Noshing in the Jet Room

About a week ago, while reading through "Hungry for Wisconsin," the entry about the Jet Room caught my eye.

The place is inside the General Aviation Terminal at Madison's Truax Field with floor to ceiling windows facing the tarmac and runways.

It caters to pilots and passengers flying in or preparing to fly out,but also is a great place for those land-bound to eat while watching planes fly.

Last Friday morning, before going out for a little "Black Friday" shopping (yes, I know my blog said I wouldn't be out shopping, sometimes you just have to do stuff, you know?), we headed over to the northeast part of Madison.

Inside Wisconsin Aviation is a spot for pilots to map their flights, lounge for passengers, and gift shop. Tucked behind the waiting area is a nice little diner, run by Pat and Pam O'Malley.

The menu has an aeronautic theme.

My choice to go with a wonderful cup of hot chocolate... UltraLights.

Four strips of bacon and two light as air cakes were flown to the table by the server for a safe landing.

Everything was A-OK. The Applewood bacon was crisp.  The pancakes were as light as advertised that finished nicely with the butter and syrup.  The Jet Room opens at 6 Monday to Saturday, 8am on Sundays and is open until 2.

Lunch is on the menu too, and with a breakfast like this one I definitely want to barnstorm back in for a noon meal.

The place reminds me of a tradition I had with my Dad as a kid.

We would drive out to the Rock County Airport south of Janesville to watch the planes take off or land.


At that time, there was a little wayside just off U.S. 51 at the end of a runway where we could park.

I'm not sure how old I was when when we started going out to watch the planes or when we stopped, but I think I was under 10.

At that time commercial planes still flew in and out of the airport, so people there could be connected to the rest of the world.  Those were the days of airline government regulation.

Things are different now since the government doesn't regulate the schedules.  That's helped with the price of travel, but the cost has been access and a little of the style of travel.

If you are of a certain age, you might recall how folks dressed to fly.  It wasn't going to church attire, perhaps, but it also didn't involve sweatpants and t-shirts.

There's no dress code in the Jet Room - just one requirement - that you bring an appetite and sense of adventure.