Percentage Of AirVenture Week Receipts Will Go To Program
By Rose Dorcey
Tailspin Tommy's is one of the new kids on the block, as far as
Oshkosh restaurants go, but it's quickly becoming a favorite. It's
not just for of the owner's love of aviation, the aero-theme decor,
excellent food and friendly staff, but also because he shares his
profits with the EAA's Young Eagles Program.
Tom Steinle opened Tailspin Tommy's just over a year ago. He and
his employees are gearing up for their second AirVenture week. This
year, they've added something new. Steinle is giving a percentage
of the week's restaurant receipts to the program.
"Paul Poberezny is a regular here," explained Steinle. "We got
to talking one day, and we decided to do this. I didn't start
flying until later in life, but I had a lifelong love of aviation.
The whole purpose of the aviation-themed restaurant was to foster
an interest in aviation in people of all ages, especially kids, so
maybe they can start flying much younger than I did."
Steinle has been flying for about six years, after serving in
the U.S. Army and missing his chance to fly Army helicopters. "On
my 30th birthday, I told my superior officer that I wanted to fly
helicopters," said Steinle. "The first thing he asked was how old I
was, and at 30, I was too old. The training stops after age 28." A
few years later, shortly before he married his wife, Teri, the
couple were sitting outdoors when a plane few over. Teri noticed
how Tom gazed intently at the plane as it flew off into the
distance. On his next birthday, she gave him flight lessons. "I
want you to pursue your dream," she said. He's been flying ever
since.
He brought his love of aviation into the restaurant, and has
lined the walls with posters and aviation memorabilia. Excerpts
from a World War II diary are displayed in a corner. The collection
is growing, and donations are coming in from both military and
civilian aviators. Tom loves to talk flying with anyone who comes
in. "AirVenture week is a wonderful time for me. Vets come in and
share their stories. It really becomes a labor of love."
But what really gets your attention are the twinkling stars
above you… Steinle spent hundreds of hours "morning, noon
and night" painting the ceiling black and then installing thousands
of feet of fiber optic cable to create a one-of-a-kind star field.
It's a sight to see. While dining in the evening, you have the
illusion that you are sitting outside, under the stars.
"It started out, I was only going to put in 250 light points,"
said Steinle. "Then I decided on 500. As I was working on it, I
made the mistake of leaving the instructions on the table in front
of my wife. She said, 'Did you know that all you have to do is take
off this collar and you can install up to 2,500 lights?' It turned
out she was right, but don't put that in your article," Steinle
laughed.
How is the food? What's the menu like? My pilot friends said it
was great, so I stopped in and found that out for myself. Tailspin
Tommy's is famous for their SUPERSIZED subs, sometimes called
grinders. There are over two-dozen varieties to choose from; all
served on fresh baked Italian bread, from Tommy's own recipe, in 8"
or 16" portions. "People who actually order the 16" take one look
at it and say, 'Oh my, Gosh,'" said Steinle. "It comes on two
plates." Subs can also be served on low fat, low carb wraps for
those watching their carb intake.
The sub sandwich menu includes many with chicken. There's
Chicken Parmesan, Broiled Chicken, Southwest Chicken, Sante Fe
Chicken and Chicken Cordon Bleu (Tom's favorite). There are roast
beef, seafood, ham, pork and turkey subs and a Rueben, too. There
are two chicken salads, BBQ Chicken Quesadillas, and of course, for
an appetizer, chicken wings.
"We also have cold beer," said Steinle. "That's a popular
request during AirVenture."
You will also find some tasty combinations in their popular
specialty pizzas - Taco, Hawaiian and BLT are just a few. There's
the B-52 and the B-17, with lots of pepperoni, and there is even an
Ultralight - with lots of fresh veggies and a low fat, thin crust
for the calorie conscience.
The family restaurant offers a healthy, fresh alternative to
fast food. "It's good fast food," said Steinle. The food is so
good, that the OSH tower folks might just recommend it to you when
you land. Steinle tells a funny story, of when he had just finished
hooking up a scanner and speakers to broadcast the tower
communications throughout the restaurant. "We just got the speakers
going, and the first thing we heard was a pilot ask, 'Where's a
good place to eat?' They told him to go to my competition. So I got
the tower on the phone, and then I took them up a bunch of great
food." Don't be surprised to hear the OSH controllers recommend
Tailspin Tommy's from now on.
Tailspin Tommy's is located about a block north of the Oshkosh
Hilton, next to Target and Pick-N-Save. It's about a five - ten
minute walk from the North 40 area of the convention grounds; a bit
longer from Camp Scholler. It's worth the short walk, and the
dollars you spend will benefit the Young Eagles program.