Full Moon at the Proud Bird Restaurant

The Proud Bird Restaurant in Los Angeles is not likely to earn any gold stars in the Michelin Guide anytime soon, but for a certain kind of aviation aficionado, it may be one of the best restaurants in the world.

Located on patch of flat land just a few hundred yards east of Runway 25L at LAX, the Proud Bird offers a full bar, country club-style cuisine, and awesome views of planes decending toward the runway on final approach. The big jets plunge past the restaurant's massive wall of windows so low and so close they could practically stir your cocktail.

As an added bonus, the Proud Bird also has an impressive collection of vintage warbirds on the grounds. Most are from the World War II era, some are jets, but most all, apparently are hollow fiberglass replicas. No matter, though; They're 1:1 full-size replicas, and very well executed, so only the most ardent airplane geek is likely to care.

We sure didn't.

Telstar Logistics stumbled upon the Proud Bird while heading back to our room at the glamorous Travelodge at LAX Airport during a recent business trip. It was late in the evening, and the Proud Bird was preparing to shut down for the night, so we went on a self-guided tour of the grounds. The evening was warm, the air was still, and a full moon bathed the collection of old airplanes in a spooky yellow light.

Lots more of our photos from that enchanted exploration at our Proud Bird Photoset.

TIP: If you decide to try something other than the aviation fare at the Proud Bird, our sources tell us the "garlic bread next to the pasta and roast beef section is BOMB!" and that the kitchen prepares "the best pasta EVER!!!!!!!!" The Proud Bird also hosts weddings, graduations, retirement parties... and presumably bar mitzvahs.

Images: Telstar Logistics

 

Comments

[Phil L]

Cool shots :) We saw this place last time we were in LA, strangely enough, on our way to our glamourous rooms at the LAX Travelodge... (I think it was the _other_ LAX Travelodge that we stayed at - it sticks in my mind because we had to park at the extreme other end of the complex (and over the road) from where our rooms were, as the parking in front of our rooms was all taken, mostly by cars without the hotel issued parking permits...)

The Culver City Travelodge on the other hand is much better and about the same price, if not cheaper, though without the free restaurant bar (including waffle maker) that we made so much use of while we were in the states :)

Thanks again for the shots from the Proud Bird, it's another place I'm now kicking myself for not stopping in at, although we didn't really have the time to see much more than we did, with my habit of sleeping in till almost midday and staying up till about 2am writing blog posts and sorting photos... :)