open a few of these in California [San Jose and San Diego would be perfect spots!]. Please!
(5)Tian Y.
flat top is a pretty cool concept - make your own stir fry. but once you eat there a couple of times, everything starts to become the same. you can experiment, sure, but then you'd have to eat the whole damn thing if it's bad still. It's the same 10-15 veggies always there and 4-6 meats. Noodles/Rice. There are a lot of sauces which would seem to make for endless possibilities, but the idea of standing in line to mix and taste many sauces (when there are likely others behind you waiting to turn in their bowls) is really not practical. What really keeps me coming back once in a while is the roti. Fluffy, soft, and warm off the grill. Too bad they only give one with each bowl Not a bad place to take someone who's never been, or on a day when you don't feel like cooking, but really not that special food.
(3)OG Corweezy K.
Yo so this place was legit, but damn son it was pretty pricey for what you got. Some people say I'm cheap but frugality is whats up. The one time bowl trip was like $13 and you got a lot of food so I took some home and made two meals out of it which makes it better. Let me tell you about my favorite part though and that was the green bean appetizer things. Not only were they seasoned perfectly but damn son these things were cooked so perfectly I had to check and see if Gordan Ramsey was at the grill. Bottom line is when I make it big I'll prolly take my entourage there. Also the waitress kept my iced tea full the whole time and that shit is off the chain.
(4)Emily F.
What is not to love about Flat Top? Design your own fresh stir fry with a million different items, sauces, and add ons? SO yummy! First time visits - make sure you chat with your server because if you go up there blind you will miss out on what all you can do! My first visit he gave us no direction even though we said it was our first time and we had no idea we could add bread (which is amazing!!!), tofu, cheese, egg, lettuce wraps, ect! So make sure you know what your doing before heading up. Super inexpensive too! They have a drink menu too and its nice that the wine is really well priced as well. There are two reasons I can't give it five stars but I bet if I was in a different location it could have gotten 5. 1 - its SUPER crowded with students. Some even very young. They go in huge groups and are ridiculously loud. I don't mind loud, but they are crazy, messy, and the tables are so close together it can be hard to hear who you are with. Try to go on week nights and later like 8pm to try and avoid that. Because when there are huge groups you wait crazy long for your stir-fry. 2 - because of the college town and low prices, we usually get young servers that don't seem to care. We have had one or two decent experiences but usually they don't seem to care about their job. No worries, though! I will go back a million more times because it is the best go-to for a yummy, filling, option to be healthy, inexpensive dinner or lunch! Definitely try it out :-)
(4)Courtney J.
Flat Top Grill isn't a restaurant that I go to every week, but when I have a craving to build my own stir fry this is the place I go! With that said, when I do visit Flat Top I have certain expectations. While these expectations aren't absurdly high, I'm not quite sure why this certain location didn't even come close to meeting them. I hate complaining - I really do, but what occurred while we dined here last night was simply not okay. I guess the best word I can use to describe our experience is uncomfortable. Now, before I go on with what made our experience uncomfortable, let me also say that our server was great - so cheery, but not that fake cheery that just makes you want to never make eye contact in hopes that they will just walk away. Apparently her name was Gabi, which is what the receipt read and I'm sure that she told us that when she approached us as well, but I was honestly distracted by her kind yet immediate approach the minute that we sat down. So Gabi, thank you for being the one positive thing - well, one of two positive things (the Roti bread is just that damn good) - in our experience last night. So what made our experience so uncomfortable? Three major things and a lot of unmentionable minor things. The three major things are as follows: 1. Flat Top's menus used to include recipes for those who didn't want to venture on their own stir fry escapade. So my dinner partner relies on the Pad Thai recipe as she loves it so much - as much as I try to get her to try new things she simply won't budge. With this, they no longer have these recipes on their menus - well at least temporarily they don't, according to the manager. While I understand they may not have the menus at hand, I would think that the manager would do more than just say, "We are waiting for new ones to come in, but that girl up there can help you." No one helped us and even the host seemed confused when we referred to these recipes - we aren't crazy, they do exist! So needless to say, she didn't get her esteemed Pad Thai recipe and her bowl did not meet what she desired. 2. When we approached the bar of vegetables to start building our bowls everything was a mess! People are messy, especially when they are trying to pile as many ingredients into their bowl as they can, but the way that this bar looked -no one had even attempted to clean it in a while. So when do they decide to start cleaning? When we are building our bowls. Why would this bother me you might ask? She was cleaning ON TOP of me, that's why. With no exaggeration, the girl was taking her whole arm and stretching it in front of me with her wet towel and literally swiping ingredients onto my feet. I was shocked and gave her a disgusted look, but that didn't suffice, she continued to not only clean on top of me, but complain out loud in front of me about it as well. 3. In hopes that the food would make up for everything that we experienced, we crossed our fingers and stayed positive as we waited for our food to come. We waited for about 15 to 20 minutes until one bowl came. Now at Flat Top Grill, this amount of time seems like forever - we have NEVER waited that long for our food to come off the grill. I'm really not sure why it took so long as there weren't that many people ahead of us and the food that was given to us almost looked sloppy. My dinner partner didn't like her bowl (with the exception of the Roti bread of course) mainly because it wasn't the Pad Thai bowl she is used to. For my bowl, I just felt like it was ordinary. I understand that I made my own bowl, but the problem was that their bar was understocked. Things I love most, such as peanut sauce and cilantro were completely empty. I could blame the fact that we went in at 9:30PM and they close at 10:30PM, but that really shouldn't be the case. Will I be back to Flat Top Grill? Yes, probably at some point in the future, but I definitely won't be visiting the Evanston location. What is unfortunate is that this location is the closest to me, so I'm not sure if I will go out of my way anytime soon to travel farther to another location.
(2)Rowena L.
Pack it and stick it. That's the key to loving Flat Top. Pack your bowl and repack it until it really won't fit anything else, and make sure to put in the sticks for tofu, eggs, whatever you want - but most importantly, the one for roti bread. It's quite like any other custom stir-fry place, but it's always fun to go to (I'm going again tomorrow). I love the customization and the wide variety of ingredients, and now they have more vegetarian meat substitutes (seitan, quorn, etc.). There are tons of sauce choices - I always just mix together whatever I think will go together - nothing's gone wrong so far! Haven't been to their breakfast yet, but I really want to....just got to drag someone out of bed one day...
(4)Jenny B.
You serve yourself so it's up to you to make a good meal. Some people may not be so good at this. But it is still yummy, and a nice atmosphere to visit.
(3)Valerie W.
Mmmmmm..... Flat Top..... droooollllll. There is nothing better than being able to create your own dinner, but having someone else to cook it for you and clean up your dishes! I always go with relatively the same thing at Flat Top, brown rice, lots of veggies (spinach, bok choy, mushrooms) a mixture of protiens, and a sweet/savory/spicy blend of sauces (peanut/teriyaki/kung pao/thai chili). I also cannot live without their Roti. I don't know what they put into that Roti, but OMG is it delicious. Crispy where it should be, soft and gooey where it should be. We tried one of the stir fry dishes as mu shu roll ups... so good!!! Even better: I love that the dietary restrictions are clearly listed, so I know what my poor little no MSG body can handle!
(4)Darren F.
my friend brought me here since we both was really hungry.. its street parking and since its in evanston.. it can be quite challenging to find a spot.. the service was nice but our waiter could be a little more attentive tho since we had to flag him down for more water.. cant really judge them on the food since its a build your own dish and they just cook it for you haha.. but the meat, veggies, etc was pretty fresh .. there is tons of different sauce for you to choose from.. so get creative and build something crazy! this was a good experience if you never came here before like me.. definitely coming back here!
(4)Jan R.
I've been to Flat Tops before and knew i loved the food, but had never been to this location. My boyfriend and I were sat in an empty room, except we were RIGHT next to two men sharing dinner and talking about business. I shared a booth seat with one of them thats how close. After we were sat we were confused if we just go up to the grill station or wait, luckily a waitress came over and was friendly. Unfortunately, we were sat a table with only one bowl, and 1.5 sets of silverware (yup, no knife for me!) There were already half-empty waters there when we sat down luckily they took those away and gave us new ones. After looking around awkwardly, a busboy gave us another boy and we went to eat. The food was great, but i had no idea what bowls to use where, where sauces went or what the sticks mean. The attendant for the station was unhelpful and couldnt tell us much more then we knew. The food was decent, exactly what i expected. I was served mine about 5 mins before my boyfriend, so I politely waited as my food got cold in front of me. As I went to use the little girls room, there was single-toilet bathroom whose entrance is seen by everyone. After waiting in a 5 min line, i entered into the grossly scummy facilities. Overall, just go somewhere else in Evanston. They have plenty of nice places that will put their customers first and have nicer facilities.
(1)Nancy L.
This is your typical stir fry bar experience. The experience depends on your own ability to pick a great combination of fresh ingredients and sauces that go well together. They have a broad selection of vegetables, meats, rices,noodles and sauces to satisfy almost any taste. You can make Asian inspired or Indian dishes to your taste. Their flat bread is wonderful- flaky and buttery like Indian paratha. They make a special effort to accommodate allergies so items like seafood, gluten and nuts don't get into dishes. With the variety it's a good place for families. Environment is a bit loud and basic. Could use a bit of a facelift - just feel a inconsistent and cheaply done.
(3)Gary P.
Great concept, fresh food & great service! Host walked me through the process and even made a special sauce on the spot. Definitely will come back.
(5)