A well-stocked gas station is an oasis in this city’s asphalt desert. This Santa Monica Chevron station takes it far beyond Slim Jims and stale sandwiches, centering on a full-service deli toasting crusty panini ($7.25-$7.95) layered with combinations such as pork ribs with chipotle pesto, corned beef with Swiss and artichoke with blue cheese, along with soups ($3.99), salads ($5.99-$7.99), Jamaican beef patties ($1.79) and samosas ($.50). For dessert, the candy racks are upgraded with a considerable collection of Ritter's German chocolate bars (chocolate-covered cornflakes, anyone?) that should help sedate you for whatever freeway slog lies ahead.
