The Way to Your Stomach? Through the Airport
Every Seat is a Window Seat at Messina's Runway Café.
Airports aren't traditionally foodie destinations, but this is New Orleans and our Lakefront Airport is home to Messina's Runway Café. For breakfast, lunch or weekend brunch, this place is just the ticket. Not only is the food great but it's fun to watch the planes take-off and land while you dine.
The Messina family is known for its catering business – it's one of the best in Louisiana. And the Lakefront Airport, an art deco treasure in East New Orleans, is a fun escape from the same-old, same-old. We were there for lunch but, trust us, we'll be back for brunch one day.
The menu is impressive and includes offerings like the BLFGT – a BLT made with fried green tomatoes. Num! Love burgers? You have your choice of the Layover Burger or the Runway Burger. The latter is made with grilled onions and gouda cheese and their signature Runway Sauce. We don't know what the ingredients are but were were all up in it.
Their salad selection is pretty awesome as well. Lots of fun flavors and textures and never understimate the power of fresh Gulf shrimp, properly seasoned. You'll want the recipe for their honey lime vinagrette dressing.
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But before you get your heart set on anything, we suggest you check out their Blue Plate Specials. We were there on Tuesday, Fried Chicken Day, and were inspired to write a Best of Guide: Fried Chicken (coming soon to NewOrleansRestaurants.com). This truly must be one of the best fried chicken entrees in the city. It's not overly spiced and comes with macaroni and cheese, collard greens and a big hunk of homemade cornbread. It's like a trip to your Southern grandma's house without leaving the airport.
But before you take off (airport pun intended), you're going to want to try their bread pudding (by "try," we mean "inhale.") Again, it's one of the best in the city. The top is carmelized and just a little crispy. Heaven on a spoon.
A lot of people love Messina's Runway Cafe for brunch and, one look at their cocktail menu, and we could see why. The High Flying Bloody Mary is a winner as are the Korbel Brandy Brandy Milk Punch and the Spanish Coffee. Make the mimosa your weekend and head over to the Lakefront Airport.
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