Crusoe’s On the Runway

Food was bad… onion rings were soggy and shrimp po-​boy was dripping in buffalo sauce which ruined the sandwich. Restaurant also had an old musty smell.
The two star rating is for the good service

A groupon lured us to try Crusoe’s on the runway tonight and we decided on the fried mushrooms for appetizer and the fried chicken dinner. The mushrooms were actually very good — fresh shrooms, juicy, hot and very lightly breaded. The horsey sauce was also good. Then came dinner, the mashed potatoes/​gravy was okay and the green beans were country style with a little bacon, they were okay. But the chicken, I have no way to describe it. We both took bites but I couldn’t swallow. It smelled. It was odd. Old oil? Old chicken? Meat around the bones was black and mushy. There was definitely something wrong with this chicken.

This restaurant was called Oliver’s in its past life. Apparently, now there are new owners. They offered a groupon recently which got us to go there for a late lunch yesterday. I have to admit a bias, as ex-​Air Force I dearly love the lure of a flightline so being able to sit and watch small planes depart and land while we ate was great for me. We arrived around 2 o’clock. After reading the extensive menu, we decided to try the «best fried Chicken in St Louis». A few minutes later the manager came by and said he was sorry but they had a big lunch crowd and the chicken was gone. The only remaining chicken was frozen and needed to thaw. We were disappointed but we went back to reading the menu. I decided on the fried fish and my friend ordered the pork chop. The next thing we knew the manager brought two plates of fried pickles to the table and apologized again for the lack of chicken. (We had read the fried pickles on the menu and our server, Mary heard us comment that we loved fried pickles and she told the manager.) Voila’ = yum.
I could not take my hands off of the pickles. I would sit and think «don’t touch the pickles– wait for your dinner». And, I would eat another pickle. Lunch arrived. My fish portion was large and it was served on toasted bread (didn’t expect that), with smashed potatoes– (very nice), and canned green beans. My friend has a large pork chop which was nicely cooked and very flavorful. If I had a minor complaint, I would say the green beans should be replaced with whatever seasonal vegetable. Right now, squash is abundant and very cost effective– a serving of squash would have been better than canned green beans. Our server, Mary was lovely. She hs worked there for 23 years. She was enthusiatic about telling us about their «Mile High reward Club». One signs up for the club and apparently we will get a coupon on our birthday and anniversary. She was a treasure. The young chef also came by and visted.
I have lived in Fairview Heights for 12 years and I have never heard of this place – shame on me. My friend has lived there longer-​she never heard of it. We suggested that the new owners ADVERTISE!!! The food was good. The restaurant has comfortable tables and chairs or bench seats along the glass wall facing the flightline. There is a bar in the next room over. It seems that the lunch crowd comes from the various business near the St Louis Airport Downtown. I am not sure who goes there at night. But, the restaurant is a hidden treasue (minus the green beans– and by the way, pork chops always deserve home made applesauce).
Okay– my last reason for 4 stars is that the bathroom hot water tap was never HOT. Tsk tsk. Will I go again. Yes. We liked the food, we loved Mary, we enjoyed the flightline, and it is so much easier than driving into St Louis. The prices were reasonable, I would have taken a photo of the pickles and the meal but I could not stop eating.