Fairview Lounge

This place was quite a surprise! Stopped in the first time but only had time for a drink. The owner was very pleasant. We made it a point to return again for dinner. The owner remembered us! He is very genuine and treated us like old friends. Three in our party and all dishes were wonderful! I’d never had Peruvian food and I’m instantly a fan. Looking forward to going back.

While visiting in town I was looking for a local restraunt. I found the rating on this place and was in for a great surprise. When I walked in? It looked like a restraunt. The place is very organized and have a great selection of drinks. I was greeted by the owner Lorena who is also the cook. I had the papa rellena, full of flavor and just delicious. As my main dish I had the Seco de Carne. The dish is very huge, considering I ate the Papa Relleno. The place had a few locals come in and the owners knew everyone by name. I felt welcomed and part of the family. Highly recommend. Great people, food and reasonably priced. I left with a very happy belly.

Peruvian Food-​Lovers Rejoice!
We were tipped off by Peruvian friends about this place. I love Peruvian food. In the St. Louis area, I hit up Mango to get my fix. But the food here is equally excellent; some dishes are cheaper and the atmosphere is very unique. First of all, the restaurant is inside a typical rectangular-​shaped gas mart next to some gas pumps (On Google, it is called «Raqqa Food Mart» — probably an out-​dated business reference. Today it is still a Conoco gas station). On one end of the interior is the counter where you pay for your gas and cigarettes and an open kitchen, with occasional flames shooting up from the grill. The other end is a full bar, with around 10 beers on draft and many more in large gas-​station style refrigerators behind the bar lining the wall.
We came on a Saturday night. The place was quickly filling up with locals after 9 PM. A DJ was setting up for a night of dancing. I know for a fact that this is going to be the first and only gas station where I could get Peruvian dinner while listening to late 90’s R&B hits (50 Cent and Nelly galore) and watching people get down. It seems they always have music on the weekends and the genre is all over the place depending on which weekend you go.
Now the food. We ordered the traditional Peruvian fares — the fish ceviche, the anticuchos (beef heart on skewer) and the Papas a la Huancaina (potatoes with spicy yellow cream sauce). Everything was delicious! The skewers were tender; the ceviche tasted fresh and had nice citric balance. It wasn’t the best ceviche I ever had but the price was fantastic for the portion.
My only downside is the Pisco Sour. I don’t know how I feel about it… a bit water-​y. I’d say Mango has much better cocktails. Anyway, if Peruvian food is your thing, do come for a visit. You won’t be disappointed.
Oh and if you have no interest in Peruvian food, they also have fried chicken, cheese steak, and other «regular» bar food, and a shelf of Peruvian souvenirs.

The food here was awesome! Don’t let the gas station appearance scare you. The Peruvian salad and kabobs are a MUST. Live band when we went, over 200 beers offered and they invite you to walk to the back of the bar to pick out your brew, if that is your thing. It was unique! My only complaint was it was chilly every time someone opened the door. It’s small and you can’t sit away from the entrance. I had never had Peruvian food but this was such a treat! It’s a must try!!!

What a hidden gem in Fairview Heights. Skip all the chains. This is your new spot for lunch or dinner. While yes, it is located at a gas station and the inside is no frills, the food and service do the talking. We had chicken kabobs and chaufa camaron (shrimp and rice dish). Cannot wait to explore the menu even more. Do yourself a favor and check this place out. Support your local eateries.

Awesome locally owned Peruvian restaurant. The food is awesome and they have an extensive beer list of over 100 beers! The owner stopped by our table to talk to us and see how we heard about them. We will be back, this is our new favorite spot!

Fantastic find! We (a party of 4) shared an order of 2 chicken kebabs, the skewered beef hearts, the Peruvian Salad, and a large shareable fried seafood platter with Yucca Fries. All was VERY good. Bloody Mary’s were good too. WAY different food in an unusual setting!

Looks like your average gas station from the outside, but on the inside it’s a very hip bar and Peruvian restaurant. Beers of just about every kind on hand and the most delicious chicken kabobs I’ve ever tasted! The owners are lovely people and the bar tender was spot on all evening. Very diverse crowd, and on the night we went, a very bluesy gulf coast style band played some awesome tunes. We will definitely be back to this fine establishment!

Family owned and operated. Followed the reviews while on business and was really impressed by the service and especially the food! Abraham tasted us like we were in his home. Highly recommended!

Great food! Owners are there working and visiting. Not your usual chain. We had a great meal for 2and 2 bottles of pretty good wine for around a hundred bucks — will definitely come back!

Hidden Treasure right here in Fairview. Truly outstanding food and personal service.

The chicken kebabs were awesome, tender and we’ll seasoned. A hint of spice was noticeable and pleasing. Three come singly, so I recommend 2. The wife had Tacu, Tacu which is a bean, rice, and seasoned meat dish.
It’s an interesting location to have an eatery and bar in a gas station, but when we arrived there was a pleasing background of Latin music playing, the room is cozy and warm. Overall we enjoyed ourselves and plan to return to try new Peruvian dishes.

RARE GEM! This is the most unique gas station you’ll ever stop at for more than just gas, a snicker bar and Mt Dew. Inside you will find a Peruvian restaurant and bar that are amazing! They have over 100 beers to choose from and an extensive array of liquor. The atmosphere was very chill and relaxing. I ordered the Peruvian style kabobs and they were excellent! The chicken was grilled to perfection and the marinade on it was delicious.
I can’t wait to come back and explore more of the food menu and try a few more different craft beers.
If you are in the area this is one place that will not disappoint!!! Stop by and experience this one of kind gas station

I heard about this gas station/​restaurant that serves Peruvian food. After some thought, I decided to give it a «test-​run.» The drink selection was impressive and the seafood meal was outstanding. Abraham (owner) made me feel welcome like I’ve known him forever! I will definitely recommend to my friends!

Is it a gas station, bar, or restaurant? Yes, it is. The owner’s imagination has made this place unique and a place I’ll visit again. If they had hipsters in Fairview Heights, they would flock to it. Fortunately, it’s patronized by friendly locals and is quite welcoming despite the façade. The food was surprisingly good; the draft beer section solid; and the bottle beer selection extensive. I was very happy that I passed up the chain restaurants (i.e. Joe’s crab shack, red lobster, Houlihan’s, etc.) and stopped here. If you like good local food and are a bit adventurous, this is a definite must.

Great food great amaretto sour and great atmosphere what more do you want. So much better than the chain restaurants. We will be back and I am going to try there chicken gizzards

I was driving through St. Louis on a cross country trip from San Diego to Charleston, WV and was starving after checking into my hotel just outside St. Louis. My options were your typical chains — Hooters, Olive Garden, Five Guys, Taco Bell… Fairmont Lounge popped up on Unilocal with awesome reviews and words like gas station, Peruvian food, and beer — I was hooked! It really was a gas station! And the store was the restaurant/​bar area! There is a small part where cigarettes and lottery tickets can be bought. Another corner has food on display for take out. Tables and chairs dominate the open space with a small stage on one side for the live bands that play on the wknds. Small hookahs can be found in another section… and of course the small bar with a HUGE bottled beer selection and MANY beers on tap. Abraham is the owner with his lovely Peruvian wife, Lorena. They were both so welcoming! I told him I was starving and that I could put down food, ‘for a girl’. I ordered the grilled gizzards and peruvian salad and he hesitated bc it was a large amount of food but I was stubborn and insisted. The food arrived and I ended up sharing the gizzards with Jake, the friendly regular who was seated next to me. He had never had them grilled before and he liked it! The food was very tasty! The empanadas and beef dishes looked delicious — I snooped at the other people’s orders. I had 3 beers. And Abraham gave me 2 more beers to «try». My hotel was old and not suitable to «hang out» in so I spent a good few hours at the Fairmont Lounge chatting up the locals as well as Abraham. We talked about family, how we came to today, and the few Arabic words and foods I knew from my Egyptian friend. He spoke to my friend on the phone and chatted to her in Arabic. It was the best meal/​experience I had the entire road trip (San Diego to WV) It even trumped a fancy/​expensive fru-​fru Chef’s Tasting w/​a pairing I had the night before in Oklahoma City, which was a very beautiful restaurant with a hipster vibe, mediocre food but pretentious cooks/​owners who didn’t say a word to me while I sat at the Chef’s Counter (the seats that overlook the kitchen). Abraham and his wife make you feel welcome in their restaurant. They talk to you like an old friend and they have great food! I felt very much at home. If I didn’t have to leave so early the next morning, I would have stayed a few drinks longer just to chat more and see who else walked in through the door.
What a gem of a place in a sea of garbage chain restaurants. I will be coming back to kick it with Abraham over empanadas and beer.

Very nice place! Huge bear selection, friendly atmosphere. Owner is a really cool man!

This place was so awesome that I’m actually writing a Unilocal review for it. Oh sure I TELL places I’ll Unilocal them all the time… You’d be amazed at the free swag they toss your way if you say you’re a professional Unilocal reviewer. But this place was good enough to make me actually follow thru.
You will not find a finer example of authentic, local hospitality. My family and i are road tripping across the country and we were weary from a long day of traveling and skeptical of the whole bar/​gas station/​Peruvian food thing. Clichés about books and covers aside, if you have the opportunity to stop in to this place and you don’t, I feel safe in saying you’re an imbecile, and you probably hate America. Stoners… I know the nearby White Castle, Steak n Shake, and taco bell are calling to you. Resist the urge and go here instead! You won’t regret it.
We rolled in at around midnight and the kitchen was closed at 11. But the owner’s wife, Lorena, who also happens to be the cook, still whipped us up some fresh, bomb-​ass, Peruvian food. Best empanads I ever had. No bull. Aji de gallina was also off the chains. Everything gets made fresh right in front of you.
Meanwhile the bartender, Crystal, took the time to create a jalapeño margarita for me from scratch. I’m a bartender and this is a specialty of mine and one of my favorite drinks. Of course I felt like a hipster douche when I ordered it but she just smiled and said «let’s make it together». Teamwork, suckas!!! Five minutes later after she puréed some jalapeños i had one damn fine jalapeño marg in front of me.
HUGE selection of beer and spirits compared to most non-​specialty bars I’ve been to. AND CHEAP! I had coconut 1800 tequila and some sort of bottled beer with pickled chili pepper in it for like 8 bucks. AND we joined in with some of the locals for some kareoke.
Best part. At the end of the night, we were prepared to take a twenty dollar über back to our hotel. Crystal, the bartender, gave us a ride back to our hotel!!! No gimmicks, no random stops in some back alley. And most importantly, no one tried to take or sell our organs. She was just being an awesome person. I do not suggest you ask Crystal for a ride home every time you drink there. That would probably make you a dick. But I had to mention it just to illustrate how amazing an evening we had here, and how instrumental the staff was to that experience.
When we’re driving back across the country we’re making a special detour just to come back.

Here’s something I never expected to say in my life: you know that gas station/​tavern that also does your taxes sure has some tasty Peruvian food.
We’ve driven by a few times and chuckled about the bar/​gas station. I’d never seen anything like it. My wife and I aren’t really drinkers, so we didn’t think there was anything for us there. It was only after reading a few Unilocal reviews that we decided to go for the Peruvian food and to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
The establishment is clean and the staff extremely friendly, starting with the owner, Abraham. He talked to us about their extensive selection of tap beers and made recommendations for each of us that we both enjoyed (an Irish cider and a pale Guinness). The only comment I’d make about service is that it seems like they may need two servers, even on a slow night, because Abraham seemed to be a bit stretched going from cash register to bar to serving tables. But everyone was so nice and friendly that it wasn’t really an issue.
For the food, we got the empanadas, which were interesting. I forget what the meat mixture was, but I believe it had hamburger, tomatoes, raisins, and kalamata olives in them. The pastry was dusted with powdered sugar and served a lime. The blend of savory and sweet was fabulous. My wife got the aji pollina (dish names are from memory, so I apologize if I’m butchering them), which was shredded chicken and potatoes in a flavorful, slightly spicy sauce. I forget the name of mine, but it was prime rib meat with beans and an onion/​cilantro mixture. I hate onions, but they were sliced so thin and had a tangy lime flavor that I had to try them with the meat per Abraham’s suggestion. Would definitely get again, although I’d also want to get my own dish of aji pollina. There were a bunch of other interesting dishes on the menu that piqued my interest as well, so we’ll definitely be going back.
We’ll also be bringing our daughters next time (they’re at Grandpa’s tonight) because it felt like any other restaurant with a bar and their menu had options for our picky eater (fried chicken or hamburger) as well as our adventurous eater.
All in all, I’m glad we discovered this diamond in the rough and didn’t let the initial impression of gas station/​bar scare us off. Fairview Lounge may be popular for it’s cheap drinks, but I bet it won’t be long until they’re a destination for their Peruvian food alone.