I don’t typically review restaurants outside of hotels, but I’m going to make an exception here. A while back, I was talking to a friend here in Miami, who asked if I had eaten at the 94th Aero Squadron. I had never heard of it, so expressed confusion.
“It’s right next to the airport runway, and there are headphones at the tables so you can listen to air traffic control.” Wait, that restaurant exists, and I hadn’t heard of it, despite living in Miami for more years than I’d care to admit?!
Since I hadn’t heard of it, I imagine many OMAAT readers who are Miami locals may not be familiar with it either, so I’d like to report back with my thoughts. Now, whether you should actually dine here or not might be a different story…
In this post:
The restaurant with MIA airport views & ATC audio!
The 94th Aero Squadron is open for lunch and dinner most days, and also has a Sunday brunch buffet. It’s located just to the south of Miami International Airport (MIA), off SR 836 (the Dolphin Expressway). Even if you’re not specifically familiar with the restaurant, you may recognize the distinctive exterior, if you ever drive on SR 836.
The building certainly has a quirky outside, with a bunch of military equipment, a barn, and a tower (not the airport kind), among other things.
The restaurant itself is nice enough, and is certainly classed up a bit by the white tablecloths that are used.
But really what makes this place special is that it has great views of runway 9/27 and the terminal. You’re just separated from the airport by a little lake, a train track, and a street… it’s Florida, after all.
Not only do you have the view, but at the tables you’ll also find headphones, streaming air traffic control audio, so you can really be on top of what’s going on at the airport (great group dinner concept for introverts, I might add!).
Miles has gotten really into airplanes lately, which I’m of course delighted by (though I’m not trying to force him into it, or anything). As it currently stands, he wants to be a pilot when he grows up… but only for Avianca Cargo on the A330. Don’t ask.
Anyway, he very much enjoyed being able to listen to air traffic control audio, and to watch planes the entire meal. Well, or at least for 15 minutes. He’s three… so that’s basically an “entire meal” for him, before he tells me “okay papa, let’s go.”
They really embrace the whole aviation theme, and even have little air traffic control themed coloring books and menus for kids.
I absolutely loved the views here, and couldn’t believe I didn’t know about this place. I did find the vibe to be a bit confusing. To me, this place seems designed for aviation geeks, between the views and the headphones.
At the same time, there’s no other aviation theme inside the restaurant, and I swear we were the only people eating there who were interested in planes. Everyone else seemed to be on a romantic night out, or something. That’s odd, because, well, that’s kind of the main redeeming quality of this place, if you ask me…
What about the food, though?
When it comes to food at the 94th Aero Squadron, don’t get too excited. I found the quality to just be okay, and the pricing to be on the high side (keep in mind we’re on the airport perimeter and not in South Beach). Below is the dinner menu, along with the three course pre fixe menu.
I decided to order the pre fixe menu (I’m a sucker for them when the price is so much lower than the individual courses, even if I wouldn’t otherwise order all of them… oops). I selected the greek salad, the baked salmon with crunchy pecans, and the key lime pie
The portion was huge (particularly the salmon), and ultimately the pre fixe menu was a decent enough deal. And Miles ended up being very happy that I ordered dessert However, I wouldn’t say the food quality or value are the reasons you’ll want to come to this restaurant.
Bottom line
Somehow I only recently discovered that Miami has a restaurant that has runway views and headphones at every table, so that guests can listen to air traffic control audio. The restaurant is called 94th Aero Squadron, and it’s just off SR 836, next to MIA’s runway 9/27.
On the plus side, the views didn’t disappoint, combined with the headphones. The food, meanwhile, is average, and the pricing is on the high side. Still, if you appreciate airport views, it could be a nice place for a meal.
And if planes are landing on runway 9, be sure to pair it with a trip to the railroad tracks just outside of El Dorado Furniture, located at the end of runway, which has incredible views.
Would you dine at the 94th Aero Squadron?
OMG, I first went there 35 years ago - when corrosion corner really was corrosion corner.
But,… another OMG- the prices! As an australian I’m stunned how much restaurant prices… have increased… not even including the tips
Ben I know you've written before about why you prefer to fly out of MIA than FLL but I would love a post on your opinion on the best and worst things about living in Miami itself!
I forgot about those restaurants. We used to go to one near us growing up for special occasions. I thought they were all closed at this point.
I forgot about the decor, too. Apparently, it was a WWI theme and designed to look like a French village or something. I guess, arguably, it's as much a history-themed restaurant as it is aviation, even though it was in honor of the WWI ace, Rickenbacker.
Love the location and concept. As a chef, everything about the menu pains me from the graphic design to the prices. That pricing makes no sense given current market rates for the proteins. And what is the point of a Prix Fix menu with 7 appetizer choices and 9(!!!) entree choices? Good gravy.
The food does look decent though, so, credit where it’s due.
Exactly. Prix Fixe should be 3-3-3. If you don't like those options, order a la carte.
There was also one of these along side an east/west runway at the old Stapleton airport in Denver.
Lucky,
You also lived in Southern California. For years they had these at Van Nuys and SNA.
This restaurant is so similar to the 57th Fighter Group restaurant at PDK. Right next to the airport with a ton of private jets, especially when there is an event in Atlanta.
Yes, it was actually a chain of sorts, back in the day. I remember the Cleveland and Pittsburgh locations. Didn’t know there were still a few around.
There used to be one in SJC.. Miss it dearly
Have you never been to perimeter road to watch the planes? I grew up doing that sometimes. It was a special treat.
Visit Miami city hall sometime. It used to be where all the Pan Am flying boats were based.
There were a bunch of these and a handful of similar places, some owned by Specialty Restaurants and others by imitators. Specialty still own The Proud Bird, situated alongside the thresholds of runways 25 R and L at LAX.
Wow Ben, I cannot believe you have not heard of this restaurant before. You are always on top of everything specially if it is in Miami! I have been there a few times quite a few years ago and enjoyed it. The live web cam for the airport is also coming from their site.
I had no idea that chain still existed. They used to be at several airports, including St. Louis, which had a really awesome one. I love that place, I had no idea there was one in Miami.
I 5hink it's been there for decades. I went to it with a friend sometime around 1999. It was pre 9/11.
Anyone Long Islanders here remember the 56th Fighter Group at KFRG Airport?? This place is identical. Crazy. It is like I am looking at the same place dropped into another state.
The Churrasco is actually pretty good... And the Old Fashioned.
There's a location in San Diego as well, but at Montgomery Field, which doesn't have any airline service... Great viewing of small planes, though!
Ben, first of all what an absolutely adorable son! I love the picture of him with the headphones listening intently to the dialogue. Secondly, I don’t understand how you of all MIA av geeks didn’t know about this place. Back in my airline days I would attend training and industry meetings at the nearby IATA offices. It was there that someone at one of the meetings mentioned the restaurant so I checked it out. And...
Ben, first of all what an absolutely adorable son! I love the picture of him with the headphones listening intently to the dialogue. Secondly, I don’t understand how you of all MIA av geeks didn’t know about this place. Back in my airline days I would attend training and industry meetings at the nearby IATA offices. It was there that someone at one of the meetings mentioned the restaurant so I checked it out. And I agree with you. You come here for the views, not the food. The place tries to be classy, but that’s classy with a “k”. The food is passably ok, but is bit pricey. Nevertheless, each time I was in Miami I would return there for dinner and watch planes until the wait staff gave me “the look” that they wanted to turn the table! As for the penchant for the Avianca A330, you’ll have to explain that to us someday!
This is or was part of a chain that opened in the early 70s. I remember eating at one (at PBI I think) in the early 80s.
Wow that looks eerily similar to 57th Fighter Group in Atlanta. The only difference is 57 is located at a private airport Peachtree-DeKalb Airport (PDK). The food is average too! I've always said if there was no view, you would never eat there.