Concessions...

[Contrailing]

Lots of complaints heard about the concessions. Food quality is over-all just lacking on many levels. Some commented that it felt as if they were at a county fair. I'd say it wasn't fresh and grossly over-priced. Why can't EAA allow area food trucks to participate in a common area like a food court? Lots of food trucks have seriously good food and the variety would be incredible. Yeah, I hear the old crowd already... "oh this year was the best food year ever"... Maybe it was for you but what does your waistline measure? Maybe some like cold fish ($16), room temperature fries ($6), rubbery fried chicken ($12), etc. Go ahead... pile on the comments...

[ssteve1]

Lots of complaints heard about the concessions. Food quality is over-all just lacking on many levels. Some commented that it felt as if they were at a county fair. I'd say it wasn't fresh and grossly over-priced. Why can't EAA allow area food trucks to participate in a common area like a food court? Lots of food trucks have seriously good food and the variety would be incredible. Yeah, I hear the old crowd already... "oh this year was the best food year ever"... Maybe it was for you but what does your waistline measure? Maybe some like cold fish ($16), room temperature fries ($6), rubbery fried chicken ($12), etc. Go ahead... pile on the comments...

Great idea. However, I do not believe the local food trucks could afford what the eaa (note lowercase) would charge them just to pass through the main gate. And, God help any of them if any of their employees do not have the weekly wrist band. Too bad. Again, GREAT IDEA!!!

[Mayhemxpc]

I don’t go to EAA expecting fine dining. I expect pretty much what is provided and I am extremely grateful for the variety over what was the situation only a few years ago. I actually come to Wisconsin for the bratwurst, so I am never disappointed. Beer was a plus this year! Beer, brats, sauerkraut. Add DECENT pizza and life would be perfect. Oh, and apple pie.

or you can buy your lunch at the Sacred Heart stand. Dinner options abound, including EXCELLENT pizza, just outside of the airport.

[PaulDow]

I would think a food truck would have a hard time keeping up with the quantity and need to be restocked quite often. They don't have the storage that can be set up in a tent. I looked at the food concession application, and Food Truck is one of the location selections, along with building or tent, so they are allowed.
Most of the food items I see listed on the food and concessions web page (https://www.eaa.org/airventure/plan-your-eaa-airventure-trip/food-and-concessions) should work well with quick service, but others - especially from the area restaurants, may be too complicated. I'm guessing it's a management problem by not cooking to order during slower times.

[mcmurphy]

I don't have any complaints about the concessions, as I ate mostly at my camper. I did have issues with two dining experiences, namely the Chapter Pancake Breakfast and the University of Wisconsin dining hall. The pancake breakfast was just too expensive. Three pancakes, two sausage links and bug juice for $8 was a total ripoff. I thought $7 last year was too high for what you got. I have great sympathy for the chapters that signed up to run the breakfasts just to watch people walk past. At what point is the EAA going to realize they can't keep raising prices?
The University of Wisconsin dining hall isn't really connected to Airventure itself, although it has been a must-do at least once during the week for many members of my chapter. We heard that a new company was running the dining hall and we were very disappointed in the quality and variety of the food they had. In years past the food was so good that you looked forward to a meal the next year. Not anymore. All 14 people from our chapter said they would not go back next year.

[CarlOrton]

<(snip*> The pancake breakfast was just too expensive. Three pancakes, two sausage links and bug juice for $8 was a total ripoff. I thought $7 last year was too high for what you got. I have great sympathy for the chapters that signed up to run the breakfasts just to watch people walk past. At what point is the EAA going to realize they can't keep raising prices? <*snip*>
In this case, I don't know why the price was raised. It was my understanding (subject to education) that all proceeds from the pancake breakfasts went to the chapters working the griddle. I don't know if National skims off the top for materials, but I've always just read that the Chapters are the ones who receive the funds.

[CarlOrton]

..... I actually come to Wisconsin for the bratwurst, so I am never disappointed. Beer was a plus this year! Beer, brats, sauerkraut. Add DECENT pizza and life would be perfect. Oh, and apple pie.

or you can buy your lunch at the Sacred Heart stand. Dinner options abound, including EXCELLENT pizza, just outside of the airport.

Concur with Sacred Heart. On the subject of Brats, I was very disappointed this year. On Sunday before the open, I stopped at the Homebuilder's Cafe (why oh why did they have to tear down all the trees?) and saw a brat listed. I figured I might as well start the week off right, so I ordered one. No charring, not cold, but not hot either. Volunteered most days, so was fed well. Thanks! Then on my last day there, I was walking with my wife past the A&W in the Fly Market. Figured I had to have at least one more brat, but what I received was weird. Again, no char, no "bite", just a bland sausage. *sigh*

[CHICAGORANDY]

Everyone raved about the BBQ foods at Parker John's by the Ultralight flightline. And I mean everyone. Last year they had two locations, this year just the one, but it was always packed with happy customers.

[Frank Giger]

I guess everyone missed the brats behind the Ford and EAA Member services tent.

Pretty darned good.

And six bucks a pop didn't shake me one bit, as it's a concession at a closed area....just pretend you're buying lunch at an airport concourse and you'll be thankful it's so cheap!

[mazdaP5]

(why oh why did they have to tear down all the trees?)

The L Birds tree being removed broke my heart a bit. I would would walk down to warbirds every morning, and as around 10 would the sun would really start baking, I'd relax under that tree for an hour or so, watching the world go by. Oh well.

[Kyle Boatright]

Lots of complaints heard about the concessions. Food quality is over-all just lacking on many levels. Some commented that it felt as if they were at a county fair. I'd say it wasn't fresh and grossly over-priced. Why can't EAA allow area food trucks to participate in a common area like a food court? Lots of food trucks have seriously good food and the variety would be incredible. Yeah, I hear the old crowd already... "oh this year was the best food year ever"... Maybe it was for you but what does your waistline measure? Maybe some like cold fish ($16), room temperature fries ($6), rubbery fried chicken ($12), etc. Go ahead... pile on the comments...

There is little fresh they can offer to a crowd of 100K, which is the audience at Oshkosh. Hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, stuff like that. Not high quality from a nutrition standpoint, but quick to make, fried to kill off most of the germs, and a selection so most anyone who is hungry can find something they will eat.

If you're willing to wait in line or eat at off-times, Subway is an on-field choice. Beyond that, you're gonna have to go off grounds or bring your own food to find much that isn't fried.

Personally, I find ways to work around the limitations of the food offered at show center. I visit SOS, the Sleepy Hollow restaurant/bar, a couple of private events in camp Scholar, and make a run to the grocery store. It works for me, but I don't depend on the on-grounds food alternatives.

[CHICAGORANDY]

By the time I got off the afternoon tram shift at 8:00pm, hobbled back to my car and headed off on my 45 mile drive back to the motel, about the ONLY available fresh hot eats were to be found at a Culver's. Over 8 nights I pretty much worked my way thru their menu - lol. I can't say I've ever come to AirVenture for the food. It's the event, the planes and the people that keep me coming back year after year. I love it.

[troy_m]

No complaints from me regarding the food. I don't really expect to get healthy dining on the grounds. I did hit up Subway one day, and that seemed to be better than the standard burger and fries. I only ate lunch out on the grounds, and tried to get to a different vendor every day. I don't remember having a bad meal all week.

[ssteve1]

As was said in another forum, I don't go to Oshkosh, oops, sorry, airventure for fine dining. I don't think anyone does. But, the concessions have come a long way in the last few years. This year there were numerous areas providing burgers, wraps, brats, bbq, french fries, blooming onions, hot dogs, fried potatoes, baked potatoes, and tons and tons of other deep fat fried fat. Seriously, is it any wonder there are so many golf carts, hover rounds, motor scooters, motor cycles, golf carts, volkswagons, segways, golf carts, automobiles, golf carts, 4X4s, golf carts, Rec Vehicles, golf carts, golf carts, etc. all over everywhere. Okay, I digress...

[Low Pass]

Sorry, but I believe expecting more of the food concessions at an event of that size/type/cost is very unrealistic. That food was good for being institutional food being served to hundreds of thousands of people by people with very little training. It was consistent and reasonable. A little pricey though. As for spicy, please don't do that. Not much fun scrambling around with no drugstore on the grounds looking for Pepto Bismol when things don't sit well.

[L16 Pilot]

I usually head over to Friar Tucks for an adult beverage and sandwich later in the day. Air conditioned too.

[FlyingRon]

The food is a whole lot better than the drek that Zaugs and DJs foisted on people in the days gone by. Prices are high, but not uncommon for the "state fair" type environment. A few things (like water, Pepsi, Beer and Wine) is mandated sitewide by the EAA and the individual vendors are not allowed any changes. Each vendor has at least one EAA MEMBER special (typically a buck off some combination).

Most of the tree things are not the EAA but rather FAA mandates on the airport. Between the idiotic security fence/perimeter road and the lines of site requirements for the tower, a lot of trees were felled. We were lucky that someone stood up to the FAA about the removal of the trees around the Theater in the Woods.

Some recommendations:

Tall Pines Cafe in Vintage for breakfast (also some other limited meals if you arrive preshow). Tall Pines was an attempt at Vintage to fill in for some real absent service. It's staffed by Vintage volunteers.

Operation Thirst (and other volunteer food): If you are volunteering, thirst will bring lunch sandwiches out and drinks and snacks at other times. About four years ago they had a bit change and switched between mystery meat on wonder bread (with some candy smushed into the bread) to some quite good stuff (nice sandwiches on rolls or wraps). Vintage actually runs several dinners either free or at a nominal ($5) fee for their volunteers.

Bring your own: If you're camping (especially down south), you probably want to pack in some basic food for breakfast and possibly dinner anyhow. When we moved from the North 40 to Vintage, we learned it's a long way to Friar Tucks. Now we have quite a setup (since I just store everything in a local storage locker). A half dozen couples take turns making dinners in our group. My EAA chapter used to do similar things in Schoeller. There are also now many more camp stores (Red One Markets) than there used to be (In the old days there was one in Scholler and one sort of subsumed by Warbirds, now there is one in the North 40, three in Schoeller, and three south).

Just off field places: Friar Tucks has already been mentioned. The Charcoal Pit has been taken over by someone else. West Bend Pizza, LaSures (for breakfast) at the north end. Down off Vintage/UL is Vicki's lunch wagon and another guy. There are several non-EAA vendors embedded near the main gates: Sacred Heart Church, a couple of others, and the imfamous SOS brothers "beer tent."

Go to town: You can take the city bus and find many places along the route and there are a few nice ones right around the dorms (Mahoney's).

[Bill Berson]

I had scrambled eggs and cheese shredded potatoes every morning at Machine Shed in front of ultralights. $4. (Gluten free, that I need)

[Floatsflyer]

Machine Shed had some good items that others didn't.

[mazdaP5]

I kept it to just one meal a day on field, just too unhealthy and expensive. I usually kept it to Subway, the veggies make it at least sorta healthy. Had a machine shed hot dog and cookie one night, the cookie was great. Aces pasta and meatballs was pretty good too. Like others have said, I'm not expecting greatness on field. But if you are eating on field 3 meals a day, that's a pretty big hit to the wallet.

[gmatejcek]

Hi All- First off. I agree with all the negative comments. However, I'm guessing most on this thread never ate Zaugs. Wow. Eat that for a week, and you will be a changed person, and not for the better.
In the positive column, although expensive, the meals and especially breakfasts available from the vendors were surprisingly large. No need for lunch, and I'm not exactly dainty. Also, the Red One store in the north 40 wasn't large, but it met my needs at surprisingly low prices. A rather large coffee for $2 is pretty good these days. Also, a Newman's Own pizza was 6 or $7, and a pizza cutting wheel was thrown in free. Not too shabby.
The most important part of these comments, and the thread in general, is that there is a significant positive trend here. The availability of a variety of reasonable food has increased dramatically, and will hopefully continue going forward.
Although this was my first year in the north 40 in several decades, we still got to our traditional dinner at Fratello's compliments of Uber. it wasn't very expensive, and it was pretty prompt. All in all it went well and we brought a bunch of camp food home with us.
There are reasons for everything, so don't assume EAA is deaf to your complaints.... unless, of course, EAA is the one entity you don't complain to...

[Sirota]

I gotta say; I found the food more than reasonable, if a little pricey. Go to any big event (car race, Reno, state fair, etc) and the food is pricey - just par for the course. At least as OSH you can bring your own food in if you don't want to buy food on-site. Most other venues don't allow that. Breakfast at the The Pines was always good and hot. Lunch at Celebration Way was excellent. They had fresh salads too. I would be surprised if you could find a venue that serves as many people that attend OSH that offers better or cheaper food.

[FlyingRon]

Machine Shed had some good items that others didn't.

I like Major Goolsby's Brateeto. I try to limit myself to one or two per show.

[Tom Steber]

Everyone raved about the BBQ foods at Parker John's by the Ultralight flightline. And I mean everyone. Last year they had two locations, this year just the one, but it was always packed with happy customers.
They did have a second spot. Over by the Exhibit Buildings. In that strip of restaurants. Food was great!

[Tom Steber]

I also second that Machine Shed has some really good stuff too. The Pot Roast Sandwich, BBQ Pork Sandwich, Mmmmmmmmm good.

[Serenity_Valley]

I also like the Machine Shed selections. Their Friday fish fry was pretty good. I wonder if any visitors from outside Wisconsin were confused as to why the fish was only available on Friday.

I had street tacos and some kind of spicy beef brisket at Osorio's Latin Fusion in the food court, which was a nice change of pace.

[Floatsflyer]

Their Friday fish fry was pretty good. I wonder if any visitors from outside Wisconsin were confused as to why the fish was only available on Friday.

Ok, I'll poke. I'm from outside Wisconsin. Why? Can't be a Catholicism thing because that's a world-wide requirement or suggestion. BTW, I love your handle, where is this place, it sounds eutopian?

[hatz672]

Here you are again-- confused by a simple map and now complaining about the food. Most of us go to OSH to look at the airplanes and don't expect a a gourmet food for a $1. Hint: It's an airshow in the middle of a field that's empty 50 weeks of the year, with temporary food services, operated with temporary employees. You fill in the blanks. Beats me where you're going to attend a outdoor event even half the size of OSH and do any better. Time was, you either ate a Zaug burger or went hungry but we were still happy to be there. Love the snotty comment insinuating the rest of us are too stupid to figure we should eat.

[rwanttaja]

Their Friday fish fry was pretty good.
BTW, I love your handle, where is this place, it sounds eutopian?

Well, it's official: Floats isn't a Browncoat.

Ron "I aim to misbehave" Wanttaja

[stummers]

7974 Boy are we spoiled in the camp ground. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits, and hash browns each morning. French toast and biscuits and gravy every other day.

[Contrailing]

Home built camping was the only way I was coming to Oshkosh. I have 100 lbs of bag capacity and bringing a 40 lb griddle doesn’t interest me. Next!

[SteveCostello]

Boy are we spoiled in the camp ground. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits, and hash browns each morning. French toast and biscuits and gravy every other day.

About the same thing I do every morning, at a smaller scale. I need to figure out how to get around more campers that are nutball gourmets like me and the other guy I come to OSH with. Pretty much every night starts off with Negronis or Aviation cocktails and charcuterie, then some sort of either grilled or sous vide w/ reverse sear protein and grilled veg, then wraps up with a campfire and some sort of evening beverage like a Sazerac or Rye Manhattan, likely supplanted with campfire fruit pies. Mornings are always some variation of the post above. Often come back to the site for lunch. No WONDER I don't get to see as much of the show as I want! :rollseyes:

It was just me this year, so I "scaled back" and while I still had the Negroni/Aviation Cocktail/charcuterie going on pre-dinner, the dinners were a little simpler but still delish.

Where are my fellow foodies/drinkies out there? I'd LOVE to meet and hopefully camp near some of you!

[Floatsflyer]

It was just me this year, so I "scaled back" and while I still had the Negroni/Aviation Cocktail/charcuterie going on pre-dinner, the dinners were a little simpler but still delish.

Where are my fellow foodies/drinkies out there? I'd LOVE to meet and hopefully camp near some of you!

I don't camp but I like your style and skills. I'd like to come by next year for a margarita, stirred not shaken.

[BeagleOne]

My mother is almost 90 and has a Manhattan every night...well, late afternoon. Whiskey, not rye, and no garbage. If she's still around next year I'll send her your way!

[FlyingRon]

"Whiskey" is a generic term for various spirits which include Rye, so your statement is nonsense.

[BJC]

deleted

[lkorona]

I don't have any complaints about the concessions, as I ate mostly at my camper. I did have issues with two dining experiences, namely the Chapter Pancake Breakfast and the University of Wisconsin dining hall.

The University of Wisconsin dining hall isn't really connected to Airventure itself, although it has been a must-do at least once during the week for many members of my chapter. We heard that a new company was running the dining hall and we were very disappointed in the quality and variety of the food they had. In years past the food was so good that you looked forward to a meal the next year. Not anymore. All 14 people from our chapter said they would not go back next year.

yes, the university has a new food service provider, brand new, just started two week before the show. I agree the food was way off, been eating dinners at the university for many years, and had great experiences up to this year. When I checked out my dorm room I make sure that my low opinion of the food was clearly evident in my survey that I filled out.

[ssteve1]

Trust me, the university doesn't read their surveys.

[Serenity_Valley]

Ok, I'll poke. I'm from outside Wisconsin. Why? Can't be a Catholicism thing because that's a world-wide requirement or suggestion. BTW, I love your handle, where is this place, it sounds eutopian?

The Friday fish fry is a long-time Wisconsin tradition during the summer. I think it may have originated with the Catholic practice way back when, but it's become its own thing in this state.

rwanttaja is correct about my handle. Look up the TV show "Firefly."

[CHICAGORANDY]

For Catholics the 'pain of sin' was removed from the Friday meat fasting back in 1966. Not that it matters to the beloved and respected Friday Fish Fries available throughout the Midwest. Purt near every VFW has one. And they are MIGHTY fine eating too.

I fondly remember from years ago a restaurant not far from Oshkosh that offered a wonderfully 'heart-smart' dinner of beer batter deep fried scallops, served with a cup of melted butter for dipping. A cardiologist's delight - lol - but CRIKEY was it ever good!

[Contrailing]

So... do food trucks really upset the apple cart? I just want food options that don't require Uber. Sheesh.. food options were sparse on Sunday prior. I arrived Thursday to a misinformed EAA staff pointing us in 4 directions where to find food. Most were wrong. Uber eats saved us. And we didn't have surface transportation, we flew in. Isn't that the spirit of OSH or did I read a bad ad 30 years ago?

[mc20]

food options were sparse on Sunday prior.

I agree. I sure remember more food options on the weekend (esp sunday) in 2018.

[FlyingRon]

Do you know how much people a food truck could serve compared to the outlets on the field? A drop in the bucket.

[BJC]

A second Subway, near homebuilt camping, would be nice.


BJC

[Kyle Boatright]

A second Subway, near homebuilt camping, would be nice.


BJC

Did you notice the one located at the East end of homebuilt parking right as it transitions to the vendor area? It ain't exactly HBC, but it isn't as far as the other one, which is down near Theater in the Woods.

The one near HBP gets busy. The one near the theater gets really busy.

[BJC]

Did you notice the one located at the East end of homebuilt parking right as it transitions to the vendor area? Thanks. No, I did not, even though I must have walked by it several times.


BJC

[krw920]

Did you notice the one located at the East end of homebuilt parking right as it transitions to the vendor area? It ain't exactly HBC, but it isn't as far as the other one, which is down near Theater in the Woods.

The one near HBP gets busy. The one near the theater gets really busy.

That one has been there for years!

[Kyle Boatright]

Thanks. No, I did not, even though I must have walked by it several times.


BJC

Funny enough, I never noticed the one near show center until a couple of weeks ago.

[stummers]

NHRA event last weekend.
2 cheeseburgers, 2 small bags of chips, 2 16oz cokes, $32.00

[Joda]

NHRA event last weekend.
2 cheeseburgers, 2 small bags of chips, 2 16oz cokes, $32.00

Yep, go to NHRA, NASCAR, NFL, NHL, MLB, or any other major sporting event, and "event pricing" will be in full effect. In fact, compared to some of these venues, AirVenture is relatively cheap!!

[Airmutt]

There is no doubt that the concessions at AV have gotten better over the years in both quality and selection. I like that EAA has brought in some of the local restaurants. I think it makes some of the other concessioners step up their game. The aforementioned Subway has been a perennial favorite. If you time it right there is little to no line.
As a lifetime member I really appreciate being able to trade in my dinner benefit for a couple of days access to the EAA pavilion. A cold drink, a snack and a place to rest my tired feet is great; especially late in the week.

[Bill Berson]

A 4 hour football game is nothing like a week of camping 24/7 at Oshkosh. The breakfast I got was not bad at $4, but the $6 for a 30 cent baked potato seemed absurd. I guess the management would actually need to camp there for the week to see first hand.

[CHICAGORANDY]

"the $6 for a 30 cent baked potato seemed absurd."


I shall look forward next year to the far more budget priced 'Berson's Taters' stand.

lol

The place has to buy or rent all the equipment and booth, hire staff to bake them, keep them hot, serve them, provide the means to eat them, have appropriate condiments handy, clean up after them, maintain all pertinent health and safety standards etc.etc.etc.

It ain't as cheap and easy as one might think and I for one am THRILLED not to have to provide food for the picky masses. Suffice it to say I don't attend AirVenture for the foodie experience. And the vendors beat heck out of cooking myself or eating something grim out of a can from WalMart.

[Bill Berson]

It's a whole different experience flying in, living in a tent, and not having a car to go off site or cook in your motel.
I will need to see if the new Homebuilt Camping Pavilion has any way to bake a potato. But that still leaves the hassle of finding the potato. They don't have that sort of stuff at the EAA stores.
The onsite servers correctly focus on day users. My point was that some live onsite in a tent for the week.
Things like the Homebuilt Camping Corn Roast was a good idea. (sorry I missed that)

[CHICAGORANDY]

I don't envy the tent campers. The last time i was actually 'camping' it was called 'off-base guard post' in Vietnam. The experience fully sated any pent up desires to ever live in the woods or sleep on the ground. lol I guess campers have the option of Uber or the buses to get off site for restaurant eats or groceries?

These days, since my motel cost is about equal to what they charge to live in a tent, I 'rough it' by having my breakfasts from the gas station hot sandwiches selection and suppers sourced at Culvers.

[Kyle Boatright]

It's a whole different experience flying in, living in a tent, and not having a car to go off site or cook in your motel.
I will need to see if the new Homebuilt Camping Pavilion has any way to bake a potato. But that still leaves the hassle of finding the potato. They don't have that sort of stuff at the EAA stores.
The onsite servers correctly focus on day users. My point was that some live onsite in a tent for the week.
Things like the Homebuilt Camping Corn Roast was a good idea. (sorry I missed that)

Day 1, we catch the bus or a shuttle to the grocery store. That sets us up for one good meal that day, beer, sandwich fixings, soft drinks, snacks, etc. We fill in around that from Subway, SOS Brothers, the bar/restaurant at Sleepy Hollow, and a few other venues. This plan has worked well for us tent camping for 25ish years.

This year, our "nice meal" from the grocery store the day we arrived was a couple of pounds of boiled shrimp. The HBC crowd was quite envious...

[FlyingRon]

The price isn't determined by the raw material as Randy says. In fact, that's not even how regular restaurants run. You price things so that you maximize your profit not based on any particular single item cost to produce. Your job at the end of the day is to make sure you have taken in enough money to cover your expenses (raw materials, labor, other overhead) and make at least a small profit. If you gotta give away a hamburger for a dime so people will buy fries and drinks, that's what you do.

[Bill Berson]

Well, there might be options other than profit. Such as the corn feed I mentioned. Camping volunteers might enjoy doing something after hours at 7pm, for example.