Filling Station

This is part /​along the line’s of the Mr. Burger genre — but there are some distinct differences.
First and foremost — the «Fab Burger» is well worth stopping in for to try. It is completely loaded and certainly won’t help your calorie score for the day — but if you want to indulge it is a great burger. Their onion rings are also very good and true to form as far as fresh batter and fried. Not like some of those lame frozen one’s places try to pass off.
I have tried several items. I also recommend «the slim» it was very good as well.
I have seen the wet burrito on several occasions (haven’t tried it yet) and it looks great when they bring it out. I just tend to go with what I know and love too often — but one day I will give it a run.
Overall — prices are average. I guess what I like is it is just good, honest made food. Same goes for the breakfast. If you are looking for just the basics (egg, meat, potatoes) in homestyle form — for a decent price — this is a good stop.

Our first time there and probably our last. Who ever they have working the first register is super rude and impatient. I finally said to her «this is our first time here» and she just rudely said «ok» as she stomped away. Not coming back after that.

This has been a go-​to place for us ever since we moved closer to the Sparta area. Breakfast: great diner type food. My husband is a Super Breakfast fan and lives it. Great portion sizes! I usually try something different every time; meat omelette, pancakes, American fries with gravy, etc. All awesome. Biggest tip is to get a side of chili dog chili and drench your whole meal. So so good over hash browns, American fries, omlettes, etc. Lunch/​diner: I think they have some of the best chili dogs in town. Thier burgers are awesome, and I am a huge grilled cheese fan, thick slices of bread and lots of cheese.
They are now part of the Mr. Burger family… similar but distinct differences. Highly recommended

I love this place. The Fab burger is excellent and get it every time. I also love the onion rings and you have to get them. The Hotdogs are also good especially with Chili. Good place to go for a burger fix.

Visited this location during a recent trip home. Being a native of the Grand Rapids area I remember the days of Mr. Fables and of all the delicious foods that they carried. I had heard that the Filling Station carried what was once called the Mr Fab Burger so that was enough motivation to FINALLY try this place after all these years.
We visited on a Tuesday afternoon and found that the place was not busy at all. We walked in and were greeted with a menu as this place is cafeteria style. Reviewed the menu and proceeded down the line to place our order. I of course went with the Mr Fab to see if it was like I remember as a kid and teen. My other half did some custom burger order and added pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. We then proceeded further down the line, choosing some pie for dessert.
Once we paid we found a seat in the corner over by the window. Most of the décor is comprised of old license plates from Michigan and other states. This is your typical diner style place with booths everywhere. They do have TVs going as well with different local shows playing.
Our food came out pretty quickly… which I would hope as they were not busy at all. I first started with my onion rings as I am weird and can only eat one thing at a time (yes, its weird… I get it). The onion rings were good. Pretty basic when it comes to onion rings. Nothing special or anything to write home about. The burger was just like I remembered. It had good flavor and was covered in green olives. The pie was good too, yet I don’t know exactly what it was. But it was good. ha!
The place seemed clean and well maintained. The amount of food was adequate for the price that you pay. It actually is very reasonable and I think that its a great value. I’d go back again.

Interesting place that we hit on the way back from picking blueberries, cherries and raspberries. Saw the reviews and stopped in.
Double cheeseburger — actually tasted just like five guys to me. Very tasty and juicy. I’ll definitely get it again.
Onion rings — no doubt about it these are awesome. I had to eat the whole basket myself because the wife and kids don’t like onions but well worth the calories.
Corn dogs — winner here too. Excellent taste.
Chili fries — good flavor a bit of cinnamon to them. Very good. Although between those and onion rings I’ll stick with onion rings.
Gyro– only downer of bunch. No meat cut there, it’s processed slices.
All in all we really enjoyed it and will be back. Kids enjoyed their meals too and were happy.
Taking home a piece of dessert to try and will update when we eat it.

If you’re talking all American hotdogs here in Grand Rapids, another great place is on Alpine Ave between 5 mile and 6 mile. The restaurant is called The Filling Station. Yes it fills you up. The nostalgic atmosphere brings me back to my childhood when my parents would take us to eat at Mr Fables. But at the Filling Station they have even more choices. But, my all time favorite is the Kraut Dog; they even do a footlong kraut dog. Yum yum. This restaurant is a great family friendly place and the food is delicious, and if you don’t want to try a kraut dog the burritos are super too. I could eat there at least once a week and not get tired of it.

Very very close to the old Mr Fabulous, great onion rings. Their pie is fantastic. If you miss Mr Fables go straight to The Filling Station on Alpine.

Great food! Not a fast food restaurant, but fast service. Clean restaurant, lots of seating. I had a cheeseburger and onion rings. Really good, big rings. Will definitely be back! Husband had the «mr. Fabulous» burger, a tribute to the Mr. Fables olive burger. He also loved his food. Next time, I’m trying bteakfast.

Not quite what I expected. The food is served cafeteria /​fast food style. Place your order, carry a try, pay at the cashier and eat at your table.
For some reason, the menu on Google shows many more choices than is actually served in the restaurant. The Google menu has a variety of soups, salads, and seafood. The restaurant instead focuses on burgers and grilled food on a bun with a side of potato chips. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich — OK but not great, loaded with mayonnaise (or tartar sauce). Left the restaurant feeling not too healthy.

The hot dogs were less than impressive but the onion rings were glorious, and should be used as angel’s halos. Also, the filling station burger is the bee’s knees.

this being national hamburger day i had a mr fabulous and yes it was the drinks were large staff friendly and helpful i liked the place with old car liswcenses all over the walls and vintage signs

I need to qualify my rating. I ordered the Mr. Fabulous and some onion rings. The onion rings were the best I’ve ever had… EVER. Light, fluffy, great batter… not greasy at all. If I’m ever in the area, I would go back JUST to eat the rings. Yes, they were THAT good.
The Mr. Fabulous… well, I’d actually call it the «Mr. OK-​IN-​A-​PINCH». Personally speaking, I saw nothing special about this burger. It was a regular cheeseburger, with the exception of one addition… there were chopped up olives in the sauce. They actually added an interesting flavor, but not one that I would ask for again in a cheeseburger.
The establishment seemed a bit overdone-​touristy, but the people were friendly. I really can’t complain, but I wasn’t blown away. Lots of good stuff on the menu, if I have the opportunity I’ll try it again…(my excuse so I can get me some of those rings again!)

Love the décor of the restaurant. I had to do a quick pick up order for my hubby. I was drawn to the sign on the outside stating how they were part of the Mr Burger family. I love Mr Burger and that is what my hubby wanted. Well, change of plans, when on the menu was a blast from the past… a Mr Fabulous! This is the only restaurant that has a classic burger from a now closed restaurant… Mr Fables. End result… my husband’s full, satisfied belly reminiscing on good memories! We will be going back and the cost is not overpriced. Oh yeah! The Filling Station also has the Mr Fable’s delicious onion rings to go with the Mr Fabulous! Just saying…

It is nice to see some old time favorites come back like Mr. Fables and Red Lion. The Filling Station is a great place to go if you miss a Fab burger and hand dipped onion rings. The food is good and the portions huge. The burgers, chili dogs and fries are great.

cheap & greasy breakfast food. You order and get your kitchen wear at the front counter, then they bring the food out to you within 5-​minutes. Cheap & fast food.
not bad really, especially if you consider what you are paying.
It is well worth the money you pay, pretty good portions of food.
coffee is not that great.

This is a throwback to the yesteryear of the diner or cafeteria style joints from the sixties and seventies. It’s not horrid but it’s not exactly real diner food. The philly cheese foot-​long (7 bucks-​ish) made my stomach hurt even though i only ate half. The sweet potatoes fries were unseasoned but okay in the crisp sense. They have numerous burger options, my co-​hort tried the ¼ pound olive burger and seemed to like it. I tried a bite, It didn’t taste good enough to go back for a second one. Her slim cut fries were good, but unseasoned. Just not particularly impressed and i wasn’t expecting to be. My expectations were met, i suppose. I expected grease and i got it, after all it is called the filling station, which is highly apropos.

I was craving a wet burrito & a coworker said this place has the best so I decided to give it a try. Definitely convenient to get a burrito in a drive-​thru. The burrito was decent. I think if I try it again I would like to eat in instead of getting it to go.
They have a pretty extensive menu, what I had was decent and the prices are good. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the neighborhood!

BEST DAMN BURGERS IN GRAND RAPIDS… now that i got that out of my system, ever since i have read about the Filling Station here on Unilocal,i have not be able to stay away from that place. i have longed for a place that serve hand made burgers and i have foiund one. now when i say hand made, i mean a burger that was not previously frozen shipped in a box. the inside of the place is huge and they keep it clean. the also have mexican food on the menu, but i have not had them yet. A friend i went with ordered the onion rings and they were amazing as well… my only complaint is that they are a little inconsistent with their pricing. i went one day and they said that they had combos, went another day and they said that they didn. t…i gues it depends on ther burger you get. i have had the double fab and the bacon cheese burger both were awesome… GO TO THIS PLACE NOW!!!

Well somebody had to do this! I never thought I’d get to sink my teeth into a Mr. Fabulous again after the slow death of the Mr. Fables chain however my lunch yesterday was as good as Fables (at it’s peak). Not only was the Fab… well FAB, they even do the ONION RINGS! As fluffy and greasy as I remember.
WEENIE ALERT!!!: If you are looking for a Vegan burger on stone grownd organic wheat, maybe pass this place by.
They also serve breakfast anytime and a Tex-​Mex menu, (my choice for my next visit) The name and theme doesn’t do alot for me but if the rest of the menu is as good as my lunch was I’ll be impressed.