Photography by Aaron Patton
Airport restaurants offer meals with views, history, and elevated tastes
Take off for Stearman Airfield Bar & Grill in Benton where your window seat offers a view of the airport runway less than 50 yards away, allowing you to see airplanes landing while you dine.
Lily Channel, the bar and grill’s general manager, says both private and military aircraft may be observed from inside the restaurant at Lloyd Stearman Field Airport.
“We have, of course, the seven biplanes based here in Benton,” she says of the Stearman Company’s World War II–era aircraft manufactured in Wichita. “And every fall and spring, we see military Blackhawks and Chinook helicopters. As long as there is no precipitation and no wind, we see a lot of aircraft.”
Located in a former airport hanger, the restaurant’s décor includes classic airplane models hanging from the ceiling, an airport gas pump, and photos of biplanes and of DOC, a B-29 Superfortress manufactured in Wichita during World War II.
The aviation theme continues on the first-class menu with Pilot’s Fried Pickles and Bomber Chicken Nachos for appetizers and a Bi-Plane Cheeseburger and Fly-Over Philly Cheesesteak as entrees. Wings are also on the menu, as well as Stickback Macs (a variation of mac’n’cheese), and “Fly-Bys,” which include a Stearman quesadilla to honor the former local aircraft company.
Channel says the country fried steak with gravy is the most popular option, often ordered with sweet potato fries or mashed potatoes and served with a vegetable. Other favorites include the slow-roasted corned beef Reuben with sauerkraut and the Charleston chicken wrap.
A favorite pre-departure dessert is the restaurant’s signature 1K1 Chocolate Cake topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle; 1K1 is the FAA’s location ID for Lloyd Stearman Field.
Airport Steakhouse
Hutchinson
Look up when entering the Airport Steakhouse in Hutchinson to see the tail of a life-size bright yellow plane attached to the wall. Propellers and large aviation-related photos add to the restaurant’s décor. Once seated, watch United States Army aircraft and private planes land on the Hutchinson Regional Airport runway. The restaurant is known for its steaks, and the ribeye is the most popular among customers, according to general manager Chelsea Strawn. The menu also includes chicken, seafood, pasta and salads, and the restaurant offers a brunch buffet on Sundays. “The staple of the buffet is the homemade cakes, pies and cream puffs that a baker comes in and bakes fresh,” Strawn says. “They are laid out on a 20-foot-long table.”
K-18 Café
Lucas
For airplane pilots landing at Lucas Airport, the K-18 Café stands roughly 50 yards from where the planes typically park; for those driving, the mom-and-pop restaurant is conveniently located along K-18 Highway on the east side of Lucas. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., K-18 offers an extensive menu of home-cooked comfort foods that includes pancakes nearly as big as the plate, the best-seller chicken fried steak, and made-from-scratch pies (coconut cream is the most popular). Chicken fried chicken is served on Fridays and cast iron skillet-fried chicken is offered on Sundays.
