Airport, Daily traffic
Airport vibe
Pricey option
Local option
Food vendors
Comment
Sources: Passenger numbers supplied by Airports Council International and airports; prices and menu items gathered at airports; gates and number of food vendors supplied by airports.
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Cooking at the Concourse
● What's on the menu at U.S. airports? Below, The Wall Street Journal's survey of dining options at ten of the country's largest airports (in terms of 2004 passenger traffic), with the prices The Journal found:
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AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 228,400
AIRPORT VIBE: Shopping mall food court, with planes
PRICEY OPTION: Crab-cake dinner at Images Bar & Grill, $17
LOCAL OPTION: Fried catfish at Paschal's Southern Delights, $15.95
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 95
NUMBER OF GATES: 178
COMMENT: World's busiest airport is in the midst of a 10-year, $6 billion expansion project, but there aren't any plans for a new food court. At the airport branch of local eatery Paschal's, collard greens were perfect - but the fried chicken Caesar salad was drowning in dressing.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: O'Hare International Airport Chicago 206,400
AIRPORT VIBE: Bright lights, big commuter crowds
PRICEY OPTION: New York strip Milanese at Andiamo in Hilton hotel, $34
LOCAL OPTION: Bratwurst sauerkraut at Berghoff Cafe, $5.30
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 98
NUMBER OF GATES: 178
COMMENT: Eating and working is getting easier: Chicago's City Council recently passed an ordinance to add Wi-Fi to O'Hare and Midway airports by early next year.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: Los Angeles International Airport 165,800
AIRPORT VIBE: Welcome to the 1984 Olympics
PRICEY OPTION: Wild mushroom ravioli at Encounter, $18
LOCAL OPTION: Tortilla soup at El Cholo Cantina, $5.40
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 66
NUMBER OF GATES: 134
COMMENT: LAX wasn't built with hungry fliers in mind: Most of its nine terminals have separate security and no central food courts. There's not much to eat in American's Terminal 4, but in Terminal 6 - mostly United - Jodi Maroni's served a tasty tequila-chicken sausage with grilled peppers.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 162,300
AIRPORT VIBE: McDonald's - or barbecue
PRICEY OPTION: Dakota Plains bison at Mister G's in Hyatt Regency, $64
LOCAL OPTION: Sliced-beef sandwich at Railhead Smokehouse BBQ, $4.45
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 94
NUMBER OF GATES: 165
COMMENT: The $1.2 billion Terminal D opened in July, but most of the 25 new food outlets open this month when American moves in. La Bodega winery, with two airport locations, says it can make wine at the airport.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: Denver International Airport 115,800
AIRPORT VIBE: Efficient interior; artsy, tent-like exterior
PRICEY OPTION: Rib-eye steak at Chef Jimmy's Bistro & Spirits, $19.99
LOCAL OPTION: Thai chicken wrap at Itza Wrap! Itza Bowl!, $5.49
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 32
NUMBER OF GATES: 89
COMMENT: The newest major U.S. airport, Denver has trams that provide easy access to restaurants, and all three concourses have food courts. Smokers can exhale: It has smoking lounges, and tobacco-friendly Southwestern restaurant Mesa Verde opens early next year.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: McCarran International Airport Las Vegas 113,200
AIRPORT VIBE: Slot machines and Western chic
PRICEY OPTION: Carne asada at Don Alejandro's Texan Grill, $12.95
LOCAL OPTION: Very Veggie Sandwich with prickly-pear slaw at Prickly Pear Cafe, $8.49
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 56
NUMBER OF GATES: 96
COMMENT: McCarran is in the middle of a two-year, $15 million renovation of its concessions. But don't expect desert cuisine: The campaign is focused on chain restaurants such as Chili's and Starbucks.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: Phoenix Sky Harbor International-Airport 107,900
AIRPORT VIBE: Shorts, sandals and burritos
PRICEY OPTION: A shot of "Signature" scotch at Dewar's Clubhouse Bar and Grille, $20
LOCAL OPTION: Machaca burrito at Blue Burrito Grille, $6.19
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 77
NUMBER OF GATES: 122
COMMENT: Airport's three terminals offer lots of choice, from Dick Clark's American Band Stand Grill to Desert Springs Brewing Company. No need to miss your flight: We liked how the restaurants here were right by the gates, with nearly a restaurant per gate in some areas.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: John F. Kennedy International Airport New York 102,500
AIRPORT VIBE: Bankers, tourists trying to find terminals
PRICEY OPTION: Deep Blue sushi bar at Jet Blue terminal
LOCAL OPTION: Several local beers available from Brooklyn Brewing
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 67
NUMBER OF GATES: 97
COMMENT: New York's a foodie heaven; JFK isn't. With nearly 100 gates sprawled over eight terminals, finding a decent bite is tough going, with choices tending toward fast food and snack carts.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: San Francisco International Airport 88,100
AIRPORT VIBE: Burrito in one hand, phone in the other
PRICEY OPTION: Boiled Maine lobster at Yankee Pier, $39.50
LOCAL OPTION: San Francisco crab melt at Anchor Brewing Co., $14.95
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 61
NUMBER OF GATES: 85
COMMENT: Airport opened more than 40 restaurants in the past year, and about 80 percent are locally owned. Eat with art: SFO is an accredited art museum, with displays throughout its terminals.
AIRPORT/DAILY TRAFFIC: Orlando International Airport 85,100
AIRPORT VIBE: Racing home from the trade show
PRICEY OPTION: Grilled Boursin-crusted filet mignon at Hemisphere, $31
LOCAL OPTION: Cajun crawfish chowder at McCoy's, $5.75
FOOD/DRINK VENDORS: 48
NUMBER OF GATES: 129
COMMENT: Dieting travelers can head to D-partures day spa (hourlong massage, $98) or spend $89 for a day room at the Hyatt airport hotel, good for admission to its pool and fitness center. But we wouldn't skip dinner: Hemisphere at the Hyatt had a delicious blue cheese and heirloom-tomato Napoleon, and served bread with three kinds of butter.
Sources: Passenger numbers supplied by Airports Council International and airports; prices and menu items gathered at airports; gates and number of food and drink vendors supplied by airports.
