Fly and Dine
The Runway Restaurant and Lounge
at Westfield-Barnes Airport in Massachusetts: A Unique Dining Experience
Most of us have flown to many airport restaurants around the country for the “$100 hamburger” or $70 breakfast; (more like $200 and $150 in 2010) After a large number of breakfast and lunch experiences, this writer can say with some authority that The Runway Restaurant and Lounge at Westfield-Barnes airport, BAF, in western Massachusetts is in a whole different league and several cuts above your typical experience—for a number of reasons.
For openers, Class D Barnes has 9,000 x 150 ft. runways 2/20 and 5,000 x 100 ft. 15/22, so you should have no problem getting in and out in most WX. Then you will be impressed by the “red carpet” welcome provided by the people at AirFlyte Inc., the primary FBO. The line person will direct you to a parking spot and literally roll out a red carpet for your return to earth. The world-class terminal is loaded with amenities and full-serve 100LL was $3.99/gal at press time; Jet A $3.92—probably the lowest in the area. You will get a $.10/gal. discount with a $20 meal at The Runway.
Once inside you can’t miss The Runway Restaurant and Lounge, right off the expansive lobby. You are likely to be greeted by owner Paul B’Shara, or one of his friendly staff. In pleasant weather you will be offered a choice of the second level outdoor deck with a view of nearly the entire airport, or the main dining room adjacent to the ramp where many interesting airplanes will likely be parked.
Paul and his family have been in the restaurant business in the Westfield area for more than 50 years, so they know how to please you. All meals are home-cooked to order. Lunch fare runs from $3.50 to $8.95. The extensive complete dinner menu runs $9.95 for pasta with meatballs or sausage to $18.95 for sole or veal Oscar. Breakfast is also at equally reasonable prices, with the view a bonus. During this reporter’s six meals over two years the service has always been friendly and efficient. Buy 10 or more gallons of fuel at AirFlyte and you will get 10% off your Runway meal! The Runway Restaurant and Lounge has a full bar and live entertainment on the patio Thurs.-Sat. Open 11 am-9 pm Tues.-Thurs., 6:30 am-10 pm Fri. & Sat., 6:30 am-9 pm Sun., closed Mon. Go to www.TheRunwayAtBarnes.com or call 413-568-9999 for more information.
The 2010 Westfield International Air Show will be held at Barnes Airport August 21 & 22. The Runway will be serving a big buffet with complimentary beer & wine 11 am – 3 pm on Show days and live music will begin at 4 pm. There will also be reserved seating on The Runway’s second-level deck, with a great view of the Show, for its VIP Party. Contact The Runway to make a reservation. Go to WestfieldAirShow.net for air show information.
By Phil Worley
Lil’ Red Baron
8 Airport Road Newport, NH 03773 www.lilredbaron.com
I belong to a group of pilots that like to travel to new and different airports to sample the culinary wares at local airport restaurants. We used to fly out every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as well as Saturday and Sunday morning for breakfast. All of the flights were in VFR weather with just a few days where you could have argued for filing IFR.
I didn’t think that there were any airport restaurants within 100 miles of Hartford that I didn’t know about. One day a few weeks ago, I had occasion to pick up a friend that was having work done at Parlin Field (2B3) in Newport, NH. I had never been to this airport. The airport was nicely manicured with an ample runway nestled in the green hills of New Hampshire. On final approach, I flew over a bridge with people fishing from it just off the end of the approach to runway 36. As I did so, they raised their hands waving in a welcoming manner. How quaint.
Upon walking around the airport, I noticed a small red building with a sign “Lil Red Baron” and it was a restaurant. This was a Sunday morning and it wasn’t open but I made note of the hours with a vow to return when it was open. The hours, Mon: Closed, Tues-Thurs 4:30-8:30 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30-9:00 pm, Sunday 11:30-8:00 pm.
My wife and I flew into Parlin Field a week later on a Friday night and to our delight found out that they had outside music planned. There is outside seating for a fairly large group and a fire pit to keep you warm in the cool New Hampshire night air. There is a full service bar outside for those enjoying the fresh air. Yes, they have a liquor license (it won’t do the pilots any good but in case the passengers want to have a drink with their meal, it is available.) We opted to sit inside at a table and my wife sampled their special $3 Margarita. The menu is Mexican with a liberal serving of “Gringo” dishes. The food was served hot and with excellent presentation. Prices are low and the most expensive entrée on the menu is $12.99. We went outside after our meal and enjoyed music and watched the local talent that was performing. The residents were so friendly, they were really nice. If you are looking for a new place to try, this is the one. This was a pearl of a find with good food, reasonable prices, low fuel prices, long runway and plain friendly people. What more could you ask for.?
Rick’s Runway Café
At Orange County Airport Montgomery, New York Phone: 845-457-6323
Rick’s Runway Café, located at Orange County Airport (KMGJ) in Montgomery, New York, is the quintessential destination in the area for the classic $100 hamburger. Not only is the food exceptional, but also the airport facilities are a step up from what you would expect from a smaller non-towered field. KMGJ boasts two superb runways (3/12 5002’ x 100’ & 8/26 3664’ x 100’) serviced with an assortment of instrument approaches including an ILS and several GPS approaches. On a weekend with good VFR weather expect a busy pattern, and keep an eye out for SWF Departures (tune to SWF ATIS to get flow) as if they are departing Rwy 27, they are pointed right at you. Once on the ground taxi over to the main ramp area on the northeast end of the field, and park on the ramp just opposite the Café.
Local area pilots have been going to Orange County to grab a bite to eat for years, and the old timers can tell you just how nice the current café is compared to the eatery prior to the renovation. The interior is warm and welcoming, as are the waitstaff. The dinning area has large windows that overlook the ramp, so you can always catch a great view. Tables as well as booths are available. Breakfast is served on weekend mornings, with daily classic specials like pancakes with chocolate chips or Belgium waffles, which were our choices we had the day of our visit. Top it off with a great cup of coffee, and you have the makings of a superb breakfast. If you drop in for lunch you will not leave hungry! Besides a large variety of $100 burgers to choose from, don’t forget to consider one of their hot sandwiches. Rick’s Runway Café is one Fly and Dine destination that had always made my top 10 list, and you too will not be disappointed.
Mon- Thru 11:30 – 4:00, Fri 11:30-5:00
Sat & Sun 7:00 – 4:00
with Breakfast till 11:30 on Saturdays
and 12:00 on Sundays
The Landing Zone Grille
Did you ever think about a fly-in meal where you could show your friends a disappearing airport setting and sample some of that old time local airport food you’ve heard about? It’s more difficult every year to find that small airport where you can enjoy the local flavor of a great proprietor. We’ve uncovered an airport restaurant whose airport is no longer an available for fixed wing aircraft yet has survived for half a decade without a direct fly-in runway. Think about that – and you’ll start salivating now. If you’re fortunate and fly a helicopter you can drop in at the Johnnycake Airport and walk to the restaurant.
Besides good food and beverage its central Connecticut location makes it an easy choice for enjoying a New England weekend. Best part, stay the weekend and you’ll want to dine at the Landing Zone Grill more than once during your visit. There are fixed wing aircraft airports nearby; the closest is 18 miles away in East Hartford, CT (EHT) or 20 miles, Oxford (OXC).
Let’s get to the business of an airport restaurant that you must put on your list of establishments to sample this summer. The Landing Zone Grill has an almost unending selection of different cuisine choices on the menu. On any given day the appetizers range from alligator tenders, crab cakes, escargot, squid red or Joseph’s famous wings. One patron said, “The sawdust wings are da' bomb, try "sawdust/Medium/Hot and Smokey!" Oh did I forget to mention the mussels Meredith or exotic wild mushrooms that also make a great start to a meal?
Often when the wife and I drop in on a fly-in we test a restaurant’s atmosphere with a soda and beverage. We like to get a feel for the place and its people before we dine. The Landing Zone Grille makes that pretty easy. For the passengers there are over 100 fine beers, ten of which are micro brews on tap. My wife is especially fond of salads during the middle of the day and we found that the grill has over 12 made to order salads on the menu. Beyond the simple salads you can order Island Palm, Mediterranean salad or a fresh Bocconcini salad just to call out a few.
Let’s get on to that preverbal $100 hamburger but let’s not stop there. For the normal hamburger price, you can experience the Sante Fe, a Mushroom or blackened burger hot off the wood grill. That is something special in itself. You would expect great chowders in New England but there are few places you’ll find all three Rhode Island, New England and Manhattan Clam chowders made fresh. Now a real surprise in New England, the chef owner makes a specialty Swamp Medley of crawfish tails, shrimp, alligator, frog legs with shallots and just right amount of spice that will bring you back for more.
Let me sum up a stop at The Landing Zone Grille with a few comments from other patrons – “There are very few places on Earth left like this, it is absolutely one-of-a-kind, and worth your time to explore and seek out this little ole' wood smoke grille up on airport hill. See you there!” “I was in the mood for hot wings, and the Landing Zone had the hottest and most flavorful that I have ever tasted.”, “I like a beer now and then and the Landing Zone has all the exotic brands, including my favorite, Chimay” The comment I liked most, “The Landing Zone kind of reminds me of my best friend’s basement, warm, inviting, and casual.”
Tell Chef Cajun Joe Furnari you heard about his grille in the Atlantic Flyer, he’ll be surprised! We paid for our meal and no one knew the Atlantic Flyer was there! This is a place to go for serious food, fun and laughter! What a combination and an easy three stars. Open Wednesdays thru Sundays - 525 Burlington Road, Harwinton, CT 860-485-2733.
By John Cilio