Cookaholics Bulletin Board

To anyone traveling through the Calgary airport: there's a reason why Molson Brewhouse is empty while the sad bar version of Chilis is packed. I figured a public service announcement was in order.

Anyone have hits or misses at airport establishments for those of us on the road a lot? For example, there's a burrito place at the Denver airport which is surprisingly good (and of course I cannot remember it's name at the moment).

The place to eat in the Calgary airport is in the dining room of the Delta Hotel which is attached to the airport (actually a very short walk across the street). They also have a more upscale menu and seating if you ask. The bar food is decent as well. Very little noise, you can leave your bags with the desk of take to your table, good service and relaxing - what else did you want?

If you're in Boston at Logan, any of the Legal Seafoods is a good bet -- you can't go wrong with the clam chowder or lobster roll, but the seafood overall is quite good.

Yah, I always go to legal seafoods when I visit boston. Am consistently surprised at the quality for an airport, where even the most trivial of foods can get ruined.

The bbq is above average at 'Salt Lick' in Austin International. They run a stellar operation west of Austin that is visually stunning, rarely done anywhere, with B+ results; to get that in any airport is a bonus! It is not great but considering everything it is a very nice bonus.

For example, there's a burrito place at the Denver airport which is surprisingly good (and of course I cannot remember it's name at the moment).[/quote]

I think it might be Cantina Grill.....

If I remember correctly, the airport in Boston (Logan) has a Legal Seafood restaurant, which is pretty good airport food and SF Airport has lots of local outlets.

I don't travel as much as I did when I was working, so I am out of touch.
Ilene

Oh, you would ask this. Only Frank will have a longer list than me, I think.

Airports To Have a Good, Full Meal In:

• San Francisco (esp. Terminal 2 and International Terminal)
• Narita (Tokyo) (mostly outside security)
• Portland (though surprisingly few vegetarian options)
• Chicago Midway (huge food court)
• Rome (but almost entirely outside security, be warned)

Airports to Which You Bring a Bag Lunch:

• Las Vegas (return to the 70's)
• San Diego
• Knoxville (complete airport rebuild and no restaurants?)
• Tel Aviv (NO food past security, at all)
• Bangalore
• Vancouver (80 gift shops, 5 food places, WTF?)
• Ottawa, Canada (single good bar/cafe, where you will spend a lot of time)
• Medford, Oregon (what did you expect?)

Meh:

• Frankfurt (some good German restaurants in some wings, none at all in others)
• Dallas-Ft. Worth
• Dulles (a lot of decent options, but long waits due to not enough seats)
• O'Hare (but a lot better than it used to be)
• Philadephia (only fast food, but some selection)
• Moscow International Terminal (surprisingly little/no Russian food)
• Oakland (great selection of fast food -- but still fast food)
• Sao Paulo (very limited selection)

Good places to eat at SFO: Terminal 2 Food Court & restaurants. Firewood Cafe' (pizza). Yankee Pier in Terminal 3 for breakfast. Take-out sushi places. Harbor Village dim sum. Max's To Go. Vino Volo. Andale grill.

Not-so-great places in SFO: Anchor Steam or Gordon Beirsch pubs. Loris' Diner. The Buena Vista. Hi-Tec Burrito.

Good Places at other airports:

• O'Hare: Pub near the American gates at the junction of Terminals F & G. Best sit-down service at O'Hare, if you have the time.
• Narita, International Transfer area: sushi bar near the American gates. Expensive, but good.
• Dulles, DFW, Oakland, multiple other US airports: Vino Volo. Snazzy wine bar and small plates. Consistently good, if somewhat expensive.
• San Diego: in the Southwest Annex (gates 1&2) there is a Karl Strauss brewpub, which is the only good place to eat in the airport. However, you'd have to be flying Southwest to get to it.
• Portland has a rule that restaurants in the airport charge the same as outside it. So while selection is not that inspired (mostly Portland-area chains), prices are very reasonable. Also, try the Margarita bar there; they have fairly good mexican meals and good service.
• Frankfurt: outside security there are a couple Bavarian bakeries. Butter pretzels!

Yup, Vancouver (airport that is) is a wasteland for food. I've been trapped there enough to feel bitter about it. If only the Delta in Calgary was inside security. I never have quite enough time between flights to go out and back. Minneapolis is pretty good. I generally have a good time on plane changes there. I had some good pulled pork in the Raliegh airport too. I can't say that Atlanta or Houston had great food.

Ilene, I think Cantina grill is the place. Huge, tasty burritos.

Not sure what the new Winnipeg terminal is going to offer quite yet, but from a quick look, they seem to be leaning towards local favorites (so outlets of small, locally owned restaurants): Stellas bakery (great breakfasts and baked goods), Gondolas pizza, and Salsbury house (this is probably best avoided...it's beloved to those who have childhood memories, but is a cafeteria-quality burger joint).

Boy...they all run together...will update further as I can, will be in Fresno and Detroit next week.

Denver I like Wolgang Pucks (will eat lunch there next Monday), Dallas I go to Riata in the International (D) terminal, it's upstairs and has a GREAT area just outside the restaurant with big chairs to relax in between flights.

Doesn't really matter what terminal you are flying out of, the tram will get you there in just a few minutes.

(Some) Airport food really has improved greatly in the last few years, I actually look forward to a few places.

There used to be a good Legal Seafood in Washington Reagan (DCA) but I heard they are not there anymore.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Houston's Bush Airport concourse level in Terminal E http://www.pappadeaux.com/location/?id=40 gate 3 (upstairs) is worth seeking out, there is better seafood to be found but not in an airport...it's one of my regular stops.

Interesting reads:

http://www.frommers.com/articles/7194.html

http://www.travelandleisure.com/article ... rport-food

http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/air ... ning-guide

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-daily ... 45667.html

http://www.forbes.com/2010/09/02/airpor ... sions.html

http://www.portfolio.com/business-trave ... index.html