CSOB1's
Best Beechcraft BBQ Joints & Restaurant Fly-In Destinations
Some Good Lookin' BBQ
Over the years one of the great joys of my
flying has been discovering and flying to some great BBQ joints & restaurants to
"hangar fly" and build camaraderie with other Beechcraft owners.
Here's my, until now, secret list of spots
that have served up some incredible aviator grub. If you have a BBQ Joint or
Restaurant pirep, please E-Mail me the details so they can be shared here.
Chef Mike Wedeking
Flying Mango
Restaurant and Catering
Michael Wedeking
and Suzanne Van Englehoven
4345 Hickman
Road, Des Moines, IA 50310 www.flyingmango.com restaurant and carry-out - 515-255-4111
During a trip to Des Moines, IA,
KDSM , I
accidentally stumbled upon this awesome BBQ Joint when the guy I was traveling
with was playing with his new iPhone capabilities. The piped in Blues Music is
excellent and if you're lucky there might be a live event going on that night.
Check HERE
At the time, Chef Mike said he was in the
market for a Bonanza. Double WOW! I hope he has found one and decides to come to
B2OSH and BEER2OSH with us. Maybe we could even talk him into serving up some of
his awesome BBQ for us?
Mike mentioned that he would come pick you up
from the airport if you called. Be warned - they are closed on Mondays, they
serve Shiner Bock Beer (that really pushed me over the edge....LOL), the full
rack just has to be experienced and the cornbread is to die for!
A bunch of Beech Owners held a sub $3/gallon
100LL Celebration at
KXBP on
November 8th, 2008. A great meal was had at Pronto's Italian Restaurant down the
road.
47 Us-380
Bridgeport,
TX76426
The owner even came to pick us all up. Give
them a call (940-683-3733) if the courtesy car is not there. The food was great,
the portions were great and the cost is CSOB approved.
Formerly known as Mike's BBQ Joint, the
Smokehouse BBQ & Grill is
now located in Zephyrhills, FL. Fly into
KZPH and see if
you can get a courtesy car. By the way, KZPH usually has a very attractive
self-serve avgas price for the Tampa area.
Here's another one of my secret mouth watering
BBQ Joints. First Choice BBQ! They are also just down the road from my old
stomping grounds at
KVDF in Tampa, FL. Get the crew car from
Leading Edge
and chow down on a pulled pork or beef sandwich. You won't be disappointed!
712 South Collins Street
Plant City, FL 33563
Phone: (813) 752-7788
520 South IH-35 E
Denton, TX 76205
Phone: (940) 484-7839
Just down from CSOB Headquarters on I-35E in
KDTO Denton, TX
is Rudy's, a great Texas BBQ Joint.
Your non-flying buddies can enjoy a nice selection of ice cold beers there too!
My personal favorite is the brisket sandwich with
a slathering of Rudy's sauce. Those with a need for an exceptionally mild sauce
can put the "Sissy Sauce" on it! LOL
Right on the field inside the main building at
KADM Ardmore,
OK is the Blue Pig Restaurant. Great taste and portions rule here. A number of
Texas and Oklahoma area Beech Listers make this a Fly-In destination from
time-to-time. Last I checked they are closed on Sunday.
620 General Drive #6
Ardmore Airpark
580-389-5555
246 W. Willow St.
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 476-4937
Kitchen Hours: M-Thurs to Midnight / Fr & Sat to 1AM / Sun to
10PM
Another one of my all-time
favorite BBQ Joints is
Dinosaur BBQ in
KSYR, Syracuse, NY (where I learned to fly). This is a classic honky-tonk biker style place with
great live blues bands playing Monday thru Saturday nights. Despite it's "rough" looking
clientele, it's not a rowdy place and folks from the theatre or symphony are
known to stop in for dinner before and after performances.
The ribs are awesome! I dare you
to order the full rack! And for your companions NOT FLYING, try the Platinum
Margaritas!
They also have a location in
KROC,
Rochester, NY HERE. The Syracuse location is the first location and is my favorite.
Fly into
KSYR and stay with my friends at
Landmark Aviation and see if they'll let you have the crew car to go into
downtown.
If you ever fly into Lexington,
NC, the Lexington BBQ is highly recommended by Beech owner Al C.
If you ever fly into The St.
Simons Island area near Jacksonville, FL,
Southern Soul Barbeque
gets great Beech owner pireps for their excellent BBQ.
Fly directly into KSSI and it's just a
short ride over. Here is a video clip from the DDD show that featured Southern
Soul.
2020 Demere Rd
St. Simons Island, GA
(912) 638-SOUL (7685)
Hours
Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Right near the field at
KSEP
Stephenville, TX is the
Hard 8 Restaurant.
I've experienced fall-off-the-bone meats that you
select right off the grille before you go in to sit down.
1091 Glen Rose Rd
Stephenville, TX 76401
(254) 968-5552
A number of
Texas and Oklahoma area Beech Listers make this one of their Fly-In destinations from
time-to-time. The Hard 8 stages a couple of golf carts at the airport with
directions on the clipboard in the cart. If you have a formation crew of folks,
just call them and they will dispatch the "King Ranch" truck to pick you up and
bring you back to the airport.
If you are ever in the Houston area, you owe
it to yourself to experience Mel's Country Cafe's down home Texas chow at CSOB family
prices and portions that will knock your socks off.
Don't even think about getting the Mega Mel
burger...LOL You'll be over gross weight for sure on your trip back home! PS:
Note the Diet Coke to make up for the 1.5 pounds of burger and 1.0 pound of
bacon.
Fly into
KDWH, Hooks
Airport and get the crew car and ask the locals for directions to Mel's Country
Cafe. You won't be disappointed. I can personally vouch for the catfish and
hushpuppies.
Or, the locals also tell me that the
restaurant in the FBO is pretty good too, if you are pressed for time and can't
go into town.
If you ever fly into Carthage, NC
(BQ1) the
Pik N Pig BBQ is highly recommended by Beech owner Alan
G. Alan reports an open porch on the runway side adjacent to the windsock. The
2500' asphalt runway should present no problem for the skilled short-field
Bonanza driver, Baron owners should plan to bring their short-field "A-Game" to
this party.
Park on the grass near the P-40.
CASH ONLY
194 Gilliam McConnell Rd
Carthage, NC 28327
(910) 947-7591
Hours
Tuesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
CLOSED MONDAYS
Restaurant Hours -- Open 7 Days a Week!
Monday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Tuesday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Thursday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Friday: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
Sunday: 10 AM - 8 PM
Toll-free Phone: 888.632.8225
Steve D., Bonanza owner and BBQ
aficionado says that Black's in Lockhart, TX
50R is about the
best he's ever had. The fuel price, however, seems to leave quite a bit to be
desired, as Texas fuel prices go.
505 W. Dallas, Llano, Texas 78643
For "Restaurant Info Only" call: 325-247-5713
Cooper's engages in two practices that some
consider antithetical to the state's trademark style: direct-heat cooking
that's dangerously close to grilling, and saucing. But this cowboy-style
barbecue spot breaks the rules proudly, cooking meat about two feet from
mesquite coals and then finishing it over low heat until you step up to the
outdoor pits and point to what you want: extra-thick pork chops, sirloin, or
beef ribs with Flintstones-esque bones protruding from meat riddled with
melted fat. It's all charred, pepper-flecked, and insanely good.
Beech Lister Bill W., reports
Coopers to be the best in Texas. It's not too far from
KAQO Llano,
TX.
ENRIQUE'S
THE HOTTEST
JALAPENO ON THE RUNWAY!
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
25% OFF ENTIRE BILL
MONDAY-THURSDAY
4:30pm-6pm
Must present coupon. Not valid with other offers. Coupon valid for up to $12.50 discount.
2213 N Waverly St # 3
Ponca City, OK 74601
(580) 762-5507
Beech Lister Steven D. reports
KPNC Ponca
City, OK
has a really good Mexican restaurant (for Oklahoma.)
Enrique's Food is pretty standard TEX-MEX. No Nuevo style stuff. The Chips and
salsa are good enough that most people get an extra order to take home.
As reported by
SW Aviator: Enrique’s opens Monday through Saturday at 11:00 am (there is a
Pancake Breakfast Fly-in on the first Saturday of each month, 6:30 - 10:30).
Weekday hours are 11 am to 2 pm for lunch and 4:30 to 8:00 pm for dinner (9:00
pm on Friday nights). On Saturdays, Enrique’s has to stay open from 11:00 am to
9:00 pm to keep die Lunchwaffe fed.
Chris S. adds: "Excellent home-made type Mexican. Just about the best tamales
I've ever had! Chips and guacamole are made when you order and are outstanding.
If the weather is nice, the "first Saturday" fly-in breakfast is generally very
well attended. Not unusual to see well over 100 airplanes, so keep your eyes
open when approaching the pattern - it gets *busy*!"
Regarding the fly-in breakfast. It is standard American fare. Except they
cook the sausage on a BBQ grille so it is smoked. Keep your head on a swivel,
there are planes coming in who don't have or don't use a radio. It can be quite
busy, too bad but pay attention.
Here is a pirep from Andy H.
on his experience at Lambert's Cafe:
Though not a “BBQ”
restaurant, it is great home cooking that includes pulled pork sandwich, BBQ
ribs, and BBQ pork steaks. And it is just a fun place to be for a family
dinner where you get to practice catching warm rolls “thrown” in your
direction.
At the Sikeston, MO location
they will send the Lambert’s Van to pick you up at
KSIK Sikeston
Memorial Municipal Airport and whisk you to your seat in the restaurant, 99%
of the time bypassing the waiting line. And they have been known to provide
the PIC some memorabilia from the restaurant.
They also have restaurants
located in Ozark, MO (near
2K2 Airpark
South Airport) and Foley, AL (near
5R4 Foley
Municipal). I have not visited these sites but I am sure they are just as
good.
Beech Lister and early Bonanza Owner, Tim R., reports the
airport at Brenham, TX (11R)
has a really cool 50's themed restaurant right on the field in the FBO terminal.
The girls are cute in wide skirts with crinoline petticoats and the food is
great and reasonably priced. Not to mention that Brenham is the HQ and main
factory for Blue Bell ice cream so their shakes are really good!
It's reported that the owner of the FBO is a Baron Owner........very good
taste in airplanes <grins>!
The
Tailwind Cafe is right on the Ocala Airport
KOCF and Beech
Lister Skip W., reports an awesome burger experience there. Airnav pireps even
indicate the place is a Wi Fi hot spot too!
Fredericksburg Airport Hangar Hotel & Diner
155 Airport Road
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
837-997-9990
Beech Lister John A., reports a great experience
at T82 in
Fredericksburg, TX.
Good food, great atmosphere, especially at the "Officer's Club" over in the
hotel. He thinks the milkshakes here are better than the ones at Brenham. You be
the judge!
508 Dixieway North
South Bend, IN 46635
(574) 247-0810
Open daily from 6am - Close.
Call for closing hours.
If you're in South Bend, IN
KSBN and it's
breakfast time, you've got to get the crew car and go to American Pancake House.
Order the Baked Apple Pancake. I've never had a pancake this good anywhere!
They bake it up special and it's worth the
wait. Map it
HERE
Famous Dave's - Appleton, WI
1170 Westhill Blvd.
Appleton, WI 54914
(920) 991-9700
If you're this far north I hope it's not winter time! Famous
Dave's Joint is only about 3 miles from
KATW in
Appleton, WI. Just get the crew car from Platinum or Uber and chow
down. The ribs are great as is the chopped pork. Slather it up with the Texas
Pit BBQ sauce and you'll be feelin' the heat. Don't even think about trying the
Devil's Spit sauce unless you are ready to go "nuclear"......
Another incredible BBQ Joint I've discovered in Green Bay, WI,
KGRB, is Bates
City BBQ. Their ribs are outstanding and they make their fries up fresh from
REAL potatoes right there on site.
You and a buddy with hearty appetites can BOTH eat off the $11
Rib Slab and a huge basket of fries. This whole deal comes to about $15! Good
food, great portions and a CSOB price. Check out the menu HERE
and a Map HERE
Brad H., an experienced "big iron" flyer by day and Beechcraft
Owner in his spare time swears on a stack of Jeppesens that none of his comrades
will do Corky's enroute......something about the "bleed air" off the turbine
being too hot <vbg>
Here's a Beechcraft advertisement circa 1960's for the
Beaumont Hotel Bed
& Breakfast in
Beaumont, KS at
SN07. This ad was the inspiration for my B55's paint scheme.
The Beaumont Hotel
11651 Southeast Main • Beaumont, Kansas 67012
620-843-2422
Beech Lister Ken R., suggests calling 620-843-2422 in advance to
check the grass runway conditions. You taxi up the street and park across the
road from the hotel. The restaurant closes in the winter, but will reopen on
March 1st. Definitely a great place to eat, but recognize that you have a 2,400'
grass runway with trees on one end.
They seemed to have gotten an A55 or B55 Baron into that 2,400'
strip once..........LOL!
Reported by Beech Lister Pat B. to be an excellent fly-in
destination for lodging and food is
Harris Ranch.
A private 2,800' paved runway awaits you at
3O8.
Recommended by Beech Lister Dave VH. as the nicest restaurant in
Cottage Grove, OR. Take the perpendicular taxiway at
61S to the end
and it's across the street.
Sorry guys, no finger lickin' ribs at this place, but it does
look like a great place to take the Mrs., significant other or girlfriend for an
impressive meal.
Another one recommended by Dave VH. is the Hawaiian Island
Cafe in Scappoose, OR
KSPB. They
serve Hawaiian food (Gee who knew! <vbg>) and they offer a FREE Pilot
Shuttle from the airport. Just call ahead.
That Dave sure gets around there in Oregon, but then again,
he's got a Beechcraft! Here's another of his secret spots for huge portions
and great proximity to the Albany, OR Airport
S12
La Posada
303 E. 2nd Street (Route 66)
Winslow, AZ 86047
928.289.4366 • 928.289.3873
Here's a place recommended by Bob S. of Sedona,
AZ near KINW
Winslow, AZ, La Posada Hotel & Restaurant.
Bob reports that there's a crew car at KINW to get you over there.
WOW, this place definitely doesn't look like a CSOB greasy spoon! <vbg> But seriously, this definitely looks like a take
the significant other, date or spouse place for a fine dining experience.
La Posada Hotel, the “last great railroad hotel,” offers a unique
cultural experience for Southwest travelers. Built in 1929 for the Santa Fe
Railway, La Posada is truly one of America’s treasures.
La Posada’s story weaves together two extraordinary visions. It begins
with Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter and Fred Harvey, who hired Colter to design
the hotel. It embodied her vision, from its architecture down to its finely
crafted details. But La Posada closed in 1957; for the next 40 years, its
future remained tenuous.
Enter Allan Affeldt and his wife Tina Mion. Affeldt heard about the hotel
and purchased it in 1997 after much negotiation, bringing with him a strong
vision and commitment for returning La Posada to Colter’s original concept.
Restoration started immediately and continues today, thanks to Affeldt’s
efforts and the support of local preservationists, hotel guests, and a
talented team of artisans and craftsmen.
Nancy's Airport Cafe
353 County Road G
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-7211
Beech Lister Greg G. reports this to be a bona fide 24/7 "fly-in truck stop"
at KWLW in
Willows, CA on I-5 north of Sacramento and south of Redding. It's Greg's
favorite $100 Hamburger joint and you can park your airplane as close
to the building as the cars and trucks do and pick up a few things at the
Wal-Mart across the street!
This place looks like it would make any CSOB Aviator
comfortable!
Another of Greg G.'s favorites is
Bob's
Chili & Chow Hall in Corona, CA
KAJO Have a
great breakfast or lunch, buy some of the cheapest 100LL in SoCal while you
wait for the car from Aircraft Spruce to take you browsing.