Phoenix

At Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport, I can't resist the fresh, tasty, and inventive burritos from Blue Burrito Grille. The small Arizona chain has outlets in Terminals 3 and 4. (There are Blue Burrito kiosks at the airports in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City too.) Paradise Bakery and Café, a respected, mostly Western chain, has locations in Terminals 2, 3, and 4. Off the airport, the good news is that the legendary Pizzeria Bianco is less than five miles away. But before you dream of a between-flights feast of the iconic Rosa pizza (red onion, parmigiano reggiano, rosemary, and pistachios), consider the bad news: The dinner-only place takes no reservations for small groups, and the lines are insanely long. Worst of all, owner Chris Bianco himself is on sabbatical and no longer making every pie. A more practical alternative for time-pressed business travelers is Comedor Guadalahara, a beloved family-owned Mexican restaurant that's just a few minutes' drive from Sky Harbor. It's authentic, reasonably priced, and open for lunch and dinner.

New York/LaGuardia

Let's be honest, LaGuardia Airport is just like New York; fast, crowded, annoying, and sometimes hard to swallow. But the omnipresent Todd English has branches of his Boston-based Figs at the Central Food Court and between Gates D4 and D5. If you dare to dine and dash, try Trattoria L'incontro, a sweet little mother-and-son restaurant in Astoria, about 10 minutes away by cab. They have good pizza and several interesting dishes from the Abruzzo region.

New York/Kennedy

The multiple-terminal Kennedy Airport is still tricky to get around unless you've mastered the train system and get the timing right. In Delta Air Lines' Terminal 2, Todd English operates a bar and a steakhouse, both called Bonfire. In the shared international Terminal 4, you'll find the first airport branch of the Palm steakhouse. JetBlue Airways' much-discussed Terminal 5 food project is impressive for its diversity, less impressive for quality. But Deep Blue Sushi is good. And travelers rave about the branch of the Vino Volo wine bar at American Airlines' Terminal 8. Only a traffic sadist risks an off-airport run. If you're one of those, try Lucky Boy, a beloved local Greek dive in nearby Lawrence, New York. It has great food, surprising desserts, and dirt-cheap prices.

New York/Newark

The late Joe Baum, who created the Four Seasons and Windows on the World restaurants, got his start in the 1950s with the Newarker, an airport restaurant so good that people used to go to the airport just to eat. Newark Liberty Airport has nothing like that today, of course. Still, I'll happily settle for a garlicky hot dog and chunky fries from the Nathan's Famous kiosk in Continental Airlines' Terminal C1 Food Court. And you'll find a surprisingly satisfying branch of Gallagher's Steakhouse at the entrance of the C3 Concourse. About 10 minutes from Newark International is Casa Vasca, which melds Basque, Spanish, and Portuguese cuisines. Locals prefer munching in the bar, which offers daily specials off a blackboard.

Houston/Intercontinental

Branches of the Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen gladden the hearts of fish fans in seven states. The biggest and best locations seem to be in Texas, and that includes the outpost in Terminal E of Bush Intercontinental Airport. Fresh oysters at an airport—what a concept! Meanwhile, a lot of flyers think that Chez Nous, seven fast-driving miles from Intercontinental, is the best restaurant near an airport anywhere in the world. But this is a lot of restaurant for a between-flights jaunt, so you're better to build in a dinner stop before a departure.

Minneapolis/St. Paul

Minneapolis never seems to lose its reputation as a friendly town, and Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport has a similar vibe. The best dining is Ike's Food and Cocktails on The Mall. It's also the airport's most relaxed cocktail lounge. A more pub-like experience can be found at Ike's on Summit on Concourse F. Eight miles from MSP, an unsustainable haute cuisine palace called Levain has morphed into a charming, friendly French bistro called Café Levain. Dinner only, however.

Detroit

Detroit itself might be down, but Detroit/Metro Airport still hums because it is a key domestic and transpacific hub for Delta Air Lines. Try the well-executed Middle Eastern fare at the Mediterranean Grill near Gate 54A inside the McNamara Terminal, which Delta dominates. And Dema is a sleek restaurant inside the Westin hotel connected to McNamara. It has excellent omelets at breakfast; wood-fired appetizers and pizzas for dinner; good burgers (beef, veggie, or turkey); and an impressive roster of wines by the glass.

The Fine Print…

Here's a sign of exactly how dire conditions are in the hotel business: The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, a lavish 349-room resort just a few miles off the Strip, will close on May 2. The five-diamond property opened in 2003.

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Joe Brancatelli writes Portfolio.com’s business travel column, Seat 2B. Brancatelli is the former executive editor of Frequent Flyer magazine and operates the membership site JoeSentMe.com. You can reach him at jbrancatelli@portfolio.com.