Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
One weekend we were out and about doing all of our mundane, required errands when we noticed the Dining Duo Mini-mobile’s gas tank was running low. We also noticed that the Dining Duo’s tummy tanks were running low. As luck would have it, we were passing by what seemed to be an old service station in St. Charles called the Filling Station Pub and Grill.
Filling Station Pub & Grill
300 W. Main Street
St. Charles 60174
(630) 584-4414
www.filling-station.com
Directions: Take Rte. 47 South to Rte. 64 East to restaurant.
Estimated Travel Time: 35 minutes
While we were looking for a parking space on the street, we noticed a parking lot behind the restaurant which also has handicap spaces. We pulled into an available “bay” and walked into the restaurant for a “fill up.”
If you’re familiar with the TV show “American Pickers,” it looks as if the inside was decorated by them. There were antique gas cans, eclectic lighting, critters heads hanging on the wall, and an antique gas pump to complete this look of an antique gas station/eatery.
Dining Duo Useless Information: This establishment actually was a gas station in the 1930s. It was owned by Stuby Spittael for the McCornack Oil Company for 50 years. It has been a restaurant for the last 27 years.
Nancy needed to rev up her “engine” and wanted some Loaded Cheese Fries ($9.99). This was a huge platter of hand cut fries, cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives, and jalapenos that could easily feed four people. Nancy asked for some Ranch dressing to use as a dip. She liked it, I didn’t. I’m more of a purist. These were really, really good and we ate almost all of them.
My husband has the maturity of a 12 year old. He has been known to order something off the menu just for its name, and today is a perfect example. He ordered a Hot Cheesy Stripper ($8.99) which was crispy chicken strips coated with wing sauce, melted cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. He opted to have this served on a pretzel bun for a 75¢ up charge. For his side, he chose chips and received a small bag of chips. That was disappointing, he thought they would be homemade…NOT! The sandwich was served with a pickle. That hot cheesy stripper proved to be one slippery little chick and kept losing her condiments. Every time he would take a bite, a part of it would fall out.
Not to be outdone, Nancy decided she wanted “The Woody” ($8.99). This was provolone, swiss, cheddar cheese, tomato, bacon, and red onion all on grilled holly bread. Nancy, being the world’s fussiest food critic, asked what holly bread was. In case you were wondering, it is a fancy, schmancy term for thick Greek bread. This sandwich honestly could have used a little more ooey-gooey cheese. She went with their homemade coleslaw for her side, and she won with that choice.
After “demolishing” the loaded fries, we took half of our sandwiches home in the “trunk” of our car. Now all we have to do is find a filling station that actually sells gasoline!
FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible.
The “pump” price for our “fill up” was $36.14. This was a full service station.
Jim’s take: The loaded fries had cheese throughout, not just on top. Hand cut fries are the best.
Nancy’s take: I agree with Jim, the loaded fries were great with the jalapenos adding extra “octane”!
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