Messina's Runway Cafe

American restaurant · Little Woods

Messina's Runway Cafe

American restaurant · Little Woods

1

New Orleans Lakefront Airport, Terminal, 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd Ste. 3, New Orleans, LA 70126

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Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null
Messina's Runway Cafe by null

Highlights

Classic New Orleans Creole cuisine with runway views  

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New Orleans Lakefront Airport, Terminal, 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd Ste. 3, New Orleans, LA 70126 Get directions

messinasrunwaycafe.com
@messinas_runway_cafe

$10–20 · Menu

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New Orleans Lakefront Airport, Terminal, 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd Ste. 3, New Orleans, LA 70126 Get directions

+1 504 241 5300
messinasrunwaycafe.com
@messinas_runway_cafe
𝕏
@messinaterminal

$10–20 · Menu

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Sep 29, 2025

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A Local’s Guide to New Orleans Restaurants, Bars, and Nightlife | Eater New Orleans

"This Lakefront gem with art-deco decor is tucked away from many of the neighborhood’s other popular restaurants inside the historic Terminal building, and while it was closed for an extended period during the pandemic, it’s back at it with a new head chef. In addition to eggs Benedict and shrimp and grits, the longtime breakfast and lunch favorite is known for it signature sweet potato biscuits." - Lynn Wesley - Coleman

https://nola.eater.com/maps/neighborhood-restaurant-bars-bakeries-new-orleans-locals-guide
View Postcard for Messina's Runway Cafe

Candace

Google
My new favorite weekend brunch place. Sitting by the window, we had spectacular views of so many types of aircraft. Our server was delightful and attentive, even when she was so very busy. The gumbo was delicious and filled with crabmeat. The omelettes were light and fluffy and those potatoes are worth a second visit. Thanks for everything.

Kirk Thompson

Google
The food is really good and the view is outstanding. The fees for credit card use is wrong imo. Just raise your prices and see as an expense of being in the restaurant business.

Caramel Swirl

Google
We had the Veggie Omelet and the Lindbergh Omelet. The Veggie Omelet was good (can't really go wrong). However, the Lindbergh Omelet wasn't so great. The hollandaise was extremely salty and the crab meat was cold. It crab meat wasn't seasoned or sautéed. Just taste like it was straight out of the pack.

Nettie Haten

Google
I'm from New Orleans, and the food was great. I will visit this Restaurant again when in Fort Worth Tx.

Ramiro Gonzalez Villamizar

Google
Beautiful place. It's a private and quiet restaurant, food is delicious, and the waitress Samantha (the tall one) has an amazing service.

Law Will

Google
So someone recommended this place to me and my family so I thought it was going to be legit. After waiting an hour to be seated we waited another 2 hours for our food and during that wait time thr waitress went missing several times. It's sad that tips are mandated for parties of 6 people or more at at set rate because she didn't deserve 28 bucks. $5 would have been justified

Kelly Trail

Google
Fantastic place to enjoy a beautiful days. Best place to sit in the dining room that faces the runway. Awesome bacon lettuce and tomato with fried green tomatoes. The pork chop special was very good. The best meal is Fried Chicken on Tuesdays

Derrick Diggs

Google
Absolutely beautiful dining room area. Try to get a seat near the bar so you can observe the runway and the planes taking off and landing. Now let’s get to the food. One of the Best breakfast spots in the city of New Orleans. I highly recommend this restaurant-
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Marie B.

Yelp
Sunday Brunch inside the historic New Orleans Lakefront Airport was worth the 35-minute wait. I ordered the Runway Veggie Omelet with a choice of biscuit and Brabant potatoes and OJ Mimosa. My family each enjoyed their meals with no complaints or issues to report. Service was exceptional. We ordered the highly recommended Bread Pudding for dessert, and it was the best I've ever had. It does take 30 minutes to prepare, so it can be made to order fresh and eaten warm. Everything was delicious. The terminal has a nice ambiance, trendy decor, a family-friendly atmosphere, and many food options to accommodate dietary needs. Please note that substitutions start at $3.00, and there are no separate checks, so order and plan accordingly. -You're welcome.
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Meghan D.

Yelp
I'm always looking for new places to have breakfast or bunch. Wow, I don't need to look any further because Messina's runway cafe is at the top of my breakfast and brunch list. I went to Messina's on Sunday before the Saints game for brunch. I had never been to the Lakefront Airport, but it was easy to park and we walked right in. The atrium you walk into is nice and to the left down the hall, is the dining room. You want to be seated by the bar so you can look out the window at the runway. This was a cool experience watching the planes land and take off while enjoying breakfast. For an appetizer, we got the basket of biscuits. It came with two regular biscuits and two sweet potato. These biscuits were delicious!! For my entree, I ordered the eggs Benedict and it came with potatoes. Overall, a great meal and I will definitely be back!!
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Priscilla W.

Yelp
We went on a Sunday morning around 11am. We were seated immediately. The waiter was pleasant and allowed me to switch between mimosas and bellinis for their bottomless special. I ordered the Lindbergh Omelet and unfortunately the lump crab meat included shells. Also the seafood gumbo was advertised as having okra but I didn't find any. The food overall lacked seasoning but it was nothing that a little salt couldn't solve. The views are amazing! You could witness flights landing and departing throughout brunch.

Kyle R.

Yelp
Love this place! The food, service and view are the best. Couldn't ask for a better place to grab lunch or breakfast.
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Harmonese P.

Yelp
Located in the New Orleans Lakefront Airport terminal, a little hidden gem! Messina's is only open for breakfast + lunch. They serve a nice brunch on Saturday and Sunday as well! I went for lunch last week, LOVED IT! I ordered the bottomless hangar bellini, soup of the day which was crawfish bisque + the salmon. Everything was cooked to perfection. I enjoyed the entire meal and the chef brought out white chocolate bread pudding. That was the cherry on top. I love the view so much! The view is of the tarmac which has a special place in my heart and reminds me of my Atlantic Aviation days-- perfect nostalgia. Seeing the private jets brought back all the aviation memories. I would recommend this spot to anyone looking to grab a bite + get away from the "craziness" of New Orleans. Service was great! Everyone was so welcoming.
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Joi B.

Yelp
This is the place to wow your friends visiting from out of town, those on the never ending quest to not go to the touristy places. Hanging out in the original New Orleans airport? Feeling like you're transported back to the 19302/40s/50s? Atmosphere in droves. There's a menu with breakfast/lunch items so order up those old timey omelettes and patty melts with no fuss. Unless you're a vegetarian, god forbid a vegan. But we can get past that (plus, there's a hearty cocktail list for you to drink your sorrows and hunger away, while feeling like you're transported back to a better time and place). After eating (or drinking), be sure and take a self-guided tour through this terminal, now turned into part museum, part office building, part event venue. You can even take fun photos for the 'gram in the old timey PHONE BOOTHS! There's something special going on here and it transcends mere brunch.
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Jerry V.

Yelp
A Surprise! Looking for a good breakfast spot on the way in to New Orleans always interested in a out of the way kinda place Neighborhood got a bit rundown but we kept going. Ended up at the old airport! Duh: Runway.., Vintage building. Walked in. Pretty empty; hallway with chatter. Walked down and into cloth cover tables, soft jazz music and welcoming staff Seated at window looking out onto private jets. Immediate service. Great menu, excellent service. Wonderful food. A bit spicy for us white northerners, but great. Well worth the 5 minutes off the interstate.
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Alicia A.

Yelp
The food was amazing the staff were friendly the bottomless Mimosas are amazing. The atmosphere was great. I highly reccomend.
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Angie R.

Yelp
Always a pleasure, the food and ambiance is always on point and the service is amazing And bonus during Mardi Gras get the King Cake bread pudding
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M K.

Yelp
A new favorite for a weekday breakfast or weekend brunch. Fun to see the planes moving and very good food. Love walking around the murals before and after a meal as well.
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Jordan V.

Yelp
One of my absolute favorite brunch spots. I can always count on a great experience at Messina's. The food is great, the service is top tier, and of course, there are bottomless mimosas. Located in the old terminal for the lakefront airport, when you walk in you're greeted by an Art Deco style interior in a spacious lobby. There's a lunch counter to the immediate left, I've never seen it in use, but it's pretty cute. The main dining room is down a corridor and huge; if you have a large party they should definitely be able to accommodate you. I personally enjoy sitting on the side with bar next to the large windows-sometimes you can see a plan or two taking off or landing. Brunch is served all day on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am-3pm. You have the option of ordering from the brunch menu or the full menu. My go to is Chef Leon's breakfast crab cakes and a pancake, but the shrimp and grits is a close runner up. If you're into sweets, you must try the bread pudding.
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Jean H.

Yelp
Messina runway Café is a great place to enjoy lunch and watch planes takeoff and land from the lakefront airport. They close at 3 PM after serving lunch. We arrived at 1:30 PM this last Tuesday. The special of the day is fried chicken. I have had fantastic fried chicken in the past but sadly this was not the case on our last visit. I asked the server if we could have the chicken fried to order because really, that's the only way fried chicken should be served in my opinion. He said that that was not possible because they had already prepped the chicken. I should've just chosen some thing else, but instead was hankering for chicken so ordered. Of course it was not good. We also had a salad and it would've been lovely to have been served the salad while the chicken was being cooked to order but apparently that's not a possibility here. Take that into consideration when you choose this restaurant.
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Jovan W.

Yelp
Sunday October 22nd was my very first time visiting this establishment. I have heard so many wonderful things about Messina's. So when my sister suggested that we go here for her birthday, I was excited. We didn't have a long wait to be seated. Our waiter JuJu was amazing. He was so inviting. I ordered the shrimp and grits and it was DELICIOUS. My mother raved about how good her steak was. And how no "steak sauce" was needed. I will definitely recommend this place. But if you can, get there early on a Sunday, because it get pack really fast. Juju told us that on Tuesday is fried chicken. So it's a must I be back.
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Ann P.

Yelp
This place is so charming. You get the whole retro 1940s feel from the decor down to the music. They're usually pretty busy for Sunday brunch, but if you can get a seat on the flight deck, the view is just lovely. You can see all the runway activities or just take in the view of the lake. It's so peaceful, and our servers are always charming, hilarious, and very hard-working. I usually go for breakfast and get the Doolittle omelet. You get to pick grits, cheese grits, or Brabant potatoes. If I'm super hungry, I get both the cheese grits and the potatoes because they are that good. You can pick your cheese too and I always get gouda. It's heavenly. Nothing too fussy. Toast or an English muffin. It's a whole mood!
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Amber R.

Yelp
It was okay. A bit on the pricier side, but you get an awesome view of the planes (I'm a pilot so I'm always looking for planes!). Service was very slow from being seen at the hostess stand to getting our food. Food was good! I got the BLFGT (Bacon, Lettuce, Fried Green Tomato). Only brunch served saturday and sunday.
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Angelle N.

Yelp
Great Sunday brunch spot. Love that it's located in New Orleans East. Prices are reasonable and they have bottomless mimosa. Recently went with a large party and everyone was satisfied. Our waitress Avanna was super nice and attentive to our needs. I had the fried chicken and Belgian waffle with the praline sauce, so tasty. The chicken was fried to perfection and the praline sauce made the dish. My friend had the chicken sandwich and she said it was one the best she's ever had. I will definitely be back.

Cheryl B.

Yelp
Messina's buffet was delicious, the service excellent and the ambiance lovely as we celebrated the life and passing of a close friend. Many thanks for a beautiful and interesting setting at the Lakefront Airport where we could show the love for our friend and his family and remember the wonderful times we spent with him. He spread joy wherever he went and we felt joy as we honored his memory. I can't wait to bring my out-of-town family members the next time they come to visit New Orleans. CCB
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Whitney W.

Yelp
I had not been to Messina's in years but it used to be a lunch location for me often. I always said they have the BEST bread pudding I have ever tasted. So when my sister came into town for the Beyonce concert, I knew I had to take her to get some. We got it to go and it was AMAZING. The service was great from the ordering to the pick up!

Sadi S.

Yelp
The whole experience was awesome. The food was exceptional and JuJu was an outstanding waiter. It's a lovely place for pictures as well, definitely a art deco lovers dream
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Reia B.

Yelp
A brunch favorite in New Orleans East. You are guaranteed to see someone in there you know. I've visited on Sundays and have enjoyed their chicken and waffle, omelets, gumbo, onion rings, and seasonal Mardi Gras Bread Pudding. Everything I have tried has been delicious. Their onion rings are some on the best I've ever had. They are open for lunch through the week and would like to try the lunch plates they offer. The restaurant is located inside of a terminal no longer in use on the lake front. It is now used for special events in addition to this restaurant. Nothing fancy on the inside but all in all a nice atmosphere. Until we meet again.
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Pastor K.

Yelp
Very cool vibe. Prices are decent. If you're looking for great food in a unique location, I highly recommend Messina's!
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Ashley C.

Yelp
First time dining out since the pandemic hit and I must say I was a bit nervous on what to expect. Runway Cafe was a treat! Safety precautions were adhered to as evidenced by 6ft social distance floor decals, checker board seating, staff wearing masks, and thorough cleaning of tables and chairs. Next....THE VIEW! Your actually eating on a runway. Small airport with chartered and private planes departing and landing, very cool. Our waitress was phenomenal, my friends are regulars so she knew exactly what they wanted and helped me navigate through the fixed menu with a la carte items and bottomless mimosas ($15 assorted juices available). She kept our glasses fresh and filled with bubbles. Very pleasant, smiling (under her mask ) and professional. My table ordered fried seafood baskets, omelets, pancakes, cheese grits, French toast, and fruit. All delicious, fresh, and sweet/savory dishes. To wrap up our dining experience Chef Leon West greeted the table from a safe distance, to thank us for dining and provide feedback on our meals. I will definitely be back and I highly recommend you give them a try. Plenty of parking, don't forget to take pictures of the beautiful 1930s Art Deco terminal.
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Cher B.

Yelp
Wow. First of all the building is gorgeous and then you get to sit and watch the private planes come and go. The service is exceptional and the food didn't disappoint. Will definitely stop when traveling from New Orleans back home to Ocean Springs.
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Daija B.

Yelp
The service is what carries the rating for my review! The service is top tier! I have never had so many servers check on me at a restaurant while I was eating anywhere else! I really appreciated the generosity and care of the staff. This place is also reaaally aesthetically pleasing. I love the fact that you can just sit and watch the runway while you eat. Such a nice view. Also, I went during holiday time so the Christmas trees and lights were beautiful touch as well. The gumbo was really good. I ordered the Breakfast Crab Cakes and I liked that you could get your eggs any way with them, but I decided to go with traditional Benedict style. The crab cakes were just OK. That is why I did not give this place 5 stars. I would not order the crab cakes again. I also got a peach Bellini to drink, it was so good. I did not order the bottomless, but they do have the cheapest bottomless I have seen! I would like to go back

Tisha N.

Yelp
I've been here 4x times now. the first experience was amazing as to why I continued to return but each time after the first experience the food has lacked in flavor and then if you order the catfish and grits with the crawfish corn moux choux you literally get 3 pieces of crawfish. The fact that I'm a chef and I know better than this tells me that this restaurant is clearly taking advantage of their customers. How do you charge your consumers $26 for watered down grits, watered down bbq shrimp (which I just tried and learned they were watered down) and 3 pieces of crawfish. Y'all need to do better!!
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Laureli W.

Yelp
Delicious food! Great atmosphere! Nestled away in the Lakefront Airport built in 1933 and fully restored.
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Patrick J.

Yelp
What a sight! Expect walk into a beautiful small airport terminal. While dining, you will enjoy the sight of small and private planes on the runway, landing, and taking off. The food is good. If you go in on the right day, you are in for bottomless mimosas.
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Shannon S.

Yelp
This is a great cafe located inside the Lakefront Airport. The ambiance is fantastic and both the airport itself and the cafe are visually stunning and beautiful to behold in Art Deco glory. The diner part of the cafe is open weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) and for brunch on Saturday. On Sundays the diner is usually closed and they move service into the more formal Walnut Room where they sometimes offer special buffets for holidays like Easter or just the menu for regular Sundays. The Walnut Room also has the added benefit of giving you a good view of the runway so you can watch airplanes take off and land. The food offers many New Orleans traditional foods with brunch, lunch or breakfast food with plenty of seafood options and everything I have had has been done well. Overall this is a definite place to visit to also combine a good meal with a view of the wonderful airport interior.
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Cheryl M.

Yelp
I loved it here. This is at the old airport. Walking into the building is like stepping back in time. I literally got the chills. It looks like most everything has been left untouched. So cool. The restaurant itself is also old fashioned and had 40s music playing. You can sit looking out on the planes if you are able but there aren't a whole lot of tables in that area. We sat in the main dining room. I ordered the eggs boudin. I figured I had to try this since where else will I be able to order this? It was very good. Me being me, I sampled my friends cheese grits. Delicious! I also sampled her omelet. I'm not a fan of omelets but it was really good with crab meat in it. She had also gotten a biscuit which I tried as well. I think it was a sweet potato biscuit. I'm not a fan of biscuits but I loved that. I would definitely order one of those if I got the chance to come back. Definitely consider this cafe for breakfast if you are looking for somewhere to go.
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Darek C.

Yelp
This place serve the best bottomless mimosas. Also had the crab cakes which was good too. The server was good. The hostess took awhile to get people seated even though there were tables opened. If you like mimosas this is the place. They are not stingy with refilling you glass.

Jill O.

Yelp
I take my Dad here often. He worked in the tower many years ago and enjoys being there watching the planes and enjoying a good meal. It was a busy day and we waited a tad bit longer than I expected for our apps, but was worth it. We had the Fried Green Tomatoes, which was beautifully presented, Buffalo Shrimp, 2 Blue Plate Fried Catfish Specials and Chocolate Cheesecake. We enjoyed everything. The fried food was crispy and well seasoned. The cheesecake was yummy. I have only two objections...1-iced tea should always have a lemon or at least ask if one is preferred, and 2-the bussing and stacking of cl dishes to the bar is untidy and distracting. Maybe a Jack stand with a tray and bus pan in the corner or in the main room could help the situation.

Ray S.

Yelp
Sunday brunch after church. The wait was one hour to be seated. Service seemed rushed. Food was good overall. Art deco decor is awesome, and watching the planes and helicopters take off and land is fun.
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LaShawne T.

Yelp
I think I enjoy the view more than I enjoyed the food. Happy to say that this visit from my last which was a couple years ago they bought new silverware. That's always exciting! The food was good however we waited about two hours before we actually got our food. I guess we didn't mind it because of the unlimited bloody Mary's. Not sure what was wrong with our table but everyone around us was served properly we were just forgotten about for some reason hopefully it was just a fluke will give them one more chance. They have really weird hours so check before you go.

David J.

Yelp
What a find. First, if you love art deco, you'll love the beautiful decor and table coth setting. Of course you come for the food. We had the Tuesday fired chicken special for $13.99. The food was way more than I expected. A breast, thigh and wing with a large serving of Mac and cheese and greens. It came fast, which usually means it was fried a while ago and not hot. Wrong. It was hot crispy and great. The service was excellent and friendly. If I lived here, I'd try a lot of the other items. .
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Re H.

Yelp
What took me so long?!! How have I been a lover of Breakfast, lived here for 10 years now and never ever been here before?! Picture this..... Sunday....Katie's Birthday..... where? Katie and I scan Yelp from our homes and phones and share a few places. Hmmmm, we tried to schedule this one before, but it fell through for some reason or another. Most brunch places, must have french toast and Eggs Benedict I have demanded in the past. Decided. Messina's it was.... and since we are friends and Yelpers, we invite a few other Yelpers.....Oh lawd...hold on to your Belinis and Bloody's, a gaggle of NOLA Yelpers are gathering. We had the bottomless Mimosa, Bloody Mary (and a damn fine one with all the fun junk!!!) and Belinis'....what a bargin! Eggs Benedicts, and crab cakes and potatoes and fruit and more drinking and laughing and chatting, about 25 convos going on at once and hands and plates offering bites and sips.....Although I didn't get a biscuit, I would say if you like traditional biscuits, these are some biggins....BUT if you like soft, then the sweet potato biscuit hands down was my ultra fav. The staff was great, the management was interactive, the space, which was all decked out in christmas flare was beautiful.....(what?! and they split the checks .....everything was terrific) Oh we had a great time. I sort of want to delete this review and keep this info just for me and my chosen guest, but that wouldnt be very hospitable of me......so there you have it......
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Emily M.

Yelp
Don't let the terminal fool you or intimidate you, Messinas Runway Cafe and Lounge is easily accessed through the main building and simply "to the left" down the hallway. The Café is essentially one large dining room aka The Walnut Room and has been around since the late 1920's. The terminal lobby reflects the many nuances of the Art Deco movement with geometric railings, aerospace inspired friezes, granite inlay flooring, and a gilded ceiling. It's no wonder their Instagram account boasts photos of banquets and weddings as it really is a great little gem out in The East. For our luncheon this day we were served gumbo, almandine catfish or chicken with a mushroom Demi glacé . We concluded with the best darn cheesecake I've ever had and I really want to bring my boyfriend back for brunch as he is a big fan of planes, and this hot spot gets you close to all the action. Service was warm, efficient and friendly. George waited on our party of 16 effortlessly delivering food and drinks. Our needs were met before we knew we needed them and that, is the hallmark of exceptional service.

Karen R.

Yelp
The service was good. The The food was good. The ambiance was excellent. Great view of a part of New Orleans history. I will go back again and again just for the view while having a good meal.
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Jacob W.

Yelp
I have eaten here many times and the food has been great every time, today was no different. Sometimes they get a little backed up and service is a little slow, but the servers are always friendly. Great place to stop in and have great food!
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Akilah S.

Yelp
This is my first time Danny at the restaurant. I've been before but it was for a private party. This Time the food was just ok. There was a private party in the back but in the front area it wasn't really packed. The waitress was nice. But when we needed something we had to wait a little bit. No one in my group was really impressed with the food...
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Sydney W.

Yelp
This place is located in the old airport by the lake so parking is pretty easy even if it's crowded. It doesn't have a dress code but most people appeared to be dressed "dressy casual". We went on a Sunday a little after 1 and we did have about a 20 minute wait. They serve breakfast all day on weekends as well. I ordered the layover burger with a side of Mac cheese and got the bread pudding for dessert. Everything was good but the breading pudding was AMAZING. Def too much for one person but we split it perfectly between three. Our server was attentive and quick. The only issue I had was my fries were cold. Extra: They offer bottomless mimosas for $15.
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Marcia W.

Yelp
Stars...3 1/2 but app only allowed for 3. Went with GF for late Sunday brunch. The architecture is unreal...you are stepping back in time to the 1930's with all the decor and splendor. With badass murals on the wall as you walk into a huge foyer perfect for galas and parties. Service...meh. We ordered split plates with the gumbo, and fried green tomatoes. We waited for a good 20 mins and was worried that they were bringing the apps out with the crab cake eggs Benedict. We finally see the chef and informed him that we ordered apps before the entree...and he ran back to the kitchen. Two mins later, our appetizers came out. The fried Green tomatoes were delicious- perfect batter and the gumbo...was delish. The crab cakes came out next - they forgot to put the hollandaise sauce on the side which is a standard request for me. The sauce was "Meh" but the eggs were poached perfectly and the crab cakes - Yummy Yummy. I would definitely come back as the food was yummy and the decor cool.
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Shanita F.

Yelp
I had Messina's white chocolate bread pudding for the first time, and now I don't know if I can ever eat bread pudding from anywhere else again. I have never had a dessert that was so perfect. I wish I could have taken a full pan home! The food at Messina's is good. The staff are PHENOMENAL! I'm not sure what type of training they go through, but they were just great. They were attentive, responded quickly, worked fast, and were very friendly. They are hard workers and added to my dining experience. I reserved space for a group of 20 people on a Sunday afternoon--prime brunch time--and everything went smoothly. Everything was prepared and set up nicely for us. The reservation process was super easy. I called the restaurant and spoke to Maggie--available M-F 9-5--and she quickly drafted a buffet menu and invoice. I hope to use the space again. I don't know if I can say this, BUTTTTT Messina's is FAR BETTER than Commander's Palace.
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Paisley M.

Yelp
Went to Messina's and the food was great. The service was even better. The waitstaff was very nice and helpful. They offered suggestions and let us know that they had updated the menu. My favorite part was the bottomless mimosas. I will definitely be back. I'm so mad that I forgot to take pictures.
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Mike G.

Yelp
Located inside the beautiful Art Deco airport building. I have to give the food 5 stars. The pork chop fell right off the bone. Done right! The gumbo also gets high marks. Seriously, if you are anywhere near the University, this is a great lunch spot. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
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Mike M.

Yelp
Who goes to an airport on purpose to eat a meal? My right hand raises as I say "I do"! New Orleans Lakefront airport was the original New Orleans airport before they built the other airport out in Kenner. This was the place when back in the 1930's and later you would go to catch a flight to take you somewhere else. When I lived here before Katrina the interior was dark and aged which gave it a lot of character. I loved the big compass on the floor pointing in all directions to different cities on this planet and their mileage from NO. They also still had the old wooden phone booths from the 1960's and before. The restaurant was still there with its excellent views of the airport runways. It served breakfast and for lunch had a small buffet. The food was ok but the scenery and views is why you would come here. I returned for the first time after Katrina to eat last week for breakfast. The building interior has been brightened with much more light. The aviation murals on the walls have been restored and are simply beautiful and better than before Katrina. While the interior is more bright and more modern it still retains the charm of the past. The floor compass is still there but the old phone booths are gone. The restaurant is now called Messina's Runway Cafe. I arrived when they opened at 7:00 a.m. and was the first diner. The cafe consists of a large semi circular bar with tables outside of it along the large windows overlooking the airport runways. I sat at one of the window tables and ordered my breakfast of 2 eggs, cheese grits and ham. The food came out about 15 minutes later (see pic). It was as good as it looked. The eggs were very good, cheese grits excellent along with that big piece of ham. It was a solid breakfast that I really enjoyed. My table service was very good. In my opinion the food is better than it used to be. That's good. What hasn't changed are the views. On the tarmac that morning was a US Air Force Gulfstream jet being used by a VIP getting ready to leave. Flight traffic that morning was light but in the past you can see many planes take off and land. Some of them will pull right up to the restaurant and park and the passengers will come in to eat. Come see the beautifully restored interior. Come eat the very good food. Come and watch the planes. Parking is free. This is a tourist attraction that many visitors don't know about. For that matter, many residents don't know about it either. Now you do!

Janet B.

Yelp
Excellent breakfast! Got the Doolittle omelet- so good! Loved sitting by windows to watch planes. It's hidden but a real gem. We were staying at RV park so it was close and glad we came.
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Alesia A.

Yelp
OMG!!! Can I just start by saying OMG! This food was super delicious. It was literally the perfect brunch spot to go to. I didn't even know this restaurant was over here. I remember a Bally's casino use to sit in this area, but I never knew a restaurant was over there now. The dining experience was really nice. Our waitress was so lovely and sweet. She really made the dining experience unforgettable. I got the bottomless mimosas. I believe it was only $15( not bad at all). For an app, we got the fried green tomatoes with shrimp (so delicious), my main course was shrimp and grits with a biscuit on the side (super duper delicious), and finally for dessert we got the Mardi Gras bread pudding ( super super super delicious). I literally enjoyed every second of my meal and I would love to come back!!!!
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Von W.

Yelp
This review is specifically for the Walnut Room. My wife and I ate here last Sunday. It was just ok. Honestly, we felt the food was on par with Waffle House, and we like Waffle House, but we also like Waffle House prices. While the view of the airport landing strip is pleasant enough, that, the service, and the quality of the food does not justify the prices. We only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, so that was great. Our server didn't bring us napkins or utensils. We had to request them after our entrees were delivered. Also, she went awol for a spell and when she came back to refill our drinks, she said there was no more sweet tea. She offered me unsweetened or water. I realize I could've sweetened my own tea, but couldn't she have made some sweet tea? I ordered the crab cakes in hollandaise sauce with Brabant potatoes and scrambled eggs. The hollandaise was off-putting. The eggs were fine after I added salt and pepper. The potatoes, however, were the star. They were absolutely deelish. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside in a garlicky sauce...more please. My wife had the crab and corn soup, which was also delicious and well-seasoned. However, her Belgium waffle with bananas foster sauce on the side was a big letdown. The waffle was overpriced, had no flavor, and was soggy. Nothing like those crispy, buttery spheres of deliciousness from Waffle House. My wife also didn't like syrup. I tried heating up the sauce later that night and poured some over vanilla ice cream, but it was missing something. It was mor savory than sweet. Ambiance: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Food: 6/10
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Simon B.

Yelp
Wonderful location overlooks historic air field. Inside amazing art deco building refurbished to new. Food is real good and at the right price vis a vis quality. Generous portions. If u r a lunchtime diner, the weekday specials are worth checking out. And putting in a plug for Father's Day...check out my pic of the buffet menu.....looks FINE! Speedily looked after. Comfortable. Clean. Service excellent. Refills. Yes. Recommended.
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Phuong N.

Yelp
Four star for food. Service was horrible. We came to celebrate a friend birthday. We came in for noon and didn't leave until 2:30. We all ordered from the Coolinary menu except one person. We were a party of five and literally waited almost an hour for them to bring out two salad which should have been four salad. I didn't wanted to be rude and eat before anyone so I waited untill all the salad came out. When we notice they were not bringing out anymore salad, we had to catch one of the host/manager to get the other two salad out. If you notice the two salad picture I posted, you will see the difference of the presentation of the salad. We all got the same salad but the last two that they forgot to bring out has garnish. I mentioned it to the waiter but he didn't even reply and just dropped off the salary real quick. It was another long wait untill our main course came out. Throughout all this, not once someone check to refill our water or apologize for the long wait or explain what's the hold up. When I had to get the host/ manager attention, all he had to say was that because we got the grill chopped lamb , that was the reason for the long wait. I understand they were busy but a little communication would have been nice. Our main waiter was not seen untill the desserts came out. People who came after us were all done eating and leaving before we even got to our desserts! I place an order Togo and asked if it can be ready before we were done with our meals but it was not done so that was another long wait when we all just wanted to leave before the rain start coming down. With all that being said, we all really enjoyed our meal. I had the Shrimp Remy salad, Grill Lamb chop and bread pudding. The Shrimp Remy was light and tasty on buttered lettuce. The Grill Chopped Lamb is topped with pomegranate gastrique served with truffle mac & cheese and sauteed spinach. The Grill Chop was tender and well seasoned. The mac and cheese was so soft and creamy and delish. For dessert I got the white chocolate bread pudding it was a little too sweet but moist and good. If I ever come back, the Grill Chopped Lamp is a must have.