Snacks N'At: Double Wide Grill

There's no shame in it — sooner or later, we all eat “gas-station food.” On the run, time just to fill up and grab something quick.

At the Double Wide Grill, gas-station food is premium all the way. We're talking a brie, apple and walnut omelet ($9.79) — made with Granny Smith apples, a hint of cinnamon and sugar, served with rosemary and sea-salt home fries.

We're talking “we use only organic, cage-free eggs with no added hormones.”

We're talking salmon pastrami Benedict ($10.99) — peppery salmon pastrami on two English muffins with poached eggs, cooked spinach, topped with green chile hollandaise sauce.

We're talking seitan wings, made of wheat-protein cubes, meat-free ($10.29 full order, $5.89 half), vegan South-of-the-Border seitan and tofu breakfast wrap, served with two pieces of lentil sausage ($9.29).

Indeed, at the Double Wide diners can fill up on regular (carnivore) or unleaded (vegetarian).

While many places might slap a frozen veggie burger on the grill (covered in hamburger grease?) and call it good, the Double Wide works hard for its non-meat crowd. And, though it might sound weird, the Double Wide's lentil burger is one of the best non-meat patties around.

There are no Goobers in a kitchen that makes its own seitan (a meat substitute), for the likes of vegan wings and pulled seitan pork.

As its website boasts, “The Double Wide Grill is the only South Side restaurant that serves extensive beef and pork Bar-B-Que alongside vegetarian and vegan options.”

Owners Scott Kramer and Steve Zumoff have expanded beyond their huge footprint on East Carson — a second Double Wide is in Adams, with a third opening last month in North Huntingdon. The South Side location is in a former gas station, while the Adams restaurant was built to look like a retro gas station/diner and the North Huntingdon location is in the former Teddy's Restaurant on Route 30. It was renovated over the summer and includes a garage-bay door.

Kramer and Zumoff also run South Side staples the Beehive Coffee Shop, Tiki Lounge, Lava Lounge and Rowdy Buck.

The Double Wide is a gimmicky theme that actually works. The decor is blue-collar clever, with spark plugs, oil cans, license plates, tires and old gas signs used decoratively.

Virgin olive oil has replaced 10W-40 in the converted gas station on the South Side, where outdoor seating is set up in the ol' pump area. Indoor booths and tables are where oil changes and brake jobs were once done. And a bar is set up in the former waiting room.

With a huge menu, this is a splitters' paradise. All three locations serve the same menu.

And there are plenty of specials. Tuesdays, it's all-you-can-eat ribs for $14.95; boneless wings, 35 cents each, on Wednesdays. The Adams location has half-price appetizers for happy hour.

Weekend brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the South Side and Adams spots, with North Huntingdon to be added later.

Six words: Super-spicy, cheesy, chewy, molten potatoes. This equivalent of nachos with potatoes instead of chips goes for $6.99, and, along with a Blood Mary pint ($6.50), will kick start your weekend — if you don't mind a frowny face text from your nutritionist.

If you want to toe the cholesterol line, there are plenty of healthy options — although the Trucker Breakfast ($8.29) — two eggs, choice of sausage, bacon, Canadian bacon or veggie sausage, rosemary and sea-salt home fries and toast or cornbread — is not at the top of that list.

The South Side location also gets a big tails-up, as the Double Wide has a dog-friendly section of its patio — and a dog menu. Yes, there are even vegetarian selections for culturally conscious canines.

The Double Wide locations at 2339 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-390-1111, and Adams Shoppes, Adams, 724-553-5212, are open daily at 11 a.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; closing times vary from 9 p.m. to midnight. The North Huntingdon location, 8695 Route 30, 724-863-8181, is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays to Sundays. Co-owner Steve Zumoff expects it to start opening at 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays for brunch and 11 a.m. weekdays in the next couple of weeks, then, in January, start opening at 7 a.m. weekdays for breakfast. Details: doublewidegrill.com

Tom Scanlon is a contributing

writer for Trib Total Media.