If you live in one of 15 states you have a good shot at visiting one of the “Best of the Best” airport restaurants in the country. If not, that $100 hamburger is going to cost a bit more. The website 100dollarhamburger.com, publisher of a book on Amazon.com of the same name, has just listed the best on-airport restaurants in the United States.
Special recognition categories
Breakfast—Nancy's Air Field Café (closed Mondays and Tuesday) at Minute Man Air Field Airport (6B6) in Stow, Massachusetts; 978/897-3934.
Burger—Pilot Pete's at Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C) in Chicago/Schaumburg, Illinois; 847/891-5100.
Eastern BBQ (pig)—Pik-N-Pig BBQ (closed Mondays) at Gilliam-McConnell Airfield Airport (5NC3) in Carthage, North Carolina; 910/947-7591.
Western BBQ (cow)—Hard Eight BBQ (as in, "Always bet the Hard 8") at Stephenville Clark Regional Airport (KSEP)in Stephenville, Texas; 254/968-5552.
Chicken-fried steak—Southern Flyer Diner (lunch only) at Brenham Municipal Airport (11R) in Brenham, Texas; 979/836-5462.
Pizza—The Downwind Café (closed Mondays) at Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6) in Port Orange, Florida; 386/756-8811.
Steak—Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant at Harris Ranch Airport (3O8) in Coalinga, California; 800/942-2333.
Pie—Spruce Goose Café at Jefferson County International Airport (0S9) in Port Townsend, Washington; 360/385-3185. Pies include cream, apple, cherry, butterscotch, some with oatmeal toppings, and Marionberry—meaning a specially bred blackberry tested in Marion County, Oregon, in the 1940s.
General category
The Mesa Grill at Sedona Airport (KSEZ) in Sedona, Arizona; 928/282-2400.
Gaston's Restaurant at Gaston’s Airport (3M0) in Lakeview, Arkansas; 870/431-5203.
The Perfect Landing at Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Denver; 303/649-4478.
Jet Runway Café at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; 954/958-9900.
Bistro Le Relais at Bowman Field Airport (KLOU) in Louisville, Kentucky; 502/451-9020.
Sky Galley Inn at Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field (KLUK) in Cincinnati, Ohio; 513/321-3211.
Tin Goose Diner at Erie-Ottawa International Airport (KPCW) in Port Clinton, Ohio; 419/732-0236.
Jake’s Joint at Ardmore Municipal Airport (KADM) in Ardmore, Oklahoma; 580/389-5040.
DeNunzio's Italian Chophouse and Sinatra Bar at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (KLBE) in Latrobe, Pennsylvania; 724/539-3980.
The Basin Harbor Resort Red Mill Restaurant at Basin Harbor Airport (B06) in Vergennes, Vermont; 802/475-2317.
