It's whatever here. Stopped off as there's wasn't much choice with 6 of us as getting a table somewhere PSA pretty crazy. It's basically like your local TGIF or something equivalent to it. It was busy but was busy but we were able to get a table. Menu was your usual pub food. Nothing really much cheer about. Salad wise, we did notice that A LOT of places don't offer much. It was either a Cesar salad or some other salad. Burger selection was good so that was a plus. Service was nice which also was a plus. Overall, food was ok. read more

See all

Ewwwwwwww, just don't. Seriously. Food was worse than frozen food, which I think that is what it was. Drinks were good, but how can you mess up a coke? Service was also good but the food sucked so much, 1 star it is. Atmosphere was like a really depressed TGIFridays. read more

was lovely! well looked after. Christmas decorations were so pretty. Would highly recommend. Food was lovely. Fast and service was very friendly! A few groups in for cocktails . read more

Don't waste your time. Seriously, life is short. Eat good meals. The service was slow and the food was not great. We made a rash decision because we were hungry and getting a little tired. We had looked at a few other places ahead of time but didn't plan appropriately and thought we would just try this place out. 'Looked decent' we thought. 'How bad could it be' we said. read more

Excited that they had a GF/DF/VE pizza option and it was pretty good! The other food was okay.

Ambiance is what I'd expect for an American themed restaurant in Edinburgh. Music could be a little lower but otherwise it was fine. Service was really good, seated quickly and the waitress was quick to the table. Appetizers were Truffalo Chicken tenders and Garlic Bread. Both were great. Main course was a rump steak, fish and chips, and burger. Fish and chips were great as was the steak. I'd recommend a visit if you're in Edinburgh read more

See all

"How bad could it be?", I asked as we walked in the door. Very bad, it turns out. (I feel like I should apologize for such a negative review. But I certainly would have appreciated such info myself.) As an American abroad, I normally try to avoid the restaurants labeled "American" style. Not because I'm a snob about "American" food (whatever that even means); I've eaten in a lot of foreign restaurants that do amazing American food. But I try to expand my horizons when traveling. However, sometimes you just want something close and simple. Which is how I ended up at the door of Filling Station, asking the fateful question above. This was the worst meal I've had during my current 6-week trip in the UK. The food was just awful. My salad was wet, wilted, and just sad (and 50% coriander, for some reason??). My daughter's pizza was certainly previously frozen and, in her words "the worst pizza I've ever had in my life." My wife and son had wraps that were bland and entirely forgettable. If an American comparison helps: this isn't Chili's or Friday's. The food at any Chili's or Friday's is substantially better. read more

great place to eat on royal mile. food good and staff very friendly. We had 2 burgers and drinks, price was fair.

We enjoyed our lunch. I had the chicken fajita wrap with fries, the chicken breast was great. She had the vegan chili, a bit heavy on the rice, but she loved it. read more

The Filling Station - Chicken fajita wrap and vegan chili - American Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Very pleased from the location to the ample amount of drinks and food choices. First time here. The BBQ Pulled Pork burger was to die for from first bite. The pork was caramalized to perfection that is so tender and smooth going down. The coleslaw and fries are hearty and tasty that complimented the pork. So very surprised and couldn't get enough. I will truly be back but it will be hard to choose something different with knowing how great the pork is. I'm sure the other items on the menu are just as great. It's a must! read more

See all

RAW SEWAGE. The Filling Station's drain spewed raw human sewage into my back garden over a period of around 36 hours. They have been aware of this now for over 50 hours and have yet to clean a single piece of faeces from the back garden. I have made them aware that the fetid pool of faeces is directly underneath my 6 year old daughter's bedroom window and that this is universally recognised as a danger to health. There is currently between a foot and 18 inches of their sewage lying in a stinking pool which they have no urgency to clear whatsoever. The manager at the Filling Station has been commendable in his dealing with this issue. Quite clearly his level of integrity is not reflected by his employer though. How on earth people who are happy to leave faeces lying around have the gall to use the word "restaurant" in their company name is beyond me. read more

The Filling Station - The pool of RAW HUMAN SEWAGE that the Filling Station have left under my daughter's window for well over 50 hours since reported to them. - American Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Just stopped in for a quick pint. Was overwhelmed with the crowd. To be expected in such a busy area. Waited a very long time at the bar. Service wasn't the best. read more

So it was our first night in Ediburgh, and our group couldn't agree where to eat. We walked up and down the Royal Mile looking for a place that had something for everyone. Looking at the posted menu on the door, it seemed like this place would do the trick. We walk in and it's an American themed restaurant! Leave it to us to travel halfway around the world to eat at a place just like home. Even the menu called them "fries" instead of "chips"! I had a bacon cheeseburger, and the bacon is quite a bit different in Scotland than back home. Instead of thin crunchy strips you get a bigger piece of fried pork. It's more like a slice of lunchmeat than american bacon. Still good though. The burger was very good. The waitstaff was attentive (and one of the guys in our group even tried to get her phone number - sheesh. College kids!!) I'm knocking off a star for the bathrooms though. Truly disappointing. Everything was wet as if there was a leak in a pipe or faucet. The stalls were dirty and broken. There were no paper towels or ways to dry your hands. Just awful facilities downstairs. As an American reviewing an American themed eatery abroad though, they did a pretty good job getting it right. The decor and music were spot on for the 50's. The classic comfort foods and american fare were all there. It's pretty legit. Like going to an Applebee's here in the states. read more

Ate at the Filling Station last July. It was a busy time of year. I was hungry and they had a seat. Fun American automotive theme decor. Food was mediocre at best. There are many excellent dining opportunities very nearby....this just wasn't anything special. read more

Cool Restaurant right at the main road through Edinburgh old town. Quick service and good food. read more

The Filling Station - Good Old Fish and Chips - American Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

See all

Canadian here. If you've actually had American food, this ain't it. I had the pepperoni pizza and it a) did not look at all like the picture and b) had more grease on top than pepperoni... The vanilla milkshake was literally just milk that someone stirred aggressively. Don't eat here if you're tight on a budget or if you've actually had American food. read more

Aw the poor Filling Station has taking quite a beating on Yelp and I'm not sure it entirely deserves all the bad press. If you take a trip to the Filling Station you should know what to expect, typical American food fast food; burgers, hot dogs and the like all at quite reasonable prices considering it's location. I popped in here last summer with a few friends when we were exploring the street performers of The Fringe along the Royal Mile. It was really busy but we thankfully were able to get a seat. We shared some potato skins and nachos and got some cocktails too. The cocktails were tasty, the food was pretty good and it's a fairly inoffensive place to sit and have some snacks. Despite the fact that it was busy, the service was fast and the staff were very friendly so I think the Filling Station deserves four stars. read more

The Filling Station - American Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The Filling Station is one of my favourite food places in Edinburgh. Situated in the centre of the High Street on the Royal Mile, The Filling Station is always very popular with the tourists. I love to go here for food because it always reminds me of America with the American style decor and its huge portions. Inside the restaurant it is very 'Americanised' with car registration plates, maps and the seats arranged in booth styles to be like a diner. The menu is very American/Texan orientated with dishes including burgers, nachos, steaks, and of course, chips! I adore their burgers, which are absolutely massive, and if I eat one for lunch it will always fill me up for the whole day. The prices are really reasonable too with most main meals priced at about five pounds. Also, I think special mention ought to be paid to The Filling Station's milkshakes, particularly their strawberry, which is absolutely gorgeous! There is a bar inside which overlooks the busy Royal Mile so it can lovely to go here for a drink in the afternoon and watch all the tourists. Every time I have been to The Filling Station is has always been really packed, especially on a weekend, which is a good sign, but not so great if you want to eat here and can't get a seat! The Filling Station has plenty of tables and chairs outside the restaurant on the High Street so it is a great place to sit on a warm day and watch all the action on the Royal Mile. read more

The Filling Station - American Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

As an American, I can say this place doesn't do us justice. The burger was smaller than most stuff I get back in the states, and the rest of the menu was just random items that available weren't things that I would normally eat. The decor of the place made no sense, with international signs on the walls. The drinks menu was maybe the closest thing to American purely due to the many options. read more

Didn't have phone service to check out this restaurant so we just took a chance. Bummer How can you ruin fish n chips in Scotland! It came out looking like it had been under a heat lamp all day! Burgers had no flavor. Poor presentation. An upscale McDonald's at above average prices. Uggh! Do not eat here. read more

Very good, comfy high street American restaurant that isn't a rip-off! "High Street" in Edingburgh is a touristy area indeed, as it stretches from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, with plenty of small restaurants in between. The Filling Station, if your mind is set upon American style food, is a formidable lunch and dinner option. Good food, very nice decor, super-friendly staff, fairly competitive prices (for Edinburgh anyway!). Went there twice (once for dinner, once for drinks) in July of 2014. Even if you don't have a reservation and times are busy, the very helpful staff will eventually find a table for you! Bar staff are equally friendly. This is definitely a superior branch of The Filling Station chain. Dinner included fried chicken strips (not bad, but nothing special) and Chicago Deep-Filled Pizza, essentially a meat-filled quiche - which was superb and filling, There is a 20 minute waiting period for the latter, but it's worth it. The selection of ales and lagers, including a couple of real ales, is very inviting for a late night drink, too (My hotel was close by). Prices aren't outrageous for drinks either. Highly recommended for tourists who do not want to get ripped off. read more

See all

This is the first place we ate when we arrived in Scotland. I ordered hagis bites and fish n chips with a couple business. The food was great and the wait staff was exceptional. The food here was a perfect mix of Scottish and American cuisine. The atmosphere was very well lit and quite. The music playing was a variety of American classics ranging from tom petty to prince or Jackson five. The place was very clean and inviting. I think I ate here about 5 times during my trip. read more

What can I say for a place that looks like chain restaurant in the middle of High Street. Perfectly executed if you are looking for a place that resembles TGIF, Chili's or Applebees. I'm not saying it is a bad thing but rather that it's just ok. We came here twice during our week in Edinburgh and they were both good experiences. The service was very good and I did enjoy the automobile decor they had plastered all of the place. They had Guinness and Kopparberg and that is all I needed for drinks so that was good too. So the food was pretty standard fare but I did get to try their haggis appetizer and it was good. The burgers were nice and meaty and the calzone was big and tasty too. They weren't mind blowing but solid as far as quality goes. Their dessert choices however were subpar but luckily we weren't lacking for sweets during our lunch visits. read more

JUST KEEP WALKING This place is a tourist trap, and a poor one at that. service poor, food overpriced and poor, glasses not to clean which matched the cutlery staff unhelpful and uninterested in actually doing there job. BE AWARE YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!! read more

This was recommended to us so we thought we would try it. But then wished we hadn't bothered and regretted choosing an American diner over a traditional Scottish pub. The food was very average but I was super ill after I ate it. That put a dampener on my short 2 day trip to Edinburgh! The service was ok, the prices ok too. The food tasted ok as we were eating it...but I wouldn't go there again now!! read more

After touring the castle the friends and I popped in here to wet our whistles and grab a tasty snack. It's your run of the mill Pub, they had a good selection of beers and ciders and we ordered two appetizer platters. A little Applebee's-esque. But the Peterbilt grill on the wall reminded me of my Grandfather, rest his soul. We were able to snag a table, kick back, relax, enjoy our beers/ciders and ate some potato skins, some nachos, a few southwest taquitos, and an assortment of other fried goods - all very healthy, obviously. Located far enough away from the castle to weed out the majority of tourists, yet close enough for window shopping and browsing en route on foot. Near the cab lines for easy exit. A decent place to stop in and take a load off. read more

Being American I NEVER eat at American restaurants while traveling abroad, but I am currently traveling with my large family so they wanted to eat at filling station bc it would be easy with the kids. Food was extremely overpriced and disappointing. We ordered a starter and 6 mains and not one single dish was decent. Only decent thing was the lemonade. read more

We accidentally ended up here during a torrential outpour when we had no choice but to take cover in what ended up being a Scottish impersonation of a TGIFridays. When you're aspiring to a type of cuisine that isn't worth the flattery of imitation, it's quite the uphill battle. What the place does offer is decent prices, large quantities, way too many options, and cheerful service. Well done capturing the essence of casual American dining!! If you are American and on vacation, don't come here. That's like going to McDonald's in Paris instead of getting a baguette sandwich. Well, I guess that's not a fair comparison since Scotland hasn't any offerings even a fraction as tempting, but you know what I mean. Try to experience local fare, no matter how dismal it may be, for the sake of culture and adventure! You're better off getting fish and chips or a meat pie in a local pub. If you do get stuck here, though, do NOT get a hamburger. I made that mistake because I saw one on nearby table that looked pretty good and I thought the local Angus beef would somehow elevate it from a typical American meal. Unfortunately, what I got wasn't tasty at all, but had an unpleasant flavor and dry texture. My boyfriend's steak and ale pie was much more appetizing, I'd recommend that. The saving grace of this establishment, besides our extremely friendly and competent waiter, was that they offered an appetizer of deep fried haggis balls. This means you can try one of the scariest dishes of all time in a form that's easy to get down, especially if you share the order with a group. A few bites of the deep-fried spiced organ meat and you can proudly respond, when inevitably you are asked, "Yes, I had haggis in Scotland. No big deal!" read more

This place is your quintessential American Route 66 diner style place, with all the old car signs and parts all over. I went for breakfast after a night out so I was pleased to go somewhere that was serving familiar hangover foods. Hash browns, eggs and the sort. I ordered the hash browns, which could have been McDonald's hash browns if I didn't know better, and then the omelet I ordered was completely flavorless. Really disappointing. It's the first time I've ever had to use hot sauce just to get some flavor. It's fairly obvious that it's not a Scottish pub from the outside, so hopefully not a lot of people make the mistake of coming here thinking that's what it is only to find an American style restaurant. It was nice on that day, but I wouldn't go back. read more

Its a shame that i couldnt rate this place better but alas it had too many things wrong with it. Straight off the bat we walked in with a big group and there was no visible person to seat us or visible area to go up to to wait so we milled around and someone came up to us and eventually got us sat downstairs. We ordered drinks with a variety of cocktails and such on offer, good variety at that. I went with a cider as most were horribly overpriced (N.B so was the cider, like 5 quid a pint!) We then went to order food and i thought i would play it safe with a burger with blue cheese. This came and honestly i could not taste the cheese, majorly overdone with the chilli sauce that was an addition to the burger. The burger itself was decent enough and the salad was ok with nice crispy chips on the side. They forgot my order of spicy chips instead of regular fries but it took so long to order i wasn't too fussed. On the plus side once the drinks arrived and our order was taken the food was along in double quick time! We were considering shots but our waitress didnt know what they had and constantly had to check with the bar staff about what she could and could not offer us so we jsut left it and went for the bill. It was they that we got the little surprise of the bottle of wine. It cost £13.50 for a bottle of middling wine that one of us ordered. Thats quite expensive for the wine that we got as you could buy it down the road for a fiver. This coupled with the other problems unfortunately drags this down to a two star. read more

The funniest part of this place is listening to a Scottish singer trying to cover American songs... priceless. Also, for some unknown reason the "New York" and "Manhattan" menu items were loaded with meat. Does anyone think of New York when they think of "American meat"?? Pretty much take an Applebees, add even more crap on the walls but with all British automobile memorabilia and put it in Scotland and this is what you would get... read more

The staff were very nice and attentive - shame the drinks ( flavorless and seemingly devoid of alcohol ) and food were not of the same quality. The food was greasy / and sloppily presented and disappointing. There are better options on the Royal Mile read more

Like Sarah Beth said below, "If you are American and on vacation, don't come here. That's like going to McDonald's in Paris instead of getting a baguette sandwich." So why did we go? We ended up here after asking the concierge at our hotel (a really nice hotel!) where to go. In fairness, we asked for a good/local meal, but didn't specify that it shouldn't be touristy. The decorations, the service, and the ambience were nothing to write home about. The location was fine (on the Royal Mile). The appetizer (bruschetta) was actually quite good. BUT the meal, itself, was a big letdown. The sides were plain bad--a miniature serving of coleslaw drenched in mayonnaise, and fries that had clearly been reheated from a freezer bag. Eat somewhere else. It doesn't matter that this place's prices are reasonable, since the food isn't worth it. read more

Eh. First place we ate for dinner. As an American, I'm not too happy with the American food they had. I ordered the tuna steak salad which tasted fine, not worth the price, and it was quite odd that there were just as many green beans as lettuce in it. The service was terrible, our poor waiter had at least 12 tables that I counted. We sat for 30 minutes before getting any water. Hopefully no one judges American food based on this restaurant. read more

There are lots of restaurants in Edinburgh on a similar vibe as the Filling Station, and to be perfectly honest, they are all better. It's a huge place and the memorabilia fills every inch of the walls. It's a nice enough place - clean and tidy, I mean - and the staff are nice. But it doesn't quite make up for what you get. The food can be quite greasy and I wouldn't trust the meat, to be perfectly honest. Yeah it's ok, but I would never go out of my way to come here. But if I was stuck for somewhere to go and happened to be in the area I would pop in. it's not all that bad. read more

OMG ! This place is a real disaster. The unexistent service is ridiculous. You ve to order yourself at the bar, and wait more than an half hour for an untasty cheeseburger pretentiously named lux !!! And the prices are on the range of mind. Forgot that awful place. It s just a scandalous tourist trap !!! Don t stop there you ll waste your money and your time. read more

See all

My B/F and I had a great time at Filling Station. Yes, it is very Americanized but it has a great menu with lots to choose from. Our waitress was from Canada and she was very nice and helpful. To be frank, her lack-of-a-European-accent made me assume she was American from the West Coast. I had some pasta which was pretty average but good. My B/F had a calzone he absolutely loved. I tried his and his main course was definitely better than mine. The decor of the place is very eclectic. The place is huge for great for groups. The service was quick and friendly as well. I guess you could say you've experienced better but honestly, when there are a lot of pubs on the street and what you want isn't a pub meal... this place is pretty good. read more

OK, so sometimes it's easy to just do something kinda familiar. We'd eaten at the Filling Station in Stirling and we were tired, so this worked for us. We all had the dinner special - appetizer & meal thing. They were ok. Now first of all, please don't advertise you are the "great American Highway" as you are not Route 66. And don't paint all your memorabilia red; this is considered a "hot" color and if you want people to hang around and drink, you don't paint & decorate in red, orange or yellow. AND, yes, we know the waitress was trying to be helpful, but you are a service industry. When a patron (that would be the person paying the bill) says they want an item, don't try to talk them into trying something else. The customer is always right; you are there to serve. If they ask, then answer, but don't try to influence over and over; it's very annoying. read more

I think this place has the best steaks in edinburgh . Nice place , American style furnished and very friendly staff. I wish I didnt find about this place in my last day ... Can't wait for the next time ! read more

The Filling Station - American Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

The staff were very nice, and try to help when they get the time, however this is a very busy place, so getting hold of a member of staff can take some time. Disabled access could be MUCH better, and even on the wettest and coldest of days, they do try and encourage wheelchair users to eat outside as the staff freely accepted that there wasn't much space. The fish is NOT fresh, but frozen, nothing better than what you could get in a supermarket but at a fraction of the cost. £12.25 for frozen fish and "fries" is just a bit extortionate. However my partner had a freshly made Pizza which she thoroughly enjoyed. The food can be a bit greasy, and while we were there, several customers had complained about the same thing. There does seem to be a drastic lack of management. I was determined not to sit outside in minus 1C, so when I asked to speak to a member of management about this, I was told one would be right with me. Still nothing after a 45 minute wait!!! There are far more accessible places, with better management, and far better food, even the chip shop opposite serves MUCH better fish and chips and at half the price. This is one place I won't be returning to in a hurry read more