THAT’S MONDAY ON "LIVE IN THE
D."
I CAN’T WAIT.
>> Jason: THE GAS STATION
MIGHT NOT BE YOUR TYPICAL GO-TO
SPOT FOR A DELICIOUS MEAL.
BUT THE LOCAL CHEF WE’RE TALKING
ABOUT NOW MIGHT CHANGE YOUR
OPINION ON THAT
>> Tati: THAT’S RIGHT, HE’S
DISHING UP TOWERING SANDWICHES
AND MORE TO FILL YOU UP AS YOU
FUEL UP YOUR CAR.
MICHELLE OLIVER TAKES US TO DINE
IN THE D IN LIVONIA.
>> Michelle: MOUTH-WATERING
BURGERS AND CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN
SANDWICHES LIKE THESE ARE NOT
WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY EXPECT
TO FIND AT A GAS STATION.
NEITHER IS A CHEF WITH PLENTY OF
FINE DINING EXPERIENCE.
>> WE KNEW THAT WE COULD MAKE
REALLY GOOD FOOD OUT OF A GAS
STATION, AND WE WEREN’T GOING TO
LET THAT STOP US.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FILET
MIGNON OR A NEW YORK STRIP
STEAK.
YOU CAN HAVE GREAT FOOD, SIMPLE
FOOD THAT’S PREPARED WITH CARE.
MAKING REALLY GOOD FOOD FABLE TO
ANYBODY.
>> Michelle: IT ALL STARTED
FILLING UP THE TANK OF HIS FOOD
TRUCK AND HAVING A CONVERSATION
WITH THE OWNERS OF THE GAS
STATION.
>> I HAVE KNOWN THEM SINCE I WAS
12 OR 13.
THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE FOOD
TRUCK, HOW BUSINESS IS ON A FOOD
TRUCK COMPARED TO A RESTAURANT.
THEY’RE LIKE, OH, YEAH, LET ME
SHOW YOU SOMETHING BACK HERE
REALLY QUICK.
WE CAME BACK HERE, AND THIS WAS
BEING USED AS A STORAGE UNIT.
AND THEY’RE LIKE, DO YOU THINK
WE COULD PUT A RESTAURANT HERE?
>> Michelle: THE SPACE WAS BIG
ENOUGH, SO THEY GAVE IT A SHOT.
THE GRILL BEGAN IN APRIL 2021.
>> MY PARTNER’S WIFE, HE DOESN’T
LIKE TO GIVE HER CREDIT THAT
OFTEN.
SHE’S THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH
THE NAME PUMP FIVE GRILL.
IT SEEMED FUNCTIONAL.
THE RESTAURANT IS ON 5 MILE, OR
PUMP 5.
>> THEY KEPT THEIR MENU SMALL SO
THEY COULD GET CREATIVE WITH
THEIR SPECIALS.
>> WE WANTED REALLY TO HAVE
FLEXIBILITY AND WE WANTED
EVERYTHING TO BE FRESH.
ONE OF THE FUNNIEST SPECIALS I
HAVE HAD IS YEMENI HOT CHICKEN
SANDWICH.
IT BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO
THAT.
>> WELL, THIS LOOKS AMAZING.
LET’S GET INTO THE MENU.
WE’RE GOING TO START WITH THEIR
SIZE.
THESE ARE THEIR PUMP FRIES AND
THEY ARE FRESHLY FRIED, TOSSED
IN THIS POWDERED CHEESE, AND
IT’S TOPPED WITH THEIR PUMP
SAUCE, GIVING IT KIND OF A SWEET
SMOKY TASTE, AS WELL AS BEEF
BACON AND FRESH GREEN ONIONS.
MOVING ON THE THEIR ENTREES FOR
BREAKFAST, THEY HAVE THIS
MAPLE-BACON FRIED CHICKEN.
THIS IS ONE OF THE SPECIALS THEY
DO, SO SOMETIMES THEY WILL
CHANGE THIS UP ON THE MENU.
IT COMES WITH A HASH BROWN
PATTY, AN EGG AND BACON PATTY,
PLUS IT GETS THEIR FRIED CHICKEN
AND IT’S ALL DRIZZLED IN THIS
ROASTED JALAPENO MAPLE SYRUP.
FOR LUNCH YOU CAN TRY THIS FRIED
CHICKEN CLUB WRAP, SO THIS ONE
HAS FRIED CHICKEN IN IT AS WELL
AS THEIR PUMP SAUCE, LETTUCE,
TOMATOES, BACON, SHREDDED
CHEESE, AND IT’S ALL WRAPPED IN
A TORTILLA.
IF YOU’RE FAN OF CHICKEN
TENDERS, YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT
THESE PUMPED UP CHICKEN TENDERS.
THEY ARE FRESHLY BATTERED AND
FRIED,S TOED IN THAT CHEESE
POWDER.
IT COMES TOPPED WITH THEIR PUMP
SAUCE, THE BEEF BACON AND FRESH
GREEN ONIONS.
WITH THIS METRO BURGER.
SO IT’S BLACK ANGUS BEEF TOPPED
WITH MELTED AMERICAN CHEESE, AND
THEN ONION JAM.
DELICIOUS.
AND IT ALSO COMES WITH PICKLES,
LETTUCE, TOMATO AND THEIR PUMP
SAUCE.
AND FINALLY, THEIR MOST POPULAR
SANDWICH, THE FRIED CHICKEN
SANDWICH.
SO THIS ONE ACTUALLY USES A
BONELESS CHICKEN SIDE GIVING IT
SOMICS THAT JUICINESS, AND IT’S
FRESHLY BATTERED AND FRIED,
TOPPED WITH PICKLES, LETTUCE,
AND THEIR NUMBER-FIVE SAUCE,
WHICH IS THEIR HOMEMADE CILANTRO
JALAPENO RANCH.
>> Tati: THEY HAD ME AT
"CILANTRO JALAPENO RANCH."
THAT SOUNDS AMAZING.
ESO WE HAVE SOME FOOD HERE FROM
THE GRILL.
THIS IS A CHICKEN THIGH.
THERE’S MORE FLAVOR, MORE FAT
THERE.
THE TEXTURE OF THE MEAT IS A
LITTLE -- I LIKE THIS.
>> Jason: I LIKE DARK MEAT.
>> HOW DO I MAKE THIS TASTE
GOOD.
THUMBS-UP?
>> Rhonda: THAT LOOK LIKE A
WHOLE CHICKEN TENDER THERE.
>> Jason: IT’S VERY TASTY
>> Rhonda: TASTY.
THUMBS-UP.
AND THESE LOOK GOOD, AND THEY
SMELL AMAZING.
I MEAN, YOU JUST CAN’T DENY
THAT.
PUMP FIVE GRILL ALSO HAS SEATING
OUTDOORS IN CASE YOU WANT TO
DINE THERE AND HANG OUT A LITTLE
BIT.
THEY SET UP PICNIC TABLES NEXT
TO THE GAS STATION, AND THEY
ALSO DO DELIVERY THROUGH DOOR
DASH.
PUMP FIVE GRILL IS LOCATED
INSIDE THE MOBIL GAS STATION ON
THE CORNER OF 5 MILE AND MIDDLE
BELT.
GOOD?
>> Jason: UH-HUH
>> Tati: ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW
WHEN JASON QUIET, THAT MEANS THE
FOOD IS GOOD.
IF YOU LOVE ALL THINGS FOODIE
RELATED IN METRO DETROIT, AND
YOU WANT RESTAURANT
RECOMMENDATIONS AND
BEHIND-THE-SCENES CHATS WITH
FELLOW FOODIES, SIGN UP FOR THE
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AND IT’S SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR
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SIGN UP LOOK FOR THE NEWSLETTER
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WHILE ONLINE, JOIN OUR DINE IN
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THAT WAY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN
THE KNOW FOR WHERE THE BEST FOOD
IN DETROIT IS, AND LEAVE
MICHELLE YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
YOU NEVER KNOW, SHE MIGHT PICK
YOU UP ON YOUR NEW FAVORITE