When I had my new pilot’s license years ago, a fun adventure was the “hundred-dollar hamburger”. I’d rent a Cessna with friends and fly to some tiny airstrip far away. In the little café, we would savor juicy burgers and piles of fries, then fly home a hundred dollars lighter.
Today, you’ll charter jets or prop planes to go skiing, to get to a yacht or to visit a faraway city. But you can enjoy a flight with friends (birthday? anniversary?) to a great restaurant and then return home. Think of it as an airborne Uber.
What you need to know is that there are an amazing number of “fly-in” restaurants at airports nationwide. Taxi right up to the restaurant, and savor not just a burger, but escargot de Bourgogne or coq au vin. There’s even a fly-in winery with a tasting room.
Here’s a look:
Le Relais
(Louisville, Kentucky): In the historic terminal at Bowman Field, start with their incredible wine list, move to chili calamari and then herb-encrusted rack of lamb.
Holman’s Table
(St Paul, Minnesota): Located in the old St. Paul terminal building, the so-called $300 Burger (it’s actually $28) features wagyu beef, Gruyère and madeira truffle demi with foie gras butter. Pilot friends say the dry-aged pork ribeye is worth the flight alone
Halter Ranch Winery
(Paso Robles, California): The only fly-in winery and vineyard in the world, it offers delightful selections from cabernets to malbecs to olive oil. Take a case or two home and enjoy lunch overlooking the vineyard.
Mesa Grill
(Sedona, Arizona): Focused on Southwestern flavors, try the blackened salmon or the prickly pear BBQ ribs. Brunch includes Sedona Red Rock Benedict on homemade cornbread with chipotle hollandaise.
Sunshine Tailwinds
(Las Vegas, Nevada): A classic airport diner at the North Vegas Airport, this casual eatery has plane models hanging from the ceiling and aviation art on the walls. Fab omelets with hash browns—don’t miss the chili for lunch.
Airport in the Sky Restaurant
(Catalina Island, California): Built atop Catalina Island during WWII, the casual restaurant is popular. Don’t leave without trying a bison burger or buffalo tacos. Many pilots fly in just for the famous Killer Cookies.
Chris Caswell is an award-winning writer and the former editor of several yachting magazines. He has appeared on Oprah as a boating lifestyle expert and hosted the Marine Voyager series on the Speed Channel.
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