You can actually find some great grub while waiting for your flight, since some of the city's best restaurants now have outposts at Logan, writes foodie Jacqueline Church
Logan Airport’s food is a Near Miss. “Near Miss” in airline parlance means a disaster averted. (Though, technically it should mean a hit, right?) Forget about flight disasters and focus on food. Logan dining options are a hit. Let’s spell it out for you.
“B is for Bonfire”
Or Terminal B where you’ll find Chef Todd English, celebrated for his “Bonfire” restaurant in downtown Boston, with a Logan locale. Now you can have Argentinean Steakhouse fare right at Logan’s own Bonfire restaurant. Full sit-down dining is available for travelers who are now making sure they get to Logan even early enough to enjoy a 14 oz. Prime Aged Sirloin with sweet and sour mushroom sauce and creamy spinach.
Other menu items at Bonfire include:
-- Bonfire Nachos with lump crabmeat, queso blanco and black beans
-- Baja Fish Tacos with lemon, caper aioli and jalapeno slaw
--Steakhouse Salad with creamy blue cheese, tomato and Spanish onion
If it’s lighter fare you crave, try the Todd English lounge at Terminal B – “Ozone-BOS”. This airport concession replicates a hip cocktail lounge. Only the velvet rope and bouncer are missing. Anyone can get in to enjoy specialty cocktails or lobster nachos topped with black bean silk, pico de gallo, and avocado.
Chilled shrimp cocktail with chipotle aioli and avocado or rigatoni with grilled chicken basil pesto are also on the “grab and go” menu at Ozone-BOS. Gourmet sandwiches and salads can be purchased there and even the stand-by steak frites can fly. Just don’t ask for your Espressozone Martini to go, restrictions on liquids still apply.
“C is for Chowda”
Terminal C has a Boston icon in resident in “Legal C”. That’s the moniker for Legal Seafoods’ Logan outpost. Stop by for some New England Clam Chowder or how about some freshly shucked raw bar and a glass of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay? Roger Berkowitz, owner of Legal Seafoods, has restaurant concessions at Logan’s Terminals A, B and C and is coming to an airport near you soon.
“E is for Elephant”
Terminal E is home to a Logan Airport Elephant Walk. Chef Nadsa de Monteiro of the famous Cambodian-French restaurants in Boston and Cambridge offers gourmet food to Logan travelers.
- Filet de Saumon a la Crème aux Champignons et Poireaux
- Poulet a la Citronelle
- Curry de Crevettes
These dishes and more, await travelers flying through Boston.
Other options at Logan include:
Wolfgang Puck, yes, Spago’s Chef Owner, that Wolfgang Puck – gourmet sandwiches, salads and his famous thin crust pizzas.
Johnny Rockets – Sit at the counter of this hamburger joint circa 1950 and watch your gourmet burger made to order. Poodle skirt, optional.
What made gourmet airport food take off?
Our good fortune stems from the confluence of adversity and opportunity. The intersection of post-911 security issues and the cult of the celebrity chef have both fueled the growth of airport dining options.
Even people who don’t cook watch food television, sport orange clogs and talk about their sustainable diets. And now that one can bring so little on board, the demand was growing for better airport food options. The average household median income for Logan travelers is between $90 K– $120K these well-heeled fliers were hungry for more.
Today, food at Logan Airport hits the spot. Whatever the spot may be.