I might suggest a visit to Nocturne in Denver, Colorado. Taking the art of food, wine pairings, fine dining hospitality and serving it alongside superb live jazz.
Our family always looked forward to dining at the (now-closed) 94th Aero Squadron restaurant on the grounds of the Palwaukee Municipal Airport (now called the "Chicago Executive Airport"). This was a WWI-themed restaurant located in a semi-bombed out French chateau, with views of the runways. I remember dogfight sound-effects playing in certain corridors and vintage airplane parts, armaments, and fighter pilot accoutrements on display. The steak-and-potatoes French(?) food was "fancy" and "spendy," so we'd only go on special occasions, but this of course added to the excitement! Here's a Chicago Tribune write up from 1997: https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/04/18/94th-aero-squadron-taxis-up-with-old-fashioned-food/
When searching for this particular memory on the Internet, I have now learned that the Chicago location was one of many in the chain that started in California by a former WWII bomber. Apparently there are 94th AS restaurants still operating in Miami and San Diego.
YES!! I had forgotten about that place! I dated a navy brat in college and the 94th Aero Squadron in San Diego was her dad’s favorite splurge restaurant! I remember the plane sounds too!
I have a few dining experiences where the place surpasses my memory of the food, though the food was also great. Pappy and Harriet's, the Pioneertown Western-themed BBQ restaurant with live music, is far enough off the beaten path to be considered a "hidden gem", despite being wildly popular and well-known.
A place that truly earns the designation of "hidden" while also creating an unforgettable dining experience is the Cowboy Dinner Tree in the Silver Lake Outback of Oregon State. Cash and pre-order only; the menu is either a half-roasted chicken or a ~24 oz steak, both served with a baked potato, beans, bread, and salad. The portions are huge. The space is crazy; an old saloon with low ceilings, absolutely covered with dollar bills. You can reserve one of the bedrooms onsite and stay the night (we did). You have to call weeks in advance to reserve your table. It's like traveling back to the old West and cosplaying as a cowboy for a day. Highly recommend.
I love these!!! You just gave me a memory of visiting the Bar D Chuckwagon in Durango, Colorado when I was a kid- it’s outdoors with picnic tables; steak and beans and a singing cowboy show under the stars. My mom bought a cassette tape after the show and I listened to it constantly as a kid.
Both of your two restaurants are now on my bucket list!
I have a similar childhood restaurant memory of eating at Casa Bonita in Fort Worth, Texas. It had a giant indoor waterfall, a ceiling painted like the sky with model airplanes and blimps scooting across it on wires. And my favorite part was the sopapilla-making machine and the little red and green flags you would hoist up miniature poles at your table to signal the waiters you wanted more of the all you can eat Mexican food. I had all but forgotten about that restaurant experience until I read that the creators of South Park had refurbished the original Casa Bonita in Denver for a ridiculous sum of money. Maybe one day I’ll go back and visit that one too.
Fun read! I have not been but my mind went to the famous Casa Bonita, here in Denver. I’ve also heard everything from pure hatred to an absolute blast being had there.
There used to be a magnificent tiki restaurant in Columbus, Ohio… was it Kontiki? It was designed after one of those Indonesian great houses with the roof pointing up on both ends and sloping down in the middle. Anyway, as a child I loved the pu pu platters, and the decor, of course.
The Trader Vic’s out here in California, which I didn’t experience until I was older, seemed more understated, and I’m guessing the food was better.
Claremont used to have a musical theatre with dining - Candlelight Pavilion. Very upscale, great entertainment, good food. Sadly, it closed for good in the pandemic.
One would be hard-pressed to call this a restaurant, but Die Strandloper in Langebaan, South Africa (named after a local sea bird) offers an open-air, 10-course prix-fixe seafood dining experience fully on the beach. My wife, who is from SA, went there a few times in her youth and had us go there one New Year's Eve. Everything is cooked right there over wood fires, finishing up with moerkoffie (boiled "cowboy coffee") and freshly made koeksisters (braided fried dough strips dipped in sugar syrup).
Wow! Sounds amazing!!! You just reminded me I had a similar meal in Bali one time- fish on the beach cooked over coconut shells. Thanks for describing it!!
A famous Tiki restaurant in South Florida, opened in 1956, closed due to issue (aging owners , collapsed roof in rear etc.) New owners invested $20 million in a rebuild and update - not a typos. I think it fits the gill! I remember Farrell's from my many visits to family in Fresno starting in 1968.
I might suggest a visit to Nocturne in Denver, Colorado. Taking the art of food, wine pairings, fine dining hospitality and serving it alongside superb live jazz.
Our family always looked forward to dining at the (now-closed) 94th Aero Squadron restaurant on the grounds of the Palwaukee Municipal Airport (now called the "Chicago Executive Airport"). This was a WWI-themed restaurant located in a semi-bombed out French chateau, with views of the runways. I remember dogfight sound-effects playing in certain corridors and vintage airplane parts, armaments, and fighter pilot accoutrements on display. The steak-and-potatoes French(?) food was "fancy" and "spendy," so we'd only go on special occasions, but this of course added to the excitement! Here's a Chicago Tribune write up from 1997: https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/04/18/94th-aero-squadron-taxis-up-with-old-fashioned-food/
When searching for this particular memory on the Internet, I have now learned that the Chicago location was one of many in the chain that started in California by a former WWII bomber. Apparently there are 94th AS restaurants still operating in Miami and San Diego.
YES!! I had forgotten about that place! I dated a navy brat in college and the 94th Aero Squadron in San Diego was her dad’s favorite splurge restaurant! I remember the plane sounds too!
I have a few dining experiences where the place surpasses my memory of the food, though the food was also great. Pappy and Harriet's, the Pioneertown Western-themed BBQ restaurant with live music, is far enough off the beaten path to be considered a "hidden gem", despite being wildly popular and well-known.
A place that truly earns the designation of "hidden" while also creating an unforgettable dining experience is the Cowboy Dinner Tree in the Silver Lake Outback of Oregon State. Cash and pre-order only; the menu is either a half-roasted chicken or a ~24 oz steak, both served with a baked potato, beans, bread, and salad. The portions are huge. The space is crazy; an old saloon with low ceilings, absolutely covered with dollar bills. You can reserve one of the bedrooms onsite and stay the night (we did). You have to call weeks in advance to reserve your table. It's like traveling back to the old West and cosplaying as a cowboy for a day. Highly recommend.
I love these!!! You just gave me a memory of visiting the Bar D Chuckwagon in Durango, Colorado when I was a kid- it’s outdoors with picnic tables; steak and beans and a singing cowboy show under the stars. My mom bought a cassette tape after the show and I listened to it constantly as a kid.
Both of your two restaurants are now on my bucket list!
I have a similar childhood restaurant memory of eating at Casa Bonita in Fort Worth, Texas. It had a giant indoor waterfall, a ceiling painted like the sky with model airplanes and blimps scooting across it on wires. And my favorite part was the sopapilla-making machine and the little red and green flags you would hoist up miniature poles at your table to signal the waiters you wanted more of the all you can eat Mexican food. I had all but forgotten about that restaurant experience until I read that the creators of South Park had refurbished the original Casa Bonita in Denver for a ridiculous sum of money. Maybe one day I’ll go back and visit that one too.
Fun read! I have not been but my mind went to the famous Casa Bonita, here in Denver. I’ve also heard everything from pure hatred to an absolute blast being had there.
There used to be a magnificent tiki restaurant in Columbus, Ohio… was it Kontiki? It was designed after one of those Indonesian great houses with the roof pointing up on both ends and sloping down in the middle. Anyway, as a child I loved the pu pu platters, and the decor, of course.
The Trader Vic’s out here in California, which I didn’t experience until I was older, seemed more understated, and I’m guessing the food was better.
Anyway, thanks for the fun read!
Claremont used to have a musical theatre with dining - Candlelight Pavilion. Very upscale, great entertainment, good food. Sadly, it closed for good in the pandemic.
One would be hard-pressed to call this a restaurant, but Die Strandloper in Langebaan, South Africa (named after a local sea bird) offers an open-air, 10-course prix-fixe seafood dining experience fully on the beach. My wife, who is from SA, went there a few times in her youth and had us go there one New Year's Eve. Everything is cooked right there over wood fires, finishing up with moerkoffie (boiled "cowboy coffee") and freshly made koeksisters (braided fried dough strips dipped in sugar syrup).
Wow! Sounds amazing!!! You just reminded me I had a similar meal in Bali one time- fish on the beach cooked over coconut shells. Thanks for describing it!!
A famous Tiki restaurant in South Florida, opened in 1956, closed due to issue (aging owners , collapsed roof in rear etc.) New owners invested $20 million in a rebuild and update - not a typos. I think it fits the gill! I remember Farrell's from my many visits to family in Fresno starting in 1968.