DINING OUT
6 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Sundays.
Toasted sandwiches and fltbreads, $2.49-$3.99; personal pizzas, $4.99; soft pretzels, $2.49; kolaches, $1.99; frozen treats, $1.29-$3.49; coffee drinks, $1.29-$3.49.
4495 S. Cobb Drive, Smyrna. 678-556-0646. quiktrip.com/QT-Food.
Want to grab some made-to-order food, specialty coffee or frozen treats at a filling station? QuikTrip thinks you do. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based gasoline and convenience chain recently launched QT Kitchens in most of its metro Atlanta stores. The new or retro-fitted full-service counters are open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, serving the likes of personal pizzas, flatbreads and sandwiches.
The look: One of the newest opened last week on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna. Basically a fast casual concept at the center of a bright and shiny space filled with shelves and coolers stocked with snacks and drinks, the high-tech setup features touch screens for ordering, and a crew of cooks and baristas working the open kitchen.
The scene: At the grand opening, there were plenty of employees on hand eager to explain the menu and the ordering system, which produces a ticket you take to the check-out counter after you get your food and drink. Wait times between order and pick-up appeared to be a quick three to four minutes.
The food: The "made-fresh-to-order" items on the new menu are put together with products delivered daily from the QT bakery and commissary in Ellenwood, south of Atlanta. Among them, toasted chicken and bacon flatbread with melted cheddar and Swiss cheese and ranch dressing ($3.99), a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on toasted sourdough bread ($3.99), and Parmesan or cinnamon sugar soft pretzels ($2.99) with cheese, marinara or icing for dipping. Of course, kolaches ($1.99) remain a favorite. The Czech-Oklahoma-Texas delicacy is a sweet dough pastry wrap with fillings such as sausage.
The drinks: Coffee made from a Central American espresso oro blend goes into Americano, latte, cappuccino and mocha drinks ($2.79-$3.29) and espresso shots ($1.29-$1.89).
The extras: On the frozen treats menu, find the QT Twister ($2.49-$3.29), chocolate or vanilla soft serve ice cream blended with candies and other flavors, plus cones ($1.29) and shakes ($3.49).
