It depends on where you are in the country. I'd never eat gas station food near me, but there are small towns you can pass through where there's no Mcbeetus for 50+ miles in any direction and the gas station may be literally the only place to get anything at all after 9pm. Now to be fair, these places usually serve much tastier fare than a 7/11. The place in the story is almost certainly not such a place as he mentions a microwave and hot dog roller. The places I'm referring to have actual deep fryers and griddles. Still not a "Dining Establishment" though, Some of them have some patio furniture outside, but I'm not sure if I've ever seen someone sit in it.