Tucked away at 1665 Newport Rd in Colorado Springs, Colorado, The Airplane Restaurant is exactly what it sounds like — a real airplane turned into a place where you can sit down and enjoy a meal. Whether you are a fan of aviation history, looking for a fun family outing, or just want a burger in the most unusual setting possible, this spot delivers something truly unforgettable.
With over 3,900 reviews and a solid 4.2-star rating, it has become one of the most talked-about dining experiences in the entire state. Once you visit, you will completely understand why people keep coming back.
A Real Boeing KC-97 Tanker Is the Star of the Show
Not many restaurants can say their main dining room once flew at 30,000 feet. The centerpiece of The Airplane Restaurant is a genuine Boeing KC-97 tanker aircraft that has been transformed into a fully functioning dining space with booths and tables fitted right inside the fuselage.
Sitting inside the plane feels surprisingly cozy and completely immersive. The curved walls, low ceilings, and narrow aisle give you the real sensation of being aboard a vintage aircraft.
Families, couples, and solo diners all seem to light up the moment they step through the door of the plane.
The owner himself has shared stories about the incredible effort it took to bring this massive aircraft to its current spot. That backstory alone makes every bite of your meal feel a little more special.
Few restaurants in America can offer a dining room with this kind of history baked right into its walls.
Cockpit Access Makes It a Photographer’s Dream
One of the most talked-about moments at The Airplane Restaurant happens before the food even arrives. Guests are encouraged to walk up and explore the preserved cockpit, where the original instruments, gauges, and controls are still fully intact and ready to be touched.
Kids absolutely go wild for it. Parents have shared that their children could barely contain their excitement after getting a chance to sit in the pilot’s seat and fiddle with the real controls from a World War II-era aircraft.
The photo opportunities alone are worth the trip.
Even adults who consider themselves too cool to get excited end up grinning ear to ear once they are behind the controls. The hostess often gives a mini tour and explains some of the plane’s history as guests walk in, making the whole experience feel more like a museum visit than a restaurant stop.
Aviation Memorabilia Covers Every Inch of the Walls
Walking through The Airplane Restaurant feels like stepping into a carefully curated aviation museum. Framed photographs, airplane models, life-sized replicas, and historical artifacts cover nearly every surface from floor to ceiling, giving guests plenty to look at between bites.
Multiple reviewers have called it a mini museum, and that description is spot on. You could easily spend twenty minutes just wandering the main dining room before your food arrives, reading captions and admiring the collection of pieces that span decades of aviation history.
The decor is not just wallpaper slapped on for aesthetics — it feels genuine and lovingly assembled. There is a warmth to how the space is put together, like someone truly passionate about flight history spent years collecting each piece.
That authentic enthusiasm is contagious, and it turns an ordinary meal into something much more memorable and worth discussing long after you leave.
Staff in Uniform Add to the Full Immersive Experience
From the moment you walk through the door, the staff at The Airplane Restaurant commit fully to the theme. Servers wear aircraft crew uniforms, which immediately sets the tone and signals that this place takes its concept seriously — and has a lot of fun with it too.
Reviewers have consistently praised the friendliness and attentiveness of the team. Servers like Tina and Naomi have been called out by name in multiple reviews for going above and beyond to make guests feel welcome.
When the kitchen gets backed up, the staff stays communicative and keeps the energy positive.
The owner is reportedly hands-on and visible in the restaurant, even greeting guests and offering to take group photos. That kind of personal touch from the top down creates a culture of genuine hospitality that customers notice right away.
It is the sort of service that makes a quirky restaurant feel like a place you actually want to return to.
The BBQ Bomber Burger Is a Must-Try Menu Highlight
Plenty of themed restaurants lean so hard into their concept that the food becomes an afterthought. That is not the case here.
The BBQ Bomber Burger has earned a devoted following, with multiple reviewers calling it one of the best burgers they have had in Colorado Springs.
Packed with bold, smoky flavor and served with a generous portion of the restaurant’s signature thick-cut fries, this burger is the kind of meal that keeps you thinking about it on the drive home. The fries themselves have drawn serious praise — described as thicker than chips and almost like well-fried potato skins with a satisfying crunch.
The Guacamole Burger has also gotten high marks, and the menu includes steaks, fish and chips, Philly cheesesteaks, and baked spaghetti loaded with peppers, onions, and sausage. There is genuinely something for everyone, and the portions are large enough that leftovers are almost guaranteed.
Bison Options Set This Menu Apart From Other Restaurants
Here is something you do not see every day on a restaurant menu — multiple bison options. The Airplane Restaurant proudly serves bison dishes, including a corned bison Reuben that has caught the attention of adventurous eaters looking for something beyond the typical burger-and-fries routine.
Bison is a leaner, slightly richer alternative to beef, and it pairs beautifully with classic American comfort food preparations. Offering it on the menu gives the restaurant a Colorado authenticity that feels totally fitting for the region.
It is a small detail, but it signals that the kitchen is thinking beyond the ordinary.
For visitors who want to try something local and a little unexpected, ordering a bison dish is an easy way to make the meal feel even more memorable. Combined with the aviation atmosphere surrounding you, a bison Reuben inside a 1950s tanker plane is the kind of meal story you will be telling at dinner parties for years.
Portions Are Generous Enough to Bring Home Leftovers
One thing reviewers keep mentioning again and again is just how much food you get for the price. Portions at The Airplane Restaurant are genuinely large, and it is common for guests to box up half their meal to enjoy later.
That kind of value makes the slightly higher price point feel completely reasonable.
One guest described ordering baked spaghetti and barely being able to finish half of it before needing a to-go box. Another mentioned that chicken tenders and quesadillas at around sixteen dollars each came with enough food to leave satisfied for hours.
For a family dining out, that kind of portion size adds up to real savings.
When you factor in the entertainment value of the experience on top of the food quantity and quality, the overall value proposition becomes hard to argue with. You are getting a meal, a museum visit, and a story all in one reasonably priced outing.
The Restroom Sound Effects Are Hilariously Unexpected
Nobody expects a trip to the bathroom to be part of the entertainment, but The Airplane Restaurant has managed to turn even that into a memorable moment. The restrooms play loud airplane engine sounds, giving guests the jarring but hilarious sensation that a plane is either taking off or preparing to crash-land.
One reviewer described it as one of the funniest moments of their visit, laughing about it long after they returned to their table. It is the kind of unexpected detail that shows how committed the restaurant is to delivering a fully themed experience from the front door to every corner of the building.
Little surprises like this are what separate a good restaurant from a truly unforgettable one. Most places put effort into the food and maybe the decor, but The Airplane Restaurant sweats the small stuff too — and that extra layer of playfulness is exactly what keeps people talking about it for years after their visit.
Two Fireplaces in the Main Dining Room Add Cozy Warmth
Not everyone wants to squeeze into a narrow airplane fuselage for dinner, and The Airplane Restaurant has a comfortable solution for that. The main dining room adjacent to the plane is a warm, inviting space that has its own charm — including two fireplaces that make it especially appealing during Colorado’s chilly months.
The room has a small-town, homey feel that balances the high-energy novelty of the airplane section. Families with strollers or guests who prefer a bit more elbow room tend to gravitate toward the main dining area, and they still get the full benefit of the aviation memorabilia covering the walls around them.
One wing of the actual plane extends directly into the dining room, so even seated guests in the main area feel connected to the aviation theme. Whichever section you choose, the atmosphere is engaging and comfortable — a rare combination that makes The Airplane Restaurant work for a wide range of visitors.
Kids Go Absolutely Crazy for This Place — and That Is a Good Thing
Finding a restaurant that genuinely excites kids without feeling like a compromise for adults is not easy. The Airplane Restaurant manages to pull it off beautifully.
Children are captivated from the second they walk in, and the excitement only builds as they explore the plane, check out the cockpit, and discover all the cool aviation artifacts on display.
The kids menu has received glowing praise from parents, and the staff is described as patient and welcoming with young guests. One family mentioned visiting twice during a single vacation because their kids loved it so much the first time they demanded to go back.
One practical note for parents: high chairs do not fit well in the narrow airplane aisle, so families with babies may be more comfortable in the main dining room. Kids can still visit the cockpit regardless of where you are seated, so nobody misses out on the best part of the adventure.
Aviation History Buffs Will Feel Right at Home Here
Located just a short distance from the National Museum of World War II Aviation, The Airplane Restaurant sits in a part of Colorado Springs that practically breathes aviation history. Many visitors combine a trip to the museum with lunch or dinner at the restaurant, turning the whole afternoon into a deep-dive aviation experience.
The Boeing KC-97 housed at the restaurant has a fascinating backstory of its own. It served as a USAF tanker and was also a former Texas Air National Guard aircraft before being converted into this one-of-a-kind dining destination.
That real operational history gives the space a weight and authenticity that no themed chain restaurant could ever replicate.
For anyone who has spent years reading about Cold War aircraft or simply loves the mechanical artistry of vintage planes, sitting inside this fuselage while eating a well-cooked steak is genuinely moving. The Airplane Restaurant is not pretending to honor aviation history — it actually is aviation history.
Reasonable Prices Make the Experience Even More Worth It
With all the spectacle and novelty on offer, you might expect The Airplane Restaurant to charge premium prices for the privilege. Surprisingly, the menu stays in a very reasonable range for a full-service American restaurant, landing in the mid-tier price category that most families can comfortably manage.
Chicken tenders run around fifteen dollars, quesadillas are similarly priced, and drinks like Coke and iced tea come in at three dollars and seventy-five cents each. Considering the portion sizes are large enough to bring food home, the per-dollar value is genuinely impressive compared to many other dining-out options in the area.
Multiple reviewers have specifically called out the pricing as fair given the size of the portions and the overall experience. When you add in the free entertainment of the cockpit, the memorabilia, the engine sound effects in the bathrooms, and the themed atmosphere, the meal starts to feel like an absolute bargain compared to what you are getting in return.
Hours and Location Make It Easy to Plan Your Visit
Planning a trip to The Airplane Restaurant is straightforward, which is always a relief when you are trying to organize a family outing. The restaurant is open seven days a week, with weekday hours running from 11 AM to 8 PM and extended Friday and Saturday hours going until 9 PM — plenty of flexibility for lunch, an early dinner, or a weekend evening out.
The address is 1665 Newport Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916, and it sits near the Colorado Springs Airport, making it a convenient stop for travelers passing through or locals looking for something different. You can reach them at 719-570-7656 or check out the menu in advance at theairplanerestaurant.com.
Going early is a smart move, especially on weekends when waits can build up. One reviewer mentioned arriving on a Friday evening and waiting a bit, but said every minute of it was worth it once they were seated inside the plane with their family.