Contact: (937) 652-2010
Background/Overview: Warren Grimes is famously titled, "Father of the Aircraft Lighting Industry." In the early 1940s, the successful Ohio businessman presented his Grimes Field to the city of Urbana. Grimes' company then leased the private airport from the city. In the late 1980s, the city assumed the operational duties of Grimes Field Urbana Municipal Airport.
In 1991, the Airport’s full-service restaurant reopened. Ten years ago, Doug and Michele Hall leased the eatery from the city to help preserve an area tradition. Legend has it that pilots would land at Grimes Field just to have a piece of its restaurant’s delectable homemade pie and enjoy one of those delicious hamburgers; thus, the term “Hundred-Dollar Hamburger.” The term is still as well known as Doug and Michele’s Airport Café is today, “Where Friends and Neighbors Meet.”
Doug and Michele restructured the Airport Café a couple years ago. Nevertheless, the magnificent runway views from the Café windows of the airplanes as they taxi in and out of Grimes Field hasn’t changed.
The Café is also known for its experienced staff. Pat Hall is an alumni assistant. She and husband Burley provide the Café with fresh Holstein beef directly from their family farm just north of Urbana. In addition, most everything else served at the restaurant is purchased from local merchants for the freshest tastes.
The Menu
Beverages: Coffee-$1.25; Pepsi-Cola products-$1.89; Sutter Home wine-$2.79; domestic and
imported bottle beer and Blue Moon & Shock Top draft beer-$2.79 to $2.99.
Kid’s Menu: French toast, sausage, and drink-$2.99; grilled cheese, fries, and drink-$3.29.
Senior Selections: Egg, bacon, w/toast-$3.29; Ocean Perch, side, w/roll-$6.69; Roast Beef-
$6.99.
Breakfast: Cheese Omelet-$4.59; “Aztec” has two eggs, home fries, meat, w/toast-$5.29.
Soups: “Soup-of-the-Day”-$1.99/$3.29; Soup & Salad-$4.49; Soup & Sandwich-$4.99.
Sandwiches: Fish Sandwich-$4.79; Sausage Sandwich-$4.99; Airport Sandwich-$6.29.
“Daily Specials”: Ask your server for the day’s “Special.”
Dinners: Ham Steak-$7.29; Sirloin Steak (6 oz.)-$8.99; Breaded Oysters-$10.99.
Desserts: Homemade pie-$2.79; (feature) Raspberry pie-$2.99; Hot Fudge Brownie-$4.29.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
More Information: "Golden Buckeye Card" is accepted for a senior discount on Wednesdays. There's outdoor shaded seating for dining when weather permits. A Banquet Room seats 38 guests. A 24-hour notice will prepare that private indoor space for your special event.
Through Aug. 14, Doug and Michele’s two children will be showing the families Holstein cows and pigs at the Champaign County Fair.
August 21-23, Grimes Field is sponsoring its 16th annual Mid-Eastern Regional Fly In (MERFI), where hundreds of planes will be flying in during the two day event.
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