Flat Top Stir-Fry Grill

Drove by recently, and the space is up for lease and has officially closed!

This restaurant permanently closed on Jan. 17, 2013.
Here’s a link to an article stating the close:

I’ve eaten at Flat Top a minimum of 10 times now and each experience has been great. The selections they offer exceed any that their competitors do and their service has always been exceptional. Everyone I’ve encountered from the servers to the cooks to the managers have been beyond helpful and always extremely nice. The food is great and always cooked perfectly. And the bread? I don’t exactly what this particular bread is, but just looking at the little blue stick that signifies I’m gonna get it in my bowl makes me ridiculously happy! Always look forward to my next experience at FT…

So I want to like this place, I really do. The concept is cool. The execution however is not. My wife and I have been here three times, and ever time we leave slightly disappointed. On our most recent visit (8÷26÷2012) we took my parents who live near by and have never been here. They were reasonably busy for a Sunday night and we were seated near the bar. Our server came to the table and asked if we had been there before. I informed him that we had but my parents had not. His response was «oh good, so you know how this all works and about the sticks.» He proceeded to offer us appetizers. I suggested that maybe he could get us some drinks while we looked at the menu. I asked him what he had on tap. Being that we were sitting near the bar, I could see that they had 4 beers on tap. I recognized Bell’s Oberon and Labatt Blue. I did not recognize the other two handles. His reply to my inquiry was «we have Oberon and Labatt Blue… and uh … (as he pauses to walk to the bar and look at the handles…) Octoberfest. Last time I checked that was only three selections, not four, not to mention that Octoberfest is a style of beer, and a pretty generic one at that. He gave no information about the particular brewery who produced the beer or what to expect. Being confused by his response, I opted for a water. I’m sorry but the beer list on their menu lists 4 – 5 beers and then says «ask your server about other Michigan/​Craft Beer selections.» I asked, he had no clue, I opted not to buy. He then again suggested appetizers and we declined. He then took all the menus from the table and went to get our drinks. I understand that there really is no traditional ordering at this place, and the menu consists of one trip to the «build your own stir fry bar» or all you can eat, but as my parents had never been there a little more explanation would have been nice. Nonetheless, he left the table and my wife and I explained how the process worked to my parents. We even showed them the recipe card on the table that gives suggestions as to what sauces and ingredients to use to make some popular dishes… this should have been done by the server.
We all went through the line and left our bowls at the counter to be cooked, and returned to the table. Our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. My dish was placed in front of me and I instantly realized that the dish was not mine. It was an incredibly small portion based upon what I put in my bowl, and many ingredients I included in my dish were missing. There was also a grilled piece of flatbread on top of my dish that I did not order. My mother realized the same thing of her dish, it was not what she had put together either. We informed our server, who went to get the manager. By the time the manager arrived, we had realized that they had simply switched the sticks with our names on them and my mother had my dish and vice versa. We switched the dishes as we were speaking with the manager, We also inquired about the bread that we both received and were informed that «it was from the blue stick that we put in our dish.» We informed her that neither of us put a blue stick in our dish and that we really didn’t want the bread. Her response was «have you ever tried it?» we responded «no» and her response was «well you’re crazy because it’s wonderful.» I felt her response was a little inappropriate given the situation. A simple «I’m sorry for the mix up» would have been appreciated much more. She also noted that my dish had my mother’s stick in it and proceeded to call me «Mary» multiple times throughout the rest of our experience. I’m glad she was having a good laugh over their mix up. Especially when I began to eat my dish and found extra ingredients in my meal. It was obviously cooked next to my wife’s dish on the flat top as I got some of my wife’s noodles and edamame in my dish in addition to my ingredients. I would have told the manager, but based on our experience with her thus far, she probably would have had something smart to say like «you should be thankful for the extra stuff in your dish, our noodles and edamame are great! While we were all disappointed with the way the food was presented, we generally enjoyed our dishes. Our server however, was slow to return to fill our beverage glasses. We were all still eating and he finally returned to ask if we were having desert. I informed him we were still working on dinner and it would be great if he could fill my empty water glass. He returned with my water and we told him that the check was all he could bring for us. To be fair they did take off two of the meals for the mix up.
A word of advice to the management/​owners of this concept. Mistakes happen. I get it. However, don’t insult your guests, Your attempt at humor came off as sarcastic and inappropriate. Your guests are intelligent and appreciate being treated with respect.

Flat Top is great for a cheap, quick, healthy lunch or dinner… and they have cocktails and local beer too (bonus)! The stir-​fry items are always changing, and very fresh and there are tons of ways to customize your stir-​fry with roti bread, lettuce wraps, shrimp or egg add-​ins. Along with seafood and meat selections, they cater to a vegetarian or vegan crowd, as there are lots of «alternative proteins» like tempeh, tofu, veat, etc. The sauces are clearly labeled for those with dietary restrictions or preferences like: «gluten free», «vegan», «soy free», etc. Servers are super helpful if you need help with creating your meal… and management has actually been out on the floor every time I’ve been in, checking on tables. Great for inexpensive lunch or dinner & drinks with friends, as anyone can leave here happy and FULL!

Great tasting food, but terrible service…
There is always barely any chicken, peppers, or onions, our server walked by us and helps others that showed up after us, the manager is nice but the staff seems disengaged, when they refilled the chicken they just dumped more into the open container that’s been out all day, the employees sit and eat at the same time, we had no water with workers just walking by, two managers smoking in the front, etc. Just VERY poorly managed…

My father suggested FlatTop last night for our monthly eat out together session. I used to be a fan of Mongolioan before Billy Down’s sold the company and they’ve turned to cheap marketing pieces hanging from the ceiling, «burger bar» ploys to lure more people in and the downgrade of all ingredients and sauces. I actually opened the Mongolian shop back in the late 90’s by FlatTop and I miss when the company had more of a flair for hiring different looking waitstaff/​grillers and being more edgy.
Basically, FlatTop has given me something totally different to enjoy the flat top grill experience. It’s classy in all the ways Mongo’s is trashy. No waiting in herded cattle lines with the rest of the unwashed/​drooling masses watching halfhearted high-​school or college kids lamely try and cause a laugh for a tip. Plus, the sauces are blends of very nice flavors, like a chili-​lime or various curries instead of something that looks like slop SAWSE from a can. The meats and veggies were also of a higher quality than I’ve found in Mongo’s for over a decade. LOVE the chalkboard with all the different calorie counts, food allergies and such. Have a few non-​gluten friends who are excited to try a place they can eat at with more than 1 or 2 choices!
All in all, the food was fantastic, the service was amazing (very slow tuesday night, we were one of four tables) and the manager even came over a couple times to chat us up about the original stores in Chicago and to help us at the bar.
As to the comment about how it doesn’t appease the «meat lovers», you’re not supposed to fill the stir fry with 2 lbs of meat. You’re the reason Mongo’s had to reduce the quality of it’s food because people were abusing the entire idea of make your own stirfry, and luckily, the people who bring two bowls worth of stirfry up on each trip to the grill can still go to Mongos and leave the quality dining to the rest of us. Plus, while I got my little red teacup of chicken, I also added in two of the four «non meat» substitutes offered plus tofu. One bowl was enough to fill me at dinner plus have enough for a light lunch the next day and I’m a big guy who eats a lot.
I will definitely be going back and have already been shouting out on facebook about this place. Couldn’t find a facebook page, which is a bit sad.

I just went to Flat Top Stir-​Fry Grill today and I give it an «OK» rating. The environment was clean and the waitress was helpful and pleasant. The décor is oriental in feel (red walls with blackish tables). It is a stir-​fry to order restaurant but without the charm of Mongolian BBQ. The food was good, but they do put a stop to the «meat lovers» approach buy giving you a separate meat bowl, about the size of a tea cup. They also don’t let you watch the food being grilled, which I always enjoyed. The value was on Par of Mongolian and would go again. Nothing great, but OK.

We just found this place and the most impressive part that the place is very clean and the food is fresh and the price is reasonable — We will certainly return.

Flat Top Stir Fry Grill has become one of my favorite neighborhood non-​greasy spoon restaurant. I am also an avid fan of stir-​fry.
The employees are very helpful in explaining the interactive dining experience.
Technically, you are provided with two bowls, one for the fresh veggies & starch and another for your raw meat selection. I love this concept since I prefer my raw meats/​proteins separated from the main bowl. I am aware of the fact that they’re gonna cook them together eventually (hence the stir-​fry concept) but raw meat juices all over my broccoli and brown rice is quite disgusting and nauseating. I was also surprised to see Filipino sausage on their meat selection, very uncommon. I also love that there are tons of meat/​protein substitutes being offered, from wheat to soy based GMO-​free products.
The homemade sauces were really good. They range from sweet, savory, spicy (red ladle) and allergy-​friendly Asian-​inspired sauces. I usually experiment by combining the sauces and condiments. They always turn out appealing to my amateur and non-​discriminating palate.
I also love the colored Sticks idea:
*White Sticks are for allergy considerations and vegetarian/​vegan and the food will be cooked in a separate wok.
*Blue Stick is for Roti bread (Indian flat bread). 1 Blue Stick = 1 piece Roti
*Pink Stick is stir-​fry soup. Cooks will pour hot and sour soup over the stir-​fry.
*Yellow Stick is the same concept as the Pink Stick but they pour hot vegetable soup instead.
*Green Stick allows you to make a salad out of your stir-​fry then tossed in cucumber vinaigrette dressing (if desired).
*Clear Stick wraps your stir-​fry into thin mu shu pancakes. Eat your stir-​fry like sandwiches.
I can’t really seem to remember what color of stick is used to add an egg or the option for lettuce wraps… Anyway… I probably got the colors wrong since there’s much going on and I was just so excited to eat… I can only listen to the staff for so long… Go find out yourself, then feel free to correct me!!!
The décor and floor plan was pretty impressive. There’s also a bar with flat-​screen tv’s that gives it a sporty vibe. I still have to try the signature cocktails, Asian beers and mocktails, their names are really interesting and appealing (Rising Sun mocktail… Hypnotiq Lava Colada cocktail… yummmmmm…).
The restaurant also provides student discounts, so bring your valid student ID kids!!!
The service was fantastic. The staff were very knowledgeable of the allergy and vegan/​vegetarian options. Feel free to ask somebody if you are not sure if the sauce contains allergens or is made with meat products.
I would definitely go back and try Flat Top for breakfast, I’m sure that’s another dining experience!!!
Overall… Always keep an open mind.

We finished off our Troy weekend at FTG for Sunday lunch. The only difference I noticed at this site (vs Ann Arbor) was they had sausage as one of the meat options (which the staff told us would remain pink, even after cooking, turning me off completely). Ken tried the sausage and didn’t die later, so it’s probably safe.
I went with my usual option of turning my stirfry into a soup, with delicious results (if I may say so myself). My meal was only $ 1 because I’m on their email list, and it was my birthday month (they charged the $ 1 for the unlimited trip lunch).
FTG is a tasty alternative to BD’s. While FTG has less meat choices, their unique sauces, the (damn addictive) roti bread, and multitude of finished dish choices (soup, lettuce wrap, moo goo wrap, etc) make it a winner in my book.

Excellent! Coming back to try other mojitos!