Finding good food on the open road can sometimes be a challenge. Some road-weary travelers look to where big rigs are parked to judge whether a place offers good food.
The October issue of Restaurant Hospitality features the results of a survey conducted by the publication and the Beef Industry Council. The survey asked 5,000 truck drivers to name their favorite truck stops and why they like them.Petro, based in El Paso, Tex., was named the truck stop chain that served the best food. The Giant Travel Center in Gallup, N.M., was named the favorite independent truck stop. Giant has two restaurants, a shopping mall and a professional drivers' center including shower facilities, complete laundry services, a weather information center and a 24-hour movie theater.
But, "It's our menu that keeps people coming back," said the food service manager of Giant. "Our passion for quality food is reflected in our daily fresh fruit buffet, hand-cut-on-the-premises lean beef and assorted pies made by our three full-time bakers."
Other top-rated truck stop restaurants according to the survey are Drivers Travelmart in Anna, Texas; Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa; Dixie Trucker Home in McLean, Ill.; Gaspers in Kindgom City, Missouri; North 40 Truck Stop in Sugartree, Tenn.; Diamond J's in Brookville, Pa.; and Green Shingle in Fairview, Pa.
For a list of truckers' favorite truck stop restaurants, call the Beef Industry Council at 1-800-922-2372.