THE $100 HAMBURGER

Have you ever gone for a Sunday drive when the weather’s nice? Chances are you have, and you probably stopped for a meal or ice cream when you were out. But, have you ever gone for a Sunday flight and stopped for a meal?

Since Bessie’s Diner is located at the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, we see quite a few pilots, like Mary Lou and Arthur, for breakfast and lunch. There are plenty of airport restaurants that also see pilots fly in for a special meal. The one thing that ties Bessie’s airborne visitors with other airports’ fly-in customers: The $100 Hamburger.

Now, that’s an expensive burger! What’s on it, gold?

Well, actually, the burger itself isn’t $100. The “$100” originally referred to the cost of renting a small airplane, like a Cessna 172, for the time it took to fly to a nearby airport restaurant, eat and then return home. Since the term was coined, fuel prices have increased and the hourly rate to rent planes is much more.

Ultimately, the $100 Hamburger is aviation slang a pilot may use as an excuse to get out and fly. Bessie’s burger is a beef patty topped with thick-cut bacon, onion rings, cheddar cheese and smoky BBQ sauce that’s served with fries and a pickle. It’s delicious!

View the menu and plan your visit!