Plane View

I’ll differ from other writers here claiming that «we don’t have too far to travel in order to reach a decent place for good food» on the Vineyard. Not true. This is the island of mediocrity yet they survive because IT IS a tourist destination. Plane View is a tourist destination be it’s location (at the airport), it’s marketing and it’s catering. That being said. the Plane View serves up anything but plain food. Sure you can see a plane or two come by if you’re sitting at the window but I was at the counter and I had a great view of a bustling kitchen making home fries, hash and eggs.
My egg white veggie omelet with cheese was perfect. Fluffy, large and very filling. A perfect amount of home fries and an endless supply of coffee served by an attentive waitress that was busy doing other things but never to busy to check in or catch an eye of someone at the counter. I was impressed.
The place was happening, Church must have let out and the place filled up, quickly turned over tables turned into opportunities to eat drink and kibbutz with friends that were also there.
I stand by my assertion that the island breakfast (Sunday) is scarce for good food. Everywhere you turn there’s mediocre food, mediocre service and expensive «it’s the vineyard» attitude pricing. The Plane View is not one of them.

Good food, great prices, especially for the vineyard. You wouldn’t expect that a diner attached to a small island airport would be good, but it is! The place has huge window filled walls so you can watch the planes take off as you eat. The only thing is that the staff here is always kind of rude and perpetually rushing you to order. I’ve been a number of times and each time I’ve gotten some moody person serving me.

Everything I’ve tried is hot and filling. I prefer to go here for Lunch a little after noon. They close mid afternoon and don’t reopen for the day. Sit close to the windows to see the planes (the sun sets to the left of the room when walking in from the airport). A cheeseburger is always a good pick. But there is a chili that’s good too– thick and filling. Just about anything you order will be good :)

One does not normally associate small airport with good dining experience, but Plane View is a great option whether your coming or going from MV or if you’re in the middle of the island and looking for a cheap, yet very tasty lunch option.
Granted, I’ve only been here when coming or going from the airport, but both of my experiences have been above average. Both times I had to go with the fish sandwich, which are delish and come with a good sized serving of fixins’ and fries. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and its a lot of fun if you have the right seat to see the planes come and go while chowing down.

Who would of thunk, a dinner inside of the local airport terminal, without having to go through security.
Place is packed. Food was good. Service when busy, well at least the with server I had was hit and miss, the young girl bussing tables was more attentive, so I also gave her a tip.

You wouldn’t think that a restaurant at an airport would be very good, but in this case the Plane View offers some very good, well-​prepared food at reasonable (at least for MVY) prices. Much of the food is fresh made and all that we’ve had there tastes great.
Some of the wait staff can be a little grumpy at times, but others are great and the food more than makes up for it.

I literary flew into MV for 12 hours on Friday, and had 2 hours to eat before meeting others. This was my first stop off the plane. I walked in, and was greeted with a once over look from the (what sounded like Austrailian) imported bald man behind the counter. I asked for change, and as he immediately walked away he said they didn’t have it, as they just opened. I order a danish to go from another waiter secured my change and left. I planned to eat there, but opted to go the Artcliff Diner (see other review).
When I returned that evening to fly home I stopped in for dinner. A warm, personable and attentive waitress was there to change my perception of the Plan View. She apologized three times for making me wait as she single handedly served five table and two counter guest. She was wonderful and so is the Lobster Roll. The local talent rocks!

Although the airport attracts a hoity-​toity crowd (especially to the General Aviation side, which also has nicer bathrooms), the Plane View offers unadorned American fare, aimed more at islanders looking for a reliable standard than at the One Percent headed home on the Gulfstream. The much-​touted Maine blueberry pancakes are dry. Nice BLT, although a salmon-​colored tomato in August is unforgivable, and a generous lobster roll, but insufficiently toasted and light on the claw meat. Won’t be the highlight of your island experience, but a real standard open all year round.

Flew into the MVY airport for a quick lunch.
Have you ever had a jar of tomato sauce that is too old and the sauce turns brown? That is what Plane View served me.

Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner they do a great job here.
I had a linguica and cheese omelet for breakfast. Very good and got it with a well toasted and not over buttered english muffin.
Found myself there for lunch as well. Got the Southwestern Blackened Chicken Wrap. Very good, especially when dipped in the supplied ranch dressing.

On the Vineyard, we don’t have too far to travel in order to reach a decent place for good food. The problem is, many of our favorite restaurants slam the doors shut for the bulk of the year, leaving year-​rounders stranded in the cold of a never-​ending Nor’easter of hunger. This forces us to beat off the seasonal blues with our own lackluster cooking skills. («Pass that jar of Marshmallow Fluff over here, guys. And then the M & Ms.»)
Some of us barely survive the winter. Thankfully, all of the liquor stores stay open. And so does The Plane View.
Having breakfast at The Plane View is an event in many ways. First of all, you have to drive to get there. No stumbling down the street in your p.j. bottoms and slippers.
When you get out to the airport, the home of The Plane View, you may wonder, where is the restaurant? You are in this tiny little terminal (cavernous compared to the old one) with one major airline. Cape Air.
Scoot off to the left in the back and you’ll find yourself in a sunny, modern room filled with comfy chairs, lots of tables and even some friendly counter space for solo diners. You can watch the planes take off and land, which is fun for the kids, and you can eavesdrop on all kinds of interesting conversations. Local politicians discussing the potential wind farm. Your entire group of island Facebook friends and their kids analyzing the last soccer game. Your plumber, electrician, landscaper and the principal at the elementary school debating the future of the Steamship Authority. Fishermen bragging about their latest catch but lowering their voices when they talk about WHERE they landed their sweet bass baby. Maybe even your crush will be there… alone…
Bacon and eggs, pancakes, muffins, bagels, oatmeal, home fries, great coffee and service with a smile. It’s easy on the wallet, too.
Sometimes The Plane View is forgotten. Must be due to the location in the middle of the island– it may not even be on some people’s radar screen at all. But they have a great breakfast menu and a fun atmosphere. So comb the tangles out of your hair, bring the kids and drive over to the airport for a belly full of breakfast. And let me know if you see my crush there, will you?

This is the secret brunch place for me and my buddies. We drive to this place for a healthy brunch! And, the price is ¹⁄₃ cheaper than other place. for cleaner, less fatty breakfast.
This is a well operated waiting space for plane passengers mostly and you tend to see some self-​important families during the summer. But the place equally attract the locals alike.
Personally, this is just right for right cheerful atmosphere, views, and simple meals, and, the servers are always cheerful.
What else can you expect? I just don’t know how they make money keeping things that low. But, I want my omelet to be lean and healthy, and this is my favorite.
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Update; Summer 2007,
the staff are the same but they have changed their attitude dramatically to worse. They are not friendly any more and I never felt welcomed there throughout the summer. The healthy food (not too greasy) is still yummy for 5 stars, but they lose 1 star for poor services this time of the year.
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Another update, May, 2009 now, And, the old and the friendly waitresses are the steady operators and you now get to see the kitchen guys in the dining hall. They are really nice unlike the summer waiting crews I have to say. But then, this is the sign that they are short staffed for this quiet transition time. It will all change entering June and forward. The food is still better than average. any menu is a safe bet.
The only wish is that I want my breakfast all day on Saturdays, not just on Sunday! I still come to this place like I would go to the church every Sunday. It is that good to me.