The Wife and I recently went to The Filling Station in Lafayette, Louisiana with a group of friends to enjoy the beautiful (and slightly balmy) weather on their patio and grab some dinner.
With a nice mix of Tex-Mex inspired dishes punctuated with the occasional dish named after a loyal customer who first asked for something just a little bit different (ex. the Colleen McDaniel “Potaco” is a loaded baked potato with a taco crumbled on top), the Filling Station’s menu covers a nice range of items that in my experience have all been done well.
While I am usually a fan of their salads topped with pulled pork or grilled tenderloin, on this occasion I decided to go with the quesadilla, picking out the “Ben Roth” version: ground beef, shrimp and chicken all combined on one quesadilla.
I know you’re thinking “why even write about a quesadilla, you can’t mess that up,” and to an extent I agree with you. You have to be pretty inept in the kitchen to crank out a bad quesadilla as it is generally meat and cheese pressed between a tortilla. However, a great quesadilla can rise above the ranks of average by taking a few key steps:
- Season and properly cook the meat, relying on a fleck of salsa to season cubes of chicken breast is just a mistake.
- Use good cheese, and lots of it. The cheese is the glue that holds the quesadilla together and tossing half a handful of grated “government cheese” does not count.
- Include a side of aforementioned salsa, guacamole, and/or sour cream. In my book, condiments make all things better.
So how did The Filling Station’s version rank? It was one of the best. I must have a kindred spirit in that kitchen because it is clear that the “rules for quesadillas” are followed to a tee. While slightly thicker than most quesadillas, the proper cheese/meat/tortilla ratio was maintained and resulted in something spectacular.
So here’s to you Ben Roth for the inspiration for this combination and here’s to The Filling Station for pulling off rather nicely!
By the way, sorry for the slightly blurry pic, my iPhone got glazed over just like my eyes when seeing this beauty of a quesadilla!
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#1 by LJ on August 11th, 2009
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I have to say, I had read a few great things about this place and so my fiance’ and I went there just a few weeks ago.
We were sorely disappointed.
The menu was a mish mash of Tex Mex, odd salads, and some seemingly decent sides (from the menu at least), and one overpriced steak.
I ordered the pulled pork salad, without pickles, with a side of potatoes au gratin. My fiance ordered something I don’t recall, it was some sort of meat and potatoes dish.
We also started out with the bacon cheese fries.
The fries were the best part of the meal, hands down… and let me tell you, we did not head out for lunch hoping to eat cheese fries.
His portions were awful, with the mashed potatoes taking over the entire plate and the bland meat laying limply between what tasted like canned green beans and the flood of pasty mashed potatoes. The whole plate looked, and tasted, reminiscent of a school cafeteria lunch.
My salad was decent, but that’s it.
The “potatoes au gratin” were chunked skin on red potatoes covered meekly in the same cheese that came on the cheese fries ….. completely devoid of salt, pepper, or any other definable seasoning.
Top all of the food issues off with the fact that my plate had a large chip in it, we sat inside and the kitchen staff was cursing the entire time, and the microwave was used more often than the grill or fryer…. Beyond all that, the waiter gave our check to another table that had left, and then he gave us their check, and thought it was humorous.
We won’t be going back.
Truly sorry that our experience was so different than what everyone else has said, because from other reviews, I was really looking forward to it.
#2 by ellen on June 2nd, 2011
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That looks so yummy. May have to try that one when I’m in The Filling Station in Lafayette. Thanks for sharing this information to us.
#3 by banking service Chicago on June 3rd, 2011
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The Filling Station in Lafayette, Louisiana is an old filling station converted to a restaurant. It serve as our hiding place in time’s that me and my friends need to unwind and eat something good( Mix style dishes, along with burgers, salads, and seafood items).
#4 by Kila on June 29th, 2011
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mmm sounds so good. A good quesadilla is always a great chill snack especially with some guacamole. Pair it with a Corona and we’re in business!