Restaurant Reviews: Flatz of Kutztown University

For those who live close to a college, or for those who actually live on a campus, sometimes it seems that the fight to find good food is either hit or miss, especially when it comes to restaurants which are located on that campus. Although one can always opt to go with the standard dining hall food, sometimes it is nice to try and find something different, or eat a restaurant that promises something different. With regards to that, Flatz, which is located on the North Campus of Kutztown University, inside of the Academic Forum building, tries to set itself apart and offer different selections, only none of those selections are really worth eating.

Since Flatz is housed in the Forum along with two other restaurants, being Sporkz (a salad place) and The Bistro (which offers grilled food), there can be few points given for effort maintaining outside or inside appearances. However, the Forum is not always the cleanest place in the world, and the random scattering of tables is moved around so frequently in any given day that finding a seat, especially with a group of people tends to be very difficult. However, if one does get lucky and manage to find a seat, the lines at Flatz are generally very short, and this should perhaps be the first warning sign for what one is about to experience.

The ordering system at Flatz is strange and one would even say confusing. Various random food (including different types of pizza and calzone or strombolis) is set out at their various stations, and then seem to be abandoned. Yes, one can order something different if they prefer. But the staff that runs Flatz is generally fairly miserable, and it is anyones guess as to when that food you specially order is actually going to get done. Rather, it is a better, and more reliable choice to go with what is on display.

The general choices include different types of mini-pizzas, and various assorted kinds of stromboli. While the flatbread pizza that is offered sometimes is alright, the regular type of pizza is generally very greasy, and one can definitely taste the poor quality of the ingredients that go into making it. The stromboli's never seem to have any kind of cheese in them, and are generally very bland and tasteless. The "specialty bowls" which are sometimes offered are generally pretty good, and the perogie bowl is especially recommended.

For those that do find themselves at Kutztown University and in need of a good meal, there are far, far better choices than Flatz. Sporkz, the salad place located roughly ten feet from Flatz generally has pretty good food, and even the Bistro is a better bet. Even better, try going off campus to one of the many restaurants that surround the campus, almost all of them offer better food and more reasonable prices than what one is going to encounter on the actual campus. Of course, not all restaurants located on college campuses are bad, but Flatz is one the few that is simply horrible.