Filling Station Bar and Café

If you want to dine with a Chok'Lit Shoppe a la Riverdale ambiance, this should be your Friday after work choice. So, my friends (a.k.a. office mates) and I decided to finally check this place out after months of planning.

From left to right: Toni (author), Giz, Mercy and Ella poses in front of the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado display

Filling Bar Station and Café is located in P. Burgos, Makati, easily camouflaged among the neon-lit nightclubs and street bars along the famous red light district. This 24- hour joint boasts of its vintage theme from its diner- inspired menu, 50's and 60's playlist, vintage displays to its dolled- up, polka- wearing servers.

Non- smoking dining area with vintage posters and neon signage plastered all over the wall

After giving ourselves a pat on the back for picking an awesome place to end the work week, we turned our attention to the menu. As expected, even the food choices were true to its theme. Menu includes burgers, hotdogs, steak, pasta, pizza, breakfast and anything diner- inspired.

All tables on the non- smoking dining area had retro- telephone displays and the rotary dial works!

Food price was a bit gold but I guess it comes with the ambiance. We ordered the All-Star Nachos (good for 4 and they weren't joking), Buffalo Wings (6 pieces/ serving), Onion Rings (good for 3), FIlling Station Pizza (14", thin crust) and Gizelle ordered her seafood chowder (in bread bowl).

All- Star Nachos ( ₱ 418): A mixed of colored nacho chips layered in cheese, sour creme, ground beef, corn, black olives, and jalapeños.

Using Mercy for size reference

Buffalo Wings ( ₱ 438): Deep- fried chicken wings rubbed with special spices and dipped in cayenne- butter sauce served with crispy celery sticks with blue cheese dip.

Onion Rings ( ₱ 198): Deep- fried battered onion rings, served with ranch dressing

Filling Station Pizza ( ₱ 573): Mushroom, chorizo, salami, onions, tuna flakes, olives, bell pepper and tomatoes

Closer look at the Filling Station Pizza. It's tagged as Must Try on the menu.

Seafood Chowder (₱ 368): Mixed seafood sautéed in butter, flambéed in white wine, served in a home made sour bread bowl

We spent ₱ 2,000 for our meal and still had a lot of take-out food, mostly because of the nachos. Overall, we had a unique and delightful dining experience while going back in time. I wish we wore something Instagram- worthy though so we could have blended right in.

That's me and my overly ecstatic smile while channeling my inner Betty Cooper image (even if I'm obviously a brunette)

Non- smoking dining area facade

Vintage gas pump display (with Marilyn Monroe on the reception)

Happy, well- fed friends

I'll definitely go back to this place for the ambience and food. We weren't able to order the classics like milkshake and hotdogs because we were full already and the milkshake costs ₱ 280 so I had to make sure I'll finish it if I get one. Make sure you wear your best 50's inspired look when you go here so you can blend right in!

Quick info:

Filling Station Bar and Café

Address: 5012 P. Burgos, Makati, 1210, Metro Manila

Hours: 24 hours, Monday to Sunday

Phone: (02) 897- 2053)

Dress Code: Fun!