AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2018 - 32

PILOT BRIEFING
JUST FOR FUN

|

Will fly for food
A collection of our $100 hamburger destinations.
What's your favorite airport restaurant?
B Y J U L I E S U M M E R S WA L K E R
AS IF YOU NEED an excuse to go flying-but
that's the origin of the phrase "$100 hamburger." A short flight in a Cessna 172 to grab
a bite to eat. Of course, gas prices, inflation,
time, and money all differ wherever you are,
so it could be a $132 hamburger or a $220
hamburger, depending on what and where
you're flying.

32 | AOPA PILOT August 2018

finished flying for the day you can stay at
the Hangar Hotel," she advises.
Westside Lilo's Café, Seligman Airport
(P23), Arizona. Aviation Event Operations
Senior Manager Dave Roy left Arizona to
join AOPA in Maryland, but he hasn't forgotten the "amazing burritos" at Lilo's, a
German-inspired restaurant one-quarter
mile from the airport on historic Route 66.
S p r u c e G o o s e C a f é , Je f f e r s o n
County International Airport (0S9),
Washington. You Can Fly Director Les
Smith left Seattle behind to join AOPA but
hasn't forgotten the pie at Spruce Goose.
"If you fly for pie, you can't miss this," says
Smith.
Downwind Café, Dekalb-Peachtree
Airport (PDK), Atlanta, Georgia.
Associate Editor David Tulis will never
lose his Southern roots, and says PDK's
Downwind Café offers "great salads, burgers, spaghetti with a Greek touch, and live
music on Friday nights."
The Airport Diner, Bremerton National
Airport (PWT), Washington. Technical
Editor Mike Collins is usually our go-to
for craft beer advice, but he picks the
fresh-caught halibut and a side of chips
at The Airport Diner for his top spot.
EMAIL julie.walker@aopa.org

JOHN UELAND

Aside from one colleague who can subsist
on an apple and a granola bar, most of us
seek out good food, good service, and a good
atmosphere when we're looking for a place
to land and dine. Here's a list of great airport
restaurants from AOPA's pilots. Email your
favorites to pilot@aopa.org with the subject
line "100 hamburger."
Enrique's, Ponca City Regional Airport
(PNC), Oklahoma. AOPA Editor in Chief
Tom Haines and Senior Photographer Mike
Fizer both give this Mexican restaurant
high marks; Haines says this family-owned
restaurant, which opened in 1983, is "an
institution in Midwest aviation."

Pyper Kub Café, Williston Municipal
Airport (X60), Florida. AOPA President
Mark Baker and You Can Fly Ambassador
Jamie Beckett both recommend this stop in
North Central Florida. "The interior wears
a particularly weird shade of green on the
walls, which are festooned with photos of
pilots, and airplanes, and military tributes,"
says Beckett. "The food is good, the prices
are reasonable, and the atmosphere is totally
unique." Baker adds: "Cheap gas, too!"
Mesa Grill, Sedona Airport (SEZ),
Arizona. Senior Vice President Katie
Pribyl and Senior Photographer Chris Rose
voted for this gorgeously situated restaurant. "Mostly for its spectacular views, but
really good food," says Pribyl. "Did I mention the view?" And Rose opines, "Their
breakfast burrito should be its own food
group."
Waypoint Café, Camarillo Airport
(CMA), California. Longtime AOPA columnist Barry Schiff joins all of us who have
had the pleasure of eating at this great eatery north of Los Angeles in voting this his
favorite. The chocolate-dipped milkshake
is truly spectacular.
Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant,
Harris Ranch Airport (3O8), Coalinga,
California. Schiff also recommends the
steak sandwiches at Harris Ranch. There's
a small private airstrip next
to the restaurant servingsteaks from their own ranch,
according to AOPA You Can
Fly Director Steve Bateman.
Airport Diner, Gillespie
County Airport (T82),
Texas. Senior Editor Jill W.
Tallman recommends this
1950s-diner-themed spot
for good food. "If you're
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2018

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