3 1/2 Stars.
Rode my Bicycle over in this area today to purchase Birthday gifts for my youngest kids... which consisted of Gift Certificates to voluntarily propel yourself from a fully-functional flying machine ( http://www.yelp.com/biz/parachute-center-lodi ).
After purchasing the gift certificates, I biked over to Lodi Airport Cafe to try out their fare. I, in the past, have rode by this restaurant many times... but in my previous treks, this restaurant is just too darned close to Lodi to justify stopping and eat. By the time I ride back, it's already closed. BTW, this place closes at 2:30pm.
On the menu today...
Spanish Omelet (*** 1/2 $9.00) All their Omelets are the three-Egg variety... but they don't look it. Could have been small Eggs.... Consisted of Spanish Onions, Tomatoes, and Jack Cheese covered with a mild Salsa (***). Side of Country Potatoes... chunky Red Potatoes grilled with Onions (****). Also a side of Toast or a (just 1) Biscuit... chose the Toast.
Small Stack (**** $5.50) Two Pancakes that covered up an 8-inch plate. Very thick Maple Syrup... not the runny stuff you'd get at most restaurants.
Iced Tea (*** $2.00) Always topped off.
Service (**** 1/2) When I first walked in, I noticed three wait-staff for a ten table restaurant plus some counter seats. Overstaffed, I thought... or optimistic. As I sat there longer... more and more people from the Parachute Center.
After I ordered my Breakfast, I just told the waitress to keep my Iced Tea topped up... and I'd be a Happy Camper. And she did just that!
Value (** 1/2) Everything here is about $0.50 to $2.00 over and above what you would pay, for a similar food item in Lodi or Stockton. But, the Service is Excellent.
Lodi Airport Cafe, essentially a Breakfast and a Sandwich Lunch Restaurant, which opened in 1988, exists for one reason only... the Parachute Center. There just has to be an interdependency between the Center and this Restaurant. Even though they're located by Hwy 99, there isn't any space or facility for Truckers. While there, there was only one table (with me, two) that consisted of what you would call "locals." Locals would be, for the Airport Cafe, farmers who resided nearby who didn't want to drive into Lodi or Galt to have Breakfast or Lunch. From the looks of the customers on a Saturday morning... the Airport Cafe had problems handling all the traffic from the Parachute Center primarily because the Center acquired a new and bigger Airplane to support more jumps per take-off.
Doesn't their signage look something from a Jetson's cartoon? ( http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/kRwMJVs2A6NChZArNJMFzQ/l )
BTW, CA$H or Local Checks ONLY!!! Bring some Green! read more