This is a restaurant that I would recommend to go to at least once if staying in the nearby hotels. I probably won't go back but it was an interesting experience. Upon entering, we immediately smelled the strong odors of cleaning products used in the bathrooms near the entrance. Walking through to the back, the smell mixed with the stuffiness of an old library. Eating in the airplane is pretty neat, and makes for a fun experience. You can check out the cockpit, and also see where the boom operator would lay. We started with the Caesar salad and it was quite good. I ate all of mine. I ordered the teriyaki salmon. I was curious where the salmon came from and although the waitress didn't know exactly off hand she later got me more information despite me being satisfied with her initial response. The salmon was cooked very nicely but it could have done with less teriyaki sauce. It was smothered in it. The vegetables did not appear to be fresh though I didn't try them; they truthfully didn't look very appetizing. I ordered a side of the sweet potato fries; they were mostly good. The fries were definitely sweeter than what I was used to. It seemed like they coated them in something. The only problem with the sweet potato fries was that they were too thick and didn't get cooked all the way through. My husband's steak tasted very good and was cooked to his liking. He thought the mashed potatoes tasted funny, as did I after trying them. He asked for a side of fries and the waitress switched the mashed potatoes out for him at no extra charge. Overall it's an interesting experience, definitely touristy, but one experience there is all I need.
(4)
Tony B.
The Facebook page does the restaurant more justice then Yelp 4.1 out of 5 out of 936 reviews.Very cool restaurant, best restaurant I've eaten in, in a while food was great and the hospitality was incredible, met the owner Steve which new his stuff when it came to aviation, also met a WWII hero that ate there everyday because of the atmosphere and great food, it's a must eat place and will make this a first stop place every time I come into Colorado Springs
(5)
Bryan R.
My daughter had a kid's menu chicken. It was much bigger than expected for 4.99. I had the honey mustard chicken sandwich it was mothah freakin' DELICIOUS! Actually that's exactly what I said when the Waitress(Jennifer) asked me and the couple next to us bust out laughing. We also had their nachos for an app. I had no cheese and sour cream, that was my choice. The vegetables were amazing and fresh. Jennifer was just the sweetest waitress we could have asked for. Kudos to her! Nothing against the rest of the staff they seemed good to at their tables. But she was awesome to us.
(5)
Jim M.
I'll grudgingly grant 2 stars because (a) the waitress was relatively cheerful and friendly and (b) the reuben was tasty. If you have time to kill, you'll love this place, because you'll kill plenty of time waiting for your meal. I was there just before noon and in the area I was sitting, more tables were open than had people. I parked right in front, so not sure what the hold up was....but 40 minutes from being seated to seeing food show up.
(2)
Taylor S.
Interesting restaurant. How many people can say they've eaten in an airplane turned restaurant? Very friendly waiters/waitresses and EXCELLENT alcoholic drinks. I definitely suggest the blue max. In saying that, I say stick to the booze. Food...not so much. Loud atmosphere, a little crowded. If you're in a group over four, you won't be at the same table. Make reservations if you actually want to eat in the airplane. Once again, the food is airline food. The vegetables were definitely green giant steamers. Pricey for the quality. If you have kids, they'll probably have a decent time. Otherwise, just take some pictures from the outside and don't go in.
(3)
Woozy F.
Food was ok but overpriced. Salmon salad was good. Apple crisp was just way too sweet. Would not go again. There are better options in COS
(3)
Debster G.
Such a cool restaurant. Food is okay for casual dining. Vintage aviation decor is fun. However, this place appears severely understaffed. Hostess was doing double duty and disappeared as diners bunched up in the lobby. I think, personally, they are overwhelmed by the large groups that frequent your establishment. If you're the owner, please help and support your hard-working staff...
(3)
Christina K.
I recently had dinner here as part of a large group and it was a great experience. We didn't get to eat in the plane, butter staff took time to give the kids a tour. That was really cool! The food was good. I would highly recommend the sticky fries. They are steak cut sweet potato fries with a sweet sauce on them. Yummy!!! The service was excellent and the mDe sure to speak with airplane references. It was quite fun.
(4)
Paige H.
My 3 kids loved this place! When we walked in, there was a 15 min wait to sit in the actual plane. This worked out great for us. We were able to walk around and look at the pictures and plane memorabilia in the main restaurant. While doing this one of the waiters/flight attendants told us we could visit the cockpit while we waited. The girls and I dashed up the "jetway" and played in the captain/first officer/ engineer chairs. That 15 min went way too quickly :) The service was excellent. The food was traditional american diner food. I did get the tilapia special and enjoyed it. Highly recommend it, especially if you have kids.
(4)
Tiffany M.
Went for the first time, up front seemed chaotic. Old guy was training a new girl, and made things way too hard. Then walking us to our table, he asked a trivia question and noone knew the answer, he unappropriatley made a comment about us not know, which pissed me off. Other than that it was nice, food was nice. It does need a clean up. Fresh paint and dusting, carpet change and such. And prob fire the old guy up front!
(3)
Cathy S.
The food was passable, but nothing worth walking up all those stairs to eat. The servers were very nice and attentive. The bison Reuben, of the three dishes ordered, was the best.
(2)
Ian H.
The atmosphere was cool, because your eating on a old war plane. Yet that is were it stopped. I came witha party of six, and everyones food was cold. I ordered the chipotlie, and it was dry along with cold vegies and rice. My Brother in law ordered a medium cooked steak, and got a rare one instead. I was driving across country, and was hoping to have a good time. I was left with nothing but disappointment.
(1)
Wendy S.
We were in the area on a cross-country road trip with 3 teens/Tweens. The Airplane Restaurant was the only nearby option. We had low expectations, but were pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had. The waitstaff was attentive, the food was better than expected, martini's were perfect, and the kids enjoyed the fun of eating in the plane. Our waiter was very helpful accommodating my husband's vegan diet and brought the kids a special New Year's Eve dessert. We ended up having a great time!
(4)
Richard I.
Wow! The reviews on this place are all over the place! BLUF - Overall, I'd take business associates here and my own family. Not a "date" place unless one or both of you are into planes. I reserve 5 out of 5 for places that are true 5 star, which is MUCH more expensive! First, I eat lunch here at least once a month and have stopped by for beers and bar food in the evening because of people staying at the Radisson. Their location is probably why they are not packed. It is directly west of where the old Colorado Springs civie airport terminal once was. They don't advertize (that I know of) and I think it is why I rarily see the place packed. If you let them know you are in a hurry (usually lunch time), they will make sure to get you out quickly. Second, the pictures, models, and aircraft memorabilia is interesting. For a first time visit, it is awesome. This is why I take people there from work that are current or prior military and/or history buffs. Eating in the terminal area is better unless you have kids with you. Third, the food. I've read some horrible reviews and just don't see it! I've had burgers, clubs, reubins, and salads there (the Crasin Walnut salad with steak strips is my favorite) and every time it was better than good. Not great, but the meat (chicken or beef) was always good quality. Our Unit secretary loves it when we get sweet potatoe fries to go for her. Finally, price. If you are looking for the pricing of McDonald's or Popeye's (a negative reviewer actually said something about that!). Their prices are a few dollars over AppleBee's and Red Robin, but their food is not "chain-store" pre-packaged either. This place actually cooks food and doesn't follow a rote recipe from some corporate kitchen.
(4)
Jessica G.
Frozen food. Food was uninspired and not fresh. We ordered the wings. Well we ordered what they called "boneless wings". They brought us wings with bones, which I didn't mind mistakes happen I simply told the waitress we ordered boneless wings. She quickly took it back and brought us the "boneless wings". The waitress just placed it on the table and walked away. I called her over because I was thinking she messed up again and brought us some kids chicken nuggets. She said no those were them. Surprised I asked her if these were just frozen nuggets. She said literally said "Ya. It says it right there." No joke. I let it go because it's never smart to get on the nerves of your waiter when you are only on your appetizer. But that cost us $9 for a small basket of frozen nuggets. I told my husband that I could have went to Costco and bought an entire bag of these and warmed them up for him. So needless to say the rest of the food was edible but not worth the money, really. The restaurant building itself is cool. Eating in an airplane was cool. But the menu is boring and overpriced. Definitely not going back. Even with a coupon. Fun for kids who eat anything and want to play in a cockpit tho.
(1)
Sheila H.
Food was mediocre at best. Service was awful. Management was worse. Neat looking and fun for the kids but they seriously need an improved menu and management. Pricey for what it was.
(1)
Jim N.
Took the family & grandkids here for dinner and had a great meal amid very interesting surroundings. They do a great job with decor for the restaurant. Food was outstanding! (Salads, burgers, chicken & beverages....terrific Caesar Salad). I recommend it!
(3)
Hou T.
This place was good. Ample parking, easy to get to from the main road and close to The Radisson, TownePlace Suites and Springhill Suites. Upon entering you will see a tremendous amount of patches, photos, and other nostalgic flight items. Very interesting! The place had every wall covered with it! A host will tell you about the history of the place and give you a tour. Two dining areas to choose from, one the main open air area or upstairs in the airplane. We choose upstairs which was all booth seating. It was quaint and quiet, perfect. Our "flight attendant", aka waitress was prompt and courteous. We ordered the potato skins which was excellent, nice crisp and delicious. Our drinks were a bit pricey but large. I had the turkey Ruben which I must say was quiet good. It was made with a marbled rye. Yes the prices are bit overpriced but the portions are HUGE. Try this place out you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Shannon W.
I and my family like this restaurant very much. Although, it could use a good cleaning inside the airplane. The burgers are good and they sell blue moon and diet coke. If the condition were improved on the inside of the airplane it would be perfect. Oh and the kids love playing in the cockpit!
(4)
Anne J.
The novelty of having dinner inside a big old airplane is worth at least a couple of stars. We went so the kids could enjoy that aspect of it. I visited years ago, and correctly recalled the food being mediocre. I had the broaster chicken (oops, I don't eat wheat and stupidly forgot that the chicken would be breaded), which came out somewhat overcooked, small, and dry. We had to send one kid's meal back more than once, and the steamed veggies were passable only because they were soaked in butter and salt. Out flight attendant was exhausted - had been working all day, so I won't complain as she tried. I had my heart set all day on the roasted half herbed chicken at Rock Bottom, but gave it up for the kids to go to the airplane...next time, my vote wins.
(2)
Joe T.
My family flew here from Ohio for a week and I made a reservation because of the novelty of the restaurant. When we came though, it was the hardly even mediocre! The food was dry and bland and the noodles in my pasta were still crunchy. We went for dinner and afterward the atmosphere was more like a bar than a classy restaurant! Better to go to Burger King than this place.
(1)
Tracy T.
Ok, so we didn't go here for the food due to all the negative reviews, but we went just to eat on a plane. With that being said, the food wasn't so bad because we knew what to expect... Denny's or bar & grill type of food and that's exactly what we got. Food: Kid got Stevie's Wings aka hot wings with the teriyaki & garlic sauce... they were HOT! She said they were good, but too hot and she likes hot stuff. I got the Philly Flyer aka Philly cheese steak. It was "ok". However, I did get the sweet potato sticky fries which were pretty dagon good. We had a coupon so the cost of our meals and drinks only came to $18, so not too bad since I saved $8.00. Its really cool because the menu is kind of like an old newspaper that you get to take home and keep. You also go get to view the cockpit and sit in the pilot seats. Mind you, this is old stuff and not a brand new plane! Still fun! Overall it was a pleasant experience since we knew what to expect. So, thank you to all you yelpers for sharing your experiences so we could have a good one!! :)
(4)
Jeff G.
What's with the one star ratings? I'll grant you that this restaurant isn't the most swank restaurant in the world. But how many restaurants do you know that have a plane built into it? Enough said. The restaurant atmosphere is light hearted. It hasn't changed much over the years. Reminds me of a Bennigan's back in the day when they still existed. The food isn't anything too memorable but its dependable and tasty. Our server was nice too. If anything, i think this restaurant suffers from location a little. I say that only because this place would always be hopping if it were closer to the north side of C-Springs.
(4)
Barb D.
Atmosphere nice, but interior a bit too dark. Prices way too high for average meal. $15.00 for spaghetti with meatballs (and that was the daily special). $10.00 for a burger. Very limited menu and service is slow. I would suggest not to waste your money, there are a lot better restaurants out there
(1)
Sarah P.
The Airplane restaurant itself it VERY cool! They have a huge airplane that is half in and half out of the restaurant. The food was so-so. My husband and I had the Chipotle Chicken. The chicken was flavored nicely with a dollop of chipotle mayo. The chicken was a tiny bit overcooked and the veggies they served on the side were the frozen variety. UG! I don't like paying for food at a restaurant when I know I can cook something better at home.
(3)
Benjamin B.
I haven't been back recently, but I feel compelled to reiterate my earlier review: Fail.
(1)
Ryan F.
This is one of those places you can take your kids...once. Then, if they want to go back, you make them do your bidding as far as getting the house clean and the lawn mowed so that they can pay you for the money you are going to spend on what is mostly just experience. The airplane, whether you dine in it or not, is cool. No doubt about it. There are lights in the cockpit that allow for some good blog/Facebook pictures. The food, on the hand, is a different story. I ordered bread sticks. They clearly came from something frozen because the crust on the outside was done, and warm-ish, but the string cheese inside was semi-warm and you could tell that it was once string cheese, it hadn't melted at all. My wife did enjoy her salad...so, 1/2 a star. If you can manage to screw up salad you really shouldn't be open...so that's why only 1/2 a star. My soup was warm. It was French Onion Soup. Heavy on the soup, not so much on the onions...they were virtually non-existent...so I'm not sure where French falls in. My kids got kids meals. I have two sons. My oldest got Macaroni and Cheese which, clearly, is something Kraft-like that came out of a box. My youngest got a grilled cheese sandwich. It appeared that was handmade, and my son ate it...around the part that wasn't melted in the middle, which, for him, is a deal-breaker because your cheese on a grilled cheese sandwich should be, to quote him, "gooey-cheesy-licious." My wife got the Fettuccine Florentine. The noodles were a little underdone and heavy. The sauce was pretty heavy-handed on the cream, so it was heavy on heavy...not a good combo. I got the Buffalo Steak. It was good. I got it cooked medium because I knew that with the little fat content in buffalo meat, having it cooked well would result in a hockey puck. I still got the hockey puck...just with a pink center.. There was a shining moment in the dinner: the sticky sweet potato fries. They are served with a vinegar/sugar reduction that makes you THINK there is honey or maple syrup on it. However, when you look at the serving in comparison with the cut of meat and the, literally 1/4 cup or less of a vegetable medley...I felt like that was all I had eaten. So, I'll give another 1/2 star for the sweet potato fries. The other star comes from our server. While the food was less than we expected our server was great! Which should give you an idea of how hit or miss this place is. Two half-stars for the food and one for the service... It's a great experience, but, it might be better served as a museum for aviation stuff inside a plane and a connected building...the food is really not anything to write home about. Serve the drinks and the sweet potatoes...that's about it...
(2)
Jamie L.
Love the Restaurant! The staff it so friendly! the food is terrific! The atmosphere is amazing and unique! Steve and his wife Debbie treat everyone that walks through that door as if they are family! I mean come on you get to go sit inside of an old KC-97 Airplane to eat your lunch or dinner! i highly recommend this place! it is an experience of a life time!
(5)
Elianny S.
This place should not call itself a restaurant, because once I hear the word restaurant I'm expecting at worst edible or hopefully delicious food which will warrant me giving you my money. We went here for a work related event and I ordered the tuna salad. They really made this sound delicious but what arrived was something that I wouldn't even give my dog. The tuna was completely inedible, I took a bite and had to force myself to swallow it. The rest of the salad was a total hot mess that included weird limp noodles, dry white lettuce and peanuts. My sister ordered a cheeseburger that was bland, and dry but at least edible. The sticky sweet potato fries were ok but nothing amazing. The waitress was really nice and at the end she was very apologetic when I said the salad was just not good. The one star is strictly for the novelty factor of being inside an airplane and my nephew and niece had a good time playing in the cockpit.
(1)
Kim M.
I found the food to be very average to decent, along the line of a Denny's or bar food chain restaurant. The prices were definitely higher than the quality of food should command, but I brought my kids here for the novelty of eating in the airplane. When we came in between lunch and dinner the place was near dead. Service was a little slow, but friendly and courteous. I have a feeling it was because we were one of only two parties inside the plane, which is attached to and one flight of stairs above the main restaurant, kind of a pain for the servers. The table tops in the plane were made from old flight maps from all over the world. We found it ironic that our table was a flight chart of our home city. The menus are interesting, printed as a newspaper that you can take home as a souvenir that has all kinds of interesting historical aviation facts. If you prefer to eat inside the conventional part of the restaurant, there is still plenty to see. The wing of the airplane, complete with the prop cuts through the maid dining area, and there is plenty of memorabilia scattered around. The bathrooms also pipe in sounds of takeoff and landings. The hamburgers were higher quality than I expected after the previous reviews, and although it was not a typical spinach/artichoke dip, we still enjoyed it. I had the chicken quesadillas, the server said it was one of her favorites, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant solely on the food, but the combination of the novelty and decent eats makes it a great one time stop for anyone interested in aviation or for families with kids.
(3)
Travis L.
Nice restaurant overall but the food is sub mediocre and expensive. Never had chewy bland chicken strips before and they were seasoned with what tastes and smell like pine needles. Should have stuck to my original plan and gone to Popeyes for chicken.
(1)
Ronda D.
Fun atmosphere, good food, and very good service. Worth the drive!!!
(4)
Renee M.
My family of 8 ate here on a Sunday afternoon when we decided to head to Colorado Springs in hopes to have an adventure. The experience of eating in the plane and playing in the cockpit was why our kids loved the restaurant. The food was a little expensive, especially considering it wasn't that great. It wasn't terrible either. Our waitress was fun and friendly and helped us have a fun time.
(3)
CandiAnne S.
I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing and the service is out of this world. We called for reservations this afternoon and we were told there was a party of 50 coming in at 5 so it would be best to be sat before then, especially if we wanted to sit in the plane. This was a great help in planning our visit. The food was all cooked to perfection and our steaks absolutely melted in our mouth. Been here before a few years back before moving out of state for a couple years, glad to be back and will be visiting here again and again.
(4)
Andrea H.
When our food finally came one order of 'chicken' strips was pink in the middle and another order was burnt. The server came over to see nobody was eating their meals. She asked if everything was ok and one of us answered 'I guess'. We were just going to leave it at that and stomach what we could but she then repeatedly asked what the problem was and said she could take the 'chicken' meals away but that was our 'last cop out'. Because of the attitude two of the three with 'chicken' let her take the meals away. She then returned to the table to see two other meals almost untouched and asked if those were bad too. I did tell her that it wasn't anything we could eat and all we could stomach was the mozzarella sticks and fries. She then offered dessert on the house but we didn't even want to begin to try anything else there. The manger then came to the table and we explained that the one order of 'chicken' was pink in the middle but he told us that couldn't happen because they temp their food. As we were leaving we noticed the chef was preparing customers food while eating and licking his fingers! What little we did force down has caused us all to feel nauseous.
(1)
William P.
I wish I could give this review negative stars. Both my wife and I suffered from food poisoning after dining here. The concept is neat, and the decor is an eclectic collection of aeronautica. However, the restaurant portion of the experience is so far below par I cannot summon words putrid enough to describe it. The service was so so, the food was sub-mediocre and the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Twice actually, as I tasted it going down, as well as coming back up a few hours later. I had a salmon pasta dish that was inundated with capers. My "salmon" had the texture of tuna from a can. The flavor of canned tuna would have been preferable though as the "salmon" was so overpowered by some awful sauce. She had the ribs, which tasted of spoiled, rotted meat. The only good thing we had here was the salad. save yourself the hassle, just eat out of the nearest dumpster. It will likely have the same result for much less money.
(1)
Penguin S.
Noticed a lot of bad reviews here and that they are mostly a year old. I ate here a few days ago and had an opposite experience. The food was great, really moist chicken marsala, nicely prepared grilled veggies and the rice with peas was perfectly done. I did get to eat in the plane, last booth available at 1300h. Service was really great. I was well taken care of, was asked for a refill before my drink was empty, got a checkback after my meal arrived and the server, dressed in a captain's uniform, was all smiles and accomodating. "Do I wan't dessert? Um, yes, but I'm all full up at the moment, so maybe next time." The restrooms were very clean and I loved the piped in sounds of planes landing. If you have the airplane disease like I do, don't miss a trip to the lavatory for this interesting experience! The carpets were clean and I loved the atmosphere. So many photos of planes and models hanging from the ceiling. That huge wing coming into the dining is really rad! Their menu must be new, as it's far from limited, as another poster mentioned. Many selections to choose from. It's printed as a newspaper with aviation history and most people seemed to want to take one as a souvineer. I did! They have salads, sandwiches, entrees, apps. It was very hard to make a decision! The waitress/captain helped. My chicken marsala with sides came to under $11. People around me raved about their meals (the plane tends to allow sound to travel well). The burgers were said to be wonderful and the buns seemed fresh baked. I want to try one. The woman behind me loved the soup, which I was told was made fresh in the restaurant, not canned or packaged. She had brought friends in, an older couple. The wife had been here when the husband was in the hospital. She loved it so much, and he was in the airforce and wanted to see the place. They came down from Denver to visit their friend and to dine here. He loved it. (The things you can pick up from listening in to other conversations!) I didn't see dessert listed on the menu so I have no idea of those selections. I did take a look around at the wonderful aviation history all along the walls. You can enter the plane's cockpit and push buttons. Bring a camera! Be sure to check out the aft of the plane to learn how it used to do mid-air refueling. Got to speak to one of the owners on my way out. She told me they recently were able to purchase the building and have been able to do much more with the place since then. Based on my visit, I can't understand the low ratings and off reviews. Maybe they've improved. Maybe I picked a lucky day. But I can't say a bad thing about the place, except I wish they had more planes! I can't wait to go back for another meal! (And FYI, I got to speak to Debbie, the owner, on my way out. I asked where they got all their plane photos and such. They do take donations. If you have extra photos or models or ads and such, consider a donation and add to the atmosphere!)
(5)
LaTonia W.
There was a huge party of folks with some really loud kids. (Reflects parents not the restaurant however) The waiter was nice but seemed a little worn out. (maybe he had been there all day) Oh, and walking up and down those stairs can be taxing I'm sure. If you are overweight, you're going to love sitting in the plane portion of the restaurant. A 400 pound person could sit comfortably in the booth if you can make it up the stairs. I'm a big girl and I had to scoot to the edge of my seat to eat. I had the T-bone steak with veggies and loaded baked potatoe...$18.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Daughter had the Steak Neptune (smothered in hollandaise sauce with real crab and shrimp...yum)...$18.99 Hubby had the Salmon Neptune (smothered as well)...$16.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Brownie and Ice cream for dessert...$5.50 Very good too. Don't go there without a reservation or you may be waiting for 30-40 minutes on a weekday just to sit in the restaurant (not the airplane) because of tourists and special occasioners. Oh, and bring a wad of cash because as you can see, it is not cheap. We spent exactly $80.58 including a $10 tip. Luckily, we had a $25 gift certificate from Restaurant.com , so we spent $55.58 cash. Also, if you want rolls with your dinner, you'll have to ask for them. He didn't offer but I decided to ask for some considering the price of the food. Looked and tasted like Sister Shuster's yeast roll. We thought the food was good but because of the HIGH prices, we won't be back anytime soon. I think we'll try out MacKenzie's Chop House downtown. Looks like their prices are lower and it's definitely a Fine Dining restaurant.
(3)
James T.
Most people who have had a meal in an airplane don't have the best things to say about it. Of course we weren't in the air, but we were in a real airplane. The service matches the food, both of which struggle for mediocrity. I will say that the food is better than anything you get at 25,000 ft. However, the cleanliness brings the whole place down another notch. Their bathrooms appear to be on a weekly cleaning cycle, while the carpet cleaning looks to be done about every decade. On a more positive note, you can't miss the main attraction to the restaurant, which is an intact, retired Boeing KC-97, converted to an dining area. It was intriguing to see the refueling controls and cockpit of this old plane and the technology that was available in the early '50s with merely brain power and a slide rule. That alone made the visit worthwhile. The main dining room and bar are more of a museum of sorts, littered with every kind of aviation memorabilia imaginable. There are posters and propellers; models and miniatures. A real aircraft wing, compete with engines and props protrudes into the open space above the tables, creating the sensation of eating in a hanger. Just as a closing note; their artichoke dip is stellar.
(3)
Bunny G.
If you're an aviation enthusiast like everyone in my family then come here! Kids loved it. We didn't get to sit inside the airplane so that was a bummer. But we loved it anyway and if we're out in this neck of the woods we will be back. Worth checking out at least once!
(4)
Lou G.
My wife and I ate here several years ago. We thought the food was good American food at a good price. We ate here last Friday night, again good American food at a good price. Nothing overly great and nothing overly bad. Our "flight attendant" was nice and helpful. The food was hot . My wife had a hamburger and onion rings. I had a Ruben and fries. Both were oversized and tasty. We both like this restaurant and will continue to visit when we are in the mood for good food, good prices and a quiet meal.
(3)
Valerie F.
Really bad. Took 45 minutes just to take our order. Bland, poorly prepared food. Salad was right out of a bag and brown around the edges. We sat in the airplane which is different, but it was dirty in there. This restaurant is living off the fact it is in a plane and putting zero effort into food and service.
(1)
Charles M.
I read all the reviews in advance. I knew what to expect, I thought. My 2 granddaughters had a great time on the plane. Their children's meal was edible and reasonable in price. Because of what I read and observed when we arrived I just decided to have the turkey club. How could you mess that up, I thought. Well, here's how. Globule fatty bacon that is not even cooked, turkey that is round as is from the grocery store and more slices of bread than turkey. The fries were barely warm. This was all ok because the girls were having a good time and I knew what I was getting into. The thing I was shocked at was the waitress asked if I wanted a box to take home the fatty uncooked bacon and the extra bread I had placed on my plate. I guess I could have taken it home and cooked it, but I declined and just asked for my check. Then I was surprised that when I gave my credit card for the 32 dollar bill, I received it back with a charge of $67. I guess they thought I would not notice. They voided out that after a 10 minute wait. I then just paid in cash They manager talked to us on the way out with an semi apology. What could we do to make iT better? My response "fire the cooks". She assured me it was just a series of mistakes. Don't make the same mistake. Go with your kids. Order the kids meals for them and just order a dinner salad and have correct change. That way no one is disappointed. This is really sad because this could be great.
(1)
Spiro T.
One visit is plenty for this place. Of course, it has aviation-themed decor and you can opt to dine in the actual airplane. Definitely a unique experience. I wish that I could say the same about the food. Their food is nothing special. Their burger buns were somewhat stale/crumbly and the fries were forgettable. Also, if you choose to dine in the airplane, expect slower service as compared to the main dining room. Overall, good place to take the kids once. They need to improve the food to earn repeat customers.
(2)
Brian M.
Love the aviation theme and the abundance of memorabilia and models. Waitstaff not very pleasant and long delay just to get seated despite restaurant more than half empty. Restaurant tables, floors and the models all need a good cleaning. Food was good but nothing special. Menu descriptions not entirely accurate as parmesan cheese added to penne despite not being on the menu. Would come for the atmosphere but that's about it.
(2)
Tony D.
Nice place to take your kids one time... Service is slow and much slower if you elect to be in the plane. I have been a couple times and been sick after each visit. My daughter ordered a chocolate milkshake on one visit and we received frozen milk and chocolate sauce we had to stir ourselves. Take the kids, show the plane but avoid eating here until they fix their menu and service.
(1)
Kurt A.
Honestly, the reviews have been so weak that we went for the airplane. Maybe it was because we weren't expecting anything but we were very happy with the food. I had a VERY good cup of french onion soup and a reuben with fries. My wife had a Philly Cheesesteak with coleslaw. We were both very happy with all of the food. We each took home half a sandwich as the portions are quite big. And the service deserves a special note. I wish I could remember the waitress'es....sorry, flight attendent's name. She was cheerful, helpful, and everything arrived hot and on time. She got a greater than 20% tip and that is saying something from someone that sticks religiously to 15%. If it were closer we would go for the food. As it is, we'll have to wait until we're in CO Spgs again.
(4)
Tiffany B.
I originally went to take my 3 year old son to eat on a real airplane and took the family. I was happily surprised to learn that food was very tasty. So not only did we create memories with the family we also ate good too. Double score!!
(3)
Janis S.
Had dinner here last night and it was OK. The service was good and eating in an airplane is very cool. Especially in a Fighter Pilot family. However, it does need a bit of updating. It seems a little dirty and not much lighting. I gave it 3 stars just because its something different....an airplane afterall. The food is good for what we had. We only had burgers and fries but the meat is not frozen, seemed to be formed by hand and the bun was a brioche...can't go wrong there. I've read a few other reviews here and think they are a bit harsh. The food isn't memorable but it was a place that my husband and son enjoyed. We would probably go back.
(3)
Paul P.
Good restaurant with standard food fare. Beware if you're looking for a quiet place, this is not it - as many families with kids are attracted to the novelty of eating in an airplane. The Asian salad was not light as I expected, and was constructed of what appeared to be lo mein noodles, cucumbers, and cabbage. But overall it worked ok - tasted good and was filling. Nice server let me order a kid's ice cream sundae for dessert. If you want it quiet, opt for eating outside the airplane, then visit later to see the inside. Also the walls of the restaurant are covered with interesting airplane memoribilia. It is a really cool place to eat, especially for people like me who have an interest in flying. Nice thing too is that you can eat dinner on an airplane with zero chance of crashing, and no seat belt required. Happy landings!
(3)
Andrew P.
Food was decent, nothing noteworthy, and service was somewhat slow. Its great for a single visit, especially with kids wanting to eat in the old tanker, but don't bother stopping by for a bite.
(2)
L H.
My son really wanted to eat here, so we did. The food was quite poor. There were places inside where it wasn't that clean and many moths. The saving grace was that the kids had fun eating in an actual plane.
(2)
Jeff C.
Loved the aviation theme! The service was great very friendly. I had the guacamole burger food was good and the fries we crispy and hot always a bonus. Great for kids both big and small.
(3)
Sean P.
This is a greatly unique and fun restaurant! I've never seen a setup like this, if you're into aeronautics then this is the place for you! There is an actual full size airplane mated to the restaurant that you can eat your dinner in if you so choose! The food is solid for being traditional American burgers and such and at a reasonable price. Overall a great place to try out!
(5)
Junior B.
Not shure where the reviews are this way but this is some great food great atmosphere great people and just a ball to have the kids sit in the airplane. I really enjoyed it we had fun and will go back in a heartbeat. I had to swiss mushroom burger which was a big plate the also have the wings a little dry but they were good. Our waitress I believe was Susan was one of the best we had what we were visiting Colorado Springs the bartender nice and sweet as can be thank you for the good time we will be back. It was nice to see the owner come out and talk to us as we were sitting
(5)
Mr B.
What a great and exciting dining experience! I ordered the full order of baby back ribs which were truly cooked to perfection! I would highly recommend a visit to this fine dining establishment - sit back and enjoy your flight!
(5)
Deb G.
Yes, we are now fans of The Airplane Restaurant, but it has room for improvement. Loved sitting in the airplane, served by our Flight Attendant, and having the opportunity to check out the cockpit! That was really cool! The food, however, could be better. It is just mediocre for the high price and service was a bit slow. But all things considered, we would return as it is a very interesting place, a great nostalgic setup & museum, and everyone was very friendly. I just think our menu choices will be "safer" items in the future. Great place to take out-of-town visitors. :)
(4)
Timothy S.
Definitely worth visiting once. I recommend a reservation, so you can sit in the plane - but they have a decent restaurant building connected to it for walk-ins too. It might be difficult to follow a meal plan like whole foods, low carb, or vegan here. However, it is a nice splurge for the kids.
(3)
Robert C.
Ok. Food stinks, but fun to eat in an airplane. Good service, nice waiter. Terminal and airplane are well worn. Small kids will love it. Its located right next to Colorado Springs airport. Fun idea. It made the list of top 10 unusual restaurants in U.S...but that was the driest burger i have eaten in awhile , which is a bummer because they looked great. The sticky sweet potato fries were yummy.
(3)
Sue N.
The sirloin steak is broiled, fish platter mediocre, alcohol expensive, but the sticky sweet potato fries and stuffed mushrooms are the reasons I will go back there Service is very slow but the waitress, Jane, very friendly and of course apologetic because of the slowness of the kitchen
(3)
Samantha L.
The food was decent, but the real reason to go here is for the fun and quirkyness of eating on a plane. The staff was really nice, although it take us a while to get seated since no one was at the hostess desk.
(3)
Jeremy J.
Where to start? How about,well, the airplane! It's pretty incredible seeing it built into the restaurant. You can eat in the plane or sit in the terminal at the regular tables. The plane is definitely warmer than the rest of the place. The pictures and memorabilia on the walls are fun to look at and provide some interesting history. The wait staff is super friendly and attentive when they're not rushed. Where they miss is on the food. No beating around the bush here, it's just not that great. Not sure if it's the inexperience of the line cooks or inattentiveness of the management but it's not that good. A hamburger shouldn't be a dried out commercial patty that's been burnt on one side and cool on the other. Very disappointing. The kids will love the place and it's a novelty, but take it in stride if you're reading this and you still end up going.
(2)
Jessica H.
I surprised my husband with this on our vacation to Colorado Springs. He isn't very outspoken but I think he enjoyed it. I certainly did! Just like any plane ride, it had it's ups and downs. The idea of eating in an old airplane is cool. No really, it is, and it's ok to succumb to the hype and admit it. It's neat. There are other places to sit within the restaurant other than the airplane so you might want to request a seat in the plane. I didn't want to chance it so I asked before she had the option. The first thing I noticed when we sat down was how hot it was! It's stuffy, hot and painfully quiet. They should have music playing or something. The 'theme' was well played out. The waitresses acted like flight attendants, the menu told about the history and had flighty names for food. While I waited for my meal, I decided to board the cockpit and try my hand at flying this thing with a little help from my new friends (aka children, yes, I was probably a bit too old to be checking out the cockpit but I'm not too cool so I did anyway). There were mixed reviews on the web about the food, but I was in it for the experience. But when it came down to eating, I was pleasantly surprised. I started off with salmon chowder. It was delicious. We both had steak. I had the Steak Neptune, which was sirloin topped with crab and shrimp stuffing and finished off with hollandaise. The soup came with the meal and the portions for my meal were huge! I wasn't a big fan of the stuffing, but the steak was cooked perfectly and the veggies on the side were peppery, buttery and delicious. I would eat here again. The Airplane Restaurant is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker. Built in 1953, this magnificent airplane refueled aircraft throughout the world. Then, in May 2002, it began its second mission~ to be the preeminent aviation restaurant in the United States.
(4)
Neesh Q.
What a great experience! From beginning to end, it was a ride! Servers are super friendly and very much in character which was delightful. My 18 month old was obsessed with the cockpit which is open for kids to play in. Tons of buttons and gadgets for little fingers to explore and keep busy before the food arrives at the table. He had a great time playing with the servers and actually have one of them a hug at the end! They also provide crayons which helped keep him busy. My Cant Go Wrong recommendation: The sweet potato fries are AMAZING. They are doused in some kind of syrup that is magical. Definitely have this. Burger- the cheeseburger is awesome, made more awesome by choosing pepper jack as your cheese. Spinach artichoke dip
(4)
H. M.
Highly recommended Delicious homemade food from scratch. Unique atmosphere. Fun for all ages. Tons of aeronautic paraphernalia. And we ate inside an actual airplane. Great friendly owner who is passionate about airplanes who can be easily coaxed to give tours.
(5)
Jennifer F.
We were so pleasantly surprised!!!! We were visiting family and our son LOVES airplanes! We thought we would give this place a try not really expecting much ( thinking tourist trap) and It was awesome! The hostess & all the servers were warm and welcoming. We were lucky enough to sit in the plane for our meal, all the servers encouraged both our kids to go fly the plane, hang up their pictures, & have fun. Then the food came and it was delicious! They make their own salad dressings and everything is made to order. It literally was like Mama's home cooking! Their tea is real brewed tea and another person in our group had a margarita and she said it was perfect. If you are looking for fun place to take the kiddos with good food and good drinks at reasonable prices this is the place. If you don't want kids running by your table or are not into the airplane theme, don't sit in the airplane to eat....sit in the bar or restaurant....your food will still be great.
(5)
Bruce K.
For an air traveling nutcase like myself who logs tens of thousands of air miles every year, this is a pretty neat little place. I expected the food to be mediocre in return for a fabulous experience and I was wrong. The hostess and the wait staff are all dressed as flight attendants and that's pretty neat. And even if the upstairs restaurant is packed, you can still walk through it and check out the flight deck area, where you can fiddle with the control yoke, push on the rudders and flip random switches. Fun, even for a grown up like me. Fortunately, there was also an industrial sized pump container of Purell on the way out! The food was actually pretty decent though not spectacular. Sandwiches and burgers and salads - typical pub grub stuff. I had a Reuben, but they offer it here with bison meat which was different and tasty. It's a "go once" type of thing. I wouldn't make this a regular haunt. Tip: Don't miss the autographed picture by Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon! Awesomesauce!
(5)
Eric S.
It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you have kids that enjoy airplanes. I had the guacamole burger which was pretty good. Food portions were a decent size and quality was ok. Don't know if I'd visit just for the food, but the overall experience was pretty good.
(3)
D.j. G.
The food was okay, but our server was nonexistent throughout our meal. It was not busy and they had plenty if people working so I'm not sure why it took us 2:15 total time to have dinner. Would not return or recommend. The restaurant in our hotel has better food and was much faster/friendly staff.
(2)
Daphne F.
This is a great little restaurant, located near several hotels by the airport. Be sure to call ahead if you want to sit within the fuselage of the airplane, seating is limited. We were able to sit 5 people (2 big adults, and kids 17,9,6 yrs old) in the larger booth. Theming in the rest of the restaurant is great, too. Everyone can go up in the cockpit and play with the controls. Service was great, and with a smile. The food was good... Salad greens fresh, mixed appetizer sampler is huge. Chicken tenders are actual chicken tenders that are battered and fried, not pre-processed frozen meat. Teriyaki Salmon was done perfectly and came with rice/veggies that were great. The Honey Mustard dressing is homemade, and very good on the chicken sandwich. Only issue: The kids meal came with a dill pickle spear, and the juice from it got all over one of the two chicken tenders that my son ordered. He hates pickles, and would not eat it. Luckily, his brother had an extra on the huge sampler. We'll be back in future visits!
(4)
Kevin M.
The place is ok, as long as you don't have your expectations set too high going in. It's a fun experience for the kids if you can dine in the airplane, so call for reservations. The food is average, and I had a little trouble getting past the smell of the place...
(3)
Emily S.
I've been here twice now and after tonight I'm not sure why I returned a second time. The first time my husband took me here on a date and I thought it was fun to sit in the plane, the food was mediocre at best considering the burger was underseasoned and the nachos were greasy and steak was well done instead of the ordered medium. We thought all in all it was okay the experience was fun and that was it. Tonight we decided to take our son(we were in the area) and thought it would be fun. We were joined by a few friends and family so we had a party of 8. The place was "booked" as far as we saw some of the big tables weren't filled for the 1hr and 10min we were there. So we were seated in the bar area, it was freezing, we asked to be switched and got the same "we're sorry we're completely booked" line. So we dropped it and went ahead and ordered. The waitress turned off the fans and it was slightly better, but maybe 10 minutes later someone turned them on again, that went on for a little and finally we asked if the fire place could be turned on(since there was only thermostat for the whole restaurant, we figured maybe since we were the only ones in the bar area and only ones near the fireplace it would be fine) our waitress came back and said someone would be over shortly to turn it on. We waited for a good 20 minutes and still nothing, by the time our food came out around 35 minutes no one came by to turn the fireplace on. So while we received our food we mentioned again to the waitress. She went and asked a manager or someone and she said someone would again be by to turn it on. After roughly 45 minutes we were all freezing and still nobody to turn it on. After 50 minutes we decided we were done. The food which was again mediocre at best was cold and we were dealing with fussy infants and children from the cold so we went and got our checks. When we mentioned the reason we were leaving the waitress again apologized and pointed out a manager who just so happened to be the owner's wife. We addressed the issue and instead of apologizing she simply placed the blame on our waitress saying "she should have been more proactive about the situation". The owner eventually rolled around and we again complained he mentioned that he'd just turned the a/c off in the restaurant (while hinting to the fact we'd inconvenienced the whole restaurant) but we'd already paid and were leaving. No words of apology were offered from either owners and we left completely dissatisfied and hating the fact we'd spent almost $170 there. In short, restaurant is owned and ran by some of the worst restaurant owners I've ever met(and I'm Asian, there are some mean Asian restaurant owners). Food was over priced and not even that good. If you go there, just know you're paying for the experience and nothing more.
(1)
Matt M.
The kids loved the plane. Our waitress was nice. But... it took forever to be seated and even longer to get our mediocre/over-priced food. This place needs a serious makeover and new management. We will not be going back.
(1)
Christian B.
This is a unique place across the street from the Colorado Springs Airport. An old tanker aircraft converted into a restaurant. The whole place from when you walk through the front door has an whimsical and nostalgic feel to it. The hostess at the front door greets you as if you were a passenger that is about ready to board a plane. The tables have an old fashioned aerial map printed on them and the menus are printed on newspaper. All the wait staff are dressed as pilots and the waitress, or stewardess, talks to you as if you are on a plane ready to take off. I had the honey chicken sandwich which was tasty and delicious and very good portioned for the cost, it came with a choice of fries or seasoned coleslaw. At the end of the meal your stewardess thanks you for flying with us. A trip to the restroom will treat you to the sound of jets taking off from a speaker above the door. To complete your trip you can visit the gift shop to by souvenirs such as t-shirts, teddy bears and a collectors glass and many more items. This is a great theme restaurant thats sure to entertain both kids and adults of all ages!
(4)
Jason T.
I had the baked spaghetti and it was pretty good. I wish it had more pasta and less other stuff and a little more flavor. I would go back. Service was just right and everyone at the Airplane was really nice.
(3)
Christina K.
I recently had dinner here as part of a large group and it was a great experience. We didn't get to eat in the plane, butter staff took time to give the kids a tour. That was really cool! The food was good. I would highly recommend the sticky fries. They are steak cut sweet potato fries with a sweet sauce on them. Yummy!!! The service was excellent and the mDe sure to speak with airplane references. It was quite fun.
(4)
Paige H.
My 3 kids loved this place! When we walked in, there was a 15 min wait to sit in the actual plane. This worked out great for us. We were able to walk around and look at the pictures and plane memorabilia in the main restaurant. While doing this one of the waiters/flight attendants told us we could visit the cockpit while we waited. The girls and I dashed up the "jetway" and played in the captain/first officer/ engineer chairs. That 15 min went way too quickly :) The service was excellent. The food was traditional american diner food. I did get the tilapia special and enjoyed it. Highly recommend it, especially if you have kids.
(4)
Tiffany M.
Went for the first time, up front seemed chaotic. Old guy was training a new girl, and made things way too hard. Then walking us to our table, he asked a trivia question and noone knew the answer, he unappropriatley made a comment about us not know, which pissed me off. Other than that it was nice, food was nice. It does need a clean up. Fresh paint and dusting, carpet change and such. And prob fire the old guy up front!
(3)
Cathy S.
The food was passable, but nothing worth walking up all those stairs to eat. The servers were very nice and attentive. The bison Reuben, of the three dishes ordered, was the best.
(2)
Ian H.
The atmosphere was cool, because your eating on a old war plane. Yet that is were it stopped. I came witha party of six, and everyones food was cold. I ordered the chipotlie, and it was dry along with cold vegies and rice. My Brother in law ordered a medium cooked steak, and got a rare one instead. I was driving across country, and was hoping to have a good time. I was left with nothing but disappointment.
(1)
Wendy S.
We were in the area on a cross-country road trip with 3 teens/Tweens. The Airplane Restaurant was the only nearby option. We had low expectations, but were pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had. The waitstaff was attentive, the food was better than expected, martini's were perfect, and the kids enjoyed the fun of eating in the plane. Our waiter was very helpful accommodating my husband's vegan diet and brought the kids a special New Year's Eve dessert. We ended up having a great time!
(4)
Valerie F.
Really bad. Took 45 minutes just to take our order. Bland, poorly prepared food. Salad was right out of a bag and brown around the edges. We sat in the airplane which is different, but it was dirty in there. This restaurant is living off the fact it is in a plane and putting zero effort into food and service.
(1)
Barb D.
Atmosphere nice, but interior a bit too dark. Prices way too high for average meal. $15.00 for spaghetti with meatballs (and that was the daily special). $10.00 for a burger. Very limited menu and service is slow. I would suggest not to waste your money, there are a lot better restaurants out there
(1)
Richard I.
Wow! The reviews on this place are all over the place! BLUF - Overall, I'd take business associates here and my own family. Not a "date" place unless one or both of you are into planes. I reserve 5 out of 5 for places that are true 5 star, which is MUCH more expensive! First, I eat lunch here at least once a month and have stopped by for beers and bar food in the evening because of people staying at the Radisson. Their location is probably why they are not packed. It is directly west of where the old Colorado Springs civie airport terminal once was. They don't advertize (that I know of) and I think it is why I rarily see the place packed. If you let them know you are in a hurry (usually lunch time), they will make sure to get you out quickly. Second, the pictures, models, and aircraft memorabilia is interesting. For a first time visit, it is awesome. This is why I take people there from work that are current or prior military and/or history buffs. Eating in the terminal area is better unless you have kids with you. Third, the food. I've read some horrible reviews and just don't see it! I've had burgers, clubs, reubins, and salads there (the Crasin Walnut salad with steak strips is my favorite) and every time it was better than good. Not great, but the meat (chicken or beef) was always good quality. Our Unit secretary loves it when we get sweet potatoe fries to go for her. Finally, price. If you are looking for the pricing of McDonald's or Popeye's (a negative reviewer actually said something about that!). Their prices are a few dollars over AppleBee's and Red Robin, but their food is not "chain-store" pre-packaged either. This place actually cooks food and doesn't follow a rote recipe from some corporate kitchen.
(4)
Jessica G.
Frozen food. Food was uninspired and not fresh. We ordered the wings. Well we ordered what they called "boneless wings". They brought us wings with bones, which I didn't mind mistakes happen I simply told the waitress we ordered boneless wings. She quickly took it back and brought us the "boneless wings". The waitress just placed it on the table and walked away. I called her over because I was thinking she messed up again and brought us some kids chicken nuggets. She said no those were them. Surprised I asked her if these were just frozen nuggets. She said literally said "Ya. It says it right there." No joke. I let it go because it's never smart to get on the nerves of your waiter when you are only on your appetizer. But that cost us $9 for a small basket of frozen nuggets. I told my husband that I could have went to Costco and bought an entire bag of these and warmed them up for him. So needless to say the rest of the food was edible but not worth the money, really. The restaurant building itself is cool. Eating in an airplane was cool. But the menu is boring and overpriced. Definitely not going back. Even with a coupon. Fun for kids who eat anything and want to play in a cockpit tho.
(1)
Jeff C.
Loved the aviation theme! The service was great very friendly. I had the guacamole burger food was good and the fries we crispy and hot always a bonus. Great for kids both big and small.
(3)
Matt M.
The kids loved the plane. Our waitress was nice. But... it took forever to be seated and even longer to get our mediocre/over-priced food. This place needs a serious makeover and new management. We will not be going back.
(1)
Emily S.
I've been here twice now and after tonight I'm not sure why I returned a second time. The first time my husband took me here on a date and I thought it was fun to sit in the plane, the food was mediocre at best considering the burger was underseasoned and the nachos were greasy and steak was well done instead of the ordered medium. We thought all in all it was okay the experience was fun and that was it. Tonight we decided to take our son(we were in the area) and thought it would be fun. We were joined by a few friends and family so we had a party of 8. The place was "booked" as far as we saw some of the big tables weren't filled for the 1hr and 10min we were there. So we were seated in the bar area, it was freezing, we asked to be switched and got the same "we're sorry we're completely booked" line. So we dropped it and went ahead and ordered. The waitress turned off the fans and it was slightly better, but maybe 10 minutes later someone turned them on again, that went on for a little and finally we asked if the fire place could be turned on(since there was only thermostat for the whole restaurant, we figured maybe since we were the only ones in the bar area and only ones near the fireplace it would be fine) our waitress came back and said someone would be over shortly to turn it on. We waited for a good 20 minutes and still nothing, by the time our food came out around 35 minutes no one came by to turn the fireplace on. So while we received our food we mentioned again to the waitress. She went and asked a manager or someone and she said someone would again be by to turn it on. After roughly 45 minutes we were all freezing and still nobody to turn it on. After 50 minutes we decided we were done. The food which was again mediocre at best was cold and we were dealing with fussy infants and children from the cold so we went and got our checks. When we mentioned the reason we were leaving the waitress again apologized and pointed out a manager who just so happened to be the owner's wife. We addressed the issue and instead of apologizing she simply placed the blame on our waitress saying "she should have been more proactive about the situation". The owner eventually rolled around and we again complained he mentioned that he'd just turned the a/c off in the restaurant (while hinting to the fact we'd inconvenienced the whole restaurant) but we'd already paid and were leaving. No words of apology were offered from either owners and we left completely dissatisfied and hating the fact we'd spent almost $170 there. In short, restaurant is owned and ran by some of the worst restaurant owners I've ever met(and I'm Asian, there are some mean Asian restaurant owners). Food was over priced and not even that good. If you go there, just know you're paying for the experience and nothing more.
(1)
Sheila H.
Food was mediocre at best. Service was awful. Management was worse. Neat looking and fun for the kids but they seriously need an improved menu and management. Pricey for what it was.
(1)
Jim N.
Took the family & grandkids here for dinner and had a great meal amid very interesting surroundings. They do a great job with decor for the restaurant. Food was outstanding! (Salads, burgers, chicken & beverages....terrific Caesar Salad). I recommend it!
(3)
Hou T.
This place was good. Ample parking, easy to get to from the main road and close to The Radisson, TownePlace Suites and Springhill Suites. Upon entering you will see a tremendous amount of patches, photos, and other nostalgic flight items. Very interesting! The place had every wall covered with it! A host will tell you about the history of the place and give you a tour. Two dining areas to choose from, one the main open air area or upstairs in the airplane. We choose upstairs which was all booth seating. It was quaint and quiet, perfect. Our "flight attendant", aka waitress was prompt and courteous. We ordered the potato skins which was excellent, nice crisp and delicious. Our drinks were a bit pricey but large. I had the turkey Ruben which I must say was quiet good. It was made with a marbled rye. Yes the prices are bit overpriced but the portions are HUGE. Try this place out you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Shannon W.
I and my family like this restaurant very much. Although, it could use a good cleaning inside the airplane. The burgers are good and they sell blue moon and diet coke. If the condition were improved on the inside of the airplane it would be perfect. Oh and the kids love playing in the cockpit!
(4)
Renee M.
My family of 8 ate here on a Sunday afternoon when we decided to head to Colorado Springs in hopes to have an adventure. The experience of eating in the plane and playing in the cockpit was why our kids loved the restaurant. The food was a little expensive, especially considering it wasn't that great. It wasn't terrible either. Our waitress was fun and friendly and helped us have a fun time.
(3)
Andrea H.
When our food finally came one order of 'chicken' strips was pink in the middle and another order was burnt. The server came over to see nobody was eating their meals. She asked if everything was ok and one of us answered 'I guess'. We were just going to leave it at that and stomach what we could but she then repeatedly asked what the problem was and said she could take the 'chicken' meals away but that was our 'last cop out'. Because of the attitude two of the three with 'chicken' let her take the meals away. She then returned to the table to see two other meals almost untouched and asked if those were bad too. I did tell her that it wasn't anything we could eat and all we could stomach was the mozzarella sticks and fries. She then offered dessert on the house but we didn't even want to begin to try anything else there. The manger then came to the table and we explained that the one order of 'chicken' was pink in the middle but he told us that couldn't happen because they temp their food. As we were leaving we noticed the chef was preparing customers food while eating and licking his fingers! What little we did force down has caused us all to feel nauseous.
(1)
Anne J.
The novelty of having dinner inside a big old airplane is worth at least a couple of stars. We went so the kids could enjoy that aspect of it. I visited years ago, and correctly recalled the food being mediocre. I had the broaster chicken (oops, I don't eat wheat and stupidly forgot that the chicken would be breaded), which came out somewhat overcooked, small, and dry. We had to send one kid's meal back more than once, and the steamed veggies were passable only because they were soaked in butter and salt. Out flight attendant was exhausted - had been working all day, so I won't complain as she tried. I had my heart set all day on the roasted half herbed chicken at Rock Bottom, but gave it up for the kids to go to the airplane...next time, my vote wins.
(2)
William P.
I wish I could give this review negative stars. Both my wife and I suffered from food poisoning after dining here. The concept is neat, and the decor is an eclectic collection of aeronautica. However, the restaurant portion of the experience is so far below par I cannot summon words putrid enough to describe it. The service was so so, the food was sub-mediocre and the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Twice actually, as I tasted it going down, as well as coming back up a few hours later. I had a salmon pasta dish that was inundated with capers. My "salmon" had the texture of tuna from a can. The flavor of canned tuna would have been preferable though as the "salmon" was so overpowered by some awful sauce. She had the ribs, which tasted of spoiled, rotted meat. The only good thing we had here was the salad. save yourself the hassle, just eat out of the nearest dumpster. It will likely have the same result for much less money.
(1)
CandiAnne S.
I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing and the service is out of this world. We called for reservations this afternoon and we were told there was a party of 50 coming in at 5 so it would be best to be sat before then, especially if we wanted to sit in the plane. This was a great help in planning our visit. The food was all cooked to perfection and our steaks absolutely melted in our mouth. Been here before a few years back before moving out of state for a couple years, glad to be back and will be visiting here again and again.
(4)
Joe T.
My family flew here from Ohio for a week and I made a reservation because of the novelty of the restaurant. When we came though, it was the hardly even mediocre! The food was dry and bland and the noodles in my pasta were still crunchy. We went for dinner and afterward the atmosphere was more like a bar than a classy restaurant! Better to go to Burger King than this place.
(1)
Jeff G.
What's with the one star ratings? I'll grant you that this restaurant isn't the most swank restaurant in the world. But how many restaurants do you know that have a plane built into it? Enough said. The restaurant atmosphere is light hearted. It hasn't changed much over the years. Reminds me of a Bennigan's back in the day when they still existed. The food isn't anything too memorable but its dependable and tasty. Our server was nice too. If anything, i think this restaurant suffers from location a little. I say that only because this place would always be hopping if it were closer to the north side of C-Springs.
(4)
Tracy T.
Ok, so we didn't go here for the food due to all the negative reviews, but we went just to eat on a plane. With that being said, the food wasn't so bad because we knew what to expect... Denny's or bar & grill type of food and that's exactly what we got. Food: Kid got Stevie's Wings aka hot wings with the teriyaki & garlic sauce... they were HOT! She said they were good, but too hot and she likes hot stuff. I got the Philly Flyer aka Philly cheese steak. It was "ok". However, I did get the sweet potato sticky fries which were pretty dagon good. We had a coupon so the cost of our meals and drinks only came to $18, so not too bad since I saved $8.00. Its really cool because the menu is kind of like an old newspaper that you get to take home and keep. You also go get to view the cockpit and sit in the pilot seats. Mind you, this is old stuff and not a brand new plane! Still fun! Overall it was a pleasant experience since we knew what to expect. So, thank you to all you yelpers for sharing your experiences so we could have a good one!! :)
(4)
Kim M.
I found the food to be very average to decent, along the line of a Denny's or bar food chain restaurant. The prices were definitely higher than the quality of food should command, but I brought my kids here for the novelty of eating in the airplane. When we came in between lunch and dinner the place was near dead. Service was a little slow, but friendly and courteous. I have a feeling it was because we were one of only two parties inside the plane, which is attached to and one flight of stairs above the main restaurant, kind of a pain for the servers. The table tops in the plane were made from old flight maps from all over the world. We found it ironic that our table was a flight chart of our home city. The menus are interesting, printed as a newspaper that you can take home as a souvenir that has all kinds of interesting historical aviation facts. If you prefer to eat inside the conventional part of the restaurant, there is still plenty to see. The wing of the airplane, complete with the prop cuts through the maid dining area, and there is plenty of memorabilia scattered around. The bathrooms also pipe in sounds of takeoff and landings. The hamburgers were higher quality than I expected after the previous reviews, and although it was not a typical spinach/artichoke dip, we still enjoyed it. I had the chicken quesadillas, the server said it was one of her favorites, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant solely on the food, but the combination of the novelty and decent eats makes it a great one time stop for anyone interested in aviation or for families with kids.
(3)
Ronda D.
Fun atmosphere, good food, and very good service. Worth the drive!!!
(4)
Lou G.
My wife and I ate here several years ago. We thought the food was good American food at a good price. We ate here last Friday night, again good American food at a good price. Nothing overly great and nothing overly bad. Our "flight attendant" was nice and helpful. The food was hot . My wife had a hamburger and onion rings. I had a Ruben and fries. Both were oversized and tasty. We both like this restaurant and will continue to visit when we are in the mood for good food, good prices and a quiet meal.
(3)
Penguin S.
Noticed a lot of bad reviews here and that they are mostly a year old. I ate here a few days ago and had an opposite experience. The food was great, really moist chicken marsala, nicely prepared grilled veggies and the rice with peas was perfectly done. I did get to eat in the plane, last booth available at 1300h. Service was really great. I was well taken care of, was asked for a refill before my drink was empty, got a checkback after my meal arrived and the server, dressed in a captain's uniform, was all smiles and accomodating. "Do I wan't dessert? Um, yes, but I'm all full up at the moment, so maybe next time." The restrooms were very clean and I loved the piped in sounds of planes landing. If you have the airplane disease like I do, don't miss a trip to the lavatory for this interesting experience! The carpets were clean and I loved the atmosphere. So many photos of planes and models hanging from the ceiling. That huge wing coming into the dining is really rad! Their menu must be new, as it's far from limited, as another poster mentioned. Many selections to choose from. It's printed as a newspaper with aviation history and most people seemed to want to take one as a souvineer. I did! They have salads, sandwiches, entrees, apps. It was very hard to make a decision! The waitress/captain helped. My chicken marsala with sides came to under $11. People around me raved about their meals (the plane tends to allow sound to travel well). The burgers were said to be wonderful and the buns seemed fresh baked. I want to try one. The woman behind me loved the soup, which I was told was made fresh in the restaurant, not canned or packaged. She had brought friends in, an older couple. The wife had been here when the husband was in the hospital. She loved it so much, and he was in the airforce and wanted to see the place. They came down from Denver to visit their friend and to dine here. He loved it. (The things you can pick up from listening in to other conversations!) I didn't see dessert listed on the menu so I have no idea of those selections. I did take a look around at the wonderful aviation history all along the walls. You can enter the plane's cockpit and push buttons. Bring a camera! Be sure to check out the aft of the plane to learn how it used to do mid-air refueling. Got to speak to one of the owners on my way out. She told me they recently were able to purchase the building and have been able to do much more with the place since then. Based on my visit, I can't understand the low ratings and off reviews. Maybe they've improved. Maybe I picked a lucky day. But I can't say a bad thing about the place, except I wish they had more planes! I can't wait to go back for another meal! (And FYI, I got to speak to Debbie, the owner, on my way out. I asked where they got all their plane photos and such. They do take donations. If you have extra photos or models or ads and such, consider a donation and add to the atmosphere!)
(5)
Jamie L.
Love the Restaurant! The staff it so friendly! the food is terrific! The atmosphere is amazing and unique! Steve and his wife Debbie treat everyone that walks through that door as if they are family! I mean come on you get to go sit inside of an old KC-97 Airplane to eat your lunch or dinner! i highly recommend this place! it is an experience of a life time!
(5)
Ryan F.
This is one of those places you can take your kids...once. Then, if they want to go back, you make them do your bidding as far as getting the house clean and the lawn mowed so that they can pay you for the money you are going to spend on what is mostly just experience. The airplane, whether you dine in it or not, is cool. No doubt about it. There are lights in the cockpit that allow for some good blog/Facebook pictures. The food, on the hand, is a different story. I ordered bread sticks. They clearly came from something frozen because the crust on the outside was done, and warm-ish, but the string cheese inside was semi-warm and you could tell that it was once string cheese, it hadn't melted at all. My wife did enjoy her salad...so, 1/2 a star. If you can manage to screw up salad you really shouldn't be open...so that's why only 1/2 a star. My soup was warm. It was French Onion Soup. Heavy on the soup, not so much on the onions...they were virtually non-existent...so I'm not sure where French falls in. My kids got kids meals. I have two sons. My oldest got Macaroni and Cheese which, clearly, is something Kraft-like that came out of a box. My youngest got a grilled cheese sandwich. It appeared that was handmade, and my son ate it...around the part that wasn't melted in the middle, which, for him, is a deal-breaker because your cheese on a grilled cheese sandwich should be, to quote him, "gooey-cheesy-licious." My wife got the Fettuccine Florentine. The noodles were a little underdone and heavy. The sauce was pretty heavy-handed on the cream, so it was heavy on heavy...not a good combo. I got the Buffalo Steak. It was good. I got it cooked medium because I knew that with the little fat content in buffalo meat, having it cooked well would result in a hockey puck. I still got the hockey puck...just with a pink center.. There was a shining moment in the dinner: the sticky sweet potato fries. They are served with a vinegar/sugar reduction that makes you THINK there is honey or maple syrup on it. However, when you look at the serving in comparison with the cut of meat and the, literally 1/4 cup or less of a vegetable medley...I felt like that was all I had eaten. So, I'll give another 1/2 star for the sweet potato fries. The other star comes from our server. While the food was less than we expected our server was great! Which should give you an idea of how hit or miss this place is. Two half-stars for the food and one for the service... It's a great experience, but, it might be better served as a museum for aviation stuff inside a plane and a connected building...the food is really not anything to write home about. Serve the drinks and the sweet potatoes...that's about it...
(2)
Elianny S.
This place should not call itself a restaurant, because once I hear the word restaurant I'm expecting at worst edible or hopefully delicious food which will warrant me giving you my money. We went here for a work related event and I ordered the tuna salad. They really made this sound delicious but what arrived was something that I wouldn't even give my dog. The tuna was completely inedible, I took a bite and had to force myself to swallow it. The rest of the salad was a total hot mess that included weird limp noodles, dry white lettuce and peanuts. My sister ordered a cheeseburger that was bland, and dry but at least edible. The sticky sweet potato fries were ok but nothing amazing. The waitress was really nice and at the end she was very apologetic when I said the salad was just not good. The one star is strictly for the novelty factor of being inside an airplane and my nephew and niece had a good time playing in the cockpit.
(1)
Charles M.
I read all the reviews in advance. I knew what to expect, I thought. My 2 granddaughters had a great time on the plane. Their children's meal was edible and reasonable in price. Because of what I read and observed when we arrived I just decided to have the turkey club. How could you mess that up, I thought. Well, here's how. Globule fatty bacon that is not even cooked, turkey that is round as is from the grocery store and more slices of bread than turkey. The fries were barely warm. This was all ok because the girls were having a good time and I knew what I was getting into. The thing I was shocked at was the waitress asked if I wanted a box to take home the fatty uncooked bacon and the extra bread I had placed on my plate. I guess I could have taken it home and cooked it, but I declined and just asked for my check. Then I was surprised that when I gave my credit card for the 32 dollar bill, I received it back with a charge of $67. I guess they thought I would not notice. They voided out that after a 10 minute wait. I then just paid in cash They manager talked to us on the way out with an semi apology. What could we do to make iT better? My response "fire the cooks". She assured me it was just a series of mistakes. Don't make the same mistake. Go with your kids. Order the kids meals for them and just order a dinner salad and have correct change. That way no one is disappointed. This is really sad because this could be great.
(1)
Spiro T.
One visit is plenty for this place. Of course, it has aviation-themed decor and you can opt to dine in the actual airplane. Definitely a unique experience. I wish that I could say the same about the food. Their food is nothing special. Their burger buns were somewhat stale/crumbly and the fries were forgettable. Also, if you choose to dine in the airplane, expect slower service as compared to the main dining room. Overall, good place to take the kids once. They need to improve the food to earn repeat customers.
(2)
Tony D.
Nice place to take your kids one time... Service is slow and much slower if you elect to be in the plane. I have been a couple times and been sick after each visit. My daughter ordered a chocolate milkshake on one visit and we received frozen milk and chocolate sauce we had to stir ourselves. Take the kids, show the plane but avoid eating here until they fix their menu and service.
(1)
Brian M.
Love the aviation theme and the abundance of memorabilia and models. Waitstaff not very pleasant and long delay just to get seated despite restaurant more than half empty. Restaurant tables, floors and the models all need a good cleaning. Food was good but nothing special. Menu descriptions not entirely accurate as parmesan cheese added to penne despite not being on the menu. Would come for the atmosphere but that's about it.
(2)
Neesh Q.
What a great experience! From beginning to end, it was a ride! Servers are super friendly and very much in character which was delightful. My 18 month old was obsessed with the cockpit which is open for kids to play in. Tons of buttons and gadgets for little fingers to explore and keep busy before the food arrives at the table. He had a great time playing with the servers and actually have one of them a hug at the end! They also provide crayons which helped keep him busy. My Cant Go Wrong recommendation: The sweet potato fries are AMAZING. They are doused in some kind of syrup that is magical. Definitely have this. Burger- the cheeseburger is awesome, made more awesome by choosing pepper jack as your cheese. Spinach artichoke dip
(4)
H. M.
Highly recommended Delicious homemade food from scratch. Unique atmosphere. Fun for all ages. Tons of aeronautic paraphernalia. And we ate inside an actual airplane. Great friendly owner who is passionate about airplanes who can be easily coaxed to give tours.
(5)
Sean P.
This is a greatly unique and fun restaurant! I've never seen a setup like this, if you're into aeronautics then this is the place for you! There is an actual full size airplane mated to the restaurant that you can eat your dinner in if you so choose! The food is solid for being traditional American burgers and such and at a reasonable price. Overall a great place to try out!
(5)
Jennifer F.
We were so pleasantly surprised!!!! We were visiting family and our son LOVES airplanes! We thought we would give this place a try not really expecting much ( thinking tourist trap) and It was awesome! The hostess & all the servers were warm and welcoming. We were lucky enough to sit in the plane for our meal, all the servers encouraged both our kids to go fly the plane, hang up their pictures, & have fun. Then the food came and it was delicious! They make their own salad dressings and everything is made to order. It literally was like Mama's home cooking! Their tea is real brewed tea and another person in our group had a margarita and she said it was perfect. If you are looking for fun place to take the kiddos with good food and good drinks at reasonable prices this is the place. If you don't want kids running by your table or are not into the airplane theme, don't sit in the airplane to eat....sit in the bar or restaurant....your food will still be great.
(5)
Bruce K.
For an air traveling nutcase like myself who logs tens of thousands of air miles every year, this is a pretty neat little place. I expected the food to be mediocre in return for a fabulous experience and I was wrong. The hostess and the wait staff are all dressed as flight attendants and that's pretty neat. And even if the upstairs restaurant is packed, you can still walk through it and check out the flight deck area, where you can fiddle with the control yoke, push on the rudders and flip random switches. Fun, even for a grown up like me. Fortunately, there was also an industrial sized pump container of Purell on the way out! The food was actually pretty decent though not spectacular. Sandwiches and burgers and salads - typical pub grub stuff. I had a Reuben, but they offer it here with bison meat which was different and tasty. It's a "go once" type of thing. I wouldn't make this a regular haunt. Tip: Don't miss the autographed picture by Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon! Awesomesauce!
(5)
Christian B.
This is a unique place across the street from the Colorado Springs Airport. An old tanker aircraft converted into a restaurant. The whole place from when you walk through the front door has an whimsical and nostalgic feel to it. The hostess at the front door greets you as if you were a passenger that is about ready to board a plane. The tables have an old fashioned aerial map printed on them and the menus are printed on newspaper. All the wait staff are dressed as pilots and the waitress, or stewardess, talks to you as if you are on a plane ready to take off. I had the honey chicken sandwich which was tasty and delicious and very good portioned for the cost, it came with a choice of fries or seasoned coleslaw. At the end of the meal your stewardess thanks you for flying with us. A trip to the restroom will treat you to the sound of jets taking off from a speaker above the door. To complete your trip you can visit the gift shop to by souvenirs such as t-shirts, teddy bears and a collectors glass and many more items. This is a great theme restaurant thats sure to entertain both kids and adults of all ages!
(4)
Jason T.
I had the baked spaghetti and it was pretty good. I wish it had more pasta and less other stuff and a little more flavor. I would go back. Service was just right and everyone at the Airplane was really nice.
(3)
Kristin C.
We have traveled to CO Springs many different times and I have always wanted to eat at the restaurant. We finally got to today. My kids are older now, so it wasn't quite the experience for them. The staff was great. My son's sandwich was huge and he loved it. I had the chicken philly. The chicken was dry.
(3)
Junior B.
Not shure where the reviews are this way but this is some great food great atmosphere great people and just a ball to have the kids sit in the airplane. I really enjoyed it we had fun and will go back in a heartbeat. I had to swiss mushroom burger which was a big plate the also have the wings a little dry but they were good. Our waitress I believe was Susan was one of the best we had what we were visiting Colorado Springs the bartender nice and sweet as can be thank you for the good time we will be back. It was nice to see the owner come out and talk to us as we were sitting
(5)
Mr B.
What a great and exciting dining experience! I ordered the full order of baby back ribs which were truly cooked to perfection! I would highly recommend a visit to this fine dining establishment - sit back and enjoy your flight!
(5)
Deb G.
Yes, we are now fans of The Airplane Restaurant, but it has room for improvement. Loved sitting in the airplane, served by our Flight Attendant, and having the opportunity to check out the cockpit! That was really cool! The food, however, could be better. It is just mediocre for the high price and service was a bit slow. But all things considered, we would return as it is a very interesting place, a great nostalgic setup & museum, and everyone was very friendly. I just think our menu choices will be "safer" items in the future. Great place to take out-of-town visitors. :)
(4)
Timothy S.
Definitely worth visiting once. I recommend a reservation, so you can sit in the plane - but they have a decent restaurant building connected to it for walk-ins too. It might be difficult to follow a meal plan like whole foods, low carb, or vegan here. However, it is a nice splurge for the kids.
(3)
Robert C.
Ok. Food stinks, but fun to eat in an airplane. Good service, nice waiter. Terminal and airplane are well worn. Small kids will love it. Its located right next to Colorado Springs airport. Fun idea. It made the list of top 10 unusual restaurants in U.S...but that was the driest burger i have eaten in awhile , which is a bummer because they looked great. The sticky sweet potato fries were yummy.
(3)
Sue N.
The sirloin steak is broiled, fish platter mediocre, alcohol expensive, but the sticky sweet potato fries and stuffed mushrooms are the reasons I will go back there Service is very slow but the waitress, Jane, very friendly and of course apologetic because of the slowness of the kitchen
(3)
Samantha L.
The food was decent, but the real reason to go here is for the fun and quirkyness of eating on a plane. The staff was really nice, although it take us a while to get seated since no one was at the hostess desk.
(3)
Jeremy J.
Where to start? How about,well, the airplane! It's pretty incredible seeing it built into the restaurant. You can eat in the plane or sit in the terminal at the regular tables. The plane is definitely warmer than the rest of the place. The pictures and memorabilia on the walls are fun to look at and provide some interesting history. The wait staff is super friendly and attentive when they're not rushed. Where they miss is on the food. No beating around the bush here, it's just not that great. Not sure if it's the inexperience of the line cooks or inattentiveness of the management but it's not that good. A hamburger shouldn't be a dried out commercial patty that's been burnt on one side and cool on the other. Very disappointing. The kids will love the place and it's a novelty, but take it in stride if you're reading this and you still end up going.
(2)
Tony B.
The Facebook page does the restaurant more justice then Yelp 4.1 out of 5 out of 936 reviews.Very cool restaurant, best restaurant I've eaten in, in a while food was great and the hospitality was incredible, met the owner Steve which new his stuff when it came to aviation, also met a WWII hero that ate there everyday because of the atmosphere and great food, it's a must eat place and will make this a first stop place every time I come into Colorado Springs
(5)
Bryan R.
My daughter had a kid's menu chicken. It was much bigger than expected for 4.99. I had the honey mustard chicken sandwich it was mothah freakin' DELICIOUS! Actually that's exactly what I said when the Waitress(Jennifer) asked me and the couple next to us bust out laughing. We also had their nachos for an app. I had no cheese and sour cream, that was my choice. The vegetables were amazing and fresh. Jennifer was just the sweetest waitress we could have asked for. Kudos to her! Nothing against the rest of the staff they seemed good to at their tables. But she was awesome to us.
(5)
Jessica H.
I surprised my husband with this on our vacation to Colorado Springs. He isn't very outspoken but I think he enjoyed it. I certainly did! Just like any plane ride, it had it's ups and downs. The idea of eating in an old airplane is cool. No really, it is, and it's ok to succumb to the hype and admit it. It's neat. There are other places to sit within the restaurant other than the airplane so you might want to request a seat in the plane. I didn't want to chance it so I asked before she had the option. The first thing I noticed when we sat down was how hot it was! It's stuffy, hot and painfully quiet. They should have music playing or something. The 'theme' was well played out. The waitresses acted like flight attendants, the menu told about the history and had flighty names for food. While I waited for my meal, I decided to board the cockpit and try my hand at flying this thing with a little help from my new friends (aka children, yes, I was probably a bit too old to be checking out the cockpit but I'm not too cool so I did anyway). There were mixed reviews on the web about the food, but I was in it for the experience. But when it came down to eating, I was pleasantly surprised. I started off with salmon chowder. It was delicious. We both had steak. I had the Steak Neptune, which was sirloin topped with crab and shrimp stuffing and finished off with hollandaise. The soup came with the meal and the portions for my meal were huge! I wasn't a big fan of the stuffing, but the steak was cooked perfectly and the veggies on the side were peppery, buttery and delicious. I would eat here again. The Airplane Restaurant is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker. Built in 1953, this magnificent airplane refueled aircraft throughout the world. Then, in May 2002, it began its second mission~ to be the preeminent aviation restaurant in the United States.
(4)
Cherie C.
This is a restaurant that I would recommend to go to at least once if staying in the nearby hotels. I probably won't go back but it was an interesting experience. Upon entering, we immediately smelled the strong odors of cleaning products used in the bathrooms near the entrance. Walking through to the back, the smell mixed with the stuffiness of an old library. Eating in the airplane is pretty neat, and makes for a fun experience. You can check out the cockpit, and also see where the boom operator would lay. We started with the Caesar salad and it was quite good. I ate all of mine. I ordered the teriyaki salmon. I was curious where the salmon came from and although the waitress didn't know exactly off hand she later got me more information despite me being satisfied with her initial response. The salmon was cooked very nicely but it could have done with less teriyaki sauce. It was smothered in it. The vegetables did not appear to be fresh though I didn't try them; they truthfully didn't look very appetizing. I ordered a side of the sweet potato fries; they were mostly good. The fries were definitely sweeter than what I was used to. It seemed like they coated them in something. The only problem with the sweet potato fries was that they were too thick and didn't get cooked all the way through. My husband's steak tasted very good and was cooked to his liking. He thought the mashed potatoes tasted funny, as did I after trying them. He asked for a side of fries and the waitress switched the mashed potatoes out for him at no extra charge. Overall it's an interesting experience, definitely touristy, but one experience there is all I need.
(4)
D.j. G.
The food was okay, but our server was nonexistent throughout our meal. It was not busy and they had plenty if people working so I'm not sure why it took us 2:15 total time to have dinner. Would not return or recommend. The restaurant in our hotel has better food and was much faster/friendly staff.
(2)
Daphne F.
This is a great little restaurant, located near several hotels by the airport. Be sure to call ahead if you want to sit within the fuselage of the airplane, seating is limited. We were able to sit 5 people (2 big adults, and kids 17,9,6 yrs old) in the larger booth. Theming in the rest of the restaurant is great, too. Everyone can go up in the cockpit and play with the controls. Service was great, and with a smile. The food was good... Salad greens fresh, mixed appetizer sampler is huge. Chicken tenders are actual chicken tenders that are battered and fried, not pre-processed frozen meat. Teriyaki Salmon was done perfectly and came with rice/veggies that were great. The Honey Mustard dressing is homemade, and very good on the chicken sandwich. Only issue: The kids meal came with a dill pickle spear, and the juice from it got all over one of the two chicken tenders that my son ordered. He hates pickles, and would not eat it. Luckily, his brother had an extra on the huge sampler. We'll be back in future visits!
(4)
Kevin M.
The place is ok, as long as you don't have your expectations set too high going in. It's a fun experience for the kids if you can dine in the airplane, so call for reservations. The food is average, and I had a little trouble getting past the smell of the place...
(3)
Jim M.
I'll grudgingly grant 2 stars because (a) the waitress was relatively cheerful and friendly and (b) the reuben was tasty. If you have time to kill, you'll love this place, because you'll kill plenty of time waiting for your meal. I was there just before noon and in the area I was sitting, more tables were open than had people. I parked right in front, so not sure what the hold up was....but 40 minutes from being seated to seeing food show up.
(2)
Taylor S.
Interesting restaurant. How many people can say they've eaten in an airplane turned restaurant? Very friendly waiters/waitresses and EXCELLENT alcoholic drinks. I definitely suggest the blue max. In saying that, I say stick to the booze. Food...not so much. Loud atmosphere, a little crowded. If you're in a group over four, you won't be at the same table. Make reservations if you actually want to eat in the airplane. Once again, the food is airline food. The vegetables were definitely green giant steamers. Pricey for the quality. If you have kids, they'll probably have a decent time. Otherwise, just take some pictures from the outside and don't go in.
(3)
Woozy F.
Food was ok but overpriced. Salmon salad was good. Apple crisp was just way too sweet. Would not go again. There are better options in COS
(3)
Eric S.
It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you have kids that enjoy airplanes. I had the guacamole burger which was pretty good. Food portions were a decent size and quality was ok. Don't know if I'd visit just for the food, but the overall experience was pretty good.
(3)
LaTonia W.
There was a huge party of folks with some really loud kids. (Reflects parents not the restaurant however) The waiter was nice but seemed a little worn out. (maybe he had been there all day) Oh, and walking up and down those stairs can be taxing I'm sure. If you are overweight, you're going to love sitting in the plane portion of the restaurant. A 400 pound person could sit comfortably in the booth if you can make it up the stairs. I'm a big girl and I had to scoot to the edge of my seat to eat. I had the T-bone steak with veggies and loaded baked potatoe...$18.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Daughter had the Steak Neptune (smothered in hollandaise sauce with real crab and shrimp...yum)...$18.99 Hubby had the Salmon Neptune (smothered as well)...$16.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Brownie and Ice cream for dessert...$5.50 Very good too. Don't go there without a reservation or you may be waiting for 30-40 minutes on a weekday just to sit in the restaurant (not the airplane) because of tourists and special occasioners. Oh, and bring a wad of cash because as you can see, it is not cheap. We spent exactly $80.58 including a $10 tip. Luckily, we had a $25 gift certificate from Restaurant.com , so we spent $55.58 cash. Also, if you want rolls with your dinner, you'll have to ask for them. He didn't offer but I decided to ask for some considering the price of the food. Looked and tasted like Sister Shuster's yeast roll. We thought the food was good but because of the HIGH prices, we won't be back anytime soon. I think we'll try out MacKenzie's Chop House downtown. Looks like their prices are lower and it's definitely a Fine Dining restaurant.
(3)
James T.
Most people who have had a meal in an airplane don't have the best things to say about it. Of course we weren't in the air, but we were in a real airplane. The service matches the food, both of which struggle for mediocrity. I will say that the food is better than anything you get at 25,000 ft. However, the cleanliness brings the whole place down another notch. Their bathrooms appear to be on a weekly cleaning cycle, while the carpet cleaning looks to be done about every decade. On a more positive note, you can't miss the main attraction to the restaurant, which is an intact, retired Boeing KC-97, converted to an dining area. It was intriguing to see the refueling controls and cockpit of this old plane and the technology that was available in the early '50s with merely brain power and a slide rule. That alone made the visit worthwhile. The main dining room and bar are more of a museum of sorts, littered with every kind of aviation memorabilia imaginable. There are posters and propellers; models and miniatures. A real aircraft wing, compete with engines and props protrudes into the open space above the tables, creating the sensation of eating in a hanger. Just as a closing note; their artichoke dip is stellar.
(3)
Bunny G.
If you're an aviation enthusiast like everyone in my family then come here! Kids loved it. We didn't get to sit inside the airplane so that was a bummer. But we loved it anyway and if we're out in this neck of the woods we will be back. Worth checking out at least once!
(4)
Travis L.
Nice restaurant overall but the food is sub mediocre and expensive. Never had chewy bland chicken strips before and they were seasoned with what tastes and smell like pine needles. Should have stuck to my original plan and gone to Popeyes for chicken.
(1)
Debster G.
Such a cool restaurant. Food is okay for casual dining. Vintage aviation decor is fun. However, this place appears severely understaffed. Hostess was doing double duty and disappeared as diners bunched up in the lobby. I think, personally, they are overwhelmed by the large groups that frequent your establishment. If you're the owner, please help and support your hard-working staff...
(3)
Kurt A.
Honestly, the reviews have been so weak that we went for the airplane. Maybe it was because we weren't expecting anything but we were very happy with the food. I had a VERY good cup of french onion soup and a reuben with fries. My wife had a Philly Cheesesteak with coleslaw. We were both very happy with all of the food. We each took home half a sandwich as the portions are quite big. And the service deserves a special note. I wish I could remember the waitress'es....sorry, flight attendent's name. She was cheerful, helpful, and everything arrived hot and on time. She got a greater than 20% tip and that is saying something from someone that sticks religiously to 15%. If it were closer we would go for the food. As it is, we'll have to wait until we're in CO Spgs again.
(4)
Tiffany B.
I originally went to take my 3 year old son to eat on a real airplane and took the family. I was happily surprised to learn that food was very tasty. So not only did we create memories with the family we also ate good too. Double score!!
(3)
Janis S.
Had dinner here last night and it was OK. The service was good and eating in an airplane is very cool. Especially in a Fighter Pilot family. However, it does need a bit of updating. It seems a little dirty and not much lighting. I gave it 3 stars just because its something different....an airplane afterall. The food is good for what we had. We only had burgers and fries but the meat is not frozen, seemed to be formed by hand and the bun was a brioche...can't go wrong there. I've read a few other reviews here and think they are a bit harsh. The food isn't memorable but it was a place that my husband and son enjoyed. We would probably go back.
(3)
Paul P.
Good restaurant with standard food fare. Beware if you're looking for a quiet place, this is not it - as many families with kids are attracted to the novelty of eating in an airplane. The Asian salad was not light as I expected, and was constructed of what appeared to be lo mein noodles, cucumbers, and cabbage. But overall it worked ok - tasted good and was filling. Nice server let me order a kid's ice cream sundae for dessert. If you want it quiet, opt for eating outside the airplane, then visit later to see the inside. Also the walls of the restaurant are covered with interesting airplane memoribilia. It is a really cool place to eat, especially for people like me who have an interest in flying. Nice thing too is that you can eat dinner on an airplane with zero chance of crashing, and no seat belt required. Happy landings!
(3)
Andrew P.
Food was decent, nothing noteworthy, and service was somewhat slow. Its great for a single visit, especially with kids wanting to eat in the old tanker, but don't bother stopping by for a bite.
(2)
L H.
My son really wanted to eat here, so we did. The food was quite poor. There were places inside where it wasn't that clean and many moths. The saving grace was that the kids had fun eating in an actual plane.
(2)
Sarah P.
The Airplane restaurant itself it VERY cool! They have a huge airplane that is half in and half out of the restaurant. The food was so-so. My husband and I had the Chipotle Chicken. The chicken was flavored nicely with a dollop of chipotle mayo. The chicken was a tiny bit overcooked and the veggies they served on the side were the frozen variety. UG! I don't like paying for food at a restaurant when I know I can cook something better at home.
(3)
Benjamin B.
I haven't been back recently, but I feel compelled to reiterate my earlier review: Fail.
(1)
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Address :1665 N Newport Rd
Colorado Springs, CO, 80916
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Cherie C.
This is a restaurant that I would recommend to go to at least once if staying in the nearby hotels. I probably won't go back but it was an interesting experience. Upon entering, we immediately smelled the strong odors of cleaning products used in the bathrooms near the entrance. Walking through to the back, the smell mixed with the stuffiness of an old library. Eating in the airplane is pretty neat, and makes for a fun experience. You can check out the cockpit, and also see where the boom operator would lay. We started with the Caesar salad and it was quite good. I ate all of mine. I ordered the teriyaki salmon. I was curious where the salmon came from and although the waitress didn't know exactly off hand she later got me more information despite me being satisfied with her initial response. The salmon was cooked very nicely but it could have done with less teriyaki sauce. It was smothered in it. The vegetables did not appear to be fresh though I didn't try them; they truthfully didn't look very appetizing. I ordered a side of the sweet potato fries; they were mostly good. The fries were definitely sweeter than what I was used to. It seemed like they coated them in something. The only problem with the sweet potato fries was that they were too thick and didn't get cooked all the way through. My husband's steak tasted very good and was cooked to his liking. He thought the mashed potatoes tasted funny, as did I after trying them. He asked for a side of fries and the waitress switched the mashed potatoes out for him at no extra charge. Overall it's an interesting experience, definitely touristy, but one experience there is all I need.
(4)Tony B.
The Facebook page does the restaurant more justice then Yelp 4.1 out of 5 out of 936 reviews.Very cool restaurant, best restaurant I've eaten in, in a while food was great and the hospitality was incredible, met the owner Steve which new his stuff when it came to aviation, also met a WWII hero that ate there everyday because of the atmosphere and great food, it's a must eat place and will make this a first stop place every time I come into Colorado Springs
(5)Bryan R.
My daughter had a kid's menu chicken. It was much bigger than expected for 4.99. I had the honey mustard chicken sandwich it was mothah freakin' DELICIOUS! Actually that's exactly what I said when the Waitress(Jennifer) asked me and the couple next to us bust out laughing. We also had their nachos for an app. I had no cheese and sour cream, that was my choice. The vegetables were amazing and fresh. Jennifer was just the sweetest waitress we could have asked for. Kudos to her! Nothing against the rest of the staff they seemed good to at their tables. But she was awesome to us.
(5)Jim M.
I'll grudgingly grant 2 stars because (a) the waitress was relatively cheerful and friendly and (b) the reuben was tasty. If you have time to kill, you'll love this place, because you'll kill plenty of time waiting for your meal. I was there just before noon and in the area I was sitting, more tables were open than had people. I parked right in front, so not sure what the hold up was....but 40 minutes from being seated to seeing food show up.
(2)Taylor S.
Interesting restaurant. How many people can say they've eaten in an airplane turned restaurant? Very friendly waiters/waitresses and EXCELLENT alcoholic drinks. I definitely suggest the blue max. In saying that, I say stick to the booze. Food...not so much. Loud atmosphere, a little crowded. If you're in a group over four, you won't be at the same table. Make reservations if you actually want to eat in the airplane. Once again, the food is airline food. The vegetables were definitely green giant steamers. Pricey for the quality. If you have kids, they'll probably have a decent time. Otherwise, just take some pictures from the outside and don't go in.
(3)Woozy F.
Food was ok but overpriced. Salmon salad was good. Apple crisp was just way too sweet. Would not go again. There are better options in COS
(3)Debster G.
Such a cool restaurant. Food is okay for casual dining. Vintage aviation decor is fun. However, this place appears severely understaffed. Hostess was doing double duty and disappeared as diners bunched up in the lobby. I think, personally, they are overwhelmed by the large groups that frequent your establishment. If you're the owner, please help and support your hard-working staff...
(3)Christina K.
I recently had dinner here as part of a large group and it was a great experience. We didn't get to eat in the plane, butter staff took time to give the kids a tour. That was really cool! The food was good. I would highly recommend the sticky fries. They are steak cut sweet potato fries with a sweet sauce on them. Yummy!!! The service was excellent and the mDe sure to speak with airplane references. It was quite fun.
(4)Paige H.
My 3 kids loved this place! When we walked in, there was a 15 min wait to sit in the actual plane. This worked out great for us. We were able to walk around and look at the pictures and plane memorabilia in the main restaurant. While doing this one of the waiters/flight attendants told us we could visit the cockpit while we waited. The girls and I dashed up the "jetway" and played in the captain/first officer/ engineer chairs. That 15 min went way too quickly :) The service was excellent. The food was traditional american diner food. I did get the tilapia special and enjoyed it. Highly recommend it, especially if you have kids.
(4)Tiffany M.
Went for the first time, up front seemed chaotic. Old guy was training a new girl, and made things way too hard. Then walking us to our table, he asked a trivia question and noone knew the answer, he unappropriatley made a comment about us not know, which pissed me off. Other than that it was nice, food was nice. It does need a clean up. Fresh paint and dusting, carpet change and such. And prob fire the old guy up front!
(3)Cathy S.
The food was passable, but nothing worth walking up all those stairs to eat. The servers were very nice and attentive. The bison Reuben, of the three dishes ordered, was the best.
(2)Ian H.
The atmosphere was cool, because your eating on a old war plane. Yet that is were it stopped. I came witha party of six, and everyones food was cold. I ordered the chipotlie, and it was dry along with cold vegies and rice. My Brother in law ordered a medium cooked steak, and got a rare one instead. I was driving across country, and was hoping to have a good time. I was left with nothing but disappointment.
(1)Wendy S.
We were in the area on a cross-country road trip with 3 teens/Tweens. The Airplane Restaurant was the only nearby option. We had low expectations, but were pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had. The waitstaff was attentive, the food was better than expected, martini's were perfect, and the kids enjoyed the fun of eating in the plane. Our waiter was very helpful accommodating my husband's vegan diet and brought the kids a special New Year's Eve dessert. We ended up having a great time!
(4)Richard I.
Wow! The reviews on this place are all over the place! BLUF - Overall, I'd take business associates here and my own family. Not a "date" place unless one or both of you are into planes. I reserve 5 out of 5 for places that are true 5 star, which is MUCH more expensive! First, I eat lunch here at least once a month and have stopped by for beers and bar food in the evening because of people staying at the Radisson. Their location is probably why they are not packed. It is directly west of where the old Colorado Springs civie airport terminal once was. They don't advertize (that I know of) and I think it is why I rarily see the place packed. If you let them know you are in a hurry (usually lunch time), they will make sure to get you out quickly. Second, the pictures, models, and aircraft memorabilia is interesting. For a first time visit, it is awesome. This is why I take people there from work that are current or prior military and/or history buffs. Eating in the terminal area is better unless you have kids with you. Third, the food. I've read some horrible reviews and just don't see it! I've had burgers, clubs, reubins, and salads there (the Crasin Walnut salad with steak strips is my favorite) and every time it was better than good. Not great, but the meat (chicken or beef) was always good quality. Our Unit secretary loves it when we get sweet potatoe fries to go for her. Finally, price. If you are looking for the pricing of McDonald's or Popeye's (a negative reviewer actually said something about that!). Their prices are a few dollars over AppleBee's and Red Robin, but their food is not "chain-store" pre-packaged either. This place actually cooks food and doesn't follow a rote recipe from some corporate kitchen.
(4)Jessica G.
Frozen food. Food was uninspired and not fresh. We ordered the wings. Well we ordered what they called "boneless wings". They brought us wings with bones, which I didn't mind mistakes happen I simply told the waitress we ordered boneless wings. She quickly took it back and brought us the "boneless wings". The waitress just placed it on the table and walked away. I called her over because I was thinking she messed up again and brought us some kids chicken nuggets. She said no those were them. Surprised I asked her if these were just frozen nuggets. She said literally said "Ya. It says it right there." No joke. I let it go because it's never smart to get on the nerves of your waiter when you are only on your appetizer. But that cost us $9 for a small basket of frozen nuggets. I told my husband that I could have went to Costco and bought an entire bag of these and warmed them up for him. So needless to say the rest of the food was edible but not worth the money, really. The restaurant building itself is cool. Eating in an airplane was cool. But the menu is boring and overpriced. Definitely not going back. Even with a coupon. Fun for kids who eat anything and want to play in a cockpit tho.
(1)Sheila H.
Food was mediocre at best. Service was awful. Management was worse. Neat looking and fun for the kids but they seriously need an improved menu and management. Pricey for what it was.
(1)Jim N.
Took the family & grandkids here for dinner and had a great meal amid very interesting surroundings. They do a great job with decor for the restaurant. Food was outstanding! (Salads, burgers, chicken & beverages....terrific Caesar Salad). I recommend it!
(3)Hou T.
This place was good. Ample parking, easy to get to from the main road and close to The Radisson, TownePlace Suites and Springhill Suites. Upon entering you will see a tremendous amount of patches, photos, and other nostalgic flight items. Very interesting! The place had every wall covered with it! A host will tell you about the history of the place and give you a tour. Two dining areas to choose from, one the main open air area or upstairs in the airplane. We choose upstairs which was all booth seating. It was quaint and quiet, perfect. Our "flight attendant", aka waitress was prompt and courteous. We ordered the potato skins which was excellent, nice crisp and delicious. Our drinks were a bit pricey but large. I had the turkey Ruben which I must say was quiet good. It was made with a marbled rye. Yes the prices are bit overpriced but the portions are HUGE. Try this place out you won't be disappointed.
(5)Shannon W.
I and my family like this restaurant very much. Although, it could use a good cleaning inside the airplane. The burgers are good and they sell blue moon and diet coke. If the condition were improved on the inside of the airplane it would be perfect. Oh and the kids love playing in the cockpit!
(4)Anne J.
The novelty of having dinner inside a big old airplane is worth at least a couple of stars. We went so the kids could enjoy that aspect of it. I visited years ago, and correctly recalled the food being mediocre. I had the broaster chicken (oops, I don't eat wheat and stupidly forgot that the chicken would be breaded), which came out somewhat overcooked, small, and dry. We had to send one kid's meal back more than once, and the steamed veggies were passable only because they were soaked in butter and salt. Out flight attendant was exhausted - had been working all day, so I won't complain as she tried. I had my heart set all day on the roasted half herbed chicken at Rock Bottom, but gave it up for the kids to go to the airplane...next time, my vote wins.
(2)Joe T.
My family flew here from Ohio for a week and I made a reservation because of the novelty of the restaurant. When we came though, it was the hardly even mediocre! The food was dry and bland and the noodles in my pasta were still crunchy. We went for dinner and afterward the atmosphere was more like a bar than a classy restaurant! Better to go to Burger King than this place.
(1)Tracy T.
Ok, so we didn't go here for the food due to all the negative reviews, but we went just to eat on a plane. With that being said, the food wasn't so bad because we knew what to expect... Denny's or bar & grill type of food and that's exactly what we got. Food: Kid got Stevie's Wings aka hot wings with the teriyaki & garlic sauce... they were HOT! She said they were good, but too hot and she likes hot stuff. I got the Philly Flyer aka Philly cheese steak. It was "ok". However, I did get the sweet potato sticky fries which were pretty dagon good. We had a coupon so the cost of our meals and drinks only came to $18, so not too bad since I saved $8.00. Its really cool because the menu is kind of like an old newspaper that you get to take home and keep. You also go get to view the cockpit and sit in the pilot seats. Mind you, this is old stuff and not a brand new plane! Still fun! Overall it was a pleasant experience since we knew what to expect. So, thank you to all you yelpers for sharing your experiences so we could have a good one!! :)
(4)Jeff G.
What's with the one star ratings? I'll grant you that this restaurant isn't the most swank restaurant in the world. But how many restaurants do you know that have a plane built into it? Enough said. The restaurant atmosphere is light hearted. It hasn't changed much over the years. Reminds me of a Bennigan's back in the day when they still existed. The food isn't anything too memorable but its dependable and tasty. Our server was nice too. If anything, i think this restaurant suffers from location a little. I say that only because this place would always be hopping if it were closer to the north side of C-Springs.
(4)Barb D.
Atmosphere nice, but interior a bit too dark. Prices way too high for average meal. $15.00 for spaghetti with meatballs (and that was the daily special). $10.00 for a burger. Very limited menu and service is slow. I would suggest not to waste your money, there are a lot better restaurants out there
(1)Sarah P.
The Airplane restaurant itself it VERY cool! They have a huge airplane that is half in and half out of the restaurant. The food was so-so. My husband and I had the Chipotle Chicken. The chicken was flavored nicely with a dollop of chipotle mayo. The chicken was a tiny bit overcooked and the veggies they served on the side were the frozen variety. UG! I don't like paying for food at a restaurant when I know I can cook something better at home.
(3)Benjamin B.
I haven't been back recently, but I feel compelled to reiterate my earlier review: Fail.
(1)Ryan F.
This is one of those places you can take your kids...once. Then, if they want to go back, you make them do your bidding as far as getting the house clean and the lawn mowed so that they can pay you for the money you are going to spend on what is mostly just experience. The airplane, whether you dine in it or not, is cool. No doubt about it. There are lights in the cockpit that allow for some good blog/Facebook pictures. The food, on the hand, is a different story. I ordered bread sticks. They clearly came from something frozen because the crust on the outside was done, and warm-ish, but the string cheese inside was semi-warm and you could tell that it was once string cheese, it hadn't melted at all. My wife did enjoy her salad...so, 1/2 a star. If you can manage to screw up salad you really shouldn't be open...so that's why only 1/2 a star. My soup was warm. It was French Onion Soup. Heavy on the soup, not so much on the onions...they were virtually non-existent...so I'm not sure where French falls in. My kids got kids meals. I have two sons. My oldest got Macaroni and Cheese which, clearly, is something Kraft-like that came out of a box. My youngest got a grilled cheese sandwich. It appeared that was handmade, and my son ate it...around the part that wasn't melted in the middle, which, for him, is a deal-breaker because your cheese on a grilled cheese sandwich should be, to quote him, "gooey-cheesy-licious." My wife got the Fettuccine Florentine. The noodles were a little underdone and heavy. The sauce was pretty heavy-handed on the cream, so it was heavy on heavy...not a good combo. I got the Buffalo Steak. It was good. I got it cooked medium because I knew that with the little fat content in buffalo meat, having it cooked well would result in a hockey puck. I still got the hockey puck...just with a pink center.. There was a shining moment in the dinner: the sticky sweet potato fries. They are served with a vinegar/sugar reduction that makes you THINK there is honey or maple syrup on it. However, when you look at the serving in comparison with the cut of meat and the, literally 1/4 cup or less of a vegetable medley...I felt like that was all I had eaten. So, I'll give another 1/2 star for the sweet potato fries. The other star comes from our server. While the food was less than we expected our server was great! Which should give you an idea of how hit or miss this place is. Two half-stars for the food and one for the service... It's a great experience, but, it might be better served as a museum for aviation stuff inside a plane and a connected building...the food is really not anything to write home about. Serve the drinks and the sweet potatoes...that's about it...
(2)Jamie L.
Love the Restaurant! The staff it so friendly! the food is terrific! The atmosphere is amazing and unique! Steve and his wife Debbie treat everyone that walks through that door as if they are family! I mean come on you get to go sit inside of an old KC-97 Airplane to eat your lunch or dinner! i highly recommend this place! it is an experience of a life time!
(5)Elianny S.
This place should not call itself a restaurant, because once I hear the word restaurant I'm expecting at worst edible or hopefully delicious food which will warrant me giving you my money. We went here for a work related event and I ordered the tuna salad. They really made this sound delicious but what arrived was something that I wouldn't even give my dog. The tuna was completely inedible, I took a bite and had to force myself to swallow it. The rest of the salad was a total hot mess that included weird limp noodles, dry white lettuce and peanuts. My sister ordered a cheeseburger that was bland, and dry but at least edible. The sticky sweet potato fries were ok but nothing amazing. The waitress was really nice and at the end she was very apologetic when I said the salad was just not good. The one star is strictly for the novelty factor of being inside an airplane and my nephew and niece had a good time playing in the cockpit.
(1)Kim M.
I found the food to be very average to decent, along the line of a Denny's or bar food chain restaurant. The prices were definitely higher than the quality of food should command, but I brought my kids here for the novelty of eating in the airplane. When we came in between lunch and dinner the place was near dead. Service was a little slow, but friendly and courteous. I have a feeling it was because we were one of only two parties inside the plane, which is attached to and one flight of stairs above the main restaurant, kind of a pain for the servers. The table tops in the plane were made from old flight maps from all over the world. We found it ironic that our table was a flight chart of our home city. The menus are interesting, printed as a newspaper that you can take home as a souvenir that has all kinds of interesting historical aviation facts. If you prefer to eat inside the conventional part of the restaurant, there is still plenty to see. The wing of the airplane, complete with the prop cuts through the maid dining area, and there is plenty of memorabilia scattered around. The bathrooms also pipe in sounds of takeoff and landings. The hamburgers were higher quality than I expected after the previous reviews, and although it was not a typical spinach/artichoke dip, we still enjoyed it. I had the chicken quesadillas, the server said it was one of her favorites, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant solely on the food, but the combination of the novelty and decent eats makes it a great one time stop for anyone interested in aviation or for families with kids.
(3)Travis L.
Nice restaurant overall but the food is sub mediocre and expensive. Never had chewy bland chicken strips before and they were seasoned with what tastes and smell like pine needles. Should have stuck to my original plan and gone to Popeyes for chicken.
(1)Ronda D.
Fun atmosphere, good food, and very good service. Worth the drive!!!
(4)Renee M.
My family of 8 ate here on a Sunday afternoon when we decided to head to Colorado Springs in hopes to have an adventure. The experience of eating in the plane and playing in the cockpit was why our kids loved the restaurant. The food was a little expensive, especially considering it wasn't that great. It wasn't terrible either. Our waitress was fun and friendly and helped us have a fun time.
(3)CandiAnne S.
I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing and the service is out of this world. We called for reservations this afternoon and we were told there was a party of 50 coming in at 5 so it would be best to be sat before then, especially if we wanted to sit in the plane. This was a great help in planning our visit. The food was all cooked to perfection and our steaks absolutely melted in our mouth. Been here before a few years back before moving out of state for a couple years, glad to be back and will be visiting here again and again.
(4)Andrea H.
When our food finally came one order of 'chicken' strips was pink in the middle and another order was burnt. The server came over to see nobody was eating their meals. She asked if everything was ok and one of us answered 'I guess'. We were just going to leave it at that and stomach what we could but she then repeatedly asked what the problem was and said she could take the 'chicken' meals away but that was our 'last cop out'. Because of the attitude two of the three with 'chicken' let her take the meals away. She then returned to the table to see two other meals almost untouched and asked if those were bad too. I did tell her that it wasn't anything we could eat and all we could stomach was the mozzarella sticks and fries. She then offered dessert on the house but we didn't even want to begin to try anything else there. The manger then came to the table and we explained that the one order of 'chicken' was pink in the middle but he told us that couldn't happen because they temp their food. As we were leaving we noticed the chef was preparing customers food while eating and licking his fingers! What little we did force down has caused us all to feel nauseous.
(1)William P.
I wish I could give this review negative stars. Both my wife and I suffered from food poisoning after dining here. The concept is neat, and the decor is an eclectic collection of aeronautica. However, the restaurant portion of the experience is so far below par I cannot summon words putrid enough to describe it. The service was so so, the food was sub-mediocre and the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Twice actually, as I tasted it going down, as well as coming back up a few hours later. I had a salmon pasta dish that was inundated with capers. My "salmon" had the texture of tuna from a can. The flavor of canned tuna would have been preferable though as the "salmon" was so overpowered by some awful sauce. She had the ribs, which tasted of spoiled, rotted meat. The only good thing we had here was the salad. save yourself the hassle, just eat out of the nearest dumpster. It will likely have the same result for much less money.
(1)Penguin S.
Noticed a lot of bad reviews here and that they are mostly a year old. I ate here a few days ago and had an opposite experience. The food was great, really moist chicken marsala, nicely prepared grilled veggies and the rice with peas was perfectly done. I did get to eat in the plane, last booth available at 1300h. Service was really great. I was well taken care of, was asked for a refill before my drink was empty, got a checkback after my meal arrived and the server, dressed in a captain's uniform, was all smiles and accomodating. "Do I wan't dessert? Um, yes, but I'm all full up at the moment, so maybe next time." The restrooms were very clean and I loved the piped in sounds of planes landing. If you have the airplane disease like I do, don't miss a trip to the lavatory for this interesting experience! The carpets were clean and I loved the atmosphere. So many photos of planes and models hanging from the ceiling. That huge wing coming into the dining is really rad! Their menu must be new, as it's far from limited, as another poster mentioned. Many selections to choose from. It's printed as a newspaper with aviation history and most people seemed to want to take one as a souvineer. I did! They have salads, sandwiches, entrees, apps. It was very hard to make a decision! The waitress/captain helped. My chicken marsala with sides came to under $11. People around me raved about their meals (the plane tends to allow sound to travel well). The burgers were said to be wonderful and the buns seemed fresh baked. I want to try one. The woman behind me loved the soup, which I was told was made fresh in the restaurant, not canned or packaged. She had brought friends in, an older couple. The wife had been here when the husband was in the hospital. She loved it so much, and he was in the airforce and wanted to see the place. They came down from Denver to visit their friend and to dine here. He loved it. (The things you can pick up from listening in to other conversations!) I didn't see dessert listed on the menu so I have no idea of those selections. I did take a look around at the wonderful aviation history all along the walls. You can enter the plane's cockpit and push buttons. Bring a camera! Be sure to check out the aft of the plane to learn how it used to do mid-air refueling. Got to speak to one of the owners on my way out. She told me they recently were able to purchase the building and have been able to do much more with the place since then. Based on my visit, I can't understand the low ratings and off reviews. Maybe they've improved. Maybe I picked a lucky day. But I can't say a bad thing about the place, except I wish they had more planes! I can't wait to go back for another meal! (And FYI, I got to speak to Debbie, the owner, on my way out. I asked where they got all their plane photos and such. They do take donations. If you have extra photos or models or ads and such, consider a donation and add to the atmosphere!)
(5)LaTonia W.
There was a huge party of folks with some really loud kids. (Reflects parents not the restaurant however) The waiter was nice but seemed a little worn out. (maybe he had been there all day) Oh, and walking up and down those stairs can be taxing I'm sure. If you are overweight, you're going to love sitting in the plane portion of the restaurant. A 400 pound person could sit comfortably in the booth if you can make it up the stairs. I'm a big girl and I had to scoot to the edge of my seat to eat. I had the T-bone steak with veggies and loaded baked potatoe...$18.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Daughter had the Steak Neptune (smothered in hollandaise sauce with real crab and shrimp...yum)...$18.99 Hubby had the Salmon Neptune (smothered as well)...$16.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Brownie and Ice cream for dessert...$5.50 Very good too. Don't go there without a reservation or you may be waiting for 30-40 minutes on a weekday just to sit in the restaurant (not the airplane) because of tourists and special occasioners. Oh, and bring a wad of cash because as you can see, it is not cheap. We spent exactly $80.58 including a $10 tip. Luckily, we had a $25 gift certificate from Restaurant.com , so we spent $55.58 cash. Also, if you want rolls with your dinner, you'll have to ask for them. He didn't offer but I decided to ask for some considering the price of the food. Looked and tasted like Sister Shuster's yeast roll. We thought the food was good but because of the HIGH prices, we won't be back anytime soon. I think we'll try out MacKenzie's Chop House downtown. Looks like their prices are lower and it's definitely a Fine Dining restaurant.
(3)James T.
Most people who have had a meal in an airplane don't have the best things to say about it. Of course we weren't in the air, but we were in a real airplane. The service matches the food, both of which struggle for mediocrity. I will say that the food is better than anything you get at 25,000 ft. However, the cleanliness brings the whole place down another notch. Their bathrooms appear to be on a weekly cleaning cycle, while the carpet cleaning looks to be done about every decade. On a more positive note, you can't miss the main attraction to the restaurant, which is an intact, retired Boeing KC-97, converted to an dining area. It was intriguing to see the refueling controls and cockpit of this old plane and the technology that was available in the early '50s with merely brain power and a slide rule. That alone made the visit worthwhile. The main dining room and bar are more of a museum of sorts, littered with every kind of aviation memorabilia imaginable. There are posters and propellers; models and miniatures. A real aircraft wing, compete with engines and props protrudes into the open space above the tables, creating the sensation of eating in a hanger. Just as a closing note; their artichoke dip is stellar.
(3)Bunny G.
If you're an aviation enthusiast like everyone in my family then come here! Kids loved it. We didn't get to sit inside the airplane so that was a bummer. But we loved it anyway and if we're out in this neck of the woods we will be back. Worth checking out at least once!
(4)Lou G.
My wife and I ate here several years ago. We thought the food was good American food at a good price. We ate here last Friday night, again good American food at a good price. Nothing overly great and nothing overly bad. Our "flight attendant" was nice and helpful. The food was hot . My wife had a hamburger and onion rings. I had a Ruben and fries. Both were oversized and tasty. We both like this restaurant and will continue to visit when we are in the mood for good food, good prices and a quiet meal.
(3)Valerie F.
Really bad. Took 45 minutes just to take our order. Bland, poorly prepared food. Salad was right out of a bag and brown around the edges. We sat in the airplane which is different, but it was dirty in there. This restaurant is living off the fact it is in a plane and putting zero effort into food and service.
(1)Charles M.
I read all the reviews in advance. I knew what to expect, I thought. My 2 granddaughters had a great time on the plane. Their children's meal was edible and reasonable in price. Because of what I read and observed when we arrived I just decided to have the turkey club. How could you mess that up, I thought. Well, here's how. Globule fatty bacon that is not even cooked, turkey that is round as is from the grocery store and more slices of bread than turkey. The fries were barely warm. This was all ok because the girls were having a good time and I knew what I was getting into. The thing I was shocked at was the waitress asked if I wanted a box to take home the fatty uncooked bacon and the extra bread I had placed on my plate. I guess I could have taken it home and cooked it, but I declined and just asked for my check. Then I was surprised that when I gave my credit card for the 32 dollar bill, I received it back with a charge of $67. I guess they thought I would not notice. They voided out that after a 10 minute wait. I then just paid in cash They manager talked to us on the way out with an semi apology. What could we do to make iT better? My response "fire the cooks". She assured me it was just a series of mistakes. Don't make the same mistake. Go with your kids. Order the kids meals for them and just order a dinner salad and have correct change. That way no one is disappointed. This is really sad because this could be great.
(1)Spiro T.
One visit is plenty for this place. Of course, it has aviation-themed decor and you can opt to dine in the actual airplane. Definitely a unique experience. I wish that I could say the same about the food. Their food is nothing special. Their burger buns were somewhat stale/crumbly and the fries were forgettable. Also, if you choose to dine in the airplane, expect slower service as compared to the main dining room. Overall, good place to take the kids once. They need to improve the food to earn repeat customers.
(2)Brian M.
Love the aviation theme and the abundance of memorabilia and models. Waitstaff not very pleasant and long delay just to get seated despite restaurant more than half empty. Restaurant tables, floors and the models all need a good cleaning. Food was good but nothing special. Menu descriptions not entirely accurate as parmesan cheese added to penne despite not being on the menu. Would come for the atmosphere but that's about it.
(2)Tony D.
Nice place to take your kids one time... Service is slow and much slower if you elect to be in the plane. I have been a couple times and been sick after each visit. My daughter ordered a chocolate milkshake on one visit and we received frozen milk and chocolate sauce we had to stir ourselves. Take the kids, show the plane but avoid eating here until they fix their menu and service.
(1)Kurt A.
Honestly, the reviews have been so weak that we went for the airplane. Maybe it was because we weren't expecting anything but we were very happy with the food. I had a VERY good cup of french onion soup and a reuben with fries. My wife had a Philly Cheesesteak with coleslaw. We were both very happy with all of the food. We each took home half a sandwich as the portions are quite big. And the service deserves a special note. I wish I could remember the waitress'es....sorry, flight attendent's name. She was cheerful, helpful, and everything arrived hot and on time. She got a greater than 20% tip and that is saying something from someone that sticks religiously to 15%. If it were closer we would go for the food. As it is, we'll have to wait until we're in CO Spgs again.
(4)Tiffany B.
I originally went to take my 3 year old son to eat on a real airplane and took the family. I was happily surprised to learn that food was very tasty. So not only did we create memories with the family we also ate good too. Double score!!
(3)Janis S.
Had dinner here last night and it was OK. The service was good and eating in an airplane is very cool. Especially in a Fighter Pilot family. However, it does need a bit of updating. It seems a little dirty and not much lighting. I gave it 3 stars just because its something different....an airplane afterall. The food is good for what we had. We only had burgers and fries but the meat is not frozen, seemed to be formed by hand and the bun was a brioche...can't go wrong there. I've read a few other reviews here and think they are a bit harsh. The food isn't memorable but it was a place that my husband and son enjoyed. We would probably go back.
(3)Paul P.
Good restaurant with standard food fare. Beware if you're looking for a quiet place, this is not it - as many families with kids are attracted to the novelty of eating in an airplane. The Asian salad was not light as I expected, and was constructed of what appeared to be lo mein noodles, cucumbers, and cabbage. But overall it worked ok - tasted good and was filling. Nice server let me order a kid's ice cream sundae for dessert. If you want it quiet, opt for eating outside the airplane, then visit later to see the inside. Also the walls of the restaurant are covered with interesting airplane memoribilia. It is a really cool place to eat, especially for people like me who have an interest in flying. Nice thing too is that you can eat dinner on an airplane with zero chance of crashing, and no seat belt required. Happy landings!
(3)Andrew P.
Food was decent, nothing noteworthy, and service was somewhat slow. Its great for a single visit, especially with kids wanting to eat in the old tanker, but don't bother stopping by for a bite.
(2)L H.
My son really wanted to eat here, so we did. The food was quite poor. There were places inside where it wasn't that clean and many moths. The saving grace was that the kids had fun eating in an actual plane.
(2)Jeff C.
Loved the aviation theme! The service was great very friendly. I had the guacamole burger food was good and the fries we crispy and hot always a bonus. Great for kids both big and small.
(3)Sean P.
This is a greatly unique and fun restaurant! I've never seen a setup like this, if you're into aeronautics then this is the place for you! There is an actual full size airplane mated to the restaurant that you can eat your dinner in if you so choose! The food is solid for being traditional American burgers and such and at a reasonable price. Overall a great place to try out!
(5)Junior B.
Not shure where the reviews are this way but this is some great food great atmosphere great people and just a ball to have the kids sit in the airplane. I really enjoyed it we had fun and will go back in a heartbeat. I had to swiss mushroom burger which was a big plate the also have the wings a little dry but they were good. Our waitress I believe was Susan was one of the best we had what we were visiting Colorado Springs the bartender nice and sweet as can be thank you for the good time we will be back. It was nice to see the owner come out and talk to us as we were sitting
(5)Mr B.
What a great and exciting dining experience! I ordered the full order of baby back ribs which were truly cooked to perfection! I would highly recommend a visit to this fine dining establishment - sit back and enjoy your flight!
(5)Deb G.
Yes, we are now fans of The Airplane Restaurant, but it has room for improvement. Loved sitting in the airplane, served by our Flight Attendant, and having the opportunity to check out the cockpit! That was really cool! The food, however, could be better. It is just mediocre for the high price and service was a bit slow. But all things considered, we would return as it is a very interesting place, a great nostalgic setup & museum, and everyone was very friendly. I just think our menu choices will be "safer" items in the future. Great place to take out-of-town visitors. :)
(4)Timothy S.
Definitely worth visiting once. I recommend a reservation, so you can sit in the plane - but they have a decent restaurant building connected to it for walk-ins too. It might be difficult to follow a meal plan like whole foods, low carb, or vegan here. However, it is a nice splurge for the kids.
(3)Robert C.
Ok. Food stinks, but fun to eat in an airplane. Good service, nice waiter. Terminal and airplane are well worn. Small kids will love it. Its located right next to Colorado Springs airport. Fun idea. It made the list of top 10 unusual restaurants in U.S...but that was the driest burger i have eaten in awhile , which is a bummer because they looked great. The sticky sweet potato fries were yummy.
(3)Sue N.
The sirloin steak is broiled, fish platter mediocre, alcohol expensive, but the sticky sweet potato fries and stuffed mushrooms are the reasons I will go back there Service is very slow but the waitress, Jane, very friendly and of course apologetic because of the slowness of the kitchen
(3)Samantha L.
The food was decent, but the real reason to go here is for the fun and quirkyness of eating on a plane. The staff was really nice, although it take us a while to get seated since no one was at the hostess desk.
(3)Jeremy J.
Where to start? How about,well, the airplane! It's pretty incredible seeing it built into the restaurant. You can eat in the plane or sit in the terminal at the regular tables. The plane is definitely warmer than the rest of the place. The pictures and memorabilia on the walls are fun to look at and provide some interesting history. The wait staff is super friendly and attentive when they're not rushed. Where they miss is on the food. No beating around the bush here, it's just not that great. Not sure if it's the inexperience of the line cooks or inattentiveness of the management but it's not that good. A hamburger shouldn't be a dried out commercial patty that's been burnt on one side and cool on the other. Very disappointing. The kids will love the place and it's a novelty, but take it in stride if you're reading this and you still end up going.
(2)Jessica H.
I surprised my husband with this on our vacation to Colorado Springs. He isn't very outspoken but I think he enjoyed it. I certainly did! Just like any plane ride, it had it's ups and downs. The idea of eating in an old airplane is cool. No really, it is, and it's ok to succumb to the hype and admit it. It's neat. There are other places to sit within the restaurant other than the airplane so you might want to request a seat in the plane. I didn't want to chance it so I asked before she had the option. The first thing I noticed when we sat down was how hot it was! It's stuffy, hot and painfully quiet. They should have music playing or something. The 'theme' was well played out. The waitresses acted like flight attendants, the menu told about the history and had flighty names for food. While I waited for my meal, I decided to board the cockpit and try my hand at flying this thing with a little help from my new friends (aka children, yes, I was probably a bit too old to be checking out the cockpit but I'm not too cool so I did anyway). There were mixed reviews on the web about the food, but I was in it for the experience. But when it came down to eating, I was pleasantly surprised. I started off with salmon chowder. It was delicious. We both had steak. I had the Steak Neptune, which was sirloin topped with crab and shrimp stuffing and finished off with hollandaise. The soup came with the meal and the portions for my meal were huge! I wasn't a big fan of the stuffing, but the steak was cooked perfectly and the veggies on the side were peppery, buttery and delicious. I would eat here again. The Airplane Restaurant is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker. Built in 1953, this magnificent airplane refueled aircraft throughout the world. Then, in May 2002, it began its second mission~ to be the preeminent aviation restaurant in the United States.
(4)Neesh Q.
What a great experience! From beginning to end, it was a ride! Servers are super friendly and very much in character which was delightful. My 18 month old was obsessed with the cockpit which is open for kids to play in. Tons of buttons and gadgets for little fingers to explore and keep busy before the food arrives at the table. He had a great time playing with the servers and actually have one of them a hug at the end! They also provide crayons which helped keep him busy. My Cant Go Wrong recommendation: The sweet potato fries are AMAZING. They are doused in some kind of syrup that is magical. Definitely have this. Burger- the cheeseburger is awesome, made more awesome by choosing pepper jack as your cheese. Spinach artichoke dip
(4)H. M.
Highly recommended Delicious homemade food from scratch. Unique atmosphere. Fun for all ages. Tons of aeronautic paraphernalia. And we ate inside an actual airplane. Great friendly owner who is passionate about airplanes who can be easily coaxed to give tours.
(5)Jennifer F.
We were so pleasantly surprised!!!! We were visiting family and our son LOVES airplanes! We thought we would give this place a try not really expecting much ( thinking tourist trap) and It was awesome! The hostess & all the servers were warm and welcoming. We were lucky enough to sit in the plane for our meal, all the servers encouraged both our kids to go fly the plane, hang up their pictures, & have fun. Then the food came and it was delicious! They make their own salad dressings and everything is made to order. It literally was like Mama's home cooking! Their tea is real brewed tea and another person in our group had a margarita and she said it was perfect. If you are looking for fun place to take the kiddos with good food and good drinks at reasonable prices this is the place. If you don't want kids running by your table or are not into the airplane theme, don't sit in the airplane to eat....sit in the bar or restaurant....your food will still be great.
(5)Bruce K.
For an air traveling nutcase like myself who logs tens of thousands of air miles every year, this is a pretty neat little place. I expected the food to be mediocre in return for a fabulous experience and I was wrong. The hostess and the wait staff are all dressed as flight attendants and that's pretty neat. And even if the upstairs restaurant is packed, you can still walk through it and check out the flight deck area, where you can fiddle with the control yoke, push on the rudders and flip random switches. Fun, even for a grown up like me. Fortunately, there was also an industrial sized pump container of Purell on the way out! The food was actually pretty decent though not spectacular. Sandwiches and burgers and salads - typical pub grub stuff. I had a Reuben, but they offer it here with bison meat which was different and tasty. It's a "go once" type of thing. I wouldn't make this a regular haunt. Tip: Don't miss the autographed picture by Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon! Awesomesauce!
(5)Eric S.
It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you have kids that enjoy airplanes. I had the guacamole burger which was pretty good. Food portions were a decent size and quality was ok. Don't know if I'd visit just for the food, but the overall experience was pretty good.
(3)D.j. G.
The food was okay, but our server was nonexistent throughout our meal. It was not busy and they had plenty if people working so I'm not sure why it took us 2:15 total time to have dinner. Would not return or recommend. The restaurant in our hotel has better food and was much faster/friendly staff.
(2)Daphne F.
This is a great little restaurant, located near several hotels by the airport. Be sure to call ahead if you want to sit within the fuselage of the airplane, seating is limited. We were able to sit 5 people (2 big adults, and kids 17,9,6 yrs old) in the larger booth. Theming in the rest of the restaurant is great, too. Everyone can go up in the cockpit and play with the controls. Service was great, and with a smile. The food was good... Salad greens fresh, mixed appetizer sampler is huge. Chicken tenders are actual chicken tenders that are battered and fried, not pre-processed frozen meat. Teriyaki Salmon was done perfectly and came with rice/veggies that were great. The Honey Mustard dressing is homemade, and very good on the chicken sandwich. Only issue: The kids meal came with a dill pickle spear, and the juice from it got all over one of the two chicken tenders that my son ordered. He hates pickles, and would not eat it. Luckily, his brother had an extra on the huge sampler. We'll be back in future visits!
(4)Kevin M.
The place is ok, as long as you don't have your expectations set too high going in. It's a fun experience for the kids if you can dine in the airplane, so call for reservations. The food is average, and I had a little trouble getting past the smell of the place...
(3)Emily S.
I've been here twice now and after tonight I'm not sure why I returned a second time. The first time my husband took me here on a date and I thought it was fun to sit in the plane, the food was mediocre at best considering the burger was underseasoned and the nachos were greasy and steak was well done instead of the ordered medium. We thought all in all it was okay the experience was fun and that was it. Tonight we decided to take our son(we were in the area) and thought it would be fun. We were joined by a few friends and family so we had a party of 8. The place was "booked" as far as we saw some of the big tables weren't filled for the 1hr and 10min we were there. So we were seated in the bar area, it was freezing, we asked to be switched and got the same "we're sorry we're completely booked" line. So we dropped it and went ahead and ordered. The waitress turned off the fans and it was slightly better, but maybe 10 minutes later someone turned them on again, that went on for a little and finally we asked if the fire place could be turned on(since there was only thermostat for the whole restaurant, we figured maybe since we were the only ones in the bar area and only ones near the fireplace it would be fine) our waitress came back and said someone would be over shortly to turn it on. We waited for a good 20 minutes and still nothing, by the time our food came out around 35 minutes no one came by to turn the fireplace on. So while we received our food we mentioned again to the waitress. She went and asked a manager or someone and she said someone would again be by to turn it on. After roughly 45 minutes we were all freezing and still nobody to turn it on. After 50 minutes we decided we were done. The food which was again mediocre at best was cold and we were dealing with fussy infants and children from the cold so we went and got our checks. When we mentioned the reason we were leaving the waitress again apologized and pointed out a manager who just so happened to be the owner's wife. We addressed the issue and instead of apologizing she simply placed the blame on our waitress saying "she should have been more proactive about the situation". The owner eventually rolled around and we again complained he mentioned that he'd just turned the a/c off in the restaurant (while hinting to the fact we'd inconvenienced the whole restaurant) but we'd already paid and were leaving. No words of apology were offered from either owners and we left completely dissatisfied and hating the fact we'd spent almost $170 there. In short, restaurant is owned and ran by some of the worst restaurant owners I've ever met(and I'm Asian, there are some mean Asian restaurant owners). Food was over priced and not even that good. If you go there, just know you're paying for the experience and nothing more.
(1)Matt M.
The kids loved the plane. Our waitress was nice. But... it took forever to be seated and even longer to get our mediocre/over-priced food. This place needs a serious makeover and new management. We will not be going back.
(1)Christian B.
This is a unique place across the street from the Colorado Springs Airport. An old tanker aircraft converted into a restaurant. The whole place from when you walk through the front door has an whimsical and nostalgic feel to it. The hostess at the front door greets you as if you were a passenger that is about ready to board a plane. The tables have an old fashioned aerial map printed on them and the menus are printed on newspaper. All the wait staff are dressed as pilots and the waitress, or stewardess, talks to you as if you are on a plane ready to take off. I had the honey chicken sandwich which was tasty and delicious and very good portioned for the cost, it came with a choice of fries or seasoned coleslaw. At the end of the meal your stewardess thanks you for flying with us. A trip to the restroom will treat you to the sound of jets taking off from a speaker above the door. To complete your trip you can visit the gift shop to by souvenirs such as t-shirts, teddy bears and a collectors glass and many more items. This is a great theme restaurant thats sure to entertain both kids and adults of all ages!
(4)Jason T.
I had the baked spaghetti and it was pretty good. I wish it had more pasta and less other stuff and a little more flavor. I would go back. Service was just right and everyone at the Airplane was really nice.
(3)Christina K.
I recently had dinner here as part of a large group and it was a great experience. We didn't get to eat in the plane, butter staff took time to give the kids a tour. That was really cool! The food was good. I would highly recommend the sticky fries. They are steak cut sweet potato fries with a sweet sauce on them. Yummy!!! The service was excellent and the mDe sure to speak with airplane references. It was quite fun.
(4)Paige H.
My 3 kids loved this place! When we walked in, there was a 15 min wait to sit in the actual plane. This worked out great for us. We were able to walk around and look at the pictures and plane memorabilia in the main restaurant. While doing this one of the waiters/flight attendants told us we could visit the cockpit while we waited. The girls and I dashed up the "jetway" and played in the captain/first officer/ engineer chairs. That 15 min went way too quickly :) The service was excellent. The food was traditional american diner food. I did get the tilapia special and enjoyed it. Highly recommend it, especially if you have kids.
(4)Tiffany M.
Went for the first time, up front seemed chaotic. Old guy was training a new girl, and made things way too hard. Then walking us to our table, he asked a trivia question and noone knew the answer, he unappropriatley made a comment about us not know, which pissed me off. Other than that it was nice, food was nice. It does need a clean up. Fresh paint and dusting, carpet change and such. And prob fire the old guy up front!
(3)Cathy S.
The food was passable, but nothing worth walking up all those stairs to eat. The servers were very nice and attentive. The bison Reuben, of the three dishes ordered, was the best.
(2)Ian H.
The atmosphere was cool, because your eating on a old war plane. Yet that is were it stopped. I came witha party of six, and everyones food was cold. I ordered the chipotlie, and it was dry along with cold vegies and rice. My Brother in law ordered a medium cooked steak, and got a rare one instead. I was driving across country, and was hoping to have a good time. I was left with nothing but disappointment.
(1)Wendy S.
We were in the area on a cross-country road trip with 3 teens/Tweens. The Airplane Restaurant was the only nearby option. We had low expectations, but were pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had. The waitstaff was attentive, the food was better than expected, martini's were perfect, and the kids enjoyed the fun of eating in the plane. Our waiter was very helpful accommodating my husband's vegan diet and brought the kids a special New Year's Eve dessert. We ended up having a great time!
(4)Valerie F.
Really bad. Took 45 minutes just to take our order. Bland, poorly prepared food. Salad was right out of a bag and brown around the edges. We sat in the airplane which is different, but it was dirty in there. This restaurant is living off the fact it is in a plane and putting zero effort into food and service.
(1)Barb D.
Atmosphere nice, but interior a bit too dark. Prices way too high for average meal. $15.00 for spaghetti with meatballs (and that was the daily special). $10.00 for a burger. Very limited menu and service is slow. I would suggest not to waste your money, there are a lot better restaurants out there
(1)Richard I.
Wow! The reviews on this place are all over the place! BLUF - Overall, I'd take business associates here and my own family. Not a "date" place unless one or both of you are into planes. I reserve 5 out of 5 for places that are true 5 star, which is MUCH more expensive! First, I eat lunch here at least once a month and have stopped by for beers and bar food in the evening because of people staying at the Radisson. Their location is probably why they are not packed. It is directly west of where the old Colorado Springs civie airport terminal once was. They don't advertize (that I know of) and I think it is why I rarily see the place packed. If you let them know you are in a hurry (usually lunch time), they will make sure to get you out quickly. Second, the pictures, models, and aircraft memorabilia is interesting. For a first time visit, it is awesome. This is why I take people there from work that are current or prior military and/or history buffs. Eating in the terminal area is better unless you have kids with you. Third, the food. I've read some horrible reviews and just don't see it! I've had burgers, clubs, reubins, and salads there (the Crasin Walnut salad with steak strips is my favorite) and every time it was better than good. Not great, but the meat (chicken or beef) was always good quality. Our Unit secretary loves it when we get sweet potatoe fries to go for her. Finally, price. If you are looking for the pricing of McDonald's or Popeye's (a negative reviewer actually said something about that!). Their prices are a few dollars over AppleBee's and Red Robin, but their food is not "chain-store" pre-packaged either. This place actually cooks food and doesn't follow a rote recipe from some corporate kitchen.
(4)Jessica G.
Frozen food. Food was uninspired and not fresh. We ordered the wings. Well we ordered what they called "boneless wings". They brought us wings with bones, which I didn't mind mistakes happen I simply told the waitress we ordered boneless wings. She quickly took it back and brought us the "boneless wings". The waitress just placed it on the table and walked away. I called her over because I was thinking she messed up again and brought us some kids chicken nuggets. She said no those were them. Surprised I asked her if these were just frozen nuggets. She said literally said "Ya. It says it right there." No joke. I let it go because it's never smart to get on the nerves of your waiter when you are only on your appetizer. But that cost us $9 for a small basket of frozen nuggets. I told my husband that I could have went to Costco and bought an entire bag of these and warmed them up for him. So needless to say the rest of the food was edible but not worth the money, really. The restaurant building itself is cool. Eating in an airplane was cool. But the menu is boring and overpriced. Definitely not going back. Even with a coupon. Fun for kids who eat anything and want to play in a cockpit tho.
(1)Jeff C.
Loved the aviation theme! The service was great very friendly. I had the guacamole burger food was good and the fries we crispy and hot always a bonus. Great for kids both big and small.
(3)Matt M.
The kids loved the plane. Our waitress was nice. But... it took forever to be seated and even longer to get our mediocre/over-priced food. This place needs a serious makeover and new management. We will not be going back.
(1)Emily S.
I've been here twice now and after tonight I'm not sure why I returned a second time. The first time my husband took me here on a date and I thought it was fun to sit in the plane, the food was mediocre at best considering the burger was underseasoned and the nachos were greasy and steak was well done instead of the ordered medium. We thought all in all it was okay the experience was fun and that was it. Tonight we decided to take our son(we were in the area) and thought it would be fun. We were joined by a few friends and family so we had a party of 8. The place was "booked" as far as we saw some of the big tables weren't filled for the 1hr and 10min we were there. So we were seated in the bar area, it was freezing, we asked to be switched and got the same "we're sorry we're completely booked" line. So we dropped it and went ahead and ordered. The waitress turned off the fans and it was slightly better, but maybe 10 minutes later someone turned them on again, that went on for a little and finally we asked if the fire place could be turned on(since there was only thermostat for the whole restaurant, we figured maybe since we were the only ones in the bar area and only ones near the fireplace it would be fine) our waitress came back and said someone would be over shortly to turn it on. We waited for a good 20 minutes and still nothing, by the time our food came out around 35 minutes no one came by to turn the fireplace on. So while we received our food we mentioned again to the waitress. She went and asked a manager or someone and she said someone would again be by to turn it on. After roughly 45 minutes we were all freezing and still nobody to turn it on. After 50 minutes we decided we were done. The food which was again mediocre at best was cold and we were dealing with fussy infants and children from the cold so we went and got our checks. When we mentioned the reason we were leaving the waitress again apologized and pointed out a manager who just so happened to be the owner's wife. We addressed the issue and instead of apologizing she simply placed the blame on our waitress saying "she should have been more proactive about the situation". The owner eventually rolled around and we again complained he mentioned that he'd just turned the a/c off in the restaurant (while hinting to the fact we'd inconvenienced the whole restaurant) but we'd already paid and were leaving. No words of apology were offered from either owners and we left completely dissatisfied and hating the fact we'd spent almost $170 there. In short, restaurant is owned and ran by some of the worst restaurant owners I've ever met(and I'm Asian, there are some mean Asian restaurant owners). Food was over priced and not even that good. If you go there, just know you're paying for the experience and nothing more.
(1)Sheila H.
Food was mediocre at best. Service was awful. Management was worse. Neat looking and fun for the kids but they seriously need an improved menu and management. Pricey for what it was.
(1)Jim N.
Took the family & grandkids here for dinner and had a great meal amid very interesting surroundings. They do a great job with decor for the restaurant. Food was outstanding! (Salads, burgers, chicken & beverages....terrific Caesar Salad). I recommend it!
(3)Hou T.
This place was good. Ample parking, easy to get to from the main road and close to The Radisson, TownePlace Suites and Springhill Suites. Upon entering you will see a tremendous amount of patches, photos, and other nostalgic flight items. Very interesting! The place had every wall covered with it! A host will tell you about the history of the place and give you a tour. Two dining areas to choose from, one the main open air area or upstairs in the airplane. We choose upstairs which was all booth seating. It was quaint and quiet, perfect. Our "flight attendant", aka waitress was prompt and courteous. We ordered the potato skins which was excellent, nice crisp and delicious. Our drinks were a bit pricey but large. I had the turkey Ruben which I must say was quiet good. It was made with a marbled rye. Yes the prices are bit overpriced but the portions are HUGE. Try this place out you won't be disappointed.
(5)Shannon W.
I and my family like this restaurant very much. Although, it could use a good cleaning inside the airplane. The burgers are good and they sell blue moon and diet coke. If the condition were improved on the inside of the airplane it would be perfect. Oh and the kids love playing in the cockpit!
(4)Renee M.
My family of 8 ate here on a Sunday afternoon when we decided to head to Colorado Springs in hopes to have an adventure. The experience of eating in the plane and playing in the cockpit was why our kids loved the restaurant. The food was a little expensive, especially considering it wasn't that great. It wasn't terrible either. Our waitress was fun and friendly and helped us have a fun time.
(3)Andrea H.
When our food finally came one order of 'chicken' strips was pink in the middle and another order was burnt. The server came over to see nobody was eating their meals. She asked if everything was ok and one of us answered 'I guess'. We were just going to leave it at that and stomach what we could but she then repeatedly asked what the problem was and said she could take the 'chicken' meals away but that was our 'last cop out'. Because of the attitude two of the three with 'chicken' let her take the meals away. She then returned to the table to see two other meals almost untouched and asked if those were bad too. I did tell her that it wasn't anything we could eat and all we could stomach was the mozzarella sticks and fries. She then offered dessert on the house but we didn't even want to begin to try anything else there. The manger then came to the table and we explained that the one order of 'chicken' was pink in the middle but he told us that couldn't happen because they temp their food. As we were leaving we noticed the chef was preparing customers food while eating and licking his fingers! What little we did force down has caused us all to feel nauseous.
(1)Anne J.
The novelty of having dinner inside a big old airplane is worth at least a couple of stars. We went so the kids could enjoy that aspect of it. I visited years ago, and correctly recalled the food being mediocre. I had the broaster chicken (oops, I don't eat wheat and stupidly forgot that the chicken would be breaded), which came out somewhat overcooked, small, and dry. We had to send one kid's meal back more than once, and the steamed veggies were passable only because they were soaked in butter and salt. Out flight attendant was exhausted - had been working all day, so I won't complain as she tried. I had my heart set all day on the roasted half herbed chicken at Rock Bottom, but gave it up for the kids to go to the airplane...next time, my vote wins.
(2)William P.
I wish I could give this review negative stars. Both my wife and I suffered from food poisoning after dining here. The concept is neat, and the decor is an eclectic collection of aeronautica. However, the restaurant portion of the experience is so far below par I cannot summon words putrid enough to describe it. The service was so so, the food was sub-mediocre and the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Twice actually, as I tasted it going down, as well as coming back up a few hours later. I had a salmon pasta dish that was inundated with capers. My "salmon" had the texture of tuna from a can. The flavor of canned tuna would have been preferable though as the "salmon" was so overpowered by some awful sauce. She had the ribs, which tasted of spoiled, rotted meat. The only good thing we had here was the salad. save yourself the hassle, just eat out of the nearest dumpster. It will likely have the same result for much less money.
(1)CandiAnne S.
I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing and the service is out of this world. We called for reservations this afternoon and we were told there was a party of 50 coming in at 5 so it would be best to be sat before then, especially if we wanted to sit in the plane. This was a great help in planning our visit. The food was all cooked to perfection and our steaks absolutely melted in our mouth. Been here before a few years back before moving out of state for a couple years, glad to be back and will be visiting here again and again.
(4)Joe T.
My family flew here from Ohio for a week and I made a reservation because of the novelty of the restaurant. When we came though, it was the hardly even mediocre! The food was dry and bland and the noodles in my pasta were still crunchy. We went for dinner and afterward the atmosphere was more like a bar than a classy restaurant! Better to go to Burger King than this place.
(1)Jeff G.
What's with the one star ratings? I'll grant you that this restaurant isn't the most swank restaurant in the world. But how many restaurants do you know that have a plane built into it? Enough said. The restaurant atmosphere is light hearted. It hasn't changed much over the years. Reminds me of a Bennigan's back in the day when they still existed. The food isn't anything too memorable but its dependable and tasty. Our server was nice too. If anything, i think this restaurant suffers from location a little. I say that only because this place would always be hopping if it were closer to the north side of C-Springs.
(4)Tracy T.
Ok, so we didn't go here for the food due to all the negative reviews, but we went just to eat on a plane. With that being said, the food wasn't so bad because we knew what to expect... Denny's or bar & grill type of food and that's exactly what we got. Food: Kid got Stevie's Wings aka hot wings with the teriyaki & garlic sauce... they were HOT! She said they were good, but too hot and she likes hot stuff. I got the Philly Flyer aka Philly cheese steak. It was "ok". However, I did get the sweet potato sticky fries which were pretty dagon good. We had a coupon so the cost of our meals and drinks only came to $18, so not too bad since I saved $8.00. Its really cool because the menu is kind of like an old newspaper that you get to take home and keep. You also go get to view the cockpit and sit in the pilot seats. Mind you, this is old stuff and not a brand new plane! Still fun! Overall it was a pleasant experience since we knew what to expect. So, thank you to all you yelpers for sharing your experiences so we could have a good one!! :)
(4)Kim M.
I found the food to be very average to decent, along the line of a Denny's or bar food chain restaurant. The prices were definitely higher than the quality of food should command, but I brought my kids here for the novelty of eating in the airplane. When we came in between lunch and dinner the place was near dead. Service was a little slow, but friendly and courteous. I have a feeling it was because we were one of only two parties inside the plane, which is attached to and one flight of stairs above the main restaurant, kind of a pain for the servers. The table tops in the plane were made from old flight maps from all over the world. We found it ironic that our table was a flight chart of our home city. The menus are interesting, printed as a newspaper that you can take home as a souvenir that has all kinds of interesting historical aviation facts. If you prefer to eat inside the conventional part of the restaurant, there is still plenty to see. The wing of the airplane, complete with the prop cuts through the maid dining area, and there is plenty of memorabilia scattered around. The bathrooms also pipe in sounds of takeoff and landings. The hamburgers were higher quality than I expected after the previous reviews, and although it was not a typical spinach/artichoke dip, we still enjoyed it. I had the chicken quesadillas, the server said it was one of her favorites, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant solely on the food, but the combination of the novelty and decent eats makes it a great one time stop for anyone interested in aviation or for families with kids.
(3)Ronda D.
Fun atmosphere, good food, and very good service. Worth the drive!!!
(4)Lou G.
My wife and I ate here several years ago. We thought the food was good American food at a good price. We ate here last Friday night, again good American food at a good price. Nothing overly great and nothing overly bad. Our "flight attendant" was nice and helpful. The food was hot . My wife had a hamburger and onion rings. I had a Ruben and fries. Both were oversized and tasty. We both like this restaurant and will continue to visit when we are in the mood for good food, good prices and a quiet meal.
(3)Penguin S.
Noticed a lot of bad reviews here and that they are mostly a year old. I ate here a few days ago and had an opposite experience. The food was great, really moist chicken marsala, nicely prepared grilled veggies and the rice with peas was perfectly done. I did get to eat in the plane, last booth available at 1300h. Service was really great. I was well taken care of, was asked for a refill before my drink was empty, got a checkback after my meal arrived and the server, dressed in a captain's uniform, was all smiles and accomodating. "Do I wan't dessert? Um, yes, but I'm all full up at the moment, so maybe next time." The restrooms were very clean and I loved the piped in sounds of planes landing. If you have the airplane disease like I do, don't miss a trip to the lavatory for this interesting experience! The carpets were clean and I loved the atmosphere. So many photos of planes and models hanging from the ceiling. That huge wing coming into the dining is really rad! Their menu must be new, as it's far from limited, as another poster mentioned. Many selections to choose from. It's printed as a newspaper with aviation history and most people seemed to want to take one as a souvineer. I did! They have salads, sandwiches, entrees, apps. It was very hard to make a decision! The waitress/captain helped. My chicken marsala with sides came to under $11. People around me raved about their meals (the plane tends to allow sound to travel well). The burgers were said to be wonderful and the buns seemed fresh baked. I want to try one. The woman behind me loved the soup, which I was told was made fresh in the restaurant, not canned or packaged. She had brought friends in, an older couple. The wife had been here when the husband was in the hospital. She loved it so much, and he was in the airforce and wanted to see the place. They came down from Denver to visit their friend and to dine here. He loved it. (The things you can pick up from listening in to other conversations!) I didn't see dessert listed on the menu so I have no idea of those selections. I did take a look around at the wonderful aviation history all along the walls. You can enter the plane's cockpit and push buttons. Bring a camera! Be sure to check out the aft of the plane to learn how it used to do mid-air refueling. Got to speak to one of the owners on my way out. She told me they recently were able to purchase the building and have been able to do much more with the place since then. Based on my visit, I can't understand the low ratings and off reviews. Maybe they've improved. Maybe I picked a lucky day. But I can't say a bad thing about the place, except I wish they had more planes! I can't wait to go back for another meal! (And FYI, I got to speak to Debbie, the owner, on my way out. I asked where they got all their plane photos and such. They do take donations. If you have extra photos or models or ads and such, consider a donation and add to the atmosphere!)
(5)Jamie L.
Love the Restaurant! The staff it so friendly! the food is terrific! The atmosphere is amazing and unique! Steve and his wife Debbie treat everyone that walks through that door as if they are family! I mean come on you get to go sit inside of an old KC-97 Airplane to eat your lunch or dinner! i highly recommend this place! it is an experience of a life time!
(5)Ryan F.
This is one of those places you can take your kids...once. Then, if they want to go back, you make them do your bidding as far as getting the house clean and the lawn mowed so that they can pay you for the money you are going to spend on what is mostly just experience. The airplane, whether you dine in it or not, is cool. No doubt about it. There are lights in the cockpit that allow for some good blog/Facebook pictures. The food, on the hand, is a different story. I ordered bread sticks. They clearly came from something frozen because the crust on the outside was done, and warm-ish, but the string cheese inside was semi-warm and you could tell that it was once string cheese, it hadn't melted at all. My wife did enjoy her salad...so, 1/2 a star. If you can manage to screw up salad you really shouldn't be open...so that's why only 1/2 a star. My soup was warm. It was French Onion Soup. Heavy on the soup, not so much on the onions...they were virtually non-existent...so I'm not sure where French falls in. My kids got kids meals. I have two sons. My oldest got Macaroni and Cheese which, clearly, is something Kraft-like that came out of a box. My youngest got a grilled cheese sandwich. It appeared that was handmade, and my son ate it...around the part that wasn't melted in the middle, which, for him, is a deal-breaker because your cheese on a grilled cheese sandwich should be, to quote him, "gooey-cheesy-licious." My wife got the Fettuccine Florentine. The noodles were a little underdone and heavy. The sauce was pretty heavy-handed on the cream, so it was heavy on heavy...not a good combo. I got the Buffalo Steak. It was good. I got it cooked medium because I knew that with the little fat content in buffalo meat, having it cooked well would result in a hockey puck. I still got the hockey puck...just with a pink center.. There was a shining moment in the dinner: the sticky sweet potato fries. They are served with a vinegar/sugar reduction that makes you THINK there is honey or maple syrup on it. However, when you look at the serving in comparison with the cut of meat and the, literally 1/4 cup or less of a vegetable medley...I felt like that was all I had eaten. So, I'll give another 1/2 star for the sweet potato fries. The other star comes from our server. While the food was less than we expected our server was great! Which should give you an idea of how hit or miss this place is. Two half-stars for the food and one for the service... It's a great experience, but, it might be better served as a museum for aviation stuff inside a plane and a connected building...the food is really not anything to write home about. Serve the drinks and the sweet potatoes...that's about it...
(2)Elianny S.
This place should not call itself a restaurant, because once I hear the word restaurant I'm expecting at worst edible or hopefully delicious food which will warrant me giving you my money. We went here for a work related event and I ordered the tuna salad. They really made this sound delicious but what arrived was something that I wouldn't even give my dog. The tuna was completely inedible, I took a bite and had to force myself to swallow it. The rest of the salad was a total hot mess that included weird limp noodles, dry white lettuce and peanuts. My sister ordered a cheeseburger that was bland, and dry but at least edible. The sticky sweet potato fries were ok but nothing amazing. The waitress was really nice and at the end she was very apologetic when I said the salad was just not good. The one star is strictly for the novelty factor of being inside an airplane and my nephew and niece had a good time playing in the cockpit.
(1)Charles M.
I read all the reviews in advance. I knew what to expect, I thought. My 2 granddaughters had a great time on the plane. Their children's meal was edible and reasonable in price. Because of what I read and observed when we arrived I just decided to have the turkey club. How could you mess that up, I thought. Well, here's how. Globule fatty bacon that is not even cooked, turkey that is round as is from the grocery store and more slices of bread than turkey. The fries were barely warm. This was all ok because the girls were having a good time and I knew what I was getting into. The thing I was shocked at was the waitress asked if I wanted a box to take home the fatty uncooked bacon and the extra bread I had placed on my plate. I guess I could have taken it home and cooked it, but I declined and just asked for my check. Then I was surprised that when I gave my credit card for the 32 dollar bill, I received it back with a charge of $67. I guess they thought I would not notice. They voided out that after a 10 minute wait. I then just paid in cash They manager talked to us on the way out with an semi apology. What could we do to make iT better? My response "fire the cooks". She assured me it was just a series of mistakes. Don't make the same mistake. Go with your kids. Order the kids meals for them and just order a dinner salad and have correct change. That way no one is disappointed. This is really sad because this could be great.
(1)Spiro T.
One visit is plenty for this place. Of course, it has aviation-themed decor and you can opt to dine in the actual airplane. Definitely a unique experience. I wish that I could say the same about the food. Their food is nothing special. Their burger buns were somewhat stale/crumbly and the fries were forgettable. Also, if you choose to dine in the airplane, expect slower service as compared to the main dining room. Overall, good place to take the kids once. They need to improve the food to earn repeat customers.
(2)Tony D.
Nice place to take your kids one time... Service is slow and much slower if you elect to be in the plane. I have been a couple times and been sick after each visit. My daughter ordered a chocolate milkshake on one visit and we received frozen milk and chocolate sauce we had to stir ourselves. Take the kids, show the plane but avoid eating here until they fix their menu and service.
(1)Brian M.
Love the aviation theme and the abundance of memorabilia and models. Waitstaff not very pleasant and long delay just to get seated despite restaurant more than half empty. Restaurant tables, floors and the models all need a good cleaning. Food was good but nothing special. Menu descriptions not entirely accurate as parmesan cheese added to penne despite not being on the menu. Would come for the atmosphere but that's about it.
(2)Neesh Q.
What a great experience! From beginning to end, it was a ride! Servers are super friendly and very much in character which was delightful. My 18 month old was obsessed with the cockpit which is open for kids to play in. Tons of buttons and gadgets for little fingers to explore and keep busy before the food arrives at the table. He had a great time playing with the servers and actually have one of them a hug at the end! They also provide crayons which helped keep him busy. My Cant Go Wrong recommendation: The sweet potato fries are AMAZING. They are doused in some kind of syrup that is magical. Definitely have this. Burger- the cheeseburger is awesome, made more awesome by choosing pepper jack as your cheese. Spinach artichoke dip
(4)H. M.
Highly recommended Delicious homemade food from scratch. Unique atmosphere. Fun for all ages. Tons of aeronautic paraphernalia. And we ate inside an actual airplane. Great friendly owner who is passionate about airplanes who can be easily coaxed to give tours.
(5)Sean P.
This is a greatly unique and fun restaurant! I've never seen a setup like this, if you're into aeronautics then this is the place for you! There is an actual full size airplane mated to the restaurant that you can eat your dinner in if you so choose! The food is solid for being traditional American burgers and such and at a reasonable price. Overall a great place to try out!
(5)Jennifer F.
We were so pleasantly surprised!!!! We were visiting family and our son LOVES airplanes! We thought we would give this place a try not really expecting much ( thinking tourist trap) and It was awesome! The hostess & all the servers were warm and welcoming. We were lucky enough to sit in the plane for our meal, all the servers encouraged both our kids to go fly the plane, hang up their pictures, & have fun. Then the food came and it was delicious! They make their own salad dressings and everything is made to order. It literally was like Mama's home cooking! Their tea is real brewed tea and another person in our group had a margarita and she said it was perfect. If you are looking for fun place to take the kiddos with good food and good drinks at reasonable prices this is the place. If you don't want kids running by your table or are not into the airplane theme, don't sit in the airplane to eat....sit in the bar or restaurant....your food will still be great.
(5)Bruce K.
For an air traveling nutcase like myself who logs tens of thousands of air miles every year, this is a pretty neat little place. I expected the food to be mediocre in return for a fabulous experience and I was wrong. The hostess and the wait staff are all dressed as flight attendants and that's pretty neat. And even if the upstairs restaurant is packed, you can still walk through it and check out the flight deck area, where you can fiddle with the control yoke, push on the rudders and flip random switches. Fun, even for a grown up like me. Fortunately, there was also an industrial sized pump container of Purell on the way out! The food was actually pretty decent though not spectacular. Sandwiches and burgers and salads - typical pub grub stuff. I had a Reuben, but they offer it here with bison meat which was different and tasty. It's a "go once" type of thing. I wouldn't make this a regular haunt. Tip: Don't miss the autographed picture by Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon! Awesomesauce!
(5)Christian B.
This is a unique place across the street from the Colorado Springs Airport. An old tanker aircraft converted into a restaurant. The whole place from when you walk through the front door has an whimsical and nostalgic feel to it. The hostess at the front door greets you as if you were a passenger that is about ready to board a plane. The tables have an old fashioned aerial map printed on them and the menus are printed on newspaper. All the wait staff are dressed as pilots and the waitress, or stewardess, talks to you as if you are on a plane ready to take off. I had the honey chicken sandwich which was tasty and delicious and very good portioned for the cost, it came with a choice of fries or seasoned coleslaw. At the end of the meal your stewardess thanks you for flying with us. A trip to the restroom will treat you to the sound of jets taking off from a speaker above the door. To complete your trip you can visit the gift shop to by souvenirs such as t-shirts, teddy bears and a collectors glass and many more items. This is a great theme restaurant thats sure to entertain both kids and adults of all ages!
(4)Jason T.
I had the baked spaghetti and it was pretty good. I wish it had more pasta and less other stuff and a little more flavor. I would go back. Service was just right and everyone at the Airplane was really nice.
(3)Kristin C.
We have traveled to CO Springs many different times and I have always wanted to eat at the restaurant. We finally got to today. My kids are older now, so it wasn't quite the experience for them. The staff was great. My son's sandwich was huge and he loved it. I had the chicken philly. The chicken was dry.
(3)Junior B.
Not shure where the reviews are this way but this is some great food great atmosphere great people and just a ball to have the kids sit in the airplane. I really enjoyed it we had fun and will go back in a heartbeat. I had to swiss mushroom burger which was a big plate the also have the wings a little dry but they were good. Our waitress I believe was Susan was one of the best we had what we were visiting Colorado Springs the bartender nice and sweet as can be thank you for the good time we will be back. It was nice to see the owner come out and talk to us as we were sitting
(5)Mr B.
What a great and exciting dining experience! I ordered the full order of baby back ribs which were truly cooked to perfection! I would highly recommend a visit to this fine dining establishment - sit back and enjoy your flight!
(5)Deb G.
Yes, we are now fans of The Airplane Restaurant, but it has room for improvement. Loved sitting in the airplane, served by our Flight Attendant, and having the opportunity to check out the cockpit! That was really cool! The food, however, could be better. It is just mediocre for the high price and service was a bit slow. But all things considered, we would return as it is a very interesting place, a great nostalgic setup & museum, and everyone was very friendly. I just think our menu choices will be "safer" items in the future. Great place to take out-of-town visitors. :)
(4)Timothy S.
Definitely worth visiting once. I recommend a reservation, so you can sit in the plane - but they have a decent restaurant building connected to it for walk-ins too. It might be difficult to follow a meal plan like whole foods, low carb, or vegan here. However, it is a nice splurge for the kids.
(3)Robert C.
Ok. Food stinks, but fun to eat in an airplane. Good service, nice waiter. Terminal and airplane are well worn. Small kids will love it. Its located right next to Colorado Springs airport. Fun idea. It made the list of top 10 unusual restaurants in U.S...but that was the driest burger i have eaten in awhile , which is a bummer because they looked great. The sticky sweet potato fries were yummy.
(3)Sue N.
The sirloin steak is broiled, fish platter mediocre, alcohol expensive, but the sticky sweet potato fries and stuffed mushrooms are the reasons I will go back there Service is very slow but the waitress, Jane, very friendly and of course apologetic because of the slowness of the kitchen
(3)Samantha L.
The food was decent, but the real reason to go here is for the fun and quirkyness of eating on a plane. The staff was really nice, although it take us a while to get seated since no one was at the hostess desk.
(3)Jeremy J.
Where to start? How about,well, the airplane! It's pretty incredible seeing it built into the restaurant. You can eat in the plane or sit in the terminal at the regular tables. The plane is definitely warmer than the rest of the place. The pictures and memorabilia on the walls are fun to look at and provide some interesting history. The wait staff is super friendly and attentive when they're not rushed. Where they miss is on the food. No beating around the bush here, it's just not that great. Not sure if it's the inexperience of the line cooks or inattentiveness of the management but it's not that good. A hamburger shouldn't be a dried out commercial patty that's been burnt on one side and cool on the other. Very disappointing. The kids will love the place and it's a novelty, but take it in stride if you're reading this and you still end up going.
(2)Tony B.
The Facebook page does the restaurant more justice then Yelp 4.1 out of 5 out of 936 reviews.Very cool restaurant, best restaurant I've eaten in, in a while food was great and the hospitality was incredible, met the owner Steve which new his stuff when it came to aviation, also met a WWII hero that ate there everyday because of the atmosphere and great food, it's a must eat place and will make this a first stop place every time I come into Colorado Springs
(5)Bryan R.
My daughter had a kid's menu chicken. It was much bigger than expected for 4.99. I had the honey mustard chicken sandwich it was mothah freakin' DELICIOUS! Actually that's exactly what I said when the Waitress(Jennifer) asked me and the couple next to us bust out laughing. We also had their nachos for an app. I had no cheese and sour cream, that was my choice. The vegetables were amazing and fresh. Jennifer was just the sweetest waitress we could have asked for. Kudos to her! Nothing against the rest of the staff they seemed good to at their tables. But she was awesome to us.
(5)Jessica H.
I surprised my husband with this on our vacation to Colorado Springs. He isn't very outspoken but I think he enjoyed it. I certainly did! Just like any plane ride, it had it's ups and downs. The idea of eating in an old airplane is cool. No really, it is, and it's ok to succumb to the hype and admit it. It's neat. There are other places to sit within the restaurant other than the airplane so you might want to request a seat in the plane. I didn't want to chance it so I asked before she had the option. The first thing I noticed when we sat down was how hot it was! It's stuffy, hot and painfully quiet. They should have music playing or something. The 'theme' was well played out. The waitresses acted like flight attendants, the menu told about the history and had flighty names for food. While I waited for my meal, I decided to board the cockpit and try my hand at flying this thing with a little help from my new friends (aka children, yes, I was probably a bit too old to be checking out the cockpit but I'm not too cool so I did anyway). There were mixed reviews on the web about the food, but I was in it for the experience. But when it came down to eating, I was pleasantly surprised. I started off with salmon chowder. It was delicious. We both had steak. I had the Steak Neptune, which was sirloin topped with crab and shrimp stuffing and finished off with hollandaise. The soup came with the meal and the portions for my meal were huge! I wasn't a big fan of the stuffing, but the steak was cooked perfectly and the veggies on the side were peppery, buttery and delicious. I would eat here again. The Airplane Restaurant is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker. Built in 1953, this magnificent airplane refueled aircraft throughout the world. Then, in May 2002, it began its second mission~ to be the preeminent aviation restaurant in the United States.
(4)Cherie C.
This is a restaurant that I would recommend to go to at least once if staying in the nearby hotels. I probably won't go back but it was an interesting experience. Upon entering, we immediately smelled the strong odors of cleaning products used in the bathrooms near the entrance. Walking through to the back, the smell mixed with the stuffiness of an old library. Eating in the airplane is pretty neat, and makes for a fun experience. You can check out the cockpit, and also see where the boom operator would lay. We started with the Caesar salad and it was quite good. I ate all of mine. I ordered the teriyaki salmon. I was curious where the salmon came from and although the waitress didn't know exactly off hand she later got me more information despite me being satisfied with her initial response. The salmon was cooked very nicely but it could have done with less teriyaki sauce. It was smothered in it. The vegetables did not appear to be fresh though I didn't try them; they truthfully didn't look very appetizing. I ordered a side of the sweet potato fries; they were mostly good. The fries were definitely sweeter than what I was used to. It seemed like they coated them in something. The only problem with the sweet potato fries was that they were too thick and didn't get cooked all the way through. My husband's steak tasted very good and was cooked to his liking. He thought the mashed potatoes tasted funny, as did I after trying them. He asked for a side of fries and the waitress switched the mashed potatoes out for him at no extra charge. Overall it's an interesting experience, definitely touristy, but one experience there is all I need.
(4)D.j. G.
The food was okay, but our server was nonexistent throughout our meal. It was not busy and they had plenty if people working so I'm not sure why it took us 2:15 total time to have dinner. Would not return or recommend. The restaurant in our hotel has better food and was much faster/friendly staff.
(2)Daphne F.
This is a great little restaurant, located near several hotels by the airport. Be sure to call ahead if you want to sit within the fuselage of the airplane, seating is limited. We were able to sit 5 people (2 big adults, and kids 17,9,6 yrs old) in the larger booth. Theming in the rest of the restaurant is great, too. Everyone can go up in the cockpit and play with the controls. Service was great, and with a smile. The food was good... Salad greens fresh, mixed appetizer sampler is huge. Chicken tenders are actual chicken tenders that are battered and fried, not pre-processed frozen meat. Teriyaki Salmon was done perfectly and came with rice/veggies that were great. The Honey Mustard dressing is homemade, and very good on the chicken sandwich. Only issue: The kids meal came with a dill pickle spear, and the juice from it got all over one of the two chicken tenders that my son ordered. He hates pickles, and would not eat it. Luckily, his brother had an extra on the huge sampler. We'll be back in future visits!
(4)Kevin M.
The place is ok, as long as you don't have your expectations set too high going in. It's a fun experience for the kids if you can dine in the airplane, so call for reservations. The food is average, and I had a little trouble getting past the smell of the place...
(3)Jim M.
I'll grudgingly grant 2 stars because (a) the waitress was relatively cheerful and friendly and (b) the reuben was tasty. If you have time to kill, you'll love this place, because you'll kill plenty of time waiting for your meal. I was there just before noon and in the area I was sitting, more tables were open than had people. I parked right in front, so not sure what the hold up was....but 40 minutes from being seated to seeing food show up.
(2)Taylor S.
Interesting restaurant. How many people can say they've eaten in an airplane turned restaurant? Very friendly waiters/waitresses and EXCELLENT alcoholic drinks. I definitely suggest the blue max. In saying that, I say stick to the booze. Food...not so much. Loud atmosphere, a little crowded. If you're in a group over four, you won't be at the same table. Make reservations if you actually want to eat in the airplane. Once again, the food is airline food. The vegetables were definitely green giant steamers. Pricey for the quality. If you have kids, they'll probably have a decent time. Otherwise, just take some pictures from the outside and don't go in.
(3)Woozy F.
Food was ok but overpriced. Salmon salad was good. Apple crisp was just way too sweet. Would not go again. There are better options in COS
(3)Eric S.
It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you have kids that enjoy airplanes. I had the guacamole burger which was pretty good. Food portions were a decent size and quality was ok. Don't know if I'd visit just for the food, but the overall experience was pretty good.
(3)LaTonia W.
There was a huge party of folks with some really loud kids. (Reflects parents not the restaurant however) The waiter was nice but seemed a little worn out. (maybe he had been there all day) Oh, and walking up and down those stairs can be taxing I'm sure. If you are overweight, you're going to love sitting in the plane portion of the restaurant. A 400 pound person could sit comfortably in the booth if you can make it up the stairs. I'm a big girl and I had to scoot to the edge of my seat to eat. I had the T-bone steak with veggies and loaded baked potatoe...$18.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Daughter had the Steak Neptune (smothered in hollandaise sauce with real crab and shrimp...yum)...$18.99 Hubby had the Salmon Neptune (smothered as well)...$16.99 + $1.50 for loaded baked potato Brownie and Ice cream for dessert...$5.50 Very good too. Don't go there without a reservation or you may be waiting for 30-40 minutes on a weekday just to sit in the restaurant (not the airplane) because of tourists and special occasioners. Oh, and bring a wad of cash because as you can see, it is not cheap. We spent exactly $80.58 including a $10 tip. Luckily, we had a $25 gift certificate from Restaurant.com , so we spent $55.58 cash. Also, if you want rolls with your dinner, you'll have to ask for them. He didn't offer but I decided to ask for some considering the price of the food. Looked and tasted like Sister Shuster's yeast roll. We thought the food was good but because of the HIGH prices, we won't be back anytime soon. I think we'll try out MacKenzie's Chop House downtown. Looks like their prices are lower and it's definitely a Fine Dining restaurant.
(3)James T.
Most people who have had a meal in an airplane don't have the best things to say about it. Of course we weren't in the air, but we were in a real airplane. The service matches the food, both of which struggle for mediocrity. I will say that the food is better than anything you get at 25,000 ft. However, the cleanliness brings the whole place down another notch. Their bathrooms appear to be on a weekly cleaning cycle, while the carpet cleaning looks to be done about every decade. On a more positive note, you can't miss the main attraction to the restaurant, which is an intact, retired Boeing KC-97, converted to an dining area. It was intriguing to see the refueling controls and cockpit of this old plane and the technology that was available in the early '50s with merely brain power and a slide rule. That alone made the visit worthwhile. The main dining room and bar are more of a museum of sorts, littered with every kind of aviation memorabilia imaginable. There are posters and propellers; models and miniatures. A real aircraft wing, compete with engines and props protrudes into the open space above the tables, creating the sensation of eating in a hanger. Just as a closing note; their artichoke dip is stellar.
(3)Bunny G.
If you're an aviation enthusiast like everyone in my family then come here! Kids loved it. We didn't get to sit inside the airplane so that was a bummer. But we loved it anyway and if we're out in this neck of the woods we will be back. Worth checking out at least once!
(4)Travis L.
Nice restaurant overall but the food is sub mediocre and expensive. Never had chewy bland chicken strips before and they were seasoned with what tastes and smell like pine needles. Should have stuck to my original plan and gone to Popeyes for chicken.
(1)Debster G.
Such a cool restaurant. Food is okay for casual dining. Vintage aviation decor is fun. However, this place appears severely understaffed. Hostess was doing double duty and disappeared as diners bunched up in the lobby. I think, personally, they are overwhelmed by the large groups that frequent your establishment. If you're the owner, please help and support your hard-working staff...
(3)Kurt A.
Honestly, the reviews have been so weak that we went for the airplane. Maybe it was because we weren't expecting anything but we were very happy with the food. I had a VERY good cup of french onion soup and a reuben with fries. My wife had a Philly Cheesesteak with coleslaw. We were both very happy with all of the food. We each took home half a sandwich as the portions are quite big. And the service deserves a special note. I wish I could remember the waitress'es....sorry, flight attendent's name. She was cheerful, helpful, and everything arrived hot and on time. She got a greater than 20% tip and that is saying something from someone that sticks religiously to 15%. If it were closer we would go for the food. As it is, we'll have to wait until we're in CO Spgs again.
(4)Tiffany B.
I originally went to take my 3 year old son to eat on a real airplane and took the family. I was happily surprised to learn that food was very tasty. So not only did we create memories with the family we also ate good too. Double score!!
(3)Janis S.
Had dinner here last night and it was OK. The service was good and eating in an airplane is very cool. Especially in a Fighter Pilot family. However, it does need a bit of updating. It seems a little dirty and not much lighting. I gave it 3 stars just because its something different....an airplane afterall. The food is good for what we had. We only had burgers and fries but the meat is not frozen, seemed to be formed by hand and the bun was a brioche...can't go wrong there. I've read a few other reviews here and think they are a bit harsh. The food isn't memorable but it was a place that my husband and son enjoyed. We would probably go back.
(3)Paul P.
Good restaurant with standard food fare. Beware if you're looking for a quiet place, this is not it - as many families with kids are attracted to the novelty of eating in an airplane. The Asian salad was not light as I expected, and was constructed of what appeared to be lo mein noodles, cucumbers, and cabbage. But overall it worked ok - tasted good and was filling. Nice server let me order a kid's ice cream sundae for dessert. If you want it quiet, opt for eating outside the airplane, then visit later to see the inside. Also the walls of the restaurant are covered with interesting airplane memoribilia. It is a really cool place to eat, especially for people like me who have an interest in flying. Nice thing too is that you can eat dinner on an airplane with zero chance of crashing, and no seat belt required. Happy landings!
(3)Andrew P.
Food was decent, nothing noteworthy, and service was somewhat slow. Its great for a single visit, especially with kids wanting to eat in the old tanker, but don't bother stopping by for a bite.
(2)L H.
My son really wanted to eat here, so we did. The food was quite poor. There were places inside where it wasn't that clean and many moths. The saving grace was that the kids had fun eating in an actual plane.
(2)Sarah P.
The Airplane restaurant itself it VERY cool! They have a huge airplane that is half in and half out of the restaurant. The food was so-so. My husband and I had the Chipotle Chicken. The chicken was flavored nicely with a dollop of chipotle mayo. The chicken was a tiny bit overcooked and the veggies they served on the side were the frozen variety. UG! I don't like paying for food at a restaurant when I know I can cook something better at home.
(3)Benjamin B.
I haven't been back recently, but I feel compelled to reiterate my earlier review: Fail.
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