Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me Fill ‘er Up!
Wed, May 30th of 2007
1:31 pm
Some people insist that diners are pre-fabricated structures with a long counter and stools that swivel and are bolted to the floor. Ditto the long tempting line of cakes and cream pies that beckon from under their plastic covers. Then there are others who expect lots of stainless steel inside and out. My favorite definition of a diner is: “If it doesn’t serve breakfast at any hour of the day, it’s not a diner.” (Nod supportively with me here).
Perhaps the common thread in all diners is in their serving food that is quick, affordable, and most of all, comfortingly delicious. Think pancakes, meat loaf and potatoes smothered in gravy, fried chicken, bracelet-sized onion rings; in other words, food that’s high in fat (yay!) and flavor and people who couldn’t give a hoot about the calorie count. (More power to their tribe, I say). Pretentiousness has no place here so things like steak au poivre, crème brulee, and profiteroles are absent.Thank goodness for that.
While we have lots of food places in Manila that fit the definition of serving food that’s quick and affordable, we don’t have many diners. I can think of the now defunct Arnold’s Diner on Makati Avenue in the 90’s, Rosie’s Diner (defunct?) in Ermita somewhere, and presently, Butter Diner, Filling Station, and Gram’s Diner in Rockwell. (Could Cocorama and Heaven ‘n Eggs be considered diners?) It’s only now that Manila is discovering the glories of breakfast and brunch, a nascent trend wherein I, big breakfast fan, fervently hope that brunch will become the new lunch. (Let’s do brunch!)
Back in 1995, former US Navy Sergeant Jeremy Hauser, set up Filling Station, his idea of a diner in Manila. Even the name of the restaurant itself is old fashioned as what we now know as gas stations were known as filling stations until oil companies in the 20’s branded them otherwise. Filling Station, the diner, pays idolatrous respect to the glory days of the 50’s and 60’s. It boasts one of the largest collections of memorabilia in Southeast Asia from that era.
Manila calling…
Spiderman lives here
Turning my neck to and fro, I catch sight of a 1968 jukebox made in honor of the King himself, Elvis Presley. A 1955 Bel-Air Chevy that’s been sawed in half has been attached to the ceiling, barely missing ol’ Spidey himself as he crawls down to inspect the pancakes I’m about to devour. Keeping me company in my little eating area are a number of vintage telephones, TV sets, radios, movie posters, vinyl records, and more. The checkered floors and staff uniforms add cute kitsch to the whimsy.
The diner menu is pure Americana but because it’s right smack in the Philippines after all, there are plenty of Pinoy faves for the diehards such as Arroz ala Cubana and tocino. I’m having brunch so I go for the flapjacks (aka pancakes) available in classic (P140), banana (P150), blueberry (P180). I add two fried eggs and a side of sausage (plus P100). My Bin professes an attraction to the Clubhouse (P260) which he orders: a classic three-tiered combination of chicken, bacon, egg, cheese, mayonnaise, ham, and the seemingly gratuitous leaf of lettuce, since you gotta get your greens in there, after all.
mighty chocolate milkshake
On a whim, we order the milkshake, and though I always, always order vanilla when it comes to milkshakes, we go for the chocolate. I must tell you now – in fact, it behooves you to try the milkshake at the Filling station. At an off the wall expensive P190, one sip and you won’t care anymore. This is quite simply, the BEST milkshake in Manila I have to say. Served in the proper tall glass (run screaming for your life if you’re ever served a milkshake in a drinking glass), its excess comes in a metal silver shaker. So thick that my straw stands straight up, this milkshake is unbearably smooth and cool. Think of the best chocolate milk you’ve ever had and multiply it by ten. That’s how good this milkshake is. It’s so good that I’m uttering expletives for the next 30 seconds.
My Bin’s Clubhouse arrives, hefty and satisfactory. It’s the type of sandwich that’s so stuffed to proportions that every bite has the filling shooting out in the other direction. I giggle as a slap of mayonnaise squirts my place mat.
Halfway through his sandwich, my flapjacks still haven’t arrived. How long does it take to pour some batter onto a griddle, I’m thinking. But I’m working on the milkshake and am almost more than happy to slurp my breakfast today except that Bin’s making noises about wanting some of the drink for himself too. Get your own, man.
Two follow-ups and a wrong order of eggs later (they came scrambled, not fried), my flapjacks are worth the wait. Not as fluffy as the ones in Pancake House, they’ve got a bite to them that I find irresistible. Drenched in gleaming syrup and stained with the yolks of my this-side-of- over-fried eggs, and a bite of salty sausage, I’m ready to proclaim to all and yonder that this is bliss.
now THIS is a shake shack
Now, while I heartily recommend the Filling Station for good eats, I will be remiss if I don’t tell you that its location is not so erm, savory. Dead on in the center of Manila/Makati’s red light district, it’s frequented by Caucasians with their Pinay hangers-on. I had my misgivings about eating here at first because of its location, but the restaurant itself is clean and bright. I don’t see anybody suspicious while I’m here and even those that look a little “iffy” leave me alone to my food. Give this place a chance. Come here with friends and enjoy a rousingly retro meal with plenty of conversation pieces to keep you busy. Order the super-sized nachos and chili fries which I hear are killer, and for the love of all that is breathtakingly delicious, don’t forget that milkshake.
Filling Station
P. Burgos street, Makati City. (Near Makati Avenue)
632. 8972053 to 57
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Hey Lor!
It’s great as an emergency 24-hour place. The burgers are ok. The milkshakes are THICK!
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Comment by Marianne — May 30, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
if i may add to your ‘diner’ def: it has to be american 1950′s-themed and it’s gotta have a jukebox (working preferably with 50′s to 60′s 45s), not to mention the waitres get-up. so heaven n eggs deifinitely not a ‘diner’ in my books.
loved rosie’s diner back in the day, perfect at around 4am…. they moved out of ermita and into clark, pampanga like 10-15 years ago.
give this place a chance, i will.
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Comment by stadaenko — May 30, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Oh wow, this is near my place. I’ve always ignored the place since the area is quite ummm… questionable. But I will give the Filling Station a try since you recommended it.
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Comment by Orange Git — May 30, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Hey, I just read about Filling Station a few days ago in margauxlicious blog… so now you’ve really got me interested in this place!
Anyways, I always pass by P. Burgos St. but never really cared about the shops & eateries along that area. But since I am always on the look-out for 24/7 eateries in Makati aside from North Park, Next Door & McDo I think I might give Filling Station a try one of these days
Btw Lori, where’s the best place to park if you are going here?
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Comment by math — May 30, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
I first tried Filling Station way back in 1995, but have rarely gone back since. I suppose it’s because of the location, which I avoided especially when I had an American boyfriend (didn’t relish the assumptions that would be made). Plus, parking’s a pain. But it’s a cool place to go after drinking, when most other restaurants have closed. (Another 24/7 resto in that area is Ziggurat; diner food’s better for post-drinking, though.) I also recall Filling Station having good tapsilog, but that was years ago so don’t take my word for it. I’ve never tired the shakes and pancakes, and now I will — breakfast/brunch is my favorite meal (not that I’m ever awake for it)!
Lori, PLEASE write about Butter Diner soon???
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Comment by Katrina — May 31, 2007 @ 12:10 am
i don’t know if they’re still open since it’s been ages since i last visited, bobby magee’s in front of the new world hotel. it’s a nice diner with several billiard tables and some dart boards on the the second floor. i know they have another branch before somewhere in Ortigas or QC. I guess i’d have to check out the filling station one of these days. i also love the chocolate milkshakes at Bobby magee’s.. and their tapang usa.. hehehe!!
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Comment by kaye — May 31, 2007 @ 2:16 am
this place is sweeeeeet.
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Comment by paolomendoza — May 31, 2007 @ 9:46 am
uhm. my definition of a diner does not necessarily have to include kitsch. i suppose local diners put up all these memorabilia to romanticize the diner experience (thin line between diner and TGI Friday’s) but it all boils down to the food. you go to Filling Station if you want to stuff your face and eat like a pig. servings are huge. milk shake IS fantastic. nachos aren’t half bad either. i would have to say quality is great but taste is so so. however, service is great and the place is very cozy.
i happen to like walking around p.burgos area. lot’s of good places to eat/drink. tachibana in makati palace hotel has great crispy chicken teriyaki and bento boxes, handle bar for MEAT, alba’s self explanatory, beer’s paradise for expensive but good beer, ziggurat for great kebabs and tabouleh….etc, etc. even used to go to a creole place called crawdaddy’s(?) there late 90′s-early 2000′s, now i think its called cafe mogambo.
what we don’t quite have in manila is a good irish pub that serves a great bloody breakfast fryup. basically pan fried english sausage, blood pudding, ham, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes all in one heart-stopping plate with a bread basket on the side.
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Comment by anonymous paul — May 31, 2007 @ 11:41 am
wow..cute place..i want milkshakesss!
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Comment by dee — May 31, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
I used to frequent this place with my ex-boyfriend as he loves their pizza. Meanwhile, I’m super impressed with their milkshake – I really lurrrve it!
He and I are no longer together but I still would want to go back for the milkshake when I’m able to enter the Filling Station without visions of my ex. (Gotta force myself, gotta force myself…)
Btw, the pizza was SOOO not good (unbiased opinion).
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Comment by Boo — June 1, 2007 @ 10:35 am
wow, this one’s interesting! There’s also another resto (I don’t know if it qualifies as a diner) in Bicol: Bigg’s. Masarap din. I tried it when I was there covering the Bicol typhoon disaster.
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Comment by scott kho — June 1, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Hi Lori! I agree with Katrina that the location is not exactly prime. Especially if you don’t work in any of those colorful establishments surrounding the Filling Station. But I do remember having had the best Eggs Benedict in Manila there at 4 am one night when I was out on the town. I may have to pay the place another visit just to make sure that it wasn’t my alcohol-induced hunger that made the Eggs Benedict seem oh so memorable!
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Comment by tina, perpetually recovering ex-new yorker — June 1, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
I tried this place today and it’s not as good as what was written in this article. Milkshake is not that thick, there are a lot more thicker and yummier milkshakes here in Manila that what FIlling station serves. Food here, nothing special as well. Servings are big, because the price is not that cheap either.
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Comment by shirley — June 3, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
As usual, very well written and described! Filling Station was also a favorite for me and my college friends from way back. Then we stopped going for a while until last year, I’ve been making the occasional trip there for the milkshakes. We’re never disappointed with the food, but we can never finish anything we order, everything is just huge.
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Comment by Christine — June 4, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
I used to love this diner, too, when they had a branch in Festival Mall! I don’t go to Festival Mall much, so I don’t know if it’s still there. But I might just check out that one in Makati.
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Comment by Leki — June 5, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
[...] Fill ‘er Up! by Dessert Comes First Filling Station Breakfast Celebration by Our Awesome [...]
Pingback by Filling Station « All About Menus — August 28, 2007 @ 1:40 am
Love the spidey!
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Comment by Julie — February 7, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
just a bit of insider info:- the filling station was set up by a filipino/spanish group. the rumour was started by them about the usa soldier setting the filling station up to get the us military inside with the plus of after hours drinking and girlie bars near by. My wife worked there for 5 years, im surprised this rumour has not be put to bed by now.
was there last year visiting and the food and portions are still fantastic if a little expensive for burgos st
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Comment by glen — August 18, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
That is definitely a place that I must go visit this coming weekends. It is colorful, neat, and totally children friendly as well. Thank you for sharing such an interesting and informative article. – Manila
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Comment by Manila — January 14, 2010 @ 4:12 am
Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate it.
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Comment by vintage bracelets — January 21, 2010 @ 10:58 am