The Filling Station
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The Filling Station
The Filling Station began as a service station in the 1930s and is now one of the favorite Amherst, VA restaurants, bars, and gas stations. Offering outstanding food and with a remarkable selection of over 100 domestic and craft beers and ciders, it's understandable why this is the favored place for locals.

We like to say there are three ways to 'fill-up' at The Filling Station - Growlers, Grub and Gas. If you're looking for exceptional restaurants and places to eat near you in Amherst, The Filling Station is your spot. We offer a variety of delectable home-style pub food for both lunch and dinner.
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What started as a service station back in the early '30s has been transformed into The Filling Station! The Filling Station sports bar & grill, gas, and beer shop near you in Amherst, VA is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal and an ice-cold craft beer. We are proud to offer ExxonMobil Synergy Regular, Synergy Diesel Efficient, Synergy Plus, and Synergy Supreme gas near you at The Filling Station in Amherst, VA.
The origin of the term "growler" is the subject of debate, and likely, the true story will never be known. But as the story goes, in the latter half of the 1800's, growlers referred to metal pails that were used to transport beer from the local tavern to an individual's home.

There are those who believe the term arose from the sound that the pail's cover made from the escaping carbon dioxide, while others believed the growling came from another source.The latter belief is that either the bartender or the customer would be responsible for the growling, as the bartender was supposed to fill the half-gallon container with only a pint of beer, while the customer wanted to get a pail that had much more than just a pint.
To truly understand and appreciate what is a good craft beer, and to communicate about it with friends and enthusiasts, it helps to know the terminology used in the beer world. Expanding your craft beer vocabulary can help you better understand the differences between different styles and appreciate your beer more.
Due to the massive increase in high-quality beef, we have had to increase our burger prices substantially. We are watching beef pricing weekly and will adjust accordingly. We are very sorry but this is out of our control. The Filling Station restaurant and bar near you in Amherst, VA is an exuberant and nearby social spot and an ideal hangout to plunk down for a cold craft beer and some filling grub.
The Filling Station restaurant and beer bar offers a wide variety of over 100 beers and ciders. Whether you like to sit and enjoy an IPA, lager, stout, pilsner, brown ale, porter, sours, Klsch, hard cider or another refreshing style of beer, our bar, grill, and beer store has you covered. Do you often ask yourself this question, "Where can I buy craft beer near me?"
Reviews (26)
Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Jan 14, 2022
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Way cool place. Expected to get gas and walked into a super cool little sandwich shop that had great food and lots of beer draft options. It's worth planning a visit.
William Fritzler
William Fritzler
Dec 24, 2021
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I honestly love the chicken salad and the service is awesome. They only get four stars because the air vents above. At times you freeze. Other than that, good food, good beer, and great service.
C. Macfie
C. Macfie
Dec 23, 2021
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The atmosphere is homey and the employees are down to earth, friendly folks from the area that know their customers. The food is always freshly cooked with care. Portions and prices are generous and reasonable. The waitress took time to be nice to my daughter and took a photo of her for Facebook. This is a great destination or planned lunch / dinner stop for a day trip. Rt60 is a nice, scenic drive and not far from the blue ridge parkway.
Barb F.
Barb F.
Dec 16, 2021
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This is such a fun little pub like place with super fun food and great atmosphere. Just love popping in here and have brought family and friends and will again. The burgers and fries are great - hot dogs are super good. We will be back - where else can you get a fun meal, and then gas your car!!
Megan S.
Megan S.
Nov 01, 2021
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I have been here several times & I use to love it. But it seems all the items are frozen food and nothing really is that good. Just all okay. Okay food. Okay severs. Just okay.
Michael Herbert
Michael Herbert
Oct 18, 2021
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Great burgers and fries! Nice cozy place. They have a few tables and chairs and a bar area you can sit at to eat. They do various sandwiches, Ice cream, snacks, pop, water, and beer...and they also sell gasoline. Everything you need when your on the road. We stopped there once with a convoy of 15 vehicles and completely crowded the place. The folks there provided extremely friendly service and great food!! I wouldn't hesitate to stop at The Filling Station again the next time I'm in the area.
Nancy J.
Nancy J.
Oct 12, 2021
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Fresh food. Great beer selection. Cooked to order while you wait. Sports on TV. Relaxed vibe. Friendly service. And you can fill up your car too! Why go anywhere else?
Tony H.
Tony H.
Aug 14, 2021
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One of my favorite spots in the Amherst area. Great burgers, tater tots, and a wide selection of beer, both bottled and on tap. The tater tots have a variety of seasonings they can add. If you can't decide, ask for a seasoning suggestion. I love the salty vinegar tots and my wife prefers the lemon pepper. My kids love the burgers and the fried cheese curds.

They have beer to go by the growler or you can make your own six pack to go. This is not a brewery but they stock some local favorites and rotate tap selections fairly regularly.

Be warned, this place is small and popular. Service
Robert S.
Robert S.
Aug 06, 2021
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Disapponted based on other reviews. Portions were small and uninspired. Positive points for service and ambiance.
Laurel Stadler
Laurel Stadler
Jul 24, 2021
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Gas station minimart turned burger joint...great idea and delicious food. We had hand packed mushroom Swiss burgers with grilled onions and any regular toppings you'd want...fries and onion rings great too. Really nice staff...wish we could get there more often, but don't miss it if ur passing thru!!
Fred R.
Fred R.
Apr 18, 2021
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So we stopped by here for lunch while visiting wineries in the area. Without deliberately knowing it was there, you'd just think it was another gas station - but we were happily surprised with the space inside and the menu selection. Also, they have about a dozen local craft brews on tap, as well as the rest of the things you'd typically find in a regular gas station convenience store. We both got burgers and were very happy with them (see photo). Will definitely make a point to stop by again the next time we're nearby.
Joey R.
Joey R.
Dec 31, 2020
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My dad and I go hunting down here on our friend's property. One time before leaving Stafford, my dad's friend told us about this gas station in Amherst that makes good burgers. We came and tried it out back in November and we're very impressed. We visited our second time in December and the owner came by and introduced himself. Very friendly staff, nice atmosphere and probably the best burgers I've had on the road! That Carolina burger was delicious. Also enjoyed their fried green tomatoes and onion rings. 5 stars = Can't wait to come back!
Nicholas S.
Nicholas S.
Nov 07, 2020
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This place is great for craft beer enthusiasts. They have hard to find beer from local breweries and craft beer from far away breweries like Stone Brewing. The food is good too, but I mainly go for the beer. They have beer with ABV of 10% for $3.75 from the fridge and their drafts are reasonable also.
N. R.
N. R.
Sep 11, 2020
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Good pub grub and beer selection, but total disregard for mask wearing by employees and patrons.
Jake B.
Jake B.
Jun 01, 2020
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We had recently been trying to support this local business, but we're done. The prices are too high for what they have to offer, and they NEVER get our order right. Too many times I've gotten home with our food and something is wrong, missing, or both. There's other food options in Amherst that I would readily recommend over this place.
Tracey U.
Tracey U.
May 16, 2020
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Omgoodness! Fresh cooked while you wait. It's worth it. So much better than fast food. Did I mention the craft beer? We're taking some home with us. Outside picnic table were perfect since we have our dog with us. I will definitely stop here again. It was so good that I ate every single piece that I could get my hands on.
Nice, clean, and sweet staff. This place is the total package.
Wendy M.
Wendy M.
Feb 01, 2020
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The Filling Station is a hidden gem located right off U.S. Route 29 in Amherst, VA. It's a renovated gas station/convenience store that still sells gas, sodas, chips, candy, etc.; but also has a small dining area and kitchen complete with a flat top and deep fryers. Plus, they have a robust beer selection, with a few on tap and a walk-in full of singles and beer to go. We've stopped a couple of times and both times I've enjoyed a cheeseburger and Onion rings.
Sharon B.
Sharon B.
Dec 30, 2019
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We got grub, a growler, and gas all at one stop! Good selection of beers on tap and in bottles. Nice, fast, and friendly service, and the food was really good! I had a grilled chicken sandwich, my husband had a burger, and we split a basket of fries. All this food, along with a growler to take home and two beers on tap was only $60 with tip. Great prices on food and beer. Will defiantly come back when in Amherst.
Rebekah F.
Rebekah F.
Dec 01, 2019
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Solid 5 Stars!! Big, fat, crunchy pork rinds cooked to order with your choice of seasoning, I mean what's not to love? They also have a great beer selection and really good food. The best part is the location... it's in an old converted gas station right in old downtown Amherst.
Tim L.
Tim L.
Aug 19, 2019
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Cute place in a quaint town. The $2.69 smallish hot dog was good with decent homemade chili and slaw. The many condiments, sauces, and fry seasonings don't cost extra, which is nice. Fries and rings come from a food service freezer bag but are still good (pro tip: when a restaurant's menu says "homemade potato chips" but doesn't make the same claim for the fries, you can bet they're frozen).

Downside: all sodas and even the tea is plopped on the table in $2 plastic bottles. No place serving food in the south should be shortcutting iced tea with the manufactured stuff
Robert Nitti
Robert Nitti
Jul 16, 2019
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Stopped in for some burgers and wings after a baseball game. Service was friendly and fast. Unique atmosphere of a converted 1950's style gas station to a trendy styled pub. Reasonable prices and quality ingredients. I had a double cheese burger with grilled onions, seasoned fries, and fried pickles. Had a basket of hot wings for the table that were crispy and delicious. Plenty of beers on tap. Definitely worth checking it out.
Denise C.
Denise C.
Jun 01, 2019
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What a hidden gem on a road trip to pick up an eBay win. Awesome selection of beer and cider on tap that we wish we had time to sample. The fresh chips were delicious and you can choose your seasoning for those. I had the grilled chicken sandwich and my traveling companion had a burger. Both come on a very good bun with choice of toppings. Staff was friendly and attentive. I'll be back again!
John M.
John M.
Mar 31, 2019
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Coming down Rt 29 and the wife asks "where is there to eat between Charlottesville and Lynchburg?" --- My response was "nothing"... Boy was I wrong. Wendy did some Yelp magic and found The Filling Station in Amherst. An old Esso station that is now a great lunch spot with an even better beer list. Normal lunch fair of burgers and sandwiches. Everything in the place looked good. I had a great Collective Arts IPA from Ontario. I will now change my tune. There IS a great place between Charlottesville and Lynchburg. It is called The Filling Station.
Eric Dean
Eric Dean
Jan 04, 2019
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Took my son to The Filling Station in Amherst yesterday. We went early before the dinner rush and was glad because it can become packed. He got a chili cheese hot dog, I got a double cheese burger with bacon, and we split a basket of fries. We both really enjoyed the food and service was great. After Sids is Mad Hts closes well probably be visiting The Filling Station more often.
Kathie C.
Kathie C.
Jul 29, 2018
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We picked The Filling Station for a quick meal because it had all 5-Star reviews on Yelp. We were not disappointed at all and enjoyed every minute of our stop. The staff was oh so friendly and the food was as advertised - perfectly delicious. I do have to say that their fried dill pickles are probably going to be a bit of a craving issue for me. They were served piping hot, crispy, and with jalapeƱo ranch to dip those little nuggets in. Seriously deserving of yet another 5-Star review.
Joneil A.
Joneil A.
Jun 16, 2018
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Very, very good burgers and BBQ sandwiches! They also let you put a variety of seasoning on the fries but the fries themselves are tasty.

My dad and I just got back from backpacking on Cold Mountain a few miles down the road. This place is a gem!