By Erica Blankenship
Flying Star Diner is located within the new Westside Dining center on campus. Since the restaurant first opened, it has expanded and begun offering more and more menu choices to its customers. According to the dining services website, Flying Star Diner offers “comfort food and grill.” As you enter Westside Dining, you pay a flat rate for an all-you-can-eat, buffet-style dining experience. Flying Star Diner is one of several restaurants within Westside Dining that students can choose from. The seating area is surrounded by the diner, as well as the other restaurants within the dining center.
Flying Star Diner’s menu changes on a daily basis. The day I chose to eat there, it served up several choices for its customers. The menu included hot dogs, veggie burgers, cheeseburgers, a pork cutlet sandwich and french fries. The comfort station connected to the diner portion of the restaurant offered corn on the cob, steamed spinach, roasted red potatoes and a few other items. The hot dog was good. But, really, it was just a hot dog and nothing too special. Although it might have lacked the nostalgia and special taste of the ballpark hot dogs of our childhood, it was tasty. The pork patty sandwich was bland, but filling. I had trouble attempting to think of adjectives to describe the pork sandwich and realized it was because it had so little flavor. The main courses offered at Flying Star Diner are much more oriented to convenience and satisfaction than especially pleasing taste. The french fries are a guilty pleasure, crisp and salty. With endless bowls at the diner’s buffet, this side course will keep restaurant goers returning for more
Flying Star Diner also occasionally offers desserts. There were options of pumpkin pie, as well as chocolate cake covered in a raspberry sauce. The pumpkin pie was served with a dollop of whipped cream. It had a delightful fall flavor for a seasonal taste like good home cooking. The chocolate cake was moist and tasty
Overall, the food was satisfying and filling, but not exceptionally delicious to warrant accolades of praise. Despite the ever-changing menu, burgers, cheeseburgers and french fries seem to be a staple of Flying Star Diner. They are the staples of traditional diner food. Other items are sometimes served, such as peanut butter banana melts, black bean quesadillas, grilled cheese, sloppy Joes and fondue quesadillas. Menu choices are available at uofldiningservices.com, usually at least a few days ahead of time. So check out your choices before going. All in all, Flying Star Diner offers satisfying food for an affordable price. It is convenient for on-campus eating and offers numerous choices for a diverse appetite.
