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Cornelius News

Get gas and eat here: 28031

QT Kitchens have a variety of food options like the Chicken, Bacon & Ranch Flatbread ($3.49) and Classic Grilled Cheese ($1.99)

Feb. 12. Gas station food has come a long way.

QT Kitchens changed the local gas station eating scene  when the QuikTrip convenience station opened in September on Catawba Avenue just east of I-77. You can order in the store or via their app and your meal is made to order.

And now, longtime Cashion’s Quik Stop located diagonally across from QT, is taking the gas station grub scene to a higher level by adding a sit-down eatery North State BBQ, an offshoot of the Charlotte restaurant near North Lake Mall  that features classic NC BBQ smoked fresh daily and homemade Southern sides and salads.

Mike Davis of North State BBQ says the restaurant at Cashion’s will have eight tables inside and outside seating. Breakfast will be served staring at 6am daily, “serving homemade biscuits, fresh cracked eggs and more,” Davis says.

Will you still be able to get a hot dog and boiled peanuts at Cashion’s?

“Many of the favorites will stay, but some (soup, chili, etc.) will be replaced by North State BBQ’s offerings,” Davis said in an email.

Davis says North State BBQ is hiring experienced breakfast crew members, and the opening is planned for late January.

Cornelius Today took a look at five gas stations in town to see what you can grab for lunch if you’re out filling up your vehicle’s tank. Staff at each were friendly and helpful, and the food areas were clean and neat.

7-Eleven

If you really want lunch, you’ll probably leave this place hungry. The 7-Eleven on West Catawba Avenue has a variety of regular and flavored coffees and fountain drinks, along with packaged doughnuts or snacks, but no hot food. You won’t find the exclusive brand Slurpee frozen carbonated beverage at this store.

The Shop Rite Market at BP has an assortment of pre-packaged food

The BP station

The Shop Rite Market at the BP station at Hwy. 21 and Westmoreland Road has an assortment of pre-packaged sandwiches and snacks, but no hot food. Plenty of coffee and soft drink choices are available.

Circle K

Circle K on West Catawba has an all-beef Angus hot dog, a classic hot dog (smaller and cheaper), a gouda smoked sausage, honey mesquite sausage and sweet and spicy sausage. Sausages come with pretzel rolls, the hot dogs with potato buns and condiments include coleslaw, sauerkraut, relish, jalapenos, pickles, onions, salsa and banana peppers. We went with the recommended, but only if you like gouda, gouda sausage. Side options a la carte included boiled peanuts, nachos with cheese, breakfast and other burritos, hummus, string cheese and apples, oranges and bananas. If you have a sweet tooth, there’s an appealing array of cookies, danish and doughnuts.

Beverage choices abound in flavored and regular coffee, hot chocolate, cold brew and cappuccino or cold soft drinks.

You can order inside QuikTrip or via their app

QuikTrip

QT Kitchens makes your selection to order in the kitchen and you can customize any offering. And there’s a lot of offerings. Staff recommendations include the pizzas, flat breads and grilled cheese sandwiches. We picked a chicken, bacon and ranch flatbread and the grilled cheese with ham. About that grilled cheese: fresh bread comes in daily, the bread is buttered for the grill and two kinds of cheese are used. Kitchens offers premium coffees, lattes, cocoa, frappes, milk shakes, toasted croissant sandwiches, egg rolls, biscuits, breakfast scramble, soft pretzels. The store sells apples and oranges, pickles, hard-boiled eggs, single serving packages of fruit salad, hummus and yogurt and more.

Cashion’s Quik Stop is the go-to place for a roller-grilled frankfurter

Cashion’s

We have to admit, the Cashion’s at Hwy. 21 and Catawba Avenue is our go-to place for a roller-grilled frankfurter—and gasoline. Cashion’s has a long history of giving back to the community, most recently to the planned Cain Center for the Arts. But the grilled dogs are positively yummy and hit the proverbial spot like Nathan himself. And the price is right: $1.50.