I stay in Cleveland a lot. I used to use an extended stay type arrangement and fill the fridge from the grocery store. The last few months, I've taken to eating out more often. There's an upscale shopping area on the eastside called Legacy Village. I have tried most of the restaurants there previously (Cheesecake Factory, Calddagh Irish Pub, Chipotle Grill, Brio Northern Italian, California Pizza Kitchen). This week, I tried a place called Stir Crazy - Asian with something I hadn't seen before. You select your ingredients from a bar and they stir fry it for you. I think it was $9.95 for the vegies and $3.50 for each protein you added (Chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, etc.). The menu was pretty big, so I opted for something off the rack. The bar was well stocked, the bartender friendly and the food was fresh and tasty. The manager told me it was a chain, but I'd never seen another. Ever tried it?

That's the name of the "genre" you described, Vol. I think I first encountered it a deccade or so ago. There's been a gimmick involved of combining your own "cooking oil" [for the chef to use] to desired hotness, sweetness, etc. at those places.

sure have.

It is ok just not great. Fun to put the ingredients to together.

Flat Top Grill is a chain of the Mongolian grill type concept and is a very popular place for Chicago lunch Do's. I personally think it is the worst of the Mongolian grill concept places.

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So that's Mongolian BBQ?!

Years ago when I was living in CA, I was having a casual discussion with our GM who had previously lived in NC (but was a native Californian). I asked her if I could find good BBQ in Silicon Valley and she directed me to a Mongolian BBQ place. The sign told me it wasn't what I had in mind and I didn't bother going in. That's what I get for not keeping an open mind.

Yeah, I actually tried a similar place in Cambridge, MA about 5 or 6 years ago http://www.fire-ice.com/ and have only more recently seen discussion about this trend of Mongolian BBQ into which it seems to fit.

I have noticed that a lot of these places don't mention Mongolian BBQ at all, though, so it's not really surprising that you didn't connect the two if you haven't experienced such a place before.

As far as I know, this restaurant genre has still not yet reached the Pittsburgh area at all, although the rise of chains/franchises in the arena will probably change that. Someday.

Ah yes, Stir Crazy.

There is one here in Boca Raton at the Boca Town Centre. I like it quite a lot. A different type of Asian cuisine. I recommend the Mongolian Beef.

We have one here in Richmond, VA and a lot of my coworkers go there for lunch but I have not been yet.

Editted to say: I'll let you off honey

I was logged in as my husband by accident! So the above is what I said. Whoops

thanks for the heads up on Fire-Ice in Cambridge. Friends are coming by for drinks and dinner so that may be the spot!!

Will be suggesting it to friends and hopefully going there midweek as I stay nearby during the work week. I will keep you all posted.