FILL ’ER UP AT THE GREAT AMERICAN FILLING STATION
As the years-long widening of East Brainerd Road wraps up, the benefits of that wait are surfacing: more traffic and turn lanes, better signal lights and the return of smooth road surfaces. An unexpected perk has been the opening of a new restaurant at the busy intersection of East Brainerd and Morris Hill roads: The Great American Filling Station.
Its name is a clever nod to the fact it is located in what was formerly a Golden Gallon gas station. The Filling Station was opened about two months ago by a military veteran, Robert Schiavo, who has 20 years of experience cooking. The Marine’s patriotism is on full display from the eye-catching 9/11 memorial mural painted on the exterior wall facing Morris Hill Road to the Statue of Liberty on the building’s front to numerous military tributes decorating the restaurant’s interior walls.
THE SPACE
Since the space was a former quick-stop gas station, it is one room holding 12 small, wood-laminate tables with metal bistro chairs, one banquette and a long bar lining the far wall. It maybe seats 35 to 40 at the max.
The decor is a kitschy blend of automotive and military memorabilia. Beneath a row of framed photos of veterans you’ll find a collection of hubcaps mounted on the wall. Above the bar are innumerable patches representing military and first responders, along with a grouping of gas pump hose nozzles.
THE MENU
The Great American Filling Station is a burger joint, and that’s the focus of its menu: nine hamburgers ranging from the traditional cheeseburger (The American Fill Up) or the One Eyed Burger (breakfast and lunch combined, served with an egg on top) to a Great American Signature Hand-Crafted Veggie Burger. Their prices are $9.49 to $11.49.
The restaurant serves certified New York Black Angus Beef that is handground daily, shaped into half-pound patties and served on freshly baked buns, which I could tell immediately was the case after biting into the bread.
Rounding out the menu are eight sandwiches ($8.95 to $10.95), four appetizers ($5.50 to $9.95), soup of the day, chili, salads and three desserts ($4.99 and $5.99). There is also a kids menu with three choices that are all $5.99. That’s it — pretty straightforward, but still hard to decide.
All burgers and sandwiches are served with shoestring fries, and diners dress their own sandwich with their choices from the Fixing Bar.
THE ORDER
I’m not a big fan of burgers, but since that’s what this place is known for I tried the Glabis Burger. It’s a house-made burger served with baconpepper jelly and brie cheese.
I noticed my server did not ask how I wanted the meat cooked, so I just waited to see what would come out. After about a 10-minute wait, I was brought a metal tray on which was a pile of shoestring fries next to an open-face burger. No silverware — I heard the ladies at the table next to me ask for forks to eat their salads — but a burger is a hands-on meal, after all.
I noticed as other trays came out, they all had a small American flag toothpick holding them together like mine — another nice patriotic touch.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the burger was cooked to (what I consider) a perfect medium with just a hint of pink inside. Although it wasn’t running in juices, the big patty was moist and had good flavor. Bacon-pepper jelly was spread atop the meat opposite a generous slice of gooey, melted brie — which created an enjoyable sweet-salty flavor. The combination was so good it didn’t need any help from the Fixing Bar. It was delicious — and those who know I’m not a burger fan know that’s saying something.
The fries were not greasy, but were heavily seasoned with a spicy barbecue-flavored mix that left a little heat on the end of each bite. A little too spicy for my taste. But the large burger was a meal in itself, so I didn’t need to fill up on fries.
Diners do have the option of subbing a salad or mac and cheese for the fries. The side salads I saw passing by were heaping helpings of greens, large enough to feed two. Next time I’ll make the substitution.
THE SERVICE
The day I dropped in for lunch, the hostess was doubling as the server. But she handled both tasks competently. She was friendly, answered questions about the menu with knowledge and managed to fill orders promptly to keep all her tables of diners happy.
During one of our conversations, she mentioned that the restaurant has just starting booking live entertainment each Thursday night.
THE VERDICT
Thousands of drivers/ potential customers blow past Great American Filling Station down East Brainerd Road each week. Whether they take notice of the new restaurant and stop remains to be seen.
I hope it’s a success. East Brainerd residents need a good burger joint that’s casual, like a neighborhood bar, but not so casual that we can just roll through without getting out of the car.