A Culinary Tour of American Gas Stations

"It’s not every day that you can go to a wine tasting within a gas station. But at one gas station in Round Rock, Texas, both wine and mimosa tastings are on offer, along with a sit-down restaurant not far from the pumps. Zahir Walji dreamed up High Country Market Bistro & GastroPub as a place where Texans could stop for a good meal (think organic hamburgers and Napoli-style pizza) during road trips. So he set up shop inside an Exxon gas station, complete with a convenience store. The restaurant remains phenomenal, but the convenience store is gone. In its place is one of the most comprehensive booze selections in the area, with more than 400 different varieties of beer, from local selections on tap to lesser-known porters. High Country is also a regular on all the lists of best places to drink wine in the greater Austin area. The atmosphere is as great as the beer and wine selection. There’s live music on the porch, a garden for kids to play in, and even an attached sports bar. For those who want a more typical fill-up, the gas pumps are still operational." - ATLAS_OBSCURA