Aviation Restaurants

[ricusa]

A relative in Texas told me most of the restaurants on Tulio's list are closed or out of business. I wanted to visit a few on my next visit darn!

[bdk]

A relative in Texas told me most of the restaurants on Tulio's list are closed or out of business. I wanted to visit a few on my next visit darn!

Restaurants seem to have a very short half-life it seems. Lots go out of business or are part of larger chains that consolidate. Tallichet's Specialty Restaurant Corp. offerings seemed to last much longer than most and some are still going strong. Glad he was able to bring the excitement of warbirds as a theme and pretty good food to so many for so long.

Even without Covid, we have one corner where restaurants only seem to survive about 2 years. It's a tough business!

[Tulio]

A relative in Texas told me most of the restaurants on Tulio's list are closed or out of business. I wanted to visit a few on my next visit darn!

Did your relative told you, which restaurants are still open?

All those that I have listed, I visited and also tasted their fare, while I was traveling a long time ago.


Saludos,


Tulio

[darrenvox]

heres one, unless someone already talked about it..https://ozarkgateway.com/visit-parachute-inn-restaurant-dine-southwest-boeing-737-ultimate-dining-experience/

[Tulio]

Of the following, the only place where I did not eat , was the Flight Grill, at Pima.


https://www.afmuseum.com/dining

https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/cubi-bar-cafe/

https://www.visitpwc.com/listing/devil-dog-diner/1554/

https://sandiegoairandspace.org/visit/flight-path-grill

https://cosmo.org/visit/dining

https://pimaair.org/plan-your-visit/flight-grill/


Saludos,



Tulio

[Tulio]

A WWII veteran friend of mine, Al Dill (RIP) from Merchantsville, NJ sent me these photos he took the day before the "Flying Lady" restaurant opened -a long time ago- somewhere in California (LA perhaps?)


Saludos


Tulio

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[Tulio]

And, the last two photos

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[Lon Moer]

A WWII veteran friend of mine, Al Dill (RIP) from Merchantsville, NJ sent me these photos he took the day before the "Flying Lady" restaurant opened -a long time ago- somewhere in California (LA perhaps?)


Saludos


Tulio

"The Flying Lady" was the restaurant at the Hill Country resort in Morgan Hill, CA.

They had hundreds of model airplanes that ran on a repurposed dry cleaner track all around the dinning room.
And an awesome Sunday Champaign brunch buffet!

The resort also had a grass runway down the middle of the golf course for the flying museum "Wagons to Wings"
Mike Coutches had his NACA P-51D and a F6F Hellcat on display there until the resort closed in 1991~1992.

[JohnB]

About The Flight Grille at Pima...
They make an above average burger...their fries seem breaded or battered (?)...and they serve Pepsi...(to each his own )...but the real fun is sitting and looking out the window (or on the deck if it is cool enough) over the jet fighters/attack collection and in the distance, the bombers.
My only complaint is you can't we the C-124 from the restaurant.
If you could, I could pretend it was the Tachikawa Officers Club in the early '60s...it was situated close by the taxiways and '124 ramp. A favorite memory of my childhood.

Last edited by JohnB on Fri May 21, 2021 3:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Woodsy Airfield]

JohnB - Got a hop from Tachikawa to Itazuke during 1962. On takeoff roll I'm looking out window in left side seat at #2 - saw 2 puffs of smoke and pilot aborted, taxied back and made another rolling take-off - successfully. Just before landing at ITZ, aircraft passed over the Yawata Steel Mills which were bombed by B-29 raid during war. Great assignment with all its history...

[p51]

Of the following, the only place where I did not eat , was the Flight Grill, at Pima.
https://www.afmuseum.com/dining
https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/cubi-bar-cafe/
https://www.visitpwc.com/listing/devil-dog-diner/1554/
https://sandiegoairandspace.org/visit/flight-path-grill
https://cosmo.org/visit/dining
https://pimaair.org/plan-your-visit/flight-grill/

I've been to all these places except the Cosmosphere but never even thought to have a bite at any of them.
I'm just not one of those guys who'll eat at a museum restaurant if they have one. I've been a member of the Seattle Museum of Flight for years and been there countless times but never once even stepped into the restaurant there.
The only exception for museum restaurants is that I've eaten at the Mars Grill at Huntsville: https://www.rocketcenter.com/marsgrill
Why there? I've attended the adult Space Camp a few times and it's the only place to get food right before you start day one anywhere nearby, but that's the only one I can think of except one time my wife and I ate at the Air and Space Museum in DC's eatery once (that was her idea, though).
The Pima one, my sister-in-law's husband and I went to Pima the last time I was in AZ and we bought drinks (maybe a candy bar, too, I don't recall) there but that was about it as we ran out of our water pretty fast in that heat. We stopped at KFC I think on the way back to Phoenix instead for grub.
When I think of all the museums I've been to with eateries attached, I guess it's because as a kid we never had the money to eat someplace like that, I got used to the idea of not even considering it.
Next time I go to a place like that, maybe I should!
Really, I never gave it much thought until I just read the above quoted post.

[JohnB]

Think of eating at a museum restaurant as a donation to the museum, so open your wallet and buy an overpriced Pepsi.


On the other end of the spectrum, the museum where I volunteer, The Historic Flight Foundation at Felts Field often has free food. Yesterday during the summer monthly "Fly Day" (where people use the ride memberships they previously purchased) the public, not just members, were provided free cheesburgers, chips and water/coffee. Can't beat that.

[p51]

Think of eating at a museum restaurant as a donation to the museum, so open your wallet and buy an overpriced Pepsi.

Good point.
I just was raised that you didn't do such a thing, back when my family didn't have the money to do so.
After all those years, I'd just never thought about it.
I will in the future, however...

[Tulio]

Just found this photo.

Although the quality of the food at aviation museums is not high, it provides with an opportunity to further support their operations. I have had good food in some places, some really bad, and all in between. Somehow, I have survived

Saludos,


Tulio

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[shrike]

About The Flight Grille at Pima...
They make an above average burger...their fries seem breaded or battered (?)...and they serve Pepsi...(to each his own )...but the real fun is sitting and looking out the window (or on the deck if it is cool enough) over the jet fighters/attack collection and in the distance, the bombers.

I second the recommendation for the grill at Pima. Better than average burgers, only mildly museum priced. Occasionally when work takes me to TIA, I will stop there for lunch instead of a Bun-n-Run.

(I do iced tea 99 of 100 - I think of it as the Sweden of the Cola Wars)