PHX Perspective

Deer Valley Airport Restaurant Celebrates Grand Reopening

Looking for a unique dining experience that provides a family-friendly atmosphere with good value? The recently renovated Deer Valley Airport Restaurant provides diners with not only a variety of menu selections, but a fantastic view of takeoffs and landings at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, the nation’s busiest general aviation airport.

Diners at the Deer Valley Airport Restaurant have no shortage of entrée options to select from. There are: Arrival Specialties which include phenomenal omelets and other breakfast items; soups; burgers, including the Hundred Dollar Burger; “FAA Approved” Sandwiches; Captain’s Choices entrees; gyros; and much more. Craving a salad? Two of their more well-known salads are the Cobb salad as well as the California steak salmon salad. Or, diners can make their way to the salad bar. And, if you have a special dietary request, they can accommodate that too, says Georgios Papamatheakis, who works at the restaurant.

“We provide good portions, good prices, and homemade food,” said Voula Papamatheakis, restaurant owner.

The restaurant, which is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., offers various specials throughout the week. On Wednesday and Friday evenings, diners can enjoy an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, prime rib specials on Thursday and Sunday evenings, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings, diners will enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet, something the restaurant is well-known for.

However, what might really tempt diners is the assortment of sweets in the dessert case (see photo above). These include freshly made pies, cakes, puddings, and more made by an on-site baker.

But what is truly special about the restaurant is the friendliness of its staff and the family atmosphere that it provides.

“They’ve kept the family image and have been family oriented for years,” said Tom Brewer, Deer Valley Aviation Superintendent II.

Children love the observation deck, a great place to watch the planes come and go. Each table in the restaurant has a view of the runway and diners can sit at the window or even on the nice, outdoor patio. Sitting outside is perfect in the cooler weather at sunset. The view of planes arriving over the mountains is spectacular. And, during the holiday season, Santa makes several appearances at the restaurant. Voula also pointed out that there is a special family table that seats up to 12. It has a fantastic view of the runway and is comfortable for a larger group.

Being at the airport and having the restaurant is something that Voula truly loves. Over the past 20 years, she has welcomed many people to the restaurant who have become her friends. “They are like family,” she said. Indeed, she has watched as families come in with their small children, and over the years, these children become teenagers and celebrate birthdays and graduations.

And, the recent renovations have made the restaurant even more enjoyable to visit. These renovations include new paint, buffet placement and more. It’s a modern and light atmosphere where you can feel at home sitting enjoying a meal and watching the planes go by. For aviation buffs, historical photographs and memorabilia adorn the walls of the restaurant, and visitors will notice historical mementos and photos from Deer Valley Airport’s earlier days.

The restaurant is also well-known for its small airplanes, hanging from the ceiling. During renovation, the planes were hung in the Deer Valley Airport Terminal Lobby, but they are slowly making their way back into the restaurant. Children and adults love looking up at the planes. For those individuals who served our country, it brings back memories of their flying days.

“It is the most amazing thing to watch kids stare up at the planes with their mouths and eyes wide open in awe,” Voula said. “These are future pilots.”

Georgios knows one child who can name every model of plane hanging from the ceiling!

To celebrate its grand reopening, the Deer Valley Airport Restaurant will be offering a $7.99 prime rib special on Thursdays and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a complimentary fresh fruit cup or cake with all entrees throughout the months of June and July. And, if you like to clip coupons, the restaurant also does a lot of advertising in the Clipper and the Arizona Republic.

The restaurant has a capacity of 230 and there are also rooms available for business meetings, anniversaries, or birthdays (see photo above). The larger room can accommodate up to 80 and the smaller ones about 15 to 20. There is a baker on-staff for private parties and takeout catering is available.

Brewer says that there is also a great lunch crowd that comes in not only because of the food and unique atmosphere, but because it is quick.

So the next time you’re looking for somewhere to go that is unique, has good prices, a wide-variety of menu items, and is family friendly, why not try the Deer Valley Airport Restaurant? The restaurant and Deer Valley Airport are located at 702 W. Deer Valley Road (Deer Valley Road and 7th Avenue in North Phoenix). The restaurant can be reached at 623-582-5454.

Above and to the right, Alex Reams and Doug DeBoer often come to the Deer Valley Restaurant for the gyro plate. Voula and Georgios Papamatheakis are also pictured.

First posted: 6/3/2010