Dining Review: The Hangar Grille is ready for takeoff

Lockheed Aircraft Co. played an important role in Burbank’s history. Before, during and after World War II, they built innovative, record-breaking aircraft in factories around the current-day Bob Hope Airport. Some of their more famous craft include the Vega Starliner and Model 10 Elektra favored by Amelia Earhart, and the P-38, a WWII workhorse.

PHOTOS: The Hangar Grille in Burbank

The proprietors of the recently opened Hangar Grille in Burbank make no secret of their admiration for Lockheed and aircraft in general. A giant mural of a vintage cockpit dashboard (a B-9, I believe) takes up an entire wall. Corrugated metal and propellers are prominent decor features. The mood lighting is perfect. It all adds up to a unique and pleasing environment made only better by the outstanding service.

The decor at the Hangar Grille harkens back to Burbank’s aviation heritage.

(Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer)

Normally, I don’t write too much about service at local restaurants. Unless you’re going really high end, it’s pretty much the same everywhere — adequate. We were really taken with the level of attention, care and friendliness at the Hangar Grille. Perhaps it was the uniforms — yes, uniforms — the waiters wore. As they zipped around from table to table, cheerfully backing each other up, they looked like the aviation equivalent of a pit crew.

I would highly recommend the Hangar Grille for group gatherings like birthday parties or reunions. The seating and ambience is conducive to group conversation and the staff can handle the numbers. I can’t say the food rocked my world, but it was fresh (with one exception) and well prepared. Plus, the menu’s variety has wide appeal.

We “landed” at 6:55 on a Monday night and were kindly told we had five minutes left on Happy Hour. Our waiter suggested the chicken wings for a mere $4. He was right on. They were plump and crispy with a zippy house sauce (our choice out of five) made with chipotle, lime, and cilantro. House beer and wine are also only $4 during Happy Hour, Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.

Yelp labels the food at the Hangar Grille Italian. I would not call it that. It’s classic American food that you might find at a swanky golf club or hotel restaurant. Things like prime rib, fish in lemon caper sauce, and fettuccine primavera. I opted for the grilled New York steak which came with a choice of two sides: baked or mashed potatoes, rice pilaf or sauteed vegetables. For $20.49, it was quite good. It tasted like steak used to taste when I was a kid.

A favorite at the Hangar Grille in Burbank is the fresh grilled salmon stuffed with crab meat filling and topped with a red pepper aioli sauce with a side of rice pilaf and sauteed vegetables.

(Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer)

My husband got the crab stuffed salmon with a red pepper aioli sauce ($15.99). Beautifully prepared and tasty, he loved it. Our friend tried the seafood linguine. The pasta was hot and delicious, but when he was halfway through, he started to make funny faces. He asked us to taste the seafood and indeed some of them tasted like metal. We made mention of it to the waiter and he skillfully whisked it away asking what he would have in its place. The Caesar salad with chicken and roasted corn fit the bill just right.

All restaurants have bumps in the road, especially at the beginning. What matters is that you give your wait staff the authority to make it right, and they did. Consider having your next gathering at the Hangar Grille. They have bottomless mimosas at their weekend brunch. A Veteran’s Day celebration with your high-flying dad or granddad might be the perfect thing.

What: The Hangar Grille

Where: 3821 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank

When: Daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Prices: lunch, $8.99 to $15.99; dinner, $10.99 to $22.49; Happy Hour, $4 beer, wine and appetizers; weekend brunch, $7.99 to $14.49

Contact: (818) 842-5250

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LISA DUPUY welcomes comments and suggestions at LDupuy@aol.com.