I've been wanting to check out the art deco murals and decor at the Lakefront Airport for a while now, so we decided to do lunch while there. We were seated at the windows along the runway so we could watch the planes taking off and landing, which added to the great experience. Our server was really nice and was able to answer all our questions. Our party of four ordered the catfish plate, the salmon plate, and the crab cake plate, and no one was disappointed. We all indulged in the white chocolate bread pudding which was heavenly. Can't wait to go back. read more

Our server Tamika was such a sweetheart. She was sure to keep our glasses filled and always had a smile. I food portions were very generous and everything was delicious. The potatoes were amazing. Be sure to sit in the room where you can really see the planes take off. It's quite interesting to watch especially on a pretty day. read more

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Messina's Runway Cafe is an absolutely beautiful venue for brunch and group events. We celebrated my son's graduation here with a large party. The waitress was friendly and patient, as I had a late arriving guest. Prices were quite reasonable as well. I had the Fried Green Tomatoes to start and was pleasantly pleased. The shrimp were deveined nicely and the tomato was fried to perfection. I also tried the brunch burger, which was cooked according to the proper temperature. I wasn't a huge fan of the bread, but it was a tasty burger, nonetheless. It seemed as though most people enjoyed their meal. I certainly wish I saved some room for their infamous bread pudding. I did have one issue: I was charged for a bottle of wine, instead of a glass of wine, and still need to iron that out. But I'd definitely choose this venue again. read more

Messina's Runway Cafe - Brunch Burger and Potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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This was a good experience. Food was delicious. Service was good. Vibe was really chilled in the area we were seated. Great window view of the planes. read more

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Went for the Sunday Brunch Buffet. Everything was hot and delicious! We sat at the bar and the bartender was very attentive and Friendly! Will definitely be back. I highly recommend the world famous Bread Pudding! They do include 18% gratuity on every check. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect but this place did not disappoint. It was a little hard trying to figure out where to go once we entered the building. The Ambiance was as expected, dinner style art deco. But the food was 10/10 everything was fresh and hot. Our server was nice and attentive. read more

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Love coming here for breakfast on the weekend. They do breakfast every day but weekends is an expanded brunch menu. The ambiance is great, if you're lucky you'll get a seat by the window and can watch the planes come and go which is especially entertaining for the kids. I opted for the bottomless mimosas because it made the most sense cost wise. Our server Blake was running around like crazy but he still managed to be attentive. While waiting for our entrees they brought out mini blueberry muffins with a delicious honey butter. I started with with fried green tomatoes topped with boiled shrimp and remoulade. Delicious! I couldn't decide between an omelet and the pancakes so of course I opted for both. The banana foster sauce was the perfect accompaniment to the pancakes (I get it on the side because of course it's VERY sweet). I definitely got too much food for one person but I have no regrets! read more

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We've been here multiple times and have always enjoyed ourselves! Today was no different. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas. We had a reservation and were seated on time. We had their delicious biscuits as an appetizer which included a special sweet potato biscuit that melted in your mouth. I like that you have a choice between bottomless mimosas, Bellinis or Bloody Mary's. For entrees we had Steak and potatoes, the Burger and the fluffy stack of pancakes with pecan praline syrup. Everything was fresh and tasty. The service was good but I have to say I didn't appreciate our waitress coming quite a few times once we were seated almost pressuring us to order and then once we received our food, we seldom saw her. We had asked for ice and water and had to re-ask when we saw her nearby. I do still recommend as a Brunch location because the prices are reasonable for the food quality and atmosphere. read more

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I've been here several times but it's been awhile. Went here on Sunday for a friend's birthday brunch. The place is nice, lots of windows so the place is pretty bright. Love how you can see the planes from the restaurant. The waitress was very nice and attentive considering it was a party of 12. Love how they have the bottomless mimosas for $20. Most of us enjoyed our food but my friend and the Fried Green Tomatoes with boiled shrimp drizzled with the house made remoulade sauce. The fried tomatoes could've been fried longer for a crispier texture and the shrimp was cold and rubbery. I had the Eggs your way , scrambled eggs, the applewood bacon, Brabant potatoes and an English muffin. It was delicious . The longest wait was for the check but that was fine gave us extra time to talk. All in all it's a great place for good food with decent prices. Also a plus is ample parking in the parking lot. read more

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To say I'm not a brunch food type of gal, I enjoyed Messina's! The space is big and spread out, which I appreciated (as we know, many Nola restaurants have limited space and you can feel on top of the table next to you). The back area has a great view of the Lake, but you have to be lucky enough to get seated there...I'd suggest making a reservation and requesting a table facing the lake. The host staff was having some trouble with seating. It took a while to get us situated, and we had reservations. The food was good and fresh! I recommend the Buffalo shrimp app for the table. The shrimp were super plump and flavorful. Shout out to our sweet server Lauren for the amazing service! She had several tables but was attentive and helpful during our entire visit. Sunday brunch can be pretty hectic for restaurants, but Messina's made for a very pleasant visit! read more

Messina's Runway Cafe - Breakfast burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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They've started a buffet at Messina's. Went there for lunch on a Saturday with my siblings (our parents had their wedding reception there so we have a sentimental attachment to the place). First of all I think $35 is a bit much. The food was ok but there are plenty of ok places to eat in New Orleans. Our server was kind and attentive. I treated so was a little surprised when the bill arrived. Seems they charged a $20 "Weekend Service Charge" for what I'm not sure (didn't have a chance to ask before we left). Business was really good that day and the place was jumping. Between the "Service Charge" and the tip we could've had dinner and drinks somewhere pretty nice. And I know waiting tables is not an easy job and have absolutely no problem being a generous tipper. For a buffet this was just not worth it. read more

Excellent food. Friendly staff. Very cool environment inside local airport! Lots to see. Ample parking!

Great place for lunch! If you love burgers you cannot leave without ordering their bbq burger! Also I am not a fan of buffalo anything but their buffalo shrimp with bleu cheese is amazing!! So far I've been twice and the service was great. read more

It was my birthday!! I had great expectations. I have lived in New Orleans the majority of my life. Katherine made our reservations and gave us their best table in the flight deck with the best waitress, Bella. We were a party of 6 including my 3 grandchildren. My granddaughter and I ordered the steak and eggs. We ordered the steak medium rare which the chef had a problem with twice. The restaurant was very crowded and everyone else enjoyed their meal immensely. I don't blame anyone and manage ment handled the situation like a pro. I was given two delicious bread puddings for the table to share and an entree for my husband and I to take home. We will be back and you should try it to. Bring the kids. It is an experience. read more

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Had a great time with friends! What's not to love?? Getting to watch the planes? The awesome service? The good food? The PARKING!! It's a great place to go for brunch! read more

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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. read more

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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!! read more

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Starting off with the food - it could have honestly been better since it was lukewarm. The biscuits were big and really fluffy. The Lindbergh Omelette had this weird taste to it, I assume it was with the hollandaise or the lump crab, but something was off. We ended the visit with their blueberry cheesecake which was good. The service was pretty slow but it was a Sunday so it didn't matter because we had time to watch the game and do some chatting. The ambiance could have been better as I would have preferred to be seated by the window to get a glimpse of the private jets. Definitely visiting again to try their lunch menu. read more

Danielle was amazing, helping and serving our table of 9 (including 3 kiddos)! Thank you, Grazie ! We will come back and eat the yummy food and definitely ask for you Danielle! read more

Amazing place! The terminal is a bit dated but so cute and the restaurant itself is very nice. I've been here SO many times and I enjoy it to the last bite every single time. You cannot go wrong here, everything is delicious and don't get me started on the bottomless mimosas. Service is usually pretty good, some will be a bit slower with the mimosas refills but on our most recent visit, they put a small carafe with extra mimosas in it to refill yourself and that was an EXCELLENT idea for bottomless. Kudos to however came up with that solution. Overall, definitely my favorite brunch spot at the moment. And the prices are pretty decent! Love the view of the planes and runway from the back room. Check it out! You won't be disappointed! read more

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I have only been here once but loved it so much I am writing a review now. First, the decor is great - art deco, I think it is the real deal. The view - an airport runway for small planes. It is not noisy at all (good windows) and it is fun to watch the takeoffs. Of course the food. Shrimp with grits is unusually good - even my NOLA native friend was impressed. Waffle with fried chicken was perfectly done - moist but crispy chicken and real maple syrup. The coffee was ok - but we were a bit late for breakfast. And the service is the genuine down home courtesy that makes me want to come back. read more

Food and service was good. Terminal view and ambiance was on point I enjoyed the spirit of New Orleans. The cultural atmosphere was great. Food and styles were on display.. read more

Great experience! Ferneisha was our server & she was great ! 10/10 The Service and Food was great ! I will be returning! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

Messina's Runway Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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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. read more

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The the food was good and the atmosphere is great you get to watch airplanes takeoff and the weight is not long and the service is good

My mom and I had lunch there . Our waitress was very nice. The food was wonderful! My mom sisters, and aunt are frequent customers and Messina's Never Disappointed! read more

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. read more

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One of my favorite hidden gems for brunch. Love the art deco architectural design also. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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 read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Messina's Runway Cafe - King cake bread pudding... what?? - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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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. read more

Messina's Runway Cafe - BLFGT - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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

Messina's Runway Cafe - Bar area looking out to the ramp. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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 read more

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