Stranded at LaGuardia? Here's how to kill time
Heading to LaGuardia Airport for some holiday travel? I suspect you should be prepared to wait. I've done my fair share of waiting at LaGuardia over the years, and much of it included eating myself into oblivion, strictly out of boredom. Because of that, I've discovered what I consider to be the best restaurant in the entire airport -- or in any airport I've visited. It's so good, I wouldn't rule out a road trip to LGA just for a meal. A few years back, celebrity chef Todd English opened an outpost to his Boston-based Figs restaurants in the Central Terminal Building. I crave the fig and prosciutto flatbread pizza (crispy rosemary crust with fig and balsamic jam, prosciutto and gorgonzola cheese. $11.99), the insalata bistecca (sliced balsamic glazed hanger steak with onion jam over country mashed potatoes, served with a salad of string beans and watercress in a toasted walnut vinaigrette and a shower of bleu cheese. $19.99), and the crazy-good white chocolate bread pudding (Todd English’s famous bread pudding, made with Challah bread, Callebaut white chocolate, and cream. Served warm with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. $5.95). You can check out the menu here. Pre-security, overlooking Concourse B in the Center Food Court.
If you're not quite up to a big meal and would rather grab and go, the Sam Adams Pub is a little stand you might pass by without a glance. But don't. Manny Mora mans the stand and serves mixed drinks, bottled beer and a revolving roster of seasonal beers and specialty lagers and ales on tap. A selection of sandwiches is available for $6.95 apiece, each prepackaged but made daily by the chef at Figs restaurant downstairs. But the best item at the stand is -- believe it or not -- the hot dog topped with homemade onions that Mora cooks up himself in the Figs kitchen. Post-security. Concourse D.
If you'd rather spend your time shopping, you could even score a free gift for someone. Here's how: Spend $100 at any combination of retail stores in the LaGuardia Marketplace, bring your receipts to Taxco Sterling on the departures level between gates B and C, and they'll give you a free silver snowflake necklace ($45 retail value.) Sweet.
And print out this coupon and present it with your boarding pass for 20 percent off any one item at the shops and restaurants at LaGuardia's Central Terminal Building (some exceptions apply).
Do you have any favorite spots at LaGuardia? Share 'em with your Direct Flight buddies in the comments below.
