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Travelers passing through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport can now enjoy on-the-go gourmet burgers custom made to suit their personal tastes. Grounded in St. Louis, the eatery occupying Concourse A since June 8 has put a stylish spin on the traditional fast-food hamburger. Offering local beef, unique menu items and healthy options, the brand is giving airport food a good name.
“In the country’s heartland, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is the perfect location for us to roll out our latest restaurant concept, Grounded In, featuring an all-American favorite — the burger,” said Frank Sickelsmith, vice president of Adult Beverage and Restaurant Development, in a press release.
The Grounded In menu features eight burgers priced between $7 and $12, including one-of-a-kind options such as the Cubano — ground beef topped with Cherrywood ham and Swiss cheese served on a brioche roll — and the Sunrise (at right, in mid-production)— a quarter-pound patty with bacon, cheddar and a sunny-side-up egg. “At Grounded, the humble burger now has a taste with a big, sophisticated swagger,” the press release states. The menu also features salads and other sandwiches, even a breakfast menu that includes egg sandwiches and yogurt parfaits.
Though Grounded In St. Louis is the first of the Grounded brand, Sarah Cody, senior director of communications at HMSHost Corporation, under which the brand was formed, said the restaurant will certainly move to other airports if it proves to be a hit. The city’s location and the relationship HMSHost Corporation has with Lambert played equal factors in the decision to launch the inaugural Grounded In restaurant here, she said.
“Grounded In is the perfect fit for Lambert because in today’s travel, many passengers don’t have the time for full sit-down service,” said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Lambert’s director, in a press release. “The counter concept here allows passengers to quickly order, then grab and go to eat at the gate or take on the plane.”