VA Local Eats: The Filling Station
Food for You and Fuel for the Car
The traffic circle in the town of Amherst, Virginia is the oldest traffic circle within the Virginia Department of Transportation’s operating area. It is a little ironic, then, that this review is of the youngest business on this traffic circle. The place I’m referring to is The Filling Station, a small Exxon gas station and eatery on the north-west quadrant of the traffic circle.
From the outside, the building is unassuming enough. It features covered gas pumps in a configuration reminiscent of gas stations from the 1950s, where you pull your car up directly between the building and the pumps, with a canopy overhead to ward off the elements. This style of gas station can be found in countless locations around Central Virginia. The big difference here, though, is that most of those little places have been abandoned long ago in favor of bigger, more consolidated franchise stations. The Filling Station, on the other hand, is still very much a working gas station.
Step inside and you encounter a slightly darkened interior, very clean and sporting an old-school diner vibe. There are small tables and chairs scattered around a small dining room, but the main feature is a food counter that stretches almost the whole width of the building inside, complete with stools and TVs broadcasting the major sports networks. The kitchen is clearly visible behind the long counter, and it gleams with shiny stainless steel.
For this review I visited the place alone, without the family, as it is not exactly a family-oriented kind of place. The atmosphere is more of a casual sports bar. Local beer and cider on tap is featured prominently, with names like Bold Rock and Blue Mountain Brewery cluing you in that this is a place that cares about supporting the local economy. I ordered two hot dogs in my favorite configuration with a basket of onion rings and a soda.
The food is a little pricey for cookout-type food, but you definitely get what you pay for. The hot dogs and the onion rings were both amazing, as was the dipping sauce for the onion rings. I’m not sure, but I think the kitchen makes its own sauce. Mmm, it was good. Also, you get a ridiculously large serving of onion rings when you order, which I appreciate.
Food Pantry Feasts Rating:
Family Friendly: Not Very (dining room/tables are a little small, more concentration on beer)
Food Prices: Medium
Food Quality/Tastiness: High
Dining Room Size: Small
Wait Time for Food/Table: Medium (the food can take a while to arrive, even when not very busy)
