Copyright The Street
While the food served at airport lounges and the higher classes of airlines keeps getting fancier, travelers without status often find themselves wandering through the terminal, only to end up paying $20 for the same sandwich served at grab-and-go shops in airports across the country and $25 for a mediocre glass of wine. The longstanding reputation of bad airport food is cemented and exacerbated by some airports more than others. A recent survey from tour booking company Altezza Travel assessed 20 of the country’s busiest airports, both in terms of average food prices and customer ratings on sites like Yelp and Google. Often criticized for its higher-than-average rate of flight delays and the challenges of reaching it via car and public transit, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) also had the worst-rated food offerings among all U.S. airports. Newark earns questionable title of “worst airport food”: here’s why Seven out of 10 restaurants past TSA security ranked below three out of five stars, while the average rating for a Newark Liberty establishment was at just 2.6, relative to an average meal cost of $23.10. “Imagine stepping into an airport where nearly every meal feels like a mistake waiting to happen,” the report’s authors summarize. “[…] Despite being one of the nation’s busiest international hubs, Newark’s dining options fall shockingly short. And to make matters worse, you’ll pay among the highest prices in the country for food you likely won’t enjoy.” The fourth-busiest airport in the country, O’Hare International (ORD) in Chicago came out in second place for poor food. While just 33% of its restaurants fell below the three-star ranking, the airport’s total rating was brought down by the high meal cost ($20.60 on average) and low average rating (3.2/5). In one of the funny reviews singled out in the study, a traveler described what he ordered as “radioactive green relish, stale fries, and a lukewarm Chicago dog with the fries placed sideways in the bag.” JFK in New York, MCO in Orlando, and LAX in Los Angeles rounded out the top five with similar problems of high cost and limited options. JFK food “will leave you disappointed even before you lift off” “Although it’s slightly less crowded than Chicago or Newark, the constant construction and underwhelming food options will leave you disappointed even before you lift off,” the study’s authors write of JFK. Denver International (DEN), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), meanwhile, topped the list for the best-rated airport food in the U.S. More on travel: Major airline launches surprising flight between Las Vegas and Paris United Airlines CEO gives stark warning on Olympic Games The highest rooftop in Barcelona is in a surprising place US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel For example, just 6% of Denver International’s dining establishments had average ratings below three stars, while the average price of a meal was $16.70. “While not every experience will be worth remembering, the average restaurant rating of 3.8 is more encouraging than that of other airports,” the airport’s authors write of DEN. “With the average price per meal among the lowest and only 6% of restaurants rated below three stars, this is the one airport where you’re least likely to regret not packing your own food.”
