Airport food & restaurants...

CJones

CJones

Final Approach
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Mar 14, 2005
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uHaveNoIdea
Being the Food Network geek that I am, I just finished watching Alton Brown's latest series titled "Feasting on Asphalt". The premise for the series was to investigate the many forms and history of "road food" while traveling across the country from South Carolina to California. If you enjoy seeing the history and culture behind the many different forms of food that are spread across the country, you would LOVE the show - and if you know Alton Brown, he makes things VERY interesting along the way.

ANYWHO... After watching his shows investigating 'road food', I thought it would be interesting to check out the different forms of 'airport food' across the country. I know that the idea of on-field restaurants is slowly fading away, but there has to be some out-of-the way places that still have Mom-and-Pop type greasy spoons left out there. So where are they!? I would like to compile a list and hopefully *someday* take out on a great adventure myself and check out the many different forms of 'airport food'. I think I could even open the door to allow restaurants that are near an airport and still have an aviation 'feel' to them.

So... Let's go folks... Where should I be sure to visit on my cross-country endeavour to investigate Airport Food?

-Chris
 
Raton, NM. Fern and Keith are amazing people, and they can make you a burger right there on the field.

Amazing.
 
Best: Kimball's at Jaffrey/Silver Ranch Airport, NH (ice cream, yum!)
Worst: Whatever that place was at Topeka-Billard, KS, oh gawd that was awful.

--Kath
*drooools over Alton Brown...* :)
 
Just fly to 6Y9. Land on the grass. Jump out of your plane. You have two choices.
 
Chris, we should go to Estherville sometime. While it isnt true "airport" food, we can run into town and have some pizza from my dads place. Best you'll ever have, I promise.
 
tonycondon said:
Chris, we should go to Estherville sometime. While it isnt true "airport" food, we can run into town and have some pizza from my dads place. Best you'll ever have, I promise.
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It is pretty good.

Hot waitress too, although she's a B*@#*
 
tonycondon said:
was it my sister that waited on us?
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haha, no. that one chick that was ****ed because you didn't have to pay for the food.

you said she was dating some stoner...typical of most good looking girls.
 
I happened to have breakfast this morning at KFCH. It was interesting...for a whole bunch of reasons. It's not so much a greasy spoon anymore, but if you walked in wearing oily coveralls no one would mind. Great blue collar atmosphere and the restaurant is located in the original 1930s Deco style terminal. The owner/operator is a lady who had an aprt restaurant in NH, where she's from.
 
Lake Lawn Lodge, while it doesn't have an actual on field restaurant, is across the street from a resort. There are at least two restaurants in the resort I believe.

CO9 has a diner type restaurant.

MTO has a restaurant diner/steak house. I had breakfast there today. No complaints.


DHT Dalhart TX. When I was there in 2001, had a diner in a trailer. Had the big windows, almost looked like a train car.
 
You know, I always forget to mention it because it's at my home field and thus doesn't qualify for $100 burgers for me, but...

The Jet Room at KMSN is one of the best airport restaurants I've ever been to. It overlooks the ramp and the rest of the field. There are many little aviation history pieces around, and the menu is entirely comprised of aviation-themed dish names. For instance, a grilled cheese sandwich is a "Cub" (Cubs are kinda cheese-colored aren't they?) while the grilled ham and cheese is the "Super Cub." One of my favorites is the Tri-Pacer, a triple-decker turkey club sandwich. Want roast beef? Ask for the "Beef-52." :)

The owners of the Jet Room, Pat and Pam O'Malley, ran the extremely popular O'Malley's Farm Cafe in Waunakee for quite a few years, and they own a Piper Colt and a really old Cherokee that still has the classic panel.

Another must-stop is Pilot Pete's in Schaumburg. It's about as high-class of an airport restaurant as I've ever seen. Impressive.
 
Hi All:

Goodland, Kansas.

Park plane and walk to restaurant. Excellent Sunday breakfast.

Hutchinson, Kansas.

In airport terminal. Excellent buffet and fried chicken.

Terry :yes:
 
mdreger said:
Lake Lawn Lodge, while it doesn't have an actual on field restaurant, is across the street from a resort. There are at least two restaurants in the resort I believe.
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Sure, if you don't mind landing on a closed runway and payiny 28 bucks for brunch. :eek: :hairraise:
 
Perfect Landing at Centennial Airport, Denver (APA).

It's not just for pilots. The food and facility are so good, local business breakfasts and lunches take place every weekday and the weekends are often packed with family get-togethers.
 
Boliver, MO.
Park the plane and you can sit inside and watch the runway or outside. GREAT Sunday buffet for 6.00 and nice people.

Mark B.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Perfect Landing at Centennial Airport, Denver (APA).
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I second Perfect Landing. Good food, nice view of the runways and the mountains. Besides, it's within walking distance of work. :)
 
Sky Manor (N40), Pittstown, NJ.

Best burgers to be found at any airport. Critique other pilot's landings while eating!
 
N2212R said:
Sure, if you don't mind landing on a closed runway and payiny 28 bucks for brunch. :eek: :hairraise:
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I have a feeling the closed runway is because they got tired of paying too much for insurance, but still some fed dude might camp out there one weekend for grins.
 
This is GREAT folks!! Keep 'em coming! Looks like my trek across the country to try the best/most unique airport food may take more than a weekend. :D

THANKS!!

-Chris
 
And how on earth are we forgetting Lambert's Cafe at SIKeston, MO? It's not on the field, but if you call they'll send a van, sneak you in the back way and give you a table ahead of everyone in line, and try their darndest to put you over gross. Plus, airborne food is just too fun. :D
 
N2212R said:
Sure, if you don't mind landing on a closed runway :eek: :hairraise:
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Ed,
Where are you getting that? C59 is not NOTAMed clased as far as I can determine, except for night ops. Admittedly, the surface is in only fair condition, but there's still less grass there than you have at 6Y9!:rofl:
 
Some of my favorites:

C09 (Morris, IL) has a great cafe on the field with a nice brunch. Not high class, but not a dive.

1C5 (Bolingbrook's (IL) Clow International) has Charlie's on the field. It's undergone a couple of ownership changes over the last few years and now the main cook is a part owner. Food and service have improved. Breakfast and lunch and a Friday night fish fry.

MIE (Muncie, IN) has Vince's on the field. A very nice high class joint with a nice wine selection for the passengers.

APC (Napa County, CA) has Johnny's on the field, a nice steak place. Overlooking all the G-V's on the ramp :^)

Airports with nearby (walking distance) restaurants:
PBH (Price County, Phillips, WI) has a nice restaurant across the highway for sandwichs, burgers, etc.

WYV (Watertown, WI) has Steakfire, Perkins, and Culvers a short walk away. I'm partial to Steakfire's grill-your-own steaks, myself.

EYE (Eagle Creek, Indianapolis, IN) has Rick's Boatyard Cafe (?) across the street. Another very nice restaurant with a good seafood selection.

MWC (Timmerman, Milwaukee, WI) has El Greco, a 24-hour Greek/Italian/American restaurant and bakery with an extensive menu a little way away. It's walkable, but the courtesy car makes it easier.
 
gprellwitz said:
Ed,
Where are you getting that? C59 is not NOTAMed clased as far as I can determine, except for night ops. Admittedly, the surface is in only fair condition, but there's still less grass there than you have at 6Y9!:rofl:
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Operational restrictions: RY 18/36 CLSD 15 NOV TO 31 MAR.

It was NOTAMed closed the last time we looked and I don't think that was before March 31.

They must have sprung for the insurance.
 
mikea said:
Operational restrictions: RY 18/36 CLSD 15 NOV TO 31 MAR.

It was NOTAMed closed the last time we looked and I don't think that was before March 31.

They must have sprung for the insurance.
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Yeah, I was about to edit my original posting to note the winter closure. I presume they don't plow it. We were going to go up there a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't closed at that time, either. And some friends went there a month or so ago with no problem. Sounds like you were just unlucky when you tried. I wonder if they mow the runway? There are definitely weeds there!
 
Lincoln, MO (0R2): Papa Joe's, just land on the grass field (18/36), hop out, walk a block and a half to US 65, have breakfast.

Some not so good news: M17's FBO is changing hands shortly; don't know all the details, but hopefully "The Plane Cafe" will keep operating. So for a couple/three weeks, Bolivar, MO may not be able to feed y'all. :(

Again, I think the cafe will reopen...

Jim
 
gprellwitz said:
C09 (Morris, IL) has a great cafe on the field with a nice brunch. Not high class, but not a dive.
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Good call.

MIE (Muncie, IN) has Vince's on the field. A very nice high class joint with a nice wine selection for the passengers.
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Oooh... Vince's is VERY nice. Another good call.

WYV (Watertown, WI) has Steakfire, Perkins, and Culvers a short walk away. I'm partial to Steakfire's grill-your-own steaks, myself.
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That'd be RYV for Watertown. As in "on the Rock RYVer." :rofl: That's the closest I can tell anyway, the on-field NDB is also RYV and is the Rock River NDB, so...

MWC (Timmerman, Milwaukee, WI) has El Greco, a 24-hour Greek/Italian/American restaurant and bakery with an extensive menu a little way away. It's walkable, but the courtesy car makes it easier.
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Ah, come on... It's all of maybe a block. Of course, the courtesy car WILL make it one heckuva lot easier to walk back after they stuff you silly!
 
midlifeflyer said:
Perfect Landing at Centennial Airport, Denver (APA).

It's not just for pilots. The food and facility are so good, local business breakfasts and lunches take place every weekday and the weekends are often packed with family get-togethers.
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That's the truth! Greeley, GXY, is pretty good too, but not like the Perfect Landing.
 
I'll second Sky Manor in NJ. Also, Antino's at Millville, NJ (KMIV)

Can we make this a sticky so we don't need the $100 hamburger site anymore?
 
KNEW had a great affordable buffet.

CYHM has a Tim Horton's on the ramp.

KHWV has a nice small diner.

6B6 has Nancy's Airfield

Ok, Now I am getting hungry!!!
 
flyingcheesehead said:
That'd be RYV for Watertown. As in "on the Rock RYVer." :rofl: That's the closest I can tell anyway, the on-field NDB is also RYV and is the Rock River NDB, so...
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That's what I get for doing it from memory and not double checking. Sorry!
flyingcheesehead said:
Ah, come on... [El Greco is] all of maybe a block. Of course, the courtesy car WILL make it one heckuva lot easier to walk back after they stuff you silly!
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I did it with the courtesy car on my instrument 250NM. I seem to recall that there was no sidewalk and it was a somewhat busy street. But you're right, I'd have no problem walking it, except during the winter with snow banks.
 
Ponca City, OK (PNC) Enrique's Mexican resturant. Good stuff! My neighbor & I usually go the 1st weekend of the month and have breakfast with the EAA
chapter. $5.00 gets you a good breakfast and a chance to see 100 or more a/c on a good day. Go play for a while, then go back for lunch. Fun Fun:yes: :goofy:
 
Small town Mom and Pop restaurants at Airports in Michigan with good food:
Charlies's Place at Harrieta/Bunch's Half Acre 4Y9
KJ's at Mecosta 27C
The Paddle Inn at Mio 51M
Gabby's Cafe at Flushing Dalton 3DA
Snack shack in the Moorestown Mall- Moorestown 6Y0

Coyles Restaurant is sort of fancy and is about one block walk from Houghton Height's 5Y2
The best restaurant in Mi is Krysziak's in Bay City 3CM. It is too far to walk to but if you call they will pick you up. They have a great lunch buffet for about $6.00. The restaurant is Polish and the owner is a pilot. Most of the walls have murals of Poland except for the one wall with Dom's flying stuff on it.
Soo/Sanderson field ANJ has some good restaurant's --Abner's is at the east end of the field. The Antler's is across town and takes a taxi to get there (taxi's are cheap in the Soo) The Antler's has been around for a long long time and is decorated with all kinds of dead animals and stuff that was traded by trappers and such for food and liquor. During Prohibition it became an Ice Cream shop but still sold alcohol out of the basement.

Barb
 
Outside of Michigan

In Idaho:
Smiley Creek U87 Nice place just west of the strip
Sulphur Creek ID74 No menu just pay your money and get a big plate of food. Breakfast was good just watch your weight and balance.
Big Creek U60 Again, no menu, just pay your money and prepare to eat, family style (pass the potatoes)

Nevada:
Jackpot 06U There are a couple of restaurants at the Casinos across the street from the airport

Alaska:
Talketna PATK The road house in downtown Talketna, good food, good conversation.
Homer PAHO Ci Ci's on the field. I her she can be kind of crusty but the food is good and she seemed nice enough to me.
Bettles PABT Restaurant on the field. Best food in 100 miles, only food in 100 miles :D

Massachusetts
Minuteman/Stow 6B6 has a nice looking restaurant on the field

New Jersey
Flying W Airport N14 has a restaurant and snack shack on the field, and an airplane shaped swimming pool

Missouri
Twin Oaks 08MO Stop in and say HI to Diana. I was hoping to con a peanut butter sandwich out of her and ended up with Ham, potatoes and salad. mmm, mmm, good.

Barb
 
Downwind Restaurant at PDK has some pretty good grub in a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the runways.
 
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