Located at 871 West Fourth Street in Winston-Salem’s West End, the Fourth Street FillingStation offers American cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-9 Monday-Thursday, 11-10 on Saturday, and 11-3 for brunch on Sunday. Online ordering, reservations through Open Table, and outdoor seating are available.
While the name calls to mind a gas station-turned-pub, the Fourth Street Filling Station is a bit more upmarket than that. It isn’t fine dining but rather a place where you can get a steak. The worst that can be said about this place is that it isn’t terrible innovative: apps, salads, sandwiches, a few seafood and pasta dishes, and the aforementioned steaks. In the grand scheme of things, however, there are far greater culinary sins than not offering anything unique.
The Filling Station boasts a spacious patio, and even as it got busier, our group of four was able to enjoy a comfortable meal. Our server was friendly and helpfully offered drink recommendations, and the kitchen didn’t leave us waiting long for our food.
The menu boldly
claims Winston’s Best Calamari, so we decided to put that to the test. While
there may be a match out there somewhere, the Filling Station’s version is quite
good: a generous portion, well-breaded, not overcooked, and paired with both a superb
cocktail sauce and a tangy remoulade. My entrée – a jambalaya – was likewise
very satisfying. I’ve had jambalayas that were disappointingly dry, and I
appreciated the gravy in this one. Though it offered no heat, it was still flavorful,
and the shrimp were sizeable.
The Filling Station isn’t cheap – most entrees in the twenties and sandwiches in the mid-teens – but given rising food costs, the prices aren’t out of line for what they offer.
If you’re
looking for a “nice meal” destination with solid food and plenty of seating,
the Filling Station presents an appealing option provided that you are OK with the
somewhat predictable menu.